Reconciling

So I had an assignment this week where I was required to interview a person who has an opinion diametrically opposed to my own. I ended up interviewing someone who has written a short book about an LDS perspective on homosexuality. Come to find out we agreed on many of the aspects--there were just a few main points we did not agree on.

Don't worry this blog is not to discuss my opinion on the subject. I just want to put it out there that it has been something on my mind ever since Elder Packer's talk this General Conference and the subsequent backlash resulting from it. Trying to reconcile what seems fair with what has been commanded is a somewhat difficult thing. But shouldn't it be? When has doing what is right ever really been what was easy? There are always grey areas and uncertainties. We wouldn't need faith if these didn't exist.

That being said, all I really wanted to do was point out a few parts of a press release issued by the LDS Church that I think pretty much sums up exactly what I feel:

· We join our voice with others in unreserved condemnation of acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different – whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation or for any other reason. Such actions simply have no place in our society.

Our parents, young adults, teens and children should therefore, of all people, be especially sensitive to the vulnerable in society and be willing to speak out against bullying or intimidation whenever it occurs.

Each Latter-day Saint family and individual should carefully consider whether their attitudes and actions toward others properly reflect Jesus Christ’s second great commandment - to love one another.

As a church, our doctrinal position is clear: any sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong, and we define marriage as between a man and a woman. However, that should never, ever be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but never cruel. His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear down.

There is no question that this is difficult, but Church leaders and members are available to help lift, support and encourage fellow members who wish to follow Church doctrine. Their struggle is our struggle.

Why I have the best friends in the world

Please note the advertisements on the side! This brightened by day considerably--not that it was a bad day of course. It was actually a rather good day. There is always room for improvement though.

I am so happy and grateful and thankful that I have stayed friends with such amazing people for so long!

Michael, did you know we had our first class together in fall of 2001!!!! 2001! (or possibly winter of 2002) Who can remember that far back anyways? And let's be honest, who doesn't try to block out freshman physical education?! I am still to this day thankful that I got my braces on during slideshow day! Oh, that makes it fall of 2001 for sure!

And Jessica we started swim team together that same fall!

And Wewe . . . we roomed together on the 8th grade field trip in Spring of 2001 and swam together that whole preceding year! We're talking about 10ish years of friendship here!

That's pretty extraordinary in my opinion.

(Click on the image to make it large enough to read.)

One month to HP 7 everyone! Can I get a "Somebody Scream"?

Anyone?

In Bronco We Trust

Saturday was one of those good days. You know, one of those good days that was extra good because you weren't even expecting it to be anything at all.

I had planned on attending the HELP reunion in the morning and then spending the day studying and doing things that are important albeit boring.

Instead, I spent the entire day with my favorite friends from Africa (that I lived with in Africa . . . they are not African). We ate pizza, talked about our favorite African memories including (but not limited to) squeeze yourselves, fierce (but really parasite) Pierce and Blurry Flurry our favorite Irish friends, the goat pee incident and Edith's reenact of said incident, the joys of wearing eyeliner and squeezing four people on one small boda boda.

Then, for the first time this season, I went to the football game. Can you say 8th row right behind the goal? I can:

Oh, yeah . . . and BYU won. About time, huh?

New favorite artist: Ray LaMontagne

I will carefully choose my favorite song and post it soon. I haven't picked one quite yet.

Yesterday's Feelings

I don't know if I've mentioned it yet, but I'm working at the elementary school again. Mostly, it's wonderful . . . per usual.

However,

yesterday happened.

Yesterday was BAD.

It was raining and it was sports day. Never a good sign.

So we had to stay inside and halved half of the gym with the 3-6 grade sports class (yes halved half . . . 1/4 of the gym for 18 running, screaming, antsy, short attention-spanned K-2 graders).

Before we even made it over to the other half of the gym two girls got in a fight. Not a verbal fight, a physical one. There were tears and time outs and apologies.

While calling role one girl stepped on another girl (whether intentional or not I have been unable to determine). There were more tears and another apology.

Then we played dodgeball. One boy got hit with the ball and a combination of that and his disgust with dodgeball because he got out so soon made him cry . . . more tears. The same kid got quite disgruntled later when he had difficulty with bowling. It resulted in him throwing a ball at me, having to apologize and getting sent to time out.

