weekend of girlies

I got to see my favorite Hawaiian trio this weekend when they stayed the night. This was the first time we met Meizi, who was adopted last year. She warmed up to Ben right away. All three sisters were all full of energy and so much fun.

I also babysat my 2 nieces in Bountiful this weekend and substituted in nursery during church. Lots of kiddos!

In Loving Memory

Ben lost one of his best friends tonight. Macie was a sweet little dog and she loved him dearly. Unfortunately, she couldn't live with us due to my allergies but we would go visit her often at his parent's house. Although I have never been one to get attached to animals, I admit I shed a couple tears. It was really hard for Ben. We will miss you Macie!

New Bag

I have plenty of totes at home, but really none that were actually cute without company logos on them. I've wanted one I could take binders/laptop/books to church with. I happened upon some soft vinyl and fun black/white cotton designed material in the fabric store a while back that reminded me of a cute bag my sister made. I had her show me how she did it and took a couple days while my husband was out of town to sew up this beauty.

I believe in the gospel of Christ...All of it

I believe that popular society may decide what they allow and what they punish, but only God decides moral law, which does not change with societal trends. There is absolute truth, and that ONLY comes from God. Some of us, as imperfect beings, occasionally get drawn into trying to rationalize, adjust or omit certain laws He has set forth to our own liking or to be more in line with popular thinking. I do not believe that Christ's teachings are something we get to pick and choose from.

I believe that acting out in homosexual ways is a sin in the same way that I believe fornication, adultery, stealing, murder, lying, immodesty, alcoholism, drug abuse, disrespecting parents, worshipping idols, materialism, idleness, judging, swearing, physical/emotional abuse, neglecting sacred responsibilities, coveting, using the name of God in vain, pornography, breaking the Sabbath day, withholding help for the poor/needy, being easily offended, not praying, speeding, and gluttony are all sins. Christ and his prophets have been very clear on preaching against all such things (and more) in every collection of scripture.  All His commandments are important and necessary.

Therefore, which of us is not a sinner? None of us. We all have sinned, in a variety of ways; we all have weaknesses and temptations. We all have the opportunity to partake of the gift of the atonement of Jesus Christ. We ALL need Him in order to be forgiven and saved. Sometimes it takes us a long, long time to overcome our problems, but we are promised we will if we look to Christ, repent fully and keep trying, we will conquer and become perfected in Him.

If you or I are persecuted or experience discrimination based on these beliefs, so be it. It should not come as a surprise to us. Christians have long been attacked in a multitude of ways for holding fast to the moral laws of God, when it was unpopular to do so. As our society today moves further and further away from God's laws, we become even more of a peculiar people. How unusual is it that I didn't have sexual relations of any kind until I was married at age 31 or that I have never smoked or drank or used God's name in vain? How "un-modern" it is that I don't accept homosexuality as a proper way to act. Does that mean I look down on those that do? Absolutely not!!!! I don't judge because they sin differently than I do. I have friends that drink, that have addictions, have participated in pornography, that struggle with materialism, that swear, and that are gay. I can denounce the sin; while loving the sinner. I am not so unlike any of them. I struggle with my own faults, weaknesses and sins-but that does not make them right.  I have to be accountable to all the same laws and own up to my personal shortcomings in relation to what I know is right and true.

I like to look to the example of Jesus Christ when he was presented with a woman caught in adultery. He neither denied the sin OR the law. He only remarked in mercy "let he who is without sin cast the first stone". I have compassion for all and testify to any that sin, in whatever manner, to come and be converted unto Jesus Christ and be made new through his everlasting gospel. He has dictated exactly how to do that and what His gospel entails in the scriptures and words of the prophets (in olden days as well as the those on the earth today). Read them; Search them! Allow His Spirit to work in your heart until you become contrite, teachable and willing to change. We are not fully converted until we can accept Him and ALL His teachings, however unpopular. We cannot be saved by partial obedience. But, we CAN repent and start anew to try to be better each day to get closer and closer to His perfection, while partaking in His wonderful mercy on the sinner in every one of us.

