Marriage.... Instituted by God

  I wouldn't be much of a blogger, let alone someone with an opinion to share, without expressing how I feel about a sensitive topic that has flooded everyone's Facebook news feed.... The topic of same-sex marriage.
  This post is not meant to offend anyone or bash others way of believing. I'm simply sharing my opinion and what I believe.
  I have had to think about how to write what I want to say because it's important to me to say it and say it right, but here is goes:


  I believe that marriage was instituted by God, which means God makes the rules, period.


  Like I said, I'm not trying to offend anyone. And I'm not sharing this in ignorance. I have family members and friends with same-sex attractions who have chosen to live their life the way they choose and I still love them and pray for them just like I do everyone else. However, I do not condone what God has said is sin.
  We have read in the Bible in Romans 1:25-27 that the Lord sees homosexual behavior as just that, a sin.

  Jesus Christ was always loving, kind and patient, yes. He loved all of God's children. However, He NEVER condoned sin. Did he not get angry, crack a whip round, and turn over tables in the temple when the people were desecrating the house of the Lord by selling their goods? Did He not call the Pharisees and Priests hypocrites for not living the commandments the way they were teaching others to live them? Did He not tell the adulterous woman to "go and sin no more"? Where are people reading that He condoned sin? He never did, period. To say that He did is not only false, but contradictory to Him being the just and fair God that will judge us for our works here on earth after we die.


  I'm not perfect. No one is. And I agree that we need to be kind and loving to those who choose to live their lives differently than we think they should. However, sin is sin no matter how it's justified. God doesn't change His laws and never will. What is in the scriptures is still in effect today and when we have concerns or questions about anything we can ask Him in prayer. He speaks to living prophets who are there to give us direction when this crazy world does crazy things.

  Again, my post is not meant to be offensive, however, I couldn't just sit back and not say what I believe. I believe that marriage is instituted by God between a man and a woman.

Healthy ME

  I am not one to be crazy with how physically fit I should be by posting "gym pics" or stupid dieting/healthy food posts because I feel like everyone has their own personal feelings and motivation for being healthy. I used to be CRAZY with my diet and gym routine about a year ago, which I'm glad I was because I felt great. However, when my life got much busier, I kind of slowly stopped really taking care of myself. I was legitimately busy with work and planning a wedding and tried to go to the gym but sometimes was occupied with other things I needed to do.
  However, lately I have found myself being so tired and sluggish! When I get home from work I want to immediately get into my pj's and go right to bed while my very active husband wants to take the dog for a walk, go to the park, to the gym together or play volleyball. It's hard to be motivated to do simple things when you feel so tired. So, I have decided that my habits need to change.
  The first habit I'm going to change my diet. I'm going to try and eat more of what I should and less of what I shouldn't. More water instead of Pepsi. More fruits and veggies and less sugar and carbs. More grains instead of starches. I won't start off crazy and start cutting things out completely but instead adding more good things to my body and less bad.
  The second, I'm going to do 30 min of physical activity of some kind everyday. Walk the dog, jog around the block, lifting weights or playing a sport of some kind. Anything physical for at least 30 minutes. Nothing crazy, just some form of exercise to get me moving. After awhile of that, I'll push myself to do more and more.
  I just decided that if I'm not happy with how I look or feel then I'm the only one who can change that. My husband, as encouraging as he is, can't motivate me. I have to. It's my body, my habits and my health. I am the one in control of me.
  So I'll be using my blog to help keep me on track and accountable. This is going to be awesome!
 

Husbands

   I have been thinking a lot lately about husbands and the people they are to their wives. I'm especially grateful for my husband and all of his hard work to make me happy. He is going into a difficult field of work as a police officer, but I know that he will make an effort everyday for our relationship because that is just who he is.
  The more I've thought about husbands, the more I think that they aren't given the appropriate credit they deserve. The world today has totally turned husbands into lazy, sit-on-the-couch men that are just looking to drink a six pack with their guy crew while watching the game to avoid their crazy and controlling wives. That they hide in the garage or shed to avoid their children, they make a mess anytime they come into the house, and dinner is never ready on time.
  While some husbands really do those things, most husbands do not.
  I think we as women expect things from our husbands that are, quite frankly, a little ridiculous. We are emotional, sensitive, and fragile sometimes and we expect our husbands, who are completely different people inside and out, who are not emotional or fragile, to just read our minds on how they should react or fix it for us. Then we get upset with them when they don't react the way we would like them to.
  It's sad to me how many women complain about their husbands with each other about this and that. They don't bother to brag about all of their accomplishments or the great things they do and say. They don't bother to thank them for their hard work to provide for them everyday without complaint.
  To me, husbands are quite amazing. I haven't been married that long and I am far from being an expert on marriage, but what I do know is that even though my husband may not give me the emotional attention I need or want sometimes, he does try in his own little way. He tries to make sure I am happy. It may not be the way I would do it, but at least he's trying. He's not a lazy, sit-on-the-couch husband that is just looking for a way to avoid me. He genuinely wants to help me and make life easier for me. He loves me.
  When I step out of my frustration box and look at all of the things he does do for me, even if they are different from the way I would like, I am in awe at the wonderful man that I get frustrated with so easily sometimes. No he's not perfect, neither am I. We think differently, do things differently, and need different things from each other, but I think the most important thing is that both of us are actively trying and being patient with each other.
  Husbands deserve much better than the cruel stereotype they seem to be given now a days. It actually makes me very sad.
  So wives, let's be patient with our husbands and let's work together to help each other with the different challenges that will come up. We are all different and that's what makes us so special together.

