Disney Dating vs. LDS Dating

Dating in the Disney Channel shows goes like this: Starting at 11 or 12 years old, you find someone you are superficially interested in, then you talk about it and become boyfriend/girlfriend almost immediately. This means you limit most of your social contact to this person. And it surely implies some physical relationship. You'll hold hands, hug, and experiment with kissing. There's a prestige to being connected to someone. And there's a lot of peer pressure to be linked up with someone--especially in the pre-16 years. Post-16, there's a tendency to only accept dates with a person you're interested in being boyfriend/girlfriend with. Facebook reinforces this kind of dating by allowing two status choices--"single" or "in a relationship." In my mind, a person is "single" until they are married. And being "in a relationship" would be something that happens to a couple when they are OLD--like in their 20's--and they think they might want to marry each other. LDS teens really have to fight, fight, fight to not be caught up in this cultural mindset. It is healthier for a teen and better preparation for his or her future marriage and family to learn to be a friend to LOTS of different people and avoid exclusive relationships. Lewis Generation II seems to have an excellent understanding of this concept. A hearty "good job!" to our current teens, Ryan, Rachel, Camille, Alyssa, Jaron, Megan, Amy, Krysta, McKay, Erin, Eric, Tricia, Jeremy, Justin, Jonathan, and Jamison!

Filling a hole Heidi left behind

When Rachel came home from BYU-Idaho, she started attending the single's ward in earnest.
There were a couple of people who welcomed her in immediately--Katrina...and Lacey Johnson.
One weekend, Rachel found herself at Troy Love's house partying with Katrina, Lacey, Erin Van Kommen, Austin Barker, and two of Troy's friends from his mission.
She was feeling groovy like one of the group, when she suddenly realized that these were all Heidi's friends!--21, 22 years old.
She's just 18 and she'd slipped right in.
What nice friends Heidi has.

Seeing the world through a happy child's eyes

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was delighted with this book more than ever as I read it for the fourth time. I'm not very much like Anne, but I'm inspired by her. Then I find myself sorrowing that she's a fictional character.

This time I was able to realize that the characters, descriptions, and relationships were created by L.M. Montgomery (a real person!), so she's become the source of my admiration.

Quotes from Anne worth marking in the book:

"I'm not in the depths of despair this morning. I never can be in the morning."

"What a spendid day! Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this? I pity the people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one." :)

"Isn't it nice that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"

"But really, Marilla, one can't stay sad very long in such an interesting world, can one?"

"It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. Of course, you must make it up firmly." :)

"I'll try to be so good. It'll be uphill work, I expect..." :)

"If you can't be cheerful, be as cheerful as you can."

Missing his brothers

Christopher said this morning in his thoughtful way,

"You know, it's kind of sad...because Daniel and Paul were like the people in the family who were the nicest to me. And they're gone. And when they get home from their missions, they'll go to college. And when they finish college, they'll get married. So I'll never get to see them very much..."

I couldn't even say anything to him because I was going to cry.