Monday, August 4, 2014

Naked and Afraid: Anniversary Style

Nathan and I were sitting in our living room talking about what we need/want to do over the summer and comparing work schedules when we realized our 2-year anniversary was coming up quick. 

So, what did we decide to do to celebrate this wonderful time? Camping of course! 

Nathan proposed the idea of filming our own episode of "Naked and Afraid", but we settled for kayaking and disk golf this time around.

So, we grabbed a neon green tandem kayak, a box of matches, some Nutela, and our frisbee disks and hit the road. 
Carlos made it up the mountain and back like a champ. So proud.



We decided to camp right in between Jackson, Wyoming and the Grand Tetons--and when I say "camping", I mean camping. You know, tents, bugs, dirty feet--the works. 
Did I mention that we totally love it?

Look! Our first tent!
I have always, always, ALWAYS loved camping. Anything and everything outdoors, really. 
However, until this weekend I had never been camping with Nathan before. 
If you ever have the opportunity to go camping with this man, you will quickly realize that he is by far the best person to ever go camping with. Not only is he great with directions, the fastest tent-setter-upper ever, and looks mighty fine in hiking gear, but he is the ultimate guide. No joke - when we're driving from place to place, he's got these eagle eyes that can spot animals that most mortals, muggles, and average folk cannot see. Not only does he spot out animals, but he is basically a walking, talking encyclopedia that can tell you anything and everything there is to know about that animal, plant, or ecosystem that this specific animal belongs to. 
...so hot.
For example, when we were on our way back to camp, Nathan and I were in the middle of talking when out of nowhere Nathan says, "Oh, look! A moose!" I pull over and this moose is probably half a mile off the road, across the river and in the middle of some stupid-tall grass. What the--how the crap did you see that?! He then proceeds to tell me all these incredible things about moose and where this particular one probably came from and so on.
My husband is the coolest.
And I digress.
Our anniversary weekend was a blast. We did lots of fun things together. 
First, we went disk golfing at Targhee's 18-hole course where Nathan kicked my butt and scored 2 blue disks that he found in a tree. He used broken tree branches and chucked huge logs up into the tree for a solid 30 minutes to retrieve (re-tree-ve... get it...?) these disks since this particular pine tree was unclimbable. He was wearing a tank top throughout this whole process so I really had nothing to complain about. In the end, he found success.


Next, we decided to kayak across Jenny Lake



We found our own little nook that we could hide our very difficult to see neon green kayak.

Once we got across Jenny lake, hiked a grand total of 9ish miles in the magical land of the Grand Tetons.

"Girls are mermaids..." -Kid History
That rock never looked so good.







We took lots of breaks.






After our hike, we kayaked back across the lake and practically sprinted to the closest set of showers possible. And by "sprinted" I mean, we walked as fast as our noodle-like legs and arms could carry us.


I have never felt so happy after having showered in my entire life.
 After our scrub down, we headed back to camp and made some din-din: hotdogs!

Nathan and I may have spent about-eh-4 hours entertaining ourselves with the fire by finding anything and everything we could to toss into the fire. Yes, we play with fire because WE'RE ADULTS, MAN. 
That same night, we had a couple visitors walk through our camp area. Say hello to Mama Moose and her baby, Baby Moose.
I am very aware that this is probably the worst picture on the planet but it's all I got, ALRIGHT?!
Next morning, we packed up camp (in the rain) and headed home! T'was a very fun trip.

Oh, but it has been an even better two years! And to think that the fun is barely getting started!

Friday, April 4, 2014

Ordain Women... Seriously?

As some of you may know, there are some women—and by "some", I mean roughly 1,300…which is about, eh, .01% of LDS women—that are currently asking—and by "asking", I mean DEMANDING—to be given the Priesthood. 

150 of these individuals stomped temple grounds requesting to get tickets to the Priesthood Session of General Conference; a session that they knew they would not be admitted to since it is a session of Conference that is designed to uplift and speak directly to men and boys about their roles and responsibilities (just as men are not admitted into the Relief Society Broadcasts, the General Women’s Session of Conference, Time out for Women, etc.). These same individuals claim that Mormon women are being oppressed by not being ordained as priesthood holders.

Seriously?

When I first got wind of this issue last year, all I could see in my mind was Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; the little girl who is never satisfied with what she already has. She needs it all. She wants it all. She demands it all.


Now that this controversy is gaining more and more attention, I feel that it is my duty to stand up for what I know to be true and what I believe in. I feel like it's important to help people realize--whether you are Mormon or not, active or inactive in the faith--that NOT ALL MORMON WOMEN FEEL THIS WAY. 

In fact, I passionately, full-heartedly, and respectfully disagree 150%.  

