My Favorite Christmas Carols

I'm probably missing one, but just off the top of my head.

O' Holy Night (my clear #1 favorite)
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
O Come All Ye Faithful
Away In A Manger
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Joy To The World
Silent Night
Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Deck The Halls
The First Noel
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bells
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen (the words not neccessarily the tune)
Frosty The Snowman

Thanksgiving thoughts

I know, a few days late. I was just thinking of some things I'm thankful and grateful for.

We all know the economy is not great. I'm grateful for a good job, that is secure that takes care of my families needs. I'm grateful for our American History and those who have risked their lives for liberty and freedom. Not everyone has a decent job, or has the freedoms that we do. Part of freedom is to keep it protected. We've probably seen the slogan, freedom isn't free.

Just a brief note on some thoughts I've been having.

UNLV First Look/ Kids Pictures

A couple of weeks ago I attended UNLV Men's Basketball First Look. UNLV is a top 25 team this year and it should be an exciting year. UNLV has the third highest winning percentage of all-time behind Kentucky and No. Carolina. We watched some pre practice speeches and watched them scrimmage.









The school was charging nearly $40 for picture packages. Times that by two. So we decided to take our own. Here are some of them we took and then developed ourselves.

Proposition 8 Passes

The people of California passed Proposition 8 on November 4, 2008, therefore protecting traditional marriage in california. Traditional marriage has been around since the beginning of civilization. The people, freedom, and democracy have spoken.

Barack Obama won convincingly in California, so many who voted for Obama also voted to protect marriage as between a man and woman.

These gay rights activists only protest and whine when their side loses. Protesting at Catholic and Mormon Churches is outrageous.

I saw a tv news headline that called the passing of proposition 8 "controversial". Is it controversial when the majority of Californians vote yes on 8?

I think its important for all to have constitutional rights, but not special rights that degrade society. Marriage should remain sacred between a man and woman. Just my opinion and freedom of speech on the matter.

Protecting Traditional Marriage in California

From my understanding, the People of California voted to ban gay marriage in the state. The California Supreme Court some time after that rejected the people and ruled gay marriage is legal.

With that in mind, this is our opportunity to remind the California Supreme Court that the constitution still begins with “We The People…..”

"Marriage is sacred, ordained of God from before the foundation of the world."

"Only a man and a woman together have the natural biological capacity to conceive children. This power of procreation – to create life and bring God’s spirit children into the world – is sacred and precious. Misuse of this power undermines the institution of the family and thereby weakens the social fabric. The United Nations stated in 1948, "Strong families serve as the fundamental institution for transmitting to future generations the moral strengths, traditions, and values that sustain civilization. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms, “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society.”

If the proposition fails, children in public schools will be taught that same sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage. The California Education code (51890) already requires that children be taught about marriage.

Churches may be sued over their tax exempt status if they refuse to allow same sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public.

Church Leaders or Ministers who preach against same-sex marriage may be sued for hate speech and risk government fines.

These are not far fetched possibilities. We need to stand together and help to protect same-sex marriage. It is the right thing to do.

http://www.protectmarriage.com

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage

C-Town Trip

My friend Jason (from SLC) and I made a trip to Cleveland, Ohio this past weekend (Sept 13-15). The primary purpose of the trip was to watch the Pittsburg Steelers battle the Cleveland Browns.

While we were there we saw the Royals play the Indians. We drove around in downtown Cleveland and witnessed the sites, which included the inner city, Great Lakes Science Center, and Lake Erie.



We saw the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.




Jason and OJ.



And of course, we witnessed in person the NBC Night Football game. It was windy with some rain.







The Southwest flight to Las Vegas was actually early almost 30 minutes!

California Dreamin' Vacation

The Glade and Linda McArthur Family traveled to Carlsbad California last weekend (Fri,Aug 29th-Mon,Sept 1). Everyone was able to make it with their spouses and children and it was a fun experiance.

