Adoption not Abortion "A Person's A Person No Matter How Small" (Horton Hears a Who and Pro Life).

This post is about a difficult subject, but one that I am strongly passionate about. It is about ABORTION, which I am strongly against.  But recently I was reading a popular children's book and I discovered that it could be seen as a Pro Life political work.  The Book was HORTON HEARS A WHO by Dr. Suess.

To refresh our memories about the story I will quickly summarize it.  Our hero Horton is playing in some water when he hears a little voice coming from a speck of dust. He decides to pick up the speck and put it on a soft piece of clover.  He then discovers that the speck is home to a whole town of people known as who's.  Immediately Sour Kangaroo starts making fun of Horton stating that there is no way anyone is on that speck of clover. Several of the other Jungle creatures join her disbelief and the decide to boil the clover in hot water unless Horton can prove the people are real.  So the town on the clover makes tons of noise to prove they are there, which isn't loud enough until every single person in their town including little JoJo the smallest of them all helped out. Showing that every single person made a difference in saving their town. Once the Jungle creatures realize they really are there. They decide to help protect the people on the clover as well. Following the mantra that, "A Persons a Person No Matter How Small."

Doesn't it sound similar to the fight against Abortion.  Unfortunately for our unborn Fetus's they have no way when they are 12 weeks in the womb to make noise to prove they are there and that they matter. We need to protect them, and prove they are there and have the right to live.  Just like Horton we need to save our little people. So many people will be like the Sour Kangaroo, claiming that since the Fetus isn't fully developed it is still ok to kill them, and that since they don't look quite human yet they don't deserve human rights. It is our job to fight that opinion and prove them wrong!!! Here are some quotes from the story that I feel emphasize the right for every baby to be born. 

"“Should I put this speck down?...” Horton thought with alarm. “If I do, these small persons may come to great harm. I can’t put it down. And I won’t! After all a person’s a person. No matter how small.” "- Horton

"“For almost two days you’ve run wild and insisted on chatting 

with persons who’ve never existed. Such carryings-on in our peaceable jungle! We’ve had 

quite enough of your bellowing bungle! And I’m here to state,” snapped the big kangaroo, 

“that your silly nonsensical game is all through!” And the young kangaroo in her pouch said, 

“Me, too!” “With the help of the Wickersham Brothers and dozens of Wickersham uncles and 

Wickersham cousins and Wickersham in-laws, whose help I’ve engaged, you’re going to be 

roped! And you’re going to be caged! And, as for our dust speck…hah! That we shall boil in 

hot steaming kettle of beezle-nut oil!”" - Sour Kangaroo

“We’ve GOT to make noises in greater amounts! So, open your 

mouth, lad! For every voice counts!” Thus he spoke as he climbed. When they got to the top, 

the lad cleared his throat and he shouted out, “Yopp!” 

And that Yopp… That one small extra Yopp put it over! Finally, at last! From that speck on 

that clover their voices were heard! They rang out clear and clean. And the elephant smiled. 

“Do you see what I mean?... They’ve proved they ARE persons, not matter how small. And 

their whole world was saved by the Smallest of ALL!” “How true! Yes, how true,” said the 

big kangaroo. “And, from now on, you know what I’m planning to do?... From now on, I’m 

going to protect them with you!” And the young kangaroo in her pouch said,… 

 “…ME, TOO! From sun in the summer. From rain when it’s fall-ish, I’m going to protect 

them. No matter how small-ish! - Dr. Suess

The motto to the story as Horton proudly says, "Even though you can't see or hear them all, a person's a person, no matter how small."

We all know that there is an option, for those who can't keep their newborns.  An option that allows those who can't have children on their own to be able to have the gift of life they so long for.  It's Adoption! and it is a wonderful thing.  Half of my husbands siblings are adopted from Mexico, 4 out of 8.  I could not picture life with out them, and I'm so glad that their birth parents gave their children the right to live. With out it half of our family would not exist. 

Picture half of this family not here, the adopted siblings and their children not in existence. that is the terrible truth of abortion. And so many blessings and love have come from those amazing individuals in our family because they were given the gift of life. It's the least we can do in a world where so many terrible things happen that are out of our control. 

