Jenny Evans's Blog
Posted by Jenny Evans
Traditionally, the only "real" kind of freelance writing has been regarded as print writing, but as the technological landscape continues to change that's becoming less true. Subscriptions to actual newspapers and magazines are declining and will probably force many publishers out of business as more readers get their information from the Internet.
Many professional freelance writers are turning to the Internet to supplement or replace their income from print writing. But finding the best places to work online is sometimes difficult. A large percentage of advertised writing jobs on the Internet are either scams or "jobs" with payout approaching sweatshop wages. Try some of the ideas in Best Places to Write Online and Make Money to get started.
Posted by Jenny Evans
Writing SEO can be a maddening exercise. Those who write for print publications simply need to pitch an idea to an interested editor and write an interesting piece; those who write for Internet search engines must not only be good writers, but excellent keyword researchers and trackers of their content's vital statistics.
One of these critical measures is Google PageRank, the importance to which Google assigns every individual page on the Internet. Some bloggers and site owners check their page ranking religiously, while others dismiss its importance. What kind of attention does page ranking deserve? How much does it matter to SEO success?
Readers interested in this topic should read:
- Improving Google PageRank - a guide for SEO writers and bloggers to get the best possible page rank
- Why PageRank Isn't Everything - which two SEO indicators are much more important than page rank
Posted by Jenny Evans
Whether you've never heard of SEO before or you've written a lot of SEO copy, there are always new things to learn in the evolving world of Internet writing.
Search engine optimization (SEO) lives and breathes on well-researched keywords, but choosing the right ones is just the beginning. To write great SEO content, writers need to:
- Choose a topic that is interesting, informative, and likely to be searched
- Use online tools and good SEO techniques to research keywords
- Pick a title that is descriptive and optimally keyworded
- Perfect the art of placing and positioning the keywords
- Consciously work on improving page ranking
- Vigilantly protect against content theft
New Internet writers should check out basic information on how SEO works. If you're thinking about making the leap from print to online freelancing, you also need to know about the critical differences between print and online writing.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Want to monitor the global H1N1 situation with recent swine flu deaths, hospitalizations, and statistics? Read summaries of weekly swine flu updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) here:
- 25 October 2009 - WHO
- 31 October 2009 - CDC
- 1 November 2009 - WHO
- 7 November 2009 - CDC
- 8 November 2009 - WHO
- 14 November 2009 - CDC
- 15 November 2009 - WHO
- 22 November 2009 - WHO
Posted by Jenny Evans
If you're not already tired of hearing about the H1N1 pandemic that's got most of the world in a tizzy, then perhaps you need to immerse yourself in some of the best fictional pandemics from the last four decades.
Mankind's fascination with tiny yet deadly virus epidemics is portrayed on screen and in best-selling fiction, from Andromeda Strain in 1969 to Pandemic in 2005. See the complete list at 5 Best Fictional Virus Outbreaks.
Posted by Jenny Evans
Should you vaccinate against swine flu? That's the question on everyone's mind.
A friend of mine who has been scrambling to get her kids H1N1 vaccinations went to a clinic last week: she showed up 10 minutes before the clinic even opened and was turned away at the door because every vaccine was already spoken for. She was finally successful in getting her 3 kids vaccinated last night - after standing in line outside with them for three hours.
After researching H1N1, our family decided not to get the vaccine. Other than the fact that we want to avoid the whole scene described above (my friend still has to go back for her children's second dose 4 weeks from now), we decided that the likelihood of our perfectly healthy children dying from swine flu was slim. We can handle them getting a little sick - we think that vaccinating them against every possible illness may actually be more harmful in the long run.
That's our choice, but the personal health and circumstances of each person makes the choice different for everyone. Good luck on making your decision, and check out some of the resources on H1N1 vaccines below if you don't know where to start:
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Help! Swine flu is a pandemic, didn't you hear?!?
Before you start to panic, go straight to the source and learn the actual definition of a pandemic. When the World Health Organization (WHO) declared H1N1 a pandemic, it caused a lot of unnecessary alarm.
'Pandemic' refers only to the spread of a virus, not to its severity. So even though H1N1 is slightly more dangerous than the seasonal flu that goes around every year, it's not as bad as you might think.
Actually, influenza of any strain is a dangerous virus: the American Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 36,000 Americans die from seasonal influenza complications every year. The difference is that most of seasonal influenza's victims are elderly people, whereas H1N1 is primarily a young people's disease.
Learn more about H1N1 at Spotting, Treating, and Preventing Swine Flu.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Occasionally I'll hear someone say about Mormons, "They worship Jesus, but it's a different Jesus!" As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), that never fails to baffle me.
The Jesus Christ Worshiped by Mormons
Mormons believe in the Jesus of the New Testament in the Bible. He was the Son of an immortal father (God) and a mortal mother (the virgin Mary), making Him unique among all humankind. He was born in a stable in Bethlehem and there were miraculous signs of His birth.
When he was about thirty he began His ministry, getting baptized by immersion by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. He called 12 disciples and spent the next three years preaching eternal salvation, healing, and performing miracles.
He suffered in Gethsemane for our sins, and was crucified and resurrected. His Atonement ended animal sacrifice by the Law of Moses - it was the great and last sacrifice. He ascended into heaven after visiting his Jerusalem disciples and "other sheep" (John 10:16.)
How that can possibly be a different Jesus Christ than other Christians believe in, I don't think I will ever really understand. Mormons may understand a few things about Christ's eternal identity differently than other Christians, but it is obviously the same Jesus as the one in the Bible.
