I *AM* normal.

I got a chuckle out of a friend's post on her blog about overhearing a conversation about Mormons.  The other person wasn't making the most pleasant of comments about my religion, but I understand that people have opinions and I'm totally OK with them not agreeing with me.  But one thing my friend said made me pause.  "And I get so tired of (at times) trying to explain that, really, I'm quite normal." My first instinct was to say, I am too!  Too many times lately, with having a candidate for president who is Mormon in the press, I have heard people say the strangest things about my religion!

So let me set the record straight:  I am my husband's only wife.  This isn't because he hasn't had a chance to get more.  It is because he will only have one wife.  I do not drink coffee or tea.  I didn't before I became a member of my church and I certainly have no desire to drink it now.  I don't drink alcohol.  Many people think I gave this up when I became Mormon, but in reality, I gave up drinking shortly after my 21st birthday.  I was looking at going to a college that was run by Mormon business men and women who asked it's student to abstain from alcohol.  I decided I would give it a try and see how it went.  Never drank again.  Didn't go to the college either.  Church is more than just a 1 hour commitment on my Sunday mornings.  I don't just mean that I spend 3 hours each Sunday at church, but that it also has meant a change in my lifestyle.  I try to reflect Christ in everything I do.  I will say that I am not perfect though.  I also have a job at church I do without pay, and many times without thanks.  And I'm totally cool with that! 

My church is not an equal opportunity church.  By that, I mean that it does not give out privileges and rights to anyone and everyone who thinks they want them.  I am all for treating people equally, but that does not mean that as a woman, I should automatically be given the priesthood from God.  Honestly, I am perfectly happy to let the men have that blessing/burden.  God did not say that a woman should hold the priesthood.  He hasn't revealed this to anyone with the proper authority here on earth so I should be content that he knows better than I do, has a different job for me, and be happy about it.  Why should I take on this feel of resentment and anger about something that doesn't fit me?  If I saw a coat I liked at Sears that was one million dollars, so I knew I couldn't afford it, tried it on anyways, and saw it didn't look that good on me, should I get mad at Sears when I wasn't going to buy it to begin with?  Oh wait!  Look over there!  I found a sweet deal on another coat for a steal of a price that makes my curves look awesome!  God has something else for me, as a woman, to do.

Just because you are able to physically be present inside a temple building does not mean that you meet the requirements to be there.  Just because I can bounce a basketball a little bit does not mean I should be playing as a starter in the men's Final Four!  Do you get mad that you can't go into the men's locker room when you are a woman?  I certainly don't.  And you don't hear people parading around saying how angry that makes them.  Maybe the fact that makes people so angry is that someone has standards and has stuck to them, not lowering them so more people can come in.  Grow up people!  Stop acting like a 3-year old having a temper tantrum because your mommy didn't buy you the candy you wanted at the grocery store!

I *AM* normal.  I am a wife.  I am a mom of 4 awesome kids.  I am a full-time college student.  I will some day be a teacher, probably for kindergarten.  I like to read.  I love to bowl and ride horses.  I hate to exercise.  I like steak, potatoes, and corn with biscuits.  I hate broccoli and cauliflower.  I like to play certain video games, like Dr. Mario and Epic Mickey.  I really hate the game Sequence though.  Unless the Dallas Cowboys are playing in it, I only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials.  I love to bake.  I love to playfully tease my family and even poke fun at myself sometimes.  I am realistic, structured, and funny.  Yet I have my dreams, spontaneity, serious moments.  But then again, don't we all?  I am normal.

It's Resolution Time!

It is that lovely time of the year where everyone begins to make their New Year's Resolutions.  Last year, I set a goal to try to be a better mom to my kids.  I don't know if they would agree, but I think I did a better job than in past years, and that is even with going back to school full-time.  So now it is time to figure out what I want to accomplish this year.

One thing that can drive me crazy is not being organized.  I am a control freak (down deep) and this is my way of satisfying that part of my psyche.  I want to be more organized this year.  I gave a presentation last summer on getting together a Family Emergency Binder and was unable to even get started on it myself.  Well, that is going to change.  There is one assignment each week and then in 21 weeks, it is complete.  I need to go through out 72-hour emergency preparedness kits.  I usually do that in April and October (around conference times), but I didn't get to it since we have moved into this house.  Also, I saw a great idea in my Better Homes and Gardens magazine about a Family Binder that has all the important information in it we use all the time (i.e. lunch menus for school, emergency contact information, information about extracurricular activities, and so on).  I thought that might be one way to curb some of the clutter on our desk in the kitchen.  So I will keep you updated to see how well this goes.  Feel free to ask me and hold me accountable for doing this!

Hopefully, doing all this work now, will give me even more time to spend with my family in the coming year, making me an even better mom than before!  :)  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  May 2012 be 2,012 times more awesome than 2011!  We love you all!  Thanks again for supporting us in all we do!

What a Year!

I have been so busy.  But of course, if you read my blog, you know that already.  I finished my first semester going back full-time with 4 classes.  At times, it was a struggle.  At times, it was a joy.  Either way though, it is done.  *whew*  But I don't get to sit around and rest for long.  I go back to school for the spring semester with 5 classes on January 9th.  It will be another time with tons of craziness and tons of fun.  I love what I am doing and studying.  As I have thought (throughout the years) about what I wanted to do with my life, being a teacher was not always in the picture.  But I have had some experiences that have taught me otherwise and have given me much happiness with this path.  So I am sorry if my blogging life has taken a backseat at the moment to other things, but I am happy, my family is going well, and time keeps moving on.  I thank all of you who have supported me and helped me through this weird, yet exciting time.  Thanks for all the examples you have been to me and keep up the cheerleading!  :)