The Coolest Women in the World

This is not a picture of one of the coolest women in the world, rather the cutest nephew in the world(Spencer) produced by one of the coolest women in the world, my sister-in-law Crystal. He really has little/nothing to do with this blog, but it captures ones attention, this dang cute face, does it not?

And now that I have your attention...

One of my sisters (who shan't yet be named) guilted/bugged me until I created a blog. Which I have faithfully posted in once a year. Now another sister (different, but not to be named either) is guilting/bugging me because I don't post enough.

So I've sifted through my life and found there are usually things I could be blogging about, but usually at blogging time (late at night when no kids to bug or messes to clean and I'm a bit loopy) I am trying to watch Biggest Loser or Vampire Diaries. Yes, I like Vampire Diaries. A lot. It's a stupid show. I totally know it. It's one notch above 16 and Pregnant. But for some dumb reason I like both shows. And one can only handle so much political commentary before the mind cries to be turned off by mindless drivel. Those shows fall solidly under that category.

Still with me? (It looks like Michelle's sticking her arm out behind Julienne's back). In this picture are two boys who went to the event for which this blog is named. (Not the snow). I went to hear Condoleeza Rice speak at a BYU forum last week. It was heaven. It reminded me A. of how much of an international relations/politics nerd I am, and B. of how much I absolutely love strong, powerful women.

For the A. part above. I desperately wanted to ask her a question in the Q&A session afterward on her opinion of the role of Narco-Terrorism in destabilizing nations, specifically Afghanistan and Mexico. (I REALLY wanted to know...) But I was beat out by a Tea Party nut with a question about the need for a constitutional convention (really dumb-dee?), and a bunch of kiss-ups who were trying to get extra credit for their PolySci classes by asking inane questions about education, etc.

For the B. part above. Condi Rice is a rock star. She grew up in segregated Birmingham, AL, but was raised by her parents to believe she could be president. She talked about the transforming power of education. I seriously got chills at various points during her speech. Also on the stand was Julie B. Beck, another amazing woman. When they announced that she was on the stand, I seriously thought, 'I've died & gone to heaven to see these two women together!' (end quote)

They are great and amazing in their own very different ways. But both are no-nonsense and unapologetic for their views and values. Dr. Rice talked about how history most times differs totally from the headlines of the day. How Secretary of State William Seward had the foresight, vision and courage to purchase Alaska for $7 million, with many calling it 'Seward's Folly' at the time. Yet now Alaska holds inestimable strategic and economic value for the United States.

I think of my own mom who often made the difficult choices that were resented in the 'Baughman Bee' (my made-up name for our non-existent newspaper). But she is a rockstar among women. One who will be remembered long after she is gone, not for prizes or praise she garnered on the public stage, but for the lasting legacy of love and faithfulness she passed on to her posterity.

So my hat's off to the coolest women in the world. To my mother who is just on her way to Australia to start the next phase of her awesome life. To Julie B. Beck who fearlessly leads the largest women's organization in the world with unapologetic dedication to values and virtues that make women great. To Condoleeza Rice who pressed on with firm conviction that history would view her choices with more wisdom than the headlines of the day. And to my sisters who each bug/inspire me to do better and be better. If this post isn't what you wanted/expected, no whining... It's your fault it's out of my head and onto the net.