Respect and Responsibility, Have they really disappeared?

Since I was a child my father has told me "If you pick up one end of the stick, you have to pick up the other". His meaning was that if you make a decision to do something you can't choose the consequence. That goes for any decision you make, not just the bad ones. Growing up I have thought of that many times, mostly when I might be making a bad decision. The whole idea of cause and effect, action and reaction, choice and consequence is also tightly weaved in with responsibility and respect.

Over the last few weeks I've read news articles, watched videos and seen comments made by people about the government, religion, groups of people, and individuals that completely shock me. One such instance was a recent article I read on a news website, describing the mayors of Chicago and Boston deciding to ban permits to the fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A because the owner came out against gay marriage. Now I don't want to start a whole discussion on gay marriage, but I want to talk about responsibility and respect. Or lack there of.

 It is the responsibility of the mayor of a city to make decisions in the best interest of the citizens and business of that city. How is the city of Chicago benefiting from banning a business that will bring in jobs and serve their community? Also, when did a government body have the right to persecute a group because of their personal, religious beliefs? Isn't it the responsibility of a governing body to promote the free exchange of ideas, the freedom to practice a religion, and the protection of those freedoms and rights? In today's climate, I feel that if you have an opinion outside of the mainstream media, you are persecuted and subjected to harassment and hate acts. Example is the situation with Brad Pitts mother coming out against President Obama and homosexuality. The threats on her life,the wishes of death and the threats of rape and bodily harm were horrible. I thought our country was built on the ideas of freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of OPINION.

Brad Pitt and Mother 

But what about respect? Is anything that is happening right now respectful of others and their views? No. When did our country turn into a place where only the mainstream media was allowed to have an opinion? In my life, I have had friends of many walks of life, all of whom have respected my personal beliefs, while I also respect theirs. The whole idea of the freedom to live the life you want, while respecting that same freedom in others has disappeared in our country. Now the only way to live the life you want is to live it the way the liberal media dictates.

 I believe we still live in a great country, but I wonder . . . How long until we no longer live in a country that will allow you to live your beliefs in peace?

Family, What Does it Mean?

Webster online dictionary:
1. a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head: Household
2. a: a group of persons of common ancestry: Clan

Grandma and Grandpas Edwards 50th Anniversary

But definitions normally get the feeling wrong don't they? What does family really mean, to the heart? For me this past few days has been very interesting when it comes to family. I have always been known as the one in my family to listen, and to support and help everyone around me. I like it, it makes me feel good that my siblings and parents are trusting enough to talk to me without fear of judgement or anger. I will listen, offer advice if I feel it is necessary, and let my loved ones talk until they are talked out. I always feel warm and happy after conversations like that.

However, there comes a time in every family where the one who listens, and supports and holds onto the fears or worries of those around them, needs help too. It's a strange concept, that people who never need help, suddenly need help.

I am a very independent woman most of the time. I'm sure my husband would disagree on this, but I feel that I try my hardest to do the things I need to without much help. I try not to whine and complain about things in my life. I accept and move on. But over the weekend, that changed in a big way. Being put on light bed rest (even though it's only been 3 days) I am getting extremely frustrated! My husband won't let me do anything. I get up to get something to drink and he scolds me and pushes me back to bed. He say's "We don't want to baby coming to soon." like somehow I need to be reminded!

White Family, Christmas 2011

As soon as my midwife gave the order (yes drill sergeant, I will not pack and move. SIR), I began to stress. How were we going to get everything done in time? How was I going to clean? What about my school work? What about unloading at our new apartment? My mind went into hyper mode and I couldn't keep the tears from flowing. I've never been good with asking for help and I was now in a situation where if I didn't, nothing was going to get done (or the baby would come early)!

But those that I love, that care about me really came up to the plate. A cousin that just moved back from Alabama, came and helped me pack up my kitchen (that included cleaning. She is a SAINT.) An Aunt who also just moved up from Nevada came with boxes, packing material and helped pack up our office (without being asked. She just showed up!!!) Later this week, my sister-in-law will be here to help. And my mother is coming two days to help clean.

Family means to me that when you need them, they are there for you, without question or excuse. They come when it means the most, even if you didn't ask. They don't ask for anything in return, knowing that when they are in need, I will be there for them.

Ohana means family, family means nobody gets

 left behind. Or forgotten.

Moving . . . What the What?

Dreams, meet Man! 

In my life, change has always come with a big price. Sometimes those prices are bad, but a lot of the time it is good. Getting married changed my life more then anything that has happened so far (I know that will change once I've had the baby), and the price was amazing. Eternity to the man of my dreams!

