Memory Time

One of my very best friends, Chelsey, started blogging about Christmas ornaments that hold value in her life. This isn't something I can do considering all my ornaments I bought myself from Hobby Lobby minus the #1 Aunt ornament my mom got me from my niece. But I've enjoyed reading about the many reasons why these ornaments have a special place in her heart. I was sad that I couldn't copy her completely, but have twisted her blogging idea into just things I own that have memories and deep meaning with them. It's been hard to choose which I will post about first so here goes nothing...

This ring was given to me by my mother as a Christmas gift. It's a very precious gift to me because it's a legacy ring. The diamonds in this ring are pieces of both my Grandmas wedding rings as well as my mothers. This ring is something I look down at reguarly and cherish greatly. I cried when I received this gift because it is so precious to me. I love that my mom had these rings made for me and my sister. This is something I plan to have for my entire life and am excited about passing on to my own children some day. I miss my Grandmas both very much and would love it if I could spend another day with them. Love you GeeMa and Grandma!!

My Seester...

I have decided to dedicate a post a week to someone near and dear to my heart. I can't help but start this new blogging idea with my wonderful sister and her beautiful family.

My sister is not only my sister, but my best friend. I can't imagine what my life would be like with out her in it. She has been there for me when I felt the world around me crumbling apart. She has been a role model for me when I've turned the wrong direction. My sister has been a rock to lean upon when I've been torn apart. I honestly don't know that I could be as strong as I am today with out the love and support of my sister. I am continually encouraged by my sister and spend countless hours seeking her advise and counsel. My sister is a woman of God that I trust to give me wise counsel. I can honestly say that I have the best sister in the entire world. I love getting to hear my sister talk about her walk and her life. I love knowing that she truly pursued the Lord when making important decisions regarding marrying her wonderful husband, Adam. I love knowing that I can trust my brother-n-law to take care of my sister and her family. I know with out a doubt that they are madly in love with one another and for that I am truly thankful. Their marriage is one that I admire and hope that I can model in the future.

If you were to look around my home it is obvious that I absolutely love and adore my niece and nephew. Their pictures take over my home. I never knew I could love someone as much as I love these two and to think that I will love my own children even more...wow. I take delight in hearing stories about my niece and get excited about every oppurtunity to see her. I love hearing about how my nephew is growing and hearing of his new milestones. I also enjoy every minute I get to spend with him. I recently had a friend tell me her siblings aren't very involved in her childrens lives and it blew me away. I will be there for my nieces and nephews forever even when I have my own children. I may not spoil them as much but I will forever love them the same and will be there to support them through everything. I am excited about the birthdays, school and church events, graduations, weddings, and so forth. I want them to know that I love them with all my heart and would go to the end of the earth for them.

I love you very much Adam, Nicole, Ellison & Tristan!!

I've Been Challenged

Several things have occurred in the past six months that have led me to this post. I have always been someone who has just believed and never doubted anything. I heard, I read, I believed. I am thankful that I have always been under good sound doctrine since I just believe without question. This week I was challenged by a new friend because of something little he said about the gospel being part of the preaching I hear weekly. Then tonight Matt challenged me in reminding me to watch myself, to know what the gospel is and what it is not. I will say this blog would have been much longer, but I got most of my thoughts out in conversation with my new friend so I just leave you with this same challenge and with these scriptures.

This is the passage I've been wrestling with since May, 2 Timothy 4:3-5 "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

2 Peter 3: 16b-17 "His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position."

1 John 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

1 Timothy 1:6-7 "Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm."

So I challenge you to know that the gospel is and what the gospel is not. I challenge you to spend time in scripture seeking out truth and not just hearing what your pastor says and taking it to heart. May you be challenged in the same way that I have and be thankful for sound doctrine because I know I am!

Trashy TV vs Real Life

I must say that when Desperate Housewives first started airing I thought all my friends should be ashamed of themselves for wasting an hour a week watching the show. I managed to avoid watching it and had no desire to EVER see the dang show. I went back to Lubbock one weekend and was staying with my dearest friend, Catherine, and she was an avid Housewives watcher. She convinced me to watch the show which was not easy I might add. So I relentlessly laid there watching this episode...who would have known that I would develop an addiction after that episode. Thanks a lot Catherine! I have now wasted an hour (well 45 minutes with DVR) every week since that weekend that I visited.

Tonight I sat in my living room catching up on last weeks episode when a particular event reminded me of my own life and probably the lives of many others. Susan Mayer confronts Bree Van de Kamp for not being honest with her about Mike & Katherine dating.

