Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Stockings Were Hung


It's true, they were. For the first time in our marriage I got to hang our stockings from a chimney with care. I love having a fireplace. I never really thought much of having a fireplace here in the desert. My parents have one and they have never lit it once in 21 years. So I always thought they were kind of pointless. But, we have used ours a lot this month and I am hooked. I love how watching a log burns makes me feel so peaceful. I love how my kids run to it after their showers so they can warm up. I love how my stockings look hanging from it. I love how Ella goes up to the fire and tries to blow it out. I love how excited Quinn gets every time we tell him we are going to light a fire and he runs out to the garage to carry in the heavy log. And I love the handful of memories I now have from this ol' fireplace. Cheesy but true.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Phoenix Temple, Part II

So tonight is the Eve before the Eve of Christmas Eve. Whatever you did today, I'm sure it had something to do with getting ready for Christmas. I wrapped presents and took my sick baby to the doctor. On my way home from the doctor I couldn't help but be discouraged at what this lady chose to do on Christmas Eve Eve Eve...

Yes, they are working hard. Flagging down drivers on 55th Ave to sign their petitions. They were also at the elementary school on Friday and the church building on Sunday. It's unfortunate that on the week we celebrate our Lords birth, they are trying to stop His temple from being built. How ironic.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Just Keep Trying...

Just keep trying. Just keep trying. Just keep trying, trying, trying. What do we do, we try, try, try.



My sweet baby that took forever to crawl isn't in a hurry to walk either. At 17 months she can actually pick up the walker and turn it the direction she wants to go. She looks like a giant in it. I'm sure she'll walk before nursery next month. One can only hope.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Parties, Parties and More Parties!!!

I feel like all I've been doing lately is getting ready for the next school party. I guess it just comes with having three kids in school. We go from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas in just a matter of weeks. Once one party is done it's time to prepare for the next! Well I'll spare you the pictures of all of those parties but I can't go without posting about one of the wildest parties of the year. Dave turned the 34 last month! HBD2U Sweetie!

I tried my hand at fondant. Not bad for my first attempt. Quinn gave it his touches there at the bottom of the cake. I enjoyed it enough to try it again for Dailee's birthday but probably not before then. We'll see if there is any improvement.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Phoenix Temple

As most of you know, yesterday was the City Council meeting for the Phoenix Temple. And as all of you may know it was approved unanimously, yeah!!! But you may not know that the oppositions fight is far from over. As I have attended these meetings, I am pretty bothered at the extent of hatred these people have for this beautiful building, the Lords Temple. The fact is is that the church owns the property and can build a temple on it. The only reason we have been through this process is because the building ordinance only allows a 30' structure and the temple is 40'. So the church is asking the city for approval of only 10 extra feet. That's it, 10 feet, not approval to build. *Major side note: steeples, spires, bell towers etc., are not restricted at all. They can be as high as you want want. So, is the neighborhood in a frenzy over 10 feet???? No, they are in a frenzy over the temple being built at all. They are hoping that if they huff and they puff they will blow this temple away. Here are the huffs and puffs....

1. Traffic - The neighborhood is very concerned that the temple will cause major traffic issues. It's a legit concern I admit. However.....What they don't understand is that traffic into the temple is more of a trickle then a down poor. This isn't a church that has a couple of meeting times a week and needs cops to control the traffic. But more importantly, a traffic study has been done and the traffic engineers have found no concern for the traffic in this area being effected by the temple. Neighbors, do you know what this means???? The City actually has engineers who's job is to study traffic. They are professional traffic studiererers. So if they say traffic won't be an issue then TRAFFIC WON'T BE AN ISSUE!!

2. Lighting - It's true that all temples are lit up at night. And this neighborhood does have a dark sky ordinance. There are no street lights in the neighborhood because the people like to see the stars. So again, this is a legit concern. However....This temple is not going to be lit up like the Mesa, Salt Lake, San Diego, or even Gilbert Temples. The lighting is going to be much less as to comply to the dark sky ordinance. Did you hear that neighbors???? It complies with the dark sky ordinance!!! We did that just for you and we are even going to turn them off an hour early for you. Happy now??? Of course you're not.

Now a new concern about the lighting was brought up last night and this is just way to good not to mention. A new opposer came to speak. She supposedly represents the Friends of Thunderbird Park. Her concern was that the lighting on the temple was going to cause the extinction of at least 4 different species in the park. What??? And it was also going to cause breast cancer in women. Okay, I know I'm no scientist but I'm a little more concerned about the 150 foot power lines that run through the neighborhood causing cancer, not the temple lights. Oh yeah, and did I mention they are in compliance with the dark sky ordinance?

3. Blocked views - This is a beautiful area surrounded by mountains. I too would love to have panoramic views of the mountains. But I don't. My views are blocked by houses, RV garages and the hundreds and hundreds of mature trees in the neighborhood. I dare say only about 25% of the homes in the area will even be able to see the spier of the temple. Only about 5% will be able to see the actual building. And really, how much of a mountain does a spier block? Lean to the left, lean to the right and you'll see the whole mountain, I promise.

4. It just doesn't fit in with the neighborhood - Well of course it doesn't fit in to our neighborhood people. It's the House of the Lord. There is not a neighborhood in America or on this entire planet that a temple "fits" in to. It is a majestic, glorious, beautiful, sacred, serene building. Of none comparison to anything else on this planet. Any neighborhood is extremely lucky (I prefer blessed) to have one.

And so you have it then, the major concerns of the opposition. They are currently working to collect over 9,000 legit signatures in 30 days. If they succeed it will force the rezoning to go to the ballot so the voters can decide. Thus, pushing back the project and hoping the church will give up and go somewhere else. Please keep this temple in your prayers. The fight is not over yet. Pray that hearts may be softened and the Lord's temple can be built.