Thursday, December 25, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
My parents had a blizzard and therefore no power this morning, making it a rough morning for my grandmother, who needs the heater and her oxygen to feel well. I also have not felt well, although my day has been great and Jared has taken such good care of me. I watched Anne of Avonlea and Jared gave me the beautiful earrings that match my necklace from two Christmases ago. Tyler and Carisa slept over and Chris woke us all up at 6. I went back to bed at 8 and slept till 11:30. I love lazy Christmas days with the family.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Pro-Choice.....?
This is a very touchy subject, and I understand that there are widespread views, feelings, and thoughts on abortion. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, of which I am a member, opposes abortion except in certain circumstances (incest, rape, health reasons). With the election of Barack Obama, many people are beginning to criticize his belief that women should be able to choose what happens with their bodies. With the passing of his proposed law, it would be easier for women to get abortions and it wouldn't be required for parents to approve or be notified of an abortion by their minor daughter.
As many of you know, my family often struggles with infertility. It took my parents six years before getting pregnant. Jared and I have been trying for just under two years. I have several cousins, aunts, and friends who have also been given this trial in their lives. Every time I hear about an abortion, I feel sick inside. It makes me so sad to think of all the people I know and love who would make wonderful parents and would love to care for that baby. I do believe that abortion is murder, and that it would be so much better if that baby were put up for adoption to a loving, wanting, deserving family.
All of this being said, I believe that abortion should be legal. I know that this seems like a catch-22. On the flipside of the coin, I have known many girls who found themselves pregnant, whether they planned to or not. I have known the girls who were overjoyed and so excited, I have known girls who were scared, I have known girls who were disowned by their families and kicked out while still minors. The fact remains that, like the prohibition of alcohol, if abortion were to become completely illegal in the United States, it would merely go underground. Desperate girls have, in the past, and would again, take desperate measures to abort an unwanted pregnancy. Some would find doctors who would do it after hours, but some would find people who claimed medical competency but actually knew nothing and some would try to do it themselves. The latter two end up suffering from injuries that could render them infertile for life, or they could end up dieing.
I believe that abortion is murder, with all of my heart. I believe that (except in a few circumstances) every woman is entitled to a choice. That choice is whether or not to have sex in the first place. If a baby results from that act, and it is not wanted or the mother feels that she cannot care for it, then I believe that adoption is the best (and only) course of action. I believe that the baby is, in fact, a living human being from the moment of conception, and I don't give any credit to all this embryo/fetus development stages crap that people use to justify abortion. However, I still believe that abortion must remain legal. It's a very conflicting position and I am fully aware of that - but it's how I feel.
I would just like to close by saying that none of us is capable of judging another's actions. Whenever we are given a set of choices or trials we are all subject to our own beliefs, agency, and understanding to make it through the test that we are currently living in - mortal life. Like my grandmother always said "If we were to put our troubles up on a clothes line next to our neighbor's, we'd immediately choose ours back again." Please, I'm not saying you should abandon your personal beliefs, but choose to treat others with kindness and love, trusting that the Lord will take care of the rest.
As many of you know, my family often struggles with infertility. It took my parents six years before getting pregnant. Jared and I have been trying for just under two years. I have several cousins, aunts, and friends who have also been given this trial in their lives. Every time I hear about an abortion, I feel sick inside. It makes me so sad to think of all the people I know and love who would make wonderful parents and would love to care for that baby. I do believe that abortion is murder, and that it would be so much better if that baby were put up for adoption to a loving, wanting, deserving family.
All of this being said, I believe that abortion should be legal. I know that this seems like a catch-22. On the flipside of the coin, I have known many girls who found themselves pregnant, whether they planned to or not. I have known the girls who were overjoyed and so excited, I have known girls who were scared, I have known girls who were disowned by their families and kicked out while still minors. The fact remains that, like the prohibition of alcohol, if abortion were to become completely illegal in the United States, it would merely go underground. Desperate girls have, in the past, and would again, take desperate measures to abort an unwanted pregnancy. Some would find doctors who would do it after hours, but some would find people who claimed medical competency but actually knew nothing and some would try to do it themselves. The latter two end up suffering from injuries that could render them infertile for life, or they could end up dieing.
