Foster the Foster children

Foster children

     In the mid 90's we were asked to foster 3 siblings.  Our family was excited to help.  When we picked the children up from the shelter the case worker said " The oldest boy is wild, he fought and screamed when I took him away from his mother".  He was sleeping when we carefully loaded him in our car.
     When he woke up I put a big smile on my face and said " Hi, I am Rebecca and I am your mom's friend and we will be taking good care of you and your brother and sister until your mom returns."  He was OK with that and all went well.  At first they thought it would only be a few weeks, but it ended up being many months.  The children were delightful, respectful, well-mannered and our teenagers loved them, like they were nieces and nephews.
     Each week I drove them to have a supervised visit with their mother, and 3 older siblings.  They were so excited to visit with her and see their siblings, but also happy to come back with us because we were very good to them.
     After 3 months I got a call asking me if I would testify on behalf of getting the children back with their mother.  The courts had already made up their mind to have them permanently taken away from their mom.  I asked the case worker, what were the charges?  She said "her house was a mess and we have pictures to prove it."  So I was being asked by the family to give my side of the story.
     I was pretty scared since I was asked to take care of the children by the state and was going to testify against them.  Here is what happened:
     "Mrs Lee," we have had a counselor interview the children and and found them to be behind socially, mentally and intellectually, and recommend them to be placed for adoption, what do you have to say to this?
I said "Shame on you for not asking my opinion before this was brought to court," I have had these children in my care for 24/7 for over 3 months. I have found these children to be socially, mentally and intellectually on target.  You have a family counselor interview the 3 of them in less than one hour and decided that the older one was behind because he wouldn't talk to him, and that he fought and screamed and had to be pulled away from his mother.  I have grandchildren his age, and they are taught not to talk to strangers and if a stranger yanked them out of their mother's arms they would fight and scream too."
    You say that the little girl wet the bed at night.  Never while she was at my home.  And you say the 18 month old is behind in the amount of words expected for his age.  Again, I have two grandchildren the same age and he is on their level.  These children are polite, respectful and even pickup after themselves.  Someone has taught them good manners, and when you have 6 children you have to choose a spotless home for things like  manners. I think they have been trained and taught well.
      "Mrs.  Lee we have pictures of the apartment they were living in, look at it."  Yes, and I understand that their mother had a broken arm at the time these pictures were taken, and was in the process of packing and moving.  I see they have opened every closet and cupboard in her apartment to take these pictures. I'm glad you never visited me when I was in the process of moving.
     "Mrs. Lee look at this fridge, what do you see."  I see a fridge full of food, and yes, it looks like a child spilled Worcestershire sauce off the top shelf and it splattered on all the shelves and made a mess, but that is not the point, it is full of milk, cheese, eggs food.  If my husband were gone, I had a broken arm, and yes I had 6 children, I would probably need some help wiping down the inside of the fridge, which is what your case workers should have done instead of take them out the arms of their mother.
     The case was closed and they were returned to their mother.  We said goodbye to the 3 sweet little darlings and I was proud of myself for standing up for them, knowing that it would probably be the last fostering job I ever had. Which it wasn't because a few years later we got Lyndee, who we adopted.

Goals

Erisa
(A granddaughter)

     Can you go a year without drinking a soda pop?
Erisa can!  Seven year old Erisa (daughter of Mandi and Brian) has committed herself to go one entire year without drinking a soda pop of any kind.  Even under difficult circumstances like Disney world, birthday parties, family get-togethers, and etc. she just politely tells everyone "I don't drink soda pop."
     
     Sometimes pressure comes from those that don't believe she can do it.  However you don't know Erisa, she is determined and when she sets her mind to something she follows through.


    She knows it's not good for her body, so she just simply says "water please." She says she will probably never drink it again even when her year is up and is considering setting a goal to not eat candy the following year.


    Way to go Erisa!  I and many others are proud of you for setting a good example and I think you will be surprised how many people you have influenced.


     It is by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass.  I can't help but think of the new "Strength Of Youth" pamphlet that just came out by the church.  Keeping goals set forth for the youth seem simple, yet they can bring forth great and mighty leaders of the future, and lasting happiness to those who accomplish them.  Youth who are not afraid to stand up for that which is right and not afraid to be valiant will have an influence for good in a decaying world.

If you don't know where you are going,
you'll end up someplace else.

