Flakes Around the World

What has happended to the blog. No entries in four days. I guess I will have to step in and keep it rolling. We went to the drive-in last night. I is a summer tradition for us. Every place we have lived we find the local drive in and go -- even New York. We saw RV (PG) and it was really quite funny. We laughed our heads off. Your never sure much of that is the movie or how much is 6 giggling kids in the back of the Surburban. Robin Williams can be hillarious and Jeff Daniels was good as well. It was also relativly clean and not too crude.

Allyson make sure you let us all know the details on Africa. I hope your having fun with Lincoln. Congratulations Justin!

Justin had his last final today. I didn't know life could be so sweet. I don't even recognize Justin now, HA! We are so looking forward to go to visit mom and dad on Monday. lucinda endowment, May 19, 2000. Married May 20, 2000 Timpanogos. I'll have to ask justin about his endowment.
Lucinda

Here is the info you requested (except for Oliver's endowment date which I assume you already have), but you should know that Aunt Claudia has been keeping track of all the same info. She has even emailed us with the addition of every child, so she could add the info to the history of our family. Maybe you could get what she has and lessen your work.
Amber endowment May 27, 1995, Oakland
Marriage date July 8, 1995, Boise

I know this is a difficult thing to ask but since I am the family history consultant, I need to get our family stuff up to date. If each of you could send me your marriage date and endowment date for wife and husband, that would be great. Also temple where you got endowments. Thanks, Mom

It is kind of sad. Without Lincoln on the Blog, things just aren't the same. Can you ever even let us know what is going on with you Lincoln? Maybe we should try and sell the Taurus. If we can, then you can just make your life so much easier by buying a car in England. What do you think? We are thinking of putting both Tauruses and the Toyota for sale and see which one goes first. With Dad's job so tenuous, it would be nice to get some money in the bank. 4 cars in the driveway is just too many. Oliver, let me know the people's names and when they will be here. Is there anything we can do for them? I am sure we can arrange a tour of temple square but there is so much more we could take them to see - Kennecott, etc. Just let me know. Allyson is with Levin and leaves for Ireland tomorrow. Our children have all taken wing.

Mom and Dad, A friend of me and Leven, a Brazilian wheat trader, is traveling to the U.S the second week of May and he will be visiting Salt Lake City with his family. What do I need to do to get a special tour set up for his family (in Portuguese) at Temple swuare?

Oliver

Welll I am heading out in just a few short hours. Levin and I shall have quite the party. I am convinced that levin is flying all the way to ireland simply for his beloved "irish breakfast". LIttle does he know we are all going to be on Strick Diets while in Ireland with special emphasis on no sausage or bloody pudding.

As for Rated R movies, I agree with Oliver of course but let us not judge others for judging us for judging them for watching them...let us not forget when the Layne Flakes used to be the apostate ones watching rated R movies while the rest turned their noses down at us...oh how the tables have turned. I don't care if people willfully go to hell, but they seem to feel the need to justify it. I am just glad Uncle Lawrence didn't preach his renegade brand of mormonism in our religion class...everyone already thinks he is apostate because he says damn and hell everyday in class and justifies it cause J. Golden Kimball used to.

Well I am off until late August, but don't think just cause I am in Africa you can't call me. I will have a phone and expect regular communication from my parents and siblings.

Ally

Boy not even I can agree with that liberal R-Rated stance. Aunt Lucy is crazy - its one thing to watch R-rated movies and justify it and another to critisize members of the church that don't. Unfortunantly this will not be an interesting topic to debate becasue everyone agrees that watching R-Rated movies is bad - even those of us (myself not included) that do watch them.

We had a great time with Mom this week. As you can see from these pictures we decided to set up our tramp and the kids have literaly been living on it. They even made me sleep on it one night when Mom was here. We made the mistake of having Hyrum and I sleep next to each other. Because of the sloping action, by the end of the night, all the rest of the kids we stacked on top of us. I need to explain the first picture of Joseph and Julia. In addtion to being Easter, last Sunday was also Illegal Imigants Appreciation Day. Given that, we thought it appropreate that Julia wear her Easter dress to Church and Joseph dress like Jose.

Hope everyone is doing well. We are excited to get Levin to vist us for Memorial Day -- you need to add Detroit to your list of exotic place you will visit over the next few months. We plan of having Oliver and Amber for Labor Day. I am sure Uncle Larry's ringing endoresment of the Passion will spark comments from L&L. For once we are all alinged. I don't think anyone in our family has seen it. Mr Gibson did come out with a toned down version (PG13) on DVD. What are the thought on seeing that one?

The Eldest

Dear Kids, We thought you might find thid interesting. We agreed with a few of the critiques but not most of them. He is in a big time defensive posture on hisz position of The Paszszion of Chriszt. He can't sztand thed thought of being considered liberal just because he watches an R rated movie. The last critique is Aunt Lucy's. We thought she and he arew way off the mark, what do you think? Dad



Brothers & Sisters--the kids are always critiquing movies, so I decided to send them my "profound observations" on about 25 of them. Thought you might enjoy it.

Cheeers,

Lawrence


Dear Kids:

Last night mom and I went to “Church Ball,” and that has “inspired” me to make this contribution to criticalflakes.blogspot.com. It’s just a list of Mormon-related films and my impressions in no particular order:

1) “Church Ball”—the mom and I really liked it, silly and slapstick as it was. Funny lines and story with a real collection of good professional actors whose names I can’t remember. The guy from “Best of Show” was the bishop. Gary Coleman, etc. We went expecting very little and were really surprised. Worth seeing especially for guys.

