celebrating 37 years

Today is my parents' 37th wedding anniversary. While they're away celebrating in Hawaii (jealous), I'm dedicating this post to them.

My mom and dad have always been stellar examples of patience, discipline, love, and kindness. They met and got married while they were in college, and since then, they've successfully raised six awesome kids together. They've moved their family across state lines multiple times, and they even lived in France for a year while Dad worked on a Paris-based assignment.

Now they're empty nesters, and they're as happy as ever. They're financially responsible, they love to serve other people, and after 37 years of marriage, they're still very much in love.

On their anniversary in 2010--in France.

One of my favorite things about my parents is that they not only taught us how to work hard, but also how to enjoy life in an active way. And there are pictures to prove it.

Mom and Dad taking a motorcycle ride through the mountains of Virginia. 

Bike ride through the backwoods.

Hanging out by Notre Dame.

They really love their grandkids--they have six now.

Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandkids in July 2012.

They've started quite a legacy, and they've set a great example for all of us. Let's hope we can all be biking, traveling, and being healthy and happy when we're in our 50s and 60s (and beyond)!

The whole family last summer.

I love my family! Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!

[PS: These pictures are stolen from Facebook, so thanks, everyone's Facebook profiles!]

emerson is the cutest

Caitlin wanted more pictures of Emerson, so I had to deliver, since it is her birthday and all. Aren't you glad he's so cute?

Happy birthday, Caitlin!

Someone fell asleep on the car ride home. (No, we did not make his hood do that.)

Lying on the bed with Dad.

I like to grab Daddy's beard.

Toothy grin.

Sometimes he gets obsessed with diapers. 

That tongue!

He also loves his pink hanger.

Daddy let me drive!

Hanging out at the park.

same-sex marriage

I recently read an article about why Republicans should support a pro-same-sex marriage ruling from the Supreme Court. The author stated that "Gay marriage opponents are going to lose the fight; the only question is whether they will lose it in a way that is quick and painless or long and ugly." Thus, if Republicans would just let the Supreme Court get it over with, it would be a whole lot easier for everyone.

If you know me, you know that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--a Mormon--and you may also know that I do not support the legalization of same-sex marriage. Including in this situation.

I recognize that my opposition to the legalization of same-sex marriage makes people think that I have hate in my heart. I realize that by admitting to these convictions, I may offend you or threaten our friendship.

Obviously, I wish it weren't so. But at this important time in our nation, I would just like to make a few things clear, both to my fellow Mormons and everyone else. I'll try to be brief, but I can't make any promises.

My personal religious beliefs inform my view on same-sex marriage.

Sharing one's religious beliefs in today's world is a dangerous game, but here I go:

• I believe that all people lived before they were born on Earth and that we'll all live again after we die.
• I believe that this life is just a tiny part of our eternal existence.
• I believe that the family is central to God's plan.

That means that in heaven, we will live with our families, and we'll be with them forever. 

This next part is the most important. I believe that a family is, in its most boiled-down form, a man and a woman who are husband and wife. I believe that a man and woman together create a godly unit that is not only essential for life to progress but also impossible to imitate. Thus, a union between two men or two women is something that will last for this life only; it can't and won't exist in heaven.

I understand that personal religious convictions don't necessarily make for a solid legal argument, but I can't abandon what I know to be true.

I don't hate gay people.

I know this might seem contradictory to my previously stated beliefs, but please believe me when I say that I love all of God's children, including those who identify as gay, lesbian, or anything else. I'm going to try to address just a couple of the questions you may have about it.

"How can your religion be so cruel as to refuse gay people the right to be with their loved ones in heaven?"

I believe there are eternal laws that no one can change, not even God. The fact that marriage is the union of one man and one woman is one of those laws. It's not like the Mormons all conspired together and decided that being gay is not allowed. This is an eternal truth that cannot be challenged.

"If you say you love gay people, how could you deny them the happiness that comes from marriage?"

I believe that same-sex attraction is a temporary reality that will exist only in this life. In the eternity of existence that will happen after this life, our perceptions of same-sex attraction and same-sex marriage won't be the same as they are now; legalizing same-sex marriage would be creating something that can't extend after we die.

I understand that not everyone agrees with me.

Not everyone believes in God. Not everyone believes in the same God I do. We all have different beliefs, and we all have different ideas of what's best for our nation and our fellow people.

