Are you ready to enjoy it?
First, read the article.
Once you’re done crying, read the book.
“Enjoy it!” she said to me, thinking her advice was falling on eager ears.
I will, if you will! I thought, remembering her countless complaints, her apathetic husband, delinquent son, and lazy five-year-old.
“Enjoy it” has been offered up to me as a gift of consolation for three years of infertility. But couldn’t that advice apply to just about anyone? And why can’t I ever convince people enough that I already have that particular plan in motion?
Courtney Jane Kendrick (aka c jane) needn’t fret. This collection of 137 witty/sassy/sexy/crazy blog posts will convince even the crustiest of souls that she delights in daily life. Even when she can’t ovulate, and Target is closed, and the pumpkin tarts are sold out at the bakery.
Join c jane as she dazzles her way through infertility, pregnancy, and brand-new motherhood with a cast of characters that includes one husband, two parents, five brothers, three sisters, dozens of nieces and nephews, several dogs and celebrities, various disembodied voices, and a nicotine-addicted ghost thrown in just for fun.
The collection was compiled and edited by the staff of Segullah, with a fabulous cover design by our very own Maralise. Rather than pursuing a book contract with a traditional publisher, Courtney opted to self-publish through Lulu.com to maximize royalties, all of which will benefit her sister, Stephanie Nielson.
So, whip out those credit cards and buy yourself a great new book and a big warm fuzzy to go with it. As an appetizer, we’ve included a sample post below (which was also published in Sunstone last year). Enjoy It!
Modest about Modesty
When I moved into this ward, I had a neighbor tell me that she thought I’d be the next Young Women’s President.
“No way, “ I countered. “I don’t dress modestly enough.”
To which she replied, “Then it’s about time you start.”
A year later, that calling came and I thought I’d feel a massive spiritual attack to clean out my closet in preparation for a more reserved collection. Conversely, I have felt somewhat of an undertaking to redefine LDS fashion. And right now I’m using big words so that you will think I’m intelligent—and, undoubtedly, right. But truth be told, this is a lonely calling in life. I get a lot of “What in Lucifer’s House are you wearing, child?”
Ahh, the fine art of dressing up for church. I’d like to think that I give it my full attention (It’s a spiritual gift, really). Before I head out the door, I look in the mirror and ask, “Is this lovely or is this sexy?” Because to me, that’s the all-important difference. (But what do you do with those of us who feel that nothing is lovelier than feeling sexy? There, I said it.)
I had a remarkable experience at the World Wide Leadership Training a couple weeks ago. There was much to learn and insight given. But I’ll never forget the beautiful woman in the front row of Elder Holland’s “class” who wore knee-high black boots, tights, and a short plaid skirt topped off with a black turtleneck. In all my life I had never seen someone from Church HQ in such a semi-hip outfit. It was as though the clouds had parted and the sun shone through. “There is room in this church for me and my knee-high boots!” I warmly proclaimed in my head.
I’d like to think that there is also room in this church for pencil skirts and converted kimono dresses matched with high heels. Ultra-feminine. I mean, if you’re going to be a woman, why not go all-out? As someone who was raised in the heart of Mormondom, I have seen enough women hiding underneath floral tents, once claimed as dresses from the Dress Barn. When did modesty mean clothing lines of subtle deviations from men’s clothing wear? Where in the handbook does it recommend jumpers?
How far do we go with modesty? Can we go too far? I mean, some of us are one step away from wearing hijab. And part of me would like to teach the youth of the ward that the feminine doesn’t need to be hiding all the time. Like my mother always said, “A little cleavage never hurt anybody.” (Please don’t tell my mother I just quoted her; she’ll kill me.)
Furthermore, don’t we believe that a woman’s body, though absolutely sacred, is also virtuous and of good report? Where is the marriage between celebrating a figure and using it for disadvantageous plots?
And most importantly, does “one pair of modest earrings” dangle?
How far?
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