Do you have an ugly scripture bag?  Let us turn that into a new super-cute MollyGear bag for you. 

We are hosting a contest to find the ugliest scripture bag around.  We want to find the Mahana of all bags (before Johnny came into the picture, of course). 

Here is how it works:

1.  Post a picture of your ugly scripture bag.  The one you thought was cute when you were 8.  You can do that here.

2.  Don’t have that bag anymore?  You can make one just for this contest.  It doesn’t have to be nice, it doesn’t have to be sewn.  Just make something ugly.  Instructions are here.

3.  Tell all your friends to visit MollyGear.com and vote for your ugly bag. 

4.  Whoever has the ugliest bag (as determined by the voting) wins a new MollyGear bag. 

5.  All the rules and QA are here.

Simple huh?  So get out those orange-handled scissors from the kitchen drawer and start gettin’ your craft on.

I know I posted about this a week ago. But its just so darn exciting. 

Later this week we should have all the new products up.  New Mini’s, Small bags, Medium bags, and our brand-new MollyGear Tote! (Aka, the MollyGear Mommy bag, the MollyGear Teacher bag, the MollyGear Massive bag)

It is big, but not too big.

You can put your teacher manual in it’s own manual-sized pocket.

Your scriptures have their own water-resistant pocket.

You have room for crayons.

You have room for sippy cups (if you are into that sort of thing)

You have room for handouts.

You have room for chalk.

You have room for a very small dog. 

The point is, you can fit everything in, without it being huge.  Like clowns in a tiny car. 

I knew you would be impressed.

With the current state of the economy, many people may be worried about us here at MollyGear.  Do not fear, however.  We will be A.O.K. for several reasons:

1.  Molly Mormons are loaded.  They are throwing money around left and right, and we are just here to pick it up when it falls.

2.  Scripture bags are considered "recession proof".  Like milk or bread or gasoline for the Suburban, people just need it.  They might go without a night at the movies, but a new bag?  How could someone go without that?

3.  Government Money.  Last Tuesday, MollyGear, LLC filed for government assistance to get through this tough time.  We have requested financial assistance in the form of $28,000,000,000 (that’s $28 Billion in case the zeros start running together.)  The domestic auto industry needed $25B, but they didn’t have to concern themselves with things like buttons, snaps, and other fastening devices.  That’s why we need more than them.  It is very serious, and the nations entire economy relies on the fate of MollyGear.

I am confident that Congress will do the right thing and award MollyGear the $25B it is seeking.  Please do what you can*  to make sure we get by.  Let Congress know that without MollyGear, the world would be an uglier place with more pleather, tapestry, and other terrible materials.  We must continue to fight!

(* We didn’t really ask for the money, so don’t write congress.  Unless your congressman is fake, in which case, go right ahead.  I am sure they will respond favorably.)

Dylan was 5.  As a pretty shy kid, he had never actually participated in the ward Primary Sacrament Meeting Program.  Last year he sat on the stand, but didn’t sing or read his part.  This year was going to be different.  He had prepared his line and was ready to go.  Dad stayed home from church that day with a flu-like stomach bug, but Mom and baby were there when he walked up to the microphone and said his part.  It was a proud moment.

Moments later, Mom noticed he didn’t "look right".  He was coughing, but something was off…. Right then she realized he wasn’t coughing, he was, well, gagging.  The stomach bug hadn’t stopped with Dad.

Handing the baby to the neighbors, she ran up to the front and pulled him off the stand as they rushed to the bathroom.  They hadn’t made it out of the Chapel when Dylan yelled out "I need a bowl!!!".

Pushing through the Relief Society women blocking the hall (as usual) she burst into the bathroom and found an open stall just in the nick of time.

He’s my son, and I am so proud of him for participating in the program.  I am so thankful for the small blessing of allowing him to make it out of the chapel before he started throwing up.  If it had happened on the stand,I don’t think he would have ever participated again!


 

11 All-new Scripture Bag designs are coming.  Here is just a taste:

Oh Boy!  They are almost here!

The last few months at MollyGear have been very busy.  We have been designing new scripture bags, (and the cool shirts),  picking out new fabric, and watching a lot of Oprah.  The shirts are out, and the bags will be here very soon.

There are lots of new patterns, more new MollyGear Mini’s, and the long awaited, much anticipated large tote-like Teacher Bag!  Its da bomb for sacrament meeting toys, or for all your other must-haves. 

Well, I can’t wait.  Can you?

A few months ago, Elder Ballard wrote an interesting article regarding the participation of faithful Latter-Day Saints in the new proliferation of user-generated media.  I admit, a few months ago I saw it as just a simple endorsement to be missionaries to the world, but lately I have seen it in different light. 

Anyone that spends much time searching will stumble over the "Blogernacle".  Blog after blog of LDS related themes.  Unfortunately, in my opinion the negative voices drown out those that are positive at a pretty wide margin.  It always surprises me to see how negative some people get about the church, especially those that were once faithful members, and for whatever reason no longer are.  Both online and offline, the hatred in the lives of these individuals is astounding.  Certainly not all that have chosen another path are negative and hateful.  Many are as respectful as I think we try to be towards them.   The recent controversy regarding California Prop 8 has exacerbated the issue.  Some voices are rude, many ignorantly making references to the church and its past (or referencing the FLDS Church as if it were the LDS Church).   

I believe we all need to take Elder Ballard’s instruction to heart, and participate in the conversation.  He reminds us that contention is of the devil, which makes participation necessary of great tact and balance.  How wonderful it is that such a large organization trusts its members to carry for the the message in the new media.  I know it can be done, and I know we can be successful. 

I know that the Lord will provide guidance in my life, so long as I seek it from Him.  I think I am pretty good about doing this for the big stuff (marriage, career, major investments in the cutest scripture bags in the world, that sort of thing), but what about my daily activities? 

I have a friend that feels prompted about so much in her life, it made me feel like I wasn’t trying hard enough.  Was I not in tune?  Or was the ‘radio’ not even on?

I beleive that it comes down to the individual.  We all receive promptings different ways.  Some might be more subtle, and some are more apparent.  Some are sought out, and some come as a little blessing from above.

One thing is certain, though. The ability to hear and recognize those promptings is based on the individual.  As we learn from Nephi,  unless we ask with faith, obedience and humility, we will not receive the guidance we need. The challenge is opening our hearts to it all the time.  He wants to bless us, we just need to receive it.

After exhastive research, we at MollyGear have plotted the entire evolution of scriture bags over time. 

(click to enlarge)

As you can see, things have come a long way.  The people in the 1830’s didn’t have it too bad, rollin’ Liitle House on the Prarie style, but those poor soles from 1940’s on…. it was a different time, and they certainly had their challenges.

BTW-  Does anyone have one of those old, plush, frilly cases?  You know the ones.  If you do, take a picture and send it our way.  We will reward you handsomely.

As you can see, we really like making lists for blog posts around here.  Its kinda our thing.  So here are the top times/places you can read your scriptures (and your MollyGear Bag, of course).

on the bus
at school
at the airport
on a campout
on a hike
waiting in line for Journey tickets
in a traffic jam
hot air baloon ride
while touring a Crayon factory (like on Sesame street)
at a jazz concert
in your favorite local bar
during an aerobics class
at church (duh)
while hunting for ghosts
waiting for your Thanksgiving turkey to cook
at a wedding
at another wedding (if you live in Utah)
at a BYU football game
while at the salon
on a picnic
in an igloo
on a boat
in a cave
at home.

Any I missed?  Feel free to add to the list.