Bella Via Italian Street Painting Festival


The kids' elementary school, Valley View, holds an annual "Bella Via Italian Street Painting Festival" during which the kids recreate famous pieces of art in chalk on the blacktop, and the kids' artwork is displayed in the cafeteria. Here are the pictures I thought were particularly nice, including the ones AJ and Michael helped create.

AJ's picture: Henry and Mudge. Michael's picture: Birch Trees









AJ's class created this picture





The first picture is one of the book Michael created with his descriptions of the sound of color.
The other two pictures are of the artwork his class recreated.

In a previous posting, I wrote about my first prop. 8 letter to the editor. It was published in our local newspaper, The Signal, today. If you'd like to view it, here's the link.

Last week was a crazy one for our family. I was busy making costumes for Michael and AJ, hoping to get them finished before the church Halloween party on Saturday, October 25.




Michael was very involved in the design and fabrication of his costume. He wanted to be a viking. John joined in the fray and helped finish the costume by designing the fur "boots." We finished his costume by mid-afternoon and felt pretty good about it. At the party, Michael won the costume contest! It was a pleasant surprise, especially since Michael was a bit down. He felt a bit left out. No matter how much you love your kids, or try to prepare them for the difficulties of childhood, it is hard to say the right thing to soothe that kind of hurt. So the contest couldn't have been timed better! It took his mind off the slight, and he had a wonderful time with his younger brother. Here's a picture of the finished costume.







AJ wanted to be a vampire for Halloween, because he received glow in the dark, plastic fangs last year. So I made a black cape lined with red fabric early in the week. But when we felt the costume was missing something, and while we were at Walmart, we decided AJ's costume needed a vest. So we picked out some fabric and buttons, and I made a quick vest. It looks good in the pictures, but it isn't lined and won't last very long. Yet it is good enough for a costume. AJ went around all night on Saturday bearing his glow in the dark fangs and pulling his cape around him. He had a great time.





Personally, this is the most fun I've had in a long time. Planning these costumes with the boys and making them with John, it was simple, but enjoyable. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that I have such a wonderful family.

I had not written a letter to the editor on any subject for more than a decade, until today. I wrote a letter to the editor about Prop. 8 today. I intended to do it weeks ago, but I wasn't sure what to write. I didn't have anything new to say. Then I read an article in our local newspaper, The Signal, and I decided it was time.

The article was titled "Cheers, jeers for protestors" and detailed a "No on Prop. 8" protest at a major intersection in Santa Clarita. (click here to view the article) While it was a balanced article presenting both sides of Prop. 8, I was disappointed that the paper did not mention similar demonstrations by Prop 8 supporters throughout the Santa Clarita Valley on Saturday, October 19. I was also upset, because the article portrayed the main voice for Prop 8 as uneducated. So I composed a letter and sent it in.

Here it is:


While I read The Signal's article "Cheers, jeers for protestors" with interest, I was quite disappointed with the one-sided coverage of the Proposition 8 demonstrations in the Santa Clarita. "Yes on 8!" volunteers held similar demonstrations on Saturday, October 19 on several major intersections around the valley, receiving both support and criticism.

Also, the article portrayed the main pro-Prop 8 voice as ill-educated for she was unable to cite where the Bible states that homosexuality is a sin. I would like to assist that dedicated Prop 8 supporter by answering the question now. There are several scriptures including one found in Leviticus 18: 22, which states, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."

I am voting "YES" on Proposition 8 which defines marriage as it should be "between a man and a woman", and I hope that all Californians will join with me.


We'll see if they publish it!

I encourage each of you to make your voice heard on Proposition 8, whether or not you live in California, even if you feel you have nothing new or different to add to the discussion. Talk to your friends and neighbors about it. Respond to articles and blogs online. Write letters to the editor. Put up a yard sign, or place a bumper sticker on your car. Pray to soften the hearts of the people of California, so they may follow our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, to vote "YES" on Proposition 8.




This battle is winnable! Many people are afraid to say they support Prop 8, because they think they are alone. Let them know they are not alone and that together we will "stand at witnesses of God, at all times and in all things, and in all places"!

Public education and legalized same gender marriage: one family's experience in Massachusetts.

Will same gender marriage hurt anyone? This video answers this question.

This is a funny YouTube video spoofing California's use of Party A and Party B on marriage licenses rather than Bride and Groom.