suziandben
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Posts posted by suziandben
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I have never heard of that. I guess its one way to have a BMW.
Really? WOW... that acronym is a staple out here. So, how many families in your ward (congregation) have 15 passenger vans? We usually have a few families around us that have one. Maybe you guys are short on BMW's out there.
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Do you use the term "BMW" in your part of the country (big Mormon wagon) ... Just call me supermom I moved into the ranks of BMW drivers this weekend!
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I love general conference!!! Since I'm a tax accountant come the first weekend in October I'm always working on 10/15 due date tax returns and come the first weekend of April I'm of course working on the 4/15 deadline. So i'm always working on that saturday and listen to general conference as I work on the internet. I just love it and today's sessions were no exception!
Course my favorite general conference was April 2008... feeling stressed about whether I should wait to leave my job until we got further in the process with Abrazo or were matched or taking placement... or quit right after april 15th as I had planned and felt prompted to do. One speaker was talking about something unrelated entirely to what was on my mind but he quoted a scripture that included the phrase... "move forwrad not backward". The words he was reading were even put on the screen... it was like Heavenly father had put up a billboard message ... SUZI GRADEN MOVE FORWARD NOT BACKWARD YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS JOB! He was so right.
Can't wait til tomorrow's sessions.
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i've been waiting for this all evening!!! thank you stork for helping grow our sticky family again. blessings to this family of 4 and precious first mama... once again it pays to be a westcoaster and be up late enough for the announcement.
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I have a question... a friend of ours has moved in for a little while and so the social worker is coming out next week. Where can I find the requirements regarding this update/addendum to our home study that is being done strictly to add our guest?
For example (though not all inclusive)...
- do all members of the household have to be present for this appointment?
- what information does the social worker need to include about our guest?
- for oregon the social worker indicates she usually gets a copy of the guests birth certificate... abrazo do you need a copy of that birth certificate as well?
...?? what else do I need to ask about this that I don't know??
Thanks!
Suzi
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Welcome ladies to Abrazo here's to hoping your journey with abrazo is underway in no time!
Cheers!
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We've had a very ODD thing happening - just had it happen again yesterday. Ever since we brought Collin home people keep asking us "well it will be easier to adopt another one now that we have one right?" Since I did not know any childless couples pursuing adoption in Oregon it certainly felt like that sometimes - that againers had better luck than first timers - but again I only knew againers here. Is the preference for childless regional at all? Or particular to any socio/economic groups or ethniticies?
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Wow great idea! My ward has a lot of budget strapped families in it and something like that would be awesome. I actually have cut Ben's hair for the entire 12.5 years we've been married. My sister has taught kids haircutting classes for church a few times (including live demo on her sons) but she lives in Maryland so I only see her every few years. Cutting kids hair is a little more interesting due to the squirm factor but I am sure I will cut Collin's hair as well.
The scariest was cutting my father in law's hair for the first few times. Years ago (probably 10) my mother in law had carpal tunnel surgery so my father in law asked me to cut his hair. He's a very successful business man and I was freaked out that I would give him a really bad hair cut. He said don't worry the difference between a bad hair cut and a good hair cut (for a man) is about 2 weeks. ha ha Actually after cutting his hair a few times my mother in law came to me... this is a classic everybody loves raymond moment... Dad paid you a compliment. Oh really? Yeah he said he'd like me to cut his hair like you do!!!!
LOLI'm not much of a hairdresser I just know how to get things even.
My calling is primary substitute. Usually my calling is primary teacher... every week teaching. So sub is great right now. I was supposed to teach a week ago and there were so many sick kids that there was one kid in each of three classes so they combined them into one class of three. The other two teachers... one says man I made a great activity... the other says I brought treats... I said take it away ladies! I"ll get out of your way. ha ha
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I am so excited about general conference coming up in a few weeks. What is there not to love about watching church on TV in your PJs? Do you have any favorite family traditions???
