Dating, Ducks, and Brain Hemorrhage: Liahona April 2010

 Have you noticed something different with this month's issue? There were so many references to marriage and dating! I'm sure lot of us were pumped to read the features after seeing the cover page with the word "Dating" on the bottom. My single friends were practically teasing each other on who'd be getting hitched next. I guess dating and courtship is really an exciting (and a much-awaited) topic to talk about and the writers of the magazine got it right to convey that message this month. 

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According to a recent survey, the *Liahona magazine is being subscribed to and read by a larger portion of youth and young adults than any other age class. 

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The new Liahona magazine  has been divided into sections according to age groups namely the Youth, Children and Young adults. This is a great new feature . Now we can have access to the articles that we can relate to the most.  And since more of the magazine's readers are young adults, the dating-courtship-and marriage topic was spot-on.

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Spotlight on Dating

I especially like the Advice to Young Men and Young Women on Dating (p 50-52). The message was given by the Young Men and Women General Presidencies. They counseled that we should become the persons we would like to date and presented a bulleted list of qualities to develop that would make us "attractive and interesting". The bulleted list made it seem so easy but it was quite challenging as I try to review how I am in terms of dating.

My idea of a boyfriend would be someone who is great with church callings, has a good job, a great cook, can make me laugh and is handsome like John Krasinski (haha, well, a girl can dream). Now, I think I could only ask to date this kind of guy if I also have these same qualities.  Changes won't happen overnight so I better start improving on myself right now.

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Anyway, so let's say a guy asks you out tonight.  According to the article, here are some questions to consider before saying Yes :
- does he have a strong and good character?
- is he trustworthy and dependable?
- is he honest?
- is he respectful and kind to others and to me?
- is he unselfish?
- does he respect my parents and honor his parents?
- does he honor his priesthood?
- does he motivate me to be my very best?
- is he worthy to attend the temple?
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Whew! Those are tough questions for the guys to keep up with. So you boys better be prepared!
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When Ducks Don't Float 

       Another article (p58) i liked was about the ducklings who were too young and who didn't have enough of the 'waxy oil' needed to make them float. They immediately sank in the water when they didn't have their mother to help them  stay afloat. It is a good parable about obeying our parents. They alone would know if we are ready to float on the big pond.

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Call an Ambulance

       Speaking of parents, this story on p 41 was particulary touching to me. It speaks of a man who after feeling a sharp pain on his left received and followed a prompting that saved his life. It was exactly what happened with my mother who had a brain hemorrhage last 2000. My mother too experienced having a numbing pain on only one side of the body and my father who surprisingly didn't go to work that day carried her to the hospital. My father remembers not even being able to wear slippers bec of the emergency.

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       Also, as with the story, my mother recovered miraculously fast. She received a priesthood blessing that night before the surgery. We were really grateful that because of the blessing given my mother is here with us right now without even slurring speech or any form of paralysis. Aneurysms and strokes usually cause things like this to happen. My mother is very healthy and normal ..and thankful for the miracle that happened 10 years ago.

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How about you? Any thoughts on the Liahona?
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*The Liahona Magazine is the official magazine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Beauty and Confidence

Beauty is synonymous to confidence. Sometimes if we feel good about how we look outside, we also feel good about what we are inside. This can also be evidenced by the people who go on makeovers on television, who after acquiring their new look, swear that they have a better outlook on life and develop a more confident personality. 

But as we age, physical beauty is more and more difficult to maintain. It's great for the rich people, they always have the resources to go have a face lift, a tummy tuck or a botox injection every once in a while. But to maintain beauty, they also swear by using tried and tested skin care products and beauty regimens.

Some are very sure that the cleanser-toner-moisturizer ritual is the best. Others add that sunblock is essential as it helps stop aging by blocking UV rays. Some use special , albeit expensive, creams that they use for day or night to soften facial skin and fight wrinkles. Some use equipment like wands and special scrubs. 

Whenever i visit my favorite beauty stores, I am always hunting for the best moisturizers and sunblocks. Recently, I've been having sun spots by neglecting my skin when I travel and do activities outdoors. I've found that sunblocks are truly important and must be worn all year round. So i must really put an emphasis on this. Please don't forget to wear your sunblock. You must wear it before your moisturizer. Well, for moisturizers, i am still looking for the best water based moisturizer for sensitive skin. Water based and organic products are still the best. All of us must do things to make us both look and feel beautiful even if you have to go through a lengthy skin care regimen.

I say, beauty is not skin deep! It's true, these products are only applied to our skin. But if we look great, we develop confidence to go through our days with ease.

photo taken from videojug.com

How online advertising helps

Do you spend a lot of time in the internet? As for me, I consume hours just surfing the net. I spend a lot of it on writing and editing my blogs. Blogging is one of my biggest hobbies and I also maintain 3 blogs. I get to share my opinions about my favorite things, my opinions, rants and raves to a humble amount of readers and followers. As long as you are consistent about you blog posts and themes, fellow bloggers would be more and more interested in what you have to say.

I am also very fortunate to get to be paid to blog. Imagine getting paid to do your favorite things! A lot of business owners get to advertise through the internet and for just cause. Many turn to the internet for information, to watch, to read, and to purchase.The info you find in the internet isn't contained in one area. Many web contents can be read all throughout the world. Bloggers' articles are the best way to advertise to a large readership and for a very small cost.

Consumers are very knowledgeable these days. They demand to know what they buy before they spend on them. Information and advertisements on the internet are great sources of information on what we are about to buy. You can even find reviews so you know where your money goes to.That's why online advertising is one of the best forms of promoting your businesses and attracting possible customers. Both advertisers and bloggers benefit from this type of advertising. Some bloggers even work from home and still earn!

I love using the site www.Blogadvertisingstore.com . Their site helps advertisers find writers to promote their ads and helps bloggers find opportunities to promote for the advertisers. They make it easier for you to find tasks that are compatible with your blog. I also like that they clearly specify the the links and instructions for each post. It is a great way to earn and you as a blogger are also helping businesses to grow while just doing what you like to do best and that is to blog.

image taken from lodexsolutions.com