The Need For... Frostbite

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I overuse the dot dot dot. I know it. But really... I don't care. It suits my needs.

Joe left to go "snow camping".

Yes. "Snow Camping".

Perhaps I use quotations too much also.

Thank you Seinfield.

Here's my thing. If you have a house... with heat... why would you want to leave it for the bitter cold?

I mean really.... was it "manly" that the donner party ate each other?

God helped man make heaters for a purpose.

To end cannibalism.

And that's my thoughts on the matter.

When A Woman's Fed Up

R. Kelly's Mugshot

I could blog about Christmas, but instead I choose to grin over a moment in my life. A moment that can never be erased except possibly through memory related mental illnesses that you get when you're older or perhaps traumatic brain injuries stemming from a car accident or rabid squirrel mauling.

I don't remember the year. Probably 2000 or 2001. Road trip from Tempe, AZ to Reno, NV. Returning Ram from ASU after shopping for our latina pride shirts. Really, how do shirts like that not last a lifetime. And then 11 hours later, the last leg of the trip we "decide" to spend the remainder of the trip listening to 1 song.... when a woman's fed up. Possibly 2 hours of this song, 4 minutes long so 50 times repeated?? I don't really know how we remained friends after that, but we did.

Question: How. What. Why. Did we ever "decide" to do that? And isn't it weird. If you had continued at ASU you never would have married lateedo. Probably Furby....mmm... furby... oh wait... not... and cracked out Shayla would have been your maid of honor. And you'd be living in China.

So really, I'm grateful that we had that 2 hour period of time where we listened to "R".I'm adding a playlist.

I was searching for edited versions of made men "no limit soldier" and kanye west "late bonus track"... alas. None found. I'm curious as to what yours would include Ramya. I tried listening to the robert pattison song from the twilight soundtrack "let me sign".... but I just can't like it. It reminds me of your brother singing to you. Or one of your pitt bulls.

I wish to live in Hawaii or the tropics, really I'm not too choosy at this point

It has been cold of recent. Not that cold, but let's face it, I'm wimpy. I love flip flops. I love being barefoot and snow makes that unpleasant. But I am grateful for winter because:

• it makes me appreciate summer better
• it gives me a chance to feed little birds
• it gives me the opportunity to be darker than Joe
• Christmas lights

And while that is all I could come up with... I'm sure subconsciously there are many more ideas on why winter is fabulous. Note to self though... retirement in the tropics or bust.

Gingerbread Houses at Glen Duncan

Every year we get to go to Yaya's school to make gingerbread houses. Fun Times!!

This year you can see a little bit of our dream house in Joe's masterpiece.

Maria mostly just wanted to eat the candy, however she stuck on almost all the fence.

Captain, oh my Captain. Christina our little leader taking charge with Yaya showing the class what to do.

Newsweek: The Religious Case for Gay Marriage

So here is my problem. Writers who are quick to put down God, Jesus and His Prophets. Really? Really do you want to mess with the big man Lisa Miller?

I got my mag and was quickly interested because I've read the bible a lot and consider myself fairly versed. But the other problem is I believe in additional scripture and modern prophetic revelation which is a lot clearer than some points within the bible.

Within her first sentence she starts sarcastically on Abraham and goes down the line on how they were all polygamists. Then quote "The new testament model of marriage is hardly better. Jesus himself was single and preached an indifference to early attachments, especially family."
Really? Really Lisa, did He? Maybe you should reread the few things He said while dying on the cross- referencing the care of his mother. She also says, "most of us no longer heed Leviticus on haircuts or blood sacrifices. Why would we still accept its stance on homosexuality?"

I also saw this support for prop 8 video where Jack Black dresses up as Jesus and talks about shrimp cocktails. Ah, blasphemy.

1. When Jesus Christ came to earth, the Mosaic law was fulfilled. He gave a higher law. However, the 10 commandments still remained in tact.
2. Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery. Jesus even went further to define it as a sin for a man to even look upon a woman and lust after her in his heart.
3. Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed.

My whole problem is that this article oozed blasphemy and hate. We are all sinners. But do we need to put down the bible, God or His prophets? Good luck talking this one over with the big man when you're dead Miss Miller.

I Want a Cookie Please

Maria is fully talking now. She is extremely patient and doesn't mind repeating herself upwards of 20 times if you aren't listening or are partially deaf. Her favorite phrases are "Do it again please" "I don't want to" "Christina be nice" "Christina GET OFF me" "More cookies, I want a cookie please, more cookies...."
When she was smaller she would put one hand in the air and open and close it as fast as she could while breathing heavily and looking like the world was ending. But those beautiful moments have passed and she now is 100% verbal. I love knowing what she wants. Life is so much easier. And she knows what I want too! It's funny because you love every stage of your baby's life and it just gets better and better.

