Review of The Golden Compass (book)

Although I received the same email every other Christian received about how just looking at the cover of The Golden Compass might burn your kids' eyeballs out of their sockets, I decided to walk a short way into Satan's lair and actually read the book in order to form my own opinion. The fact that I'm halfway through book two should either tell you how much I'm enjoying it or how much closer I now am to the Dark Side of the Force.

In my opinion the book explores ideas and thoughts in a very non-threatening way. While the author may claim to be atheist, after reading his book, I find that very difficult to believe. He may have decided he wants no part of organized religion and/or the religion he was taught, but the book is way too spiritual and philosophical for him not be spiritual himself. The book wonders, among other things, if there might be other worlds (ie The Spirit World) nearby with which we might sometimes have contact? Does anybody object to thinking about that?

The main character, Lyra, is a good young heroine for today. I like her much better than Harry Potter because she is brave and doesn't spend any time feeling sorry for herself or her circumstances. She accepts her destiny and moves forward with a purpose. She is humble enough to recognize when she makes mistakes and learns from them.

In book two the author negatively describes The Church and then states that ,"...all churches are the same way." Being an Oxford graduate I would like to know how carefully he chose his words? I could agree with his statement in that I think many "philosophies of men" have been "mingled with scripture" throughout even our church -- on the local level. We know of strange teachings sometimes being taught in Sunday School, primary classes, or even over the pulpit. In that regard sometimes "all churches" can be destructive to the developing spirit. On the other hand, I don't agree that all "religions" are destructive and that is where I would like more information from the author. The Gospel is good news and when a person has a clear understanding of who God is and what His plan is for the individual you can't help but want to follow Him.

All that being said, I don't have any objection to these books -- thus far. I'm really enjoying the quality of writing, the new and inventive ideas and the thoughts they are provoking. I would highly recommend reading them. I will post another review at the end of the third book to see how or if my opinion has changed.

The Cockroach

When I was on my mission in California, our apartment was so overrun with cockroaches that we just learned to live with them. We tried everything to kill them and they wouldn't go away. Every time we would turn on the light in the kitchen we would see a scattering of cockroaches to their respective hiding places. Some became pretty brash and would stay out knowing that we probably couldn't do anything about it. Well, I am having a similar problem with a different kind of cockroach. So, if any of you have had experience with the following, please let me know because I need some practical advice:

A guy I will call Mr. Cockroach keeps showing up in my life. We went on a few dates almost TWENTY years ago, and I can't seem to shake him loose. It only took a couple of dates for me to realize how totally not interested I was and that I would be moving on. I remained friends with him because 1) I was young and stupid and 2) we worked at the same place for a couple of years and I thought it would be mature of me if I didn't go around telling people what a weirdo Mr. Cockroach was. Looking back, I should have. Maybe it would've gotten rid of him. Probably not.


I have tried nicely requesting he stay out of my life. I have tried being extremely blunt, telling him I wanted absolutely nothing more to do with him. I have tried allowing my boyfriends and/or husband to talk to him and tell him to stay out of my life. Nevertheless, he keeps showing up!!! The last time he called, Bret told him we didn't want anymore communication from him -- ever. But, Mr. Cockroach doesn't seem to get it because he sent me a freakin' Christmas card!!! The guy is in Colombia working for the DEA. Does it tell you something about the type of people the DEA will hire? Is it too much or too awful to hope for some kind of kidnapping by the drug cartel down there? Even then, I think he would find a way to keep showing up! Damn cockroaches!!!

I hope none of you have had to deal with cockroaches because they are so extremely annoying, but if you have any advice you have would be great!

You Want me to do WHAT?!

My complaint department has informed me of a few complaints coming in concerning my lack of posts. While these complaints are valid due to my immense popularity as a blogger and prowess as a writer, I must point out that my public persona doesn't always match my private. Of course my public persona always has life together. According to the ladies in my ward, my children are the most well-behaved and most perfect children on the planet. Second, again according to the aforementioned, I am SuperMom because of homeschooling and they're just sure I make all my food from scratch daily, including growing and grinding the wheat myself, sewing my own clothes, all while my children sit quietly for hours reading, writing and expanding their minds in a peaceful and cooperative manner. Wow!

While all of that may be true (in the fantasy world I have created), life is always a little messier, and thus richer, then that. Some of you many people who read this may not know I am pregnant with baby number SIX and that Bret started a new job a few months ago. Between throwing up, taking care of children, and being single Mom because Bret's job required him to give a pound of flesh by working all day and studying all night for a monstrous test, I have been a titch busy. Please refer to my very first post for a reminder and then decrease my "free seconds" by about 100,000 and you'll understand the lack of posts on my blog.

Now that Bret has passed his test (yay, yay, yay) and my throwing up is lessening, I might be able to find a few seconds here and there to get on here. I'm hoping this will appease my fan base. If not, maybe you can come over and grind the wheat while I sit at the computer putting forth my words of wisdom profound thoughts.

