how precious are these women?!

My mom and grandma! This is the best picture in the history of pictures!!!!!!

Love and Marriage, Love and Marriage

(PS, how pretty does my hand look?! Trust me, it doesn't look like that now. Oh well.)


Marriage: the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc. (dictionary.com)

The article in the below post really got me thinking. So here are my totally scattered, probably incomprehensible thoughts. (aren't you glad you clicked on my blog today?)

"I personally support the measure, though I am not certain that I even support the government’s jurisdiction in such intimate spiritual matters like marriage to begin with."

Hmmm. So I got to thinking about my marriage. Well, not my actual marriage, but rather the legal piece of paper that recognizes Jeff as my husband and me as his wife. The act of saying "I Do." A piece of paper? Really? Does that seem strange? When we were applying for our marriage license I was really excited to get it and be declared husband and wife! But in light of Mr. Laituri's statement. What is marriage? It certainly has different meanings and connotations to different people and depending on your culture, heritage, etc. To me, though, it's a word for a love action. I would want to be united with Jeff forever regardless of if a piece of paper legalized it or not. Regardless of if the government, or even church recognized it. The most important thing in my mind is the fact that Jeff and I love each other with such a love that we desire to make it known to each other and our loved ones and we choose to commit to one another forever because of that love. Maybe our marriage license should just be a piece of paper signed by us and our families and/or friends. There are other important aspects that go along with the life decision, too, but nothing compares to the love involved.

Of course I realize that because the government is involved in who can and cannot get married, or be considered spouses, or whatever, there are certain benefits and rules that come along with that piece of paper. For example, we got an awesome tax break this year-YES! And on a more serious note, Social Security, medical and military benefits for spouses. These are great things. And the result of the laws that enforce such benefits are good. But should the government really get to tell you who can receive your social security, etc? Shouldn't you decide? And does it make any sense at all that I can receive benefits for Jeff, or I can make decisions for him, or we can adopt a child together, all because one of us is a man and one is a woman? And people who have loved each other and lived together for 25 years, committed and loyal and passionate, but are both men or both women can't?

So some are passionate about marriage being only between a man and a woman. Then there are some who think "civil unions" are fine. Let homosexuals receive all the same benefits that heterosexuals do, but by golly don't let them take the word "marriage." Really? The word is the problem? Everything can be equal except the actual term? Really?

I realize this post is all over the place, from my idea of what marriage is, what marriage is defined as, who should be allowed to be married, to benefits of marriage. I feel pretty strongly about this issue, but I'm not great at getting my thoughts together well. Love is so important to me. Life would be nothing without it. And now that I've found Jeff, the other half of me; my heart, I'm even more passionate about love. I want everyone to have it, everyone to give it, everyone to receive it! And if they then want to demonstrate it in what we call "marriage" then I want them to be able to! And if there are benefits that come along with marriage then I want everyone to get those! The article just got me to thinking, I guess. Lucky you ;)

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/02/26/the-sad-state-of-dialogue-on-civil-unions/

Thoughts on Unions: Civil and Otherwise

I came across an article about a bill in Hawaii hoping to allow civil unions. I found the author's (who happens to be a Christian) words filled both with humility and logic. I'll highlight below some of the parts that struck me. Give it a read. It will at least provoke thought, and that is always good :)

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/02/26/the-sad-state-of-dialogue-on-civil-unions/

After countering bible versus that some people use to oppose homosexuality:
Instead of proof-texting our beliefs, perhaps we may try walking humbly alongside our neighbors, honoring the Image within each of us regardless of our orientation. Shouldn’t we allow fellow Image-bearers to sort out their OWN salvation with fear and trembling? Must we insist on sorting it out FOR them with fear and trembling?

As for the belief that such a practice “destroys the fabric of society,” I am not sure that it ranks at all close to threats such as poverty, violence, and consumerism. Let’s focus some of our energy there before wasting such precious resources on things like Prop 8...