We make blueberry muffins and hot chocolate. A year ago I took some to a family from church as a reminder of general conference. They were off and on coming to church with 6 children. It's the grandparents raising the kids and the grandpa still comments on those muffins (not that they were memorable - just remembers the thought I'm sure).
I was supposed to substitute in primary today for the CTR5 class - I haven't taught since before Collin was born - I was anticipating an interesting day teaching 5 years old with a 4 month old in my arms. As it turns out I'm sick as a dog! No church for me today.
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When this thread was begun, I was under the impression that it was a thread to be "by Catholics, for Catholics" and was intended to be a way that we could express how we practice our faith and share milestones (our children's baptism and First Communion, for example) and what that means to us. Whenever a "controversial" item appears in the press that is related to Catholic church teaching, and it is posted on this topic, there is a danger that it will become a means to stir up controversary and division, and to put Catholics on the defensive.
Martha,
I so appreciate your note. Thanks for speaking out so we can all learn to respect each other's space.
Suzi
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Big hugs to the new family of 4! Blessings to his precious first family.
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Congratulations and best wishes!!
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Like I said it's VERY different having your 5th, 6th and 7th children at 40ish. My parents had been parenting for 20 YEARS before I arrived. Enough said. Now back to regularly scheduled programming of finding childless couples in Texas and/or hispanic and/or.... (can't remember the list)
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3) young (under 32),
I guess this means that I will officially be old on August 30th. Or flipping that around - I always swore to myself that I would never be an "old" mother sounds like I met my goal (barely).
ha ha ha
Oh Suzy I know what you mean. I said the same thing because my parents were on the older side when my sister and I came along. Never say never.
Jan
You hit it on the head!! I had older parents too. I have to keep reminding myself that it's a whole 'nother thing to have your 5th, 6th and 7th at 38, 39 and 41 vs. having a 1st at any of those ages or at 31. My parents were very tired.
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3) young (under 32),
I guess this means that I will officially be old on August 30th. Or flipping that around - I always swore to myself that I would never be an "old" mother sounds like I met my goal (barely).
ha ha ha
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The name Mormon comes from the Book of Mormon. Mormon is kind of like King James. He brought together writings that others did and abridged and compiled them, therefore the book carries his name. We don't worship Mormon anymore than christians worship King James.... after all the subtitle to the Book of Mormon is "Another Testament of Christ". Mormon is also the author of one of the books in the book of Mormon.
Suzi,
Thanks for taking the time to answer questions about your faith. I found your post(s) very interesting. I just wanted to point out that King James did not bring together/compile the books of the Bible. He was the one who had it translated into English in 1611.
You may not have meant that King James was the one who brought together writings as Morman did for the Morman Bible, but the way I read your post, it could have been taken that way. I didn't want there to be any confusion.
Thanks for letting me clarify. Now back to the topic at hand...
Thanks Suebee. I meant to compare that my copy of the Bible has King James name on the cover. i failed to note that his role was different.
To us the Book of Mormon is not a "Mormon Bible". It's another testament of Christ, it's scripture but not the Bible or a Bible. We use the Bible. I'm reading from the Old Testament these days about King Solomon building the temple. Not sure if others feel different but it's one nickname I can't quite embrace.
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Okay wow that was more than I expected... several conversation pieces... stereotypes and persecution, mormon vs. lds, temple sealings, racial diversity.
Let me start with Mormon vs. LDS. The word Mormon generally refers to the church or someone who belongs to it. This was a derogatory nickname given in the early days of the church. In the spirit of making lemonade we came to one day call our own choir the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and today it's not generally taken offensively. Compare Mormon to black - not a bad word in and of itself but sometimes noted for no reason or with a tone ... they're mormon you know.
The name Mormon comes from the Book of Mormon. Mormon is kind of like King James. He brought together writings that others did and abridged and compiled them, therefore the book carries his name. We don't worship Mormon anymore than christians worship King James.... after all the subtitle to the Book of Mormon is "Another Testament of Christ". Mormon is also the author of one of the books in the book of Mormon.