Mormonism's "Different Jesus"
What things do Mormons understand differently about Jesus Christ? The biggest difference is that Mormons do not accept the Trinity (the concept that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are the same essence or being.) There are various scriptural problems with the trinity which I won't get into here, but Mormons believe in the Jesus of the Bible who constantly said "I am the Son of God" (John 10:36) and about whom the Father said "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:7.) Please see The Mormon Godhead for more on the relationship between God and Jesus Christ in Mormonism.
The Trinity doctrine was accepted by debate and majority vote in the 4th century to reconcile apparent contradictions in the Bible; but Mormon doctrine isn't formed that way. It comes from authorized revelation contained in modern scriptures and teachings of the prophet.
I cannot emphasize enough that Mormons accept all that it written in both the Old and the New Testament about Jesus. Their additional beliefs about Jesus do not contradict the Bible's account, though they do contradict the post-Biblical notion of the Trinity.
Some of the things Mormons believe about Jesus aren't explicitly spelled out in the Bible, but are still in harmony with the Bible's teachings and even clarify some of the more nebulous passages in the Bible that have confused scholars for centuries.
Posted by Jenny Evans
As the number of converts continues to increase in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are more and more temple sealings where one or both sets of parents isn't eligible for a temple recommend and therefore can't attend the ceremony.
I should know: my sealing was one of them.
My husband's family is 100% active Mormon, but I am the lone Latter-day Saint in my family. Knowing that my parents felt that the Church was taking me away from them or like I was choosing my husband's family (who were able to attend) over them was hard.
We did some things to try to mitigate my parent's hurt feelings, but looking back there is more I wish I would have done. I wish I had explained more. I think my parents felt in the dark about temple sealing and were afraid to ask.
Please read Non-Member Family and Temple Marriage for a list of things we did (and wished we'd done) to make my parents feel more included in our wedding day. Here are just a few other suggestions on including nonmember parents:
- When explaining the temple recommend, use the word "ready" instead of "worthy." To the ears of most non-Mormons, not worthy = bad. Nonmembers are not bad people. A temple recommend certifies whether one is ready to enter the temple.
- Pray, fast, and ask others to pray and fast for your parents to understand and come to terms with your decision to marry in the temple. It also wouldn't hurt to talk to your bishop about it.
- You may not have the opportunity to talk with every distant nonmember relative about why they weren't invited to attend the sealing. Print out and frame a brief explanation of the temple sealing and your testimony of the temple, and leave it on the gift table at the reception. Then even those you don't talk to personally about it will at least know what's going on.
Remember that ultimately, your wedding day is about you and what you want as a couple. Do everything you reasonably can to accommodate non-Mormon family, but realize that sometimes it's just not possible to please everyone. At those times I like to think of the words to my favorite hymn: "do what is right, let the consequence follow." I honestly do believe that obedience to gospel laws brings blessings.
Other articles on temple wedding planning:
- Preparing for an LDS Temple Sealing - 5 methods for spiritual prep, plus what to expect at a sealing ceremony
- LDS Temple Wedding Planning - logistical concerns and practical stuff for the Mormon bride-to-be
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Posted by Jenny Evans
I'm a big fan of homemade holiday gifts. Why? For one, I live to be frugal - but it's more than just that.
Giving a storebought Christmas gift, unless it's truly a perfect fit for the recipient, just doesn't make sense to me. It's just a glorified way to trade money around — you get a gift receipt, I get a gift receipt, and then we all get the "gift" of standing around in line during New Year's to return something that we never really wanted.
I'd much rather give simple, homemade Christmas gifts. Using a new skill or talent learned during the year, I like to make something special for each person on my list. If I start early enough to make something for everyone, that is!
Of course, there are some things kids really want that you just can't make. For the children on your list, see:
What is the best homemade holiday gift you've ever given or received?
Posted by Jenny Evans
A friend of a friend has five apple trees in her backyard, and needs help getting rid of them every fall. So being the good friend of a friend that I am, I'm more than happy to help her out. Free food (free anything, really) is what I'm all about.
Last year I came home with four huge boxes filled to the brim, feeling very satisfied with myself. But it wasn't long before I started to get anxious. What had I gotten myself into? And what was I going to do with all these apples before they went bad?
I had never canned before, but decided there was no time like the present to learn. I borrowed some canning equipment, hopped on the Internet, and learned how to can applesauce. The first batch took a while, but after I got the hang of it I actually enjoyed doing it. And having homemade applesauce all year long was definitely worth it. I will never be able to stomach that watery store bought stuff again!
This fall I learned how to can apple pie filling in addition to applesauce. And to my surprise and pleasure, it was much easier and quicker than applesauce (and dirtied less dishes.) I plan on keeping some for myself, but I'm also giving a lot of it away for Christmas gifts this year.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
When October first hits, I start looking out for great photo ops of my kids for our annual Christmas card. With three children ages 1, 3, and 5, I realize that it would be much easier for me to send a generic card without a picture. But what's the point of that?
When my out-of-state relatives tear open the envelope, I know they aren't anxiously awaiting reading a hastily scribbled "Merry Christmas" from me. They also couldn't care less about the generic wintery scene on the front on the card. What they're interested in is seeing how the kids have grown.
I think a photo Christmas card adds personality to an otherwise boring card. Specialty digital photo greetings retailers online allow you to upload one of your own digital pictures and print it on Christmas cards that are mailed to your door.
With that out of the way, the next big holiday challenge is writing my annual Christmas letter...
Posted by Jenny Evans
I'm one of those people who actually enjoys writing an annual family Christmas letter. Okay, I don't really enjoy the process, but the end result of having a well-written holiday update to send friends and family makes me feel great.
Using this simple 4-step method for Christmas letter writing has helped me to write my family newsletters:
- Choose a format
- Brainstorm
- Interview
- Draft, revise, and proofread
It's a system that has always worked well for me, and I'm pleased with the finished holiday letter every year. I hope my recipients enjoy it as much as I do.
