Day 420: The great debate

Nothing like a friendly debate over the existence of God to get the blood pumping and the emotions rising. Well,,, I cannot say debate, because in my case, it is usually more like a trial. I'm the defendant, answering to the prosecuting attorneys. That's okay. I have God as my judge; I can live with that.

The debate is not God vs. science. That's absurd. The two are not mutually exclusive. A true believer is never threatened by advancements in science...rather, they welcome them. They know that many advancements in science are the direct result of God-given inspiration. No. The debate is simply on whether or not there is a God. Scientific proof is out of the debate. Science will never prove there is no God. Neither will it prove there is. That is not, nor ever was, the role of science in our Universe. Science is about questions. Faith is about answers. The two make marvelous companions.

My belief in God is not based on faith alone. It is also based on evidence. It is the evidence of things not seen which are true. And it has surrounded me throughout my entire life. In fact, the evidence of God's role in my life is so blatantly transparent, that to deny it would require a total disregard and lack of respect for the truth.
I realize that what I am about to say may offend some people. I sincerely apologize for that in advance. But this is my blog, so I don't need permission to speak from my heart.


Try as I might, I have a low tolerance for people who think they are doing me a favor by giving me permission to believe what I want to believe. Oh. Thank you. I was worried about that. As if!!
Here's the deal....You don't want to believe in God, that's your choice. We all have God-given agency to choose for ourselves what we will and won't believe. I don't need anyone to "allow" me to believe what I want. So do not patronize me by setting yourself up as someone who is superior and therefore has the right to tell me it's okay for me to believe how I wish. Kiss my San Antonio rose buds!

Here's something I find quite interesting, and I see it all the time---usually followed by a raised eyebrow and a bitten tongue. Someone on Facebook, or in a mass text or e-mail, asks that everyone pray for their sick friend or relative in one breath, and then in another, say they do not believe in God. Really. Are you serious? If you are truly an atheist, then it's hypocritical to ask others to pray on your behalf. These same people won't give God the credit if their loved one gets better. But oh man.... if they take a turn for the worst, then they will claim it is evidence that God does not exist. Am I the only one who finds this hypocritical?
Truth is, deep down, everyone knows there is a God. Something bigger than this world. They may not define him. They may not understand him. They may not know him. They may not give him a name, face, or image. They may want nothing to do with him. But in their soul, they know that God is. Period. They choose NOT to believe. It is not the other way around. Believers do not choose to believe. They just believe. Simple. It's not a choice. The choice comes in choosing NOT to believe. Non-believers always want to lay the burden of proof on believers. That's a cop out. And guess what? You don't get to make the rules. This is the way it works. If you attack somebody's beliefs, the burden of proof lies with you, regardless of which side you represent.

So that's my rant for the night.

Tomorrow--a walk on the lighter side. Tommorow you get my year's best and worst. Movies, books, moments, etc. You know you want it :-)

Day 419: Countdown to my New Year's Resolution

I meant to include this picture in yesterday's blog... another of my "happy moments" on Christmas day. I am blessed with these two absolutely gorgeous daughters! I mean, just look at them!

Unfortunately, I did not have a new picture made of me with my two boys...that's a bummer, especially since Taylor will be gone for two years. I adore my little boys, who are not so little anymore!~! They make me laugh... and they seem to always know just the right buttons to push. This photo was taken when Andrew got home from his mission....Hard to believe he's been home for 3 months, and is already gone back to school. In two short weeks, Taylor will be gone too. I am going to miss my boys so much!

I miss them already.

There is nothing like having your children near. It's not that I need to be in the middle of everything they are doing, it's just knowing they are close by.... sometimes that's all I need.

How did they get so old? Just yesterday they were tiny. Now they are nearly all gone. I'm not sure I like that part of the plan. On the other hand, how will they ever know the joy that is mine unless they have children of their own? Hmmmm. Isn't that how it was in the Pre-existence? God wanted us to experience His joy, so he devised a plan... and here we are. More and more I glimpse how mortality is patterned after the world from which we all came. I can't help but wonder if I could ever possibly bring as much joy to my Heavenly Father as my children have brought to me. I imagine He finds joy in the same types of things we do as parents....seeing our kids grow up and make good life choices, seeing them serve and love each other, or seeing them strive to make each other smile. I believe that all the things that bring us joy as parents, also brings our Heavenly Father joy...only on a much grander scale beyond which I can possibly imagine.