Babies



Babies

Babies! Who doesn't love them.  Here are a few of my grand-babies.  
Sometimes science gets it right. Here is a 10 minute presentation that will strengthen your belief in a living God through the miracle of birth.  It is a miracle!   
         http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=fKyljukBE70  Don't miss this youtube.


Little children are alive in Christ.  They are an heritage unto the Lord.  We learn more from our children than we did from our parents.  In the sunset of my life, I love and appreciate all the little ones in our family.  What a responsibility my children have in helping their children become all they are suppose to be.

Each baby comes with a unique personality and distinct 
dispositions, gifts, talents and abilities.  Babies bring joy into my life especially when I can enjoy them and then send them home.

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.



Power of words

Rebecca 5 years old

   When I was 5 years old I had 4 brothers, Steve, Scott, Evan, Dan.  I was crying because I had never had my picture taken by myself so my dad brought me out on the porch and snapped my picture with all my brothers looking through the window along with my mother. 


     Since I had just turned 5,  I would be starting  kindergarten in the fall.  I was a major thumb sucker, and it drove my parents crazy.   I wasn't a disobedient child, I just blocked it completely out of my mind, I was just a thumb sucker and hair twirler and  my favorite place to sit was on top of the heat vent in my bedroom.  Being the first daughter, my parents were beside themselves, they tried everything to get me to stop with no avail.  Finally they felt they had no choice, they took me to the doctor and had a cast put on my right hand from my fingers up to my elbow, I simply became resourceful and started sucking my thumb on the left hand, even though it wasn't as tasty.  They felt devastated about losing control over their only daughter just 5 year old so  they simply gave up trying.

  A few weeks before kindergarten started, I was out playing with some neighbor children, one of them said,

"Becky! You stop sucking your thumb this minute or you won't get to go to school."  I looked up at her as if I had never heard such words in such a demanding voice.  It was a neighbor girl just 1 year older than me. Something clicked, I took my thumb out of my mouth and never sucked it again.

   

     Why was I oblivious to my parent's words? Why did my peers, one year older than myself really have that kind of influence over me? I have never forgotten that little girl and her "matter of fact words"  nearly 60 years ago.

     President Monson told the story of a young boy that was so naughty in Primary, that one week his teacher removed him from class and told him to never come back.  He didn't, and 50 years later he realized that he was the one who had missed out, and his family suffered because of his decision.  Words can be so detrimental or positive, and very life changing.  How many times has a young boy gone on a mission because it was planted in his mind at a young age by someone who said something that took a firm root in his mind?

 If one person can have such a powerful influence, we must give encouraging words with conviction and love to the children around us.  Who knows, maybe our words will pull them through difficulties when their life is turned upside down.

Rebecca today enjoying blogging

• 

  Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or evil.”

Why I love Spring

Apricot blossom

:

     I never recognized it until this year, that the reason I love spring so much, is because it brings with it HOPE.  Hope of a new beginning in life for me, as for each tiny blade of grass as it begins to come forth, each bud on the bushes as it shows its magnificent colors, as well as the apricot tree as it develops into clusters of pop corn like blossoms, that gladdens my heart and puts a smile on my face.  
     It reminds me that I too can grow, blossom, and become new and refined.  It is a wonderful feeling to have hope; hope that I  can change and become a better person.  I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for such reminders from nature. 
      I am grateful to my Savior Jesus Christ for his willingness to take all of my mistakes, sins, and just plain junk away,  as I am willing to repent, I can begin again.  Pretending there is no sin does not lessen its burden or pain.  

Springtime of my life
(years ago)

     My heart is filled with joy as I think of this.  It makes me want to sing with the birds each morning, praises of love and appreciation.  Yes, I believe it with all my heart because I have experienced it first hand.  Forgiveness is joyful.  Carrying burdens of sorrow is agonizing and miserable.
    This newness gives me freedom, confidence and peace.  The gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration.


      Hope is one of the three bedrock virtues: faith, hope, and charity.   I have written it in the front of my scriptures.  What a delightful link between something within us to something without.  It is a link between our future inheritance and a present expectation.  It is a link between looking forward now to a reality to come.   Hope means a waiting period.  It is an anchor to the soul.

Spring is when life's alive in everything.

Doors

Looking out the door at an LDS church  in Alabama

When one door closes, another one opens. I have heard that statement many times and think I finally understand it.   Life seems to close doors on me when I least expect it.  Then when things seem so difficult, a new door opens, and I can see clearly again when I actually step to the other side of the door.

I have had many doors close and open in my life time.  Each time I get a new perspective about life and appreciate the scenery even more.

