Christmas

I plagerized this idea from a Sacrament meeting talk I heard this last Sunday. I wish the speaker had more time, because the thoughts he shared were relevant, uplifting and well put together. He spoke of the true meaning of Christmas.

Now we grown-ups all know that Christmas is not all about presents or Santa. It's not about the shopping or the lights, the yummy food or the music. But the point he made (and consequently, the point I'd like to make) is that Christmas is not even about the birth of our Savior. Christmas is about His life, His example, His sacrifice and His resurrection. While the birth of Jesus Christ was a necessary step in His coming to Earth and doing all the later things, His life, and what He ultimately accomplished is what it's all about. If there had been no atonement made, there would be no Christmas.

Because of what Jesus Christ did for each of us, life is perpetuated beyond the grave. We will all be resurrected. Even more profound, He made a way for us to follow His daunting commandment to be perfect. We can repent (change), and become more like Him through His atoning sacrifice.

As my dad likes to put it, Christmas is about you. The Savior did what He did for you. Each person will benefit from His great gift, and every person could do a little better to remember Him and try to be more like Him.

Jesus Christ is the Savior. He is the Son of God. There is no other way to God but through Jesus Christ. The was is made possible for every willing person.

Merry Christmas.

Live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_whi9GmAO8

What would you do if today was your last day on Earth? What things have you held back that you would do or say, knowing that you had nothing to lose? What apologies would you make? What words of love would you give? Who would you talk to that you haven't recently? What would be important to you then?

Every day is a gift from God. It shouldn't take cancer or car accidents to make people realize that, but sometimes it does. What's on your bucket list? Why haven't you started it? Live each day of your life. Really live it. You never know how many you have left.

Rhesus

Apparently I have Rh negative blood. Ten years ago this would be cause for a lot of worry. Fortunately, nowadays it's not as big of a deal, and the advancement of science allows me to carry my baby (and the next one) without making antibodies against it. Whew.

Because I had a little spotting, I had to go in early to receive my Rhogam shot. I was a little worried about it, because I had this idea in my mind that they were going to take this huge needle and inject it right in my uterus or something. It actually turned out to be a cool experience. Well, not the injection itself, but the trip to the hospital. We went to our delivery hospital and they seated us in an actual delivery room. It was really big. I was pointing out the different instruments and things to Gavin and explaining what happens when someone gives birth, the process and his part and all that. Poor guy, I think I just overwhelmed him. But still, it was really neat to get a glimpse of what it will be like (ovewhelming and all). We later found out that this was actually their smallest delivery room (!) and the other rooms are even better. I was impressed. I'm hoping their mother baby unit is as nice, if not nicer, and their nursery is up to par. Hopefully we'll be able to take a tour of the Women's center in the near future. They have a class for birthing and all that, but it's stinkin' expensive. I don't know though-- it might be worth it just to give Gavin some peace of mind. We'll see.

Oh, and the shot was intramuscular and tiny. No big deal. :)

My pants are starting to be too tight around the waist! All of them! I go around all day with my fly open and a hair tie keeping them semi-closed. I should go maternity clothes shopping, but I want to wait until the after-Christmas sales. *Sigh.

TMI Much?

Well, now that I've spilled the beans, I can start telling you all the wonderful details you may or may not want to hear. It's been weeks and weeks since I wrote that post (See "Spill the Beans"), and now I'm finally emerging from the first trimester. YAY! I threw up for a solid month and lost 7lbs. I'm slowly gaining weight, but I've only gained a pound or two so far. My midwife recommended Unisom and vitamin B6 for the nausea and it worked like magic. Today is my first day off it; we'll see how it goes!

School is almost over! Ironically, the day of my last final is also the day of my 14 week checkup and also the official end of my first trimester. I'll be 3 months along next week! Cool! Our little baby (affectionately called "Ponyo" for its stumpy arms and legs) is about 3 inches long and it grew eyelids and fingernails this week. Its vocal organ is finished developing, so it can cry lots and lots when its born and get back at our neighbors! I mean... teach us how to live on very little sleep! Yeah.

Christmas is right around the corner and I'm so getting into the Christmas spirit! Besides wanting to cry every time I hear a really good Christmas song or story, I've been a pretty decent master of my emotions. I've had only a couple cravings, but they were both unhealthy! (Up until now I've only had an appetite for really healthy foods.) The loaded baked potato was the first. That was a real crisis. It was 10:30 at night and almost everything was closed! In the end, it was not Denny's nor IHOP that won the Feed-The-Pregnant-Lady Contest, but Chili's! More recently, I gave in to a pizza craving. I had dreamed of eating pizza the night before and during the day time, it pestered me until I ate half a Hot-n-Ready pizza at 5pm! Mmmmm, that hit the spot!

