Category Archives: Family Life

Family Life, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Why I only support marriage between man and women

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I claim full responsibility for this post. These are my beliefs. I do not speak behalf of anyone else or any organization. 

Where do you draw the line between church and state? Was America founded by the hand of God and His laws? If so, what are His laws? Are there a universal defined morals that can not be changed? I’ve heard a lot of your beliefs and debates. Here is my beliefs (you don’t have to read if you don’t want to… it’s very religious and it most likely be different than yours):

I don’t believe this is an issue on equality rather an issue of is there a God? I believe there is a God and He has defined laws/morals. I believe that God’s laws will always be decided by God Himself and cannot be changed by majority vote or democracy. Just like I believe that God has said sex before marriage is immoral and adultery is immoral. I believe that a relationship between two same-genders is defined by God as immoral. I believe that by allowing same-gender marriage is similar to if we all voted in the right for us to run red lights, to steal or to murder. I believe that as a nation will have to face the consequences of what ever laws are put in place whether those consequences are good or bad. I believe that when we obey God’s laws we are blessed and when we don’t we eventually have to face negative consequences. It may seem unfair that God doesn’t want same-gender relationships but it’s may also seem unfair to people who want to have sex before marriage or people who want to have multiple partners or people who want to steal to get things for free. I believe that these acts all the equivalent in God’s eyes but the good news is that God has the power to help us overcome our temptations to sin. We can also repent for the mistakes we make. I also believe that it’s easier to avoid sins rather than repair sins.

I believe that ideally children should be born to a mother and a father who are married. Now, because the world is not perfect, I believe that the government should have laws that support traditional family values and help families that do not have both a mother and a father for the betterment of our society.

This is why I believe that marriage should only be between a man and a women. I believe that our government laws should uphold good moral principles that are established by God himself.

I also believe that God has given us a choice to choose for ourselves what to believe and how we want to live our lives. He can only give us guidelines. He can never force us to believe what He wants us to. I believe that God loves everyone and He will allow us to make choices for ourselves even if those choices are not aligned to His will.

So weather or not the supreme court decides on Prop 8 is now up to the supreme court. The voice of the people have already spoken and the issue is equally divided even within different religious congregations. I will accept what the supreme court chooses but I won’t change my beliefs. Everyone can and will continue to live their lives the way they want.

I believe the future is as bright as I can make it be. The best thing I can do is live by what I believe. Our society needs to work together to love, to vote and to compromise because all our individual choices will affect the future of our world.

It always brings me peace to know that no matter what happens God will be the final judge and everything will turn out the way He wants it to.

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If you want to know what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes on this topic you can look on their website:

http://www.lds.org/topics/same-gender-attraction?lang=eng

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-responds-to-same-sex-marriage-votes

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-mormon-responds-to-human-rights-campaign-petition-same-sex-attraction

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Feel free to express your beliefs, opinions and comments. Please keep it nice and kind.

Family, Family Life, Ireland, Landscape, Photography, Travel

Glendalough

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Lough (pronounced lock) in Irish means “lake”.  This is such a pretty tourist site.  We picked the perfect day to go see this area.  It was partly cloudy and around 45 degrees f (~8 degrees c) that day.  We toured the cemetery and the old watch tower.  I was surprised to see real mountains in Ireland! It reminded me a lot like Utah.  The hike is easy half mile to the first lake and then one mile to the second lake.  Glen in Irish means the number two so Glendalough means “of the two lakes”.

I’m not much of a landscape photographer but Dallin really likes scenic photography so I decided to give it a try.

Here are pictures of the cemetery:

Child #1: Micah, Children, Family Life, Parenting, Photography, Toddlers

Happy 18 Months Micah!

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I can’t believe Micah is now 18 months. Woot! He is old enough to go to Nursery at church now. How exciting! Now we just need a bunch of nursery aged kids to move into the branch so there can actually be a nursery. 🙂

At 18 months Micah likes:

  • Lasagna, Ham Fried Rice, Pesto, Eggs, Sandwiches and Cold Cereal (He could live off of cereal)
  • European Chocolate, Ice Cream, and Cheesecake
  • Push Cars, Buggies and Trolleys (aka Shopping Cart in the USA)
  • Knock on doors on our street like a missionary
  • Chasing the seagulls and pigeons
  • Go down the slide and be on the swing
  • Conduct music in church and FHE
  • Ipad (he’s a little obsessed)
  • Gigglebellies and Other YouTube videos
  • To read books (sometimes we have to read all his books before he goes to bed)
  • To pray!

