"Hey, look at that. I made a little Mormon!" (And so did Lindsay)

Two amazing things happened yesterday.

First, and most importantly, my Lindsay gave birth to Baby Bennett Roger Purdie (Benny.) I am off to go see them in a few minutes, and I can barely wait! Congratulations, Lindsay!

Also, Lindsay, I hate you ... for not taring at all and telling me you "feel great" this morning after delivering a nearly 9 lb baby just hours before. Love and and hate are very close, of course.

Secondly, and very special to me, it was my Mormon anniversary yesterday. I've been officially Mormon now 11 years, and as I told my big sister yesterday, I am going strong ... except for the maternity swearing, but I am only human, right?

For the first several years of celebrating my Mormon birthday, I would go to the Temple to renew my baptismal covenants (kind of.) But as we have been married for awhile now, we try to celebrate in different ways. Last year went to the Temple and did sealings for the first time. It was like getting married over and over again for an hour, and we loved it.

This year, I forgot to get a sitter, so the day was about to go by unnoticed, but instead we made a big night of it. We headed to SLC to meet up with Bridget, Ben and little Paige. Bridget was my very first Mormon friend, so I owe her a lot, and it was really cool to celebrate together. We didn't get all cheesy or anything, but it was nice to be together.

We met up at Temple Square in Salt Lake. Why not to do Mormon things to celebrate a Mormon day, right?




Tim, Quinn and I got there early and ran around the temple. Quinn loved it. I loved it too. I know she doesn't understand a whole lot about God yet, but it was a very peaceful feeling to see her enjoying her first visit to a place that has so much meaning to us as a family.




And I couldn't help but think, "Hey, look at that. I made a little Mormon!"

It is very comforting to know that this is one area of our lives that is always peaceful and agreed upon (within reason, of course.) Our marriage was created on this path, and our kids will get to feel that spiritual comfort and security forever... and hopefully go on to make little Mormons of their own some day. (Making Mormons is the best!)





(When you are out with Quinn, you have to stop for horses at all costs AND to say, "Hey, look ... a bus!" everytime one drives by. That is just our standard operating procedure. Here is our horse pics. We also saw a LOT of buses!)


After we met up with the Reeds, we went to the History of Church History and Art. We planned to go straight to the children's exhibit, but we probably could have skipped it because the girls loved everything at the museum so much. Mostly they loved running around and touching things they were not supposed to touch.


(The curator said they have to repaint Moroni's toes ALL the time because little Paiges and Quinns LOVE to touch him. Moroni is the name of the Angel who plays the trumpet at the top of most LDS Temples. He's important for lots of reasons, but mostly he helped preserve the Book of Mormon through history.)


(Looking at the Temple from inside the museum.)


My favorite was when tiny Paige climbed behind the bar of a big handcart and tried to push it. So funny!



And much like how I like to copy Bridget, Quinn had to give it a try. Look at our little modern pioneers!! (Large groups of Mormons used these handcarts to walk from the midwest to the Salt Lake Valley. They are a Mormon classic item.)




When we got to the exhibit, the girls wanted to stay in the first area, which was set up like a hospital baby nursery. It is supposed to represent the part of the song, "I am a Child of God" that says, "He has sent me here..." (like from heaven to earth...get it?) They loved dressing and feeding the babies, and putting them to sleep.






(She also fed herself with a baby's bottle...)

Quinn found some other Mormon things to do, too. She found a puzzle on the wall there you look at pictures of Mormons doing Mormon things. What could be more fun, right?









(Magnets help the family car get from the house to the church and the temple.... classic!)


She found the baby Jesus, too, but she preferred the baby sheep. (In the pic you can see her saying, "SHHHHHeep.")





And my personal favorite: She held on to this iron rod and walked on the "straight and narrow path" from Lehi's dream in the Book of Mormon. The path represents obedience to the gospel throughout your life. But she got bored quickly and had more fun jumping OFF the path. Should I be worried?




(Getting ready to jump!!!)


We ended the night with dinner at Tucci's in Salt Lake. The food was average, but the service was top notch and worth the money. They treated us like Kings and Queens, welcomed two 2-year-olds with open arms and gave us plenty of time and space to catch up and hang out.

Being Mormon is fun. You should try it.

Pray, Read, Write and Share

Tim and I started a new scripture study plan this week. The change has been a long time coming. Basically since the first time we opened the scriptures together (when we were dating,) we've had different styles and ideas for how it should be done. So now, 6 years later, ... well, some things just take time.

Our new method combines what we both like about the scriptures. It's called pray, read, write and share, and I learned it at Girls' Camp last week. The process can be altered, but basically, you get together, say a quick prayer, read the same scriptures silently, write some of your thoughts and then share your thoughts.

It works for us because Tim likes to read a whole chapter straight through for his scripture study, and I like to stop and ponder and look stuff up and over analyze a bit. With this method, we both get to do our thing, but we get the closeness of reading the same parts and sharing our thoughts -- however great or small.

