Deleted

Tonight I deleted all of my boards on Pinterest.

It makes my heart hurt.

If you read my previous post, you will see that I am technically not addicted to Pinterest, but I do love it.

One day I came across an image linked to this site. It talks about the shady terms Pinterest has you agree to when you sign up. These terms make you responsible if anyone attempts to sue Pinterest for their work being pinned on Pinterest. Yes, Pinterest would then pass that suit onto you.

I wondered if this was real so I checked with two lawyers I know. I passed this article onto them which also elaborates about Pinterest's terms (and a link to their terms themselves).

Both lawyers advised that Pinterest created those terms to protect themselves, and they can (and will) allow you to be the guilty party in a lawsuit. And they pretty much advised me to delete my boards - anything I pinned - on Pinterest.

So I did.

And I suggest you do too.

Not Addicted...Maybe

I am not addicted to Pinterest.

Maybe.

Let's see. I peruse Pinterest at least once a day. And whilst perusing I pretty much just see what has been pinned by those I'm following then I'm done. So not addicted.

But maybe on the days that I look deeper into the sea of pins are the days I'm addicted. Those days are few and far between as I do not have the time to spend doing so every day, I'm a busy woman for crying out loud!

But if I am addicted. It will be my secret vice. Shhh! Keep my secret, will you?

The New Niece!

The phone rang around 4:00 am on Saturday, December 17th. "This is your wake up call!" Wha!?! Oh! Tami was in labor! My new niece was arriving! And I was going to be able to be there for her entrance into this world!

My mom and I quickly got dressed and headed out the door to the Riverton Hospital.

After conquering a few obstacles - not having the correct security code and getting past the controlling "labor and delivery" access nurse - we made it to the delivery room. The epidural was taking effect, the contractions were coming on strong and the doctor had arrived!

I'll spare you the bir-thing details - but I will say that it is amazing!

I cried.

During the birth and as they whisked my niece to the exam table, I took in all of what I had just experienced.

"Does it make you more excited to have babies?" Tami asked.

YES! It definitely does.

Contrary to everything I have seen on television or in movies, the birth is not loud or full of screaming, blaming or contention - much better than the distorted view the media has given me.

Back to the baby.


They cleaned the little girl off, weighed and measured her, then handed her to her beaming father, my brother, Tom. He then took her to Tami and they announced her name:

Sophie Adair.

She is beautiful!

She looks like her brother with lots of blonde hair and just beautiful!

Barefoot and I were talking yesterday and we decided that being present at the birth bonds you even greater to the niece or nephew than you would otherwise. I hadn't really thought about it until our conversation, but its so true. I feel very close to Sophie already.

I am the very proud Auntie. I couldn't wait to hold her and talk to her.
And I can't wait to do so again.

Another One Completed

Oh hooray! Yet another semester completed! I love the satisfaction of taking your last test or turning in your last assignment for the semester. Now I just have to wait for my grades.

I just can't wait until I take the last test or write my last paper for my bachelor's degree...HA! THAT is going to be awhile.

I was thinking I only had three classes left at SLCC before I could move on up to the University of Utah to take my final teaching courses...and I got excited because it looked as though the end was in sight...
But then I reviewed my course requirements. Bad idea. Now I'm depressed - err - discouraged as I found that I still have, are you ready for this?, TWELVE classes to take before I'm done with SLCC. TWELVE! At the rate I'm going of 2 classes per semester (because I am also working full time) - that will take me six more semesters! SIX! That is THREE LONG YEARS (or two if I take summer classes). Something has got to change. I could take the same classes at the U, but then they will be more expensive and probably harder, so I might as well take them at SLCC.

My advice for all of you just starting college, high school and younger folks out there - Take as many classes per semester as you can! Don't stop (unless its for something good like a mission). Going to school for many years beyond the normal time frame is ridiculous and discouraging! Don't put yourself in my same situation!

Okay, deep breaths...I'm okay now.

I will say that I do recognize that it has taken me this long to complete school due to the following factors: 1) I didn't want to go into debt for school so I started off taking only the classes I could pay for myself 2) I've worked full time the entire time I have been in school, averaging 2-3 classes a semester 3) I served a mission to Brazil for 18 months: from June 2004 - December 2005 (so easily missed 4 semesters of school there) 4) I took a much deserved semester break after completing my Associate of Science degree 5) That one semester break turned into 3 as I got engaged and married (taking up 2 more semesters).

Regardless of how frustrating my discover today can be, I will continue to go to school (its good for me, right?). I want to complete at least a Bachelor degree, if not Masters (aargh). And maybe eventually (like when I'm 50) go on to get a PhD. That would be cool. Ahh, wishful thinking.

Firecat

Me. The Firecat.

Are Mormons Christians?

The question "Are Mormons Christians?" is a question that is seemingly endless in the media. 

Right now there has been some extra talk in the news due to comments made by Robert Jeffress: 
"Texas evangelical leader Robert Jeffress, the Baptist megachurch pastor who introduced Rick Perry at the Values Voter Summit, said Friday afternoon he does not believe Mitt Romney is a Christian.  Jeffress described Romney's Mormon faith as a 'cult,' ... [When]asked by POLITICO if he believed Romney is a Christian, Jeffress answered: 'No.' "
(http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65445.html)

I was listening to someone on talk radio today in reference to this statement, and they also ignorantly stated that Jeffress is right, that Mormons aren't Christians. 

Let's talk about this.

First of all, let's visit our good friends Webster and Wikipedia. That way we can get an official term, and a term that comes from our fellow Internet users. 
Their definitions of a Christian are:
Webster says:
1a : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ Wikipedia says:
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. "Christian" derives from the Koine Greek word Christ, a translation of the Biblical Hebrew term Messiah.[1]  Central to the Christian faith is love or Agape. Christians also believe Jesus is the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, the Son of God, and the savior of mankind from their sins.[2] Most Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity ("tri-unity"), a description of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which retains the monotheistic belief of Christianity's Abrahamic heritage through an ineffable confluence. This includes the vast majority of the churches in Christianity. The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to describe anything associated with Christianity, or in a proverbial sense "all that is noble, and good, and Christ-like."[3] It is also used as a label to identify people who associate with the cultural aspects of Christianity, irrespective of personal religious beliefs or practices.[4]

Does this give you a good understanding of what a Christian is? 

How would you define a "Christian"?

Secondly, let's see what the Mormons, or rather the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (as that is the real name of the religion) believe in relation to Jesus Christ.

"Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of God. He is our Redeemer. The Holy Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ's mother was Mary, His father on earth was Joseph, that He was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, and labored with Joseph as a carpenter. When he turned 30, He began a three-year ministry of teaching, blessing, and healing the people of the Holy Land. He also organized His Church and gave His apostles "power and authority" (Luke 9:1) to assist in His work.
"But what do we mean when we say He is the Savior of the world? The Redeemer? Each of these titles point to the truth that Jesus Christ is the only way by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness. Only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. His subsequent resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. These events are called the Atonement. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin and death. For that, he is very literally our Savior and Redeemer. In the future Jesus Christ will return to reign on earth in peace for a thousand years. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He will be our Lord forever."

Now remove any biases or previous prejudices that you may have surrounding this church. 

Does the information given from Webster and Wikipedia coincide with the beliefs of the Mormons? Yes.

I firmly state that Mormons are Christians. 

The title of the church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, states that they believe in Christ, and that it is His church.  The "of Latter-day Saints" portion states that they are members of Christ's church in the latter or last days.

The members of this church are given the nickname of Mormons because of the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.  "It is Holy Scripture, with form and content similar to that of the Bible. Both books contain God's guidance as revealed to prophets as well as religious histories of different civilizations." (http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon/)

Part of being a Christian, means being Christ-like, or trying to be like the Savior Jesus Christ.  And that means being kind and respectful of others and their beliefs. 

Before we jump to conclusions, or negatively place someone in a category, we should do some valid research.  Go to the source of this Christian belief, find out for yourself what Mormons really believe.  Go to http://www.mormon.org/.  You will get the facts from the members of this church, not someone else's interpretation of what they believe. 

If you really want to find out for yourself what this church is all about, take a challenge and read The Book of Mormon (or re-read it for that matter).  Get it free here.

Again, I firmly state that Mormons are Christian. 

I am a Mormon.  And I am a Christian.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the only Begotten of the Father.  I know he came to this earth, lived a perfect life, taught and followed God's commandments.  He taught how to love and serve each other.  He was the ultimate example of how we should live our lives.  Before Jesus was crucified, he knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane, and prayed to the Father on our behalf.  He suffered the pain of our sins, for us.  All of us.  Jesus Christ did this so that we could be made clean and return to live in with our Heavenly Father.

I know that Jesus is the Christ.  I strive to live my life as he lived his.  And that makes me a Christian.

I Can't Walk

On Saturday, October 1st, I ran the St. George Marathon.  It was my 4th time running that marathon, my 4th marathon this year and my 8th marathon overall. 

I rocked the marathon - my time, my pace etc....until mile 16.  And with about 10 miles left to go, I hit my wall.  I couldn't get over it.  So I didn't finish in as good of time and I had hoped.

But I finished.

I think my legs stopped working because they decided that 104.8+ miles was plenty for the year.  I've been tallying all the miles I've run this year and it is well over 400 - if you count all the training and race miles.

And today, two days after the race, my legs still don't want to function.

I'd be walking down the hall at work and my leg would give out on me and I'd nearly come crashing down.  The slight slope in the parking lot to my car was grueling.  And then the stairs up to my condo.  Death.

Not to mention my ankles are swollen.  You'd think I was 8 months pregnant, not that I'd just run a marathon! 

I think I will definitely be taking a break from racing for the remainder of the year. 

But in the meantime I will enjoy my 5 medals and my award from coming in third place for my division in the Utah Grand Slam. 

Poor feet.

Go me.