MODESTY, PURITY, AND A THANKFUL HEART

Just as we are to “put on” the armor of God, we are to “put on” our clothes as protection for us and others. Clothing ourselves with modest dress and modest actions—mercy, kindness, humility, patience, and charity—will invite the companionship of the Spirit and will positively affect those around us (see Colossians 3:12, 14).

-Robert D. Hales, “Modesty: Reverence for the Lord,” Liahona, Aug 2008, 18–23, as copied from Emily's blog...



I am FAR from the perfect model of modesty, but I do endear it and the feelings which it invokes…



Modesty manifests itself in different forms…An appropriate yet beautiful wedding dress...



A gathering of friends on a reverent Sabbath...



A homemaker...Or perhaps housekeeper...Going about her daily duties with a sense of pride and modesty...



The making of a covering...P. Buckley Moss artist





How is this young woman any less beautiful than her counterparts who choose to dress in clothing that reveals? In deed, she is MORE beautiful.







PURITY…



Have you ever noticed how pure little children are?

They just come that way…

A fresh little spirit...

Full of love and goodness…



They really don’t care WHAT they’re doing…



What OTHERS may think…



Or HOW they may look…



They just are.



Like the beauty of the season…



And the bounty of the Harvest…



Their sweet little souls bring love and joy to all around…









Apparently little Christian's truck was thirsty, as he told me here that he was giving it a drink…;)



Fall is a time of BEAUTY…



A time to GIVE THANKS…



A time to REFLECT…





Fall is a time for a HARVEST HOME…



Whatever that may be…



The WARMTH of the kitchen…



The light from HIS WORD…



And…Of course…Fall is a time for FAMILY…



I pray that we all may have a thankful heart for the many blessings which we do enjoy…



And, Yes...There are many…;)

THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIKE A FIRE IS BURNING

Today was orientation day for students and parents at BYU-I. The spirit was so strong; it was amazing. I have never been to an orientation of any sort where I felt the spirit, let alone how physically palpable it was today. The Lord was and is certainly on that campus. WE FELT IT. Families from all over the country came to partake.



What a wonderful blessing it is to have a son who has chosen a worthy goal such as he has. It is such a different environment than anything that I am used to. The kids there are all striving to live right—the whole campus and all the students in the apartment buildings around town. What a difference that is from what I see day to day! DS’s apartment building is for men only, and the girls have their own buildings. Pictures of the Savior are in each apartment, along with other scriptural paintings. Everyone is friendly. My husband remarked that it was more like family than just strangers. It was really amazing.

The dress code is modest, and I have not seen one immodestly-dressed person in the day and a half that we have been here. That is 180 degrees from what is normal, as I generally don’t go but a few minutes without seeing some sort of vulgarity or another, whether it be dress or the magazines on the racks at the convenience store.

The dress and grooming of BYU-Idaho students should always be modest, neat, and clean consistent with representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Taken from "BYU-Idaho Student Baseline Campus Dress and Grooming Standards", BYU-Idaho.



I don’t want to leave; it just feels good here.



DB is rooming with other guys, at least two of whom are returned missionaries. It is just so remarkable to me to see people of this age dress and act with respect. I don’t know what more a parent could ask for than to have their own child in such an environment.



I am thankful for the great work that the faculty and workers at the school do for our kids. There are uplifting magazines laying on tables by the couches in the commons area. There is a president, who came from Harvard, to serve and guide the students. His experience is great, but his spirit is just as great, and that is what really matters. There are chapels, Family Home Evening groups, and a beautiful temple on the hill, just above the campus.



We were fed by the spirit today, in great abundance, and we were fed good nutritious food as well. A Luau was planned for us complete with a Hawaiian dinner.

I am thankful for this blessing in my life. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me, through my son, to experience just a portion—yet such a great amount to me—of what it will be like when I return to him. Nothing else in life really matters, and today I was reminded of that.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY AND DRESS FOR LESS

TUESDAY…FRAZZLED…TUESDAY…

Tuesday found me leaving work at about 7:00 p.m. or so… I was dead tired and mentally frazzled…Going home and going to bed was my top priority…





But…My brother was in from out of town, and I wasn’t going to NOT see DB when he was going to be leaving the following day, so I went out to my folk’s to visit…

By the time I got home…It was about 9:30 p.m. and time for the housework to begin.

Dog had been on the cable all day and needed tending to…I called home to see if DS would brush him out for me, so that I wouldn’t have that to do at least…This time of year is a nightmare for pet hair!



I swept all of downstairs, cleaned the litter, and fed and watered the animals. The kitchen also got swept and the laundry put away…(I had some hanging on the dryer rack from last evening).

