The Things You Find on Pinterest

I was Pinterest browsing today.
Not that its out of the norm, hello, I'm a Mormon girl in college.

But that's not the point.
The point is, I found something interesting.
Take a look:

 

um, no.
This is so UTTERLY wrong that it sickens me.
Just as a test I googled "smartest things women can learn"
This quote took up the entire first page of results...
I don't know why that frustrated me so much.

Think about Disney's newest princess movie, Brave.
For those of you who haven't seen it, she ends up WITHOUT A PRINCE.
Instead she goes on this whole independence rant and adventure, trying to "find herself" or something
For heavens sakes, find yourselves, but who says you have to do that without a man!

I don't care about feminism. Honestly.
Yes, there were a lot of movements to be made, but ladies, we're not in the 20's anymore!
Lets worry less about equality, and more about FAMILIES.

So I have compiled my own list of the smartest things women can learn, from my point of view.
1. Find a man who will love and take care of your children. Love him, and together love the Lord.
2. Learn to be compassionate- learn how to serve others, and go outside yourself
3. Learn to rely on the Lord- go to him in prayer daily for you and for others
4. Learn to take a break- you don't always have to be on the go-go-go
5. Learn to top comparing- if you're constantly comparing yourself to other women, you're never going to get anywhere in life.
6. Learn to love the scriptures- study them daily, teach them to your children, and help them love the scriptures too.
7. Learn to sew a button- you girls out there? learn some valuable home maker skills. No, it is NOT domesticating. Its helpful and wholesome.
8. Dress modestly- a wise woman once said: "Modesty isn't about hiding ousrselves, its about revealing our dignity". Perfectly put.
9. Discover the REASON you do things. Don't just live life for the heck of it, make it worthwhile.
10. Have a hobby- do something creative with your life! Creation is said to be the highest level of knowledge, and its a gift given to us as women directly from God.
11. Learn to ry something new- as much as you can!
12.Learn to save money!
13. Learn to enjoy music- play an instrument, write a song, be in a choir, listen to a symphony. Music has a way of bringing us closer to the spirit unlike anything else.
14. Learn to BE HAPPY- It's your choice! Your happiness does not depend on anyone or anything else. Here's another pin I found. "And, I'm sad. Again."

 

Yes. Sadness is a natural part of life. But do not let it overtake you. And if you find your sadness way too reoccurring, then change something about it! Don't just resign yourself to depression.
15. Learn to be a people builder- breaking down others DOES NOT build you up. Even if it gives you a fleeting moment of confidence, its actually breaking down something in yourself too.
16. Learn to appreciate things- take a moment, and look around where you live- your home, your school, your town, wherever you may be. And appreciate something about it. The weather, the nature, the mountains, the trees, your kitchen, your carpet, your family.
17.Learn the importance of exercise- BUT. Theres a catch. Do not be OBSESSIVE about it. Do it to make yourself healthy and happy, not SKINNY.
18. Learn to love.

and there is SO much more.
 The degradation of families is so real, it's scary.
There's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with being a mother.
NOTHING.
And to do that,

you kinda need a man.

Sorry to break it to you.

still believing in happily ever after's

 

miss maren lee

 



Just a Little Music

This is a little unconventional for me, usually its only my own photos that go up, let alone a video! But this was just too amazing not to share. I'm actually a little surprised that I haven't heard of Rob Gardner before, but now I'm just in love. His music is so beautiful.

This isn't a "watch" video, its a "listen" one. Hit play, Close your eyes, sink into the music, and let the spirit fill you.

My Book of Mormon Professor played this in class today with some wise words. Speaking of the Book of Mormon he said: "This book cannot be understood without the spirit, and music has a way of bringing that. You must FEEL these doctrines, not just academically understand them".

Just because my religion classes are at a college level academically doesn't mean I should approach them the same way I do Biology 100.

Also, the words have such a beautiful message: His kindness will never depart from us.

 

thoughts from the heart

that touch mine

 

miss maren lee

This is My BYU Party.

It has been way too long since I've posted something. And I have a surplus of pictures here to show for it!

Its been a crazy amazing week!! Being here at BYU never ceases to amaze me.

First on the list of amazingness: IMAGINE DRAGONS CONCERT.

SO FREAKING GREAT.

Not only was it my first concert, but we had ridiculously good seats (3rd row baby), and Imagine Dragons is one of my favorite bands. It was just so much fun, I can't even explain to you...

Here's a picture of our view of the stage and all the different colored lights!

Ahh, I'm still kinda in shock from it.

This is pretty pretty Lizbeths.

She wants to put her mission papers in, and asked me to take her mission picture for her! So here it is. (it has 131 likes on facebook, not to brag or anything)

The pearls are from her beloved Chase. He's in Guatemala right now.

Spontaneous photoshoot of myself right here. I was craving doing something different, and this is what happened..

This picture has a long story to it... don't worry, it's a good long story.

In my Art for Elementary Teachers class, we were learning about installations and guerilla art. So my teacher gave us a project in which we had to do an installation of our own. The only criteria was that it should brighten someone's day. So I decided to set up a teaparty... in the elevator! I even put little cookies on the plates, and they kept getting eaten! I had to refill them at least three times, I thought that was pretty great.

The tea party stayed in the elevator for quite a few hours, but when I returned to retrieve it, someone had stolen all my stuff and left a ransom note... It required a plate of chocolate chips cookies in order for the return of the animals to take place.

Eventually they just put it all back in the elevator :P

These were all taken today in honor of fall and my new shoes hahaha. My roommate and I had quite some fun playing in the leaves. :)

 

Overall I'm just content. Things are going well, and I've been adjusted to this new life of mine for quite some time. I still miss my family a ton, especially when I hear about all their antics :P

My brother is doing great in Mexico. I'm always proud of him. He turned 20 this week!

