Today Sarah tells us about when she cleaned out her closet,

she literally had only one outfit that was socially acceptable 

to wear out in public.

She had been shopping, trying to find things that were perfect, 

but was unsuccessful in every store she went to.

One day she saw a friend, whose wardrobe she admired, 

and just asked her where she shopped.

And boy did she get a load of information that she did not know.

It was wonderful.

Start Quote

We want, we need, we desire, we yearn,

but we don't ask...

Longings cross our mind, 

but we don't really commit ourselves.

We don't lay it on the line.

We don't ask 

because we're afraid somebody will say 'no'.

Who?

It doesn't matter...

When wishful thinking 

doesn't magically manifest what we want,

we feel we've been denied.

So, in future, we choose not to ask, 

but continue to wish, 

existing in a constant state of deprivation. 

Asking comes with no guarantees...

But...if we don't ask, we haven't got a prayer.

Today, start asking.

You see a woman with a great haricut?

Ask where she got it.

Ask for the name of a great paint color in a home accessory shop, 

a fabulous recipe from a  hostess,

the name of a piece of music you hear playing in the record store.

Ask your husband to take the kids for the afternoon 

to give you some time to yourself.

Ask the kids to pick up their toys so that you don't have to do it.

Ask for a deadline extension.

Ask for the day off.

Ask for a raise.

Ask when the next sale will be.

Ask Spirit for a daily portion of grace.

Ask Divine Wisdom for operating instructions.

Aks your guardian angel to manifest holy assistance.

While you're at it, ask for a miracle.

Ask for what you need and want.

Ask to be taught the right questions. 

Ask to be answered.

Ask for the Divine Plan of your life to unfold through joy.

Ask politely.

Ask with passion.

Ask with a grateful heart and you will be heard.

Just ask.

End Quote

Nice try Karen, I commend you for asking.

"Remember that without faith you can do nothing; 

therefore ask in faith. 

Trifle not with these things; 

do not ask for that which you ought not."

-D&C

***

Gratitude Journal

***

1) I kind of didn't sleep last night. I started reading Killing Floor by Lee Child and I couldn't put it down. I looked at the clock and it was 4:30...kids were up at 6. Then I kind of read all day whenever I could...and done. Ready for sleep now, now that I know the ending.

2) A Saturday. Some errands, and reading a book and playing with the kids...just a Saturday.

3) Tomorrow's Sunday. Last week we had my parents' help, the week before that we didn't have kids at all, and tomorrow we will have them all by ourselves trying to teach them to be reverent. Yay.

4) Fruit snacks. 

5) Food. Food is amazing. And not everyone has it, which really sucks. Fast Sunday tomorrow! Tithing and fast offering, trying to do my part to help.

Can you tell I'm a little out of it? I don't think I'm using complete sentences. Peace out ya'all.

June 2nd - Modesty

"Style is to see beauty in modesty."

-Andree Putman 

This is another day that I turn to often.

On days when I feel mediocre.

When I think of modesty, 
the first thing I think of is clothing 
and learning about it in Young Womens. 

But it is so much more than that.

Start Quote

Modesty isn't a very exciting virtue...

Modesty seems dull, 
too often confused with the girl dressed in muslin 
sitting on the side of the gymnasium 
who's never asked to dance. 

But the French designer, Andree Putman...believes 
"unless you have a  feeling for that secret knowledge 
that modest things can be more beautiful than anything expensive,
 you will never have style."...

Perhaps as a child you were told not to toot your own horn, 

even when you accomplished something amazing. 

Or maybe you were told to stop dreaming 
of setting the world on fire, 
and "have more modest aspirations, 
so you won't be disappointed."

Maybe when you try to express your authentic self 
you hear an old voice berating you for "being a show-off."

Yet at the same time, out of the corner of your eye you could see 
it was the big gestures that got all the attention in life...

It's always the wealthy women who make it 
on the international best-dressed lists, 

the movie stars' mansions that are glorified in glossy layouts.

It's not enough to write a finely honed first novel, 
it has to be a best-seller 
or you'll have difficulty publishing a second one.

You can't just be a talented actress, 
you have to win an Academy Award to be considered a success. 

Tell me, when was the last time you knew of a bronze medalist 
signing a $1 million endorsement deal?

Most of us can't see our name in lights on Broadway, 

so we give up, 
sorry we even tried, 
our sense of self diminished. 

Being a modest success just doesn't make it. 

We hear "modest" 
and think "mediocre". 

Meditate on modesty for a moment. 

What if she isn't 
the self-effacing, shy, retiring, nerdy virtue 
we've thought she is?

What if 
Modesty is really passion restrained? 

What if 
modesty is a virtue so full of her own smoldering sense of self 
that she isn't distracted by the glitz?...

Oliver Herford believed that modesty was 
"the gentle art of enhancing your charm 
by pretending not to be aware of it."

People with an authentic style know what they are, 
but even more important, they know what they are not. 

They don't care about labels.

They care about personal expression. 

End Quote

Modesty does not draw undue attention, but seeks to glorify God.

How you choose to act, dress, and live

are expressions of your character.