Susan: I always thought that the one thing I could depend on your for was honesty. What happened to that?
Bree: You want honesty? Fine. You didn't wanna divorce Mike. You had a really bad patch after the accident, but you never stopped loving him and why would you? Your relationship didn't have a natural end. So face it, you aren't mad at me or Mike or Katherine, you are mad at yourself for letting your marriage fall apart.
Susan: (realizes Bree is right)Then what am I supposed to do?
Bree: Either tell Mike how you feel or move on because that's what he is trying to do and its not fair to try to stop him. You need to make a decision Susan.

I think that many of us can relate to this little snip-it. I have found that in the past couple weeks I have had numerous friends come to me with the "why didn't you warn me?" or "why didn't you tell me to get out of it?" and the honest truth is that we did...we all warned you, but you didn't listen. The fact of the matter is that none of us really do. We hear what we know to be true, but that doesn't really make a difference. We have our rose colored glasses on and we don't see what everyone else does. I get frustrated with my friends sometimes and I would really like to give them a good shaking. This is especially hard for me as a "Counselor" because I see awful patterns that I know will lead to destruction and my friends ignore me. It kind of hurts because I know how bad they may end up hurting in the end. I am just as bad as the next for doing the same thing. I came out of a relationship about 7 months ago and I was that way. People constantly were telling me to leave far earlier than I did, but I just kept staying...why didn't I listen? Gosh darn it. I'd like to say that today I vowel to always listen to my friends, but I am sure one day I will do it all over again. Why is it that we do this? Why are those darn rose colored glasses so deceiving? If you know the answer feel free to let me in on that little secret...

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for...

loving parents who support me
a close relationship with my sister
a beautiful niece and a handsome nephew
an amazing roommate
a roof over my head and food in my belly
such amazing friends both old and new
a car that's paid off
an awesome church
a great small group with girls I love
my life for I am still getting to live it
my health
God's provision
my mentor
and so much more!!

THE WONDERFUL WOMEN 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 when you want to shop,

share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say let's pray together, another

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,

several from church, on some days your mother,

on some days your neighbor, on others your sisters,

and on some days your daughters.

Wrecked Them

I have been a Red Raider fanatic since a very young age as well as my entire families. My blood has always run red and black as well as clearly not one of them. Being a Red Raider brings me great joy, but there have been many frustrating seasons as a fan. This season is. Last night I sat with a few friends at BJ's as we watched the fourth quarter. One friend in particular being a die hard Longhorn fan and then the other girls were mutual. As the longhorns made their touchdown putting them in the lead by one I became frantic. The guy next to me became so angry that he threw his chair down and then pouted. Cassie said there was still hope for my red raiders, but I was devastated. We couldn't lose to Texas by only one point...

Let's just be honest that in prior years there is no way that Tech would have pulled off what they did last night. I watched nervously as Tech played in those last few minutes. To see what they pulled off in those last 8 seconds sent BJs into an uproar. People were screaming, jumping and throwing their guns up. The longhorn fans all slumped in their chairs looking rather depressed. My phone began to light up with text messages. "Go Raiders", "Okay..I take it all back :) Nice game. All is fair in love and war.", "Holy **** that was the best game ever I just screamed my *** off!", "Amazing!! I'm so glad Tech won!", "Go Tech!", "Holy smokes! Good game!" These were all texts from die hard Aggies, Sooners, Cowboys (OSU), Longhorns and so forth. I actually don't think any of my Red Raider friends texted me, probably because we were all recovering from heart attacks. I was ecstatic. I was actually shaking out of excitement, and I nearly cried tears of joy. It felt great to be in that room next to a longhorn and to have victory over the #1 ranked team. It was awesome to come home and see that everyones statuses were about how amazing Tech was. Such a great night! I am so proud to be a Red Raider!!

Fight, Raiders, Fight! Fight, Raiders, Fight! Fight for the school we love so dearly. We'll hit'em high, we'll hit'em low. We'll push the ball across the goal, Tech, Fight! Fight! We'll praise your name, boost you to fame. Fight for the Scarlet and Black We will hit'em, we will wreck'em. Hit'em! Wreck'em, Texas Tech! And the Victory Bells will ring out.

Even Ellie & Tristan are Red Raiders!!
Tristan cheering about the win!!

Ellie knows it best...Tech is #1!!

