Gay Marriage

So, we deviate from our regular programming to briefly discuss some thoughts I've had. Specifically covering gay marriage. When Christians talk about why gay marriage is wrong, they usually quote the Bible, or mention that it's unnatural. Both are true, but if you're talking to someone who doesn't believe the Bible, well, that doesn't work. And if you say it's unnatural, so was interracial marriage, and we all know that was wrong.  In the end, a lot of the arguments I've seen have been very close minded arguments. It's wrong because it's wrong.... that doesn't help anyone, and just sounds intolerant. I believe it is wrong, but answers like that aren't helping anyone's point. Most likely, they're actually hindering. So, I've been thinking about this a lot, and this is the conclusion I've come to.
  If we want to talk about how marriage must be between a man and a woman, we have to clarify why it has to be between a man and a woman. What about marriage makes requires this distinction? This question in my mind extended to a new question. Why is it important that we get married? Most of us would say, you marry someone because you love them and want to spend the rest of your life with them. Well, that is exactly why homosexual people want to get married. They love their partner and want to spend the rest of their life with that person. So to say you're against their marriage when we're defining the purpose of marriage as a way to spend the rest of your life committed to the one you love, you are saying that you're against others' expression of love. That doesn't sound right. No Christian person would truly be against love, or showing that love towards another. Aren't we all striving for charity, which is the pure, nonjudgmental love of Christ?
   I maintain that same gender attraction is wrong, but this logic against it is also deeply flawed. So again, I return to my question, what is the purpose of marriage, and what about that makes it essential that it is between a man and a woman? This question took me a long time to find the answer to, but I think I finally have. Marriage is not about love. Yes, I said it... strange idea, considering the culture we are raised in which is so fixated on the idea of true love, everlasting love. No, the purpose of marriage is not love. The purpose of marriage is: CHILDREN.
   This is a hard pill to swallow. It was for me too. But that is why it is important to get married. In the words of Dallin H Oaks, (a man I respect deeply and an apostle of the LDS church), "[Marriage] has provided the cultural tie that seeks to connect the father to his children by binding him to the mother of his children." Marriage is for creating and raising children. The best environment to make them in involves a man and a woman. The best environment for raising them also requires a man and a woman, or a father and a mother.
    We are a rather self-centered culture. It is hard to imagine that the reason you get married is not for you, but for the next generation, the act of parenting. This is an act that I am coming more and more to know is a very self sacrificing act. But this is the true purpose of marriage. Love does and should have a place in marriage. But it is not the purpose, it is the reward. The greatest reward for raising children is having the love of your spouse. As you go through life together, raising children together, you encounter trials that can strengthen your love for each other. Your reward for weathering these trials is the opportunity to live with the person you love for eternity. So yes, we do get married because we love someone and want that opportunity, but the purpose for getting married is to raise children. Living with the love of your life is the reward that comes from getting married.
  If children is the purpose for getting married, and love is the reward, not the reason, then it is much easier to see why gay marriage is wrong. There is no way that two men, or two women can create a child. Yes, there is adoption, but that is the exception, they still cannot create a child. Gay marriage is wrong because it thwarts the entire purpose of marriage. It makes creating a family nearly impossible. They may be in love, but they cannot have a child, which is why marriage must remain between a man and a woman. This is why it is wrong, and this is why I am opposed to gay marriage.

On another note, if we accepted the idea that love is the reward of marriage, perhaps we would feel less entitled to love, and more willing to earn it, as rewards should be. Then when love waxes cold and we believe we must end the marriage with divorce, it is not our spouse's fault, but ours, for not working to earn the reward.

Also, you should know, I'm a big fan of love. I do believe it is important in a marriage. As a matter of fact, I am crazy in love with my husband and I married him because I was in love with him, and I plan to be in love with him for eternity.

If you want to read more about this, check out this talk:Dallin H Oaks "Protect the children" Or this article, by a child who was actually raised by lesbian women:http://catholicexchange.com/what-do-the-children-say/
 

Baby Shaming

I have been looking at a lot of dog shaming photos lately, I think they're pretty funny. After your dog does something bad, or has an odd habit, you take a photo of them next to a sign explaining what they did. Look for yourself here: www.dogshaming.com It makes me want to do some for Jace. Here are the photos I came up with.

BABY SHAMING!

Disclaimer: I do not plan on using this as a form of punishment for my child. I just thought it was funny and harmless since he will have no memory of this. He also had no idea what was going on in these pictures. This is most likely the only time I will do this.

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Ok, three guesses, just from the title.... what do you think this post is on? :) Jace has figured out how to roll from his belly to his back. On Thursday, he rolled over for the first time. Since then, he has done it once a day. I'm so proud of my little roller.
He's also getting pretty close to rolling from back to front. Wednesday morning I was changing Jace's diaper and he spent the whole time trying to roll off of the changing table. He can get to his side ok, but it's the last bit he's still figuring out. When I hold his arm, he can roll all the way. He just needs something to brace against. No more stepping away from the changing table while he's on it! All too soon, we're gonna have a mobile baby! check out the video!

working on rolling back to belly...

Motherhood is....

Motherhood is having an enormous bladder so you can pee when it's convienent for the baby.
Motherhood is watching your child grow and cheering for each little accomplishment.
Motherhood is having a small stomach so you can eat when it's convienent.
Motherhood is smiling, even when you want to cry, because they just did something too cute for words.
Motherhood is being able to function on very little sleep.
Motherhood is looking into the eyes of someone who trusts you completely.
Motherhood is putting the baby down when you can't stand to hear him cry anymore.
Motherhood is picking him up again because you're the only one who can help him stop crying.
Motherhood is nursing with one hand and doing everything else with the other.
Motherhood is being the first one to find his ticklish spot.
Motherhood is changing diapers that make you want to gag.
Motherhood is playing with the happiest being in the world.
Motherhood is counting the hours till Daddy comes home.
Motherhood is being completely unconditionally loved and adored. (at least while they're babies)
Motherhood is catching yourself say the weirdest things you've ever heard.
Motherhood is singing during bathtime, bedtime, feeding time, and many times in between.
Motherhood is being the largest walking napkin in existance.
Motherhood is always being prepared for the worst, while many times enjoying the best.
Motherhood is knowing what the sound of each cry means.
Motherhood is the joy of making someone smile, every day.
Motherhood is saying things in a much higher and happier voice than the words merit.
Motherhood is being the cheif entertainer.
Motherhood is storing up stories to tell them at the most embarassing moment... or at least when they'll be old enough to remember it.
Motherhood is cheering over poop, burps and a flurry of excitement over spitups.
Motherhood is watching the clock, so you know exactly what they're crying about... sometimes.
Motherhood is watching your body change so that you can have children.
Motherhood is frustrating and joyful.
Motherhood is exciting and dull.
Motherhood is love.


Admittedly, this list is only for the first three months, and only from my experience as a mother, not as a father (some things relate to both).