Monday, August 4, 2008

Proud to be an American

No matter what your political convictions are, this is an eye opener.

Subject: Jay Leno on President Bush (Surprising)

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''


A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?


B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?


C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?


D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?


E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?


F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?


G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.


H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.


I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.


J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.


K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.


L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?


Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.


Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder t he world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?


Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so mu ch, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it.


The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.


So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?
Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by
'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!


Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

Jay Leno

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Painting Family Room

This weekend I painted our stairway and our family room. The boys wanted to paint also so I let them help out a little. Here they are painting. I didn't want them to get paint on their shirts so they took them off before they started. Although Chris went outside to paint our back porch so when the boys went out there to help they got paint all over their shirts, pants and bodies, it was great!! :-)

It took 6 hours straight on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday afternoon to get it all finished, but I am finally done. What do you think?

Now we just have to wait for our furniture to come in and the family room will be mostly complete. I can't wait!!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

New Haircuts


Today we took the boys to Great Clips to get their hair cut and styled. They both were so good for the ladies cutting their hair. They looked so handsome afterward that I had to take a picture and share it with all of you. What do you think?

Introducing Brody James Stephenson


Brody James was born Friday July 18th at the Spokane Valley Hospital. He weighed 9 lbs 2 oz and was 19 inches long. Parents are Trevor & Holly Stephenson. He is the fourth boy to be born in their family. He is just as handsome as his big brothers. I am a very proud aunt!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Bucket List

I watched the Bucket List and have decided to write my own. Here are all the things I would like to do before I die.

Go Sky diving
Go to Hawaii
Go horseback riding
Travel through Europe
Drive a motorcycle
Run in a marathon
Climb a mountain
learn a foreign language
Study photography
Swim with Dolphins
Learn to Salsa dance
See the Pyramids in Egypt
See the Great Wall of China
Go on an African Safari



What things would you like to do before you die?

Monday, July 21, 2008

McCombs Family Reunion

Every 3 to 5 years my Dad's family gets together and has a family reunion. This time it was my dad's turn. He decided to have everyone come up here to go camping. Most everyone came in on Thursday so we had a BBQ at my parents house. My sister (Holly) brought over there inflatable water park for the kids to play in. It was fun seeing everyone. It's been a long time since I've seen all of my cousins and all my aunts and uncles. Chris and I haven't been able to make the last two reunions.

Friday we all headed out to Farragut State Park. Since we were all ready over that way my brother Joel, his wife Amber and their kids and my sister Melody and brother Ryan and my family all decided to stop by Silverwood first. We rode some roller coasters and then hung out at Boulder Beach and rode the waves in the Wave pool and went on the water slides. It was a good time. Then we headed out to set up our campsite.

Saturday we went down to the lake and did a little swimming and hung out on my brother's boat. Did some tubing and some wake boarding. Since I am deathly afraid of the water I decided that I would just try out tubing. Of course my brother didn't really go gentle on my and I fell of. When I first hit the water the cold took me back. Once I thought my head was up and out of the water I went to take a deep breath. Only a wave of water went back over my head and instead of taking a deep breath of water I took a deep breath of water. Murky lake water. It was terrible. I started to freak out. I had water in my eyes so I couldn't see where I was or what was going on. I started to have a minor panic attack. I was like I was outside my body listening to myself freak out. I was having a very hard time catching my break, waving my arms around calling for my little sister. All the while I am thinking, "What is your problem. Calm down. You are fine. You have a life jacket on." I am sure that I must have looked a little crazy to everyone who saw me. My sister couldn't stop laughing and I have to say that I laughed at myself a little as well. It was so sad, but I couldn't seem to get a hold of myself. I should have got right back on and tried it again, but I was still having a hard time catching my breath even after I got back onto the boat. I think that my brother felt a little bad about it, but he shouldn't. He had no way of knowing that I would react that way. I never would have thought I would react that way. It was just like having one of my biggest fears coming to life and it freaked me out. It was pretty hilarious.

Anyway that night we had a little family talent show and my niece Jenna got up and told her ghost story. She is five, full of life very much like her mother. She got up on a stump and start,"There was a dark dark night, a dark dark night. There was a dark dark house! A dark dark house. There was a dark dark room! A dark dark room. There was a dark dark closet! A dark dark closet. There was a dark dark box! A dark dark box. In the dark dark box there was a.... GHOST!!!" And of course everyone screamed when she said ghost. It was so cute. Watching he get up there and telling the story in her scary voice was so sweet. It just reminded me so much of her mom. She is becoming more and more like her mother everyday. When she grows up it wont be hard to explain to her what he mother was like because she is just like her. It is truly a blessing that she survive the accident so that we can still have a piece of Tiffany with us always.

Sunday my uncle Mike did a devotional for everyone and we heard from my cousin McKay who just got back from his mission recently. The spirit was so strong. I am so grateful for the faith and testimonies that my family have.

All in all it was a fun trip and very exhausting. I am happy to be home and able to sleep in my own bed. I wish I had some pictures to share, but I was so busy having fun I didn't seem to find any time to take any pictures. So just imagine my family really dirty and in the woods and that is all you need.