A Thought For February…

I looked at this today and this scripture popped into my head:

 ”In the last days, perilous times shall come.”

(2 Tim 3:1)

Discuss.

[There, Monique. I blogged. Happy? ]

California, Here I Come…

Right back where I started from – or almost.

I grew up in Hollister, CA, and we’re headed to Pleasanton soon (just outside Oakland).

When WaMu failed and was bought the same day by JP Morgan/Chase, we were sent into immediate uncertainty–Steve’s in finance at WaMu. We learned that by Dec. 1st, the new company would divide employees into one of three camps: 1) laid off, 2) kept short-term to transition, 3) retained w/the new company.

A 33% chance of still having a job after Dec. 1 with 3 mos severance meant our income for a family of 8 runs out by February. Not great. That week, Steve heard from a couple of headhunters with interesting jobs (one being the one he just accepted). None of them were local.

If the “new WaMu” retained him, the offices turned out to be in either Columbus, OH, or New York City. So it looked like moving was imminent no matter what.

Steve went to Oakland and interviewed, and really liked the job he’d be doing there. It seemed hand-cut out just for him. 

I haven’t been back to Hollister since I left it over 20 years ago–but I love the beaches, I love the youth girls’ camp my kids would go to (Camp Ritchie), and a host of other beautiful things there. It’s just… not here.

It was hard to uproot everything and leave Kansas City three years ago to come here, and I hoped more than anything we wouldn’t have to pick up the kids in the middle of high school again – that’s just crummy. Sarah auditioned for Drum Major last month, and we still hadn’t had an offer. We got little phone calls informing us about relo packages, or benefits, things that told us they must be interested, but no actual offer until after the auditons.

Sarah made Drum Major at the Veteran’s Day Parade - we were very happy for her. But our hearts were heavy. Steve turned in his acceptance and resignation, and the kids were both sad and happy, but they all understand what we were facing.

We’re happy for this miracle of a custom-made job landing in our laps, so soon after the WaMu announcement, before it went down to the wire. We feel very blessed by the Lord in all this, and acknowledge His hand of providence with profound gratitude. It hasn’t been a hard decision – just an emotional one.

But we’re already crying, and a little homesick. Steve has enjoyed his 3 years working on the Seattle waterfront like nothing else in this world. And Seattle might be my favorite place on the planet.

The book is still not finished, and is still a top priority (after taking care of kids & family!), but moving is right up there too. There’s a nice relo package with the job, so there’s less I have to stress over this time–no packing to worry about–but just leaving is stressful enough.

Anyway, we’re moving in late January after the semester here is over. Steve starts work in early December and will be home often to visit. Our house will be listed on the market after we move. We hope it sells quickly, but have realistic expecations. Last time we sold a home it took five months.

You can ”follow” me on Twitter (which I use to update my Facebook account) – search for “adamszoo” and that’s me, or click the link on the right sidebar.

Quote From a Favorite….

Okay, we’re probably not supposed to have “favorite Apostles,” but I have always loved Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s talks. He has since passed on, but someone sent me this quote today from 1978. Yes: 1978.

Take note of this wonderful gem, and put it in the light of the recent political flurries we’ve experienced:

Neal A. Maxwell
“A More Determined Discipleship,” Ensign, Feb 1979, 69–73.
An address delivered at Brigham Young University , 10 October 1978.
Link: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/ v/index.jsp? vgnextoid= 2354fccf2b7db010 VgnVCM1000004d82 620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1846d0640b 96b010VgnVCM1000 004d82620a_ ___&hideNav=1
 
“Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency.  Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had ‘never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.’

“This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked.  In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ.  . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.

“Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive.  Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened. … Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost.  Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel.  There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do.  We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself.  Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, ’summer is nigh.’  Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat.”

Thanks, L., for passing this along.

Calling All the Undecided–

The more I research Barack Obama and his ideologies, the uglier it looks, and the greater potential for turning really bad in a hurry it seems to have. I am, in fact, very worried about the way things *could* stack up should he win the election tomorrow, which it looks very likely that he may. He has ascended from being merely popular into a candidate who has–before the election–no compunction about silencing the press. He has fired reporters who had negative things to say about him. This is not good.

