Secular Humanist

I rarely talk about religion, and that's because I strongly know that no organized "typical" religion is for me. I wondered for awhile where i belonged in this world of faith, because I just can't believe that anyone religion is right, at least not for me.  I have spent a lot of time researching and asking questions about all kinds of religions, trying to understand why individuals can put so much trust in them or feel the need for them. What I have found is that I am a secular humanist. Most people don't know what that is, so this is the best description i could find tonight. I'll probably never post about religion again because if anything I have learned in life is; don't discuss religion, money or politics with friends and family. But, everyone else post about what they believe in, so here is what I believe in.

What Is Secular Humanism?

Secular Humanism is a term which has come into use in the last thirty years to describe a world view with the following elements and principles:

• A conviction that dogmas, ideologies and traditions, whether religious, political or social, must be weighed and tested by each individual and not simply accepted on faith.
• Commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence, and scientific methods of inquiry, rather than faith and mysticism, in seeking solutions to human problems and answers to important human questions.
• A primary concern with fulfillment, growth, and creativity for both the individual and humankind in general.
• A constant search for objective truth, with the understanding that new knowledge and experience constantly alter our imperfect perception of it.
• A concern for this life and a commitment to making it meaningful through better understanding of ourselves, our history, our intellectual and artistic achievements, and the outlooks of those who differ from us.
• A search for viable individual, social and political principles of ethical conduct, judging them on their ability to enhance human well-being and individual responsibility.
• A conviction that with reason, an open marketplace of ideas, good will, and tolerance, progress can be made in building a better world for ourselves and our children.

Missing Home

Now just to make my self clear 99% of the time I am so happy I left Price. But, then every once in awhile a part of me misses my old small-town life. Today is one of those days. I miss getting chicken chille verde soup from Ricardos every Thrus without fail. It was one of those things that was a constent in my life. I would order a bowl with extra cheese, sour cream and two dinner rolls. and it was so good. It was my girl time and relax time. My friends and I did this for at least 3 straight years. Members of the group came and went, but my friend Steph and I never missed this lunch date.
Maybe one day I'll make it there on a Thrus. just for kicks. I did once this last summer, my soul-mate Alicia and I went. and guess what they remembered us and what we were there to order... it had been 4 years since our last time..

Fun Weekend Ahead

So, after almost poising myself with hand soap instead of toothpaste this morning. (okay not poison but it tasted pretty close to death) I am super excited for the weekend ahead!...

First- Going to MMA fight tonight with friends and family! Our good friend Jordan is fighting and it will be fun to go cheer him on. Plus, mixing my friends with Garvin's family will be a fun adventure! :)

Second- I'll be hanging out with the Easter Bunny tomorrow. Being her stylist for a photo shot :)

Third- Monster Jam! Yes, I am going to the monster truck with my family Saturday night! I know I would be jealous if I were you too..

Fourth- I saved the best for last. I will end my weekend by drinking beer and playing Super Mario World (from the super Nintendo) with my brother, sis-in-law, Keith and Hubby!

Now if anyone can tell me a better way to spend their weekend I'm all ears.

Valentines Day

So, I started my day like any other day. I woke up to Gavin kissing me good-bye as he left for work. I always fall right back asleep for another hr. before I need to get up for work. Today was different. I kept hearing noises, but because I was half asleep and not thinking straight I thought someone was in my house. I was paranoid but still finding comfort in the fact that my dogs were fast asleep next to me. If there was an intruder they would be freaking out, right??

I tried to calm myself into falling back asleep but then I heard the front door open and then close, I hurried and jumped out of bed and grabbed a steak knife. I left the kitchen light on and went and hid in my room preparing to defend myself (still half asleep). No more noises though. Odd I thought that must have been the bad guy leaving me alone, I had scared him off and was proud of myself! I decided it wasn't worth going back to sleep and decided to start my day with a bubble bath since I had the time. After my bath and getting dressed, I finally decided to go investigate the front room to find what the intruder had done.

My intruder that I was so scared of and about to stab in self-defense was my sweet husband setting up a cute good-morning Valentine's gift. (Pictured below) He's the best. Now in my mind I knew if couldn't be him because he had kissed me good-bye and there for left for work. Silly me.. But I’m happy I didn't go running out with my steak knife. (I'm sure he is thankful for that too)

Sad to Say Good-Bye

2011 was probably the most stressful, life changing- yet amazing year of my life.
This year I don't think there was an aspect of my life that went unchanged, and it all happened in the last 6 months of it. I have hit my emotional highest and lowest- never felt so loved, and at the same time never felt so alone.
So here is the events of my life 2011- I'll try and do this in order, but my memories come as they will so probably won't be.

1. Gavin and I moved into our 1st house (its a rental) but still it is just the two of us and we love it! We went out on a limb and moved to SLC even without jobs there. We have made it work and love where we are!


