Big Changes

As I got out of bed this morning, a whole blog post flowed into my thoughts, reviewing the past month, and filling everyone in on all the big changes that has happened this month.

To begin, Ken is no longer working at sonitrol.

We have had a lot of trouble the past month or so. Pays are bouncing, and we have been unsure as to if each pay will be actually received. Ken approached the owners, and asked about being laid off. This would be a benefit to both parties. Ken can go on EI, and could be contracted to work if something came up, but they would not have to pay out his full salary, through this slow time. The boss got extremely angry, and a written notice was given to ken, followed by a huge amount of emails, letters, and official papers. In the end, Ken was forced to quit his job. It is not possible for him to continue working in a place with people that wouldn't treat him fairly, or would threaten to hold pays for little or no reason.

Ken has applied to EI, and has applied for a self employed program. If he gets in, he will be going to school for eight weeks in Lethbridge, through EI, to learn everything there is to know about starting a business. Marketing, Business plans, registering, accounting, hiring, and firing. He is very excited and we hope that he will get in. Hopefully we will know by the beginning of next week.

It has been different for us having Ken home full time. We are still trying to give him that balance of family, and work time that he still needs.

I am excited and certain that this will all work out for the better as a new stage in our lives begin.

January has been busy

As well as adjusting to Ken being home, this month has been all around too busy. As a homeschooling mom, I have always left time on the calender for being home. Often days will go by with out us leaving the house, or having any obligations. This month was an exception.

Everyday this month there has been something.
Guitar lessons for Courtney, Peter Pan play practices, 4H meetings for Sarah, Recipe Group, Book Club, papers to write, Church programs and events to attend, a birthday, dinners out, and exercise classes to go to. This on top of the regular homeschooling, cleaning the house, and making meals. We also added a number a appointments for Ken, and numerous trips to the EI office and Labor Board.

Now that I have spent one month never home, I have committed to changing that.
February will be a slower month as I turn things down, and make home that place for us to learn, and grow together.

Letter to the Editor

I recently joined a class called the freedom project. If anyone knows me well, they know that I am not a naturally political person. I never watch the news, rarely pick up the newspaper, and can’t tell you anything about politics.

So, why then, would you ask, would I join a freedom project?

To learn. To educate myself.

The first thing I realized is how many times I read about freedom. One example I found was in my scriptures. Do you remember the Kingsmen? They were Nephites that wanted subtle changes to the law , to allow a King to rule. Doesn't that sound familiar? Do we have people today also wanting to make subtle changes to the law to suit their needs? I don’t have to be into politics too much to know the answer to that question.

I also believe we are to protect our freedoms and rights. But where do we begin? I have always found politics so confusing. Names, parties, policies, and numerous bills or amendments etc.

So I ask, do we know our laws, or bills? If we don’t like a bill what can we do?

I’ve heard of protesting, letter writing, and adding your name to list of other names. But does this work?

I’ve decided my first step should be to learn. I am challenging myself, and everyone else, to educate ourselves.

Learn a little more then you already do.

Moroni wrote a flag, a banner of freedom and rights. He carried it through all the land reminding (educating) the people of their rights, freedoms and the responsibilities they had, to stand up for their freedoms. Educating the people was his first step. Do you not think that still stands today? Are we learning about our freedoms? Do we know what our rights are? Have we even read the Canadian charter for freedom? Do we remember any of it?

Thoughout history, many often fought physically for their freedom, rights, laws, and religion. We are fortunate, that unless we are serving in the military, we do not have to fight physically for freedom. But we still have the responsibility. We have to stand up and fight, without swords. We need to stand with our banner, stand with freedom.

Stop the kingsmen from changing our laws. We need to know our laws.

The question is, are we prepared to fight for them?

I believe education is the first step. As I educate myself, I hope others will also join in. We can learn our rights and our laws. Only then can we find the way to stand up for them. We together can hold our banner, our flag, our ensign, and show the world. We can all do this, but first, I encourage all of us to learn a little more that we already do.

Still Learning,

Tracy Lynch

Snows some More

It hasn't stopped snowing all day, but when Daddy went off to work this afternoon, and the kids rush outside to surprise him with a clean driveway. Nicole, Kenny, and Adrian work hard (their own idea) to make room for daddy's work van.

The driveway looks great kids! Good job, and congrats for not giving up!

starting the new year

The kids have grown so much, we just had to stop and take a picture before we head off to church today. The girls all have their hair all up, and the boys are wearing their new church shirts and ties from Christmas.

Sarah

Kenny and Adrian

Nicole

Courtney