Cinco de Mayo!

This Cinco de Mayo we ended up throwing a huge neighborhood/ward party.   It was so much fun to have so many people come and participate.  Several people were willing to help and contribute so it made the whole event very easy and low-stress.  We put the grills and side dish tables on one side of the street and the desserts and drinks on the other side.  Everyone brought chairs or blankets, food to share and their own main dishes to eat with their families.  After a while we got out two pinatas and divided the kids by age for hitting them.  Everyone had a lot of fun!

Phone Dump

 Some of my absolute favorite pictures are the moments that are captured when I don't have to run upstairs and grab the camera.  It's moments that are caught quickly from my phone before the moment passes.  Some of the pictures are blurry and out of focus, but I still love them. 

I asked Owen to put a FEW cherrios in Emmetts tray while I made dinner.  I walked over a few minutes afterward and found this overload of goodness:

Brett and I don't seam to go out on a lot of dates, so I wanted to record this night out to the Bombay House.  We LOVE our curries!

 I can't get over the cuteness of our sweet baby Emmett.  He is such an angel and he has the most amazing long eyelashes.  What a cutie!

 I feel so blessed to have four such wonderful boys.  They always look so handsome on Sunday when they're all dressed up and hair fixed - even if they do still talk with their mouths full.

 For Saint Patricks Day Hyrum put together an amazing Leprechaun trap.  He worked so hard on making it perfect.  His brothers helped with the surroundings.

 I was really frustrated with the boys one day when I saw the disastrous mess in the back seat of the van.  I told them they needed to do a full 'detailing' to the interior of the van.  The neighborhood kids kept coming by to see what they were doing and asking when they could play.  I finally told them that if they wanted my boys to play sooner they could help them clean.  There were about ten kids with rags, wipes, and paper towels cleaning away.  

 When it's nice outside and there's no school our house seams to be a kid magnet.  During Spring Break I would usually have between 5-10 extra kids over at our house for several hours.  I am both excited and scared for summer break:).

I haven't been able to volunteer in Hyrum's class nearly as much as last year, but when I do I love it.  It's so fun seeing him with his friends.

 Girls night out to see the movie, "Mom's Night Out".  It's a nice treat to have a night away from the kids, especially to see such an uplifting, relatable, fun movie.

 I took Hyrum and Noah to see their first theatre production.  We saw Peter Pan at the Hale Center Theatre.  The boys loved it!  I loved watching the excitement in their eyes.  Sometimes Noah will still tell me a part of the play that he thought was funny and start laughing.  When the play was over, the cast lined up outside the doors so we had a few pictures taken.  Noah wanted me to take lots of pictures with him and the cast.  Before we went, Hyrum found two pillbugs(rollie-pollies) at our house and was adamant about keeping them as pets.  I gave him a little container and he put some leaves in it.  He carried the container with him in the car and hid it behind a bush in front of the theatre for the first half of the show.  At intermission he checked on them and was really concerned about them being lonely, so I let him carry the container in inconspicuously.  They enjoyed the second half of the play too:)  While Noah and I were taking pictures, Hyrum was showing all of the cast members his pets.  It was really cute and very fitting having just watched Peter Pan. 

 It's been a big week for Emmett.  He started climbing up things, including staircases.  He's growing up SO fast!

Words of Wisdom from Mom

Dear Kids,

   Right now you are young and the world around you is small.  As you get older the world around you gets a little bigger until eventually the world is huge and you may feel very small in significance.  You may think that other people are more important or more correct than you because their voices are bigger.  I am going to tell you a little secret:  YOU ARE significant!  YOUR voice is heard.  YOU are as big and as important as you make yourself, so aim high.  The 'voices of the world' try and tell you how to be big and important, but only Heavenly Father can tell you where he needs you, and when you listen to Him he will help you reach your highest purpose in this life.  Don't ever think that someone is correct just because a lot of other people agree.  Remember, that even Satan was able to lead away a THIRD of the hosts of heaven with his big voice, and they were cast out of God's presence.  BIG and LOUD does NOT MEAN RIGHT!

