Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Blogging for Change
I have a challenge for all of you out there in blogdom.....Make a difference this year. Make someone's Christmas mean more than ever before.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thankful
As today is Thanksgiving, I thought that it would be appropriate to share the things in our life that we are most thankful for.
Amy:
1. I am greatful for a wonderful husband that copes with my daily struggle with my temper, and still manages to love me. He is wonderful friend, confidant, provider and more. I don't know what I would do without Mark in my life, He can always make me laugh and over the years has gradually taught me to not take everything so seriously.
2. I am greatful for my family. Especially two little boys that always light up when they see me and yell out "Sissy's here!!!". Those boys have taught me to be gentler and to listen more.
3. I am greatful for dear friends, the kind that you have known for over a decade and still find fascinating (you know who you are). The people that know you well enough to understand when to tell you that you're making a horrible choice, and when to zip it. Thanks guys, our Saturday nights would be dull without you.
4. I am thankful for my furbabies. I know, this one may seem silly, but you can only understand if you have arrived home to a dog with a wagging tail, and a cat purring loudly, both competing to give the first welcome home.
5. I am thankful for our prosperity such as it is. In these rough economic times, we have a home, we have dependable jobs and not much in our lives has changed. I know so many people whose lives have changed dramatically due to the economy, and I am so happy that it hasn't happened to us.
Mark:
1. I am thankful for a wonderful wife. She is great at cooking, and she likes to do it as well. She does well at keeping a clean house most of the time. She has helped me to find a career that I enjoy, and doesn't mind my long hours.
2. I am thankful for a kind and loving family. I know I'm not the best at keeping in contact, but my family loves me anyways. We all communicate in different ways, which sometimes makes it hard to get things planned and done without toes getting stepped on, but we all love each other and help each other out when we need it.
3. I am thankful for the freedoms we all enjoy. I know that many people have fought and given much for those freedoms, and I thank them all sincerely. I am grateful for all the emergency service personnel as well. I know they sacrifice a lot for all of us and those we love.
4. I am thankful for all the holidays we enjoy. Without them, life would be pretty boring. I know we could party and celebrate whenever, but the holidays give it purpose and meaning.
5. I am thankful for friends. Friends can't always play when we want to, and they don't always wanna play what we wanna play. They help teach us patience and sharing, among other desirable attributes. They also help make free time fun, and help us enjoy life when it isn't as happy as we would like.
Amy:
1. I am greatful for a wonderful husband that copes with my daily struggle with my temper, and still manages to love me. He is wonderful friend, confidant, provider and more. I don't know what I would do without Mark in my life, He can always make me laugh and over the years has gradually taught me to not take everything so seriously.
2. I am greatful for my family. Especially two little boys that always light up when they see me and yell out "Sissy's here!!!". Those boys have taught me to be gentler and to listen more.
3. I am greatful for dear friends, the kind that you have known for over a decade and still find fascinating (you know who you are). The people that know you well enough to understand when to tell you that you're making a horrible choice, and when to zip it. Thanks guys, our Saturday nights would be dull without you.
4. I am thankful for my furbabies. I know, this one may seem silly, but you can only understand if you have arrived home to a dog with a wagging tail, and a cat purring loudly, both competing to give the first welcome home.
5. I am thankful for our prosperity such as it is. In these rough economic times, we have a home, we have dependable jobs and not much in our lives has changed. I know so many people whose lives have changed dramatically due to the economy, and I am so happy that it hasn't happened to us.
Mark:
1. I am thankful for a wonderful wife. She is great at cooking, and she likes to do it as well. She does well at keeping a clean house most of the time. She has helped me to find a career that I enjoy, and doesn't mind my long hours.
2. I am thankful for a kind and loving family. I know I'm not the best at keeping in contact, but my family loves me anyways. We all communicate in different ways, which sometimes makes it hard to get things planned and done without toes getting stepped on, but we all love each other and help each other out when we need it.
3. I am thankful for the freedoms we all enjoy. I know that many people have fought and given much for those freedoms, and I thank them all sincerely. I am grateful for all the emergency service personnel as well. I know they sacrifice a lot for all of us and those we love.
