Jason Baran My Friend

Pictures of Jason on our trip to Cleveland in late 2008.




My friend Jason. You are a funny, loyal, and helpful friend to me for all of your days. There is a hole in my heart knowing that I cannot regularly talk and communicate with you for some time like we have done for over a decade. I think of all the great times we had. You are loved and will be missed until we meet again.

New Years Resolutions

I've never really thought of it too much before. I'm thinking of doing something. Why not try to better ourselves and improve ourselves?

I have too much soda. Almost one a day (usually about 12-32 ounces). To some this may not be enough, you may have more soda, some much less or none at all. If I cut this out or to a bare minimum, I would estimate losing about 7 pounds, which is about the amount I would like to lose around the midsection.

Other than that, I would like to spend my time more constructively. Tune it up so to speak.

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