Her first head wound- 2 weeks ago

Tights are very slippery on wood floors.

Reality distorted- my own opinion

I have been thinking a lot about media and the influence that it has on my life.  

More specifically I have been thinking about books and movies that are popular and receiving great reviews from everyone I know.  

One series, the Hunger Games has caused me to think a lot about why I read it and what I think about it.  

Yes the writing was great and the story was well thought out, but the entire time I read the book it was a cycle.  Pick up the book, read a couple pages then put it down.  Say to myself, this is awful, did I read that right?  Pick up the book, read a little bit more and stop again.  

I honestly don't know why I read it, except that everyone was raving about it that I thought that I would soon find the part that was, "good" that would finally convince me to like this book.  Yes the writing was great, but it wasn't anything thought provoking.  I even skipping several parts because I just couldn't stomach it (Mutant mutts???).

The night after I finished the book, I felt horrible and had nightmares all night long.  The next day I couldn't decide if I liked the book or not, finally I decided that no, I did not like the book at all.

Why am I bringing this up now, when the last book has been out for months?  Well, I read this article and it articulated my thoughts exactly:

http://www.misfitcygnet.com/2010/10/the-question-of-deception-lds-ark-culture-embraces-the-pornography-of-violence/

It did what any great article should do: It made me think.

My religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourages us: If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” Article of Faith, 13

   Also Philippians 4:8 says the same things.

I don't think that this book fit in with anything of those guidelines.  Actually, if you look at the last few "popular" series, they don't fit in to those standards either.  

There are many times that I am recommended a book that has a sensual scene (book porn), violence, poor gender role modeling, etc. with the comment that it was a great book.  Most of these books however will not be remembered in 50 years.  Why?  They may be entertaining, but that's all they offer.

  Oh it's just a little {blank} it doesn't really affect me.  I'm married sex scenes don't bother me.  It's not like it's rated "R", it's only PG-13 so it's not that bad.  So on and so on.  Yes the show has several sexual innuendos, but what show doesn't?  The characters are funny.  So often justifications are made to explain why something is okay.  Joel and I have reaching an agreement when it comes to media: when one of us feels something is inappropriate, we turn it off.  No questions asked.  I have noticed a big difference between our choices today and choices 9 years ago.  We are a lot more picky in what we watch and I think a big part of it is because we are noticing how 'just a little' bit of vulgarity in a movie can affect us.  

Constantly pushing the limits does nothing to build our characters, if fact it does the exact opposite.  If one is always pushing themselves to see how much of something you can take you are only building your tolerance.  Just like with someone who drinks.  The first drink gets them drunk, after a while it takes more and more alcohol to provide the buzz.  You then are dependent on something outside of yourself to give yourself enjoyment, giving the power over to something else.  Every time we make the choice not to do something, it puts us in greater control of our appetites and desires.  

“Avoid anything that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way.”

Whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Therefore, choose only entertainment and media that uplift you. Good entertainment will help you to have good thoughts and make righteous choices. It will allow you to enjoy yourself without losing the Spirit of the Lord.

For the Strength of Youth

The choices we make in media can be symbolic of the choices we make in life. Choosing the trendy, the titillating, the tawdry in the TV programs or movies we watch can cause us to end up, if we’re not careful, choosing the same things in the lives we live.

The new morality preached from the media’s pulpit is nothing more than the old immorality. It attacks religion. It undermines the family. It turns virtue into vice and vice into virtue. It assaults the senses and batters the soul with messages and images that are neither virtuous, nor lovely, nor of good report, nor praiseworthy.

M. Russell Ballard: Let our voices be heard

The leaders of my Church are frequently talking about media because it distorts reality.  It leads us to believe as Isiah warned in 5:20 

Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

So many forms of media are presenting this propaganda that portrays that life is different that it truly is.  It is portraying a distorted reality.  Instead of giving tools to deal with life, it is causing confusion.  People are conditioned to act as those they see on the scene.  While character's actions (and the actor's actions in real life) may not be portrayed exactly positively, they yield far different results then would result in real life situations.  When these actions are performed in real life there are far different consequences that the characters receive in their on screen lives.  They do x and expect y to happen but in reality when they do x-   z actually happens.

Shouldn't one's motivation be focused on where an action or choice will lead them rather than if the action isn't necessarily "bad" per se.  Is it pleasing to God?  If I continue doing things like this will it cause me to be a better person, citizen, wife or parent?  

My desire is to be close to God, to live my life in a way that is pleasing to him.  I also want to live my life to be an example to my daughter, to teach her to take the road less traveled because that is the road that takes her back to Heavenly Father.

Whomever reads this- I ask that you don't get offended- I am expressing my own opinion.  I realize that my values are different than others.  I have gone back and forth between posting this and not posting this because I really don't want anyone to feel like I am 'preaching'  This is just something I have been thinking about lately

New Year's Eve

Some of the dearest friends that we have made while we have lived out here invited us over for a New Year's Eve feast. Toty is from Peru and we had a traditional Peruvian dinner. We arrived at 11:00 and started eating right at midnight.

Toty put 12 grapes in each of our glasses- right at midnight you eat them one at a time. Each grape represents a month and you make a wish for each month. We didn't get to do the other things that she did in her country: throw rice behind you, run around the neighborhood with a suitcase while someone sat in the bathtub, crash a bottle with wine in it on the side of the house. All of the traditions were to bring good luck and fortune for the coming year. I LOVE this woman and am so grateful for her. Life has been so much fun with her as my neighbor! She has been such an example to me of serving those that you love.

Lydia slept through the feast in their guest bed.

Uncle Chris comes to visit

Joel's sister's husband is applying to medical school- way to go Chris! We were so lucky to have him stay with us while her interviewed. Lydia LOVES having family and she was devistated when he had to go home.

I don't want to eat my dinner

But at least I have this piece of paper!!

Decorating for Christmas

Snow Day

I love West Virginia snow- there isn't very much and it doesn't last forever. Just long enough to make a snowman.

Things have been crazy busy lately- I can hardly believe that in 3 months, 1 week and 4 days (yes, I am counting down) Joel will have his degree. This moment has been worked for and sacrificed for. I am so incredibly proud of this man. He is amazing. It is going to be fun to call him Dr. Joel ;o)

We also put our house up for sale.  I'm hoping for a REALLY quick sale (who doesn't right?).  We have no idea where we are going to be and it would be REALLY nice if we didn't have to worry about selling our house from a different state!

I've had a rough time with my Crohn's since October and have been told that I need to have surgery.  I'm pretty nervous about it of course.  Last time I had surgery I was in the hospital for a week, in horrible pain and it took several months before I felt like myself again.  I'm not looking forward to doing that with a little girl depending on me, trying to sell the house and Joel getting ready to graduate.  Oh well, that's how it goes!

Making Bread

Making bread is one of my favorite things. It's even better when I have two extra hands to help.

Breaking the dry spell

Life has been busy, rough, exciting, overwhelming, stressful, incredible, wonderful...... stressful..... It helps to look at a sunny picture penned by my sunny little girl.