Friday quote day

Friday quote day

Friday quote day

Friday Quote Day

Friday Quote Day

Friday Quote Day

source

Friday Quote Day

Friday Quote Day

Wordless Wednesday

real

Here's a real life update. Warning: there may be plenty of deep emotional and also petty things in this post. And run on sentences.

I turned 30 at the end of May and I'm still trying to accept it. It was a long day but fun because Emily and her kids showed up on my doorstep in the morning to surprise me. She and Jennifer and my mom had put together a gift of 30 things and each had a little note on it that made my day. They are so kind and I felt so loved. Then, in the evening Jake pulled off a small surprise party with some friends that overwhelmed me and made me feel so loved.

I quit my job the first week of June. It wasn't planned and we weren't well prepared for it. I just physically could not go in any more and deal with the drama. I couldn't deal with being told "even if you are working hard it doesn't mean you are accomplishing anything" and just had to get out.

I'm still unemployed and really hope I can find a good job soon.  And I know that decisions have consequences... like the fact that we may not be able to afford our annual trip to Newport Beach next week.

But, I have been so much happier. I have been able to finish some things that I haven't touched for months and have started exercising and eating better. I clean my house now, fold and put the laundry away on the very same day I do it and don't wake up every morning dreading my work day. I'm feeling more balance in life.

I've been thinking a lot over the past few months how much our lives change and that sometimes the nature of those changes cause us to drift apart from people we love. Or to pull back.  At the beginning of this year I pulled back a lot, especially with friends who have children or who are expecting them soon. I am so incredibly happy for them and admire them, but I don't know how many social events I can go to where all I hear is talk about labor and nursing and experiences while being pregnant.
I'm trying to become more engaged and to focus on how exciting those feelings and experiences are for those I love and get over myself.

I can't believe how much was lifted off my shoulders when I quit my job. And how much weight has come crashing down again as I realize that we aren't prepared to live off of one income just yet. And how much that crushes me in thinking that if we can't even live off of one income, we are soo much further than being able to afford more fertility treatments or adoption.

I have wonderful, kind and caring friends. I know we are where we are supposed to be because of the incredible friendships we have found.  I love that all of our weeknights are often filled because of plans with friends. I love that I have now been able to have sewing days with 4 different friends since I have been unemployed and it has been so much fun. I posted two things I have been sewing on Sisterview today.

My husband is wonderful and takes on so many burdens that I, with my protections learned from the Columbine shooting of being able to ignore so many things, don't focus on.

I love going to garage sales and thrift stores. It is so much fun. We have had two friends come with us this summer and were also able to go with my brothers and parents in Colorado, which makes it even more fun.

I've been accomplishing so much more and yet, have so much that I am behind on. If you don't believe me, just go here to see how many weeds I need to pull in my garden.

I've been listening to Brené  Brown's book, Daring Greatly and it is great. If you have never seen her TED talk, you should.  She talks about shame and vulnerability; and I'm feeling extra vulnerable because I'm unemployed and trying to start to eat gluten free to see if it will help with our infertility issues.

Hopefully, in the near future I will have a job that I can start after we get back from our trip to the beach (I have my fingers crossed.) I have an interview tomorrow so say a little prayer for me!

Life is real and raw and hard and wonderful and in the midst of it, we have those around us who are living real lives too who help get us through. I am so thankful for that.

dia de gracias

Some thankful thoughts I've had

-I am so grateful for my amazing husband.
-I am blessed with wonderful friends who brighten my life.
-I love my family and am so grateful for them all
-the home I have to live in is a blessing
-I am glad when I have a realizations of things I can improve to make my life happier.
-the world I live in is beautiful in so many different ways
-creating is wonderful
-I have been blessed with a healthy body and it's my responsibility to make sure it stays that way
-waiting on the Lord is a hard thing, but I am grateful for the lessons that will come.
-serving others makes me more thankful for what I have.
-optimism can go a long way- especially when you have work off for a few days :)

I hope your Thanksgiving has been full of joy.

every 6 months

Today is my favorite event that occurs every 6 months.

