Halloween Carnival

Tonight was our ward Halloween Carnival and trunk-or-treat. The kids had so much fun playing games, getting candy, and enjoying Halloween fun. Rachel is her favorite super hero, Robin, from the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin. Jimmy is a dragon. Anna is dressing up this year as Sleeping Beauty. And cute Jacob is a pirate. I was so surprised he kept his hat on so well. He is such a cute little pirate! I had to take a picture of him walking down the hall at church with his pumpkin bucket in hand.

All the kids were so excited about getting candy. Jacob, of course, was the most curious about the whole process. It's his first real time trick-or-treating. He was so happy that people kept giving him candy and kept asking me to open each piece he got. He would have been happy with one piece, but then he got more and more. When we got home everyone dumped out their buckets and ate some candy. Party!

And the fun continues on. Jimmy had his Halloween party today at preschool. Tomorrow they go trick-or-treating at Marshall's work, Friday the girls have their Halloween parties and parades, and then Saturday is the big night. What a fun time of year!

The ONE Thing I Hate About Fall in St. George

I hate allergies. For those of you sick of me complaining about them in email or on Facebook, too bad because I am going to complain again! I haven't felt up to much blogging lately because I just don't feel like anything thanks to my silly allergies. Another reason to dislike St. George in the Fall!

I find it amusing that I never had allergies growing up back East, where plant life is in abundance. Then I move out to the desert and have allergies. What?! Doesn't make sense to me either. And they occur during my two favorite seasons of the year, Fall and Spring. I love the crisp change in the air, the leaves turning to bright colors, pumpkin anything desserts, apple cider, and apples galore. The only bummer about living in the desert is there aren't many leaves to watch change color. Or any cool pumpkin patches to go pick the perfect jack-o-lantern to be at. Then in Spring everything blooms and comes back to life. I love the flowers, colors, and watching the world awake after a cold winter. Again, there just isn't as much of that out here in southern Utah. Maybe I need to vacation on the East Coast during Spring and Fall so I can enjoy those seasons in full force and avoid my evil allergies. Too bad I'm not an English aristocrat at the turn of the century who can do such things.

For now, I'll have to endure living with my allergies of doom. The constant sinus headache that lasts for a few weeks and feeling completely exhausted. Joy! And I am slowly learning to like my toned down desert Fall and Spring. Still, I think it should be illegal for allergies to happen to mothers of young children. Can't they just be held off until my kids are older and in school, when I can actually lay down for a minute? Seriously.

I love these shoes!

I love these shoes. I thought they were so adorable when I bought them. There is just something so cute about little shoes!

I found these shoes sitting on my bathroom floor last night and looked at them with such tenderness. I love these little crocs and how they fit in my hand! I thought about all the miles those shoes have gone, traveling up and down our street as they protect little chubby feet pushing a truck. These crocs have gone through sand, puddles, mud, rocks, and grass all to the great delight of their owner. I love watching these shoes bounce up and down off the floor as the feet inside them do a happy excited dance when Daddy comes home from work. I love the amazing energy inside these shoes.

Being a mother isn't always sunshine and rainbows, but I wouldn't trade finding these little crocs in my bathroom for anything. My life would be so sad without them. I love these shoes, the feet that wear them, and the adorable little boy who owns them!

So true to life: the dangers of raising children!

Finding truth despite the angry cries of the world around him

I knew as soon as I heard President Packer's talk on pornography that there would be quite the backlash from the gay community in regards to his comments on same gender attraction. I never imagined the juvenile name calling and mud slinging that would be involved, such as nicknaming President Packer "Darth Packer" and calling for his resignation as an apostle in the church. Wow. Apparently it hit a chord with some people and they wanted blood in return.

I find this a bit hypocritical. Why is it unacceptable for anyone else outside of the gay community to be honest about what they feel to be is truth and right? If you are for their cause then you are cheered and accepted, but if your views differ from their own, then you are labeled close minded and cruel. Why is it okay for such advocates of the same gender life style to use harsh, vulgar, and cruel words towards their opponents? If someone called them any sort of offensive name that person would be strung up! And I don't understand why people who are not members of the church are so angry over the talk. If you don't believe it, then why do you care? (Let me note that not all gay people are so bitter. That would be an unfair generalization. I have met quite a few who do respect people for having differing views and are not hateful to those who do not promote their lifestyle. It is wrong to assume those that are gay are evil. Love the sinner, not the sin.)

I had a friend post this blog address on her Facebook profile and I encourage you all to check it out: gaymormonguy.blogspot.com . This man, who is a gay member of the church, wrote about his feeling concerning President Packer's talk. It was beautiful and inspiring. Unlike most of those who were offended by the talk, this man actually read it again and studied it out so that he could gain a better understanding of what President Packer was trying to convey. Because he took the time, this member's testimony was increased and he was given hope concerning his struggle with same gender attraction. He was open minded enough to seek out the truth for himself, rather than riding upon the popular negative opinion of others. Yippee for him! Way to use his brain!

