I recently read an article in the Arizona Republic about a couple that took one week to live more "eco friendly." It intrigued me. The couple were not going extreme, they were just rethinking some of the things that they were currently doing. Each day the explored a less environmentally impacting aspect of their life, ex. food, transportation, water, electric consumption, waste production.
I am a big fan of re-thinking every-day practices and so it go me thinking what parts of their experiment would be applicable in our life both currently and in the future as we hope to have a home of our own. I discussed them with Josh a bit this morning, and too my great pleasure, Josh also thinks there are wonderful things we can do to become more 'self-sufficient' (which is a much better serving term for us since we really don't make changes based upon the effects they are having upon our planet, more so upon our checkbook). Could we survive in a convinient society without any outside resources? Or more effectual, can we save more of our hard earned money by consuming and wasting less?
I did a bit more research this morning online and found out that according to a Low Impact site, we are doing pretty good at being eco-friendly, but my favorite part of the site was that they showed you projects you could implement starting pretty simple to getting pretty big. I liked most of the list it came up with for our current household. I am a big champion for being frugal, so the part I liked most was the comparison of how much it would cost to make the change, and then the annual savings it would give you. Somethings saved you nothing, and it was nice to see that honest comparison. Point being - alot of the current rave of 'living green' fall into our family goals of being provident providers and living self-sufficiently.
Some goals/ideas we like:
-Drying all our clothes on the line
-changing all lightbulbs to low efficiency (we just broke down and bought our first box of lowE and were surprised to see that a bulb that puts off 60w of light only takes 13w of energy! cool)
-install solar panels
-save waste water to reuse in irrigation for your yard and garden (which currently has no effect on us because we don't pay for water in our apt and we have no yard, but it is nice to plan)
-turn down the water heater (or make it solar/radiant heated)
-buy less packaged food and make more from stratch
-buy everything second hand (thanks to a low budget we have been doing a pretty good job of this, but after ripping tabs off some new pants for Faith this morning I realized I can do much better)
- recycle more
-create a compost for your home (the 'No-Impact Guy' did this even in their NY high rise apt)
-walk anywhere within 5 miles, bike anywhere within 15 miles and only drive when necessary
-turn off, or get rid of the TV (we really like this, we find we have more time as a family to be creative, literate, and fun! especially the time it profits in the evening for Josh and I to just talk together)
- turn off the water during the parts of the shower you don't actually need it (it is an intriguing idea which reminds me of parts of the world that take bucket showers, it is possible)
-buy biodegradable detergents (which would be helpful when we are using waste water as irrigation)
- make the pretty embroidered personalized hancerchiefs of yester-year (this idea just came to me as I witnessed Faith just go through yet another box of kleenex that was part of my 3 month supply which has been reduced to 1 sick week with the help of Danny transfering all the tissues to a minute blow at the nose, crumpled, and then put in the trash)
for more of my half-baked frugal ideas you can visit my other blog
Friday, October 30, 2009
What the Constitution is for ---not just liberals!
I have recently been feeling rather economic and political, all of which things tie deeply to the doctrines I believe in. Yesterday I read this article which has really been cycling around my thoughts:
Apostle Says Religious Freedom Is Being Threatened
My heart aches when I think of the world that my children are facing. I know, that sounds rather extreme, nonetheless, I truly feel the responsibility I have to my children to raise them in righteousness. In fact, that was the Visiting Teaching message this month. I know the Lord has prophets and apostles on the earth today to continue teaching us the truths that we need to know so that we can be safe and happy. After all, the Lord's plan is the Plan of Happiness. It is just so sad that the opposition is getting so very combative.
Elder Oaks says:
In choosing my subject I have relied on an old military maxim that when there is a battle underway, persons who desire to join the fray should “march to the sound of the guns.”[i] So it is that I invite you to march with me as I speak about religious freedom under the United States Constitution. There is a battle over the meaning of that freedom. The contest is of eternal importance, and it is your generation that must understand the issues and make the efforts to prevail.
Continuing the states:
Along with many other religious people, we affirm that God is the ultimate source of power and that, under Him, it is the people’s inherent right to decide their form of government. Sovereign power is not inherent in a state or nation just because its leaders have the power that comes from force of arms. And sovereign power does not come from the divine right of a king, who grants his subjects such power as he pleases or is forced to concede, as in Magna Carta. As the preamble to our constitution states: “We the People of the United States . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.”
