Posts (page 2)
I was eight years old when I learned about the "birds and bees."
It was a sunny afternoon, I had just dropped my backpack down at the front door and went straight to the kitchen for a snack. My mom was in there getting some stuff ready for dinner, I could hear my little sister in the back room playing with her dolls.
"Mom, what's a 'virgin'?"
She looked up from the stove at me with wide-eyes and then slowly narrowed them, spatula in the air. Her shoulders slumped and she said, "Give me just a minute here and we'll talk about that. Where did you hear that word?"
"I was at Bible Class today and they kept talking about 'The Virgin Mary'. Why did they call her a 'virgin'? ... Oh and I heard it on a T.V. show the other day too, but that time they were talking about a guy at their school."
She quietly finished making dinner, set it to the side to stay warm and told me to come sit on the couch in the living room. She brought a pencil and a pad of paper with her. Man, she meant business. This was not going to be any explanation.
Curiously I looked at her as I sat down, feeling a bit apprehensive at her seriousness.
A few diagrams later she had thoroughly explained the female reproductive system, the male reproductive system and how they delicately worked together to make a baby. Following that was a stern lecture about how this process was meant by God to be an act between a husband and wife that loved each other.
And then she began to cry.
Tell an eight-year-old little girl that a penis goes in a vagina to make a baby and THEN start crying... and you have pretty much engraved the moment into her mind forever. And possibly scared the living day lights out of her.
The reason for the tears was soon explained. My mother put her hand on my shoulder as tears streamed down her face and said that sometimes people who weren't married fell in love and made babies. That it was NEVER a mistake, it just wasn't the way God intended it and made it much harder for everyone involved.
A light bulb began to go off in my head. I realized that most kids probably don't remember their parent's wedding day like I did. I remember it because I was 3 years old on that day. And the man I now called "Daddy" didn't actually meet me until I was old enough to know I was the only kid in nursery school that didn't have a daddy.
I looked at my mom and I started to cry too. "Who is my daddy?"
She hugged me and told me that someday when I was old enough to know, she would tell me more, and if I wanted to meet him, that she would be okay with it. For now, my Daddy was the man that came to every school program, that took us to the zoo, and who was the only person I wanted when I fell off my bike and skinned my knee. She said that making a baby didn't make you a daddy... loving a child like they were your own did.
Finally I sighed and wiped my tears, looked back down at the drawing my mother had made me. An hour or so had passed since I had gotten home from school. From the drawings I looked back at my mothers face, eyes rimmed red with tears, but with a soft smile on her face.
"But, I still don't know what 'virgin' means."
At that, my mother started laughing and so did I.
It never fails... I walk into Target for one thing (this time tampons and lunch for the kids tomorrow... fridays they have to bring sack lunches).... and I walk out with 20 things that I don't need but call to me from shelves and racks, pleading "buy me... buy me."
Last night it was this shirt.
Jenna asked me who it was and if she was a rock star. I said ... She was a star that sparkled as bright as diamonds, but faded too quickly like a falling star. Jenna asked... what did she sing? And I said... Every woman's anthem: "Diamonds are a girl's best friend." Jenna giggled and said ... Mommy you are silly.
That I am. But I do love my shirt.
My sister sent this to me today. Considering the ups and downs I've had over the past couple years.. I can totally and completely relate to it... so I want to post for all of you as well. Especially the ones of you that I consider girlfriends... you are the best of the best!! -- Miranda
GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE
When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.
One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say, ' Let's cry together, '
Another , ' Let's fight together, '
Another , ' Let's walk away together. '
One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.
But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ..
Those are your best friends.
It may all be wrapped up in one woman,
But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.
If link doesn't work above, you can watch it on CMT here
Gary Allen - Learning How to Bend Lyrics
I'm still learning how to pray Trying hard not to stray Try to see things your way I'm still learning how to pray I'm still learning how to trust It's so hard to open up And I'd do anything for us I'm still learning how to trust. I'm still learning how to bend How to let you in In a world full of tears We'll conquer all our fears I'm still learning how to fly I wanna take you higher I'll be there till the end I'll be your lover and your friend I'm still learning how to bend. I'm just trying to understand It's all in someone else's hands There's always been a bigger plan But I don't need to understand. I'm still learning how to bend How to let you in In a world full of tears We'll conquer all our fears I'm still learning how to fly I wanna take you higher I'll be there till the end I'll be your lover and your friend I'm still learning how to bend. I'll be there till the end I'll be your lover and your friend I'm still learning how to bend I'm still learning how to bend I'll be there till the end I'm still learning how to bend...
