Ready For Summer

Taken in front of the mirror, because there are few things she loves more than her own reflection.

"Mom, apparently you just bought me this ensemble for picture taking and not actually ever going swimming."

She has a hungry look in her eyes as she reaches for my keys.

Oprah, I'm On To You!

HEY YOU! I know this post looks too long to read, but I encourage you to read it and follow through with I am doing to help make my America a better place!
....

I hate these types of "rant" posts.... or do I? Sorry, I just have to get this off my chest and into the minds of others. Oprah is trying to make everyone gay. Just kidding, but actually not really. Oprah has made herself the Pope to many, so today's (Wednesday March 25) episode on "Women leaving Men for other Women" is no bueno for society.


First of all, I've been boycotting Oprah for about 2 years, but sometimes- darn it all- I just catch myself watching her! Anyway, I started my boycott when I saw this show she did about this mom who, after being married for many years and having two children, just "realized" she was gay. So what did she do? Immediately divorced her husband, left her kids, and pursued a relationship with a woman. And THEN she somehow convinced her ex-husband that he was gay too. The woman was so darn proud of herself! And Oprah validated her pretended courage. I still remember her sickeningly smug smile to this day. Essentially Oprah was celebrating this woman's selfishness. And then, in the middle of it all are these two boys whose parents are divorced and they are supposed to be happy that their mom "found herself." Whatever.



The second Oprah-ism is how she had a show on how mad she was that prop 8 passed. (Ironically though, she had to cut into that segment because her house almost burned down from a wildfire and she did some quick interviews with her neighbors- act of God? Possibly...)





And third, Oprah is going to have another show on soon about all these middle aged woman who have kids, husbands, "regular suburban lives" and who just "found out" they are gay! Hurray! They get to leave their families and start new selfish lives!


Anyways my point is that who do these women think they are? Do we as a society really think the most important thing in the world is attraction? And if we follow what we are attracted to we will be completely fulfilled? Oprah seems to think so.

And just to further clarify, love is not attraction. How could you explain Brett loving me after the stretch marks Marie gave me? Seriously though, the best advice anyone every gave me is that LOVE IS A CHOICE. It's true, and it works on every level. Attraction may not be, but love is always a choice. So Oprah-women - get over yourselves!



Think I'm wrong? What if we replaced the "gay moms" with men who "realized they were attracted to brunettes instead of the blonde women they married?" Can you imagine Oprah headlining this story? Or what if it was about a middle-aged family guy who realized he was supremely attracted to goats? Should he leave his family and start a goat farm? And should Oprah validate his courage?

I don't think you'll be hearing anything like that except for on Jerry Springer.

P.S. Oprah likes to "diss" Mormons. It's true. I think she might have mentioned it in her "I can't believe Prop 8 didn't pass" show. However, she did a show with reporter Lisa Ling on the FLDS compound. In it Ling said she interviewed the children about their History Class. She asked what book they were reading and they replied "The Book Of Mormon." And of course, you would have to see the clip, but the way Oprah and Lisa talked about it was as if they were reading a book called "Brain Washing 101." Anyway, I hope that made sense.


A long time ago a friend told me she heard about a talk Sherri Dew gave that referenced shows like Oprah. It implied that LDS women need to pay less heed to these type of shows. If you are familiar with this talk or know where I can find it please let me know.


So my point here is not to be annoying, but i guess to examine what main stream media 's agenda is: accepting homosexuality. But MOST importantly it's important to recognize what perspective these women are living in. I think they are thinking "happiness is NOW" no matter what stage of life you are at, or what commitments (like being devoted mother to your children) you have made. I guess it's up to us to tell them there is more than this life, and there are better things than fleeting excitement.


Let's start by letting Oprah/NBC know the flaw in their logic (that they are implying).

Go HERE or paste in these to your browser.

https://www.oprah.com/ord/plugform.jsp?plugId=215

or https://www.oprah.com/contactus

AND
http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Contact_Us/ or click HERE to become a TV panel viewer.

Feel free to wait after today's show, but on second thought, don't! Just write!



Remember- their logic is flawed. Today's show "Women Leaving Men for Other Women" is essentially reminding everyday suburban moms that lesbians are people just like them. Whether you agree with that or not you have to admit the logic of women leaving husbands and children just because they are gay does not make the divorce any less horrific for the children. Even if the children are grown and out of the home. Don't let being gay be the "free card" and allow anyone out of their commitments which affect their children's lives.


Elder Robert S. Wood of the Seventy on Upholding, Nourishing and Protecting the Family.
"For too many, responsibility seems to end with hand-wringing and exclamations of dismay. Yet talk without action accomplishes little. We need to be vigorously engaged in the world. If our schools are inadequate or destructive of moral values, we must work with fellow members of the community to bring about change. If our neighborhoods are unsafe or unhealthy, we must join with the civic-minded to devise solutions. If our cities and towns are polluted, not only with noxious gases but soul-destrying addictions to smut, we must labor to find legitimate ways to eliminate such filth... We have the responsibility to be a blessing to others, to our nations, to the world." ("On the Responsible Self, Ensign March 2002, 30-31).

It is the Month of March.