I remember the door opening (literally) in the home I now live in.  It was about 13 years ago and we were hoping to move out of the city limits.  Each day I checked the newspaper for houses for sale (out of the area).  Right next to this was homes in North Ogden.  At the top of the list was a description of a home that sounded like it was in the mountains, a stream, 40 pine trees and so on. 

 I talked John into just looking at it.  I called and the owners picked up the phone and invited us to come see it.  We drove there just out of curiosity only, however when we walked up the stairs and stood on the front porch we both individual from each other, knew this was to be our home. 

 About 10 minutes later we told them we wanted to purchase it, settled on a price and set a time to do the paper work.  Now I look back over those 13 years and can see many events that have molded my life, that may not have happened elsewhere.

The above experience has happened twice in my life.  One time my parents told us they were moving and invited us to go see the home (3 blocks from where we lived).  They gave us the key and we went to check it out.  Again, as we walked through that door and immediately I knew, and my husband knew that we were to live there.  We noticed they had already moved boxes into the foyer.  My husband said "They have already started moving in, we can't say anything."  The feeling wouldn't go away, I did ask them if they wanted to sell it to us and they cheerfully said "I think that's a good idea."  That house served us very well for many years.  Christine was married while we lived in that home and John served as Bishop in the ward.

Home we purchased from my parents

"If God shuts one door, He opens another."

Opportunities

      I love the many opportunities that the church provides families, especially for the youth.  When Christine was a teenager, our ward decided to do a slide presentation on the birth of the Savior.  Christine was selected to be Mary, Aaron Barker was Joseph. This was so well done that it was featured in the New Era in 1988.

     We were living in Pleasant View at the time and Sharon Ballif (very talented woman), spearheaded the project.  The project took many long hours and lessons were taught as the filming took place.  All the youth involved in the slide program were touched by the power of the scriptures and the significance that the Christmas story has in their lives.
     

     Christine has passed on to the other side of the veil now, however the traditions of Christmas in her family of 8 children derived much from the experience that was provided to her as she had that marvelous opportunity. Their focus on the Savior was taught foremost at the beginning of the Christmas season. In their home was the manger and as her children did good deeds throughout December they could place straw in the bed anticipating that the Savior would arrive on the 25th.  Santa's gifts were only what would fit in their socks.

Aubrey, Kaila, Kensey, Cody, Ashlee, Ryden

     This is just one example of the many opportunities our family has benefited from over the years.  All the girls camps, scout trips, youth conferences, special testimony meetings, sports activities, skits, plays, roadshows each child has participated in, along with hundreds of hours from dedicated leaders that have cared enough to present  lessons that my children would benefit from. I have a strong testimony that I could not raise my youth without the help of the church and the wonderful programs that has helped mold my children into responsible adults.  Thank you Pleasant View 7th ward for this great memory in behalf of our family.  Thank you to all the wards we have lived in, as our children and teens have been influenced for good.  Especially  a sincere appreciation to my Savior for the desire placed in my heart at a young age to keep close to the church.

Spider Web

Cool spider web above tulips

Have you ever felt like you were trapped in a web? 
 I have!  A web of confusion.

     The world and all its many voices telling me do this, or buy this, or you won't be happy.  It is everywhere, on TV, radio, billboards, magazines and especially the movies.  What the ideal person looks like, thinks about, is portrayed so differently than what really is.

      I remember a talk years ago about what is real.  I learned over the years I had to escape from all the phony messages that had been bombarding me.  They always made me less than ideal, because I just couldn't do, and be, all they expected.  Instead I chose to focus on what was really real.  Why am I here on earth?  What is my purpose?  What brings me lasting joy not temporary happiness?

     I put an imaginary field of energy around me each day to protect me from the outside influences.  Then I focused on that day only, and would try to become the best I could be.  I found that joy was almost always present even in the littlest things. I wouldn't let worries of tomorrow or future events creep into my mind.  It took concentrated effort but it worked.

      My home didn't need to look like it came out of a magazine, it was a training ground to bring up good, responsible children.  I didn't need to look like the model of the year,  I had an inner knowing that reminded me I was important and that through small and simple things, all would work out for good. By saying my prayers, and reading a few verses in t he scriptures each day, I could feel peace from within and keep the worldly influences out. 

Happy Children
Elizabeth & Emily

Mistakes

     I hate the feeling I have inside when I make mistakes.  I know it well, because I have made plenty of them. It's a yucky wormy feeling that consumes me.  I keep thinking over and over every detail of what I should have done instead of what I did.