2) “The Other Side of Heaven”—every one has seen it so I won’t comment except to note that it has made the most money (over 5 million). We took Grampy McMeen to see it (his last movie) when he was almost blind. He loved it.

3) “The RM”—funny but dumb. Worth watching if you’re not expecting much.

4) “Singles Ward”—same as above

5) “Singles Second Ward”—good title for a sequel. Haven’t seen it.

6) “God’s Army”—too painful for an old mission president. Glorifying missionary light-mindedness and pushing the limits of good taste portraying ordinances etc. Made 3 million from a $300,000 budget.

7) “Brigham City”—filmed in Hobble Creek Canyon and Mapleton. Fairly good story line with Wilford Brimley anchoring a cast of pretty good local actors. Aunt Marilyn has written a “prequel” to the story. She has sold it to a publisher. We’ll see if it actually surfaces.

8) “The Work and the Glory”—well made, at least the first 2 of the 3 out so far. The fiction part is palatable because Jerry Lund does not take any liberties with the doctrine or sacred stuff. I know him quite well and respect him.

9) “Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration”—at Legacy Theatre. I forgot the name, but I can’t forget the movie. Best the Church has ever made (with the possible exception of “The Phone Call”!).

10) “New York Doll”—haven’t seen it yet, but those who have say it’s a must see. We watched the 30-minute documentary about its making shown at conference time. Has to be about the most unlikely scenario there is—truly stranger than fiction.

11) “Suits on the Loose”—haven’t seen it and may not just because of the title!

12) “Pride and Prejudice” (Provo)—haven’t seen it, but hate people messing with classics.

13) “Charly”—good I hear if you’re a 13-year-old Mormon girl.

14) “Best Two Years”—best of the early LDS genre. Marc loved it because it’s filmed in Holland.

15) “States of Grace”—as soon as you disassociate it from “God’s Army,” as the director did soon after its release, it soars to the top of the heap. Very well made. Mostly good actors for not having any stars. Engaging story line, but the emotional, even spiritual, impact of the doctrine being taught is its strong point. See this one!

16) “Sons of Provo”—haven’t heard much—probably for good reason.

17) “Home Teacher”—haven’t seen it, but it sounds like the one that finally took the “Singles Ward” mentality over the edge. Too much of a bad thing.

18) “Mobsters and Mormons”—filmed in Springville land the canyon. Member of our ward has a bit part in it. Bad acting except for the Mafia guy. Worth watching, but just barely. Two weeks after its release we found it in a rip-off DVD store in Shanghai, China.

19) “Baptists at Our Barbecue”—absolutely the worst. Nothing in the future will bottom this one. We only stuck with it to see if it got any worse. It did. Not worth your time no matter how low your expectations.

20) “Napoleon Dynamite”—too dumb for words until you finally get it; then it’s really funny. I liked it ten times as much the second time through. I think that would be the case with most “old people.”

21) “What Really Happened to Butch Cassidy”—or whatever they call it! It was fun to see how seriously and professionally they make a movie. With our barn, fences, and horses in it, this one is sure to be a hit—if and when it ever comes out.

22) “Saints and Soldiers”—made by the people who made Butch Cassidy. It didn’t do too much for me. I think the black and white, and it being tied too closely to a true story made it a little hard to get into. Others liked it so much that I’m going to give it a second chance.

23) “Piccadilly Cowboy”—coming soon. A Mormon guy from Montana has to find a husband for his English fiancée’s older sister before her Old-Testament-oriented father will give her up. I can hardly wait.

24) “The Legend of Johnny Lingo”—haven’t seen it, but how can you improve on perfection—you ugly eight woman cow?

25) “The Passion of the Christ”—I have raved about this one enough that I will spare you. The violence could be enough to keep children and some adults from seeing it. The R rating certainly shouldn’t. Truly a monumental, moving, spiritual movie from a courageous Christian. I will end with Aunt Lucy as a guest critic:

Dear Lawrence and Elaine:
Thank you for the envelope containing your good letter, the excerpt from Elder Featherstone’s book and the R-rated movie essay. We enjoyed them all. Also, thank you for encouraging us to see the movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” a couple of years ago. Truly we are witnessing a new day of Christ awareness. It was as the writer of the essay said, “Mel Gibson’s Christ loving movie. It leaves you with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” For Virgil and me, the movie was a great avenue to talk of Christ to many of our non member friends as we shared the amazing beliefs we had in common about the Savior. I have never once been sorry for watching the movie and felt so sad and embarrassed that many LDS people would shun and criticize it, never having seen it and then go on to label it “devil inspired,” and “against the counsel of the prophet.” It made me cringe as my non LDS friends would ask why members of our church didn’t want to watch that great movie. It seemed to add to the notion that our church does not believe in Christ. Sad, sad that we get locked into such a narrow-minded approach to righteousness and goodness and totally miss the mark. Anyway, thank you.

I just got back from Taylor and Shelleys (my fingers are all bandaged so I can't type very well - cracked fingers. I had such a great time. It hardly seemed like babysitting. The blossoms are on and Detroit is actually pretty. I kept thinking about Isaac as I watched the wildlife in their back yard with the pond. It is fun to have granddaughtsrs - great pictures of Lucinda. That Julia is amazing. She will be talking in complete sentences in three month. It is so nice to see Alyssa happy with a little sister. Thanks for the article Oliver. Allyson leaves for Ireland on Tuesday. After Monday we will no longer have any connection with BYU - after 17 years. Too hard to type,. Love Mom

 

I just wrote a long blog and lost it all.

