Who am I? Where am I going? Why am I here?

Age old questions for sure. They can cover a wide variety of situations, religious, philosophical, deeply personal. Today I would like to address them from a national perspective. Who Am I? I am an American! Im not Irish American, African American, Japanese American, Chinese American, Spanish/Mexican or any other type. Im simply American. Sure my ancestors immigrated here, some for religious freedoms, political freedoms, some for new opportunities. That first generation may have a reason to have the dual title in their name, but strangely enough as I investigate them I find it interesting that they were proud to call themselves Americans. Somehow it seems that, that pride has diminished somewhat in todays culture.

Senator Mike Lee speaks his mind in Draper

While congress is out on recess, Utah Senator #Mikelee is holding town hall meetings along the Wasatch front. Last night he held a meeting at the Summit academy in Draper Utah. A crowd of about 300 gathered to hear him candidly answer qusetions from the audience. Everything from immigration, impeachment and health care seemd to be on the table. In contrast his Republican counter part #orrinhatch continues to be absent in the state of Utah. Its nice to know that in a repbulic and in the sovreign state of #utah we have at least one elected representative that talks, listens, and seems to be genuinly working for #wethepeople.

Bravehaven

West Valley City Firefighters... Caring - Reliable - Professional

MEET JAYSON: Our crew met him when, at only 5 weeks old, a rare condition caused his heart to stop and his parents called for help.
Jayson had heart surgery to fix the problem and his mom sent us a note to say he's doing just great.
"If it weren't for West Valley Fire Department, my son wouldn't be here today. We will never forget what you guys gave back to us and we are forever grateful."
We'll never forget Jayson. From your friends who met you that scary day, Scott Pearson, Nick Herzog, Matt Butterfield, Phil Lords and Alex Wingeier of Medic Ambulance 74 and Tower 74, we wish you a happy and healthy future!

Are these, "those days"?

Through out my life I have heard mention of the last days. I have heard about the world bearing down on Israel, and them standing on the brink of annihilation, I have heard of a nation coming to their rescue. I have heard that all this will take place just prior to the return of the Son of God . So. Impose this simple question, are these, those days? If they are! Take stock of yourself and who you are. We truly live in a day of wars and rumors of wars, we live in a day of pestilence, of famine, of tribulation, a day when many of the inhabitants of the earth don't know who they are, why they are here, or where they are going,  blindly living day to day, satisfying the flesh and starving the faith. I challenge to to renew your faith. To hold on to values, to lift those around you and to go about doing good. Remember we are not the creators of this earth, but we are the creators of much of the activities that happen on this earth.

Bravehaven

Patriots Dreams - American Restoration

"When in the course of human events" Each of us need to reflect upon these words. It is incumbent on each American, to read and understand what the declaration of Independence means, what it meant then and what it means today. To teach the principles to our children and our children's, children. Whether you were born here, or legally immigrated here. Please take time to pass on this document as well as our wonderful constitution.
For those that have come into our country illegally, please do the right thing. Take the steps, whatever they may be to do things right.
To the enemies of our country and constitution, whether you be foreign or domestic, whether you are in the open or may even hide behind being an elected official. Know this we will not let you destroy our country! We the Patriots of America will stand individually and together to fight any foe, on every battlefield, with principle, truth, with words and if necessary with our very lives.

As for me.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible, with liberty and justice for all".

May God Bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Have a wonderful Independence day!

Bravehaven

Touching story about a WW II Vet and young child.. Worth the read

I found this story on the internet, Thanks go to all the men and women who have served us so diligently, so selflessly and with such Valor.  God Bless America, May our freedom stand, May our liberty be preserved. May we return to be THE "United States of America. God Bless and have a wonderful fourth of July.  Now here is that article.

“She was five years old, just about to turn six and she made a World War II Veteran Cry. She didn’t mean to do it.

In Washington D.C., there is a monument built largely with private funds. It’s not as tall as many of the monuments, it’s not as audacious as those erected for past presidents and founders of our country. It’s really sort of a simple monument, the Monument for WW II Veterans in Washington D.C.,. That’s where it happened.

