A miracle baby

Twenty-five years ago may seem like a long time to some but to me the memory comes anew as I ponder the significance of this particular Monday. Today is Monday, May 19th. On this particular day my family honor's my eldest daughter as she celebrates this her 25th birthday.
It was on this date that my beautiful bride (sitting here next to Kas) finished the long process of her labor and delivered a beautiful baby girl, Kathryn Jean (why we call her Kasi is another story for another time). Kasi was born a month premature, which was a good thing as she weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces at birth. If she had gone full term she may have been close to 10 pounds. Since she was born premature she was covered with very fine hair all over her body which, we were told, was typical of premature babies. Now some of the rest of the story.
In 1983 I was in the Navy and stationed at Great Lakes, Illinois. The nine months in which Marcia carried Kasi were not easy ones. During three months of that time I was on board a Naval ship called the U.S.S. Belleau Wood. From October of 1982 to January of 1983 I was on board the ship augmenting ship's company assigned to Surgical Cadre 13 stationed out of Great Lakes, Illinois. It was while on board the ship that I found out that Marcia was having difficulties with the pregnancy. Little did I know to what extent those difficulties were.
Initially when Marcia went in to the navy doctors to be tested she was told that the tests came back negative regarding her being pregnant. Initially the physicians thought that she may be having a hysterical pregnancy. They gave her all sorts of medication to see if they couldn't get things to work properly for her. All this was done at Navy Regional Medical Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. The physicians were not sure exactly what was going on so at some point they decided to perform an exploratory laparotomy to see what was going on. One of the things the physician did just prior to her getting prepped for surgery was to check her abdomen. It was at this point they were able to detect a fetal heartbeat. The doctors asked Marcia if she heard "that", her reply was sarcastic and said "yes, it's a heartbeat." That is exactly what it was. The surgery was canceled and the butt covering began.
As Marcia had been prescribed several different medications that were contrary to her being pregnant the doctors were pressuring her strongly to abort the baby. They sat her down and showed her pictures of what may happen to the baby if she allowed her to go full term. She was shown pictures of babies with misplaced appendages and other complications. Marcia was able to stay strong through this time and through prayer and support from her family she made a very important decision of keeping our baby and seeing it through to full term.
Once I returned from the Philippines Marcia and I went to specialists in Milwaukee to have an ultrasound and amniocentesis done. The navy was very supportive in allowing us to have the extra testing done. We found out from the results that the baby appeared healthy and that the baby was going to be a girl. Marcia and I were very excited at this news.
Yes, there were some other complications regarding the pregnancy but the final result was a beautiful baby girl. Kasi was our first miracle baby. When she came out all her appendages were checked as well as every thing else. We were told that every thing looked ok with the exception of her toes which appeared to be webbed. Unfortunately for Kasi, webbed toes were inherited from me. Everything else with Kasi was perfect. She truly was a miracle baby.
To my gorgeous 25 year old daughter- Happy Birthday.... we'll celebrate your birthday sooner than some think....love you.... daddy.....jsf

Here and There

A tale of two countries-

1. The government of Myanmar is still reluctant to allow aid to enter there country. Although the number of dead being bantered about around the Internet is in access of 60,000 those in control are still reluctant to let in foreign workers. As food and water are denied the million plus survivors, more deaths will occur because of the lack of food, water and basic services. Will this be the straw that breaks the camel's back in regarding the people of Myanmar rising up against there dictatorial government? Time will tell.
2. The death toll following Monday's 7.9 earthquake in China continues to rise. BBC America this morning is reporting the death toll to be just under 15,000. The Chinese government is stepping up their rescue efforts and are allowing the media unprecedented access to the disaster area.

Both countries need our prayers.
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FOUND

Last night I found the coolest web sight by Microsoft. It downloaded quickly over my DSL line and after restarting my computer I was able to take a couple of tours prior to sleeping last night. The sight? Microsoft's Worldwide Telescope
After I had it downloaded it took up a spot on my desktop. I am still trying to wade through the tremendous amount information that is found on this sight. It has a number of tours that one can take around the universe and galaxy. After having downloaded this sight I have come to realize that my computer time will probably increase.
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FOUND

The May 19th issue of Newsweek, the one with King Barack on the cover, has an interesting article on page 52. It's title? "America's Next Top Mormon"
It is an interesting read.
Have a great day....jsf

Tuesdays Thoughts

Just some really quick thoughts for today.
There is a strong clamor for Senator Hillary Clinton to withdraw from the Democratic Primary race. Most of the clamor is coming from the media elite who would rather be covering King Barack as he begins his battle with war horse Sen. John McCain, than cover the final minutes of a dieing candidate- Sen. Hillory Clinton.
This is one person who would be very surprised- and disappointed- if she does withdraw. My belief is she'll stay in the race until the convention because she has no other choice. Why?
Some of the reasons-

