Am I repeating myself????

About the impact gay marriage will have on our lives, in many ways unknown, is what I've been watching out for.  I see the Church being open and seeming to diffuse critics by laying it all on the line...a video about garments, pictures of Temple interiors, open houses of Temples, more visibility of women in areas of service and all sorts of openess. 

When that Family Proclamation was introduced in 1995, along with others, I had the same thought...well, of course! marriage is between a man and a woman!!...  We have had years to absorb this document and to see the far reaching impact it is having in our society.  I'm thinking it's the tip of the iceberg and we are in danger of collision.

As gay marriage starts to sweep the nation I'm appalled.  Once it started gaining momentum I could see there would be no going back.  This movement reminds me of one of those old time toys that was a joke.  A can with a snack food label and when you open it a coiled snake expands and makes you jump and scream.  One of those fabric covered springs.  Once out of the can it is near impossible to stuff it back in the can.

I believe there is no stuffing this entire movement back in the can.  Those advocates are just waiting in the wings and enjoying the moment as immorality sweeps the nation.  I have noticed that the General Authorities have mentioned, at various times, that persecution will rear it's ugly head and will impact us.  It appears that this is where the impact of man's laws will slap our religious beliefs and challenge us on unknown fronts. I'm curious as to how this movement will impact the simplicity of me just worshiping on Sunday.  Will things remain peaceful within the Chapel and on the grounds? And at my nearby Temple?  So many unknowns.

It is chilling to read this Apostolic warning in the last part of the Proclamation to the World...

Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

This article here is so well written and I wanted to share it with you.

Mothers- what a challenge to prepare/teach your little ones how to love the sinner but not embrace the sin.  Won't you have to call a spade a spade?  Yikes!! 

Do you really believe this????

IF I really believe this quote, spoken by a living Prophet, do I endeavor to live it in the way I treat associates OR do I exempt myself on all counts by being judgmental?????

are there FB rules of manner???

Are there any rules or even one rule of thumb on FB/blog manners?  On some situations it's like being stuck in a bog...or even more like sinking in quicksand...in trouble if you do/don't share the happenings and in trouble if you don't invite or tell others before you post on FB.

You know that I'm a somewhat reluctant member of FB.  I check it and sometimes I check into total strangers lives because they posted something on a person's FB that I do know.  Shame on me!  That curiosity of mine sometimes wins!  Not my fault of course.  I'm sooooo innocent!

I was thinking about this because of a recent incident that happened to a friend.  She is a Grandma.  Her Grandchild is expecting her first child.  Revealing, whether it's a boy or girl, was turned into a family party.  My friends daughter and husband flew to Utah for the party and all sorts of family on both sides came into town.  The arrangement was...when the announcement was made at the party my friend would get a call.  She would call me every once in awhile and say...No word yet.  Sunday she went to Church and someone congratulated her on going to have a new great granddaughter!  They saw it on FB!  Now my friend is no spring chicken but she is not a feel sorry for herself weeper either.  She's a little banty rooster and she gets mad and tells people so.  Uh-oh.  Heated phone lines!!!

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When the husband of another friend passed away.  One of her granddaughters was with them.  My friend started getting calls from her children.  Irritated.  Mad.  Hurt.  Why?  It was on FB before she had told the family personally.  a bit of a hornets nest for awhile.

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For years now some older friends (I should call them peers) and I go out for our birthday lunches.  Not a huge group but several.  I was surprised at my wonderful birthday party in May and posted a picture on my blog.  Another time I posted a picture on FB so my friend could have her picture, with this silly cake that sings a song when activated.  I couldn't get it on email with this new system we have so I chose FB.  There were those felt left out.  both times.  Hurt.  Wondered why they weren't invited.

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A friend's children had a surprise 80th birthday party for her and it was kept secret. Invite by   invitation.  Hand delivered if you lived in town.  I posted some pictures and there were those wondering why they didn't make the list.  Awkward.  How would I know?  Thoughtless of me to have posted those pics?-- on my blog.

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Now before you get all stuffy and judgy about my friends and me, don't even go there.  It's a common problem I'm learning.  There are numerous times that I see little barbs like...oh, must have been nice  or did you forget to tell me  or i had no idea of this. would like to have been included and on and on and on.  These are from me reading something that I don't even know the people.  (that sounds so wrong!!)  Just reading down through comments they pop up without even looking for them.

