Monday, March 12, 2012

Family Pictures 2012

Since my mom is going to eventually die my sister and I decided it would be a good time to get some pictures of the family done.  She has a friend who took them and we all think they turned out cute.

Whole Family

Whole Family

Whole Family being Funny

The Little Boys (mine is in the middle)
The "Little" Girls (mine is on the left)


Just us Shermans

The Parents

Spring

Those who know me well will say I love Fall the best.  Because I do.  But Spring is a close second.  That is until Summer comes along then Summer is the close second.  This is the time of year when the weather starts to warm up to the 60's.  I know!! The 60's  It will be in the 60's for the next few days then it will be cold and rainy for 5 days then it will warm up again!!

I open the window, hang wash out on the line, start working in my yard, plan my garden, run with less clothing on, spend as much time as possible outside, put away my light box, decrease my medication....the possibilities are endless.  Endless I tell you!

My bulbs are starting to come up.  My favorites are the crocuses.  I also love the tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinth, allium, and this little white star flowery thing that I didn't plant but came with the house and is ever so lovely.

This is what I did on Saturday:


The Winter cleanup.  It doesn't look like much now but just wait a few weeks.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Maturation ( and a little rant )

My last child went to his Maturation class at school yesterday.  I made my husband go this time as I have attended all three of the others.

When we were new to the sex talk thing we didn't know what we were doing.  Well, like we do now. *eyeroll*  When our oldest, a boy, was 10 and just about to go to his maturation class in 5th grade, I told my husband that he needed to take the boy into his bedroom and explain the birds and the bees to him.  I didn't give any other direction because he, being a marriage and family therapist, would surely know what to say.  Right?

Flash forward to a few years later when he was in 9th grade and we were all riding along in the minivan.  I was talking to my oldest daughter about periods and other things thinking the boy knew what I was talking about.  He finally says, "What are you talking about?!"  I said, "The birds and the bees. You know what dad talked to you about."  He then said something that I never thought I would hear, "Dad didn't tell me about that.  He told me about sex.  You know.  How to do it."  I asked if he'd been told about hair growing, things getting bigger, other things drooping, voices changing, nocturnal emissions...nope, nope, nope. That night I told the hubs that he was not talking to the little boy when it came time.

It came time.  I told him that he needed to take the boy aside and WITH the older brother to give the little boy a talk about the birds and the bees.  He kept putting it off so the other day we were sitting in the family room and I said to the older boy, "Would you tell your brother some of the things he's going to notice about his body in the next few years."  He talked about hair growing, things getting bigger, other things drooping, voices changing and nocturnal emissions.  heeheehee

Yesterday they went to Maturation.  The hubs went with him.  The boy came home all excited about manly things.  Each little boy is given a mini Old Spice deodorant to use.  He carried that thing around with him all the rest of the day and into the night.  His daddy told me that when they went out for ice cream later he kept rubbing it on his body to make sure he wouldn't stink.  Last night he asked me, "Mom, do girls use deodorant?"  I assured him that they do.

Of course, the Utah Legislature is trying to pass a bill into law stating that schools don't have to teach sex ed and if they do they can only state abstinence as the only way to not get pregnant.  Once again.  The Radical Mormon Right of the State of Utah is pushing their ideology onto the peasantry.  You know, it just pisses me off.  We are an open family about our bodies and how they function and the changes inherent.  We talk about sex, what is appropriate behavior for their ages and what we expect.  Not all children are as lucky.  I can't tell you how many parents leave it up to the schools and their kids' church leaders to tell them about sex.  The only answer I ever got about sex from my church leaders was wait until I get married.  Which I did but that was because I had parent(s) (my mom) who was open about sex and was willing and available to answer questions.

So so so so many kids are getting pregnant because they don't know what is appropriate  behavior at their particular ages because they don't have parents that care to take the time to teach them.  I say, Let the schools teach it.  Or better yet, our overly righteous legislature who probably all sat around blushing during the discussion of this bill.  Cowards.


Sunday, March 4, 2012

Religion

I have a friend that was a member of my Church and unless she's had her name removed from the records is still a member of my Church.  She has decided that for her God does not exist.  Which is unfathomable to me.  Her view is that the mighty miracles wrought in her life were coincidental at best.  And on and on.  And that is her right.  It truly is.

I posted the following on Facebook in November:


You know what brings out the mama bear in me? When you decide my husband couldn't be a good therapist because he is a TBM--True Believing Mormon. Biggest bunch of bullshit and nonsense I've ever heard. People who leave the Church think they are soooo open and yet they are just as judgmental as everyone else. "Let's judge those who are true believing Mormons to be close minded and yet remain as close minded as I feel they are."

The End.

Don't get mad at me honey.
· · · November 23, 2011 at 4:13pm near American Fork
    •  I know what you speak of Kara!

    •  amen!
    •  They actually said he couldn't be a good therapist because he's Mormon? BS.

