StrawberryFields

This made me chuckle. I do that sometimes with my grandma--she was the only one in the family who ALWAYS laughed at my jokes. I miss her. I am happy to hear that I am not alone on this. :) Now, about that recipe for stuffing.............

This is awesome...thanks for sharing. :) Vickie, it doesn't take a special holiday for me to "talk" with my mom. The problem arises when others hear me doing so and no one else is in the room. Marsha, I am sorry to hear that things aren't getting any better. I remember so clearly. my mom telling me "you really need to come and see me I won't be around forever". She said this years before she knew she was sick. She was diagnosed with cancer in February, and then March she was gone. Priorities are really something we need to be more concerned with. I am happy that you are close with and get to spend time with your son. Take lots of pictures with all of your family during the holidays especially. Shanstress, I think that it is great that you are starting a new tradition with your son. Children are so much fun to have in the house at Christmas. Football...my family has also loved sitting (sleeping) in front of the TV on Thanksgiving. Curvette, It sounds like you have been adventurous with the Thanksgiving dinner. Of it is a more casual affair, are you the one who usually does the majority of the meal? I would love to try that stuffing. My mom was the best at, making her stuffing and anytime I have tried to duplicate her, I have failed. Something new would be great! I like your idea about the sharing that goes on. I thought that I might have everyone write something, less then a paragraph, what they are thankful for. Then we would put them in a basket, and let each person draw one out and read it aloud. Like I said we have so much to be thankful for with Nick. and then my oldest getting married to a wonderful girl and on, and on. Blessed, I am so sorry and I mean it when I say I have missed you. How will you spend Thanksgiving this year? How is Alaska? How are YOU?

Life is about change, and adapting, and traditions~ In our family we have developed a rotation schedule for Thanksgiving Dinner. In the twenty three years I have been married, we have had dinner with his family one year, and mine the next. Last year we had Thanksgiving dinner with my husbands’ family as the rotation indicated. This year it will be with my family but without my mom. I know that this will happen to everyone eventually, and we will have to carry on without our mothers. This will be my first year of starting a new tradition and I would like it to be special. Thanksgiving is a very sentimental holiday for me. We have always had so many things to be grateful for. This year with the miracle that has occurred in our family, we feel especially blessed. Just as a refresher, My 17 year olds son was seriously injured at work, and almost died from his head injuries. Through many, many prayers, blessings, and fasting, he is surviving. The accident has left him with a traumatic brain injury, but given what has happened to him, he is doing exceptionally well. Okay, now my question... What is it that you couldn't do without when it comes to the dinner, or that day? What are the little things that makes Thanksgiving special in your family?

I’m not sure where you and Snow have been going with this discussion. Zion is a place where the soul yearns for many promises to be fulfilled. I am not sure why you ask if it is more important then temple ordinances.

Oh Yes. Zion is alive and well and held bery close to my heart. :)

What insult? Asking you if you are a teenager? I was completely sincere. I think I initially had you confused with another poster because your posts suddenly seem extremely immature. I was going to cut you some slack if you are a teenager because I know that young people have very limited experience to draw on. The reason why teenagers are immature is bacause their frontal lobes are not in line with the brain yet.

Ray. Please stop saying, "Get it now?" It's very patronizing and I know that you don't want to come across as a pompous a$$. He doesn't?

It sounds like you think the word “authority” is some kind of dirty word or something, perhaps because you have an inaccurate perception of what it is. And while it is somewhat accurate to refer to it as “some form of control people have over your choices”, I think it would more accurately be defined as “some form of power people have over your choice" to either submit to or reject a leader or authority figure. Oh Raymond.... You just don't get it. It doesn't matter if you use the word "Power or Control" in your definition of an "authority figure". No one has power or control over my choices but me. I guess that makes me my own authority figure. Yes, authority is a beautiful thing given this new information.

