Baby News

Well, I had my 17 week check up today and we got to do another little ultra sound just for Dusty :-) OK, OK, and me too!

Dusty got to see the ultrasound with me and that was really neat. I can't believe how much the baby has grown in just 4 weeks! The doctor kept commenting on how much of a little mover and an acrobat I have inside of me. The little thing would NOT stay still. It was doing flips, twirls, karate chops and kicks! It looked like it was doing Turbo Jam inside of me :-) It was so cute. I can feel the little thing move now which is really, really neat. I can attest to how much it moves. I can only think of what that will be like as it get bigger AND stronger.

And to the question of the day.....what gender is it.... Well, it looks like we will have to wait 3 more weeks until my 20 week ultra sound. We did get a few good shots but the doctor wasn't really sure. He did tell us what it "suspiciously looked like" but I won't say anything until we know for sure :-) All and all it was a great day and I just am so excited to be a mommy!!

6 Years and 17 Weeks

Thank goodness I haven't been pregnant that long!!! Today is our 6th year anniversary and I am 17 weeks today!

We were able to have a very productive weekend with beautiful weather. We didn't really do anything for our anniversary because we are planning a vacation at the end of the summer. We are kind of rolling our birthdays, anniversary and Dusty's graduation into a "Babymoon" trip. We want a big hoorah before the baby comes. We don't every really take vacations or trips so what the heck :-)

I have my doctor's appointment on Tuesday and it can't come soon enough. EVERYONE cross your fingers to see if we can find out what sex the baby is!! I can't take it I am so excited. I really hope things work out so we can know. I have also still been experiencing excruciating tailbone pain. The other night I was almost crawling on my hands and knees just to get to the bathroom. Dusty had to help every step of the way while I cried and tried not to pee my pants. It's ridiculous and it's like that everyday. I hope the doctor can help me find relief somehow. Dusty is a great helper. He brings me everything right when I ask for it. He knows how much I hurt but there's not much he can do for the pain.

If it weren't for my tailbone pain and tension headaches I would be feeling fabulous! All my other symptoms only rear their ugly head every so often but I honestly think I would rather puke 5 times a day than to have this tailbone pain.

So the baby is 5 inches and supposedly 5 ounces. I get emails from Baby Center each week and I look forward to them every single Sunday. I love to read about the baby's development and see how big the baby is. Today it graduated to the size of a turnip. :-) If it's only the size of a turnip, why oh why do I look and feel like I swallowed a barrel of turnips.....it couldn't be because I ate almost a whole bag of Doritos by myself could it?....nah!!!

16 weeks today

Is it possible that a lot has happened in a week without a lot happening?? Well that's how I would describe this week. I will save you a lot of the emotional details but I have constant pains in my tailbone that have been excruciating. I will be heading to the doc tomorrow and see what we can do. Seriously. I can't even walk. Actually I can't sit, walk, or stand so there ya go. I am only 16 weeks and it has nothing to do with the weight etc. of the baby but it is related to this pregnancy.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to this whole "your second trimester is a breeze" part. It's like I am a little slow at this or something. My emotions have been a wreck and I have cried at EVERYTHING these past few days. I am really just so compassionate at everything and I feel myself growing into motherhood each day. I know that I will read all of these things and then be completely STUMPED with the baby gets here :-) At least I'll get an A for effort.

Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment :-)

This is Dusty during his Sunday nap. He was curled up with my preggie pillow and I had just taken out a load of warm clothes from the dryer and threw them on him. He just curled up in them and loved it. My mom used to do that to us. She would even get my towels warm for me when I was in the shower or coming in from the snow.

15 Weeks 4 Days

Well I must say today was a good day. Some tailbone and back pain but nothing I can't handle. I woke up this morning and officially felt I had a "spare tire". I still just feel fat but it makes me happy just knowing that there IS someone in there. I am counting down till JuLy 7th to see if we can find out what it is!!

Dusty thinks that this picture makes me look a little bigger than I really am, but I sure feel every bit as big.

Beautiful quote on parenting

"Brothers and sisters, our children take their flight into the future with our thrust and with our aim. And even as we anxiously watch that arrow in flight and know all the evils that can deflect its course after it has left our hand, nevertheless we take courage in remembering that the most important mortal factor in determining that arrow’s destination will be the stability, strength, and unwavering certainty of the holder of the bow."

Elder Jeffery R. Holland

Online Savings Tip

So I have been chastised by a few people for not posting this tip.

Before I buy any product or service online right before I checkout I always open up a new tab in my browser and search for a promo / coupon code. For example if I am buying shoes online at Zappos I would Google "Zappos promo code" or "Zappos coupon code"...you get the idea. At the very least I am able to find free shipping or like 10 - 20% off my purchase. Sometimes I find amazing deals. Just spend 3 - 5 minutes looking for the best one and you would have saved yourself a few bucks or more.

Let me know if it works for you. I love hearing people getting good deals :-)

13 Weeks 5 Days

This week has been overall great. I still don't feel "great" when I feel great but I'll take it :-) Working full time sure is hard right now cause everything in me wants to just curl up and take a nap at around 3 pm. So, I go for a walk, call someone or do something at around 3 everyday.

I have been able to eat more which makes me happy. Dusty is great about giving me quick little massages throughout the day or at night when he is home. My tailbone makes it to where I can't stand up for long and sometimes I just have to catch myself from falling. It just slips of socket and I feel like I am 90 years old. I am really scared about adding 20+ pounds of pressure to my tailbone. I just hope my little body is up for the task.

I have been terrible with working out. Between dizziness, tailbone, fatigue and nausea working out just hasn't been on the list. I have been walking but I don't count that as real exercise. Maybe I should; I would feel a lot better.

Nothing else to report. It was so much fun getting to spread the word about being pregnant and hearing from SO many people! This baby already has so many people that are excited to see it come to earth. I REALLY REALLY hope I can find out the sex of the baby on my next visit so I can actually refer to it as a he or she and then eventually an actual name! I catch myself saying "it" and I hate that. AND so I can tell Marcie so she can get to work on my shower ;-)

This will definitely be the BEST Christmas EVER!!!

Pregnant is the new skinny!!!

Dusty and I are proud to announce that we are having a baby!!!!!!

I can't even tell you how excited we are. I will be 13 weeks tomorrow and the doctor said everything is going smoothly and looks great! I went in yesterday just thinking that I was going to hear the heartbeat. Dusty couldn't make the appointment due to a test at school so we were going to call him as the doctor put the heartbeat on a speaker. Well, the little fish wouldn't sit still long enough for that so we got to do an ultrasound and LOOK at our sweet little baby!!!!