My Daughter had been on the mall with me and my wife, she played, walked through the congressional hallways and contemplated the height and meaning of the Washington Monument. She still believes in her Nation and her flag. Forgive us for being sentimental–we’re old. That’s her, on a warm day, in little girl clothes, looking up at the tower we built to honor General Washington. Then, we walked to the World War II Monument.

When we arrived at the Memorial, there were families walking about it. The wind was blowing softly and the day was unusually mild for D.C. Then the bus arrived.

World War II may be unique among wars in which our country has fought. The young men and women who fought it are no more brave or good than the young men and women who fought in any of our wars. But, the scope of the war was unique: the entire world was truly at risk of being run over by a man who believed in the supreme power of the “science” of his day; in Hitler’s twisted mind he—like, Stalin, the man with whom he pad partnered before he betrayed him–read in Eugenics, the great “science” of his time, that there we grades of human beings, some “races” ahead of others. Some “races” of human beings were so far behind, indicated the “science” of Eugenics, that Hitler and Stalin would be doing the world a “favor” by wiping out men and women and children and little babies … even little girls who stare at the sky and see in it possibilities for love and hope and happiness. Mad men are not unique—Saddam Hussein was a mad man, Mao was insane—but the world had allowed a stink-breathed psychopath named Adolph to roll over human beings and, because of appeasement, the risk of his winning half the world was real.

Then our boys and girls got into the battle.

The bus I mentioned unloaded old men, some women, but mostly old men. They leaned on canes, they rode in wheel chairs, a few walked, but they were in the minority. Even in the warm weather they wore coats and hats.

Oh, their hats! They had emblems on their hats: some were ball caps, some were cowboy hats and others were the hats from their old uniforms, taken from drawers or trunks for just this occasion. The emblems on the hats told the stories of people who survived what their brothers and sisters had not, they had the names of battles and units and ships that faced walls filled with machine guns and bombs. They told the stories of fighting tanks in the desert and submarines at sea. That is when my daughter saw one particular man, in a particular wheel chair, who gave my little girl a particular sort of wink—not a purposeful one, an accidental one, a smidgen of joy on his face even as he remembered his fallen friends.

The old soldier had come to see the monument built to honor not himself, but his brothers and sisters.

My daughter gripped my hand and asked me, “Daddy, is that man in the wheel chair a soldier?” I told her he was. “What is the jewelry on his shirt and hat?” I told her they were medals and what they meant and what he had probably seen and done to rescue the world from pure evil.

“Is he a hero?”

“Why don’t you go ask him?”

She released my hand and walked over to the old soldier—the WWII Veteran—I followed, but not too close. This was her moment with this man, with this history.

“Hi.”

The man smiled at her. “Hello there”, he said.

She pointed at his medals: “my Daddy says you are a soldier.”

The man looked up at me and I smiled. He looked back at my Daughter.

“I was, yes, I was.” He took my Daughter’s hand and patter her head.

“Are you a hero?’

How do you answer that? My dear friends who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan—Bryan, Kelly, Ben, David, Dennis, Mark, Sonia and many more—tell me that they don’t feel heroic, they just did their jobs. But, how do you answer a little girl, her eyes filled with admiration and a sense that you—the old man in the wheel chair—are something more than a guy who did a job?

That’s when he cried and, with all the might he could muster, picked her up and set her on his knee. She touched his ball cap filled with emblems. “Little one”, the man spoke,” I am not a hero, I am just an old soldier … these men …” he sobbed a little and rubbed her back and then looked at her again, “my friends were heroes and soldiers and I came here for them.”

My Daughter looked into this man’s eyes and did something only a little one would ever do. She put her finger inside her sleeve and she wiped the man’s cheeks.

He laughed and I walked over.

She got down and said, “he says he is not a hero, but his friends are.”

What do you say to that? To your little girl with the tears of an old soldier on her bright pink and white sleeve? You know what you don’t do? You don’t ruin the moment snapping pictures, you absorb it into your being.

