tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205126880438985272024-03-19T01:31:14.266-07:00Our TakeJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-42915990699944951662011-01-18T19:30:00.004-07:002011-02-03T12:41:00.482-07:00My Amazing FamilyI have some incredible family members who are so very entrepreneurial and talented that I just had to share more about them.My brother Frank and his wife Kristin are quite the internet entrepreneurs with several really wonderful businesses online. They have Posh Eyewear, through which they sell reading glasses and accessories. I don't yet wear reading glasses, but I love looking at the Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-11707532369707474322010-12-21T21:09:00.005-07:002010-12-22T08:25:10.340-07:00Once in a Lifetime: Part Two On December 14, we followed up our Reagan Library experience with a private tour of Rancho del Cielo, the Reagan Ranch also once known as the Western White House. In 1974, the Reagans purchased "Tip Top Ranch" about 30 miles outside of Santa Barbara and renamed the incredible place "Rancho del Cielo" or Ranch in the Heavens. I can now personally attest that the property certainly feels like a Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-33911474578494017282010-12-17T20:26:00.001-07:002010-12-20T07:23:56.762-07:00Once in a Lifetime: Part OneOn December 13 and 14, I had the privilege of experiencing one of those incredible once in a lifetime trips. My dad brought Frank and I to southern California to participate in the unveiling of the U.S. Postal Service's new Reagan stamp, which will be issued in honor of the Gipper's Centennial birthday on February 6, 2011.The trip had a bit of an inauspicious start: Frank was so sick the day Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-54045567781193619852010-05-05T09:34:00.016-07:002010-05-05T11:31:39.791-07:00Staycation ... or Steak-cationJohn and I have been married for four years as of tomorrow, and to celebrate John planned a fun weekend full of surprises for me. It was amazing, fun, and (candidly) a little bit nerve-wracking: I am the planner in the family and not only did I not have any part in planning the weekend, but John kept everything a surprise right up to the last minute.We had our very first (but hopefully not last) Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-14692870735157363542009-11-07T18:06:00.006-07:002009-11-07T20:58:57.104-07:00Cherish the MomentsI've recently had some great reminders to cherish the little moments in life and the importance of keeping life in perspective. Today we attended a 100th birthday celebration at our church. We enjoyed lunch with the extended family and had a lesson in perspective when we looked over the scrapbooks and artifacts from the last century.Just look at Erma's spirit and joy celebrating with family -- Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-49222120232605467482009-08-03T13:22:00.002-07:002009-08-03T13:43:33.197-07:00Bible Boot Camp!This past weekend, John and I were in charge of the first annual Mountain View Bible Boot Camp. What an amazing, exhausting, fun, challenging, and fulfiling experience!Sgt. Perkins ran camp for 24 hours with about 25 kids aged six through twelve. We managed to pack six Bible study lessons, six crafts, six activities and the grand finale obstacle course into that 24 hour period. I still can't Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-42022814096939975052009-07-21T16:52:00.004-07:002009-07-21T17:49:14.402-07:00God is in my calendar?I had an interesting experience over the last few days. Last week was a pretty tough week work-wise, and it unfortunately culminated in a very long, very difficult Thursday for me. About 17 hours into my work day, I said some things that were a bit unprofessional--and in a not so professional manner.On Monday, my lack of professional behavior was pointed out to me in a blunt, but ultimately Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-65740432641445099612009-07-18T10:14:00.005-07:002009-07-18T12:22:03.859-07:00CommencingOnce a year I am lucky to have my mom come visit when she attends the University of Phoenix Online Campus graduation. Mom teaches undergraduate and graduate courses online in business and marketing classes, which means she gets to wear this cool regalia.I don't know any of the graduating students each year, but that doesn't matter--it's still always so touching to watch the students who have Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-2885955894039498902008-12-29T10:35:00.001-07:002008-12-29T10:37:07.647-07:00"Bailing out of 2008"I've long been a Dave Barry fan, and he's hit the nail on the head again (or several of them) with his year-end column.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-30372161072048757952008-12-27T13:35:00.006-07:002008-12-27T13:54:58.363-07:00Merry Christmas 2008What a wonderful and mostly relaxing Christmas holiday! We had a lovely service at our church on Christmas Eve, and John participated by doing a reading. Here is an excerpt (he has such a great reading voice doesn't he?):On Christmas Day, we enjoyed the luxury of sleeping in late--itself always a treat. Then we headed up to Clay, Jenny, and Emily Perkins' house for a relaxing celebration of Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-84104207098861509642008-12-26T22:26:00.002-07:002008-12-26T22:44:28.291-07:00An Excellent PointIn my capacity as President of the Phoenix Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society, a little over a year ago we hosted Denver Post columnist and author David Harsanyi.On Christmas Eve, David's column "Lassez-faire punditry" provided some excellent insights and thoughts regarding the current economic situation and the (IMHO) laughable claims of some (notably Ariana Huffington) that this economicJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-9376739612398591122008-12-21T21:42:00.002-07:002008-12-21T21:44:15.664-07:00ScaryCheck out this poll for Second Annual Worst Prosecutor of the Year. I can't yet figure out who to vote for, but am certainly further depressed (see earlier blog on Bill of Rights Day) regarding the health of the Fourth Amendment.