The true name of the church is the The church of Jesus christ of latter day saints ... or LDS church for short. I prefer LDS to any other nickname or title and our church encourages us to use the full title because so many people falsely think we are not christians. We are assuredly Christians. The Mormon Times link Elizabeth posted is a publication that is not directly church written. It is put out by a bookstore type entity that is owned by the church but anything that comes directly from the church has the full official name on it.
It used to be much harder to be LDS. 150 years ago people were killed and driven from their homes etc but 50 years ago you could lose your job, miss out on raises and promotions, lose friends, be disowned by your family etc. I think LDS families are open more often racially because religious persecution and racism are very similar. My great grandfather said he'd rather see his daughter dead than be married to a Mormon (she married him anyway). I think what people have come to see is that members of the LDS faith are family centered, fun loving, giving, responsible citizens, good neighbors and overrides a lot of old feelings.
Elizabeth is right we get to take Collin to the temple after going to court for a very special temple sealing. I hear people of other faiths talk about getting married by a judge and then later getting married before the church - similar kind of thing. I hear "forever family" being used about having been to court for finalization. For us going to court for adoption finalization simply means family in the eyes of the law. Taking Collin to the temple to be sealed means we are a family for time and all eternity. This is something that kept me going the last 6 years was living here (for the first time in our 12 year marriage) close to the Portland temple where we were married thinking ahead to taking our child there someday. It's a simple ceremony but beautiful in its promises and meaning.
Also after finalization we can have Collin blessed in church. It's a father's role generally to perform this baby blessing. Ben was asked to do this once for a nephew named after him. It will be so nice to see him exercise this responsibility for his own child. Adopting and being LDS is really quite cool because there is a lot of extra stuff... finalization, temple sealing, baby blessing. Poor suckers who birth their babies just get one event. ha ha ha
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As one who attends a church with a whole lot more "builders" than even "boomers" or "bridgers," I find this truly inspiring.
Okay I'm clueless - what are builders and bridgers? I think I know what you mean by boomers unless the word means something different in church.
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When Ben and I came to Abrazo, we asked about whether our home study which was originally done by LDS Family Services would translate to Texas standards and the chicks indicated that they had worked with LDSFS home studies before. So I know that there are other members of the LDS faith out there somewhere in the greater Abrazo family - maybe even on the forum. Thought I'd see if I could drag you out of the woodwork by creating our own spot in the chapel potluck.
I know for me I'm not one to make a big deal about my religion. I certainly don't want to be the "Mormon forum-member". But if other faiths have a place to talk about baptisms and other events then I sure as heck (big language for a Mormon I know) want a place to beam about taking our baby to the temple this summer.
Cheers (hear clinking of my sprite glass),
Suzi
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Welcome welcome I second sue's excellent recommdations! Absolutely get going on that home study because if you come to orientation with a completed home study you're that much closer to getting phone calls. Though do make sure that your home study is done to Abrazo standards. It can often take months to get that home study done.
Welcome to the forum!!
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Congratulations!!!!!!
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Wow that is SO spot on. I wish I had had that letter 3 months ago BEFORE some very akward moments at church and with family. I had to ask my father in law to please STOP asking me to leave my 1 month old with them to babysit. Just because I'm not breastfeeding doesn't mean he doesn't need to be with mommy and daddy. This so succinct and to the the point. Thank you so much Elizabeth for sharing!!!!!
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Congratulations Givens Family of 4!!!
Prayers going out to a courageous first mom.
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I ran across some books at Powells, my favorite online bookseller! Just thought they look like some great selections, for anyone who might be looking to add to their Adoption Lit collections (just click on each title, below, to find out more!):
Wait a minute? How did I miss this? Powells... as in the largest book store in the world... in Portland Oregon? I was there last week in person (buying a few adoption books). That store is amazing - it takes a map to find your way because it's so big - LOVE IT!
Baby Announcements 2009
in New Arrivals
Posted
WOW... how cool... I'm like a deer in the headlights... say what? Baby... COOL! Congratulations all!