Maybe the world isn't completely hopeless if there are such individuals as him in the world. I commend him for his intelligence and willingness to seek out the answers for himself. And I applaud him for holding true to his values, despite the great cost of struggling with his same gender attraction.

My Weakness

Although he can drive me crazy at times, this adorable little guy is my weakness. He has me wrapped around his little chubby finger. I love the toddler age and, as with all my kids, I am completely taken by his cuteness.

I Don't Get Debt

I don't understand debt. I really don't. Oh sure, I can understand going into debt to buy a modest home, car, or to get an education. All of those things are important and an education opens doors for the future and increases one's ability to provide for his/ her family. And I know that sometimes life happens, hospital bills for an unexpected illness or sudden job loss can create unwanted debt. Things happen and most of those things cost money. I get that.

What I don't understand is going into debt for unnecessary things. How do you know if something is necessary? Simple. If you have money to pay for it every month once tithing and the basic needs and savings are taken out of your budget then go for it. No brainer, right? If circumstances change and you can't afford it anymore, then get rid of it. It would always amaze me where we could find money in our budget once we cut out the "wants" and dealt with only the "needs". Although having cable was nice, it wasn't necessary so we spent years in law school with the kids wathcing PBS thanks to the good old bunny eared antenna. Yeah, it wasn't what we wanted, but it worked and saved us money every month. In fact, we don't have cable now thanks to Netflix Instant Play that allows us to watch shows and movies through the Wii. So the kids miss out on seeing "Max and Ruby" or some other little show they would only watch twice a week. Big deal! They have a slew of tv shows avaiable to watch through the Wii at any time and I just saved myself $50 bucks. Did we need to? No, but it's always good to take a periodic inventory of the budget and shave off things that are unnecessary.

I am a dork because I find great joy in being able to pay my bills. It was only this past April that I got my own cell phone. Wow! It was such a treat! I think I was the last person on the earth to get one. Why didn't I have one before? Because I didn't need it and couldn't justify spending the money on one. I can think of a bazillion times it when would have been nice to have one, but I lived without it and our budget did well thanks to it. After four years out of law school we felt it was a luxury we could afford. However, if something changed in my husband's work and paying for that cell phone hindered us from paying other more important bills, then "goodbye cell phone!" Simple concept, right?

And yet so many people are in debt over stupid things. I just don't get it. If you can't pay for it, don't buy it! Boom! Problem solved! And if you want something, work hard to get it. I felt like such a queen with my new cell phone because it took hard work and good budgeting to be able to say "Hey, we can afford this luxury." And all the while we are busy paying back those necessary debts of home, van, and education. I love watching those numbers go down!

So what if most all of the furniture in my home are hand-me-downs? So what if I fix things up and use them out, despite not looking the most beautiful, instead of buying something new? So what if we don't have the latest model of car or the biggest newest house? Thanks to being frugal, I've learned some great handy-man skills that have beautified my home for a fraction of the cost and allowed things to last longer. But most importantly, I can pay my bills and go to bed each night knowing I don't have credit card debt or debt collectors after me. You can keep that brand new living room set or big flat screen tv because I'd take my ever growing financial freedom any day!

We did it!

I love General Conference. I need to be reminded at least every 6 months what I am doing well and what I need to work on. Yes, I need to be sat down by the tv, computer, or radio and listen to the prophet's and apostles' voices. And I need to be spiritually fed by their wisdom. Not to mention the benefit of staying at home one Sunday and relaxing at home while I listen to Conference. Jimmy was so confused why it was Sunday and yet Marshall wasn't gone at church. Happy day! I was able to entertain Jacob in the toy room with an assortment of toys all the while listening on the computer to the sessions. If only it was that easy every Sunday!

There were so many good talks. I cannot wait to listen to them again and gain even more out from them. With kids around I don't usually catch everything the first time. Little people are very distracting. But that's okay. I can read or listen to the talks again. What is important, just like going to church each Sunday, is that I made the effort to do my part. We all parked by the computer and radio and listened to all the sessions of Conference. At the end of General Conference I just want to give my husband a big "high five" and say "We did it! We all survived General Conference! We rock!"

More than anything, I always end General Conference feeling the powerful love that our Father in Heaven and prophet and apostles have for us. How could one deny that God lives and loves us after hearing their words? How can one not get goosebumps when President Packer declares with firmness that family is essential to God's plan, despite what perversions Satan may concoct? It touches each of us differently, but it comes with such power that one knows those words are of God. Like a sharp edged sword slicing to the bone, one cannot deny how the truth cuts through all the lies and deception of this mortal world. Why would our Father in Heaven ever bother to discipline us or share the truth unless He loved us? If He didn't care about us He'd just leave us in the dark to fend for ourselves. But each one of us counts and are dear to Him. I have renewed hope, understanding, faith, and patience. I leave Conference knowing I am not alone, that God loves and knows me and has faith in me that I can endure and make it back to Him. I need that semi-annual reminder because it is so easy to get distracted and forget.