I Support HUMAN Rights

Growing up in Utah, and also spending the first 17 years of my life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I know the teachings pretty well. Since I was old enough to be a sunbeam I was attending church on my own, as my parents were inactive and my grandmother would take me. At the age of 10 I was baptised on the same day as my 8 year old brother Cole, and I still have the picture of my standing next to the missionaries. Into my teenage years I continued to go, even when I would be the only one in my family to attend. Called into positions such as Beehive Secretary, Mia maid President, and I was even serving as the Laurels President when I stopped attending church at the age of 17.

After 4 years in LDS seminary throughout high school, I have read the Book of Mormon, The Old & New Testament, The Pearl of Great Price, and various other readings. I spent nights on my knees, praying that god would teach me what was right, and that he would allow me to feel that the church was right. Fast Sundays, I would stand in front of the congregation and my classmates and bear my testimony nearly half-hearted because it was just a repeat of what everyone else says when they say theirs. My mother and father still don't think I tried hard enough to believe in it, but I know that I did everything I could do.

I wanted to believe, I wanted desperately to live that life and to follow the teachings of the Mormon doctrine. That was what everyone told me was right, that was what everyone else around me believed was the right way. I'll admit, there are quite a few of the teachings I am very grateful for, and still believe in; but there are also quite a few of the teachings I strongly disagree with, and that is why I do not consider myself as that religion anymore. This is probably one of the strongest reasons: I support equal rights.

A brilliant friend of mine, who actually is bisexual, said something very awesome to me. He looked at me and said "I don't support gay rights." Then in response to my confusion, he said "I support HUMAN rights. That everyone should be equal, and not treated differently because they are a minority." I completely agree.

To me it is inconceivable that anyone should have any lesser rights than anyone , and that any organization should fight so fiercely to prevent it because of a word. Back in the 60s it was equal rights for people of different races, and now it's a matter of fighting for equal rights for people of different orientations. There really is no difference in the fight or cause, just a difference in the people who are fighting for it, and yet it is still the same issue! How does saying that they shouldn't have the right to love as freely as you any difference from saying a black person should sit in the back of the bus or go to a different school than your children? How does this make you any different than a racist?

I honestly don't know how some of my family and friends will feel when they read this, and by no means do I intend to offend anyone, but I do feel the need to bear my testimony here that bigotry is wrong! Discrimination in any sense of the word is WRONG! These are people, they were created in God's image just as you were, and they just want to be allowed to love and live and raise a family just like you do. All of these rights you take for granted, all of these things you do without even thinking twice, are being withheld from honest citizens who come from the same place as you do. They have the same ancestors who immigrated to this company for freedom, and yet this country really isn't free. This country, and so many of it's people, are hypocrites.

I will continue to stand up for this belief, and continue to fight for equal rights. Last November I marched in an equal rights march and shouted with the crowd, and I will do it again at the next available opportunity. At that time I truly felt like I was part of something marvelous, and that I was fighting for a most worthy cause. What if your rights were taken from you because of something that was not uniform? Because you were a blond, or because you didn't like milk? It doesn't make any sense.


So suffice it to say, I really hope that Prop 8 gets overturned tomorrow. With all of my heart I hope that the government comes to it's senses and stops segregation and discrimination. It's not right, it's immoral and it's disturbing that human beings can be so horrible! Also, I hope the rest of the country comes to it's senses, and that we can fix the laws in all 50 states!

Here are some links I feel are important:
Sign The Petition Here!
Stop8.org
Gay_Blog.blogspot
Article: Amnesty, Overturn Prop 8
Article: March 5th, Overturn Prop 8
Article: The Court Will Overturn Prop 8


*All of these photos were taken by me at the November Equality march that I attended.

Spring Fever

I have to say, it's a total crime to be stuck inside on a day like today! It's absolutely beautiful out today! It's warm enough I didn't even wear a coat, and I drove around with all the windows down. Also, I actually got to enjoy it a little before work, which was nice. I woke up at 8:30am and got ready early, then Kristina, Kailee and I hopped in the car and headed up to Ogden to pick up my prescription and then we had breakfast at Einstein Bagel Bros and we got to sit outside on the patio to eat! We're thinking we need to do this more often, because not only did I get to enjoy the morning before work, I also have more energy than I usually do.

