Because We Can See

The topic in Sacrament meeting today was obedience. One of the sisters that spoke used one of my favorite quotes of all time.

"We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see." 
(Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1983)

I love this quote. Often times, I think people see the commandments and "rules" of the Gospel as holding them back. They don't let you "have fun" or are too restrictive. God just wants to control us and dictate what we can and cannot do.

Not so.

He gives us these commandments and "rules" because He loves us. As we live them, we see the blessings that come from doing so.

Sometimes they are direct blessings. You pay your tithing and somehow, miraculously have enough money to pay all the bills that month.

Sometimes they are indirect blessings. You don't see a specific outcome, but things just go better or you find the answer you were looking for  or maybe you don't see it at all until you look back and think, "Huh, that WAS a blessing..."

We know the desired outcome. We have been given the way to get there, but it is up to us to do it.

Dear Boys #20

Dear Johnny Cash,

If when we get married pink highlighters will be involved...

Love, June

Dear Captain, 

I am telling you...anyone but her!

Love, Mother

Hey! Hey! Good Lookin'

Not only are you REALLy attractive, but you smell HEAVENLY.

Love, Jess

Dear Middle Man, 

Yipee!! Good luck!!

Love, Hitch

Dear Shawn, 

Why has it been 4 months? That is awful. Just awful.

Love, Gus


Dear Pioneer Day, 
(Turns out when you don't work during the summer, you forget it's a holiday.)
Utah, people working together, Utah!
What a great place to be,
Blessed from Heaven above.
It's the land that we love.
THIS IS THE PLACE!
Love, Jess

Dear Boys #19

Time to bring some Dear Boys lovin' back into my life.

Dear Elder, 

Jenn wants a glittery snake belt when you get home.

(Preferably 3...one for her and each of the girls.)

Love, Big Sis

Hey, Hey Good Lookin'

It's really hard to flirt with you when you are not around...

Although, when you are around, I have a hard time stringing together 3 words, let alone an entire sentence...

Love, Jess

Dear Ned Gold, 

We will continue to work on picking up on social cues next week.

Love, Jess

Dear Single Boys Everywhere, 

(This makes me laugh every time I see it on Pinterest...

probably because there is some truth to it...)

Love, Jess

PS- If anyone can catch the obscure movie reference in this post you get MAJOR brownie points!

Dear Happiness,

Dear Happiness, 

This last week I found myself in one of those downward, self-pitying spirals. Things just could not go my way. I felt unsocial, crabby, and angry. 

Then I had an epiphany of sorts...but not really, because I already knew this, I had just forgotten in the moment.

No one make you unhappy but you. This is a choice, not a consequence. The things that I was using an excuse to be unhappy were just that...an excuse. I didn't have to be unhappy. No one else really cared if I was happy or not. So why was I? 

Worrying about things in the past can't change anything. Worrying about things that really have nothing to do with me doesn't fix anything. Getting upset by something that you really don't care about only raises your blood pressure.

So, I decided to be happy.

Love, Jess

Obsessed

I am kind of "Dear Boys"-ed out right now. I don't really have anything nice to say to them at the moment. So I am not going to say anything at all. Instead, let's talk about two things I am obsessed with right now. 

1) This song. In case you haven't heard it yet, I am conveniently posting it in video form below. I know it's not a relatively new song. But in the last week or so I have become OBSESSED with it. I like the words. I like the music. I like the feel. What song are YOU obsessed with?? (Because let's face it we all have that one...)

2) My family went on vacation to my favorite spot in the whole world last weekend. How can you not love this? I really wish I could capture smell in a picture!

Dear Boys #18

Hey, Hey, Good Lookin',

I'm more impressed every time we chat. 
You seem to be it - real potatoes and all.

Love, Jess

Dear Shawn,

I will fit everything in one suitcase. I will prove you wrong.

Love, Gus

Dear Elise's Pieces,

I am so glad we share a love of shepherd's pie. 

No one else understands it like you do.

Love, Jess

Dear Dr. Seuss,

Waving the white flag of truce. Ask her out again...please.

Love, Jess

Dear Middle Man, 
We need to chat.

Love, Jess

And now, a few Wednesday Wonderfuls to finish it off! 
I have been really social lately, guys. You should be proud of me.

Tuesday I went to a Bees game in Salt Lake. Summer is now official. 
(I have this secret addiction to baseball...)

Friday some friends and I went to the Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days Rodeo. 
I love rodeos. I love horses. I love cowboys. 

Saturday we had a ward activity at Deer Creek Reservoir. 
Disgusting and so much fun all at the same time.

Saturday night some friends and I had a bonfire up the canyon. 
Third one this year and by no means the last!

True Beauty

I am sure many of you have seen Jessica Rey's video "The Evolution of the Swim Suit." (If not, you can watch it here.)  And then I read this blog post by To Every One That Believeth. (She talks about how it shouldn't matter what women wear as long as they feel comfortable and women should not be relied on to keep men's thoughts in the right place.)

I have thought about these two things all weekend. One I really agree with and one I really don't.

As I talk about modesty, I am going to veer off the specific topic of swimsuit modesty and talk about modesty in general.

I grew up being taught that dressing modestly is very important. The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that   "Immodest clothing is any clothing's 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. They should choose appropriately modest apparel when participating in sports." (From the For Strength of Youth pamphlet under Dress and Appearance)

While Jessica Rey's video and presentation's ultimate purpose is to promote her swim line and products, I think she hits the nail right on the head.

While there is a small portion of modesty that is to help men keep their minds in the right place, that is only a very small part of it, at least to me.

Modesty isn't about how other people see me or what they see of me. 

Modesty is about how I see myself.

Modesty is knowing that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who created my body and is now entrusting me to take care of it.

Modesty is showing respect for myself and those around me by the way I dress.

Modesty is covering my body so the world can see my beauty from the inside out. 

Modesty doesn't mean I have to wear a high color, long sleeves, and a dress down to my ankles. I fully believe that anyone can show their own style, expression, and personality while still dressing modestly.

I want people to see THAT kind of beauty when they look at me. I want them to feel comfortable looking at me, really looking at me, and seeing who I am. Not what I am.