What Makes You Beautiful

In just over a week, I'm heading off to Young Women camp.  I went three years as a young women and this will be my 12th (and possible final year) as an adult.  

Young Women camp is a wonderful experience!  Testimonies are developed and strengthened, friendships are deepened, and you can't help feel the love of our Heavenly Father as you enjoy the beautiful world He has created for us.

However, many young women (and their leaders) feel very self-conscious about the lack of blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons, and make-up while they are at camp.  It can be liberating not to have to dress up and impress others, but there is also a feeling of vulnerability as you show the world--this is what I REALLY look like.

I love the following video.  It was created by the Young Men in the Citrus Heights Stake to help the Young Women remember that it isn't the eye liner, the mascara, and the shiny carefully coiffed hair that makes them beautiful.

If only we received more messages like this in our life.

...and then our eyes locked....

A few days ago I was talking to a friend.  I asked how things were going and she giggled a little and announced that she is getting married on July 21st.  

"Wow!" I said. "That's coming up quick!  Where is he from?" 

'Oh," she replied, "He's not from around here.  He travels a lot."

I'm thinking that maybe he's a truck driver.  Or a pilot.  Or a salesman.


She blushed a little as she replied, "He's an acrobat in the circus."

I hope I didn't look too startled.  I did not see that coming.  At all. 

"Really," I gushed!  "I know a woman who used to be a trapeze artist when she was young!"

(I was trying very hard to find some common ground, and this is the first thing that popped into my head.  Pretty lame, huh, although very true.  I do know someone who was a trapeze artist when she was younger.)

We talked about my amazing friend who used to be a trapeze artist when she was younger for a few minutes and then I asked the next question:

"So, where did you meet?"

I'm thinking perhaps they were introduced by a mutual friend.  Or they met at a party.  Or online.

"We met at the circus."

I hope I didn't look too startled.  I mean, it makes sense, but I did not see that coming.  At all.

"I took my two daughters to the circus and we were sitting on the first row.  As he performed our eyes locked.  There was that instant attraction to each other, you know what I mean?"

I nodded my head.  I felt that way toward Ron when I first saw him.

"After the circus was over, I was in the parking lot walking back to my car.  He quickly changed out of his performing clothes and 'accidentally'  bumped into us in the parking lot.  We've been together ever since." 

I think that's the most original "how we met" story I've ever heard!

I hope my friend and her fiance will be very, very happy.