Most of the time was spend at the beach or hangin' out in various locations. Some other time was spent at theme parks, eating, or enjoying scenery. We even attended an hour of church for sacrament meeting.

Click on the image to see a larger version.

Vote For McArthur

14th Wedding Anniversary

Jeanette and I passed our 14th wedding anniversary, August 6th. In my experiance, my love has grown more and more for her over the years.

She wanted an odd anniversary present, a vacuum. However, I must say this vacuum is not an ordinary vacuum, it is a Dyson (with root cyclone technology, wow!). Even I was impressed. This thing picks up anything with no bag and has excellent suction.

We celebrated the anniversary last night. We ate and went to The Dark Night. We had heard from others that the movie is good. Jeanette and I thought the movie was very good too. Everyone played their role well.

She's Back

A little late of an update, but Jeanette got back from Young Womens Camp. Thank goodness.

While she was gone the kids took turns getting sick. Brooke, Zach, Nick, and then me. After she returned, she got sick a couple of days later. Nausea, vomitting, etc. It lasted about 2 days for each person. The worst sickness to me is the flu. Most other things I can tolerate.

The house stayed manageable and didn't get too out of control. Also, the kids were very good and we all helped each other.

I'm glad she was able to get away and have good experiences with the youth. It was a great camp.

August is a trip near San Diego with immediate family.

September 14th, I got authorization to go to Cleveland with my friend Jason Baran to watch the Steelers vs Browns.

The moment of truth

This week will be the moment of truth. My wife, Jeanette, is going up to camp with the young women for about five days (Tues-Sat). Jeanette told me she does not want to come home to a disaster, and has threatened not to go if she feels it will be a mess when she gets back. I might have to do a last minute clean up on Friday and Saturday.

The house is generally in good order on any given day. The problem may be I'm at work in the day (MON-Thurs) and may come home to a mess. Our babysitter does a good job though and it should be a good break for mom to get away.

Freedom Wins! Liberal gun-grabbers lose!

Thugs and criminals aren't the only ones who can have handguns now in D.C and other parts of the country. Thugs and criminals will get their guns by any means necessary, whether there is a city ban or not. Bans keep guns out of the reach of citizens who obey the law.


The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history.The court's 5-4 ruling struck down the District of Columbia's 32-year-old ban on handguns as incompatible with gun rights under the Second Amendment.


Who are the four old bastards that voted against a persons right to bear arms? John Paul Stevens, Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter. Could they be out of touch with the average law abiding American?






Felon Leroy in K.C. has a gun, legally or not.

1980's are the Greatest!

I loved the 80's! I don't know entirely why, but it is a decade I love.

Some things that come to mind are the music of the decade (including rocker hair-doos and mullets), fashion, my sports teams had great success, riding around in beat up Dodge cars and other trade ins, Reagan (love him or hate him), riding the bus to the 6th grade, movies, Cola wars, less political correctness, Superfriends Cartoon, etc.

The Breakfast Club, Hoosiers, Ferris Bueller, First Blood, Die Hard. Can't mention all the movies.

There are so many great artists I cannot mention a fraction of them. VH1 occasionally has the top 100 of the decade, for the most part it is a good list. Heart, B52s, Pat Benetar, Queen, Air Supply, Journey, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, The Police, Foreigner, Survivor (one song, Eye of the Tiger), Men At Work, Steve Miller Band, Prince, Hall and Oates, Rick Springfield, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Go-Go's, Van Halen, INXS, U2, Depeche Mode, Phil Collins, Scandal, Def Leppard, Guns n' Roses.

My Kids and Team Sports

It's fun to watch your kids grow right before your eyes. Brooke, 9, has been playing soccer for over two years now and she has developed into a great player. Zachary, 5, is just beginning baseball and learning the basics and fundamentals. Jeanette and I love to cheer them on and support them.

Looking at them play brings back memories of my own upbringing. There are many similarities. Parents cheering and pulling for their children and team to do well and win. Dad pacing the sideline nervously hoping for a great play.

