If Obama gets elected, we're buying stock in Golden Corral Restaurants...

8 more days to go! Here are a few of my thoughts on the election and state of the union: (for what they're worth???)

1. Please vote. We are not terribly excited about either candidate, but McCain is definitely the lesser of two evils. If you're thinking about not voting at all, remember: silence gives consent. What a God-given right it is to have a voice. President Ezra Taft Benson said: "Freedom can be killed by neglect as well as by direct attack."

2. Don't vote for a 3rd party, as tempting as it may be when you don't get goosebumps over either candidate. Voting for 3rd party is a wasted vote because there's no chance that person will win in this case. If you have any opinion on abortion, 2nd amendment rights, foreign oil dependence, the economy, ANWR options, health care, etc. , then vote for the candidate who best reflects your set of values out of the two primary candidates. I for one cannot figure out how anybody can be 'undecided' at this point. The two candidates' views and voting records/accomplishments in the Senate are fairly contrasting. Just get behind the one you think will do the most good. Just vote.

3. The economy... ouch. It is scary to review our 401K and compare it's value from 6 months ago. However, we're not anywhere near retirement, so we have faith it will come up in value again. Joseph has this economic theory that I find enlightening --- the answer to stimulating the economy without all the government bail-outs is to cut spending. Specifically taxes. Specifically payroll taxes, including cutting contributions to Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. If we weren't forced to contribute so much to those right now, we would have our own money in our own pockets to spend or re-invest as we please. Imagine what that would do. And the best part is it wouldn't create a greater national deficit. Easier said than done, I know. As great as Palin is, admit it... Mitt would have been brilliant at helping solve this financial crisis... Obama keeps saying he'll cut taxes for 90% of Americans. That's a bunch of you-know-what. The problem with that half-truth is that only 40% of Americans pay taxes. In other words, if you get more back in your refund than you pay in, you are among that 60% who does not pay income tax. Lucky you. (See Post Title...)

4. I am scratching my head trying to understand why people think Obama is "articulate and brilliant..." Anybody can be articulate using a teleprompter, but spontaneous rally speeches are NOT his shining moments. And what makes him brilliant? After all, choosing Joe Biden proves Obama's intelletual nothingness. All Obama has to do is mention 'hope' and 'change' in the same sentence and the media is smothering him with acolades. Some 'community organizer'. And what about appointing conservative Supreme Court judges? That could really be a defining moment... that is huge in my book. Think about Prop 8. Where does each candidate stand on gay rights?Hmmmm....

5. If a socialist becomes President, it could usher in the Second Coming faster. But I'm not ready. I still have a lot of repenting to do for over indulging at Golden Corrall Friday night.

5. Think less. Less is more in terms of government control. Why would we want more government involvement in our personal lives? Smaller government = more agency and freedom.

I love the war chapters in the Book of Mormon. When studying these chapters, we must ask ourselves why Mormon included 100 recorded instances of armed conflict. That means there are 50 pages, or 10% of the entire Book of Mormon devoted to understanding war and conflict. It is so applicable to today!

Keep the faith. Fight the good fight. Goodnight...

For anyone interested in stretching that grocery budget...

I am elated to share a fresh meat-purchasing tip I learned tonight! My husband's good friend is a veteran meat butcher for Albertson's. He was surprised to hear that we buy ground beef as ground beef... Joseph asked him what he meant by that and he said that anytime any cut of beef roast goes on sale, go to the meat counter and tell them you want it ground. He says they do it all the time for people. It looks like and cooks like ground beef, but it is a better cut of meat! Last week for instance, Albertsons had the rump roasts on sale for $1.88/pound. He stocked up on 'ground' roast meat. I don't pay more than $2.00/pound for meat, so I always wait until I get lucky and see sales on the ground beef. Now I know better. Am I the only one who had never heard of this option before?

Dinner in a Pumpkin

Our Halloween tradition is having dinner in a pumpkin. If anyone else has a good recipe, I'd love to have it. Here it is:

1 med - lg pumpkin, cleaned thoroughly
1-2 lb. gr. beef
1/2 C. chopped onions
1 C. chopped green pepper
Brown meat with onion and pepper. Stir in the following:
3/4 C. brown sugar
2 Tb. lemon juice
1- 15 oz. can pork & beans
1 -16 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 -16 oz. tomato sauce
2 C. cooked rice
s & p to taste

Spoon the above mixture into the cleaned pumpkin. Let the kids draw a face with permanent marker on the pumpkin. Place 'him' on cookie sheet and bake on bottom rack of oven @ 350 for approx. 2 hours. He will start to wilt and turn darker orange. It makes the house smell delicious and it is tasty served with french bread and green salad. Enjoy!

Food for November Thought

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift...You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves. "

---Abraham Lincoln

Did I mention they were on Clearance?

We went to Home Fabrics and we were able to get 9 yards of upholstery fabric for curtains and pillows for $30! Maybe next month we''ll paint...

p.s. Does anybody know when the heck Happy Hour is at Sonic?

Conference weekend...

I think the best kept secret in the Church is the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference. I know a lot of people use that day to shop, go camping, hunting, travel, etc., but I feel that there are special blessings for being present and sacrificing to hear the Conference live. Hearing Conference live has a stronger Spirit present that isn't quite the same when reading the talks online or in the Ensign. Maybe it's just my preference? At any rate, Saturday afternoon session was no exception. The primary children's choir was exquisite and I could not keep my tears at bay when they sang "I Am a Child of God" and "I Love to See the Temple." The talks really enriched my testimony. (My toddlers were asleep and the two older ones were quiet, thankfully!) As good as it is, when I sit down in a comfortable place, I get sleepy! So, to help me stay awake, I sewed! My sweet friend Julie is helping me redecorate and we purchased fabric to make curtains and recover throw pillows. I am very happy with the outcome! I can't get the flash to work to show the curtains above, but I will post a better picture later.

Also, for anyone interested in the cutest blog ever with the best music, too by the way, go to my cousin's blog. She is currently hosting a blog warming party with some sweet little giveaways: http://www.granvillehouse.blogspot.com/