My Boy

I have been BLESSED

I feel so lucky to have made so many good friends in our ward already. Denise and Charlie threw me a baby shower last week and it was so much fun! It was small and personal and perfect! I was so shocked they were even doing one. We all had a great time just hanging out and eating wonderful food...esp. the homemade spinach and artichoke dip, which I am def. getting the recipe for! And I got some fun outfits for the new one and a baby bjorn. Yeah!!! Thank you for the wonderful shower! I loved it! I feel so blessed.

Jenny George, Jessica Hammer, Liz Kelly, Anna Burton, Jamie Burger, Me, Denise Feher, Michelle Gardner, Ellen Allenman, Aaron Strong, Addie Brimhall, Kealy Reynolds, Melissa Jacobs, Emily Taylor and Charlie taking the picture :)

Less Than a Month Left...

Thriller

Jace busting a move at the Pumpkin Patch today! He hears music and something in him just takes over! Seriously, he has some good moves. He's never seen the Thriller video so I don't wear he gets this stuff! Hope this brings a smile to your face :)

Pick of the Patch!

We went to a pumpkin patch yesterday for this week's playgroup! The kids had a blast. The sun was really bright, so it was hard to get any good pictures, but we tried! They had a bouncy castle, hay maze, hay rides, tractors, pumpkins (Jace picked his out!) free apple cider and candy. We all had a great time. However...we all dressed for cold weather and it wasn't chilly! I and about 6 other women all wore turtle necks. Perhaps I could've lasted longer if I was appropriately dressed :) There was music playing the whole time and of course, Jace busted a move! I just love him! He has so much personality and zest for life. He keeps me going and going and going.....

Fall Leaves

The other day, we did a fun leaf project! I can't believe the amazing colors on our trees right now. It's gorgeous! Jace and Daddy went around and picked all the leaves and then I helped him glue the ones on he wanted to make his own tree! It was a fun and easy project. As you can see, Jace was very proud of it.

Fun Tag

HERE ARE THE RULES: You have to post the 4th picture in the 4th folder in your pictures folder. Then give a brief description before you

tag a few others.

This picture was taken at my office when I worked for Sport Court. It's actually one of my FAVORITES of Jace. He looks so adorable in his little jean jacket. I turned this picture in once for a contest too....no prize but I couldn't resist! I believe Jace was nearly one in this photo. Looking at how small he is here, just makes me even more excited to have a new little one around the house. Hooray for more poopy diapers, more late nights, more unexpected smiles, more giggles, more learning new things, more mommy and me time, more precious moments that go by way too fast.

I tag anyone and everyone that wants to do this. It was fun!

Thoughts

Disclaimer: Feel free to bypass this post. :) Just some thoughts of mine lately.

I don't have much time tonight to write but I want to. Basically, I feel like lately I've been having "journal" withdrawls. Perhaps I should start one again. I miss writing. I already have 8 journals...it's been one of my passions since I was young...it's what started my love for writing. Unfortunately, it went by the wayside after I got married and had Jace.

Last weekend was amazing with General Conference. I thought the talks were incredible and of course, I felt like they were specifically for me. One of my favorite ones was Joseph B. Wirthlin. For those of you that know me well, I sometimes tend to take life too seriously. It was a great reminder to ENJOY life and LAUGH and find HUMOR in the things around you. Even though it wasn't this amazing spiritual insight, I felt the spirit and the love through his words. Anyways, it was all great and made for a very special weekend. Jace even watched some and played some conference games, which didn't last long, but I was proud of him.

I've been feeling very grateful lately for our blessings because it's been a hard couple weeks but I love having this perspective of "all things will work together for your good" Sometimes it doesn't feel like it, but I know it will. Heath's been swamped with school, Jace has decided to give up his naps and I'm enduring the last weeks of this pregnancy. Besides feeling tired, getting little sleep, some back aches and occassional stabs to my ribs, everything is good! I can't wait to meet our new little guy!

Now, for Colorado, we've had some chilly days and nights lately. In fact, we're suppossed to have SNOW tonight...just flurries...but nonetheless, snow. We'll see. The trees and fall colors are so vibrant right now and remind me of my days in Provo. I've quickly remembered why I love SEASONS. Yesterday, while driving around, I just felt an overwhelming gratitude for the beauty around me. There's just this feeling in the air, and not just a chill. So, I suppose I should close now. Although, with so much going on in my head, I could continue for a while.

