First Time Playing in the Snow

Taryn is such a good aunt. As long as it has nothing to do with diapers, she is willing to do anything for Tae.

Tuckered Out

Tae played so hard while we were at Grandma and Papa's. When Jon, Papa and Tae went to feed cows, she fell asleep standing up in the feed truck. Wish I had a picture. The next day she fell asleep watching a movie.We were joking that it was because it was a boring movie. Colton said they watched it for Senior Night when he graduated. Don't know who picked that one. So sorry Union Class of 2002!

Time in the Tub

We give Taelyn a bath nightly-not because she needs it, but because we do. It wears her out and she sleeps so much better. Plus, baths are so much fun.

"My country tis' of thee..."

I don't usually (in fact I don't think I have ever) post on the blog, however given the nature of the season I wanted to share a few thoughts...something I am very grateful for.

If you are reading this you are aware that Tamaran and Tae and I have been working with a wonderful family from Burma (formerly Myanmar). I had the wonderful opportunity to share not only my witness of the gospel but to baptise our friends the day after Thanksgiving.

The following Monday we were invited to thier home along with the Bishop and his wife to enjoy a dinner with them. We were it seems to be guests of honor. I have never seen such spread or a display of gratitude. We were invited to sit at their small table that had been filled with different types of sushi and some traditional entree's. They with some of their friends sat around us one serving, others making conversation, all insisting that they had already eaten or would eat later.

As we talked we discussed how they had come to be refugees in America and what it was like for them in Burma. Some things we were already aware of, others were new and helped me gain a different perspective on the "good ol' US of A".

Our friends are part of an ethnic group/state called chin. In their country the chin state is the only christian part of their land in a majority Buddhist country. Almost everyone who is chin is christian. Being in the minority has left them at something of a disadvantage. In their country They are relegated to the bottom most rung of society. Some are used as slaves or near slaves to the military, others required to work in the dangerous jade and ruby mines, some are farmers, and any who try to flee to neighboring Thailand run the risk of being hunted down and killed by the current military establishement, provided they don't drown first trying to take a shortcut on an overloaded refugee smuggling boat .

Once in Thailand or Malaysia, where there are refugee camps, they can apply to go to an asylum country, countries like America who are willing to open their doors to the displaced.

" My country tis of thee.." part 2

As I thought of all the things this family and their friends had gone through to get to America I was truly surprised to see such optimism and happiness. They are some of the happiest people I have ever met.

As we were discussing the trials one of them mentioned how happy they were to be here where they do not have to worry about a corrupt dictator. Some one said how nice it was to have a good goverment. The bishops wife laughed a little and said " yeah right ".

When I heard that I thought about Tamaran and I getting married and moving to Salt Lake. We had no papers to take with us, as we changed counties there were no military check points and we were not required to bribe anyone to keep from being thrown in jail or worse killed and tossed in the woods. It was and is remarkable to me that here in america we worry about poor wages, higher taxes, illegal immigration, a President we may not agree with, nationalized healthcare, when will social security run out. These are our big concerns. The general fall out for these things being taxes that are a little higher, a car we have to drive a little longer, maybe a smaller house, or oweing the doctor or hospital some money for a while until we get our medical bills paid off. Three years from now We will choose who our next president will be. Less than one year from now we will decide who gets to go to congress, or the senate. There is no risk of General Gates leading the military down the streets of D.C. to take up residence in the whitehouse, or having our senate and congress dissolved under martial law. We may have to go with out for christmas but we will not have to sit in the fetal position for three days hoping that the boat we are on can handle the next wave, and this after selling every single posession we have to pay some one to smuggle us into a foriegn country.
At this time of year I am grateful to be an American, and whatever he may be I am grateful for our President and representatives, they are just that, OURS! Merry Christmas.