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Respecting Yourself
Modesty is about respecting yourself and those around you. It’s not about cramping your style. Modesty is not a swear word! As a doting and protective aunt to some very beautiful tween girls and some rad tween boys and a “big sis” to some fabulous teens at my church, I get pretty fired up about topics relating to youth. Modesty is one of those hot button ones for both parents and youth, so when I saw this I wanted to share it. Jessica Rey has some good things to say no matter which end of the spectrum you are on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJVHRJbgLz8
I know that it can be tough for teens. They are trying to figure out who they are, what they want to do with their lives, what they really believe all at the same time as their bodies are changing and their hormones are running rampant. They have pressure from all sides. From Friends. Teachers. Parents. The world at large. People call it the greatest time of your life, and maybe for some people that’s true. But for many it’s a really awkward and rough stretch.
Parents….your young people need some freedom to explore various clothing and hair styles within some reasonable boundaries of course. Cut them a break if they want to dye their hair some florescent color or cut in some strange style. It’s hair and it will grow back. Choose your battles based on what really matters. If girls want to wear Chucks with a dress…so what. Is the dress covering what it needs to cover? That’s the battle to fight, not the style or color of the dress or shoe choice. It’s also in for boys to wear neon skinny jeans. I don’t get it, but as long as their pants are pulled up, I’d consider that a success. I personally detest the dropped pants look on anyone, but if a kid wants to look foolish well, they’re going to do it. In my opinion, full grown adult men should NOT wear skinny jeans. Seriously men….don’t do it! EVER! But I don’t want to get started on that.
Young people…please be respectful of your parents. Example, if they’re taking you to a nice restaurant, dress appropriately. You can dress appropriately within your style. Some compromise goes a long long way here. I’d recommend not doing anything permanent to your body until you’re at least 25….i.e. tattoos. Who you are at 25 will probably be a long way from how you are at 13, 17 or 19 years of age. I’m not against tattoos at all. But seriously guys, do you really think you’re going to want SWAG tattooed on your chest when you’re 30? And ladies, you may dig One Direction now…but in 5 years, you really will have moved on from Harry Styles. I know it may seem cool now, but taking a few days to really think about something you cannot undo is wisdom.
Young ladies….There are ways to try out different clothing styles within the boundaries of modesty. You can be develop your personal style and fashion and still be modest. You do not need to wear a see through top and a skirt that barely covers your butt to be fashionable. All that look will do is make you a target for negative attention from the types you don’t want attention from. Not to mention that it tempts the decent guys out there, and they’ve got enough to deal with…just like you.
Young men….Modesty isn’t as big of an issue for y’all as it is for the ladies, but dressing appropriate still applies. There’s a link below that addresses you guys better than I could. Please keep this in mind little brothers, people will not take you seriously with the dropped pants look. Please do yourself a favor and just pull your pants up.
All ladies….No matter what age or size you are it is difficult to take someone seriously with their boobs and/or butt hanging out. If your top has a low neckline wear a cami or a tank under it. Seriously. Even though I try to give people grace about what they wear, I have a hard not time thinking less of someone who dresses immodestly at work, church or at any business I shop at. If I’m having a hard time taking you seriously, you can be assured I’m not the only one. I don’t care what style you prefer to dress in, your style’s not the point. Your modesty is the point.
I’ll leave you with this… God made you beautiful ladies. Gentlemen, God also made you in His image. Modesty is not about covering up what God made and hiding who you are. It’s about treating yourself with respect because you are worth respecting.
Again, modesty is not about hiding your body. Your body isn’t bad or wrong! Your body is beautiful! So beautiful in fact that the Holy Spirit has chosen to live there: I Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.”
Related articles
- Ewe, did you say modesty? (kellymhainesblog.wordpress.com)
- Mens Modesty -Yes its real! (iicor617.wordpress.com)
Fun Fact Friday: Pearls
Since I there were 3 of my family members born this week, I was thinking about birthdays and birthstones. One of June’s birthstones is the pearl. I personally like to wear pearls. It makes me feel like a grown-up.
Here are some facts about pearls…..
– Any mollusk with a shell can grow a pearl, but usually they are created by mollusks with 2 shells.
– Most natural pearls are formed from a parasite or injury. The mollusk senses the foreign matter and coats it with a mineral and a protein.
– A pearl can take anywhere from months to many years to form. It all depends on the environment and the size and the type of mollusk.
– The ancient Greeks believed that pearls were drops of water that fell from Aphrodite as she emerged from the sea.
– The pearl has long been considered a symbol of purity, love, wisdom and wealth.
– Jesus used a pearl as a parable of the Kingdom of God, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46
– Most “real” pearls are cultured. Here’s more about how pearls are created: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5147163_do-pearls-grow.html
– One of the most famous pearls is La Peregrina. It was owned by Phillip II of Spain, Napolean, Queen Mary I (Sister of Queen Elizabeth I), and more recently Elizabeth Taylor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Peregrina_pearl
Something that I’ve been pondering this morning is about how most pearls are formed from injury or parasites. Did Jesus know this when he said, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” in Matthew 7:6? Something to think about.
Happy Friday.
Related articles
- A Pearl is a Pearl: Cultured Pearls vs Natural Pearls (raymondleejewelersblog.com)
- Spotlight on: June’s Birthstone Pearl (raymondleejewelers.net)
Chickens Don’t Have Belly Buttons?
Today’s fun fact is that animals that lay eggs don’t have belly buttons. Only mammals have belly buttons. Soooooo that means dogs and cats have them. Cows and elephants have them. Even whales and dolphins have bellybuttons.