I believe it is important for children to have a good balance in their lives. This may include, education, spirituality, and group or team involvement in something. I believe there are many physical and mental benefits associated with team sports. The physical benefits are pretty obvious, but important. Today’s generation of children are fighting the worst obesity epidemic in history.

Kids learn more than just scoring, batting, shooting, and winning. They are part of a team. It is not I, or my way, they learn to be a team and help and cheer for teammates, and winning requires teamwork. Hopefully, they begin to think of everyone as a whole, and not just themselves, become more selfless. Having positive experiences and role models is priceless, and creates everlasting memories. I hope we all encourage are kids to be involved in some type of team sport or other form of extra caricular activity.

BYU Basketball-An Embarrasement

The BYU Men's Basketball Program is an embarrasement to the Mountain West Conference. Two years in a row with a first round loss in the NCAA Tournament. This quickly voids and discussion of them being the best in the conference. Meanwhile, UNLV has won 3 NCAA Tournament games in the past two seasons, reached 4 final fours, and won a national championship.

The Cougars were tied with the University of Missouri for the distinction of having the most NCAA Tournament appearances without having ever played in the Final Four. Now, thanks to 2008, they are alone in that category.

Great job BYU. Win a couple of NCAA Tournament games before you run your mouth.

Go Rebels!

Obama's church: Destroy the white enemy

According to the Washington Times article below, Obama's church was founded on a radical creed.

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NATION/766118950/1001

The Bible clearly states that Christ was in Israel and that he was a Jew. However, Reverend Wright has a different opinion of Christ. He stated Jesus was a poor black man. He also has a hatred towards white people and is anti-American.

That African moo moo the Reverend is wearing is very lovely.

Below are some links to the Reverend's rants and hate speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfu2P6cGhWo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEMZHQsQJ6Y&feature=related

Global Warming- A False Religion?

Let's debunk some global warming.

Sun, Not Man, Main Cause of Climate Change, New Study Says.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=/Nation/archive/200712/NAT20071211a.html

Less Than 1/2 of Published Scientists Endorse Global Warming Theory
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=8641

Tempetures have not risen since 1998.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7329799.stm

Greenland Ice Find deflates Al Gore's Global Warming Theories
http://newsbusters.org/node/13948

Scientists respond to Gore's warnings of climate catastrophe
http://canadafreepress.com/2006/harris061206.htm

Typical Nickolas Disaster

Nick smothered in butter. You can't leave him alone for a minute. He also loves playing in toilets and other garbage if things are not shut or secured.




Don't leave anything laying about or he will take care of it for you.

Home First

Dr. Paul Pearsall expresses the opinion that families aren’t failing, but we are failing the family because we have not learned how to put family life first in our world.

“Our society is interfering with the family-first feature,” he writes. “We are in familial bankruptcy and have fallen into the hands of receivers such as schools, businesses, recreational pursuits, and numerous institutional demands. The issue is not one of setting priorities; the issue is one of making difficult choices for the family. There can only be one number one,” he stresses. “Is it your family?” He makes this emphatic statement: “I warn you that if your family does not come first, your family will not last.” (Pearsall, p. 18.)

In homes where high ideals and gospel values are maintained, it is parents, not teachers, who lay the foundation of character and faith in the hearts of their children. -Rex D. Pinegar

Major changes in Church budgeting policies have been made, which Elder Boyd K. Packer said “will have the effect of returning much of the responsibility for teaching and counseling and activity to the family where it belongs. … There will be fewer intrusions into family schedules and in the family purses.


“Church activities must be replaced by family activities.”

Elder Packer closed his instruction by saying, “It is a course correction; it is an inspired move.” (Ensign, May 1990, p. 90.)

I feel in the eternal, spiritual sense of course God comes first.

The "Family First" idea is simply a catch phrase to help us, set our worldly concerns in the proper priority and importance. But I think as far as God is concerned, putting our family first is the same as putting Him first. The scriptures tell us:

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40)

Are we putting our families first?