Indeed, I am thankful

Courtney was looking for a new blog from me.  I really don't feel like blogging, but I feel like sharing the following video.

So often I hear that others not of my faith question whether  Mormons (or as we prefer to be called) members of The Church of Jesus Christ of  Latter-day Saints are indeed Christians.  I found this video and wanted to share it.  This sent chills to my very being and brought tears to my eyes.  Jesus Christ is my Savior, my redeemer, my teacher, my example, my brother, my God, and my friend!  If knowing that does not make me a Christian, I don't know what does.  I know I must have more Christ-like attributes, but I am working on them!

I plan to spend the next six weeks in earnest, developing my faith and obedience to His teachings. (I say six weeks because that is roughly how much time is left of this year!) Watching this video has inspired me.  I want the Lord to say to me one day, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!"  He has given so much to and for me, and asks so little.  Just for me to obey his commandments.  Funny thing is, He has commanded nothing that is too tough.  He has only thought of me (and mankind) when giving His commandments.

The problem with me and most of us, is that the world is just so tempting, so inviting.  Satan has a way of tricking us so that we don't even realize it at first.  BUT, he doesn't love us.  He is patient, but he is NOT kind.  He is selfish and destroying.  He is clever and masks his attempts.  But we each have the ability to see through the nonsense.  All we have to do is love the Lord and serve Him.  Pray and study.  When we mess up, He has given us the miracle of repentance that assists us in becoming clean again.

Yes, world, I am a Mormon and yes, world, I am a Christian!!

And I am indeed thankful for both!

Enjoy the video!    

For God so Loved the World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05nA0cNEEqk&feature=youtu.be

Letter to the President

Dear President Obama,

I would like to congratulate you on your reelection.  I will admit, I did not vote for you, but I want you to know that as a fellow American, I will support you.  I have been counseled by my church leaders to do just that.

                        http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/statement-on-election-result


I know that you have a tough job and I will continue to pray for you and your family.  I will pray for your strength and good health.  I will also pray for wisdom and good judgment in all of your decisions.

I have to ask two favors. Sir.  I have two daughters in college.  They are married to college students as well.  They all work hard.  Throughout their college careers, they have worked at a convenient stores, a telephone survey company, the college, cleaning offices and carpets, third shift Walmart, managed an apartment complex for students, and have held positions in social service.  They have also sold plasma on a regular basis for anything extra.  My first request is this:  Will you please do what is in your power to ensure them employment when they are finished with their education?

I also have a son who has served in the military for over six years (I think).  He has served his country in both Iraq and Afghanistan and is continuing to train now to be ready if you need him again.  My request for him is two-fold:  Will you please do whatever possible to keep him safe while he is in and ensure him employment if he chooses to leave the military?

Thank you for your consideration.  God Bless You, Sir!

And I mean that sincerely,

Your friend through Christ, Connie Sandoval

Twas the night before...........

Twas the night before elections and all through the land.........................

Sorry to disappoint you but as much as I love to write, I am not a poet.  That is Emily's strong suit so I will leave that up to her.

Anyway, I have been thinking - again.  Reading facebook posts does that to me.  This has been the craziest election season I have ever experienced and I am pretty sure I am not the only one who feels this way.  I don't remember ever feeling so anxious over an election.  I didn't vote for Obama last time, but I didn't like McCain either.  In fact, I told my mother early on that Obama would win and open the way for Romney in the next election.  That was right after Romney dropped out of the last primary and had no official plans of running again.  I just felt it in my bones.

What I didn't know is that the rest of the world would be so divided.  I didn't agree with Obama's politics then, and still do not.  I don't think he accomplished anything and I believe that our country is worse off today than it was before. 

Yes, Bin Laden is dead, but is the al-Qaeda less of a threat today?

The Associated Press reports that “the insurgent group has more than doubled in numbers from a year ago — from about 1,000 to 2,500 fighters. And it is carrying out an average of 140 attacks each week across Iraq, up from 75 attacks each week earlier this year, according to Pentagon data.” There are said to be as many as ten al-Qaeda in Iraq training sites in the western deserts of Iraq.

Meanwhile, other al-Qaeda-associated organizations are gaining strength in Mali and Yemen, among other places. According to one report, Tuareg jihadists in Ansar al Dine and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, both affiliated with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, now control a region the size of France in Mali. And they are also making fresh inroads in Syria where the al-Qaeda-linked Al Nusra Front for the People of the Levant has claimed responsibility for an attack on Tuesday by suicide bombers on an intelligence compound near Damascus.

The auto industry was bailed out.  But, how much of a success was that? 

Bailing out the car industry initially cost $80 billion, or roughly $30,000 per automotive worker. Despite the sector’s resurgence, taxpayers are still owed $25 billion from GM and its former financing firm.  

Here is the rest of that article.  

  http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/auto-bailout-was-not-unmitigated-success/2012/09/06/4edae4bc-f854-11e1-8398-0327ab83ab91_story.html 

The war in Afghanistan over? Our troops are slated to come home 

                   BUT

(CNN) -- At the NATO summit in Chicago, President Obama and leaders of America's NATO allies agreed on an "irreversible" plan to withdraw from Afghanistan. But challenges remain.