• Senator Clinton is 60 years old. If Senator Obama secures the nomination and goes on to win the general election in November he will have secured himself another run in 2012. Hillory's next chance would be in 2016- that would put her at 68. Running for a president is a physical challenge as well as an emotional one. John McCain is being saved, physically, for the general election because others had backed out earlier in the campaign. If he was actively fighting for his parties nod it would be wearing on him tremendously. I don't see Hillory able to take on that aspect of a race in eight years.
• Any and all political favors will be called in at this time. Over the last sixteen years the Clintons have run the Democratic party. She has actively participated in re-election campaigns of fellow Democrats. She has given money and time to many people. She'll be calling in these favors to block a first ballot convention win for Sen. Obama. Once the first ballot is over is when the fun really begins and the backrooms in Denver will be buzzing with political maneuvering.
• I believe she feels strongly that she is owed this nomination. She has paid her dues. She has sat back, watched and supported her husband during his tenure; she was elected Senator from New York and spent time in the Senate learning the ropes.
• Pride can be a terrible thing. I believe her win today in West Virginia will help keep her hopes alive and keep her in the race.

Just some of my thoughts on the Democratic side of the race.
Now just a brief blurb on the Republican side.
I saw some place on the internet today that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is a front runner in the nod for vice-president for Sen. McCain. If that comes to fruition it would strengthen McCain in the south where Sen. Obama has some strength.
Until tomorrow.... jsf

Movies for Friday

My recommendation for a good movie to watch is Ben Stein's new movie- Expelled. I had the opportunity to see this movie on Wednesday with Josh and Bri. Yes, it is a documentary. Granted, we three made up the majority of the audience in the matinée we attended. It was a great movie! If you are concerned about the freedoms that we have in our country and are just a little curious as to what may be happening on the college campuses around the country- go see this movie.
A quick synopsis of this movie- Ben is looking into what is happening across the country to individuals who mention Intelligent Design in some manner-how jobs are being lost and so on. That is a very quick synopsis. To find out more check Ben's link above.
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Have a great weekend...jsf

Prophets- What, Who,Where, and Why? (part 2)

Who is or was a prophet? I believe that the common misconception in the world today is that there isn't any prophets around and also there isn't a need for them. This is the 21st century. With the technology and the enlightenment that we have why would we need someone to give us direction? So where to start?
Who? The Old Testament has a number of Prophets to draw on some have great name recognition, such as Noah or Moses. If they were running for political office they wouldn't have any trouble in having there names noticed. Others are not as well known, Malachi, Joel or Haggai. What are the common threads that runs through them?

• Faith- These men of God recognized the role that they were called to do. Even more importantly they recognized the source in which that role came from and who's will they were bringing about. When faith is mentioned Job and the trials and tribulations that he had to endure comes to mind. It was not something that he sought and it was not something that he did to get gain.

Another person that comes to mind is that of Joseph- the coat guy. He was the youngest and did not seek gain. Although he was favored by his father- and his brothers were extremely jealous of that favor- his position was not sought. He ended up in Egypt- had a great job until the bosses wife got involved. He found himself in prison. He did not lose faith. In time he was able to save his family.

• Obedience- These men were obedient. Because of that obedience great blessings came. Joseph was able to secure a job in a time of plenty and a time of drought. In doing so he was able to bless his family years after the initial act of obedience. Moses was able to lead his people away from Egypt and to a promised land where Israel would prosper. On occasion there may have been some reluctance on part of a prophet to obey- specifically Jonah comes to mind and after some convincing he does obey and go to Ninevah to preach.
  
• Other characteristics- there are many other characteristics that are applicable to the prophets found in the Old Testament. Things such as courage, meekness, strength and even recognizing ones own weaknesses and admitting such. Many times they were alone in their faith- they had to be strong. Sometime the counsel that they gave was contrary to the popular beliefs at the time. What would you do if a neighbor started to build a large ship in the middle of your neighborhood?

Next- Some of the greatest trash talking is done in the Old Testament-the NBA can't even compete.

Wednesday May 7, 2008

We live in a world that is fast paced. No doubt about it- if you don't keep up with surrounding traffic you will get run over and soon you will be forgotten. On Saturday, May 3rd, a Cyclone hammered the country of Myanmar (Burma). As it hit the coast line it brought with it a wave surge that was 12 feet or higher. The affected area was a low, coastal area. Villages were completely destroyed. Reports, as of today, are saying that there may be over 50,000 dead and over a million homeless. Perspective- Hurricane Katrina- the loss of life was less than 2,000. Although it happened in 2005 it is still a topic of discussion in some circles. In contrast the Cyclone that has devastated Myanmar will probably be out of our collective memory sometime next week. The following will take you to some pictures and stories regarding this disaster- picture 1
Truly the sad thing is that former vice-president Al Gore has already come out and say this devastation is due to global warming. This is a sad case of an opportunist taking advantage of those whose lives have been lost. If you notice in the above linked article Mr. Gore is out marketing a new book. Shame on him.

As I read that article I noticed that nothing was mentioned about the fact that India had sent out warnings 2 days prior to the storm hitting the coast.

"...The people’s plight is not helped by the disposition of their Government. Running the country on a combination of internal repression and xenophobia, the junta seems not to have made up its mind that this is a tragedy that it cannot remedy on its own.