Other Christmas letter and Christmas card related articles:
- Free Christmas Letter Templates — hard-to-find online sources of completely free Christmas paper and holiday newsletter templates.
- Best Sites for Photo Christmas Cards Online — the three best sources of budget photo greetings, eco friendly holiday photo cards, and designer xmas cards with a digital picture.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Is it just me or did the holiday shopping season start in September this year? It's not even Halloween yet, and I feel like I've missed the boat on Christmas shopping.
Some of the hottest Christmas toys for 2009, like the Zhu Zhu (pronounced: zoo zoo) Pet Hamsters, are sold out and completely out of stock already.
Holiday shopping is always difficult, especially when you're shopping for kids. You want something that is inexpensive, durable, and most of all, it needs to be fun. How exactly do you determine what makes a "cool" toy when you're so far away from childhood yourself? Luckily, department stores and toy stores are all too willing to provide us with suggestions for the top toys of the holiday season for clueless adults.
And if you've got a boy or girl age 2 to 4 on your list, here are some articles written especially with them in mind:
Happy shopping, and good luck!
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Spend any time in a Latter-day Saint church service, and it won't be long before you hear a whole lot about the importance of the family.
Mormonism says that the family is the fundamental unit of the gospel, even more important than the church as an organization. In 1995 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued an official statement entitled The Family: A Proclamation to the World which explains fundamental LDS beliefs about family life and family values.
Mormons believe that from our pre-existence as spirits to our exaltation in the celestial kingdom, God organizes people in families.
Other Latter-day Saint teachings related to the sanctity of marriage and family are:
- The importance of a temple marriage, where spouses are sealed to one another for eternity (temple sealing is necessary for exaltation); and
- The law of chastity, which outlines the Lord's boundaries for sexuality before and during marriage.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gay marriage is not performed or recognized. The Mormon position on homosexuality is that it is contrary to God's plan for families.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
I've read some ridiculously long articles and blog posts lately on how to get rid of a Mormon missionary at your door, when really all it takes is a polite "Thank you, but I'm not interested."
People complain that Latter-day Saint missionaries can't take a hint, when really it's just that people are saying "yes" when they actually mean "no." Examples?
- "Now's really not a good time, so stop by another time."
- "Sure, come by and see if I'm home later."
- "Come back at 4:30 on Tuesday." (Intending to cancel the appointment or be out of the house then.)
Missionaries usually take people at their word, so say what you mean. Though you may think saying "yes" when you really mean "no" is being polite, you're really just wasting the missionaries' time - not to mention your own.
LDS missionaries are serving a full-time mission for two years at their own expense because they love the Lord and want to share His gospel as they see it - they're not out to bother anyone who really doesn't want to hear it. To learn more about what missionaries do and why, see LDS Full-Time Missionary Service.
Retired Mormon couples are also eligible to serve senior missions together in various capacities.
Posted by Jenny Evans
Classroom educators crafting alphabet lesson plans or parents looking for an educational game can use these letter ideas for children from toddler to kindergarten.
Scroll down to find activities, crafts, games, and hands-on fun for:
- Letter A
- Letter B
- Letter C
- Letter D
- Letter E
- Letter F
- Letter G
- Letter H
- Letter I
- Letter J
- Letter K
- Letter L
- Letter M
- Letter N
- Letter O
- Letter P
- Letter Q
- Letter R
- Letter S
- Letter T
- Letter U
- Letter V
- Letter W
- Letter X
- Letter Y
- Letter Z
Feel free to use any of these ideas with your own students, and please leave comments on the articles letting me know how they went!
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Posted by Jenny Evans
I've learned through years of visiting teaching and being visit taught that it can either be a joy or a burden - the difference really lies in how the visits are made.
We recently lost the best home teacher there ever was; he was assigned to some other families who probably needed him more than we did. But he was there every month, even if his companion couldn't make it (which was most of the time.) He would call after we had babies to see how we were doing. When the water main on our street burst, we mentioned it in passing and he showed up with a bunch of bottled water for us. A major windstorm hit Columbus in 2008 and knocked out power for up to a week in some areas, and since our phone obviously wasn't working he drove over to see if we were okay. He was a great home teacher and we were so sad to lose him!
For Elder's Quorum or Relief Society teachers looking for ideas about home and visiting teaching to share, search the ideas in How to Be a Good Home or Visiting Teacher for inspiration.
Posted by Jenny Evans
To me, athletics = boring, so I don't keep tabs on sports news too much. But I have to admit that the coverage of runner Caster Semenya caught my eye. At first I was just baffled about all the hoopla. "Just find out what chromosomes she's got and be done with it!" I thought. "XX she's a girl, XY she's a boy."
However, I did some more research. What is a human hermaphrodite, anyway? I found out some interesting things, and learned that it's not as simple as XX or XY. For both chromosomal makeups, there are individuals with a female anatomy and a male reproductive system, as well as people with a male anatomy and a female reproductive system. Not to mention the XXX, XXY, and XO chromosome types out there.
Like I said, it's a lot more complicated than I thought.
Source:
"Intersex," Google Health.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Before people start asking a lot of questions about what Mormons do and don't do, they need to realize two things:
- Mormons are Christians; and
- They're actually pretty normal human beings. (Chances are you work with or live near a Mormon and don't even know it.)
Because of their faith in Jesus Christ, the two most important holidays of the year are Christmas and Easter. These are times when all Christians celebrate Jesus' life and atoning sacrifice for humankind.
Halloween isn't a religious holiday, so members of the LDS church are free to celebrate or not celebrate it as they see fit. From my personal observation as a member of the church, most Mormons do.
