Thoughts

I read a very stirring presentation by the amazing Dallin H. Oaks that he gave to a group of BYU students about our religious freedoms being threatened. With all the "threats" out there today of war, economic collapse, nuclear attack, etc., it's refreshing to have a source that you can really identify with and say, "If this man says it's a threat, then you KNOW he knows." Thus the importance of continuing revelation.

The entire presentation has a link on the lds.org homepage right now, but the part that fueled my fire were the comments about the Proposition 8 in California. A pro-gay rights spokesperson said this about our Church's position on marriage: “I’m not intending it to harm the religion. I think they do wonderful things. Nicest people. . . . My single goal is to get them out of the same-sex marriage business and back to helping hurricane victims.”


This was on my mind this morning as I was driving, and I saw a firetruck parked near a home. There was no fire, and i'm not sure what their purpose was at that moment, but the scene that flashed through my mind was kind of a Sesame Street type....when the fireman is rescuing a kitten from a tree for the distressed old lady.


The analogy came immediately afterwards: what this man was asking us, as a church, to do, is like asking the firemen to stop trying to put out fires, and rescue more kittens.

Bahamas Trip

We made it back!! Had a great time on our quick little cruise and one day in Nassau, Bahamas. Went to Paradise Island and saw the Atlantis resort, took a fun little van tour across all of New Providence, got to go on a semi-submarine out to a couple of reefs, then, of course, there was all the funness of the cruise ship!! Pools, water slide, music, comedians, and LOTS of free food! (I gained 5 pounds in 3 days :D )


Here are some pics!

Silly old men

I went to get gas this morning and pulled up at the same time as a cute old man (we're talking like 75). He smiled at me and followed me into the store. I gave the cashier my $25 (trying to stick to a cash system---no more credit and minimize debit), went back out and began pumping. The gentleman came out a minute later, saw my license plate and said "Wyoming, huh?" I smiled and just gave a "Yeah :)" Then he said, "You're no bigger than a minute, but sure are adorable." I'm sure my face lit up, I gave a little laugh and said thanks. He wished me a good day and waved goodbye as he drove off.

These little moments just make my day. But they are also the thing that make it hard for me to ever visualize, or think of myself as an adult, a grown up. So much of the time I feel like a 35 year old, stuck in a 14 year-old's body.

I haven't really been adversely affected by it yet I think, except that it's hard to feel like I could ever be a role model for anyone over the age of 12. I don't think people see me and think of me as the strong, independent, mature person that I want to be known as. It's more like a surprise when I do something mature, because I feel like I'm only compared to teenagers. Or maybe that's only what I perceive. And I do very much believe that my perception can be extremely warped. Not sure how to fix something like that.

Oh well. I need to go read or something. My house is clean, my dishes done, my laundry caught up, we're all packed for our trip, my baby's sleeping, and my husband is out teaching with the missionaries. I've never felt so at a loss for something I SHOULD be doing!! :D And I L.O.V.E. it!

Bahamas jitters :)

I am SO SO SO SO SOOOOOOOOOOO excited for Monday! We board our cruise ship at 1:00pm, spend Tuesday in Nassau, and Wednesday cruise back. It'll be quick, but it will be amazing. In one year, and before her 2nd birthday, Delia will have been to Washington, DC, Arequipa, Camana, Puno, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, and Cuzco,Peru, and the Bahamas :) Not to mention her two trips to Wyoming. Quite the world traveler already! I'm hoping to instill a passion for exploration :D There are just FAR too many amazing things to see in this world. Next on the agenda are Canada (specifically Abraham Lake in Alberta), the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt, and Switzerland. :)

Hooray for Living Prophets!

This is us getting ready for General Conference!! 13.5 million people, all sharing the same convictions, watching the same thing, learning the same messages of service, our Divine heritage, and our missions as sons and daughters of God. It's great to be part of something so vast and wonderful.

General Conference always feels sort of like another New Year's Day for me....making resolutions to do better, be better. But always being filled with hope and encouragement from all the Spiritual giants we have on our side. We will win. It's hard, but we can, and were meant to, DO HARD THINGS. How could we ever grow if everything were easy.

Oh my.

Well the last time I posted was July, so.................we'll see what wants to spew out today :D

Since July:

~ Had the worst travel experience of my life---physically and emotionally---to WY. go figure.
~ Dropped from 34 piano students to 22 students
~ Started school
~ Had an incredible two months of classes--was taking Statistics, Ethics, World History, Music History, Speech Communications, Vocal Pedagogy, Private Voice, Voice Performance, and Choir.
~ Had a nasty reality check about what I was doing to myself, my baby, my husband, and my stress level, and dropped out of school
~ Delia has successfully learned that if Mommy says no, ask Daddy :)
~ Delia can walk for up to 5 minutes in a pair of high heels
~ Delia can now communicate very efficiently with her "NO" and "UH-HUH"s, but pretends to fall asleep when I try to teach her actual words :D
~ Neal has applied to lots and lots of jobs...thought we were going to get one in Canada, but were sorely disappointed :(
~ I am really REALLY excited to be home with my babies at least half a day now, and be able to do my dishes, keep up my laundry, COOK!!!!!, and organize. Maybe my fish might even get some clean water now and then :)
~ Got a new camcorder and haven't had time to explore and play with it yet. Now I will!!!

And along with that last one.....I can keep up with my blog now hopefully. LOL. we'll see.