To begin, I would like to refer to an article that I read describing these recent events. In this article, there were words that… frustrated me. Baffled me. Aggravated me.

[Kate] Kelly said the group doesn't feel like it belongs in the free-speech zones, provided by the city for protestors who demonstrate during the church's semiannual general conferences in April and October.
"We feel as faithful, active Mormon women we have nothing in common with people who oppose the church and want to protest against it," she said. "The church is its members. We aren't against the church, we are the church."

Firstly, it behooves me to think that there are active women (and men) in the church who truly think that the laws and doctrine of this church, which we know are made by God, can be taken to a vote or petitioned.

Which leads me to my second thought: “the church is its members. We aren’t against the church we are the church”

Please tell me you’re kidding.

As we established before, God, the Eternal Father and his son, Jesus Christ, created the laws/doctrine of this gospel.

AKA --> God’s church = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Meaning, this is His doctrine, His laws, His commandments, His plan, and His great and everlasting sacrifice is at the very heart and center of this faith.

The Lord is the church. Jesus Christ is the church.

AND, as much as it sucks to hear, the church would get along just fine without you, without me, and without all those who think their way is better than the Lord’s way.

This is not a new concept for Mormons who understand the doctrine.

Do these “Ordain Women” activists really think that their way is better than the Lord’s way? Do they really think doctrine can suddenly be determined by consensus? Sure, it can in other churches or in government.

But we are not talking about other churches and this is certainly not a government issue. 

This is not a policy that can be viewed or changed if you gather enough signatures. We do not vote for our Prophet, nor do they appoint themselves.

As Latter-Day Saints, we also believe that God chooses His prophets and apostles that help govern His church on the earth today. In Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 we read the words of Heavenly Father in regards to His doctrine, "whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same".

Knowing that the Almighty God and His son, Jesus Christ, govern this church, you would think that it would just be common knowledge—or just common sense—that this doctrine that we speak of was not determined by consensus. Yes, we believe in modern day prophets. BUT, you must remember, these prophets and apostles act as mouthpieces for the Lord—they did not make the rules nor did they create the doctrine. They received divine revelation from Heavenly Father and act in His name.

Ok. Back to the issue.

These “Ordain Women” activists proclaim that in order to solve issues of gender inequality within the church, they want to be ordained with the priesthood.

…Two things:

1. “Equal” does not mean “Same”

Let me just say, being treated equally does not mean we are all treated the exact same way or get the exact same privileges all the time.

If being treated equally meant being treated the same, then this would mean:
  • ·    Stand-up urinals would be found in ALL bathrooms, not just the men’s room. Woohoo!
  • ·    The exact same sports programs would be found at ALL schools for both genders everywhere, so you couldn’t have a men’s football team without having a women’s football team, a men’s soccer team without a women’s team, a women’s cheerleading team without a men’s cheer team, a men’s wrestling, baseball, volleyball, water polo, lacrosse, etc. without having the same women’s teams. Oh, well, there goes most of your programs! Sorry kids!
  • ·  Men would now have the ability to give birth. Congrats fellas, now you can say you did most of the work and actually be right.
  • ·    If a crime is committed, whether it is petty or serious, there is a one-size-fits-all solution. No need for judges if we’re all treated the exact same way!
  • ·    There would be no sales or coupons—why should Sally have to pay $25.99 for a pair of sandals when Julie gets to buy the same pair for half off during the store’s big sale? Not the same! Not fair! Oppression!!

These are just a few examples, but I think you’re pick’n up what I’m put’n down.

These women are saying that in order for women to be held at an equal (or greater) level to men, they need to be treated the same way as men. Which apparently means they need to have the priesthood. Which leads me to my second point:

2. The “Gender Inequality” that these women are referring to is an issue with society not the Mormon religion.

Sure, we can talk for days about how women are degraded and treated more as objects than as people. But that’s an issue that we can thank society, the media, and the “natural man” for, not religion. Well, not Mormonism anyway.

I have been actively involved in this church for 12+ years now and I have never felt inferior to men. Sure, I’d get jealous when they got to go camping, river rafting, and learned how to build their own fires when I had to work on my Personal Progress.

But that pinch of jealousy didn’t translate to “gender inequality”. That translated into “better use of budget” :D

As an LDS woman, married and sealed in the temple for time and all eternity to the coolest guy in the world, I completely, totally, absolutely, 100%, forevermore, support my husband as the one and only Priesthood holder in our home. When we start popping out babies, it is my hope that if we are blessed with boys, they will get to enjoy all the things that boys should enjoy:
bugs, mud, backyard adventures, catching lizards, getting into a little mischief, video games, sports, dinosaurs, race cars, super heroes, animals, or whatever else they are interested in and are passionate for.

