Invictus

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Tonight Mike and I went to see Invictus and I really enjoyed it. I like movies that have historical significance, because they teach a little and plant the seed of interest into deeper study of a subject. I think that the poem Nelson Mandela said was an inspiration during his 27 years of imprisonment is sad, but strong and empowering. I'll never understand how hatred for "others" can exist, but the level of forgiveness he showed, and inspired others to embrace is remarkable.

Another quote of Mandela's I really like was given at his Inaugural speech and I'm sure everyone knows it, but it's always good to re-read.

Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Happy Birthday Tinkerbell!!!

Last Saturday Sarah turned the big 0-4 and wanted to host a Tinkerbell party. I took the advice of a friend and started looking for party items early so we would be prepared for the dozen kids that showed up. It was quite the party. :-) I was going to play games, but after kind of getting through one, the kids decided they just wanted to play.

Tinkerbell Sarah with Barbie Butterfly Cadence


Some of the other adorable fairies and pirates










Sarah opening presents and the swarm of fairies



Sarah and friends eating her Tinkerbell cake I made (or bought)

It's really winter!

The snow has now melted, but a couple weeks ago we had a great snow storm and we all headed outside for some fun. A couple of my young women (yes they're mine ;-) were outside and played with my kids. Sarah and Steven had fun eating the snow, making snow angels (since they are angels) :-) and playing with their young at heart dad.

Sarah at Disney on Ice

Mike's parents took Sarah to Disney on Ice for her birthday this year. The theme was Disney Princesses, so Sarah was in little girl heaven.

Mike bought Sarah this Cinderella doll there and she held it up while Cinderella was on the ice so she could see herself










This is Sarah telling me about her day. She had so much fun and wanted to give me all the details.

Time, Time Time

I have felt really strapped for time lately. I don't think I'm busier than anyone else, I've just had a hard time finding free time to do things like bloggind. Some days I wonder where all the time went. I don't watch any daytime tv, I don't read a lot, I'm not a big shopper, but my days are just flying by. Hmmm... anyways, here are some updates to what we've been doing. (love you Ashley)

Happy Belated Halloween

If I don't get these pictures up, I probably won't. There is a cute story that goes with our costumes, but I'm too tired to tell it tonight. All I can say is "All Hail King Triton!"

My Mom and the kids painting pumpkins. We all got sick, so we didn't carve any and they all fell prey to teenage kids. (Mike got mad at a bunch of kids for coming by and ringing our doorbell at 10:30PM)






Sarah at her preschool party




And our family Halloween pictures. Mike was such a good sport. I had to make his skirt, I mean fins, and then piece together the rest of his costume. Oh, what he does to make Sarah happy.

Welcome Airman Starley

Last Tuesday Mike was officially sworn in as a member of the Utah Air National Guards 151st Air Refueling Wing. This is something we've wanted for so long it was the first time I could really say I had a surreal experience. I'm very proud of my husband.

The man swearing him in is Major Nate Niederhauser. Nate is Mike's Aunt's cousin and was very instrumental in Mike getting the pilot position. Nate brought Mike up to meet the other officers and really put in a good word for him. I thought it was really neat that they allowed him to do the oath. Nate was an f-16 fighter pilot before joining the Guard and switching to slower KC-135's.



Here are the words of the Oath he took:

I, Steven Michael Starley, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the state of Utah against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of Utah and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to law and regulations. So help me God.

Some other members of the Guard came to his swearing in. I got to meet a few of the men on the board and those that are in charge. Mike's commitment is 10 years after flight school, so that will be about 12 total, although he'll fly as long as they'll let him. I'm sure we'll get to know all of these people really well.


Just some fun pictures. After the swearing in the kids and I "played" air hockey and then pool until Steven fell off a chair onto the tough floor. Then we ate vending machine food. :-)