Confronting the Zealot

Jared: You may have seen The Zealot carrying this sign in Colonial Williamsburg.  He likes to stand outside the William & Mary bookstore and preach about women who are going to hell because they give their flower away.  I'm sure he talks about other things too, but it all relates to people (pretty much everyone except him) going to hell.  I had never seen him before (in fact, I haven't seen something like this since Guadalajara), and he caught my attention for two reasons: 1) he wasn't preaching repentance, like most preachers; he was preaching "if you've done it, then hell awaits". 2) His right to free speech wasn't curbed by Colonial Williamsburg, which is a private corporation--the spot outside Barnes & Noble must be public space. We stopped to listen for a minute and read his sign.  Check out the last group of people headed straight to hell:

Stacy, Luke, and I (and probably most of you reading this) are doomed!  

Hell awaits!

I was absolutely fascinated.  As we walked along, I wondered what the guy's rationale was.  Why are Mormons going to hell?  What's wrong with us?  What was his doctrinal background for saying that we're damned?  And that led to other questions, the most poignant being: Why do people hate us so violently?  I was dying to find out about this guy's reasoning. So we turned around and walked back so I could question or confront him.  Stacy only had one condition: that if she stood and let me argue with the guy, she got to take a few pictures to blog about our adventure.

It wasn't quite as exciting as Stacy was hoping and expecting.  I didn't get right up in his face for one thing.  I stood to the side so the whole crowd could hear the conversation. I shouted that he had a question and asked why mormons were going to hell.  It took the guy a little while to get to his answer.  He started out by yelling about idols and that people who worshipped anything made by their own hands were going to hell.  I kept calling out, "What does that have to do with the mormons?"  and Mr. Zealot finally got to his point.  His claim was that mormons (Joseph Smith in particular) created revelation, the Book of Mormon, etc. with their own hands and so were not worshiping the true god.  

Stacy: When Jared would try to reply or ask a question, he would just keep on talking.  There were a lot of points that he refused to comment on.  For example, one thing he said that proved mormons were wrong was that we believe in temple worship.  He claimed that God didn't condone temple worship, that temple worship doesn't exist in the Bible, and that we are just commanded to be a temple ourselves.  Jared said, "Didn't Christ call the temple his Father's house?" but the guy wouldn't answer.  Jared also said, "What about Solomon's temple?" but again, he wouldn't answer.

Some people around us started murmuring against Crazy Man's arguments; probably mostly about him in general.  But one man next to us especially got into it.  He was encouraging Jared's questions until his cell phone rang.  We kind of wondered if he was mormon too.

The guy didn't stay on the topics of Mormons for very long.  He moved on to other religions pretty fast, and once he stopped talking about Mormons we left.

It was as we knew it would be: that he wasn't really interested in a conversation.  But it opened up a lot of discussion for us on the way home.  We talked about several things such as:

1.  We don't worship any of the things he talked about.  We don't worship the prophet, the scriptures, angels, or even revelation.  We only worship God and Jesus.  And since he referred to the Bible (incorrectly, but still), didn't that mean that he felt we needed tools to help us worship?  These things he condemned are tools and gifts that help us to worship the true god.  And in addition, if reading the Book of Mormon was worshiping a false idol, then reading the Bible is too.  Because they're basically the same kind of record.  (When Jared had brought up the similarities between the BoM and the Bible, Mr. Zealot had just ignored him)

2.  Did this guy believe in hope or love or forgiveness?  All he talked about was doom and destruction.  But if there was no hope for someone who had made a mistake, or (heaven forbid!) loved ESPN too much (After all, sport nuts are going to hell), then why try?  And more importantly, how could anyone love a God who was just waiting above to doom them for any mistake they made?

3.  What would it be like to be that guy's wife/ daughter/ anyone in his family?  We decided that it would undoubtedly be bogus.

Party Time!

Nora and I hosted Hayley's baby shower last night.  It all went really well, and we had a good time planning it and pulling it off.  Hayley dressed in the party theme color: Yellow!  Nora was the mastermind behind practically everything.  I learned a lot about art and creativity from her.  She is the hostess with the mostes'.

After the Shower-- Sorry that the decorations are down.  They were beautiful...

Just one illustration of the decor.  Nora taught me how to make these beautiful tissue paper balls.  We made a lot and hung them from the ceiling.

The food-- it was all yellow!  Squash soup, corn chowder, corn bread, lemon poppyseed muffins, lemon bars, and cupcakes with yellow icing.  Thank you to everyone who brought food!

What's a baby shower without presents???

And some of the people who came:

Elizabeth and Gwyneth

Kendra, Leslie, and Olivia

Brittany, Katy, and Elsa

Baby Ella

I only had my camera out for a few minutes, so I didn't get pictures of half the people who were there.  But it was great to see everyone who came.