It certainly was not too concerned when the cyclone approached the Burmase coast. A spokesman for the Indian Meteorological Department revealed yesterday that it had given Burma two days’ warning of Cyclone Nargis. “Forty-eight hours before Nargis struck, we indicated its point of crossing \, its severity and all related issues to Burmese agencies,” he said. Weather systems in the Bay of Bengal are tracked by India by satellite."

The complete article can be read at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3883123.ece

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Elections, essential for a republican process (note- we don't live in a democracy, we live in a republic), just ended here in Indiana. All reports are showing that Senator Clinton edged out Senator Obama. I believe it will be enough to keep her in the race longer. It is interesting that here in Hamilton County, a republican stronghold, there was a strong showing of democratic ballots. One of the benefits of Indiana politics is the ability to cross over and choose an opposing parties ballot in the primary. Most Hoosiers seemed to enjoy being able to participate in an election that had some bearing on the national stage.


Tomorrow- Prophets- What, Who, Where and Why (part 2)

Thoughts for Tossed Tuesday

Hoosiers decide today the fate of the nation!!!! Can you believe it? OK, perhaps there is a little sarcasm noted, but to most Hoosiers it is nice to have the attention that it has brought this past month. Come Wednesday morning, though, it will be back to "don't call me, I'll call you...sweetie"
The next most important thing in the world is that tonight is the 100th episode of "Dances with the Stars." Only in America- the circuses amuse the masses.
Some other items of interest:

• In Somalia thousands rioted because of food prices and merchants not accepting certain denomination of money. Food riots will continue and increase.
• Cyclone Nargis hit the country of Myanmar and thousands are reported dead. This is a country that is located next to Thailand. Many countries are trying to get aid but things are a little slow because of the type of government in place... Cyclones can and have been devastating in this part of the world before, remember them in your prayers.

On the bright side


The one on the left is in Mongolia on his mission, the one on the right is in Las Vegas on his mission and the one in the middle cooks a mean meal....jsf

Monday-Early Results

To day is the 5th of May. Just some early morning randomness-

• Who ever came up with the phrase- "paying for tax cuts" should be in some sort of hall of fame. (I'll think of a name later) This way politicians can still keep one hand in one pocket while trying to give us a handout with the other.
• Tomorrow is Indiana's primary- GO HOOSIERS! My beautiful bride will probably be choosing between "the guy" and "the gal". Me? I'll be trying to term limit Dan Burton and extend a term for MYMANMITCH.
• Speaking of Mitch, can you believe he leased the Indiana Toll Road to some foreign investors? The amount of money, about 3 billion dollars, is just sitting in the bank earning over $500,000 a day on interest. What was he thinking? Oh, yea, some of the money is going for road projects around the state- something called Major Moves. What was he thinking
• Great Britain- (big Island off of Ireland- for those geographically challenged) has a mid-wife dilemma. Apparently they are short staffed in the national health care program regarding mid-wives. The government of PM Brown is asking all pregnant women to cross their legs for the next two weeks. For all those moms to be in the US remember this come November. Start strengthening those thigh muscles.

Have a great week...jsf

Prophets- What, Who,Where, and Why? (part 1)

Where are the prophets today?
This past month an actor passed away that played some interesting roles in his life. One that most will remember is the role that he played as Moses. Yes, I am talking about Charlton Heston. He was known for many roles that he played not only on screen but also in life. He was conservative and believed in the fundamental rights that we were blessed with in the U.S. Constitution. To a lot of Americans this concept of a prophet is the only one that they know of.
A fundamental question that I have always had and one that was eventually answered is "where are the prophets today?"
Looking back over history there is a a distinct line that can be seen- there were prophets prior to the coming of the Savior and then it stops. Why?
When a I think of prophets I also think of Moses. I also think of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Elisha, Elijah, and even some that are less known such as Amos, Micah, and Malachi. These are all great figures in the Old Testament. But are there more than that? If they were so essential for ancient Israel why weren't they in place following the time of the Savior?
As I muse I have come to realize that this process of thought will be somewhat extensive- thus it will be a small serial starting with the question- what is a prophet?

Prophet Defined

I think (ok- I'm still working on how this thing works- don't be surprised if it gets off the bold at some point) that the basics are essential to start with. A prophet as defined by:

• Websters New World Dictionary (4th edition) states: " a religous leader regarded as, or claiming to be, divinely inspired."
• The American Heritage® Dictionary
  • prophet (n.) A person who speaks by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom the will of a god is expressed.

  • prophet (n.) A person gifted with profound moral insight and exceptional powers of expression.

These are two definitions of which I prefer the latter over the first. Although both address the quest as to what is a prophet the second definition looks further into what the role of a prophet might be.
An even more in depth look as to what a prophet is and does can be found in the following link-
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/p/61
These thoughts are the beginning of what was a quest of mine. It was one that started decades ago (I know that I am getting old when I can say "decades ago"). A quest that was successful and one that I wish to share....jsf