     Because I am so experienced in this, I have learned a few things over the years that have helped.  First, I repent instantly, repair, replace, apologize what ever it takes to get over it.  I totally cover in my mind everything that shouldn't have been done, or said, or didn't do, or didn't say and make sure I rehearse how it should have been handled.  Then I try really hard to not allow the energy to go over and over the yuck, but to put it to constructive use, in the repairing process.

     Years ago, a friend of mine made a big mistake.....major.  I felt so bad for my friend, that it started to consume me, I felt the pain and the anguish to the point that I could hardly sleep at night.  In the middle of the 3rd night I woke and wrote this poem:

Mistakes

Terrible mistakes.

Mistakes

I  can't erase.

I've begged forgiveness

It's not accepted

I'm rejected.

I'm sick inside

I want to die.

I'm humiliated and alone

No one understands my pain

I'll never be the same.

I care!

You are my child

I can heal you

 It will take awhile.

I'm beside you

Take my hand

I'll show you what to do.

Turn to me

don't stay away.

I hold the keys

that turn night into day.

Can you feel me?

I'm your best friend.

Knock down your walls

and let me in.

Just give me a chance

I'm here for you

I know how you feel

I've been there too-

Let me take over

you can't do it alone.

Pain and suffering

is what I have known.

I can mend

I can heal

I can make you whole

I am real.

I am your Savior

you are my son.

The price has been paid

Your're free to come.

I am the warm coat

on a stormy day.

Please let me stay.

I am the pillow that comforts your

head and gives you rest.

Let me be your guest.

I am the food that feeds your soul

when there is no other.

I am your brother.

I am the shoes that protect your 

feet from the journey.

You needn't worry.

I am the breeze that cools you 

from the blistering heat.

I'll guide your feet.

I am the sun that brings light

into your life.

Please

 let me in.

I am the rainbow that can bring
hope of a better day.
Just look my way.

I am the water that quenches
your thirst after being without.
Don't doubt.

I am the arms that cradle you
when there is no one.
It can be done.

I am your counselor who
knows your broken heart.
I'll never part.

I am the Father that will
say all the right words.
I'm yours.

I am the I Am
and I am here for you
My door is always open.
Please open yours too.

Brave teen saves family home

Danny Nelson

     Danny Nelson was a hero on December 23rd.  He is my nephew and I will never forget that day.  My sister called absolutely panicked. " Rebecca, what oil will help burns? Danny has burned himself bad and we are going to run him to the hospital?"  I tried to calm her down and told her to put lavender oil on his hands as they were leaving for the hospital.

     They were planning on company to arrive any minute for their work Christmas party.  My sister, took one of those fancy long matches to light some candles, the match split and instantly lit their live, dry Christmas tree on fire.  Within seconds the tree was ablaze, all the decorations on both sides of the room were melted and they were fearful the entire home would burn.  Margie screamed, Danny her 17 year old son came to the rescue,  grabbed the burning Christmas tree with his bare hands and dragged it through 3 rooms out the front door.  When he got it outside all that was left was a twig.  There were burn spots in the hardwood floors, but they were able to contain any other sparks.  Anything flammable or plastic just had melted.

      Danny was later asked, why did you pick up that burning tree?  Because my mother worked so hard this year remodeling our home, I just had to do what I could to save it."  He didn't think, he just acted.  It saved the entire home from burning. Danny had so much respect and love for his mother he would do anything to spare her from dispare, for over a year she worked tirelessness trying to restore that home.

     When they got him to the hospital, they were very concerned about his 3rd degree burns and covered them in a special burn cream, wrapped them and gave him a prescription for pain medicine and told him to return in 24 hours.  He told the doctor "I don't have any pain."  The doctor at the emergency room said, of course you have pain, your just a smartypants teenager. The lavender that Margie poured on his burn took all the pain away before he arrived at the hospital.  He told his mom don't fill the prescription for pain pills I really am fine.  He went out on a date that night with his hand wrapped.
 
     Twenty four hours later they unwrapped his hand and the doctor was amazed because there was no swelling, no infection.  They sent him home with more cream, however Margie first applied the lavender oil, let it sit and then put on their salve.
     Never, never use those long stemmed matches, no matter how pretty they look.  This isn't the only house that almost burned down because of them.

Danny was the Christmas Hero that year.