Bathroom Remodel

It is finally done! Our quick 2-3 week project that started in July is finally finished. Yes, it took forever. We had more setbacks and learning experiences than we ever expected but I think the finished product looks great! The new tile is gorgeous and that shower is so waterproof, I don't think it is possible to ever leak.
Here are some important lessons we learned to do differently next time (please take these to heart if you decide to do a bathroom yourself):
1. Use cement board for water resistance instead of drywall + Schluter-kerdi sheets on the wall...it's almost impossible to put up evenly and level.
2. Putting large tiles on vertical walls is pretty but 3x the work. Believe me. Stick with smaller ones
3. when you build up a floor, remember to move other fixtures up the wall as well
4. Harbor freight tools are good for a lot of things, but splurge on some high quality equipment (like tile saws, plumbing tools, and chop saws)
5. Measure 5 times-cut once
6. Always have another person around when you turn the water on the first time

Here are some pictures of the process

down to the studs

Schluter-kerdi walls and floor finally in place

chipping off the old tile from the cement floor

Here are pictures of the new and improved bathroom! Quite the finished product!

Educator of the Year

Today I got a total surprise. My family knew, my coworkers and hospital president knew, my in-laws knew... but they kept it a good secret. I was so busy running around like a chicken with it's head cut off running the Diabetes Educator conference that I wasn't expecting to be the recipient of an award. Anyway, I sort of got a clue when I saw my parents and coworkers come and sit in the audience...and then the announcer started explaining comments from nominating educators, patients and coworkers about the recipient...

They announced that I was chosen to be American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) of Utah's "Educator of the Year"!   I was surprised and touched. They asked me to say a few things up at the podium and I think I just thanked the educators I've worked with and gotten to know in the AADE. Afterward, I thought I probably could have been a bit more personal. This is what I would add:

People often ask me why I chose to become a diabetes educator. Since I don't personally have diabetes...no one in my immediate family has diabetes, the choice seems odd I guess. I tell them, I didn't choose diabetes, it chose me. There were many things during my schooling and career as a dietitian that kept pointing me straight to it...over and over again. It just seemed to fit and I embraced the idea fully and worked hard to make it happen. It is a most fascinating field, isn't it? It can also be extremely challenging but most of all, it is rewarding. When you make a difference in the life of a patient, when you show empathy, when they finally understand something, when you can reach them in a way no one else could because of your expertise, when you can celebrate together their successes...that is what makes it all worth it. That is why I do what I do... that is why you do what you do. It is all about our patients and making their lives better. "Mankind IS our business".  I am honored to be working with so many of you in the diabetes community who feel the same way.

Bahamas

I am really the type of person that loves to have vacations to look forward to. Somehow it makes the daily grind seem a lot more bearable. Ben and I couldn't agree on a destination, budget or a time when we could both get away for a long time until finally we were both so super ready for the break that we had to make it happen quickly. We were also finally able to make it work to have my parents come with us! Cruises are much more fun with more people. So, to the Bahamas we went!

We spent a few days in Orlando (spending some time with my uncle that lives there-seeing his house and taking a tour of the candy factory where he works, the Orlando temple, Moss park, and outlet shopping) and then 4 days on the cruise.

Our first stop was the cruise's private island Cococay. This was by far our favorite day! It was a beautiful, sandy beach island with all sorts of places to just lay back on a beach chair and relax. We played in the warm ocean, napped, and watched the waves.

I even convinced my dad to go parasailing with me-which is awesome. It provided a beautiful view and is wonderfully peaceful floating 400 ft. above the water.  (not scary at all-unless you are afraid of heights-I totally recommend trying it).

Next day was Nassau island. It was extremely hot and humid that day. We walked around the city a bit but weren't too interested in buying touristy trinkets or doing the excursions at the Atlantis resort (most the beaches are private and you have to pay to use them). We preferred to hang out on the less crowded ship. We spent a lot of time in the pool, reading and chilling out on the deck chairs, and eating more than we should at the buffet.

Then we had a day at sea. I tried out the rock-climbing wall on the back of the ship, played ping pong and then took advantage of reading and nap time.

We of course ate way too much, sampling all the good food choices. We also got to see the comedian, magician, bands, and several movies in the evenings. What a great trip! Things still happened while we were gone (my sister and her baby became famous on all the news shows/blogs, my friend had her baby, they called a new RS presidency so I got released but, it was good to be away from phone/email for a while).  I needed something to help me reset and come back with a clearer head to organize and rebalance my life.