Casting No Stones

An indiscretion. An affair. Neighbors whispered their surprise, their condemnation and their abhorrence of the situation, a virtual stoning. It happened in my neighborhood. Although I’d heard other stories about married couples cheating, this was the first time I had encountered a situation where I knew all the players. To make matters worse, the cheater [...]

Dating, and other impossibilities

Do you date? I’ve been trying to get out for a date with my husband for two months. We’ve got children that are old enough to babysit, we’ve got working cars, we’ve got a few buck’s stashed away in my purse for dinner, WHY CAN’T WE GO!?

Top this…

Back when my kids weren’t grown up and my school-teacher husband held down two jobs and was busy working on a master’s degree, things were a little crazy at our house. (Who am I kidding? They’re still crazy.) I remember one day that was particularly difficult.

Create! President Uchtdorf– a multimedia presentation

You’ll cry. I promise, you will cry. lds.org put together a short film with photos, music and President Uchtdorf’s inestimable words. Be sure to read the instructions for downloading and share this with your friends, neighbors, EVERYONE. CREATE.

Pharoah’s Dream

Most likely, you remember this talk of President Hinckley’s, it was just weeks after September 11th, 2001 and given in the Sunday morning session– the session where the prophet speaks to the world. We had a renewed hunger for prophetic counsel that fall and waited eagerly in our homes and halls for his comfort and [...]

Mothers Who Kneel

We are scripturally admonished to pray always. I don’t.

Mother-in-law

Our guest poster chooses anonymity today in of the slight chance that her mother-in-law could read this– because she does love her, even if she drives her completely crazy. Sunday afternoons with 5 small children are chaotic at best with every toy called upon to maintain peace, meals spread throughout the long hours and disagreements [...]

How To Be Happy

I live in New York City with my husband and our three children. When people find this out (friends from outside the city) they usually respond in one of two ways: Option1, “You are so lucky. Do you love it? That’s awesome.” Option 2, “How long do you have to stay there? I don’t know [...]

You Selfish, Egotistical Racist!

An article in the NYTimes has me scratching my head, and I need some help.

True confessions: What is your shrimp salad?

One of my favorite books is The Ladies Auxiliary by Tova Mirvis. When discussing Mormon lit on Segullah–well, anywhere really–I often say I will know we have finally arrived when I read the Mormon equivalent of The Ladies Auxiliary. I love many aspects of this story about discovering true faith, finding meaning in your obedience [...]

Kathryn Lynard Soper’s Fantastic New Memoir

You all know Kathy Soper, right? Kathy Soper, founder of Segullah? Kathy Soper, writer and editor extraordinarie (see here and here for proof)? Kathy Soper, blogger to beat all bloggers? Kathy Soper, mother of seven? Kathy Soper, really great friend?

Terryl Givens speaking at AML Conference. And it’s free!

The Association for Mormon Letters’ Annual Meeting is taking place on Saturday, February 28th 9:00 a.m. at Utah Valley University. The keynote speaker is Terryl Givens, author of the acclaimed People of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture.

And so I wonder if perhaps I could possibly be completely crazy

I hate it when my husband goes out of town. With a deep, resentful hatred that is exactly proportional to how much fun he gets to have while he’s gone. If he tells me the car broke down and he had to spend the night in some seedy motel where he heard sirens all night, [...]

A New Idea

“I’m thinking I need to get back to normal.” And so closed the latest email from a dear friend dangling at the seeming end… of something. After each phase of life, after each season of change or trial or experience, getting back to “normal” is an interesting endeavor once we realize that normal will never [...]

Hair Insecurities

I’ve never figured out my hair. Most days I go with a ponytail/claw clip; I just don’t have the time to fix it. Even when I make the time for it, within an hour the hair falls flat and looks bad and I am baffled as to how to repair it. I’m insecure about all [...]

No Hearts

I’ve got to be honest. I hate Valentine’s Day.