Things went smoothly for a bit until I was informed that two girls had stolen gum from my backpack. I was slightly confused because my backpack was clear on the other side of the gym. Turns out, it was one of the volunteers' backpacks and incidentally it was his first day. Some impression he must have got of us. I had been screaming myself hoarse half the class and then he gets his stuff stolen.

But what he must've thought of us unruly heathens!

There were two more apologies and some chewed gym spit into my hand. I momentarily forgot that while that's ok with Gage it probably isn't the best idea with a student who is not related to me.

Then we took a water/bathroom break. Two of my girls pushed each other's faces into the water fountain. Two more sets of tears, apologies and time outs.

(Side note: When I was in 5th grade I pushed a boy named James' face into a water fountain when he cut me in line on a field trip to Sandy Springs Park. I felt slightly inclined to laugh when this situation arose yesterday because I had been there and done that before. I am sure if I told the kids about it they would either promptly disbelieve that I was ever a child or lose all respect for me so I decided to just keep it to myself.)

As if it could get any worse, things got even more out of hand. I finally decided to mandate that anyone I saw not keeping their hands to themselves was out for the rest of the day. I ended up sending 6 kids to time out.

Whew . . . that hour went on for far too long.

To sum it up:

Kids in tears: 6

Thieves: 2

Time outs: 10

Apologies: 7

ABC gum in my hand: 1

On the bright side, the class did eventually end. And as far as I can tell not a single one of those kids remembered the slightest thing about how bad yesterday was.

Here are some pictures from happier days of my 3-6 graders doing abstract art a la Jackson Pollock a few weeks ago:

And this happy little bug was there to greet me when I got school today. It was like it was saying,

"Be happy Rachel, Friday is nearly here and one of those great thunderstorms you love is coming tonight. Now give me a smile!"

For all you kids of the 90s out there

Entertain yourself. I'm sure you'll enjoy this:

90s Nickelodeon Shows Quiz.

Remember this one:

General Conference 180

I love general conference. It is just a spiritually filled, faith reaffirming kind of weekend. Not to mention the french toast and the whole calories don't count thing.

Once again thanks to my connected former roommate and current friend, I was able to attend Sunday afternoon session. There is something exciting and moving about sitting with 20,000+ people listing to the counsel of our church leaders. And singing with that many people is rather incredible too.

I know because I took copious notes of nearly every single one of the wonderful talks.

There is always an overriding theme to Conference, and this year's theme (for me anyways) was agency. There was a strong message of our individual worth, accountability, personal progression, and access to forgiveness (which is a privilege we should take full advantage of). We are all free to act and make our own choices. This is a powerful responsibility that comes with obligations because, as we were counseled, we do not have the power to choose our consequences.

I enjoyed the story about the cow in the wheat field. The fences were placed for it's protection yet it went through the fence anyway and died as a result from consuming too much wheat. "You stupid cow" the speaker said. Our Heavenly Father loves us and always, always wants what is best for us. Sometimes in our short-sightedness we fail to see why there are proverbial fences placed around us that seem to restrict our freedoms and easily forget that God always has our best interests at heart. It is a wise person indeed who truly understands how obedience does in fact lead to freedom. Freedom from addictions, freedom from despair and the terrible consequences of wrong choices. The reward of obedience is peace and joy (of course in life trouble will come but you'll have the strength and faith to make it through). And let's be honest, who doesn't want peace and joy?

That seems a much better reward than any temporary happiness I can think of.

As per usual, Elder Holland gave one of my very favorite talks. Listen to it please!

It was a little more mellow than usual but insightful and uplifting nonetheless.

Basically, remember to always be thankful and do your best to serve others in any way possible (even if it is in a seemingly insignificant way) and you'll get the gist of it.

In the words of Elder Holland, "No one of you is insignificant."

crushcrushcrush

I watched A Street Car Named Desire tonight. While he was a complete jerk in the movie, I must say I have a big, big crush on Marlon Brando. I just can't help it. Look at the guy:

Of course he did get old and all godfatherie and was born in the 1920s but nonetheless he was a stud in his youth.

But don't you agree?

There has been some exciting cooking going on in my place lately, and I'll be sure to post both pics and recipes soon. Two words to get you excited in the interim:

Pizza

Pumpkin

Enough Said.