For more information, please see:
Mormons celebrate all national and local holidays in the place where they live, in addition to personal birthdays and anniversaries. Pioneer Day on July 24th celebrates the day when the first group of Latter-day Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley to escape religious persecution. Pioneer Day is a state holiday in Utah; it is observed in varying degrees by Mormons living in other locations.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
It seems to me that some folks get bent out of shape about Mormons not believing in the trinity, when really the difference between trinitarian and non-trinitarian Christians is not so wide.
According to the orthodox definition of the trinity as developed by Athanasius, the concept of the trinity comprises three points:
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct individuals;
- They are one in purpose; and
- They are one in substance.
Mormons, who reject the trinity, completely agree with the first two points. LDS theology on the Godhead says that:
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three distinct individuals;
- They are one in purpose; and
- They are three separate persons or entities.
The only real difference here between Mormon and mainstream Christian theology is whether the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three entities or one. It seems to me that the difference should hardly bother a Trinitarian Christian, when it's impossible to really explain what makes three unembodied substances "one," anyway.
This isn't to say that the point is moot; on the contrary, the fact that the Father and Son are separate, embodied individuals is a key part of Mormon theology. I just want to point out that when it comes to beliefs about the nature of God, Mormons and non-Mormons actually have more in common than they have to disagree about.
Posted by Jenny Evans
Halloween season is almost upon us (my 5-year-old keeps talking about the candy she's going to get already) and it's time for parents to start thinking trick-or-treating. These ideas for easy DIY Halloween costumes and cardboard box costumes lessen the pressure on parents.
Trick-or-treating is so much fun for kids of all ages, but remember a few basic Halloween safety tips:
- Stick to well-lit roads with sidewalks for trick-or-treating
- Accompany children or make sure they trick-or-treat in a group
- Provide kids with flashlights and reflective or light-colored material on their costume
- Make sure to have a brief safety talk before they go: no getting in anyone's car or entering anyone's house
For older kids who are going trick-or-treating without a parent, set a time to be home and know the route they'll be taking during the night.
And just for curiosity's sake, readers might want to take a look at Do Mormons Celebrate Halloween? (We're actually a lot more normal than you think.)
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Posted by Jenny Evans
There are lots of things to love about apartment living: not paying for certain utilities, being able to fix almost everything in the apartment for free just by calling maintenance, and let's not forget never having to mow the lawn or empty the gutters.
But apartment living has its own challenges, too. One of the most major complaints is noisy apartment neighbors. I've lived in many different apartments in my life, and I've had all sorts of neighbors. But the people upstairs take the cake! They have five kids between the ages of 5 and 15, and all of them are fighters (not lovers.) It gets pretty loud up there, and sometimes we hear such apartment-rattling crashes that I'm sure I'm about to see a child plummet right through the floor into our living room.
Eventually we will own a house. But until then, the saga continues. At least I can take comfort in knowing that my upstairs neighbors are probably tolerant of the noise my kids are making - if they can hear it over their own, that is.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Losing a child, even for a second, is incredibly scary. Fortunately the child is usually found a few moments later, happily playing and blissfully unaware that their parent has almost had a heart attack. But it makes parents wonder, "does my child know how to protect himself against a child predator? "
Lessons about stranger danger can be difficult to teach, especially to very young children. As a result, we often do it wrong, falling back on seriously flawed maxims like "Don't talk to strangers." Kids need real stranger safety education, learning what people and situations they actually need to be cautious of.
Common techniques that child predators use to get kids in a vulnerable place are known as child lures - every child should be familiar with these and recognize them. Even smart kids will fall for many of them every time if they're not prepared.
Last of all, kids should be equipped with basic children's self-defense to use in case worst comes to worst.
Nothing will ever completely get rid of that gut-dropping feeling when you lose sight of your child in a crowded mall or park, but teaching kids about child predators early and often is the best defense against abduction.
Posted by Jenny Evans
There is a recent news story about a 10-year-old New Hampshire girl who was ordered by the court to attend public school instead of continuing homeschool education under her conservative Christian mother. The gist of the ruling is that the girl's religious convictions were too firm, therefore she needed to be exposed to more diverse opinions besides her mother's.
Keep in mind that courts can only overrule a parent when the child's best interest demands that someone intervenes. This judge interpreted the mother's transmission of her religious faith to be literally harming her daughter. If this ruling was to become a precedent, absolutely no exclusively Christian education (whether in a homeschool or a private school setting) would be allowed!
As I see it, there are two huge problems with the ruling:
- The girl was excelling academically in homeschool. If the court really felt that she was too isolated, then they should have mandated that she be involved in a local homeschool group, rec center classes, sports or clubs, etc. It doesn't make sense to pull her out of an educational system that was obviously working for her.
- Since when has it been any business of a court to decide whether anyone (child or parent) has religious convictions that are too strong?
But perhaps the most troubling thing of all to me is that even though the Constitution disallows the government from sponsoring any religion, American public schools today do have a sponsored religion: atheism. The judge in this case knew it. The solution to a 10-year-old who has been too indoctrinated with Christian beliefs is to throw her in the public school system, which will "cure" her by teaching that every background, lifestyle, and point of view is valid except a faith-based one.
Now I don't homeschool my own kids, but I support those who do. I think the ruling of this case is biased against both homeschooling and Christianity. What do you think?
Posted by Jenny Evans
Is there any job more demanding for parents than homeschooling? It requires an extreme amount of organization to design your own homeschool curriculum, in addition to being a full-time teacher, parent, and housekeeper. It's no wonder that most homeschool parents feel like they never get a minute to themselves - they don't!
That being said, the job is incredibly rewarding, or so many parents wouldn't do it. (There are 1.1 million homeschooled kids in the U.S., as a matter of fact.)
