Del really liked this, so I am posting it, per his request.



An American Creed

I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

By Dean Alfange

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*Originally published in This Week Magazine.
Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922.

My Boys

Handsome Devils

I Love...

Her,
and her red eyelashes.

Devil's Lake, Wisconsin

Last weekend, we went camping up in Wisconsin with the Randy and Lucy Spencer gang. Jared and Leslie joined us, and we had a super good time! The weather was great, good friends, lots of food, and of course an accident involving who? Our little guy that finds all kinds of disaster, Will!

I took Will to the bathroom, and since he has a major fear of public toilets, (so bad that he will hold it for a century if he has to, until he finds a potty that looks sanitary, and well lit enough) he jumped off the outhouse potty and bent over to pull up his pants, before I knew what was happening. I had set the kerosene lantern on the ground, and when he bent over, he burned his bare little hinny on the hot lantern.

It was horrible, he was screaming in pain! I just grabbed him and ran back to camp yelling for Del. We got ice on it right away, and used the numbing drops we had for his ear infection, on his backside! I still feel just awful about it! He is still so sore, and can barley walk sometimes. But it is healing. He hasn't been able to sit on a chair to eat since. So he stands at the table. Oh, I just feel sooo bad! Burns are the absolute worst! But in spit of all that, we still managed to have fun rock climbing and hiking. Even if we had to do it with Will and Ella wearing no pants, right Leslie?

Will showing us all where is ouchy is.

A Case Of The No-No's

Lately Georgia has come down with a case of the no-no's. Lots of mischief from this little girl! Dumping out entire boxes of cereal. Ripping apart every wipe in a brand new baby wipe refill bag, throwing everything in a grocery sack down the stairs, emptying all the disgusting garbage out the sack, squirting all the lotion out of the bottle and rubbing it through her hair, and just your general, almost eighteen month old, TROUBLE! With a capital "T" and that rhymes with "B," and that stands for BATH!!!

I Thought This Was Funny....

Movie Reviews

It takes two seconds to find out... and will probably have us all using a Thesaurus and Dictionary... maybe even an Encyclopedia, when we type our next posts.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who has done so much to make everything easier for us during these past weeks. We were blessed for a moment to be unexpectedly, expecting. We were very excited, and we are very sad to have learned that I miscarried.

We have had so much love sent in our direction, with people willing to help out. All the way from family, taking care of our kids in California, and helping with blessings, to friends and neighbors bringing food, and offering child care for our sick kids. We have had Aunt Sandy folding laundry, and neighbors accepting delivery on our couch while I was in surgery. Thanks for being there, and for just caring about us, all of you... we love you!

Disneyland!

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We spent last week in nice, sunny California where we met my whole family to go to Disneyland! We flew out a few days before everyone else, and spent time with the Spencer family, who were nice enough to take all of us, and our luggage in! No small feat, let me tell you! It was so fun to see them, and the beach! We are missing both.

We had such a good time with family all week! We love Disneyland! Thank you for the trip mom and dad!
After Disneyland, mom, dad, Shelley and Adam, and Lauren and Christopher flew home, and Emily and I, and our families took few more days and went down to Sea World. The kids loved seeing all of the amazing sea life, which I didn't get many pictures of. We had such a nice trip in spite of a few set backs, thanks to me! We want to go back!







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Will rides the carrousel.


Lauren rides the carrousel.


And Kobe Bryant rides the carrousel!




















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SeaWorld!