It's not about the ring

While at the near-by duck pond with my kids, we came across a couple having their engagement pictures done. It brought back a flood of memories as I watched them pose in various locations and positions. What an exciting time of life! Newly in love and committed to each other to enter into a most sacred and wonderful covenant. The starting of a new family unit. It made me think about my own engagement and all the time that has passed since, all the adventures we have gone through and how much closer we are to each other because of life. I was so happy for this young couple.

Those feeling were soon replaced by digust when I heard the photographer say to the future bride, "Don't forget to turn your hand so we can see the ring. It's all about the ring!!!" What the? I just wanted to run up to the couple and say, "It's not about the ring! Don't listen to her. She's whacked! It's about seeing you two so happily in love. Never lose sight of that!"

Honestly, when I look at a wedding announcement, I never look for the ring. And I find ring shots of just the bride's hand cheesy. I could care less about what kind of rock she has and whether it is big or small. Boring! What I am most excited about it seeing a couple who is truly and completely in love. That is what I find the most interesting and important. Who cares about the jewelery?!

What are we teaching young couples when we tell them "it's all about the ring"? I am sure the photographer was just making sure she did a good job and got everything in the pictures. I don't know the protocol for being a wedding photographer. But her comment just really bugged me because we see so many people, of all different faiths and backgrounds, who think it is really about that one piece of jewelery. When we focus on the ring and think that is the most important thing, we miss the whole picture. It's just an object that is supposed to represent eternal commitment, or just plain committment, depending on your beliefs. But if that type of relationship doesn't exist between the couple, then it really is just a ring. A meaningless piece of jewelery.

Why don't we focus instead on what the ring means? It doesn't matter the size or cut of your ring, what is most important is what it represents. Total committment. That jewelery will only serve as a haunting reminder of a failed marriage if it becomes the center of your relationship.

Happy 8th Birthday Rachel!!!

The green velvet cake for the Green Lantern cake

The finished Green Lantern cake. Pretty sweet!

My beautiful birthday girl

The Lego Bat Cave she really wanted.

Blowing out candles at her swim party. 8!

The roller skates she bought with the birthday money from her various grandparents. Whee!

Happy 8th Birthday to my sweet Rachel! Saturday we started the day by opening presents. Her gift from us was the much anticipated Lego Bat Cave. We spent a few hours putting it together and it has been much loved ever since. We had her swim birthday party that day with friends and got Cafe Rio for her birthday dinner.

In two weeks she gets to be baptized and is so excited because her grandparents will be ablet o be there. They get back from their mission the night before! I am so proud of her and her choice to be baptized. We went shopping a few weeks back to get her a new dress for the big event and her own set of scriptures. What a big day!

I love this girl! She is so tender and sweet. So loving and smart. So adorable. And so determined to be herself. Happy Birthday Sweet Rachel!

Best Birthday Gift Ever

Last night Marshall and I had the chance to renew our temple recommends. It is such a neat and sweet experience to have your husband be the one who asks you the questions for the recommend. There is just a special spirit about it. I had to chance to go through the interview process with Marshall and a member of the Stake Presidency and felt such an excitement by the end. How wonderful it is to answer those questions with confidence and know that I AM worthy to go to the temple!

As I pondered this experience and thought about my birthday coming the next day, I thought there really is no better present I can give myself than a current temple recommend. And what another wonderful and most vaulable gift to have a husband who is a current recommend holder as well. I thought about the Sue of my late teen years and early twenties, trying to find her way and making some tough choices that led to loneliness, confusion, and sometimes pain for herself and those around her. She knew that it would be worth it and it has been. I am keeping that promise to myself and living the life I worked so desperately, with the help of the Lord, to get.

I don't think there is any better gift to want and receive than knowing that my husband and I are completely committed to the Lord, each other, and our covenants. Happy Birthday to me!

The Amazing K-E Diet!

Vanity has reached a new level of low. Is it just me, or have weddings become Prom-on-steroids? Forget about the actual marriage that is about to happen, if you both are ready to commit and willing to sacrifice to make the relationship work. No. What really is important is how good the bride looks in her dress and if everything runs smoothly. Who cares if the marriage lasts?! She's just getting married so she can be princess for a day!

