Mother's Day

It was pretty good this year. I stayed home from church so I could sleep in, as a gift to myself. My mother-in-law said that at church the sisters had fruits and veggies served to them by the youth who talked about how much they loved their moms. We had pizza for lunch, then I went to my mom and dad's for dinner. I had been there the day before so I could clean up the kitchen for my mom. She had to work this weekend and wanted to get that done, so I did it for her as my Mother's Day gift to her, which she greatly appreciated. My sister's mother-in-law brought stuff over to make for dinner so mom wouldn't have to. My mom gave me a couple new shirts and some nice-smelling hand soap. My missionary brother called and talked to everyone for a while. It was good to hear his voice again; he sounds so much older!

All in all, it was a decent day.

Happy Easter!

Yeah, Easter is actually tomorrow, but I don't think I'll have time tomorrow, so here it goes.

I don't think we really have any religious traditions when it comes to Easter in the church. We have Easter lessons for the primary classes, and there are talks on Easter in sacrament meeting, but that's about it. Actually, our stake conference is tomorrow, and general conference was last week, so we'll probably postpone our Easter lessons until next week.

I read a few blog posts this week, one about the Jewish seder (and how the symbolism points to Christ, but it does talk about the ceremony and some of the meaning behind it) and one on a Catholic Easter Mass (which for the life of me, I can't find). I say that because I have experienced both ceremonies.

When I was a kid, maybe about ten or so, my sister and I had a friend a year or so older than I was, whose family was Jewish. We had them over on Passover and they shared the seder ceremony with us. There's a part near the end where a door is opened to let the spirit of Elijah enter the house. Well, I don't know if Elijah made it in or not, but our cat did. ^_^ A friend of mine was baptized into the Catholic church when she was about 19 or so, and I was able to go to the mass for that. The symbolism there is neat as well.

I think it's neat to experience something in a church other than your own, and to feel the same spirit there that you'd feel in your own church.

...

I've been writing this post on and off for a few hours today, and during one of my off times, I got to thinking about how good I've felt when reading about some of these traditions and ceremonies. Now I'm thinking about how neat it might be to include some of these traditions in my own life. I'm not talking about going all out, even though it'd be cool to do so, but to add in bits and pieces into my own worship of God, you know what I mean? The 13th Article of Faith says, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." President Hinckley also talked about recognizing the truths in other religions, and I know of people who are LDS but also use the truths they see in other religions and incorporate them into their own lives. I don't quite know where I'd start, but it is something to think about.

Anyway, whatever spring celebration you ascribe to, have a good one!

Lovely to see you again...

I know it's been a while since I've updated, and even then the posts are very sparse. But I should probably try to write something.

My husband's family had their monthly home evening tonight, and my mother-in-law gave the lesson. It was about what the church meant to her and ways to better ourselves spiritually. She had us go around the room and have every person say one thing that the church means to them. There were the standards: forgiveness, hope, being together as a family, etc. I had no clue what to say at first. Then something popped into my mind. Because of the church, I know that I am a person of great worth. I am literally a daughter of Heavenly Parents, who love me unconditionally, no matter what. My husband's response had to do with knowing that there is a purpose for just about everything, and knowing that things will get better in time.

I've been teaching the CTR 7s this year, and it's harder than I thought it would be. I know they're not totally mature yet, but I was hoping they'd be at least more grown up than the Sunbeams I used to teach. There are five girls, and sometimes things get out of hand. I've had to come up with some class rules, which I should have done a long time ago. It's kinda sad that I have to tell them not to climb on the table and to leave the chalkboard alone. We had ward conference today, which meant there would be no second or third hour classes, so I slept in. And boy was it a nice break.

Yayness!

I get to teach an older Primary class next year!

I've been through the nursery/Sunbeam manual at least five times or so, having been in the nursery twice and the Sunbeams twice (sometimes for more than a year). I did get to teach the Valiant 9s for a few months with my husband, but that's been the extent of my experience with older kids.

This year, I get to teach the CTR 7s, which consists of four girls that will be turning seven this next year. Instead of the simple lessons I'm used to, like being thankful for plants and trees, I get to teach more advanced concepts, like choosing the right and having faith in Jesus Christ.

Wish me luck!

History repeats itself

Well, except for a few things.

I read an article today about a Peruvian woman who gave birth on Christmas morning. That's not the interesting part, though. Her name was Virgen Maria (Virgin Mary), and she named her son Jesus Emanuel. His father is not named Joseph, but he is a carpenter.

By the way, Merry (Belated) Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for so many things; too many to list here. The list I came up with last year pretty much covers it all. I can't think of a thing to add, since the little things fall under those twelve categories.

I try to remember every day all the blessings I have, and to thank my Heavenly Father for what I've been given. I can't say that saying, "At least I have X" always makes me feel better on a bad day, but if I want to be uplifted, it can be.