You know what? On second thought, thanks for even caring or noticing.

Is The Flu Shot For You?: A Few Facts

It's flu shot time of the year. When you listen to the media, they almost create panic as they question whether or not there will be adequate vaccines, and when or if the "epidemic" will strike. They urge people to get their shots quickly so we can avoid all the "death and carnage" sure to come this year. After these reports I'm sure people race to get their shot in order to be sure they're covered.

This year the shots are being recommended for everyone regardless of age or health. Usually they're recommended for the very young, very old, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women, health care workers, etc... Obviously, there are people who truly benefit from the flu shot and for those people, I'm glad it's available.

The thing that irks me is that people just willingly walk into their health department, roll up their sleeves and, in a robot-like state, get their shot. There are things about this vaccine, and others, we should all know, but usually don't. The more information you have the more you can make an informed decision. Let me repeat, I am NOT anti-vaccine, I am pro-education. What follows are a couple of facts concerning vaccines which, I think, are important to know. Then, when and if you decide the flu shot is right for you and your kids, YOU will have made the decision for yourself.

Until recently all vaccines were preserved with thimerosol, which is a derivative of mercury. Starting in 2000 thimerosol was REMOVED from childhood vaccines but it remains in the flu shot and in the RHOGHAM shot (for all you RH negative mothers out there). Recently a study was released conclusively linking mercury poisoning to autism-like behaviors. The study is as follows (it's hard for me to understand, but I include for anyone medical reading this):

Thu Oct 4, 2007 10:46 pm (PST)

Urine Testing Confirms Autism is Mercury Poisoning

A new peer-reviewed scientific/medical case study confirms that many
children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) suffer from mercury
poisoning. The new study, "A Prospective Study of Mercury Toxicity
Biomarkers in Autistic Spectrum Disorders" by Mr. David A. Geier et
al. Mark R. Geier has been published in the most recent issue of the
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A (volume 70,
issue 20, pgs 1723-1730).

This study utilized urinary porphyrin profile analysis (UPPA) to
assess body-burden and physiological effects of mercury in children
diagnosed with ASDs.

Using UPPA, Geier and Geier (2007) examined 71 children diagnosed
with ASDs, 9 neurotypical siblings, and 5 general population
controls. The researchers studied urinary porphyrin patterns using
results reported both by the US Laboratory Corporation of America
(LabCorp) and the French Laboratoire Philippe Auguste.

Their findings demonstrated that:
1. . Only the non-chelated patients diagnosed with ASDs had porphyrin
patterns indicative of clinical mercury toxicity.
2. . Treating ASD diagnosed patients with chelating agents resulted
in lower mercury-specific urinary porphyrins.
3. . The UPPA patterns reported were consistent between the two labs
used.

The results of the present study confirm and extend previous
observations by Nataf et al. (2006) and Geier and Geier (2006) on the
use of UPPA profiling to establish the causal role for mercury in
ASDs. Additionally, the current findings are consistent with those
observed by many other physicians who treat patients diagnosed with
both ASDs and mercury toxicity.

Thus, urinary porphyrin profile testing is being successfully used to:
1. . Demonstrate the role of mercury in ASD populations,
2. . Identify those children and adults who are mercury poisoned, and
3. . Track mercury excretion from affected children undergoing
treatment.

For the past several years there has been a raging controversy as to
whether or not mercury in medicines, especially in vaccines, has
caused a dramatic rise in the rate of children diagnosed with an ASD.
Many experts have insisted ASDs are caused by some yet-to-be-
identifie d genetic cause.

A paper recently published in Nature Genetics described the results of
multi-million- dollar genetics study (which studied a thousand-plus
families with at least two children diagnosed with an ASD using in-
depth genetic screening). Tellingly, the authors reported, "None of
our linkage results can be interpreted as 'statistically
significant' ."(The Autism Genome Project Consortium 2007).

With the current study's results, public health officials should now
publicly admit what they have been saying in their private
transcripts and memos: Mercury from Thimerosal-containi

ng vaccines
and other medicines has been a major cause of ASD cases, which, based
on recent CDC estimates (CDC 2007), may, when corrected for under
ascertainment, exceed a rate of one in 100 children.

Today, any parent, physician, or healthcare provider can easily
confirm whether a non-chelated child with an ASD diagnosis is mercury
poisoned by having UPPA testing run at either laboratory.

CoMeD's web site,
http://www.Mercury- freeDrugs. org<http://www.mercury-freedrugs.org
contains:
1. . Further information on how to order these tests,
2. . Full copies of the Nataf et al. (2006), Geier and Geier (2006),
& Geier and Geier (2007), and
3. . Some of the many published papers validating the UPPA

Mercury is not easily released from the body and builds up over time. Question: if you begin giving a healthy child flu shots every year from age 5 on, what will happen in their 20's, or 50's? I don't think anyone knows.