We're lucky that we have so much time together these days. We've planned to do our reading every morning at 9 a.m. Most ladies aren't so lucky to have their man home during the day. This is one of the many perks of the drummer's wife/ owner of the band. But Tim and the band will be gone for 8 weeks in the fall, so I have got to get all my time with him in now. Reading the scriptures together feels great and seems to count double for quality time. Hopefully we'll keep our new scripture adventure alive on the road with Skype and other modern marvels.

Girls' Camp

As this is also my Blog of Record, here is one of many long posts about Girl's Camp 2008. Read with caution. It might be boring to the non-camping on-looker. But I am in it to win it with blogging, so here it goes.

I spent the week sleeping in a tent. I also got to make some great friends and get a spiritual makeover that I hope will last for at least a little while. My adventure took place at Girls' Camp. In my church, all the girls ages 12 to 18 are called the Young Women. I work with them in that organization as an adviser for the 12 and 13 year old girls, so I got an invite to camp. Next thing I knew I was really dirty and singing "Atudeta" with my tongue sticking out and my butt in the air.

I had never been to camp before -- neither girls' camp nor camping at all -- so I had a lot of new experiences. The week had the best of many world -- lots of funny ladies, adorable girls, camp songs, yummy food, hiking and the spirit of God. What a beautiful site it was to watch as my neighbors -- both old and young -- learned, played, served each other and had their testimonies of God strengthened. Watching my girls really got to me as I pictured Quinn joining them in 11 years. I thought about the feelings she'll have about herself, about life, about the gospel... and about boys. It really bonded me to the girls to see them as big Quinn's, and it made me want to put in the extra work to guide them and help them. I hope someone feels this way about my Quinn someday when she is learning or struggling or homesick.

I simply fell in love with all the girls I worked with at camp. I adored all the hugs and cute note they gave me throughout the week, and I was humbled as any negative judgments I had of them were totally shattered. Some girls who at times have seems hopeless really rose to the challenge to make friends and to learn. I'm so proud of my Beehives who completed their long hikes and attended all the camp activities with excitement and energy. As we hikes with the first years of the first day, we were in a single file line walking on a steep mountain. I would call back to them, "Hey, girls, are you doing OK?" I would here back without hesitation, "NOO. I'm dying!" I would say is my nicest voice, "Oh no! Do you need a band-aid?" They would get confused, and just keep walking. I loved it. On the last night some of them tried to stay up all night with the big girls. I can't even express how cute it was to watch them slowly pass out in the middle of the tent while the giggles and scream continued around them.

Two of my dearest friends were at camp, so I of course loved laughing and talking with them all week. And trust me... we did laugh. hard. My friend Melissa has an amazing ability to think in the moment and not see the future, so she is great at making quick, simple decisions. I have a horrible time making decisions because I constantly think in consequences even with things that don't matter. So we had a great, on-going joke all week that Melissa would make all my choices for me at camp. Believe it of not, she made great decisions. Every time I made the choice, we ended up board or cleaning. So whenever someone asked me what I wanted to do, I just said with a straight face, "Oh, um, ask Melissa, she makes my decisions for me." It was great and so funny. Melissa and I also proved to be "Super Star" campers who were completely "In it to win it" sleeping on the ground, staying up too late, and not complaining about the bugs and other wilderness critters. We were referred to more than once as the fountain of youth. I didn't want to spoil my image, so I didn't tell anyone about my aching back and sore hips from the hard ground. I learned so much from Melissa, Ammie and the other leaders who worked their tails off to put on a great camp. They never thought about themselves. It was all and always about the girls. It was true, beautiful service. And I also had such a blast with the other older leaders. I got chances to sit and talk with so many other leaders who I didn't really know before. I feel so connected to so many more people in my neighborhood. I know their trials, happiness, humors and thoughts, and that can make all the difference.

I also gained a much greater understanding of the Young Women program in general. I always thought of mutual back in California as a place where the girls could be around other people with their values. I guess I've never understand what the big deal about Young Women's is in Utah since everyone around everyone is Mormon. But as we camped and hung out with girls from our stake and ward I realized it just doesn't mater how many Mormons are around you. You still have to gain your own testimony of Jesus. You still have to learn the details, feel the spirit, repent, grow, learn and pray. And you still have to learn to do all of these things both in and outside of your home and family life. Anyway, I could talk forever on that, but for now I am going to just let it continue to sink in.

The theme of the camp was "Steadfast Survivor: Be Still and Know." The organizers challenged the girls to be unplugged for the week and take time to know God and the critical principles of his gospel. I really tried to also connect with the theme for my myself and so I could help the girls along the way. I have several more stories to share, but I am going to spread them out over the next few days. And as soon as I can I will pouch pictures of the week from Ammie and Melissa's blogs.




Other favorite memories:
The commitment of the stake leaders
The Girls of the Suncrest 1st ward
Amazing Paige Loudon
The walk through activity on the last night
Being homesick and coming home to see Quinn

Seriously, So Blessed

Blog satire gets me thinking...


So, a friend sent me a link to the following blog: seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com.