Mostly I'm grateful for this opportunity to grow closer to my Savior. This atmosphere is so conducive to the spirit, and I feel constantly uplifted. Hopefully there's not too much to drag me down.

 

looking forward to adventures

 

miss maren lee

Diptychs and Diamonds

The proper definition of a diptych: a pair of paintings, especially religious paintings on two hinged panels

My definition of a diptych: The perfect pairing of two related moments in time.

This is Gideon. At first he was very stubborn and didn't want me to take any pictures of him. He kept his head down, and those gorgeous eyes away from me. Finally I ran away and got him to follow me into the shade :P it just so happened he was sitting on leaves that complimented his eyes ;)

 

You've already seen this picture, but so much about it is so perfect. Chase and Lizbeth are basically the cutest, and they're going to get married. When I took this picture I was actually sitting outside photographing the bottles in front of them, but Chase kept bugging me to take pictures of him. So this just sort of happened :)

 

Krista is one of my roommates for Fall-Winter. She's gorgeous :) These pictures were taken at her property up in North Salt Lake. From the first photo, she had just turned around and given this look of "Guys, isn't it wonderful!" I made her stop so I could capture that face. The second one is right after that as she started sprinting away to see her horses :)

You've seen this one too. Tyler cuddling with Lizbeth's teddy bear and my blanket. Sittting in my chair. hahaha.

 

 This lovely old (but not really old) lady is Megan, another one of my roommates. She and this guy had dressed up as grandparents to promote their "Taste From Home" activity. They were just so cute together I had to take pictures. (that's baby powder in their hair. It got EVERYWHERE) Needless to say, plenty of people showed up to the activity :P

This is also from Krista's property. I just loved the colors and serenity.

 

trying to capture perfection

 

miss maren lee

Caught In-Between a Lie (or two..)

Have you ever met a pathological liar?
If you've met them, you probably didn't even know.
Have you ever KNOWN a pathological liar?
If you have, I sympathize.

The sad thing is, you don't even realize the lies until you're in way too deep.
And then you realize that its gotten to the point that they don't even know where the lies lie and where reality lives..
So what do you do?

Do you continue to support them, and just encourage them in their lies?
Do you confront them, tell them: "I've supported you all these years, but I don't actually believe you."
Do you ignore them and just let them drop out of your life?
Do you let their lies continue to manipulate you, as they have all these years..

I've never been physically bullied, but I realize I've been emotionally bullied.

and yet, its in my nature! All I want to do is help, and fix, and make things better!
But I have to learn that there are things that are out of my control.
I have to figure out how to cope with that too.

And yet, you still love them. You care for them.
Even after all the damage...

I'm sitting here in my favorite chair by the window, watching people's lives go by. In cars, on bikes, running here, walking there. Some with people, some alone..
Its a world of networks. We all connect in some way, and each new person we meet has an impact on us, even in the smallest of matters.

Be careful what impact you make on the world.
Be careful with the networks you come in contact with.
Strive to build them up!
Not break them down...

You wouldn't want to be broken, would you?

life lessons

 

from miss maren lee

Bleeding Blue

 

Its been a rough week.

My car got towed (with a fine of $221)

I failed a test..

BYU Lost the game!

My computer broke down for two days (conveniently right before I had an 8 page essay due)

and a grounds worker dented and scratched my car with a lawnmower..

 

There were some highlights as well.

I finally found a nearby piano to play on! Its been a while..

Had tons of fun at the game with my roommates! Plus Edison :)

Made some new friends, started talking to some old ones again :)

Got assigned coloring for homework!

Went to my first college football game :)

and I retook the test and passed it :P

 

Here's some fun from the game! :)

 

 

 

 

 

this last one is actually from the Texas game last week with the storm rolling in from the huge flash flood! We got soaked, then wimped out and went home!

 

next week we have midterms, so that should be interesting..

I could use a little pick me up.

 

a tad exhausted

 

miss maren lee

Comparisons

I find I spend too much time comparing myself to others.
It is often the downfall of us women.. We analyze, overlook, criticize, and undertake.
It's this idea of perfection.. We've been told over and over again that's what we're seeking for: to be perfect, like unto God. Yet it is unattainable state of being.
Christ was the only perfect one.
And even though I know that, perfectionism still surges through my veins.
Each day I strive for that peak.
Each day I am disappointed.
And much of that disappointment comes from my tendency to compare..
That girl is more beautiful, that one is more talented, that one gets more attention from guys, that one doesn't have as many faults as I do.. She is smarter, she is more spiritual, she has a prettier smile, she has nicer clothes..
and there I am.
Left in the dust.
The dust of all these incredible people before me, who I wish day after day that I could become! Day after day after day, wondering and wishing what life would be like if I was good enough..
And so I put myself into a little box. A box all of my own where I try to see the good in me. A box where I consider- hey, I can play the piano, I have pretty eyes, I'm creative!
And it is in there, in my little box, where I remember Maren.
Miss Maren Lee, created just to be me.

But eventually I have to come out of the box and return to the world of comparisons..
The world where one product compares itself to its competitor.
Where billions of athletes compete against each other, all striving for that title of world champion!
Where girls walk down the streets of Provo in their mini skirts, hoping to be noticed, living to be compared.

And then the comparisons turn into Judgements.
The vileness of it.
In order to elevate our own dwindling confidence, we turn the biting pain of our own self criticism to those around us.
We look at others and try to find their faults in an attempt to make ours disappear...

But they never do.
And the result is a world of boxes.

Boxes where we spend so much time resolving our fears then breaking down others that the world is crumbling..
No wonder the morals of our world are being lost.

In the meantime, at least I can still find some beauty in it.

 

 

living in a box

 

miss maren lee