Have a happy week. :)

Picture for the day

Until I have time to write....

PROTECT MARRIAGE AND FAMILIES

PROTECTING MARRIAGE

We've only been out of AZ for a month or so now, but we haven't forgotten about the most important voting props this coming November--Protect Marriage. Having family in CA, we are aware of the same vote going on there! Arizona and California both are facing this vote, which would amend the state constitution to ensure that only a marriage between a man and a woman would be legally recognized and not same-sex marriages. Seeing as we are now registered in Colorado, we can't make our voice heard at the polls. But..... we can help in other ways. If you want to help, go to the web sites to see how you can assist Arizona and California protect marriage in their states.

http://www.protectmarriage.com/
http://yesformarriage.com/

Your support could essentially affect the future of your own state amendment.

California - YES on Prop 8
Arizona - YES on Prop 102

GOES BEYOND MARRIAGE

A couple weeks ago, my sister posted some information about the implications of what would happen if this didn't pass. I really had no idea the far-reaching affects this could have on our schools, churches, communities, children, and most importantly families. I thought, as well, that this was just was about same-sex marriage. It's NOT. It goes way beyond that.

Read excerpts from this press release on lds.org:
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"Legalizing same-sex marriage will affect a wide spectrum of government activities and policies. Once a state government declares that same-sex unions are a civil right, those governments almost certainly will enforce a wide variety of other policies intended to ensure that there is no discrimination against same-sex couples. This may well place 'church and state on a collision course.'

The prospect of same-sex marriage has already spawned legal collisions with the rights of free speech and of action based on religious beliefs. For example, advocates and government officials in certain states already are challenging the long-held right of religious adoption agencies to follow their religious beliefs and only place children in homes with both a mother and a father. As a result, Catholic Charities in Boston has stopped offering adoption services.Other advocates of same-sex marriage are suggesting that tax exemptions and benefits be withdrawn from any religious organization that does not embrace same-sex unions.

Public accommodation laws are already being used as leverage in an attempt to force religious organizations to allow marriage celebrations or receptions in religious facilities that are otherwise open to the public. Accrediting organizations in some instances are asserting pressure on religious schools and universities to provide married housing for same-sex couples. Student religious organizations are being told by some universities that they may lose their campus recognition and benefits if they exclude same-sex couples from club membership."

HOW WOULD SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AFFECT SOCIETY?

"Perhaps the most common argument that proponents of same-sex marriage make is that it is essentially harmless and will not affect the institution of traditional heterosexual marriage in any way. “It won’t affect you, so why should you care?’ is the common refrain. While it may be true that allowing single-sex unions will not immediately and directly affect all existing marriages, the real question is how it will affect society as a whole over time, including the rising generation and future generations. The experience of the few European countries that already have legalized same-sex marriage suggests that any dilution of the traditional definition of marriage will further erode the already weakened stability of marriages and family generally. Adopting same-sex marriage compromises the traditional concept of marriage, with harmful consequences for society.

Aside from the very serious consequence of undermining and diluting the sacred nature of marriage between a man and a woman, there are many practical implications in the sphere of public policy that will be of deep concern to parents and society as a whole. These are critical to understanding the seriousness of the overall issue of same-sex marriage.

As just one example of how children will be adversely affected, the establishment of same-sex marriage as a civil right will inevitably require mandatory changes in school curricula. When the state says that same-sex unions are equivalent to heterosexual marriages, the curriculum of public schools will have to support this claim. Beginning with elementary school, children will be taught that marriage can be defined as a relation between any two adults and that consensual sexual relations are morally neutral. Classroom instruction on sex education in secondary schools can be expected to equate homosexual intimacy with heterosexual relations. These developments will create serious clashes between the agenda of the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children traditional standards of morality.

The final line in the Proclamation on the Family is an admonition to the world from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve: “We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.” This is the course charted by Church leaders, and it is the only course of safety for the Church and for the nation. "

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage
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After reading this and doing more research, I am even more convinced that we MUST do something. This is no longer about tolerance and definitely not about discrimination. We have to PROTECT marriage and FIGHT to have these core moral values upheld in our society.

Don't forget to register to vote!

A video of the future of school curriculum if these don't pass: