Privacy

Thinking about going private. 

Those of you who are private, what was the motivation?  The only reason I haven't taken my own blog private is because I'm such a blog stalker and it makes me just a teensy bit sad when the blogs of friends of friends go private or people with whom I'm just an "acquaintance" and not a real good friend go private and I can't see their lives any more. 

Does that make me weird?   

Maybe a little.

Anyway, I've been looking at my traffic feed lately and I keep getting people from super random foreign countries looking at my blog and a few random comments.  It makes me nervous and I want to keep my fam safe.  I've tried hard lately not to put up too much personal info, but you never know.  The whole reason I started a blog was for friends and family, and to keep a record of our lives, and all those things could be accomplished even if I went private.  Still not sure though.  I may or may not do it. 

Any thoughts?

PS- I stole this cartoon image, have no idea who it's by,

but because this little bliggety blog is not for profit I don't think it matters :)

I Believe

The other day I was out and about in blog world, and I came across the blog of a woman who is not now, but used to be LDS. 

She wrote a post listing a few of the reasons why she decided not to continue in the Mormon faith, even though she was raised within it  (one of the reasons was because she didn't like dressing up for church- not even joking-but that is totally beside the point, sorry). 

It got me thinking about my own life, and my choice to stay true to the religion of my parents.

In terms of the world, Mormonism is  a bit strange and can be misunderstood.  I hate confrontation and controversy, so when something comes up in the media portraying the Mormon faith as snobby, un-christian, or as a religion full of hate- it hurts my heart.  That is not the case at all.  I always think "if only I could tell them how much love is within my faith!  If only I could explain to them that our church, at it's core, is based on the belief that God loves EACH of his children!"   Yes, there are people in the church (in ANY church) who do or say hurtful, mean, awful things.  But that is because they are people. Flawed like the rest of us. 

I don't have all the answers to all the questions out there- (if only, right?).  I only know what my experience has been. And I felt like I should put it out there.

Anyway, so here it is: my manifesto to the world about why I believe what I believe. 

There was a defining moment in my life (summer of 2001, actually) where I wanted to make the decision to hold on or to let go. 

I questioned everything.

I studied.

I meditated.

I searched.

I prayed.

Holy cow, I prayed so hard.

And then, gradually, I knew.  I knew it was true.  I know it is true.

Not because of my parents, or my family. Not because of my roommates or my friends.

Because I had searched and found an answer.

I've heard people say that Mormon's indoctrinate their children and force them to believe certain things, but in my case, that couldn't be further from the truth.  I was always taught to question things and find them out for myself.

 And I did.

And I still do.

Mormonism isn't about Joseph Smith, although he's an important part of it. It isn't all about our prophet now. It isn't about casseroles and jell-o and pot lucks. It isn't about dressing up on Sunday. 

It's about the love of God and Jesus Christ.

I know they love me.

I know they love you.

And my life is fuller, and richer, and more meaningful, and HAPPIER because of it.

Bottom line is, I have more joy than I thought possible. 

Bad days? Yup.

Hard times? For sure.

Catastrophes to come? My guess is yes.

But, peace and joy and the knowledge that I can get through anything with the help of the Lord.

And that is why I believe.

Post edit:  I re-read this today and realized that the way I wrote it might have come across the wrong way.  I wasn't sad or offended at the blog of the woman who used to be LDS.  She simply wrote about why she does not believe anymore.  All she did for me was get me thinking about WHY I believe what I believe and the circumstances that led to me living my life the way I do.  Really, she has every right to live her life the way she chooses.  I don't in any way begrudge her that, and if she's happy, that is great.  I'm sorry if the way I wrote it came across judgemental. 
The part about the media was just that:  about the media.  Because I live in Utah, theres a lot of good press, as well as bad that the church gets, so that's where that came from. 
Hope I didn't offend. 
Love you all,
Wendy

Cute

Love my blue-eyed bald guy.

Belated Mother's Day

I found a quote about being a mother and I wanted to share:

"Children are a burden to a mother, but not in the way a heavy box is to a mule. Our children weigh hard on my heart, and thinking about them growing up honest and healthy, or just living to grow up at all, makes a load in my chest that is bigger than the safe at the bank, and more valuable to me than all the gold inside it." From "These is my words" by Nancy Turner

My children are more valuable to me than all the gold in all the world. 

I am so glad to have the burden of caring so much that I think it might crush my heart some days.

Hugs and love to my mom, my sister, my aunts, my girlfriends, my cousins, and all the women who have been my "mom" at one point or another.  Happy Mother's Day......  a little late. 

a name and a blessing

We blessed Nolan on May 2nd in our ward here in SLC.  There was lots of family to share our joy and lots of food to go around.  Oh, how I love my little dude. 

Nolan shared his blessing day with a little baby girl in our ward named Lily.  She is 2 weeks younger than him, and darling ta' boot.  Her adorable mother got up after the blessing to share her testimony and spoke of the miracle that Lily is.   Lily's mom was 37 when she married and had two extremely difficult miscarriages.  Then, at 39, the doctors told her that there was no real chance of conciving again. 

Then came Lily.

It was so amazing to listen to the miracles that occured to bring that sweet baby girl into the world and  how indescribably grateful her parents are for her. I was also filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my own two little ones and the miracles which they are as well.   

It's something that I need to remind myself of daily. 

Try harder

Love deeper

Be more patient

Ask for less, be grateful for more.

I was so glad that we got to share the day with Lily and her family. 

It made it even more special.

Also, I need to give a shout out to my hubbs who did a great job and gave Nolan an amazing blessing, even though he was nervous.  I sure do love that man.  And it's a good thing that I do, since I had his babies and all.

Anyway, afterward we had food at our house and here's lots of pics:

Great Grandpa Ronald, Grandpa Scott, Nolan, and Great Grandma Lenore

Uncle Jeff, Stephen, Esther, Celina, and Nolan

Nolan  and (for the sake of simplicity) we'll call her "Aunt" Pam.  She's related and we love she and her family tons!

Cecily with cookie all over her face.  She looked like this the entire day.  I'd wash- she's eat another cookie.  I'd wash she'd eat yet ANOTHER cookie.

Cute cute cute cousin Esther. 

Four generations of Vincent men.

My parents and us.

Mike's dad and grandparents and us.

Mike's dad, siblings, and grandparents with Nolan.