Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Minersville Wedding

Michael and I went to my Great Aunt Pasty's wedding this weekend in Minersville, Utah. Minersville is a small town in southern Utah and I'm related to about everyone living there. We drove up Friday night and stayed in a hotel with my Grandparents for a couple days. We went out to eat at Arshel's which is a family restaurant. My Great Aunt was married on Saturday to Arnold Petersen and we gave them a hymnbook with their names and wedding date inscribed on it as a wedding gift, even though they requested no gifts. It was fun seeing family that I haven't seen in ten years! After the wedding, Michael and I went quading up in the hills. We had such a good time and it was so nice to get away for the weekend!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Prop 8

My degree from BYU is Home and Family Life which is pretty much a combination of Family Sciences/ Child Development. For years, I studied the positive effects families can have on a community. California is preparing to vote on Prop 8 soon. Prop 8 is designed to protect marriage between a man and a woman. Michael and I have been married for only a little over a year but I can already see the blessings I have received from being married to such a wonderful man! I hope that the people of California will recognize the sacredness of families. Here is a link that explains more of my beliefs on families. I have this statement hanging up in my living room. It's entitled The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Saturday, September 6, 2008





Engagement, Wedding & Honeymoon Pictures!

Monday, September 1, 2008


Fishing trip!

For Labor Day, Michael surprised me with with a fishing trip that he had been planning for weeks! We drove up the canyon to a river, hiked a ways and then went fishing. It was really fun to finally use our new fishing equipment. We saw one family casting out their pools and within less than 30 seconds, the son had caught a fish. Sad to say, we didn't have such luck but we are excited to go back again!