Go read the rest! It is amazing. Josh and I have had several more political conversations lately based on many of the principles that the Constitution and the Gospel are founded on. Perhaps it has taken a president that we don't exactly agree with to awaken us to so many of the other subtle battles that are being fought politically and morally in our country. I am just so extremely grateful to have the words of apostles, prophets and seers to guide me during these last days. *sigh*
Apostle Says Religious Freedom Is Being Threatened
My heart aches when I think of the world that my children are facing. I know, that sounds rather extreme, nonetheless, I truly feel the responsibility I have to my children to raise them in righteousness. In fact, that was the Visiting Teaching message this month. I know the Lord has prophets and apostles on the earth today to continue teaching us the truths that we need to know so that we can be safe and happy. After all, the Lord's plan is the Plan of Happiness. It is just so sad that the opposition is getting so very combative.
Elder Oaks says:
In choosing my subject I have relied on an old military maxim that when there is a battle underway, persons who desire to join the fray should “march to the sound of the guns.”[i] So it is that I invite you to march with me as I speak about religious freedom under the United States Constitution. There is a battle over the meaning of that freedom. The contest is of eternal importance, and it is your generation that must understand the issues and make the efforts to prevail.
Continuing the states:
Along with many other religious people, we affirm that God is the ultimate source of power and that, under Him, it is the people’s inherent right to decide their form of government. Sovereign power is not inherent in a state or nation just because its leaders have the power that comes from force of arms. And sovereign power does not come from the divine right of a king, who grants his subjects such power as he pleases or is forced to concede, as in Magna Carta. As the preamble to our constitution states: “We the People of the United States . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.”
Go read the rest! It is amazing. Josh and I have had several more political conversations lately based on many of the principles that the Constitution and the Gospel are founded on. Perhaps it has taken a president that we don't exactly agree with to awaken us to so many of the other subtle battles that are being fought politically and morally in our country. I am just so extremely grateful to have the words of apostles, prophets and seers to guide me during these last days. *sigh*
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
My Favorite Day of the Year
October 27th is my very FAVORITE day of the year! It beats all holidays and birthdays by far! I didn't even know until 4 years ago that October 27th would be the day that everything changed for the best for me!
And here's why:
See those gleaming rings and goofy grins?! That says "We just got married!!!"
Joshua Andy Button and Nancy Hancock were sealed in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple at 10am on Thursday October 27th, 2005.
What a gorgeous autumn day it was!
We actually broke tradition and held a pre-reception which we just called a celebration the night before on Wed Oct 26th at my parents' cabin in St. Anthony Idaho just on the banks of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River.
We did the family meet and greet-all that night; My folks flew in from CT that day and Josh's family drove over from WA and they all met for the first time all dressed up at the cabin. Josh and I really weren't even available to do the introductions cuz we were getting ready. We were blessed to have all of our family together comprising travelers from WA, TX, UT, AZ, CT, and FL.
as well as both sets of my grandparents (Grandpa Rasmussen was 90years old and Grandpa Hancock just passed last year)
We cut the cake that night. It was a yellow cake that I pleaded with Josh to not smear since I really wanted my dress to be nice for the actual wedding day. We saved the top tier for our 1st anniversary and served the other two layers as refreshments.
My beautiful sisters and bestest friends were my matching maids.
Josh got a censored garter pull and I threw the bouquet to the gals the next day. Of the four running for the flowers (Jill was leaving for a mission a month later so she really didn't need to catch it) Charisa was the next to get married although Ellie caught the bouquet (height advantage) who is actually the last one of the bridesmaids not married..;)
Yet, despite all the fun and excitement of those two celbratory days, what I remember most is this: knowing I was absolutely happy and that I would always be happy as long as Josh was with me. In four years we have moved 9 times, had 2 beautiful children, gone through graduate school and plenty of other 'stressers' yet we have not had more than one major fight! As I knelt across the altar from Josh, just waiting to say my part, I got more and more excited until I finally got to burst it out in a "YES!" All those promises I made to Josh that day I still hold true to. He is my one and only, my best friend, flesh of my flesh and I cleave to him as I do to no one else. I love him or today than I did on that day I felt I would burst with love, and I will love him more tomorrow! Happy Anniversary! This is the best day ever (so far)!
And here's why:
See those gleaming rings and goofy grins?! That says "We just got married!!!"
Joshua Andy Button and Nancy Hancock were sealed in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple at 10am on Thursday October 27th, 2005.
What a gorgeous autumn day it was!
We actually broke tradition and held a pre-reception which we just called a celebration the night before on Wed Oct 26th at my parents' cabin in St. Anthony Idaho just on the banks of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River.