Micah can say:

  • In English: Mama, Dad, Ball, Car, Dog, Baby, Whee!, No, Oh oh, Temple, Jesus, Ipad, Moo, Quack Quack, Oink Oink
  • In Portuguese: Agua, Orar, Pexies

Micah can sign:

  • Milk, Airplane, Teddy, Bus, Pray, Book, Spider, Telephone, Hello/Bye, “Yay!”
  • Itsy Bitsy Spider
  • Wheels on the Bus
  • Popcorn Popping
  • Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam
  • Patty Cake
  • Hop you Bunnies
  • Do you Ears Hang Low
  • This Little Piggy
  • Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
  • When You’re Happy and You Know It

Micah can point out:

  • Bellybutton, Ears, Nose, Head, Shoulder, Knee, Fingers (he thinks his fingers bunnies), Toes (he thinks his toes are piggies)

Micah can follow instructions:

  • Set the table
  • Put groceries in the fridge
  • Find his shoes, socks, and jacket
  • Put laundry in the washer
  • Put something in the trash
  • Go wash your hands
  • Go to the potty
  • Go brush your teeth (He loves brushing his teeth!)
  • Clean up
  • Blow on the food, it’s hot
  • It’s time to say “Bye Bye”
  • It’s “Night Night” time

Micah can answer:

  • Are you hungry?
  • Do you want some juice?
  • Are you tired?
  • Do you want to take a bath? (In Chinese)
  • Do you want some milk? (In Chinese)

Here is are the pictures I took of at 18 months photo shoot. I’m very please by how these pictures turned out!

Family, Family Life, Ireland, Landscape, Photography, Travel

Bray Ireland Pictures

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Here’s some random pictures on our weekend adventures to the city Bray outside the border of Dublin. It was a really really cold day! In fact, it snowed right after we took these pictures. That’s why we all look like eskimos because we wore four layers of clothes that day. We actually starting walking from Dun Laoghaire to Dalkey. Then took the train called the Dart to Bray.

     

There are a bunch of Catholic churches here so we stopped by when they were having their mass on Saturday.

I thought these washing basins are similar to the ones in King Soloman’s Tabernacle. Way cool!

The architecture of the churches are so neat! I can’t believe how old they are.

Child #1: Micah, Family, Family Life, Photography, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Happy Saint Valentines Day 2013!

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Happy Saint Valentines Day! Feb 14 is the day St. Valentine was martyr. His heart is apparently somewhere in Dublin (meaning that he’s buried here). He was killed because he was performing marriage ceremonies for soldiers and young coupled even though marriage was not allowed at the time. What a great reason to have a holiday!

We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that marriage between a man and a women is ordained of God. We believe that a man and a women can be married in the Holy Temples for time and all eternity.

For Valentine’s day, Micah and I decorated the bedroom to surprise daddy when he got home from work. Of course afterwards, I had to do a mini photo shoot for our guy:

Children, Family Life, Ireland, Photography, Travel

Full Time Student to Full Time Mom

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I’m not going to lie. It was very strange to transition from a full-time student to a full-time mom.  Aside from also moving to a different country, it was just pure weird!  I don’t have homework, classes, teachers, or grades.  I didn’t know what to do with myself!  I felt like I was aimless and there wasn’t no more direction in my life.  Granted, I am making gourmet dinners for my family (compared to Top Raman during finals week) but making dinner doesn’t take all day!  The first few days after Dallin started working in Ireland, I had dinner ready by 4 pm. Hmm… Dallin doesn’t get home till 6 pm.  I sat on the couch, dumbfounded…. I was bored!

The next day, I picked up some knitting needles at the local thrift store… I haven’t knitting for years. But I thought to myself… I can’t spend all my days knitting!! I need to do something with my life.  Micah didn’t like it either.  He just wanted to take the needles and poke his eyes out.

Our awesome friends gave us a pocket size Preach My Gospel to take with us to Ireland. During my daily scripture study one day I decided to read the section on “Using Time Wisely“.  I thought to myself… I really need this! I didn’t feel like I was using my precious time from God wisely. Even though I am not a full-time missionary, it was very beneficial. The chapter gave really good suggestions. I need a weekly calendar. I need to make goals. I need to progress to become more like God.

Elder M Russel Ballard said: “I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”

I quickly repented of my idleness and aimlessness.  I realized my most important investigator is my little Micah.  He needs me to teach him everything I know.  I made a progress report for Micah.  I labeled four areas: Social, Physical, Mental, and Spiritual (Luke 2:52).  I wrote down how Micah was doing in those areas and made a small goal for each of the areas.  I planned out my week and decided to focus on Micah’s needs.

Small things does bring about great things (Alma 37:6). Being home has allowed me to read more books, sing more songs and spend more time than I’ve ever had with my son. I’m grateful for my education but I’m so glad that I finished in December. Just cause I got a degree doesn’t mean my learning has stopped. I’m learning every day as I try to become a better mom. This is learning that they can never teach you in a classroom.

What was the first thing I planned for the week? Feed the seagulls and Micah loved it!

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