It was really nice to spend time with Kristina and Kailee. We called it "girl-bonding time" and we sung along with music and chatted with Kailee. She's so smart! We look back to check on her and she's crossing her legs with her hands folded in her lap like a little debutante! It was so precious I had to take pictures! Then at the doctors office she kept bringing her mom "Mazagines" which is the first word I haven't heard her pronounce correctly (she's absolutely brilliant with her diction) and it was about the cutest thing I've ever heard too.

Then we get home and Kaden runs up to me and says "Momma!" Then looks confused and goes "Mom-An-me-um..." and finally settles with "Momma Agjie!" Which was so adorable! Kristina is encouraging it too, I get to be momma number two... It's so precious!

Suffice it to say, with the weather outside and the knowledge that I have a 5 day weekend coming up (not to forget the teasing) I feel the spring fever/cabin fever strongly today! I just want to get out and play in the sun! I want to drive with the windows down, a few of my favorite friends in the car, and sing at the top of my lungs! Argh, cubicles = torture!

Hare Krishna

Wow! Is it really March already? This year is already going by really fast, it surprises me that I'm 2 days into March now... Wow. I feel... Unprepared!

This weekend was a blast! Friday night I made my Enchiladas and they turned out pretty successfully. We had Mark, Josh, & Max all over along with the normal residents of our house. We also played my new game "Munchkin Bites" and Mark kicked our trash. What is also strange is that Dick (My old coworker from Sparetime) had called me and asked me to babysit his dog overnight, I haven't done this in over a year and was super psyched to get to see Holly again. So after the game I drove up to Ogden to walk her for the night, and was happy to have Josh along as company.

Saturday morning I woke up and walked the dog again, and then swung by and picked up Josh and Angel for our day trip. We wanted to go somewhere to get out in the sun and to get out of town. So we headed South and picked up Sterling (Angel's boyfriend) in Holiday. It's funny, he lives only a block or two from where my family and I lived on Lambourne, and also only just down the street from where [womanizer]'s family lives. Small world, eh? Anyway, we all drove south and ended up in Lakeshore at my families house. We stopped and chatted with my family, it was good to see them, and then we headed up to the Hare Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork/Salem.

It was such a beautiful day, and sunny as could be, so it was perfect for getting out. The Hare Krishna Temple was beautiful, as always. We went inside and browsed around the gift shop for a bit. A few years ago I bought my favorite skirt there, so I managed to find another I kind of liked and got it. Josh got some yoga pants and a little Ganesha statue. We then took the tour and the guy led us upstairs and showed us some of the beautiful paintings and the temple part. It was so pretty and it was filled with really good energy. Very peaceful. After that we meandered around outside to look at the llamas, peacocks and various other creatures. There are more pictures at the bottom.

On the way home we decided to stop in Spanish Fork and have a burger at Barry's. This is a local burger joint I used to eat at when I was a kid (SF being my home town and all) and it was yummy! Then we hurried back to Ogden, walked the dog, dropped Angel off, and managed to get Max and Jon to come down and play more games. By the time everyone went home around 3:30am, I felt like a zombie. Even after sleeping in on Sunday til about 1pm I still didn't feel fully rested. Could also be that I'm sick.

Sunday was Devin's birthday party with Matthew's family. I ran to the store and got both him and Hailey (since I missed her party 2 weeks ago) gifts, and then stayed while he opened presents. After that I snuck out and made my way up to Josh's house. Josh, Angel and I went out for Chinese food and then came back and took turns trying to beat a level of Street Fighter. We didn't win it, but it was definitely fun to hang out and play games with them!

I worry sometimes about losing that bond that we have. This change that is coming, perhaps starting with [womanizer] coming home, makes me worry about having to give things up. We're all so close to each other right now, and when we hang out I feel that strong sense of family, and I don't want to lose it. When you bring something new and big into your life, how much do you have to sacrifice to keep the things that were there before? Do you ever run out of room?

I really wish I didn't worry about all this so much, but I can't help it. I'm happy right now, and I don't want to sacrifice one happiness for another...

Click thumbnails to see larger pics!