Anyway, enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Thoughts on a sensitive issue

I believe that we are all children of our Heavenly Father and have a divine nature, regardless of one's gender, sexual orientation, race, creed, etc. As such, we all need to love and respect one another.

I can understand the plight of the LGBT community. Many groups of people have been persecuted for what they believe is right. (Sadly, a lot of it still exists, as has been seen in the news recently, coming from both sides of the argument.) All they want is for their relationships to be seen as normal and accepted by others.

I personally don't care what a person's sexual orientation is. I may not agree with the homosexual lifestyle, but I try to be respectful of the decisions of the few people I know who are gay or bisexual (I don't know any transgender/transsexuals). One of the greatest gifts we've been given on this earth is free agency, the ability to be, think, act, worship, and love the way we feel is right for us.

Despite all this, I have a hard time finding myself accepting gay marriage. Yes, I want to love everyone and give everyone the opportunity to do as they wish without recrimination (as long as it's not destructive, i.e. murder), but I cannot vote for something I don't believe is right.

I belong to a religion that has a bit of history when it comes to the definition of marriage. We used to practice polygamy, albeit only in a minor sector of the early LDS community. Still, there were men that had more than one wife. But that was taken away from us. Polyamorous marriages are illegal; a man can only have one wife, and a woman can only have one husband.

Now, I'm not trying to equate our persecution with that of the LGBT community. We Latter-day Saints seem to get along pretty well without polygamous marriages. I don't see a lot of people, LDS or not, trying to get polygamy recognized as a legal definition of marriage (at least, not on the same scale as gay marriage). But gay marriage is something that will not fall by the wayside.

I'm sorry that my trying to be open-minded and fair to all doesn't yet quite extend to gay marriage. Maybe I'll change my mind in the future. Still, I will use my free agency to believe, and my right as an American to vote, the way that I see fit.

I hope that those who feel so bitter about the passing of Prop 8, and similar other measures taken in other parts of the country, will have their hearts softened, and that they will take their message of tolerance and peace and apply it to this sensitive issue. Remember that you live in a country where you may exercise your right to vote and to try to change things to make this country a better place to live. This particular battle was lost. But what about next time?

MTC, here he comes!

My oldest younger brother enters the Missionary Training Center today, where he will learn how to share the gospel for the next few weeks. If I'm not mistaken, he officially enter the mission field (Phoenix, Arizona) on the 17th of June, and will be there for the next two years.

We had a family party on Sunday after church. My parents and my brothers flew out to Utah on Monday to spend some time with family, and the three remaining members will be coming home Wednesday night.

I'm so pleased with his decision to go on a mission. He's known for most of his life that he was going to go be a missionary, and I'm excited to see it finally happen.

Good luck on your mission, little brother! I know you'll do great!

Mother's Day

I would like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to my mom and mother-in-law, and to all my friends and other family members with children.

Tomorrow in my ward, all the women age 18 and over will receive some kind of treat to celebrate Mother's Day. Sometimes it's a flower, or some cookies. One year we got huge chocolate bars. Either way, it's a day to recognize mothers (whether they're raising their own children or someone else's) and the young women who will one day be mothers.

It's also the day that the childless women probably dread and stay home so they don't have to deal with it. I can't escape it this year. My mother-in-law is giving a talk, which means that I get to take grandma to the bathroom and back. And I can't escape afterwards, because I teach the Sunbeams (3-4 year olds). The rest of the day is out as well, as we have our monthly family home evening, which will undoubtedly be centered on Mother's Day. Since the husb is making an effort to be with his family, I have to be there, too. I don't know if I'll get a chance to see my mom, but I'm hoping I can at least drop off the card and flowers I have for her. I would love to stay and have dinner with my family, but I don't know if that'll happen or not.

Celebrating Mother's Day gets harder as the years go by. Five years ago, it was no big deal. We'd been married a couple months and were looking forward to our life together. Now we're hardly farther along than we were when we first started. Really, it's not that I don't have kids and others do. It's that I thought that after five years of marriage, we'd at least be looking forward to starting our family. This fibromyalgia has made it difficult for us to do anything to get on our feet. My hope is that all the waiting will make me a better mother than I otherwise would have been had my husband not developed fibromyalgia.

I'd also like to recognize those who have either lost their mothers or whose mothers weren't a positive force in their lives. I can think of three of my friends who are probably having a hard time feeling like they can celebrate Mother's Day without their mothers.

To those of us who don't fit the "Happy Mother's Day" mold, may I wish you all a Happy Strong Women's Day.

I feel so old!

My oldest younger brother got his mission call last week! He's due at the MTC on May 28th, then off to Phoenix, Arizona for the next two years.