In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed vaccine manufacturers to take mercury out of all childhood vaccines. In October 2001, the Institute of Medicine issued a report that said it is “biologically plausible” that mercury-containing vaccines could cause injury to the brain, but there have been too few scientific studies conducted to prove conclusively that mercury in vaccines has caused brain damage. The above study proves it does.

Nevertheless, the Institute of Medicine recommended that drug companies take all mercury out of all vaccines and over-the-counter drugs. In compliance with this recommendation, a preservative-free vaccine with only a trace amount of thimerosal formulated for children aged 6 to 35 months is available in a limited amount. It is distinguished by a pink syringe plunger rod in the pre-filled syringe. All adult formulations still contain thimerosal.

My advice to anyone receiving the flu shot: Demand the pink syringe and avoid thimerosol if you can. I know this has been lengthy, but I hope it is helpful. If nothing else, I hope you feel as I do, more empowered over my own life and the lives of my children.

Part of the "Relief" Effort

If you missed the General Relief Society meeting Saturday I highly encourage you to click on the link and watch it. It was the best one in a long time! Each talk was thoughtful, articulate, and empowering. Even President Monson gave a good talk. He isn't usually my favorite ( I was hoping for Bednar), but he only mentioned one widow and it was appropriate for the context.
I have included one of my favorite quotes from Sister Beck's talk and I hope it will encourage you to read more. It made me proud and excited to be part of such a great and potentially powerful organization. We are more than glass grapes!

"My dear sisters, our prophet, whom I sustain with all my heart, has said that there is a better way than the way of the world. He has called upon the women of the Church to stand together for righteousness. He has said that if we are united and speak with one voice, our strength will be incalculable. I have expressed to him my confidence that the women of this Church will stand strong and immovable in our faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel; strong and immovable in upholding, nourishing, and protecting our families; and strong and immovable in providing relief. May the Lord bless us as we do this most essential work of women is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Jung Would Be Proud

My oldest daughter and I were in the kitchen the other night winding down for the evening. She was getting ready for bed and I was trying to straighten up and hold the baby. At about 9:30 my brain and body just want to sit down and be done. However, I turned around and noticed a pretty sizable mess on the kitchen table, half of which had been created by my daughter. I sighed an audible sigh and proceeded to walk towards the table to clean it. Then I said, "Sweetie, will you... Oh, never mind I'll just do it." As I start cleaning up she says, "Mom, that is nothing but manipulation! I hate it when you ask us to do something and then say that you'll just do it! It makes us want to just hurry over and do it, but it makes me mad!"

I turned around, picked my jaw up off the floor, and just as I was going to defend myself, realized she was absolutely right and I admitted to it. She then requested that if I wanted something done would I please just ask. We continued to have a great conversation and I thanked her for bringing that to my attention.

I was stunned! First of all, what 9 year-old uses the word "manipulation" and actually knows what it means! Secondly, I was impressed she had the intestinal fortitude to point out my behavior. It sort of made me want to say, "Okay, Avery, tomorrow you're going to school and you will become a 9 year-old like every other 9 year-old instead of a twenty-something in a 9 year-old body.

I felt better when, five minutes later she said, "Mom, will you sing me an extra song tonight and tuck me in?" I can only imagine what the next few years will bring!

Who Is Your Hero?

Heroes began a new season tonight. (Thanks to my Mom for getting me to watch the first season!) Of course I have to analyze everything and so I have to wonder what the main draw of this show is? Is it that we all have a desire to be a hero -- someone outstanding and noticed? Or is it that we wish a hero would come to our rescue and save us from ourselves and the choices we're making? Maybe it's a combination of both. Maybe people feel like our world is teetering on the edge of "crazy" and it feels safe to watch a show where people have to deal with the problem of "flying" instead of the problem of loneliness or addiction, etc... Or maybe it's just plain old fashioned fun. Whatever it is I like it and I'm betting they can change the world!

Tagged

Recently Krissie "tagged" me. Being somewhat new to the Blogger world I had no idea what that meant until she explained it to Avery and I discreetly overheard (of course I had to appear like I knew exactly what it meant). I can't remember everything I'm supposed to write about, but I know I'm supposed to write about what I was doing 10 years ago. It's amazing to think about it really.

Ten years ago I was nervously expecting my first child. Bret was in the Army and we had just moved to Fort Drum, New York. I was desperately trying to finish my degree, at BYU, before the arrival of the baby knowing it would be extremely difficult afterward. However, at the time of my pregnancy I was planning on staying home with my baby for the prescribed year and then returning to work. From the studies I had been reading on infant brain development, early peer interaction seemed to have positive effects on a child's social development. Daycare was in our future.

Looking back I don't know how Bret listened to me pontificate about all the perceived benefits our child would receive from daycare. He says he just hoped something would change, but that he was willing to support me if I really wanted/needed to work. Wow.