Other major life changes, going back to school the price was giving up a full time job that I hated. Changing majors, the price on this one was a little hard to pay because I had to start over from scratch and start a brand new program at the University of Utah. That pretty much is going to suck.

But this move comes at a major unopprotune time. The baby is rearing to go, my body has started to 'ripen' for his birth. I thought everything was going to be okay, that I wasn't straining myself and working to hard, but apparently not. I was put on quasi-bed rest for the next week so baby doesn't feel the need to come until at least 37 weeks. The price of this move is costing us a good ward, but a not so good neighborhood. I really love my little kids in nursery, and the women of the ward have been great to me. But getting out of our neighborhood is exciting.

Yes, please handle with care, unless you want
a crazy pregnant woman on your behind!

Moving right now seems like a mountain, and I don't want a price to be that my sweet little boy comes early. So my sweet wonderful husband has confined me to the bed. I got up this morning to make a protein shake and as soon as I was done drinking it he shuttled me back to bed. :) Sweet man!  So here I am on a Sunday morning writing in a blog and thinking about all the things I need to get done for packing. AHHH! Idle hands make an idle mind. At least they do in my case.

So for all the mommies out there that have moved while pregnant, what have you done to 'lighten the load' so to speak? SUGGESTIONS??

Halloween 2010

More photographs I ran into going through files on the computer!!! These are from Halloween 2010. Weston was the Mad-Hatter and I was the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland. We made Weston's costume. He did a really amazing job on his costume! We love getting totally decked out for Halloween. Wait to see what we 'torture' our child with this October :)!

Harry Potter Party at the District Theater

I was going through my photo's today and ran across a whole slew of them from the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 party that my family went to last  year. I don't think I ever shared with you guys those pictures and videos, so here they are!!!

It was a crazy fun night and my family all dressed up to celebrate. LOVE THEM!!!

My sister as Luna Lovegood and myself as Bellatrix Lestrange 

Cool poster that was up for all of us to take pictures with. 

My mother as Professor Trelawney (moving pictures)

My husband as Lord Voldemort 

Lord Voldemort and Nagini (with a random death eater)

Me getting sorted (I got Slytherin of course!) PS I made the dress! 

And here are the winners of the costume contest 

Left to Right: Officiator, Mad Eye Moody (aka my father who won!), Umbridge, Lupin

Selling a car, more like trial of patience!!

A few months ago, my brother-in-law left on his mission for the LDS church and we were asked to sell his car. At first this seemed like shooting fish in a barrel. There was a problem with the air intake valve, but I thought it wasn't going to be a big set back. Boy was I wrong. We've now had this car on the market for three months. THREE MONTHS! The last time we sold a car it was gone in a week. Literally a WEEK! Posted on Monday and sold by Friday.  


We originally posted it in May. We had a ton of response, lots of calls, lots of texts and lots of emails about the car. A lot of people came to see it, and without fail, every person wanted to take it to their mechanic. We had a few offers, but we both felt like we could get a little more. So we said no to the $1100, and also no to the $800. We pushed forward posting the car and showing it . . . with no luck. 


In June I decided we needed to lower the price of the car, hoping we would get better response. Wrong again. We actually have less people interested in the car now, then we did before. But as my mother always tells me 'You don't need everyone to see it, only the RIGHT one.' So we soldiered on! However as the weeks come and go without any bites, I was starting to loose faith. Why does no one want to car? It's a great car! It works well and drives well, ignoring the revving in park and idle. Other then that, it is great!

Beginning of July, I reposted the ad. One last try! Just a few hours after the posting went up, Weston got a text message asking about the car. It was a younger girl and she was looking for her first car. What a great car for a first car!! Her father came to look at it in the afternoon, and this one was all on me. Weston was at work so I had to do it myself. AHHHHH! I'm not a good sales person and I was totally scared.

The father took the car out for a test drive, had a few questions when he came back, then left. However, he really wanted to make sure the car was available when he came back, because he gave me a $100 deposit. Wow! Things are looking up! He wanted to come back later that night to take it to his mechanic.

Later that night he came by (WOW) and took the car to get looked at. He was only gone for a few minutes, (like 15 min), which totally worried me. But when he came back, he said . . .

"We'll take a chance on it!" and handed Weston $1000 to add to the $100 deposit.

WE SOLD IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleep? Oh, How I Have Missed You!!

I have decided that sleep becomes a secondary necessity once you become pregnant. And that secondary necessity stay's secondary once the baby comes as well. The last few nights I have not been able to sleep. I am beginning to learn to function under little to no sleep. The world is slightly dazed, and the edges begin to blur out every once in a while. Oh dear!