What is family?

I understand that some people don't believe that Gay Marriage is something that is completely normal and they just can't understand it.  What I don't understand is this man's view of a family.  (I really do not want to share his article, but I am infuriated at his discussion and lack of insight as to what constitutes a family.)
This man thinks Leave It to Beaver is the only family style.

"Sadly, we don't always live up to this ideal, and most have experienced the trauma caused by a breaking family. However, we know of marriages that practically achieve the ideal, and we see the happiness that children find in a supportive family structure. Even though some traditional families are breaking, it doesn't mean the ideal of traditional marriage is broken."

I would really like to share my family with him.  I am, as some would say, the product of a 'broken home'.  However, I do not see it as a terrible thing.  My life is filled with family and the amazing relationships that I have with my mom, dad, stepfather, stepmother, and my half and step siblings are something to be joyous about.  Not to mention the extended family that I have who are amazing and all of my family is supportive even from the other side of the planet.

My life is rich with love.

I've learned that family is something worth fighting for, yes.  But it is also what you make it.  I have brothers and sisters that have never met each other (some have only on Facebook).  I am an only child who has 11 siblings.  My stepsister and stepbrother have beautiful children and I am happy to have been an aunt for the last 10 years and see my nieces and nephews grow up.

Some might feel that this is terrible and feel sad for me.  I have had a different kind of childhood and continue to have a different kind of family, yes.  But I have been told that I am a well rounded individual.  I have many friends who come from two biological parent households, and to be honest, they are not always glowing examples of what Riley Balling calls the "happiness that children find in a supportive family structure."  Often times, they have difficulty getting by because they are in competition with their siblings, have low self esteem, have difficulties dealing with stress, have little self-reliance, have negative views on sex, etc.  This isn't to say that I have never had any problems, but to show that children who have grown up in this so-called perfect family structure are not any different than others who have not.  They have the same issues that children of other kinds of families have.   The key word here is 'children'.  Growing up is hard work and living in a two biological parent family doesn't ensure that you will not have any problems/difficulties/issues.

"Same-sex marriage falls short of producing safe environments for children because it, at the very least, reinforces changes to the marital definition."

Who decides what a 'safe environment for children' is?  I know some heterosexual couples who I have often questioned whether or not they should have a family?  Questioned their parenting style, or lack of one.  I knew a girl who at 19 already had 2 children (of mixed race, I'm sure Mr. Balling would have something to say about that.), and had had more than one abortion.  What about the married couples who can't afford the lifestyles and the children that they already have?   Mr. Balling doesn't mention these couples, because their sexuality doesn't scare him.

Children in a same-sex couple/household are not generally the result of a fling or a... surprise.  Perhaps they are adopted or there is a surrogate, or artificial insemination.  But in these cases, a child is prayed for, sought after and celebrated.  Two loving parents?  What more could a child ask for?

"Many studies show that single parents struggle to provide the safe environment provided by a two-biological-parent home." 

Isn't two better than one?  He describes single parents as struggling, which may be the case.  Especially in this economy.  In my experience, it's better to live in a household with only one parent who is happy, than in a two-parent household with both parents being unhappy.  (I have experience with this, I assure you Mr. Balling).

I am nearing the end of my rant, with one last thing to say.  Whether or not you like it, because I can see that Mr. Balling obviously does not, the family is changing.  It is no longer only the ideal 50s style family where the wife stays home and does all the cooking and cleaning and raising the children.  (If you want that, you should come to South Korea, because it seems to be much closer to that than anything we have in the US).  The family is now whatever it wants to be.  You cannot squash it to be what you want it to be, it grows with the time, just like children.  Now it has grown up and it can be a two biological parent household, a single mother household, a single father household, grandparent/s raising children, a two mother household, a two father household, a mother and a stepfather household, a father and a stepmother household, an aunt/uncle household, etc.  I'm sure that I missed one, but I assure you that I accept it as a family.  

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
"In a full heart there is room for everything, and in an empty heart there is room for nothing." Antonio Porchia

To read an article that makes me happy to be a Minnesotan, look here:
Something I can stand behind.

Ready for Autumn

Hey!  

Check out my newest update from the weekend and first two weeks of school.  

Here I am last Tuesday, prepared to brave the winds of "typhoon" Bolaven.  Pretty much just wind, not even lots of rain.  :(

I got pretty excited when I went to the store last week and found asparagus.  But alas, it was not to be so.  It looked okay, but was only 6-7 stalks for 2,290KRW which is about $2.00.  So I decided that I should skip it and have other veggies instead.  

I bought a new eyelash curler, after needing one for months.  It was definitely amusing when I found one that said, "Beauty makes happiness.  The first present nature gives to women."  Now, all people are beautiful no matter what.  But it just seems strange to find it on makeup packaging.  

Today we visited Gamcheon Cultural Village.  It was very picturesque and had lots of artsy bits to seek out.  

A floating poem.  

A sly wolf peeks around the corner, waiting to surprise the goose!

 I found a recipe on pinterest for crockpot chicken with taco seasoning and salsa.  Not having my trusty crockpot here, I decided to mix it up a bit.  I also didn't have salsa, but used some bell pepper instead, and it turned out delightful!  For dinner I had it in a flour tortilla with rice and fresh slices of bell pepper.  I even forgot the cheese, I was so excited!  When I had the leftovers, I just had the chicken over white rice and put cheese over the top of it.  It was delicious!  I will definitely make this again sometime!

 My Korean friend took me to a Japanese soup restaurant.   It was quite small, and we waited for about 40 minutes to get a table.  We ordered as soon as we sat at our table and they brought out our soup (below) to cook.  They also brought out some pork (left) which I could not really figure out what it was.  It definitely looked like pig skin on the one end, but the rest of it, I am pretty sure that I don't want to know.  I didn't really like it.  The soup was much spicier than we anticipated, but had great flavor.  I was surprisingly not surprised when my friend told me that there was intestine in it, along with the pork sausages.  I tried every part of it, and it was pretty good, though I was sweating up a storm from the spices.  :)

Having tortillas and cheese on hand makes it very hard to not have quesadillas all the time.  Above, my taco chicken quesadilla and below my breakfast quesadilla with egg and cheese that I had with salsa.  Delicioso!