Turning the Tide...: May 2014

Saturday, May 31, 2014

I So Swear

Yesterday, Alvin and I were incredibly privileged to attend the ceremony of a young man we lovely dearly as he swore his citizenship oath to the United States of America. We met Jarel many years ago, and over time came to love him as if he were our own son.

After completing his 2-year mission for the Lord, he went to BYU Hawaii to complete his college education. There he met his sweetheart, Genna, who became his life. Now he has an adorable daughter, and is finally a citizen of the United States of America. We are so very proud of him, and so happy for him and his sweet family. Congratulations, Jarel.

I am of the opinion that every single American, at the age of 18, should take the citizenship oath of the United States of America. And because I believe that, I so swear:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Context Missing from Discussion About LDS Women

This is a response from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the current, and ever repeating, issue of women and the priesthood. I stand with the Church on this issue, in every possible way.

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Comments on various blogs over recent months about what Church leaders should or should not think and do about women’s roles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prompt me to provide some context from an insider perspective that may be helpful.

Recently a woman posted this comment on a blog:

Please understand that not [all] women who wish to be seen in all their worth are seeking to be ordained to the priesthood…. What I am finding…. is that most of these women have been demeaned and marginalized by one (and usually many more) of the brothers of our faith. They have been told their ideas won’t work. They have been told they are not important. They have been told they are lesser.

The point is a noteworthy one, namely that LDS women who describe themselves as feminists don’t necessarily seek ordination, but rather to be genuinely valued and given a voice that is respected and welcomed.

There are three specific criticisms that have been raised on various blogs that will be addressed here:

Read More of this response from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Danny Boy by David Osmond

This is a stunning rendition of Danny Boy by David Osmond. Wow. It brought tears to my eyes. Thanks to Doug Osmond for sharing it with me. Happy Memorial Day to all those who have lost loved ones.

DOWNLOAD SONG HERE: www.DavidOsmond.bandcamp.com

ALSO DOWNLOAD on iTunes: http://goo.gl/LvoCT4

"Danny Boy" is a timeless classic written over one hundred years ago. It's one of my absolute favorite songs!

Most people have heard the first verse. A lot of people may know the second verse. But almost nobody has heard the third verse. It's a powerful song with a powerful message, and we want to give even more power to this song now.

JUST SO YOU KNOW... 100% of all the profits from the sale of this song are going to benefit a charity called, GOLD STAR MOTHERS. This is an organization of mothers who have all lost sons or daughters while they were serving in the military. This is our little way of giving back funds and recognition to those who absolutely deserve it.

It's a fantastic cause, so THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for being so generous!!!

God bless!

David Osmond

DANNY BOY:

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling.

From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.

The summer's gone, and all the roses falling.

It's you, it's you must go, and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow.

'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow.

Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And should ye come, and all the flowers are dying.

And I am dead, as dead I well may be.

Ye'll come and find the place where I am lying,

And kneel and say an Ave there for me.

And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me.

And all my grave shall warmer sweeter be.

For you will bend and tell me that you love me.

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

But should I live, and you should die for Ireland,

Let not your dying thoughts be all of me.

But say a prayer to God for our dearest Ireland.

That he may hear, and help set her free.

And I shall take your pike and sword my dearest.

And strike a blow, though weak that blow may be.

To help the cause to which your heart was nearest

And you shall sleep in peace, until I come to thee.

Oh Danny Boy, Oh, Danny boy

I love you so.

FYI: Almost ALL actors (minus Scott and Cohen are members of the Osmond Family.)

CREDITS:

Vocals and Guitar: David Osmond
Produced by: David Osmond and Aaron Edson
Daniel Sullivan, Jr.: Adam Gregory
Daniel Sullivan, Sr.: Scott Schroeder
Daniel Sullivan, III: Chris Osmond
Wife: Valerie Osmond
Daniel Sullivan, III (child): Dylan Osmond, Cohen Edson, Kate Osmond (baby)
Directed by: Aaron Edson
Co-Directed by: Ryan Little
Director of Photography: Brian Sullivan and Glen Fisk
Hair/Make-up: Valerie Osmond

Special THANK YOU to:

American Gold Star Mothers, INC. (501c3 Charity)

American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation for helping provide soldier's pictures. All pictures of soldiers (minus Chris Osmond), are of actual fallen soldiers. These are their names:

- Lance Cpl. Nigel Olsen (provided by Kim Olsen)

- SSG Gary Lee Woods, Jr. (provided by Becky L. Johnson - Gold Star Mother)

- PV2 Isaac T. Cortes (provided by Ramona Emily Toro - Gold Star Mother/PGR Member)

- PFC Gifford E. Hurt (provided by Lisa Davis)

Thank you to Bam Bam's BBQ and Bella's Mexican Food for their delicious contribution to the crew!

Sponsored by:

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Remember: Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

Many people have forgotten the power, strength and impact of the American Pledge of Allegiance. Today I am sharing Red Skelton's recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance again. Forget the monotony of it, and remember the meaning of each word:

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Movie Corner: The Amazing Spiderman 2

Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Director: Marc Webb

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Fox, Sally Field and Dane DeHaan

Runtime/Rating: 142 min. / PG-13

In a nutshell, Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) graduates high school about the same time he starts seeing the ghost of Captain Stacy (Denis Leary), the father of his girlfriend Gwen Stacy. And with these sightings, he is reminded over and over of the promise he made Captain Stacy.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opens with Peter's parents; and we finally find out what happened to Peter's parents and it plays into the current story as well.

If you'll remember, Peter promised Captain Stacy as he was dying that he would stay away from Gwen. That didn't last long, although Peter did try. The sequel opens up with Spider-Man taking on the bad guys who have stolen a truck full of plutonium. He's supposed to be at his high school graduation, but turns out he's a little busy.

As the story of Peter and Gwen unfolds, so too does the story of an electrical engineer named Max who becomes Electro. To top it all off, Harry Osborn returns from boarding school with a disease that's killing him. Obsessed with finding the cure, he pleads with Spider-Man for his blood, and then the venom that Oscorp has kept hidden.

All in all, the movie has depth as Peter struggles to do what he promised Gwen's father, fights to keep the city safe, and does so with wit and charm. I very much enjoyed this movie. And as a side note, I much prefer Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man than Tobey Maguire. He's more believable, and he's more engaging.

I'm looking forward to Spider-Man joining The Avengers. My husband says he's supposed to, so we shall see if the big boys will play nice and let that unfold.

I give The Amazing Spider-Man 2 a 4 out of 5 stars. It was that enjoyable.

Monday, May 5, 2014

God Bless America

On this day, May 5th in the United States of America, I celebrate the greatness of our nation. The beauty that reaches from shore to shore, and her stunning lands in between. More than that, I celebrate the fierceness of the American spirit. That spirit which founded this great nation, is the same spirit that is fighting to keep the Republic now. May God bless America that her beacon of light and liberty will shine forever more.

This is Madison Rising and their stunning rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.

May people don't know all the verses to our nation's anthem. I'd like to share them with you now:

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!