I was absolutely amazed and astounded that I didn't cry; I was just overjoyed. I have never felt a feeling like that in my life. What a miracle! What an awesome miracle! Since Dusty didn't get a chance to see the ultra sound the doctor said that we will get to take another look at our next appointment so Daddy can see too!! I can't wait till July 7th :-)

I wasn't feeling well before the appointment and TIRED was not even a word to describe me (I know, I know....just wait until AFTER the baby....) but after that appointment I went straight to BYU to show Dusty the pictures and I had so much energy and I felt GREAT! I had a brief glimpse of knowing how worth it all of this is. This sickness doesn't even matter. As my mother so wisely told me in a moment of agony one day this past week, "You are doing the most important work there is to be done in this whole wide world." It's so true. I am so blessed that the Lord has seen fit to allow me to come to earth and bear children and raise and rear them with ALL of the love I possess. I can't wait to hold my baby in my arms and meet each other properly :-)

Our due date is December 13th, 2009. I can't even believe that we will be having a baby before the year is out! What a Christmas present!!! If you get a Christmas card from me in August just know that I am trying to catch up and get ready before the tornado hits :-) Well, I have always been bad about that anyway, so don't expect anything! HAHA Just kidding.

I love you all and am so grateful you are all with us and supporting us with your love and kindness and prayers.

Please meet, Baby Rhoads......

Hoedown Throwdown

Is it normal that I want to have girls so I can teach and do stuff like this with them? I LOVED teaching dance and having kids come in wanting me to teach them the "new dance" that was going around school. So I always took the last 10 minutes and got the music and taught it to them so they could be the cool ones at school. I love doing stuff like that with with girls and they love it too! I can see my niece, Makayla, learning this with Chauntel.

If you are really curious there is a how-to video on youtube. :-)

My mother...

I realize more and more why we probably had so much fun growing up. My mother. Sure dad was there to play with us, always had the video camera out, teaching us stuff, playing sports and all kinds of things, but mom just knows how to party ya know?

She is a little nuts so that might account for some of it, but I think the whole having 5 kids one right after the other just sent her over the edge. :-) LOVE YOU MOM

I catch myself saying, "I get that from my mother." a lot!!! I realized the other day that that's not entirely a good thing. haha She passed on MANY fabulous and amazing qualities but this is not a blog post about those. :-)

She love to play jokes, tell jokes, scare people, be witty, laugh, she can cut a rug and cut the cheese....sorry mom. HAHAHA Seriously she is just always the life of the party and people love to be around her.

Recently she and my brother Mike have been warring with each other playing jokes on one another and trash talkin. The other day when he came over in his dress clothes she took a huge water gun and soaked him right there in the living room. Oh, but it wasn't over then. She then proceeded to have my other brother, Jason of course, drive her to Mike's house at midnight so she could write LOVE MOM all over his windshield with green apple shampoo. She was contemplating Vaseline so he got off easy.

This is the picture she went home and emailed (complete with trash talk) to Mike after the fact.....The Green Apple Got'cha Caper

Yes, she's crazy but that's why I love her!!

It's OK if you don't know what to say.....

12 Weeks 3 Days

I have been meaning to jot down the funniest pregnant nickname I think I have ever heard.

Pregnapotamous.

Yes. You read it correctly. My brother Jason is probably one of the funniest people I know (besides the rest of my siblings) and he called the other day asking how the "little" pregnapotamous was doing. You know, it was too funny and for once I didn't have a comeback.

12 Weeks

I have one word for you: PAPER.

I have decided to go against the "waste not" conservationist in me and buy paper plates and bowls to help get us through the coming weeks. Dishes make me sick(er). Cooking is almost non-existent yet dishes pile up despite my not cooking. I don't know how it works but there ya go. With Dusty being gone all day and night (like till 11 pm or later) at school and me being unmotivated and feeling sick my nights have been pretty lame. I have made the realization that once I just get up and start doing something that I feel better, but it's the whole getting started part that feels so hard. I sit down often and my headaches are ridiculously painful.

Despite my headaches I think all of my relatives are sick of hearing from me. I make lots of phone calls right now. My sister is probably going to change her number. Good thing she really loves me. <3

**Neighbors beware** I just might knock on your door to hang out or stroll on over right about supper time to see what you cooked and then invite myself in :-) Just (kind of) kidding. One friend has brought over a few snacks on 2 different occasions and I can't tell you how happy that makes me. Nothing sounds good to eat, I don't feel like cooking but when I start to eat I feel better. It always just tastes better when someone else makes it, doesn't it?

I haven't really gained any weight maybe one or two pounds but I can't button my pants! (My brother asked me what was different than before I was pregnant. Yeah, I feel the love.) It is a weird sensation to know you are about the same weight but your clothes are starting not to fit. One of the best investments so far has been one of those Tummy Sleeves or Bella Bands. LOVE THEM!!

All in all things are good. Different but good. This is a beginning of a new chapter and something for Dusty and I to get used to and ease into. I am so excited to meet this little sweet child of mine! (OK. Who else starting singing Gun's N Roses after that??)

Happy Birthday Dusty!

Dusty is 29 today! I am so thankful I was able to feel well enough to get up "early" and make him a big Birthday Breakfast! We had lots of time to spend together this morning before he was off to school and he is looking forward to his night at Tucanos! :-) (sign up for their birthday club for a free meal on your b-day if you haven't already....)

I know that Dusty brings joy to so many people and his talents bless many. I am happy to call him my husband and share each day with him. His smile and attitude brighten my day and remind me of the simple pleasures in life. I love him so much and want to wish him the Happiest of Happy Birthday's there is to be had!

11 Weeks 4 Days

Note to self: NEVER click on a link that says "Your body changes a lot in nine months. What will it look like after having your baby?" and takes you to pictures of post-pregnancy bodies and bellies.

Just don't. You'll thank me later.

Seriously.

There is something about being an aunt....

There is something about being an aunt that just makes my world go 'round. I am so enriched by the lives of my sweet little nieces and nephews. I love to see little characteristics of my siblings in them and see the "Mother's Curse" put on by my own mother in action :-) I love each and every one of them SOOO much and, I feel, in some small way makes me a better mother-to-be. I get to see their extreme differences in personality and preferences and have had my chance to take care of them, play with them and just plain enjoy them!

My heart is turned to Jackson as he prepares for yet another head surgery. He is so strong, brave and precious beyond words and his Aunt Amy loves him more than she can say. I know that the Lord is with him helping him fight this battle. Sending all my love to all of my nieces and nephews from Utah. I love you all!

Cute Stay-cation Ideas

http://family.go.com/travel/pkg-vacation-ideas-staycation/?CMP=NL_NLC_7LittleThings_05_25_Staycations

11 Weeks 2 Days.....The Journey Continues

So I haven't written in a while. I have been in bed a lot and home feeling sorry for myself. Just kidding. I have joined the millions of other women who experience a torrent of emotions during the first trimester and I am sure never subsides completely.

