Prop 8

So, I feel like I need to speak up on this issue which has come up in conversation over the past few months. Of course its not a shock that I agree with banning gay marriage. I've been thinking a lot about why this is the case. So, these are my thoughts, take them or leave them, on different aspects of this issue.

I think one of the problems is that religious organizations and the government have to deal with each other occasionally. Usually the interaction is benign (in day to day life), but then we get instances like this, where the government is asked to define, on a broad base for everybody, what is essentially a religious issue. People get mad about religious coalitions (in particular-The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) giving money to campaign for a 'yes' vote on Prop 8, but are unwilling to allow that there has never been a hidden agenda with us (the LDS church). The Church has, from the beginning, stated and defined for its members what marriage is. And, in case there was ever any gray area, 'The Proclamation to the Family', released in September 23, 1995, addressed this issue specifically. So it only follows that they would come out strong when it gets put on the ballot.

I also understand that people don't like being told what to do. I feel strongly about this. I don't like the government getting too many of its fingers in my business. So this is where the voting comes in. In this country, we express our political views with our vote. And when the votes are counted in the end, you can't deny that the majority spoke, albeit with a slim margin, on Prop 8. There are plenty of people out there who are sad, or angry because this country took away 'their right'. But this is where it becomes a circular argument. I am never going to agree that marriage, instituted by God, is defined by how much you love someone, no matter what sex they are.

So, to those who were appalled by the passing of Prop 8- This issue comes back to what a person's religious affiliation is, and I am surprised that homosexuals in this country have the gall to ask the rest of us to change our belief system to accommodate a moral choice and then force it down our throats like its always been this way. The issue of sexual freedom and racial freedom are not the same. Nobody has taken away your vote. So use it. Just don't be shocked when the rest of us do, too.

We have a Rat

Yes, a bonefide a rat. As my dad would say..."Snake food." Here's how it went down. A month ago Katie got it in her head that she wanted a hamster. At this point in time Katie's room was a typical disaster. So I told her she had to keep her room clean for at least three weeks before I would even think about it, admittedly thinking there was no way she would do it. Wow. I was wrong. Not only did she clean her room of her own volition, but I didn't help her once, or even remind her. So, she really wanted the hamster. Three weeks later we were going to Pennsylvania and New York, so I was able to put off the inevitable conversation till a week later. But she was not to be dissuaded. Here we are, a week after our trip and she's been asking me every day when we're going to get her hamster. That being said, I want everyone to know that we did do some research on the matter so that she would be prepared, however, when we got to the store the sign on the cage said, "9 and up". Apparently hamsters are harder to take care of than originally thought. And mean. And easily lost. The people at the store recommended a rat and Katie was on board. Thus the rat...which has been on Katie's shoulder virtually all morning. But, before I forget, let it be mentioned that we had the rat barely three hours, when Katie accidentally let it loose in her room. At which point it hunkered down under Katie's dresser for me to coax out. It took me an hour. Here we go.

It Happened Again...

I opened my laptop to write, but after I logged in I saw I was already on gmail. So I answered some emails. Then I saw noticed I had another tab up which happened to be Netflix. Of course I had to check my queue and see the movies that are out right now. Aaaaannnd, the next thing I know I've wasted forty-five minutes doing absolutely nothing when I could have been doing something. Grrrr! I hate my computer and all other devices that keep my connected. Don't be alarmed if I turn them all off for a little while in the next couple of weeks. I need a break!

We're going to Pennsylvania

We're driving to Sacramento on tuesday and spending the evening with Uncle Willie and then we are getting on a plane the next day to Penn State. I admit I'm not looking forward to the flight due to my roudy children, but I bought dramamine for them. Scott was a little shocked by this. Me, not so much. I mean, has he met our children? But on to other things.

Turns out I only like the idea of Facebook. I now try to avoid spending any time on it because inevitably I get sucked in and reemerge only to discover I've wasted my entire day away. My house will be in ruins and my children will be running wildly through the neighborhood with or without clothes on.(That is only a slight exaggeration). That being said, I still love the word challenge, despite the fact that Scott has schnockered us all into oblivion.

As Promised, Disaster Area Pics

Yes, that is their bed on the floor...among other things. The scary thing is that this kind of disaster is a common occurence.

Katie's First Day of Second Grade

I can hardly stand it! She is getting so big!

I'm Back!

After a very long absence, I am back. No, I didn't travel the world, make a million dollars, or become famous in any way. In fact, I am just about where I was when I last posted. You must be thinking, Yea right! She's not reading 'Harry Potter' again! but really, that is exactly what I am doing. That and a few other things. This post is mostly to assure you that I'm alive and am planning to put new pictures up as soon as I have a spare moment, which come rare. And in case there are any doubters out there when it comes to my testimony of how much trouble my kids can cause, I have a pic or two to back me up...coming shortly.