In Response to...

A few days ago I wrote a blog about my feelings about California's Proposition 8 and also on my opinion about homosexuality and gay marriage. I've recently received a couple of comments to that blog that I would like to respond to, so here it is.

First off, I asked for respect of my opinion when posting comments which I don't feel I received. I fully understand that there are many individuals that disagree with my opinion, including many of my close friends. I respect and welcome that. However, accusing someone of not following the prophet because I disagree with a stand that was made, is extremely offensive. Unfortunately, it seems to be a tactic that is used quite often by members of the LDS church, more often in Utah than elsewhere. Heavenly Father gave me this brain to think, question, analyze and wonder with and I'm grateful for that. I fully believe that he wants us to question everything; it will only make your testimony stronger, as it has mine.

I was not always of the opinion that people are born gay, though I've always thought that everyone should have the same rights as anyone else. It is through questioning, study and prayer that I've come to the realizations that I have. It is also through knowing and caring about people who have come out. I've noticed that many people who are so against gay marriage and homosexuality have not been a spectator to the agony that many go through before accepting who they are and coming out. A family member of a close friend recently came out after years of self-hatred, depression and anger about the feelings they'd ALWAYS had. Now that this individual has accepted that they were born this way and loves themself for who they are, they are happy. This person is also a strong member of the church and have one of the strongest testimonies I've ever seen. If it were your sister, brother, best friend, child, whoever, would you deny them happiness because you were always told that they were wrong? Would you shun them until they "decided" to live up to your standard of "normal" again? I certainly hope not. If so, I pity those individuals around you.

I'm not one who likes to debate (that would be my sister Halley). But I will always stand up for and defend those that I love and those that I feel are being treated unfairly. I will also fight, tooth and nail if I am attacked for my beliefs. Stating your opinion and attacking someone else because you disagree with them are two very different things. Please sit back and think about your approach before commenting. The only MORAL issue here is that we need to treat everyone the way that Christ taught us, with LOVE and without JUDGEMENT.


The last point I would like to make is this: I know that living in Utah, I'm most likely in the minority with my opinion. However, I had the courage to post a blog with said opinion and will happily voice that same opinion if asked and often, even when I'm not asked. My name and face are all over this blog, so that anyone would know who is stating her opinion. If you have such a strong belief about this (or anything else), have the courage to tell people who you are! By hiding behind the title of "anonymous" you just show that you are afraid. If you truly believe something, don't be a coward about it. State it proudly and stand by it! I would respect you and your opinion completely. Currently, I think you are a coward.

Locked and Loaded

We went to the doctor today for my (now) weekly checkup. I'm dilated to not quite 3 centimeters (she said somewhere between 2 1/2 and 3) and 70% effaced. The doctor also stripped my membranes to see if we can kick this into gear. So apparently I could go any time now. :) My doctor leaves on Nov. 3rd to go to Texas for 3 days so she can take her boards, which means she gets back the day before my due date. I'd really like it if she was the one to deliver Tristan since we've been through everything with her. I go back Monday (if he hasn't come that is) and she'll see if I've advanced any further and will try stripping the membranes again. If he hasn't come, we'll most likely schedule an inducement for November 1st. Wow! Haha I just knew when she checked me that I wasn't even going to have started dilating yet... guess I was wrong! The doctor said I've probably been laboring for the last couple weeks and just didn't notice. The most I've had is some minor cramping. I keep expecting for something to really hurt and let me know that it's labor pains but so far... no go.

We're as ready as we'll ever be. His bag is packed, the carseat is in the car and ready to go, his nursery is all finished (see the pics below). I have my bag basically ready... it's all together, just not in a bag yet. I'm not nervous yet... but just wait until I'm in labor and I'm sure it will be a whole other story!

Strange creature

This dog cracks me up... I just had to share. She's looking at the camera but she was sleeping just like this just seconds before. Does this really look comfortable? Rocky started out by being curled up next to me on the couch, then stretched out a bit and leaned into me, then slid her head down the belly to rest in my lap and last this position. I don't know how she sleeps like that!

Notice how spoiled the dogs are... we call them the Queens of Sheba because if they have the choice, they will A: sleep on the couch, B: find pillows on the ground and lay on those (they even dragged one of the couch pillows all the way upstairs to sleep on) or C: lay on the pile of cushions on the couch.

Proposition 8

I've seen a few blogs lately and heard comments that have really bothered me. And I feel like if I don't say something, that I seem like I agree with those statements. So here it is... I'm FOR gay marriage. Now I know that this makes me a "bad mormon" in some people's eyes. However, if being accepting of all people no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation makes me a bad mormon than I'm all for it! The fact that the church is encouraging people to vote a specific way in the California elections really pisses me off. First off, the church has always said that they DO NOT tell their members how to vote... well I guess that's not so true anymore is it? I know a lot of non-members who are convinced that members of the LDS church all vote a certain way because the leadership tells them what to do and until now I've been able to say no that's not true. The fact that the church has so openly encouraged the members in California to vote for Proposition 8 and told members that do not live there to encourage people they know in CA to vote for Proposition 8 will just make people think that we do in fact vote the way "we're told".

I do NOT believe that allowing two consenting adults to choose to marry is somehow going to destroy the family as it is considered today. A family is someone who will love and care for you. That could include a number of individuals, not just mom, dad and 2.5 children.

I do NOT believe that giving someone the right to spend their life with the person they love and cherish even if they are the same sex will hurt anyone else. It wasn't too long ago that inter-racial marriage was against the law in many states. Looking back, how stupid was that?

I DO believe that we are all God's children and it is not our place to judge anyone. We are told often that it is not up to us to judge anyone for the life they live.

I DO believe that teaching our children to be accepting and respectful of all people will make the world a better place.

I DO believe that we are born wired the way we are. Some of us are attracted to the opposite sex and some the same sex. That doesn't make anyone a bad or evil person.

All this Proposition is doing is pushing fear, hate and intolerance. Three things that we do not need in our world and should be fighting against, not for. So I would encourage anyone that I know in CA to vote AGAINST Prop. 8 on election day.

I do not mean to offend anyone with this post. If you disagree with my opinion, that is your right and I respect that. I simply felt the need to make my view known. Feel free to leave comments, just do so with respect to myself and others.

Cranky!

I've noticed I've been rather cranky lately. Or I just don't have the patience I did before. The littlest things are annoying me right now. :) But I can blame it all on the hormones right? I can't wait to get back to normal... althought I'm not sure that what I once considered normal will ever be the same again.
Today's latest thing that made me cranky: There's a couple in our birthing class that already drive me crazy. The husband especially! He's very opinionated about how the birthing process is supposed to go and what should or should not be done. And if he's contradicted, he gets condescending and snotty. A couple weeks ago, the teacher was discussing all the medical stuff involved in having a baby which included covering Epidurals and other drugs offered. When she was done she asked if everyone was planning on having a "natural birth". He scoffed and very snidely said, well I would think so if we're in this class. I of course had to say ummm actually... I'm not decided. I just want to be prepared as best I can for whatever happens. He looked at me like I was the devil and that I was going to burn in hell for even considering an epidural. So at today's class, the teacher brought in the empathy belly for the dads to try on and see how it feels (even though they'll never completely understand) and everyone BUT this guy tried it on. His wife kept trying to get him to do it and he flat out refused. He leaned over and told his wife that he didn't need to understand since he would never have to go through it. I about chucked my birthing book at his pin-head. Haha that would have been fun! Fortunately I only have one more week of class to contain my crankiness towards him. Hopefully I can make it! ;)