So that leads me back to my failed goal of becoming a person who performs RAKs on a daily basis.

Momentarily forgotten? Yes. Worthy of another chance to get it right? Absolutely.

And thus the quest begins. Again.

Starting January 1st.

(That gives me two more days to be selfish.)

Cycles of a Crazy Lady: Day 418: The Gifts of Christmas Present

Cycles of a Crazy Lady: Day 418: The Gifts of Christmas Present

Day 418: The Gifts of Christmas Present

Count down to Christmas.... That is always the rule once Christmas vacation begins. To a non-professional, it may look like a frantic, stressful rush of wrapping, spending, baking, decorating, parties, deliveries, cyber-shopping... more wrapping, spending, and baking. Outsiders may find themselves wondering where is the joy in such chaos?

But this is what I live for....11 months out of the year.... for one month of the Christmas crazies.

My husband calls me "The Elf."

This year the theme was family.... Lots and lots of family. And what better way to celebrate than the gift of children? Old, young, I say the more the merrier.... It all adds to the chaos. I mean really, how do you put a price on a belly laugh like this one?

This is Kieran checking out the pooch with moving ears and singing to the tune of "I Feel Good!" Kieran is a bit perplexed, wouldn't you say?

Here's the reason for the belly laugh! Jane. She always keeps me laughing!

What would Christmas be without stockings?

This year we did something new with our stockings. Instead of having Santa fill them, we drew names to take over stocking duty.... Only there were rules. Rules. Something new, something used, something handmade, something edibile, round, square, practical, and a certain color. At first, this seem to stress some people out.... But in the end, I guarantee you we will remember not only the stocking we received, but the stocking we filled. This is a tradition I would like to repeat next year... with a few minor modifications.

By Christmas Eve, the preparations were done.... and what wasn't done, no longer mattered. This is the night we open our Christmas pajamas and take our obligatory picture in front of the flaming fire. It means that Christmas morning is one step closer! This is a tradition my parents started when my children were babies.... and hopefully, my kids will choose to keep it alive.

Next year.... Everyone is getting the most outrageously ridiculous Christmas pajamas we can find! And yes! They WILL wear them !!

Is it even possible that I neglected to mention food? Prime rib, superbly roasted on Christmas Eve... followed by the traditional ham/turkey dinner on Christmas day! Oh. And don't forget the pies. 4 pumpkin, 2 cherry, 2 apple. And still it wasn't enough. Add to that chocolate and about 8 batches of Aunt Ruth's famous fudge.

I sense my cholestral rising. Was that a heart palpitation I just felt?

My favorite moment? (Is there really only one?) Watching my family open their stockings. Seeing what it was that they gave to each other and made for each other. I found a certain joy in this that is unsurpassed by any memories of Christmases past.

Tied for first....

Family! The Morgans, Logans, and Hodges. It doesn't get any better than this in my Christmas fantasy.

I cried when I put the tree up.

I will cry when I take it down.

And then next year.... I will do it all again.

Merry Christmas everyone.

And to all a good night.

Day 417, 'Tis the Season

It's the season of joy... peace... All is calm. All is bright. Right? Then why do I feel like my insides are falling out?

For years I've had this dream that I wake up and realize it is Christmas Eve, and I have no tree, no gifts, no plans. In my dream, I experience this unparalleled sense of anxiety knowing that somehow I have missed Christmas. When I awake in the morning, it always takes a while for me to get my bearings and realize that Christmas is still months away.

Well, Christmas is less than two weeks away now, and I am having flashes of that anxiety. It doesn't stop me from enjoying the season....but it does cause me to lay awake at night.

On the work front, things are better. I am building bridges.... but that's a story for another day :-)

Three more days until Christmas vacation..... THAT is definitely something I am looking forward to!!