I thought when I was reading that...my brother is a genius...then I realized he hadn't written it. I am going to forward taht article to my environmentalist geography professor. It makes me so angry how envrionementalists and liberals destroy that which they claim they are trying to save. They won't let Africa plant drought resistant GM crops. Yet thousands die in famine and children die of malnutrition. But at least we may have helped avoid a reduction in insect species in Ethiopia!

And dumb liberals. They love to claim they are merciful and care about the less advantaged but only care about pushing their own agendas. There is a big contreversy right now about Bush's AIDS policies. From reading the newspaper you would think that BUsh hoped all people with AIDS went straight to hell. NO one mentions that he has given 100x more to AIDS relief that clinton ever thought of giving - 15 billion! But their biggest bother is that 2% of his relief money must be devoted to Abstinence programs. HOw dare he! We want to push our liberal ways of preventing AIDS by Sex ed and the "c" word. Despite the fact that it has been shown that Absitence programs have a much higher success rate in reducing risky behavior among youth and decreasing AIDS infection rates. in Africa. And how arachic of him to give money to faith-based organizations...despite these organizatinos being having by far the most access to the people and them most likely to initiatite change in the strong Christian communities in Africa. Liberals think because they are immoral and godless everyone must be.

I hate politics!

Oliver, Interesting article on deforestation. I'm going to read it to Isaac. I have found him crying in his bedroom about the whole issue--no kidding. It must be his primate ancestory coming thru. JaL

Just a reminder about the good movie on Masterpiece this Sunday.

So I was just thinking that now with my upcomming 2 trips, by the end of May I will have been on 5 trips, to 5 continents in 5 months.

North America- Mexico
South America- Argentina
Africa- Tunisia
Asia- Vietnam
Europe- Ukraine and Ireland

Levin

P.S. I am inviting a girl over for a date/catelina roast on Friday in an effort to deflect criticism from the family that my lifestyle is escapist. I will blog on how it goes.

ARE ENVIRONMENTALISTS AIDING TROPICAL DEFORESTATION?: John Baize
I wrote last week that Greenpeace recently attacked McDonald's in Europe
for selling chicken meat in its restaurants that was produced using
soymeal made from soybeans grown in illegally cleared Brazilian
rainforest. The group says it tracked the soybeans from illegally
cleared land in the Amazon to crushing plants in Europe and then to
poultry operations in Europe which supply chicken meat to McDonald's.
Therefore, the group claims, McDonald's is to blame for destruction of
the Amazon.


I suggest a greater case can be made that Greenpeace and other
environmental groups are indirectly causing more deforestation of
rainforests in Brazil and elsewhere than farmers or soybean users. They
are doing so through their relentless attack on biotech crops and modern
farming practices. By alarming consumers about hypothetical and unproven
risks of biotechnology the environmental groups are discouraging farmers
from producing those crops and increasing their productivity. The
anti-biotech campaign also is creating premiums for non-biotech crops
that require far more pesticides to produce.
Contrary to what some of the anti-biotech groups claim, farmers do see
sizable increases in efficiency and productivity when they plant biotech
crops like soybeans, corn and cotton. Farmers are shrewd business
people; they do not adopt practices and technologies that do not make
them more money. They do not keep planting old seed varieties when they
can produce more and make more money by planting new varieties. They do
not like to apply a lot of pesticides, as they know they threaten their
own health. That is why farmers all around the world are planting more
and more biotech crops where it is legal to do so, and often where it is
not.
The record is clear farmers in the U.S. have seen big improvements in
yields since they began planting biotech soybeans and corn. The highest
and second-highest corn and soybean yields ever achieved in the U.S.
were achieved in the last two crop years mostly using biotech varieties.
The three highest average yields for cotton were in the last three crop
years, again mostly with biotech varieties. Argentina's average soybean
yields have jumped substantially since its farmers shifted to using
biotech varieties almost exclusively. Average Indian cotton yields have
increased by 50 percent since its farmers began planting biotech cotton
varieties. However, India has seen practically no increase in soybean
yields because it has not allowed the planting of biotech soybean
varieties.
There is little question global crop production is less today than it
would be if there were greater plantings of biotech crops. Consequently,
to supply the world's needs the only other alternative is to expand the
area planted to the crops in greatest demand. This is what is happening
in Brazil, where the shrub land of the Cerrados and the rainforests of
the Amazon basin are being converted into cropland to grow soybeans.
There are no biotech soybean varieties adapted to the Amazon area.
However, non-biotech soybeans attract a premium in Europe and elsewhere
- this adds to the incentive to grow soybeans in the illegally
deforested areas of Brazil. Of course, the premium is due to the
anti-biotech hysteria encouraged by environmental groups. Had Greenpeace
and other groups not launched an attack on biotech crops it is likely
there would have been less of an incentive to clear rainforests in
Brazil to grow soybeans to supply the world.
Without a doubt more herbicides and insecticides are being used around
the world today because of the anti-biotech efforts of Greenpeace and
other environmental groups. Herbicide-resistant soybeans, corn, canola
and cotton require the use of far less herbicides than do their
non-biotech cousins, and are protected by one of the safest herbicides
ever used. Likewise, insect resistant Bt corn and cotton require the use
of far less insecticides than do non-biotech corn and soybeans. Reducing
global usage of pesticides has been and is a major goal of environmental
groups, but the same groups are fighting against the best way to achieve
this: biotechnology. Millions of people in Europe, Japan and most of the
developing world continue to be exposed to pesticides that would not be
used were they growing herbicide-resistant and insect-resistant biotech
crops.
One also can make a case that the incentives for the illegal
deforestation of the Amazon rainforest are greater because environmental
groups oppose the use of fast-growing biotech trees to produce lumber
and to serve as carbon sinks to prevent global warming. Biotech trees
offer enormous potential to more efficiently produce lumber and pulp,
and to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. However, a bevy of
environmental groups oppose them, supposedly out of an unproven fear
that they threaten plant diversity and the environment. However, there
is likely to be less incentive to harvest trees in rainforests for
lumber if the biotech trees are grown. There is also likely to be less
impact on the global climate if biotech trees offset the loss of
rainforests.
Finally, the incentives to harvest trees in the Amazon and in other
rainforests have been increased environmental groups' efforts to ban
environmentally-sound logging in U.S. national forests. By preventing
the harvesting of trees in the U.S. and in other countries where laws
are enforced the environmental groups have reduced lumber supplies and
raised lumber prices. This increases the returns from illegally
harvesting trees in tropical areas like Brazil and Borneo where laws are
not so readily enforced. The world needs and wants wood: if it is not
harvested one place because of restrictions promoted by environmental
groups, it likely will be harvested somewhere else - with greater
consequences.
One hopes that one of these days the media, politicians and those who
fund environmental groups will begin to seriously question the science
behind the positions taken by the organizations. Instead of letting
emotion and hyperbole guide policies it is time for policymakers, in
particular, to let science be their guide. They will find the science of
those attacking biotechnology and other technologies to be sorely
lacking.
.com/WorldPerspectives/images/04182006dj.jp