I wonder if I will be good enough. I wonder if I will be able to meet my babies needs. I wonder if I will have the strength and stamina to meet the demands that are looming in my future. I wonder what kind of little kindred spirit is inside of me. I wonder about all of the logistics of how we are going to make this work. I wonder about a lot of things. I mean, I have lots of time. I lie awake at night with insomnia mulling the joys and symptoms I experience during this thing we call pregnancy.

I wonder a lot. I also am amazed at the whole process. So many times I read a book on pregnancy and just tear up in excitement and joy and amazement. I also tear up at the thought of giving birth. I am not going to lie. I am scared, but getting better. I have went through a little spurt where I was feeling guilty because I didn't feel so joyous all of the time because I was experiencing so many nasty symptoms and I just plain didn't feel good. Then that got me thinking, "Well why am I not excited to be having a baby? Why do I feel so down?" And then I really thought about it and that was a stupid thing to feel guilty about in the first place. I AM EXCITED....SUPER SUPER EXCITED but I just feel like c-r-u-d and that's OK not to be over joyous everyday.

The point is I have to give myself time to adjust to this new role I am stepping into just like anything else; and that's OK. It's OK that life has slowed down a bit and I am taking care of myself. It's OK that Dusty has to do dishes and cook (aka eat out) ;-) because I can't do it for a brief moment. That's life and that's why we are a team. It's OK to be a little frightened of the unexpected [read labor]. I know that the Lord is with me and that I was made to be a mother from the very beginning of my eternal being. THAT gives me great comfort in this time of great excitement, confusion, sickness and joy.

All of the women who have gone before me give me strength and courage and hope and love for what is to come. I am empowered as I think that I have been chosen to be a vessel for a sweet little spirit to call my own here on earth and throughout the eternities.

Prop 8 is Upheld

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-prop8-decision27-2009may27,0,6677891.story

You Can Thank Me Later....

http://mychocolategarden.blogspot.com/

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the beautiful women in my life! Especially the greatest of all--Lelia Starr Scott Logsdon, my mother! What a beautiful name for such a beautiful lady! I'll take all of the mushy stuff offline and talk to my mother in person. I just wanted to give a shout out to all of the women in my life who help shape me into the woman and future mother I will become. There are so many of you who have been examples to me in ways that you have no idea. I learn so much from you and admire your beauty, patience, creativity, multi-tasking, giving service and self-sacrificing love. I hope that I can rise to become half as much as you women are! I love you and Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for sharing your talents, love and friendsip with me so williningly.

8 Weeks 4 Days

So last night was the first night where the sickness really got to me and I couldn't stop crying. It's just miserable. Poor Dusty didn't know what to do so he sent me to bed. ha ha It was probably the best thing for me though. As I was crying I was getting all crazy thinking things like I won't be able to handle being a mom and that this sickness would never leave. Then I picked up a book filled with stories of other moms at all different stages and it made me feel better reading of their experiences. So many women go through this everyday and they live too :-)

I am really trying hard today to eat small meals and snacks all throughout the day. I wake up in the middle of the night hungry like 4 times a night (no joke...and that's not even to pee...) and I do recognize that when I am hungry I feel sicker or if I ate too much I feel sick. So, I do feel a LITTLE better today now that I have been snacking on strawberries and carrots, wheat toast etc. I hope this is a solution to help me stay feeling better.

Miraculously the Lord helps you to forget all of these times so you actually want to bring more sweet little babies into this world.....or so I'm told :-)

So it begins

Dusty has started 2 spring classes so that is keeping him very very busy. He is going to do awesome...I can feel it!! I have been keeping myself busy writing with other things so the blog is getting a little neglected. We have lots going on lots to look forward to. The weather is warming up which makes me HAPPY. Mother's Day is this Sunday...if anyone knows of a cute Mother's Day craft send it my would ya! I am feelin' crafty.

Note to self :

NEVER watch movies like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (about the Holocaust..however I must say that is was a VERY moving and powerful movie about the evils of the Holocaust...I recommend it otherwise), We are Marshall (plane crashes killing everyone), Finding Neverland (girl dies and the whole movie just makes me weep), Fly Away Home (mom dies in the beginning and the ending is moving) etc. while pregnant.

Just don't.

I have been sicker than a dog and just laying on the couch amazed at how this nausea and tiredness has WIPED me out. Dusty has been great and I don't think I have whined a whole lot which is good cause I hate whining. The only thing I have been able to do a lot of is watch movies and sleep. I get BAD headaches when I try and read so that has been my weekend!

They tell me there is an end to this.... :-) In all actuality I am grateful for how I feel. I have gotten online to read up on remedies for morning sickness etc. and the more I read of other people's experiences, the more happy and content I am with my own circumstances :-)

7 weeks 4 days :-)

I won't be doing a daily blog post of how I feel but this is kind of my journal of sorts of what my experience is like. I feel really sick again today. Dusty said that this must be the "Don't-touch-me-mester", instead of my first trimester cause every time he goes to touch me I guess I give him a look. LOL It's just that every tiny little movement makes me S-I-C-K so I don't like to be touched. I still haven't thrown up but I am tired all the time and my stomach is messed up. I KNOW it could be a lot worse so I am thanking my lucky stars while it lasts!

7 weeks and 3 days

Today is the first day I officially woke up SICK to my stomach. It wasn't as bad as I am sure it could be so I am still grateful. I have wanted fast food like no other this past week. I get SO tired throughout the day and the thought of cooking makes me sicker :-) Maybe it's all in my head but it has sure been nice not doing dishes.

I am starting to figure out my whole insurance thing and get my head wrapped around that. Our insurance at work is very complicated and lots of people to talk to. It's much better than I thought though.

Last night I did 30 minutes of strength training and I thought I had just ran the Boston Marathon. It was hard and I was tired but it felt so good afterward. I need to keep that up.

That's all my ramblings for now. It's so hard to keep this a secret from friends. I am just doing everything that I can to make sure that things go well. I can't believe I have a baby on the way. I am so excited.

Gentle Reminder

I was reminded today that Heavenly Father knows me, loves me and is with me. He gave me a blessing that was completely unexpected but perfectly timed. I had wanted for it to happen a few years ago, but in His wisdom, it came right when I needed to put it to use. Heavenly Father spoke my "love language" today and reminded me how much He absolutely loves me. I am eternally grateful.

check your kids homework.....HAHAHA

Dear Mrs. Jones,

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smith

Caring People

Some of you know how much I have loved my doctor. I have dealt with hypothyroidism and she has helped me through so much. She has call me on weekends, in the evenings, before hours and ALWAYS listens to me and makes sure she understands me before she does anything. She has been the absolute best doctor I have ever had. She is even my friend. Well in January I had to switch insurance companies and she was no longer a network doctor!! SO BUMMED! But I called her office anyway and asked to speak with her. I was out of meds and needed her to call in a subscription while I found a new doc interim. When I told her I couldn't come see her anymore she was bummed too. She gave me her personal cell number and told me to call her any time and she would help me find another doctor that I liked.

