Culture: To Each Her Own...Or So They Say

For the moment, ignore this. You'll get it later.

Culture. What is culture? I am Caucasian, LDS, and have been home schooled most of my life. What changes do these facts have on my culture? I'll put it in simple terms: I haven't known a lot of violence in my life; in fact, any violence at all--even in the movies--startles the goodness out of me. I expect and love large families. I have grown up with the idea that large families are what God has commanded us to have, and it just makes sense to me. I have been fairly protected from the crude things of the world, meaning that in general I am more sensitive to crudeness than much of the world. Many other people I know do not know these same truths.

There are so many different combinations of cultures in this world that it would take me all week just to name off half of them, so I hope that what I am about to say does not offend anybody. It was not meant to.

Let me lay out for you a few ground rules that I have come to know:

1. Everyone is different. Each person is their own person. We all have our different morals, families, beliefs and, of course, our different cultures. I understand that we all think and act, well, differently. 
2. God gave us commandments. As a Latter-Day Saint, I know and understand that the commandments that our Heavenly Father has laid out for us are simple. They tell us exactly what to do and what not to do. We can find them in the scriptures--the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants and the Bible. 
3. There are no excuses, especially if you have already come to know God and Christ. 

Many of us believe that when it comes to culture, whatever goes, goes. It is not culturally acceptable to have a large family, therefore, we won't. It is not culturally acceptable to not drink alcohol at a wedding, therefore, we must. It is not culturally acceptable to marry before getting comfortable in our careers, therefore, we can't.

It is almost a natural feeling to say, "Well, it's a part of our culture. We have to."

Well, when it comes to the commandments, I have learned over the years that this is not an excuse. Heavenly Father and Christ will hold us accountable for our imperfectness unless we first repent. I have found that we are like a kite. If we were to let go of the string attaching us to Earth's surface, thinking it would free us from all bonds, we would not fly. We would fall. It is the string, the commandments, that is holding us up, not keeping us down.

We were not sent here to judge our fellow brothers and sisters, and I hope that is not what you got from all that I have just said. I just wanted to bring to light these facts that many of us don't think of until it is too late.

kthanksbye

The Family: A Chocolate Chip Cookie

Have you ever heard the saying, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts?" When I first heard this saying, it really made me think. How can this be possible? 2+2=4. How can you add two "numbers" and get a larger number? It never made sense to me. Until it was compared to families.

It was like a light bulb just exploded inside my head. It made me think about my own family. We have the flour, the eggs, the baking soda, the salt, the butter, the brown sugar, the chocolate chips, the sugar, and the vanilla (there are actually more people than that in my family...but there are only so many ingredients...so...). Each by itself is good, maybe even great (you can guess which ingredient I am ;D), but when added together and mixed, one of the most delicious concoctions to ever be eaten on this earth is created: a moist, perfectly golden chocolate chip cookie.

I love to play soccer. I played for eight years, and enjoyed every second (mostly). At my games I played fairly well, maybe even great; but without my family there, cheering me on, embarrassing me, I would have just been two cups of chocolate chips. With them there, the entire game turned into a chocolate chip cookie. This is so important to me because many of us (like me) don't understand the concept of a whole being greater than the sum of its parts. We need to understand. Many parents don't go to their children's sports games (some can't, which I understand) because they don't understand the incredible desert they could turn the game into. Physically, children (and parents) need that cookie. Emotionally, it is even more important to show them that love. 

The teenager that barely speaks to his mom when home from school. The father that just has too much work to do. The sister that thinks only of herself. We are all guilty of these things, we are human after all, and  I am not saying that we have to be perfect because that would be unrealistic. All I'm saying is to be AWARE. That is the key word, right there. To be aware is to understand that becoming a family chocolate chip cookie is challenging, it takes work, and you need all of the ingredients or it will just taste wrong. But to be aware is to desire to become that cookie, everyone working together to become something beautiful, wonderful, and well-worth the work and the wait. 

I, for one, love chocolate chip cookies. So let's make some.

kthanksbye

Kids are Diamonds

Over the centuries, the Earth's population has been steadily increasing. Children were considered assets to the community, providing workers for on the farm or in the factories, help around the house, and of course the joy that children are. These days it's as if kids aren't worth the price! It makes me crazy! As you can see, above there is a very fine picture of a sparkling diamond. You may or may not be asking yourself: Now Self,  what could be the reason for a diamond in both the title and actual post? How about I provide the answer for you. 

As it states in the title, Kids are Diamonds. Well, in our current society they are anyway. Back in the past, children were  like winter coats: warm, useful, and well worth the price. However, our society has slowly been degrading the awesomeness of children. I mean, look at a diamond. It is beautiful! It sparkles! It is so crazy expensive that we all want to pull out our hair! And let's be honest, it really has no use. In a documentary titled, The New Economic Reality: Demographic Winter found on BYUtv, the interviewees responded to why people were having less children with, and I quote, "Children are too expensive." 

Why. Why would society do this to the innocent image of children? How are we supposed to keep up our population if people are refusing to have children, or even get married altogether? Yeah, I am talking to all of you who think that children are "too expensive." Oh and by the way, I lied above. Kids are most definitely NOT diamonds. They are more like strawberries. You probably want me to explain that. Strawberries are sweet, not-too-costly, and absolutely delicious. You can use them for many things, for example a smoothie! I suppose if you glance too quickly without actually noticing what it is, a strawberry could look like a diamond. You know, just like sometimes a delicious Dove chocolate bar could be taken for nasty cow pies. But whatever. Everyone has their opinion. 

My final advice: I am not a mother; but I do know that kids are worth so much more than they cost. Don't give up on them just because they can be messy every now and then. They'll love you unconditionally, it only makes sense to give them a chance. 

kthanksbye

Me, Myself, and I

As an assignment for my Family Relations class, I created this blog. In the future I am going to post quotes, thoughts, insights, hopes, dreams, goals, and counsel on marriage and family life; however, because this is my first post (yes!) I might just tell you about, wait for it...me! Oh and maybe a little bit about my own family. I suppose.

The above picture is my beautiful family. You might ask, why so bright? So random? So MANY OF THEM?! Many people ask questions like this all the time. Instead of answering these slightly irrelevant questions, I am just going to tell you a little bit about them. My parents (I hope you can identify them...although I know it's hard to tell) are the two at the top. My brother and I are the oldest (yes, we're twins) with me in the middle and Jacob on the far right. Next is Daniel, two years younger and the only one with blond hair. Then Josh (far left), Adam (next to Josh), Beth (under Adam), Jeffrey (in between Jacob and Daniel) and finally princess Anna (in between the 'rents). I know, fantastic right?

Now a little about me, then I'll let you go. I (on the right) have curly hair. Normally. I know, my straight hair in this picture is confusing. Anyway, I am 18 years old and am currently attending BYU-Idaho (hence this blog). As mentioned above, I have a twin brother (my best friend, duh). But I also have many other best friends, including (but not limited to) these fantastic five. Kajsa, Ann (bottom two) and Camrie (above me) were my roommates of last semester (my first). Kiara (next to Camrie) and Tara (under her) are besties from  below. They are all simply incredible!

A couple of more things (last ones, I promise). I love to bake! Above you see our creative license being taken with chocolate brownies and white chocolate chips. I also love sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, etc. I love children! My major is Child Development with a minor in Psychology. I also took four years of French in High School (random fact).

Well, now that you know WAY too much about me, I will bid you adieu. Till next time, and next time, it is going to be SO much more relevant to my assignment.

kthanksbye