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Opinions

I thought of a few different titles for this post: Actions Speak Louder Than Words, or Taking a Stand. I chose the most boring one. :) This is just going to be a jumble of thoughts rolling around in my head this morning, so watch out.

I am the kind of person who takes people's opinions personally. I know I shouldn't do this, but I do out of habit. But then I am able to sit there and talk myself out of it and know that it's okay if someone has an opinion that is radically different than my own. They still like me. Hopefully. I really try to see people for who they are, not just as a walking collection of opinions and beliefs. They are people like me! With hopes and dreams and wishes and pains and heartaches as real to them as mine are to me. That's what I seek to see when I interact with others.

So about the opinion thing, the way that affects me is that I am extremely wary of sharing my own opinion with others. With so much propaganda floating around out there I think it's pretty easy to hear a certain word or phrase and automatically label someone and place them in one camp or the other without really listening to them or seeking to find out who they are trying to be at heart. And since that's what my biggest goal is: to really listen to others and try to see them as they see themselves, then I avoid sharing my opinion because I don't want someone to hear it and automatically think, "oh, that's the side she's on." And then go on to assume that I think and behave the same way "everyone else" in that camp thinks and behaves.

I'm different! I really don't feel like I fit in to any one "camp." There are things that I feel very strongly about but I keep my mouth shut about them because it's more important for me to show someone I love them than to risk the chance that they might think that I think poorly of them because of my opinions. But maybe other people aren't like me and don't take people's opinions personally. Maybe I should be sharing my opinions about what I feel strongly about. But I just really have a hard time picturing myself doing that!

This kind of makes it a challenge for me to really want to get involved politically in any way. I think it's hard enough that I'm "labeled" as LDS because I am very active and involved with my Church. It is so frustrating to me when some people choose to live by the labels and won't even have a desire to get to know someone for who they are once they've labeled them. I think it's rather ridiculous and ironic when people from one camp accuse people from another camp of behaving a particular way because more often than not, they are behaving exactly the same way. (I catch myself doing this on occassion as well and I'm glad that I do because then I can change!) I think most people's misunderstanding with others come as a result of objectifying and labeling them rather than seeking to see them as a fellow human being with needs and wants as valid as their own.

When you hear the phrase "take a stand" what do you think that means? It's weird because when I think of what "taking a stand" means to others I think it means speaking opinions and beliefs to others, I think of getting involved politically, of writing letters and attending rallies and then I feel kind of guilty because not only do I not do those things, I really don't even have a desire to do them for the reasons I've already discussed. And I don't want people to think that I don't feel strongly about things or that I don't care or that I'm afraid to. But then again, I shouldn't be so concerned of what others may think of me, huh. :)

I really feel like actions speak louder than words. So I put my effort into living what I profess to believe, and if I can't master that, then what sense does it make that I go around touting my beliefs to everyone else? My way of "taking a stand" is to live from my heart, to seek to see others as people, not objects and to be true to myself. I would hope that people can know what is most important to me by observing the way that I live my life. It doesn't mean that I won't ever get politically involved, attend rallies, write letters, etc. It just means that those things are not what "taking a stand" means to ME. I think it's hard work, it takes integrity, determination and perseverance to take this kind of stand. Most importantly I believe it will make a profound difference. It won't be a difference that those accustomed to instant gratification will be able to see. It's the kind of difference that changes lives for generations to come but that may not even be recognized as "profound" until long after I've left this mortal life.

Here's another random question... are opinions and beliefs the same thing? If not, what's the difference?

And I'm still trying to figure out if the reason I don't often write book or movie reviews is the same as why I don't like to share my opinions about current issues or if it's just that I'm resisting putting my brain to work.

Another thing I take personally is a lack of comments from my blog readers. lol. I know I shouldn't because it's not like I go around posting comments on everyone's posts either... but I like comments. They make me feel special. So anytime you're looking for a way to make someone feel good, just leave a comment on Lindsay's blog, ok? :)

Feelin' the Love

I feel so happy right now. Like simply full of joy. I'm listening to Michael Buble and holding a happy Joseph on my lap. He smiles real big every time I lean over and kiss him on the cheek and it is really just enough to make me want to gobble him right up! He should be napping and I should be showering, but since neither of us is doing what we should be, then we're blogging!

A power line caught on fire this morning so we were powerless for a few hours. I couldn't help but think about how grateful I am for electricity and then while I was thinking along those lines, I was also grateful for other things that I hardly even think to be grateful for like running water, mirrors, hot water heaters, heat vents...

Valentine's Day was fun. I made a DELICIOUS quiche for breakfast with spinach and sun dried tomatoes. Seriously, it was so yummy. And I peeled a grapefruit perfectly and made toast from our homemade honey wheat bread. We spent the day with John's sister and brother in law looking at the Parade of Homes. Okay, so the house with the basketball court, racquetball court, putting green and climbing wall in the basement? Yeah. A-MAZE-ing. It was over 15,000 square feet and surprisingly is only 3.5 million dollars with ALL the furnishings! In the evening we joined up with some more of John's family and had dinner at Olive Garden. I had the Tour of Italy and was in heaven. After dinner we rented a few movies, but only watched one. And I think I fell asleep before the end. John gave me a beautiful boquet of red roses and I gave him this framed picture that Tim took. John hadn't seen it before, so it was a surprise to him and he loved it.

Joseph fell asleep like this the other night:

We forgot to bring his binky with us on Sunday. We were sitting by another young couple with a little girl who's about a month younger than Joseph. She offered us this from her diaper bag saying she doesn't use it and was going to throw it away.

And I swear, Joseph likes this binky much better than his other ones, so thanks Katie!

