Jumping For Joy

Today my two sons returned home from their holidays in Seattle. As their plane pulled up to the gate, I had to restrain myself from literally jumping for joy! They were only gone for a week, but whenever they go out of town it seems like much longer. I'm sure it's because my life really revolves around them and their schedules. Before they left, Wayne and I talked about all of the exciting things we would do when we had "the house to ourselves" but the most exciting thing we did was fall asleep watching the news! What's up with that? In 6 years we will be "empty-nesters" and should be planning trips to Hawaii, the Bahamas, San Diego, etc. We're too young to be falling asleep watching the news. Maybe when we hit sixty and seventy that will seem exciting, but for now, I think I will keep my eyes on Hawaii. The little eaglets will fledge and leave the nest and Mama and Papa Eagle will need to do more than perch on the edge and sigh wistfully.

Get in Christmas Gear, Girl!!

Yikes, today is December 19 and I have almost nothing done for Christmas! My yearly family letter (not written), a fabulous array of thoughtful gifts (not even thought about-much less bought or wrapped), goodie plates (not even made yet), family photo (ummmmm). While the photos, gifts, letters, and treats are all wonderful, they only represent what Jesus Christ Himself gave each one of us. He condescended to this world on our behalf. Perfection, pure and brilliant, twinkled into this bleak and abysmal world to wrap around us and lift our imperfections away. He gave us an eternal gift, will we accept it? Do we read His letters to us daily and devour them like the treats they are? At this joyous season, let us remember why we celebrate and what the JOY is all about.

waiting on Joe-o, waiting on Joe...

If you listen to country music, you'll have heard the song, "Waiting on Joe." Well, that's what I'm doing right now! We had home school PE today at the YMCA. Swimming: Joey's favorite! I lugged in my laptop, my school books, paper, pens, etc. to work on my finals while he was busy swimming. ( I don't like swimming or chlorine!) It took me an hour and a half to completely finish the essay required for my English Literature final, then I studied for my Economics final for another half hour, and now I am bored. I looked for him in the pool to tell him, "Hey, time to go!" but he looks so cute swimming with the other boys. The other home schooled boys are nice, non-competetive, and they like Joey just as much as he likes them (unlike the other kids he comes in contact with). I weighed my level of boredom against his level of enjoyment, and of course his enjoyment won out hands down! Uh-oh, they just opened up the water slide....I may never get out of here...

Check out my COOL new galoshes!! They were only 3 bucks at the Rexburg D.I.

Pics

Here are some pics of our Christmas lights and tree, our family, and Wayne and I on our date at the Botanical Garden. Isn't Isaac so cute??? Our own little Grinch...and Joey is dressed up as Santa Claus!

The Down-side

Today, while checking my college email account, I saw a letter from an unknown sender with a subject referring to my little letter to the editor. The writer of said email wasn't very happy with my defense of the Mormons! He chided me for citing examples of charity and claimed that charity was no excuse for "persecuting minorities" (meaning the gay/lesbian community). Obviously this person knows nothing of LDS history and the devastating persecutions the early Saints endured! Mulling over this unpleasant, confrontational letter, I was surprised to find myself feeling a bit sorry for myself. Additionally, I began to long (for the millionth time) for BYU and the LDS environment associated with it. (Can you tell I don't handle confrontations very well?) Once I realized that the evil associated with this email was permeating my soul, I prayed to Heavenly Father for the strength and ability to either dismiss it or respond to it accordingly. I firmly committed to Heavenly Father my testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel and expressed deep gratitude for the courage to stand for truth and righteousness. As I rose from my knees, an image settled into my mind, replacing the feelings of doubt and self-pity. Vivid and clear, I imagined myself crushing satan under my heel and grinding it in (much like when I squish hobo spiders!). I smiled and instantly felt lifted and calm. In my chosen career path, I expect to meet with the adversary on many occasions. I take it the Lord is preparing me now. Attending BYU would be so very delightful, but I understand, for the first time, why Heavenly Father has left me at BSU: it is to prepare me for what is to come. I hope that I will be able to do what He wants me to do and become all that He wants me to be.

