#13 Health Concerns

Update: The doctor’s visit was excellent. I will need an MRI and more blood tests to narrow the diagnosis options. In two weeks, I should have some answers! We had a great lunch, then visited a bookstore and found this amazing Indian grocery and clothing store. The family who runs the shops are Christians. They were such a treat! The next time we visit the city, I will be sure to purchase a skirt from them. We will settle in with a light dinner and finish watching Pride & Prejudice tonight.

I’m so excited to have new readers here at Veiled Glory! Thank you for visiting and reading my simple bits of life.

Number 13 on my list of 101 things has to do with a doctor’s appointment I have set for early tomorrow morning in Oklahoma City. For many years, I’ve been having a string of odd symptoms, nothing really severe or life-limiting but nagging: acne, hormonal “issues”, etc. 18 months ago, I had treatment for a hyperthyroid condition, only PTU pills for a few months. This past three months, however, I’ve gained over 15 pound rapidly, despite diet changes and exercise. So I went to an excellent GP Dr. who ran some blood tests. The results were “confusing”; the next step is to see an endocrinologist.

The most probable condition I have is a pituitary tumor. These little dudes are benign 90% of the time and can be removed surgically. I’m not worried at all. The fact is that 1 out of 5 people have some sort of pituitary tumor. I encourage everyone to take a look at this site to learn more. If I do not have a pituitary tumor, the next runner up might be Celiac disease, or allergies to wheat gluten. I’m actually more afraid of this diagnosis because I really really love baking!

So, if you think of it tomorrow morning, please pray for me and my husband as we are running the doctor gamut.

The Sin of Omission

From The Art of Home-Making:

The Sin of Omission

It isn’t the thing you do, Dear, It’s the thing you leave undone that gives you a bit of heartache at the setting of the sun. The tender word forgotten; the letter you did not write; the flower you did not send, Dear, are your haunting ghosts at night.

The stone you might have lifted out of a brother’s way; the bit of heartsome counsel you were hurried too much to say; the loving touch of the hand, dear, the gentle, winning tone which you had no time nor thought for with troubles enough of your own.

Those little acts of kindness so easily out of mind, those chances to be angels which we poor mortals find; They come in night and silence, each sad, reproachful wraith, when hope is faint and flagging and chill has fallen on faith.

For life is all too short, dear, and sorrow is all too great to suffer our slow compassion that tarries until too late; And it isn’t the thing that you do, Dear, its the thing you leave undone which gives you a bit of a heartache at the setting of the sun.

How convicting~ Obey the direction of the Lord to give kindness!

Photos of my Cape Dress and Covering

Here is the long awaited photos of me in my modest dress, taken this past Sunday:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back view:

A pastor called me Laura Ingalls! I felt somewhat complimented. I used the Country Cape Dress pattern from Candle on the Hill and the covering I designed myself.

#97 - The 1/7th Diet Change

If you had taken a peek at my 101 Things and wondered, “What on earth is the 1/7th Diet Change?” I’ll explain it here.

The basic idea is that I eat “Good” for 6 days a week and then eat whatever I want on the seventh day. When I say whatever I want, I mean cram it all in so I get a little sick of it. For the rest of the week, I can look forward to that one day. A treat becomes a treat again instead of a daily requirement. Sundays are my 7th day.
Here are my “Good” daily food choices:

Breakfast: I’m pretty faithful with this meal, having a protein and a whole grain something. What I would like to add is a fruit instead of juice.

Snacks: Nuts, peanut butter on graham crackers, popcorn, more fruit or a granola bar.

Lunches: Leftover dinners, occasional sub sandwiches, or a run to the health food store for noodle bowls and soy milk sippies. Incorporate a raw veggie or salad here.

Dinners: I learning to cook vegetarian meals but still have one chicken and one beef dish a week. Jeff is flexible eater, bless his heart.

Drinks: I have at least one 32 ounce bottle of water during the work day. We like to have juice on hand but hardly ever buy soda. We also have herbal teas and I have a penchant for Lady Grey tea for a pick-me-up.

Pitfalls: Convenience store ice cream, dark chocolate M & M’s, the vending machines at work, snacking while watching tv or on the computer, fast food.

There you have it! I will work on portions and paying attention to hunger (dietitians may cheer now.) In times past, I would leave a bit on my plate because I was just plain full. Somehow I joined the clean plate club within the last 18 months!

I encourage you to join me with the 1/7th diet change!

Culture, Clothing, and Modesty

This post is a long overdue response to Alice’s following comment:

I wondered how you would respond to the argument that standards of what are masculine and feminine change between cultures. For instance, in China, women traditionally wore pajama-type garments (pants) and men wore robes; also white is the color of mourning, and black for a wedding. Again, in the Middle East, both men and women traditionally wore robes, although of somewhat different style, perhaps.

So how would you answer someone who says, in the 1800s there was definitely a difference between men and women as far as pants, but now the public conception has changed, so the application of this law has changed? I’ve also heard it said that women’s pants are cut differently, etc, so they count as specifically feminine.