Update for the sake of an update. It's been busy. We got home from Bama and did a quick U-turn back to Utah for Grandpa Millburn's funeral. It was as good as a funeral can get. A small gathering, considering Grandpa outlived most of his friends. The stories told over the pulpit were funny and comforting. He planned every detail of his funeral decades ago so everything went smooth. Grandma seems alright, but I'm sure it's not easy.

When we got home we were greeted by visitors. I won't say their names because they ditched work to be with us. They told their boss they had a funeral to go to. Ironic?

In other news, Brett and I have been thinking about how many children we are going to have. It would be so easy just to have two or three. But when we think about our families, the last three are always the most interesting, or at least the most fun. We can say that because we are near the oldest. So are we on the road to 6 kids? We'll see.

My youngest sassy brother Malcolm. Always a hoot.

So now, with our first 2009 visitors gone, we would like to officially invite anyone who reads this blog to come stay with us.
We'll take you to the bridge. Week days in the Spring are best, because the weather is good (or as good as it gets) and there are actually parking spaces!

We could take you to Santa Cruz to see the boardwalk and the beach.

We'll even bring you to the starving hippies at Haight and Ashbury. I think they are about to eat that dog.

Or we'll even go to the Mystery Spot. I went to the Mystery Spot when I was pregnant I really didn't "get it." I guess my center of gravity was so strong I couldn't tell the difference. But i went last week and it is AWESOME. So weird! At the end, I was so dizzy I had to leave. I think it made Marie sick too because she was freaking out at the end. Don't understand what I am talking about? You will just have to come and experience for yourself.

Well I gotta go. I have to give a talk tomorrow on Temples. I assume everyone is going to hear about Temples because of the "Big Lame" episode that is about to air. Oh well, anyone that is looking for inspiration from Bill Paxton is already a lost cause. Hey! I should use that in my talk tomorrow! Just kidding. That's going to be painful enough. I do admit I really like the sound of my own voice though. So its just going to be a test of patience for my ward.
In other thoughts, I've been thinking alot about Mormonism and immigration. It's pretty obvious that most Mormons in America are politically conservative. But I don't want to have a conversation about how all Mormons are not conservative, because I'm already set on the fact that I'm right, and I like it that way. However, apparently it doesn't matter if members are illegal immigrants in matters of church assistance and temple recommends. I guess you're a member first before all else. It kind of makes me think that The Church is already making exceptions against the government because our country is going down the crapper anyways. Don't worry, I won't get into this in my talk tomorrow.

Lastly, Marie is not crawling yet. Just rolling around and being awesome. That is all.

25 Things About Avery

I have been "tagged." I'm always tagged. It's hard being so popular. Just kidding. Seriously though, I guess I have to write 25 things about my friend Avery. She's on your left.


1. Avery is my friend. It is also the name of printer labels.
2. I met Avery at a friends house in Moscow while Brett and I were dating. Like all my best friends, I remember the first time I saw her I immediately wanted to be their friend and I did whatever it took to attach myself to her until she was my friend. (I wish I was kidding about that, but it's true. If you want to know where and when I wanted to be your friend I will tell you. Unless you're related, then I probably met you when I was too young to remember).
3. Avery has 3 cute boys whom are going to marry the 3 girls that I will (eventually) have. I hope everyone is OK with that.
4. Avery is going to be so embarrassed that I made this post.
5. Avery is a good person to pick for this because she is the only person that reads my blog that doesn't know any else that reads my blog.
6. We once went on vacation with Avery to a town called Avery.
7. Avery is Brett's favorite cook. I don't mind this because it means that she cooks for the both of us.
8. I once sprayed Avery's son with a hose and he cried and cried. He was only 4. I felt really bad, but it still kinda makes me laugh.Hey, it was just his legs! And he had just sprayed me in the face, soo... yah.).
9. I shouldn't tell Avery #8. But hey, she was there.
10. On the same subject Brett once hit a 12-year old girl in the head while playing dodge ball, and gave her a bloody nose. Even though it was years ago THAT really REALLY still makes me laugh. But I don't tell Brett because he felt SOOO bad. In fact I should stop.
11. Ok, that rudeness calls for a little self deprecation.
12.I once got a bloody nose in the baptismal font. Most embarrassing thing ever.
13. I once made a leaning wedding cake. Yikes, I still need to redeem myself for that.
14. Speaking of wedding cakes, I think there is a chance I might need vodka for Cassie's wedding cake. Everyone who is coming to the wedding get ready to PARTY!!! WOOO HOOO! But seriously, I MIGHT need it to paint on some decorative sparkles.
15. I don't think I am going to make it 25 (things).
16. Wait, I just thought of something- Marie related of course.



18. Marie likes dangerous things, like chewing on wires.
19. Marie loves her mommy more than anything... except wires.
20. Marie had her 6 month appointment at 7 months old. Woops.
21. She is only 14 lbs!
22. Her body weight and height is in the 10 % percentile.
23. Her head is in the 90% percentile. She thinks that's funny.


24. She is so proud of her mommy for having NO CAVITIES at her last checkup! I sure learned my lesson with a root canal.
25. I'm pregnant. Just kidding! But my good friend Nicolette is! Congrats!!!

Well this concludes my random list!