One thing that really makes me sad is when mothers decide their life is over when they have children. Granted, it sure does change your life, but it certainly doesn't end it. I often hear people say, "I didn't like doing any of the things I did before anyways. I'm glad to give it all up for my child," or something to that effect. Please know that having a baby does not mean you have to give up the things you love! When Rex was first born I had to feed him at least once every hour, because (as the pediatrician told me) some kids are just eaters. I had one of them. I thought many times to myself that I would never be able to do anything if half of every hour out of the day was spent feeding this child. He is just over three months old now and I am starting to feel much better about the situation. Sometimes he takes three hour naps or just stays content on the floor watching my cook for a while. He doesn't cry every time I put him in his car seat and he loves going on walks or runs in his stroller with me. I'm discovering that I can still have a life!
My goals are to conquer my bad eating habits by learning self control, start my online business finally, exercise daily so that my body gets back into shape, and keep the house cleaner. I've been able to work on all of this and although right now it's a little overwhelming and requires me to step out of my comfort zone in many ways, I am starting to feel better physically and emotionally. I want to feel accomplished. Being a mother can do that, but if I don't know how to do these things for myself how can I teach my children to do the same.
The best way to teach is by example. I have always pictured my kids as healthy, active, and happy children. If I want them to do that, I have to show them how. This is what I plan on doing.
Me and Kalyn went to Utah this weekend to visit family. My brother-in-law offered me a piece of candy and I told him no thanks, because I was on a low-sugar diet. He thought I was kidding. I have to admit, it sounds a little bit weird for me to be the type of person to go on a diet, but I want to be healthy and have the energy to chase Rex around when he starts crawling and walking. I know I can reach my goals and am excited to finally set my mind to something and do it.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Does Nobody Read Anymore?
Let's face it. Everyone has pet peeves; those things that really irritate you. Some people hate the sound of fingernails scratching a hard surface, or people who don't make eye contact, or elbows on the table, or people reading over their shoulder. Personally I think it's gross to leave the toilet seat up. Particularly when both seats are up. Who wants to look at that anyways?
Today I want to discuss how irritating it is that nobody reads anymore. This leads to more work for everyone. Remember those people you hate working with because they always did a slop-job the first time they did anything so you or someone else had to redo it later? I've met some people like that lately simply because they don't read. For example:
The other day I saw an ad my friend had posted on a Facebook group that is used as an online "garage sale." It had a picture of a leather jacket with a caption that went something like, "large authentic leather jacket, $40." The first comment on the photo read, "Size? price?" followed by another one that said, "ditto" to the person above. Duh people! Did you not read the very clear caption above the picture?!
Just a couple days later I posted on the school ride board saying that we were driving down to Provo and had one or two extra seats if anyone wanted to join. They would just have to pay $20 in gas each way and we were leaving Friday after my husband got off of work. The first response back to the post was a text with the questions, "is it $20 round trip?" and "Are you leaving Thursday evening?" I wanted to respond to the person, "Dear human, You do have eyes right? You must since you read my phone number off the ride board. So use them to read the ENTIRE THING!"
It's a waste of time for everyone when you have to repeat every piece of information just because people don't want to read your entire ad. I really hope our generation has not really become that lazy or confused. I hope that both of those people were up all night studying or taking care of a baby and their vision has blurred from exhaustion and their brain is mixing up everything they see. Otherwise they really just were too lazy to read one or two sentences of simple English, and that terrifies me for the sake of our country.
Today I want to discuss how irritating it is that nobody reads anymore. This leads to more work for everyone. Remember those people you hate working with because they always did a slop-job the first time they did anything so you or someone else had to redo it later? I've met some people like that lately simply because they don't read. For example:
The other day I saw an ad my friend had posted on a Facebook group that is used as an online "garage sale." It had a picture of a leather jacket with a caption that went something like, "large authentic leather jacket, $40." The first comment on the photo read, "Size? price?" followed by another one that said, "ditto" to the person above. Duh people! Did you not read the very clear caption above the picture?!
