Though I Should Probably Change it to Going to Bed at a Decent Hour

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Just Peachy-Keen, Thanks For Asking!

Doe anyone else out there make themselves do things they normally wouldn't do when they are sick?  Not like, going to bed earl, or resting, or eating chicken noodle soup, or trusting that someone else will take care of the dishes.  I mean doing things like staying up later, cleaning and/or organizing more, going out, etc.

Just me?

I know I'm not the only one who won't take medicine when I'm sick.  At least, I don't until a few days in and I'm absolutely miserable and I'm just too tired and miserable and stuffy and achy to argue with The Man about it anymore.  You know, when it's too late for it to really do much.  I get yelled at a lot when I'm sick.

How about feeling guilty when you're sick?  About everything?  The fact that you can't go to work (even though  you played hooky last weekend so you could go ice-blocking), or the fact that you can't do more for meals than stare at the oven before getting out the cold cereal, or just making everyone get it from the cupboard themselves.  Or the fact that you can't manage to put on two matching socks, let alone decent clothes when you get up to shuffle to the bathroom.

I know that can't be just me.  Us Americans are supposed to have immune systems of STEEL!  That's the next video in that "..... of STEEL" workout series.  Kind of an underground thing.  You have to be in the know about the black market to have heard of it (I haven't tried it, as I'm not much for exercise).

How about eating nothing but CRAP when you're sick?  Because THAT'S going to make you feel better for SURE.  Forget toast and broth, bring on the pizza and hamburgers!  I mean, if I'm going to act like a slug, I really want to BE a slug!

Being sick is about the only time I wish that The Man had another wife.  Or two.  Maybe three.  The first one could clean, the second could take care of Baby Cakes, and the third could play video games with me, or change out my movies.  But only when I'm sick.  I'm not sharing that sweet piece of man-sauce!  Hands off!

I also get rambly and incoherent when I'm sick.

Can't you tell?

SOMETHING ABOUT ME YOU NEVER WANTED TO KNOW!!!!


Oops, can't do it.  The questions are saved on my lappy.  Sorry folks, you'll just have to wait until I remember to post something again.  I'm sure you can make it.

Why I Don't Support The Wars

FIRST:  I completely and totally support our troops.  I do NOT blame them for doing their jobs.  But I have been asked by others why I don't agree with the war, and when I say it's because Jesus taught peace, and my religion dictates that I live by peace, I usually get a look that tells me they think I'm crazy.  And I don't know my scriptures well enough to support it.  Well, I finally found some (all bold emphasis is mine):

(Oh yeah, if you don't agree with me, that's fine.  This is my personal interpretation of these scriptures; I am not a prophet, I am not claiming to know without a doubt God's will concerning any matter that involves more than me, or my family, but it is what I believe.  I also know that there are plenty of scriptures that support going to war, but again, I believe that we have to follow what is laid out in D&C 98 first, and I don't feel that we have done that; therefore, I don't support the war.)

Romans 12: 18-21:  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:  for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Psalms 34: 14: Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

D&C 98: 16:  Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children;

D&C 98: 33-36:  And again, this is the law that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out unto battle against any nation, kindred, tongue, or people, save I, the Lord, commanded them.  And if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people nation or tongue; and if that people did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time, they should bring these testimonies before the Lord; then I the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them in going out to battle against that nation, tongue, or people.

D&C 105: 38-40 And again I say unto you, sue for peace, not only to the people that have smitten you, but also to all people; and lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation of peace unto the ends of the earth; and make proposals for peace unto those who have smitten you, according to the voice of the Spirit which is in you, and all things shall work together for your good.

Baby Cakes Gets a Cake

Well, a cupcake actually.

Today is Baby Cakes 1st birthday.

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Okay, I'm done.

But really, why is she a year old?  I swear she was just born.  I miss those days.  She actually slept then.  Well, sort of.

She's pretty much standing on her own now, and she copies everything you say and do.  Especially "uh-oh."  She loves music, and things that make noises, and making noise.  She also loves books.  And dogs.  She thinks they are funny.  I don't blame her, since ours are morons; any baby could see that.

And she also likes chocolate, we found out today.  The Better Half of The Dog Friends made a chocolate pumpkin to put on her cupcake, and that's pretty much the only part she ate.  She just kind of smashed the rest.  Of course, she did get chocolate all over herself and her clothes in the process of eating this pumpkin.  She got some great clothes which I'm really happy about, because she really didn't have much to wear that was warm, but now she does, and it's cute too!  And she got an awesome book about how rainbows are made and it's all magically with ribbons and stuff.  And a sweet frog table and chairs that she can't get enough of.

And she's not getting sugar again for a while.  Because it's 9:30, and she's still awake.  And not acting tired at all.  And I'm exhausted.  Of course.

Other good news, The Mother-In-Law is moving in to her own place tomorrow!  The Dog Friends fixed up their upstairs apartment for her, and it's ready and waiting.  So congrats to her, I know she's wanted out on her own for a long time.  I will miss not having to cook every night.

And I'll miss her too.

Happy birthday Baby Cakes!

Clear As Mud?

The Atonement: After All We Can Do

There needs to be many many more talks like this given.  This is one of the few talks I have ever heard about the atonement where I don't end up feeling inadequate, undeserving, unworthy, and generally like a screw-up.  Sometimes I feel that there are huge amounts of pressure put on us to be perfect BEFORE we turn to Christ for help.  To do all we can do, and only THEN do we receive grace.  Bradley Wilcox points out some of the mixed messages that are frequently sent.  Example: we sing the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour" (one of my personal favorites), and then we hear a talk given on how we can't have access to the atonement until we repent and better ourselves.  Once we do that, we will receive the grace we need to get back to Heavenly Father.  Brother Wilcox states that grace is given to us before we better ourselves, because we can't better ourselves without it.  And I like that.  It makes a lot more sense.  It seems like so much emphasis is put on our works, what we are and are not doing, whether we are doing good enough to be worthy of the blessings we have, let alone the blessings we want/need.  Home teaching and visiting teaching numbers are kept track of, with the goal of reaching 100%, and reaching that goal is pushed pushed pushed.  Then we are told that the numbers aren't important, but.....  I have been told in lessons that blessings are withheld by not serving others, not using my talents, by doing this, and not doing that.  Then I'm told that Heavenly Father loves me no matter what and will bless me when I need it.  Missions keep track of how many baptisms are made each month and by which missionaries, making it a contest to see how many people can be dunked, instead of making the focus on finding those people who are truly ready to be baptized.  If the numbers aren't important, than why are the numbers focused on?

Anyway, rant over.  I know that the intentions of our leaders, both locally and worldwide, are to get out the message that Christ loves us, and He wants us to return to Him, and that He will help us get there, and that we won't be perfected, no matter how hard we try, until we get there.  That we CAN'T be perfected on our own works.  I also know that they are as human as I am, and that makes them pretty imperfect, and maybe they have a hard time getting that message out while at the same time, doing their job of saying that we still need to do good works, and better ourselves, not because we have a debt to pay back to Christ, but because that's how you learn and grow.  And I love them for trying.  They are certainly doing the best they can to do what they feel they are being told to do.

Also, Brother Wilcox explains it much better than I just did.  So listen!