rant on motherhood

I see more and more often on the internet divergent points of view on stay at home moms and working moms and why one is better than the other, and I tell you what -- I'm sick of it.

Why aren't we praising mothers for being mothers? Why do people feel the need to praise being either a stay at home mother or a working mother? Why don't we all support each other in the great magical role of being a mother? A woman is a mother whether or not she works a job in addition to working in her home raising her kids. She's still mother to her children with all the validity a stay at home mother has. Both are working women who have made well-thought out sacrifices to become mothers and to spend their days where they do, and both are mothers. We, especially us women, need to quit defining types of mothers as if one is worth more than the other. Just the word 'mother' alone should say it all.

End rant.

fish out of water

Almost three weeks ago now, I was asked to serve as our stake's Girls Camp Director. I said yes. I said yes?! What am I thinking? I went to Girls Camp twice, once for three days and once overnight. I will never forget my first camp meeting. Because the leaders switched what determined one's level, they told me my first year that I was actually supposed to be a second year. Over to the second years I went. Those girls were not nice. I received a few dirty looks and a few mean remarks and then told the leader, "I do not want to be a second year." Let me sum up my entire five days at girls camp by saying I didn't like it. I didn't feel comfortable. I didn't want to be there. A girl from my ward spat up her soup all over me at dinner. If I ever hear that elbows on the table song again, I swear I'm gonna.....

I get a do-over! This is definitely one of those callings where I don't feel like my skill set qualifies me very well. I don't craft, I don't camp, I don't feel comfortable in church leadership positions. But, I do love. I love my sisters, I love the Savior, I love His gospel. "Now remember, faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify [her] for the work." (D&C 4:5). These are the prerequisites for any calling in His kingdom.

I don't have a theme just yet, but I'm getting there. All I know is that this is going to be the coolest looking girls camp ever. We're going all out with hip graphics and well-fitting t-shirts.

If you have any memories of girls camp (favorite activities, horror stories, advice), please, send it along!

(Also, I'm going to see Polica tonight! Yay!)

Do you realize?

A good friend of ours died suddenly last night. Just died. He was 29.

RIP Craig Ruggles. There are a lot of people on Earth who are going to miss you tons.