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for instance.  I was on a friends FB and I saw a picture at the SLC Temple. Had so many people grouped on the steps with the big door to the Temple at the top and I thought...What on earth?!  No bride or groom all decked out.  Just a mass of folks in street clothes.  I clicked on it.  All sorts of congrats comments and then this....

Was bummed we were not invited 

Sorry,  ______,   we didn't know you would have wanted to be there. Everyone in this picture was in the temple with us. We didn't think to invite others that wouldn't be in the temple. I didn't invite my brothers that wouldn't be in the temple either. Our bad...wasn't trying to hurt feelings.

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Another one was a bunch of young boys having fun sprawled on the floor/furniture/playing games.  reminded me of my boys when young.  oh, yes.  me.  click.  and I see....

Looks like they had fun!

We missed your son

Ya he was pretty disappointed when your son said he couldn't come because he might get hurt.  

I didn't know he said that. I'm sorry. I did text you yesterday to invite him. Did you get it? 

No I did not.

 I'm sorry. I did a group text and invited everyone. But some moms said it came thru funny. I apologize if your son's feelings are hurt. I thought everyone got the text. 

(invisible flat line.  end of awkward exchange.  nosy me slinking off.)

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I love to see wedding pictures/baby pictures/family pictures/vacation pictures and special occasions like plays/sports/proms.  all of those sorts of things.  Not for real conversations.  Just snatches of thoughts.  Anyhow FB, from what I understand is a place to share your private life with anyone that can access your spot.  I sort of just sneak peeks.  I'm a bit more private than FB is intended, maybe a lot more private than that, but I do share my thoughts on life and bare my soul on my blog, it seems.  Like entirely!  well, pretty much so! 

My thoughts and feelings are out there and I feel safe sharing on my blog.  My readers (that I love by the way!) are people, in one way or another, who know me...either in person or written word and I feel connected to each one.  On my blog I don't self-edit.  It feels right to be raw.  Now it might not be right to be raw but it feels right anyhow.  To be real.  So FB-- I'll continue to peek at and occasionally snoop but I will be more sensitive to posting anything that might make someone feel excluded.  

On my blog I'll just let it flow, whether the water is smooth sailing or white caps are in my life, and share what I feel to share. 

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Yes...let's do it!!!

Pictures evoke feelings...

Sunday night we had a special time with a former Seminary student of mine and his little family.  We love this family.  My friend, MaryLynne, the one I asked you to remember her in your fast?...this is her son, and family.  As usual...not photo shopped!  I could not figure out this new system we have to email these pictures to her so decided to blog them for her to see, while she undergoes treatment.

17 years ago Justin was in my Seminary class. When I was going through my sort and throw phase (which I never completed.  yet.) I found a stack of envelopes.  They were from 1997 and each student was asked to tell how they felt about Christ and the Gospel.  I had Justin's envelope, sealed by him, stowed away and never peeked at by anyone from then until now.  He opened it while he was here and it made me so happy....  he declared a firm written testimony and I thought it was amazing that he'd stayed true to that fact all those years.  We'd studied the last week of Christ's life and it had been a powerful week and that was how the week ended with them writing how they felt.  I have a stack of 21 to give out!  I was planning on giving them out 4 years after that class but of course did not.  I will mail these to them.  Maybe it will touch the hearts of a couple that have strayed.

To late to say.... better late than never????

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 Celise is a young Mother Earth...keeper of all things living, grower of things you'd envy, goatherd, beekeeper and lover of being a Mommy.  This picture below, of her with Rowan, just melted my heart.  I absolutely love the dedication/devotion of Mothers.  Can't you just feel the tenderness and the love and care of this little guy?  It touched me on a new level.

You know I've been sorting pictures (like crazy) and a couple of days ago my heart just melted when I found 6 pictures of me, as a baby, being held by adults that loved me.  I could feel the love and it made me teary.  I always think of baby pictures featuring the baby solo.  I never realized the power of seeing a young baby held by an adult.  Especially relatives.  This picture will be a treasure for Rowen someday.  (Do you have pictures of you holding your little ones when they are very young?  I hope so.

Celise and Rowen

Mother holding me.

Holding me...Aunt Bonnie Ransdell/Grandma Ransdell/Daddy/Grandmother Clark/Da-Daw Ransdell/Mother

Please...for my friend...

Remember my friend MaryLynne?...Battling cancer...this from her daughter Angela...

Mom will be completing her final few days of treatment in Mexico. I felt it best to do a fast tomorrow, in a combined thoughts and prayers for her health. If you are able, please join me in doing so... And please pass the word.

Thank you.
Much love,

Angela

I believe this...