Well I had a few kind of emergency medical questions and called her cell to see if she would help me find a new doc ASAP. She spoke with me for 40 minutes at 9pm and told me to call her back and keep her updated on my situation. I mean, seriously, what kind of doctor does this?! She has gone out of her way because she cares so many times. I am sure she has touched a lot of people's lives. I am not going to take advantage of that but its nice to know that she is there and truly cares.

I am grateful for caring people and people who are so ready and willing to impart wisdom, experience and helpful advice. I mean as a professional her time is valuable and can bill for that kind of consultation but she is just a kind person wanting to help. I am grateful for her and lots of others out there who inspire me to be a better person and be more giving.

Does nobody care? This is completely cool?!

So, in my last post I mentioned that Dusty will be filmed in a documentary / movie as an expert and they are flying up here at the end of May to do it. Way cool! Go Dusty! I will be posting the trailer for it as soon as I figure out how....

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

OK. There isn't anything really interesting in this post after all. I haven't updated in a while. There has been lots going on but just your old mundane stuff. Dusty is plugging away at school and selling snakes. Yes, I said SELLING them! Luckily our collection of snakes is slimming down a bit. Dusty is moving on to other things in the herpetology / conservation world. You know, because with the 40 or so he is going to keep and continue to breed will be enough to keep his hand in it ;-)

I have been plugging away with Beachbody Stuff and fitness coaching and still absolutely loving it. I have been building a website, doing ALL kinds of stuff with it. Work is busy. Home life is busy. We are trying to figure out plans and life and everything in between. If you have any ideas let me know ;-)

Dusty did get asked today to be in a reptile movie / documentary. They will interview him on film probably this summer. That was WAY cool. It will more than likely be in like film festivals and of course on DVD.

That's it for now. I know, I told you there was nothing exciting. I will promise that the next time I write will be AMAZING :-)

Back from Cali!

I absolutely loved my trip to California. I will have lots to post about it. It was more than just fitness and business building. I got to workout with all of the Beachbody trainers, meet amazing people with even more amazing stories, get some serious training on how to grow my business and be inspired. The weather was gorgeous, I went with awesome friends and just came back home with goals, to-do lists, inspiration, fun stories!, memories and an overall understanding of how to become the person I am trying to be. I will have lots of pics on facebook so if you're not hooked up with me on there do it so you can see all of the fun stuff I got to do!

Send your message to HBO

Many of you may have heard of HBO's television show, Big Love. It came out a couple of years ago, and it shows polygamous families. When it first came out, the church came out with a strong statement against Big Love and Polygamy. You can see the statement here:

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/church-responds-to-questions-on-hbo-s-big-love

However, as if the polygamy weren't bad enough, HBO has taken their unscrupulousness to new heights.

On Sunday, March 15, 2009, HBO will be airing a segment of their Big Love series titled Goin' to the Chapel. In this segment, they will be showing individuals dressed in full temple clothing (you can see the picture right in the TV guideitself), and they are planning on sending secret cameras in to the temple to show the inside of the temple itself.
You can see the advertisement here (on page 46):

http://www.tvguidemagsales.com/WeeklyIssues/TVG030909.pdf

Please help stop HBO from airing such an offensive show! You can go to the link below to submit a comment to HBO.

http://www.hbo.com/apps/submitinfo/contactus/submit.do?title=GeneralInformation&questiontype=generalInformation&questiontype=general

It's imperative that we get as many people to voice their complaints as possible before HBO airs the show. Please pass this information on to as many people as you can!
Church Responds to Questions on HBO's Big Love - LDS Newsroom
Source: www.newsroom.lds.org

Various media outlets 6 March 2006 Over the past few weeks, Church Public Affairs has received numerous calls from newspaper, magazine and TV entertainment writers about a new television series called Big Love. ...

AWESOME Week at BYU...Charles Darwin's 200th birthday all week long

So, last week at BYU there were daily presentations given by BYU professors all over campus about evolution, because it was the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin. LOVED it. Very enlightening. Evolutionary Biology is the capstone senior-level course for Biology majors at BYU, and it's so cool for me to be taking that class during this historical time of Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of his book Origin of the Species.

One of the talks was given by a professor of entomology, and it was about how there's different ways of learning: by faith, by study, by science, by consensus, etc. and that Charles Darwin, Abraham Lincoln (who shares the same birthday as Charles Darwin), and Joseph Smith, each left us a legacy of one of those types of learning. I pasted a short article about it from BYU's Daily Universe newspaper below.

There was another good article that I feel represents the true feelings of professors and students here at BYU on the topic of evolution. It basically said that most students here do not view the scientific theory of evolution and the story of the creation as described in Genesis as being an "either-or" proposition. I pasted that article below on top of the other.

I think it's TRULY sad that Texans will be voting in March on an amendment as to whether creationism/intelligent design (sometimes called "scientific creationism" by it's lobbyists) will be taught along with evolution in public school science classes. That is SO backwards, because it's TAKING us backwards to the dark ages when truly enlightened thinkers were burned as witches. Creationism isn't science...it's faith-based. You don't go about learning natural laws of science by bringing in the stories of Genesis. You just don't. Science and scientific theories are self-correcting, because they can be disproven or falsified. Anything that is faith-based cannot be falsified, and so it isn't a science -- and therefore, "scientific" creationism is not scientific.

Even creationism's leading intellectual, Duane Gish, PhD said in his book, "Evolution: The Fossils Say No" (page 42), "We cannot discover by scientific investigation anything about the creative processes used by the Creator." The main leader of creationism plainly contradicts his own claims and backs our own point that "scientific" creationism isn't scientific -- so, should it be taught in science classes? No. It belongs in a theology class, if anywhere.

Anyway, our mandate to "to keep the earth and have dominion over the earth" denotes that we are only stewards. I LOVE the Creation, as I believe God also does, more than we know. If we are indeed fellow creatures of all the living creations of our Heavenly Father, and if we have a duty to "keep" and be stewards of the earth, then I think it's more faith-inspiring if we ARE related -- genealogically, genetically, and evolutionarily -- to our fellow creations. And THAT knowledge alone gives me more faith to be a better steward, conservationist, and "keeper" of the earth and the fellow creations that live upon it.

