You Like?

Everyone okay with the changes? I like the little "Support Our Troops" picture I added on the side. Ain't it cute!

Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech...or the right of the people...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
"...And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the determination that something else is more important.
- Dalai Lama
"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
- Abraham Lincoln
"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance; For cutting off our Trade with...parts of the world; For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent..."
- Declaration of Independence

Provide loans to Auto manufacturers, Banks, Insurance companies without consent; Commandeer 61% stock of General Motors; Fire a CEO of the private sector; Establish a government-controlled health care system and control/dictate the type of medical care citizens receive...
"I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once, for the only reason any man ever fights for them; because of just one plain simple rule: 'Love thy neighbor.'... And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any other. Yes, you even die for them."
- Jefferson Smith_Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Replacing car plates
Becoming "Utards"
back yard

extra boookshelf
Office
Messy Office
our dresser
Joel's 90 year old Grandmother had this made for us.
Bed: Picture says: "Always Kiss Me Goodnight"
Bedroom
Potty
bathroom/laundry room
Ghetto Kitchen table
Kitchen
Living Room
Living Room
front door
back
Front

Calvin Coolidge - The Rest of the Story

Garvin put on our family blog the following quote:

"If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions." ~ Calvin Coolidge

I would like to extend this quote…by a piece written by President Ronald Reagan from his book “Stories in His Own Hand” – Pages 64-68:

President Calvin Coolidge, derided by many historians, was one of Reagan’s favorites. One of the first things Reagan did after he became president was to hand Coolidge’s portrait in a place of honor in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of the White House. This story explains why.

President Coolidge – Written: September 21, 1976
“The names of some presidents are invoked by spokemen of both of both political parties as “men for all season,” epitomizing the greatness of America, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc. Then there are presidents whose names are brought up in party circles, hailed as great but if acknowledged by the other party at all with not quite the same enthusiasm.

There are also two lists of presidential names---one for each party usually held up to view for strictly partisan purposes. Each party lists past presidents of the opposing party as examples of that party’s terrible record.

The Democrats for example get laughs by mentioning silent Cal Coolidge. And truth is many Republicans chuckle a little and go along with the idea that he was a “do nothing president”. Sometimes I wonder if he really was a “do nothing” or was he a little like a LIFEGUARD on the beach who also seems to be doing very little when there is no emergency. If you take a closer look he is quietly being watchful.

Cal Coolidge is good for laughs but not all of them are at his expense. There was the press conference where a persistent reporter asked the President if he had anything to say about Prohibition. Cal said “No.”--- “Any comments on the world court?” --- “No.” “What about the farm situation?” Again the answer was “No.” The reporter said, “You don’t seem to haven any comment about anything.” Coolidge said, “No comment and don’t quote me.”

Probably no president has ever lived in the White House and maintained so unchanged his previous lifestyle. Which in Coolidge’s case was the simple even frugal life he had lived on a New England farm.

Shortly after he became president he sent his teenage son into the tobacco fields to work in the summer as he always had. One of the other workers surprised at this said to the young Coolidge, “If my father were president I wouldn’t be out here working in the field.” Young Coolidge said, “If my father were your father you would.”

But while “Silent Cal” seemed to be doing nothing as President, the federal budget actually went down and so did the national debt. Consumer prices fell but unemployment stayed at the figure we only dream of---3 ½ percent, which means everyone who wanted a job had one. Federal taxes were cut four times.

The number of automobiles on our streets and highways tripled during his years in the White House and radio sales went up 1400 percent.

In just the five years from 1922 – 1927 the purchasing power of wages rose 10 percent. It was a kind of Golden Era, in other ways.

So what if he was a “do nothing” president. Do you suppose doing nothing had something to do with reducing the budget, reducing the debt and cutting taxes FOUR TIMES?”

We're dead!We're dead!We're Dead!(Name that movie!)

SOCIALISM: State ownership of the means of production

Judge approves plan to sell G.M.’s assets
Sale to new, government-backed company part of bankruptcy proceedings

By Michael J. de la Merced
New York Times Mon., July 6, 2009

A federal judge late on Sunday approved a plan by General Motors to sell its best assets to a new, government-backed company, a crucial step for the automaker to restructure and complete its trip through bankruptcy court. . .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31754208/ns/business-the_new_york_times

FREEDOM!