Keeping things under wraps has been pretty tricky. Besides the fact that my belly seems to have decided to pop out like I'm five months along, and I just can't eat most of the time, people are just so nosey! It's amazing to me that people are presumptuous enough to outright ask me (or my mom) whether I'm pregnant, or when I will be, or any of that. I guess I'm just extra sensitive about it because a) it took some effort to get this way, and b) I don't like to lie about it, directly or indirectly. Actually, most people who have straight-up asked have gotten the honest answer because they're not linked to enough people for me to care about. But when my cousin asked me, well... I had to lie. :( Besides all that though, I have to laugh at people when I tell them that I didn't come to such-and-such activity or meeting because I didn't feel well, and they get all ick looking until I tell them, "Don't worry; I'm not contagious."

Well, this is it. Bring on the finals. And then the 2nd trimester. And Christmas! All is well in the Reed home.

Ironic

Well, funny that the very next post I write kind of puts a damper on the last one. We have debt now! Hahaha... We've been needing a second car for months and months, and we found the perfect one, and pounced on it. It's a hybrid Honda Civic and it's a beautiful sky blue and it drives like a luxury car. We mainly just wanted it to save on gas and have something safer to buckle our kids into. With one car, Gavin has been quite a chauffer, and it will be nice for him not to have to drive back and forth between Orem and PG so much. The hybrid gets excellent gas mileage too, so that will help a lot. But with that, we have decided that we can't afford to give quite as expensive gifts as we were planning, and that we are really going to cut back on our spending for awhile, until we can get out of debt again. It's only a two-year loan, and we got a good, fixed interest rate. December will certainly be poor though, between registering the car (including tax on it and all that), paying rent, Christmas and all that. But we have been blessed financially, and I'm sure Heavenly Father will keep an eye out for us, as along as we continue to pay a full tithe. Anyway, all that responsible stuff aside, I love our new car!

The Simple Things

This is the age to buy. The age of maximum property and minumum responsibility. This is the time when a 21-year-old can, and is nearly expected to, drive a brand new car, move into their own house (a big one, too), and fill that house with designer furniture. Those who have those things seem more domestic. They seem more organized and responsible because of what they have. They seem settled down and grown-up. There's just one gaping problem with this: debt. Tons and tons of debt. The prophet has warned us against unnecessary debt, and people aren't listening. The young adults of our society are very greedy. They see what their parents have, and they see the way to get it all, right now. They don't realize what kind of sacrifices their parents had to make in order to eventually get some of these things. They only see the appealing ads and the things other people around them have. They need to prove that they are equals.

Grow up.

Stuff won't make you happy, and debt hanging over your head certainly won't make you happy. I get it-- if you can afford nice new things, power to you. If you're smart with your money and you are one of the handful of people in this country who don't have debt, but a little savings stached away, go for it. I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about everyone else.

Yes, the prophet has made two exceptions to the debt thing, saying that it is allowable to go into some debt for education and some for a house. The education thing is obvious. Tuition is expensive and most people don't have the immediate means of affording it. Pay it off quickly. Pay it off as you go. The house thing though, has been misunderstood. He didn't mean, "Everyone, run out and buy a house now because you can!" and he didn't mean that loads of debt for the fancy house on the hill is acceptable. He simply meant that almost no one has the kind of cash where they can go and buy a house straight-up, and so a bit of debt on that front is acceptable, as long as the house matches your needs and your ability to pay it off.

My point is that you can be happy-- in fact, happier-- without all the stuff.

Gavin and I are the proud owner of a humble, nearly-falling-apart little car. It runs decently well. It even has working heater and AC. All the seat belts work and the insurance on it is very low. It's nothing fancy, but it does the job well. We rent out a two-bedroom apartment that we feel is very spacious (it was a rip-off deal). It has ugly floors and uglier wall paper and we're not allowed to put any holes in the walls. It's filled with second-hand furniture that was all either bought for dirt cheap at yard sales and stuff, or second-hand gifts from family. It's not top grade, but it definitely works. We buy off-brand food and don't go out too eat too much. I cook with a ghetto stove and a Wal-Mart mixer. And do you know what the interesting thing is?

We are comfortable.
We are happy.
We have no debt. None.

It's so nice to look at our bank account and see that the small amount accumulating in it from Gavin's hard work and our compromised frugality is ours. Completely ours. We don't owe anyone anything, and that is a priceless feeling. We know we can afford to buy a car when the time comes, and pay it off quickly. We have excellent credit. We realize it's going to be years before we get into our own house, and we're fine with that. We wouldn't expect anything sooner. We live simply, we take things one step at a time, and we are happy.