***********************************************************************

Science professors don't view evolution as an 'either-or' proposition

By Alicia Moulton - 9 Feb 2009

Most biology faculty and students do not have a problem reconciling faith with their study of evolution, and many even find it spiritually inspiring. "Too often we assume a false dichotomy," said biology professor Jerry Johnson. "Yet one can accept evolution and still be a faithful follower of Christ." Students study evolution every semester, whether in the senior capstone class Biology 420, evolutionary biology, or in Biology 100. Charles Darwin's theories are not a controversial side-topic for the sciences but a core, connecting theme. Johnson and biology department chair Keith Crandall referred to a quote by geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky that "Nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution." BYU biology professors Johnson, Crandall, Michael Whiting and Jack Sites said they have had positive experiences teaching evolution and few problems. They are careful to teach evolution so students' concerns are addressed, and they spend time in class discussing the issues. Professors resolve religious questions by referring students to the packet of LDS First Presidency statements on evolution. They said they pay close attention to feedback on student ratings and that many students say taking the class strengthened their testimonies. "We spend time dispelling the myth that evolution and religion are incompatible," Johnson said. "We try to unburden students from the idea of either-or. That's baggage they don't have to carry." "Faith-affirming" evolution Johnson said his study of evolution has not diminished his faith, but has strengthened it by giving him a greater understanding of the creation. "It gives me insight into the creator's mechanism," Johnson said. "I hope every student comes out of my class with a greater testimony of the creation God has made." Whiting, who teaches a Book of Mormon class this semester as well as evolutionary biology, said he finds it much more impressive to view God creating species through the mechanism of evolution rather than individually. "I find it very faith-affirming," Whiting said. "We learn about the nature of the creator." Johnson said sometimes fitting together science and religion does create challenges, but students should not let this become a roadblock. He gave an analogy of building a rock wall. When he finds a good rock, but it doesn't fit into the wall, instead of throwing it out, he sets it aside to see if it will fit later. Johnson said often in biology, religion and life, all the answers do not come immediately, but that does not mean we should discard good ideas, such as evolution. "We need to be careful not to think that we understand everything, both from a science and religious perspective," Johnson said. "It's OK not to have all the answers." Professors said it helped students to understand the view of the creation in LDS theology, which does not always align with traditional interpretations of the creation story in Genesis. "The first thing is to realize we are not creationists the way the world understands it," Crandall said. He said understanding this makes it easier to fit the two together. Evolution at BYU Professors do not avoid the topic of evolution at BYU or modify Darwin's theories in class. "We're teaching a solid, rigorous evolution course," Johnson said. Johnson said in national standardized exams, Biology 420 students score higher in evolution and ecology than the national averages. Johnson and Sites completed their post-doctoral teaching at other universities before coming to BYU, and found that students of all faiths are interested in knowing how evolution fits in with their beliefs. "You might be surprised to learn that I've had the exact same questions about evolution and religion asked of me everywhere I've taught," Johnson said. Rather than finding greater conflicts at BYU, professors said there were greater opportunities. "We have the best of both worlds," Whiting said. "We can teach in the light of the restored gospel. [When students have a] better understanding of evolution, they realize their faith isn't being challenged." Johnson said evolution is his favorite class to teach and that he hopes every biology class will cover it. He said questions regarding evolution will come up wherever his students go after leaving BYU, and it is a benefit to be able to discuss these topics while they are here. "I'd much rather have my students wrestle with hard questions here at BYU where they can be basked in [this] environment, than somewhere else," he said. The distinction between science and religion Most biology majors do not have a problem studying evolution and some tire of the religion-evolution debate. "The constant debate wears you out after the first day," said Mike Streeter, a junior from Tucson, Ariz., majoring in physiology and developmental biology. Many do not find a problem because they see science and religion as distinct spheres with their own unique functions. "When we talk about evolution, it's just facts and what you can observe," said Aaron Fordham, a senior from Byron, Ill., majoring in biology. "I can view evolution as a very good mechanism to understand our natural surroundings and still have a testimony." Fordham and other students said LDS First Presidency statements on evolution were helpful. Caitlin Nichols, a sophomore from Orange, Calif., majoring in molecular biology, said she thinks it is important to learn about evolution as a science. "I don't think science has to conflict with religion," Nichols said. Sites said he is opposed to requiring public schools to teach religious views of the creation alongside evolution in science classes because religion is not science. He said religion has a separate place. "Science can figure out the laws and how they work, but it can't ask 'where did the laws come from?'" he said. "Science is not equipped to do it. That's not its purpose." He said if he put God as the one who orchestrated those laws, there is never any conflict. Good from Darwin While some may not know where Darwin fits in the rock wall, professors say his theories have many positive contributions. "It's amazing to think of all the applications the theory of evolution has in daily life that we take for granted," Johnson said. Among these are advances in medicine, agriculture, conservation, vaccine development and research to understand HIV and other diseases using knowledge of viral evolution. "All these advances are firmly anchored in the theory of evolution," Johnson said. "To tout this as an evil thing is a paradox. I think it's the opposite. It is a blessing of knowledge that we know how evolution works." Darwin's theories have not only benefited biology, but all the life sciences. Geology professor Brooks Britt said Darwin's theories are integral to everything he teaches. Surrounded by an office with dinosaur bones and fossils, he studies and teaches what he calls "genealogy in deep time," the lineage and relationships of prehistoric species such as dinosaurs. The concepts of evolution enable paleontologists to find how dinosaurs are related to birds, crocodiles and other species, through identifying common features on bones and fossils. "This earth isn't static," Britt said. "Organisms have changed dramatically. [Evolution] is the glue that binds biology and paleontology together." Whiting said much good comes from competent biologists who understand evolution. He said LDS biologists refuted claims that challenged the credibility of the Book of Mormon because they understood DNA signatures. "I think that evolutionary biology has not only blessed humankind but the church and students," Whiting said. Sites said the theories of Darwin and colleague Alfred Wallace are the landmark story of biology, followed only by the discovery of the DNA molecule in the 1950s. "It's our story in biology," Sites said. "It has important lessons for us, so it ought to be taught." Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Feb 2009

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Lincoln, Darwin and Smith, men that shaped history By Whitney Clark - 12 Feb 2009 Not only was Charles Darwin born 200 years ago this week, but two other important men were also born around the same time making a great impact on people for centuries to follow. Thursday night, Professor Riley Nelson of the biology department gave a lecture to a full house on the importance of three great men in history: Charles Darwin, Abraham Lincoln and Joseph Smith, Jr., two of which, Darwin and Lincoln, were born 200 years ago today. "We are making comparisons on how these people looked at the world," Nelson said, "and how the world affected them." Nelson structured his lecture into three different topics. First, the ways in which we as people learn. We can learn by either faith, force, consensus, art or science, Nelson said. "Good things can happen when there is a combination of ways of learning," he said. The second topic discussed was the idea that the time period, The Enlightenment, in which they lived helped all three of these men create their influences on society. "It was a time when discovery tools were coming better into common knowledge," Nelson said. He added that because of the time period, these three men were more able to look at many different types of learning. Nelson said though Smith focused mostly on faith, Lincoln on consensus, and Darwin on science, all three of the men used several types of learning to come to their conclusions. "I appreciated that he talked about the fact that there are many different ways of learning to gain truth," said Kimberlee Sirstins, a senior from Salt Lake studying communications disorders. "I think it is something that is very overlooked." The final topic discussed by Nelson was the similarities and differences among the three. "Each one had a turning point in their life," Nelson said. Smith's turning point came when he questioned the different churches around him. Lincoln's came when he left the ax on his farm behind and started a career in law. Finally, Darwin's turning point began when he traveled the world on the HMS Beagle. Nelson said all three men took the time to learn about their surroundings and the world, as well as had great influences in their lives to help them in their quest for knowledge. All three men were greatly influenced by their wives and fathers, as well as their outlook on religion. "The lecture was great," said Michael Hebdon, a freshman from Royal City, Wash. "[Nelson] just inspires me the way he puts these things in his life." Nelson said that these three men have made it possible for works of many others to accomplish great things. "We have learned that through their actions, they have not died in vain," he said. Copyright Brigham Young University 12 Feb 2009

50 cent night at the dollar movies....