No princess wants to look fat in her wedding dress, so bring on the "crash diets"! One of the most popular right now truly shows the new low our society has hit. The new K-E Diet guarantees you will lost 20 pounds in 10 days. What's the secret you ask? Simple! You live off of a feeding tube for 10 days! How easy is that?!

"It is a hunger-free, effective way of dieting," Dr. Di Pietro said. "Within a few hours and your hunger and appetite go away completely, so patients are actually not hungry at all for the whole 10 days. That's what is so amazing about this diet."

That IS so amazing, but what is even more amazing is that people are actually PAYING to have a tube shoved up their nose and carry around a feeding bag. Oh, but it's not that big if a deal. The food bag is really like a "small purse" that patients can carry around and still be able to do all their daily activities. Except for that whole tube up your nose thing.

Seriously? I am not sure if I should gag first or strangle whoever came up with this horrid diet. I love food. It is awesome and I enjoy eating it. But I have learned how to control what I eat so that I can maintain a healthy weight. You couldn't pay me to go on that diet because I do not want to live off a feeding tube, no matter the weight loss benefits. I like real food too much. The fact that these ladies are willing to do this all for vanity's sake makes me want to scream. How shallow are they?!

I also want to punch them because I think it is a mockery of all the sick people who actually have no choice, but to live off of feeding tubes. My sweet thirteen year-old niece has been on a feeding tube for 3/4 of a year. Not for some vain purpose, but because she has bone cancer. Now that her treatments are ending, she is having to relearn how to have an appetite and deal with food. She hated her feeding tubes and would take them out any chance she got. But she had to use them to survive. And here these brides are choosing a tube diet in the quest for a smaller waist? If I was forced to live off a feeding tube for health reasons, I would be ticked! Why on earth would you choose that?!

Oh insane brides from Hades, when will your quest for beauty end? And when will you realize that the more you become obsessed with vanity, the less beautiful you become?

The Female Brain

My first year of college, I wasn't sure if I wanted to major in History or Pyschology because I love both. I picked History because I did not enjoy the scientific part of Pyschology. But that doesn't mean I love the subject any less.  I was so excited to read this book and was not disappointed at all.

Brizendine's exploration and explanation of the Female Brain is amazing. She knows her subject well and presents it in a way that is easy to understand. I laughed at times during my read because she described my behavior perfectly. How did she do that?! I loved getting a peak inside of my head from someone who can explain it to me. Who doesn't want to understand themselves better? Though, I admit, I am not looking forward to menopause after reading her descriptions of what happens. I already go nutty two weeks out of the month. I don't want it to happen full blown for months or years on end! But we'll deal with that when the time comes.

I found this book interesting, educating, and fun. If you want to understand more about being a woman, read it! Now I'm off to read her book about the Male Brain. I can't wait to learn more about and better understand my husband.

Giant Box Fun

Who would have thought a box would bring so much fun? (Actually I guessed it, which is why I accepted the offer to take it.) Our sweet neighbors, the Browns, cleaned out their basement and wanted to know if the kids would like the box from their TV to play in. Um, yes! (As cool as it would be to have a 73" flat screen TV, sadly, the box is not from us buying a TV.) As soon as our neighbors brought it over, Jacob and I got busy making a door and windows in it. The kids have been enjoying it ever since!

Even my older kids have found it to be a blast. The girls brought markers outside to "decorate" the clubhouse. There have been requests to have dinner AND breakfast in the box. Along with asking if we can please read scriptures in it. Wow. Who knew? I thought it would be a big hit, but I am pretty sure my kids would move in to the box if I let them. It would help keep our real house clean and quiet. Hmmmmmm.



What matters most on Easter

For the past five days Marshall has been sick, sick, sick. It all started on Tuesday evening and only got worse. He didn't go to work on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. By Thursday we decided we should get to the doctor and see if we could get some answers. Marshall thought he had strep throat as he had a very sore throat, fever, and aches and pains all over. It turns out that instead of strep, he has H1N1. Needless to say, it has been a long week playing nurse and the role of two parents. The worst part was seeing Marshall in pain and not being able to do anything about it. I am grateful for the kind friends who have brought us meals and for the many prayers and sweet thoughts on our behalf.