If you think that my beliefs shouldn't be imposed on anyone else, I would like to say the same thing to you: legalizing same-sex marriage is just as much of a moral imposition as banning it is.

My beliefs about same-sex marriage won't change depending on the Supreme Court's ruling. (Furthermore, I think that the opinion that has been expressed [twice] by the people of California shouldn't be overturned by a court.) I know it's unpopular, and I know that I most likely won't convince anyone to change their stance by writing this post. But it concerns something so central to my belief system--marriage and family--that I can't stand by and be silent!

christmas 2012

This was our first Christmas (of five Christmases) as a married couple that Andrew didn't have to work on Christmas Eve! Or the day after Christmas! Or any day around it at all! And it was awesome.

We celebrated our new freedom by going to Utah for a week to see family and to eat yummy food.

We stayed with my brother Nathan and his wife, Kathryn, and their three kids.

Emerson hanging out with Aunt Kathryn (with cousin Caleb photobombing).

My whole family was there for the holidays, so Emerson got lots of attention.

Hanging out with Aunt Caitlin.

Eating his own mouth--a favorite pastime--while Grandma looks on.

Fun times with cousin Ellie.

He even got to play with his cousin Ryker, who is just one week his senior (and so much more active than Emerson that it's laughable).

Bonding over a nice plastic cup.

Emerson looks like a porker here, but I promise he's really not that big.

And then the food. Oh, the food. We saved up money just for this trip so we could eat at all the restaurants we've missed since moving to Oregon.

We got sushi (and non-sushi food for me) at Sushi Ya with our good friends, the Stringfellows.

Sorry for the yellow pictures. Blame my phone. Or blame me for always using my phone to take pictures.

Stolen from Ronnie--because I forget to take pictures of people!

We went to Cafe Rio with Andrew's cousins, Scott and Maran, and their three girls.

My mostly devoured pork salad.

We went to Mountain West Burrito and almost died because it was so delicious.

Seriously so good. Mmmm.

And we made a last-minute stop at Kneaders on out way to the airport for some famous french toast.

Before...

...and after.

Not pictured here (unfortunately, because they were also delicious):

Yes, we were a bit gluttonous. And yes, it was worth it.

We flew back to Oregon on Christmas Eve, and it actually wasn't too bad. We all got sick in Utah, so that was no fun, but otherwise, it was a wonderful trip.

To end this post, here are a few more pictures of Emerson.

Just being cute.

Playing with a new toy on Christmas morning.

This boy sure loves his Daddy.

emerson's blessing

We were so happy to have my mom here for Emerson's blessing (way, way) back in October. Since she was visiting over General Conference weekend, we decided to bless him in our home. He was looking all fancy in his button-up shirt and corduroy pants.

He was so bald!

He also had an adorable pink paisley tie to complete his blessing outfit. But it turns out the boy has a giant neck and his shirt wouldn't button up all the way, and the tie looked silly with the relaxed-collar look. So you can just picture how the ensemble would've looked.

We were also graced with the presence of our wonderful friends, Brad and Ronnie.

And a big thanks to Ronnie for taking pictures of us on Emerson's special day and letting me steal them for this blog post. :)

I love my boys!

the next three years

My, how our life has changed in the past few months! We moved to Oregon from Utah--our first big move as a family. After years of anticipation and preparation, Andrew has finally started law school at Willamette University. And most importantly, we welcomed our sweet little Emerson into the world!

Apparently I am now what's known as a law school widow: since Andrew will be gone studying so much, it will be as if he died. It's a pleasant idea, I know. But instead of wallowing in self-pity and being angry at homework, law school, or the world in general, I have decided to focus on becoming a better wife and mom. That might seem like an obvious thing to do (I mean, what else do you have going on, Camille?), but as I have found recently, it's all in how you look at it. For example, nothing I can do will change the fact that I am currently sacrificing a lot of sleep to take care of my two-month-old baby. The only thing I do have control over is my attitude about the situation. I can be bitter, resentful, and grumpy about it (which I did for a while), or I can try my very best to enjoy what life brings me. Just so we're clear, I am nowhere near perfect at actually putting this idea into practice, but hey. Life is a work in progress.

With that, here is to the beginning of a new and very different chapter in our life. Here's to the next three years. May they be filled with long nights of studying, first steps and first words, lots of couponing, and many precious moments with our family.

And just for fun, here are some pictures of Emerson. Because we all know that's why people have blogs.

Look at those lips!

Waking up from a nap.