Sunday, November 14, 2010

Virtue

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Wedding Gowns!! I love wedding gowns!

I have been of the mindset that plain white was the only way to go for a wedding. However, I made this beautiful gown recently for a friend that included a deep teal inset panel in the front and a lovely matching teal sash. While I still love the traditional clean white best, I'm enjoying the idea of a little color in the wedding gown for the reception.

The floating lace overlay she chose was just lovely and I was able to lay the finished scalloped edge over the inset panel down the front. The most beautiful detail was the silver rosette piece the bride found for the center front of the sash. It was just perfect!

I had so much fun making this modest gown for her, and the payoff was seeing her walk down the aisle almost as happy with the dress as she was with her handsome husband!

I'm ready for another challenge... anybody need a wedding gown??




And just for fun: Here's the gown I made for my oldest daughter last summer...

Friday, February 6, 2009

Return to Virtue

I am so excited for all the Young Women in the world! The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have added the value of "Virtue" to the Young Women's theme. I have to say this is very timely and appropriate~ and NEEDED!!

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with what the Young Women are taught, here is the theme that their curriculum, lessons, goals and activities are built on:

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.
We will "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,
and in all places" (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live
the Young Women values, which are:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works
Integrity and
Virtue.
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,
we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants,
receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.



You can read more here:

"The time has come for young women of the church to lead the world in a return to virtue!"

So what do you think of the new color? Virtue is GOLD!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Immodesty at its best... or worst...

First, I should say that I have made a promise to myself that I am not going to put any immodest pictures on this blog that show (or almost show) body parts or extreme examples of what not to do. However, I have made a decision to show this photo because not only does it show the baseness of immodesty, but the lack of honor that this young woman has shown for herself. Someone said to me, "This is hysterical". I don't see it that way. The email I received with this picture said this was a "true redneck tank top". People can make jokes all day long, but it doesn't help our families live in a more modest way. What is really true about the 'clothing' in this photo is that this person shows blatant disregard for herself and others around her. I cringe when my children are exposed to this type of dress. This picture was apparently taken in an outdoor flea market. I am sad that so many seem to have adopted such a lazy, sloppy attitude about their clothing. I'll just let the picture speak for itself now.

Monday, July 7, 2008

"Don't Dress Like a Boy Magnet"

I received permission from Doug Apple to post this radio script for your enjoyment. Be sure to share it with your sisters and daughters!!

Consider yourself...






Radio Script for July 3, 2008

“Don't Dress Like a Boy Magnet”


Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Don’t dress like a boy magnet.

“But I want to be a boy magnet!”

Oh, you better think about that. Start by thinking about this: what percentage of the male population are you trying to attract?

Probably a very tiny percentage, right? After all, you’re not trying to attract the dirty old men, are you? You’re not trying to attract the losers and abusers. I’m going to guess that the only guys you want to attract are the guys that you are attracted to. I bet you’re not trying to attract any unwanted attention from guys you aren’t attracted to.

So really, it’s a very small percentage of the male population you are trying to attract, so don’t dress like you’re trying to attract them all.

So how many do you want to attract? This is important. I hope your answer is…one. If you are a single Christian female, then the most you should be trying to attract is one, and that would be your future husband who will become your one and only.

And what kind of husband do you want? A strong Christian, I hope. A good, godly man with high principles and strong morals.

If this is the kind of husband you want, then how should you attract him? First Peter 3 talks about how women should make themselves beautiful. It’s not their hair or their clothes or their jewelry that makes them so attractive. Instead it’s what’s inside, their holiness, their gentleness, their peace, their hope in God.

If you want to attract a godly man, then you must be a godly woman. You need to work on your inner qualities and your walk with God. And with that comes a de-emphasis on your outward appearance.

“Yes, Doug, I want a good Christian husband someday. But I want to be attractive. Is there anything wrong with that?”

I think you need to drill down and see what your motivation is. Does it make you feel good to get the boys’ attention? Is your self esteem riding on this? Is that why you dress like a boy magnet?

Now think this through. If this is what makes you feel good about yourself, then what will you do when you are married? After a while, many women fall back into the rut of making themselves feel good by attracting the boys’ attention – even though they are married.

And what will you do when you get older and lose your attractive edge? Some women panic with those first signs of old age. That’s why you see mothers and grandmothers dressing like boy magnets. Their self esteem hinges on grabbing the boys’ attention.

This is a rotten place to get your self esteem. It’s fleeting. It’s never really there. You are always chasing it but never really catching it.