All grown up
Danny & Jeremy
Liz and Emily

Danny 5 Jeremy 2
Liz 2 Emily 5

Top of the world

 Feeling on top of the world- hiking with my grandson Dillon

Have you ever wondered where the Lord must have been when standing when he created this beautiful world?  I love the tops of mountains because of the magnificent views below.  I think he must have done his creating from that vantage point.

    Many years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Chile.  On one particular day we decided to just see the country side and drove deliberately out of the city, about 1/2 hour later we noticed a large amount of buildings all clustered together and they all looked identical.  They were 20 to 30 stories high and as we drove closer and closer we realized it was probably a government housing complex because every building was exactly the same.  I thought how much I hate sameness.  How would you even know which apartment on which street was yours.  They all looked identical, street after street, nothing different, no trees, no bushes, just tall tall buildings and stores on the main level.  I bet there were over 40,000 people that lived in that complex.

      We left that area and headed up the mountain side, not knowing where we were going but out of the rat race of sameness.  About 5 miles up we noticed that someone had painted a message on a large rock.  It was a scripture from the beatitudes.  Then a little further we saw another scripture, and another, all painted very carefully so anyone driving could read them.  Next was arrows pointing ahead\ with messages such as...200 more feet stop if you love Jesus....100 more feet, stop and read the words of the Savior.  My curiosity got the best of me so I had my brother (designated driver) pull over at the pointed spot.

      There were dozens of messages from the New Testament and a very clear pathway leading us somewhere.  We followed the path over the side of the mountain and as it began to descend I saw the most beautiful view of the ocean I have ever seen in my life.  It almost took my breath away.  Then I noticed that the scriptures were on every rock leading me to a little home-made haven to sit and take in the view.  Someone even put a covering over it to provide shade.  I sat down in the little chair (looked like a tossed out school chair and desk) and there was a "register" to sign in, covered in plastic along with the New Testament.  I signed my name and looked out over the ocean and wondered "If I was God and had to find a place to create the oceans, I think I would probably sit here to do it.  Oh how I would have liked to be there as the sun was setting, but we never made it back that way again.

My mother and father overlooking the ocean

My brother Brian 

I just imagined that someone from that housing project was like me and couldn't stand the sameness of everything, he(or she) found this little piece of heaven on earth, walked up 5 miles with the desk and chair and some paint and spend some quality time in the scriptures contemplating the meaning of  life.

Look Cody! there's Jesus

Cody 2, McKensey 3

     About 17 years ago, we were at the Manti pageant with Christine and her family.  We were all sitting on blankets waiting for the pageant to begin.  We were welcomed, and the announcement was made who would be saying the opening prayer.  A man dressed in white (one of the actors) walked over and took the microphone and began to say the prayer.

      McKensey (age 3) opened her eyes, stared straight ahead, her mouth dropped opened and exclaimed loudly " Look Cody, Jesus is here!"  At least 100 people heard her and began to quietly giggle as the man completed his prayer and the pageant began.

     The faith of a little child!  She saw the man dressed in white and just knew for sure Jesus was there saying the prayer and wanted her little brother to look also.  Or was Jesus really there, she saw him and we didn't?  Knowing McKensey it was the latter.

     How often has a child told experiences like this, yet when they tell us about it we simply think "Oh how cute", rather than accepting the fact that they are still pure and innocent and the veil is lifted from them from time to time. Did she just see a man dressed in white, or did she recognize the Savior and immediately shared her excitement with those around her who couldn't see?

Lost

Claudette

Lost
     A few years ago I wanted to get in touch with my Aunt Claudette.  One slight problem, no one knew where she lived, or how to contact her.  My brother had tried with no success several years before. If you knew my brother, he was a great investigator but could not get past the last home she lived in.  The neighbors said she moved with no forwarding address.
     I just couldn't get her off my mind day after day.  I mentioned it to my husband and he said " It will be like looking for a needle in a haystack, too many things against you....she is single (anyway she was years ago), last name of Taylor was way too common,  last location was California, way to populated, probably has a cell phone that is not listed, she could be remarried with a different last name. What if she moved to another state, perhaps moved back to Georgia where she lived as a a child.
    It didn't look promising yet I had to give it a try.  I really felt prompted to find her.  So I made it a matter of prayer and tried not to think of all the reasons it wouldn't work. We did a search with names only in her approximate age category. We did a search in California of all the people with her first name, then tried a search with the first letter on her first name along with the last name Taylor.  I also thought I would look for the names of her to son's in that California since there name would be the same. I would do 10 a day and when they were unlisted numbers I would send out a dozen pre-written letters a day to at least say "I tried".
      I decided the only way I would be free of the nagging feeling to find her was to do something.  I started a list and started calling.  Many numbers had answering machines so I left a clear concise message as to who I was looking for and said don't bother to call back unless they had a connection.
     First day I left more messages than anything else.  I did my quota and was planning on sending out letters that evening.  When I came home that evening there was a message on my phone machine and said "Yes Rebecca, I am the person you are looking for.  I could not believe my good fortune, rather blessing.  I compared my notes and it was the very first person I had left a message to.  I called her and we made a great connection.  We have been corresponding ever since.  Was this a miracle or merely a coincidence?  I believe it was a miracle.

