Choice. God's most important and most godlike gift given to his children. He even sacrificed 1/3 of his beloved offspring to assure that everyone was afforded a choice. It astounds and confounds me that people can slander the concept of choice - can twist it and defile it into meaning that abortion - murder - is a simple matter of a female's choice about her body.
Well, let me tell you, I am most definitely pro-choice, but not the kind of choice that conveniently relieves me of consequences made by previous choices. Some choices - murder, abuse, incest, etc. - are heinous! We, as children of God, are allowed to make them, but they should make the hearts of men revolt! In the case of abortion, a vast portion of our country's citizens have compartmentalized and devilified the idea until it's become a matter to be voted on. WHAT?! How desensitized have we become as a people to such perverse ideas, that the topic could even become a matter of debate? We should all feel, at the core of our being, that this practice is reprehensible and wrong. Our very soul should shake with disgust and outrage and a cry for justice.
So choice. Choice is a powerful and essential key to our very existence. We have the god-given right to choose, but we do not have the privilege of choosing or changing the consequences - good or bad. When someone chooses to shoot someone, the victim may or may not die or be seriously injured, but regardless the outcome, the shooter is responsible for his initial choice and the outcome thereof. When someone chooses to drink and drive, he may or may not cause a fatal accident, but the drunk driver is liable regardless the result. When someone chooses to involve themselves sexually with another person, the partner does not get to control whether the outcome of that choice is pregnancy or otherwise, but he is responsible for it nonetheless.
Satan would have us believe that sex is a casual, recreational thing - that it's no big deal. He is preaching this lie to our families, friends, total strangers, everyday in every way he can imagine - and he's got quite the imagination. But sex is not casual. The choice to participate in sexual intercourse is, essentially, a choice to have a child with your sexual partner. Now does that sound casual to you?
Now, I hear some of you saying, "What about rape and sexual abuse." We are all allowed our choices, and sometimes it seems that our freedom of choice is stolen from us by people who would inflict their will upon us - but it's not. No human can really take away our right to choose. They can affect our available choices, but we each get to make our own choice from the options available us. In the case of rape, I would propose that the options to adopt or keep the baby are the available choices, rather than the choice to murder a child. That said, I admit that I am definitely not in a position to judge someone who's undergone such a traumatic event(s).
Anywho, I watched this powerful and moving clip on facebook (and suggest that you do to) and felt that it afforded a great opportunity to share my view on the topic. I have thought about it quite a bit since a few years ago when one of my liberal, teenage students asked me whether I was "pro-choice" or "pro-life." The question left me speechless, because I knew my answer, politically speaking, was pro-life. But the power of the words pro-choice knocked me over. After all, my fundamental religious beliefs hinge on choice. It took me a couple breaths to realize what Satan had done in perverting such a powerful truth into such a powerful excuse for inexcusable crimes.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Pro Choice?!
Choice. God's most important and most godlike gift given to his children. He even sacrificed 1/3 of his beloved offspring to assure that everyone was afforded a choice. It astounds and confounds me that people can slander the concept of choice - can twist it and defile it into meaning that abortion - murder - is a simple matter of a female's choice about her body.
Well, let me tell you, I am most definitely pro-choice, but not the kind of choice that conveniently relieves me of consequences made by previous choices. Some choices - murder, abuse, incest, etc. - are heinous! We, as children of God, are allowed to make them, but they should make the hearts of men revolt! In the case of abortion, a vast portion of our country's citizens have compartmentalized and devilified the idea until it's become a matter to be voted on. WHAT?! How desensitized have we become as a people to such perverse ideas, that the topic could even become a matter of debate? We should all feel, at the core of our being, that this practice is reprehensible and wrong. Our very soul should shake with disgust and outrage and a cry for justice.
So choice. Choice is a powerful and essential key to our very existence. We have the god-given right to choose, but we do not have the privilege of choosing or changing the consequences - good or bad. When someone chooses to shoot someone, the victim may or may not die or be seriously injured, but regardless the outcome, the shooter is responsible for his initial choice and the outcome thereof. When someone chooses to drink and drive, he may or may not cause a fatal accident, but the drunk driver is liable regardless the result. When someone chooses to involve themselves sexually with another person, the partner does not get to control whether the outcome of that choice is pregnancy or otherwise, but he is responsible for it nonetheless.
Satan would have us believe that sex is a casual, recreational thing - that it's no big deal. He is preaching this lie to our families, friends, total strangers, everyday in every way he can imagine - and he's got quite the imagination. But sex is not casual. The choice to participate in sexual intercourse is, essentially, a choice to have a child with your sexual partner. Now does that sound casual to you?
