piper

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Everything posted by piper

  1. Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. Please drive carefully and be safe. I'm thankful for sooo much, the Gospel, my children, a job and, well, another day above turf!
  2. Not sure where you live, but I've been in Vocational Rehabilitation for almost 20 years. It's a very rewarding career. It is in social services, but is not social work. Most state agencies can underfill a position at the bachelors level. In a nutshell, you help people with disabilities (all types, physical, mental, emotional) get the help they need to go to work. Something to think about.
  3. The most fun I had was teaching the gospel to so many people. A bonus was being able to immerse myself in another culture and learn about the people while sharing the gospel with them. Seeing people transform themselves under the influence of the spirit and gain hope and peace was incredible.
  4. Stop by my profile and watch the bottom video :) it explains a lot lol.
  5. My personal philosophy in this regard goes back to the D&C 6:36. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear. We need to prepare every needful thing. To me, this means physically, mentally emotionally and spiritually. So as many have pointed out, we need to have storage food and supplies other than foods. We also need to plan for shelter and support emotionally and be prepared spiritually so we can receive that type of help from God. Specifically as regarding this thread. I do own firearms and know well how to use each of them. I have no desire to take any human life. In fact, I hold all life sacred and do not take any life lightly. Mosquitos are as close as I can get to feeling satisfaction at killing something :) and even they are simply being what God made them to be. It has been my experience, however, that if the infrastucture of a society fails, it is very easy for people to take advantage of having no law. They can become brutal and vicious without thought for anyone else. Alternatively, those that have established a separate infrastructure (as in a community, church, neighborhood etc. Hold together and hold tight to their values and can stand strong together. To stand alone in such an environment is to invite almost certain destruction. Will those who hold together to protect their community be able to defend themselves against maraudors seeking to take and destroy? I would say much better than those alone. Especially if all in the community are trained to help in the defense. I believe it is too late to shut the barn door after the horse has already run off. I firmly believe that we must prepare now in all ways including how to plant gardens, use our food storage, hold tight to each other and God and yes, the use of firearms as well. I hope we never actually have to use all the skills in such an environment, and I feel just being prepared in all ways will help our association as communities, friends and neighbors even if we never get faced with the worst case scenario. A bit long, but thanks for letting me say it.
  6. Welcome! Happy to have you join us.
  7. Ashley loves her dad and his problems are tearing her apart. First, on this part, this is not an excuse for her behavior. Many children have gone through much worse and turned out ok. I could give you many, many examples of this from my 15 years as a counselor. Her intended major was nursing (RN). Reality check for her on this. As long as she has a drug/alcohol problem she will not be a nurse even if she can pass the courses which it appears she lacks the discipline to do. If she gets a criminal record due to drugs she will be unlicenseable unless she can get them expunged. In Utah, a DUI/drug related offense can be kept from expungement for 7 years or more. She had been coming home drunk and stoned and sharing a bed with my 1st grade daughter...which has infuriated me! And it should worry you. IMHO you have a responsibility to the younger children in your home. Not only to protect them from such influences in your home, but the potential for physical/emotional harm from someone who is out of control and they have the need to feel safe and secure in their home. I know it is difficult to imagine that she might hurt someone, but a person on drugs/alcohol often does unimaginable things and then blames the drug. In fact, they are responsible as they chose to use. If you keep letting her back in your home as is, you are tacitly approving of her lifestyle. I told Ashley that she cannot move back in with us since she broke her word about college. In truth...part of my reason was that I can't stand her being drunk and stoned around the little ones and she can't respect my feelings on that matter. Her addictions have rendered her incapable of making decent moral decision...IMHO. Good, except that IMHO you need to be completely honest with her. A behavior not confronted cannot be changed. She needs to know that you cannot have her around your little ones when she is drunk and/or stoned. Any suggestions? Do you feel that I did the right thing? Ashley accuses me of treating her different because she's not my "real" daughter...but I don't feel that this is fair. This is classic manipulation. Addicts are very adept at getting people to give in to them. She knows you care about her and will use that to get what she wants. She will not go to treatment and she does not admit that she is in over her head. That needs to be the first step. However, you can't make her change. You can love her, care for her etc. but she appears to be disrupting the family and gives no thought to the impact on the little ones or you. Jesus loved all unconditionally, but he still drove the moneychangers out of his fathers (and his) house. They were violating the rules, being disruptive and a very bad influence on the people. Yes, pray for her, tell her you love her and care, but, She will have to come to the point that she decides to change on her own. I hope that she does in fact do that before much worse happens. I realize that I have worded this quite strongly. I don't mean to offend. I have just worked with this type of behavior for a long time. I know people must be held accountable and the little ones protected as much as possible. I also know she may say she hates you for this and it will be hard. I pray you have the strength to carry on and that your family prospers.
  8. I hope you join us too Seeker. :) Ham radio is indeed very rewarding. It really helps if you have an active group you can join as well. Lot's of help and expertise there.
  9. I doubt anyone really knows what lamanites of that era especially the women wore. That being said, it means your guess is as good as anyone's. :) Seriously, I would consider some kind of simple dress not too many colors or too modern. Most likely some earth tone in color. Good Luck!
  10. Congratulations!!! That is truly awesome. Brings back memories. December 17th is the day I entered the MTC in 1981 :) My prayers and best wishes are with you.
  11. One other possibility occurs to me. Frank Abagnale jr. He was one of, if not the most, successul con men in history. He turned from his path and ultimately became a consultant with the FBI to help them catch con men. From what I understand, he really turned from a bad guy to a good guy.
  12. When I see an assignment like that, I think of people like Jesse James. He was a villian no doubt, a thief and killer. But with time, he became kind of a folk hero. Movies and books have done the same with killers like Billy the Kid. John Paul (Jones) was a slaver and once killed a man although it is not known whether or not it was justified. He founded the American Navy. Morgan was another. He was definitely a villian and a pirate. However, after buying his freedom and becoming the governor of Jamaica, he actually helped tame the seas and make way for British colonialism. Though he was considered a pirate to the end of his day by France and Spain, he became somewhat of a hero in some parts. Just a few ideas. Hope it helps.:)
  13. Whenever the Roman Emperor decided they were due and he wanted a census of the people Payday for the Empire.
  14. I don't know that anything anyone does will end the protests. Me, I just ignore them and feel grateful that we live in a country where people are allowed to express their views.
  15. Present!!!! I like Presents :) On time or Late?
  16. piper

    kids books

    I like Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories.