Crossing a Bridge

The Parker Family Tells it Straight (plus or minus cheesy music)



Growing up in Idaho and Utah, Brett and I were "morally" well sheltered. Granted we had our personal and family challenges, we were blocked from many societal moral conundrums. However, as of late, it seems no matter where you live the pressure of media and mainstream (or lame-stream) society wants to challenge your religion.

In August we joined in on the YES ON 8 campaign, to RESTORE the definition of marriage to be between a man and a woman. Not the Yes on 8 campaign to take rights away from homosexuals, because they have their rights preserved in civil unions- but the Yes on 8 campaign to protect our families right to unbiased public schooling (watch video), protect the majority vote of millions of California voters, and protect what we know society will prosper from; appreciation and respect for heterosexual marriage.

I've never thought too much about homosexuality until college. A high school friend "came out" and let me know he realized he had been gay all his life. He then proceeded to share his anger that the President was against same-sex marriage and same-sex child-rearing. At the time I was shocked, but still sympathetic. However it caused me, over the course of a year, to study the subject thoughtfully and thoroughly.

The answer lies here http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html .

However, where is the material proof? The ultimate equation that is a convincing enough answer that it could persuade ANYONE that married, heterosexual relationships are best for the individual and for the child the couple might raise?
Surely, even the atheist or agnostic could admit that nature biologically only gives the "key" to producing children with the aid of one male and one female, and therefore nature even clues us in on the best and ideal way to raise a family.

However, whatever the drama caused and feelings hurt, I have to stand up for my family.

But why would God make people Gay? If marriage and children are the ultimate happieness we find in this life, why would God deny gay people that?
Now this is the part where I could really get up on my soap box and tell people Love is a choice, but the reality is that the answer is private, being between the individual and God. He loves them and won't deny them happiness.

My job is not to judge but to protect my rights and teach my daughter that God does love everyone. He loves me just as much as everyone on the No on 8 campaign. And that's were I cross a bridge. Every time I see a "No on 8" sign, a movie star promoting immoral behavior, or hear of people in high political places making it difficult for me to teach my daughter my religion- I remember that God loves them exactly as much as he loves me. It's almost frustrating. I want be like "Seriously God, can you just smite them now? Because they are like totally in my way." But instead He gently reminds me through one of his servants that he loves them to, he answers their prayers the same way he does mine, and the only thing I need to worry about is teaching my family what is right and to be helpful to others. Not be self-righteous to others, but to be kind and helpful.

Anywhosers, I could go on but I will spare you.

Please take the time to watch the video and visit the link in the side bar to see where I am coming from.

Feel the same way? Donate at http://www.protectmarriage.com/ - even a couple bucks helps! And trust me, California needs all the help it can get!

New Kids on the Block

Yikes! Stripes! Fruit Stripes Gum!

No, this is not just a clever title. It is the actual subject. I went to a New Kids on the Block concert last week. And before I start, I need to confess. Before last Friday, I had never actually heard a NKOTB song. All I know is that I was in the 3rd grade when they were super cool. I was wearing shirts with puppy dogs on them. NKOTB were the butt of many jokes in my 9 year-old circle of friends. That being me, my 7-year old friend, and my dog.

So Brett calls me on Thursday and says "I got great news, my co-worker doesn't want to go to NKOTB with his wife, and I told him you LOVED them, so you would be interested."

URRR- Wrong. I LOVED N'Sync. But a boy band is a boy band ... right?

Lady Gaga is the opening act. Sounds like a bizarre Nick-a-lodean character right? Urrr- wrong. She's like a go-go girl on acid. I've never done acid (for the record) but I imagine watching her show is the closest I will ever come to it. Note that I don't have link to her site or her music because it would be like having a link to a porn site.

Sadly, I think I would like some of her songs alot, but watching her perform them really traumatized me.


It gets better. Natasha Beddingfeld is up next and she is awesome. I love every song she sings and her vocals are off the charts. I really really really enjoyed her concert. I had to bail on the last song though, because I wanted to go line up to meet her. I didn't meet her but I ended up getting her picture. My friend has it on her camera. I will post it when she gets it to me. Beddingfeld really made the 1.5 hour drive to San Jose worth it.


And then.... (drum roll please) came the boys from bean town. (Note I picked up many "Block-isms"). They were good. I can't say "they took me away" but they were entertaining. I must be getting old. All I can say was that there were crude gestures aplenty.
Through the whole thing I kept thinking, "man, if aliens were to come to our planet and only had this experience to judge the worth of our planet on, they would destroy us in a mili-second." Let's just say I felt "very sober" among the thousands of drunk women and three tag along boy friends and that were there. However,NKOTB are very danceable so I think I had a great time. Plus or minus the evil lady Gaga who will be giving me nightmares for weeks to come.

This is a good picture to represent their "oldness." Brett keeps reminding me that he is as old as they are, however, he's not doing suggestive dances for a living.

Torture Night

It began with a bad idea. Rachel's friend has concert tickets, and not just any tickets. Tickets to the nerdy New Kids on the Block concert. I had no idea they still lived. Didn't one of them shoot himself in the "Sixth Sense" while standing in the bathroom in his underwear? At least I heard that. Anyway, Rachel wasn't going to go, but in my infinite stupidum I talked her into it. "Oh, we'll be fine," I said. "Mom's aren't important," I said. Well, I didn't consult Marie, and she was pretty mad at me for it.

The evening started out innocent enough. I pulled out the "Johnny Jump Up." Her head sort of bobbed around, but it went okay. You can see that she was thrilled.

Anyway, she was real good for about 15-20 minutes. Then Operation Blow Out Dad's Ears began. She was very successful, as it is 3 days later and I feel like Bubs after his famous "ear flop." I was impressed with her stamina. Now if we can only channel her power for good and not for my destruction.