We did the family meet and greet-all that night; My folks flew in from CT that day and Josh's family drove over from WA and they all met for the first time all dressed up at the cabin. Josh and I really weren't even available to do the introductions cuz we were getting ready. We were blessed to have all of our family together comprising travelers from WA, TX, UT, AZ, CT, and FL.
as well as both sets of my grandparents (Grandpa Rasmussen was 90years old and Grandpa Hancock just passed last year)
We cut the cake that night. It was a yellow cake that I pleaded with Josh to not smear since I really wanted my dress to be nice for the actual wedding day. We saved the top tier for our 1st anniversary and served the other two layers as refreshments.
My beautiful sisters and bestest friends were my matching maids.
Josh got a censored garter pull and I threw the bouquet to the gals the next day. Of the four running for the flowers (Jill was leaving for a mission a month later so she really didn't need to catch it) Charisa was the next to get married although Ellie caught the bouquet (height advantage) who is actually the last one of the bridesmaids not married..;)
Yet, despite all the fun and excitement of those two celbratory days, what I remember most is this: knowing I was absolutely happy and that I would always be happy as long as Josh was with me. In four years we have moved 9 times, had 2 beautiful children, gone through graduate school and plenty of other 'stressers' yet we have not had more than one major fight! As I knelt across the altar from Josh, just waiting to say my part, I got more and more excited until I finally got to burst it out in a "YES!" All those promises I made to Josh that day I still hold true to. He is my one and only, my best friend, flesh of my flesh and I cleave to him as I do to no one else. I love him or today than I did on that day I felt I would burst with love, and I will love him more tomorrow! Happy Anniversary! This is the best day ever (so far)!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Mosiah 20:24
As we were reading, a bit speedily, through the Book of Mormon tonight to the kids, I was a bit stupified when Josh stirred from his slumpish sickness and began to pull his arms into his shirt. I thought undoubtedly his fever was rising again and he was getting a chill since I had the fan on in the kids' room. A very sly grin snuck across Josh's face and he said, with a twinkle in his blood-shot eyes, "Hey Faith!" Faith looked at him startled, not knowing what was really going on. Danny had observed the whole thing from Josh's lap also trying to ascertain what was the meaning of his movement.
"Hey Faith," Josh grins "they went in 'without arms!'"
I am certain the pun was lost on our 2 year old daughter and one year old son, but the humor of the moment was priceless. Out of a drug covered fervor came the ultimate cleverness. Faith and Danny both began giggling as Josh bounced up and began to wave around his torso 'without arms' (see titled reference to the people of King Limhi approaching the Lamanites without weapons). Faith began pulling her arms into her sleeves and pleaded for help from her armed mother. Danny sheepishly, but no less getting the great fun of the moment, began tugging on his shirt sleeve motioning that he wanted in on the game too. Soon it was as if Ammon himself had swept through the Button house and every one was 'without arms."
"Hey Faith," Josh grins "they went in 'without arms!'"
I am certain the pun was lost on our 2 year old daughter and one year old son, but the humor of the moment was priceless. Out of a drug covered fervor came the ultimate cleverness. Faith and Danny both began giggling as Josh bounced up and began to wave around his torso 'without arms' (see titled reference to the people of King Limhi approaching the Lamanites without weapons). Faith began pulling her arms into her sleeves and pleaded for help from her armed mother. Danny sheepishly, but no less getting the great fun of the moment, began tugging on his shirt sleeve motioning that he wanted in on the game too. Soon it was as if Ammon himself had swept through the Button house and every one was 'without arms."
Yabba-dabba-BOO!
These aren't the best pictures yet of our family costuming for this years' Halloween. We had a church halloween carnival so we got the trial run for the variation on the Flinstone family. Hopefully I can convince Josh to put on his costume again for Trick-or-Treating.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ready for Retirement
Danny found his hat on Sunday. All decked out in plaid, crocs, kahkis and a floppy hat he practically requested to go on long slow walks, sit quietly in the park and get paid by the government for having lived more than sixty years (which happens to be the only requirement that he doesn't already fulfill).
Arizona State Fair
If it weren't for this mini-petting zoo and a few very large cows I would have had to petition that they change the name of the Arizona State Fair to the Arizona State Carnival. As it was - I was grateful for some passive animals that Faith could screech near and Danny could systematically pat three times on whatever part of the body presented itself.
We were so turned off by the non-fairness of the place we didn't even have an elephant ear, just juice and granola bars we brought from home. Josh was on call and had some patients trying his patience throughout the trip as well. Ah well. It was fun to be out as a family, that is the best part of any day.
We were so turned off by the non-fairness of the place we didn't even have an elephant ear, just juice and granola bars we brought from home. Josh was on call and had some patients trying his patience throughout the trip as well. Ah well. It was fun to be out as a family, that is the best part of any day.
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