And keeps going...

Just for the record, we are still alive...big grin. I may even find a minute or two to post again soonish (even bigger grin)... For now we'll just leave it at: Kyle finished his second masters program, graduating in May, and he's working and serving in the bishopric, I'm teaching seminary and substitute teaching, Jessica is in her second year at the Y being her wonderful self and learning lots of life lessons, Derik is a senior and is taking mostly AP classes and doing tons of other stuff, Aubrey is a junior and is also taking mostly AP and pre-AP classes and doing tons of other stuff, Laurel is a sophomore and is ALSO taking mostly AP and pre-AP classes and doing tons of other stuff, and Eryn is in 7th grade and is busy, busy, busy being being 12, enjoying her gifted and talented classes, friends, and church... I SO enjoy my stupendous, ACTIVELY ENGAGED family!

Politics, Schmolitics...

I am fascinated by all the hoopla surrounding the upcoming presidential election and find myself ever mystified by what people choose to focus on instead of the real issues that affect our lives on a daily basis. Mitt Romney can't sneeze without someone telling him he's not a Christian, but nobody seems the slightest bit interested in the personal lives of the other possible candidates...

In the midst of all this political smoke screening and discussion of whether "Mormons" are Christians, I found the following blog entry to be freshly on target:

http://josephantley.com/2011/10/16/why-mormons-care-if-people-think-were-christians/

Spending my life striving my utmost to walk in my Savior's footsteps, I DO care! You go, Joseph Trevor Antley!

Here is the text, for those of you who can't access it:

QUOTE:
Why Mormons Care if People Think They’re Christians -- My last blog post received responses from a number of Evangelical Christians asking the question, “Why do Mormons care if they’re considered Christians?” This may be a fair question for those who know little about Mormonism, since Mormonism does disagree with Protestantism and especially Evangelical Protestantism on a number of doctrinal matters (and it seems that in the mind of your average Evangelical leader, Evangelicalism IS Christianity). The reason that Mormons are sensitive about people calling our religion non-Christian is not because Mormons want to be more mainstream or because Mormons are trying to develop some sort of camaraderie with Protestant churches. It isn’t because Mormons are trying to deceive people into thinking that we hold Protestant or all mainstream Christian beliefs. Mormons have been accused of all of these by some Evangelical critics. None of them are accurate. The actual reason that Mormons take issue with anyone publicly declaring that Mormonism is non-Christian or that Mormons are non-Christians is that such a declaration implies that Mormons do not believe in Christ. Mormons unabashedly declare that we believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he died for our sins, as the Bible teaches. If an Evangelical pastor declares in a public forum and on national television that Mormons are not Christians, of course we Mormons are going to take issue. Not because we desperately want to “fit in” with mainstream religion, but because when someone hears that pastor’s comments accusing our religion of being non-Christian, without any sort of clarification regarding our beliefs, they will suppose that we do not believe in Jesus (because the average person considers belief in Jesus as the actual definition of “Christian”). Mormons do not like it when people imply that we do not believe in Jesus.

Anyone who declares that Mormonism isn’t a Christian religion is a simply a spin-doctor who is attempting to poison people’s opinions regarding Mormonism. They are not interested in honesty with the public or with their parishioners. If they were, can you imagine how their comments would actually sound? “Mormons aren’t Christians, but they do believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died for their sins.” …WHAT? Can you imagine how their congregations would respond to that oxymoronic statement?

Faith in Christ is overwhelmingly the most important part of our religion. Referring to Mormons as “non-Christians” is simply deceptive. Mormons want people to know that we believe in Jesus Christ, and that is why Mormons care that certain people are saying otherwise.

END QUOTE

Nifty little thing called skype…hint, hint…

A note to all of you: Ashley’s comment on our last post reminded me that being this far away doesn’t have to be such a bad thing in our techy society. My skype id is klmscott. Would love to talk any time!

P.S. And, Ash, please tell your little cutie to stop growing up so fast!!!

Not Going There...

Everything is happening so quickly lately. Today my second-to-youngest, wonderful Laurel, turned 13 -- THIRTEEN -- and joined the seething ranks of teenagers everywhere. Weird! [She's now only a breath away from deciding we never knew anything and counting the days until she is able to move out. Luckily, though, a few breaths later she'll realize how truly brilliant we are and be very, very sorry she judged us so harshly (big grin). I'm a patient woman; I can wait.] And next year the baby goes to middle school. When did THAT happen?!!?

Other firsts the last few months: Jessica took her ACT (getting a 30 on it her first try--go Jess!) and was also inducted into National Honor Society, Jess and Derik both had their braces removed, Jess totaled the kid car (we've replaced it with an armored truck), Laurel joined Aubrey and Derik as inductees into the National Junior Honor Society, Aubrey was made president of the Thespian Club (like Derik last year), Derik finally was able to get his implant, Eryn is singing in the honor choir at school, all of them were involved in various UIL competitions, Jess is going to state for her solo at solo/ensemble, Aubrey/Madi/Eryn took up softball, Jess/Derik/Aubrey are constantly going to Jubilee practices, etc., etc., ETC.!

It's tiring but exciting, each day bringing a seemingly endless list of things to accomplish, places to be, and people to manage, but I wouldn't change a thing. I'm so enjoying my wonderfully dynamic, ever involved family. I just want it to slow down a little bit!

In addition to that, Kyle's back in school and is now a high priest, serving in the high priest group leadership. I'm still Relief Society president, and I've also been working really hard on getting healthier. I'm down 25 pounds so far and feeling significantly better. With as fast as things are going, a couple of blinks from now, we'll be having weddings. Oooh, shiver--not going there, yet!

Still good...

Do you ever have one of those moments when you are right in the middle of some course of action and realize that it isn't what you want? I'm not talking about some monumental situation like deciding half way up Kilimanjaro that you didn't really want to climb the mountain after all, but more about life's small moments...

I was on Facebook today reading about what is going on in my friends' lives when I came across a post that piqued my interest. It was a news article about a teacher in California who was told by the school board that he had to take the posters in his classroom down. The reason? They all contained radical ideology like "one nation under God," "united we stand," and "I pledge allegiance." If you know me well, you know that I am passionate about our country and the rights and freedoms that it was built on and stands upon now, and the article bothered me--a lot. My friend agreed, too, that it isn't right, the kind of reverse discrimination that is rampant in our country, but one of the responders to her blog vehemently supported the school board's decision.

So I immediately started replying to the thread, all passionate about freedom of speech, reverse discrimination, etc. when it hit me--I was not reacting in a Christ-like manner and needed to stop. It's one thing to have a discussion about something when both parties are open and the discussion will be productive, but it's another thing entirely to step right into the middle of a fight with your gloves raised.

It's given me quite a lot of food for thought, and it's made me realize several things about myself and my personal beliefs. I haven't changes much since doing my internship in the Colorado state senate. The only difference is that I no longer want to be president...

1. I believe that our country as a whole has lost sight of the values that make it so inherently good.

2. I believe that the voices of the few are often louder than the voices of the many, even when the many are right. I also believe that just because you yell louder, it doesn't make what you're yelling correct.

3. I believe that the voices of the many should be able to be expressed without the few calling it discrimination.

4. I believe that sometimes we have to call wrong wrong even if it isn't the popular opinion.

5. I believe that the constitution does indeed "hang by a thread" in many ways.

6. I believe that we have a personal, moral, and societal obligation to do all we can to uphold goodness and right.

7. I believe that there is still much good in our country and that there is joy to be found in every moment of every day if we only follow the Savior.

8. I believe that it is worth it.

9. AND, I believe that my children deserve better.

It makes me sad.