     I just wanted to tell you a little bit about one of the things that holds a lot of power to people of the world.  MONEY!  It may seam like everyone's goal in life is to obtain more of it.  The voices of the world will tell you that as long as you have money, you can have anything and everything that you want.   There is some truth to that, but the goal in life isn't to have anything and everything we want.  The goal of life is to follow Jesus Christ and learn to be like him through self-mastery.  Satan is so sneaky by tricking people to believe that their goal and purpose is about having more instead of BEING MORE.   Money is not bad, money is a great tool to obtain and work with.  With more money you can give more to the needy, acquire a better education, and let's be honest - you can have a lot of fun with what money can buy, but money will NEVER make you a bigger or better person.  We learned from the Widow's Mite that the amount of money you give to the Lord is not as significant as the percentage of ourselves we are willing to give. So, always remember that in the grand scheme of life and our purpose here, the quantity of things we obtain means nothing compared to our stewardship of what God has blessed us with.

     People will tell you how to spend your money on amazing things that will make life easier, better, happier, and even longer.  The things they sell may actually work, but REMEMBER what your goal and purpose is!  As loud as their voice is, be sure to listen to the still small voice of the spirit before you listen to their loud claims and cures.  I don't want you to misunderstand what I am saying.  I am NOT saying that you should seek destitution and poverty.  I am saying that you need to know how to use a tool before you break the tool or the tool may break you.  Like any tool, we should learn how it works, why it works the way is works, and how to best use it to utilize its benefits.  When I was working in a salon as a hairdresser I carried my cutting shears with me at all times.  I didn't let other people use my shears,  because to an untrained person they can be disastrous and even dangerous.  Shears were just my tool of employment.  Money is your tool to obtaining most things, so it's even more important to learn all you can about it to increase your success in using it with little pain.

Borrowing Money:  Just like using someone else's shears in the salon, borrowing money is not a great idea.  The voices of the world wants so badly to be in control of your money so they can use it however they want.  They want you to be in their power.  They want you to be without a voice, a thought, or especially any control over one of the greatest tools to wield worldly power.  To be out of control is Satans plan.  When you give someone else control, you are handing over a piece of your agency, and allowing someone else to have power over an aspect of your life.  Unfortunately, this worldly power culture has become so prevalent that it is nearly impossible to go throughout life without borrowing, so let me give you a few tips:

1.  ONLY borrow for necessities of life: vehicle, home, education.  When you are in debt you do not own what you think is yours.  The lender is your boss as long as you take from them.  The world's voice might tell you that you can afford more, but they don't care about you.  I'm going to give you advice because I do care for you.  A bank lender will tell you the MAXIMUM amount you can borrow. . . what that translates out to in caring person language  is "this is the absolute most we will let you borrow, because any more and it will destroy your life."  There is sometimes a big difference between what you are allowed to borrow and what you should borrow.  It's like sales at stores.  I know many of us are guilty of buying more because it's a deal and 'easy money', but when it comes down to basic math you will spend more if you're buying things that you weren't planning on buying.  Be sure to do your research, do your math, and spend some time communing with Heavenly Father to help you make the best choice. 

2. NEVER spend more than you can pay back!  When I was young I used to think that wealthy people were the ones who have the big houses, the fancy cars, and the nice clothes.  As I've gotten older I've learned that there are companies who want you to have whatever you want in life. . . (sounds great right?) . . .  in exchange for  paying them WAY more than what the items are worth.  They've given these arrangements the lovely names credit cards and interest.  Beware of their cords and shackles that will so easily bind you.  With that said, I will add that when used correctly, I think credit cards are wonderful, so just KNOW YOUR LIMITS.  Don't give up your agency by maxing out what is offered, when you stay in control you can use credit cards to your benefit.  Here are Dad and my rules for credit cards: monitor them regularly so you know what's been taken out and never charge more on your card than what you are able to pay off in that billing cycle.  I now know that what someone has or what someone makes means nothing.  Anyone can spend money and acquire stuff.  We see hollywood icons who made millions loose everything in a matter of months, and I've seen people spend way more than they have to enjoy the comforts of society by placing the handcuffs of debt on by choice.  This is not joy or happiness.  The principle of money is the same whether it be $100 or $1000.  If you can't hang on to a little bit of money you will not be able to hang on to a lot of money either,  your money managing skills don't suddenly change when you make more money.  We can learn a lot from the PARABLE of the TALENTS.    Wealth is about how much of what you've earned you can retain and invest, being free from the shackles of debt, not about how much stuff you have acquired.  Here is another great example that is more eloquently put in LUKE 16:10.  

