Monday, October 31, 2011

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



It's tradition in our home to watch Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus on Halloween. Thought I'd share with you a little bit of our creepy tradition.

Oh, and I've been studying for a test all weekend so we haven't gotten to carving our pumpkin yet, but we plan to carve it tonight. Kind of lame because it's Halloween day, but whateves. School comes first for me these days. Hope y'all have a great Halloween. Anybody dressing up?

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Inspiring

Women and Education

About half of our Brigham Young University students are women. In my conversations with these women students and with faculty, administrative, and staff women I have detected some uneasiness and confusion about where we stand on education for women, especially vocationally oriented education.

A great deal is being said in our society today about the role of women. Since some of these statements are quite contradictory to what we have been taught by the leaders of our Church, some uneasiness is understandable.

Our young women properly aspire to and prepare themselves for the experiences and blessings of motherhood, which is their highest calling and opportunity for service. As you are aware, the leaders of our Church have consistently taught that “mothers who have young children in the home should devote their primary energies to the companionship and training of their children and the care of their families, and should not seek employment outside the home unless there is no other way that the family’s basic needs can be provided.” (Letter from the First Presidency to Elder Neal A. Maxwell and President Dallin H. Oaks, May 14, 1973.)

Our young women’s primary orientation toward motherhood is not inconsistent with their diligent pursuit of an education, even their efforts in courses of study that are vocationally related. According to current life expectancies, a 20-year-old woman can look forward to more than 50 additional years of life. Not all of that time will be spent in bearing children and raising families. In fact, from one-third to one-half of a young woman’s remaining years of life will be spent in activities preceding marriage and the rearing of children, or following the time when children have left the home. A young woman’s education should prepare her for more than the responsibilities of motherhood. It should prepare her for the entire period of her life.

Many of our young women will need to earn a living for themselves because they do not marry, because they do not marry until after some years of employment, or because they have been widowed or through other circumstances have been compelled to assume the responsibilities of the family breadwinner. A mother who must earn a living for the family in addition to performing the duties of motherhood probably has as great a need for education as any person in the world.

There are other reasons why it is important for our young women to receive a proper education. Education is more than vocational. Education should improve our minds, strengthen our bodies, heighten our cultural awareness, and increase our spirituality. It should prepare us for greater service to the human family. Such an education will improve a woman’s ability to function as an informed and effective teacher of her sons and daughters, and as a worthy and wise counselor and companion to her husband. Some have observed that the mother’s vital teaching responsibility makes it even more important to have educated mothers than to have educated fathers. “When you teach a boy, you are just teaching another individual,” President Harold B. Lee declared, “but when you teach a woman or a girl, you are teaching a whole family.” (Relief Society Magazine, January, 1965, p. 8.)

One of the most important purposes of a university education is to prepare men and women to be responsible and intelligent leaders and participants in the lives of their families, in their Church, and in their communities. That kind of education is needed by young men and young women alike. In short, we make no distinction between young men and young women in our conviction about the importance of an education and in our commitment to providing that education.

President Dallin H. Oaks Brigham Young University Devotional Assembly, February 12, 1974

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Count Your Sheep...I Mean Blessings!

I do not know about the vast majority of people out in the world because honestly, not everyone is going through what I'm going through. Wow, that sounds rather melodramatic. Not my intention. What I mean is, not everyone is in everyone's boat. I mean, depends on the boat you're in, could be a yacht, steamboat, fishing vessel, canoe, etc. You catch what I'm putting down, right? I hope so. Alls I'm saying is, I don't think we put enough thought towards little or big blessings in our lives.

When I was in high school, I was an optimistic kind of girl. I was also a homebody, I truly loved being home with my parents. That's probably why I didn't have my first kiss until my 19th b-day. I'm fly like a white girl! AND a big fat nerd. Anywhayz. My parents and I would be headed to the movies, and man, I would get so happy and enthusiastic that I'd start professing my love for all the blessings in my life. Like, "I love our family! I love that dog that's peeing the grass! I love that lamp post! Oh! I love air conditioning!" Just random thoughts that seemed to pop out at me in the moment. But, it made me so happy whenever I would pour out my heart to those blessings that have made my life a bit easier or that would just put a smile on my face. I haven't done that in awhile.