Being Easter, we did have plans to have family and friends over for a big Easter dinner. I was bummed that we couldn't and that Marshall missed the big Easter egg hunt in our neighborhood. Plus he missed out on a beautiful Sacrament meeting filled with wonderful talks and inspiring music. As I was pondering all of this at church, I realized that none of that really mattered. What does it matter if we missed out on some Easter traditions? Those are not what Easter is about. What is most important about Easter is knowing that Christ lives. He is risen! He has suffered for our sins and overcame death so that we can triumph in this mortal life and return to live with our Father again. He lives!

What more can a person want? I have the most cherished thing in the world, a knowledge and testimony of the Savior and His restored Gospel to the earth. And I have my family with me. My sweet husband can be at my side for all eternity. What an incredible gift!

So maybe this Easter didn't go the way I had planned, but it really doesn't matter. I still have what is most important. I know that He lives.

What I REALLY want for my b-day

I was looking on NetFlix to see what movies had been "recently added" to their Instant Play movies. I found a true gem when I came upon this one and now know what I want for my birthday. I just had to share!

The exclusive, Access-All-Areas pass inside the Life of Hollywood's Hottest New Talent..... Robert Pattinson After clinching "Top Male Hottie" at the Teen Choice Awards, winning "Breakthrough Performance" and "Best Kiss" awards from MTV Movies for his smash hit Twilight, Robert Pattinson is Hollywood's Hottest Heartthrob! ROBSSESED is the exclusive and first-ever all-access film into the leading actor's life, available to own on DVD. ROBSESSED charts the British star's rise to U.S stardom and provides the inside story that led to his international fame and sex symbol status! ROBSESSED offers more than a glimpse into Rob's life, it also provides an insightful and fascinating look into the foundation of the making of the young British actor and his transition to International Superstar. The ideal gift and certainly the essential, must-have DVD for any Robert Pattinson fan!

Hee hee hee hee hee! Really?! Can I get one, please?! I mean, c'mon, the picture on the cover is horrid. I know messed up hair is in, but this one looks like he just woke up. Did someone hit him with a pillow on the side of his head? Stop trying so hard, Robert! Can we watch all the exclusive interviews to learn how Robert became such a painful-to-watch actor portraying an obnoxious vampire? Yes! I needed to find more ways to waste my precious time!

Sorry, Robert, but being British doesn't even make you cool. Cedric, Lord Voldemort was right to kill you off in Harry Potter. Now we just need some werewolves to finish off Edward. PLEASE!

It's all in the attitude

I've had friends over the years find themselves facing upcoming birthdays with dread and fear because they are getting another year older. But I can't say I have ever found myself in that situation. Maybe when I turn 42 I'll freak out because that is the age I really first remember my mom at. For right now, birthdays mean an excuse to go out on a date and presents, though it's not as exciting because you know, one way or another, the presents are coming from your bank account. Yes, that's the practical way my mind works. My impractical mind thinks it's a chance to get something I've really wanted. Though, narrowing down the list is hard. More than anything, it's a chance to be happy that I've made it another year and everything still works pretty well in this body.

I've heard it said that age is all in the attitude. And I believe it! I think I am pretty safe from being "old" as there are many things about me that keep me young. Here are just a few:

1. I can feel the magic of Disneyland. There is nothing like walking through the gate and heading down Main Street, USA.
2. I still get scared of the boogieman, especially when Marshall is gone overnight.
3. I like "Phineas & Ferb", "Wallace & Grommit", and "Scooby Doo".
4. I still believe I can become Wonder Woman. (and I still think she is cool.)
5. I love holidays. Even though I know Santa isn't real, I love the magic of him. And I get so excited to go trick-or-treating with the kids every Halloween.
6. I get excited when school starts because I love all the school supplies.
7. I still believe nothing is impossible.
8. I enjoy jumping on a trampoline with Jacob and sing the themes to both Batman and Superman.
9. I am pretty good at making a blanket fort.
10. I can do an awesome impression of almost any animal.
11. I enjoy going to the library and looking at the Children's books.
12. I sometimes I have a hard time admitting I am wrong, especially when I really thought I was right.
13. I own an Angry Birds t-shirt.
14. I think Lego mini-figs are adorable.
15. I talk "baby talk" to my cats.
16. I still get pimples now and then.
17. I still day dream. I have my Prince Charming and now just dream of my kingdom.
18. I still think my dad is invincible.
19. There are times when I want my mommy and then I remember I AM the mommy.
20. I still hate going to the dentist and doctor.