I'm not going to tell you how to spend all of your money, but I will tell you where some of you money needs to go.   

How should money be used?

1. Pay a full tithing and make generous donations.  This is a law made in heaven.  We know how gravity works because it's effects can be viewed in plane sight.  The law of tithing works the same way.  When you pay a full tithing you will be blessed.

James E. Talmage has said:“Tithing is the Lord’s revenue system, and He requires it of the people, not because He is lacking in gold or silver, but because [we] need to pay it. …The prime … purpose behind the establishment of the law of the tithe is the development of the soul of the tithe-payer, rather than the providing of revenue. The latter is an all important purpose, for so far as money is needed for the carrying on of the work of the Church, the Lord requires money that is sanctified by the faith of the giver; but blessings beyond estimate … are assured unto him who strictly conforms to the law of the tithe because the Lord hath so commanded.” (James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith, 12th ed., Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1924, pp. 528–29; italics added.) 

2. Eliminate Debt.  Work as aggressively as you are able to unbind the shackles of debt.  If you have multiple debts, never miss the minimum payments, and pay on time.  If you are able to, double or triple the payment amounts on the smaller debts one at a time until those are eliminated and then do the same thing on the bigger ones until eventually they are all paid off.  Use a FINANCIAL CALCULATOR to help with the process.

3. Save for the future.  When you are young you feel like you have all the time in the world to worry about the future, but time goes by quicker than you think.  Start saving as soon as you can for retirement.  Some financial experts suggest putting in 10%-15% of your income into retirement accounts and investments for the future.  

4. Save for an emergency.  Emergencies happen and we can't determine when.  Begin a savings account for emergencies.  Aim to have a 3-6 month supply of money to cover all of your families needs, and then add to it as often as you can. 

5. Create a realistic budget.  Diets frequently fail to produce long-term results because when a diet is finished they go right back into bad eating habits.  Money is no different, if you restrict your money too much, you may end up with some binge spending that will completely throw all your plans out the window.  Follow a strict budget that is carefully monitored, but be realistic.  Allow in your budget wiggle room and 'fun-mon', as we call it, to go to a movie, buy non-essential food items like ice cream at the store, or to grab a smoothy occasionally.  If you're not budgeting carefully you will find that money is gone just like a drippy faucet looses water down the drain, with nothing to show for it.  When you've budgeted in the excess than it feels like more of a treat to go out and buy the non-essential things.

6. Moderation in all things.  There may be times in your life where you are blessed with an abundance. After you've done 1-4 you will probably want to use some of the abundance to celebrate the hard work it took to get there.  There is nothing wrong in enjoying the fruits of your labors, but keep in mind that pride can come when you forget the journey it took to get what you are blessed with.  When I make a batch of brownies I could easily eat the whole thing, but the consequence of doing that would be an upset stomach and a few extra pounds on the scale.  When we 'devour' our gifts in instant gratification we are not able to fully enjoy them, share them, and utilize them in the future.  Just because your cup runneth over doesn't always mean that you need to buy a new cup.  Be happy and grateful and refrain from feelings of entitlement.  My cousin once was talking to me about a family that was well off and I will always remember the way he described them, "They're rich, but they make their own bread"  It had nothing to do with actually making bread, but was a metaphor for the type of people they were.  They were wealthy, AND they were hard working, AND resourceful.  Living a frugal life has nothing to do with how much money you make, it is lifestyle choice for any budget. You can still buy nice things and live a frugal life by choosing areas you want to spend more and other areas that you don't mind spending less in.  A Hollywood story caught my attention: HERE.  Spend wisely.

    You will find that people will find ways to acquire the things that are most important to them, so we should not make any assumptions or judgements about how people spend.  Worry about yourself and know that not everyone has the same life goals as you.  Quite a while ago a friend of mine and I were talking about a trip we had gone on and she made the comment that she could never afford doing something like that.  I thought it was funny, because she frequently goes to the salon to get her hair and nails done and I always think that I could never afford to do that regularly.  If we don't make a budget for something and make it a priority than we were both right, I will never afford regular salon pampering and she will never afford our trip.  It's simple.  We will find a way to afford the things that are most important to us whether it be a vacation, weekly date nights, traveling the world, furniture, etc.  It applies to everything and it is a good reminder to plan and budget wisely.  Some things may take sacrifice to achieve, but if it is important enough to us to make those sacrifices than the way will open.    