Harry Potter

To those of you who don't know, I am a secret Harry Potter fan. I've read the books twice (I know, no great feat for a "real" fan), and I love them. I was really excited to go out and see the first half of the last movie next week... that is, until I heard about the nudity. Apparently there are two different scenes in which Harry Potter is completely naked. One of them involves Hermione Granger. Does anyone else have a problem with this? When I heard this, I racked my brain to figure out when in the book I had read about any nudity. I did come up with one vague scene, but it wasn't really the kind of thing that made nudity at all necessary to portray. The other scene was a mystery to me, so I Googled it. Having read the books, I wasn't afraid of any spoilers. The second nudity scene was absolutely unnecessary and the very idea of it made me uncomfortable. I am very disappointed in the director, and appalled at Rowling for allowing this. The books are excellent the way they are, and in case they didn't notice, they are plenty popular without any garbage in them. Why corrupt a perfectly good, well-written story by throwing that kind of scum in there? It's pathetic.

Spill the Beans

Well, here it goes: I'M PREGNANT!

This post will probably not be put up for a while, but in order to cope with my excitement and desire to tell every single creature on the planet, I'll just write it now and save it for later. :)

It all started in March, when we decided to begin praying about the right time to start our family.

In July I finished the birth control...

This is the best way I could describe Gavin's feelings about that! (Wonderfully accurate facial expression!)

After several negative test results, we began to get a little discouraged. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to conceive because of scar tissue and such, but Gavin was an unwavering support, and with prayer and a lot of reflection, I came to understand that God's timing truly is the best, and I knew we would be best off with His plan, even if we don't always know what that is.

In early October I thought I was having yet another period, but it was really light and mysteriously disappeared after only a day and a half.

A couple weeks ago I began feeling really tired (even more so than usual) and really pukey. I'm never pukey. Gavin was suspicious. I wasn't sure I was ready to handle another negative. I put it off for a few more days, until Gavin insisted.

I took the test, but made him look at it. He gasped. I thought maybe he read it wrong. I grabbed it and looked too. It was positive!

And now we're pregnant! Well... I'm pregnant. Gavin helped.

10/23/10 (9 months after our wedding day!)

Well, I don't have a realy belly yet, just a Nutella belly. But it's so weird to think there's a little tadpole thingy growing inside me!

We figure we're somewhere close to 6 weeks along (putting the due date somewhere in early June), but we'll find out more accurately pretty soon. My first prenatal appointment is set for Tuesday, and I am SO excited that I found a CNM (certified nurse midwife)! It'll be like job shadowing!... kind of.

In the meantime, I'm exhausted and tired and bursting to tell everyone and everything: I'm going to have a baby!

We're going to be parents! Oooh...

The Latest

Well, these last few days and weeks have been incredibly busy. Gavin and I are being constantly kept on our toes, but life is good, and we are getting a lot done... unless you look at the mess we call our apartment. But that doesn't count. We're getting good grades and working hard, and we still like each other! Quite a feat, if I may say so.

I've recently been given charge over a project in the ward mission. It sounds awful, but I enjoy it, and I feel excited to be able to contribute to the missionary work in the ward. Basically, I keep the records. It's a big mess, and there are a lot of things to organize, but it's very satisfying. God gave me a talent for organizing piles and piles of information, and when I actually try and use it, things usually sort out nicely.

My anatomy class is kicking my butt, but I'm managing to keep my grade up and I haven't run out of juice yet. I had a meeting with my professor today and he basically told me to keep up what I'm doing-- I'm "acing the class"! WOOT! I can do that.

Gavin is just as busy as I am, with all his classes and working full time. He's a wonderful husband. He always has a little energy left at the end of the day to come home and make me feel loved. He's currently mulling over his career decision and rethinking a couple things. We'll see how that turns out, but so far we have been really fortunate in talking to some people who are really passionate about their careers, to give Gavin the inside scoop and help us make a more informed decision. All in good time.

Oh yeah, and it snowed today. Goodbye, summer!

The Issue of Homosexuality

I realize this is a huge controversy, and I am walking on some very rocky ground here, but you must realize that this is my blog and I am entitled to my opinion. Well, actually a lot of it is straight-up fact, and I'll see what I can do to differentiate between them.

Everyone is talking about homosexuals lately, and it has made a big Internet controversy that I would post about on Facebook, if I knew I wouldn't offend anyone I know I shouldn't offend. (Most people I don't care if they choose to take offense, but there are a select few whom I try not to ever offend, if I can avoid it.) There seems to be a great misunderstanding about what homosexuality really is and its origin.

