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Why I Choose to Dress Modestly

I grew up in a religion that encourages it's girls and women to dress modestly. My parents also believed this strongly and so I grew up always buying a one-piece and never a bikini, wearing skirts and and dresses that hit my knee and never showing my stomach or cleavage.

I always was fine with it.

Well, I got older. I moved away. I went to college. And now I am a career woman. I still choose to dress modestly. Not because my parents won't "let me out of the house looking like that," but because I want to. Why would I chose this?

Let me preface this by saying this is my choice. I am not saying that in any way anyone else's choice to dress differently is wrong or bad. I know many amazing, wonderful women that do not share my same views. That is fine. I am simply stating the reasons behind why I do this, as I know some people wonder.

Let's think about [a few of] the reasons I might choose not to. First of all, I might feel "prettier" wearing shorter skirts or showing a bit of cleavage. Guys like it, right? But why do they like it? It makes me "hot" and "sexy." Do I want a guy whose first impression of me is "sexy"... or "beautiful"? I choose beautiful. I can still be pretty and attractive to men by wearing a dress that goes to my knees and covers me up on top. I personally also have more respect for a man that is looking for a modestly dressed woman.

Competition. Not competition over boys, but girl competition. If you're a girl, you know what I'm talking about. I don't know why it exists, but it does. I have so many awesome girl friends, yet when I meet a new girl I feel some weird underlying competition. Not every time and not in every situation, but often it is there. [And it's strange because many times I end up being friends with the girl and forget about any sort of competition.] Sometimes the competition is because of jealousy. When I see a cute girl wearing short shorts and a tiny tank top, even in a classy way, I get a little jealous. She looks cute, right? Not slutty. But guess what I realized? I can look cute in my longer shorts and t-shirt too.

Those are my two main pulls of ever wanting to dress in a way that I deem as immodest, but there is one more: convenience. Holy cow, it is sometimes a nightmare to find modest clothes! Most especially in dresses and shorts. Thank goodness that maxi skirts are in style, but do I really want to be traipsing in a maxi all the time? No way. I want variety! I love sundresses just as much as the next girl. And when I go into Forever 21 I just about die. So many adorable dresses. Wouldn't it just be so much easier to buy one of those dresses that's a little too short, or a little too low, or even just spaghetti straps? Yes. Yes it would be. So how do I counter convenience? I counter it with the real reason behind why I choose to dress modestly.

I choose to dress modestly out of respect for myself and respect for God. Like I said above, I don't need to show more skin to get a guy to like me or to feel like I fit in with the girls. That is respecting myself. I also do it to show respect to my Heavenly Father. He made this body for me, and I need to treat it with the utmost care and respect. That doesn't mean that I should use it to get men, or use it to fit into the current "trends," but that I should treat it as what it is-a Heavenly gift. A gift designed for much more than being a sex-appeal, some kind of object, or even a model for the world's latest trends. Dressing modestly can be a challenge sometimes, but to show respect to myself and my God, it is a challenge I am willing to take on for the rest of my life.

Dear blog,

I am sorry I have been neglecting you, and all my wonderful readers. I hope you can forgive me.

You see, life has been a little crazy and by the end of the day I just haven't had the energy or the creative capacity to blog. 

The craziness started a couple weeks ago, when I decided I needed to move out of my aunt's basement. I spent every evening look at houses to rent closer to my work, and finally found a fantastic one with awesome roommates! I moved in last Saturday.

I have no dresser (unless you count cardboard boxes turned on their side and stuffed with clothes) and so my room is a disaster. I have been spending a lot of time trying to thrift a dresser, with no luck so far. 

Work has been busy as well. I have been trying to plan the summer and let my employees know whether we will even be open. We still don't know. What a mess. I also have been dealing with some serious and very scary things with some parents, and have had to put on the hat of a case worker. Sad thing is, I have no training in that area, so I hope I, along with some colleagues, were able to point the parents in the right direction. 

This week, though, I pulled some strings (ok I just make on phone call) and got the Living Planet Aquarium to bring animals into my class! The kids loved it!

Then yesterday.

Remember, blog, how a few weeks ago my dear grandma passed away? Well, her and my grandpa had been living with my grandma's daughter, my step-aunt. So when she left us, my mom and her siblings decided to move my grandpa to California to his son's house. My parents were flying into town yesterday to pick him up and bring him to California. Well, grandpa got really sick. So my parents stayed and I spend much of the day yesterday (the time I had planned looking for a dresser) to help take care of my sweet grandpa. 

