On a lighter note...

"Mom, come on. I am really too big to be posing for you all the time."

Actually, "CB" as Lyndon likes to call her now (aka-Claire Bear) will pose at will for anyone with any camera.

I do remember my sister Julie NOT liking to pose. Which is quite funny now if you chance across her blog where she posts silly movies and pictures of her and her kids.

We have documented home videos of Julie yelling at the cameraman (Dad) to not film or follow her, while dad kept teasing back that she would regret it, or that it was "for posterity."

So here's to Claire's posterity. May they be as stinking cute as she is.

Promises

I am attempting to explain or relate thoughts that may be very jumbled to you as a reader, so as those have said before, "consider yourself warned."

I just watched a really heart provoking documentary of Israeli, Arab, & Palestinian kids (Hereafter "I", "A", "P") (for those of you who netflix, it is called "The Promises Film Project"). It documented several years throughout their lives; asking them their thoughts and feelings on Politics/war/life surrounding them. I couldn't believe how soon the hatred began for some of them in relation to the other races and then how open minded and peaceful others were.

At one point the interviewer of the kids arranged a meeting among those who were willing. The kids played, laughed, and had a great time together and then in the evening of their day together, they talked politics. They all knew that things would change once they went their separate ways, and then cried.

Here's where I might lose you. So in pondering about the relations of the I, A, &Ps, I thought of relations in marriage-yeah-seems totally off topic, but bear with me. My marriage is not as explosive as the relations I'm talking about here (even though we've seen some fireworks (GOOD and bad fireworks if you get my drift, but mostly good)....I'm talking about marriages that have lost the love -see second link below-).

The A, I, Ps are related to each other more or less (we all are in the long run, in the very long run). They all claim Abraham as their father (do the 'P's?I need to check on that one). They all became angry with each other for one reason or another (the I's deserted the A's in Mohamed's time during a war, I's kicked everyone out after they've been "kicked" back out, way back in the day..yadda, yadda, yadda (I think that is yiddish....yadda I mean...). In any case it is hard to follow. Who hurt who first, who is really to blame, who deserves more punishment, who deserves to be reconciled, who deserves justice. When you listen to BOTH sides of the story, it is hard to feel like any one person deserves anything. Why can't they all just forget the past, let go of the hurt, kiss and make up and live life in peace? No really, why? Okay-I see why. Neither side is wiling to let it go. Change, as in change their own behaviors instead of focusing on the others faults, and love the other person. They think of a million excuses as to why it won't work, they don't trust- neither side has given the other reasons to trust. And in the end, they all kill each other (some just do it in uniform).

As we can see, the only person who will "solve" all this hatred is Jesus Christ. His atonement. Ah, but we hear that quite often, that response I mean-among Christians. But it is not used, or we don't quite understand how to use or keep using it to heal. Because this is huge. The wars and hatred I mean. The hatred is steeped in tradition (much like Laman and Lemuel telling their kids to hate the Nehpites- and in the end of that story everyone dies as well....except for the 400 years of peace..why? Oh yeah, Christ came and the people applied His atonement).

Have I lost you?

So the I,A, &Ps are like a husband and wife who for one reason or another now hate each other. And just like the I, A, & P's there are so many stories, traditions, sides; that no one can really tell who is to blame, shun, or side with. The sad thing is, this husband and wife feel much like the I, A, & P's in that the solution of peace is so far out of the picture that to them, it just won't work. Or peace is semi do-able, but actually "solving" the problem or ending the "problem" is impossible. That is unless they really, no really apply the atonement. Because if it really works. It is possible to heal.

Now, I am not an "I", "A", or "P", nor am I at the same explosive point in my marriage. So naturally it is easier for me to see the problem and the solution (note: not means to getting around to using the solution) than those in the middle east or in a sad marital state.

Here is the link: http://www.promisesproject.org/

Note: Only to those who know will understand why on earth I chose to bring this up.

P.S. Lyndon wanted to add this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRo8N_ZNpjM

(Lyndon really likes this song...it always surprises me what songs Lyndon likes....but I think I like it too. Give it a chance, plus it's the Black eyed Peas, so it's supposed to be cool, right).

Love,
Missy

Comparison

Claire is the bottom picture with the large puppy paws and Sydney is the top with the grumpy face. So do they look a like? We don't think so.

Berry Pickin Time

Bwahhaaahaa! Doesn't this look delectably evil? It tasted much better than it looks. We also had cheese cake with yummy blueberry topping. I mean seriously good cheesecake. (made in a blender) (but really folks, it was fantastic!).