I personally support the measure, though I am not certain that I even support the government’s jurisdiction in such intimate spiritual matters like marriage to begin with. However, seeing as the state has already sanctioned unions between two individual citizens, it stands to follow that such recognition never be granted or withheld based solely on race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Too often, well-intentioned biblical literalism has justified all kinds of evil committed by the state, not the least of which being slavery, the oppression of women, and total war.

To the impartial observer, it should be clear that civil unions restore justice to our society by providing equity under the law.

Just another day

I wish I had something new, exciting, dramatic, controversial, boring, just ANYTHING, really. But I don't. So you'll just have to keep looking at Kelly Clarkson for now.

Holy Highlights Batman!

Jeff has always liked chunky, dramatic highlights. My first attempt to get the look was last summer when I brought a picture of Mandy Moore into the salon. Very pretty, but not too dramatic. My 2nd attempt was about 1/2 a year ago which resulted in orange hair from the salon, immediately covered by a box of brown at home. Today was my 3rd attempt.

We brought this picture into the salon:




And we got this!..........





Wait for it......









Not bad, huh? You should have heard the woman who did it. "Oh it's going to be beautiful" (as she was blow drying, probably thinking I was going to burst into tears.) "Look at those shades! Just beautiful!" She was so sweet. I just kept staring at it thinking "well, this is what I asked for. Jeff HAD BETTER LOVE it!" I was pretty nervous, but he really likes it and it's already starting to grow on me. So that was my adventure for the weekend!


Here I am being "fierce." Ha!




You probably can't get the full affect unless you see it in person, but it's pretty cool.

Valentines Day

Our day was pretty great! When we got up we exchanged presents. Jeff got me perfume (just like he did last year--it's a tradition!) that smells delish. I got him a subscription to Sports Illustrated and a comic CD. I also made a cheesecake that turned out pretty yummy. Then we hung out together all day and he had made reservations a Nosh! It was a romantic and fancy 7 course meal. We loved it! It was a great first Valentines Day as hubby and wifey :)






I don't love this photo, but we had to have a memory of our fancy date. So there ya go!

Love

Well you didn't think I'd let Valentines Day pass without a post about love did you? I had a thought the other day. Jeff and I dated for 3 months and were engaged. We were engaged for 3 months and were married. Now we've been married for 8 months. Quick, huh? The thing is, no matter how hard I try, I canNOT imagine life any other way. No matter what ups and downs we might go through, it's as if it HAS to be this way. Jeff and Terri were simply MEANT.TO.BE. I was inspired by a friend's post to make a list of things I love about this love of mine. So here you go, Mr. Schurz. Happy Valentines Day.

Funny
Silly
Goofy
Easy-going
Relaxed
Smart
Intelligent
Wise
Dad
Hubby
Loving
Respectful
Teacher
Family man
Swimmer
Coach
Responsible
Loyal
Trustworthy
Admirable
Hugger
Lover
Friend
Handsome
Kind
Generous
Talented
Musician
Genuine
Animal lover
Solitude
Spontaneous
Unique
Pleasing
Forgetful
Exciting

Resourceful

Encouraging
Faithful
Confident
Playful
Cook
Fun
Cuddly
Sweet
Non-conforming
Creative

Handy
Wood-worker
Artist
Determined
Helpful
Sexy

Giver

Relaxed
Low-key
Thoughtful
Supportive

Kisses

Hugs

Consistent

Green Thumb
Blue Eyes

Looks HOT in jeans!

72 in a 55

I got a speeding ticket on Saturday :( When I told Jeff, he just laughed.

My Funny Valentines

This weekend Tiff had a Valentine Tea at her place. It was so gorgeous! She made scones and finger sandwiches, there were cupcakes and fancy china, tea, coffee. It was so fun! All the girls were there, even Ash, who we haven't seen in years, but who I feel like I see every week because of her blog :) Thanks, so much, Tiff, for such a great party!

Steph, Sar, me, Grace, Tiff and Ash


Steph, Sar, me, Grace, Shiloh and Tiff.


And then there is Clarence.

Here is your pretty standard basket. I keep it by the filing cabinet and as we get mail to be filed I put in in the basket to be filed at one time about once a week. I guess Clarence wanted to be filed...

This is why we NEED to go to the dentist!

Silly

just for fun