So blog, I again apologize for not spending more time with you, but after all, you are simply a program. I needed to change some things in my life, and I needed to put a lot of focus into some people that really need me. I won't promise to "write so much more" because I do not know what life will bring the next few weeks, but I will make an effort.

Love,

Katie

Remember how I am TWENTY-THREE years old?

And a college graduate?

Well, a couple days ago a salesman came to my door.

I opened it and said, "hello."

He said, "Are your parents home?"

I still can't decide whether to take this as a compliment,
or be worried that people will think any man I'm hanging out with is a creeper...

image via.

What I've Been Up To

1. This lovely girl's wedding, wedding dinner, and reception.
2. A quick visit from my Mom.
3. Hanging out with some cousins, aunts, and uncles I haven't seen in a while.
4. Employee giving her two weeks notice.
5. Me frantically going through resumes.
6. Interviews.
7. Not finding the right person.
8. More resumes.
9. More interviews.
10. Oh yeah, and trying to teach and run my classroom on top of all that.
11. Joined a Yoga class (yes, I upgraded from my YouTube videos...)
12. Country Swing Dancing here with some friends. I'd never been before and it was super fun!
13. Two of the above friends getting engaged that night. Congrats A+J! :)
14. Hanging out with my aunt. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days + Chiptole. LOVE.
15. My cousin's son's soccer game (since when were 7-year-olds better than me at sports?! Oh wait...always...)
16. A missionary farewell party. (See what a "Mormon mission" is here.)
17. Much needed spiritual enlightenment at church after a very busy week. :)

Sheesh...that was a lot of stuff! I need to blog more...

And a few pictures for your visual pleasure:

best friends waiting for the bride

bride and groom! married for eternity!

the Blue Lemon with some family

Ryder waiting to be subbed back on to the field

so much stuff, so little time

Sorry that I have been slacking on my blog! 

Working two jobs [9 am - 9:30 pm] and trying to have a social life doesn't really allowing blogging.

But here I am! 

With some time to breathe and catch-up. 

I love Sundays. :)

So my trip to Atlanta ended well.

I spent time with my family, and my puppy.

And I went boating. Man I miss being out on the water!

Sadly, all the pictures were on my little brother's camera, and he is inaccessible  right now [more later].

[me and Luke Skywalker]

After ATL I came back to my life. My job. Er..jobs. My roommates (yay!). 

I taught preschool again this past week.

We learned about the weather. 

Check out how cute my classroom was:

The kids cut out (or ripped) the clouds and painted the sun. 

This next week I am moving up, though, and away from my adorable and crazy 3- and 4-year olds.

This is sad in some ways, but also a blessing.

I was getting really stressed with trying manage THIRTEEN 3- and 4-year-olds.

So starting Tuesday I will be in charge of the Elementary Kids.

The plus: Field trips Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

LOVE.

And guess what?!

My little brother entered the Missionary Training Center on Wednesday!!

He is going to serve a prostlying mission (aka going to teach people about Christ and our purpose here on Earth) in Carlsbad, California. 

He stays in the MTC for two weeks and then heads out.

So this is why I can't get his memory card! :)

[He's a good lookin' guy, huh? Sorry, ladies, he is off limits for two years!]

Also,

look what I did last night:

Glass etching!

It was my first time, so don't judge too harshly.

I loved it, though, so I just might have to do it again!

I hope you all have a great week! 

And let's be real, I probably won't post again till the weekend.

Have a great Memorial Day!

help me please!

guys. 

I went out on a limb here.

did something I've never done.

I entered a photo contest!

Theses are travel photos, so I chose my favorite from my trip to Ghana.

This little girl broke my heart for whole week, before she finally smiled. 

It took even longer to get a laugh out of her.

So please vote for this photo!

Vote here.

I get a safari in Kenya if I win!!! How cool would that be!?

To be honest, I don't think I will win at all, like I said, I'm not a photographer,

but I would like a few votes. 

 You can vote every day!

Thanks! 

 I love you all!

p.s. here is the link again: http://photocontest.iexplore.com/images/view/40941

Sometimes...

I just need to listen to this song.

And then everything is okay. :) 

p.s. no, I did not just go through a break-up. but sometimes life feels like a break-up. and I just need to take it one day at a time. 

Holi Krishna

Yesterday I got the opportunity to be a little bit cultured here in my BYU-Provo bubble.

Down south about 20 minutes is the Krishna Hindu Temple. Every year the Hindu celebrate the coming of spring in a festival called Holi, or, The Festival of Colors. In my research on this I read that it sometimes gets very out of hand, but I guess not here in Utah. 

