Family vacation to Lake Shasta Aug 23-28, 2008

Proposition 8 protects the people’s will and overturns activist judges.
In 2000 over 61% of Californians voted in favor of Proposition 22 to reaffirm that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. However, because this language wasn’t put into the state Constitution when it was approved, four activist judges from San Francisco wrongly overturned the people’s vote. In November 2008, Proposition 8 gives California voters the opportunity to reverse the court’s decision and restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman in the state Constitution.

Proposition 8 is simple and straightforward.
Proposition 8 contains the same 14 words that were previously approved in 2000 by over 61% of California voters: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." By putting these words directly into the state Constitution, the court cannot strike them down as unconstitutional.

Proposition 8 is about preserving marriage; it’s not an attack on the gay lifestyle.
Proposition 8 doesn’t take away any rights or benefits from gay or lesbian domestic partners. Under California law, "domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections and benefits" as married spouses. (Family Code §297.5.) There are no exceptions to this. Proposition 8 will not change this.

Proposition 8 protects our children.
Proposition 8 protects our children from being taught in public schools that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage. In health education classes, state law requires teachers to instruct children as young as kindergarteners about marriage. (Education Code §51890.) If the same-sex marriage ruling is not overturned, teachers will be required to teach young children that there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage.

Proposition 8 protects marriage as an essential institution of society.
Proposition 8 protects marriage and the important role of a traditional family. While death, divorce or other circumstances may prevent the ideal, the best situation for a child is to be raised by a married mother and father.

YES on Proposition 8 does three simple things.

􀂃 It restores the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved and human history has understood marriage to be.

􀂃 It overturns the outrageous decision of four activist Supreme Court judges who ignored the will of the people.

􀂃 It protects our children from being taught in public schools that "same-sex marriage" is the same as traditional marriage.

Myths and Facts about Proposition 8

MYTH: Proposition 8 enshrines discrimination in our Constitution.
FACT: Proposition 8 does not discriminate against gays; it simply restores the meaning of marriage and protects it as an essential institution that has benefited mankind since the beginning of time. Every culture in the world understands that marriage is between a man and a woman. Californians from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds, whether religious or not, agree that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Proposition 8 does not take away any rights from gay and lesbian domestic partners. Gays and lesbians in California can already enjoy all the legal rights and benefits of marriage. The California Family Code says, "domestic partners shall have all the rights, protections and benefits" of married spouses. There are NO exceptions to this. Proposition 8 will not change that.

MYTH: Allowing gay couples to legally marry does not affect anyone else.
FACT: The narrow decision of the State Supreme Court effectively renders all civil marriage meaningless and will result in tremendous confusion for children. The state Education Code (§51890) requires that teachers instruct children as young as kindergartners about marriage. If the gay marriage ruling becomes permanent, teachers will have little choice but to teach young children there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage.
We should not accept a court decision that results in public school teachers teaching our kids that gay marriage is acceptable. That is an issue for parents to discuss with their children according to their own values and beliefs. It should not be forced on us against our will.

MYTH: This proposition is the work of right wing radicals and extremists to attack the rights of gays.
FACT: Proposition 8 is supported by a broad range of organizations and individuals, including faith leaders representing virtually every faith in California – and those who subscribe to no faith at all. People from every walk of life believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. Over 1.1 million Californians signed the petitions to put Proposition 8 on the ballot.
If gay marriage advocates want to change the definition of marriage, they should have to put a ballot measure before the voters to do so. This has never happened. Instead, they have gone behind the backs of voters and convinced four activist judges in San Francisco to redefine marriage for all of society. That is the wrong approach.
Proposition 8 does not interfere with gays living the lifestyle they choose. However, while gays can live as they want, they should not have the right to redefine marriage for the rest of society.

MYTH: The majority of the State Supreme Court said that gay marriage is a "right", so the rest of us should leave the issue alone.
FACT: Ultimately, the legal meaning of marriage is up to the people to decide. Four judges on the Supreme Court declared that gay marriage is a "right" because the traditional definition of marriage did not expressly appear in the state Constitution itself. Proposition 8 overturns the court’s flawed decision by amending the state Constitution to include the common-sense definition of marriage that was previously approved by over 61% of the voters (Proposition 22, enacted in 2000, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California").

