Thursday, May 9, 2013
capturing beauty
I read a thing somewhere that said: capture simple beauty every day and share it. so this is my new mantra and goal. today's beauty- after the clouds had dumped their excess moisture in a downpour, the sun broke through and this was the result
overcoming the shallow self
at this moment hell is freezing over, my mother would be exclaiming out loud, and I am shocked and amazed at myself....
today I received an email from a deal site advertising an amazing deal on a knock-off of the most adorable necklace that I have been coveting longingly at JCrew. I went to the site...stared at it for a bit...lamented to myself how adorable it is...and then didn't buy it. I am crying a bit inside because it really is the cutest thing ever and it was super cheap but I am honestly making an effort to minimize my possession of and spending on material things that really are unnecessary. I'm even going to clean out my closet and jewelry box(es)...after I moved. haha
this is a big deal for those who know me. my family would be shocked. shocked i tell you. I love beautiful things, and beautiful clothing and accessories are some of those things. but really I do know they are just things and do not bring me true happiness. so this is the start of me downsizing and limiting my acquisition of these things...no matter how beautiful they are.
wish me luck cuz this is going to be a bit hard but apparently I have a knack for doing hard things (grad school is starting in 11 days....and I'll still be working...while trying to finish an online class...)
in this spirit I am going to list the joys in my day and exclude any material possessions:
my sisters....I miss them so much! I haven't seen my family in a year and it's a bit torturous. I love that we send each other texts with random questions or asking advice. it's how we stay connected :)
reading...I love reading. today I am reading lots of inspiring articles and quotes. this morning I read scriptures about the Holy Ghost and how it can inspire, teach, enlighten, and move us to good things. I am a bit in awe that you can transmit knowledge through written/printed symbols put together to form words and sentences that someone else and see and then comprehend.
the Holy Ghost...as I was studying this morning I was overcome by gratitude for this amazing gift. for example, when something is constantly on your mind, if it is anything good (everything good comes from God), then it is the Holy Ghost! it's so simple and wonderfully powerful.
tender mercies...last night I had orientation for my masters program and was planning to take the bus home but i got to the station too late and it was raining so I was a bit disappointed to see that I would have to wait 30 minutes for the next bus to come. I was hungry since having gone straight there from work and a bit tired, being that it was the end if the day....and then the bus pulled up! not sure if it was early or late but I didn't really care ...just happy to get on it
prayer....I read an article this morning that talked about how we can get more out of our mornings by taking the time each day as you wake up to practice quiet meditation and mindful gratitude....sounds a bit like prayer to me! and praying has the added benefit of knowing that God is listening and improving your relationship with Him. I very much enjoy starting my day conversing with my Father in Heaven.
good people....I am so grateful for good people in the world who help others, stand up for what is right and in other ways are an example to me. "Be the change you wish to see in the world"
today I received an email from a deal site advertising an amazing deal on a knock-off of the most adorable necklace that I have been coveting longingly at JCrew. I went to the site...stared at it for a bit...lamented to myself how adorable it is...and then didn't buy it. I am crying a bit inside because it really is the cutest thing ever and it was super cheap but I am honestly making an effort to minimize my possession of and spending on material things that really are unnecessary. I'm even going to clean out my closet and jewelry box(es)...after I moved. haha
this is a big deal for those who know me. my family would be shocked. shocked i tell you. I love beautiful things, and beautiful clothing and accessories are some of those things. but really I do know they are just things and do not bring me true happiness. so this is the start of me downsizing and limiting my acquisition of these things...no matter how beautiful they are.
wish me luck cuz this is going to be a bit hard but apparently I have a knack for doing hard things (grad school is starting in 11 days....and I'll still be working...while trying to finish an online class...)