Published

Okay, so it was just a little letter to the editor, but they printed it! Wow, it was pretty awesome to see my own words in print. I could get used to this...

And to cap my happy glow, my SWEET husband hung up bunches of beautiful, twinkly lights on our house while I was in class!! I swear that man moves so fast I can hardly keep up! He did it all in an hour, can you believe it? I'll post pics of it tomorrow (after I get done studying for English Lit).

The lights go up on Isaac's debut performance in the school musical this Friday night! It's a play called "Mrs. Scrooge," and he is the ghost of Christmas Past and Present. Lately, he's been putting in twelve-hour days, since he leaves for Seminary at 6 a.m. and sometimes doesn't get home from rehearsal until 6 p.m. What a great young man!!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

We put up our Christmas tree yesterday. Today, after church, we decorated it. Wayne warmed cider for us and we listened to holiday music. Every year, each of us picks out one new ornament to add to our collection, so decorating the tree is a sweet time filled with memories. I noticed that all of Joey's ornaments are sparkly, and most of them are stars. Very befitting of Joey, who is himself a sparkly star in our family. After 10 years of adding 4 ornaments each year, we have such a variety that we no longer have room on the tree for glass balls and other generic decorations. It's wonderful! A tree of memories!

Letter to the Editor

Last night after I finished my English Literature class, I casually picked up a copy of The Arbiter, BSU's newspaper. Today as I was browsing through the articles (editing everything of course), I came across a letter to the editor that ridiculed the Church for involvement in Proposition 8. It really was a pretty poorly written piece in my opinion (I'm not biased at all right?), but I felt a compulsion to step to the line and refute the trash. Fighting evil isn't for someone else, it's for me! So I sat down at my trusty computer and hammered out a letter of my own. I logged onto my Bronco Web account and sent it off to the Arbiter. Maybe I should have also told them that there were a LOT of punctuation errors, one spelling error, and wow, countless editing errors in their paper. Maybe, when I have enough senority, my name will be in the byline and there won't be so many mistakes! ANYWAY>>>I digress!

Reading in the Book of Mormon, I see countless examples of good people fighting evil with ceaseless endurance. Furthermore, I am reminded of Chapter 3 in "Standing for Something," by Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley. There is one line in particular which stands out in my mind: "The challenge to recognize evil and oppose it is one that every moral, virtuous, person must accept." I commit to opposing evil every day. It is everywhere, and I will draw the line and stand firm in sustaining and defending the kingdom of God. Who's on the Lord's side who? I am.


Here is a copy of my little letter. It could only be 300 words (!!!! ACK!) otherwise it would have cited more examples and I would have said a lot more.




Yes, Thank the Mormons!! Responding to James Rodriguez (Dec 1), yes, let's thank the Mormons! Preceding the election, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints demonstrated courage and strength as they stood, tall and unyielding, for the truths they believed in. As a result, they endured severe persecution, hatred, and defacing of holy temples and churches. Daily, LDS people utilize programs in the Church to benefit local, national, and international needs. While many blasted the Church for the stand on traditional marriage, those same "blasters" willingly stood in line to receive hygiene kits, fresh water, and supplies after fires destroyed homes in California. These necessities were provided freely by members of the LDS Church. Additionally, following the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, the LDS Church was among the very first to bring desperately needed relief. These examples are just two of countless deeds voluntarily executed by members of the LDS Church to ease the suffering of humanity. How is that a bad thing? Just as LDS members are NOT the only ones supporting traditional marriage, they aren't the only ones providing relief and charitable acts of service, either. Maybe, if we all opened up our eyes and started looking for those who are suffering and truly in need, we'd find that there is hunger, disease, heartache, and sorrow flourishing in abundance all around us. Why waste energy in riots, destruction, and persecution when so many are perishing with pain? The opportunities for giving love and service are everywhere! The sorrow that so many feel because they lack the basic necessities of life is staggering! Giving relief to an aching soul brings peace and contentment to the giver and receiver. Perhaps the test of this life isn't, "What can I get?!" but, "What can I give?"