Ray, I formed a very lengthy rebuttal to the issue of submitting to people with Greater Authority. I believe I can sum it up without being mean and cutting and I can do it in less space. Authority is a word I choose not to use but prefer leadership or leaders. We can always choose to follow a leader if that is our choice. Authority to me is someone who has some form of "control" over your choices. My choices will always have a consequence but they are my choices to make none the less. Freedom to choose was given to us in the war in heaven.

It is good that you respect and abide by the laws, but that does not mean that “police officers” do not have authority over you. Notice that I am referring to police officers, not law makers.In other words, if a police officer gives you a ticket, or a warning, or anything else he can give you within the scope of his authority, you cannot responsibly regard what he gave you as simply another person’s opinion. If he gives you a traffic ticket, for instance, you cannot simply regard that piece of paper as equal in value to another piece of paper you could produce yourself, assuming you have no greater authority over the authority of the police officer. The greater authorities will honor the actions of that police officer, if he was acting within the scope of his duties, and will hold you accountable for your actions in response to that police officer. Your authority and his authority will not be considered of equal value. Please cite an example of how authorities have no authority over you. I think you’re talking off the top of your head. I think you’re either delusional or simply failing to think this through. Surely you know that the Lord will hold you accountable for how you respond to His messengers. Her death doesn’t equate to the end of her authority over you, and it doesn’t mean that she no longer exists. Someday you will see her again, and I hope you will be as respectful of her authority then as you should have been while she was here on Earth. How do you regard the scriptures that tell you to honor your parents and be in subjection to them? Whether or not they’re living on Earth, and whether or not you’re living in the same house with them, they’re still your parents. Are you referring to the pyramid scheme in Amway? Are you thinking that people in higher levels of the pyramid are better people than the people on the lower levels? Perhaps you’re confusing authority with the idea that people are better than you, and if so, you should start to see things differently. People with greater authority are not better people, they simply have greater authority. But without the title you are without the authority. In other words, the Relief Society President of your ward is not a better woman than the other women in the ward, but she does have the authority to be the leader of the Relief Society. Once she is released from that calling, she will no longer have the authority to be the Relief Society President, and she should then be willing to follow the new Relief Society President of the ward. Authority doesn’t make a person better, it simply gives them the authorization to have their actions recognized by greater authorities, and our Lord is at the top of our pyramid. I will reply on this later. It's my hubby's birthday and I have much to do.

Here is something that has come to me concerning abortion. If we have true and absolute faith then an abortion shouldn't be a question. If a child is not to be born, then I believe that Our Heavenly Father will intervene. For us to choose to take a life of an unborn child by abortion is wrong in my opinion.

Ah Hah! You have just shown me what bothers me about your tonality with this whole authority thing.Greater Authority and Above Us "Do you accept the authority of a policeman in your jurisdiction? … any of your judges? … your mayor? … your governor? … the President of the United States? (assuming you live in America) … your bishop? … your stake president? … your regional representative? … any of the General Authorities? … any of the apostles? … any of the prophets in the Church? … the President of the Church? … your Mom? … your Dad? … your grandparents? … your great grandparents? … your great, great grandparents? … etc?" Lawmakers have authority over me...NO...but I respect and abide by the laws. Political figures...Authority....NO...but I support these leaders. Religious Leaders...Authority....NO...but I love and respect them. Mom... she died last year. Dad... Authority...NO...but I support, love and respect him. The rest have passed away. "Leadership Positions"...these people are not above me; this is LIFE, not AMWAY! I believe that all men AND women are created equal. I have been in leadership positions before and I was no better then those people I lead. Most of the time, when I have been the leader, I have been the one who has had my life enriched. When I am released or reduced of the leadership position I’m no less pf a person not having the title by my name. I am still SF with or without any title.