Vote Yes on Proposition 8!

http://www.protectmarriage.com/

Paid for by ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8, a Project of California Renewal. 915 L Street, Suite C-259, Sacramento, CA 95814. 916/446-2956. Major funding by American Family Association, National Organization for Marriage California, and Focus on the Family.

19th Annual Southern California Harvest Crusade, 8/16/08

This year we went to the Crusade with our friends, Steve & Mitzi. First we stopped off at Jagerhaus German Restaurant to eat. I played it safe and ordered a salad and of course Brad gave me a hard time. I did however, try a bite of everyone's food, except for Steve's, it didn't look very good.

@ the Crusade with my hubby
Kathy & most of her boys :)

(Oscar was sitting with CBCMV's Youth Group)
Stephen, Bobby & Oscar

This year we enjoyed music by Leeland, KUTLESS, Lincoln Brewster, and P.O.D.
Leeland
Kutless - My favorite!!
Lincoln Brewster
P.O.D.

Our youth pastor, Peter, rockin' with the youth

Zachary rockin' out!
We also heard an awesome message by Pastor Greg Laurie about Heaven and Hell. I have never heard it put the way Greg put it.....HEAVEN is not the default destination of every person, you must choose to go there. For example, you can't just drive over to Disneyland and walk in, you have to purchase a ticket. You have to get your ticket to get into HEAVEN, you can't buy it, in fact you can't afford it. The good news is that Jesus Christ bought our ticket to heaven when he shed his blood on the cross of Calvary and he offers it as a free gift to us. It's up to us whether to accept......I'm glad I have my ticket to HEAVEN :)

Hannah Montana Television Premier Party, 7/26/08

So, having a girl is such a blast.....I get to do all the girlie things with her, like watch the Hannah Montana Television Premier with her friends, Kelsey & Ava. I think the girls enjoyed themselves that night.

Rockin' out on the trampoline

Kristian
Kelsey
Ava

Kelsey's mom, Amanda even made us Hannah Montana cupcakes. Thanks AMANDA!!
Gettin' ready for the movie to start
Rockin' out
Even Kelsey's brother, Cole, joined in the fun :)

Power Lab 2008

Kristian has such a blast this year @ CBCMV's Vacation Bible School from July 14-18, 2008.

Craft time

Zachary & Kaleb
Kayleigh

Best Buds
Who is that strong guy?? The best pastor in the world, Pastor Paul.

Pastor Paul came out one of the nights to speak with the kids about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. There was approximately 20 kids that gave their lives to Christ. Hurray!!!!
Kim & Nancy
Kristian getting brave and stepping out of her comfort zone
Jonah

DANGER

Life Change in Progress
Kristian with her leaders for the week
Kaleb
Kim, our pastor's wife, getting ready to lead the kids in worship
Kristian with her buddy, Taylor

Biggest & Baddest Tour, 7/12/08

We started out our evening by going to Famous Dave's in Redlands

As a group we ordered Dave's Famous Feast. The feast was served on a lid to a garbage can because that was Dave's very first backyard smoker. Brad couldn't wait to start eating :)
Mitzi & I
Kathy & I
The group (note: Brad is still eating....hahaha)
Now to Glen Helen to see Toby Keith's - Biggest Baddest Tour
~ Toby Keith ~
He is one patriotic man!!
Montgomery Gentry opened for Toby Keith
Enjoying ourselves
Kathy & Janelle
Janelle happened to call Kathy on our way to the concert and Kathy told her to meet us there since she had an extra ticket. Straight from work, scrubs and all :)
Steve & Mitzi
Toby Keith
So serious
Good call, Kathy. I am so glad you mentioned the concert to me!!!!





The best was saved for last!!

Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue
American girls and American guys
Will always stand up and salute
We'll always recognize
When we see old glory flying
There's a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head
My daddy served in the army
Where he lost his right eye
But he few a flag out in our yard till the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy in the land of the free
Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back
Soon as we can see clearly through our big black eye,
Man we lit up your world like the forth of July
Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
And the statue of liberty started shaking her fists
And the eagle will fly
And its gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom start ringing her bell
And it will feel like the whole wide word is raining down on you
Brought to you courtesy of the red, white and blue
Justice will be served
And the battle will rate
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
You'll be sorry you that you messed with the US of A
Cuz will put a boot in your a**
It's the American way
Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
And the statue of liberty started shaking her fists
And the eagle will fly
And its gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom start ringing her bell
And it will feel like the whole wide word is raining down on you
Brought to you courtesy of the red, white and blue