I looked the old soldier in his green eyes and said, “Honey … that’s what true heroes always say and we just have to tell them thank you.”

The old man nodded and mouthed thank you.

Thank you to everyone who served and to everyone who died serving. We hold you in our prayers. We offer our sleeves, we offer our hearts, we thank you for the safety in which our children will sleep tonight.”

Author Unknown

What is the utmost important thing in your life?

We live in a time of turmoil. I would like to ask a few simple questions of you.

1. What is most important to you, and why?
2. Where do you picture us as a nation in 5 years?
3. How will our current president go down in history?
4. If you could change anything about where we are today, what would that be?
5. What gives you hope in the future?

Please take time to answer these questions. Leave your response in the comment section of this post. You can leave your response as anonymous or with your name. but please leave us a response.

Thank you very much,

Bravehaven

Now wheres that Ark?

Bowe Bergdahl was it worth the Trade?

The Story continues.... each day that passes brings a new look or insight. Was he a deserter? Was he a prisoner? Did he help the taliban? he is now a pawn in a game that will not be easy whether he's a traitor or patriot. Regardless how history remembers Sgt Bergdahl doesn't matter.
What does matter is that our weak President released Five top taliban leaders. After So many sacrificed so much to bring them to Justice. We let them go with a warm meal in their belly, a pat on the back, and well wishes for a bright future. I know that Gitmo was no delightful summer camp, but these men are responsible for planning for the death and destruction of America and Americans. They go with no soft spot for you or for me. Marcus Luttrell Said America is "playing with the dangerous end of the knife with what we've done, saying those who believe the Taliban has been eradicated need to remember that organizations like the taliban are built from the top down not from the bottom up.
I love the satirical Mad magazine. It has helped me to not take life too seriously, however this picture they posted brings a knot to my stomach.   

Ive lost Faith in our American President. Can we survive two more years with him at the helm? Oh how I wish things were different.

God help us, and Please God, Bless America.

Bravehaven

Unanswered seeking your comments and opinions Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

The release of Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, We are seeking your input and comments.

 This picture depicts the Sergeant earlier in his military career. Since his release there has been a storm of opinions and I have my personal opinions, but we would love to know what yours are. Feel free to elaborate on your opinions.
Here are the questions we have.
1. Based on information you have, did he desert his post, or was he taken as a prisoner of war?
2. Was releasing five talibans the right thing to do?
3. Did we break the cardinal rule of negotiating with terrorists? 
4. Who won the United States or the taliban?
5. Have we put our military personnel serving over seas at greater risk?
6. Is the United States of America more respected or  less respected since the current administration has been on office.





We don't care which side of the fence your on. We do want to hear your perspectives. You can feel free to leave your comments as an anonymous source if you would like. Please share these questions with those in your circles. 

Thanks ........Bravehaven 

Caution....... Information Zone

Todays world depends on information, whether you access information, via the Facebook, twitter, blog's such as this one, cable, radio, local TV, magazines, mail, or even the old fashioned way talking with someone doesn't matter. This article isn't meant to put down any of the ways we communicate today, I love the ease of sending a text or email. Even with that said each of us should take caution. Gone are the days when a writer verified their sources. Confirmed statements made and so on. A good example of this is are a few topics that are our in the "world wide wind" right now. Global warming, political scandals, conspiracy theories can all quote sources that appear to be valid on both sides of those issues. So how do you and sort through all of the confusion?