4. I am thankful for all the holidays we enjoy. Without them, life would be pretty boring. I know we could party and celebrate whenever, but the holidays give it purpose and meaning.
5. I am thankful for friends. Friends can't always play when we want to, and they don't always wanna play what we wanna play. They help teach us patience and sharing, among other desirable attributes. They also help make free time fun, and help us enjoy life when it isn't as happy as we would like.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thanksgiving is coming.....
Okay I know that this may sound silly, but this year will be the very first year of me making the Thanksgiving meal for company. It will just be Mark and I, my parents, baby brothers and my grandma, but I am really excited. I think that this year may be a little bittersweet because of the recent loss of my grandpa, so I will be trying to make everything a little bit brighter, a little bit more perfect. I am determined to not get too wrapped up in perfection though because the only thing it will do is stress me out! This will also be one of my last chances to spend time with my parents and little brothers before they move to Montana. They are leaving the day after Thanksgiving. AARRGGHHH! I'm starting to tear up just thinking about it! Wish me luck...and may your Thanksgiving be amazing as well!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Aunt Jane is Smarter
Have you ever seen something, or heard something exactly when you needed to? Today a comment was made to me that left me aghast at things people think are okay to say. How am I supposed to respond? In other words my Aunt Jane is smarter than my RE (reproductive endocrinologist.)
I am so grateful to have people in my life that TRY to understand what we're going through. Keep the vids coming, guys!
I am so grateful to have people in my life that TRY to understand what we're going through. Keep the vids coming, guys!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Picture taking
This year, I am in charge of putting together the 2009 Carney Family Calendar, and as such I have been collecting pictures of all the extended family for the photo collages. This made me realize that Mark and I had almost no pictures that were less than a year old. Also we had almost no pictures of us together that were less than about three years old. So off we went up Rock Canyon with our broken camera in the hopes of taking some pictures. Now our camera's screen is broken and we soon discovered that it is very difficult to take a picture with no screen, and without a viewfinder. So we just took a whole bunch of shots in the hopes that at least a few would not have our heads chopped off. Also, we were pet sitting my parents' dog bear, so the picture taker was also holding two leashes while we tried to get a good picture. Even with all those challenges though, I think we got a few fun ones.
Here's Mark being drug down the trail by Mazie...
We tried a few with the camera timer, but this is the only one that even slightly turned out
Surpriseingly, we managed to get one of Mazie in between her hiding from the camera.
We walked back down as the sun was just barely starting to set and had a great view of the lake..far off in the distance.
Here's Mark being drug down the trail by Mazie...
We tried a few with the camera timer, but this is the only one that even slightly turned out
Surpriseingly, we managed to get one of Mazie in between her hiding from the camera.
We walked back down as the sun was just barely starting to set and had a great view of the lake..far off in the distance.
Hee Haw's
It's that time of year again....Autumn!! So now that October is in full stream we decided to take the time to partake in some of the the traditional Utah fall favorites. We packed up the car with my baby brothers and headed to Hee Haw Farms. While there we had a blast enjoying a 25" slide, a corn maze, pony rides, pig chases and much more!
This first picture is of Robert and Christopher after taking a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch in order to pick their own pumpkin. I made the rule that they had to be able to carry their own pumpkin because they were drawn to the ones bigger than they are!
This picture is of all three boys heading down the slide..this is probably the thing that we did most!
When we saw these cutouts, we couldn't resist a few shots!
This first picture is of Robert and Christopher after taking a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch in order to pick their own pumpkin. I made the rule that they had to be able to carry their own pumpkin because they were drawn to the ones bigger than they are!
This picture is of all three boys heading down the slide..this is probably the thing that we did most!