in this spirit I am going to list the joys in my day and exclude any material possessions:
my sisters....I miss them so much! I haven't seen my family in a year and it's a bit torturous. I love that we send each other texts with random questions or asking advice. it's how we stay connected :)
reading...I love reading. today I am reading lots of inspiring articles and quotes. this morning I read scriptures about the Holy Ghost and how it can inspire, teach, enlighten, and move us to good things. I am a bit in awe that you can transmit knowledge through written/printed symbols put together to form words and sentences that someone else and see and then comprehend.
the Holy Ghost...as I was studying this morning I was overcome by gratitude for this amazing gift. for example, when something is constantly on your mind, if it is anything good (everything good comes from God), then it is the Holy Ghost! it's so simple and wonderfully powerful.
tender mercies...last night I had orientation for my masters program and was planning to take the bus home but i got to the station too late and it was raining so I was a bit disappointed to see that I would have to wait 30 minutes for the next bus to come. I was hungry since having gone straight there from work and a bit tired, being that it was the end if the day....and then the bus pulled up! not sure if it was early or late but I didn't really care ...just happy to get on it
prayer....I read an article this morning that talked about how we can get more out of our mornings by taking the time each day as you wake up to practice quiet meditation and mindful gratitude....sounds a bit like prayer to me! and praying has the added benefit of knowing that God is listening and improving your relationship with Him. I very much enjoy starting my day conversing with my Father in Heaven.
good people....I am so grateful for good people in the world who help others, stand up for what is right and in other ways are an example to me. "Be the change you wish to see in the world"
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
daughters of God
I have been wanting to post about my beliefs and feelings about womanhood, motherhood, and female roles but haven't felt the right time or complementary avenues to do so. Today I read a speech given at BYU by Elder Glenn Pace of the quorum of the Seventy of the church entitled "The Divine Nature and Destiny of Women." His speech lovingly and perfectly describes the true nature of women and their roles in relation to men - in marriage, families, etc. I love what he says when talking about the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman:
'Milton goes on to suggest that God delayed the introduction of Eve until Adam could fully appreciate her. Seeing that Adam is now ready for the introduction of Eve, God describes what is going to happen next. I love Milton’s description of what Eve would mean to Adam:
What next I bring shall please thee, be assur’d,
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
Thy wish exactly to thy heart’s desire.
“Thy fit help”? No, this doesn’t mean she would be in good shape. It means she would be a match, a complement, a counterpart, even his “other self.”
Finally, Eve stood before him, and she exceeded his highest expectations. He had never seen anything like her in the garden. Milton continues:
Under his forming hands a creature grew,
Manlike, but different sex, so lovely fair,
That what seem’d fair in all the world, seem’d now
Mean, or in her summ’d up, in her contain’d,
And in her looks, which from that time infus’d
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before.
I hope Milton will forgive me for adding my opinion that the “sweetness” Adam felt, which was “unfelt before,” was much more than that which was generated by Eve’s physical appearance. Those feelings flowing into him had as their source her wellspring. His feelings were the direct result of standing in front of one of the daughters of heavenly parents who had a divine nature different from, but complementary to, his own divine nature.
I believe the Father’s statement “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18) had a much more profound meaning than the obvious biological implications. It also went further than providing Adam with “company.” Adam’s ability to obtain the purification necessary to get back into the presence of God was dependent upon his continuous association with Eve...
Many years after the creation of Adam and Eve, Paul said, “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11).'
What simple, divine truths! I felt great power in what he said there the first time I read it. This is why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints places such emphasis on marriage between a man and woman and eternal sealing in temples of God. Restored truths taught by modern prophets and apostles give us to know the great divine nature of women, their true eternal potential, and their role in God's kingdom as future queens.
Elder Pace beautifully recounts the influence of women in his life:
'I developed a love and appreciation for womanhood in my childhood. My mother, sisters, grandmas, aunts, and female cousins and friends brought immeasurable love into my young life. This set the stage for the adult relationships with my wife, daughters, and granddaughters.
All of the above have contributed to my feelings of reverence, adoration, and even veneration of righteous women.
In pondering the effect women have had on my life, I have concluded that there has been a metamorphosis of my spirit that could not have taken place without these relationships.