During the festival music is played, and the tradition Holi Krishna song is sung. Here are the lyrics, its actually quite catchy when you are singing it!

Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna!

Hare! Hare! Krishna! Krishna!

Hare Rama! Hare Rama!

Rama! Rama! Hare! Hare!

So my friends and I joined in the singing and dancing. We then watched the burning of a witch. No, not a real witch, a fake one. It was to symbolize the burning away of evil in our lives. While the message was good, I never in my life thought I would be caught chanting, "Burn the Witch! Burn the Witch!" with a crowd of people. Well...I was caught. 

After they burnt the witch we threw the colors to welcome spring! The "colors" are powdered chalk. Let me just say, it was a mess, and so much fun! 

p.s. sorry if some of the pics aren't the best. my camera was in a plastic bag for protections!

this is before the color went up,

people just threw powder at each other

bennett&tanner!

kathryn, lindsay, jenkerr, macy, and lauren!

here I was trying to get a picture of my hair.

thanks jen and kathryn for making it SO much more entertaining!

ok now here is when we all finally threw a handful of powdered chalk into the air!

you couldn't see anything!

And now for a few after shots!

(all the group ones were taken on lauren's camera)

And to sum up the day...we got kicked out of Legend's Grill.

As we were walking out Bennett said to us,

"How embarrassing! I told you they wouldn't let our kind in!"

Haha. I love my friends.

Have a happy Sunday! 

And if you ever get a chance to throw colored chalk at people, take it!

also..check out my last year's experience here!

leprechauns in india?

For my job I speak with BYU alumni. 

They can give feedback on the phone call, but I don't always see the feedback.

If I do its not for a long time after the call. 

Today I got a comment one of the alumni had made, and I had completely forgotten about this call.

I thought it somewhat fitting for St. Patrick's Day.

"I really enjoyed it when I thought she said

  'helping leprechauns in India'

 instead of 

'helping leper colonies in India.'

 That made my day."

Well, dear alumni, this note just make my day. 

Thanks!

from the lunch room.

I came into the faculty room with my lunch and laptop with full intentions of working on a lesson plan. 

Then nobody else was in here.

So I did this instead:

Check out how official I am.

I'm all teacherified. 

So my kids started writing me notes from day one in the classroom.

First I was "Ms. Haskin."

Cool. Divorced.

Now I'm "Mrs. Haskin."

Better. But just a reminder that I really am NOT married. 

Maybe one of these days they will realize my name is up on the board and it clearly states "Miss Haskin."

Until then, I will just enjoy my 4th grade notes. :) 

conquer the dragon.

“I can’t do this, Sam.”

“It’s all wrong—by rights we shouldn’t be here, but we are. It’s like the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really matter, full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened? Like in the end, it’s only a passing thing, the shadow, even fear and darkness will pass—a new day must come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those are the stories that stay with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, they do understand, they know how folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something.”

“What are we holding onto, Sam?”

“There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.”

Sometimes life shows us that the fairy tales we read when we were little are more than true. 

Not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that they can be defeated.

Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes we can’t see the end. Sometimes it feels like if there even is an end, it won’t be happy.

I admit that sometimes I just want to give up.

But I remember the good in the world.

I remember what it is I really am fighting for.

And then I fight.

I conquer my dragon.

And I realize that the sun really is so much brighter than it ever was before. 

"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment."

-Doctrine and Covenants 121:7

images here and here. 

new hair + new food

I got muh hairs cut!

but its sooooo short!

well, for me it is. 

and it makes me sad.

see?

I've gotten a lot of compliments on it, though,

so I must just not be used to it.

It'll grow on me I'm sure.

So what do you do when you get a new haircut?

Try new styles of course!

So I curled it.

[I also could have been avoiding homework]

I also have recently decided to eat healthy[er]. 

My whole life I've never been a fan of healthy stuff.

My mom said even as a baby I hated veggie baby foods.

But now I am beginning to like veggies and fruits!

So at the grocery store I bought:

peppers

tomatoes

carrots

lettuce

apples

Ok to you people that are actually good about eating healthy, this is nothing.

To me, this is a breakthrough!

And so far I've actually been eating it too!

Course I just bought it all yesterday.

Let's hope my health kick lasts. 

Why I Have No Time To Blog

Monday: On campus for 12 hours. More homework at home.

Tuesday: Campus for 4 hours. Homework. Work for 5 hours. Homework.

Wednesday: Campus for 13 hours. Homework. A little break!

Thursday: Campus for 3 hours. Homework. Work for 5 hours. Homework.