I’m not sure what you mean by this, because these 2 statements seem to be opposed to each other. Perhaps you also don’t understand what I mean. When referring to people with greater authority, I’m referring not only to our leaders in the Church, or the kingdom of God, but also to our leaders in civil government, whether they be leaders in our families or other social entities such as cities, states, or nations. I refer to these people as greater authorities because they do in fact have authority over us, above and beyond the authority that each of us has over ourselves. If we are not subject to our leaders, or if we think we should not be subject to them, we will someday discover whether or not we were right or wrong in being rebellious towards them. Okay, I have a problem with the words Greater Authority. Since I’m an adult, I don't believe anyone to have greater authority over me. Maybe I am rebellious, but I believe that it is my right to make my own decisions without the fear of the Greater Authority. I thought that we lived in a democracy and we were allowed choices. Greater Authority sounds like something out of George Orwell’s 1984…Big Brother is Watching...

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Oh I see. I wonder why he chose the name DisRuptive1? :)

Who?

Ray, you are a very lucky man to have such a wife. She honors you, who possess the greater authority. She follows your leadership as head of the household….beautiful. I can see that this works for you.I honor the priesthood which my husband holds and blesses our family with (see my first post in this topic). I respect the leaders of the church to lead this church under the direction of Our Father In Heaven. I don't however presume any of those men to have a greater authority over me. My husband and I are a team and we are striving for the same goal...eternal life with our family.

Strawberry: I was right there with you until you made this statement. Have you, by chance, been reading "Fascinating Womanhood"? This sounds like one of the manipulative techniques the author advocates women to use to bolster their husbands' fragile egos. I know you have a good marriage, and maybe it's just your choice of words, but is marriage really about creating and molding each other? Every marriage is different, but I like a good, equal partnership where considerate honesty, as well as love and commitment are the foundation. I think spouses should be supportive of each other, but shouldn't have to deceive the other into thinking that they did it all by themselves. I think it's okay, and even necessary for men to recognize and appreciate their wives' efforts. Otherwise the wife could unknowingly be creating a monster! :) Nope, I haven't read that book.I have however, been married to the same man for 23 years. As I see it, if the man comes off feeling wonderful after getting that big sell that you gave him direction in, then you both win. If I understand what Ray said with the palm computer that his wife pointed out, then she is helping to direct his success. I am my husbands’ greatest cheerleader, and I support him in his work. The very good woman part comes in sitting back and letting him absorb all of the credit. It might sound like deceit to you, but to me it is an essential part of a marriage. You are right when you say every marriage is different.

I don't care about the woman. All I want to do is ejaculate and get rid of all the stress associated with the lack of weekly ejaculations. Is this just plain ignorance or arrogance? Women are not a vessel for you to relive your "stress" into. If this was a serious comment from you, then it would be fitting for the loss of nibbies that curvette mentioned.

Oh My. This sounds like you think women should be subservient to men...Is this what God has counseled??? What happened in the Garden of Eden? Eve was created so that man should not be alone. She was created from a rib signifying a partner, not his heel for her to be walked upon by him. She was counseled to only hearken to the man when he is following the words of Our Father In Heaven in righteousness. Women are just as capable to give leadership as a man. I agree with what shanstress wrote concerning this idea of leadership roles. As far as leadership in the church, where would a bishop be without women in leadership position? He could not carry off the functions of a ward without the strong leadership that women give. In many ways, the church in giving us these leadership positions has trained us to become leaders. Women are often times the leaders in their household because they posses the attributes. I have heard, many times, from men at the pulpit, that their wives are the spiritual leaders. Sometimes women must assume the role of a leader by default, the man simply doesn't choose to lead, or he leads in unrighteousness. Men are not as perfect as they profess to be and a good woman is there to build and strengthen him. A very good woman can mold and create a man into a great leader and husband, and let him believe that he did it all on his own. . You will never see me walking behind my husband (so to speak), it is at his side in righteousness or he walks alone. Men and women need each other, and that is the way it was intended to be. Leadership is not only an attribute given to one sex and it has been proven, and will continue to be proven time and time again.

Peace, Of course it matters if Einstein said it. The story depends upon Einstein's credibility and stature to make it plausible and entertaining (no one would give a pitute if Bella Abzug's name were attached to it. And just the opposite of what you claim - it is an appallingly horrendous argument. It doesn't take a physicist to understand that the argument that cold is just the absence of heat, ergo God exists, is bunch of patooey. There is zero logic in the thought, coupled with the lie that a logical man (Einstein) is behind it make the whole thing a dishonest and manipulative work of bad fiction. You are so retarded.