Rachel made it back safely, just like I told the baby she would. They were happily reunited, just like I said they would be. Now every time Rachel walks up to Marie she gets a big smile. This is so flattering to Rachel that I don't tell her that I think its just gas. So I learned that mom's ARE important. The legends are true.

Baby's First Conference Weekend

For those of you who visited before Marie's birth- Congratulations. In the words of my brother Nigel, who stayed with us for several weeks after her birth, "Your baby cries alot."

Yep! That's my girl. She always wants you to know "she is here." Even when she's happy she has this "happy cry/whine."

We had my mom here since Marie's birth, then added Ron, my Dad, and Mal for a weekend, and also had Nigel until he left last week. If a train is headed toward my house at a speed of 66 miles an hour, how many guests will I have for Thanksgiving?
The answer is up to you.

" Hey Mom- I'll Drive!" This picture was after Brett finally remembered we have toys for her. Turns out, she likes toys. We're kind of slow as far as parents go. We pulled this toy and out and she was all, "you got to be kidding me, you had this the whole time." But then she was just happy that we remembered at all.

She's not a boy! She just loves the color blue.

The Blue Curtain

Her Blue Swing

Her Blue Chair

Her Dad's Blue Eyes

BYU football

Things that she likes that aren't blue:

Shadows, pictures of Grandma Harriet & cousin Larkin, ceiling fans, mother's milk, baths, playing baby baseball, and her own funny jokes.

... oh, and I can't forget Mr. Bear, and watching tv.

And yes, (I know what you're thinking) her noggin is huge. I think she's a genius just waiting to talk. Hopefully, when she does she will tell me the meaning of life, why E=Mc2, and where I put my keys.

Here she is watching conference in the blue chair in mom's favorite stawberry outfit.

Thanks Grandma Cathy!

Anti-Dent-ite

I'm not an Anti-Dentite. I really liked some of the dentists I've had. But maybe not this time.

I got a root canal last Tuesday. And of course, it's not her fault... or is it. I'm just so sad because I hadn't seen the dentist in 2 years (since I got married) and after that last pre-marrital visit I vowed to floss once to twice a day. I did a killer job.

So I go to the dentist last month, just for "a good one" - or because we have insurance now and I have one cavity and I need a crown. I accepted that because I had some problems with one tooth before, and I can be ok with one cavity. But 4 weeks later here I am with 1 filling, TWO crowns, and a root canal. One tooth chipped after a cleaning, verifying that I need a second crown. And after MUCH pain it was confirmed I needed a root canal.

I would like to note that I had NO pain when I went in for my first visit.

Brett says it's really a blessing because I probably needed all those crowns and a root canal for a while, but it only showed up when we got insurance and were able to pay for it- as opposed to showing up when we were in school and insurance-less.

He's probably right.

However, here are some conversations between my dentist and my hygenist that have may poisioned me against her.

Hygenist: "So Dr. have you been feeling better?"

Dentist: " Oh blah, I'm just getting rid of this cold. My daughter was laid up with me all weekend, but we're finally getting better."

Me (in my head-because she has her hands in my mouth):... GET YOUR HANDS OUT OF MY MOUTH IF YOU'RE SICK!!!!!!!!!

conversation #2

Hygenist: So Dr. have you gotten your halloween costume yet? (yes, the hygenist always starts out these cheesy fake conversations by saying So, Dr.)

Dentist: Yes, I bought my daughter a witch costume for only $38. What a steal!

Hygenist: $38 - that is a really good deal.

Me (in my head): uhhh... what happened to a $2 hat from WalMart and $3 dress from D.I.? I guess I know why I magically need to see the dentist every week for random things....

Or maybe I should have brushed more when I was younger.... sigh.....

Thoughts From a Crazy Stay-In-Home Mom

Right now I'm a "stay-in-home mom." It's been hard to get out the door and it's driving me a little nuts. So here are some thoughts I've been stewing in lately, decored by some unrelated pictures.

Here is Marie in my favorite NewBorn outfit. My little Sailor Girl. I can't believe she's almost grown out of this... oh sad!

Epidurals are great, I wish I could hand them out for Halloween, just so everyone could know how great they are.

I know my dad isn't gonna like this picture. He isn't always this mad. Maybe Obama was on TV and that's why he's so mad. Marie looks secure though. I bet he's thinking "Don't worry Marie, I will protect you from a liberal, fascist America!"

I wanna vaccinate Marie, but my mom informed me that I haven't been vaccinated with most vaccines. And here I am. Alive and well. A total jerk sometimes.. but alive and well.

Proud Grandpas. Can't get enough pictures!

(haha but I forgot to take any last weekend when she got blessed! AAK!)

Marie is getting her shots on October 6th. I can't decide whether to space them out though. I'm afraid she'll have a reaction by combining them. Hmm like an epidural, I can't find a real good case against vaccines. So far I'm in love with modern medicine... but I'm still questioning "the man" so as he won't metaphorically "hold me down."

Aww! Scriptures+a baby+ a grandpa= super peaceful home.

Ron was so rad to fly out for Marie's blessing. However, we were not rad for not celebrating his birthday while he was here. If you are reading this you should comment and tell us how to make it up to him. We are crappy.


Marie has officially grown out of this outfit!!! I'm gonna cry.

I rented a book on potty training yesterday. However, once I got home it made me so sad to think of her that grown up. I guess I would be even sadder though if I was wiping her bum when she is 12.

I just hope I feel that good about the vaccines. I am hoping worst case scenario is that Marie will turn into some X-Men like character and have super powers. I hope she can fly. ... or start pooping money. That would be great to.