Friday, January 16, 2009
Filling my cup...
I LOVE WRITING!! Holy Cow! I feel like I'm finally filling my cup again :-) It feels so good to sit down with my laptop and live in my fantasy world for a few hours a day. Yes--I've enjoyed racking up the school credits, but it's just not the same kind of enjoyment. I just finished chapter 31!! I've written over 354 pages!! I know that other authors would think that to be a silly achievement, but it's the biggest work I've accomplished thus far. I get sooooo excited when I get responses after I send out chapters. I love the phone calls where I hear, "I had no idea! That's awesome!! What's going to happen next?" I have a neighbor who comes over to get chapters on a regular basis. She is almost more excited than I am!! It's really fun. She ran over in the freezing cold last night to get chapters 25-30. It's almost like repeating Christmas Eve over and over again. Anyway--for what it's worth, I've found my happy place. I think that's vital in this fast moving world.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
More Snowflake Pix
Inviting in the NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE!!
Spencer and Jules--playing the "PIG" game. The person in the middle has to identify who the person is by their oinking. SO FUN!
CHOWIN' on wings at Native New Yorker (Showlow, AZ)
Brent Michelle and Amber--our Nativity Presentation 
ADULT TIME! The drive to Native New Yorker :-)
FRISBY GOLF!!Troy, Jeremy, Kendra and Isaac, Spencer, Hunter, Jeff, Granny Jo and Cody
Monday, January 12, 2009
Time of Reflection...
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. Our Christmas adventures led us from family to family. We had a lot of time to sit and discuss politics, religion, and basic opinion with many family members. I've certainly become a different person over the years. I view the world differently now. Before marriage, I felt invincible--believing I could solve world hunger if it came down to it. Now--I see all my weaknesses, and I tend to steer clear of giving advice to others anymore--because, truth is--I'm struggling in so many areas myself. Sure--I can now tell people what NOT to do in relationships, finance, business, etc. BUT--I want these next ten years to be a time of SUCCESSES not failures. Of course, so much learning comes from trial and error, but I'm hoping to see more "good fruit" from my actions--rather than apologizing so often because of my own follies.
Some of my beliefs:
POLITICS
I'm a Republican. However, I'm really looking forward to Barack years. I'm interested to see what he and his cabinet can do to solve the mess he's been left with. I think the Republican Party needs to get their act together over the next few years--and return to TRUE Republic platforms--instead of trying so hard to grab all the "middle-ground" stragglers.
RELIGION (remember--this is just thoughts by Julie)
I'm battling doctrine vs. culture. I think there are too many false cultural tendencies maintained by many Mormons. I'm guilty, too. I've turned to the doctrine for answers. DISCLAIMER: I'm a 100% believer in the doctrine. However, I think it's time to put aside cultural opinions that do not coinside with the gospel.
For example, a young woman (age 20-25) is not an "old-maid" if she's not married. Likewise, a young man--who seeks his own experience and identity...before choosing to marry, is WISE!! Are we pressuring our youth to marry before they are really ready to commit--or before they are prepared to become parents? Is the divorce rate partially our own fault?
Our righteousness is not determined by the number of children we have, and we shouldn't judge those who do not have 4 or more kids! It's not our place. Those familial decisions are between God and the couple.
If a young man hasn't completed a full-time mission (for whatever reason)--he shouldn't be slandered and kept from dating. We claim to be Christians--yet, in so many ways, we believe we're superior to others (even those within our own faith). Are we really forgiving? Where should judgement lie?
Traditions: what "false traditions" are we privvy to?
Can you tell I've been thinking a lot about this? In order to change bad habits, we must first identify them. Most of the traditions I've referred to are mental habits. In the last Joseph Smith lesson I taught in Relief Society, JS said that pure knowledge is given to those who first put away their false traditions. I'm trying hard to identify my own and change. I LOVE gaining knowledge--so I'm really wanting to work on this.
Some of my beliefs:
POLITICS
I'm a Republican. However, I'm really looking forward to Barack years. I'm interested to see what he and his cabinet can do to solve the mess he's been left with. I think the Republican Party needs to get their act together over the next few years--and return to TRUE Republic platforms--instead of trying so hard to grab all the "middle-ground" stragglers.
RELIGION (remember--this is just thoughts by Julie)
I'm battling doctrine vs. culture. I think there are too many false cultural tendencies maintained by many Mormons. I'm guilty, too. I've turned to the doctrine for answers. DISCLAIMER: I'm a 100% believer in the doctrine. However, I think it's time to put aside cultural opinions that do not coinside with the gospel.
For example, a young woman (age 20-25) is not an "old-maid" if she's not married. Likewise, a young man--who seeks his own experience and identity...before choosing to marry, is WISE!! Are we pressuring our youth to marry before they are really ready to commit--or before they are prepared to become parents? Is the divorce rate partially our own fault?
Our righteousness is not determined by the number of children we have, and we shouldn't judge those who do not have 4 or more kids! It's not our place. Those familial decisions are between God and the couple.
If a young man hasn't completed a full-time mission (for whatever reason)--he shouldn't be slandered and kept from dating. We claim to be Christians--yet, in so many ways, we believe we're superior to others (even those within our own faith). Are we really forgiving? Where should judgement lie?
Traditions: what "false traditions" are we privvy to?
Can you tell I've been thinking a lot about this? In order to change bad habits, we must first identify them. Most of the traditions I've referred to are mental habits. In the last Joseph Smith lesson I taught in Relief Society, JS said that pure knowledge is given to those who first put away their false traditions. I'm trying hard to identify my own and change. I LOVE gaining knowledge--so I'm really wanting to work on this.
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