Despite the deliberately unambiguous word choice used to describe the withdrawal, uncertainty about how the West will confront the obstacles ahead remains. Issues specifically related to Afghanistan are yet to be resolved, and plenty of others are tied to the volatile politics of the area.

The Afghan National Army is already taking the lead in regions with roughly 75% of the population, with U.S. and other NATO troops acting as support. However, this does not include the most contested areas in the south and east, where Afghan forces are slated to assume responsibility by next summer. Serious doubts persist about their readiness to do so.

Despite significant training efforts, the army's level of competence remains in question. It lacks many of the support functions needed for war fighting. The army will remain dependent on international forces for these capabilities and on the international community for financial assistance, expected to cost at least $4 billion a year     (.http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/23/opinion/tankel-afghanistan/index.html)

Roe v Wade,  revoked???  I don't know if that can happen since the highest court in the land found it constitutional but

 Who does that affect?  NOT those who were raped, or victims of incest, or those whose health is in question.  Only those who choose to use abortion as a means of birth control.  

These are things that President Obama has been hinging his campaign on.  

And his Health Care Reform.  Yes, we all need insurance.  I am happy that the issue is being addressed.  But at whose expense?  Business owners and tax payers, as well as the deficit.  

To be honest, either way we go, Social Security is hurting and will soon run out of money.  For the first time ever, recipients are using more than they paid in.  We are living longer and we are having less children to pay into the fund.  Same thing for Medicare.  It needs to be revamped!!!

We cannot afford to go to war!  Financially, that could ruin us right now!  But, we cannot afford to cut back on our military budget.  That could hurt us even more!  We cannot or should not even look remotely vulnerable to our enemies.

What are we to do?  So many things to work on.

............................................................................................................

There are so many things wrong in the United States today.  But, if we really look, there are a lot of things that are right!!!!  Let's not forget that no matter which way the election goes.  I don't think we all need to really worry ourselves sick.  

We may tighten our belts and reduce the deficit.  If that happens, that will make a lot of folks very uncomfortable.  Just like fundraising in our schools to make up for the lack of money for each of our programs, there will have to be other ways for groups to raise money OR there will be things that our cut out.

Or we may continue the way we have been.  The poor will not have to worry because there will be an endless (?) supply of money for them.  Plus according to the economist, so called experts in the field, the economy is heading in the right direction and will continue either way..........

We are going to survive the next four years.  Actually, none of us are promised to survive the night, but as a nation, we will be here in four years!

The way I see it, either

A) we will all be happy that it is Obama's last term in office and any republican will do.

B) he will have done such a good job that it will pave the way for any democratic successor. 

C) Romney will gave proven himself and have an easy time at reelection

D)  The democrats are going to have to come up with a candidate to replace him.

And we will go through this all over again!!!!!!  Actually my prediction is that we will NEVER go through another campaign like this one in our lifetimes.  At least I pray that is the case.

Have a good night before election...........................

Down to the wire!

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” — President John Quincy Adams.

We have Sunday and Monday.  Two more days of phone calls.  One more day of mailings (Yay for no mail on Sunday)  Of course, you may get some really pushy folks on Election Day.  Just do not answer your phones and don't go to the mailbox until after you vote.   Tuesday is the day for all who haven't voted early.    Polls in Ohio close at 7:30.  It is going to be a long day and the election is going to come down to Ohio, or so they say.

Emily made a comment to me that she is a nervous wreck.  I have decided that we should all vote our principle as Pres Adams stated.  That is all we can do.  Our country is set up to have checks and balances.   According to the economists, either way, the economy should look up.  We are heading in the right direction.  Neither candidate wants us in a war.  Even though they have different visions and ideas of how to make those visions become reality, both want to see us as a nation succeed.   It was never one man that put us in the tough situations that we, as a nation, have been in.  It will take more than one man to get us out.


                                                               FOR THE RECORD

                                                          I am voting for Mitt Romney.

                   
Why?  Well, I have studied the issues.  I have listened to what both sides, candidates and supporters have had to say.  And then I prayed about it.  There was not a huge booming voice in my ear with the answers.  Just a quiet peaceful thought and feeling.

Here is the number one reason I have decided on Romney -  Because I believe that he will prayerfully make decisions that will affect me and my children.   That is what I came up with while praying.

Do I believe that he has all the answers?  Nope.
Do I believe that he will do things that are probably not always perfect?  Sure.

But, do I believe that he will pray about his decisions?  Yes, I do.
Do I believe in the power of prayer?  Yes, I do.

                              That is my reason.  Mitt Romney is my choice.  Now it is up to all of you to make your own decisions based on your reasons.

Don't believe the ads.  They are designed to make you do something that you may or may not do without them.  Millions of dollars were spent on them.  Like someone recently told me, if advertising didn't work, money wouldn't be spent on it.

Happy Voting!!!!  We won't have to go through this for another four years!!!!!