When things don't work:

     I would like to say that if you follow the above guidelines you will always have enough and you will be prosperous, but I can't.  Remember that money is a means to an end, it is a tool, not the end in itself.  Sometimes even the best tools can malfunction and break.  Elder Marvin J. Ashton said,"The wind and waves will periodically interfere with our chosen course, even in financial matters; but the laws of the gospel can bring us back on course and guide us to peaceful waters."  Most likely, at some point in your life, you will find yourself in need.  Follow the financial principles I have told you as best as you can, and praise God for his endless love.  To loose everything is hard, sometimes it may feel like it is more than you can bare, but I assure you that the Savior has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.  Sometimes when things are hard, you may have to borrow more than you can pay back right then, just do the best you can with a prayerful heart.  I am not a perfect steward with all that Heavenly Father has given me, but I am trying and when I fall short of my potential I fall to my knees and ask for help.  Keep moving forward no matter how hard things get.  It may mean cutting back, a move, selling a car, or buying things second hand, but this is all just stuff.  Like Job, we can prove to our Heavenly Father that no matter how we receive our trials of refinement, we can start and end each day on our knees in prayer and be up on our feet ready to work the rest of the time.  Follow President Gordon B. Hinckley's life council: 

Be grateful

Be smart

Be clean

Be true

Be humble 

Be prayerful

  Don't make assumptions or judgements about other peoples finances.  We never know where someone is on their journey of life.  When Christ lived he loved many poor AND rich people who chose to be wise stewards of what they were given.  Do not assume that if they are poor they have not been smart with their money.  Do not assume that if they are rich they are prideful.  We are all fighting a different battle to prove to ourselves our faithfulness despite adversity, but adversity cannot be given to everyone in the same manner or dosage.  One persons trials can be another persons greatest strength, and that is the beauty of charity and service.  We are all created differently so that we can compliment one another and help build each other up.  Be a builder of others instead of a wrecker.  The only assumption you should ever make is that everyone needs your love.  That doesn't mean that you can allow yourself to be governed by 'the voice of the world'.  Only allow yourself to be governed by your own convictions rooted in the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ.  

"Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them."-Jeffrey R. Holland GENERAL CONFERENCE TALK HERE

For the Beauty of the Earth

At the beginning of May we had the joy of seeing our nephew's baptism and also getting a visit from some cousins.  The boys love being able to spend time with family and play with cousins.  

We feel so blessed to be surrounded by so much beauty.  I never knew that Utah was such a beautiful place, but now I am overwhelmed by it.  I took the boys to run around and explore the Thanksgiving Point gardens.  It was incredible!  Here are some of God's artistry that I was able to capture:

Observations of a Utah Mormon

I grew up mostly in Washington State. I lived in Iowa for 5 years, spent about a month living in Florida and another month in Chicago.  I lived in Hawaii for a year and I served as a missionary in the Northern Colorado region for a year and a half.  I've experienced the church and how it works outside of and in Utah.  I am currently living in pretty much the poster picture community of a Utah Mormon stereotype(Here's another one just for fun).  We have a Mormon church at the bottom of our small neighborhood, the Stake Center (a larger Mormon church) just down the street, and we have an amazing view of one of Utah's beautiful temples just outside our window.  If you walk down our street I can quickly point out to you the few houses where people that are not Mormon live.  There aren't many.  Where I live is just that Mormon, so although I am no expert, I feel that I am somewhat qualified to talk about this subject.  Let me lay it all out for you, Mythbusters style.

Stereotypes of a Utah Mormon:

  Green Jello

  Everyone is on prozac

  Over-achievers

  Complains about the 'long' WALK to church or the temple being 15 minutes away

  Self-righteous, Holier-than-thou

  Clique

  Stepford Wives, cookie-cutter women

  Poofy/Teased hair

  Tradition or Cultural Mormon
Wolves in Sheeps Clothing

Now, I'll break it down into what I can confirm or label as busted:

 Green Jello:  

"At one time, Utahns consumed more Jell-O per capita than any other state in the country."  (Resource HERE)  Yes, this is part of Utah history and I guess the culture as well.  I, however, have had very little, if any,  jello dishes served at any church or social event since I have lived here.  Maybe everyone had so much jello when that statistic came out that they became sick of it and stopped making the jiggly treat.  So, yes it's confirmed, but dated information.