Of course, the first woman in my life was my mother. How can I describe the impact of my mother’s love? A lullaby, being tucked in bed, are you warm enough, a kiss goodnight, Glenn, you’d better get up, you don’t want to be late for school, a kiss good morning, you are such a special boy, oh honey, how I love you, I made some chocolate chip cookies, I want to take your picture, I’m so proud of you, I know you can do it, are you going to go on a mission, you are going to go on a mission, I miss you so much, frequent love notes, let’s go look at the roses, did you see the full moon, aren’t the mountains beautiful today, the love in her eyes, her touch, her smell, her elegance, her tender heart, her sensitivity, her femininity.'
What great power and influence for good women can have in the world! Myself, I am eternally grateful for a loving mother who never faints in her service to her daughters. She is always thinking of us, her kids, and even though we are grown and out of the house (but one, but soon to be all!), she still puts us before anything else. I strive to be so selfless and hope to emulate this divine gift she has.
Elder Pace gives this instruction to women:
'Since melding our divine natures is a necessary element in bringing about perfection, we must guard against any deterioration of those natures. Sisters, keep in mind anything that detracts from your divine nature should be avoided. You live in a time when you have more opportunities and options available to you than any other women have had throughout the history of mankind. Some of these options will complement your God-given natures. Others will chip away at it. Some things will make you strong. Others will make you hard. Some will increase your spiritual sensitivity. Others will separate you from the Spirit.'
I want to keep this vision and I hope that I can live up to all the wondrous and eternal blessings that our Heavenly Father has in store for His righteous daughters, for they truly are limitless. I have learned so much about the amazing gifts that He promises to His daughters through the temple and His prophets. We are not second-class citizens in male-dominated hierarchy but sacred, precious heirs to His glory in partnership with His righteous sons. He has given us special gifts and talents to uplift and serve the world, to make it a better place in ways that only women can. And He needs us to do so!
I know, with all my heart and soul, that I am a daughter of the most powerful being in the universe, the God of all things. It is humbling to me that such a being wants me to call him 'Father,' and loves me more than I can comprehend, but it is true. God loves His daughters and desires all the best He has for them.
'Milton goes on to suggest that God delayed the introduction of Eve until Adam could fully appreciate her. Seeing that Adam is now ready for the introduction of Eve, God describes what is going to happen next. I love Milton’s description of what Eve would mean to Adam:
What next I bring shall please thee, be assur’d,
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
Thy wish exactly to thy heart’s desire.
“Thy fit help”? No, this doesn’t mean she would be in good shape. It means she would be a match, a complement, a counterpart, even his “other self.”
Finally, Eve stood before him, and she exceeded his highest expectations. He had never seen anything like her in the garden. Milton continues:
Under his forming hands a creature grew,
Manlike, but different sex, so lovely fair,
That what seem’d fair in all the world, seem’d now
Mean, or in her summ’d up, in her contain’d,
And in her looks, which from that time infus’d
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before.
I hope Milton will forgive me for adding my opinion that the “sweetness” Adam felt, which was “unfelt before,” was much more than that which was generated by Eve’s physical appearance. Those feelings flowing into him had as their source her wellspring. His feelings were the direct result of standing in front of one of the daughters of heavenly parents who had a divine nature different from, but complementary to, his own divine nature.
I believe the Father’s statement “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18) had a much more profound meaning than the obvious biological implications. It also went further than providing Adam with “company.” Adam’s ability to obtain the purification necessary to get back into the presence of God was dependent upon his continuous association with Eve...
Many years after the creation of Adam and Eve, Paul said, “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11).'
What simple, divine truths! I felt great power in what he said there the first time I read it. This is why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints places such emphasis on marriage between a man and woman and eternal sealing in temples of God. Restored truths taught by modern prophets and apostles give us to know the great divine nature of women, their true eternal potential, and their role in God's kingdom as future queens.