Just a couple days later I posted on the school ride board saying that we were driving down to Provo and had one or two extra seats if anyone wanted to join. They would just have to pay $20 in gas each way and we were leaving Friday after my husband got off of work. The first response back to the post was a text with the questions, "is it $20 round trip?" and "Are you leaving Thursday evening?" I wanted to respond to the person, "Dear human, You do have eyes right? You must since you read my phone number off the ride board. So use them to read the ENTIRE THING!"
It's a waste of time for everyone when you have to repeat every piece of information just because people don't want to read your entire ad. I really hope our generation has not really become that lazy or confused. I hope that both of those people were up all night studying or taking care of a baby and their vision has blurred from exhaustion and their brain is mixing up everything they see. Otherwise they really just were too lazy to read one or two sentences of simple English, and that terrifies me for the sake of our country.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Image, and Why it's Important
I gave Kalyn a ride to class this morning and we had the conversation as follows (as I pulled around a car dropping off a student and a boy was walking in front of it):
Kalyn: "Watch out for that thing!"
Me: "That thing?!"
Kalyn: "Yeah. No human could wear jeans that tight."
This was proceeded by a lot of laughter, but after I dropped him off I started paying attention to what people were wearing and I thought half the students looked like they were gangster-wannabes or punk rockers on the side. I think image is an interesting topic these days. There are the "people of Walmart" people who clearly don't care what they look like at all. They claim that they are free because they do whatever they want and don't give a rip. Then there are those people who you swear must take three hours getting ready every morning and carry around an image emergency kit everywhere, because they never even have a hair out of place. Those are the ones who constantly check themselves out in mirrors and windows because they are so obsessed with how they look. They often go on outrageous diets and work out enough to be 2% body fat.
I think both those kinds of people are a bit out of control. Especially if you are thinking of a career out in the world. In the professional world, whether we like it or not, image matters. If you had the choice between shopping for groceries at a store with greasy employees, who smelled like BO and clearly never brushed their teeth, OR a store where the employees were clean, had cute smiles, and looked put-together, which would you choose? Now that's an extreme example, but I make my point.
It's my opinion that we should look like we take care of ourselves and value the body that God gave us. He compares the body to a temple; one of the most clean and sacred things on Earth. However, this brings me to another point.
We should never go overboard. My belief is that God wants us to be confident in ourselves, and everyone has a different way of feeling that way. We need to have balance though. My way is by working out. If I feel physically strong, meet my goals as far as improving my mile time or my distance, and keep myself clean by showering and doing my hair, then I feel good about myself. When I feel good about myself I am more productive. I am more useful to people around me.
I take pride in the fact that I am not ashamed when I go out in public without makeup or think I have to work out for three hours to look good. However, I also take pride in taking care of myself the best I can so that I don't feel like a slob. I value my body as if it is a gift from God. I am not perfect. Sometimes I eat too much junk food and feel crummy. Sometimes I go far too long without exercise or miss a shower (especially now that I have a baby). I do put in an effort though.
All I can say, is that there is value in taking care of yourself, and your outside image often reflects how you feel about yourself.
Kalyn: "Watch out for that thing!"
Me: "That thing?!"
Kalyn: "Yeah. No human could wear jeans that tight."
This was proceeded by a lot of laughter, but after I dropped him off I started paying attention to what people were wearing and I thought half the students looked like they were gangster-wannabes or punk rockers on the side. I think image is an interesting topic these days. There are the "people of Walmart" people who clearly don't care what they look like at all. They claim that they are free because they do whatever they want and don't give a rip. Then there are those people who you swear must take three hours getting ready every morning and carry around an image emergency kit everywhere, because they never even have a hair out of place. Those are the ones who constantly check themselves out in mirrors and windows because they are so obsessed with how they look. They often go on outrageous diets and work out enough to be 2% body fat.
I think both those kinds of people are a bit out of control. Especially if you are thinking of a career out in the world. In the professional world, whether we like it or not, image matters. If you had the choice between shopping for groceries at a store with greasy employees, who smelled like BO and clearly never brushed their teeth, OR a store where the employees were clean, had cute smiles, and looked put-together, which would you choose? Now that's an extreme example, but I make my point.