Tears, Anger, and Laughter

Many of you can understand what it's like to go through the cycle of tears, anger and laughter. It's a cycle that can start at any of the three levels. This week for me and someone I am very close to it started differently. For her it started in tears and for me laughter. I was not laughing at her expense, but by the time I was told the story she had turned her tears to laughter. But because mine started as laughter, I have now experienced the tears and anger.

This dear friend of mine has found laughter in a very painful life circumstance over the course of the last six years, but in recent days it's not so funny any more. We still try to find some humor in it, but the honest to God truth is that we are both fighting back the tears and at times expressing deep anger over the situation. I won't talk in great detail about what is going on just yet as it's fresh and we want time for her family and close friends to hear but please you all be praying hard for my friend. We find ourselves crying, laughing and being angry frequently. I love her very much and would love to see miraculous things occur in her life so pray for miracles and comfort during difficult times. I also pray that both of us see God in it all and not for one moment allow our anger to destroy our relationship with Him.

"I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."
Jeremiah 31:13

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever."
Psalm 30:11-12

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."
Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 4

Broken Hearted

I was recently reading a friends blog and was deeply saddened by her post. She feels so alone and unloved during a really tough time. She feels as if God is nowhere to be found. I think many of us can relate to this. There are things in life most of us if not all of us will never be able to comprehend like why bad things happen to good people.

Why is it that the sweet couple who desires children so badly can't get pregnant for anything yet some little 13 year old gets pregnant from her father who raped her? Why does the wife that desires so badly to do everything she can for her husband get left with nothing? Why does some man leave his wife for another man? Why in the world does a perfectly healthy infant die from SIDS? These are all questions most of us have pondered over time and time again. Why? Why? Why? Not only do we ponder the why do these bad things happen, but we often even ponder why good things happen but just not to us. Why did that other couple in my Sunday school class get pregnant for the 3rd time while we have been trying for 10 years? Why did that broken marriage have total restoration and mine end up in a disastrous divorce? Why did her spouse get to live through that accident while she was left alone with three children? We will never understand, but I rest in the fact that I know that God will heal them all.

Tonight my heart is completely broken for several friends. I have had the privilege to do life with so many great women and tonight my heart is so broken for some of these women. I have wept on several occasions today just thinking about the place where these women are and the hurt they are experiencing. The betrayal that has occurred in their marriages and the brokenness that has occurred between them and their husbands. I pray for healing for these women and for these men. I pray for God's arms to be wrapped so tightly around these women as they cry themselves to sleep at night. I pray that God will begin to do a mighty work in the lives of these couples. Mostly I just pray that we wouldn't question God at this time, but we'd rely on His love to get us through.

To my dear friends that are hurting, I absolutely love and adore you. I am praying for you constantly and weeping on your behalf. I know these moments are tough, but I know that God has so much more for you on the other side of this.

To my friends that have been blessed immensely, take time to thank God for those blessings in which you take for granted every day. The husband that is always there, the healthy kids, the fact that you have children, the fact that your parents are still married. And the list goes on!!

For Laughters Sake

Failure to Launch and Two Old Men

I don't know how many of you haven't seen Failure to Launch but I am hoping that most of you have. Tripp's parents hire Paula, an interventionist, to play Tripp's girlfriend and convince Tripp to move out of their home. Tripp eventually moves out and when he returns home to get something he finds his father in an alarming state, butt naked. His father had always dreamed of having Tripp's room as a naked room. I find this intriguing because I have seen this a lot on tv. Men desiring a chance to roam naked in their homes or just to sit at home all day in their briefs. I am not sure if this is just a stereotype of men or if this really is some dream all men have, but I am beginning to believe it's a dream all men have.

I find that there is a time in life where you just stop caring what you look like and kind of lose the ability to care about being inappropriate even. You know the type, the older person in the grocery store that just lets one rip with not a hint of embarrassment or sorrow for that matter. I can give a prime example of this from a trip I made from Denton back to Lubbock during college. My friend, Amy, rode with me and my Grandma back to Lubbock. GeeMa has been sleeping for most of the trip, but woke up to ask about a restroom. She had a bottle of cranberry juice and the back seat and took a great big chug of it before laying her head back to rest a bit more. Within minutes she let out the biggest belch I had ever heard in my life, and I come from a family of belchers. I looked at my GeeMa with embarrassment because Amy is with us and she just looks at me as if nothing ever happened. My GeeMe often did things of the sort, completely inappropriate or gross and with no remorse or acknowledgment of the action. So this brings me back to the story, that I have determined that men in particular dream of the naked or brief moments of relaxation. And my brief I mean their underwear.