Empty parking lot, half a cigarette
I got it off the ground, so it's a little wet
I'm on the Southside, walking sideways
I got too drunk again
Now it's a cold night, kind of late this year
Plans made, the cops are gone, and we're out of here
But I need to catch my breath, cause it's 3am
And I still miss someone
This is the last last time
I beg the sun to shine
Addicted to a memory and it's killing me
This is the last last time
Now I should hide at home cause I can't drive
Everybody's calling me to see if I'm alive
They say they got a friend that I need to meet
And she's never heard of you
This is the last last time
I beg the sun to shine
Addicted to a memory and it's killing me
This is the last last time
I try to change your mind
I'm addicted to the misery and it's killing me
Yeah, it's killing me
It won't stop killing me
What Miranda Means |
You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality. |
Thanks Kimmie for posting about this... I love me some Gavin (I wanna lick him!)
YouTube Video of Gavin Rossdale "Love Remains The Same"
a thousand times i've seen you standing
gravity like a lunar landing
make me want to run till i find you
shut the world away from here, drift to you, you're all i hear
everything we know fades to black
half the time the world is ending, truth is i am done pretending
i never thought that i had any more to give
pushing me so far here i am without you
drink to all that we have lost, mistakes that we have made
everything will change, love remains the samefind a place where we escape
take you with me for a space
a city bus that sounds just like a fridge
walk the streets through seven bars
i had to find just out where you are
the faces seen to blur they're all the same
half the time the world is ending, truth is i am done pretending
i never thought that i had any more to give
you're pushing me so far here i am without you
drink to all that we have lost, mistakes that we have made
everything will change, love remains the same
so much more to say, so much to be done
don't you trick me out, we shall overcome
cause our love stays ablaze
we should have had the sun
could have been inside
instead we're over here
half the time the world is ending, truth is i am done pretending
too much time to love defending, you and i are done pretending
i never thought that i had any more to give
you're pushing me so far here i am without you
drink to all that we have lost, mistakes that we have made
everything will change, everything will change
oh, i.........
this could last forever
oh, i........
we could last forever
love remains the same
love remains the same
On our way to the first day of summer camp (aka day care in the summertime while school is out)... They were just excited to not have to wear a uniform all day. Ha.
Who helped make you the cool person you are today?
Submitted by Amy - Sister Brown Hair Surprise.
Quite simply... My friends. I pride myself in surrounding my life with really cool, but good people.. What is on the inside is much more important than the labels on their clothes. They teach me, love me and support me... and give me a healthy dose of honest critisism when I need it most.
I love my friends <3
What did you do for fun when you were a kid? How is it different from what you see kids doing now?
Submitted by jaklumen.
I have actually been thinking a LOT about this lately.
When I was a kid, I rushed home to get a quick snack, pick my sister up from the sitter (across the apartment complex from us) and then we would play outside until it was dark. Like many others, our rule was that when the street light came on it was time to come inside.
I spent A LOT of time on my bike. I rode it back on trails in greenbelts behind our neighborhood... I rode it to the library to check out books and cute boys... I rode it to the convenient store to buy a candy bar and a coke and laugh with my cousin.
I was active and social and have very fond memories of that time.
Now I see kids glued to their Nintendo DS or Ipod or cell phone. They aren't interacting anymore. They aren't outside anymore. When I see children outside playing alone, my first thought is "Where are their parents? They shouldn't be out here. Someone or something bad could happen to them." And then I get sad.
This is our world. Our children are focusing inward. Relying on technology to expand their minds and imagination and social circle. They can't ride their bikes to their friend's house anymore, so intead they "im" them on the computer. Why bother playing sports, when you can just play the NFL version of football on your XBox?
And we wonder why obesity and pedaphilia is on the rise today. Our children no longer have exposure to excersize and activities like we did at that age. Their social circle exists online through myspace and facebook... where people who once were too socially inept to prey on innocent victims can now present themselves as a totally different person to manipulate and exploit our children.
Fortunately, I live in a great little townhome community with lots of children and parents. When we get home, Jenna and Nate rush inside for a snack and then go outside to play... ride their bikes and scooters or kick their soccer ball or bounce on the nieghbor's trampoline. Most evenings I have no less than about 8 kids scrambling in and out of my house asking for popcicles or a drink of water. It's hectic and sometimes messy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
A little before the sun begins to set, two smelly little monkeys walk in the door ready for dinner, which is made and sitting on the table for them. They wash their hands and dive into their dinner with a ravenous appetite from spending a few hours running and happily playing. My kids do own their own portable dvd and mp3 players... and they love Disney channel and playing computer games as much as any other kid. I won't allow video games in my house, but mainly because they are too violent. However, I am so proud that my children have the kind of fun that I did as a kid. Because I know that someday they will look back on this time and remember the sheer joy of using your imagination and your energy to create a world of fun, adventure and fantasy.
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