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!