I believe that abortion is murder, with all of my heart. I believe that (except in a few circumstances) every woman is entitled to a choice. That choice is whether or not to have sex in the first place. If a baby results from that act, and it is not wanted or the mother feels that she cannot care for it, then I believe that adoption is the best (and only) course of action. I believe that the baby is, in fact, a living human being from the moment of conception, and I don't give any credit to all this embryo/fetus development stages crap that people use to justify abortion. However, I still believe that abortion must remain legal. It's a very conflicting position and I am fully aware of that - but it's how I feel.
I would just like to close by saying that none of us is capable of judging another's actions. Whenever we are given a set of choices or trials we are all subject to our own beliefs, agency, and understanding to make it through the test that we are currently living in - mortal life. Like my grandmother always said "If we were to put our troubles up on a clothes line next to our neighbor's, we'd immediately choose ours back again." Please, I'm not saying you should abandon your personal beliefs, but choose to treat others with kindness and love, trusting that the Lord will take care of the rest.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Christmas Tag!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love wrapping paper! I love opening presents and watching others open them - bags are less fun.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I like artificial trees best because I like to keep them up for the whole month of December and as far into January as Jared will let me.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? See question 2
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but only diluted half and half with milk. I don't know if Phred likes it though, I haven't had any this year. Jared hates it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my Samantha Parkington doll. She went everywhere with me.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Jared
8. Easiest person to buy for? Jennie
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I have a willow tree one, a simple wooden one that I got from Young Women's, a plastic one that I had when I was little, and an olive wood one from Jerusalem that we got for our wedding.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail - It's so much more fun getting Christmas cards in the mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't think I've had one.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Depending on the mood I'm in, it's either It's a Wonderful Life or the Muppet Christmas Carol.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I start getting ideas for people. This year I was done by Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I don't know, I like food in general :)
16. Lights on the tree? We currently have white lights on our tree and I like them. They have to be solid though, I don't like flashing lights on trees.
17. Favorite Christmas Song? I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I like stars best.
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Definitely morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The snow, it makes travel miserable.
23. Favorite ornament, theme or color? I love having the hodgepodge Christmas ornaments on our tree that we've collected over the years. We have ornaments that our moms bought when we were little, ornaments from vacations we've taken, ornaments that mean things to us, and ornaments that I've made with my class.
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? I really like chicken cordon bleu right now.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I already have Phred - I'll probably be getting a lot of good books :)
I tag: Carisa, Meg, Martha
2. Real tree or Artificial? I like artificial trees best because I like to keep them up for the whole month of December and as far into January as Jared will let me.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? See question 2
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but only diluted half and half with milk. I don't know if Phred likes it though, I haven't had any this year. Jared hates it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my Samantha Parkington doll. She went everywhere with me.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Jared
8. Easiest person to buy for? Jennie
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I have a willow tree one, a simple wooden one that I got from Young Women's, a plastic one that I had when I was little, and an olive wood one from Jerusalem that we got for our wedding.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail - It's so much more fun getting Christmas cards in the mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't think I've had one.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Depending on the mood I'm in, it's either It's a Wonderful Life or the Muppet Christmas Carol.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I start getting ideas for people. This year I was done by Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I don't know, I like food in general :)
16. Lights on the tree? We currently have white lights on our tree and I like them. They have to be solid though, I don't like flashing lights on trees.
17. Favorite Christmas Song? I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I like stars best.
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Definitely morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The snow, it makes travel miserable.
23. Favorite ornament, theme or color? I love having the hodgepodge Christmas ornaments on our tree that we've collected over the years. We have ornaments that our moms bought when we were little, ornaments from vacations we've taken, ornaments that mean things to us, and ornaments that I've made with my class.
24. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? I really like chicken cordon bleu right now.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I already have Phred - I'll probably be getting a lot of good books :)
I tag: Carisa, Meg, Martha
Thursday, December 4, 2008
an ABC book
My friend Janice has a great blog that has ideas and great items listed for moms with young children. At a scrapbooking night my friend Christine was making a Gospel ABC book for her daughter. I thought it was a great idea and wanted to make one myself! Of course, since I don't have kids that's not very practical, so I made one for my nephew, Thomas. I took the ideas from a source that she posted, but the link doesn't work anymore so I won't put it on here. Just know that they are not all my own ideas, although some of the letters I didn't like and tweaked them myself.
