I maintain that being a "grown up" is not all it's cracked up to be...

So remember when you were a kid, and you thought being an adult was just the be all, end all? Adults just had it so easy, and you couldn't wait to be one...
Then you grew up, and learned that with all those "perks"and all that "freedom" comes a lot of responsibility. And those responsibilities aren't easy... now you have to actually make decisions for yourself, some of which can affect not only your entire life, but all of eternity!
You have to be wise and careful, and you all will probably end up making many wrong choices (though hopefully not on the most important decisions).
If you're anything like me, there's a part of you that would love to just go back to the days when your biggest concern was whether your friend could come over after school.
::Sigh::

Proud to be an American...

A friend recently posed the question: "What are we fighting for?" That got me thinking about my thoughts and feelings about this country we live in. These are my conclusions:


We are fighting against insane people who genuinely believe that the way they get into heaven is by killing you and me and destroying freedom and democracy everywhere. No, of course I don't mean the majority of Mulims by any means. Most of them are wonderful people. But there is a very frightening militant, terrorist fringe who believe anything Western or Christian must be destroyed at all costs.

IMHO... we had every right and reason to go into Afganistan and go after the sorry SOB's (pardon my french) who attacked our country, and to eradicate all who support them. Iraq is alot less clear cut... I'rm really not sure we were right to go there in the first place, but we were genuine in our belief that we had to go in and rid them of the WMD's we believed they had. But we sure can't just pull out all support now and leave them hanging.

I've talked to several soldiers, honorable men and women, about the horrors and triumph's they have experienced. I'll defy anyone who has sat at home, comfortable, for the last 8 1/2 years, who says that these soldiers don't know what they are talking about. They tell me of people, women and children especially, who are happier than they have ever been, as they emerge from the oppression of tyranny... Of people voting for the first time, emerging grinning from ear to ear... Of children who are being educated, joyous simply because they are finally learning to read. Yes there have been atrocities, and other abuses of power, but those are by far the minority. I've never been prouder to be an American than I am now, nor have I ever been happier to support those who give their time, talents, and even their lives to protect me and all that I hold dear.

I cannot understand people who see America as this horrible country that just wants to control the world. That couldn't be further from the America I know and love, which is a country founded under the direction and inspiration of God and on principles of freedom. We are not a perfect country, but neither are we fundamentally flawed. Our constitution is an inspired document, and we will always be the shining city on a hill as long as Americans believe that and stand up for their rights.

I love this country and the people who sacrifice everything to preserve it. Islamic terrorist don't want to kill us because "we keep butting into their business", but because of who we are and what we stand for. If we didn't fight them in their territory, they will bring the fight over here and kill everyone they can. I, for one, am not willing to sand by and watch that happen, without doing everything I can to make my voice heard.

I'm neither stupid nor uneducated. I've read and studied more about the history of this country than almost anyone I know, and I daily keep up with current events. You can disagree with me, but never suggest that I thiink and feel the way I do because I just don't know any better...

In closing, I'll just quote these words:

"America, America, God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."

life...

I know this life was designed to be a test and a trial and a learning experience, but some lessons I don't like so well. I know I need to learn them, and that they are my weaknesses...obviously - or else I wouldn't have to learn them more than once, like I do. I wonder if everyone has moments where they astonish themselves with the magnitude of their own stupidity. I just have to learn better, and work harder, and not repeat so many of my mistakes. If the Lord can truely make weak things become strong, then hopefully he will help me with this.

And now...

Since you've seen the pictures of what happened to me, here's a few of what happened to my car:









(BTW... I don't know what's up with the date stamp on my pics...but these WERE taken just yesterday.)

accidents...

Okay so wrecking one's car really sucks. You're hurt, and you're without transportation, and it's just plain miserable.

Below are pics of my very colorful ankle, and burned hand (you really do have to wach out for those airbags...)

A few thought's about conference...

A few conference thoughts as posted on my FB profile:

Eliza Ruth Sewell loves General Conference. My favorite talk so far was Elder Bednar's...

"Feeling a security and constancy of love is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains faith in God, such love is a source of strength and casts out fear, such love is the desire of every human soul."
--David A. Bednar, Oct. 3rd, 2009

Eliza Ruth Sewell thinks conference is wonderful! My favorite talk thus far today has been President Monson's... service really does bring the greatest joy I've felt in this life...

Favorite quote this morning:
"Even more amazing than modern technology is our oportunity to access information directly from heaven without hardware, software, ot monthly service fees"
--Russell M. Nelson, Oct. 4th, 2009

Eliza Ruth Sewell has loved this conference! I can't wait til April, when it comes around again.

