Mac is sick....again.

Not that it should surprise any of you that Mac is sick again...with pneumonia.  I wrote about it over at my momHow blog.  Go over there and see what I have been dealing with :) 
I love this kid and can't believe how many times he has been sick....

Thoughts?

A religious question

With Mitt Romney* in the news so much lately, it's been pretty hard not to notice when my Facebook friends are saying something about the LDS religion.  A few days ago there were news headlines that talked about Mitt and doing proxy baptism.

Now, for those of you not LDS, this can be confusing and even seem disrespectful (as I found out from my facebook comment trying to explain the purpose). 

They felt that if someone wasn't baptized here, on Earth, by their own submission, then it was disrespectful to them and their memory.  I'll be honest.  I have never thought of it that way before.  Disrespectful?  I have always thought that we were doing them a favor (and I still do).
To give everyone a chance to be baptized as Christ was, is a wonderful blessing.  I tried to explain that those people weren't being forced to do anything, they had their own agency.  Their response?  You are still doing it against their will.  What about those that don't believe in the afterlife, ect.  To this I said, "then why would it matter?"  Again they replied..because of respect.

Thoughts?

Below is my facebook conversation with them...if you want to read it!


*I haven't decided on who I want to vote for....but it definitely isn't for the man already in place!

Here is my facebook conversation if any of you are interested:

JM: That proxy baptism article is crazy. I can't believe Romney and the Mormon faith practices such things. People choose their religions and it is not up to them to try and change them especially after death. Seems almost evil.

January 26 at 9:26pm

Me: It's only evil if you don't understand...They aren't choosing ANYONE's religion, only baptizing them. They are NOT members of our faith...they aren't members of the Church, they have just been baptized, like Christ was:
 

Baptisms for the Dead

www.lds.org

Jesus Christ taught that baptism is essential to the salvation of all who have lived on earth (see John 3:5). Many people, however, have died without being baptized. Others were baptized without proper authority. Because God is merciful, ...See More

January 27 at 11:32am

SC: I'm pretty sure, unless your a baby, (and even then you confirm it when you are old enough to decide), that it should be your choice to BE baptized; not, "Oh your dead, let's baptize you, just in case we are right.".

January 29 at 11:19am via mobile

GH: You still dont see how thats offensive? How many religions (jews) were told to choose between baptism and death. And, this idea that the choice happens in some afterlife, well, thats not how everyone sees it. What if I'm hindu and believe in reincarnation? what if I'm atheist? what then? You're confusing the issue of choice with the fundamental ideology that is wrong, "baptism".

Monday at 11:31am

GH:  But lemme clarify, i'm not trying to hate on religion, even though I happen to not be religious

Monday at 2:02pm

Me: I can see where you are both coming from, but let me also preface this by saying that the majority of the names put through for baptism are put there by THEIR own ancestors-children, grandchildren, etc. They have the right to choose in the end ...and you are right Graham, what if they don't believe in an afterlife? Then why would it matter either way?
we aren't taking anything away from them...not even their "choice" to be baptized because there "is no afterlife"
I know you aren't hating, it's an opinion..and everyone is entitled to it.

Monday at 2:06pm

Me:  and I do believe there is life after death...and choice

Monday at 2:07pm

GH: Buddha, 9/11 terrorists, Adolf hitler, barack obama's mother, anne frank and 38,000 other holocaust victims, the founding fathers, and all the U.S. presidents have been proxy baptized. Those names were certainly not put there by ancestors

Monday at 2:20pm

SC:  It's not about hate. It's about respect. Respect for how a person chose to live their life, and not allowing anyone but that person to alter those choices.

Monday at 2:35pm

Me:  and I said the majority of the names were put through from their descendents. The Church has been trying to STOP names like the ones you mentioned from going through the system. Only recently have they been able to set up a computer program that would cross reference if you are a genuine ancestor. Do names go through that aren't supposed to? Sure, things and programs aren't always perfect..
and Shannon, you are absolutely correct. I agree that we should respect those around us and how they choose to live their lives. I think there are a few reasons behind proxy baptism. (I don't know if you are religious or not), *I then requoted lds.org

 

The Fireplace Dilemma

The Dilemma:

We have an awesome fireplace surrounded by 2 built-in bookshelves.  It's nice, but a little...

blah.

This is what I have proposed to Luke:

1.  Lighten up the back of the bookshelves.  (My brother Jarrett made a great point about painting it though.  He said that since it is nice wood behind there, I might later regret it...so wallpaper it instead.  Brilliant.)

2.  I am going to change the top half of the fireplace.  I think there is too much brick, so I'll try something a little like this:

or this:

It won't look that grand, but you get the point. 

It's a long time coming since I have been itching for a project...

Livi plays bball

Livi is in a basketball league through the school.  Last year it was a boy/girl team and no games.  This year it is only girls and they have games every Friday.  I have really enjoyed watching her familiarize herself with the game.