This matter is in our control, and with a change of a few letters, we can change ABORTION to ADOPTION and give life and happiness to those around us.  Especially those who want those children so badly! I'm so grateful for my husbands beautiful family. And for his parents who were so loving in opening their lives to adopting four amazing children who are some of my best friends and siblings in law.  So grateful to them, and for their birth moms who loved them enough to be brave and give them the best future possible through adoption. I have so much respect for them. It really is about love.

So remember, "A Person's a Person No Matter How Small." And so is the difference you can make in the world.

With love, 

 REB&NICK

Sweet, Simple, LOVE

Nick and I learned some valuable truths about showing LOVE this Valentines Day

                 

First of all while we were singing on 25th street some super nice girls wanted to take our picture and listen to us sing "Everything has Changed" by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. It made our nights to see that our love was touching and inspiring people. And that people liked our music!! But I will get to that part of the story.

                           

Truth 1: Simple things such as dressing nicely for your hubby really make a big difference to them.  I noticed in the past that Nick likes it when I take time to look good for him and he really appreciated it Valentines Day, especially since he had worked all day, it was a pleasant surprise that set the tone for the evening. 

Truth 2: It doesn't take anything expensive or complicated to make a fun surprise for your spouse, it seriously is the thought that counts!! Especially with Nick.  The theme of this surprise was: There are many wonderful love stories in the world, but OURS will always be my favorite. I chose this because I finally wrote our love story in a Shutterfly book to surprise Nick. The chick flick DVD's we all ready had and Nick had previously mentioned the night before that he wanted to watch a chick flick on Valentines with me. He picked "Alex and Emma", which is such a great film. I also got Nick a couple of his favorite treats (Reeses and Doritos) my mom got us the Sparkling Cider (Our Favorite) and Thin Mints. I all ready had the mugs and I got the mini family traditions book, and the things to do once in a lifetime cards, discounted from the Weber State Bookstore. Then there is our traditional Whiteboard we write all our love notes to each other on.  It is such a fun inexpensive tradition we use to show we care. Lastly I wrote Nick a note to bring all of the gifts together.

My Darling Nickolas,

On this Valentines Day I wanted to tell you how I love how your sunflower eyes SPARKLE. You're a wonderful CHIP off the old man's block my DEAR ito ;) 

You are a gentleman and so NICE! I really appreciate and love that! Darling I love you to PIECES more than any KAT. 

I can't wait to shower you with KISSES

And start a FAMILY with you.

There are many love stories out there, but OURS is my Favorite.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=wAZOHLNy1cM2bV2M

(Link to our Story)

I can't wait to spend the rest of my LIFETIME and the rest of Forever with YOU!

LOVE, your Darling Reb 

Since Nicks Love Language is words of affirmation and mine is gifts, this was the perfect way of combining the two, so I could still love him in his language while still speaking mine (by giving a gift). Nick loved this surprise!! 

Truth 3: Make Valentines Day about Family!! Valentines Day is also Nick's Dad's birthday which has been such a blessing because it has helped us focus on loving our family on Valentines Day.  Family has the best kinds of love and often gets overlooked on Valentines Day which is sad.  Whether you're single or in a relationship! Show your family and friends you love them on Valentines Day.  Nick and I are super excited to start or own family that we will teach the real meaning of love too.  I think it's important to keep Valentines Day pure, so many people focus on Physical Love on Valentines Day which I think is fine but sad! If people focused more on their Emotional Relationships on Valentines Day I think it would be more enjoyable for everyone.  But the physical parts can be so fun especially when your married;) So make it fun!! But also focus on giving all your family and friends love!

Truth 4: Do things that take you back to where/how/when you originally fell in love.  It will bring all those original feelings back, plus blissful nostalgia and amazement about how far you have come.  For Nick and I that place was Historic 25th street in Ogden, and the how was through music.  So after Nick saw his surprise, we decided to go for a walk (Because the weather was beautiful) and we ended up going to good old 25th street, and sitting on this adorable blue bench, and singing the night away.  It was so romantic and exciting, we both just let go as we sang our hearts away to each other and to the people around us, allowing our harmony to intertwine through the night air. While we were singing these awesome girls told us that we reminded them of the couple in the "Endless Love" movie they had just seen and asked to take our picture.  So we sang to them.  It was so rewarding to share a piece of our love with them.  I hope we inspired them a little to wait for the one person that makes everything just fall into place. I know Nick was worth waiting for;) And singing with him is one of the most exhilarating and liberating things I have done in a long time. I felt my voice becoming free again, and my anxiety and fears crumbling down. It's incredible what love can do.

