Hala401

I actually can not decide which song and arrangement I like the best; "Who Wants To Live Forever?", or "More Holiness Give Me" as sung by Jenny Phillips. She had a wonderful version of it on You-tube, and stupidly I did not "steal" it off You-tube, or try to buy it at that time. The version that so touched my heart when I was really questioning is now gone. At this time, the Katherine Jenkins version of "Who Wants To Live Forever?" is readily available, and I have learned my lesson. I am trying to purchase her music on CD or DVD right now. Most DVD's are nice because they will play on my computer, or in my car CD player; being backwards compatible.

I have about $150 worth of Belly Dancing clothing and Jewelry made in Turkey. The bra with the coins on it was too much for me so I wear a thin top under it. The skirt is split up the sides clear to there, so I wear leggings under it, that is if there will be men present. I'm still suffering a lot of cultural disorientation, and knowing that Belly Dance is when no men are there, or alone with husband, makes me really warry of western customs.

I was not always Mormon. In fact I was only baptized in January; something I never thought would happen, reasoning that my sin was too severe. The church rescued me from a Hell so bad, that I thought to end my life later that night. It is astonishing what happened to me, and it proved for me the love of Heavenly Father. The thing about Belly Dancing music is that it goes clear to my soul, and I worry that such things would displease Heavenly Father. I think it was my favorite music.

OK, I love hobbit houses. However if I could spend a Kaboozle of money, and the world was a happy, well fed, and pleasing to Heavenly Father, then I would want to have a home in the side of a deep canyon with concealed windows that opened into the canyon, and a very well concealed entrance on top. LOL

I meant this to be a soft, giggly thread, thinking about things that would be fun but not required. My roomates actually asked me what I would do with a Car that would go 250 MPH? That was silly, I admit. I was actually just thinking of the romance of the idea, who could afford that much gas? And I would get in so much trouble! I know that every police man that saw me would swear I was speeding even if I was parked. Sigh . I too miss someone opening my door, asking for dinner, being cuddled at night. But, these are spiritual gifts from Heavenly Father. Only some of us get them.

I notice from your profile that you are studying languages, Spanish and Arabic. I was Muslim but found learning Arabic too challenging. I'm not Muslim any more, not being at peace with their view on Jesus Christ. I did learn a great deal from the faith, however. Arabic Drumming just speaks to my soul in a really primal way. It greatly confuses me now because I really loved Turbo Tabla, but now, since my baptizim I am doubtful about listening to it.

I don't think that Mormons are prudish at all. And your question reminds me of how happy that I do not face the responsibilites of the priesthood. I really don't pay any attention to sports, but I did notice the usual sexisim that women are subjected to. In Beach Volleyball, the men were pretty well covered, but the women not so much. It does look like Olympic swimming suits were almost the same for men and women. They do not leave much unrevealed, and it almost looks as if they are pretty sheer. At this point, I think that there may be no connection between what these participants are wearing and their spirituality. I can not judge.

Yes, I would give up much for good husband.

Many Muslim women wear the Burqini. It is expensive, so I used to wear sweat pants and hoodie. If you look at the statistics, skin cancers are nearly epidemic. I sometimes wonder if Western Civilization will see the need for much more modesty simply out of self preservation.

Lee Hyori, "10 Minutes", makes me sad that American musical folk don't get it. Now I have to look up Gangnam Style Music.

Gasp! You mean the General Authority swim?

Believe me, I have never been told that LDS women dress too modestly. I frankly think we push the envelope. And, if I was 20, I'd be pushing harder than anyone. :0)

I haven't wanted to say anything because I can be really judgmental and sanctimonious and have been corrected by Heavenly Father for it. I too think that what some women wear is way past the boundaries and feeling that way makes me really fearful, because I do not want Heavenly Father to visit hardship on me for my sin.

Your reply and the compassionate replies of others has helped me to order my thinking on the matter. Thinking more clearly now, it is easy to see that this cultural shift is challenging; more than originally anticipated. I'll be 66 soon and the idea of running around in the same clothing that college women wear feels like too much (actually too little), and perhaps for good reason. Years ago, my nature drew me to wear way too little, by quite a margin, but now in Jesus Christ, it feels shaming. As far as accepting the Atonement is concerned, it has been quite a challenge, but Holy Spirit finally convinced me. Lately, the challenge has been with those who would ignore the word of Heavenly Father and drag me down into the finery pit, according to their own wickedness.