Lincoln, did you get your stuff all turned in? I can't get on my emails here at Taylor's until he comes home so I can't check my email - only the blog. Someone write. I am at Taylors and we are having a good time. Taylor put his trampoline up so the kids are easily occupied. Nothing much going on - glad Levin made it home safely. Mom

It's been raining nonstop this winter here in Portland, and we captured these photos right when it started to rain again. I guess that's why it is so green around here though. Just one more week of classes and three days of finals to go! We are almost done with the hoop jumping, and apple polishing. We look forward to heading out to Mom and Dad's in two weeks. We are hoping for lots of sunshine! Happy Easter.

Justin and Lucinda

Dad and I have had an amazing experience being chaperones at our Stake Youth conference - so we this morning and Dad has to give his testimony. We have had youth from other wards in our group and it has been a lot of fun. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter today. How blessed we are! Love Mom (Happy Birthday yesterday JaLayne)

Howdy all from Ukraine. Things are going well. A couple of days ago we went to an old Soviet Ballistic Missile base which was awesome and yesterday we went to a wild boar farm. Also I looked at tons of wheat.

Lincoln, I will try and bring your suitcases but I will now have 4 of your big suitcases in my tiny apartment - what am I suppose to do with them? (and yes, I will pay you back the $1000 dollars I borrowed from you, man stop being so cheap!) Please blog a picture of your cottage.

Oliver and Amber, I am so excited about you going to India (but am sad I will be lonely in D.C.) The good thing is when I come visit I can attach on a 2 week wheat trip.

Well I will talk to you all soon, I get back Sunday Night. If you get bored, I am staying at the following hotel Friday and Saturday night, give me a ring if you can. Preimer Palace Hotel Telephone: +380 (44) 537 45 00 (I dont know the room yet but just ask for me. I miss you all.

Levin

Hello all - I have so much to write but not time. We love Ireland and our 1800 cottage is amazing. Ireland is such a contrast to the concrete city we have been living in. We had an wonderful family history moment yesterday on a wind swept Irish hill graveyard. Siobhan's progenitors are screaming so much from the next world for their work to be done that I was suprised we did not see a skelton hand come up from the ground.

Our phone number is 353 086 2203761 - call us. We are getting excited for ally's visit. Mom and dad could you check my email and call me with any important news? Thank you very much. I am expecting a firm offer any day now. I am so happy I got my wife and child out of Ukraine in one piece. Civilisation - its a wonderful thing.

Levin if you read this - please check your emails i sent you an important message - I need you to take our black suitcase back with you in addition to the duffle bag from the meyers in Keiv. thank you - you owe us big - about 1000 dollars if I recall correctly, ha ha

Jana, the boys and Oliver and I had our own, more delicious cake. It was a vanilla cake with light airy pudding in the middle, and huge chocolate shavings all over the whole cake. It was heavenly.

Frist of all, Amber, Layne and I haven't laughed so hard about a picture in our lives (well maybe Levin doing the "baby") but those pictures of Natalaya and the cake were hilarious. How did the boys feel not getting to eat any cake? Oliver is so lucky to have a woman who will stay up at night planning the logistics for this move. I talked with Lincoln this morning. He says Ireland is breathtaking and their cottage is out of a Jane Austin book. They are so happy to be out of Kiev and his dissertation supervisor loves his thesis. He just needs to hear something from his job. Levin - we hope you are having fun.

It's 3:30 in the morning, and I've been up since 1:30. I just can't stop thinking about everything we need to do before India! Trips in Brasil, trip home, trip to SLC, then to Washington for a few weeks, then to India! It's almost non-stop travel for the next 6 months. Hotels, rental cars, airline tickets, weight allowances, travel light--- or travel heavy? Loads and loads of shopping for our shipment to India; I think we'll fill Jana's garage with our junk! Food, clothes, medicine, diapers! Carseats, strollers, so much luggage! Medical clearances, schools, housing, cars! How did Jana do this so many times with so many children!!! My brain is just "on" non-stop!