I had no idea the change that would occur almost the instant I held that baby in my arms. I guess you could call it biological, but it was more then that. I looked into the eyes of this brand new little baby and realized what I was being asked to do. I was being asked to give shelter and guidance to another of God's children for the duration of her earth life. So many of her perceptions of life and people would come from her experiences with me and the things I would teach her. I looked into her eyes and came to three conclusions: 1) I would never, willingly, go to work outside my home as long as she was living with me. 2) She would only be living with me for a short time (20 +/- years) and I had better make the most of it. 3) The hospital actually expected me to take this baby home and be in charge of her!

The changes which took place in that hospital room had a lasting effect. I have not had to go to work (thankfully). I still feel like my time is short with each of my children and I try to make the most of the time I have. And, as a result of having to actually care for that baby, and the others who followed, I have grown and matured in unexpected ways. The past 10 years have been incredible and I am truly blessed.

Thanks Kris for the opportunity to reflect!

A Trivia Lovers Dream Come True -- Google

Anyone who knows me long enough has to endure many sentences which begin with the phrase, "Did you know...?" followed by some piece of random information that my brain just sucks up like a vacuum. As a result, I love to "google." It's so great to be sitting at breakfast and have one of my kids say, "Mom, how long can your fingernails grow?" I look like I am the wisest woman EVER because I quietly excuse myself from the table, dash to the computer, google the question and, voila! the answer effortlessly appears. I return to the table and very nonchalantly answer the question. I love having all this knowledge literally at my fingertips. I think search engines were created by someone like I am for someone like I am.
Some of our recent "googles" have been:

Longest fingernails in the world

Big Bang Theory

Pictures of the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China

The Liberty Bell

Rosa Parks

What have you googled recently? Anything we should check out?

A Well-Oiled Machine?

For too long we in our wonderfully advanced western society have treated the body much like our cars instead of the incredibly advanced organism it is. And yet, sometimes we treat our cars even better than our poor bodies! Imagine how long our cars would last if we only washed the outside, used gasoline full of unnecessary additives, and acted like the on-board computer was the only thing worth tweaking. I would dare say our cars wouldn't last very long. Obviously, our bodies are much more complex and yet we have lost so much knowledge as to how to properly care for and manage them. Moreover, the sources from which we obtain food are usually questionable and so far removed from anything "healthy" it's ridiculous. Lastly, we are in such a "hurry" (myself included) that we simply don't feel justified in the taking the time to care for our inside as much as our outside. And then we're surprised when our bodies have problems.

I'm just in the beginning stages of my research into the following areas, but I wanted to share some of the things I'm learning. I have sources for all the info and will be happy to share them if wanted.

1. We are using whole wheat improperly. In our rush to become "healthy" everything is now "whole wheat" and "whole grain." What we don't understand is the body has a very difficult time breaking down the outside of wheat in order to get to the good nutrients inside. Most of the "whole wheat" we are eating never gets absorbed properly. Wheat either needs to be soaked, in liquid, overnight, before using, in order to start breaking it down, or it needs to already have started sprouting in order to receive the proper benefits.

2. Our gut has more neurotransmitters than our brain and yet we medicate our brain and continue to fill our gut destructive food. Neurotransmitters are the "feel good" chemicals. When our bodies are in a state of poor digestion we cannot absorb and produce the neurotransmitters needed for proper health. Moreover, when we cannot properly assimilate our food, what makes us think we can properly assimilate our medications? People are constantly having to "adjust" their medication because it's not working right. The reasons could be associated more with the digestive enzyme levels in your gut then the level of medicine. Having proper digestion is a must.

3. Proper digestion comes from producing enough hydrochloric acid and having the right digestive enzymes. Unfortunately most of us eat way too fast or huge amounts or way too spread out. All of this effects our hydrochloric acid production. Most digestion begins in the mouth. The simple act of chewing our food slower will aid in the digestive process greatly. Also, chewing our food slower allows our body to "catch up" with what we are doing and send signals of feeling full to our brain (thus the all important and incredibly neglected mind-body connection).

Because we live in a "pasteurized" world, most of our food lacks essential digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes our found in "raw" food such as milk, honey, butter, yogurt, and others. When we lack digestive enzymes our food cannot be properly broken down and used. In fact there is cutting-edge research on autism and adhd which suggests that these children have suffered from a lack of digestive enzymes from the beginning and then antibiotics and vaccines have almost "traumatized" their little systems. Adding enzymes into their diet is helping tremendously.

Obviously we have pasteurized food for a reason and it's not practical for us to have our own cows on our .10 acres of property. Lacto-fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, and natural yogurt, are good sources of food with the enzymes put back in. In fact, I am just beginning to discover how great kefir really is! It has all the digestive enzymes. It's a complete protein. It has all the B vitamins AND is has TRYPTOPHAN! Tryptophan is found in breast milk and turkey (it's what makes babies relax and people feel sleepy after thanksgiving). Scientists are just beginning to understand the huge benefits of tryptophan on the digestive and nervous systems. I would highly suggest incorporating some kefir into your diet. It tastes a lot like yogurt and comes in a few flavors. My kids will drink it and prefer it over their "vitamin" which probably isn't being absorbed right anyway.