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-31276178475276929102008-12-20T22:28:00.004-07:002008-12-20T22:36:30.260-07:00Welcoming Katie to the BlogosphereMy step-daughter, Katie, is joining us in the blogosphere as she heads off to college. Welcome Katie! I've added a link to her "Onward and Upward" blog in my list. Check it out.Here is Katie with her cousins Logan, Emily, and Kaitlyn.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-19836030341094473012008-12-20T20:45:00.000-07:002008-12-20T20:48:37.545-07:00Bill of Rights Day RecapThe Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791 and this past Monday we gathered in Phoenix to celebrate the 217th birthday of that document. We first heard from Patrick Henry, a primary author and supporter of the BOR.We then read through the amendments as a group--an interesting experiment with 250 or more people in the room. Some interesting tidbits a lot of people today may not know:* Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-1515947119228751102008-12-20T10:11:00.007-07:002008-12-20T10:36:04.610-07:00Some Christmas CheerThe lead up to Christmas has been pretty hectic for us with work and such, but a few things have kept us in the holiday spirit.First, we had our Christmas program at our church. John sang in the choir and I served as the narrator for the program, which was a lot of fun and a great reminder of our purpose for celebrating Christmas.Our Christmas Cantata was about the love of God; our small, Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-54243775817100999612008-12-12T10:43:00.005-07:002008-12-12T10:49:34.604-07:00Abe and TomMy grandfather shared with me some excellent Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson quotes that are particularly relevant these days.From our 16th President:* You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.* You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.* You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.* You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.* You Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-35635521565091160982008-12-11T20:24:00.007-07:002008-12-12T22:24:31.526-07:00"School Choice Works!"Earlier this week the Arizona Supreme Court heard argument in a major school choice case that IJ is litigating. A couple of years ago, the legislature passed two voucher programs to provide scholarships for children to use at the school of their (or their parents') choice. Only particular children are eligible for the scholarships: children who have been in foster care and children with federallyJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-5413401134609576302008-12-01T20:22:00.002-07:002008-12-01T20:23:45.651-07:00Consider ThisA little post-Thanksgiving, thought-provoking blog on the Pilgrims and private property rights available here (HT Ilya Somin).Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-19144977509292868912008-11-24T20:07:00.001-07:002008-11-24T20:09:04.975-07:00Jen's YouTube debutCredit to Isaac Reese and the IJ development team for this fun video.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-28788593757816039602008-11-04T17:18:00.005-07:002008-11-04T17:31:51.427-07:00Election MapOkay imbedding this Google gadget doesn't seem to be working quite right, so you can try the original site also.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-77554648989575249772008-10-17T09:27:00.001-07:002008-10-17T09:28:24.663-07:00MyPunchBowl.comMy latest favorite website is www.mypunchbowl.com. It's similar to Evite, but has a major advantage: the potluck options! Anyway, just a recommendation for anyone who is interested.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-90747353651747104732008-09-26T21:29:00.003-07:002008-09-26T21:34:22.770-07:00NiceOkay, this cracked me up.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-9126814597921377572008-08-30T13:00:00.003-07:002008-08-30T13:11:58.542-07:00FlowersI turned 31 a couple weeks ago. I had a wonderful time visiting my Texas family and meeting baby Allison, my precious niece. Frank and Kristin hosted me for a couple of laid back days and general family fun, and Mom took us all out for an incredible birthday meal.To cap off such a special weekend, I came home to a beautiful gift from Dad and Janet:These flowers got me thinking about the whole Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-86285194142875193912008-08-26T18:43:00.003-07:002008-08-26T19:53:58.938-07:00Protocol for MolesSo a work-related incident today made me wonder whether there should be something like protocol for moles. Not the mammals, but the spies. With any public policy issue, when sides are taken, it's not terribly unusual for either side of the issue to try and infiltrate the other camp--learn strategies, identify weak arguments, etc. In those circumstances, the moles generally keep to themselves and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420512688043898527.post-23878978464705576952008-08-22T20:06:00.004-07:002008-08-22T20:17:43.977-07:00Babies are so inspiring!So it's been a while since I posted and I've finally had just the right inspiration: visiting and meeting my beautiful niece Allison for the first time. The best birthday present I could have had. Of course the icing on that particular cake was seeing Mom, Frank, Kristin, Lisa, Laura, and Carter as well! Here are some fun pics of the experience: Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258686276284320694noreply@blogger.com2