We had Natalya's 1st birthday on Friday. As you can see, she tore into her cake and had a ball. Believe it or not, but she did all the damage to that cake alone! Not even her brothers helped her! This has been the happiest, and fastest year of my life.

I got called to the Primary yesterday. I'll switch off with the other American in primary doing American sharing time. I think I'll love it. We have 12 kids in our little group, and they are all pretty good kids.

McKay is working on a science fair project on what ants like to eat the most, which was probably influenced by the colony of ants that invade our kitchen every single day. He also just finished reading month at his school. He got an award for being the most improved reader, and he really deserved it. He's doing really well. Jared is getting sad that he won't be speaking much Portuguese when we leave here in 3 months... it's his claim to fame in this family. Joel asks me everyday if it's "playgroup day" since that's what happens every Friday, and he just loves it. He has two little friends, Kaylee and Mac, who I think would happily help him take over the world, if only their moms would let them! Everyone is doing well, and it's hard to believe that our time here is almost to an end.

Anyway, I think now I'll go and clean the kitchen. Neide will think I've lost my marbles when she comes in a few hours and sees that the house is clean on a Monday morning!

Amber

If there is one thing I can't stand it is not knowing where my children are. Lincoln and Siobhan - have you arrived safely in Ireland. I called this morning and you hadn't arrived yet. Where are you? Levin, what are you doing? In two weeks we will have no idea where Allyson is either. Oh my, why can't you kids be like other people children and settle down - by your parents! I got a new calling today - Family History Consultant. I have to study for this one. I really know so little about it. Today is Palm Sunday - It is Holy Week. Love Mom

n






Check out Alena's face before she hits the pinata.

Justin had to hold Grant's hands down, because he always wants to have them in his mouth

If anyone cares or wants to give me suggestions they are welcome. I have no idea what to do as I keep getting rejected for scholarships. I fear I will not get any financial assistance. So I will have to go into debt...which stinks. And yes as Levin so lovingly reminded me Elder MOnson doesn't like debt, but we all know it is okay if it is for schooling. BUt trust me, no hates $30,000 in debt as much as much as I do. But this much is sure, I DO NOT feel good about staying in Provo. And you can take that as a spiritual 'don't feel good' so that is not an option. D.C. is where single girls go to die...so the only places I could defer and spend a year making money in South Africa or England. But there is no where I can get a job that I know of.. I would love to work for USAID in kenya or south africa or somethign...but with a bachelors there is little chance I can get that. and I couldn't save more than a few thousand dollars so it does no good anyway. Oh well...I am blessed beyond measure so I can't complain. I will figure somethign out. Maybe I should ask my roomates dad to sponser me...he is worth 700 million! I get rejected time and again from men and for scholarships.

I fully agree with Amber - and she is very strict about this - I am always getting in trouble for saying things like - tonight date night is for the originals only (Amber, Oliver, Mckay, and Natalya) She also does not like it when I tell the Russians to go to bed.

Oliver

Amber you are correct on all accounts. Your boys are sealed to you and to me in a sense. Are you still on line, what is your home number and I can try to call you right now?

You have not been slandered, my dear brother (even though you are not blood-related to me, I shall address you in this way.) My only intention was to correct your inaccurate statistics. If my words seemed harsh, believe me, I din't mean for them to. Ask my friend Rhoda who was sitting next to me while I was typing my message... I went over my note over and over to try and "soften" my words!

Perhaps I should tell you now that I don't really expect to convert your way of thinking to mine. I only wish to share my view with you, and maybe enlighten you a little bit about how adoption and sealing works.

Blood is not the issue, because if it were, adoption into a family would not entitle a child to the blessings of that family. When my grandparents adopted my aunt and uncle, there was never any differentiation made between the "bloods" and the "adoptees." And we try very hard to do the same for our children. When we were were sealed to our boys, they became entitled to all the blessings they would have had, had they been born to us.

The may have been born by another, but they are now adopted into our lineage.

You SHOULD include Siobhán in your statistics, but not in the same way that grandchildren are classified.

Again, this is not about "taking or giving credit," only about getting the facts straight. Don't say blood is thicker than water, because it lessens the true meaning of temple sealing. Maybe you would feel it necessary to footnote your statistics, and maybe you should, but truth is truth.

I will call you about the India info you have. When is a good time, your time, to do it?

Amber

Amber you have done me wrong. I meant no offense to you or your little Bolsheviks. They are certainly part of your and the extend Flake Family and I never wished to question their place in our family. However, because I was commenting on our Flake ancestry, I was thinking in terms of blood lines and although your Russians are without a doubt a part of our family, they lack (for better or worse) Flake blood and therefore their inclusion into the statistics would have required an explanatory caveat and would not have be as impressive. By wife’s birth predates you boys’ birth and therefore I could have included her, but low, she also does not have Flake blood. No harm done, just like Pahoran in the B of M, I know that if you would have known my intentions you would not have spoken such harsh words.

Seriously, you must call, yesterday I spoke for an hour with a couple that spent three years in New Delhi. They told me about Oliver’s office and the mansoons etc etc etc.