When we saw these cutouts, we couldn't resist a few shots!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Blogging for Change
okay, I have to say that I am DEFINITELY not someone that gets involved politically. I just don't. Most of the time I feel as though I do not understand enough of the issues at hand to make a competent decision. However, there is one topic that I feel like I know enough about to make intelligent statements. The sex offender registry. As a victim of sexual abuse myself, my initial reaction is to sing the registry's praises. I mean it protects people right? Yet, with any great controversial issue there is a dark side hidden behind the golden armor of the registry. Labels. Stereotypes. Tell me, what do YOU think of when you read the words "sex offender registry"? Do you think of pedophiles, rapists, and general scum of society? Or do you think of someone that made a mistake and is paying the price?
The problem with the registry, especially here in Utah, is the fact that there is no description of the crime committed available on the list. That list does indeed include people that are pedophiles and rapists...and the survivor in me screams "burn, baby, burn" when it comes to what they go through. Yet what about the person charged with indecent exposure, Do they deserve ten whole years on the registry? Ten years of not being able to have a decent place to live, of not taking their kids to a park, of not having a good job? What about the person that had consensual sex with a minor truly believing the minor was of age? The person that pursued a coworker too much and grabbed a derriere? All of these things can be registrable offenses. Yet ALL of them have the same punishment, ten years on the registry.
I have a good friend who will remain nameless for his protection, (you know who you are) that was charged with a crime he did not commit. He went through FIVE years of legal battles, FIVE years of being unable to provide for his family, Five years of harassment, and shame. In the end, he chose to stop fighting. He sacrificed his integrity and accepted a plea bargain for a crime he did not commit so that he could be home with his wife and five children. He will spend the next ten years on the sex offenders registry for a crime he did not commit because he loved his family enough to sacrifice himself. Is he who you think of when you think about the sex offender registry? Today I sit quietly and watch someone else I love go through a very similar thing and I have to ask myself...who is this protecting?
Honestly, how many of you surf the registry to ensure you, and your family are not exposed to someone on the registry? I don't. It's not something that I would ever think of. And even if I did, why should I have that right? And why only for sex offenders? Why not for murderers, thieves and con artists? Did you know murderers can spend less time on jail and on probation than sex offenders (depending on the offense)? Let the punishment fit the crime. The registry not only impacts the offenders life but that of the offenders family. They live with the stereotypes and the fear.
It's time for a change. The people need protected, and not just the one's who don't love a sex offender. It's time for the punishment to fit the crime, for the sex offenders registry to undergo a major transformation. I just haven't figured out how.......
The problem with the registry, especially here in Utah, is the fact that there is no description of the crime committed available on the list. That list does indeed include people that are pedophiles and rapists...and the survivor in me screams "burn, baby, burn" when it comes to what they go through. Yet what about the person charged with indecent exposure, Do they deserve ten whole years on the registry? Ten years of not being able to have a decent place to live, of not taking their kids to a park, of not having a good job? What about the person that had consensual sex with a minor truly believing the minor was of age? The person that pursued a coworker too much and grabbed a derriere? All of these things can be registrable offenses. Yet ALL of them have the same punishment, ten years on the registry.
I have a good friend who will remain nameless for his protection, (you know who you are) that was charged with a crime he did not commit. He went through FIVE years of legal battles, FIVE years of being unable to provide for his family, Five years of harassment, and shame. In the end, he chose to stop fighting. He sacrificed his integrity and accepted a plea bargain for a crime he did not commit so that he could be home with his wife and five children. He will spend the next ten years on the sex offenders registry for a crime he did not commit because he loved his family enough to sacrifice himself. Is he who you think of when you think about the sex offender registry? Today I sit quietly and watch someone else I love go through a very similar thing and I have to ask myself...who is this protecting?
Honestly, how many of you surf the registry to ensure you, and your family are not exposed to someone on the registry? I don't. It's not something that I would ever think of. And even if I did, why should I have that right? And why only for sex offenders? Why not for murderers, thieves and con artists? Did you know murderers can spend less time on jail and on probation than sex offenders (depending on the offense)? Let the punishment fit the crime. The registry not only impacts the offenders life but that of the offenders family. They live with the stereotypes and the fear.
It's time for a change. The people need protected, and not just the one's who don't love a sex offender. It's time for the punishment to fit the crime, for the sex offenders registry to undergo a major transformation. I just haven't figured out how.......
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