Super Hot Wife

Andrea is in the other room that is the only reason why I am getting away with posting this picture on here. Here is my hot wife! Does she look good or what?! Tell her you think so at andreafrandsen@gmail.com!

Kitchenaid=Kitchen-art

Since getting our Kitchenaid a couple of Christmas' ago I have taken up doing a few creative things in the kitchen... from bread to red velvet cupcakes... these are the latest I created for a party we went to on Friday night.

Nothing says Christmas like...

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Our stake presidency has challenged us all to re-read the the family proclamation... I wanted to do it and thought others might want to do the same...

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

© 1995, 2008 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
English approval: 5/08. 35602

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Coolest Fountain in the World

Video Game Faces

Here are a bunch of kids while they play violent video games...

Christmas Tree

Are You a Celebrity?

A celebrity is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of attention.

I have recently noticed something that I thought would be interesting to post about and possibly get some good feedback on. I am not meaning to create controversy or hurt feelings, I simply want us all to think about our standings in our families in hopes of eliminating what I like to call the "celebrity status". I know parents say that they love each kid equally but come on... that may be what they say but actions tend to speak louder than words. Is it just me or have others noticed that families have their own celebrities... parties cannot and will not be the same without them. The show cannot go on without them, they are the ones that get all the positive attention and they are the ones that everyone else gets compared to. I have a really good friend who is not the celebrity in his/ or her family (much like myself) and no matter what he/ or she does it NEVER measures up to the "celebrity sibling". This friend of mine is a really good person, fun, nice, considerate of others, makes right decisions, great spouse... but when the celebrity is around, my friend is just... in the way, unimportant, irritating, and not validated. This friend has been living like this forever and cant seem to over come the "B list" status. Do your families have their "celebrity"? Are you that celebrity? Are you like me and my friend... always over shadowed by the "celebrity"?

Here are some things you might hear if you are NOT the celebrity:

"Too bad everyone is here but (insert celebrity) its just not gonna be the same." (You arent fun)
"I wish (insert celebrity) were here." (This indicates your company is less appreciated.)

Celebrities will also instantly steal the spotlight whenever they enter a room... you become instantly invisible when the celebrity enters the room... its like everyone scrambles for an autograph while you are left standing alone and you swear you can hear crickets chirping around you. Don't feel bad... we are a society who worships celebrities. Its not ok for families to do this... here are some suggestions...

If you are the celebrity... dont allow others to treat people poorly so you can get your celebrity treatment.... include everyone and validate the non celebrity when he or she has a point to be made. Stand up for the underdog and show respect.

If you are the non celebrity you have two choices... you can be content that your family treats you like a second class citizen or... you can live your life trying to be the celebrity that you can never be unless your family changes their ways... confronting the family will only drive your family to love the celebrity more because he or she is not the complainer.

So which one are you? Do you have this in your family?

Neal A Maxwell

Go to http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6197 to read a talk that Neal A Maxwell made back in 1978... I think he hit the nail on the head with what is going on in the world today. Its a little long but worth the read!

There is beauty all around....

hate: verb, hat⋅ed, hat⋅ing, noun

1.	to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest.

2.	to be unwilling; dislike

–verb (used without object)

3.	to feel intense dislike, or extreme aversion or hostility.

–noun

4.	intense dislike; extreme aversion or hostility.

I think this guy doesnt understand what hate means? What do you think? Freedom of expression is ok as long as you agree with this guy!