Elder Pace beautifully recounts the influence of women in his life:
'I developed a love and appreciation for womanhood in my childhood. My mother, sisters, grandmas, aunts, and female cousins and friends brought immeasurable love into my young life. This set the stage for the adult relationships with my wife, daughters, and granddaughters.
All of the above have contributed to my feelings of reverence, adoration, and even veneration of righteous women.
In pondering the effect women have had on my life, I have concluded that there has been a metamorphosis of my spirit that could not have taken place without these relationships.
Of course, the first woman in my life was my mother. How can I describe the impact of my mother’s love? A lullaby, being tucked in bed, are you warm enough, a kiss goodnight, Glenn, you’d better get up, you don’t want to be late for school, a kiss good morning, you are such a special boy, oh honey, how I love you, I made some chocolate chip cookies, I want to take your picture, I’m so proud of you, I know you can do it, are you going to go on a mission, you are going to go on a mission, I miss you so much, frequent love notes, let’s go look at the roses, did you see the full moon, aren’t the mountains beautiful today, the love in her eyes, her touch, her smell, her elegance, her tender heart, her sensitivity, her femininity.'
What great power and influence for good women can have in the world! Myself, I am eternally grateful for a loving mother who never faints in her service to her daughters. She is always thinking of us, her kids, and even though we are grown and out of the house (but one, but soon to be all!), she still puts us before anything else. I strive to be so selfless and hope to emulate this divine gift she has.
Elder Pace gives this instruction to women:
'Since melding our divine natures is a necessary element in bringing about perfection, we must guard against any deterioration of those natures. Sisters, keep in mind anything that detracts from your divine nature should be avoided. You live in a time when you have more opportunities and options available to you than any other women have had throughout the history of mankind. Some of these options will complement your God-given natures. Others will chip away at it. Some things will make you strong. Others will make you hard. Some will increase your spiritual sensitivity. Others will separate you from the Spirit.'
I want to keep this vision and I hope that I can live up to all the wondrous and eternal blessings that our Heavenly Father has in store for His righteous daughters, for they truly are limitless. I have learned so much about the amazing gifts that He promises to His daughters through the temple and His prophets. We are not second-class citizens in male-dominated hierarchy but sacred, precious heirs to His glory in partnership with His righteous sons. He has given us special gifts and talents to uplift and serve the world, to make it a better place in ways that only women can. And He needs us to do so!
I know, with all my heart and soul, that I am a daughter of the most powerful being in the universe, the God of all things. It is humbling to me that such a being wants me to call him 'Father,' and loves me more than I can comprehend, but it is true. God loves His daughters and desires all the best He has for them.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
april showers bring clean cars
today I am very pleased and grateful that the rain has washed my car of the pollen that pervades nova with a thick yellow layer of dust. the last weekend my car got a very good thorough washing...and it was already yellow by the middle of last week. my car is shiny black not yellow! so I begrudgingly paid the $20 on saturday to wash her again in an effort to save her paint and my sanity. but pollen never sleeps and had already began its slow but steady scatter over everything. then came the rains.... and now the car is squeaky clean once again :)
I am also grateful for the rain because it means that we do not have to worry about water shortages or drought here....not that this is ever an issue in the wet mid Atlantic. but having grown up in much drier climes, and having travelled to and read of countries where water is in very short supply, I feel blessed to live in an area of water abundance. never complain when it rains, you never know who is fearfully praying for it!
plus it makes every living thing glow a bright neon green and makes the land seem to burst with life and beauty.
saturday was the most gorgeous day this year so I biked down the mount Vernon trail and almost died over the perfectness that surrounded me as I followed the banks of the Potomac. the water was shinning in the sun, green and turquoise. trees were full with young leaves. flowers popped up here and there in the wild brush or hung down from vines that climbed high limbs. I live in the most beautiful place! you could even smell the lilac from the trail. heaven.