Parents struggling with the challenge of designing a homeschool curriculum might benefit from taking a look at resources like Five in a Row or virtual schools. Other helps in creating a homeschool lesson plan for primary school are:
- Games and Activities for Pre-Reading Skills
- Teaching Letter Sounds
- Letter of the Day Activities and Crafts for Homeschool
- Teaching Kids to Read 3-Letter Words and Beyond
- Lessons in Number Recognition
For information on other school choices including public school, private school, charter schools, and magnet schools, please see Evaluating and Choosing the Best School.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Staying healthy during cold and flu season is difficult, particularly for families with young children. Classrooms and playgrounds are breeding grounds for germs, and kids often get sick when it's back-to-school time.
Aside from concerns about the H1N1 virus (swine flu), the fall and winter months are difficult ones. To keep the common cold at bay, parents need to educate kids as young as preschool and toddler age about how germs spread and how to prevent flu and other illness.
Parents and teachers need to read:
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Posted by Jenny Evans
In searching for images to attach to my Mormonism articles, I've come across a lot of pictures of various signs from anti-Proposition 8 rallies in '08 attacking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a the "Mormon church") for its stance against gay marriage.
Some of the signs, like "My 2 moms can beat up your 14 wives" were pretty funny (completely inaccurate, since the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hasn't practiced polygamy in 120 years, but funny nonetheless.) But many of them just broke my heart.
There seemed to be so many people claiming that we "hate" - I saw the word "hate" on the signs over and over again. It makes me sad to think that so many people honestly believe the church's official position is to hate anyone.
Hate has no place in the gospel of Jesus Christ or in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is possible to love someone without condoning all their actions. In fact, that's exactly what Jesus asks of each and every one of us.
Opposing same-sex marriage isn't about condemning or punishing anyone. It's about upholding God's definition of marriage as we understand it. I'm open to a discussion on whether we interpret God right or not, but please don't start talking about "hate." It's really got nothing to do with it.
For more information on the official LDS position on gays and lesbians, read Mormon Beliefs about Homosexuality.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
My family loves going to Circle S Farms in Grove City, Ohio every summer for strawberry picking in June or raspberry picking in July. We missed the short strawberry season this year and my kids are really looking forward to raspberries.
I have obsessively been calling the Circle S U-pick hotline for weeks and the raspberries are finally ready (on a day by day basis, the message said - so still call before you leave to make sure.) I am so excited to go this weekend!
Another thing that I'm looking forward to is Fall Fun Days at Circle S. For the last two years I've gotten to go along with my daughter's preschool class. She's on to bigger and better things in kindergarten now, but I'm still planning on taking my family this year. My girls always love this place so much. They have so much fun running around in the haybale cave and going down the slides in the barn. It's a great celebration for little kids, and doesn't even cost that much for an afternoon of fun.
Posted by Jenny Evans
Staying home full-time with your child is simultaneously the most rewarding and the most challenging career on the planet. You are paid in pure love and get to witness every moment of your child's growing up years, but it requires endless patience and means that you rarely get a break.
One problem inherent in stay-at-home parenting is loneliness. It's easy to get depressed when you don't have regular adult conversation, particularly if most of your friends are still childless or if you just made the decision to stop working full-time.
The other big problem for full-time moms and dads is boredom. Life with kids can sometimes become monotonous, so make sure to get out of the house often and add something new to your routine. Bored stay-at-home moms and dads should try these suggestions:
- 20+ Creative Lunch Ideas
- Involving Kids in Meal Preparation
- Games, Activities, and Crafts for Teaching Pre-Reading Skills
- Water Activities for Toddlers
- 5 Best Children's Music Albums
- Stress Management for New Moms
When the days get frustrating for me and my kids at home, I just remember my favorite saying on full-time parenting: The days may be long, but the years are short.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Those who are interested in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) usually fall into two camps: those who want to know about Mormon religious beliefs, and those who want to know about Mormon "rules."
Even if you divvy it up into "rules" and "beliefs," it's important to understand that to Latter-day Saints, every rule is religious - the result of a belief. Nevertheless, here is a list of the basic Mormon rules:
- Word of Wisdom - the Lord's code of health
- Law of Chastity - no sex outside of marriage
- Modesty - code of acceptable dress
- Sabbath day - what it means to keep the Sabbath day holy
- Tithing - giving 10% of one's income to the church
For those more interested in Mormon theology, I suggest starting with a look at the Articles of Faith, which collectively provide an excellent summary of what Mormons believe.
Posted by Jenny Evans
The Articles of Faith comprise 13 statements of belief of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were written in 1842 by Joseph Smith in response to a newspaper reporter asking what Mormons believe. Together, they form a fairly complete and accurate representation of LDS church doctrine in a nutshell.
This series of articles explaining each Article of Faith is intended to increase understanding of the Mormon religion:
- First Article of Faith - deals with Mormon belief in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost
- Second Article of Faith - talks about Adam, Eve, and original sin
- Third Article of Faith - addresses the atonement of Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments
- Fourth Article of Faith - explains the four basic building blocks of the gospel
- Fifth Article of Faith - elucidates priesthood authority and serving in the church
- Sixth Article of Faith - talks about the restoration of the gospel and explains Mormon church organization
- Seventh Article of Faith - lists the gifts of the Spirit
- Eighth Article of Faith - describes the roles of the Bible and the Book of Mormon
- Ninth Article of Faith - affirms belief in continuing revelation from God
- Tenth Article of Faith - addresses the gathering of Israel in the last days
- Eleventh Article of Faith - stresses the importance of freedom of religion
- Twelfth Article of Faith - deals with patriotism and being law-abiding citizens
- Thirteenth Article of Faith - emphasizes that Mormons seek all the good things in life
(Obviously, more articles are forthcoming and this list will be updated as time goes on.)
