Confession....I am a Catholic Mormon

I figure that it is time for me to admit to the blogging world that I am a Catholic Mormon. Now this might not be a surprise to all of you, but for those that don't know, I will explain. I am a Mormon, with Catholic influences. I could also be described as a cafeteria Catholic. I only choose some Catholic practices to subscribe too. This first began a few years ago when I started working with a woman named Debra. She was Catholic and after a little while we discovered just how much we had in common. So through time she became a Mormon Catholic and I became a Catholic Mormon. My Catholicism mostly comes out about this time of year. On the day following Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) comes Ash Wednesday. This is the start of Lent. Lent typically is a time when people will begin a 40 day fast of something that they enjoy. It lasts until Easter and is a way for people to remember the 40 day fast of Christ. Sundays aren't included because Sundays are to be a feast day. Well I give up the same thing each year for Lent, sweet treats! So after this Wednesday I will no longer be eating sweet treats. Wish me luck, the first 2 weeks are the hardest. The best part is that when the 40 days are done, I often can last another couple of months without eating too much sugar, but then I usually go back to my ways, so by the time Lent starts again, I am addicted to sugar once again and have to go through withdrawls. My goal is to someday not get addicted again, but that probably won't be for a little bit.

Ok, now that my confessions are done, here are some updates on what I have been up to.

I recently discovered a new blog, Normal Mormon Husband. This has become my new favorite blog to follow. If you have a few extra minutes, look it up.

I also have gone to the Draper Temple Open House twice. I first went with my friend Debra (see the Mormon Catholic above) and we went on a Friday afternoon. It was not very crowded, so we were able to go slowly so I could explain all about the rooms that we were going through. It was great. Then I went last night with my sister, bro-in-law and 2 year old nephew. There were about 12 million people there (ok, so maybe not quite that many, but it felt like it). It took us about 2 hours total versus the time before when we only spent about 45 minutes total. And the 2 year old didn't exactly want to be quiet and reverent during the tour, but we had him look at all the pictures of Jesus and kept telling him that he would get to ride on a school bus after we were done (he loves buses and calls them all school buses). So for the most part he wasn't too bad. But it was still great to go see the temple again. I haven't been to a temple open house before, if you get a chance, go, it is so beautiful. The celestial room is so wonderful. I can't wait to go back and do a session when it opens.

Me and Debra after touring the Draper Temple.

Me and Tyler before the temple open house.


And because I just can't help myself, here is a picture of Tyler that I took tonight. After his bubble bath (and he had to have bubbles) he wanted to wear his Elmo costume and I put his Elmo slippers on too.