It is a satire making fun of a certain type of married Mormon women in Utah. I read it. There were some funny parts. But reading about it just made me as annoyed as meeting this kind of person. But the comments are pretty funny because some people don't realize that is it fake even though the "about me" section describes the person as a composite and she refers to her husband as the initials of 4 men that fit the mold. It's weird that someone would get on the blog of a person they don't know and then just start judging and commenting without really even getting the joke. I don't get it.

I think this blog does say something about blogging in general, though. As time goes on all new media will find new ways to fulfill certain comedic or dramatic or human needs that we have. This one is sort of a Saturday Night Live character for bloggers. I just think that is in interesting thing to think about.

I also want to take a minute to share the definition of satire: criticism to produce reform.

The goal of satire is to change something. Just a thought. I think we forget that sometimes. But trust me, if there is any part of this composite girl from the blog in me, I will remember it next time I act like her. Maybe it will stop me, and maybe it won't. But I think it is interesting to think about that find of effect within a new medium.

Anyway, check out this blog and use it to ponder the great media divides/expansions/changes/needs/purposes/ or whatever.

I'd rather be listening to the MoTab

So, Quinn hates to go to bed these days. That's fine with me that she has her opinions and all. I welcome that, but I veto this specific desire, of course. Plus, after a long day, I am always counting down to nightsy, nightsy time so I can watch a show and grade papers.

Last week after Tim had been gone for 9 days in Japan I sort of hit my limit when Quinn would not take a nap before church. So, I did what any self-respecting, spirit loving Mormon would do. I blasted the Music and the Spoken Word as loud as it would go to DROWN HER OUT. It worked like a charm, and I have no idea how hard or how long she cried. I walked around the house getting stuff done and listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with no care in the world and a smile on my face.

I saved yesterday's broadcast in case I might need it again this week while Tim is off working, and sure enough at about 8 p.m. Quinn was once again forced to surrender to Lloyd Newell and the gang. Her screaming left my mind, and my heart was filled with some (very loud) peace. With in five minutes, she was done. (And I was too because it was REALLY loud.)

A BYU religion professor once told me that people need to be willing to sit in silence to receive answers to prayer. He used to say, "Sometimes even the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is too loud." Oh, how true that rings in my house. Literally.

It is for sure now: American Idol is fake

Another American Idol mess-up shows that contestants' sour notes are sometimes cleaned up. I give up on the big lie that is Idol.


So, at the beginning of the American Idol top 24 episodes this year, my husband declared to me that American is totally rigged and that the judges/producers purposely put failed or already discovered artists into the 24 to stack the deck at getting a better chance at a hit-selling winner. He had done a bunch of reading online, and he told me the stories about how Carly crashed a record label with her $2 million flop when she was 19 and how David A. has been beating the pants off of Star Search for years. I told him to calm down, and we'd see what happen.

Well, what just happen is the season finale, which took any doubt out of the equation that this show is not what it appears to be. I'm not out of my mind. I fully expected the producers to use their song choosing powers last week to try to help seal whatever deal they want, but I have never expected that what is being sung on the stage is not actually what we hear at home. But this is what happen at the finale. It is very clear during the recap clips at the end that David A.'s last high note in Imagine was totally off (horrid, horrible, wanted to plug my ears, off.) We went back to listen again, and the note in the performance was on key and never went to the high note heard in the recap. What is going on here, idol?

The same thing seemed to be the case with at least one David C. note. And, ironically enough, this was the only night of the season that the judges did not comment on the performers "pitchiness" in spots. But I heard it myself; David A. hit a full-on sour note. It is clear that an autotuning devise was used during the performances and then the wrong clips where pulled for the recaps OR someone was in charge of cutting out the bad note for the replays of this not-so-live show, but they forgot to fix the recaps too.


Now, I have the worst ear for music, so the fact that I could hear this problem is crazy. I also noticed that David A.'s songs were muffled as if a remix was dubbed after taping to focus on the crowd and not the singing. I am Mormon and from Utah like David A., so I back him and hope he wins. But I don't think anyone would really want to win this way. What is American Idol trying to pull? How can we trust anything when these mix ups keep happening that show what is really going on?

As much as I enjoy the show, I think I might have to be done forever because this kind of obvious dishonesty is just unfair. Right, everyone knows that we are all suckers when it comes to all kinds of media and the fact that we watch this show in the first place (and buy the iTunes the next day.) It reminds me of the movie Simone where a man created a pop super star who was actually just a hologram that he projected from his computer.

In general, I don't want to be part of something that makes people even less aware of how media industries and messages actually work. I originally supported idol because I felt like it gave consumers the power to choose the people they want to see in pop culture. I liked being able to choose sleeves and kindness, but now it just feels like a lie.... 'cause it is.

*** We just re-watched everything AGAIN. And as we watched and compared the notes, movements, facial expressions and all (because we are that lame) it is clear that they ending recaps are not even the same clips as the actual live performances. It must be from the dress rehearsal. Now, I hate this show because it's just dumb. Don't they pay people a lot of money to keep things straight? And what are the odds that both would sing so poorly in rehearsal and not make any mistakes in the live show?