Prop 8 Discussion Response

But children aren't being raised by a mom & dad. They're being raised by a mom and an absent dad. Or by a dad and an absent mom. Or by a fighting mom and dad. Or by a druggie and a grandma. Or by an adopted "aunt" neighbor who makes sure they get to school. Or the girlfriend of a dad who's in prison.

I am a teacher, having had all those children in my classes. (In Utah, no less.) No, I don't teach that homosexual relationships are equal to traditional marriage. I don't "teach" marriage, period. Last I checked, it's not in the core curriculum. Anywhere. But I do teach that others have rights. I teach that children need to respect each other. I teach that they don't need to be best friends, or always agree, but that people who think something different aren't evil, and can be more than "tolerated"...they can be appreciated and even loved. A lesbian couple volunteered in my classroom last year. They were among the most supportive volunteers I've ever had. I told them they were welcome. And I told them I wished all the children in my class had parents as loving and dedicated as them. Children deserve our best, you're right. But since they don't always get a loving mom & dad these days, I am grateful that those children get loved, period.

I have dear friends who are LDS and have been fighting their homosexual attractions. More than anything they want to be rid of them, be in a loving marriage with a person of the opposite gender, and follow the gospel plan. You cannot tell me they asked for this challenge. They are more dedicated in their faith, because of their daily struggle, than most LDS people will ever be. They deserve our love, our respect, our support in their efforts, and NOT our criticism, judgments about how they "got" their "problem", or our inexperienced advice on how they should get rid of it.

Personality Thingy

Some personality thingy based on my birthdate and name.

"You love travel, change, and new challenges. You are highly adaptable and versatile. You have a talent for languages, and are generally good with words. Writing, promotion, and public relations work suit you perfectly.

You are sensual and a bit impulsive. You love to satisfy your senses, which can get you into trouble. Overindulgence in food, drink, sex, and drugs are common among people with too many 5s -- six or more.

You are resourceful and original. You have a good sense of humor and a quick tongue.

Your desire for freedom is extremely strong and it will take effort and discipline to stick with whatever it is you started. There is a tendency to give up a project or situation prematurely.

You may be interested in too many things, which can make it hard for you to apply yourself to one area successfully.

You are very unconventional.

Commitment in relationships and your work is fundamental to your happiness. You may have a tendency to wander from person to person, job to job, making depth of relationship or deep expertise difficult."

Happy (almost) Birthday, Mom

Missing Mom today.
Missing you everyday, Mom.



A Mother's Love
(by one of mom's favorite poets: Helen Steiner Rice)

A Mother's love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .

It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems.

It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

Thanks for being my biggest cheerleader, Mama.
Still love you.
~Nicia Darlin'

Laughter, the Best Medicine

Okay. If you catch the lame-o head cold that's going around, here's what you do. Eat some fabulous maple and brown sugar organic oatmeal for breakfast with a 1/2 jug of OJ. Take Airborne, echinacea, extra vitamin c, and toss in a multi-vitamin and vitamin e for good measure. Oh, and go to Cheree's house because she will give you zinc tablets (which are not sold at Macey's) that Mindi says are gross, but you know. They make you feel good. Then you eat chicken noodle soup and 1/2 jug of OJ for dinner while listening to Angels and Demons, which is so intense it almost makes you forget where you are, let alone that you're sick.

Here's what you DON'T do: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT buy the cheap brand of Nyquil, even if you're the one that catches it mis-priced at Macey's for 2 for $2.99 and they give it to you at that price anyway. PAY the $10 for the good stuff. Really.

Which brings me to my next segment, called REALLY?! WIth Seth and Amy. (Which is what you watch if you actually didn't listen to me, bought the cheap-no-name-Nyquil-knock-off--I don't know how these alliterations come to me, they just do--and now you're up in the middle of the night blowing your nose every 8 seconds.)

LISTEN, this is HIL-AR-I-OUS. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, PLEASE do yourself a favor and watch the last 2 minutes. Because, of course...LAUGHTER, my friend, is the best medicine! REALLY!

I Loved This

The Great (and last!) Debate

Holy cow. That's the first debate I watched of the 2 candidates. (I've listened to clips and reviews of the others.) McCain is proving to be truly odd and scary to me. Barrack listened respectfully, specifically addressed the issues McCain brought up, was calm in stating facts without undo emotion, very clearly stated his plan to handle issues, and argued very admirably. McCain on the other hand was fiery, attacking, all over the place in not answering specific questions, didn't seem capable of focusing on the discussion without thinking of the next rude thing to fling at Obama, and did not state his own plan to handle issues let alone do so clearly. And somehow one of the things that bothered me most was his tendency to flip an emotional switch, turn his head to the side and talk in what seemed to me to be a patronizing voice to Americans. Obama looked at the camera, didn't change his tone from addressing Bob, John, or me (or...Joe the plumber...) and respectfully addressed everyone.

