Religious Questions

I have been wondering for a while now on a couple of different topics:

1. If Christians is defined as: "of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ." and "exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike" and "a person who believes in Jesus Christ". Why then do people separate Catholics from Christians? How can someone who profess to believe in Christ and want to follow him not be deemed a Christian? I could be wrong in this, but from what I have heard how come they are always separated in conversations, i.e. "The Christians and the Catholics."? Wouldn't be be synonymous?

2. For quite a bit of religious beliefs and different church doctrines there is a standard belief that because Eve partook of the forbidden fruit all her seed is deemed to be sinful from birth because of the original sins of the parents. Now stating that if all humans are born with sin, and are not worthy of Gods presence because of such, and thus needed a Savior, Christ, to redeem them by suffering for and dying for their sins, i.e. John 3:16-17: "16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." How was Christ perfect by this "doctrinal belief" of many churches? As was Christ born of Mary, literally. Was He just exempt from this law? Isn't God the same always, and everlasting and never changing God? So why would this "original sin" be for every other billions of people except for one? I know that Christ was the only prefect living soul on this earth, and I know that most of all other religions/faiths believe this as well, so how is He perfect if you believe in the original sin doctrine?

Just a couple of things that have boggled my mind, hopefully someone will offer some insight into this for me so I can understand.

Christmas Shopping

A fellow blogger was in Atlanta recently and posted a picture of the tree at the Ritz. It really hit home and caused me to be a little homesick, I miss the week before Christmas of riding MARTA to the city and walking to Macys and the Hardrock Cafe in downtown, the city all decorated with Christmas, wherever you looked. We would then go to a good friend of ours' Law Office and have Hot coca and cookies. Shopping, singing, and having a wonderful time. All the buildings have trees on them i.e. Macy's, Rich's, etc.Just seeing the Christmas spirit everywhere there, and here I live in a place where they don't decorate hardly anything. The most decorated anything I have seen are a few sparse houses and apartment patios (mine included) as well as the Borders store.

I did have a good evening shopping tonight I finished buying all of Douglas' presents, I hope he likes them. I couldn't think of anything super spectacular to get for him. But I enjoyed shopping and buying him things that I know he will enjoy. I probably bought too many, oh well. During part of my outing I received a free gift for a certain amount of a purchase. They are beautiful, hand blown glass candle holders, it was that or a robe, of course I chose the candle holders, so then I had to go buy candles to put on the holders!
I can't leave out that this morning I had a vain moment. I loved how my hair looked so I took pictures of myself, yet again, and they are as follows:

Friends

Hello friends and family! I might have to turn this into a monthly update seeings that that's the only time I seem to have things to write about. Maybe it will be different when Douglas is home more often. Douglas is having an "interesting" time in Denver, it's cold and he's not allowed to have facial hair so he says his face gets really cold. He's tired of being lonely but enjoying the company of his co-workers. They cook him dinner almost every night, seems I better start doing my wifely job better or he might stay out there longer! Production on the job site has been slow for the first bit they couldn't figure out their mixtures, they weren't mixing right, but that was taken care of today and therefore things will be moving along a lot faster. That's great for me! Douglas will be home late this Saturday night, and he'll be home until the 2nd when he has to go back. We will be spending Christmas here in Fremont together, I plan on doing my first "big" cooking: ham, potatoes, veggies, rolls (not homemade, I'm not ready to attempt homemade bread), etc. I have to work the whole time he has off, except for the 24th and 25th and the 1st. My boss is playing with the idea of just telling everyone to take the 31st off as well, pray that he does! I will be having a gum surgery sometime around March, I'm not really looking forward to it. Today one of my "companions" from my mission Sis. Rigby - Jenny, stopped by to visit for a few minutes it was great to see her again.

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

♥ Douglas & Amber ♥