Vague vs. Practical

Can a person be both?  Perhaps, but I am most certainly not.  I am absolutely my father’s daughter; a very practical person.  As a side note, do you know what really annoys me?  The times when something is said to inspire questions/curiosity, but no answers are given (i.e. someone posting a ridiculous comment on a social networking site only to gain attention).  If there is a need for attention, shouldn’t that certain someone get off the social networking site and invest in face-to-face relationships (or better yet, pick up God’s Word)?

As newlyweds, hubby and I learned rather quickly the differences between us.  One of the major items we differ on is how we think and communicate.  Hubby is more of a “deep thinker” and relates to more broad, sweeping explanations.  I am a more superficial thinker, and explain almost everything with a practical analogy.  For my own mind, it is far easier to absorb an idea if there is a familiar, day-to-day, comparison.  Funny enough, understanding this part of my mind (and hubby’s mind) has allowed me to consciously think differently.  It also helps a ton when trying to communicate something to hubby and clearly missing the mark…I try to not be so very superficial/practical.

Anyhow, this post began as a vent about a lame Facebook status and ended with a lovely overview of how different hubby and I are.  Furthermore, as much as hubby and I are alike, it amazes me how lovely it is to be married to someone that is able to think deeper, more wisely (at times) than myself.  After all, his mind is one of the items that initially attracted me to him. 

End of Semester

I am quite terrible at finishing things or seeing anything through to the end.  And the habit doesn’t end with school.  The semester is one week away from being finished.  My last exam is Thursday afternoon; the day after we fly out to visit family for a week-long Christmas trip.  Fun?  Yes.  Stressful?  Yes.  Don’t get me wrong, I love love love to be busy, but when it comes to finishing anything I stress myself out.  Funny enough, I stress myself out to the point where I end up doing nothing and slipping into a state of denial.  I took an hour and a half long nap today, avoided the gym, and didn’t finish homework that was due tonight until just a few minutes ago.  My food consumption is ridiculously unhealthy and overkill…oh and did I mention I exaggerate everything with a hyperbole when I’m stressed?  Amidst all of the stress and denial, I am quite content with where I am this week.  The Christmas season is always fun for me.  I love giving out cards, listening to music, watching Christmas specials on tv, and anticipating the day we celebrate our Lord’s birth.  It’s always been a lovely time of year for me (which I suppose is 99.9% culturally infused).  Anyhow, should be interesting to see how the remaining days of school turn out.

Why help outside America?

I’ve been visiting with a refugee family from Iraq for several months and just went to see them this afternoon.  While talking with the father (we’ll call him Bob), I was describing my aspirations to help with other countries in need of help (such as refugees like him).  Interestingly, he went into this philosophical discussion about why Americans are so stuck on helping other countries while their own country still needs help.  He pointed out the impersonality of Americans specifically regarding homeless persons.  Most Americans are scared or unsure of homeless people and do not treat them as “normal people.”  Though I can see Bob’s point, it would appear that even the homeless persons in America are better off than those homeless and outright persecuted in other countries.  But I do have to admit that my hope of helping in another country is partly motivated by my desire and love for travel.

In other business, Hubby is now finished with his degree; and, I am done with my first semester toward my degree.  I’m hoping to apply for a social work internship, which would be amazing.  And it would definitely help me in getting into the BSW program at the University.

August 16

Wow.  August 16.  How this summer is flying by, but I’m enjoying every minute of it! Hubby’s three week vacation from school is over today.  He starts his classes tomorrow.  I’m so proud of him.  He’s wanting to finish his B.S. in one year!

Ate at Red Iguana for lunch; drove to the overlook of the copper mine (absolutely wonderful); and watched part of Godfather III while eating dinner.  I love Sundays.  I actually tried to squeeze a nap in there as well.  But it didn’t end up working out.  I lay down for about an hour though.

June 21

Wow.  So I’ve heard so much about this Lady Gaga and finally decided to look into her work a bit more.  All I can say is ew.  Virtually every song is related in some way to sex.  Yes, I can understand sex is a huge aspect of mankind and a beautiful aspect at that.  However, it is extremely destructive outside of marriage.  Lady Gaga not only reveals far too much of her body in her videos (though not inherently wrong, culturally, unacceptable), she implies sex in most videos/songs.  What a sad life!  Reading up on her background, she is a smart girl!  She learned to play piano by ear at the age of four and was singing/composing by the age of 14.  Very talented.  Such a sad thing to see a lovely young woman be taken in by Hollywood’s fascination of sex.  Again, I say ew.