Some of the activists seem to believe that being homosexual is 1, something that simply happens to some people, and 2, something no one has any control over. Like being born with red hair. Sure, you can cover it up with dye, but it'll still be red.

Well, scientific studies have shown that yes, there are some people who are born with a chemical imbalance (yes, this has been proven)-- an anomaly which causes one to be more attracted to their own gender. No, it's not a "disease", but it is a disorder. Other people, who are homosexual, but don't fall into this category, become homosexual because of other factors, surrounding their environment. (We're talking about nurture vs nature here.) A person growing up in an environment where there is a high exposure to homosexuality has a very high likelihood to take on those attributes, since it has been taught to them that this is normal and acceptable. Another person might become homosexual based on the opposite environment. Some people are taught that being gay is so evil and so wrong that the pressure actually causes them to do the opposite of what they have been taught.

So can a person, or better yet, should one fight homosexual tendancies? This is where we get to the moral or religiouis part of the discussion. To those who are born with chemical imbalances, as well as those who have developed same-gender attraction due to their environment, I say: absolutely. Everyone is born with anomalies and with weaknesses, and everyone is exposed to circumstances that might direct them to choose a certain path. You can always choose. The only circumstance in which you are unable to choose is when you have given up that God-given right to the vices of addiction. True, you cannot choose what "happens" to you, but you can ALWAYS choose how you will react to it. We ought not treat homosexual people as though they are the acception to this.

Case in point, I know a man who was born with an addiction to alcohol. He had never had a drink when he was young, but because both his parents were alcoholics, he was pretty much set with an innate addiction himself. This man had two choices: yield to the temptation and fall into alcoholism or stay away from alcohol and live a much healthier life. Now, there is no saying how hard it would be for this man, once he had a small taste of alcohol, to avoid drinking. We don't know how hard it would be for him to fight off something to ingrained in him. But doing the right thing is seldom doing the easy thing.

Case 2: A man is born with an attraction to children. Is he justified in engaging children in sexual acts? Obviously not. What makes a homosexual person any different?

That being said, I must insert my strong opinion that very few people are actually "born gay". It is a crutch that many people use to get others to feel sorry for them, and to waive the responsibility to do anything about it. Even in this circumstance, temptation can still be avoided, and help can still be found with medical and psychological experts.

I guess it just depends on what you want. The Savior said that "the natural man is an enemy to God". What He meant was that, as stated earlier, we are all instilled with certain weaknesses and tendancies to do wrong. He also commanded us to be perfect. Although that is not something we can attain in this life, we understand that we must work toward that ultimate goal. That means overcoming those natural weaknesses and anomalies. That also means that He will prepare a way for us, and make it possible, as He would never ask of us something we could not accomplish (either in this life or the next). Those who want to follow the Lord and the good that is also instilled within them, will always be given a way to do so.

Conclusion: Homosexuality does not make a person a bad person, and should not be treated that way. (I have a few homosexual friends, and those individuals are good people. I don't look down on them for having the weaknesses they have, any more than I would like them to look down on me for mine.) A person always has a choice on how to react to what they have been given (either their nurture or their nature). Acting (sexually) upon homosexuality is against God's laws of morality, and cannot be justified based on the fact that a person has a tendancy toward it, any more than can any other tendancy, such as pedophilia, alcoholism or violence.

Cut It Out

Random bit of knowledge for the day. Go look at your dress coat. You probably have one. For men, your church suit. For women, your suit jacket or pea coat or whatever you have of that similar cut. In the back, you may notice a slit of sorts seperating the bottom in half (or in some cases, thirds). At the very bottom of the slit is a pretty big X sewn into it, holding it closed. It's not supposed to be there. It's for in-store purposes only, and you look silly with it still there. Go cut it off. :)

The Word of God

What a blessing it is to be able to listen to the words of God as they apply to us in the modern day, thorough a living prohet. The words of the living prohpet are more applicable (and therefore more valuable) than the words of all the ancient prophets. Listening to their words and applying them in our lives is the sure way to happiness, and an absolute assurance of eternal life.

Happy General Conference weekend!

Down With Skinny Jeans!

I don't care how skinny you are; you don't look good in skinny jeans. They are probably the least flattering thing that has ever happened to lower body fashion, and I can't understand why anyone in their right mind would wear them. Then again, I suppose most people who blindly conform to whatever style is "in" at the moment are not, in fact, in their right mind anyway. The sooner we move on from this trend, the better. My poor eyes can't take much more of this!