Exploding paperweight costs teacher his hand
VENTURA, California (AP) -- A teacher who kept a 40 mm shell on his desk as a paperweight blew off part of his hand when he apparently used the object to try to squash a bug, authorities say.
The 5-inch-long shell exploded Monday while Robert Colla was teaching 20 to 25 students at an adult education class.
Part of Colla's right hand was severed and he suffered severe burns and minor shrapnel wounds to his forearms and torso, fire Capt. Tom Weinell said. No one else was injured. He was reported in stable condition at a hospital.
The teacher slammed the shell down in an attempt to kill something that was buzzing or crawling across the desk, said Fire Marshal Glen Albright.
Colla found the 40 mm round while hunting years ago and "obviously he didn't think the round was live," said Dennis Huston, who teaches computer design alongside Colla.

Oliver - By the Way i will be in D.C. starting the 23rd of August so if you are still there I want some of that perdium. We should all go up to Taylors house together? I can stay as long as I want so that will be fun. Levin and Lincoln, I am going to call you tomorrow. I think we should not forget to include David's time in uaregay, justin in japan, shelley in guatamala, and siobhan in ireland.. LIncoln you should type all this stuff up all nice and we will submit it to the church news:)

Ally

To anwer your earlier question ''Spencer, if you could have your wish of anywhere on the planet you would like to go, where would it be?'' well it would be Africa all the way. I've been learning about Africa & it's culture, people, & wildlife in geography for a while now I think it is so cool, just like aunt Allyson.

Amber, don't be to hard on Lincoln - afterall sometimes I forget that the boys are from Russia. Mom I will be in D.C. from July17-22 while Amber is in Fresno, then I will go to Fresno for a week and we will all come to Utah arriving around July 38 to 31st. We will invade your house (free of charge) until about August 14 or so. Then I will fly to D.C. with the family for a month or so of training (party time Levin). I don't think we will be driving out to D.C. so we will not be able to see Jalayne and Taylor then. However, during our month in D.C. we will take a weekend (Labor Day) and go visit Taylor's family if they will be there.

P.S. Levin we will be on Per-Diem in D.C. so we can eat out for every meal !!

Oliver

Boy, Amber got you on that one Lincoln - for sure, Jared and Joel make the statistics all that more impressive. We sure have spent a lot of money on airline tickets over the years. Reading through that blog Lincoln made me realize God's goodness to us as a family. I am feeling so grateful for all this family has been given. I am glad your eyes are doing well Amber. Have you guys made any decisions on your trip plans out here? It is snowing today - a full blown blizzard. Will we ever have spring? Right now a sauna in India sounds wonderful. Mom

My eyes are recovering nicely. I went to the doctor today to have the contacts removed, and he said everything looked very very good.

Lincoln, I do have your wedding DVD, and have been wondering if you would ever send more photos to put in it, so it can be complete. If you want, you can put together a CD of the key photos from the first year of your marriage, and I can get it done for you when we next see each other... or sooner.

One minor note....
Our Russians were the first born overseas... and the first to hold citizenship from another country since they are dual citizens. Since they were sealed to us, they become part of our family, and are "inserted" into our family tree. They are not an addendum to our family, they are a bonafide part of it. We are the only family they have or will ever have, so aren't they entitled to be included in any statistics? A technicality, but one that lessens the truthfulness, and intended impact, of Lincoln's statements. We could share the credit for these two interesting occurrences (for they are occurrences, not accomplishments!) But I guess since nobody can really take credit for an occurrence, we don't need to worry about credit at all. However, truth is truth!

Amber

This coming summer our parents will have the following geographic distribution of thier children. Seven Children on four continents and children in all but one of the US time zones. Impressive but three summers they had five of thier seven on five continents. Levin and i figureed out that thier seven kids have been to a combined 240+ countries. If you count the in-laws we command a total of 8 languages. THe seven has a combined 12 university degrees. The three younger brothers have spent 11 combined years overseas after thier missions. More than 60 nations have been visited by the family. Levin and I have flown over the atlantic more than 16 times since our missions. Levin has visited siobhan and I 7 times, since we got married. Six of the seven missions served in the family were foriegn, 8 out of 10 if you count the in-laws. Preston is the first of our ancestors(dad's line) to be born out of the US since Ann Jane McCowan in the 1830s. The second was born two weeks later (Natalia). Preston is also the first European citizen in the family since the wittiters abandoned thier Swiss citizhenship. 14 of my 30 years of life has been spent outside of the US. After oliver tours in India he will have lived overseas longer than anybody in Flake history - six straight years. Mom and Dad will soon have sons' with graduate degrees from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd oldest universities in the UK and the most prestigous in the world. Oxford (1189), Cambridge (1209) and St. Andrews (1409). Since I departed on for Russia on my mission in July 1995 there has been a representative from our family overseas without a break until the present - 11 years with the streak to continue for atleast three more years with oliver in India. The three younger brothers have used the languauges they learned on thier missions extensively in thier profession careers, two actually working full time in thier mission regions. Four of the five (and dad) have been to five of the seven continents.

Amber I love the world clock times - they will lessen many of my headaches. Do you still have the master copy of the wedding DVD you made for siobhan and I? HOw are your eyes?

Amber, You will get your precious little trip to the Amazon! I like to Idea of you and Ally going somewhere while the boys take a separate trip. P.S. tell Weidge to iron my shirts today.

Oliver

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/custom.html?cities=45,64,77,390,111,367,136,176,202,220,263

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/custom.html?cities=45,64,77,390,111,367,136,176,202,220,263


New time clock, including South Africa! Sorry, Allyson, I just flat out forgot.