I disagreed with Romney's analysis. He said that McCain kept Obama on the defense, on his toes essentially, all night. My opinion, rather, is that there is a gigantic difference between the 2 mens' listening and responding capacities of communication: McCain wouldn't respond to the debate on the same topic, he never looked at Obama in the eye and heard him, (except when Obama was refuting McCain's false or stretched accusations by stating facts). Obama, onthe other hand, listened intently, and directly responded to McCain...which, I might add, is a pretty foundational communication skill. SO, Romney, I don't agree that Obama responding to McCain's concerns is a FAULT--being kept on his proverbial toes. I think it is a STRENGTH--the man hears people and addresses their concerns. With facts, a cool head, and no melodramatic flare that seemed to be prevalent in all of McCain's comments. It really made me realize that listening to someone else's commentary on an event is FAR from the same as watching it yourself and gathering your own thoughts and opinions in response! (Were we watching the SAME DEBATE?!)

I realize that you may have some comments now. I welcome them =o)

World Food Day

Today marks the anniversary of the Food and Agricultural Organization founding in 1945 and is celebrated as World Food Day every year since 1979. The purpose is "to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty."

This video was created by 3 university students and won a contest and will get sent to Ethiopia.



I have lesson plan ideas for this day, but I'm off work for Fall Recess (wahoo!). I'll think I'll teach it Tuesday anyway. Thanks to my Clint friend, my kids have just finished their letters to students in Uganda. Yesterday some of them were talking about wanting to send them food. I really like kids.

What will I do today to "celebrate"? Maybe I could start by being grateful. Gratitude to me includes sharing what I have with others. Being grateful also includes not being wasteful. This morning, (in celebration of my day off!!), among other goal progression efforts, I typed up a plan developed by Benjamin Franklin which he created to master 13 virtues in his life. The first virtue is Temperance--to "eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation". You work on each virtue for a week, adding one virtue each successive week until you are working on all 13. (52 weeks a year, you can do this program 4x/year). Each day you indicate violations of your goal in each virtue, with the idea that eventually you won't have any marks on your chart as you progress.

I love his humility and honesty and persistence:

"In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown old and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it. But, on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it..."

Little by little all of our efforts can save the world. I remember the UN WFP (World Food Programme) dignitary visit (years ago now) to Welfare Square. He said that he was impressed by the efforts and organization of the LDS church, and that if everyone would fast and donate like we teach, even just once a month, we could eradicate world hunger! HOLY COW!! We're drops in a bucket. Our individual efforts matter. You make a difference ("Make a Difference Day" is coming up, too, by the way--October 25th).

If you live near Provo you should go check out the Food and Care Coalition. It was by far my most favorite place to volunteer when I lived in Utah Valley. You prepare and serve food to families who are homeless or just down and out. It is the most fulfilling volunteering I've ever done. My most memorable birthday down there was one where I got to work there in the morning. That's one thing that sure makes you grateful to be alive, and grateful for what you've been blessed with.

There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the highest creed. ~Woodrow Wilson

ESL 5300: Reflection 4 (Last one!)

“Language is language because it is alive and always changing.”

This comment about living languages held profound meaning for me on a few levels. My papa always has said that “the only thing constant in life is change.” Recently, in the last year of turbulent life-changes for him and me—some shared, and some unique to our personal experiences—he has added further observation:

“The thing most constant in life is change.
Those who fear change live in constant fear.
Those who resist change resist reality.
Those who embrace change embrace the rhythm of life.
Those who refuse to accept change are out of harmony with the rhythm of life.
Those out of harmony with the rhythm of life experience distress and grief.
Those who harmonize with change learn wisdom, conquer fear, and abandon grief.
Those who live in harmony with the rhythm of life find serenity and peace of mind.”

One woman in class expressed her discomfort with all the discussion and debate happening, saying, “I want to know [the answer]. I’m a black and white sort of person.” If there is anything I’m learning as I grow older, is that there are no absolutes (other than in my personal beliefs about God), and adults do not have a corner on knowledge, as a child may perceive. I am growing to accept that I can state something, and after further study, be able to change it later, and I feel like I allow that right to others—even those who are published. I have appreciated the ideas and differences shared in our class, and the instructor’s difficultly-posed questions. I value the intellectual stretching of challenged opinions, particularly when expressed respectfully to those with whom they are in disagreeance.

One of my favorite professors abides by the maxim, “Comfort the troubled and trouble the comfortable.” At one point or another in our lives we will have the opportunity to be both. I am grateful for opinions different from my own that cause me to reflect on what I think and why. I am very grateful for change. For growth. For the receiving of further light and knowledge that comes through enlightened people in every facet of life. How dull life would be without it!