Refinement

In a world where things are loud, in-your-face and instantaneous, there is little room left for the development of the finer things. Listening to a symphony, watching a classical ballet or reading a novel are a few things we could all use. Take time to get away from the noise and clear away some of the cobwebs from your more sophistocated mind. You will find refreshment and rejuvination, so you can go back to your crazy life and handle it just a little better.

Women

I don't like women. I don't think I ever have. They are so superficial, so dramatic, so illogical! Sometimes I tell Gavin I was supposed to be born a man, and he kind of shudders. However, his parents were hoping he was going to be a girl, so maybe it would have worked out! Okay, so maybe not, but the fact remains that I neither understand nor like girls. Especially women. Once women grow up and establish who they are, they then proceed to hide it from everyone else, parading around in an annoyingly bubbly facade that drives me nuts. But I could handle the bubbliness if it was somewhat genuine. The thing that really kills me about women is the way they stab your back as soon as you've turned it, and gossip, and spread nasty rumors. I would so much rather have a women tell me to my face that they don't like me, and say all the nasty things directly to me, than smile and pretend to be polite. I realize I'm probably a minority on this, but I'd much rather be treated rudely than lied to. At least if a person is honest, they might be able to blow off a little steam, rather than building those amazing grudges that last their whole lifetime!

...Whew.

That said, I've decided I'm going to have a boy... eventually.

I hate coming up with titles for these things!

I've been as bad as the next person at keeping up the blog, so it's high time I repent and try to get back onto a more consistent schedule. So consider this a repentance as well as an update!

Gavin and I are back in school, and things are crazier than ever. Gavin works 40 hours a week and is taking 3 classes. I'm volunteering in the ER and taking one 4-credit-hour class that should be more like 12... or a kajillion! Okay, not really, but it feels like it. I do more homework for my one class than Gavin has for his 3. In the first week of school I already had 6 pages of homework, 2 quizzes, one test, and countless pages of notes. First week! I've done a decent job at holding my own so far, but I could do better. I need an A in this class!

Volunteering has been interesting and enlightening. The hardest part was when we had a police officer bring in an 11-year-old little boy who was making suicide threats. I just wanted to throw my arms around the poor kid and tell him he has infinite worth. It tore me up a little inside. Other than that, it's been exciting to see all the blood, cuts, breaks and bruises, and to hear all the crazy stories. Very cool.

Gavin is still serving as a Sunday school teacher, and I've been called as a ward missionary. The ward's missionary program is sub-par in my mind, but hopefully once I'm more accepted, I can lend a little light on the subject, by bringing in some good old PMG, as well as a leadership meeting by Elder Perry. I'm excited to serve, but this could be much more effective.

Still not pregnant, but I'm educating myself more and more on the subject of conception, and I think I've got a better idea about how to go about things. I'm hoping it will happen soon. I'm also trying to surpress my urge to tell God what to do. :")

And now you're updated. Ta da!

C'est La Vie

Well, I'm not pregnant but my little sister in-law is. No, I'm not talking about Katie. She's been pregnant for months. Ariel. Wer'e excited for AJ and Ariel, and we hope all goes well for them. Yes, I'll admit I'm a little jealous, but my time will come. When it's right, it will happen.

Busy Busy Bees

So here's the latest. Gavin and I are going to school this fall, and our schedules are going to be crazy. Between the two of us, we have around 18 credit hours, two jobs, four church callings, several trips planned out, and of course, regular household responsibilities. We also try to attend the temple every week. It's going to be intense, but I for one, am looking forward to it. It will be good to get so much done and to get closer to graduation for us both.

On top of that, we could be pregnant.

I've been experiencing a few of the classic symptoms (I'll spare you the details), but they could be due to my currently untreated endometriosis. We're still not sure, but we should find out more in a week or so. I feel safe posting this here, because as of now we have approximately .5 followers, so we're not afraid of the word spreading very fast.

Vent and Event

I'm sorry to you that this blog is being used as a VENT today (as well as on the last post), but nobody's making you read it. :)
In a world where so many social interactions have become virtual, people are becoming more and more afraid of face-to-face communication. The idea of carrying on a conversation intimidates people, and I blame the heavy reliance on technology to communicate. Yeah, I know that's kind of what I'm doing right now, but believe me, I could definitely convey this stuff in person if I wanted to. But I don't.
Anyway, that being said, I propose that this fear of direct contact plays a big role in the lack of problem solving between people. To get straight to the point, people need to get up some guts and tell people if they've offended them, or else get over it. I understand that it is in some people's personality type to bottle up feelings until they can no longer contain them and then explode. I don't really think that's healthy. When someone offends you, you really have two options: Confront them about it (constructively) to try and solve the problem, or forget about it completely. No good comes from holding grudges. Not even satisfaction for the person holding it; quite the opposite, in fact.
I think you will find that if approached in a sensitive and reasonable way, most people will be apologetic and do what they can to work with you and correct the issue. Of course, not everyone is so forgiving, but bite the bullet and go ahead and try it out. I dare you.

