Camouflage

Addy, what are you doing?

"I'm blending in."

LDS

We live in a very Mormon community. There is a temple in Boise, and a stake on nearly every corner. Large families abound, and there is clearly a great deal of affluence. There are several Mormon seminaries, strategically placed near high schools.

Lately I have had a nearly-overwhelming burden for these folks. While they are really wonderful people, with great community and family values, there is something deeper that is incredibly unsettling.

The Bible - which I subscribe to :) - makes it clear that there is one God, in heaven and on earth. There are no other gods. Period.

The Mormon religion teaches that you can become a god.

It's incredibly demonic at it's core.

I'm not a Bible scholar, and I know even less about the Book of Mormon, but what I do know is that the Bible is historically verifiable, even if you choose not to base your life on it's content. There are literally thousands of manuscripts, dating thousands of years back. The Book of Mormon dates less than 200 years back, lacks any historical authenticity (in that Joseph Smith is the only one to have ever seen the Golden Plates, from which the book is claimed to have originated), and there is a lack of archaeological evidence. People have tried (both Mormons and non-Mormons) to find these Golden Plates, or anything that would authenticate the foundation of the religion.

There is nothing.

And yet, this is the fastest growing religion today. Living here, I can see why. The religion boasts an incredible community - family and wealth and security. If I chose to not investigate the Truth, perhaps I, too, would be tempted.

It's unsettling.

I'm praying.

Thoughts?

Halloweeny (just a little bit late)

Witchy

Butterfly Princess Fairy

Pooh Bear

Piglet

And a few failed attempts at the ever-elusive cute group shot:

Rescuer

A couple of weeks ago, I bought my kids The Jesus Storybook Bible. Really, though, it's been at least as beneficial (if not more so) for me. I recommend it, even if you don't have kids. Though I have to say my older two (ages 7 & 5) are so captivated every time we read from our new Bible, and are always begging for "just one more" story.

Prior to this evening, I'd just been choosing a story at random and reading it to the girls. Tonight, though, I started at the beginning. I read the intro, where the author talks about what the Bible is, and what it is not. The Bible isn't mainly a book of rules, nor is it just a book of heroes. In fact, the author points out, "most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean."

The author goes on to say that the Bible is most of all a Story - " ... of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them."

We read the story of creation, and the story of Adam and Eve. I really could quote it all, and I'm sure that you, too, would be a most captive audience, and continue reading every word of it, tearing up and nearly weeping at parts, like I did ... but I think there are some copyright laws or something that I should do well to avoid.

I do, however, have to quote what the snake says to Eve in the garden:

"Does God really love you?" the serpent whispered. "If he does, why won't he let you eat the nice, juicy, delicious fruit? Poor you, perhaps God doesn't want you to be happy."

Wow. That serpent has been whispering that very same lie for a very long time. And we, fools, have taken the bait over and over and over again, haven't we?

I haven't read my Bible in a very long time. I didn't even go to church for a good six months, prior to us moving to Idaho. I was at the church every week. My children were in the children's programs. My husband (who worked at the church!) was in several services each week. But I had no trust in, or respect for, the person delivering the sermon each week. It didn't matter to me if he was good looking, eloquent, or even if he was delivering the Truth. My heart was hardened to anything he had to say.

Tonight my heart sings with the knowledge that the Bible is a Story of God rescuing His children. And the truth that the heros of the Bible weren't really very heroic, much of the time. I rejoice in the knowledge that it is a Lie that God doesn't love me or want me to be happy.

I am in need of a Rescuer.

Humble Pie

It's not really my favorite dish.

But I suspect it is not unlike those Good-For-You meals that I often make my kids eat. I tell them, "It may not be your favorite, but it will make you strong, and smart, and happy!"

They usually smile, and we all sing our little "Strong, and Smart, and Happy!" song.

Knowing that there are benefits to the present unpleasantness does make it slightly more palatable.

Laugh or Cry

Do you ever feel like all of the forces of heaven and hell are diametrically opposed to you?

This has been one of those weeks.

Okay, I'm being a bit dramatic (unusual, I know).

In the last 9 days, 5 people in my house have had fevers. Everyone's fever has lasted several days, and been in the Better-Watch-It catergory.

Four people have barfed.

[As a side note, one of the barfing stories is kind of funny: Zoe was eating breakfast while watching cartoons - a privilege typically reserved for sickness and other such mental breakdowns on Mom's part - when she came into the kitchen, hands over her mouth, face bright red. Instantly, I assumed she was choking, so ran over and started giving her the hymelch. I didn't stop to think about what she was eating - scrambled eggs - not exactly high on the Choke-ables list. I quickly realized that she was not in fact choking, but barfing. Blech.]

Last night at 10:30, I called 911 because Addy was having a very difficult time breathing. We spent a few hours in the ER, she got a couple of breathing treatments and an oral steroid. We got home and to bed at 2:30 AM.

Tonight, while getting the kids into the bath, Phil noticed a bunch of dark red bumps on one of Penelope's legs. They are obviously painful, and we have no clue where they came from. She did play outside today - are they bug bites?

We are all exhausted.

I think I'm going to quarantine my children from the world, for the next 12 years.

Do you think that might be a little much?

A little bit Homesick

If I were in California right now, I'd go to Trader Joe's and buy one of those loaves of yummy fresh breads - you know, the ones with the big chunks of fresh garlic in them. I'd also buy some balsamic vinegar, and the lemon pepper with the built-in grinder, since I just ran out of both. And of course a couple bottles of Two Buck Chuck.

I would hang out with Candace, drinking some of that wine, while the kids ran wild and created drama. Then Brian and Phil would come home and we'd make an impromptu dinner and just celebrate our beautiful friendship.

I would love it if Cherie and her kids came over, even with all of the chaos and mess and craziness. And I'd hope Doug could come over and their whole family stayed through dinner (Taco Tuesday, of course), and past the kids' bedtime.

If I were in California right now, I would pick some fresh tangerines from our trees, and eat them in the back yard. I would freak out at the absurd amount of black widows our house had, and complain that we were paying way too much in rent.

I would make a walking date, from Foothill Blvd, up Glendora Avenue to Sierra Madre and back, with Erin Bo Bo. We would talk non stop about church and politics and the old days and books and work and the future.

I would pack a messy lunch, and forget to bring wipes, to the park day on Wednesday. I would be so very grateful for those families, who have watched my family grow from the time Addy was just 6 months old.

If I were in California, I would spend more time in Fullerton, with my family, the Schubert's and Rosenkranz's and Floerke's, and my extended family, the Matheny's. I would relish the annual Holiday party at Brandon and Stephanie's, savoring the rich memories we have built over the years. I would make more regular coffee dates with those dear ones.

I would have Sunday Supper every week. And I would be so grateful for those afternoons, building life with so many dear families.

I know we are where we are supposed to be. I just miss the familiarity sometimes. And my heart aches for the relationships.