The Articles of Faith form a well-known expression of religious beliefs that children in the Mormon faith are often encouraged to memorize. They form a concise, cohesive statement of what Mormons believe.
Posted by Jenny Evans
Documenting the life of my children is really important to me, like it is for many moms out there who scrapbook.
Everybody has their own style and method, but I like to do one book for each child - this is their own personal keepsake scrapbook. When they graduate from high school, I plan on giving it to them as a gift. (I imagine that they might not read it that much, but it would be great for a future spouse and children to look at later on down the road!)
How do you like to scrapbook your kids? What tips and information do you have to share?
Scrapbooking beginners and seasoned scrappers who are stuck for inspiration might also want to read How to Design a Scrapbook Page Layout.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Every April and October, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather around their computers, televisions, or radios to hear the prophet and apostles speak to them at general conference.
General conference is one of my favorite times a year, when I basically set aside my normal weekly routine and dedicate my time to absorbing the inspired words of our church leaders and get my priorities back on track again.
"Eight hours?!?" non-Mormons usually exclaim. Yes, it is a long time. But conference makes me a better person and adds direction and meaning to the remaining six months. And when the text of all the talks is printed in the church magazine, I really enjoy digging in and studying the words of the prophet and apostles.
For the dates and times of the upcoming general conference, please see "LDS General Conference in October 2009." Information for non-members interested in watching conference is in the article, as well.
For Latter-day Saint parents looking for ways to occupy and involve their kids during general conference, try the hints listed in:
Posted by Jenny Evans
Baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a little bit of a mystery to many non-members of the faith. It's done by immersion (going completely under the water) rather than by sprinkling, and Mormons do not baptize babies. While those things aren't unique to the LDS church, they certainly put Mormons in the minority.
One of the biggest mysteries to non-Mormons is why Mormons baptize every convert, even if they have already had a Christian baptism in some other church. They also do vicarious baptisms for the dead, even for those of other Christian denominations. The reason is that Mormons believe that true priesthood authority to baptize was once lost from the earth and now resides in and only in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
As a convert to Mormonism, I can see how that claim might come across as pompous, presumptuous, or even offensive to members of other faiths. But it simply comes from a sincere belief in Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision, which is not intended to tear down anyone's faith but to add to it the additional truths that were lost thousands of years ago.
(For more on what to it's like at a Mormon baptismal program, see "Attending a Mormon Baptism.")
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Posted by Jenny Evans
For me, having a testimony that the prophet is the chosen representative of the Lord makes all the difference. I've asked God if the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a real prophet, and it's been undeniably confirmed to me by the Holy Ghost.
If I didn't have that, then listening to the prophet would be a sort of blind obedience. But in light of the testimony I have of the prophet, it's more like an intelligent, informed decision to listen to the counsel I know is best for me.
I've heard it compared to a fence with a sign on it reading "Danger: High Voltage — Do Not Touch." Because you trust that the government officials who placed that sign know what they're talking about and are telling you the truth, you obey the sign. It's not blind obedience because of what you know about how the sign got there.
Because I know where the prophet's words come from, I am completely willing to listen and comply. God's counsel to the church as a whole comes through the prophet, and knowing that has made all the difference to me.
Posted by Jenny Evans
Almost without fail, my most popular article every week is "How To Tell If You're Having a Miscarriage." This is such a sad, sad topic. Although as a writer I love to see that I've got an Internet audience, when I see the number of viewers each week I can't help but imagine the women who are potentially experiencing the worst crisis of their lives as they search the Internet for a definitive answer to what might be going on with their bodies.
Before I lost a pregnancy due to a blighted ovum in June of 2008, I was fairly clueless about miscarriage. I didn't know that as many as 25% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and was surprised by the outpouring of support from friends who'd had pregnancy losses that I didn't even know about. (See "Miscarriage Facts and Statistics" for more information.)
Whatever the type of miscarriage, recovery from a pregnancy loss is never easy. In many ways it's more difficult to talk about than other types of loss, because you or others might feel that it's not that same thing as a "real" death. It's such a painful, private grief.
Physical and emotional recovery isn't a strictly linear path; there are good days and bad. But overall with plenty of support and understanding, wounds eventually heal.
Getting a doctor's help and following sound medical advice is the best course for women after miscarriage. Above all, remember that a single miscarriage doesn't make it much more likely to have a second, and even multiple miscarriages don't completely rule out the possibility of future successful pregnancies.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
When I lost a pregnancy in 2008, my miscarriage started the morning of a routinely scheduled ultrasound. The doctor said I should just come in as scheduled and we would confirm then whether I was actually miscarrying.
We did the ultrasound, verified that the pregnancy was ending, and before I could even get off of the exam table the doctor was scheduling me for a D&C later in the week. I felt a little blind-sided. Haven't women been having miscarriages for thousands of years before dilation and curettage? Couldn't we at least let my body try to handle it on its own first before intervening?
What truly alarmed me was that there was no mention of the potential risks and complications of a D&C, or even the fact that I might not even need one! (In my case, I didn't - after a week the miscarriage had completed itself.)
I have a good friend who was just diagnosed with Asherman's syndrome, the development of thick scar tissue in the uterus and fallopian tube following a D&C that will make it difficult (if not impossible) for her ever to get pregnant again.
A dilation & curettage is a serious procedure, particularly if you plan on getting pregnant again in the future. Unless there is a compelling medical reason to get a D&C immediately, it's always best to wait a week first to see if your body can take care of the miscarriage naturally.
Posted by Jenny Evans
Some of Joseph Smith's critics seem to be especially fond of saying that "he died in a blazing gun battle." However, four cornered men trying to defend themselves with six bullets and a walking stick against an armed mob of 150 hardly qualifies as a gun battle.