There is a lot more I'm learning and I'll share as I gain more knowledge. Just wait until I talk about coconut oil and what it can do!

Wake Up and Smell the Gunpowder

On the news recently I watched a story about how one of this year's "must have" school accessories is a BULLET-PROOF backpack! Are you kidding me? Not only could I not believe what I was seeing, but I was absolutely taken aback by the number of people buying these things for their kids! Hello!!! If you have to send your child to a place where you feel they need a bullet-proof ANYTHING is it not time to rethink just where you are sending your child?

I know that many people, unfortunately, do not have a choice as to where they send their kids to school due to economic or other life circumstances. And, I believe that any education is better then no education. For those people I guess I'm glad they can purchase a product that may possibly save their kid's life as he is crouching in a corner fending off shooters with his pack. Terrific. Urban warfare 101. To the people who do have a choice, it's time to actually take five minutes to think about the implications of what is happening here. Either place your child somewhere else or get really involved with your local school and/or legislature and try and bring about the changes necessary so that you don't feel you have to send your kid to school with her own uzi in order to defend herself! Wake up!

...alright...I'll get down now.

Annual Homeschool Renewal

Practically the second your baby is born you are required to make major, life-altering decisions for your child starting with their name and continuing with almost every aspect of their lives -- where they'll live, what religion they'll participate in, etc... At age five you have to think about school. Private? Public? Charter? Homeschool? All these options have pros and cons and you have to make a decision based upon your values, the needs of your child, and the future you hope to bring about by making the decision you do. It's exhausting!

Each summer as I start receiving the "back to school" ads in the paper I begin questioning the decision to homeschool. I wonder if it's truly working? Do the kids like it? Am I doing this out of a need to control every aspect of my kids' lives or is it for more altruistic reasons? These questions play over and over as the new school year approaches and I have to fill out my affidavit for the state declaring my intentions.

July 24 those questions, and more, were shouting loudly in my head and I needed some answers before I could proceed. That night we went to my in-laws for our annual July 24th celebration and I struck up a conversation with one of my sisters-in-law about, what else, school. Her son is five and I asked her if she had decided which school option (they were considering private or charter) she had chosen? She gave me a funny look and proceeded to tell me she had decided to HOMESCHOOL! My jaw dropped. This was a girl who, while listening politely as I would talk about homeschool, said she would "never do it" and that "it wasn't for her." I was stunned but I tried to maintain a look of calm on my face so I wouldn't frighten her away. When I asked why, again very nonchalantly, she said she had attended her son's kindergarten orientation and, after listening to the presentation, knew she could not send her son to school. She then listed off all the reasons I usually give for why I homeschool reminding me why I made my decision in the first place and, once again, confirming my reasons.

Obviously nobody knows what the future holds, but I am, once more, certain of my path which, at least until next summer, is homeschooling. Thank you universe.

Just Potter the Crowd

Let's see I homeschool, have my babies in my bedroom, don't scrapbook, and generally go contrary to what the popular culture seems to be doing. However, the boy wizard is calling once more and I will enthusiastically answer. Yes, I will be at Barnes and Noble this evening, with Avery and Addison, reveling in the pre-release activities. Then, tomorrow, I will stand expectantly at my mailbox (to the embarrassment of my husband) waiting for my pre-ordered copy -- which I ordered in February -- of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows after which I, and the other 3 million people who also ordered theirs, will spend the day finding out if Harry lives or dies.
If you have only judged the Harry Potter stories by the movies, I can see why you would stay away. The movies are terrible. J.K. Rowling, while incorporating facets from many great science fiction and fantasy writers really has created a rich and fun world filled with all sorts of interesting creatures. In a time where the bad guys aren't always as easy to spot as say a dark lord and his "death eaters" it's nice to enter a world where good is good, bad is bad and a wand-wielding boy and his friends are out to fight the fight to the bitter end. Go Harry! I'm with you all the way!

Halfway to 70

June 29 was my 35th birthday! In some ways I feel older and in other ways I feel much younger. For me, at least right now, age is relative and I'm glad to be where I am and doing what I'm doing. I keep a journal specifically dedicated to my birthdays -- meaning I only write in it once a year. It's fun to turn the page and see what was happening in my life exactly one year ago or five years ago. I'm able to get a quick read on my life. For example, birthday 32 took place in Queens, New York. Sydney was just 10 months old and I thought she was my last baby! It was incredible to turn two more pages and find two more babies!!

This year I spent my birthday in Eden, Utah (never been there before) watching Avery play soccer. It was hot! Addison and Sydney and Jack ran around making new friends, getting sticky and being indulged by everyone around us. Paige was Paige and she spent the day doing what she does -- whatever that is. When a few people discovered it was my birthday they asked me what I was going to do to celebrate? I responded by telling them that I was sure a cake would show up at some point, and that my family would make it a party. Maybe I've turned some sort of corner, but at the ripe ole' age of 35 I was quite content to be sitting at the field spending time with people I love. I realize that when I'm older I'm going to have plenty of birthdays where I can spend the day at the spa or take a trip or whatever, but, how many birthdays will I have where I can just watch my little kids be little? I know when I am 70 I will read back through my birthday journal and cherish the birthdays I am having now. Why rush things?! I'll be 70 soon enough. Heck, I'm halfway there!