Now, I hear some of you saying, "What about rape and sexual abuse." We are all allowed our choices, and sometimes it seems that our freedom of choice is stolen from us by people who would inflict their will upon us - but it's not. No human can really take away our right to choose. They can affect our available choices, but we each get to make our own choice from the options available us. In the case of rape, I would propose that the options to adopt or keep the baby are the available choices, rather than the choice to murder a child. That said, I admit that I am definitely not in a position to judge someone who's undergone such a traumatic event(s).
Anywho, I watched this powerful and moving clip on facebook (and suggest that you do to) and felt that it afforded a great opportunity to share my view on the topic. I have thought about it quite a bit since a few years ago when one of my liberal, teenage students asked me whether I was "pro-choice" or "pro-life." The question left me speechless, because I knew my answer, politically speaking, was pro-life. But the power of the words pro-choice knocked me over. After all, my fundamental religious beliefs hinge on choice. It took me a couple breaths to realize what Satan had done in perverting such a powerful truth into such a powerful excuse for inexcusable crimes.
Well, let me tell you, I am most definitely pro-choice, but not the kind of choice that conveniently relieves me of consequences made by previous choices. Some choices - murder, abuse, incest, etc. - are heinous! We, as children of God, are allowed to make them, but they should make the hearts of men revolt! In the case of abortion, a vast portion of our country's citizens have compartmentalized and devilified the idea until it's become a matter to be voted on. WHAT?! How desensitized have we become as a people to such perverse ideas, that the topic could even become a matter of debate? We should all feel, at the core of our being, that this practice is reprehensible and wrong. Our very soul should shake with disgust and outrage and a cry for justice.
So choice. Choice is a powerful and essential key to our very existence. We have the god-given right to choose, but we do not have the privilege of choosing or changing the consequences - good or bad. When someone chooses to shoot someone, the victim may or may not die or be seriously injured, but regardless the outcome, the shooter is responsible for his initial choice and the outcome thereof. When someone chooses to drink and drive, he may or may not cause a fatal accident, but the drunk driver is liable regardless the result. When someone chooses to involve themselves sexually with another person, the partner does not get to control whether the outcome of that choice is pregnancy or otherwise, but he is responsible for it nonetheless.
Satan would have us believe that sex is a casual, recreational thing - that it's no big deal. He is preaching this lie to our families, friends, total strangers, everyday in every way he can imagine - and he's got quite the imagination. But sex is not casual. The choice to participate in sexual intercourse is, essentially, a choice to have a child with your sexual partner. Now does that sound casual to you?
Now, I hear some of you saying, "What about rape and sexual abuse." We are all allowed our choices, and sometimes it seems that our freedom of choice is stolen from us by people who would inflict their will upon us - but it's not. No human can really take away our right to choose. They can affect our available choices, but we each get to make our own choice from the options available us. In the case of rape, I would propose that the options to adopt or keep the baby are the available choices, rather than the choice to murder a child. That said, I admit that I am definitely not in a position to judge someone who's undergone such a traumatic event(s).
Anywho, I watched this powerful and moving clip on facebook (and suggest that you do to) and felt that it afforded a great opportunity to share my view on the topic. I have thought about it quite a bit since a few years ago when one of my liberal, teenage students asked me whether I was "pro-choice" or "pro-life." The question left me speechless, because I knew my answer, politically speaking, was pro-life. But the power of the words pro-choice knocked me over. After all, my fundamental religious beliefs hinge on choice. It took me a couple breaths to realize what Satan had done in perverting such a powerful truth into such a powerful excuse for inexcusable crimes.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Camping at Kolob
The end of the summer found us camping with the Farnsworths and the Beattys at Kolob lake. While we were there we saw an owl, ate yummy food, made fairy houses, played with some dogs, and got really dirty. It was a short trip (I think preparing to go camping took longer than the actual camping trip:), but the weather was perfect and the company enjoyable. Unfortunately, my camera's battery died so here are the few pictures we managed to get.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Creativity
I just read this article. You should read it too and tell me what you think.
Speaking of creativity, I love this collection of creativity quotes by Rostichery - highly enlightening.
Speaking of creativity, I love this collection of creativity quotes by Rostichery - highly enlightening.
Friday, September 24, 2010
A Cute Girl
This funny girl has wanted to learn to go potty on the toilet since Tomy potty trained last New Year. I told her she needed to wait until we moved. Well, now that we've unpacked most of the boxes, I suppose it's time to bust out the pretty panties. Wish us luck - we're gonna need it!