Meet Sasha

  So, this is our dog, Sasha. She's a sable color, pure bread German Shepherd. Ben and I got her about two and a half months ago when she was just 8 weeks old!  We have totally loved having her in our little family. In that two and half months she has learned to sit, lay down, stay, come, find treats, and speak! She loves walks and playing softball with us at the park. She is so smart and lovable.
  We wanted a good, loyal family dog before we had kids and couldn't decide between a Husky or a German Shepherd. We kept looking on the internet at all sorts of puppies, and even went and looked at a few, but weren't feeling it with any of them. Sasha's breeder came up, we called and even went to look at her that night. She was the only female left (I really wanted a female. Ben didn't really care). We played with all of the puppies and watched the breeder handle the mom, who was an amazing dog. Sasha just stood out to both of us. It was almost like she chose us.
  We went home and talked about it (because of the amount of money we would have to pay for her if we really did want her. She wasn't cheap).  Needless to say, we went to pick her up the next day after I got off work and I'm so glad we did! She is the best dog ever!
  I'm just so excited to have her already in the family before we have kids because I grew up with dogs and loved it. Plus, Sasha is already so protective of us I'm excited to see how protective she'll be with our babies. You can never come home sad because she's always happy to see you. I totally love my Sasha baby!

Better Than Friends..... Sisters

  Can I just say that I don't know how anyone does it without sisters. I don't know what I would do without these beautiful ladies. They each have their own special qualities that make them the perfect combination of awesome.
  Shiree (far left) is the oldest (and wisest). She is a spiritual giant and is the most Christ-like person I have ever met. She is kind, genuine, and comforting to talk to. She seriously always knows what to say and how to make you feel better. She is the mother I hope to be one day, and the best at making mac and cheese. She's the peace maker, and the most unselfish person I know. I would be successful if I were even a little bit like her.
  Kelle (middle) is the baby. She is the toughest girl I know that takes no crap. She's diligent, determined, and succeeds at whatever she does. If you ever want to hear the blunt truth, ask her. She'll be honest with you even if you have to take a punch to the pride to hear it. She's the best karate teacher around, and can swing a bo like a mad woman. She's leaving the end of July to serve a mission in North Carolina. I can wait for her to have that awesome experience!
  Bree (far right) is the middle. She gets the award for most hilarious! She has the greatest sense of humor on the planet. There isn't a better student with better grades. She studies and works her butt off to be successful at her career, and I'm proud of her accomplishments. There is no one that knows more about the human body and how to heal it. She is a good friend to others and would give the clothes off her back to help someone in need. I hope I can be as smart as she is one day!
  My sisters are my best friends. I know I could go to them with anything and they would be there. Like I said, I don't know how anyone does it without sisters. I would die without mine!

Prayer

  As I have written before, my husband is going to school right now to be a police officer. He is going to be one amazing officer. He's determined and is dedicated to whatever he puts his mind to. 

  While he's been in school I have been working a lot, which is totally fine. I'm happy to do it while he is going to school. But I was getting worried because when he is done with school, I was nervous that I would have to pick up even more hours until he found a job. But finding a job as police officer is not quick. With every department you apply for, there is a physical test, reading and comprehension test, scenario test, background checks, interview with 3 to 4 people, and an interview with the chief before they even offer you a job. Some don't get called at all after the physical test, where some make it to the background check and fail. It's very difficult to get hired on. 

  Well, Ben tested for many departments and none of them were going anywhere and he was starting to get discouraged. We had been praying all along that the right thing would come and that we would take it and be grateful for it when it came. However, being that patient is very hard to do when his graduation date kept getting closer and closer and we still had no job offer. 

   Ben tested for the Roy police department at the beginning of March and made it all the way to an interview with a detective. I even had to be interviewed! It was intense! During the whole process we had good feelings about Roy but didn't want to get our hopes up if it didn't work out. Then came the interview with the chief.... I sent out a text that morning roping in the troops to send as many prayers his way as they could! And I was praying my heart out the whole time! 

  He called me afterwards and said that he felt good about it and that he would call either way the next day. If that doesn't test your patience I don't know what does! Those 12 hours were the worst! 

  The next day I was with my sister and nieces when Ben called me. He sounded sad and a little discouraged, which made my heart fall a little, but then he just said "I got the job love". YAY!!!!!! It was the best phone call ever! He told me the details of the conversation and sounded excited. I told him how proud I was of him and that I loved him. After I got off the phone I cried for a good hour! They were tears of relief, happiness, and peace. 

  It gets even better.... He starts his job June 1st and graduates June 5th. 

  I have never been more grateful for prayer. I had a prayer of thanks in my heart the whole day and I feel so blessed and taken care of by the Lord. He didn't have to make everything fit so perfectly, but He did and because He did, our little family will have what we need. I know He hears me and listens. I am grateful for a loving family that is willing to pull together for each other and support each other. What a blessing it is to have our prayers answered by a loving Heavenly Father.

Cute little girls!

  These girls right here are the bees knees! These are my nieces, Ellie (older) and Claire (baby). I adore these girls. I don't get to spend as much time with them as I'd like due to my super busy schedule, but the time I do get to spend with them is precious.
  Ellie, is almost two and is SO smart. She knew a whole bunch of sign language and used them when she was just a little thing to communicate with us. Now, she still uses a couple of them when she can't say what she wants to say, but for the most part knows lots of words and uses those instead. She can count to 10 and knows most of her letters in the alphabet. She is sweet. So sweet and loves to help. She's my honey bunches. I love her to pieces!
  Claire, is just tiny! She is just a couple months old, but is such a sweet and feisty spirit. She is my little shnookie bear!
  These lovely girls have made me very excited to be a mother someday. The joy they bring to our family is amazing. When they come into the room, it's like Heavenly Fathers love can almost be touched. I totally love being their favorite auntie Jess. They make me happy!