Now on to the EVENT. Saturday was my birthday and it was awesome! Friday my best friend took me out to lunch and to get a pedicure. It was so relaxing. That evening Gavin and I went up to Logan to visit some friends. He took me to a restaurant that is significant to us (so thoughtful!) and even made sure we got to sit in our booth. He let me go shopping and spend money on new clothes I don't really need, and we went yard "sailing". Saturday night we went out for sushi with my family, and ate our traditional birthday pie--razzleberry, thank you very much! Sunday we had a small party with his family and I got a cute new purse, a couple watches, a tote bag and a cook book. The awkwardness was relatively minimal. (Hahahaha!) The best present of all though, was Gavin's all-over thoughtfulness and sweetness the entire time. He is the best birthday present I've ever had. XD

A Little Controversy

I am an arguer. I enjoy a little friendly debate every now and then, and so I don't mind talking about controversial issues. I find other people's perspectives interesting, and like to share mine in return. Although this is perceived by some as being confrontational (they aren't used to argument in this form, and it makes them feel uncomfortable), I find it stimulating, and often very informative. The issue of today, modern medicine.

Science is not something to be feared. It's not evil. We are commanded to gain knowledge, and science is how we do it. By experimentation, exploration, hypothesis, discussion, etc. Science, of course is just that, and is not truth. It should not be worshipped, or taken above the words of God. Obviously, a balance is in necessity. I believe that God has allowed man to learn as much as we have in order to improve our way of life, and as long as it is partaken of in moderation and in accordance with His laws, modern discovery will enable man to fulfill one of his greatest purposes: happiness.

To get to the point. A relative of mine recently spoke out against circumcision, stating that it was done away with, alongside the law of Moses. She sited an article which criticized parents for continuing to practice this tradition, saying that they are mangling the bodies of their innocent babies, and that this is against the will of the Lord. They quoted an Ensign article, which basically said that the Church will not micromanage us, and we are to make informed decisions based on the spirit of the law. There was nothing about circumcision in this article.

Why do we circumcise? Is it because we insist on following the law of Moses? Uh... no. It's because modern medicine has discovered that there are health benefits associated with this practice, and that this leads to a healthier, less complicated, more hygenic lifestyle for men. No, it's not a must. But it is a smart thing to do. All I'm saying is, it's not against the commandments, and it's not something to be frowned down upon.

Summary: Mediphobes bother me. Especially when they try to justify it using religion.
Soap box finished... for now.

Volunteering

Once upon a time I decided to do a little community service. Well, I'll tell you the truth, I wanted to get my foot in the door to the medical world. So I began volunteering in Mother Baby at the Provo hospital. Besides the fact that the nurses there are known to be rude to their volunteers, it was really fun and rewarding, and it was good experience. Five years later, I find myself wanting to get back into it again. We live within walking distance from another hospital, and I can't seem to get a "real" job these days, so I figure it will be a good use of time.

It's been hard to be at home without Gavin, but not for the reasons you'd think. I find plenty of productive things to do, but most people can't fathom spending this much time at home and always being able to get things done. Just think of all the little projects you would work on if you only had the time. Years worth of stuff put on the back burner, waiting for "someday". Well, that's what I've been doing... and the laundry and the dishes and cooking, etc.

Anyway, I want to be able to contribute more, and since I can't contribute financially to my family, I'll contribute to the community by serving in the hospital. Who knows? Maybe years down the road when I come looking for a job as an RN my volunteer work will give me a leg up. But if not, it will still be worth it to have given of my time for the general well-being of others. Oh, and I'll be working in the ER, and it doesn't get much more exciting than that! Who needs TV?!

I have my reasons for not working full-time for now, availability and economy being some of it, but don't judge me too harshly for it. I've got a plan, and I'm excited to see it pan out.

Small and Simple Things

Like light rain on a hot night. Like that perfectly timed phone call. Like seeing your favorite flowers. Like a smile from a stranger. The simple little things are those that enrich our lives and make it a little easier to live in the moment. It's important to take a step back when life becomes too complicated and remember what is really important.