It's my opinion that we should look like we take care of ourselves and value the body that God gave us. He compares the body to a temple; one of the most clean and sacred things on Earth. However, this brings me to another point.
We should never go overboard. My belief is that God wants us to be confident in ourselves, and everyone has a different way of feeling that way. We need to have balance though. My way is by working out. If I feel physically strong, meet my goals as far as improving my mile time or my distance, and keep myself clean by showering and doing my hair, then I feel good about myself. When I feel good about myself I am more productive. I am more useful to people around me.
I take pride in the fact that I am not ashamed when I go out in public without makeup or think I have to work out for three hours to look good. However, I also take pride in taking care of myself the best I can so that I don't feel like a slob. I value my body as if it is a gift from God. I am not perfect. Sometimes I eat too much junk food and feel crummy. Sometimes I go far too long without exercise or miss a shower (especially now that I have a baby). I do put in an effort though.
All I can say, is that there is value in taking care of yourself, and your outside image often reflects how you feel about yourself.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Hands
Today as I was feeding Rex, I was also drinking a protein shake from a blender bottle. I noticed that every time I took a drink he would stop drinking to watch. After a few times I decided he was simply too distracted and curious so I showed him the bottle. His eyes got very round and he sort of patted it in that twitchy, clumsy way babies do when they don't know how to use their hands properly yet. I had to laugh at how fascinated he was with something I look at every day and find pretty unremarkable.
The things he is the most interested in right now are his hands. He's gone from moving them around keeping his fingers straight and flat, to actually bending them, interlocking them, and sticking them in his mouth. When I put an object in front of him he often tries to touch it. Also, I find he doesn't get into fits of rage due to hunger nearly as quickly if there is a lot going on around him, because there is so much to look at.
On Monday we took him with us when we played volleyball. He sat in his car seat next to Kalyn's mom while we played with his visiting siblings and a few friends and family members here at school with us. It took a long time for him to cry, because there was so much noise in the gym, and he was looking around at all the movement. I think if everyone were as curious as a baby, we would all be a lot happier and a lot smarter.
The things he is the most interested in right now are his hands. He's gone from moving them around keeping his fingers straight and flat, to actually bending them, interlocking them, and sticking them in his mouth. When I put an object in front of him he often tries to touch it. Also, I find he doesn't get into fits of rage due to hunger nearly as quickly if there is a lot going on around him, because there is so much to look at.
On Monday we took him with us when we played volleyball. He sat in his car seat next to Kalyn's mom while we played with his visiting siblings and a few friends and family members here at school with us. It took a long time for him to cry, because there was so much noise in the gym, and he was looking around at all the movement. I think if everyone were as curious as a baby, we would all be a lot happier and a lot smarter.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
A Baby's Perspective
So, I've been thinking about how amazing, and also how scary life must be as a baby. Things that we take for granted are a lot bigger deal to them. After watching my little one learning to do things as simple as build strength to hold his head up, respond to and recognize noises, and smile back at people, I can't help but wonder how other people lose that ability as they get older. Have you met those people who just never smile back no matter how sincere yours is? It's not worth letting ourselves become so miserable. One thing that has changed in my life since having a baby is that I feel like nearly everything is celebration worthy. Life becomes a little like this:
Oh look! Rex just smiled in his sleep!
Oh look! Now he can do it when he's awake!
Oh my heck! Do you see how well he holds his head up?!
Wow wow wow! He just lifted his head during tummy time!!!
This kid just rolled over! I have never been so excited!
How ecstatic am I? He slept 7 hours last night.
...etc, etc. When you celebrate things that small you start thinking everything is sort of awesome. Your though process looks more like this:
Oh look! I got the dishes done!
Oh look! I even had time to fold some laundry AND put it away!
Oh my heck! Do you see how well I stayed on task today?
Wow wow wow! Dinner is ready before Kalyn gets home from work!
This girl just went running again! I have never been so excited!
