Progress

As a new year approaches, I find myself reflecting on the past as well as preparing for the future. I have yet to sit and write out any personal resolutions, but they are certainly on my mind.

Today while reading in The Economist (I do this maybe once in a blue moon), I discovered an article on the idea of progress titled "Onwards and Upwards" (the issue's cover article). The article examines the idea of progress on a global scale. This caused me to reflect on what our nation's resolutions might be--political ideals aside.

I'm sharing an excerpt from the article that I found interesting and quite relevant. As part of the generation that will lead our nation's efforts for progress, this is an idea that I think will be extremely valuable:


"... The very idea of [moral sensibility] sounds quaint and old-fashioned, but it is the subject of a powerful recent book by Susan Neiman, an American philosopher living in Germany. People often shy away from a moral view of the world, if only because moral certitude reeks of intolerance and bigotry. As one sociologist has said "don't be judgmental" has become the 11th commandment.

"But Ms. Neiman thinks that people yearn for a sense of moral purpose. In a world preoccupied with consumerism and petty self-interest, that gives life dignity. People want to determine how the world works, not always be determined by it. It means that people's behaviour should be shaped not by who is most powerful, or by who stands to lose and gain, but by what is right despite the costs. Moral sensibility is why people will suffer for their beliefs, and why acts of principled self-sacrifice are so powerful. ...

"Ms. Neiman asks people to reject the false choice between Utopia and degeneracy. Moral progress, she writes, is neither guaranteed nor is it hopeless. Instead, it is up to us."


Since coming to DC, I've learned a new meaning of the word transparent--that is transparency as it promotes good governance. The article, though briefly cited above, actually gives many references to government and its hindrance or benefits to progress. There is nothing more valuable to a society than transparency in government. We, as a society, want and need a moral compass. Our government should also hold to a standard of morality based on the unalienable rights in our charters of freedom. I hope that in my lifetime our government will be able to fully meet this standard, though I know it will be largely by the efforts of our generation. I do not mean that we will all become politicians or government workers. More importantly, I mean that all of our citizens should become active participants in our democratic system and that is the only way we will be able to bring about the progress we wish to see. It seems we have our work cut out for us.

beck

In Remembrance

On Christmas...

"Remember the simple grandeur of his mortal birth to just a young woman, who spoke for every faithful woman in every dispensation of time when she said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38).

"Remember his magnificent but virtually unknown foster father, a humble carpenter by trade who taught us, among other things that quiet, plain, unpretentious people have move this majestic work forward from the very beginning, and still do so today.

"Remember Christ's miracles and his teachings, his healing and his help...Then, on those days when we feel our progress has halted or our joys and views have grown dim, we can press forward steadfastly in Christ, with unshaken faith in him and a perfect brightness of hope (2 Nephi 31:19-20)." --Elder J.R. Holland. The Ensign. November 1995.


And in the languages of international visitors I've had this year:

Joyeux Noel! Feliz Navidad! Frohe Weihnachten! سعيد عيد الميلاد Natale allegro! God Jul! Maligayang Pasko! С Рождеством Христовым! Hristos se rodi! Šťastné Vánoce! Vrolijke Kerstmis! Καλά Χριστούγεννα! חג מולד שמח Hauskaa Joulua! नाचते-गाते-खाते क्रिसमस Boas Festas! Craciun fericit! Vrolijk kerstfeest! Christmas Alegre! ...and Merry Christmas!

beck

A Colorful Project

I came across a small box of postcards a couple of months ago. I think they were left behind by one of my international visitors as a project she worked on. I didn't look at the cards closely until last week. They were quite colorful in subject matter. The cards are from a European project that comes from the Netherlands. And lucky for you, there is a project website where you can see some of the images that are on the postcards: http://www.togetherforever.nl/ The images are limited, but if you click on some of the links, it will show you more. I'm sure if you can read Dutch you can probably navigate better.

Enjoy!

beck

Snow on Snow on Snow

It started Friday night and did not stop for about 24 hours.

Saturday morning I woke up to find these beauties outside our kitchen window.


The Flying Dakota buried outside

I was scheduled to babysit last night in DC. I found out my metro station was going to close at 1pm, so I rushed to catch the last train, but didn't make it in time. The trains were still going to the station right before mine, so I decided to try to get there somehow. I retreated home, ate lunch, bundled up in my ski gear (I'm so glad I had it with me) and started walking. I was barely walking on the pike for a few hundred feet when an SUV pulled over and let me hop in. They were two nice gentleman who were on their way home and I was not their first passenger of the day. (When I told my mom this she almost lost her lid) "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers," (A Streetcar Named Desire). And I like adventures.

So I made it into DC and did some shopping at Macy's before they closed that store early. The entire city was pretty much shutdown. So I walked and took pictures, just biding my time before babysitting.