PD You really had me laughing out loud with this one because sometimes it is a reality for me.I drive a pretty nice car and I have worried about it drawing to much attention to me. This car was a birthday gift from my husband about 4 years ago. I was perfectly happy with my 88 silver Volvo that got me from point A to B. Although this car is mine my husband makes the rules. Premium gas only, summer wheels need to be swapped out for winter ones before snow fall, and I must park far away from the stores. A ding or a scratch will drive him crazy so this is why at times I feel uneasy when getting it my car in the parking lots. I have been approached several times by strangers. One guy was asking for gas money, another was selling frozen meat out of the bed of his truck. I never roll the window sown more then just a couple of inches. I gave the one guy 5.00 for gas; I told the other guy that I didn't have any freezer space. About a month ago, I was in my car waiting for my son to come from an appointment. Out of the corner of my eye I saw two men approaching me ask I was talking to my older son on the cell phone. They split up and then there was a guy on each side of my car. They were just waiting for me to acknowledge them but I never did so they walked away. I felt safe enough talking to my older son on the phone with the car doors locked. Safety precautions I like to use. 1. Cell Phone 2. Plenty of gas in the car when traveling at night. 3. Doors locked 4. Seat Belt Fastened 5. Keys in hand before entering the parking lot. 6. Walking with confidence with a look of determination 7. A blow-up man (Spike) who sits in the passenger seat. 8. A license plate cover that reads "Driver suffers from chronic PMS Do Not Approach"

This is a bit scary and it is from the above article you mentioned shanstress. "Carjackers tend to hang around places where motorists have to stop or exit their vehicles (e.g., intersections, gas stations, car washes, ATMs, freeway on- and off-ramps) and then force the drivers out of their automobiles (or simply take off with the temporarily unoccupied cars). Running around parking lots sticking flyers on windshields and then hanging around to wait for drivers to return to their vehicles involves planning and exposure atypical of most carjackers; they're more likely to approach occupied vehicles (particularly luxury cars with high resale value) and force the drivers out (by threatening them with weapons and/or physically pulling them out of their seats). " I think that it is always best to be alert to your surroundings. Had this email that Marsha posted been true, I might have fallen for it. In the past, I have taken many flyers off my front windshield without a thought of my safety and had no problems. I read where you would have probably be taken off as you approach your car from behind but that isn't always the case. Sometimes when I go to my car I don't even really look at it before getting in... How many times have we all walked up to the wrong vehicle before realizing that it wasn't our car at all? I remember years ago when I heard that carjackers would hide under your car and cut you just above your heels. You were suppose to fall down immediately, possibly bleed to death, and have your car stolen. Nowadays, when I feel a little uneasy, I take a flying leap into my car before locking it and speeding off.

Sometimes, during that one moment of selfishness (good points Jenda), we get cold and there is no other way to warm ourselves up then to light a fire (this is an analogy if you haven't figured it out). They made their beds so they have to lay in it. (analogy?) Really, I respect your choice to not have children. As a partial insurance policy someone in your position might want to consider a vasectomy. If nothing else it proves your seriousness in not wanting children. If you consider marrying someone (if you are now single) and you still don't want children at that time, then it should be made clear to her. . The example you gave above sounds like a woman trying to trick or to entrap a man into giving her a family. I believe that this does happen and I think that it is wrong. It also appears that a woman like that would also be using a man as a meal ticket. This is a very desperate woman and if you see her RUN!

Welcome! Vickie, are you married to a priesthood holder? Along with the priesthood comes a responsibility. Anyone who uses the priesthood to make a woman feel subservient is wrong. I have seen the priesthood work miracles and I appreciate having it in my home. I am grateful that I don't have to carry the priesthood responsibilities along with the never ending responsibilities that I carry as a woman. Our Heavenly Father has infinite wisdom and I trust that he knows how much men really need the priesthood.