My siblings and I don't really spend a whole lot of time together as just the four of us, and we had a blast hanging out together when we saw Celtic Woman the day he got his call, so we decided that we need to get together a few times to hang out before he leaves.

End of an Era

I just heard that our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away today at the age of 97. He will be sorely missed, and thought of fondly by many. Surely he was welcomed home by the ones he served so well while he fulfilled his mortal mission, namely our Heavenly Father and His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as well as his wife and other family members, friends, and others who were influenced by him during his lifetime.

He came to St. Louis when I was twelve years old for a big conference of the stakes in the area. I don't remember much about it, but I do remember how funny he was, and how happy I was to have him as a prophet. Under his leadership, the St. Louis temple was constructed, and I remember feeling the Spirit so strongly when it was dedicated. I was later sealed for eternity to my husband there, and felt the Spirit then as well.

He has done so much for the church and influenced many people to better themselves. I know he was a prophet of God, and feel blessed to have lived during his presidency. I send my condolences to his family during this difficult time, and share in their happiness and knowledge of eternal families, knowing that they, and we, will see him again after our missions here on earth are complete.

"This isn't a goodbye, just sort of a 'see you later.'"

Being Thankful

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for:

1. My family. I love them all and am grateful for their love, guidance, and support.
2. My husband. He's my rock, and loves me for who I am, flaws and all, just the way I love him.
3. His family. They have welcomed me with open arms and loving hearts.
4. My friends. I'm happy that they choose to continue their friendship with me, despite my eccentricities. ^_^
5. My life in the Gospel. I love knowing who I am (a daughter of God) and what I can become.
6. My Heavenly Parents. They love me more than I will ever know, and I hope to become the person they desire me to be.
7. My Savior Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection to bring us closer to God is the most loving thing a person has ever done for me.
8. The presence of the Holy Ghost in my life. He has guided me in making good decisions, helped me to know what is true, and comforted me in my times of need.
9. The temple. I'm privileged to be sealed to my family for eternity, and thankful that my husband and I can truly be together forever.
10. The scriptures. They contain great knowledge and have helped me as I try to become a better person.
11. A place to live, clothes to wear, and food to eat. I am guarded against the elements, and hope that I can help others to achieve their needs.
12. My job. I have come to know some of the choicest children, and love watching them grow and learn.

The list goes on and on, but those are the blessings foremost in my mind. If I missed anything, I'll be sure to post more later.

Sad news...

President James E. Faust, 2nd counselor in the General Presidency, passed away this morning. He will be greatly missed.

We're in the news!

Well, LDS news, at any rate. Meridian Magazine recently wrote two articles about our stake's celebration of the tenth anniversary of the St. Louis temple dedication. One is about the celebration itself, the other about the "Turning the Hearts" program we did in March. Both articles have pictures; the second article didn't have pictures of the part of the program I was in, but did of some of the other parts.

Friday and Saturday are the official celebration days. Here's to the next ten years!

Just in time for General Conference

Some anti group has recently released a DVD once again trying to spread untruths about our religion. It doesn't surprise me that it's come out the week before we hear from our beloved prophet and others called of God to give us counsel. (I guess it's not enough to stand outside the conference center in Utah and mock what we call sacred.)

FAIR has released a response to the DVD, refuting all the inconsistencies and sometimes outright lies that the "Concerned Christians" try to pass off as what we really believe.

I would hope that my friends would ask me any questions they have about the church. What better way to learn about something than to ask somebody who adheres to it?

A success!

Our program was a success last night! All the performers did a great job, especially in the group I was in (not that I'm partial or anything ^_^). It was a wonderful night that I hope will always stick with those who visited and participated.

Any relation?

The new missionary in our ward is going to hear that phrase a lot. He's probably heard it a lot in the almost year he's been out and will probably be bombarded with it the rest of his mission.

We had the missionaries over for dinner the other night. When my husband caught sight of the new elder's nametag, he asked why it sounded familiar, so I told him. And the inevitable ensued.

"Any relation?"

"Yeah, he's my brother."

"Seriously?"

"Yep."

Our new missionary is the brother of a pretty famous movie director. I'm not sure whether mentioning the name is a good idea, just in case. But if you can guess who, then I might let you in on it. ^_^

St. Louis Missouri Temple Ten Year Anniversary

This year, we're celebrating the ten year anniversary of the dedication of the St. Louis Missouri temple. As a part of the celebration, our stake is doing a family history program this Saturday evening, which includes a "trip around the world", to places such as the UK, South America, and more, and a program afterwards. It's sure to be fun!

The Visiting Teaching Movie

No, it's not a film by one of the prominent LDS directors out there, nor is it a sequel to "The Home Teachers". It can actually be found on You Tube. From the website: "Tucker Dansie's short film created for the Murray 33rd Ward Visiting Teaching Conference." Any of these scenarios look familiar?