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I just love the Olympics.  For two weeks, though, Mark has to decided “do I want to watch figure skating so I can hang out with Jen, or would I rather not see her for a couple of weeks?”  (He thought the pairs program as great, and we were happy to see China place 1 and 2.) Watching moguls and snowboard cross makes up for it though, I think! My guess is that the Olympics, combined with American Idol, Survivor, and the Amazing Race is driving him crazy.  What I do is tape the reality shows and watch them after he has gone to bed.

I am appalled that NBC showed footage of that poor boy from Georgia’s fatal run on the luge track.  And still pictures.  I hope they don’t show it again, though it’s probably out there on the ‘net.  I like the opening ceremony.  I missed the Bejing Olympics, and I heard that one was fantastic.

We had a nice Valentine’s Day.  I am not big on the holiday, as far as chocolates, flowers, and cards.  But Mark made  a delicious supper of lasagna and we went around the table and told each other what we love about them.  That was delightful torture, watching the teens and tweens say something, ha ha!  Then Mark surprised me with flowers, a card, chocolates, and bubble bath. What a sweetheart!

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We woke up to snow. And lots of it. Zach was worried. Tonight is his super-awesome winter concert. The one where they get to use special effects. They are playing a song from Batman Dark Knight and the lights will be off and movie clips will be shown. And a Twilight Song called Bella’s Lullaby. Another of the bands will be playing Music of the Night with special effects. He has been talking about this concert for months. The band is ready. And all after-school activities have been canceled. He is not a happy camper.

He got his braces off last Tuesday (after 3 years) and was to get his retainer today. Thank goodness they called and canceled too, saying that the retainer wasn’t ready yet. They needed to schedule on Wednesday. Which is okay, the snow is supposed to be done by then. The only problem is it’s 30 minutes away, and it’s sandwiched in between the kids’ classes and the boys’ dentist appointments (which are at the same time as piano lessons, which will have to be re-scheduled.) All this before Wednesday youth and scout activities. So while Wednesday seems to be the day that will be manic, today as I sit and think about it all I actually feel that way! Just think, in 48 hours I can look back and say “See, that wasn’t so bad after all!”

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Our church’s children’s group wanted to do a service project at the Elim home here in Princeton. They were going to go in and sing some fun songs and then play bingo with them. They nursing home was very excited, until the director asked “What church do you represent?” and the organization president said “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” And then the director said “Oh, you can’t come here, you aren’t Christian.” Luckily we found another group that either didn’t find that to be true, or didn’t care. Either way, the children and the seniors will have a fun time.

But not Christian. Seriously? Now, I am not naive to what *some* other churches think of the LDS church. I know the arguments. I’ve done the debate. I don’t have a problem with that. That’s not what this post is about. However, I have plenty of friends and family who attend other churches who don’t agree with LDS church’s dogma, history, etc. and don’t resort to saying “You aren’t Christian, you are a (whisper) c-u-l-t” (Well technically if we look at the definition, most organized religion is, eh?) Because have you seen whose name is in our title?

OK, they still just worry and want us to go to heaven and want us to see the light before it’s too late. I am grateful for their concern. Let’s say I believed them and was ready to switch. Do you honestly think that I am going to switch to THEIR brand of “Christianity”? The one that actually holds classes on Mormonism and how horrible it is and how to witness to your Mormon family and friends and neighbors? Oh yeah, I’ve seen those flyers on the bulletin boards of their churches when I’ve been in them for Pinewood Derbies, Hunter Safety Classes, Red Cross Blood Drives, etc. That is VERY un-Christlike and the antitheses of what they probably hope they appear to be. Or do you think I want to switch to a religion who has mentioned those bad, cultist Mormon’s in their Sunday Sermon? BTDT too, by the way. I actually came to see what you had to say about, uh, Christ? So no thanks. Hey, I know. Go to an LDS messageboard and troll around how wrong they are, and suggest your religion as better. Yes, that’s a way to let your light so shine!

Here’s a hint. If you want to appear Christian yourself, if you want your religion to come across in a good light, drop the classes on anti-Mormonism. Drop the sermons on the other religions and preach Christ’s gospel. Drop the worry about labeling your fellow human beings and worry about the mote/beam in your own eye. Accept service that is offered. Even by Cultist 4 year olds. Sheesh!

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Last Wednesday was Alisa’s birthday. This year we are having a joint party for all the kids by renting out the high school pool and letting them all invite their friends for swimming. So we made her favorite food and had a fun night together. She picked barbecue chicken, potatoes, and blueberry cheesecake for dessert. She has no idea what she wants for her birthday, so she asked that we wait until her swimming party so she can think about it. In a couple of weeks it will be Ethan’s turn. He doesn’t know what he wants for his supper yet. The kids get to spend the nights before and after sleeping wherever they want and watching movies for as long as they want. I think they get more excited about that they parties or presents!

My Dad came up for a visit today and noted that I hadn’t written in the blog for a long time. Don’t I know it! I am really bad about it, that is for sure. I still have to post the cruise journal and Zach’s Eagle Court of Honor. It’s been so long that he’s actually earned his first Eagle Palm too. I think I mentioned that the cruise posts will be backdated though. They are on Zach’s laptop, so I have to get it to the library and post from that instead of my home computer.

Tomorrow is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birthday. We don’t do anything to celebrate, but I think about her. I’ve told the kids that if I die they shouldn’t be sad because I’d probably be hanging out with her. Next year we should celebrate by cooking from the Little House cookbook that I have though!

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