1. Answer the six "8" items
2. Let each person know they have been tagged
8 Favorite TV Shows
1. Battlestar Galactica (new)
2. The Biggest Loser
3. Pushing Daisies
4. The Office
5. Star Trek (original and next generation...yes, I'm a geek)
6. The Price is Right
7. House
8. Eli Stone
8 Things I did yesterday
1. Read a chapter of Sheri Dew's No One Can Take Your Place
2. Read stories to Christian while he sat on the potty for 30 minutes
3. Edited some photographs for a friend
4. Was found by a friend on facebook that I haven't talked to since high school
5. Checked email repeatedly
6. Watched shows on CBS.com
7. Soaked a ward member's suit in baking soda and hung out to dry before taking to the cleaners
8. Kissed Adam goodnight
8 Things I look forward to
1. My sister coming to visit for 10 days
2. The second coming
3. Adam coming home from work
4. Checking my email repeatedly
5. No snow or ice this winter
6. Letters from my Grandma
7. Someday having a baby
8. Adam having work that he enjoys
8 Things on my wish list
1. Mac workstation totally overhauled including Adobe suite
2. House and yard
3. Big fat english bulldog
4. Sleep number bed and new sheets
5. $300 pair of jeans
6. My parents to come and visit
7. To look good in a $300 pair of jeans
8. More humility and gratitude
8 people I tag
1. Angie
2. Bekah
3. Cathy
4. Marianne
5. Michelle
6. Brooke
7. Jessica
8. Tara
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Life's Challenges
Multiple times while I was growing up I heard my mom deliver some variation on the following quote from an unknown source: "If everyone took their problems and threw them into a big pile and you saw everyone else's; you would dive in to get yours back." As a teenager, this response to my adolescent crisis garnered a reaction of eye-rolling and dramatic sighs. At the time it simply meant that my mother had no sympathy for whatever I found myself complaining about at the moment. I guess it was her not-so-subtle way of letting me know that I was being self-absorbed and that life could be worse. Fast-forward fifteen(yes, I'm that old!) years and I find myself thinking people identify so much with their problems and challenges that I don't know if they would even know what to throw into the pile, because somehow they have become their challenges.
Last night I went to the chapel and listened to the broadcast that Elder Ballard, Elder Cook, and Elder Clayton presented on the topic of Proposition 8. In one month the people of California will vote on what the definition of marriage should be. The churches position on this issue is unquestionable and when apostles of God speak, I listen. I support prop 8 and I defend traditional marriage, because it is a commandment, because it is right, and because I know that it brings eternal happiness.
However, I am not without compassion. I live in the Stake with the highest number of gay/lesbian couples per capita in the nation. There are good people here. They are kind, compassionate, hard-working, and they have relationships that aside from gender are no different from anyone else's. I have known individuals who are members of the church and struggled with knowing what is right in the eyes of God and wondering what is wrong with them. It is hard to see God's children suffer and wonder why they have different tendencies and inclinations. Adam and I were having a conversation with our neighbor and she mentioned how hard it would be imagine a life without romantic love. It's true. You can love family members and friends deeply, but romantic love is very different. It might seem unfair that those with gay tendencies would have to abstain and remain celibate for a lifetime with no hope of
romantic love, but then I thought, they are not alone. My youngest brother, Tori, has some form of Autism coupled with epilepsy that has left him with the mental capacity of 12/13-year-old and he will likely never marry in this lifetime. He understands what marriage is and has witnessed both mine and my brother's weddings. I am certain he feels some sense of sadness that he may never experience marriage here on earth and that breaks my heart to think that he and many others must forgo that blessing during this life.
I am certain to be preaching to the choir, but my point is that homosexuality has become something by which people define themselves. It would never get cast into the pile of problems, because it is seemingly inseparable from the spirit. Gender is a very important characteristic of who we are, but it is not the only one. Behavior is what counts the most. I don't even pretend to know why some people's challenges--be they physical, psychological, emotional or even challenges of identity--seem to be worse than others. I know there is purpose in all the Heavenly Father has planned for us and that he will not test us beyond our ability to endure. So the wisdom of my mother comes full circle. Because I know that God knows me best and knows exactly what I can handle, I would gladly dive to the bottom the "the pile" and retrieve my own challenges.