The problem is that it’s like a drug. It feels so good to snag the attention of an attractive member of the opposite sex. It gives you a high that can last all day. Then like other highs, once it wears off you need another one. And to get it – now listen – to get it, what will you be willing to do? Will you wear your clothes a little tighter? Skirts a little shorter? Tops a little racier? What will you do to attract the boys?

Now let’s talk about the attention you are getting. When you dress like a boy magnet, what you are attracting is the eyes of the boys. They are looking at your body. Or let me say this, they are looking at your body parts. If you wear tight jeans, they are looking at your rear end. If you wear short skirts, they are looking at your legs, and on and on.

Now don’t get too excited, thinking they are looking at you. They are not really looking at you. They are looking at your parts. Listen, they may love your chest, but they may not like you at all.

This is not what you want, is it? It’s demeaning. It’s depersonalizing.

So think about it. You dress like a boy magnet to draw the attention of the boys, which makes you feel good about yourself. But in reality, they aren’t even thinking about you as a person. They are just enjoying the display. It could be anyone.

So if you think you want to be a boy magnet, you need to think it through. I don’t think it’s going to bring the results you want.

If your goal is to attract a good, godly husband, then dressing like a boy magnet is not the way to do it. Instead, work on your inner qualities, such as your holiness and your walk with God.

“But Doug, if I don’t dress to attract, I’m afraid I won’t attract anyone.”

Let’s go back to First Peter chapter 3. Verse 6 says you should “do what is right and do not give way to fear.”

Yes, I think it’s a legitimate fear to think you might miss out on attracting a good husband. But do what is right, and don’t give way to fear.

You don’t have to dress like a little “hottie” to attract a godly man. In fact, I think a godly man will disrespect that. It’s more likely to repel than attract.

And you know what? A man doesn’t want to be married to a boy magnet. When a man marries, he wants you to himself. He doesn’t want to share you with the rest of the male population.

So think this through, and pray about it. What are your goals? What is your motivation? When you get to the bottom of it, I think you’ll find that it doesn’t have any good long term effects.

It’s just not a good plan to dress like a boy magnet.


Comments?

E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here: http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one: douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000

Friday, June 27, 2008

Think Modest ~ Teach them Young

Some questions and thoughts to spark your thinking:

Do you let your little girls dress in sleeveless shirts and dresses until they are older or do you insist that their shoulders are covered from the time they are born? What about crop tops that show bellies? Short shorts? How tight is too tight?

This modest thinking includes boys as well as girls. Should boys always wear shirts? I have been known to ask my own boys: "What if girls were to run around without their shirts on?" Oh how that makes them sqirm!

How do we teach our boys to respect girls and women? What tools do we employ to do these things? We cannot sit by and just expect them to absorb by osmosis a modest way of thinking. There must be conversation or the visual stimuli from the world will overwhelm them.

For any situation that may arise, we must actively engage them in conversations about the way people dress (and think and speak and act). It is a must! Do we teach them to look the other way? Do we teach them to hold their tongues? Do we help them practice what options they have if they are in an uncomfortable situation?

There's a nice article on JenMagazine that shares some thoughts about the shoulders. It's a good read for anyone with a pre-teen or teenage daughter. You will have to scroll down to find it: The Cold Shoulder: To See or Not to See? (For anyone who is not LDS and is not familiar with the garments that members of the Church wear, the article refers to the garment worn by adult members who have been through the temple, and the issue here can easily be understood by simply noting that garments have cap sleeves and that the only way to wear the garment appropriately is to cover it completely. Any questions? Just ask.)


Here's my daughter in a dress we made this spring. She covered her shoulders nicely with a sweater and looked just beautiful!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Are we teaching modesty in our homes and families?

A thought provoking article written by Joseph Walker, national media specialist for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Public Affairs Department, appeared in the February 1992 edition of the Ensign. More Than Hemlines and Haircuts emphasizes that they way our young people dress influences their relationships with others, including Heavenly Father.

Laine's Letters

Some years ago I found this site through online friends and it has been inspiring. Laine writes about many topics and I've always considered her to have a modest heart and mind. Her love of Christ is evident in the thoughts she shares. I just thought you'd like to explore and enjoy. Laine's Letters

Friday, June 13, 2008

My swimsuit choice


The Iolani is the suit I purchased for my summer at
Ohana Swimwear
I had lost 7 pounds since January and when I purchased the suit, I literally struggled to try it on. I've lost 4 more pounds, but it's not happening yet! So... I have to lose more of the old cookies and brownies I've been storing up for so many years before it will fit well. I'll let you know when that happens!

Did you find a modest suit for your summer?

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

A great online magazine!

I found a great place to explore! Check out this online magazine and share it with all your sisters, young and old. http://www.jenmagazine.com/