God really does talk

Awhile back I was suprised to be called to a Stake calling. Surprised because I was young, unqualified, and unsure of whether they had made the right decision. When I went to be set apart, I felt the 1st counselor in the Stake presidency look at me like maybe he wondered why I had been called too.

Then came the blessing. As he spoke, he talked specifically about the talents I had that I would use in my calling, he talked about what Heavenly Father wanted for me and how he understood my needs. When he spoke, I truly felt as if God were working through this amazing man to bless me. The man in the Stake Presidency would have never personally known all the things he said about me. I felt full of the spirit.

When I turned around to shake his hand, I'll never forget the different look in his eye. He looked at me with intensity and a small smile like I was qualified, smart, and capable, like now he understood. I believe in that moment, he looked at me through God's eyes, and I saw the trust my Heavenly Father has in me to help his children.

Asking for permission

I would say I'm a bit of a feminist, and I'm proud of it. I'm proud of the women in and out of the church who labored unceasingly so that women would be seen as equal to men, because I believe that is the way God sees us all, as equals.
I would say I'm a bit progressive, but at the same time love tradition; however, one traditions is a big perplexing...asking for permission to marry a woman. Women are no longer property or cattle or used in bartering or obtaining stature or fortune, so the idea of asking for permission is antiquated. On the other hand, it's respectful. So, the solution for me is asking for the blessing of the bride's parents. Same idea, but even more respect because it shows the man respects not only the parents but the woman he is marrying.

Back to School Blessings

Every year I looked forward to my father's blessing before school. It may have been my dramatic mind, but I always hoped he would predict something fantastic, like I'd win the spelling bee or be elected Homecoming Queen.
He never said those words, and neither one of those things happened, but what he did say, every year was this, "I bless you that you will be able to find those who are lonely or in need of a friend and be that friend. I bless you that you will always be able to make others feel happy and loved, that you will always be kind."
Same words, every year. My husband now says those same words to our children.
Those words did a few things for me. When I was someone with a lot of friends, and people wanted me to be unkind or leave someone out, my father's blessing words were repeated to me in my mind. I didn't always make the right choice, but I tried.
There was another time in my life when I was horribly awkward with few friends and I always wanted to be cooler than I was, and my father's words still rang in my ear, and I still saw myself as someone who could be the one to make someone's day brighter, who could be someone's friend. I had confidence in me, when I really shouldn't have, because of his words.
I hope those words do the same for my children...I hope they are the kinds of people we bless them to be. Nothing matters more to me then the way they make others feel.

Fasting

I think it's tough to get kids started on fasting. I'm not sure the right age, but there was a great idea in my R.S. meeting yesterday I wanted to share.
If your kids are not ready to fast yet, but you'd like them to participate, decide on something to fast for as a family, talk about it and pray about it. Then, depending on age and readiness, have them skip one meal or two meals. If they can't do that, have them give up the "fun food" that day and keep things simple. No juice, just water. No treats, just necessities. Only one helping. No snacks at church. Any degree works, and it gets them prepared for when they can partake in a full fast. It helps them start to understand some of the sacrifice that goes into fasting. Also, if they are old enough to have money, they can start contributing a small fast offering. Let them know that you or dad supplies the family fast offering, but if they'd like to use any of their money to help people who need it, this is a time they could do that.

Church Snacks, when should they stop?

My husband and I are at odds every Sunday...do we bring bags full of cereal for the kids or leave them at home? Hubby says it's ridiculous to still bring them, they make a mess and are distracting and noisy; I say bring them since he ends up passing the sacrament every Sunday and then during the talks the kids climb and whine on me, so I rarely listen and thing feeling the spirit means when I don't feel REALLY angry during the meeting. If I give them a bag of snacks, life is good for all of us. We always to get a vacuum and clean up our row and others anyway. However, I know there is a point when they should stop. When is that point? Is it bad that only on fast Sunday can I help myself from grabbing a few too?

Leggings...to wear or not to wear

I love fashion but usually oogle it from a modest distance, but I've been in a quandry about one particular item for a few years...leggings. Are they really tight pants or really heavy tights? If I did dare to put my less than model legs into them, does my shirt or dress still need to go to my knee so I am considered modest. There is no "leggings" section in For the Strength of the Youth. Fortunately, while I was thinking about this for the last 3 years, I became officially too old in my eyes to don them (not that you are!)

Of course, just a day after I became too old my friend gave me a decently official answer: "At BYU, you can wear leggings, but your shirt still has to reach your knees." Case closed, right? What do you think?