Last night I went to the chapel and listened to the broadcast that Elder Ballard, Elder Cook, and Elder Clayton presented on the topic of Proposition 8. In one month the people of California will vote on what the definition of marriage should be. The churches position on this issue is unquestionable and when apostles of God speak, I listen. I support prop 8 and I defend traditional marriage, because it is a commandment, because it is right, and because I know that it brings eternal happiness.
However, I am not without compassion. I live in the Stake with the highest number of gay/lesbian couples per capita in the nation. There are good people here. They are kind, compassionate, hard-working, and they have relationships that aside from gender are no different from anyone else's. I have known individuals who are members of the church and struggled with knowing what is right in the eyes of God and wondering what is wrong with them. It is hard to see God's children suffer and wonder why they have different tendencies and inclinations. Adam and I were having a conversation with our neighbor and she mentioned how hard it would be imagine a life without romantic love. It's true. You can love family members and friends deeply, but romantic love is very different. It might seem unfair that those with gay tendencies would have to abstain and remain celibate for a lifetime with no hope of
romantic love, but then I thought, they are not alone. My youngest brother, Tori, has some form of Autism coupled with epilepsy that has left him with the mental capacity of 12/13-year-old and he will likely never marry in this lifetime. He understands what marriage is and has witnessed both mine and my brother's weddings. I am certain he feels some sense of sadness that he may never experience marriage here on earth and that breaks my heart to think that he and many others must forgo that blessing during this life.I am certain to be preaching to the choir, but my point is that homosexuality has become something by which people define themselves. It would never get cast into the pile of problems, because it is seemingly inseparable from the spirit. Gender is a very important characteristic of who we are, but it is not the only one. Behavior is what counts the most. I don't even pretend to know why some people's challenges--be they physical, psychological, emotional or even challenges of identity--seem to be worse than others. I know there is purpose in all the Heavenly Father has planned for us and that he will not test us beyond our ability to endure. So the wisdom of my mother comes full circle. Because I know that God knows me best and knows exactly what I can handle, I would gladly dive to the bottom the "the pile" and retrieve my own challenges.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Little Liam
Tuesday and Thursday of this week Adam and I babysat for a couple in our ward. Their little boy, Liam, has down syndrome and has been through open heart surgery, but he is the happiest baby imaginable. Thursday I had to work late and so Adam was with Liam for an hour by himself. When I got there, Adam was pushing him in his baby swing. I was eating some salad and the baby got a little fussy. Now I don't mean to brag, but I think Adam has a magic touch. He was so good with that little baby. Adam picked him up, held him and rocked him and he was alseep in no time. It was the most adorable thing ever! Oh, and the baby is sweet too.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Friend or Foe?
Now, I have never been a fan of any of the arachnid species. I know that there are many arguments out there that plead the case of such creatures. I am aware that they may even be called heroic because of their efforts to rid the world of pestilence such as moths, flies, and mosquitoes. Although their plight may be perceived as philanthropic, I surrender to my deep seated prejudice against spiders. You may think me shallow, but I am repulsed at the very sight of them. I could go on and on about their physical shortcomings or my skewed perception of beauty, but I am afraid that no Next Top Model make-over would ever change my mind. I mean, I could barely edit this film without cringing. It speaks for itself. . .
This spider happens to be about the size of my big toe and has chosen to spin her web in the planter right outside our front door. As long as she stays outside, I will allow her fulfill the measure of her creation. Halloween has decided to decorate on it's own here in Sausalito, I just hope the vampire bats and zombies stay in San Francisco.
This spider happens to be about the size of my big toe and has chosen to spin her web in the planter right outside our front door. As long as she stays outside, I will allow her fulfill the measure of her creation. Halloween has decided to decorate on it's own here in Sausalito, I just hope the vampire bats and zombies stay in San Francisco.
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