 Its not easy! Who do we believe? Where can we find reliable information? Can't I just ignore everything? Lets start by addressing these questions.
First, Can't I just ignore everything? That is a dangerous and slippery slope, as well as is the opposite, paying attention to everything. We need to be informed but we also need to be able to discount those things that don't matter. Ignorance is not bliss, an example of this is opening a business and then learning from the IRS that you were supposed to make tax payments... Just because you aren't aware of something does not excuse you from the consequences. So be educated, learn what you can and be sure sure to know things you are responsible for.
If you choose to ignore information you are setting yourself up for surprises, and those surprises might not be pleasant. Even though the ostrich may bury his head in the sand, the world keeps on moving around him.
Second where can I find reliable information? I have come to the opinion that the only reliable source that you can find comes from you and your experiences. Things you have proven to be true. The lines between fact and fiction have become blurred to a point that unless you have had experience or knowledge it a guessing game. One thing that is lost in this world of information and impersonal communication is intimate relationships. Now I'm not talking about anything that goes on behind bedroom doors here. I mean true meaningful relationships with individuals, where you communicate and talk, share and listen, build trust and faith in another human being. Sometimes this is easier done with a loyal dog, our you favorite cat. But unless we can have those kinds of relationships, we truly are left to our own experiences and understanding. Trusted relationships can help us as we sort through information, its a sounding board. Its not a perfect solution but is helps us in so many ways. Now with all of that said where do we find the information? Information isn't hard to find, its just knowing what is true that is difficult. Hiefetz and Linsky tell us to "get to the balcony".  Meaning when you have your information take a step back go to a place where you can look at it form a different perspective and sort out whats the most important. It all goes back to paying attention, learning what you can on both sides. Leaning on your life experiences and those trusted allies that you have built relationships with.
So who do we believe? Whether you like Glenn Beck or not,  I like the fact that he repeatedly says "don't believe me....find out for yourself".  The truth is out there...its our responsibility to seek it, hold on to it, and pass it along to the best of our imperfect ability.

God Bless and have a great day.......... Bravehaven

Geo engineering and Chemtrails........?

We recently were made aware of some buzz about Geo engineering, and the possibility of contrails from airplanes actually being chemtrails? In doing research we have found discrepancies on each side of the coin.

 So that is the conundrum that is placed before us. Is it fact? Or is it fiction? Or does it lie somewhere between.  We are soliciting your comments help and input. Please provide us with links to your resources..


Thank you. Please share and leave your comments.

Bravehaven

You'll be sad if you miss it

Don't miss the Coach Scott Fields show this Monday night 5/12/14. 7:30p mtn time The Las Vegas edition.... Best Selling Author and Motivational Speaker Dan Lier Former UNLV Runnin' Rebel Evric Gray Alta HS standout Trevor Hill

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — Unified Police have released an endangered missing advisory for a 15-month-old child. Sophea Larsen was in the care of Jamie Webb when a court order was issued to take the child away and have her turned over to her mother, police said. Police say Webb is a transient and has an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Jaime Webb | Photo Courtesy: Unified Police Jamie Webb | Photo Courtesy: Unified Police UPD officers located Webb Tuesday and attempted to serve him with the court paperwork. Police say Webb did not have the child with him and fled on foot from officers. The child was not located in the vehicle Webb left behind. Detectives say they have followed up on all known locations the child could be and have not found her. Police say they are issuing an endangered missing advisory because they are concerned for Sophea’s welfare. In an interview with FOX 13, Sophea’s mother, Danielle Larsen, said the little girl was taken from her after Webb choked her. She said that was in February. Larsen tearfully described to FOX 13′s Ben Winslow how Webb taunted her over text messages about her daughter. “He told me I missed her first steps,” she cried. Larsen said Webb had been texting her, refusing to take the little girl to a doctor’s appointment because he was afraid he would be arrested. Since Sophea disappeared in February, Larsen said she had been trying to get the court and police to listen to her. But because Webb is considered Sophea’s father, and because it was considered a domestic dispute, police could not do as much as they wanted. On Tuesday, Larsen was granted a writ of assistance from the courts allowing the police to take Sophea into protective custody. When they attempted to serve it, Unified Police said, Webb fled. Sophea was not with him. Anyone with information as to the location of Sophea Larsen is asked to call Unified Police at 801-743-7000. Sophea is 18 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. She is Caucasian.