Friday: Campus for 3 hours. Homework. Work for 3 hours. A little bit of peace...

Saturday: Professor’s house doing schoolwork for 3 hours [at9am]. Homework the rest of the day.

Average sleep per night: 6 hours.

You know what, though? I am happy! I have so many little things in my life that I choose to let be a bigger determinant in my happiness than my stress and busyness. 

• My little brother bought me Subway for dinner. [Thank you, freshman meal plan!]
• I took a break late on Wednesday night to chat with some wonderful friends. [JenKerr, SM, Bennett, and Tanner]
•  The girls in my major help me to endure the three hour long classes and all the extra work. I love you all! [There are 18 of them so too many to list]
•  I learned more about my internship starting in the fall. Scared out of my mind. But overly excited.
•  My dearest friend Ahlin let me eat some of the wonderful pizza that she made.
•  Early Saturday morning class is not fun, but I got to hold a snake!
•  I take time each day to learn more about and communicate with my Father in Heaven, and He is definitely looking out for me.

Me holding a snake!

 [Ignore how I look. I chose sleep over getting ready]

today.

The walk to campus today went quickly. I walked with my lovely roommate and two very comical guys.

The cold doesn’t seem so bitter when you are laughing.

The three-hour class was typical. Yes, long for a class. But I’m used to long classes. I have three 3-hour classes a week.

Studying for my math test went well. Especially the part when I fell asleep for 15 minutes.

After studying for a while I realized I didn’t have my student ID. The testing center website said no ID, no test.

So the test will have to wait until Monday. I wasn’t that bummed to be honest. But ask me on Monday, I may say something else.

[Only after I walked all the way back home was I informed that I really didn’t need my card. Ha. Too late.]

I decided I could get some homework done in this newly found time I had.

That, or play guitar…which I ended up doing for an hour.

I love Fridays! 

home.

so glad to be home.

i came in yesterday, sadly lost two hours of the day because of the time difference. 

that's the only sad thing that's happened so far. 

played with Lukie, my puppy. he was so excited to see me! 

he may be a dog, but that much excitement just to see me does make me feel good. 

pathetic? 

naw. i love my puppy. 

had a much needed talk with my mom.

it's nice sometimes to just unload on someone you know will never judge you. 

went to church this morning and listened to beautiful christmas music. 

spent the rest of the day just being with my family.

i even got to talk with my best friend, who has been away for two years!

 he's doing so great.

 i sure missed that guy!

haven't had to do any homework, or even worry about doing homework.

bliss.

what more can i ask for?

walking in a winter wonderland

isn't it beautiful?

unfortunately, it was on the way to the dreaded testing center for yet another final.

just one more day. 

best roommate. best friend.

The other day I was having a not-so-good day. I went to bed not-so-happy. When I woke up, still not-so-happy. I considered skipping class, or at least sleeping a little longer and being late (3 hour class, didn't matter that much, right?). But of course, I couldn't fall back asleep because apparently I drank too much water the night before. I went into the bathroom and this is what I found:

How could I go back to sleep after seeing something like that?? I couldn't. So I got ready for school and had some much needed scripture study time. Turns out my roommates and the Lord know exactly what I needed that morning. 

Thanks so much Jen for being so amazing! Love you!

Lunch with the Homeless

Yesterday I ate lunch with a homeless man. Actually, I bought him lunch. At the delicious Cafe Rio. The weird part of this all? I know the homeless man. I've known him for quite a while. Yes folks, it was my good friend Sean Donner. The weirder part of this all? He is homeless on purpose. Yeah, he chose to be homeless. Wonder why? The basics of it is he wants to write a book about what it is like to be homeless in America. It was really interesting to spend time with him and learn about what he has been up to since he has been homeless, and his thoughts on it all. To learn more about his reasoning and hear more of his adventure, check out his blog: seantheranger.blogspot.com. 

photo taken by sean donner, from seantheranger.blogspot.com 

Gread food. And great [homeless] company. 

Just call me Katie Mechanic.

Yesterday I changed the battery to my brother’s car. With the help of two awesome friends—Taylor and Cody.

Thanks, guys.

Ok I’ll be honest. I didn’t real do a whole lot. I asked them to help and they pretty much took over. I did mix the baking soda and water solution, though. And cleaned off the wires with it (probably getting lead all over myself and according to Cody I’ll get cancer now). And helped hold cords out of the way as Taylor unscrewed the battery, put the new one in, and screwed it in.  

Close enough to being a mechanic, right?

Also, thanks to apartment 7 for letting me borrow their tool kit. You guys rock.