On the flip side, some things are meant to be easy and turn out far too complicated. Like assembling the corner shelf for the shower. It only has 23 parts and 10 multi-part steps! Oh, and of course one of the steps is to simply "cut the pipe" to match the exact height of the ceiling. Really? They couldn't have eliminated that part? Anyway, some modern conveniences (cell phones, cars and portable music, for example) have become far too complex. For the sake of those of us who aren't so into all the gadgets and buttons and super-duper-high-techiness, let's tone it down a bit.

Keep things simple.

Oh Baby

Babies, babies everywhere! So many of my friends and relatives are pregnant it's not even funny! Is it just a seasonal thing, or am I just noticing it more because I'm jealous? Not sure. Ever since I can remember I've loved babies. I worked with babies as a volunteer and a teacher and a nanny for years. They like me, and I can't get enough of them. Still the Lord knows best, and His timing is far more important than my whiney wants. My time will come when it's right, and then I'll be one rockin' mommy! (No pun intended.) Still I have to admit that it's hard when people scrutinize my latest pooch of a belly and don't do a good job at discreetly wondering whether there's a baby in there somewhere. I just sigh to myself and think back at them, "No, it's just dinner..." Maybe after I've lost a little weight people will stop wondering. Then again, it is Utah, and by most local standards I should be at least 4 months along by now! Don't get me wrong, I think it's awesome when people feel the right time to have babies after getting married is right away. I am really very happy for all my pregnant friends and relatives, expecially the ones who have had a harder time getting there. It's just hard not to get impatient sometimes. I know, my time will come. When it is right, my time will come.

Happy Birthday

Today is Gavin's birthday. This morning we took it easy. Well, I should say Gavin took it easy! I ran to the store while he was in the shower to get bread for french toast. The store hadn't put it out yet, so I had to ask for it at the bakery. They hadn't cut it up yet, so I had to wait for that. As soon as it was cut, I ran home and made breakfast. After breakfast, I let Gavin open his present: an Iomega 1TB external hard drive. He was excited, in his own Gavinish way. He set it up right away and immediately began backing up our computer. This thing has enough room to back up our computer at least four times. :) We went to the cheap theater to see "How to Train Your Dragon". It was cute. We had lunch at a little hole in the wall bakery. Now, poor Gavin has to work. But tonight we will begin our family tradition of birthday pie!

Happy birthday, Gavin! I love you.

Quickie

I love my husband. He is an amazing man, and I am so lucky to have him.

Weight Loss (IMO)

It seems that every day there is a new weight loss trend that comes out: a miracle that will make you drop the pounds with little-to-no effort. Or an exercise regimen that will make you lose more pounds per week than is healthy. Better yet, suck off the fat in a lipo clinic! There's just one little teeny problem with all this:
IT DOESN'T WORK.
God gave us our bodies with the intent that we master them, and there is just no cheating in that process. Just like the Gospel, there are no short cuts, no magical results that will come without applying the correct formula. I'm sorry to say it, but the right way to lose weight always has been and always will be the same. Eat right, exercise regularly, get the necessary sleep... voila. No, it's not easy, but it's definitely possible. The real key is in moderation and consistency. It seems that people are craving something different or strange because extravagence is appealing to those who want immediate results and short-cuts. Like I said, it doesn't work. Trend diets may help a person lose weight quickly, but they'll gain it back just as fast, and it will most-likely come back with a vengeance. Eating less than 1500 calories per day slows down your metabolism, causing you to actually gain weight, since your body goes into starvation mode and tries to hang onto everything it can get. Overexhertion without proper nutrition just plain bad for you. Liposuction is horrible, because you have a certain number of fat cells, and when you suck some of them out, the others compensate, and you not only go straight back to being chubby, but now you're lumpy too.
The biggest problem seems to be the distorted concept of what a "healthy" body really is. Women are meant to have shape, and I'm not talking about the shape of a holocaust victim. So the moral of the story is this: take care of yourself, be consistent, and learn to love your body for its good qualities, or you will never have good self-esteem... and quit the trend diet!

I Miss Ballet

I began dancing when I was three years old. It was nothing serious, just some little basement studio for little girls to run around in. When I was almost six, my family moved to Orem, and when I was seven, a new studio opened up. I was one of the first students to sign up. After five years I began dancing en pointe. I loved it. I was never the best in the class, but I did well, and I learned discipline and passion. Ballet was the only way I could really express myself. When I was fifteen, I peaked in my ability. I remember it so well. I could do just about anything I wanted to. Any move, any trick. Not perfectly, but well enough for a stage. I remember that last performance. I danced my heart out and didn't make a mistake. I performed to the audience like I owned the stage and there was nothing anyone wanted to look at more than me. That fall I was diagnosed with endometriosis and had to quit ballet. It was too intense and I couldn't keep up with the physical demands, and my parents couldn't keep up with the insane tuition. I pacified myself for a few years by doing ballroom, but it was never the same. Over time, I lost my physique and my strength, but I never lost my love for ballet. Even still, I dance in my dreams. I dance in the kitchen, in the grocery store, anywhere with a slick floor. My heart never forgot how, and I don't suppose I'll ever stop missing it. I wish so deeply that I could do those things again, that I could express myself the way I used to be able to, with music running through my veins. Someday maybe I'll find a studio that will accept me, and I can work up to a reasonable level for my age, but I know I'll never again be what I was. I miss ballet so much.