 Prozac:  

Yes, Utah has ranked in the top rankings of anti-depressant prescriptions given.  Many studies have been done to examine this.  Some Mormons outside of Utah say it is because of the extreme demands to be perfect.  The researchers who have looked into this believe it is due to the high percentage of educated people that are aware of the symptoms and seek help in Utah (generally).  Another possibility is that Mormons are advised to not turn to alcohol and drugs to 'self-medicate', so we turn to Doctors.  (Resource HERE)

 Clique

When I first moved into our little neighborhood in 'Mayberry' I struggled finding friends and feeling like I belonged anywhere.  It took me close to two years before I felt like I had any friends, which was difficult since we're not surrounded by family.  Now I have great friends and I really love where I live.  

When I was little and my family moved to Iowa, my parents sat us kids down and talked to us about being Mormon.  We all knew about other religions and had each experienced minor teasing and some persecutions for our beliefs, but we were never alone in our religion.  Moving to Iowa changed us.  In the town we lived in there was one other family that were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  My parents told me that I was the luckiest one in the family because the other family had a girl my age and she would be in my class.  On my first day of school I knew the name of the other girl to look for.  We found each other and we were instant friends.  We were best friends for the five years we lived there and remained pen-pal friends for years after.  We are still in touch through Facebook and our family blogs.  If we did not have this common religion thread that held us together from the beginning we may have never been friends.  We didn't live next to each other.  We had different interests.  Our families were different.  Religion was what brought us together.  

Whether we like it or not, we all allow ourselves to be defined by something.  It is that definition, or that niche, that brings us close to other people.   It is a place where we can feel emotionally safe and accepted.  Most of my life I have been defined by my religion.  In other places I have lived, someone of the same religion moving in would be a big deal, within the church community.  Everyone would want to know all about the new family.  They would be invited over for dinners and welcomed with open arms, no matter who they were.  Now, imagine moving somewhere that everyone belongs to 'your' niche and has for generations.  People would be glad to have you, but you may not get a big welcome party like you may somewhere else where your niche is a minority.  This is where living in Utah can be hard.  To find friends you have to be defined by more than just your religion. You will find cliques everywhere because people need to find connections with other people on a smaller scale.  A little while ago a woman moved into our ward (congregation).  I have not introduced myself to her yet. . . yes, I'm guilty of being an 'unfriendly' Utah Mormon too sometimes.  I was eaves dropping when she sat down next to another woman behind me.  She complimented her on her bright colored, cute dress.  Conversation began.  Fashion niche was found, friends made.  The end.  So, what I'm trying to say is if you go somewhere 'less Mormon', all you have to do is declare your religion to find an instant family.  In Utah you need to find yourself beyond your religion and then the 'family' will come.  With that said, I need to clarify that there is a strong Mormon community of caring for each other and looking out for each other's needs here, it just presents itself differently than other places.  If you plan on moving here, you will be loved and welcomed, but don't expect special treatment because you're Mormon. 

  

The rest of these don't have statistics and studies to back them up.  I'm sure there are people that fit these molds and are the reason the stereotypes all began.  However, like all stereotypes and generalizations, where there is one person that fits the stereotype mold, there will probably be 100 people that are nothing like it. 

 Over Achievers

I'd like to say that this is confirmed, but it's too hard to label with no real proof.  Religion aside, I can say that there is an abundance of 'do-ers' in Utah, based upon the many sports venues available to the public.  The 2002 Olympics were hosted in Salt Lake City, because of the easy accessibility to many of the facilities needed for large sporting events. Geographically, this is a hot spot to winter sports and so the area itself attracts athletic/involved people.  Not everyone that is athletic is an over-achiever, but as the law says, 'An object in motion stays in motion.  An object at rest stays at rest.'  People who are busy and active tend to get more done, and I suppose that can be labeled as over-achieving.  I know that's a stereotype, but I'm sure there are studies to back me up.  You'll also find that in the blogging world, Mormon women in general have become somewhat of a rock-group.  Just to name a few of the over-achieving women's blogs: 