Let me just warn you. Be a big spender and go on ANY other night!!

So my friend Tiffany and I went to go see Twilight again last Monday night at the dollar movies. First of all it was packed! I didn't even know about the 1/2 off night but apparently EVERYONE else did. It was insane. Granted, it was a holiday but it was way late at night.

Anyway. We arrive just as the movie was starting and we couldn't find a seat. We find some seats off in the corner and asked the guy if they were saved. He shouted something to the affect of no they're not saved and we sat down. 30 seconds later Tiffany tells me that he stinks. I laugh and tell her we could move but then we thought that would be way rude so we stayed. I thought she was talkin bout BO stank but no, she was talking about drunk stank, mixed with pot and cigarettes and bad breath for sho.

A little into the movie I we totally see him ROLLING A JOINT and breakin out his vodka bottle. We get up to move and he jumps up and says, "Excuse me ladies. I'll be back after the movie." Whatever the H that is supposed to mean. But before he gets up to leave he totally lights up his joint and starts smokin it on the way out the door. He was all up in our space as he was trying to get out of the seats and I was about ready to take him out if he got too close.

Then we jump up and move up to the front and I would have almost liked to have taken the druggie instead. OK. I saw Twilight the first time with Dusty in KY and NO ONE LAUGHED AT THE WRONG PARTS. Like there are a few funny parts but not many and definitely not enough to make the entire theater laugh through the entire movie. I was getting so ticked. I came to the conclusion that the theater was full of 12-year-olds and Utah Mormons who have an entirely different sense of humor or are too young to understand the romance part of the story. Tiffany and I were about to jump up and tell everyone to shut up. It was the WEIRDEST theater experience of my life. I don't know, maybe everyone else had a second-hand buzz going on from the pot smoker in the back.

Next time I watch the movie it will be at home with people who appreciate the story, watching it with no drugs or alcohol, with rules that no one laughs unless I do, in the dark, of course with chocolate. :-)

THE END.

Valentines Day

OK. I know I it's a few days after the fact but I had to post and say that I seriously had a FABULOUS Valentines Day. I had an absolute blast and it made it even so much more fun to get to spend a good part of the night with hilarious friends and such a fun, thoughtful and loving husband! Oh and not too mention the kindness of others that allowed Dusty and I to enjoy an AMAZING meal for free....yeah gotta love that. It was seriously the best Valentines Day ever.....next to getting engaged of course!

Happy Valentines Day

As I sit in my quiet house before my workout I was thinking about today and how there is bound to be tons of people waiting to be seated at restaurants and flowers being bought and chocolates being eaten :-), I think of how grateful I am for my husband.

I love that each Valentines Day Dusty really is himself. I love that he doesn't go out of character just to do something that he thinks he should because other people are doing it on this one day out of the year. Every single day Dusty tries to show me that he loves me by supporting me in my dreams and goals. He tells me that he loves me by his touch or his smile. I love that he knows my "love language" and tries to show me in his best way how very much he loves me. If he has the notion to get something for me he does. If he has the notion to create "Amy Land" when get home from work, he does. If he has the notion to do the dishes or straighten the house for me, he does.

I don't expect a romantic evening or full day of activities planned. I don't expect flowers or chocolates, although he KNOWS that dark chocolate is always welcome. I love that I know whatever we do together, no matter what day of the year it is will be fun, full of love, adventurous and full of laughs, smiles and "I love you's." Dusty would buy me the world if he could. He would take me out absolutely anywhere I wanted to go. The life we are building together is a testament to that.

Every day Dusty "slays dragons" for me at school, at home, in life trying to building his dreams and support our family....what more could I ask for? I couldn't and I wouldn't. I love Dusty so much and to me Valentines Day is just one day out of the year to reflect on that love for him and celebrate in our own way what it means to be married to your best friend. Six years ago today he proposed to me. I remember the rush of feelings and deep sense of love and respect I had for him then and couldn't have imagined how much I would love him now.

There is so much about Dusty that I love. He has a great contribution to make to this world and he makes it one day at a time. I love that Dusty has such great aspirations and uses every moment to gain and correctly apply that knowledge consistently in order to become a better person for himself, me, his children to come, his field of study, the world and animals which he serves.

He serves me everyday. He loves me everyday. I am so lucky to be his bride. I am so lucky to celebrate this day with him, the love of my life. My Valentine.

Gotta get me summa dat

Maybe if I gets summa dis, I won't be afraid to go to the dentist anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wjXPM_36Ic

Staying In-Tune

God answers prayers in His time. He knows best. I know this and I believe it with all my heart. Today a small answer of sorts happened that brought an added sense of peace in our hearts at home and I am so thankful for that. Dusty had a prompting and was courageous enough and willing enough to follow through and it reaped good results.

As I thought about this tonight before I went to bed I was thinking about how important it is to stay in tune with the Lord. When the time is right for something He will let us know and give us gentle prompts and it's up to us to make them happen. Agency and Gospel learning at its finest :-) I love the learning process even though I kick and scream a lot of the way. I truly know that I wouldn't learn any other way and I am grateful for a loving and merciful Heavenly Father and Savior to provide a way for us to learn, grow, repent, receive help and be happy!

Who knew clipboards could be so cute!

So I have found a craft that I love to do. I thought that this was like new or something, but whatever. That goes to show you how low on the whole domestic-goddess totem pole I am :-)

I painted the regular-old clipboard and then let it dry and modge-podged the scrapbook paper onto it and then modge-podged the whole thing to seal the paint. Then I embellished it a bit with scrapbook stuff. It says menu on it and this is where I hang up our menus for the week. I don't know why I hate the question "what's for dinner?" - actually I do know why. My dad always asked mom that morning, noon and night and that used to get on all of our nerves. So now, Dusty can just look at whats for dinner. Plus it makes me get organized and helps with preparing the shopping list.