Utah Girls escape because of doing the right things

WASHINGTON –  House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan renewed a fight with Democrats over spending cuts and deficit reduction, unveiling an updated Republican budget plan Tuesday that aims to cut spending by more than $5 trillion over a decade and balance the budget in that time. 

Similar to past proposals, Ryan's plan would include cuts to food stamps and major changes to government-sponsored health care for the poor and working class. Ryan's plan would also cut Pell Grants for low-income students and pensions for federal workers, while steering away from cuts to benefits for senior citizens, at least in the short term. 

"This is a plan to balance the budget and create jobs, and it builds off a simple fact: We can't keep spending money we don't have," Ryan, R-Wis., said in a statement. 

Unlike many spending proposals floating around the Hill, Ryan's aims to balance the budget within 10 years, in part by cutting more than $5.1 trillion. Whether that plan would actually work remains to be seen -- and, as in past budget cycles, Democrats made clear they would not be supporting his approach. 

"Because of a stubborn unwillingness to cut the deficit in a balanced way by closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and well connected, the House Republican Budget would slow the economy, stack the deck against the middle class, and threaten the guaranteed benefits seniors have paid for and earned," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. 

The House GOP proposal would reprise a voucher-like Medicare program for future retirees that would be the basis for GOP claims that the measure would drive down government debt over the long term. 

The plan should skate through the Budget Committee on Wednesday but faces challenges on the floor next week since it endorses a bipartisan pact -- negotiated by Ryan and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray, D-Wash., in December -- to increase agency operating budgets this year and next. 

Many conservatives who opposed the pact last year would have to reverse course and embrace them as part of the GOP budget. Democrats who helped pass the Ryan-Murray pact in December will oppose the GOP plan. 

The legislation promises to serve more as a political and policy statement by House Republicans than a realistic attempt to engage President Obama and Democrats, who control the Senate, in any serious effort to further cut the deficit. Election-year politics are in play, for starters, as are entrenched differences over spending and taxes. 

At issue is the arcane congressional budget process, which employs a non-binding measure known as a budget resolution to set forth goals for future taxes, spending, and deficits. But follow-up legislation is usually limited to one-year appropriations bills rather than more difficult measure to deal with the government's long-term fiscal challenges, which are fueled by spiraling health care costs and the retirement of the baby boom generation. 

Ryan's budget brings back a now-familiar list of spending cuts to promise balance, including $2.1 trillion over 10 years in health care subsidies and coverage under the Affordable Care Act, $732 billion in cuts to Medicaid and other health care programs, and almost $1 trillion in cuts to other benefit programs like food stamps, Pell Grants, and farm subsidies. While repealing the benefits of "Obamacare," Ryan would preserve its tax increases and cuts to providers, including cuts to private insurers under the Medicare Advantage program. Republicans have attacked Democrats for the Medicare cuts used to finance the new health care law. 

As in the past, Ryan has steered clear of cuts to Social Security and promises steady increases for veterans. But he faced a more challenging task to promise to balance the budget by decade's end than he did last year because the CBO projects lagging revenue estimates. 

But steep cuts to Medicaid, which Ryan proposes to turn into a block grant program managed by the states, could drive millions of people from the program, including seniors in nursing homes and tens of millions of children from low-income households. Ryan proposes to cut projected costs of Medicaid and other non-Obama-sponsored health care programs by 17 percent over the decade. 

Ryan's budget claims balance by 2024, but relies on $74 billion in savings in that year from the macroeconomic effects of cutting deficits, which CBO says would have a long-term positive effect because it would free up savings and investment capital. Democrats are sure to seize on the maneuver as phony math; without these projections, however, Ryan's budget plan would fall almost $70 billion short of balance. 

Earlier versions of Ryan's plan have passed the House three times since the GOP seized control of the chamber following the 2010 mid-term elections. This year's version may prove more controversial because it begins to implement cuts to future Medicare beneficiaries. Under the plan, people who enroll in Medicare in 2024 would be given a subsidy -- dubbed "premium support" by Republicans, derided as a voucher system by Democrats -- with which they would purchase health insurance on the open market.