Speaking the Truth

My oldest son turns 17 tomorrow—yes, on Valentine’s Day—and already my heart is aching at how soon he will be gone. Just yesterday he was running home from school, blonde bowl-cut hair flying, snow boots carrying muddy puddles into the kitchen and skidding to a stop to wrap his arms around my waist. “I missed [...]

Seeing Past the Smile

Quiet, unassuming, steady. She is the woman who is always there, always dutiful. She serves in the Primary, is a leader to one of my children. I can’t express the kind of love and appreciation I have about her service. She teaches in fun, meaningful, participative ways. It’s clear she puts a lot into her [...]

Ye Who Have Not And Yet Have Sufficient

My husband hangs up the phone and smiles broadly. He got the job. Burned out after seven years of teaching high school music, we’d decided to change careers. A feat not easily accomplished with his narrow educational background. This new job is in an entirely new field, and we feel all the luck of landing [...]

Magic like Santa

Occasionally we go to McDonald’s for a happy meal. You know, for special occasions (special occasions might be a play date with Daddy but also include nights I haven’t made it out into the freezing slushy, muck to get groceries.) It’s a bonus when the free toy is something really cool, like a few weeks [...]

Getting away from it all…

When DH and I got engaged, one of the first things we did (like thousands of studious Mormon virgins of our era) was purchase and avidly read Tim and Beverly LaHaye’s book The Act of Marriage. More than a decade later, I don’t remember much of the, ahem, technical advice they offered, but I’ll always [...]

It’s great to be eight

I don’t have anything funny or witty or profound or intellectual to write about today. It’s my daughter’s baptism in a few hours. The third child from our home to be baptized. I’m running around planning the entire event that goes along with a baptism, wondering when I’m going to get to think about the [...]

the place in between

Nothing gets those hands flying in Relief Society like a question about apostasy. Our instructor is a lovely woman but she couldn’t control the poisonous labels flung toward the chalkboard– Prideful! Materialistic. Angry. Bitter. Dark. Adulterous. Unfaithful! I twisted anxiously in my seat, staunching the temptation to scan the faces around me, because who knew–who [...]

Why Don’t You Go Downstairs and Carve an Ice Sculpture Out of Your Heart?*

There are people who like to keep their hearts locked up for safe-keeping. Very few are admitted to the inner sanctum. There’s no risk of heartbreak if hardly anyone goes near your heart. That’s how I am. At least that’s how I used to be. Much like the Grinch on Christmas morning, my crusty petrified [...]

To Suffer For Their Sake

Every week on Tuesday, the doorbell rings at exactly 5 p.m. Standing on our porch is the piano teacher—and depending on the day, she appears wicked witch or best friend, her invisible costume entirely dependent upon one factor: if we are prepared. This week on Tuesday, at exactly 4:30 p.m., my oldest was in hysterics [...]

Confessions of Moroccan Dream Date Barbie

Soon after I was married I went on a medical mission to Morocco. At 5’10,” with my fair skin, blond hair, and air of American independence, I turned heads wherever I went. I was constantly approached, called to, whistled at, and admired by people on the street. The team decided that I should always walk next [...]

Has the counsel changed?

My entire life hinged on a single sentence. “And in your schooling prepare yourself to be a mother in Zion, for this is your role in life.” Less than a page and generic in almost every way, my patriarchal blessing contained just this one startling admonition. I was stunned, humbled, disappointed. Academics were my venue [...]

Under New Management

After 3 1/2 years of creating, nurturing and expanding the horizons of Blog Segullah, our fabulous editor, Maralise Peterson is handing her baby to new co-editors co-slaves, Leslie Graff and Michelle Lehnardt. Happily, Maralise will remain as Art Editor of the Segullah Journal and will remain an active participant in Blog Segullah(and you can always [...]

February 1st is the New January 1st

Many thanks to Kristin for her guest post today. You can also find her at http://mindthemommy.blogspot.com/. At least for procrastinators. Those who were highly motivated to set new goals for the year, and have only now remembered to add them to the To-Do List. Or those who still have “set New Year’s resolutions” ON the [...]