My first tag...

crazy 8 tag... courtesy of Drea. :)

8 tv shows that i watch
1. The Office
2. The Biggest Loser
3. America's Next Top Model
4. Friends
5. What not to wear (at least when I had cable)
6. ER (back in the day)
7. Boy Meets World (part of me still loves this show I don't know why. :) )
8. Family Feud

8 things i did yesterday
1. Went running
2. Went to work - finally bonded with some of my coworkers
3. Set up a new checking and savings account
4. Saw two crazy old people on motorized wheel chairs on the side of the road
5. Worked on application for Phoenix Teaching Fellows
6. Made French Rolls for dinner
7. Went to the temple
8. Read part of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

8 places i love to eat
1. HOME :)
2. Olive Garden
3. Costa Vida
4. Guru Palace
5. L&T
6. Cracker Barrel
7. Any Chinese place with my mom and sister :) - something always comes up in those conversations. :)
8. How could I forget! KNEADERS!!! Oh I miss their sandwiches. :(

8 things i am looking forward to
1. making a difference
2. being w/ my family for Thanksgiving
3. traveling to every continent
4. taking beautiful pictures
5. laughing with old friends
6. having a family
7. owning a house
8. being better than I am today

8 things on my wish list
1. new camera lenses
2. a sewing machine
3. a kitchen aid
4. fabric to reupholster the chair I stole from the dumpster
5. unlimited money to travel
6. a small snapshot camera
7. love
8. a manicure and pedicure

8 people I tag
1. Candra
2. Rachel Gwin
3. Carolyn
4. Rachel H
5. Romina
6. Stacey
7. I don't know if anybody else reads this. :)
8.So if you read this, consider yourself invited. :)

A post I have been a little hesitant to write...

Just for the record the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints did not decide its position on marriage when the amendments for this November's ballots were proposed. The definition of marriage for the church is as old as "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." The church has publicly voiced its opinion on its definition since at least The Proclamation on the Family. published 13 years ago.

Singling out the church is wrong. The personal attacks on the church prove nothing more than the intolerance that the opposition is claiming against the church.

Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights said. "We need everyday Californians who are willing to write checks and make the financial sacrifice for their beliefs." SO let me get this right... it is ok for those that opposed Prop 8, to "sacrifice for their beliefs." Yet those that supported Proposition 8 financially are not making a "sacrifice for their beliefs" they are merely bigots. EVERYDAY Californians did write checks, and did vote. And if this were really about money shouldn't the opposing vote won. I have read in several different places that the YES for 8 raised between 31 and 32 million where as the No on 8 raised between 37 and 38 million. Yes I do recognize that church members donated the majority, but that was a personal choice as individual citizens. If I misunderstood this, let me know.

I have tried over and over not to get unnerved by the injustice of the situation, but it escapes me. How is such behavior tolerated? If these protests happened outside of synagogues, people would be all over it being antisemitic. The church formed part of a coalition of churches.

And what about the other marriage amendments passed in Arizona, Florida, and other states. They passed without the huge financial donations on either side. I am much more appalled at the amendment passed in Florida which grants no rights to same-sex couples, and it bans civil unions altogether. I believe that these couples are entitled to rights, but I do believe that the church has the right to believe that marriage is between man and a woman. Please forgive my ignorance, but what rights do civil unions lack that marriages have? Part of my understanding is that they are not recognized in other states, they do not receive the same tax benefits, and federal benefits, such as survivor benefits through Social Security. Legally I believe that they are entitled to those rights.

If it is cause worth fighting for, keep fighting. I believe everyone has the right to their opinions. It is fine to be disappointed, but placing blame on the minority of one state is unfair. Let's have some mutual respect here, disrespecting places that I consider sacred does not prove that one side or the other is right. I know this is not as articulate as I would like, but hopefully my point is understood.

Here we go...

Well I don't know exactly what to say about the election. All I will say is that I hope we are inspired to work better together. If we are focusing on change as a part of this election. Then I hope we do change for the better, and stop letting so many differences get in the way. I am curious how these next four years will play out, but I figure for myself I'll keep moving forward. :)