A Woman of God
Posted on 22 August 2007 by Ali ||
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As you may or may not have noticed,
I haven’t been a woman of many words on this
blog recently. I have had many thoughts and emotions
going through my head and heart but every time I
sit down and try to write what is there I am blocked.
Last night I started my new institute
of religion class, Women in the Scriptures. Some
of the things my instructor shared with us hit a
soft spot inside of me and I think I may finally
be able to express what is happening with me as
of late.
The class started out with the
question, “What does the world see as the ideal
woman?” One of the girls in the class said
that it was having the perfect hair, the perfect
body, the perfect skin, looking like women in magazines
and movies. Then the next question was asked, “What
does the Church see as the ideal woman?” This
one took a little longer for answers to come and
then one girl in the class said, “A good cook.”
This was close to what I had come up with the answer
of “A wife and mother.” The teacher went
on to tell us how often times in order to be considered
a good Mormon woman we have to be able to bake bread,
sew clothing, have a good food storage, etc. Our
instructor told us about his wife and how she is
not a bread baker and doesn’t sew her own clothes;
instead she buys white bread from the store and
buys her clothing instead of making them herself.
He says that he loves the fact that she can read
Shakespeare and backpack 10 miles in the woods.
These things make her the ideal woman for him.
Since turning thirty I have been
questioning who I am and who I want to be. My heart
has been heavy as I have considered myself a failure
as a woman in both the sense of the world and the
Church. There is nothing “perfect” about
me. I weigh more than I should, I have frizzy hair
that is always a mess and I never wear makeup. Those
things do bother me, but are not the core of what
is bothering me; it is more of the “wife and
mother” type of ideal that I struggle with.
I am not a wife or mother even though it is what
my heart desires above all else.
After class last night I started
to think about these things about why my heart is
heavy and something Brother Wilcox said gave me
some peace of mind. He said that no matter what
kind of woman we are he hoped that as we took this
class that we might find different parts of these
amazing women and apply them to our lives and find
guidance and direction by their examples.
I pray that I might be able to
find guidance to become the type of woman that I
one day dream of being. That I might be an example
to others by the choices that I make and the life
that I live. I pray that I might be able to be the
woman that Heavenly Father needs me to be.
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Congrats Lindsey!
Posted on 12 August 2007 by Ali ||
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Things you may or may not
know about Ali (take 10)
Posted on 08 August 2007 by Ali ||
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It has been a long time since I have done this
so here goes ....
- On my mission I was reported to the police for
child pornography (this is a long story ... you
will have to ask if you want to hear it!)
- I have been fired from two jobs.
- I own my own bowling ball.
- I have three sets of the books The Chronicles
of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.
- I have profiles on Facebook, MySpace, &
Blogger
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Welcome to our family!
Posted on 07 August 2007 by Ali ||
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She has finally arrived ... we are so happy to
have you here!
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Quirks
& Idiosyncrasies
Posted on 31 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| The last two days I have
been thinking a lot about who I am and the “real
me” verses the me everyone else sees. I realized
this weekend just how much I have been hiding inside
of myself lately. I think I have been doing this in
the past, but even more so recently due to some things
that have happened in my life.
So I have a few thoughts and questions for you
... are you able to appreciate who a person is even
with their quirks and idiosyncrasies? At my job
I have been criticized more than once for being
“talkative”. I find myself now being more
withdrawn and feeling stifled. I find myself becoming
someone that I am not comfortable being.
Are you able to fully appreciate yourself? I think
this is something I personally struggle with. I
am always second guessing myself and the person
that I am. I ask myself why things are the way they
are and think that is my faults that they aren’t
the way that I want them. The truth is that it isn’t
my fault. I just have to keep doing the best I can
and things will turn out the way they are supposed
to. I know deep down that I am a good person with
much to offer, but sometimes I need the little reminders.
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I
am grateful for humor!
Posted on 29 July 2007 by Ali ||
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What Mona Lisa Does When the Museum
Closes
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Celebrity
Crush
Posted on 28 July 2007 by Ali ||
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 I
have developed a little crush on cute Mr. John Krasinski.
You might know him from the hit television series,
"The Office" as the adorable Jim Halpert.
Maybe you saw him as Ben in "The Holiday".
Right now you can see him on the big screen playing
opposite of Mandy Moore & Robin Williams in "License
to Wed". Personally I am excited to see him in
the new film "Leatherheads" with George
Clooney & Renee Zellweger. Man is he talented
and oh so attractive! |
Tagged!