I did another thing or two, and it was pretty late by the time all was said and done. Although I didn’t get Tuesday’s chore—ironing—done, I did feel pretty good about my accomplishments for the day.

WEDNESDAY…



Wednesday was an off-the-record down day.

I did help hubby to get his motorcycle from shop, and I ran the dog, but other than that, it was a sharpen-the-saw day…

DRESSING FOR LESS…

I’m not sure if I’ve shown this outfit (or part of it) before…But…

Well…

Since I can’t remember…

Let’s just show it anyway! ;)

It’s all about attitude really…We don’t have to have expensive clothes to feel good or to look good for that matter.



Have you ever known anyone with really bad skin, but their smile was so engaging that you really never saw the acne? Well…That’s how it is with clothes…

Wear what you like…

Don’t worry about whether it’s “In” or not because…Well…Who really cares? I never have.

And…Make sure that you’re comfortable in your outfit.

SIDE NOTE...

A couple of ladies (who shall remain nameless) were commenting one evening on my sweater. They may have said that they liked it…I really don’t recall. What I DO recall, however, is that the one said, “I used to have a similar one”. The other replied, “So did I”. And then there was some comment about, “Well, maybe they’ll come back in.” GASP! The “IN” word! Well, was that a virtual slap in the face, or what?! (They really didn’t mean anything by it.)

So…Did I go home and promptly hide my dear sweater in the inner depths of my closet? My word, No! I still wear it and feel good…No, great...Every time I do! :0)

If you’re like me, and you don’t like to shop…



Be creative!


I am always putting together what some may call “the same ole’”…The same ole’ top…The same ole’ pants…With a different top…Or different pants…Or different jewelry…Or a different coat…Or…

Do you get the picture?

You can have a seemingly whole new outfit just by being imaginative!



Since I keep my clothes for a long time, I don't usually recall just what I paid for them...But here's a guesstimate...

Jacket—-Second-Hand Store…Probably between $4.00 and $7.00

Leopard Print Blouse-—T.J. Max (?)…I’m sure that this was under $12 and maybe less.



Heart Necklace—Second-Hand Store…$3.00



Earrings—Second-Hand Store…Between $1.00 and $3.00



Standard Narrow-Legged Pants…I don’t honestly remember where I got these other than that I believe they were given to me…Free



Black Half Boots—Maaaaaaybe WalMart…?

I have such a time finding shoes in this one-size-fits-all society. I remember growing up when they would actually measure your feet and fit a shoe exactly to your foot. I had a AA toe and a AAAA heel. Now, I have to find what I can (usually wider than I need) and make do…

So, these would have been the most expensive item at around $22.



Depreciate your clothing over the number of times that you have worn it…And, if you started off with relatively inexpensive items (quality does count, as they will last longer), then you have a nice-looking and reasonably priced outfit.

A ROUGH BREAK-DOWN…

JACKET

Number of times worn: 12 (It could be more for sure)
Price: $7.00
Today’s cost to wear: .58

LEOPARD PRINT BLOUSE

Number of times worn: 15 (Again, I’m guessing)
Price: $12.00
Today’s cost to wear: .80

HEART NECKLACE

Number of times worn: 5
Price: $3.00
Today’s cost to wear: .60

EARRINGS

Number of times worn: 5
Price: $3.00
Today’s cost to wear: .60

BLACK NARROW-LEGGED PANTS

Number of times worn: No guesses here
Price: Free
Today’s cost to wear: Free

BLACK HALF BOOTS

Number of times worn: 15 (Could very well be 20 or more)
Price: $22.00
Today’s cost to wear: 1.47

TOTAL COST OF TODAY’S OUTFIT…

$4.05

Now, that’s a deal!

Did I like it?...Yes

Was it comfortable?...Yes, and the shoes were comfortable for the amount of walking I did…(Very important little trick ladies…Wear appropriate shoes for the day’s activities)

Was it “IN”…Don’t know and Don’t care

So, see ladies (and gentlemen ;), we can all dress with respect and dignity for a very low output....

And doesn't that feel good!

THE WEEKEND…

Work, work, and more work…:/ Work I brought home and work that’s AT home…ALL waiting to be done…

And the yard to clean…and the car to wash…and the oil to change…and the draperies…and the tapestries…and…

Stop right there! We all know the saying…

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”…

Well I neither intend to be dull OR a boy, so I’m going to play a little bit with my babies at the St. Patty’s Day parade and then…

For at least part of the time this balmy Saturday afternoon…

This is where you’ll find me…