3 Years and Counting

This week marks three years since Gavin and I met. I remember it pretty well. I went up to Logan to visit Ranelle for the weekend. She was going out with a guy named Stan and didn't want to ditch me, so she set me up with Stan's roommate, Gavin. It was actually a Sunday, and we went to church first, and the dinner afterward was the so-called 'date'. Therefore, the first time I saw Gavin was in a suit, and I was impressed. I was immediately attracted to him. He looked sophistocated. He seemed very intelligent, but also shy-- he said very little, at least to me. What I didn't know was that he was a little impressed with me too, and that shut him up pretty good. Ranelle had made the mistake of telling me that she was setting me up with a nice guy who was "short, like you", so I thought he was going to be another one of those dorky guys with short-man syndrome. I was wrong about that. We had dinner and played Wii bowling. I had never seen a Wii, so it was pretty cool. After dinner we sat around and talked for awhile. A week later we started getting to know each other on a more one-on-one level. A month later we were dating. Three years later, here we are, a happily married couple. Thinking back, it's funny to think about how when we first saw each other, we had no idea we were looking at our match.

To Megan

Losing a baby is something no mother should have to endure. The pain you must be feeling right now is beyond what I can fathom. The physical suffering along with the chemical rollercoaster you're on are pitiable enough. But I know the real pain you feel is emotional. You were so excited to have another baby. It hasn't been an easy road for you, and finally you had what you were waiting for. But now it's gone, and you feel the epitome of emptiness.

Yet, you are selfless.

You spend tireless hours watching your son, and encouraging him and teaching him. You support your husband as he mourns in his own way. You listen to me and others blab about our own lives as though you want nothing more at the moment. There is only one explanation that I can give for your behavior: the atonement. The Savior has been your support and that is because you have let Him. You don't question Him or His plan for you, but humbly submit, trusting that He knows what is best. He has been your strength thus far, and He will never abandon you. The only true comfort at this time is in the great Plan of Happiness. You are blessed to know the truth. Lean on it, and it will carry you through. Your friends love you and stand by you.

Love, Dani

I Love Poppies

I love to draw, and when I do, I am usually pleased with the result. It is good to develop your talents, and it is neither boastful nor inappropriate to share them with others. I believe that God intends for us to share. He gives us very little that He intends for us to keep to ourselves. However, I do have one drawback: I can only produce works of art when I am inspired. Otherwise my work is no good. Lately, I have a new inspiration:





Poppies.












It began with a beautiful bedspread Gavin's aunts gave us for a wedding present. It has beautiful, deep red poppies sprinkled across it, that brighten up the whole room. Poppies are a symbol of peaceful elegance. They aren't snobby as some flowers are. They grow spontaneously, for the whole world to see. They don't hide from anyone. Today I will draw poppies.

Birthdays, bling and blowouts

Today has been a bit of an adventure. It is my mom's birthday (Happy birthday, mom!), so we went to Olive Garden for lunch. Of course, we all stuffed ourselves silly. After dropping Gavin off at work, I took my mom out shopping for a pair of earrings to match her new outfit. When we came back to the car, we discovered a flat tire. As soon as we got to work on it, it started to rain. I was flat on my belly on the asphalt, trying to find the little chunk of metal you're supposed to align the jack wtih. Bingo. It's not a hydraulic jack, so I sat there on the ground for ages, cranking that thing around and around. Finally my dad showed up and he helped us get the old tire off and put the spare on. It just so happens that it's Saturday though, and as soon as I got the spare on, the clock hit 5:00, and everything closed for the weekend! I just hope the spare will hold up for a couple days; it's not a donut, so it should. I should not be an automechanic. I'll leave that to AJ...

In The Beginning

Today I write my first (and I'm sure, very primitive) blog. Hopefully as I get the hang of things, this will become more interesting to look at, and you will feel more welcome to visit. For now, I'll just experiment and see what I can do.



About us: Gavin and I (Dani) met in Logan, Utah in the Summer of 2007. We were married in the Draper Utah LDS Temple in January of 2010, and live a happy life together in Utah Valley.