I hope they look up to their father as the wonderful example he is of a man who loves, cherishes, and supports his wife and family, that works hard in all aspects of life, who serves selflessly, and lives as a worthy Priesthood holder and uses this power to bless the lives of others.

I also hope my boys will desire to live their lives in such a way that they too can receive the priesthood and exercise that priesthood in ways that the Savior did.

There are things that my hubby and future boys will do that I will never do, and that's perfectly ok with me. There are things that I can do or will get to do in my life that my boys and main squeeze will never do, and that's totally fine.

Why? Well, because we are different. We are different people with different purposes.

And that’s OK!

More importantly, we are held at an equal value in the eyes of our Heavenly Father, but created for different purposes.

My husband slash partner in crime and I are equally important, but we each hold different responsibilities, abilities, talents, purposes, opinions, and even some interests.
I don’t need to sit down and make a list of all the ways we are different or how we are similar because that's not what's important. What's important is that I know who I am, I know God’s plan, and I follow him in faith.

I know I am a divine daughter of Heavenly Father and have been given special privileges and terrifying responsibilities that I know I will be accountable for in the next life. We, as women, are more precious than rubies in the eyes of our Heavenly Father (Proverbs 31:10).

Despite our differences, we were made for each other. We complete each other. And by “We”, I mean men and women. Husbands and wives. Nathan and me.

Yes, men and women are different; physically, mentally, and even spiritually. I believe that there’s a big reason why we were created differently; if we were all created the exact same way and had the same abilities and responsibilities, then we wouldn’t need each other!

Well, guess what? WE NEED EACH OTHER. Not only do we physically need each other in order to keep our race from going extinct, but we need each other for eternal purposes too.

Men and women have strengths and weaknesses that differ from one other, but when you put the two together—when a man and women join forces—they learn and grow in ways that they never would have had they been alone. (“By our powers combined…”) 

Really, this whole ordaining women thing sounds to me like a relatively small group of women, though quite loud, who are so caught up in what they want, they don’t realize what they already have.

Ladies,
We can pray to our Heavenly Father and he WILL answer our prayers. Don’t take this for granted.
We can attend the temple and participate in ordinances that will open the gates for us to receive blessings that will last for eternity.
We can receive the blessings and power of the priesthood if we live worthily
We have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost
We have the opportunity to participate in the Relief Society program and fulfill our callings in such a way that will allow us to act as angels on earth and bring relief and blessings to those around us that we serve.
By HIS divine design, we have the ability to nurture, love and create life—that’s as close to the heavenly veil as it gets.

Ladies,
We have EVERYTHING.

Ladies, we don’t need to have the priesthood to reap the blessings of the priesthood.

Ladies, we don’t need the Priesthood to bless the lives of others. We can already do that.

End the power struggle. You won’t win.

I believe Him when He says: "seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand." To take that further, I am certain "that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works" (Jacob 4:10).

It is my hope and prayer that women (and men) everywhere can use General Conference as a reverent time to prayerfully seek answers to sincere questions. It is my testimony that if you open your heart up to only know the truth, you will not only get the answers you’re seeking, but you will grow closer to your Father in Heaven and by doing these things, you will come to better understand who you are and your divine role as God’s child.


Amen & Happy General Conference!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Justin Bieber, Getting Naked, & Being Politically Uncorrect: Hello Elementary Education

My first day at my teaching practicum was interesting, to say the least. 
I got placed with a rowdy, loud, WONDERFUL, group of first-graders and couldn’t have been more excited to be there. 
Apparently, Anna, (she’s an Aid for one of the autistic boys in our class, Ben) noticed my giddy, Christmas-morning-like enthusiasm and said, “Just keep smiling like that and you’ll make it out just fine”. 
Either she hates her job or this class is going to kill me…slowly. 
I’m happy to report that I did not die my first day nor do I show any signs of wanting to change my major as a soon-to-be-graduating senior. In fact, my day mostly consisted of: 
  • Helping the students stay on task 
  • Answering funny questions the students had about me 
  • Making kids laugh without having to try very hard 
  • Tying about 50 different shoes 
  • Zipping 30 jackets slash repairing zippers 
  • Locating lost gloves 
  • Listening to a random boy that followed me around throughout all of his recess so he could tell me—in great detail—about how he’s going to grow up to kill zombies because, apparently, he does it every day after school. 
  • Saving another little boy from a paper cut that about ended the world as he knew it. 