Maria loves her grandparents especially. Tonight she climbed on the couch and started shouting at her yaya "Cuddle! Cuddle! Cuddle blanket too!!" So she cuddled right next to yaya, who covered her with a blanket and she was smiling like there was no tomorrow. Papa came home late and went off to change while she chased after screaming "BOB!! BOB!!!"

Nutcracker Take 2

The nutcracker is a holiday tradition in the making. I love going to see the ballet with my daughter. Granted... it's the Reno ballet, but this year there was less male prancing and ample anorexic ballerinas suffering from the shakes. We wore our best dresses, fake fur coats and blinged out courtesy Nono. I'm actually really lucky I wasn't mugged.

Now. Christina is beautiful and I expect to hear comments, because really, she's stunning. After about 30 people though stop to harass her, I noticed a bit of attitude.

Stranger: Oh! What a pretty coat you have!

Christina: Yeah. OK.

Stranger: What a beautiful girl you are!

Christina: I know.

Stranger: Oh look at how cute she is!

Christina then starts strutting and puckering?? her lips.

Stranger: ohmygosh!! She totally knows it too!

We obviously need to work on humility and just saying thank you. But it nonetheless entertained me, so maybe I won't say anything too soon. She is all that and a bag of chips.

On a sadder note, Maria was quite disappointed she didn't get to go. She kept saying, "Nutcracker. Rat King. Spooky. Oh No. Rat King."

Drug Cartels In Guatemala

Yesterday Christina came up to me and "told on" Maria. Whenever she does this I tell her not to be a nark. To which she'll reply I'm not a nark!!

Well, I decided to teach her some valuable information... little did I know the connection she'd make to which I'm quite proud.

Mom: Do you know what a drug cartel is?
Christina: What?
Mom: Like a family thats gone bad and does bad drugs.
Christina: So what's your point?
Mom: Do you know what drug cartels do to narks?
Christina: (silence)
Mom: They cut off peoples arms with machetes and feed it to the monkeys and macaws in the jungles of Guatemala.
Christina: Where's Guatemala?
Mom: A very lush/green place south of where we live.

2 days later.
Yes, we prepare. I feel it's never to early to learn about the dangers of drugs.

Mom: Hey man, you want some meth?
Christina: NO WAY!!!!
Mom: Well why not?
Christina: Because I'm not a drug cartel!!! I don't want my arms being fed to monkeys, they like bananas not my arms.

Brilliant child. I'm so glad she pays attention.

Makes Me Smile

Today Christina needed help with something so I helped her. She then turned to Maria and said, "Maria, we are just so lucky to have our mommy."

If only she knew how it was the other way around.

We had a busy day. A super fun birthday party at Build-a-Bear where Christina made "Snowflake" the reindeer, to which she renamed him "Blitzen" in the car. The outfit she chose (Out of a zillion) was a set of doctors scrubs. Tendencies?? Anyone??

Speaking of that... Maria has taken to saying "Anyone?? Anyone??". She has such a sense of humor and brilliant timing, just like Christina. She also is our runner. It must be the extra calf muscle she inherited from Joe. At the birthday party I asked her to do something and she did so. A mom was shocked and said, "What a good listener! She's almost 2??". Indeed, tis true. She and her sister are just always really obedient and awesome.

So my sweet Christina, it is the other way around. Mommy is the lucky and very blessed one to have such wonderful little girls!!

Also, Jody starred in the hometown parade today as his glorious and good looking self. The man knows everyone. E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E. He is the next Obama.

Trust and Faith in Prophecy

I wanted to just write down some thoughts I had today. Today we learned of the passing of one of our dear apostles Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin. He was the oldest apostle dying at age 91. I started to cry when I found out. I felt peace and comfort knowing that this man conversed with God and knew our Father's will concerning us.

What is a prophet? Who can be a prophet? How can we know a true prophet from a false one?

I also have been feeling a little off as late, so around 4 we've been watching Oprah. Today was on the RLDS church. That is reformed/twisted cult that also claims our church's name. When Joseph Smith was martyred there was a division among the early members, but God made it clear who was to succeed as president and leader of the church, that was Brigham Young. Some chose not to follow, even after clear miracles and signs were shown. So today, the RLDS church claims to have a prophet who advocates the principle of polygamy... and he's in prison.

What is the difference between this man in prison and Elder Wirthlin? It is blasphemous to even have them in the same sentence in my opinion.

Ether 4: 9-12 Jesus Christ is speaking to a prophet , " And at my command the heavens are opened and are shut; and at my word the earth shall shake; and at my command the inhabitants thereof shall pass away, even so as by fire. And he that believeth not my words believeth not my disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day. But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good. And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world."

The bible is full of the words of prophets. God speaks through prophets. Prophets bring us closer to Jesus Christ and help us find happiness in life. I know Elder Wirthlin was a prophet of God because he did just that. I know God cares just as much for me as he did the ancient Israelites he led out of Egypt. He has provided a means whereby I may be saved, the atonement of Christ. Prophets testify of this and I humbly do also. I am nothing, but I know the feelings of peace and truth that come to me when I am doing what is right.