Wow, I love the support! Allyson, going to Bangkok and Tibet with you actually sounds better! If Oliver can agree to that, as well as eventually getting me to at least Kathmandu, then maybe I can be "okay" with the boy's trip. In Oliver's defense, he still has some TAM miles which he CLAIMS he will let me use to go to the Amazon. Only he thinks he gets to come with me, which would bring his Amazon total up to FIVE!!!! We must be made of money if we can afford 3 privately funded trips for Oliver to the Amazon!

Lincoln, you and your lovely family are absolutely welcome to come in February 2007, and/or at any other time! I never imagined that the first time I would meet Siobhán would be in India.

My earlier comments were meant as a general suggestion to the entire family, and were not specifically aimed at any individual. In the end, we WILL accept any travellers whenever they choose to, and are able to come. We just prefer to always have a visit/trip to look forward to, and not to have them all clumped together within a short period! Having said that, it may be better for people to visit when the weather in New Delhi is less horrible, which may mean that we have more visitors during particular seasons of the year. I just hope all these potential trips really happen, and are not cancelled because the tickets are so expensive!

Amber

I agree with Amber - to have lived in Brasil for three years and not have taken your wife to the Amazon is a terrrible crime. I also agree that we should spread out our visits to India. Feb 2007, however is when we have to come, if you will have us. Preston will still be just under two and Siobhan will not be expecting again and our little one will be 9 months. But don't worry if we are really going to live in England for the whole time you are in India, we will be wintering every year with you for several weeks. I still can not believe you wont have a pool!

Allyson tell your 'friend' to not let chucky get a get out of jail card free this time. And I have to agree with his pesimism. An african intellecual optimist is a contriditcion in triple terms

By the time you read this Levin, you will probably have given your presentation. Tell us all how it went. Spencer, if you could have your wish of anywhere on the planet you would like to go, where would it be?

Amber - you forgot to add me in south Africa on the clock. don't worry....if those boys go to Nepal we will go to Tibet and Bangkok. I just had a cool experience I was put in charge of taking care of a guest lecturer that we had...David crane who was the head of the war tribunal in Sierra Leon...He indieted Charles Taylor! He is so big time. He said he thinks the guys he tried have no soul and are incarnations of the devil. We had a good talk about AIDS in Africa, and I told him about my experience and about Oxford...He said "wow I am impressed." it was very cool experience, he gave a great speech. The only thing I didn't like is when he said he is an Afro pessimist.

Ally

I love this new look for the blog - couples communication! I can go for that. I do side with Amber on this one though that Amber didn't get to go to the Amazon. That is probably my fault for not coming down to babysit. I will come to babysit in India however - now that employment doesn't stop me. But then, how will we have the money? But one thing I know about this family - being poor doesn't stop anyway from traveling. JaLayne and David aren't getting a new van after all Amber so that idea we talked about won't work. Have you guys decided on when you are going to be in Utah? I am cleaning out the garage for your stuff. I am so excited to see you all.

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/custom.html?cities=45,390,77,263,176,64,220,136,202,367

This is a link to our very own world time clock with the time everywhere that we all live or will live.

And Oliver.... not to turn this into a forum for marital disputes ... how can someone who manages 4 trips to the Amazon while his wife NEVER gets to go possibly say that he will "compensate in some way!" You, my darling, have lost your credibility! I am going with you if I have to buy my own tickets and surprise you at the airport! I am sick of being left out of all the fun!!!

Amber, we will compesate you in some other way but there is no stopping the boys trip to Burma in Feb 2007. I agree with Amber - we want more visitors rather than a bunch at once - so brake up the trips. Lincoln, Feb is a perfect time to come since it is not too hot. Levin, I will be in Wash from July 17-21 for the Attache Confernece !

Oliver

We will be in India for 3 years... don't feel like you all need rush over in the first year! We don't want a repeat of what happened here in Brasil where the during last year NOBODY came. We love you and desperately want to play host and hostess to each and every one of you at least once. Just don't leave us without visitors for an entire year!

I have resigned myself to missing out on the Amazon, but I will not miss out on Burma and Nepal. So don't plan on leaving me home to babysit while the boys go and party! We'll have to find a family to watch some of our little ones, but we'll figure it out.

The planning for the move has already begun, and I just can't wait to get there! We are getting the school registration taken care of, and have started looking for a preschool for Joel. The job of deciding what and how much of it to bring in our shipment will be monumental! I have too much to do, but I still am so excited. We hope we can see everyone this summer, somehow. We'll be in Washington for awhile... anyone want to stay in our hotel room for a visit?

Amber

Uncle Lincon take me to India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OUr Home phone is working once again, so if you wants to talk to the birthday boy please call. For all those that are already planning trips to India. Siobhan and I have dibs on the last two weeks of Feb 2007. The first week will be travelling around india (well just around a six hours radius of Delhi) and the second week will be a leave the kids and siobhan with Amber and fly to Nepal or Burma trip. We are thinking either levin or allyson would be a good companion on that leg of the trip. I guess I should ask Oliver and Amber's permission first.

Levin, Happy Birthday. SOrry I wasn't able to call. For those of you who don't have my cell number, it is unchanged from the last year--309-750-9881. We will be in Minnesota until Saturday. Love, JaLayne
ps-we are so excited for Oliver and Amber and family to move to India. I hope we can come visit this time!

Levin Happy birthday! Live it up in Ukraine. I am jealous. I have no love life...i wish I did...i like a guy but he doesn't seem to realize my greatness... oh well - I can't date anyway until Levin starts to. If there is anything new I will let you all know. I only have a few weeks left at BYU...and then real life begins.