And I absolutely LOVED it. 
However, there was a particular, brief conversation that I had at the end of the day that concerned me. While I was helping zip up Angie’s jacket, among the other 29 that day, she blurted— 
“Mrs. Keller!” 
“Yes, Miss Angie?” 
“Arianna said that Justin Bieber only likes girls that are naked…” 
 For a split second, I just wanted to laugh since the first thoughts to pop in my mind were 
  1.  Girl, you can do better than THAT 
  2.  You don’t want any of that mess 

But I noticed the legitimate distress in her eyes. 
“Justin Bieber only likes girls that are naked.” 
She actually believed that a popular, young, attractive boy would like her if she were naked. 
Being my first day in the classroom (which is not my own) and fearing what lines I may be crossing by saying what I actually WANTED to say, I hastily replied, “Ew! Gross! Adrianna said that?! Next time she says something like that, tell her that’s inappropriate and not something you want to hear.” 
She then gave me a smile that was hardly convincing and headed out the door, still obviously concerned. 
I came home that afternoon with a pit in my stomach. 6-year-old girls should not have to worry about having to get naked to get a boy to like them. 
I wanted nothing more than to rewind that moment and say what was actually on my mind, no fears attached. 
Since Hermione Granger still has my time turner, I’ll just tell you. 
If you think the same way that this sweet little girl does—that you’ll only find love (or get someone to like you) by taking your clothes off—you couldn’t be more wrong for the following reasons: 
  1. You are beautiful just the way you are. (Try and tell me you didn’t just sing that sentence) As cliché as it sounds, it’s absolutely true: you were created EXACTLY how you were meant to be. You don't need to take off your clothes to prove yourself--or anything for that matter. 
  2. If a guy (or girl) has to see you naked before they “can really know for sure” if they love you (or like you) or not, they A) are probably a tool and B) definitely don’t know what love is. 
  3. If a guy (or girl) is really only interested in people who will show them their goodies, chances are they’re not that picky anyways, which says a heck of a lot more about THEM than it does about YOU. Trust me, you’ve got MUCH better things to do than to hang around people like that. 
  4. There's a plethora of couples, including my husband and I, who are walking, talking, breathing examples that a happy, successful marriage can be founded on a relationship that does not experience sexual relations—including taking sneak peeks—before marriage. And yes, it was TOTALLY worth it. 
  5. Justin Bieber. Need I say more? 


It wasn’t until that very moment with that sweet, tender, broken little girl that I realized how difficult, heart wrenching, and complicated teaching is going to be. 
Throughout my Bachelor-seeking adventures within the Elementary Education Program, I have been instructed time and time again to go above and beyond, to re-define education, go against the grain, and most importantly, protect myself from potential lawsuits. 
My goals as a teacher don’t simply consist of phrases like, “go above and beyond”, “re-define education” or “go-against the grain”. I want to do SO much more than that. As an educator, some of the things I wish to accomplish include the following: 
  • Help my students develop a love for LEARNING, not necessarily a love for school. 
  • Teach my students what it means to look beyond themselves and WONDER; ask questions, take risks, find what interests them, create goals, reflect, and so much more 
  • Show my students through my words and actions what it really means to say, “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you” and teach them to do the same. 
  • Demonstrate love and gratitude for each of my students—especially those who receive none at home 
  • Provide a safe and uplifting classroom environment in which my students can feel free to be themselves as they grow mentally, physically, emotionally and socially. 
  • Challenge my students to keep improving and always do their best 
  • Invite my students challenge themselves to find ways to beat their best 
  • Prepare my students to be good citizens that contribute positively to society 
  • Develop an open line of communication between my student’s parents and myself so we can work together as a team to find new ways to meet their child’s individual needs and to encourage parental support and participation in their child’s education. 

How the heck am I supposed to accomplish this small and simple list--along with everything else that I want to accomplish--as a FUTURE teacher when I’m already worried about losing my not-job because of a response I’m about to give to a 6-year-old girl who thinks boys like JB will only like her if she peels off her Hello-Kitty shirt, Old Navy jeans, light-up Sketchers, and Princess undies? 
Well, you give political correctness the middle finger, that’s how. 
Even though I can’t change the way politics blankets our educational system over night, I can choose to stick it to the man and focus on why I got into education in the first place: 
the children. 
These kids have so much more to worry about than their spelling tests, math homework, and meeting their AR reading goals. I know I can’t be their teacher AND their mother AND their super hero AND their knight in shining armor AND their protector AND everything else I want to be for them. But I can work hard, get to know my students individually, share my love of learning, and do everything in my power to ensure that the experience they have from the moment they enter my classroom until they return home is a positive, inviting, and a rewarding experience for them. 
So, back to my important question: How the heck do you do it? 
Well, from what I understand, you do exactly what the kids do: 
  1. Try really, REALLY hard 
  2. Make lots of mistakes 
  3. Cry sometimes 
  4. Get frustrated 
  5. Celebrate the victories 
  6. Become better each day 


"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child." 
~ Forest Witcraft 


 Note: The names used in this blog, besides my own, are not the actual names of any students in the classroom.