How ecstatic am I? I just slept 7 hours last night :)
Basically, I have realized that even though life is hard sometimes, there is a lot worth celebrating. I've had a few pretty dramatic days over the last couple weeks due to some health issues, but each time everything turned out fine. In fact, being so terrified and having my sweet, growing family to give me love, prayers, and support, I feel better than I have in a while. I love being a mommy.
Oh look! Rex just smiled in his sleep!
Oh look! Now he can do it when he's awake!
Oh my heck! Do you see how well he holds his head up?!
Wow wow wow! He just lifted his head during tummy time!!!
This kid just rolled over! I have never been so excited!
How ecstatic am I? He slept 7 hours last night.
...etc, etc. When you celebrate things that small you start thinking everything is sort of awesome. Your though process looks more like this:
Oh look! I got the dishes done!
Oh look! I even had time to fold some laundry AND put it away!
Oh my heck! Do you see how well I stayed on task today?
Wow wow wow! Dinner is ready before Kalyn gets home from work!
This girl just went running again! I have never been so excited!
How ecstatic am I? I just slept 7 hours last night :)
Basically, I have realized that even though life is hard sometimes, there is a lot worth celebrating. I've had a few pretty dramatic days over the last couple weeks due to some health issues, but each time everything turned out fine. In fact, being so terrified and having my sweet, growing family to give me love, prayers, and support, I feel better than I have in a while. I love being a mommy.
Monday, October 7, 2013
How I See Myself as a Woman
Saturday and Sunday were General Conference weekend, one of my favorite things to listen to. For those who don't know what that is, it is a time our church takes twice a year to listen to our modern day prophet, apostles, and other leaders. They give us reminders to what we could be doing better as a church and individually, and each time I listen I receive insight and inspiration as to how I can become a better person. If you want to listen to some of it yourself here is the link to each speaker from every session: http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2013/10?cid=HPFR100413105&lang=eng
There have been some women in the church lately that have been upset, because they are not able to be ordained with the Priesthood. The Priesthood is the power of God, and when boys become a certain age they have the opportunity to receive this wonderful gift that our Heavenly Father has given us. I can see why this is becoming an issue right now as opposed to fifty years ago. Women are told these days that they can do it all: go to college, have a successful career, keep their house spotless, look stunning every day, stay thin, and be a mother all at the same time. I don't think there is anything wrong with working as a mother. Sometimes people have to. Furthermore, I think it's great that women have so many opportunities to get an education and even start a career.
However,women being angry that men receive the Priesthood while they can't shows me that they don't fully understand how it works; they just want to have everything men do. Let me explain my understanding of the roles of women in families, because I feel like God made it that way for a reason.
Women are very loved by God. They have a huge responsibility in their lives. Women have the opportunity to be mothers. These days, even couples who struggle to have children have medical technology to help them, or adoption programs. Even people who never have the opportunity to have children of their own can be a "mother figure" to someone. God values this role so much that he gave it to us. He trusts us to nurture the next generation and love them.
Men were simply given a different role, not a lesser one, nor one that women need to try to take over. Today I was talking to Kalyn about all the women who are protesting, and this idea came to me:
Men want to be needed. It is in their nature to want to take care of women. Maybe God wants men to hold the Priesthood so they have more opportunities to help us. When I ask Kalyn for a blessing or treat him as the patriarch of our home, then I show him the kind of respect that can strengthen our marriage. Women may not be ordained in the Priesthood, but they exercise God's power through men whenever they need it. They can do this through a husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, home teacher, etc. I have come to the conclusion that God gave us different roles and we are meant to respect those roles, and each other, and God (along with His decisions. He is God, after all). If women spent less time being bitter about the role they were given and more time embracing it, they might realize that God really does know what he is doing. It's a matter of faith. We need to trust that He made things this way for a reason, perhaps many reasons. I love my God, and am so grateful that he made me a woman. I am so blessed.
A few talks this conference specifically speak about a woman's role and why men receive the Priesthood. That is why I am so grateful to belong to this church, where we have modern-day revelation from a Prophet of God. Sometimes, as humans, we need a little reminder of what our goal is on Earth: to be with God again.
