Wednesday, January 30, 2008





Dare I Say It?

Super-Tuesday is only six days away. I've done pretty good at keeping my mouth shut in school and even on this blog about politics. My family knows who I support for the presidency, even though not all of them agree. (My brother thought Fred Thompson was going to ride in and save the worl
d.) At one time, I was pro-Guillani---after all, he WAS America's mayor, and a pretty dang good one in my opinion. So as Republican candidates drop like flies (well, except for Ron Paul, but is he really a Republican anyway?), I have to tell the truth and explain why I will NOT be voting for John McCain.

For my entir
e life, I have been a good judge of character. Maybe that's part of the gift of discernment I was blessed with. Who knows. But the fact remains, I can't think of a time my initial gut feeling toward someone I have met has turned out to be wrong.

In 1996, I attended a rally for Senator Bob Dole at the Salt Lake City airport. John McCain also appeared at the rally. I had the opportunity to meet them both, just for a handshake, but that was enough. I felt an immediate sense of connection to Senator Dole. He was warm and genuine in the way he spoke to eve
ryone as he passed through the crowd. He looked people in the eye and spoke directly to them as he shook each person's hand. His speech was brief, yet heart-felt.

Senator John McCain was another story. His speech was that of an uncaring politician. It was obvious he was here not to promote Senator Dole, so much as to make himself look good during a election year, where he hoped to be picked as a vice-presidential candidate. A cold chill passed over me as I shook his hand, and I felt like I had just touched something slimy. His eyes darted around, never focusing on anyone, including me as he shook hands. My gut reaction was: "Avoid!" I was fearful that Dole would choose him as a running mate and I would be forced to vote for this man , even though I had such a negative reaction to him at our brief meeting. (Thankfully, Dole chose Jack Kemp, a man for whom I had much mor
e respect.)

Here we are twelve years later, and I might face yet another difficult choice. Can I make myself vote for McCain if he wins the primary? Will I really be voting for his running mate, hoping that person could actually hold the country together? Will I be forced to look at another four years of a Clinton in the White House if I don't vote at all? I certainly hope not.

I've never met Mitt Romney, but I know his values. I know the values of his family. I know people with whom he associates, and they are people I like and respect. That's why my vote will be going to Mitt. He is a man I can trust. He is a man who respects the Constitution. He is a man who will lead our country toward a better tomorrow. He is a man who isn't afraid to look at both sides of an issue, admit when he was wrong and change his mind.

I hope you will take the time to truly study the history of these two men, then decide for yourself which one you would rather have lead our country for the next four years. If you follow your gut like I do, you'll know which choice you have to make.








Sunday, January 27, 2008


LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley Passed Away January 27, 2008

For the official announcement, visit
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/

A news report with details of his life can be found at:
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2560344

Our family has been blessed enough to hear him speak several times in person. What a great man, and how he loved not only the members of the Church, but all peoples of the world. He will be greatly missed.


Saturday, January 12, 2008

Life Full Speed Ahead, Despite the Overload!

It’s a brand new year, and I have some incredibly wonderful opportunities facing me. Let’s just hope this semester’s graduate school classes are not as frustrating as last term’s were, or I’m dead in the water! Here’s a quick review of what’s going on with me right this minute. Maybe some of you will be there and I’ll get to meet more of my readers. Some of us are already friends so it will be great to see everyone again.

1. January 18-19, 2008 WriteWise Conference Presenter

As a Senior Editor for the Precision Editing Group, I will be joining Editing Director Heather B. Moore , and Senior Editors Annette Lyon, Julie Wright, Josi Kilpack, for a presentation titled “The Nuts and Bolts of Writing.”

2. February 2008 Teleconference Presenter WriteWise

Throughout the month of February I will be teaching more in-depth classes on “The Nuts and Bolts of Writing” to those authors who are part of the first class enrolled in WriteWise, the publishing arm of the Bookwise company. In addition, the entire Senior Editing staff will be working with new writers who hope to publish with Bookwise.

3. My Bookwise Bookstore

Of course, I’ll continue to build my clientele for my own Bookwise Bookstore. If you’re interested in becoming one of my preferred customers, please visit: http://www.mybookwise.com/luannstaheli/

4. The Osmond Family Blog

I’ve returned to work once again with Alan Osmond after a twelve-year absence. I’m doing the updates for family blog at http://strengtheningfamilies.blogspot.com and handling the email at OsmondStrengtheningFamilies@gmail.com. If you know anyone who loves the Osmond family, but sure to pass along those addresses and ask them to sign up to be on our email list.

5. The rest of my life includes: teaching English at Payson Jr. High, finishing my MEd in Instructional Technology through USU, both my newspaper columns, as well as the other writing projects I have in the works, serving on several boards and committees, being in charge of the Nebo Young Writer’s Conference, doing publicity for the UVSC Forum on Children’s Literature Conference , and on and on. That’s not counting trying to be a wife and mother, or the million other obligations that seem to swirl around me at any given time.

Overall, it’s a wonderful life, even when I am over-booked and over-scheduled. If I get a little bit behind, please know that I’m doing my best and will get everything done that I need to, eventually. Thanks for all the support everyone gives me in each of these endeavors.