wrestling becoming fun?

As I watch a second son wrestle, I am once again confused by the desire to participate.  When asking Tall One about a particular move:  "Doesn't that hurt?"  His answer, "Pretty much everything hurts in wrestling".  This inside information does not comfort this momma's heart.  I do not enjoy watching wrestling.  It looks very dangerous.  Maybe that is the draw - sheer strength and danger, one and one muscling it out.  I'm leaning towards supporting that they not let females watch at all.  In the mean time, I support Tall One by taking pictures, hugging a sweaty boy, and exercising faith and then listing gratitude each time he comes home with only minor aches and pains.

This last weekend he won second place!

He competed with 9 schools that day.  Here he is in motion

Eminent Women

I have been enjoying this bloggers research and posts on Eminent women.  Please enjoy.

a bit on modesty

Though part of this is opinion I feel the need to share.  I am saddened and surprised at the choices of good  women and girls and the way they are dressing.  I remember being uncomfortable with young girls wearing undershirts as shirts, bra straps showing or choosing bras of bright colors with the intention of showing through.  I have been so disappointed at the low pants and what we used to call "plumber's crack" showing on girls and grown women.  The new tradition of grabbing the back of our pants as we stand up to try and keep things covered is not pleasant.

Now I am seeing lacy looking underclothes or slips being worn on top, fishnet stockings, and  ridiculously high heels.  The high heels every day with jeans look extremely uncomfortable and now very bold, super high shoes and boots are being worn to church.  Discussing with my husband the message that so many females are sending, I am sad.  I don't believe they realize the way they are dressing tells much about how they feel about themselves and the extreme importance they put on outward appearance (read sexual appeal).  Not only that but drawing undo attention to the messages across their chests or seats and then making sure there is lots of bling so that nobody will miss staring at their rear ends.  There are also the double white lines going up the crotch of jeans.  If you have had drawing lessons you realize that these two lines take the eyes to a focal point.

We are told by a prophet of God and throughout the scriptures to dress modestly.

Prophets of God have continually counseled His children to dress modestly. When you are well groomed and modestly dressed, you invite the companionship of the Spirit and you can be a good influence on others. Your dress and grooming influence the way you and others act.

Modesty is defined as conservative, not vain, not seeking to attract attention to ones self, moderate.
         1. The state or quality of being modest.

2. Reserve or propriety in speech, dress, or behavior.

3. Lack of pretentiousness; simplicity.

 For the shoe example, I don't know how you could get any more extreme than some of the shoes I have seen.  I think if we prayerfully seek to understand, to open our eyes, we very quickly will know if we are dressing modestly, if we are drawing the eye to places we shouldn't, if we are wearing the uniform of a very old profession.  If you still are unsure ask a man you admire.  He will know what is modest and what is distracting in an uncomfortable way.  For the strength of youth helps with some specifics

Immodest clothing is any clothing that is tight, sheer, or revealing in any other manner. Young women should avoid short shorts and short skirts, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and clothing that does not cover the shoulders or is low-cut in the front or the back. Young men should also maintain modesty in their appearance. Young men and young women should be neat and clean and avoid being extreme or inappropriately casual in clothing, hairstyle, and behavior. 

 I have wondered what styles are left for the prostitutes.  The fashion industry would have us continue to blur the lines between a virtuous woman and one who sells her virtue.  I'm not perfect at choosing my dress.  I wish I knew how to look great and honor God more of the time.  I find it hard on a budget when I seem to be gaining weight.  Suddenly more things are tight but surely if we are desiring to please God in the way we care for our bodies, he will help us and show us how.  Join me in dressing modestly.  Join me in taking time to ask where eyes may be drawn to and what message am I sending. As a middle age wife and mother of sons, I need your help.  Women everywhere need your help. Men as they fight the pornography culture need your help.  Lets bring modesty back.

Some additional study for modesty in dress
An article on being pretty
BYU-I article
modesty for young girls too a checklist from Friend magazine
and Beauty links

oops, and the table saw

We had a small accident on Thursday.  It could have been so much worse but small is good enough for us.  Mr. O was simply trying to make a cut on one of the boys whittling projects when it kicked back and pulled his hand towards the blade.