Posted on 25 July 2007 by Ali ||
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Rule #1: Remove the blog site at
the top of the list below, move all the blog site
names up one, and add yourself to the bottom.
A Backstage Pass
Whine, Cheese and Chuckles
Goddess On A Mountain Top
Just Rannin Around
Visualize
1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
I was working as a temp for the University of Utah
patient accounting department and getting ready
to go back to good ol' Snow College.
2. What were you doing 1 year ago?
Just starting my job at the Bank. Little did I know
all that this next year would hold.
3. Five snacks you enjoy?
1. Ice cream
2. Cherry Limeaide
3. Fresh Raspberries
4. Peanut Butter Cookies
5. Twix Candy Bars
4. Five Songs you know all of the lyrics to:
1. It Matters to Me – Faith Hill
2. When You Say Nothing At All – Ronan Keating
3. Life Got in the Way – Sister Hazel
4. Vindicated – Dashboard Confessional
5. American Girls – Counting Crows
5. Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Payoff all my bills
2. Payoff all of my mom's bills
3. Go to Brooks Institute and get a degree
4. Travel to all the places on my life list
5. Buy an entirely new warddrobe
6. Five bad habits
1. Letting my pride over take my rational side
2. Giving my heart away to easily
3. Letting people treat me badly when I deserve
better
4. Crying when anger takes over
5. Occassionally saying words I shouldn't
7. Five things you like to do:
1. Laugh
2. Spend time with my friends
3. Swim
4. Spend time with my neices and nephew
5. Lay in the grass and enjoy being outside
8. Things that you will never wear again:
1. Tank tops!
2. More than one earring
3. These ugly pants I had that were every color
in the rainbow
4. Heels higher than an inch
5. Two piece swim suits
9. Five favorite toys:
1. My Canon Rebel XT
2. My Sharpie Collection
3. My laptop
4. My Cricut
5. Lurpy the giraffe
10. Where will you be in 10 years?
That depends on what the next 10 years old.
I have dreams and wishes, we shall see if they come
about.
Five People to Tag:
1. Holly
2. Silent Thunder
3. The Bratts
4. Andrea
5. Laura
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Hum
Drums
Posted on 25 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| Tonight I just feel blue.
I have much to be grateful for and much to be happy
about, yet tonight just seems to be one of those times
when you just feel down. I feel a bit lonely and a
bit in need of a hug. I have many great friends and
people in my life, but sometimes it all seems so far
away. |
I
am grateful for sweaters
Posted on 25 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| If it hadn't been for that
fabulous sweater that I keep hanging in my office
today would have been a day where I was freezing even
more so than I would have been. I was so cold today
at work that I almost made hot chocolate ... and it
was 95 degrees outside. One of my favorite parts about
the fall is getting to pull out all of my comfy sweaters.
I just love them! There is just something safe and
comfortable about wearing them. |
I
am grateful for Facebook
Posted on 23 July 2007 by Ali ||
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have been having way too much fun on Facebook.
My cute friend Steph sent me a link to some pictures
that she had saved on facebook and that led to me
exploring the site. It is a way to get in touch with
old friends, classmates, co-workers and more. It has
been fun, fun! And I have already gotten in touch
with a friend I haven't seen in two years. Good stuff! |
I
am grateful that I am a woman
Posted on 22 July 2007 by Ali ||
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This past week I have been reading
the book Daughters of God by S. Michael Wilcox.
It has been amazing and it has made me even more
grateful for the fact that I am a woman. I love
this paragraph that Brother Wilcox shares while
discussing Emma Hale Smith,
"Great blessings will flow
to the Church and fulfillment will come into their
own lives as the elect ladies of today faithfully
walk in the paths of virtue, seeking the lovely
and the praiseworthy. Great blessings will come
because they do not murmur, choosing rather to comfort
and console. Blessings will come as they go with
their husbands and children to support and help
them, expounding the scriptures, and exhorting others
to highter lives of devotion. Blessings will come
as they learn much in many different areas of life
while fulfilling the critical role of guardian of
the home. Joy will spread into every area of thier
lives as they sacrafice the things of this world
to seek the things of a better. Rejoicing will grow
through cleaving to covenants and keeping commandments
and through realizing that their loving delight
inspires others to righteousness, honor, and glory."