So happy Valentines Day Everyone from us to you, may you always recognize the love everywhere in your life, whether you are in a relationship or not.  There are always people their for you, that love you and support you, and Valentines Day is a great way to recognize them. I know we love you!!!! 

So Happy Late V-Day from us to you 

LOVE REB&NICK 

Crashiversary

A year ago yesterday (January 22, 2013),  I was in a car accident that changed my life. It was an accident my roommate and I really shouldn't have walked out of.  But somehow we did, with minimal injuries and a totaled car. This was nothing short of a miracle.  It was a shattering experience, you never realize what is exactly going on, you just feel the collision motion and then go spinning off into nothingness, too shocked to comprehend the gravity of what happened or would happen next.  It taught me that life is fragile, and yet that my work here isn't done yet.  I thought of all the hundreds of t bone accidents like ours that were fatal.  I wondered to myself why out of all the other accidents did we survive, the odds were incredulous, and yet we were still here. Our families rushed to the ER to make sure we were all right, it was one of those moments that shows to us what matters the most, and how we are prioritizing to put what matters first. It was that moment that I knew I would marry Nick, as he was sitting next to my Dad in the ER, before he assisted my Dad in giving me a priesthood blessing. He even kind of brought it up to my dad as we were in the ER, not so sure that was the best timing to announce to the father of the girl laying in the ER that you're considering marrying his daughter. It was fun/ awkward for me to watch this scene go down, but touching at the same
time, but I knew I wanted to marry him too (this wasn't his official proposal, or his official asking my dad's permission so you know), however, it was an important moment for us as a couple. I'm so grateful for that moment of clarity of why I was still here why I survived that crash and my eternal purpose in being a future wife and mother, as well as a sister and daughter.  Those crucial relationships are all that truly matter in the end! I knew what I would focus on the rest of my time here LOVE, I would focus on loving and supporting them first, living and prioritizing as if I were going to get in that awful crash again the next day. Each of us have been given this wonderful chance at life and love! I hope we all use it to make the world a better place for our loved ones. I know that's what I'm going to do. Have you ever had a crash in your life, that helped you realize what was important to you (figuratively or literally).

 

Live every day prioritizing what means most!!
With love Reb&Nick

The Musician Husband

For those of you who do not know my husband Nickolas Whitesides is an unbelievable musician.  Not only does he play guitar, drums, uke, piano and bass he also writes his own music and music for other artists he also sings. His voice has a similar vibe to Ryan Tedder from One Republic, and Chris Carabba from Dashboard Confessionals Here is his profile on Reverb Nation where you can find some of his songs for free download and become a fan.http://www.reverbnation.com/nickwhitesides

Currently he is in a band called Double or Nothing where he is the lead vocalist and guitar. There new CD should be coming out soon. Their new single JULIET is available on Itunes, as is their older CD titled Silhouettes Fade. You can also find their music on Spotify under Double or Nothing. 

Here is their youtube video for Juliet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piVGCa7JM4M

and there video for NEXT TO ME  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U1UJFpOQ1U and there Reverb Nation Profile http://www.reverbnation.com/doubleornothingmusic

Another he has written for include the lovely Abby Smith from http://www.twistmepretty.com/ you can check out her music http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/315780931/inspirational-album-believer and order her amazing LDS inspirational Music CD entitled BELIEVER that my husband helped to co write. She has an incredible spirit and voice, as well is an amazing fashion blogger with  great hair tutorials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa7Bg4OsG-s

Another Artist Nick has written for is Sydney Tycksen. Her single TRUTH IS, you can view right above this sentence.

  

Nick can write custom songs for every occassion so. If you would like your own wedding song, or a song for a dying loved one, or a song for fun.  Or if you are looking into recording your own CD with your own unique songs look into having a consultation with my husband! You can contact him through me or through the contact information on his Reverb Nation page http://www.reverbnation.com/nickwhitesides. If you have any questions or need an event performer or a custom song, or just want to know about Nick's music. Email me at rDancer11@gmail.com or Nick at nikotitopalis95@yahoo.com. Listen and be a fan, I know I sure am :D

With Love, Reb&Nick

2013: This Crazy Roller coaster we call Life

2013 was a roller coaster, with some of the best good that has ever happened to Nick and I and also the greatest adversity We have ever faced!

