Monday, July 30, 2007
Youth of the Nation
Now, I know that every calling that we get in the church is going to have it's own unique and individual challenges...but at times I'm so overwhelmed by the challenges that we face that I wonder if it's really worth it. It's like the youth (ok, so really just *certain* youth) in our ward have this sense of entitlement to them. I think our Bishop very eloquently and accurately described it when he told the youth in our ward that they are like a Nirvana song..."Here we are, now entertain us". They feel that the sole purpose of the YM and YW programs in the church is to entertain them. It is not to instruct them for good, or to help them gain their own testimony of the gospel, or learn how to be a positive example to their friends and peers. We are simply there to entertain them. They hate that we remind them how important it is to be modest in the way that they dress (even when we are at the beach, or swimming in a pool)...and then they mock us for it (sometimes behind our backs and sometimes not so much). They hate us for telling the Bishop about the 13-year-old who was using her older sister's dance card to get into church dances (ok, so really, they just hated me for that one). They don't want lessons on Sundays...they want food, fun and games and if you don't provide that they instantly tune anything and everything you say out. They don't want to do Personal Progress, or read their scriptures...or pretty much do anything that we have planned for them (unless it involves the beach or the water in some way...usually). They are easily offended (mostly, I think, because they are looking for any sort of excuse to be offended and then have someone to blame for the way that they are) and yet, don't think twice about the fact that they themselves are being rude and offensive to their leaders.
Am I making too much of this? Is this how all of the youth in the church, worldwide are, or is it simply my lucky lot in life, and it's something that is unique to our ward/stake? Seriously, where did this sense of entitlement come from? Why do they think that the world owes them something...when they have done nothing to earn anything?
Now granted...I had my bikinis growing up (once I was old enough to buy them with my own money)...but I would never have worn them to a youth activity...especially if I had specifically been asked by my YW's president to please NOT show up in one, and while I might have complained to my mom about how much I didn't like my YW president (especially when I was a Laurel), I hope that I never mocked her or tried to get the others in the program to not like her, especially when she was simply doing her calling, and living up to the responsibilities of said calling. And I know that I wasn't always the most stellar example in my life of a righteous Young Woman (or young adult for that matter), but I would hope that I did not treat my YW leaders (and even my other leaders in the church) with such a lack of respect (and if I did...I am really, truly sorry). And while I know that I made some major mistakes in my past, and was definitely not perfect myself (and really, I'm still not)...I also know that I have done all that I needed to do in order to repent of those mistakes and earn the Lord's forgiveness for those mistakes.
There are some positives, though, I guess...like the fact that thus far, none of our YW have managed to get pregnant (at least not while they were actually in YW), and none of them have ended up in juvi (yet), which are problems that another ward in our stake is having at the moment...and they don't openly swear at us, and try to walk home from an activity in Vista (which is like 40 miles from here) which is something that the YW leader in the Spanish Branch had to deal with this past weekend. And, again....my beehives are really, really cute, and sweet, and not attitudey (yes, i know that's not really a word) at all. I just hope that they stay that way as they get older.
And, I know that I am lucky to have a husband who is worthy, and so willing, despite his insane and crazy work schedule, to serve the Lord in whatever capacity the Lord sees fit to call him too, and he supports me in my own calling, and does all he can to help with Keegan and take care of our house and everything that comes with home ownership (all without complaining), but still...sometimes, it's a little too much to handle.
Honestly, I'm not even sure what brought about this whole "vent-session". It could be that I'm just really tired after having to deal with Youth Conference this weekend...or just because it was a rough week overall. Keegan got way off of his schedule on Wednesday because of our combined mutual activity, then he got his 6 month shots on Thursday and had a pretty bad reaction to them, so he was SUPER fussy (which has never happened before)...or maybe it's just because I'm worried about how much time AJ is not going to have. I mean, between YM/YW for both of us on Wed. nights, the temple for him on Thurs. nights, his insane work hours, home teaching and now all of the additional meetings and responsibilities that come with being the president, I seriously wonder if Keegan and I will see him at all.
What I do know is that it's not going to get any easier and it's for sure not going to be changing any time soon...so it looks like maybe I simply need to suck it up, ask the Lord for some help with the whole patience and understanding thing, and just go with the flow. Here's hoping it works! :)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
A letter to my baby...
Do you remember when you were born? (probably not, but I do)
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Do you remember when you were 3 months old?
Do you remember when you were 4 months old?
You went to your first baseball game (the Padres lost), and you learned how to roll from your tummy to your back. We got to see Aunt Emily graduate from high school and you and mommy were all by yourselves for 5 days while daddy went camping with the scouts (we didn't like that at all). You love to play on the piano (with daddy, especially) and you started pushing yourself up onto your knees and rocking back and forth. You can totally sit up all by yourself, and you love to laugh at your mommy and daddy and at all of the silly things they do.
And now you are 6 months old...
and you have gotten so big. I love your chunky little legs and the way that you snort sometimes when you are laughing. I love that your cheeks get all big and round when you smile. You have learned how to crawl, and you even have 2 teeth. You love to stand on your daddy's hands and you are totally Mr. Independent. You are not afraid to let your feelings be known and you totally flirt with the ladies (no matter what their age might be). You are my even-tempered, amazing, happy and wonderful little boy (even when are waking up 3 -4 times a night or growling at me...or even biting me).
I love you. You made me a mom.
I love you.
I LOVE YOU!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
A Few of My Favorite Things...
While I love spending practically every moment of my day with Keegan, watching all of the fun things that he does on an hourly basis and watching him as he discovers all of the new and interesting things that he can do, when he's finally napping, I can't help but get a little giddy. Maybe it's because he is so stinkin
So that's the first of many things that I love about being a mom...stay tuned for future ones. What are some of your favorites?
Monday, July 16, 2007
Thank Heaven for Little Boys
Now that it's summer and way too hot (I know, I know, "hot" is a totally relative term) in our house, Keegan and I try to find ways to beat the heat.
We've made numerous trips to the zoo and Sea World (although it's not the same without our regular companions, Becky, Aiden and Reilly there with us) and we make the occasional trip to the bay or the beach to try and get a walk in (I still need to lose quite a few pregnancy pounds that are being very stubborn) although not nearly as often as I would like. He's very unaffected by all of it, but he seems to like his stroller, and he loves being outside, so I'll take what I can get. Even when we are home, he's constantly looking out the open windows and loves to go out and water the plants with his daddy when AJ gets home from work.
So, this is a relatively long post to simply say...Hi, and welcome to the crazy (and at times, mundane and boring) adventures of our life. We hope you enjoy the journey...I know that the three of us are!