Well we are all having a blast here in Kiev. Good food, movies and sighting seeing. We are also excited to get to Ireland and have allyson visit. Oliver and Amber's news still has not completely sunk in, I think they are going have the time of their lifes. No more word on my job, but I don't think I have anything to worry about. Allyson please report on the blog about your love life.

Allyson, the exchange rate is now 1.74 to the dollar, still terrible compared to when I was at cambridge around 1.55 but much better than the almost two to one a year ago. I rode the weak dollar wave well because I was getting sholarships in pounds, now that I will be getting paid in dollars I am praying for a strong dollar like you. It sounds like oliver and amber appreciate the purchacing power change of a strong local currency.

Thanks - Siobhan is making a sweet cake. I saw Uncle David singing in the choir at conference, very cool. Oliver, I am so stoked for India. We went to a sweet Indian restaruant yesterday to celebrate - soo good and their was a England-India Cricket match on the T.V. Well I gots my big presentation in a couple of days.

Levin

Happy Birthday!! We will try and call you, but have fun on your birthday. This is the last year you will celebrate it as a single person. I hope you are having fun in Kiev! We just got home from a dinner at Lawrence and Elaine's for 5 of the couples. It was great fun. Uncle David got his acceptance into the Tab Choir as a permanent member so we were celebrating. Dad and I send our love to you Levin on your birthday. Mom

Family Home Evening

 

 

I can't stop thinking about how awesome INdia is going to be...despite it being hotter than he--
I am planning on Christmas. i will probably be 30,000 in debt what is another 2000? I loved conference as well...especially Elder Nelson freaking out. by the way....there is now a all you call eat indian place in provo...i am sure dad will be happy to hear that. It is right next to Los hermanos. Well congrats again oliver and amber....

Yes are battles are over. You guys are welcome to come to the British Isles whenever. I will tell you someing seriously though, if amber and the kids really want to escape two or three months of terible heat, we know a landlord in a sweat green village in Ireland that has cottages to rent. We have rented from him before. Just 400 euro a month, you can stay in irleand for up to three months without a visa etc etc. Just an option, but certainly come to Cambridge and visit and send amber by herself.

Everytime I get more spiritual and gain eternal perspective and understand the emptiness of travel compared to higher things, something like this happens and it keeps pulling me back into travel craz.

Lincoln, Thanks for the nice words - can we consider this a thawing of the cold war of differing ideologies seen in our blog battles? We are very excited and expect everyone to come visit - that means even the slackers like Lucinda and Jalayne that missed out on the once-in a lifetime experience of comming to Brazil. Dad, I already have our K2 climb planned and Mckay and I are serioulsly considering climbing everest. Lincoln, be warned that we will be escaping the winter heat by comming to England or Ireland! If anyone is interested - a very good site on India is:
http://www.india-tourism.com

Amber found out this morning that the Doctor at the Embassy is an area 70 general authority.

Oliver

Everyone should know by now the life changing news of Oliver and Amber. AMAZING - I have been on a spiritual high the whole weekend over it. It is perfect for them. And everyone benefits from it. Our family certainly took advantage of thier brazil assignment and I suspect that this new one will be no different. Oliver we are coming atleast once, trip planning has already begun.

Side note, it takes a former USDA official like myself to really appreciate the series of promotions Oliver has recieved. It is bascially tantamout to a person joining the military as a second leftenuent and after only 7 years of a 25 year career already being promoted to a Lt Col. but occupying a full Col. post. I take my hat off to oliver.

We wants to e the first ones to visit.

Spencer, I have always been a big fan of yours and now I know why. I loved Elder Stone's talk too. It was one of my favorites. I am glad you wrote that story. I wish all of the grandchildren would read it. Conference was so wonderful. Did you pick up that President Hinckley must still have colon cancer - he said "The doctors tell me I still have problems." For some reason, I just clung to every word of his like it would be the last I would hear. He told us in his closing remarks to have joy in our callings. What a strange thing to say at the end of a talk but since I am going to get a new calling soon (one I don't have particular joy in) I am glad he said it because I know it was meant for me. I also loved Elder Ballard's concept of a gospel-sharing home. It is a great model for this family. I love you all. Mom (and Grandma)

Aunts and uncles what did you think of elder Stone's talk I think it was awsome. I especialy liked when he talked about standing up for what is right even when it seams like your standing alone. One example of this is that I have two Mormon friends that go to the same school as me recently there was a dance I was at one of those friend houses during this dance we had nothing to do so my friend also Mormon mother suggested going to the dance I of course stated that going to dances before your fourteen is against church policy the mother simply said oh it's ok if you just don't dance whith any girls (this is of course totaly wrong) in the end we just played football. so before you go and watch the superbowl (another wrong doing of my Mormon friends) ask yourself are you living a Babelon lifestile or a Zion lifestile???????

Here are some photos of my climb up Mt. Hood. It probably wasn't the best day to try, but we tried anyway. We made it up pretty close to the summit, about 40 min of steep climbing would have put us at the top, but a storm rolled in very fast, and I had to make the call to turn around despite the other guy's prodding to keep going. The snow started to cover our tracks, and whiteness surrounded us. But we raced down following what was left of our tracks. Even though we didn't summit, it was pretty fun.

Justin

Thanks for backing me up Aunt Ally, but my dad din't turn out that bad. (Sorry about the whole dirty SOB uncle oliver).