Joseph is getting stronger at holding his head up and does so for a little bit longer periods. We got some cute shots of him yesterday. I was just snapping a whole bunch and then when I was looking at them, I realized I had captured his face perfectly in the little mirror on his mat!

And John took this one later last night. He's turning into quite the photographer, wouldn't you say!? I guess it's not too hard when you've got such cute subject material. :)

And last of all, according to our bathroom scale, Joseph is weighing at least 10 pounds now.

Oh yeah. I want to recommend a children's book to all my readers who have little infants. I'll lay down on the floor with Joseph and we read this one together. He LOVES it. His eyes never leave the pages and he coos at it too while I'm reading. Obviously it's the pictures, not the storyline that captures his attention so. You can see a little preview of it by clicking on the picture of the cover. I found this little beauty at the DI.

ABCDEFG

I hope you're singing that song to yourself now! Isn't it a great one? I sing it to Joseph all the time. I sign the letters as I sing and he always loves to look at my hands moving when I do that. Well, so you're probably wondering how much he gained! Last week when I weighed him he weighed 9lbs 1oz! He had gained a whole pound! I was so excited! It's been a week since then now but I don't know how much he's gained this past week. He's still really little... according to a weight chart I found online he is only in the 3rd percentile for his weight. But the site I read says that the important thing is that their growth stays consistent on whatever percentile line they fall on. Little or not, he is doing so good! He's happy and loves to talk and interacts more with us every day. He's so cute. Okay, I know I talk about him like ALL the time on my blog now... so I'll share with you something else now. After this picture. :) I had John take a picture of us ready to go on a walk so you can see how cute he is. Please ignore my fat face... this is not the most flattering picture of me, but it was the cutest one of Joseph!

***

So I really love to cross stitch. I've been doing it since I was 9 years old. I think I've mentioned that on here before, but oh well. I took a break from it there for a few months just before Joseph was born and the two months since, but I've taken it back up again and I swear, it is highly addicting for me. I've been working on a project off and on for about two years. It's to do every letter of the alphabet and I hope to sew them into a cute quilt when I'm done. So I'll either have to learn how to quilt or have someone else do it for me... most likely it will be the latter. Each letter has such a different design and they are all super cute! The stitched area of each is 5"x5". Here's the ones I've finished so far:

Homemade for YOU

Something just for you! Lucky you!

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2- What I create will be just for you.

3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)

4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Good luck!

Still Laughing

I usually just delete any emails that are forwarded to me without even opening them. Occasionally, usually for unknown reasons, I will open one. And sometimes, I actually enjoy what I read. This was in my inbox that I checked this morning and I am still laughing about it, whether or not it is "really true," it's hilarious.

When asked to draw a picture of what they wanted to be when they grew up, second-grader "Sarah" turned in the lovely drawing shown below. Needless to say, the teacher was a bit surprised. Mrs. Smith had always seemed like such a conservative woman. So she sent a note home to the girl's mother asking for clarification as to the picture's meaning. (Mom's reply is under the picture.)

Dear Mrs. Jones,
I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out of every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Smith

Weighing In

Well, how much do you think Joseph gained in a week? I put a poll on the side so you can vote. And I'll post the answer at the end of this week. Here's some clues:

His face has noticeably filled out some.


He's even got a little double chin now.


And yes, there's a little roll on his thighs now!

So this past week I've had a lot of fun "hanging out" with Joseph.

We went on our first walk outside. I dressed him warmly and put on his big hat that covers his ears and strapped him into our Snugli carrier. He looked so cute! This was the best picture I could get of him by holding the camera out in front of us since John was at work.

He really seemed to enjoy the walk though. He stayed awake and quiet for the whole time. (It was only around the block.) It was really windy though and I had to cover his face for the last half of it when we were walking into the wind.

On Sunday he looked so handsome in this little outfit of black pants, white shirt, vest and tie. He was really adorable. After church we visited with my brother and sister-in-law for dinner and had a little FHE lesson together. We decided to make it a tradition to get together on the first Sunday of each month. Next month will be at our house and we'll just keep alternating.

I've really been trying to make some new friends since our move and am excited about how it's going. Our next door neighbors moved in the day before we did and they are around our age. They have two boys, about 2 and 1 years old. There's a lady in Relief Society that I've become friends with who also recently moved in. The three of us girls are going to go walking on Tuesday morning and hope to make it a regular event. I also met another girl my age on Sunday who I really like. She asked if I was going to the quilting activity that week and I said, "um, no. I don't quilt." She said, "neither do I, but I want to get out and make some new friends. I signed up to play basketball too, even though I don't even know how to play!" And then I told her something that surprised John who was standing behind me. "I've been thinking of playing basketball too... maybe I'll sign up too and we can run back and forth on the court together!" I really think it is bizarre that I am even considering playing basketball... totally a step outside my comfort zone! But I really had been thinking about it recently and decided when I talked with this girl that I'm just gonna do it! John is shocked and said me signing up to play basketball is just about the equivalent of him joining a cross stitch club! Anyway... I'm looking forward to doing some more ACTIVEities! (I know, that's not how you spell that.) So while Joseph works on gaining weight, I'll be working on losing weight!

Future Joseph

okay, so probably not really... but still, everyone does say that he's got long fingers... perfect for playing the piano! okay, so not everyone... but still... :) After watching this movie I turned on our own Baby Einstein's cd and held Joseph on my lap as we listened to it. He fell asleep quickly, but no worries. I googled more about this little Ethan Bortnick and apparently he can hear music while he's sleeping and wake up and play it perfectly. Seriously, this kid has got personality! Gotta watch this whole video... you will love him too! (thanks Bri for sharing this!)