A is for Angels - "When Jesus appeared to the people in the Book of Mormon, he blessed the children. Then angels descended and encircled the little ones and ministered unto them. -3 Nephi 17:18-25"
B is for Baptism - "When we turn 8 years old, we can be baptized just like Jesus was baptized. When we are baptized, we become members of His church. -Matt 3:13-17"
C is for Church - "I always have a happy felling when I go to church. -D&C 59:9-10"
D is for Daddy - "-Malachi 4:6" (could also use disciple)
E is for Eternity - "Mommy and Daddy were sealed in the temple for time and eternity. That makes us an eternal family. -D&C 132:19"
F is for Family - "-3 Nephi 18:21"
G is for Grandparents
H is for Heavenly Father - "When Joseph Smith went into the sacred grove to pray, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. Heavenly Father loves each of us verymuch. -JS-H 1:14-17"
I is for I am a Child of God - "I am a child of God, and He has sent me here. Has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear. -Hymns #301"
J is for Jesus Christ - "Jesus loves us very much. He has made it possible for us to someday live with Heavenly Father again. -D&C 14:7"
K is for Kneeling - "Jesus showed us how to pray. When we kneel down to say our prayers, it shows Heavenly Father that we love and respect Him. -Luke 22:41-44"
L is for Love - "Jesus loved the little children, little ones like me. -Children's Songbook #59 -Mark 10:13-16"
M is for Mommy - "-Alma 57:21" (could also use marriage)
N is for Noah - "Noah was a prophet. He tried to get everyone to be good. He built an ark and put two of every kind of animal on it. They all lived on the ark while it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. -Genesis 6-8"
O is for Obey - "Obedience means doing what we are told to do, as long as it is right. Even the wind and the sea obey Jesus' commands. I will obey his commandments, too. -Mark 4:36-41"
P is for Prophet - "We have a prophet on the earth today. He tells us what Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to know. He leads our church. -Amos 3:7"
Q is for Quiet - "One of the ways we can be reverent in church is by being quiet. When we are quiet we are listening and the Spirit can tell us what to do. -Children's Songbook #27"
R is for Resurrection - "Jesus was crucified, but three days later, he rose again. He made it possible for all of us to be resurrected. -John 11:25 -Alma 33:32"
S is for Sacrament - "Every week we take the sacrament at church. When we eat the bread and water, we promise Heavenly Father and Jesus that we will try to be like Him and follow His commandments always. -D&C 20:75-80" (could also use scriptures)
T is for Tithing - "We pay 10% of the money we earn to the Church. This money helps build temples and churches all over the world. -D&C 119:4" (could also use temples)
U is for Utah - "The pioneers left their homes and went across the plains in wagons and handcarts to settle and worship the Lord in the state of Utah."
V is for Vision - "A vision is a dream from Heavenly Father. Lehi and Nephi had a vision of the tree of life, the iron rod, and the straight and narrow path leading to it. -1 Nephi 8:11"
W is for Word of Wisdom - "We can take care of our bodies by eating good food and staying away from strong drinks, tobacco, and other bad things. -D&C 89"
X is for eXaltation - Exaltation is eternal life, the kind of life which Heavenly Father lives in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus left his apostles and ascended into heaven in a cloud to be exalted by the right hand of God. -Acts 1:9-11; 2:32-33"
Y is for You - "Heavenly Father made you special. There is no one else like you. He loves you very much."
Z is for Zion - "Zion means the pure in heart. It is how Heavenly Father wants us to be. I can create a Zion in my home by listening to my parents, sharing with others, and making sure that I am always trying to be like Jesus. -Moses 7:18"For any of my siblings who are now whining because they want one, don't worry, I have the materials to make you one, I just only had time to do one before Christmas. I'll definitely get you one sometime over the next year. Pictures will be uploaded later tonight.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
This weekend we had a great time! We spent a bunch of days with my family in West Jordan and Salt Lake. Thanksgiving we ate at Grandma Z's with the whole crew - there are so many of us now! Friday and Saturday we spent shopping, although we don't do the early bird thing. We left the house at 10 both days. We ate at The Cheesecake Factory - it was soooo good and I didn't even get cheescake. Since I'm done Christmas Shopping, it was fun to just enjoy the atmosphere of the mall rather than rushing to find the great deals. Sunday we were back at home and we scrubbed the front room and then decorated the house for Christmas. I love our tree! It is so random and has such a hodgepodge of ornaments, it's great. I am especially grateful right now for the support and caring of my friends and family. I know I've not been the easiest person to live with right now, but especially to Jared - thank you so much!
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