I've never heard such a powerful testimoney of the Book of Mormon as that which was borne by Elder Holland this afternoon. I love these wonderful men who lead us...

Worry...

I wish I knew what's up with my mind that I worry so much. I'll have this one teeny thought latch itself to my brain, and then it will totally blow itself out of proportion until it has taken over my whole thought process with this huge horrible worst case scenario. Do these scenarios ever actually come to pass? NO! So why won't my brain just be normal and happy?

Pictures!!!

I'm so happy that I've finally learned how to add pictures to my blog. I know it's not really that complex, but I couldn't do it before, and now I can. Woo-hoo!

I laughed hard...

Okay, so here's the thing. I am a firm believer in the saying "moderation in all things." I'm not a fan of extreme behavior or viewpoints... therefore, groups like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and many others like them do not find a fan in me. Beyond that, I am highly amused by those who are witty enough to mock them effectively. Call me horrible, but this has got to be the funniest bumper sticker I've seen in ages:



What do you think?

Conference weekend...

I really do love conference weekends. I think they are the best weekends of the year. I love to hear the prophet speak to us and to learn what he and the apostles and leaders have prepared to teach us. It fills my soul with peace. I think, though, that the adversar knows this. He always tries to create some problem in my life everytime conference rolls around. But the Lord knows this, and blesses me with the strength to withstand the difficulties and joy in His word. This weekend has been noo different thus far than the last two (in either regard). I was so happy to hear the announcement of a new apostle. I love and miss Elder Wirthlin, but I'm happy to know that he his again reunited with his dear wife, and also to know that through the inspiration received by our prophet, from the Lord, the work continues to move forward. The words that have been spoken have enlightened my mind and brought peace to my soul, and I look forward to the remaining 3 sessions.

my 2 worlds...

Sometimes I feel like my brain is split between 2 worlds. There's one world, where my friends are, where I'm happy and loving life; and then there's the other, less pleasant one, where my most of my family resides. I'm in MY world, when I'm out with my friends, gone to Church, gone to work, at night when everyone else has gone to bed, or when I'm on my phone with friends. And then suddenly someone will burst through my bedroom door, or maybe I'll simply have to come home from...whatever, and then MY world bursts, much like a bubble, and I am sucked back into their world again. I have to fight, most of the time, to avoid being sucked into that world permenantly, but the fight is worth it. Someday I will be able to spend the vast majority of my time in MY world, and have a home like I've always dreamed of, and the joy I will find there will make the fight to stay out of their world worth every moment of the struggle.

lameness...

Some times I can be so lame. Here's the deal...I recently found out that I like to play soccer. Of course it really bites sometimes, cuz of the fibro, specially if I take i serious hit from the ball. But other that the pain, it's awesome. I dunno how I went 25 years without reaizing I like this sport. The kicker is, I never would have found out I liked it if not for a guy. I figured, you like a guy, you do what he likes, even if you hate it. SO I went into this every week ritual thinking, "this is gonna suck." Now it's like 2 months later, he still shows no real intrest other thatn being a friend, and I'm hooked on playing indoor soccer with my friends. So if nothing else, I can always thank him for broadening my horizons, huh? Strange, the things life will teach you each day...

a new year

Well...it's almost 2009. What happened to 2008? Wasn't it just New Years about a month ago? It seems hard for me, I suppose, because I don't personally have any more milestones accomplished than I did last year at this time. I'm alot closer in some areas (like school), but in others I feel I have gotten no where. In adults, the passage of time is usually marked by milestones. Hence...no milestones = where has the time gone? So I guess that's where I'm at right now...another year and nothing tangible to show for it. That's why I love having lots of friends. While I am plugging along, trying to acheive some goals, they are having milestones right and left and keeping me from living in the past. I have to stay in the present to be a part of their lives and i love what that does for me.

So here's to a new year...new chances, new opportunities, and hopefully some new joys that i can take part in. All in all, I have high hopes for this year. I have learned time and again that I can withstand some of the worst that life can throw at me, and be stronger for it. Isn't that reason to hope? (And besides, the areas of m life in which I have the highest hopes couldn't possibly get any worse than they were in 2008, so they have nowhere to go but up.) ;-)

A breath of fresh air...