So does modest and feminine clothing according to our faith in Jesus have a particular form? How far should culture inform what Christians wear? These are tough questions for me to answer. I’ll try to give my stance on this issue as completely as I can.

Most western Christian women have settled this question in favor of wearing only dresses and skirts as distinctly feminine and modest. In the United States, a woman so clothed is easily recognized as a religious person within the confines of our culture.

A woman who wears a hijab (headscarf) and long cloak-like garment is distinguishable as a Muslim, possibly from different country. If she is from Afghanistan or India, she may wear a salwar kameez outfit consisting a long tunic and loose pants. She is still considered modest and feminine.

From my experiences of other cultures, I believe that dresses and skirts are not the only way to be modest and God-honoring. To impose this standard on a woman who lives in a culture where this is not a norm would be extraneous or burdensome. Most every culture has a code of what is considered “proper” for women to expose and not. The women in a bush tribe in New Guinea may only wear a grass “apron” around their waist, but without it, they would feel as naked as we would with it.

I think women should find the more conservative end of their cultural standard and dress that way. For us in the United States, dresses are the way. If you have no idea of a cultural standard, because there hasn’t been one for a long time, find one that covers you from neck to below the knees. Men are still wired the same to be visually stimulated from the female’s body, no matter the shifting standards. This would include the crotch area, which is why salwar kameezes cover down to the mid-thigh, as well as most other costumes I’ve seen women wear.
A woman visiting a different culture should also be sensitive to what their standards are. I know the Vatican issues paper hospital-like gowns to improperly dressed tourists!  How embarrassing to be so tagged as immodest in a religious setting.

Alice also expressed her concern over wearing scrubs pants for her profession. She can still try to choose feminine colors or patterns (if she’s allowed to choose) for her scrub tops. I know its hard to make those choices in one’s workplace, but God understands. She has a modest heart, which is the important thing. One can wear the”right” clothing and be lascivious in behavior.

As always, I’d love to know what you think!

Attitude Adjustments

Writing this on my lunch break at work, feeling very frustrated. There is a situation where I did not receive credit for a project I participated in.(Something that would look awesome on my resume, but without my name in the byline, its moot.) I should be the good little Christian and brush it off.

Alright, I’ll get over it or get it fixed, either way, Christ will get the glory. Here are some articles to share this week:

A Catholic perspective on wearing the Mantilla.

Women of Virtue

A very extensive exposition on 1 Corinthians 11

More Catholic perspective

Long, but provocative article from the Resurgence on the status of women

The Dear Little Wife at Home

This poem is taken from an old book I purchased recently for the Secret Project I am working on to unveil in August. Hint, Hint, Wink, Wink. Enjoy!

The Dear Little Wife at Home

 The dear little wife at home, John,  with ever so much to do, Stitches to set and babies to pet, And so many thoughts of you-

The beautiful household fairy, filling your heart with light. Whatever you meet today, John, Go cheerily home tonight.

For though you are worn and weary, You needn’t be cross or curt; there are words like darts to gentle hearts, there are looks that wound and hurt.

With the key in the latch at home, John, drop troubles out of sight; to the dear little wife who is waiting, Go cheerily home tonight.

You know she will come to meet you, a smile on her sunny face; and your wee little girl, as pure as a pearl, will be there in her childish grace; And the boy, his father’s pride, John, with eyes so brave and bright; From strife and the din to the peace, John, Go home cheerily tonight.

What though the tempter try you, though the shafts of adverse fate may bustle near and the sky be drear, and the laggard fortune wait?

You are passing rich already, Let the haunting fears take flight, with the faith that wins success, John, Go home cheerily tonight.

May I be that sunny little wife always~

A Photo of Me!

Modest is Hottest?

You’ve probably seen the T-shirts by now that have, “Modest is Hottest” emblazoned over….your bosom?!?  Just where you want men to look. Funny, I thought actions (dressing modestly) were louder than words.

Yet again, I am astounded at how one can preach and be hypocritical at the same time. I know the lady who started this Cafepress site was well-meaning. The messages are pretty sassy but, please, do you have to put them across the front of a white t-shirt?? Perhaps she could just print the ideas on the backs of the shirts and then stick with non-shirt items from now on.

The funniest t-shirt I’ve seen is a long sleeved version for Muslim ladies that says, “Do I look hot in this?”

Christian Modesty Encouraged by Muslim Women?

Over the weekend, as the opportunities arose, my sister-in-law, Karla, asked me about the types of clothing and head coverings I wore, when I wore them, etc. She was genuinely curious about my choices and how they were affecting my life. One question I could not adequately answer:

“Do you think the growing numbers of modestly dressed Muslim women in the U.S. are encouraging or influencing Christian women to seek out traditional modesty standards?”

I couldn’t say no or positively yes. I know I feel encouraged when I see a woman wearing hijab, as one modest woman to another. Since there are perhaps a handful of observant muslimas here in Oklahoma, I do not have the daily reinforcement. Perhaps in major cities where more interfaith interaction might occur, the modesty aura, if you will, might be greater.

What do you all think? Have you experienced encouragement, even just through visual contact with Muslim women, to move towards modesty in your dress and behavior?