Information Vacuum

Galileo invented the telescope and was heretical...how are we going to solve the immigration problem...organizationally speaking, what is working in my kitchen and what's not...Sydney's brain needs a challenge, what should I do...men need to be in the wilderness in order to connect with their souls...archimedes died working out a math problem...I love to get swept away with Gabriel and Rachel (archangel fans will recognize the reference)...we really need to consider Pakistan more of a problem than Iran...fathers play a much bigger role in the development of their children than I ever realized...slavery was terrible...having a schedule is more difficult in the summer...coconut oil has amazing health benefits...wheat needs to be soaked before it can be used properly...I think I could make a cute picnic blanket...

I'm usually a constant reader, but lately my appetite has been voracious. The problem is I am reading, reading, reading, but not having a lot of time to process and ponder. All the above are swimming around in my head trying to find where they fit and wondering if they fit with each other. In the meantime, I can't seem to just pick one and focus because I can't seem to get enough of anything! For this reason I haven't blogged lately because everytime I sit down to write, it comes out like the above. This is my brain in suction mode.

The Path to Whirled Peas

Have you seen cuter girls? Last Sunday one of Bret's co-workers came to dinner. He brought his 4 year-old daughter, Daniela, who hardly spoke a word of English. Naturally, all the girls were curious about her and tried out their limited Spanish. Mostly, they just looked at each other and shared warm smiles. After dinner I explained to Daniela where to find some toys and encouraged Sydney to invite her to play. Then I left the scene to see what would take place. Approximately 10 minutes later little girls' giggles could be heard and Daniela came running excitedly upstairs to tell her Dad what kinds of toys she had discovered! The girls had found their way. A few minutes later they were sitting on the couch "shopping" with their food -- smiling and laughing. I don't know how much literal communication was going on, but it didn't even matter. Communication of the heart had taken place.

Children have so much natural wisdom when it comes to relationships. They love openly and generously without fear of rejection or differences. When do we forget these lessons? Should we send children to the UN instead of adults? What kind of results would we see? God sends us children to remind us of what could be. I know it's naive to break our complex and complicated world into such simple terms, but is it really? It was such a beautiful thing to watch these two little girls find ways to connect and to see their joy. As Daniela was leaving (by then she didn't want to go) Sydney yelled, "Bye Daniela! I'm going to invite you to my birthday party!" Daniela smiled back and, in that afternoon, we had achieved world peace.

Why I'll Vote for Romney Despite Chadder's Restaurant

We Mormons are such funny people. We like to use "peculiar" but sometimes we're just plain funny. There exists an incredible herd mentality among us. We like to think of it as "one heart and one mind" but in most instances, in our state of imperfection, it's nothing more than herd mentality. Take the excitement over a new restaurant in town called Chadder's. It's basically In-n-Out Burger with a different name. That's right, it's a burger joint. Now, I really like In-n-Out Burger and will probably go to Chadder's -- someday. Apparently every other Utahn feels like they just have to go to Chadder's RIGHT NOW and are willing to wait in a 20-car line at the drive-thru just to have a burger. It's a compulsion and I can't blame them. It takes everything I have not to get in my car, drive 40 minutes and wait another 60 minutes-- at least-- to get that juicy burger. Moo.
It's for the above reason I'm somewhat frustrated to be living in Utah during the upcoming Presidential election. I would love nothing more than to wear Romney t-shirts and go door-to-door campaigning for this guy. He has my vote and it's NOT just because he is Mormon! I have a brain and have been doing my research and I believe, out of the candidates so far, he is the one for the job. He has the experience, the drive and the qualities I want in a President. Being in Utah and saying I'm voting for Romney is like saying, "See you at Chadder's!" I get a knowing nod of the head and I swear I hear mooing in the background. Oh well, in Romney's case I'm willing to be one of the herd.

Are You a Heretic?

When Galileo invented the telescope and proved that the earth actually revolved around the sun instead of the opposite his invention was decried as Satanic. People thought the sun went around the earth because of a battle in the Old Testament in which the Israelites prevailed because the prophet commanded the "...Heavens to be still." The sun never went down and the battle was won. Thus, the conclusion was made that the sun went around the earth. Galileo was a devout Catholic and had no intention of leading people astray. He had to beg people to look through his telescope because people thought that the lens must be from Satan and wouldn't even go near the telescope. In 2007 we read the account of Galileo and scoff at those "ignorant people" and wonder how they could be so narrow-minded?

Recently I had a conversation with a well-read and thoughtful woman. When I told her I had used an herb called wormwood to treat intestinal parasites she was appalled! She told me that wormwood was a Satanic herb and that I was lucky I wasn't killed! She referred to its mention in the Bible as her source of information. I could not even begin to convince her otherwise.

