Long week

Big Poppa comes home tomorrow after a week long trip to Peru, and we couldn't be more happier! It's been a long week since he was only home for seven days before he left (10-day trip to Tonga before that!), and now we're so ready to have him home with us!

It's been a hard week. His absence has made us realize how much we depend on him as the patriarch of our home. I don't care what anyone says: dads are important!

With the tragedy in Connecticut, it's made me realize even more how precious life is. I love my husband and the life we have together, for the family we've created. I've always tried to show my husband and kids how much I love them, but with the recent events and the holidays upon us, it's been my top priority.

I pray everyone will be blessed.

The Great Pants Debate?

While perusing Facebook this morning, I came across a post that one of my friends had "liked", but it baffled me when I read what it was. Apparently, there is a woman who created an event called Wear Pants To Church Day; she's asking LDS women to wear pants instead of dresses to church next Sunday to protest the inequality between men and women in the church. She believes that women should be able to hold the priesthood and take on more leadership roles within the church, and that she feels hindered and oppressed in not being able do more spiritually because she is a woman.

It made me sad to read it.

It made me even more sad to read that there are many other women who feel the same way. And then, it got me thinking that maybe I've been blind to the inequality that, according to these women, is running rampant in the church.

And, you know what? I don't see it. Maybe I'm blindly following the brethren (i.e. the Prophet, the Apostles, etc.)  as some of these ladies claim, and I'm truly sorry that they feel this way and/or have had bad experiences because of priesthood holders, but, I truly do not feel that there is inequality in the church because men are the one who hold the priesthood.

When my husband and I were married, we knew we were entering into a partnership, not a monarchy/dictatorship/whatever. We both understood that as husband as wife, we worked together because we needed each other to grow spiritually, to receive the blessings of the gospel. Men and women are different, each created with traits that may be more prominent in the opposite sex. Although women do not hold the priesthood, I've always been taught that it is women's job to support and help the men who do hold it, because sometimes there are things that men cannot do and vice versa.

Let's face it, men are more logical and able to view things unattached emotionally, whereas women, in their nature to nurture, adds the emotion to situations when needed (i.e. praying, fasting, gentle words to soothe, etc.). Both parts go hand in hand, one is not more important than the other, they work together.

So, why does it seem like the "important" leadership roles are only held by men? I have no clue. I could argue that it's because it's always been that way or that it's God's way; after all, didn't the reorganization of his church come through revelation? But, I don't think these women would accept that.

What I do know is that the men who hold the priesthood do not "rule" over their wives, nor the rest of the women of the church. I know it's true when I see my bishop smiling tenderly at his wife as he sit on the stand every Sunday, or when I see our Stake President walking into church, holding his wife's hand as their semi-reverent kids trail behind them. Heck, I know it's true when I see my bishop counselling with the Relief Society about a matter that concerns our ward family.

These acts don't seem to jive with men who are supposedly part of the so-called inequality problem in the church. If anything, I would call it respect and the willingness to work together because they see these women as their equals.

I truly do not feel there is a problem with inequality as these women feel there is, and if that makes me a "blind sheep" then so be it. We have the beautiful gift of agency and it makes me happy that we are all able to take advantage of it.

Here we go again!

Big Poppa left for Lima, Peru this morning. He'll be gone for one week.

Seven days.

I can do this!

I think....

At least he'll be home right before Christmas.

Homeschool

I think I've mentioned that I'm homeschooling the Princess and the Fire Pig this year. It's been challenging and a bit frustrating at times, but for the most part, it's been fun!

Especially when we can attend school like this....

And this...

And also like this....

I love how flexible our schedule and choice of outfits can be with homeschooling. Since the weather has turned colder, we usually opt to stay in our pajamas all day and sometimes have school in front of the fireplace.

What I really love is that school is according to our schedule and the kids' interests at the time. There are so many practical ways to incorporate teaching my kids the essentials, as well as the "fun" stuff.

Plus, who wouldn't love playing games on the Wii for P.E.?

I think we've finally found our homeschool groove.