There have been some women in the church lately that have been upset, because they are not able to be ordained with the Priesthood. The Priesthood is the power of God, and when boys become a certain age they have the opportunity to receive this wonderful gift that our Heavenly Father has given us. I can see why this is becoming an issue right now as opposed to fifty years ago. Women are told these days that they can do it all: go to college, have a successful career, keep their house spotless, look stunning every day, stay thin, and be a mother all at the same time. I don't think there is anything wrong with working as a mother. Sometimes people have to. Furthermore, I think it's great that women have so many opportunities to get an education and even start a career.
However,women being angry that men receive the Priesthood while they can't shows me that they don't fully understand how it works; they just want to have everything men do. Let me explain my understanding of the roles of women in families, because I feel like God made it that way for a reason.
Women are very loved by God. They have a huge responsibility in their lives. Women have the opportunity to be mothers. These days, even couples who struggle to have children have medical technology to help them, or adoption programs. Even people who never have the opportunity to have children of their own can be a "mother figure" to someone. God values this role so much that he gave it to us. He trusts us to nurture the next generation and love them.
Men were simply given a different role, not a lesser one, nor one that women need to try to take over. Today I was talking to Kalyn about all the women who are protesting, and this idea came to me:
Men want to be needed. It is in their nature to want to take care of women. Maybe God wants men to hold the Priesthood so they have more opportunities to help us. When I ask Kalyn for a blessing or treat him as the patriarch of our home, then I show him the kind of respect that can strengthen our marriage. Women may not be ordained in the Priesthood, but they exercise God's power through men whenever they need it. They can do this through a husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, home teacher, etc. I have come to the conclusion that God gave us different roles and we are meant to respect those roles, and each other, and God (along with His decisions. He is God, after all). If women spent less time being bitter about the role they were given and more time embracing it, they might realize that God really does know what he is doing. It's a matter of faith. We need to trust that He made things this way for a reason, perhaps many reasons. I love my God, and am so grateful that he made me a woman. I am so blessed.
A few talks this conference specifically speak about a woman's role and why men receive the Priesthood. That is why I am so grateful to belong to this church, where we have modern-day revelation from a Prophet of God. Sometimes, as humans, we need a little reminder of what our goal is on Earth: to be with God again.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Hard, Happy Days
The last couple days have been a bit exhausting for me. I worked three days in a row, early in the morning (getting up at 5am is not ideal for me... 8 sounds much nicer!). I was looking forward to a restful weekend, but Kalyn got a nasty cold, and a few errands needed to be run. Saturday turned out to be slightly less of a break than I anticipated. However, there is always Sunday! Thank goodness for Sundays. It was stake conference, so church was an hour shorter than usual. I was happy about that since I had to go by myself. Kalyn was still sick. I did get some rest, but I also started getting that weird feeling in my throat, nose, and head that you get when a cold is coming on. I was catching Kalyn's cold just in time for an early start on Monday morning (today), followed by a six-hour shift. I was feeling a little bit hopeless because I desperately just wanted to sleep.
Among all this exhaustion the Lord sent me a few tender mercies. I found a babysitter with ease. Rex beat his record of hours of sleep a night: 7 hours one night! I know how rare that is for a two-month-old. I tried on the next smallest pair of pre-pregnancy pants that my legs didn't even fit into last time I tried putting them on and they actually fit. Then, on Sunday night Rex rolled from his tummy to his back on his own for the first, second, and third time in his life. I am so proud :) All I can say, is that I am prepared for a tough semester (even though I am not in school), but I can get through it with a smile because among all that is hard there are such happy things happening too.
Among all this exhaustion the Lord sent me a few tender mercies. I found a babysitter with ease. Rex beat his record of hours of sleep a night: 7 hours one night! I know how rare that is for a two-month-old. I tried on the next smallest pair of pre-pregnancy pants that my legs didn't even fit into last time I tried putting them on and they actually fit. Then, on Sunday night Rex rolled from his tummy to his back on his own for the first, second, and third time in his life. I am so proud :) All I can say, is that I am prepared for a tough semester (even though I am not in school), but I can get through it with a smile because among all that is hard there are such happy things happening too.
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