"If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions." ~ Calvin Coolidge

80 Years and Father's Day

Dad - Grandpa Herb Peterson

On his "80th" Birthday

Father's Day -21 June 2009

Garvin singing "Happy Birthday"

TWICE...

"Just remember Marilyn Monroe singing to President Kennedy"

Dad -- My brother - Steve -- and I

Rob and Mandy Arkebauer

My brother, Scott's, daughter -- My niece

Their children - Kaitlyn and Bob

Mandy and I

Dad got to talk with most of his grandchildren - and one GREAT-grandchild -

Plus Friends -- One of which he has been friends with

for 72 years - Stu Wood

My brother, Steve, Bar-B-Q'd

the RIBS - They were GREAT!!!!

Kathy getting the "Garlic Bread" ready for dinner

Garvin talking with one of our children wishing him

a Happy Father's Day!!!

Steve and Jerilyn (Peterson)

Kaitlyn and Bob Arkebauer swimming in the pool

Rob and Mandy (Arkebauer)

Garvin teasing my Dad about going to CHURCH

Dad and I had been working on our Friday Night dinner

Dad and I going over OLD pictures

I am so glad...Garvin and I had the opportunity to participate in the celebration of my Father's 80th Birthday...and Father's Day...I came away with stories of the past...genealogical records...and the bridging of family ties...

TREK - 2009

What we thought would be a similar experience from the last Trek we went on....we couldn't have been FAR FROM THE MARK...Difference? The weather....over 95 + degrees in FLORIDA...became almost deadly....Yet, I can't help but think of the criticism of our Pioneers who left late in the year...and were caught by deadly snow storms....My favorite comment from one who was in the Willie or Martin's group said...that he would be forever grateful...."for he came to KNOW GOD!".... The conditions were fierce, but those who were able to FINISH the TREK...will NEVER forget their experience...Many found out what they were "made of"...Since, I was NOT ON THE TRAIL...but, involved in "base camp"....I have limited pictures of the true nature of this event...

I hand made EACH BATCH of CORNBREAD by hand...
I made "30" batches

Setting up "Base Camp"
Jon Evans - Garvin - and Abraham

Jon Evans sewed and put this together
"Our Food Wagon"

The "beginning" of using "ICE"
MANY trips to the store...
Seemed we ran OUT often...

Hyrum just coming in after a BRUTAL DAY
on the TREK..."5" people had to go to
base camp - MANY sent HOME...
Many "threw-up" during the day ALONG the trail...
Some had to be "rescued" and taken to the next
stop...Many hid under a bush or tree if they could find one -
faces in the sand - to get out of the "inferno heat"...
Some dropped to their knees - and had prayer - hoping for help...
and help came - Those who rescued had no idea why they felt to check out the trail,
until later...having been "prayed" to their spot...

Hyrum a tad bit "wet" from perspiration
With one of his "family" brothers.

Friday night's dinner - STEW and WATERMELON
Linda Evans and Garvin - cutting up some of the melon
Hyrum and brother were THRILLED to partake of it...

Hyrum - Ben Chevier - Scott Hansen - Trevor Bush - Lars Oveson
They were SO HAPPY to FINALLY REST and have
food and some FUN!

Abraham working on SATURDAY's breakfast...
This was their first real breakfast and all the trekers
LOVED IT!!! Bacon, pancakes, eggs, juice

Faithful Bob Shepherd - always there for SUPPORT!

Garvin may not have been on the trail - but he has been working HARD
on the "food" for DAYS...BEFORE the trek...and during...
We ended up cooking different meals for both BASE CAMP and for
those on the TREK...Abraham often cooked for the Base Camp
while Garvin took care of the food for the trekkers...
Linda and Jon Evans, also, were MAJOR HELP
in all the preparations...

"MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK"

LAST MEAL...and it was TRULY A TREAT!
We had "chicken" fahitas!
Bob - Jon - Abe - Garvin
cutting up the chicken - some using "Scissors"

Son like Father...

SUNDAY - a "day of rest"
Dad and I