Other than that, Hubby and I went on a walk this afternoon.  Didn’t realize it would rain, but boy did it rain!  On our way back, we walked/laughed hysterically through hail.  Never walked through hail.  The front of my shirt and shorts were soaked, leaving the back of my shirt and shorts perfectly dry.  haha

Wish I could be at Manti every morning and evening this week.  Hubby has homework and I completely understand.  It’s just a bummer that we’re not able to be a part of it this year.  He has high hopes that we’ll be able to go Thursday/Friday/Saturday, so I’m excited.  :)

Father’s Day today!  Dad’s not home, but traveling for business.  Gave him a call; he sounds like he’s quite relaxed though he’s away from home.

June 14

Lazy Sunday it is.  Hubby is doing math homework; I actually understood and helped with some of it.

We became official members today.  Wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  And they had Banburry donuts after the service.

Making a new Terragon casserole.  We’ll be trying it in about ten minutes.  Hopefully it turns out ok.

Read half of Galatians today.  Good stuff.

June 13

Visited the Oquirrh Temple this evening.  Was told that the more recent temples are much smaller than the older ones.  This temple looked the same as the other three I’ve been through.  However, I really liked the furniture in this one, very classy and modern, which is odd for the temples.

Joining NS tomorrow.  Weird, because I’ve never officially joined a church before.  We meet early with the elders to let them know how we came to put our faith in Jesus.  I’m excited, but nervous because I overplay everything in my head.  So I’m super apprehensive that I’ll say the wrong thing and they’ll reject me as a Christian and member of their church.  lol  I know it wont come to that, but my feminine mind thinks it will.

Weather was amazing today.  Scary, but really neat. Hubby and I watched the lightning and rain for about half an hour as it passed over our city.  Very nice.

Back at home now.  Hubby’s doing school work and I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do for the next couple of hours before bedtime.  *shrug* no idea.

June 3

Reading through Romans 3-5 really opens up my eyes to the bondage Mormons are in.  God’s grace is sufficient and abounds much more than the law or our works.  Yet, Mormons (as well as others) believe that they must follow so many steps to reach the highest level of heaven.  When would enough be enough?  When is enough enough?  As I’ve heard from many Mormon women, it is unending.  LDS are urged to work and serve the church nonstop.  I’m not quite familiar with the inner peer pressure, but I would imagine that you are esteemed a bit higher if you are serving the church.  It’s funny to think that God sees our righteousness as “filthy rags.”  What would a Mormon say to that?  To say that their good works of serving the church are as filthy rags to our Lord and Savior….how crushing!  How crushing to someone that believes so intently that what they are doing is indeed giving them a better chance at getting to the highest level of heaven.  This brings me to my main point: the freedom we have in Jesus’ sacrifice.  Jesus came to die on the cross for the sins of the world.  He did this so that we would no longer be put under the law, but under His sacrifice.  Once we believe in him as our Lord and Savior, we are guaranteed eternal life with God.  We are not saved by our own works, but by grace through faith are we saved (paraphrase Ephesians 2:8-9).  If we are saved by the law, then Christ’s life was in vain.  Christianity is beautiful in that sense; it requires no good works on our part…only the loving grace of God.  Spiderwebing.  :)

May 18

Oh such a beautiful day today!  My goodness the weather is 90 degrees!  I haven’t felt heat like that in almost a year.  It’s so weird to live in a place where it’s not nearly summer all year round.  There are actually four very distinct seasons.

Water is my friend these days.  I get headaches if I’m not full hydrated.

Bible study tonight!  Woohoo!  Still haven’t cleaned the house or done any of the study for the week.  But it’ll be fun nonetheless.

May 17

Beautiful picnic at Wheeler’s Historic Park.  Gorgeous weather.  Hunky husband.  Perfect breeze.  Such a great afternoon.  I loved being outside all day.  We also went to Cabela’s to buy camping chairs for our camping trip next weekend at Zion.  C’s coming to visit this week.  Red Iguana this Tuesday!