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