Recently I have had a chance to research the events of Joseph Smith's death, and understand why he felt the need to protect himself - because he knew that those whose job it was to protect their citizens would not do so for him. The Missouri state government had routinely looked the other way when Mormons were harassed, attacked, and persecuted. An extermination order from the governor effectively kicked them out of the state. Joseph Smith sought redress from President Martin VanBuren, and was told that there was nothing the federal government could do for them.
So when tensions reached their height in Nauvoo, it's no wonder that Smith declared martial law for protection. Both state and federal government had turned its back on the Mormons, and Smith knew from experience that no one would be protecting their rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
It turns out that Smith was right. The Illinois governor promised him protection if he surrendered himself to arrest, but the militia guarding the jail only had blanks to fire and didn't stop a mob from charging inside and killing Smith two days later.
So was Joseph Smith a martyr? A martyr is someone who "voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion" [Merriam-Webster's Dictionary.] No one disputes that Joseph Smith was killed for his religious beliefs and practices, but what about the first part of the definition? Did Joseph Smith die voluntarily? I believe that he did, and this is why.
When a warrant for Smith's arrest went out, he originally escaped from the state. He returned after a few days and made the conscious decision to surrender. He was sure that surrendering himself meant death - as he left Nauvoo for Carthage Jail, he said, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter" - but he made the conscious decision to do it anyway.
In my opinion, the fact that Joseph Smith tried to defend himself in his last moments (as I imagine that ancient martyrs thrown into the lions' den tried to run away or protect themselves just before they were eaten) doesn't revoke his martyr status. But I suppose that is a matter of opinion...
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Wedding planning is, in a word, horrible. There are a million and one things to plan, all of which are supposed to happen simultaneously and without a hitch on the same day. It's expensive and stressful, and worst of all, it takes away from the specialness of your engagement! Trying to choose the perfect wedding date, find the right wedding invitations, and hire the right wedding photographer were some of the biggest stressors for me.
Hindsight is usually 20/20, and unfortunately it's like that with wedding planning too. Looking back I see a lot of things I'd do differently, particularly in how I worked with my wedding photographer. I wish I'd communicated more clearly what I wanted, and feel a little twinge of wistfulness when I see a wedding album with the photojournalistic style that I love.
I'm onto the next phase of my life now - rearing three kids 5 and under - but I can clearly remember the hours of planning and searching leading up to my wedding day. Weddings deserve diligent attention and planning, but truly, the important thing is the marriage that goes on after the wedding day is nothing but a distant memory.
(And just for laughs, as I was writing this post I happened to come across this wedding procession!)
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Learning what the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did and why they did it builds faith and testimony.
Planning a trip to Kirtland, OH teaches about the community and the unflagging faith of early Saints in the 1830s. Seeing the sites takes less than a whole day, making it a great trip for young children or those short on time.
Visitors on a church history trip to Nauvoo, IL should take a minimum of two to three days to explore. There are so many interactive exhibits, visitor's centers, tours, and shows to take in. Watching the Nauvoo Pageant, seeing Carthage Jail, and walking the same streets the pioneers walked help members and non-members of the church alike to feel the early Saints' spirit of determination to follow the prophet, come what may.
It's hard to understand the value of a church history trip until you've been on one. Learning about the trials, sacrifices, and faith of the pioneer Saints is a critical building block of one's own testimony. Church history trips taken as a ward, as a youth group, or as a family are unforgettable experiences.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Expecting parents have a long journey ahead of them, and it usually starts with buying all the necessary gear. It's amazing the amount of stuff small babies need to get along.
Like any other purchase, it's important to shop around for information and reviews on innovations like 3-in-1 travel systems and convertible cribs before buying any major piece of baby gear.
Friends of new parents should learn about the 5 best baby shower gifts, the 5 worst shower gifts, and the most helpful ways to reach out to a friend who has just had a baby.
New mothers might also be interested in reading:
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Posted by Jenny Evans
It's nice to have a little extra money to pay the bills, but with three young children I have no time or desire to leave home to work full- or part-time.
Flexible hours and the ability to work from home are two non-negotiable criteria for any money-making opportunity I pursue. Making money with the Internet can be done, but not all avenues are created equal. My best advice for people in my position is to try:
- Freelance writing, both online and offline
- Crowdsourcing
- Paid online surveys
- Mystery shopping (Corporate Research International is my favorite)
Whatever money-making opportunity you investigate, make sure to watch out for online work-at-home scams.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
I'm infamous among extended family for being "The Cheap One," which I take as a compliment (even when it's not meant to be one.) Whenever somebody wants to find a deal on something, they usually call me to see if I've got any ideas.
I pride myself on getting my family through some very lean times, and over the years I've found some of the best ways to save money on just about everything including groceries, printer ink, diapers, online purchases, phone service, and college textbooks. I've also found that using cash back credit cards for all our family's purchases contributes to our personal savings - I never even carry cash anymore.
We also use a budget in our home to control our spending and know what's going on in our wallets. Some budgeting articles you might want to check out are:
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Posted by Jenny Evans
My oldest daughter will be entering kindergarten this fall, and I did a lot of research before ultimately enrolling her in our zoned public elementary school.
Education is so important, especially in the formative years. A good school environment can instill a lifelong love of learning and achievement; a bad school environment can completely squash it.
There are lots of options for K-12 education out there, particularly for families who live in larger cities. They may have access not only to their zoned public school, but also to:
- public schools with open enrollment
- private schools
- magnet schools
- charter schools
Parents who want to homeschool their children could look into virtual K-12 schools for a comprehensive, yearly curriculum and teacher support.
For a list of questions to ask and tools to use in evaluating a particular school, read "Choosing the Right School."
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Posted by Jenny Evans
I just got back from chaperoning Youth Conference. Four stakes gathered at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio for games, workshops, and devotionals. And of course, let's not forget the dance.