Anyway. I had a lot of fun making this and would totally make them again for gifts or for fun. It's time consuming but I loved the way it turned out. I actually use a clipboard to hang my running grocery list for the week inside of my pantry so I think I will make a cute one for that too!

Qiuck Healthy Dinner

So Dusty and I have been consciously eating a lot more clean foods, (not processed anything etc.) and I must say I am proud of myself for venturing and trying new things and actually liking it - not to mention sticking with it and loving it! [and no I still do NOT like any form of uncooked tomato, especially a cherry tomato....even home grown ones--so let's not go there, k?!]

This week I threw together something that turned out way good and I wanted to share. Feel free to share your quick healthy meals that you can think off of the top of your head. Us women LOVE to swap quick-n-healthy meal ideas.

PITA PIZZAS

• 1 stone ground whole wheat pita
• some spaghetti / marinara (whatever) - nos sugar added
• little bit of low fat mozzarella
• grilled onions ( i do this cause I hate them real crunchy - more work but way better)
• mushrooms
• grilled chicken (if you want)
• small chunks of cauliflower
• sprouts
• ...and whatever other veggies you want

bake at 350 till cheese is melted and it's SO good.

Making Do and fixin' up

So Dusty and I have been slowly adding things to our home to make it nicer and just fixing up the place. We both had this attitude of "when we get a house we will...." and we just got tired of feeling like we didn't have nice things. Not even nice things but like nothing matched and the house just looked thrown together even when it was clean. So we have been adding a little here and there and even the SMALL things make a HUGE difference.

For my birthday Dusty got me a bakers rack for the kitchen. He had it delivered and ready for me when I got back from a trip I had taken this summer. I LOVED it. I think I have posted before that we are building kind of a rustic-country-homey-feel to our place. I loved this addition to our kitchen. We still have a LONG way to go before things are how we want them but I am grateful we have been able to do things like this to make it feel nicer.

So I have a bakers rack, a fruit basket holder I love, a nice wooden frame calendar a little apron that matches the hen curtains Dusty's momma gave me, a way nice iron rod cookbook holder, some Gooseberry Patch cookbooks (....if you don't have any, you need some; ESPECIALLY if you are from the south!!), that basket in the bottom rack is for my potatoes and we have a little red dish in the middle for the garlic and onions. I just love it!

The Logsdon Family

So I am sort of back from a long absence :-) I say sort of because blogging has gotten pushed back a bit due to life and I am trying to get eternally caught up with everything.

This is a picture of my parents and all my siblings. This was the first time we had been all together for SEVERAL years. We had SO MUCH FUN in Kentucky and we both needed it so badly. Christmas was so fun.

I do promise that I have LOTS of pictures to post and things to chat about. I am just behind. So, here is a picture of the fam. We had like 4 kids REALLY sick with fevers, coughs, crupe, one crying because someone said the word cat and like 5 minutes to take the pictures so Jeremy and Chauntel could catch their flight! Good times.

Modmum Contest!

I wanted to share a product link for Modmum. They have the cutest baby slings.

I think I would take a small and I like the Madison, Emma and Chole designs. They are all way cute. Check them out!

Thanksgiving getaway in Durango, Colorado

Man, Thanksgiving was awesome. Amy and I went to Durango, Colorado to an award-winning b&b called Apple Orchard Inn. It actually wasn't terribly expensive; the place was top-notch; and we were treated like royalty. Since Amy and I don't really have family here in Utah (other than a sister of mine and her extended family), we wanted to do something fun and unique without having to drive or fly all the way to Texas or Kentucky -- where our families both live.

We'd heard about this bed and breakfast and -- from the photos we saw -- we fell in love with it. It's nestled in the beautiful San Juan mountains of Durango, CO...it's as picturesque as can be. Lovely rocky mountains covered with evergreen-conifer trees, water falls, little rivers, streams, rapids, etc... and quaint & idyllic farms with fat animals and beautiful fruit orchards are EVERYWHERE. Durango is a snow ski/tourist town, and it's simply one of the loveliest places to visit in all of North America.

Here's the cottage Amy and I stayed in. It had a nice country front porch with a swing and two rocking chairs.



Our cottage was called "Wolf River".



Here's the view from our front porch. There are about eight cottages, I think. Ours was at the end of the cul-de-sac. Towards the left (but out of view) is a duck pond and the main house.



This is the view of the duck pond and the main house directly across from our front door. The dining area is there on the left side of the house behind that tree. It has floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, except for the kitchen side. The owners, Celeste and Jon, live in that house, and they rent out several of the rooms in the house for people who'd rather do that than rent a full cottage.

Your breakfast or dinner is cooked for you right when you walk into the dining area and sit down. We had apple pie on Thanksgiving, as well as Belgian waffles topped with cinnamon apples that were grown right there on the orchard. There are apple trees on the entire premises, along with aspen and fir trees.

Everything is from scratch and is gourmet, as Celeste received culinary training in Europe.

While you eat, you can talk with other visitors and watch the ducks, mule deer, and hummingbirds feed outside right from the dining area.



This is the west side of the facade of Wolf River. There's a stony creek (that is connected to the duck ponds) that runs in front of each cottage.


Wooden bridges pass over the stony creek in front of every cottage. This place was right out of a Thomas Kinkade painting.



A duck pond and the "back 40" of the orchard behind our cottage. Mule deer were constantly playing, foraging, and bedding down back there. Elk and Black Bear sometimes pass through also, though not very often.



On the southeast side of our cottage was this cottage and the view of the main house to the right.



Apple Orchard Inn was perfect for just meditating and kicking back.



Amy's version of heaven was hanging out in a bath robe by the fireplace, her skin smothered in baby oil or lotion, and kicking back with a book on an oversized wicker easy chair. That fireplace was so warm we had to turn it off every hour or so. She was never far from her favorite chair. The girl was lovin' life.



See what I mean?



Just when you thought things couldn't get more perfect, it started snowing on Thanksgiving Day around 12:30 in the afternoon. The whole scene epitomized holiday coziness.





Amy and I decided to go out and brave the snow for an afternoon tea. Celeste bakes delicious cookies every day, and so we headed over to her kitchen to swipe a few.



About two or three hours later, this is what it looked like outside. This apple tree was completely covered about an hour before Thanksgiving Dinner. It continued snowing well into the night.



Awwwww yeahhhh! The private hot tub on the patio. Ours was the only cottage to have a private one. What a perfect getaway only six hours from home.



Amy was loving it.



She took many more pictures with her newer, nicer SLR. She'll be posting those soon, hopefully.

And finally, here's a video. There are more videos we took, but they need to be rotated 90 degrees...anyone know how to do that? Some are also over 100MB (Blogger only allows up to that size). Any suggestions for posting those?

More soon!

Amy's Halloween Costume

I'll let her explain.