The menorah was lit, but not the Christmas tree...that was kinda sad.

with flash:

without flash:

I was not the only one out...just one of the few.

My favorite

Normally you'd be able to see the Washington Monument at least, but you couldn't even see past the reflecting pool because of the snow...the beautiful snow...

"There...harmony." (P&P)

without flash:

with flash:

I had planned to use a gift certificate to stay here for the night, but then the babysitting gig was cancelled so I decided to venture home. Thanks to Steve, I didn't have to walk home from the metro.

This is what I woke up to this morning

These beauties grew over a foot.






There is something invigorating about discovering something beautiful and feeling it with all your senses. I wish I could share this experience in a way that allows you to feel it the way I did. Pictures are just the best I can do.

beck

We are LLHN

Once in a while I like to leave my lappy on and I sit and watch my screen saver switch through the pictures I have uploaded. I did this yesterday and one photo inspired this post.

I'm going to be honest, I wasn't really excited about going home for Christmas when the cost of my flight ended up being way out of my budget. However, I am going home anyway and I am now getting excited for several reasons. The reason that I will highlight in this post has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. It has everything to do with the acronym LLHN...

Story time:

The story of LLHN is the story of six women, including myself, who found each other and a liberated part of themselves in the summer of 2007. Since LLHN is a very private and sacred sisterhood, I must be careful in the details that I heretofore divulge. What I share with you is either common knowledge at this point, i.e. documented on facebook, or does not jeopardize the sanctity of our creed.

In the early summer of 2007, one of the six of us had tickets to the premier of the movie Waitress. I was in between semesters at BYU, so lucky for me, my sister was friends with the girl with tickets and I got invited to go. Well, I knew the girl too; we were already all acquainted at the time, but were not connected in the way that real friends are. The movie was raunchy, ridiculous, and yet we all loved it. Bonding occurred at the Manchester movie theater.

We had been spending time at a guy friend's house (who shall now be referred to as Guy) in the evenings because he was having trouble with his back and appreciated visitors to check on him--well, there were other reasons too. Anyway, after the movie, we hung out at Guy's place. We bought pies from Marie Callender's since June was the month for pie sales and it fit with the movie. Guy had graciously allowed us to have girl talk in his room while he hung outside. In that room, we discovered how connected we all were. It was only natural to form a sisterhood. We proceeded to outline a creed.

Then we needed a name. All we could come up with on our own was Liberated Ladies. Guy came in from outside at the perfect time. I think he's the only man who has ever been allowed at our meetings. He liked to call us the Ladies of the Hot North (we all were in the Fresno North Stake). So Guy added his bit to our name and we became the Liberated Ladies of the Hot North (LLHN). I can't tell you exactly why we were liberated, but I can tell you there was nothing crude or questionable about it. If I could describe it in one word, I would say it was divine and if I had one more word I would say it was a comfort. Women need the reassurance that comes from a sisterhood. This is one reason that I love the LDS Relief Society so much. I see the formation of LLHN as one of the most inspiring times of my life.

The rest of the summer revolved around activities with LLHN. We mother-earth-danced, body painted, walked around the Buchanan complex for exercise, planned multiple group dates, fought a bit over boys (remember Guy? one of many), tie-dyed, swam, played in Santa Cruz, hiked in the mountains, danced on the beach in Pismo, had slumber parties, played "It Came to Pass," comforted each other during relationship woes, and laughed and gyrated to the wondrous sounds of Mika.

On July 7, 2007, we woke up early and drove to a place in Clovis known as the Dikes (ha! the name holds no reference to our sisterhood). We had a photo shoot with the six of us, which provided the photos for this post. There have been new sisters added since that time, but the photo shoot documents the original six. There are a few things about the photos that show what our sisterhood meant to me. 1. We touch, we embrace, and we hold each other and don't let go. 2. We are not always smiling, because life is not always happy; but life is always beautiful and good. 3. We are eclectic. 4. We are surrounded by nature and warmth. The golden California grass permeates every photo. 5. We look to the future with hope and ambition. AND 6. We could use these pictures on an album cover for our *all-girl rock band.


Do you see what I see?

tehehe

I loved that scarf. I got it in Paris. I think it is now shredded to bits somewhere along the Susquehanna river.

Our version of The Garden State scene.

That's the history of the formation, but the story of LLHN continues. One of the original six is married and expecting a baby girl (Baby's basically been inducted into the sisterhood from the womb). Two more originals are engaged and getting married next year. The other two originals are probably soon to follow. I can't be as optimistic about getting married next year. But maybe I'll actually date someone? Ha!

I'm excited about being home and spending at least a little time with the ladies. I crave the kind of connection that I have with these women. It endures space and time, but it's much more enjoyable when the space is lessened. I feel so blessed that the fabulous LG is here in DC with me.

beck

*We have not yet formed a band, but we could...if we wanted to...