And while this is only somewhat related to the shower, last night got me thinking about how much I'll miss everyone this summer.  Williamsburg has been a great experience so far, and I'm so glad we live here and have gotten to know so many wonderful people.  I hope all of our friends from here have a great summer, smooth moves (those who are moving), and constantly updated blogs.

Look How They've Grown

Samuel is Luke's best friend here in Williamsburg.  They play together a lot.  I was looking at pictures the other day and marveling at how fast they've grown up.  Time flies.

early August, 2008

late September 2008

February 2009

April 28, 2008

Just Like a Little Puppy

I don't know why, but lately I've been thinking about stupid "Get to Know You" surveys.  I think you know the kind:  Name?  Favorite color?  Special talents?  And then the really dumb questions like "If you could be any animal, what would it be?"  That's actually the dumb question I've been pondering.  But not for myself.  For Luke.  What animal would he be?

And I think I know-- he'd be a puppy, and here's why:

1.  He loves to chew on EVERYTHING

2.  He likes to play in the toilet

3.  He's not remotely interested in potty training

4.  He LOVES a fresh pile of clean laundry.  As soon as I pull it out of the dryer he runs over and jumps in it and then starts rolling around.

5.  He eats off the floor

6.  He begs and whines when he wants attention

7.  He pees on the floor (Luckily it's only been the bathroom floor)

8.  He doesn't like clothes

9.  He likes to play fetch with a ball

10. He's adorable-- just like a little puppy!

Our Anniversary

April 29, 2006 - April 29, 2009

and still going strong

Jared brought me flowers

and took me to dinner and a movie.

We tried to set up the camera to take a picture.  We shot too wide.  Sorry you had to see the toilet.  But you also get to see some of my new dress.  We got all dressed up for our date.

We tried again.  This would have been good if it wasn't blurry.

My gift to Jared

We had quite the tournament, but Jared was very happy to win the first game.

I love Jared so much.  He is a wonderful husband and father.  He is my best friend, and I am so lucky to have been with him these 3 years.  I look forward to many, many more years together.  Forever.

3 Years-- The Story of How We Met, Dated, and Got Engaged

Yesterday was our 3 year anniversary.  And for myself and for those who love us, I thought it would be fun to look back and review our history.

April 2005

Jared and I met while we were both teaching in the English as a Second Language department at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo.  I had sat in on his class once to observe, and I thought he was cute.  Then one time at a training meeting, Jared and I sat next to each other and he struck up a conversation by asking me about my cousin Brittany.  It may be thanks to her that we ended up together.  She and Jared were both going to the same field study in Mexico for the fall semester and had just started the prep course when I got my job at the MTC.  She asked Jared if he knew me and told him to ask me out.  He didn't ask me out then, but a few days later I was carrying a CD player to work and trying to juggle an umbrella and Jared took the CD player and carried it for me.  I went to thank him after our shift and I asked him for his phone number.  I invited him to come to Grammy's house on Sunday for games.

Me and Grammy

He came that Sunday (so I say I asked him on the first date).  That week we hung out a few times, and Jared took me to breakfast (at the MTC before work!), and since he paid he says that was the first date.  Whatever.

This picture was taken on June 3, 2005.  That's Jared's birthday.  I planned a big picnic hike in Price Canyon.  We hiked to the hot springs where we had our picnic and our first kiss.  I knew by then that I was in love.  It took Jared a little bit longer.  And Yes.  That is beef jerkey.  Jared didn't become a vegetarian until a little over a year ago.

In early August, Jared left for his field study in Mexico.  He was gone for 3 months, and we had to communicate mostly by email (and only once a week).  It made me pity those people who have to wait for missionaries.  It was pretty miserable, and I missed him a lot.  He got back in November, right before Thanksgiving.  We had one and a half days together before he headed off to Nevada.  He came to Utah most week-ends through December.  And we got engaged unofficially on December 18, 2005.  That night Jared took me to see the Nutcracker ballet.  It made me love that ballet even more than I did before.  I wanted it to be a longstanding tradition that we ALWAYS see the Nutcracker on December 18, but it only lasted 1 year.  Then Luke came along... (Jared "officially" proposed the next day.  He felt he had to have the ring in hand for it to be official.)

Our engagement photo taken in February 2006.  Not the prettiest time of year because Utah is mostly dead, but I think this picture turned out pretty good.  Although I wish I was wearing different shoes.

3 Years-- The Part When We Got Married !!!

Jared and I getting married as depicted by Taylie (at age 4)

Everyone deserves to go back and relieve the time of their wedding which is what this post is all about.  

Our wedding was a whirlwind because we jam-packed waaaayyy too much into 2 days.  We got married on April 29, 2006-- one day after my graduation and about 4 days before Jared started summer school.