This is from the Dr. Laura blog:

Blessings in Disguise
December 18, 2008 on 8:00 am | In Charity, Economy, Marriage, Mormons, Relationships, Values

I have always been impressed with the mentality of the Mormons with respect to the issue of charity. I had a tour of their main charity facilities, and was amazed at what I saw and learned. There are absolutely no handouts – they barter!

Here’s how it works: if you could lose your home, or if you need food, clothing, medicine or toys for your children, the Church takes financial care of your needs. In exchange, you provide services to the very mechanism that rescued you. This means that folks in the bakeries are people who have benefited from the charitable services; those helping in the stores that sell thrift clothing, housewares and food are those who have benefited from the charitable services, and so on.

The basic concept is to preserve a sense of dignity and pride in those who have temporary need by giving them an opportunity to use their skills in the service of others. Walking around the premises, I felt the uplifted attitude of all who were there: smiles, waves, and straight backs.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints provides for people all over the world – not only with goods and goodwill, but with the opportunity to not lose a sense of self when “things” are lost.

I probably sound like an advertisement for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am not a member of their religion, but I am impressed with their charitable philosophy, because I believe it teaches our children their real value, while motivating and uplifting them at the same time.

Their young people who graduate high school are expected to go on two-year “missions,” reminiscent of the Peace Corps. These young people come back much more mature, as they’ve experienced the pain and need of others, and have sacrificed two years of their own comfort to be of service to others.
Other youngsters just don’t want to skip a beat in their acquisition of iPods, cell phones, and other “Internet in your hand” gadgets.

I believe that the economic disaster our country is in right now is a kind of blessing in disguise with respect to values. Without values, life just provides us with “things,” but not necessarily with any profound meaning.

Being an adult is too complex sometimes

So I've decided this week that I don't want to be a grown-up anymore. Life as an adult is not all it's cracked up to be. You remember when you were a kid and all you could think of was that life would get easier when you got older...that as you reached each milestone age and new level of freedom, that would fix everything... And then you turned 16...now you can date and drive..life should be bliss...but it's not. You have hours of homework each day, not to mention your job. You're too busy to have all that fun you envisioned. And so it goes... For every new freedom, you get at least as much, if not more, new responsibility.

This week, as I ponder a new job possibility, and my love life, or lack thereof (and believe me, I'm really not sure which way it's going at this point)and everything else that's going on right now, I could very happily trade places with my best friend's 3-year-old for the next week or two, just so my brain could rest.

Oi...life is good, it really is...I just never fathomed how unbelievably complex it could get. Thank heavens for good friends, who can act as a shoulder to lean on, a sounding board, or even a good kick in the pants when it's called for. Otherwise, I just couldn't do it all.

...politics again...sorry...

Ok, so here I am going on my political soapbox yet again. I didn't think it would be quite this soon. But in the last few days I have been attacked incessantly, both online and in person, about my political choices, so I've decided to clear thing up a bit.

This was my response to the most recent attack I recieved on Facebook:

What did I ever say about compulsory religion or about religious freedom to marry? (and by the way, marriage is not a legal freedom, it's not even a right that's ever mentioned in the constitution--that's because it didn't need to be--IT'S NOT A CREATION OF THE STATE. It's recognized by the state as an institution that predated the government as we know it.) I'm very aware that my ancestors came to this country in order to be able to worhip God according to the dictates of their own conscience.

Anyway, the religious freedoms I was referring to was my right as a citizen to believe as I feel is right and not be sued for being true to my religous beliefs. (Like the doctor in San Diego-sued because she had moral misgivings against inseminating a lesbian couple...the minister in New Jersey- sued because he wouldn't sanction a civil union for a gay couple...the photograher in New Mexio-sued because he didn't want to photograph a commitment ceremony.)

I don't want to be the next person whose constitutional, 1st amendment, rights are ignored because of this new national motto of "sue anyone and everyone who disagrees with you".

this election

So, supposedly politics is one of the two subjects you just don't talk about. And after the last week or so, I can see why. Many people are so opinionated (which is good) but also emotional and non-logical (which is really bad). There seems a huge lack of study and thought in many people's views. Now don't get me wrong...I'm all for diversity, and I'm not saying that if you don't agree with me, you must be uneducated. What I am saying is that if you can't defend your point on the basis of fact and sound reasoning, and you get emotional, defensive, and sometimes even downright mean when challanged, then perhaps more study and a greater use of the cerebral cortex are in order. As grateful as I am to live in this country and as blessed as I feel to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy, I will be sooooo happy when election day has passed and life (and the people in it) can get back to "normal". Less arguments, less contention, and especially less commercials and obnoxious solicitation calls.