That's probably why I've been complaining more because I'm devoting my feelings to things I don't have or maybe I have these unmet expectations that get me down, so I choose to complain about them rather than turn them into something positive. Not going to lie, it's very hard to do when you are already in upset/disappointed mode. I believe that if you start applying your efforts toward happy thoughts or start expressing how much you love *insert random blessing*, I truly believe it will turn your life around. Honestly, this is for me! But, whoever reads this and wants to make some positive changes, I think this would help. It has already helped me in the last 20 minutes of looking on the bright side of things.

On your mark, get set, GO be positive!

Monday, October 10, 2011

3 years down 6 to go...

Will turned to me last night and spoke in a soft whisper, "Happy Anniversary, Babe. Three down, three more to go." I thought, "THREE MORE? So, that's it?" And I of course turned to him with a bewildered look on my face and said, "What happens after we get passed the six year mark, huh?" He so jokingly rolled his pretty blue eyes and said, "At that point, we'll have three more to look forward to." I was thinking, well okay then. At least we've got the upcoming years to look forward to and the success of our marriage is determined in multiples of three. All I know is, I love the man I'm married to. He is my partner in crime, he supports me in every way, and every time he comes home from work it is like the best Christmas present a girl could ask for. Seriously, people. It's like I have Christmas every day of the year. I am such a bragger.

(Will and me back in the day. Dating.)

Well, anywho.

We didn't really celebrate our anniversary rather we spent our weekend with Will's family. Which turned out to be a secret celebration because I honestly would not have spent it any other way, Will felt the same way. We ate food (what's new?), and just sat around playing with the nieces and nephews and sharing lots of fun memories. We got home from this wonderful weekend of family bonding time and felt a little bummed because we didn't live as close to family as we used to. But, realized we are lucky to have each other to cling onto. We are each others family now.

Lucky us, we get to visit Will's brother (Joseph) and sister-in-law (Jen), their baby Ruby, and little dog (Daisy) this coming weekend at their new home in Las Vegas. Can't wait. We love a good family pow-wow.


(Will can't stress to me enough how much he loves his picture taken. Actually, maybe it's the other way around. Ah forget it. You cannot stop a Marci from taking pictures)

I love life. I love my amazing husband. And most of all I love what the future has to offer.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, LOVEE!

(We're cheeseballz, in case you were wondering.)

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Time flies

Is it really October already? Cripes. I really have to admit, Fall is my favorite season. That's probably why I got married in October, because it is a breathtaking time of year. The crisp air, vibrant colors, the smell of delicious spices, pre-Christmas season, and all the great get-togethers due to the holidays. Will and I took a peaceful drive up American Fork canyon just after watching two days worth of General Conference, and man, what a beautiful session we had. I'm grateful for the leaders of our church and their eternal dedication to our Heavenly Father and people of this church.

Back to our fantastic Sunday drive.

Inconceivable, phenomenal, alluring, intense. These words describe what I saw while driving through a whirlwind of beauty. The entire trip up and down the canyon, we spoke of plans for our next years camping endeavors. Where, when, how, who, what, and everything else about camping for next summer. It was fun! We embraced the last tidbits of summer at the same time as accepting the beginning of Fall into our lives. This is a solemn time of year for Will, because summer and fall do not last very long in his eyes and he loves summertime more than anything, actually Fall REALLY doesn't last very long. Like five minutes.

SNOW. SNOW. SNOW. We've complained and gnashed our teeth long enough about this topic. BUT, every year we seem to hate on the snow, like we hate stepping in dog poo. Every time, it's just not pleasurable. Although, for ME....I like to look at snow as a blessing, it's tough, but manageable. The snow is beautimus, bright, and forces you to stay snuggled up inside. Also, I really love winter clothing, scarves, warm adorable jackets, gloves, and just being bundled up. Although, the 5 months of snow, does kind of get old. It's five years in Marci/Will years.

I guarantee I won't be living near the snow forever, so I may as well endorse the snow while I've still got it.

I'm sure I've mentioned this a billion times, but Will did graduate and I couldn't be more proud of my Willy-poop. He doesn't take graduating seriously as you can see below, in fact, he doesn't take very much seriously.. I'm not going to lie, I love that most about him. He always has the best outlook on life.


Lucky sod. I wanna graduate. Coming soon to Marci near you.

Marci is a nerd.