Yes, I think I could wear one of these. It would be far superior to string bikini top. I was greatly surprised to find one suit at the site I mentioned that featured a below the knees skirt with flaired hem. I do not think a woman could so much swimming in that.

I used to enjoy my once a day cup of coffee. My coffee was special in that I made it almost tea weak and then used copious amounts of creme and sweetener in it. My friends laughed at me for my concoction, but I enjoyed it much. Then came the day that I was confronted with D&C 89. I argued that it was not fair and could not apply to me because of my previously described breakfast drink. I would like to say that I fought the Holy Spirit and won, but it was no fight at all. I discovered about two weeks later that I no longer had the desire to drink it. It was somewhat miffing to find out that I'd been no opponent at all. To him I was pushover. So, now it is water or apple juice.

So, it has been a record HOT summer here in Portland and we all headed out to go swimming in some remote place where the water is warm. Well, I had what I thought was a quite modest Tankini with a skirted bottom. The Bottom fit fine, but when I tried to get into the top, it felt like the closet monster was strangling me. GASP !!! So, digging around, I found a very old string bikini that I had. The bottom was simply out of the question, but the top matched the bottom of the tankini so with quite a lot of trepidation, we headed off to what my roommate said was a very secluded swimming hole. I could never get over the feeling of being a trollop all afternoon. So, this morning, I began to look for LDS approved swim suits and happened upon those at "Hydrochic". Wallah ! They are strongly reminiscent of the Muslim Burqini. So, I would buy and wear them, but is this seriously what LDS women wear when swimming? I'm fine with it, but do not wish to be laughed at. My non Mormon friend says that "I ain't that bad" for an old lady.

I think I remember that in the early 50's there were not jobs available for my much older sister; baby sitting being the only thing available. Yet, my older brothers all had jobs as soon as they could get Driving Permits; the police casting a blind eye on the fact, and allowing them to drive harvest trucks as long as they stayed out of trouble. My sister finally left home while still in high school to work for a very rich family as a maid. These folks gave her a lot of help to get through college, while my parents tried to make something dirty of it.

I must have dancing gene. Square dance is fun, but for me belly dance when I was younger ... I stopped it when I found out that belly dance is fertility right. When I was investigating and would get upset, I listened to "More Holiness give me". It was quite calming. Anything Katherine Jenkins is lovely.

When I was Muslim, a man asked me to be second wife. He did not know that 1st wife was my friend. So I asked 1st wife what she thought, and she was quite displeased. We did not marry. It always seems so with those marriages, except were the man can force it, then no one is happy.

I had three question marks at the end of my title. And, the issue with Jesus Christ is one that troubled me the entire time I was Muslim. I had such bad taste in my mouth from previous experience with Christians that I doubted that Jesus Christ would have anything to do with them. I can not fully express how much the church impressed me in that respect. Now that my hissy fit is over, I will return to the modest dress that helped me feel secure. Interestingly, I felt guilty at Ramadan this year, in spite of the fact that my Doctor does not want me fasting. I wished many Muslims I know, EID Mubarak> It is all I could do. Oh, make no mistake, I am Mormon, and I am thankful that I am not forced to wear clothes that make me feel over exposed.

I was housekeeper in Ohio for almost a year. It was pleasant, fulfilling work. I miss it.

I would like to try Dubai for a while. I still have scarfs, and abayas. :)

I was just wondering what sorts of possessions people would value if they were able to have what they want. This is not about spiritual possessions but about earthly desires. I'll start: Audi R-8 in white with pink trim, Ruger p-90 .45, Hobbit house, to be size 6, oh, and um a perfect recipe for chocolate cake. :)

Sadly, Sunni Muslims are not known for their musical works; stringed instruments being seen as tools of the Shaitun. The horn is not favored and I do not know why. Drums are OK, however. I used to love Drumming and Belly Dancing until I found out that Belly Dancing is a fertility ritual. At my age, um, NO. There are some fine musicians who are Persian, (Shia Muslims), and the rationale behind that escapes me. Any who have been to the BYU Museum in Provo, the Muslim Art display there is Persian (Shia), not main stream Sunni Art, I think.