I looked up every reference to wormwood in the Bible. Yes, it's there and yes, it's used in reference to punishment from God. However, the Bible Dictionary describes wormwood as a METAPHOR for God's punishment. Wormwood is a nasty herb to taste. It's bitter and not something you would normally eat. God's punishments have definitely proven to be bitter and not something you would seek.

I don't think the Bible was ever meant to be our science book. We have science to help explain the world around us. God, in his wisdom and mercy, gave us the Bible and Book of Mormon to help us know how to properly use that information. Galileo was not a heretic then and I am not a heretic now.

Mother's Day

Women unite! As the mothers of the world we know firsthand the difficulties faced by our children as they try and make their way. We can do something about it. We can provide good and safe homes for our families or for those children with whom we come in contact. We can spend less time worrying about whether or not we're "as good as men" and spend more time becoming "as good as women" can and should be. We can use our innate talents and gifts to create goodness and refuges. We can fight evil and be warriors in a time when it is most needed. The time for weakness is over. The time for denial is over. Women need to reclaim what we have allowed to be taken -- our dignity and our femininity. So, on this Mother's Day I firmly plant my flag in the ground. I hope it waves for all to see. I am here and I am ready and willing to fight for all that is good. I know God will make up for my limitations and that, with Him, I can contribute -- even if it's just defending my own little plot of ground. You can, too. Happy Mother's Day!

Never Say Never

I have a daily schedule. I never thought I would have a daily schedule. I never wanted a daily schedule. My husband has been telling me for years how much I would like a daily schedule. Of course, if he wanted me to do it, it was definitely out (oh my stupid pride).
Recently my kids have been fighting like crazy and I have been feeling even more stressed out than usual. I, notice the I, decided it was time to try something new. I know, how about a daily schedule! What a novel idea! When I told Bret "my" idea he just smiled and tried not to give me the "I told you so" smile which he knows would just send me running in the other direction.
I made a schedule and we started following it Monday. So far so good. I find I don't have to think so much about what we're going to do next. As a homeschooling Mom, it's nice to know where we're going without having to come up with a new plan every day. I think, until I had five children, it was easier to wing things because the chaos was at a 2 instead of a 9.5. Now it's sink or swim. I've always loved the water and am ready to swim. So, I'm ready to fall in with those who have touted the almighty schedule for years. Stephen Covey has a new fan. Never say never because you don't know how the universe will conspire against you.

Guantanamo Shmantanamo

Peck...People who need to find humane yet effective interrogation techniques should take some lessons from kids. Peck...peck... All you would need to do is put one of these terrorists in a confined space with five children...peck... and they're bound to break! If you've ever seen a video of baby birds with their mouths wide open...peck... constantly squawking for Mom, then you get the picture. It's constant pecking. It's not physically painful...peck peck..., but it doesn't stop. Even when you're in the...peck... bathroom, the one place you would expect some privacy, people are pecking at the door...peck... You really find out how much you love your children when, after a day of ...peck... constant pecking, not only are they still alive, but they receive kisses goodnight. Your peck in return. They go to bed with smiles on their faces, and you walk out of the room with a...peck...smile on yours, both parties knowing that in less than ...peck...10 hours the iron will of The Mother is ...peck peck... tested again. Guantanamo Bay aint got nothin' on me!

Nose Balloons

So my 6 year-old finds a condom in my nightstand. She opens the package and brings it to me to question me about it. The conversation went something like this:

What's this Mom?

(pause...pause...pause...In a speed faster than light, my brain thinks of every possible answer and still can't come up with anything good. Do I tell her the truth? It's one of those moments I have never considered and have no idea what to do.) She fills in the stunned silence with...

Oh, I know, you use it for snoring. You put it on your nose and it stops you from snoring! Right?

Before I can say anything, the girl puts it on her nose and presses it tightly. As she does she blows some air out of her nose. The thing blows up like a balloon. I start laughing hysterically. Her eyes get wide and she says...

Cool! Nose balloons! These aren't for snoring! Can I have one? Where do you get them?

She proceeds to blow it up over and over and then, gleefully, skips out of the room, nose balloon in tow, to go show her sisters. Meanwhile, I'm still laughing -- partly because it's funny and partly out of nervousness. What will she say the day she discovers that her beloved nose balloons are something quite different?