2. Yurika came to visit for our wedding! She is the best!


3. I graduated college! YAY!! and in the same week ...


4. WE GOT MARRIED! Best day of my life! We were so blessed to have so many family and friends there to support us, I would have never imagined our day would turn out so perfect! Our friends and family that helped with the wedding are all so amazing, and everyone that came will always have a special place in our hearts!


5. Julious moved to Texas... :( sad day


6. My Grandma had her heart valve replaced, very scary and stressful. But, she has recovered so well!! I can't believe how strong she is.


7. Family Drama!!! Why can't people just get along???.. and thats all i care to say about that


8. Went from one brother and one sister-inlaw to 23 TOTAL SIBLILINGS!!


9. Also I am now the proud Aunt of 30+ nieces and nephews... if someone knows the exact number please share in the comment section below.


10. Two of my bestest friends had the cutest babies! Ella-Ray(Ashley's) and Jaxson(Bryton's)!! I Love them tons!


11. Was offered my first real "Big Girl" full time job! Which by the way I took :P. I am working at Trolley Square for Unico as the Tenant Services Coordinator!


12. We puppy-sat my brothers dog Cashis aka Darby for a few months. I feel in love with the dog and he also became Bugsly (our dogs) best friend! Shortly after his return home he ran away :( but was found a week later! Lucky us!


13. Gavin and I felt that after Darby left, our home was not complete, there was something missing... so, we bought a new puppy! Her name is Daisy and she is a beautiful Sheltie puppy!


14. Puppies are alot of work p.s. we will not be having kids anytime soon! Our dogs are our kids! :)


15. We just had our 1st Christmas together as our cute little family that we are!

2011 was a year of change, growing and learning for me. It gave me a lot of challenges, but also made me a much stronger person! I am sad to see it leave, because I can't imagine a year getting any better than this! Thats my challenge to 2012; give me more than you think I can handle. It will only make me stronger.

Locked out..

Today started out so wonderful.I slept in and woke up to sweet puppy kisses from miss daisy! I then played with the dogs fed them and put them outside to potty.
At this point I realized I was hungry, but there was no food in the house (none that sounded good at least), so I grabbed the "car keys"and headed out for some fast food, because really the problem was I felt too lazy to cook.
When I returned home I reached for my house keys only to realize I never grabbed them in the first place. Hmmm
So now here I sit in my car blogging about my morning stupitity, while waiting for Gavin and Ray to come save me from Ogden (an hr drive away!)....
I have learned a valuable lesson though.. Making breakfast would have been much faster!! Someone remind me of this next time..
I'm still optimistic for the day, how can a holiday paid day off ever be bad?
I have nothing more to post about this lovely situation, but because of my current lack of anything better to do, I will keep on posting my thoughts. Starting with posting via swype text is hella hard! Every two seconds I have to change what the lovely technology of predict text thought I should have said. I don't recommend blogging this way, this takes forever, but I am just trying to make the time pass.
Gavin and Ray are so nice to take the time from their work day to come save me! If you don't know who Ray
is, well he is gavs boss, and one of the nicest men ever!
They just arrived, so in the house I go!

CRAZINESS

This week has been none stop! between shopping,job 1 holiday activities, job 2, puppy sitting.. o and lets not forget training a new puppy.. I have had absolutely no time to do anything. I was up at the store shopping at 6:30 this morning to get last min things for Gavin finished before work. Still didn't find everything i needed. Luckily my Mom is awesome and came to my work, where I then gave her my list of things along with my card for shopping and off she went to finish my list of to dos... She is the best! But with all that said after 5pm tonight I start my 3 day weekend and I am looking forward to all the fun family time, but even more importantly(at least to me in this moment) I'm looking sleeping in until I wake up tomorrow so I can have lots of energy to enjoy holiday traditions with both Gavin's and my family! Also, so much needed puppy love time. I feel bad for my kids, they have not been receiving the attention they deserve this week and I plan to make up every sec of that!
So, this is the schedule of events for our 1st Christmas as a Married Couple! :)
Friday, Temple Lights with Gavin's awesome brother Cameron and Family!(Brenda, Dbl-Z, and Ninjamen) I will then finish the evening by wrapping all the fun gift to be given this weekend from us!
Sat, Sleep in as long as I possibly can. Do not try and call me.. I won't answer! :P Followed by taking all the dogs (Busgly & Daisy (ours) Rado & Tripod (Melody's)) to the dog park which I'm sure will just be one BIG adventure trying to watch all the dogs, but still fun!) That evening we will start by driving to Gavin's parents for traditions, dinner and gift. Afterwards we will head over to my Grandmas for x-mas gifts and fun! Finally, I will put Gavin to bed and wait for Santa to arrive at our house!
Sun, Wake up to gifts from Santa! :) My family will then join us at our house for a nice small Christmas Breakfast!. Afternoon will be spent with family enjoy company and playing games. We will end the night at my Grandmas for a wonderful Christmas dinner!!!

I love our families, they are the best. The variety of people is so fun and amazing!