The roles of Men and Women

Lately I’ve been thinking about this experience that I had when Josh and I were engaged. We were on a tour of the conference center in SLC and there were a couple of people in our tour that were not LDS. Our guide was talking about the prophets and the priesthood. A lady asked why women didn’t hold the priesthood in our church. Our guide said, “Well, I don’t mind not holding the priesthood.” That was it. I was so taken back by, what I thought was, an inadequate answer that I didn’t even have time to try to reconcile any damage she had just possibly done. Instead I’ve just spent years thinking about this experience and wondering if I had actually been able to say something if that lady would have understood how revered women are in the LDS church. I think that if I were to ever meet that woman again I would tell her that women don’t hold the priesthood because that is not our role as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I would tell her that as men and women we all have different roles and that goes for the church too. For lack of a better example, if we were all plug ins and there were no outlets for us to be plugged into, nothing would work. We would all try to do the same job, but couldn’t reach our full potential because without the outlet…we can’t work. Men have many roles including that of the priesthood, but without us women, they are incomplete and would not be able to perform to their full potential. How sad it is that society has looked upon being a “stay at home mom” (household manager is the term I like) as being oppressed and not being able to reach a woman’s full potential. When I look at the world today, it is very apparent to me that now, more than ever, there is the need for women to live up to their roles as mothers and nurture their children. Does that mean that a woman has to be a stay at home mom in order to be a good mother? I sure hope not because I, in fact, am a working mother. I work out of necessity for our family. However, it’s how we spend that time with our children and what we teach them that we need to focus on. I supposed that the true test will come when my children leave the home. The bottom line of my entire point making is that men and women have different roles – in society, in homes, and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are equal in our roles. The plug in is not better than the outlet, but merely has a different function. And because men and women are different, our roles will never be exactly the same. And though our roles are different, our goal is always unified.

bEnJaMiN fUn!

Benjamin playing the piano...Mozart's got NOTHING on him!!!

Aunt Dani, Benjamin, and Josh at 1st Dam in Logan when Dani came to visit. We had so much fun...thanks for coming Dani!

If you can't tell, Benjamin has food all over his face and in his hair. Aunt Jessie made the yummiest broccoli cheddar soup with bread bowls and it was a hit! Benjamin thought that it was so great that he wanted his hair and his cheeks to taste it too.

Here's a little closer view....isn't he the most beautiful boy you've ever seen? Man, I love this kid!

As always, you can click on all of the pictures to enlarge!

Christmas 2009 - a lot bit late

We spent Christmas in Casper this last year. We had a lot of fun with most of my family there. We sure missed the ones that weren't there. But here are some pictures from the most wonderful time of the year. Benjamin loved opening up presents even though he would have been perfectly content with just one present. I love children...especially at Christmas time. Go ahead and click on the picture to enlarge it and enjoy all of the fun pictures!

Tyler Laycock and Benjamin

We have some AWESOME friends who live way too far away from us, the Laycocks! Yes, Pleasant Grove is so far - I'm becoming a Utard, I know! I (Terra) worked with Scott in Provo at the MegaDiamond right when I got home from my mission. Scott and Janae saw me through all of my loser boyfriends and were very grateful that I married Josh. :-) And I have known them since their son, Tyler, was 3. Needless to say, we're good pals with those Laycocks and we think they're so great. The last time they came to Logan it was a snowing blizzard outside, but they braved the weather just to come and see us. Benjamin really looks up to Tyler..in more ways than one. We had a good time even though it was snowing like crazy out there. Here are some pictures of the two best buds, Benjamin and Tyler!

Can't wait to do this again Laycocks!

Happy 2010

Happy New Year! This new year comes, without surprise, some sadness as we say goodbye to 2009, but some excitement as we enter another wonderful year. We had a good 2009. Here's a little look into our 2009 year:

Rang in the New Year in Hope, IN with Josh's family
Got new Valentine's PJ's - I opted NOT to get the beer PJ bottoms
Went to Boise for Lincoln's 2nd birthday party
Evan & Ashlee left us for Colorado - Boo
We moved from downstairs to upstairs - right next to our FAVORITE people - the Hyltons!
Josh turned 26
Howard cousin reunion in Newdale, ID
Benjamin gets 4 teeth all at once
Trip to Littleton, CO
The Biggers leave us for Missoula, MT - BOO - I see a trend here!
More teeth for Benjamin
3 year anniversary!!
9 a.m. church!!! Wahew!
Benjamin turned ONE - and had his first taste of sugar
Mom Huff came for a visit
Josh got released from the bishopric
Josh and I get called to be Sunday School teachers
I finally get released as ward choir director - just shy of 3 years
Josh gets a new WONDERFUL job at Macey's the grocery store
Crawling, rolling, talking, drooling, and more teeth for Benjamin
*DISNEYLAND*
The beach, In N' Out Burger, sunshine, spending time with Mom/Nana Howard
Terra turned 30
Thanksgiving with the Staggs
Benjamin still growing like a weed!
Josh gets a speeding ticket on Christmas Eve - Blasted Officer Homer
Christmas with the Howard's in Casper, WY
Last moments of 2009 in Clearfield, UT

Needless to say, we had a wonderful 2009 and we look forward to an exciting 2010! We'll post some pictures soon of our excursions and of our darling little boy! Have a great 2010!

A Huff Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to our blogging friends! We hope that you all have a safe and wonderful Christmas. We are headed to Casper, WY for Christmas. We're so excited to spend it with Terra's family. There will be 20 people and 2 dogs in the Howard home. So it will be a bit chaotic, but fun. Thank goodness that they have a 7 bedroom house. :-) We're leaving on the 24th to drive to Casper - pray that the roads are good! We'll be coming back on the 29th. We're so excited for Benjamin to open up his presents. He doesn't totally get it, but he loves to rip the wrapping paper..so that will be lots of fun. We'll take lots of pictures with our awesome new camera.

For those of you who didn't know, Josh got a new job with the grocery store Macey's. He works in the meat department and he LOVES it. It's such a nice change from the old job!

I'm still working at USU to put Josh through college. Hopefully he'll be done sooner than later. We're praying...I'm probably praying harder than anyone else. :-)

Benjamin is growing. He is on the verge of walking, but is fine to get by on crawling and walking with help. His favorite mode of transportation is holding on to mom's fingers and walking...or running. He is getting really good at animal sounds. In fact, yesterday at church we were looking at a book of Christ during the sacrament and he saw a sheep and he blurts out, "BAAA BAAA BAAA. " I know, my child is so irreverent.

We are so grateful for our eternal family and for the testimonies of Jesus Christ that we have. We are also so grateful for this time of year that we have to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Bishop Ward - USU 57th Ward

For those of you who were in the USU 57th ward while Bishop Ward was Bishop, he passed away on Saturday, November 28th. He went and took a nap and when his wife went to wake him up, he never woke up.

His funeral will be on Wednesday, December 2 at 12:00 (viewing from 10:30-11:30 before funeral). It will take place at the Richmond Stake Center (135 W. Main, Richmond). Sister Ward would like anyone who was in the 57th ward with Bishop Ward to sing at his funeral. We need to get a count of how many are going to help sing and if we can also get someone to play the piano. We will be singing "Each Life that Touches Ours for Good." Please let me know if you are able to sing and are able and willing to play the piano.

Thank you!