His tall finger is no longer the tallest.  He has a pin in the ring finger to hold it while the tendons heal.  We are waiting to see if the skin will live. Stitches in the thumb too.  This was his first surgery and he does not like anesthesia.  He kept trying to get up and go.  He spent the next day on pain killers but refused to be waited on.

Today, without doctor permission or MINE he unwrapped it all.... it was strategically timed to have the unveiling complete before my return, he also cut off the bandages so they would not be conveniently reused, we inspected and  re-wrapped in a way that he liked better.  I later found him in his office using a power tool.  He is definitely one to get right back up on the horse when he is bucked off.  He learns from his mistakes but doesn't stop living.

Can I just say that I have a stubborn husband.  He is once again just the kind of man I can love and respect.  He will never be the type to sit in a lazy boy in front of a game asking for a coke.  He is a get up and go kind of man.  He wants to make his own way, be tough, and care for his family.

I have realized and been counting so many blessing.  I am married to an amazing man.  He is safe and well each day and that is a blessing.  My niece recently wrote about those who put their lives on the line every day.  I am very grateful for the military, law enforcement, rescue teams . . . but I am also realizing that each day is a gift.  Each day that our loved ones are safe is a blessing and a miracle.  Life is fragile.  Our bodies are amazing creations that have power to heal and to make due.  People are placed in our lives that help us along the way and sometimes we get to be the one to help another.  Mostly I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who hears our daily prayers for safety and blesses us when we need little reminders that make me stop and count all the good things that go right every day.

To quote an English poet who was quoted by Abigail Adams to her husband, "Affliction is a good man's shining time."

Grateful:

• 10 fingers
• skilled doctors
• chili from a SIL
• phone calls offering help
• priesthood men who just show up and offer a blessing
• children who while in the room did not have to see the details of the accident
• adrenalin that stays the pain for a while and gets us through the long day.
• daily grace

I challenge you

President Thomas S. Monson
At the advent of a new year, I challenge Latter-day Saints everywhere to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the abundant life—a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness, and blessings. Just as we learned the ABCs in school, I offer my own ABCs to help us all gain the abundant life.

Elder Quentin L. Cook.
“My purpose today is to challenge you to work with people of other faiths to improve the moral fabric of this nation and the world and to protect religious freedom,


Elder Holland
“Don’t you dare just go blend into the amoral, telestial, hard-scrabble world of today,” Elder Holland challenged graduates at BYU—Hawaii, located in the Laie, Hawaii, during a commencement address.

“Don't go to your first job or first neighborhood or first staff meeting and just begin to act like everybody else.  Be strong.  Be true. …Teach—rather than being taught.  You can't control everyone's morals, but you can control your own. You can't control everyone's language, but you can control your own.  You can't control everyone's personal standards, but you can control yours.  And thus the light of the gospel—the figurative lighthouse of Laie—can shine in all the world to which you go. Don't give up and don’t give in.  Be strong if you are the only Latter-day Saint for a hundred miles in any direction.  Stand straight and true and firm.”

It seems we live in challenging times.  We need to arise and shine forth.  We need to stand for truth.  We need to count our blessings and thank Him for each and every one.  I want the abundant life.  There is grace all around us. Blessing are waiting for our readiness.  I want to be better, to change.  I, who am weak and full of mistakes, can still be something better than I am now.  It is hard to stand up and stand out at times.

