Boobs and Bellies and Butts... Oh My!

Ah, yes!  It is that time of year again here in State College, PA, home of Penn State University -

BACK TO SCHOOL!

As an undergraduate student, I was always fairly excited for back to school season because it meant seeing friends again, a new year of classes, being back in the Happiest of Valleys, and warm weather.  However, as an alumnus living in the area with her husband (who is still an undergrad student...), I have noticed it is the onset of the warm, summer weather that is causing some uncomfortable and unsettling realizations as of late.

Anyone who has visited or lived in State College can attest to the fact that the weather in Happy Valley is very rarely "sunny and 75," as the country song goes, unless it is the beginning or end of the school year.  Happy Valley is normally overcast, if not raining, or snowing.  So, naturally, when PSU is blessed with gorgeous weather, we take advantage of it.  Some more than others...

We Are... a college town.  Simple as that.  State College, PA was built around Penn State University and it's student body.  When the students are gone for the summer, S.C. becomes a quiet, family town that just so happens to be home to one of the best (if not THE best) universities in the world.  However, when the students come back, Happy Valley quickly becomes host to hordes of college-aged co-eds, most of which decide to show off a little more than their brains... if you catch my drift...

It is deeply unsettling for me to look around at the student population that has invaded campus, our downtown, and surrounding areas and notice that females in particular have taken to the very immodest and unflattering trend of baring their bodies for the sake of "fashion."  Summer "fashion," if left to be defined by the female population at Penn State, would consist of flagrant displays of cleavage in low cut or strapless tops, unbelievably short shorts or skirts that are often accompanied by glimpses of butt cheeks (or worse!), and (the most confusing trend, in my opinion) crop tops that bare the girls' bellies and usually not-so-flat stomachs.  

So, why do I have such a problem with this?  Don't call me bitter.  I, for one, am NOT.  I am simply disturbed at the lack of modesty young women are now exhibiting so naturally and freely.  

Almost 2 years ago, I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and knew that I would need to make a change and promise between myself and Heavenly Father to wear modest clothing in order to preserve and uphold my integrity and virtue.  With this promise comes the duty and blessing of wearing the "garments."  For those who might be reading this and either don't know what the heck I'm talking about or have an idea and think I'm insane, let me break this down for you...

This past December (2012), I entered the Bountiful Temple (see picture below) in Utah and came out wearing the "garments."  These garments are worn under my regular clothing that represent and remind me of the sacred promises I made with Heavenly Father.  For the sake of this post and to maintain the sacredness of the garments, I will not go into too much detail regarding what they look like and what the garments' doctrinal meaning is, but I will summarize in saying that I covenanted to keep my body holy and modest by not showing it off with the immodest clothing being flaunted by today's young women.

Simply put: this means those little strappy tops and short skirts/dresses I've been seeing traipsing around campus are no longer in my closet! 

While I no longer own a strapless bandage dress or a pair of shorts, unfortunately, there are MANY girls at Penn State and other areas of the country who do.  The reasons that this makes me so uncomfortable are pretty obvious:

1) I have a husband and a younger brother who are subjected to viewing these young women in their skimpy clothing DAILY.  They are at Penn State to receive an education in their respective degrees, neither of which are studying "intimate female anatomy."

2) While I COULD certainly wear (and work!) these immodest clothes fashionably, I choose not to because I recognize the gift and worth of my body.  Unfortunately, most young girls don't see my example as the majority... they're seeing "Barbie Butt Cheeks" and "Candy Can-Cans" and wanting to emulate them and their style.

It is my sincere prayer for today's young women to recognize their self-worth and cover up their "assets" so they can be role models to the next generation and can be aware and proud of their worth in Heavenly Father's eyes.  Heavenly Father doesn't care that that crop top is "in style" or "cute."  When your belly is hanging out and causing the young men to objectify you, THAT is when He cares.  Heavenly Father doesn't care that the dress you just bought makes your boobs looks "huge!"  When your boobs are causing young men to struggle with immoral thoughts and desires, THAT is when He cares.

Ladies, we need to be a strong, holy example to our following generations.  We can do that by choosing modest clothing and covering the parts of our bodies that are intimate and sacred.  I promise that by doing so, we will be happier and the blessings from Heavenly Father will pour out upon us.

Bountiful Temple in Bountiful, Utah

Hello, Spirit!

You just never know when the Holy Ghost will touch your heart..

Last night I finished a book and, like any other time I finish one book, I became excited/nervous about picking a new one.  This may be something only book nerds (such as myself...) understand,  but SO. MUCH. relies on what book you pick next.  You're basically deciding: will the next few days/weeks of reading totally SUCK? or will it blow your mind with awesomeness?!  Sometimes the mere thought of it is too much to handle.

As I was working all day, I thought to myself, "Okay, Lauren.  When you get home tonight, you will pick your next book.  Make sure it will be enjoyable.  Make sure it will be something WORTH reading.  You know what, use that new GoodReads app to help you decide."  You see, I had just spent the last evening/night/mid-morning scanning in ALL of my books in my "personal library" into this AMAZING/REVOLUTIONARY app (GoodReads) and sorting them by "read" or "to read."  I came to find out that I have ~300 UNREAD books in my library!  Bring it on!