 http://lovetaza.com/,

 http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/, 

http://www.heynataliejean.com/,

 http://www.ourbestbites.com/, 

http://www.designmom.com/  

http://funcheaporfree.com/

And just for fun, this article went viral:

http://www.salon.com/2011/01/15/feminist_obsessed_with_mormon_blogs/

So, Utah may be full of over-achievers, but is that such a bad thing?  If someone wants to spend 5 hours making an ice sculpture for a church lesson, than go for it.  To each his own.  If such-and-such activity is not for you, than don't compare yourself or judge others that participate in it.  I am a teacher in church and I don't provide amazing handouts and decorate centerpieces for the occasion each week. Do I feel like I'm out of place because I don't go 'above and beyond'?  No.  I enjoyed making my boys Halloween costumes.  It was an unwind for me and I enjoyed having a project.  I worked on it for hours after the kids were in bed.  I hope no one would judge me negatively because of how I choose to spend my time.  

Complains about the 'long' WALK to church or the temple being 15 minutes away

  I've spent most of my life living near Seattle.  I have never been to the Space Needle.  I've never bought a fish at Pikes Place Market, and I don't think I ever hiked Mount Rainier, at least that I can remember.  Have you ever lived somewhere and not taken FULL advantage of everything that surrounded you?  My guess is that most people would have to say yes.  I know that you could argue that it's not the same, but I beg to differ.  There are many people in the world who sacrifice much to travel far to enjoy the blessings that we are able to enjoy down the street here in Utah.  We know that we are blessed to have so much so close to us.  There may be times that someone is ungrateful, but aren't we all just doing the best we can?  Maybe one persons trials are different, but that does not mean the journey is any easier for someone else?  God tests some people with distance and others with 'the easiness of the way' of closeness.  Let's all just be grateful for what we have and if occasionally there is a complaint than lets just recognize that we are not perfect.

Self-righteous, Holier-than-thou

I really don't know how to approach this one.  I don't think that because I live in Utah I am better than anyone else, or Holier.  I don't know of anyone else that does either.  That doesn't mean that those people don't exist, but I haven't experienced it.  I would imagine that it's a lot like people from other states that assume that they are better off because of where they live.  Ever heard of Texas pride?  It's real.  Pride for a sports team that you wish everyone else would 'see the light' about - it's the same thing.  It just happens. Sure, I love where I live and I love being surrounded by church culture.  I wish I could convince all of my family to live closer.  I would wish the same thing if I lived somewhere else too.

Stepford Wives, cookie-cutter women

Poofy/Teased hair
This one is neither busted or confirmed.  I'll label this as plausible.  When I was little we visited Utah a few times and I distinctly remember thinking that all of the women had big hair.  They looked over-done to me and unnatural.  I had never heard of teasing (ratting) hair until I first moved here.  It was weird to me.  I don't tease my hair very often, but occasionally I do give it a little tease.  It usually looks better and more full when it's teased.  Looking around at church I think about a third of the woman tease their hair.  I've now lived in Utah for a total of 9 years.  I don't notice or think Utah is full of cookie-cutter women with poofy hair.  However, when we've visited Disneyland and are surrounded by throngs of people I always come home thinking people dress SO differently.  I'm not talking about Mickey hats either.  I see a whole lot of skin; short shorts, lots of cleavage, sleeveless shirts, body piercings, tattoos, etc.  In Utah a large percentage of the people live by a code of modesty (one RESOURCE here).  Because of these modesty standards the outside world may see us as looking SO different too.  Our being uniformly different from the outside norm may also appear as cookie-cutter.  As for the hair here is an article written by a woman who was made into a Utah meme, without her knowledge.  Maybe the 'done' look that many women have in Utah is due to the increased number of over-acheivers, like I talked about earlier.  I do find it a bit weird that if I go to Walmart without makeup and sweats on at 10pm, I feel very under-dressed and out of place, but oh well.  Most groups with similar interests end up looking a lot a like anywhere you live.        