 January started the year with a car accident that should have been fatal, Kimberly Zavala Knowles and I were lucky to be alive. It also featured the Sundance Film Festival where Nick played at The Hotel Park City.

February brought my first full time job at Belliston Jewelry which changed my life and taught me so much, even though I had to leave school that semester.

 March brought my engagement to my best friend and soul mate Nickolas Whitesides.

 April had me say farewell for now to my amazing grandfather Arch Reidhead.

On the bright side of April Nick was able to have his band open for the Rocket Summer

 May brought owning our first apartment, Nicks 27th birthday, my associate’s degree, and my being able to go through the temple for the first time. 

 June 1, 2013 Nick and I were married for time and all eternity in the Bountiful Temple, which started the first day of our new lives with a new fantastic family, I received 15 nieces and nephews and they have brought so much joy and love. And we went on an amazing California road trip honeymoon. When we came back Nick was able to open for the band Cartel!

 July brought the beginning of my new fight with IBS and Anxiety, along with what we now know are some other infections. On the bright side Nick was able to have an awesome audition for American Idol! He's too good for that show!

 August allowed my sister to go be a missionary in Portugal for the LDS church!! We miss her but will see her soon. 

September started the worst semester of school I have had in my life!! But I learned so much about what I didn't want, and I made it through alive.

And we got to shoot a paint balls at zombies 

 October brought my 21st birthday, and the departure of my incredible Aunt Valerie Porter she will be greatly  missed, but her family is wonderful and I am so grateful to have them in my life. 

November was filled with tests, the beginning of this blog and delicious Thanksgiving with my two wonderful families.

 December brought a wonderful first Christmas with all my amazing family as well as a new niece named Ruby :D

Through it all I was so blessed to go through all of it with my wonderful husband Nick. Some big changes are coming and they will be difficult, but through it all everything will happen the way it is supposed to be.  There is no one I'd rather be than us.  Happy New Years Everyone.

With Love Reb and Nick

One Brick at a Time

Baggage is an interesting concept that has a major impact in relationships. I think that how a couple handles and helps each other with baggage will define and determine whether or not the relationship, especially a marriage will go the distance.  Nick and I developed an interesting approach to our baggage that helped us to fall even more in love with each other while helping unpack our bags. (Which are full of heavy bricks).

Nick and I developed a concept called ONE BRICK AT A TIME. We knew that our past experiences had caused us to build walls around our hearts, feelings, emotions and comfort zones.  Those separate walls were what were coming between us and our happily ever after.  We knew we not only needed to tear down each other's individual walls, but we also needed to build a wall or fortress around both of us together in order to protect us, from the forces that would want to tear our relationship down (THE BIG BAD WOLF your familiar with the three little piggies right).  We knew we needed to build our relationship with strong bricks, and in order to do that our personal walls needed to come down. If not our relationship and future marriage would be susceptible to all the forces in our day trying to tear marriage family and relationships apart! ( Porn, immorality, war, chaos, anger, pride, poverty) THE BIG BAD WOLF called LIFE in MORTALITY. And from the three little pigs, we knew that straw, and sticks weren't going to make the cut.  We had to do things the right way, and we needed to use bricks, from our personal walls. For your entertainment and enlightenment here's Disney's Version of the Big Bad Wolf Story. One of the pigs major problems was that they were so into putting up there own personal walls to protect themselves, which put them in danger, instead of working together in building a strong house for all of them.  The two first piggies were lucky they had a great friend in the smart Brick Pig, or they would have been lunch. I believe that working together is one of the first steps to building a strong foundation for a family, marriage, or friendship. Also as the third pig new, building a strong foundation (relationship) takes time, effort and COMMITMENT, but the results are worth it.