But, in typical "Lauren" fashion, I kept putting it off and putting it off until... well, just now.  I finally got off my butt and trudged downstairs to the "library" (okay, in reality, it WAS a man cave and is now just a laundry room with my bookshelves and a futon in it...) and set out to pick my next book.  The first book I picked up was one I had just purchased at a Goodwill today - Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews.  Sounded a little cliche, but readable, so I put that on the "maybe" pile.  Then I reached for a book I've had since last summer - Chicken Soup for the Latter-Day Saint Soul.  I think I bought this after I first discovered Amazon's option for buying used books.

To be honest, I hadn't planned on reading a church-related book.  I usually reserve those books (and the Book of Mormon!) for times of need... or, in terms of the BOM, two chapters every night before bed.  I certainly don't want it to seem like I'm discrediting any church-related books, especially the BOM, but I've just never really had the motivation to read one as a "personal book" yet.  I apologize if this isn't making sense, so I'll try another way of explaining: I usually split my reading into 2 categories: personal and church.  "Church" includes reading 2 chapters from the BOM every night (usually I re-read the chapter I read the night before and add on the next chapter), while personal is any other book that I read.  There, that sounds a little better...

Either way, I thought I'd at least look through Chicken Soup for the LDS Soul and see if it was something I'd like to read for the next few days.  Immediately, I felt a sense of calm and familiarity - just from the Introduction!  It began by inviting every reader to feel welcome and then referenced the types of stories that one could expect to be reading in the upcoming pages.  It referenced different types of church meetings and family activities that this book and the stories in it could be used as lessons and testimony builders.  I was becoming surprised at how these words on a page were making me feel so happy and comfortable!  It was all so familiar!  But it was the first sentence of the third paragraph that really pulled me in:

While I appreciate the non-coincidence of the publishing of this book, it was really "Joseph Smith" and "the Church" that stood out to me from that sentence.  For whatever reason, it was that moment that I felt the Holy Ghost reach out and tap me on the shoulder.  Not literally, of course, but figuratively.  I have read Joseph Smith's name hundreds of times and seen the church referenced like that just a handful of times more, but at no other instance have they jumped off the page at me like they did tonight.  I felt so happy, so calm, and so sure that the Church and the Gospel are true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet. 

I usually don't like to say that I am "proud" of my church or "proud" to be a member of the Church for fear of seeming prideful, but dang it, I am proud!  I don't allow it be something that is obnoxious or that gets in the way of my day-to-day life with others, but I am always pleased to let others, members and non-members alike, know that this is who I am: I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I have never been happier!

Book Nook: The Weight of Small Things

I really do hate admitting that I didn't enjoy a book.

I often find myself in the book section of Target reading over some of the new releases or "interesting reads."  Which is exactly where I found this time-sucker... With that being said, Sherri Wood Emmons' THE WEIGHT OF SMALL THINGS was painful to get through.

 

I WANTED to like this book and I TRIED to like this book, but I just couldn't bring myself to get into it.  I had to force myself to get through the book just so I could finish it and move on to another one.  Harsh? Nah... I found this book utterly predictable, boring, cliched, and all the other words that you could use to describe a poorly written book.  

I was intrigued by the main character, Corrie, suffering from not being able to get pregnant.  I was wary when I read something about an old fling coming back into the picture, but bought the book used on Amazon anyway.  And thank goodness I bought it used and not full price!

To sum up the book in as few words as possible:

Corrie is married to "perfect" Mark and they can't get pregnant.

Corrie's best friend, Bryn, finds out she's pregnant by her loser boyfriend, Paul.

Corrie is still hung-up on her college boyfriend, Daniel.

Daniel left Corrie long-ago, and Corrie then found out she was pregnant.

Corrie had an abortion without telling Daniel.

Daniel comes back into the picture after a class reunion.

Corrie flies out to LA to "interview him for an alumni magazine article."

Corrie and Daniel sleep together.

Corrie finds out she's pregnant and isn't sure if it is Daniel's or Mark's.

Corrie tells Mark and he divorces her.

Bryn leaves Paul and moves in with friend, Bob, who is going through a divorce.

Corrie finds out she's is having Daniel's baby.

Bryn and Bob begin dating.

(Asleep yet?!)

Corrie's sister is in an accident and Daniel supports her through it.

 There is a tornado and Corrie goes into early labor.

Daniel flies back out to be with Corrie.

Corrie has the baby early, but it's fine.

Bryn then has her baby.

Bryn and Bob get married.

Mark misses Corrie.

Daniel promises to be with Corrie and their baby.

Corrie chooses Daniel.

Yea, been there, done that, right?!  The whole story was predictable and totally done before.  Not a single character was likeable, not even Bob's kids from his previous marriage.  I know - ouch!  I realize how terribly harsh I'm sounding, but I really think this book was a hugeeeee waste of time.