General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I am so excited to listen to a prophet's voice and to feel the Spirit of God that I know will be felt in abundance.  Each time I listen, I am reminded once again of God's overwhelming love for all of His children, the infinite sacrifice and atonement of my Savior, Jesus Christ and it makes me want to become a better person. 

I am so excited to listen to these men who are living prophets and apostles and to hear the word of truth from other speakers as well.

So, this weekend I'll be listening with hope, gratitude, and a prayerful heart that I can know what one thing I can work on to become a better person. It's a spiritual feast and I'm ready for it.

families

I love knowing that God put is in families.  I believe families are a central part of the plan He has for us.   And I know that we can be together forever with our families, even after this life. This knowledge is especially helpful on a day like today, hearing that one of my uncles passed away last night. I think of his immediate family- his children- (and his grandchildren) and am so glad they know that truth also- that they will see him again, if we live faithfully in this life.

complex

(I just need to write this post- not for anyone to really read, but I just need to write it today) so don't worry, I am not trying to begin a debate.

There are many issues out there that I consider to be black and white.  Examples I can provide are abortion and same sex marriage. I believe that abortion is wrong, and will always be wrong. Same with same-sex marriage.
But there are some issues that are more complex then that. Some issues are very complex. I think the most complex political/social issue out there is immigration.

I believe that most people out there who say that all illegal immigrants need to leave and also those on the other side who say that illegal immigration is not a problem are both wrong and are not realizing the complexities involved.

Yes, I can see how our nation cannot handle all of the illegal immigrants out there.  Yes, I think it is wrong that many use public education, the health system and other programs without paying taxes to help pay for them.
Yes, I believe that leftists like the ACLU who leave leaflets along the border telling people how to get in illegally is wrong.
But, it is not black and white.  The 14th amendment to the constitution declares that anyone born here is a US citizen.  If a parent is here illegally and has a child, do you really think it is better to break up that family?  What is more important?
As a Christian, I believe that we are all children of God and should all be treated in a Christ-like way. I believe that families are the fundamental unit of society and the breaking of families will have a negative impact on our nation and our world. 
I also believe that those who want them all to leave and do not understand why they come are naive and are not thinking about both sides of the issue.  If you lived around people who rode underneath trains and walked through desserts to get here just so their family could eat everyday back in their country, you would think differently about it. And, if you had a family that was starving in one of those countries and had no way to get an education or move forward, I would hope you would do the same.  We are all children of God and deserve a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence states this: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.  
Also, if you realized the decision they made to come- knowing full well they might not make it- or the women who knew full well that it was possible they would get raped and beaten along the way and still possibly not make it- and knowing that you were being separated from your family by coming and still decided to come, maybe you would think twice.  
Illegal immigrants that are here do not have perfect lives once they arrive. They are treated like crap by many, they work for less than any of us and suffer the knowledge that they may possibly never see their family back home in their country again, but that hopefully, their sacrifice will make it so their children can go to college and get an education so that their children's children won't have to have their family separated. 
I have lived in neighborhood where the hispanics- many illegal- worked 60+ hours a week so they could pay their bills here and send some money home and the legal citizens (in that case 99% black) who were on welfare and did not work, sat around waiting for them to come home from getting paid at the end of the week so they could jump them and steal their money.  Obviously the priorities are off somewhere. 
The only way to solve the issues is to eliminate corruption in all countries- in ours, in our society, in the Mexican government and other governments.  Maybe we should start with the US first- we all know we are practically drowning in the political corruption.
Last but not least, do we forget that our ancestors that came to the US were immigrants?  Do we also forget that a huge part of the west of the United States was originally Mexico and was stolen from them? Does it matter that their ancestors were here long before us??
I am sorry for rambling, but this truly is a complex issue. 


here is a link to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' statement on the issue: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/immigration


If anyone wants to read a book about someone's experience coming to the US, here is a good one. 

Elder Bednar - The Tyranny of Tolerance