21st Century Woman

This will most likely be an ongoing column as I'm trying to discover exactly what a 21st Century Woman is. I recently read an article by a woman talking about why she thinks women feel unfulfilled in their roles. She came to the conclusion that technology has removed women from the systems which helped define them. For example, our great-grandmothers had to have one day set aside for laundry, one for baking, one for sewing, etc... Their lives revolved around what exactly they needed to do to provide for their families. Moreover, they were the ones "in charge" of those sysems. If clothes weren't sewn, everybody went naked. Thus, according to the author, women felt more fulfilled because they were sure of their roles and their importance.
In our time we have washers and dryers, microwave ovens, grocery stores and Old Navy. Everything comes pre-packaged, pre-washed, and pre-cooked. According to the author this is the source of our angst and we would be happier reverting to simpler times in order to connect with the true nurturer inside.
I've been thinking about this a lot and I disagree. I don't think I have to give up technology in order to find fulfillment as a woman. I don't think I need to sew the clothes and grow the food just to be able to define myself as a woman. I think she missed the point. I think women, and men for that matter, are generally unhappy as a result of feeling a loss of control in their lives. We have a grocery store where we can buy the things they have decided to put there for us. We have no idea where most of our food comes from or the process it went through to get there. We send our children away in order to have them educated by someone else. We buy the clothes that somebody else says we should to be "in" with everybody else. We are constantly bombarded by messages from countless sources telling us what we should buy, where we should vacation, who we should vote for, and what we should watch on tv. What do we do ourselves?
As human beings we have an innate desire to be independent. You see this in children. It is offensive to my three year-old when I offer to help her with something she is trying to do on her own. She lets me know that my help is not only not wanted but even the offer was not appreciated. Somewhere we lose that. We forget to ask questions. We forget that we forget to ask questions. In fact, we become afraid to ask questions. We allow ourselves to float along and wonder why we feel an emptiness.
We don't have to give up our cell phones, we just need to THINK about why we have a cell phone. We need to think about what we put into our bodies. We need to think about who we want our children to become. We need to think and not be afraid to be active participants in our own lives. I believe women can find fulfullment by understanding the choices we have and then actively making those choices and acting upon them.

Diapering Without Foreign Oil

As if I weren't considered freakish enough, I've decided to try using cloth diapers on my two youngest children! I actually began looking into the possibility of cloth diapering with my son, but didn't really feel the motivation until I had my baby and realized just how much it costs to buy diapers for two kids! I was looking at spending $80 a month just on diapers! I can think of a lot of things I'd rather do with that money than just buying poop repositories. So, I invested in cloth.
Cloth diapers in the 21st century are not our mother's cloth diapers. There aren't any pins and many of them come in really cute fabrics and have velcro and snaps. In fact, I was overwhelmed by all the choices available! I searched "cloth diapers" and got back an entirely new vocabulary list I had to learn before I could even think of buying any. I had to learn the difference between pre-fold, fitted, pocket, all-in-one, wraps, and doublers. Once I got that down, I made my first purchase. I went with the conventional pre-fold (these are the ones our moms used) and a wrap to cover it. These are by far the cheapest way to go. This way, if one gets ruined I'm not throwing away a $20 diaper. If anyone needs more info on this just let me know.
Anyway, I've been at it for over a week. At first it was hard to figure out where to put the wet diaper while trying to fold a clean diaper, while trying to hold a wiggly butt. Then I got smart and folded all the diapers so I could just grab one and have it ready to go. I've had to do some "dunking" in the toilet, but that wasn't so bad. In fact, my 6 year-old gave it a go one day and did a great job while managing to keep her hands clean!
The laundering of the diapers is relatively easy and kind of fun. They can't go in the dryer or they lose their absorbency -- due to dryer sheets giving them a waterproof residue. I now have a little clothes line outside and my kids have really gotten a kick out of hanging the diapers up to dry. Also, the sun bleaches the diapers and deodorizes them as well. We'll see just how long my kids like to help with the diapers, but, for now, they argue over who gets to hang them up.
It really was a good feeling to walk through Costco without having to stick 2 giant boxes of diapers in my cart. The diaper money will now be diverted to the DISNEYLAND money! Yay! On top of that, the absorbent part of disposable diapers is made with petroleum so I feel like I'm doing my ( teeny tiny) part to decrease our oil dependency -- not to mention decreasing the number of diapers in our landfills. Also, if some sort of disaster happened I would have diapers. I might not have food, but at least my kids' bums will be clean!
So far I really like using cloth diapers. I'm hoping my son will potty train sooner which would be a real bonus. My poor kids! What will their mother put them through next!?

Numbers Game

A title? Give me a break! I'm running on THREE hours of sleep and can barely think of my own name let alone a title for my post! As a mother of FIVE I am allotted exactly 3.5 seconds to: get dressed, go to the bathroom, and think about something other than who else needs to get dressed and who else needs to use the bathroom. I change approximately TEN diapers per day and wipe at least ONE bum daily. I brush THREE sets of teeth, make THREE meals, TWO snacks and SIX to EIGHT breast feedings. I break up FOUR arguments and at least ONE major altercation. I receive FIFTEEN hugs and kisses and end up with FOUR chocolate, lip gloss, or other unidentified stains on my shirts and cheeks which I get to spend .05 seconds cleaning off. In a 24 hour period I am Mom for 21 hours and that figure changes at random. Additionally, I have ONE incredible husband who, sometime in those 3.5 seconds manages to divide the craziness of the day and multiplies my happiness. A family of SEVEN! Never in my 34 years did I think I would be part of ONE, but I am and I'm SIX times happier and better for it!