Frogs, fish, lizards, and chickens., however, do not have bellybuttons. How sad for them!
If you want to read about some belly button love….check this out… http://www.bellybuttonlove.com/
Photo Credit: Anne Geddes
Mysteries and Family History: George W. Nicholson
When my Nana asked me to help her with family tree research in like 1996, I was totally not interested. I listened to what she had uncovered and found it interesting. I did not want to look stuff up, UNTIL she called me with a mystery she couldn’t solve. Then I was hooked. I had to solve the mystery. I started researching and finding things out. My inner nerd still does a happy dance when I can solve a mystery. (Makes me feel like Velma…the smart one from Scooby Doo).
I really love finding out about my ancestors stories, where they lived, what they did for a living, what they believed & stood for and any personal anecdotes about their lives. I love finding out how my family fits into American history. I love it when I find the answers and solve the puzzle. But many times, I end up with more questions than answers, and that just drives me on to solve the mystery.
One of my favorite mysteries is George W. Nicholson, 1845-1923. He’s my great great great grandfather and a Civil War Veteran. Can you imagine what kind of stories he could tell you living from pre-Civil War to the beginning of the Roaring 20’s? I’d love to be able to talk to him about his experiences or read letters or journals he wrote. Those kinds of things to a genealogist are priceless and precious.
Since I don’t have a detailed journal of Grandpa George’s every move, I had to hunt up any records I could find. Let me tell you, this man has been quite the challenge! He’s still one of those mysteries that I NEED TO solve. I just recently found out that he died in the Soldier’s Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan on 22 May 1923. He was just 2 months shy of 78 years old. He lived in the Soldier’s home from at least 1910, as he’s listed as a resident on both the 1910 & 1920 Federal Censuses.
I kept searching and found that Grandpa George was born 4 July 1845 on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts to John S. and Paulina F. (Fuller) Nicholson. The family is listed on the 1850 Federal Census as living in Nantucket. George is most likely named for his Uncle George, John’s brother. All I know about his childhood is that his father, John, went to California during the gold rush when he was a small boy. John is listed on the California State Census for 1852, but his family isn’t. Since John sometimes worked as a carpenter and sometimes as a mariner (a person involved in seafaring work), I wonder if he went to California for a specific job or if he went to California to strike it rich. I wonder how the family felt about John’s trip to California. (See….more questions than answers). No matter why he went, John was back in Massachusetts by 1855, per the Massachusetts State Census.
The Veteran’s Schedule of 1890 tells me that Grandpa George enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 17. He first enlisted with the 20th Massachusetts Infantry Company I on 13 August 1862. He served with Company I until March of 1863. He was then registered with 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, Company K. He served with Company K from 4 January 1863 through 30 June 1865 when he mustered out. The record shows that he was wounded. From what I can discern, it looks as though he was wounded and sent home in March of 1863, and then when he recovered he enlisted again with the 2nd MA Cavalry.
Knowing what regiments he was in means that I can look up the regiment and find out which battles he fought in. Personally I think this is super cool.
20th Inf, Co I: http://www.civilwarintheeast.com/USA/MA/MA20.php
2nd Cav, Co K: http://www.civilwarintheeast.com/USA/MA/MA2cav.php
The next time he is listed on a document is his marriage record 29 October 1884. What was he up to between 1865 and 1884? I’m very curious why he left Nantucket and what made him decide to go to Michigan. And when???? I wonder how he met his wife Katie (Anna Katherina Schneider). I also wonder about Katie. I know from their marriage record that Katie was a German immigrant who came from the city of Wesel. Katie was born in 1864 and died in Owosso sometime between 1892-1895. That’s all I know about her. George married his 2nd wife, Laura Gue, on 14 July 1895. Laura was a widow. At the time of their marriage, George’s three children were 10, 7 and 3. His eldest, John Henry, is my great great grandfather.
I want to find the census records from 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900 because I think that would help me answer some of my questions about how and when Grandpa George went to Michigan. But as of now I’ve not had any success finding him on any censuses except the aforementioned 1910 and 1920 censuses.
Are you interested in family tree research? I have some good links for finding information, some of which are free. I am willing to share tips and such if people are interested. Truthfully, I can talk for days about family tree research, but if no one’s interested, I won’t. (Then again this is MY blog…so I might anyway….MUAH-HAHA-HA).
That’s all for now. Have a Trrrific Tuesday!
Love Velma
Incredible and Edible
When I was a kid, I loved going to NaNa & Boppie’s and helping NaNa with her massive garden and feeding the chickens. Although I must admit the chickens scared me a little bit. It all stems from getting pecked in the forehead whilst trying to collect eggs. My Mom tells me the scar on my forehead is from chicken pox, but I personally believe it’s from that vicious hen who tried to take my eye out!
Anyway…..after the eggs were collected, we took them to the cabin to be washed and sorted. Nana had this little egg scale that we used to measure what size the eggs were. I personally found this to be super fun! Especially when the eggs measured as “extra large” because that meant they were probably a double yolker! I was always pumped for my life when I got a double yolker.
I got to wondering, because I like random facts, what is the record for yolks in one egg? I found multiple places that said 9, so I’m going to go with that. Can you imagine the size of an egg that has 9 yolks in it? Now that is an omelet!
So your fun fact for this Friday is that the most yolks in a single egg is 9. For more fun egg facts…check out this link: http://www.poultryhelp.com/oddeggs.html
Have a fabulous Friday!
jillbeingstill 