 Nick and I decided that slowly every day we would take one brick from each others individual wall and use it to build our fortress of our love protecting and uniting both of us in the same circle. I hope that visual makes sense.  We wanted to turn our past hurt and weaknesses into strengths that we could build our lives around.  A brick could be a fear, or a bad experience, or a mistake, or a regret.  We would remove them by communicating with each other, not judging, and explaining why that brick was even there, why that fear was there, and what kept it up.  We are still slowly tearing bricks down.  During our engagement I think our structure looked like it did above, a skeleton of a house, but starting.  Our goal is to be able to build a sturdy relationship fortress like the one below. Making our Marriage our home, our comfort, our security, and where we could finally let our guard down.  This process has not only helped us to get closer as a couple. But it also has allowed us to know what we need to do to protect our relationship, and what we need to do individually and together to always be growing together. It is not always easy some days are hard and we end up putting part of our personal walls back up, or having one of the walls of our fortress fall down.  But as long as we keep building and trying we will build a life for ourselves that the big bad wolf won't be able to tear down.  One day we will have little ones and I want us to be able to protect them in a house with a strong foundation, which will be our marriage in family.  To help them know what a strong family is, and to give them the best shot at love and life possible. To build around us ONE BRICK AT A TIME, and when that big bad wolf (life) comes to huff and puff and blow our relationship to the ground. He won't be able too! 

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf.........NOT US :D

With LOVE, REB&NICK

The Last of the Firsts

When you get married you realize how your, first date with your spouse, your first kiss, and the first time you said I love you becomes the last of the firsts. The best of the best, the finale, the ones that lead you to your success as a couple. Your last set of firsts setting the stage for each and every couples beautiful love story.  

09/24/2012 The first message: Mr. Whitesides finally made good on his offer to have us hang out sometime.   What finally made him decide to after five months since we first met? This picture, taken by his brother Dave Whitesides! That man gets all the credit for bringing us together. I guess Nick thought I looked good or something, because he messaged me with the above message to hang out.

What did I do when I saw that message. I literally  jumped up and down on my bed, with his CD cranked up on high with my roomates. Then we kindof drove near his house with his CD still on high in the car and the windows rolled down. IT WAS AWESOME!!  

So he then facebook messaged me for my phone number, we started texting and finally set up a date to "Hang Out," but to this day we both decided it was our first date.

09/26/2012 OUR FIRST DATE: Nick came and picked me up from my apartment at 10 pm, which was after he got off work. We then went to his house and watched BBC's SHERLOCK

Which I seriously recommend because it is amazing, and we ate icecream sundays that Nick made. We then watched SCRUBS which became one of our favs to watch together as well. After the show we just started talking about everything from life, love, religion, food, zombies, and future dreams.  He played a few new songs he had recently written, and we end up snuggling close.  I remember him saying how I was making it hard for him not to kiss me........Which we didn't then (go us for not kissing on the first date!). I ended up showing him my British accent, which he liked. (I'm have British as my mom is from North Wales). We talked for what seemed like forever and we were both so comfortable that we both just fell asleep in each others arms. We didn't even realize that we fell asleep until we woke up and it was 5am. This was especially a crazy phenomenon for me because I have a hard time sleeping, especially while snuggling, even though I'm married. So for it to have worked then is something. We were both just so comfortable with each other, and could really be ourselves.  Nick then drove me home. Best first date/sleepover ever!

11/13/2012 Our First Kiss: All I remember is we had finished watching Sorcerer's Apprentice, and it was during the credits and I kind of leaned in to kiss his cheek, but ended up kissing his lips!! And then we kinda just went crazy! We waited almost two months since we first started dating to kiss! I guess I just couldn't wait anymore, I stole it! We were in my apartment, which is where I said we were not going to have our first kiss. I wanted it to be somewhere romantic like the temple. But it was still the best first kiss I had ever had! 

11/27/2012 I LOVE YOU: Nick was really depressed that day as he had some hard news. He had gone out to see Skyfall with one of his friends to try to get it off his mind, but he couldn't. So he came over to my apartment.  I baked him cookies and gave him hot chocolate, I then told him that through rich and poor, through the good and bad, that I would always stand by him.  I then said I LOVE YOU! I've known it since I first met you, and that I was supposed to be here with you. He just hugged me tight and very emotionally let out I LOVE YOU TOO REB.  It was the moment we both knew we were going to be together for a long time. We also officially established me as his girlfriend, which I had considered myself to be for a while before that. I love that man so much, and I am so grateful for the trials and circumstances that brought us together.  One thing I always tell him is "I would rather everything go wrong, as long as we are going right, because there is nothing else I want or need more than us. You mean the most to me, that is what is important."

So that is the last of some of our firsts, with many more new firsts coming soon, such as our first baby, and our first Christmas as a married couple. Engagement story coming soon.....:D

 With Love, Reb&Nick