Maybe we should all try this!

I saw this and...I thought of Grandma, then I thought that it might be good if we all try this.  It might help us talk to one another with more love.  ;)  Iay ovelay ouyay!


    

Just felt impressed to share this!

There's a place for everyone!  I love all of ya'll, and everyone needs some kind of smile enhancer sometimes! :)
ENJOY!!! Love, Johannah

Hello Hello!

First of all, Happy Belated Mothers day to all you Mothers, it is so awesome that Mom and you guys chose to do the right things and you never know how many people you will and do impact in a good way.

So, with my goals, I did really good on making my bed before i get ready for seminary and it has actually helped me feel better, cleaner and more ready and organized for the day.

2.Do all school per day as needed and try to maintain a good average. I did okay with this one, a couple days after i posted my goals we left for Utah for two weeks and then we got back and i had a hard time getting into the schoolinessness excitement or whatever you call it. I still took some tests but haven't done that great in the last two i have recently taken but today i looked over my test and did a couple rounds of a card review for it so i feel  a little more comfortable about taking it.

3. Exercise for at least 45 mins. a day. This was kind of a one week i did super great and the next i barely even did anything to exercise, i will try harder this time and keep on my goals. I love to exercise i just need to do it!

4. Practice the music i need to so i can play for choir etc...good. I think i did pretty good on this but i could have practiced more...know what i mean? one of the choir songs is an organ for the accompaniment (?) and so i have been practicing the organ for it. No one else knows how to play the organ except me and the  pianist and both of us are just trying to figure it out.  (i hope we don't break it :/ )

5. Eat less sugar and junk food and  try to put more whole wheat into the things i cook.   Weeeeeellllll.....i could have done a lot better on this one than i did.

6. Get to sleep every night at 9:30 except Sun, Tue, Fri, and maybe Saturday.  Honestly this was a good goal to set but that is only like two nights that i almost could go to bed at 9:30 so i think i will change it to go to bed at 9:30 whenever i can.  

7. Have a positive attitude and outreach to others and try to finish PP before the year is over, so i can work on my third time through.  I think i have a positive attitude most of the time and i try every day to reach out to others as good as i can and i need to work on Personal progress more. I finally got my medallion 2 sundays ago and i have finished two things i think so far starting over.

8. this is another goal. Print off my goals and put them where i will see every day and so i can remember what they are.

Sorry for the long post again.  Hope you all have a good day! Love you guys! :)

Happy Mother's day!

Happy Mother's day to all you awesome moms! I think this is a cute video. :) Mom, thanks for all you do. You are an inspiration, and have been there through it all. There are times I still say to myself "I just want my Mommy!" I love you! Thanks for always being there!

PS. You're Mother's day present will be in the mail soon. And yes...you know what it is. :)

Weekly Weigh In

Current weight: 170

Last weeks weight: 170

Ok guys. I must be really good at this maintaining thing, because I thought for SURE I would have gained a pound this week. I was not good at all. I did exercise most days, but my food choices have been less than ideal. Meaning I had a lot more cookies and ice cream than I should have...ahem. So I was super surprised when I got on the scale. Nothing has changed. Although...I feel like my arms and back are a little more toned! That's always good news!

Thanks for all the motivation! I really appreciate it. :)

Going Out On a Limb

Just an update on my current emotional status. I have been feeling a lot better emotionally since I blogged about PPD. Thank you all for your helpful comments, and for letting me know I wasn't the only one struggling with Postpartum Depression. Honestly, I was so worried none of you would know how I felt or even what Postpartum Depression was, and I was scared that I was going to be told to get over it and to stop being selfish. (That's probably because that's how I feel about myself.) Anyway, thank you all! Also, I've been reading my scriptures first thing in the morning, in stead of at night, and that's been helping a lot too.

Ok, now for the real reason I am blogging today.

I gotta get something off my chest. Remember when we'd be sitting in seminary and the teacher would say something that wasn't very accurate, and I'd sit there with my arms folded and my leg bouncing until finally I had to say something? Well this is how I feel whenever people talk about the benefits of circumcision. Ahem. Now are you all interested? Let me explain.

When I was pregnant with Tetra, I didn't find out if she was a boy or a girl, so the whole time I worried about whether or not we would get our "boy" circumcised. I new that my midwife was super anti-circumcision and I didn't want to be swayed by her. I also new that my entire family and Erick's family were pro-circumcision and I didn't want to be swayed that way either. I wanted to make my own educated choice. So I started doing research. After articles on the internet, reading from a medical books, and lots of pondering a praying, I had my answer: My boys would not be circumcised.

Wait! I know you're probably thinking, "Umm...ok..." but before you completely lose interest, read this blog post:

The Circumcision Decision

This lady was in the same boat as I was, except she new she was having a boy, and she explains the reason why she decided not to get her son circumcised.  She addresses hygiene, STDs, UTIs, Penile Cancer, age, and looking like other boys. She even has links to where you can find the information, which I found very helpful.

I think the biggest eye opener for me was this video from YouTube. I don't know if this guys bible facts are really accurate, but his other information is pretty accurate.

Why Circumcision in Medically Unnecessary  

As far as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints policy on circumcision, that law was done away with. Here's the link to that info:

Church Policy 

Also in the Book of Mormon it says it plain as day that, " the law of circumcision is done away in me." Moroni 8:8 

In my opinion, if Heavenly Father didn't want men to have their foreskin, he wouldn't have put it there. Besides when our husbands, sons, fathers, and so forth are resurrected, their gonna have their foreskin. Also, if there is an infection at some point in my boys' life, where they have to get their foreskin removed, it will probably be when they are older and can actually take pain medication. If at some point they or he wants to get his foreskin removed, it would be his choice not mine.

My biggest concern with this blog post is that I will offend some of you or make you think I think you're a bad parent for circumcising your son/sons. Well, that is not my intention or thoughts. My motive is to inform you that circumcision is not necessary, and that an infant boys foreskin is perfect. I can't sit on my butt and not say anything when I hear that someone told you that cutting off 3/4 of the nerve endings, on your babies penis, was the best thing for your baby when tons studies have shown that it's not necessary.

If the information I gave you is not to your liking, at least I gave you a great dinner conversation . . . which is better than nothing! :) I love you all!!

Rachel

  

To the BEST Mother(s) out there!

I saw this Mothers Day video, and I thought of you mom.  Thank you very much for everything you have taught me, and all of your children.  I have never learned so much from anyone except you, mom.  I love you soooooo much mom!  Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for me, and that you still make daily for me.  If I can be half of the Mother you are for me, my children will be very lucky!  I love you and hope you have a fabulous Mothers day!  And to my sisters:  You all are amazing Mothers!  Your children are very blessed to have come into your lives.  Thank you for the examples you all have set for me!  I love all of you, and I look up to you so much!  Happy Mothers Day!!
https://www.lds.org/topics/parenting?lang=eng

OOPS....

I need to learn how to work this stuff. haha. Heres the link https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDMQuAIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqX9FSZJu448&ei=shKEUYGtDY7yigLg3IDYCQ&usg=AFQjCNGqepDduaDDsH6ttXTUb7_U1kfaFQ&sig2=JUl5VgPQgS50wGwshLQJvA&bvm=bv.45960087,d.cGE    WHOA! Or it might be easier to give you the title and look it up on youtube by yourself... its called  "Never, Ever Give Up. Arthur's Inspirational Transformation" Its awesome.

Never, Ever Give Up. Arthur's Inspirational Transformation!

I absolutely LOVE this clip. You can take this a spiritual way too. Never give up! "Keep on, Keepin' on" it just shows what people can do. Where you can end up if you just get back up and keep trying.