Spring?

Life is getting exciting here in the midwest!  The sap is flowing, mystery bulbs are poking their heads out in the yard, and I changed my hair color from dark brown, to medium brown.  Ah!  Spring is in the air!

We sent Jesse on a spring break trip to see his brother in California.  Solo parenting has me falling on the couch at 8:30.  But pats on the back to me since we did have family night and we have been reading scriptures.  My entire goal this week:  Keep it together.  Anything accomplished is extra. 

And I'll finish with a fascinating conversation with Miriam on the walk to school last week.
"What does the Holy Ghost look like?"
I said that He is a spirit so doesn't have a body like ours.
"Well, you have to think about what his body looks like to think about what his spirit must look like.  I think the Holy Ghost is a girl."
"Hm.  I haven't heard that theory before."
"Why is the prophet always a boy."
"Well, historically there were women who were prophets."
"My teacher said that Miriam was a prophetess.  Have there ever been any women apostles?  I think that women and men should be equal.  Well, maybe five less than equal."
"Or five more."
"Yeah."


PS, if you didn't know, we're Mormon.

Vodka in a Pinch

This article in the Exponent made my day.  I loved it.  I don't know if my visiting teaching companion has vodka, but I love that I could ask her!

Giving Thanks

I don't mean to entirely skip the holiday.  I feel like I've gone straight to Christmas on this blog.  I have wonderful memories of Thanksgiving Day, and there is nothing I would love more than to spend it with family and friends.  But this year, we're doing things a little differently.  We're taking the family on a trip to Nauvoo.  This is my first visit to any church history site, so I'm really excited. 

So forgive my Christmas excitement. I have so little to plan for Thanksgiving, I feel kind of off the hook.

photo from here

On being Mormon (or not)

I've been intrigued by my friend's posts on leaving the Mormon church and being told she is "not Mormon".

I try to be a fairly organized gal, and I've always had a hard time picking a label for my friends and family who have left the church. How do I even describe them to others? And why do I have so many?

Sometimes I categorize them as "friends who have left the church." But it's such a mouthful. I've never thought of them as non-Mormon. There is too much Mormon culture that seeps into our everyday selves to be permanently rid of it.

Whatever their beliefs or non-beliefs, I am unable to categorize them out of my sphere. They are my friends and family first.

Here are some labels that I can live with: brother, sister, garden friend, work friend, high school friend, cousin, book group friend, family friend, neighbor, church friend.

And my friend who is coming back to the church after 10 years or so? Well, he has his own category.