I have been thinking of an old fashion windmill.  It is built with a firm foundation and then it spreads its arms to catch the wind.  Without the vulnerable arms the spirit whisperings slip by without our notice.  When we reach out to embrace each breeze, we are saying "OK, show me how.  I'm ready to be thy useful servant.  Guide me."  The wind is there, always.  Now with arms outstretched I catch the whisperings, I hear the Spirit.  It is important that once those arms are turning I have already prepared inside.  The gears are lined up and greased.  The grain to be ground is plentiful.  I can then do what I was created to do.  Sometimes a  breeze guides us to new places but for now I am firmly planted at home, with my family.  The beauty is I can still do as I was created to do.  I can be useful.  I can make a difference.  I can bless lives by my example, by sharing our abundance, by accepting the harvest that comes.  My gifts may be simply standing firm, offering shelter, nourishing others.  Sometimes being a small part of the landscape can still bring a smile to a traveler.  I can do all this as a wife and mother at home.

I also must remember there are times to shut down for maintenance so that I can perform properly.  There are times when the storms make things difficult but I am built for this purpose with strength to withstand the storms.  I have been called as a mother in Zion.  Everything will work out.

reviewing work

As I sought to explain my word of the year I began with "Last year my word was work."  I received an odd expression.  Why work?

Work became a word that triggered my interest.  Work was everywhere.  The obvious learn to do your work and do it well gives way to so many more aspects of work.  My attitude about work has changed.  I am learning to appreciate the opportunity to work, the ability to work, the resources to work.
I have learned about the work of women, why certain jobs go well with our role of wife and mother.
I have learned that the mundane daily jobs open up the mind with time to think, wonder, solve problems, recognize solutions, allow time to pray over so many things.
I have learned the satisfaction that comes from mundane jobs well done.  The joy that comes when we accept our work and view it as a way to bless our life, the lives of others and to serve God.
I have experienced the work that comes with creating.  The work of planning, preparing, and then cleaning up after a project.
I have learned that it takes work to make and keep a schedule but that work makes my day more simple.  Simple order brings me joy.
I have learned that relationships take work.  I have seen what happens when I don't put forth the effort and the blessings when I do put forth the work that builds relationships.
I have learned the joy of working with others as well as the peace that can come when I work alone.
I have learned that when I face my fears, knowing that a job needs to be done, that I can do hard things.  That when I seek to know God's will and then do it, it is work worth doing.
I have learned to respect and trust my husband in his God given roles that also have specific jobs or work.
I have learned that it is work to live the gospel, share my testimony, support my missionaries.
I have learned that physical work not only accomplishes a certain job but blesses the body too, and that boys and men especially need physical work.
I am learning that work still needs to be judged as good, better, and best.  Some work is just not worth doing.
I experienced the joy of family work and know that we need to do more things together as a family-things that have value and accomplish a work.
Work can be a noun and a verb and a 4 letter word.
I need to teach how to work, the value of work and the love of work to my children.
Work builds character.
Work must be a part of my mental, physical, spiritual, emotional growth.  It all takes effort

I have loved my year of work.  I have learned much more than I first gave it credit and as in all good things I now know that I have much more to learn and do.  I think once you spend a year on something it will never be light again.  Work has become deeper and more important to me as I have enjoyed learning and doing.  I hope to continue working on my work.

One last work quote to remind me that I have to jump in and do it:

You can't plow a field by turning it over in your mind.

Word of the year

2011 word Work.  I have learned some about work.  I love work and I have collected some great talks and quotes about work this last year.  As many of my ideas do, my focus became lazy.  I have forgotten about my quest to understand work and feel that there is much to still learn.  I believe it is something I will continue to build upon and learn about.

As I begin 2012 my desire is to be more present.  I want to be in the moment.  I don't want to worry about the past or the future because they are both beyond my control.  I desire to live for now.  It does not mean "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die"  It is more - today is a gift, enjoy it.  Time is a gift.  The people I am with at this moment are gifts to be cherished and enjoyed.  Now is my time to make the most of this opportunity.  I pray that in seeking to be present I may also experience and create more gratitude.  I love this talk on gratitude.  I believe that being present and grateful will go hand in hand.  My hope is that I will see and do what needs to be done in the moment.  I will learn to speak from the heart not worrying about how I might be judged by others for my words but simple acting on inspiration because I am seeking to see as He sees.  My hope is that this will lead to increased trust and faith, strengthened relationships, more accomplished, peace of mind, and continual hope.