I am also happy today that I am sore....I know what you're thinking: I'm crazy. but if I'm sore it means that my body works! it means that I am able to move, run, bike, dance, and do my kicks/push ups/sit-ups/lunges/planks. it means that new muscle is being formed and tomorrow ill be able to use that muscle (if it's not hurting still). it means the miracle of the human body continues. I love my body!(of course sometimes it plagues me with pain and illness because it is not perfect...yet! but still is amazing)
the celebrating continues today with color. how wonderful is color? could you imagine a world/life without colors? ----sometimes I see it in the clothing and decor of my fellow government workers,... haha(...i laugh but it is so true) I love that spring means the return of bright colors into all aspects of life. (even tho not everyone gets the memo :) ) my challenge to everyone: bring more color into your life! wear a yellow shirt or change your sheets to bright blue or...wear an entire outfit that has no black in it. gasp! you'll be glad you did I promise. :)
random gratitude:
thank goodness for big black security men who pray
thanks to the metro drivers for being super chipper of late and making me smile during my commute
thank all the powers that be that I have a secure job which I can reliably count on to pay me twice a month
thank goodness that the job is not super stressful on days like today when I have no energy whatsoever :)
I am also grateful for the rain because it means that we do not have to worry about water shortages or drought here....not that this is ever an issue in the wet mid Atlantic. but having grown up in much drier climes, and having travelled to and read of countries where water is in very short supply, I feel blessed to live in an area of water abundance. never complain when it rains, you never know who is fearfully praying for it!
plus it makes every living thing glow a bright neon green and makes the land seem to burst with life and beauty.
saturday was the most gorgeous day this year so I biked down the mount Vernon trail and almost died over the perfectness that surrounded me as I followed the banks of the Potomac. the water was shinning in the sun, green and turquoise. trees were full with young leaves. flowers popped up here and there in the wild brush or hung down from vines that climbed high limbs. I live in the most beautiful place! you could even smell the lilac from the trail. heaven.
I am also happy today that I am sore....I know what you're thinking: I'm crazy. but if I'm sore it means that my body works! it means that I am able to move, run, bike, dance, and do my kicks/push ups/sit-ups/lunges/planks. it means that new muscle is being formed and tomorrow ill be able to use that muscle (if it's not hurting still). it means the miracle of the human body continues. I love my body!(of course sometimes it plagues me with pain and illness because it is not perfect...yet! but still is amazing)
the celebrating continues today with color. how wonderful is color? could you imagine a world/life without colors? ----sometimes I see it in the clothing and decor of my fellow government workers,... haha(...i laugh but it is so true) I love that spring means the return of bright colors into all aspects of life. (even tho not everyone gets the memo :) ) my challenge to everyone: bring more color into your life! wear a yellow shirt or change your sheets to bright blue or...wear an entire outfit that has no black in it. gasp! you'll be glad you did I promise. :)
random gratitude:
thank goodness for big black security men who pray
thanks to the metro drivers for being super chipper of late and making me smile during my commute
thank all the powers that be that I have a secure job which I can reliably count on to pay me twice a month
thank goodness that the job is not super stressful on days like today when I have no energy whatsoever :)
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
miracles and blessings
things I am so happy about/grateful for today:
ballet flats....adorable, office appropriate and very comfy what more could you ask for?
apples...and eating the whole thing-skin and all, my mom would be so proud
daily walks on the mall during lunch
sunshine!! spring has returned to the mid Atlantic coast today after a brief hiatus during which we renewed our acquaintance with winter
the Book of Mormon...I read 8 verses of a chapter in 3 nephi and gain more insight and joy in my day than a whole website full motivational quotes. best. book. ever.
talking with mom for 1.5 hours last night
talking with sister for 2 hours the night before
ponytails that somehow turn a late morning into a cute hair day
self motivation....sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by the craziness of my life I tell myself things like: I can do hard things, or sing "He will feed those who trust Him, and guide them with His eye" ...and if those don't work I pray. a lot. but somehow I always feel less stressed and like I can take on the world again.
