Summer Bucket List 2014

So apparently this is a thing - you make a list of things you want to do/enjoy/accomplish over the summer and then you spend your beautiful, leisurely summer doing/enjoying/accomplishing said things.

In previous years, as you may or may not know, (depending on how long you've been reading) summer was not a free time for me.  In fact it was my most busy, most stressful time of the year.

But this year, seeing as I got a different job last year (one year on June 3rd!), things are different.  For example, I'm not having rampant stomach pains and I’m not mainlining caffeine (as much…)  And I’m taking 2 vacations IN.THE.SUMMER.  Have I mentioned recently that I love my new job?  I love my new job.  I LOVE MY NEW(ish) JOB!

So since I have free time this summer (so weird still) I decided to jump on the train and give into peer pressure (thanks More Than Words and Little Monsters!) and create an SBL of my own (with some input from SP).

Without further ado and in no particular order…

Summer Bucket List 2014 

• Camping Weekend
• Go to a Professional Baseball Game
• See a movie in the park
• House warming party/ dinner party (and it was a BBQ - can you say 2 birds!)
• See Fireworks
• Go to the Beach
• Go to a Museum
• Day in San Francisco
• BBQ! (We've been doing this like EVERY night since we got an adult BBQ! Yay backyard!)
• Go on a picnic
• Have s’mores
• Go star gazing
• Build a veggie garden
• Finish the house painting touch ups
• Refinish our bathroom cabinets
• Paint and assemble Adirondack chairs
• Go to the Zoo
• Go to Seaworld
• Ice cream from the ice cream truck
• Go to San Diego
• Sunflower Café

We accomplished the first of the list last weekend as we spontaneously decided to have a beach day!  As a So Cal girl at heart, I yearn for the beach.  Unfortunately the beautiful beach is a good two hours away here, but it is oh so worth the drive!

Happy Summer-ing my friends – I’m so glad I can join you this year!

XO

Sarah

So I Married a Mormon (ps I'm Gay...)

This post is part of Mombian's Annual Blogging for LGBTQ Families.  Check out all the posts HERE!

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I happen to be a woman who married another woman.  It also happens that one of us was raised catholic (moi) and one of us was raised Mormon (her)

When we met neither of us was practicing any sort of specific religion as we felt alienated from our respective faiths and just really weren't sure where we fit in that whole smorgasboard. 

As our relationship progressed however there were quite a few stumbling blocks relating to our past religious affiliations.  Neither Catholics or Mormons condone "homosexual behavior."  My parents, although initially surprised, were incredibly supportive (it is fair to note as well that while my mother was raised catholic she's a pretty free spirit and my father is an atheist so I had a pretty open religious upbringing)  My church home on the other hand - thats an ancient work in progress.  One that I have currently decided is moving too slow for me to participate in.

My wife, however, had quite a few hurdles to jump with her family - as the majority are practicing Mormons.  So on top of the initial surprise that I would say is typical in the continuous coming out process, there were some religious tightropes to be walked by all.

I won't sugar coat it - when my wife came out to her family the response was anything but good (barring a few family members we had already confided in).  In fact it was almost a year of back and forth hurtful comments, religious dogma, and oceans of tears. 

This story, however, ends well (I think.)

While my wife's family are still very much practicing Mormons (and we are currently attending a Methodist church...) the ability to change, grow, forgive and love have mended some broken hearts. There is still plenty of room for improvement (a life-long journey I'm sure) but I'd like to think we are all approaching these relationships in the true spirit of the same God we all worship - with openness, and tenderness, respect, and ultimately love.

I truly hope that one day my family can choose whatever religious institution we feel called to attend, and while it will never be Mormon for us because I love my coffee too much - I'd like the options to always be there.  

That being said, I'm also open to your religion not accepting me.  Because that my friends is called religious freedom.  However, I do have the expectation that you will treat people as they wish to be treated and respect and LOVE them as they are.  Tolerance is a cop out I am unwilling to accept.  Especially from those who claim to worship all loving, all merciful, all knowing Gods - I would assume a perfect being such as that would expect more from you as well...

But that's not the point.  The point is, times are a'changin.  And Love is an amazing power that we all possess.  It builds bridges and fortresses and kingdoms. Love is so strong that it can build bridges where nothing (absolutely nothing) stood before. In fact Love is so strong it can build bridges between happy lesbian wives and one big Mormon family.  

And if that's not a victory, I don't know what is!

-Sarah