Most of our family arrived on the 27th, so we were up late talking and hanging out.  I almost slept through my graduation the next day.  (Can you tell by the wet hair and no make-up?)  Jared called to tell me he was on his way to pick me up-- and that's what woke me up!

After the ceremony-- I'm looking a little bit better.

Right after graduation, we practically raced over to my apartment to load everything up to move it all into our new "apartment."  We lived in Jared's cousin's basement for our first 2 years of marriage.  The people who lived there before us moved out on the day we moved in.

Right from moving, I met up with the girls for a fun filled bridal shower.  I think the boys went golfing.  From the bridal shower, we ran over to the church to prepare for our exceptionally awesome barbecue.  (I can use the word BBQ because there was actually brisket there.)

The Bride and Groom to Be at the BBQ

I cared a lot more about the barbecue than the reception, so I told most of my friends that if they could only come to one thing to come to the bbq.  This is my mission president, President Bangerter, and his wife with one of my companions, Emily Dougall, and the boy Emily was dating at the time.

After the food, we played a dice game (somewhat like Bunko) called "Burn the House Down."  My cousin Emily and her husband Jeff arranged it, and it was lots of fun.  This is my nephew Ethan and I playing the game .

That night there was a hullaballoo because my sister Megan lost her purse.  So most of my family was running around trying to find it.  Jared and his family went over to our apartment after the bbq to finish moving things in and putting the bed together.  He didn't have his phone on, so I couldn't get ahold of him.  I spent most of that night moaning to my sister Amber and to my best friend Jennifer that Jared wasn't answering because he'd changed his mind.

I kept up my moaning the next morning when Jared STILL didn't answer his phone.  I cried practically the whole time Amber was doing my hair.  Good thing she was nice about it.  And Jennifer just kept laughing at me and telling me I was being ridiculous.  Which I was.

I rode up to the temple with my best friend Jennifer and a very good friend from college, Tessa.  This is me nervously awaiting to see if Jared would show up.  He did.

We were married in the Manti, Utah temple.  It is also where my mom and my older sister were married.  I think I'd always wanted to get married there.  Isn't it beautiful?

And now for the wedding album:

We were married at noon, and the reception started at 5.  As you saw from the action packed day before the wedding, we cut everything too close that week-end.  

Some of the guests arrived before everything was ready. Jared's parents were frantically finishing the food, my dad was gone to pick up the cake, and Jared and I were still en route back from the temple.  

Jared and I with Grandma and Pa

I know some of you might be making lude (sp?) smirks about why my hair is different.  The honest truth is that we drove back with the windows down, and the curls were ruined, so I just pinned it up.

You'll also notice that I also have different flowers.  My mom made a bouquet for the reception that I could throw so that I could keep my real wedding bouquet for myself.  It was a good idea.  Jared's cousin Sarah, who has Downs Syndrome, caught the bouquet, and she was so excited!  Since the flowers were silk, she still had the bouquet the last I heard.  She would talk to me about catching the flowers almost every time I saw her.

3 Years-- The Part When We're Actually Married !!!

Sadly, perhaps, this part mostly has pictures of Luke.  Don't get me wrong.  Luke is wonderful and the best thing in my life besides Jared.  It's just that before he was born, Jared and I rarely took pictures.  We did things, though.  And if I can find more pictures I'll add them on and edit this post later.

I'm two years older than Jared, so when we were married, Jared still had almost 2 years left of his undergrad.  I taught 4th grade at Franklin Elementary.  Jared went to school full time AND had 3 part time jobs as well as volunteering for a literacy program at the library.  So we were really busy.  Sometimes people in Williamsburg tease me about how much time Jared spends studying, and I reassure everyone that I see him more now than I did when we were in Provo.

My first class: August 2006- May 2007

Doing the banana dance brain breather

Reader's Theatre performance

This was probably my favorite thing we did as a class during my two years of teaching.  Ask me about Reader's Theatre sometime, and I'll give you an earful.  It's a great way to get kids to enjoy reading and to practice fluency.  It would be a really fun family activity for those who have kids old enough to read.  If anyone's interested, I could email you some scripts.  Anyway...

My second class: August 2007- May 2008

Etiquette lunch-- We studied manners as a grade level and then had a special lunch to practice.

Class picture.  Shelby is the girl in white on the front row.  She was my favorite!

I got pregnant in March of 2007, and Luke was born November 27, 2007.  Now our lives are very much wrapped around him.  It's great that he goes to bed early, though, so we still get some time to ourselves.  

The picture we used for Luke's birth announcement

Luke's first Christmas (1 month old)

Luke at 7 months

Our family last summer right after we moved to Williamsburg

Family photo shoot in April, 2009