Attending Youth Conference made me realize how simultaneously wonderful and challenging working with the youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be. It's hard to take a group of 12 to 17 year old girls and try to help them form friendships, especially if you're from a small ward or branch. More and more girls don't come from homes with two active parents. There's always at least one girl who is determined to have a rotten attitude about everything. The list of problems goes on and on.
I think all Young Women's presidencies and teachers struggle with the same things, which is why I've compiled some resources for Young Women's leaders in these articles:
- Ideas for YW Mutual Activities
- Personal Progress Motivators
- YW Value Colors and Project Ideas
- Bulletin Board Ideas for the YW Room
- Dealing with Cell Phones and Texting in Class
What do you find is the most challenging aspect of your calling as a YW leader?
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Posted by Jenny Evans
For the 4th of July we took the kids to the dam at Alum Creek in Lewis Center, Ohio. We've had the hardest time finding available grills in central Ohio public parks, but had no problems at Alum Creek - even on the 4th of July. Even though the kids wanted plain buns instead of burgers and said the potato salad I made was "yucky" (I think it tasted delicious, for the record,) they had a great time playing at the park and walking around on top of the tall dam. How did your family celebrate Independence Day? Did anyone go to Red, White, and Boom?
For Columbus area parents running out of fresh entertainment ideas this summer, try some of these articles on my favorite places to take my kids:
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Posted by Jenny Evans
For me and for most other moms I know, getting dinner ready is one of the most stressful times of the day. The kids are bored and I'm trying to simultaneously entertain them and cook!
We've been playing a restaurant game at home for the past three weeks, and the kids and I love it. My 3 and 5 year old get so excited to take turns being the Junior Chef and the Hostess every night that they usually start asking around 2 or 3 P.M. if it's time to start making dinner yet.
I've made cookies with the girls on an occasional basis, but have never regularly cooked with my kids. Now that we've started, I'm surprised by how much my 5 year old is learning by cooking with me! She's reading me the recipe, knows how to pull out the seeds inside a green pepper, and even flips the chicken in the frying pan. At 5, she's already a much better cook than I was when I first moved out on my own.
For more information about meal prep with kids and ideas for lunch that don't include peanut butter and jelly, also read "20+ Creative Lunch Ideas for Parents."
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Posted by Jenny Evans
When I had my first baby, the decision to breastfeed came naturally to me.
But when it was time to put my money where my mouth is, I was shocked. I couldn't get her to latch on correctly, I felt clumsy and like I was exposing myself to the entire world every time I went to nurse, and most of all, it hurt.
I was so taken aback! Why had no one mentioned to me that this completely natural process was difficult and painful? Sore, cracked nipples are bad enough, but the nursing contractions during the first few days postpartum took my breath away.
However, it does get better after those painful first few days and weeks. Baby learns how to do it, you learn how to do it, and pretty soon you can easily nurse without even thinking about it. For more sources of breastfeeding support and pain relief, try reading "Breastfeeding Help for New Nursing Moms."
And if you need more reasons to breastfeed, just try it and wait until one day you look down at your precious baby nursing and she lets go to smile at you.
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Posted by Jenny Evans
I'm reading William P. Young's novel The Shack right now (I know, I know - I'm a few years behind on the bestseller list...) Have you read it? What did you think of it?
As coincidence would have it, I did a lot of research on the Trinity for some pieces I was writing just prior to starting The Shack. The book is a Trinitarian novel, and I was pretty impressed at seeing how Young explained such a complicated belief. (The articles, if you're curious, are called "Biblical Arguments Against the Trinity" and "The Mormon Alternative to the Trinity.")
I'm only partway through the novel, but so far I've enjoyed the discussion on free will, where God asks Mack rhetorically, "Just because I know you're too curious to go, does that reduce your freedom to leave?" I also liked God's answer when Mack asks, "Honestly, don't you enjoy punishing those who disappoint you?" God answers, "I am not who you think I am, Mackenzie. I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish it; it's my joy to cure it."
What were your favorite parts of The Shack? What did you dislike?
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Posted by Jenny Evans
Now that it's summer, the kids are home full-time from preschool and it's a great opportunity to work on some basic pre-reading skills together. For fun (and educational) ideas, try the articles "Games and Activities to Teach Pre-Reading Skills" and "Homemade Beginning Reading Game for Kids."
When my first daughter was 2 and learning her letters, I planned out Letter of the Day crafts. She loved displaying the finished crafts in her room, learning her letters, and spending time with mom. But I'll be the first to admit that I had a lot more time on my hands then. I'm writing more now, I have three kids, and life seems to keep getting busier. I tried to do a Letter of the Day with my second daughter, but I think it took a few months and we petered out somewhere around H...
Nevertheless, summers are a great time for reading with your child. I'm a big believer in the power of one-on-one teaching. My 5-year-old is already into chapter books (her favorite series is Rainbow Magic), and my 3-year-old is sounding out three-letter words. My degree isn't in childhood education, but I think having passion for teaching your kids is enough. These articles outline the strategies I've used with my kids, and they've been so successful that I plan to use them again in the future for my 1-year-old:
Have a great summer with your kids and make learning fun!
Posted by Jenny Evans
Usually, only faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a temple recommend can go inside the Mormon temple. But when a new temple is built, it opens its doors to the public first for an open house.
The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple open house is going on, Mondays through Saturdays from June 1 to August 1. The interior tour is free of charge, but does require a reservation in advance by calling 1-800-521-5105.
The address, pictures, and construction information for the Oquirrh Mountain temple is located here.
To learn more about the temple, try reading:
For members of the LDS church, a total of 9 dedicatory sessions will be held over the weekend of August 21-13. The temple will open for ordinances on Tuesday, August 25, 2009.
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