ESL Class: Reflection 3

“How does it make you feel to hear people speaking other languages in public?”

My personal response to the posed question is so much a part of my nature and identity I almost wouldn’t have recognized it but for its contrast to many of the comments made in class. I didn’t raise my hand because my assumption was that all of us in an ESL class would feel similarly, and my response would be rote. After listening to a few comments, I couldn’t remain still in my seat. I had no idea that my response would be so seemingly unique.

Surprisingly, most comments seemed to reflect what in my observation appear to be personal insecurities, particularly comments expressing internal inquiries about the speaker of another language perhaps talking about them. I was shocked at the expressions of frustration that the speaker was not using English as “should” be “expected”, as we are “expected” to speak the native language when we ourselves are in another country.

Surely I can’t be alone in the belief that speakers of other languages have better things to talk about than myself as they happen to be nearby. Surely others must value the richness of culture speakers of other languages bring to our society. Surely among my fellow citizens are those who are accommodating and helpful to people from other countries. Surely we don’t reciprocate elitism for elitism when we encounter in our travels a person who is impatient with our broken language, only to return home and treat others the same.

I am grateful for the glimpses into ways of life other than my own. I am drawn to speakers of other languages as I encounter them, and hope that my words and actions reflect warmth and welcome as I extend my hand in not only assistance, but friendship.

Conference (and honeycrisp apples): The Best Part of Fall!

About 5 months after each conference I start to feel like life is closing in around me. Then I realize conference is coming around again, and I feel so blessed! I spend the month preparing and thinking, and when it's conference weekend I'm so grateful! It's perfect timing. It always is.

I need conference like the desert needs the rain. Like Jif needs Smuckers Low Sugar Strawberry Preserves. Like Cheree's [incredibly amazing] chocolate-caramel wonder bar things need organic 1% milk (Cheree, do you realize "Wunderbar" in German means wonderful? You need to include that word in your title.) Like armpits need deodorant (it's true) (it's not a hint, though). Like macaroni needs cheese. Like the Swedes need meatballs. Like Dezi needs Lucy. Like Vo needs chocolate sprinkles on chocolate syrup on chocolate ice cream on chocolate brownies with chocolate chunks. It's true.

What do I love about conference? Well, I love that the speakers choose their own topics, that I know they prayerfully consider what they are going to say, and that it turns out perfect. I love that everything is perfectly timed, perfectly executed. It shows immense planning and hard workers behind the scenes to have everything run so smoothly and effectively all around temple square, perhaps even the city, let alone throughout the conference center. I love that everyone dedicates their time and puts their heart in this conference...and doesn't make money off of it. They are not paid clergy-people. They love the Lord. And I love that it radiates through their messages and eyes.

Most of all, I love how my prayers are answered as I listen. I love how it rejuvenates me where I'm needing it most. I love how I feel excited and renewed in my goals and life-planning. I love the fresh start that I feel I'm ready to make. I feel so grateful to be reminded of things I tend to slowly and unnoticeably forget. I love the power of soft spoken words. I love how I walk away feeling like my life's trajectory has just been realigned, and my thinking is more in tune with the Spirit and my heart is more in line with Christ's, and I am closer to God. I love the feeling of love...I know that God loves me and is with me and hears me. Somehow...I just know it more after conference. I am grateful for the good people who live their lives so closely to the Spirit who lead this church. They are good. They are dedicated. They are people of God. I am grateful for a living prophet! God loves us so much to bless us with a living prophet to guide us through our time on earth. He still speaks to us. I am grateful for modern-day revelation. How much we need it in this world.

I have lots more reflections. But this will need to do for now. =o) What do you like about conference? Which talk(s) did you like?

Why Not to Do it Yourself

So I can't handle the tub anymore. I finally got motivated [barely] enough to unscrew the thingy mahopper and use the long pokey thing to find what kind of nastiness my hair had to do with the drainage problem. But the long pokey thing is too big to pass by the metal doohickeys under the thingy mahopper. You see the problem. Mildly (girl translation: highly) annoyed, I went to the internet to find out some ideas. As you can see, I've been distracted. (I'll admit, pretty much anything could distract me from this heinous job right now. It's even worse than doing grades. And last time I had grades to do, my garage got cleaned first. You see how it works. Have a job you don't want to do? Put something disgusting-er on your to-do list and watch in amazement how job #1 looks better and better. Except...this time I can't think of anything disgusting-er...)

Anywho. I found this video on a web site, convincing you to hire a pro to do house stuff. Quite honestly, I didn't even need this much convincing. I'm now looking for the number to Drain Doctor of West Jordan instead.



(PS THANKS Green Team! You rock!)