BYU Football home games

So, Amy and I went to some BYU football games this season. We were 11 and 1 before we played Utah last week. Booooo!!!!

We were at the NM and San Diego games...and kicked trash. Nothing like BYU football home games.

Here we are in the north end zone for the SD game. I've uploaded a video too.

People kept asking me what I was doing in the stadium in civilian clothes instead of being in uniform with helmet and pads...I don't know what their problem was. I guess they saw that I was obviously all ripped up under my hoodie and thought that I should have been on the field sacking SD's quarterbacks. It happens...

Oil Changes

Seriously, is it that I am way behind on getting an oil change that I have missed the jump in price? Does anyone know of a place that is cheaper than $30-45?

Tips for Healthy Snacking

I can't tell you how much I love this site. It is such a cute idea. You can just cruise the site yourself or do it for like an FHE activity or something.

http://www.licensetosnack.com/

Gratitudes

*you are getting the short version, my journal gets the long version :-)

20th - learning opportunities

21st - a season that helps you to focus on what you are grateful for. it REALLY helps sometimes

22nd - friends who you know you can hang out with and you know they won't try to compromise your standards or put in situations that are uncomfortable

23rd- the Plan of salvation, forgiveness and hope that our Savior brings

24th- half days of work ;-)

I am thankful for......

18th - getting to use gift cards on things that you want and don't really need :-)

19th - Advil, Kleenex, heating pads, hats, naps .....

*yeah, I know this is a lame one, but they are self explanatory and I really am thankful for them*

I've got some catching up to do...

OK I am behind on posting my "gratefuls" but I will give you the short version so you all aren't bored to death with reading a 25 paragraph post.....

10th - I am grateful for opportunities that surround us all the time. Sometimes it takes a little nudging from the Spirit to recognize them. Sometimes as we work really hard we finally see them. And sometimes, you see them all along. How great is it to know that you can "be-do-have" anything you want!

11th - I am grateful for such a wonderful family. I absolutely LOVE my siblings and parents and we are so close. I couldn't imagine life without them.

12th - the Internet. 'nough said :-)

13th - I can't remember if I said this or not but, whatever. I really am grateful for people who work hard at sharing their talents. There are so many wonderful programs out there from people to have followed their mission and passion and touch people's lives everyday.

14th - I am so thankful for long distance friends. :-) They don't seem so long distance when I can look at their blogs, call, chat, email etc. I love it!

15th - I love it that Dusty just chips in and helps when I need him to and even just because he wants to. He is so great about that. He never complains and really wants to share the load that's on my shoulders. There is nothing more sexy than your husband with an apron on or a vacuum in his hand. Yeah Baby!! haha Just kidding........kind of :-)

16th - Friends who feel comfortable enough to touch my husbands underwear, discuss it and then request that I go get mine so we can discuss that too. Priceless friendship.....you know who you are ;-)

17th - Pictures. I love having pictures that will tell stories and help you treasure memories for years to come!

Sunday Gratitude

Today I am grateful for people who reach beyond what others would consider limitations. We had an amazing blind piano player in Sacrament today and it touched me so deeply. Not only the song and the Spirit that it brought but what it meant for the piano player to accomplish such a task and what it meant for his challenges and triumphs in his life. I learned a great lesson today and I am grateful for that.

I am also grateful to have no-pressure relationships in my life. I LOVE the kinds of friends where I can actually be myself. I love the kinds of friends where you can talk about whatever is on your mind and not be judged. I am thankful for laughter and wholesome fun. I am thankful for listening ears and empathetic hearts. I am grateful for the strong women in my life who teach me everyday. (just in case you didn't know if you are a woman and you are reading this blog, that probably means you!) I have been blessed with many people in my life where I can just be myself. They are spread out all over the country (and in other countries) and I know they are just a call, chat, blog away :-)

I am thankful for the great power and testimony that can come from honoring the Sabbath. I am thankful that even though nowhere around me had a hymn book on Sunday and I forgot my own hymnal that I knew the words to all the songs in Sacrament on Sunday. To me that was a real blessing. I LOVE to sing the hymns and I felt an extra need to sing on Sunday and was able to do it with ease.

Just Humor Me....

When ever you go to a restaurant (or at home) and you ask/get something on the side like salad dressing, butter, sour cream etc., why do you do this? Do you end up using all of it any way? Is it a way to still get the flavor but not intake as many calories? Is it just a habit? Why did you develop the habit?......

Like I said I really want you to humor me. Really take a moment to think about the psychological reasoning behind his. (I do it too so you will get my answer later.) I want to hear from you. I am doing a study of sorts and I think you all can provide some great feedback. Thanks!

Week of Gratefuls

I have to do this by the week.... So, here goes.

Saturday - I am thankful for the warm home that I have, the abundance of food on my shelves. I am thankful for a mindful Heavenly Father that blesses me even if I am not doing my very best...He knows my heart and my potential. I am thankful for that!

Sunday - I am grateful that Heavenly Father doesn't compare us to each other. I can't even explain how grateful I am for that. He loves me just as he loves you. Wow! I know that I am a special person with unique talents and gifts. I have a mission here on earth that is mine and mine alone. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there every step of the way and they love me for me!!

Monday - I am grateful for chapstick! Yes, chapstick. It feels so good when your lips are dry and cracked to put a good ol' coating of chapstick on them!! Ahhhhh

Tuesday - Good books that inspire. The library has been my best friend. I LOVE reading and am such a book nerd. I thoroughly enjoy visiting the library and spending a lot of time there. Of course, the best book can be read at home, the Book of Mormon. :0)

Wednesday - I was glad to be able to exercise my right to vote. It was a great privilege. Even though my choice wasn't picked, my vote did count. Probably more on this later....

Thursday - Cozy...I love Cozi, the online organizer (thanks Heather). I love KOSY 106.5. And I love getting comfy, cozy as soon as I get home and snuggling up with my sweetie after a long hard day.

Friday - I am grateful for the feeling you get after a great workout. I went to the gym everyday this week and it feels GREAT! Not seeing the results I want yet, ;-) but it's great to be taking the steps towards a goal.

Saturday - (skipping a head a day...) I am thankful for giving people. I want to be more of a giving person. I do my best, but I could do a whole lot better. I am grateful for the example of my mother and mother-in-law and so many others around me who are exemplary people and who serve with all their hearts. (someone gave us BYU football tickets for tomorrow's game...and it sparked the thought...)

Teaching Kids About $ Moola $

I think that this is a topic that our generation and every generation before us got gypped. I am not blaming it on our parents, cause they didn't learn it in the home either. I am a lot more aware of things that I want to teach my children as I grow. This is a great article that helps you break the topic of money, savings, value etc. down to children's ages and helps you see what you can be teaching and letting them experience them even as young as 1-2 years old.

I love any article that helps us take big topics and break it down into stages for parents and makes learning fun. Enjoy!