laughing....at myself when I do things like tweak my back again. haha
and of course I'm always very grateful to know that things work out. they always have and always will. even if I have no idea how I'm going to get everything done or pay all my bills or have the energy to last the day, I always make it. Heavenly Father gives me miracles every day. and I know it's all Him since I'm still human and imperfect. Amazing isn't it?
ballet flats....adorable, office appropriate and very comfy what more could you ask for?
apples...and eating the whole thing-skin and all, my mom would be so proud
daily walks on the mall during lunch
sunshine!! spring has returned to the mid Atlantic coast today after a brief hiatus during which we renewed our acquaintance with winter
the Book of Mormon...I read 8 verses of a chapter in 3 nephi and gain more insight and joy in my day than a whole website full motivational quotes. best. book. ever.
talking with mom for 1.5 hours last night
talking with sister for 2 hours the night before
ponytails that somehow turn a late morning into a cute hair day
self motivation....sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by the craziness of my life I tell myself things like: I can do hard things, or sing "He will feed those who trust Him, and guide them with His eye" ...and if those don't work I pray. a lot. but somehow I always feel less stressed and like I can take on the world again.
laughing....at myself when I do things like tweak my back again. haha
and of course I'm always very grateful to know that things work out. they always have and always will. even if I have no idea how I'm going to get everything done or pay all my bills or have the energy to last the day, I always make it. Heavenly Father gives me miracles every day. and I know it's all Him since I'm still human and imperfect. Amazing isn't it?
Friday, April 19, 2013
changing something every day
this week I have been reflecting on how much stuff I have and my own materialism. I never have thought I was very materialistic, then I went to South Africa and lived out of a suitcase for 3 weeks and wore the same clothes over and over for those 3 weeks. and you know what? I actually didn't mind it nearly as much as I thought I would. I actually liked the simplicity that it afforded. it's amazing how simple your morning gets and how quickly you can get ready when you only have like 3 outfits to choose from. similarly the people in Africa have nothing compared to us in America and yet are just as, if not maybe more, happy. take this photo for example- this girl from Zambia was asked to show her favorite toy, she said she just likes playing with her friends outside so this is the picture that came out:
isn't she adorable?! and so incredibly happy! I love it. so my goal is to be like this girl - extremely happy with anything and everything I have, and not worry about having the latest fashion or technology.
also- I have the best mom ever! she sends me chocolate, and not just chocolate, but mint with chocolate whenever possible because knows how much I LOVE mint and chocolate together. I am so grateful for my awesome mom.
isn't she adorable?! and so incredibly happy! I love it. so my goal is to be like this girl - extremely happy with anything and everything I have, and not worry about having the latest fashion or technology. also- I have the best mom ever! she sends me chocolate, and not just chocolate, but mint with chocolate whenever possible because knows how much I LOVE mint and chocolate together. I am so grateful for my awesome mom.
Monday, April 8, 2013
quirky South Africa
the toilets spew water up to flush
parking lots have big umbrella like coverings to shield cars from the sun...I had never seen this before and asked someone why this is-the response was because the sun is so hot...I laughed a bit to myself, thinking how much hotter the sun is in Cali and Utah...they don't get much extreme weather here
people here have no concept of privacy or boundaries
they eat so proper. I feel like a barbarian sometimes when I'm eating
along with the proper eating is drinking wine all the time...I now very much dislike even the faintest smell of alcohol
they don't believe in deodorant...everyone should believe in deodorant in the summer, don't you think?
parking lots have big umbrella like coverings to shield cars from the sun...I had never seen this before and asked someone why this is-the response was because the sun is so hot...I laughed a bit to myself, thinking how much hotter the sun is in Cali and Utah...they don't get much extreme weather here
people here have no concept of privacy or boundaries
they eat so proper. I feel like a barbarian sometimes when I'm eating
along with the proper eating is drinking wine all the time...I now very much dislike even the faintest smell of alcohol
they don't believe in deodorant...everyone should believe in deodorant in the summer, don't you think?
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