"Modesty is not vain or boastful. 
Modest people do not use their bodies or their behavior 
to seek approval from the world or to draw attention 
to their own real or supposed accomplishments 
or desirable attributes."

"To be modest is to be humble, 
and being humble invites the Spirit to be with us."

"Modesty encompasses 
dress, language, thought, and personal conduct...

In a world that constantly tries to undermine our sense 
of who we are and what we can become, 
observing the principle of modesty can improve our confidence.

As modesty becomes the virtue that regulates and moderates  

action in our lives, we too will find an increased 

sense of self-worth. 

Recall the promises of Doctrine and Covenants 121:45–46:

'Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; 

then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; 

and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul 

as the dews from heaven.

The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, 
and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth.'"

Modesty is behavior or appearance 
that is humble, moderate, and decent. 
A modest person avoids excesses and pretensions.

I will always try to be modest. 









***
Gratitude Journal
***

1) Temple date night. I was crying by the end of the day. You know how Kathy Griffin said Trump broke her? Well, the kids broke me. She don't even know what it means to be broken (just kidding, I can't even begin to know someone else's pain...it's a joke). So much so that I couldn't get Jacob into his carseat without crying. And then the temple just kind of put me back together again. I'm so grateful we have one so close. I'm so grateful that I have good friends and that our kids get along so well so we can do temple swaps. I'm so grateful that when we picked up our kids I could smile at my kids and help them into their carseats and help them find that silly red button. 

2) Robbie. I'm so grateful for his love for me, for our family, and for the gospel. I'm so grateful that we can go to the temple together, and do this thing called life together.

3) Fun places to take the kids that only cost gas and a couple dollars. If you've never taken your kids to The Discovery Center, go on the first Friday of the month, it only costs $1. It's amazing, my kids love it.

"Aren't I a cute astronaut?"

 we actually sang the imperial march

show me your shark face

"Mom, the turtle is eating my stick"

4) Seeing good friends, even if it's only for a moment.

5) Time. I thought a lot about Shelby today. I wore some of her jewelry to keep her close. I felt closer to her in the temple. I told Riley (as she was admiring the necklace) that it belonged to Aunt Shelby and how much she loved her and what a wonderful reunion it will be one day. It doesn't hurt as bad. It feels like she's been gone forever, but it's only been a little under 6 months. How can time move so fast and so slow all at once? Time is an amazing thing, taking the pain and leaving only love and hope in its place...if you let it.

June 1st - Hestia

"House ordering is my prayer, 

and when I have finished 

my prayer is answered.

And bending, stooping, scrubbing, 

purifies my body as prayer doesn't."

-Jessamyn West 

Start Quote

Three thousand years ago in ancient Greece, 

Hestia was the goddess of the hearth, 

guardian of family life and the temple. 

It was to Hestia that women turned for protection and inspiration

so that they might, as an act of worship, 

transform their dwelling places into homes of beauty and comfort...

Hestia is not frazzled, hanging on by a thread.

Instead, Hestia is 'grounded in the midst of outer chaos, 

disorder, or ordinary, everyday bustle.' [Dr. Bolen]

Everything that needs to get done in the home 

is accomplished with ease and grace...

Hestia gently reminds me...[that] 

'tending to household details is a centering activity 

equivalent to meditation' [Dr. Bolen], 

if we make it so.

If you feel you have no time to sit down to meditate, 

that you have a valid excuse for not seeking communion with Spirit 

because the floor has to be swept, 

realize that if you approach your tasks with reverence, 

it won't only be your home that will be transformed.

The Goddess knows what it takes to run a household 

and She has deemed it holy. 

So should you.

End Quote 

Now I'm so not telling you to go on and commit idolatry 

by praying to Hestia, 

but I do love that the Greek's valued 

beauty and comfort in the home so much 

that there was a goddess assigned to protect it. 

Hestia isn't the only god who can help you 

run and protect your home. 

"Cry unto God for all thy support;

yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, 

and whithersoever though goest let it be in the Lord;

yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord;

yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever."

-BOM  

 

One of my favorite stories of the Savior as of late is when he comes into Mary and Martha's home found in Luke 10: 38-42. Martha is busy serving, and Mary sits at Jesus's feet to hear his words. When Martha asks Jesus if he cares that Mary has left her alone to serve, and asks him to tell her to help. 

"I love the words of the most gentle rebuke that I can imagine. With perfect love and infinite compassion, the Savior admonished:

“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” "

-The Beauty of Holiness 

Today I finally started reading Strength and Stillness, 

and the same scripture changed her life. 

 

***

Gratitude Journal

***

1) Getting out of the house. The kids had a blast. By the end of the day they were driving me a little nuts, but I think they had fun.

2) Bed time. Bed time means quiet time. Finally, no more crying, no more whining, no more yelling, no more saying the same thing over and over and over again...And after a night of sleep for all of us we will be ready to start all over again and our patience meters will refilled...and then empty again by bed time.

3) Getting dinner done before piano lessons, so when they were over we went straight to dinner. No hungry babies crying because dinner isn't done yet. Boo ya. 

4) Todays post. I really needed to be reminded who to turn to when I'm feeling frazzled. The kids really got to me today. I didn't have one moment of silence...

5) Robbie has good ideas.