Hair Today, Snob Tomorrow

 Since the 1970s, I have been a hair cut snob.  That's when my brother married his first wife, who was an amazing hair stylist.  It was wonderful to be 15 and have your own personal "cosmetologist", as we called it back then.   She started me on the "Dorothy Hamill" look.   Oh my gosh - loved it loved it loved it.  In fact, I think nearly every hair cut I have had since then has been some variation of that. Do NOT, however, put me in the category of women in their 40s and 50s who still wear Farrah Fawcett Wings. 

NEVER had them, and I seriously die when I see them today.

Ok wait - I think I did have those bangs for a year or two, but that was IN the 70s, not in the 90s or the 00s.  Geesh.

That sister in law spoiled me.  I have been a snob ever since.  Every time I move to a new location, I am very nervous until I find that hair stylist - the one who gets me and gets my hair.  Living in South Korea brought on the biggest challenge ever!   I stooped so low as to grow it out and get a......stacked perm.  Yes I did!  It was 1991 - didn't know any better.  Before moving back to the USA, I did chop it off again for a bit.  Other challenges have included various hair stylists from church - usually ones that I knew would move away after hubbies' grad schools.  I couldn't even take a chance on getting attached to them, for they would leave me...stranded and alone.

 I have lived in this town for 13 years now and I have gone through 4 stylists and I am now on #5.   I have found her!  I LOVE JULIE!  There, I said it.  She gave me the most perfect hair cut since about 20 years ago.  I am in heaven.  And yes....it looks a little Dorothy Hamill-ish.  But, it is NOT Farrah-ish at all.

Don't EVEN wait for that - it will never happen.

Apologies to my nieces who do hair - if I lived close to you, I promise I would go to you!

The O's Have it - Or Do They?

While I recently posted Elder Dallin H. Oaks' speech at BYU Idaho, I am not sure how many of you have seen the following, which I received from my son who attends that school:

Worst Person in the World

So, for those out there who perhaps think that Glenn Beck is a bit extreme in his treatment of Prez O and what is going on with the WH, just think about that a little bit. You may be reading this and not be LDS. So, I'll clarify a bit:

1. Olbermann didn't even get the name of the church correct, which proves the ignorance of his staff as well as his own. I can understand him picking on Glenn Beck, but isn't he talking out of both sides of his mouth when he is as hateful as they come?

2.  Doesn't the mere fact that he is bashing our religious beliefs prove some of Elder Oaks' talk, that religious beliefs are in peril?  Elder Oaks said, "A writer for The Christian Science Monitor predicts that the coming century will be “very secular and religiously antagonistic,” with intolerance of Christianity “ris[ing] to levels many of us have not believed possible in our lifetimes".

3.  Because of people like Olbermann, and because of many current government actions being taken that I fear and I disagree with , I am feeling quite challenged by this statement by Elder Oaks in this same speech (which Olbermann obviously did NOT hear nor read):

First, we must speak with love, always showing patience, understanding and compassion toward our adversaries. We are under command to love our neighbor (Luke 10:27), to forgive all men (Doctrine and Covenants 64:10), to do good to them who despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44) and to conduct our teaching in mildness and meekness (Doctrine and Covenants 38:41).

Ok, so I know what I need to work on....

Down on the Reader

I have a love/hate relationship with Google Reader. When I first began my blog stalking about three years or so ago, I thought that THAT was my answer to all my problems!  What time I would save!  I would never miss another post again nor waste time hopping from blog to blog on a never-ending trail of discovery!!

Well, I currently have about 407 posts that I am behind on in my Google Reader.  No, really.  I follow many blogs that are about home decorating, creating, sewing, politics, etc. and every time I go out of town I get behind.  I have not been out of town now for about.....3 months.  Yet, I am still behind.   And, I have friends and family members whose blogs are private, and those don't show up in Google Reader.  So, I forget to check their blogs.  Sorry, private people - I am just one woman. 