    • Kara Poppleton Sherman Yep. He's on a former Mormon website as a therapist to not go to.

    •  That really pisses me off.

    • Kara Poppleton Sherman He is the most non-denominational therapist. He even keeps his office free of Mormon "art". And he has Buddhas and all sorts of other Taoist type things in there.

    • Kara Poppleton Sherman Whatever. People are going to keep acting like they always do no matter how they believe. Character isn't something you necessarily learn at church.

    •  Meh... don't worry. What's the saying, "By their fruits..."

      He's cool!

    •  There are lame judgmental people inside and outside the church. Honestly, if you like a therapist, see him/her. If you don't, find someone else. Religion shouldn't play into it. (Unless you see someone like the LDSFS therapist I saw when I was 17 - it was like trying to get therapy from a bishop!)
    •  True fact is that some LDS therapists can't see outside of their deep belief system. I know MFTs who won't see gay couples because they don't feel they should be married.

      Stupid stuff right there!! ^^^^

    •  BUT, I think Mr. Hubby is awesome!

    •  Hypocrisy is just a sophisticated word for "dumbass". People will look for reasons to be jackholes for no other reason then to be opendminded... Which is another sophisticated word for "bull shit".

    •  I think I agree with you, Cristina, but I"m not sure. I think open-minded is good, and wouldn't consider it bull shit.
    •  I should have clarified by saying fake or convenient openmindedness.

    • It's okay let's be honest, if they (me) were not in a place to accept God into our daily lives, they aren't in a place to accept any help into their daily lives, and if those atheists are in a place to receive help they will not be on that website....

    •  I by "those atheists" I simply mean those people who choose not to believe in any God...not the people on the website
    • t Kara I love how you speak your mind.
    •  Uh NO, Teri. Not accepting "god" into your daily life does NOT in any way mean that you are not in a place to accept any help in your life.

      THAT is the closed-mindedness of which we speak.


    •  I didn't mean it like that, it just from personal experience only means, that if they are shutting off one religion and shutting the door on all the help that "those" members can bring...they are truly not in a place to accept help, and unfortunately those people who are ready to accept help and search that website are going to be discouraged

    •  Not so. Religion is NOT for everyone. Accepting help from "members" ain't no special magical thayng.

      THIS is exactly why that site exists. People can't see through religion to recognize that answers are not found THERE, they are found within ourselves.

    •  As I reread it, I can see how you took it that way, I am not articulate enough to get across what I mean, no judging...I just think that to post on a website with the a purpose as to "slander" LDS help just shows that maybe (and I should have used that term in the original post) they are shut down on all help.

    •  I have a comment ... Jon is awesome, you are awesome. One of the things I like most about you two is that there is no judgement ... you are honest .... which some may feel is judgement ... only because they are in judgement of their own self. There Are many bitter former Mormons ... It is one of the things I done feel is unfortunate in the exmormon community ...

    •  And that is what I meant by my atheist comment, that if people who do not believe in any God want help I don't see them perusing that website to find a good therapist...

    •  Scratch ... done ... that was my inner redneck comin' out.

    • Kara Poppleton Sherman Okay, everybody. This wasn't what I was looking for. I have several friends who have left the Church or become atheist in the last several years which is their decision. Say what you want about me but leave my husband alone. Mama Bear. Growl. Growly Growl Growl. Rrrrrr.... He's the best Marriage and Family Therapist out there. Really. rrr...

    • e That is such a good point and so true! I've seen that in many instances!

    • Are you a polar bear? Cause Monkey loves polar bears

    •  I love when the mama bear comes out of hibernation... Grr Grr

    •  Kara said "bullshit"

    •  Those who leave the Church can't leave it alone. Seems they must somehow prove or justify to themselves their decision by projecting their feelings onto others.

    •  I know! They can leave the church, but why do they have to become anti- Mormons , judging and criticing and preaching to us?

    •  You GO Girl!
    •  Shouldn't this be a non issue? Should the patient know anything of their doctors religion or beliefs? Just saying! I'm mean if you know these things and you do choose this person. Don't you kinda know what you are getting. Buyers remorse sucks. But don't wine about it.
  • Anywho

    A week or two ago this friend posted something on Facebook about how she found it incredible that she could believe in a god for so long that would be so uncaring towards his son and let him die a horrible death.  I should have resisted the urge to comment.  I really should have.  But I posted that incredibly I did believe that very thing.  Man the claws came out.  I was just flabbergasted. That is one thing I would never do.  
    Look people.  When you put stuff out there on the interwebs to be read then people will respond.  And that is all I did was respond.  I didn't argue, I didn't call names, I didn't tell her she was going to a hell she didn't believe in.  But she did that to me along with all of her friends.  It was amazing.  
    I have ruminated over this for over a week.  Considered blocking her posts from my view. I don't want to reconvert anyone.  I want to share opinions without being treated like shit.  That is really all anyone is looking for here, isn't it?  A little R-E-S-P-E-C-T?

    And that is all I have to say about that.