A + B = C. Let’s do the math. A= Charismatic leaders; B= Adored by the masses; C= Bad things happening.

Put this equation together with a (D) Pres, (D) House AND a (D) Senate, things could change in this country VERY QUICKLY, for all of us. There will be no opposition.

History can and has repeated itself. Why not now? Because we’re Americans? Because… –well, why not? If we’re not careful to defend and protect our liberties, they can easily be lulled away from us… until it’s too late to reclaim them without a terrible struggle.

I am most especially concerned about the issues coming up with the press and media not just unfairly reporting–but with what sounds to me like certain stories being gagged, reporters being fired for saying anything negative, and so on. This is BEFORE the election, folks–before even January ‘09. Please wake up and pay attention!

There are reasons our Founding Fathers gave us the Bill of Rights, and that those Amendments are what they are. They came from oppressive government. They understood, dare I say it, far better than we do today about what it MEANS to be oppressed; what it means to live under the unfair rule of tyrants.

I fear many of us have become complacent. Many say the Constitution is old, the Founding Fathers had “nice ideas,” but ours are better, that we’re too “modern” and know better. We have lived under such remarkable freedom for so long that we are forgetting what I like to call “the captivity of our fathers.” Too easily we forget what they fought for, bled for, gave their lives for, so that we could live as free citizens. Too easily we take our liberties for granted.

I am a political moderate. I look at both sides of the fence. I like some of the things the Repuplicans do, and some that the Democrats do, and disagree with other things on both sides of the line. If this was any other election, I might vote a third party this time myself (with the exception that I just plain like Sarah Palin–say what you like about her, I like that she’s one of us–regular folk, with attitude–and can dress out her own elk). I’m not overly fond of McCain or his policies, but I am definitely afraid of what Obama might do, considering the pull he has already put into play with the media and press.

But considering that the third party has *never* won the election, and that in some states it will be extremely close–this is my last-minute plug to say, in THIS election–if you *don’t* really, really, really like Obama for President, (and if you do, that’s fine, exercise your vote!) if you don’t–this is not the election to vote third-party for a candidate with no hope of winning.

No, THIS is the election to vote against the most scary opponent. If you can’t stand either of them… it’s time to go with the lesser of two evils. In my honest opinion–this would be John McCain. McCain has been a POW and suffered torture for his country. He understands the concept of prison, and he knows first-hand the evil that is out there in the world that hates us.

Don’t waste your swing votes, guys…. vote for the other guy.

This is not the hour to get hung up on whose trillion of the national debt will be worse or better. This is not the hour to get hung up on who will make your taxes worse or better, or whose health care program you like better. No, THIS is the hour to look at who has greater stated intent to hold up the United States Constitution. Who has greater strength of character. Who holds more deeply, with greater intent, to preserving the United States as we know it.

Barack Obama consistently quotes Karl Marx and has numerous socialist ties and ideologies. Please–research socialism and fascism a bit more if you don’t understand them. These ideologies are at clear odds with democracy, capitalism, and the American Dream. Yet make no mistake: Obama has not hidden his socialist agenda. It is clearly touted in many of his speeches. Easy to see. Easy to read.

I love my country. I love my democratic Republic and the freedoms it guarantees me. I don’t want to see my Constitution destroyed. And yet with things like the Fairness Doctrine out there already… I see my 1st Amendment Rights easily, quickly, at risk of being severely limited should the wrong set of circumstances spill over and blind the masses, lulling them away into a false sense of security and misleading promises.

Please think clearly, everyone, and vote your conscience.
Definitely VOTE. Make your voices heard tomorrow.
Whatever they may be.

A Terrific Story, and a Video

http://lisalongll.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/an-analogy/

Not mine.

This is a terrific analogy about a man who walks into a vegetarian restaurant and demands a hamburger. Can you imagine it? This would be insane–not to mention offensive to the restaurant owner whose personal beliefs forbid the serving of meat.

Go ahead, read it.

And I was glad a friend of mine pointed me to this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRkHYD-RBcw

As I suspected, there are indeed a number of African-Americans who take offense to the current situation regarding Prop 8 in California being equated to the Civil Rights movement of the 60’s.

And yes, I’m still working on Book 3, in the background. I promise.