What Do You Want???

Five little speckled frogs, 

Sitting on a speckled log,

Eating the most delicious bugs- Yum! Yum!

One jumped into the pool

Where it was nice and cool.

Now there are four speckled frogs- Glub, glub.

For reasons including the picture and song above, I do not get around to posting as often as I used to or as often as I would like.  However, rest assured, I am still here and still have opinions!  

While watching and reading over some news a couple weeks ago, I started to think on the far reaching arms of the government.  It seems (at least to me;  hold your throwing tomatoes until the end) that the government is very involved in much of our lives.  I can't even keep up with all the ways the federal and state government seem to pop up in everything.  Then I started to think and wonder: what are the actual responsibilities of the government?  What is legit for the government to oversee and which affairs are ours to run as individuals?  More importantly to my views and opinions as far as politics and government go, what do I expect from my government (or rephrased, what, in my opinion, should the government of the United States of America be responsible for doing)?  

It was a hard question because it seems like everything that came to my mind was accompanied by uncertainty that it truly belonged in the governments hands.  So, I widened my polling from me to pretty much everyone with who I came in contact.  I got several similar answers:

1. The top response I received was protection or a military.  That makes sense.  
2. The second most common answer was to talk about reforming some piece of what we already have, for example how a bill gets passed.  While it made for some interesting conversation, it had little to do with what the responsibilities of the government actually should be/are.
3. The third most common answer was a lack of one, be it because of little interest, time constraints, or confusion.

Here's my conclusion:  It seems these days that we are all a little grumpy with the government.  We'd all like to imagine we'd do a better job and make it to dinner on time each night.  However, how can we do it better make a difference in our government if we are uncertain of our own expectations for it?  I think we could all benefit a bit from thinking about our expectations in concise points.  Here are five I have been working on:

1. Protection (both foreign and domestic)
2. Banks/ Money printing
3. Education (as a springboard more than a militant governance)  
4. Emergency aid for disasters
5. Creating and maintaining roads

Now, these are only five;  I'm sure there are important ones I've not taken into consideration.  This list does serve as a starting ground for my wants.  It has also helped me to realize for what I actually don't think the government should be responsible.  

What do think?  What do you want of your government?

Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause

Summer has been very busy.  It seems like I always feel that way, but our summer has been and will continue to be super jam packed.  This is probably my fault because I love having something to do.  I get antsy when there is something to pour myself into.  J and I joke about how if he leaves me alone for too long, he'll come home to new walls in our home and old walls torn down (when I say we joke about it, what I really mean is we laugh about the times that has actually happened).  In the Doctrine and Covenants  it tells us:

Verily I say, [you] should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, 

and do many things of [your] own free will, 

and bring to pass much righteousness.*

This is my favorite scripture and one that I hope to impress its importance to my progeny.  Believe in something enough to take action.  Be passionate an educated about your ideals.

For a while my good cause has been feminism and causes surrounding political equality for all.  I am truly excited with much of the happenings lately politically.  While there are a few causes that I feel particularly strong about (Ahem, cough, Planned Parenthood, cough), I think taking a break from high involvement in macro level politics is going to be good for me.  So.  Is it time to tear down some more walls?

I'm thinking not.  While we were visiting Utah a little while back, two happenings led me in a new direction. The first was reading a book called Living Green: a practical guide to simple sustainability by Greg Horn.  As you could probably take surmise from the title, it's a book about living our daily lives in a more Earth-friendly fashion.  Here's my mini-book-review:

If you can get past the fact that Horn has an issue with definitely presenting his argument and a total disregard for the oxford comma, it is a pretty handy resource.  The book is divided into three parts:  health, home, and future.  This is particularly convenient because you don't necessarily have to sit down and read the whole book.  A lot of times with my household crazy, I skim books like this rather than dedicate the three months it would actually take me to accumulate enough time to read it.  Within each chapter there are grey boxes that list WHAT YOU CAN DO, and then lists four to eight steps you can take to move in a greener direction.  The chapter goes on to describe in detail the steps, give examples, and also to suggest how to break these steps down into bite size pieces that you and your family can handle.  I know that, personally, changes in my life are more likely to stick around if I implement them if a slow and rational fashion (Think Cam's crash diet in Modern Family).

The second happening was a text message that read:  Do you want to do a triathlon with me?

What does it all mean?  It means I found found my next cause.  It may sound extreme- it does to me anyway-but I have really been thinking about preparation.  When I think about the commandments and wise suggestions from the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles I realize that every advice and direction given is in preparation for something more.  A few examples, you ask?

1. Do not steal:  Preparing a person to be honorable for others to trust.  When you trust those with whom you work, more is accomplished to a higher standard.  Everyone benefits.
2. Don't cheat on your spouse:  Preparation to have strong family unit for protection and happiness.  Preparation of loyalty so one doesn't have to choose in the moment to who she should be loyal.  
3. Take care of your body (or the Word of Wisdom):  Preparation for your body to be healthy enough and strong enough to take on whatever the Lord requires of you as we go through out our journey.  

My new cause is... drum roll, please...  taking care of our environment and our bodies.  I am really worried that by the time my kiddo has babies, the world is going to be a grim place by how previous generations have taken care of it.  We have started recycling and trying to make all of our household products all natural if not organic.  It can make a difference not only for the environment but in how the members of the household feel.  As far as caring for my personal body, I am really paying attention to what I put in it.  I am never (read: NEVER) in favor of dieting plans**, but if I were, I think I would like Weight Watchers because from what I have heard, it teaches not how to starve yourself, but rather how to make sensible choices.  And that, my friends, is what health is about:  Making choices for your body both nutritionally and physically.  My personal goals for health are to finish two triathlons before October.  I'll be sure to tell ya'll how I do.  

What is your cause today?

*Please note that I am consciously ignoring President Dalton's ideas on this particular topic.  I think she was a wonderful Young Women's president, but that her thoughts on action for rights were a little skewed towards the end.

**This is not because I am adverse to watching your weight, but I think any plan, no matter how efficient or healthy or reliable it is, that places its focus first on weight-loss and second on real health is a terrible idea.  And a terrible plan.  And yes, my idea of real health is demanding and stringent.