With Google Reader I don't "go" to people's blogs as often.  I just read what they wrote.  But I am missing out on SOOO much that way!  I mean, how many of us fret over how cute our blog looks?  Are the colors right?  How primitive does my header look?  Ugh - I hate mine right now, but oh well.  With Google Reader, we miss the beauty of the blog.

So, if I have 407 blog posts that I am behind on reading, should I really have THAT many blogs that I subscribe to?  Or, does it show that I am really using my time efficiently by not just sitting down and reading them all?  Good questions, I say. 

I now make a pact with my fellow sister bloggers that I will come to your blog, not just read what you wrote, as often as I can.  It's only fair - we gotta unite where we can.  I also think it is time to weed out the weeds in my Google Reader.  Too much fluff. 

I think I will also write to Google Reader with my simple solution.  The Reader needs to also show the blog designs, colors, and gadgets when it feeds in, right?  Don't you think?  Perfect.

Will they listen to me?  Well, they SHOULD.  I am 50 now.

THINGS They are a Changing

Ever need a change?  I do.  My Blog does.  I will be revamping the whole thing very soon.  A different focus and a different look.  Heck - I think I will even go "searchable" in the search engines.  So, if you read this blog because I have a million links to OTHER blogs on it, take note of them and save them somewhere because they will soon be gone.
Ohhh I am sure you are so excited!!  It's getting there...

Elder Oaks at Y-daho

A most significant talk was given yesterday at BYU Idaho.   Brian was in attendance.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks, apostle of the LDS Church, spoke about Religious Freedom and the Constitution.  While I already posted it on my OTHER blog, I felt the need to post it as well here.  I studied this this morning and feel its deep meaning to our world right now.  There are SO many significant passages, a few which I have highlighted below.  Do NOT let that dissuade you from reading it in its entirety.  It is prophetic and I believe matters now more than ever before.   Why else would he say these things?  He doesn't mess around, ya know?

Elder Oaks:

I invite you to march with me as I speak about religious freedom under the United States Constitution. There is a battle over the meaning of that freedom. The contest is of eternal importance, and it is your generation that must understand the issues and make the efforts to prevail. 

Along with many other religious people, we affirm that God is the ultimate source of power and that, under Him, it is the people’s inherent right to decide their form of government. Sovereign power is not inherent in a state or nation just because its leaders have the power that comes from force of arms. And sovereign power does not come from the divine right of a king, who grants his subjects such power as he pleases or is forced to concede, as in Magna Carta. As the preamble to our constitution states: “We the People of the United States . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.”  

The inherent conflict between the precious religious freedom of the people and the legitimate regulatory responsibilities of the government is the central issue of religious freedom. Here are just a few examples of current controversial public issues that involve this conflict: laws governing marriage and adoption; laws regulating the activities of church-related organizations like BYU-Idaho in furtherance of their religious missions — activities such as who they will serve or employ; and laws prohibiting discrimination in employment or work conditions against persons with unpopular religious beliefs or practices. 

As I address this audience of young adults, I invite your careful attention to what I say on these subjects, because I am describing conditions you will face and challenges you must confront.

And now, in conclusion, I offer five points of counsel on how Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves to enhance religious freedom in this period of turmoil and challenge. 

I"m not putting those 5 points here - go and read the article!  

This address is important on every level.  I beleive each Latter-Day Saint should study it out and pray about its significance.  I hope my friends and family now see why I am so passionate about what is going on in our country right now.  It is written all over this article.  

I consider it a sacred privelege to be a mom of two warriors who will fight in the causes that Elder Oaks addresses.  I am sure that you feel the same about yours.

Safety and Peace

I came across this quote today while reading ahead (shocking, I know) to be prepared for our Sunday School lesson this week.  I like to include that in my scripture study --- when I remember to include it. Ha. Those of us who are LDS believe in living prophets who guide church members through inspiration and communication with God.  I love this quote by President Harold B. Lee, a president and prophet of the church during some years in the 60s and part of the 70s:

“The only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized … There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you’".

Timely.Powerful. True.