In other news, the cute kitty pictured above, must have had enough of Hazel's "affection" because after visiting our house for a few days, it is nowhere to be seen. Levi and I are not exactly sad about his moving on.
Lastly, this Hazel girl likes to call Tomy "Pomy" (much to Tomy's chagrin) and her tummy "pummy." She also just got a wad of toilet paper stuck up her nose. FUN FUN FUN!
Hiking the River Walk
Well, I finally emptied the pictures off our camera from before we moved - now to get caught up on some blog posts...
Just before school started, we hiked the River Walk courtesy of another national park free fee weekend. Last time we went to Zion it was too blustery cold to go up the canyon, but this time it was hot and sunny - perfect for a walk by/in the river.
Just before school started, we hiked the River Walk courtesy of another national park free fee weekend. Last time we went to Zion it was too blustery cold to go up the canyon, but this time it was hot and sunny - perfect for a walk by/in the river.
We started out with a little snack by the entrance.
Then we "hiked" to the bus. Hazel insisted on wearing her new backpack.
On our hike we encountered squishy mud, pollywogs, baby fish, weird worms, and lizards.
We also met this fearless squirrel who enjoyed eating our trail mix. He sat and ate his nut just inches from my feet. He was one of the many FAT squirrels along the trail begging food from tourists and posing for pics.
Let's not forget the unforgettable views!
Notice that Mom and Dad our now shouldering the backpacks AND the children. Hazel now associates riding on ones shoulders with hiking and gleefully sings her new song about it.
I made it up impromptu while we were hiking to the tune of "We Are Pioneers" and Hazel wouldn't let me stop singing it. You have to love her attempts at singing "we are Gublers."
I made it up impromptu while we were hiking to the tune of "We Are Pioneers" and Hazel wouldn't let me stop singing it. You have to love her attempts at singing "we are Gublers."
It was a long hike for the two little ones, but we finally made it to the end. We had fun playing in the river. The kids kept running back and forth between Dad on the shore and Mom in the river.
And then it was time to hike the whole way back.
The best (and most random) part of our adventure was all the people we saw there. The bus driver (both up and down the canyon) was a friend and coworker from my college days working summers at a gift shop in Springdale. I hadn't seen her since just before Levi and I got married. Also on the bus, Levi and I started chatting with a family behind us sporting T-Bird gear only to figure out that they were Levi's Webelos leaders from way back in the day. One of their kids there was only just born when Levi was their scout.We also met Levi's cousin Rachel hiking with some friends, but that's not quite so random.
All in all, we had a pretty great -not to mention exhausting- day at the Park.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
I Feel a Surge of Deep Satisfaction!
(Name that movie.)
Today; after three days of sorting, completing, faxing, mailing, and calling; I am finally caught up with a summer's worth of put-off paperwork. Woo hoo! It's so nice to finally be settling in after a summer of chaos.
Today; after three days of sorting, completing, faxing, mailing, and calling; I am finally caught up with a summer's worth of put-off paperwork. Woo hoo! It's so nice to finally be settling in after a summer of chaos.
Monday, September 20, 2010
A Pleasant Surprise
My little boy has mastered the art of getting on my nerves. He knows all my crazy buttons and pushes them liberally.
And then... joy of joys... yesterday, out of nowhere, his mouth opened - not to whine, tattle, or complain - but to say, "I like you Mom!"
What? It took me a few seconds to process the unfamiliar phrase, but by the time he repeated himself I was grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks Tomy. I like you too!"
I guess being a mom has it's perks after all. :)
And then... joy of joys... yesterday, out of nowhere, his mouth opened - not to whine, tattle, or complain - but to say, "I like you Mom!"
What? It took me a few seconds to process the unfamiliar phrase, but by the time he repeated himself I was grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks Tomy. I like you too!"
I guess being a mom has it's perks after all. :)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Ahoy Mateys!
Join our highly attractive crew of privateers for Talk Like a Pirate Day 2010!
You'll find us at our new headquarters at 441 W Center, Laverkin on Saturday, September 18th from 4-6 PM. We'll start with some piratical mischief and mayhem and end with some skewered scraps of food nicely fired over a flame. If you'd like to contribute to our repast leave us a kindly comment stating which thing you will bring. We'll need chunks of meat (please specify type: pork, beef, chicken, dog, mystery), chunks of fruits/veggies, assorted sides, and beverages. RSVP by Friday so we know what viands we need to pilfer, er... acquire, for our festive feast.
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