I know that as we follow the examples
of these amazing women; Eve, Hannah, Ruth, Esther,
Mary, Mary Magdalene, Sariah, Lucy Mack Smith, Emma
Hale Smith and the many more women who have lived
on this earth and followed the teachings of our
Savior we can draw closer to Him and fulfil the
purpose that our Father has sent us here.
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I
am grateful for Harry Potter
Posted on 21 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| I spent the entire day
reading the newest and final Harry Potter book, Deathly
Hallows. It was fabulous. I loved the way it ended
and the two things I thought would happen did happen.
I won't say any more because I don't want to ruin
anything for those that are still reading. |
I
am grateful that today is almost over
Posted on 13 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| Today flat out sucked.
Enough said. |
I
am grateful for reading
Posted on 12 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| I love to read! Ever since
I was a little kid I have loved to read. Books have
always been a place for me to escape and to have adventures.
My favorite book growing up was Charlotte's Web by
E.B. White which I currently still have and it is
falling apart at the seams. As I grew older my taste
went to Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High, and The Chronicles
of Narnia. Now I love the Harry Potter series, The
Work and the Glory Series, and Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen. No matter how old I am or how different
my taste is I will always love the comforting company
of a great book. |
I
am grateful for Kit Kat!
Posted on 09 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| Today I am grateful for
Katie. She really is one of my favorite people. We
have been friends for about five years now and I can't
imagine not having her around. I tried to think of
a way to truly express my gratitude on here and in
all honesty words are not enough to tell her thank
you. She is one of the first people I call when I
am excited or need a shoulder to cry on. She is my
accomplice for adventure ... armed with side walk
chalk or a camera some fun can always be counted on.
Kate, I love you. I am so glad we are friends. P.S.
Thanks for the giraffe! ;o) |
I
am grateful for church
Posted on 08 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| I am grateful for getting
to attend my meetings. Today was the first time that
I have completely enjoyed myself and attending all
three meetings. It was so fun! And I felt so uplifted
which was really needed. |
I
am grateful for cold air
Posted on 07 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| I am grateful for central
air! Until this year we have always had a swamp cooler
to keep our house cool during the hot summer months.
This year my mom invested in central air and woah
baby! So much better ... especially when the weather
is 102! |
I
am grateful for wonderful friends
Posted on 05 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| I am truly blessed to have
amazing people in my life. Heavenly Father has led
me to individuals who have helped mold me and make
me a better person. Some of these people are my heroes
and have been answers to prayers when I needed one
the most. They are people that I have laughed with,
explored new lands with, captured many memories with.
Thank you to each of you for helping me be the person
I am supposed to be and for being examples of what
Christ is like. I am truly grateful for each of you. |
I
am grateful to be an American
Posted on 04 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| I am so grateful that I
am an American citizen. Both of my parents have served
our country in the Army and I am proud of that service.
I am proud of the fact that I live in a country that
allows its citizens to be free. That as American's
we can practice which ever religion we want, that
we are able to make choices for ourselves, where we
live under a flag that represents the sacrafices of
many individuals who have fought to give us that freedom.
I am grateful to be an American. |
I
am grateful for my talents
Posted on 03 July 2007 by Ali ||
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Today I am grateful for the fact
that I have been blessed with many talents. I love
creating layouts and graphics. I am grateful for
my talent with computers. I am grateful with my
talent of photography. I am grateful for all of
the other gifts that my Father in Heaven has blessed
me with.
You may have noticed that there
is a new layout. I am currently re-reading all of
the Harry Potter books to get ready for the release
of the 7th book in two weeks. I love these books
and had to do something to go with this. You will
notice that the main images are of Hermoine Granger.
I love that character! She is a sassy and confident
young women who is willing to work hard to get what
she wants.
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I
am grateful for my feelings
Posted on 02 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| Today I am grateful for
my my ability to feel and express myself. If I need
to cry, I cry. If I want to laugh, I laugh. I feel
everything that I am experiencing in my life fully
and completely. |
I
am grateful for my testimony
Posted on 01 July 2007 by Ali ||
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| Over the last few weeks
I have been focusing on the hard and complicated things
in my life. It is time for a change. This month I
am going to focus on the things that I am glad and
grateful for.
Today I am grateful for my testimony.
Today is Fast sunday and I was able to bear my testimony
in Sacrament meeting. I am so grateful for the knowledge
that I have of the gospel and the blessing it is
in my life. Recently my testimony has grown about
how much my Father in Heaven is aware of me as an
individual and how His hand is involved in my life
... guiding and directing me.
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