9. Tradition or Cultural Mormon/Wolves in Sheeps Clothing

         I frequently hear people talk about how 'Utah Mormons' know nothing about their religion and go to church out of habit more than testimony or belief.  This is the one stereotype that I find to be the saddest to hear.  Here's how I want to respond, "So, what you're saying is that every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints outside of Utah has pure faith 100% of the time, is a scriptorian, church historian, and lives a life of 100% obedience? That's awesome!  I'm curious how many of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and all of the general leaders of the church, that we fully sustain, were born and raised in Utah?. . . or, are they the exception? Just wondering."  If Utah Mormons are supposedly the most judgmental, self-righteous people, than I wonder why it is that I have NEVER heard anyone from Utah make fun of a member of the church for living outside of the beehive state?  Just my thoughts, but HERE are some thoughts that I find to be a lot more powerful.

Facts:

Mormon Percentages

Socio-Demographic Sterotypes 

Unemployment Ranking (#5 of 50 -1 being the best)

Forbes Best States for Business (#3 in 2013)

Best Performing States Economy in the Nation (#6 in 2010)

States Fiscal Condition

States with Best Economic Future (Strongest Economic Outlook in 2014)

I'm NOT MORMON!!! :

The views of a Utah'n that is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or 'Mormon' as most people call us.

I recently chatted with a family from the East that is moving here for work opportunity.  They are not members of my religion and asked about what to expect.  They told me they didn't really know much about 'The Mormons' and were pretty nervous about moving to Utah because of the religion.  I told them a little bit about what we believe and why.  I told them about how family oriented the area is because of our beliefs, and also that we firmly believe in everyone's freedom to choose, so they would not be ostracized for being a different faith.  However, I did warn them that because religion is such a big part of many people's lives here, it has become a social and cultural way of life as well. I told them that they would most likely be invited to activities at the church, Relief Society socials, and their children may be invited to come to some activities with the Primary.  I let them know that they didn't need to feel obligated to go, but they were always welcome.  When there is a church activity there will be a shortage of people around not at church, and we wouldn't want anyone to feel left out.  The door to the church is always open and welcoming to anyone who would like to come, even if they don't believe the same as we do.  A lot of people here are so used to being surrounded by people who go to church with them that they forget to explain themselves when discussing church activities and Mormon culture.  Don't be embarrassed if you have no idea what someone is talking about, just ask them to explain.  (I had a client once that was transferred here from California to be a minister at a local church in Provo.  She didn't know much about Mormon culture and loved learning about it all.  After explaining to her about my missionary service and what the days were like she frequently used 'Mormon lingo' at our appointments.  When she came to get her hair done she would tell me it was her P-Day - short for Preparation Day, when missionaries prepare for their service week ahead of them by doing laundry, running errands, writing letters, etc.)  It was a great little discussion I had with them and they seemed more at ease about their move.  I also let them know a few basics that out-of-staters won't know:  Utah Valley has a MUCH higher percentage of members of the Mormon faith than anywhere else in the State.  I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that you will find the most densely populated Mormons within Utah County to be in the Alpine area and in Provo. THIS is a great article about the demographics.  To some it may not matter and I think Utah County is a great place to live, but if you want to be in an area that is more religiously diverse you may want to look outside of Utah County.

Easter

On Saturday morning Hyrum informed me that he needed fabric and the sewing machine to make a new Easter bag because, "it's our Easter tradition!"  I did not see this coming, but we managed to find some scraps and I helped him make a new bag.  Next year I'll be sure to buy some cuter boy fabric to have on hand.  :)  That afternoon we took the boys to a neighborhood egg hunt.  They had a lot of fun!

While the 'big' boys were busy stuffing themselves with candy, Emmett spent his time strengthening his core by planking.  He's been planking a lot lately, and we're sure that he will be fully crawling very soon!

On Saturday night I taped different pictures of the Savior with children on the back of the chairs.  Under the pictures I wrote the verse John 3:16 and on the back was a clue to find an Easter basket for all of them to share.  Easter went very well and I feel that they know the true meaning of Easter. 

I did manage to get a couple of good Easter pictures, but they were mostly silly. . . those storm troopers always manage to sneak in. 

New Museum!

There is a new children's museum that we got to see a sneak peak of.  The boys LOVED it and we all can't wait for it to open! Here are a few shots from our visit:

P.S. This rope bridge is very high up and longer than it looks.   I managed to climb the distance in flip flops with Owen on my back to get this picture, it wasn't easy.  Oh, the sacrifices:)