Doing easily what others find difficult is talent; doing what is impossible for talent is genius.

I am the little girl sitting on my Dad's knee,  Claudette is standing at the top, my Mom
is holding baby Scott, brother Stephen to the right.

Switching Companions for good

Sister Lee, Elder Smith and Elder Lee
Odd Companionship

Elder Smith was assigned to be our companion for the last several months of his mission.  We had a wonderful time getting to know him better.  One of our assignments was to speak every Sunday to a different ward about the value of member missionaries.  Sometimes we drove for hours just to speak to a small branch and deliver our message. We have great memories of you Elder Smith and your dedication.

Married today to Madison

 (Elder Smith) just got a new companion. He was married today to the lovely Madison.  We witnessed the wedding in the Salt Lake temple.  What a beautiful couple ready to start a beautiful life together.  May God's choicest blessing be with both of you.

44 years ago we were married.  

It's impossible to count all the wonderful blessings that marriage has brought into our lives.

 Seven children and 25 grandchildren with an eternity of good memories. It only gets better as time goes by.

"A simple I love you means more than money."

New tanning bed law

I wondered for years about the safety of tanning beds, this article answered all my question.  Very good information to think about.






New law makes tanning beds off-limits to most California teens

By Greg Botelho, CNN

updated 8:39 PM EST, Sun October 9, 2011

In 2009, the World Health Organization classified tanning beds as "carcinogenic to humans."

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

·         California's governor signs a law barring those ages 14-18 from using tanning beds

·         The law is the most restrictive of any state, though Brazil banned tanning beds altogether

·         The bill's author says it will "help save lives and prevent unnecessary suffering"

·         A WHO agency has classified tanning beds as 'carcinogenic to humans'

(CNN) -- California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Sunday a bill that prohibits most teenagers from getting bronzed in tanning beds, making the Golden State the first to do so.

State Sen. Ted Lieu said he first tried, and failed, in 2007 to make it illegal for people between the ages of 14 and 18 to walk into a facility and use ultraviolet beds to tan. Four years later, his effort finally paid off.

"I feel great," Lieu told CNN of the bill's passage. "I believe it will help save lives and prevent unnecessary suffering."

Previously, those between 14 and 18 could use tanning beds if they had a parent or legal guardian's permission. That is no longer allowed, though the use of "a phototherapy device ... used by or under the direct supervision of a qualified physician or surgeon" and certain services offered at tanning facilities, like spray tans, are still legal for young people.

While most states regulate how minors can use tanning facilities, California's recently enacted restrictions go further than any other state, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some counties also address the issue, with the same organization noting that Howard County, Maryland, was the first jurisdiction to ban indoor tanning for all under age 18.

Governments in other countries have taken similar actions, with Brazil banning tanning beds altogether.

Such steps come after the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, in 2009 classified "UV-emitting tanning devices as 'carcinogenic to humans.'"

The determination was made after reviews of more than 20 epidemiological studies found that one's skin cancer risk increases 75% when a person starts using a tanning device before they turn 30, the agency noted on its website.

Lieu explained that excessive tanning at an early age can be especially perilous because tanning and its negative effects are "cumulative." But he said that one concern is how tanning salons market such services.

"They often say come in (and get) the package deal, where you can tan a lot over a (relatively) short period of time and do intense damage," said the Democrat from Torrance.

Still, he said that at least in some circles -- including the MTV reality show "Jersey Shore," where "gym, tanning and laundry" is a way of life -- he believes the message about the danger of tanning beds may be getting through.

"I know that Snooki on the 'Jersey Shore' has changed to spray tanning," Lieu said. "Spray tanning has no known harmful effects, and you can get tans from lotions or cream. There are safe ways to get that brown look."