Yesterday as I am driving home from Denton I pass a neighborhood pool and I see someone sitting on the fountain that leads from the hot tub to the pool. This older man sitting there in his speedo with all his glory out to shine for the world to see. He was just sitting there soaking up the sunshine and enjoying his day in the pool, with out a care in the world. I laughed hysterically! I told a friend about the man and they wanted me to go take a picture so they to could enjoy the hilarious scene I had just driven past. Oh I wish you could all see it, it was priceless. But I could not have done that to myself...seeing him once was bad enough, twice would have been asking for it.

So as if yesterday wasn't bad enough I had to see another old man enjoying his moment of brief relaxation today. I went out for my morning run, I walk to the end of the street before I start running so I was about to turn the corner to begin running but glanced down the street as I turned. I almost tripped because I was so caught off guard. I saw this old man getting his newspaper in nothing but his black briefs. I had to do a double take because I thought surely that man couldn't have had white hair and surely if he did those were just shorts I saw. But nope...Mr. Old Man was walking down in his sidewalk in nothing but his black underwear.

So with both of these happening in the past two days, I am beginning to think the writers of these movies and tv shows are on to something. Men must really enjoy the nakedness or the freedom of just their underwear far more than they maybe should. And older men must enjoy it even more.

Will I someday be the old lady with not a care in this world? Belching and farting as if no one else is around? Oh I sure hope not, but we will see. And I beg of you Lord to not let my husband walk to get the newspaper in his whitie tighties.

The Ball

After reading my friend Carrie's blog I couldn't help but take the story of her son to a new level. They were at Wal-Mart with Jack (there 14.5 month old son) and were going to buy him a ball, a very prized possession for little Jack. Jack set his eyes on a set of balls and was excited about them, but Carrie & Chad would soon walk past those balls to find better ones. To quote Carrie..."Jack actually saw the balls before we did and started shouting "BA BA BA!!!" He was so excited. Imagine his heartbreak when we left the first batch of bouncy orbs to search for the really big ones."

Jack had seen what he wanted, but had no idea that there could be more beyond that array of balls. The word heartbreak makes me think about the sadness that occurred and how in that instant Jack thought that his parents were no longer giving him that ball that he so badly desired.

I find us to be much like Jack. We come across something that we desire and we become so enthusiastic about it. I as a single female can most relate this to the dating world. We come to a place where we meet someone, might even start dating them and we think that he or she is the best person for us. We can't see beyond that and when it's taken away from us we throw a fit. I find this to be true with job hunting as well. We find a job we think would be absolutely perfect for us and when it doesn't work out we begin to throw our little fits. When really just a few aisles away, God has in store for us the perfect situation just as he had destined it to be.

What would have happened had Jack been old enough to be able to choose his own ball? He may have chosen the little bitty ball that momentarily brought him happiness, but then later he may have discovered the perfect ball. However, he was so enthralled by the little ball that he never even saw the big ball. He may have already spent all his money on this little ball only to find out something better was somewhere else. Perhaps it's great that Jack's parents were able to take him to the better balls just like our Father is able to guide us to the right place.

Perhaps I should allow God to take me to the next aisle. I can't help but think about the sermon from this weekend...I need to truly pray that I am living in God's will. I need to allow God to guide me to the next aisle and stop focusing on what I could have had. I am too busy throwing a fit that I don't see that God has so much better for me.

The Runaway Bride

My wedding gown is on and has been for some time now. I have given myself to Christ in order for Him to be my Bridegroom. My desires are to submit to Him and allow for Him to pursue me. I love knowing that I rest in His arms and that all my comfort can be found in Him. I desire to share an intimate relationship with Him.

I am a Runaway Bride.

I have my gown on still and it's beautiful, but underneath my gown is a dirty pair of running shoes. I am a runner! Christ pursues me and loves me and anxiously awaits for the ceremony, but I keep running. At times I run rather quickly away from Christ as if I have something to hide. There are times that I gently walk away begging of Him to chase after me. But none the less I am a runaway bride.

My junior year of college my Grandma died and I ran far away from Christ. I lead a Christian life, but had no pursuit of the gospel. I continued down a very destructive path until I found myself crying in my closet begging for mercy and grace. I will never forget coming to that place or absolute emptiness. Christ never stopped pursuing me, but I kept running. I was back in the arms of my one true love, but no worries I would run again soon.

I moved back to Denton and got my feet back on track. I was going to do it right this time. I loved Him so of course I wouldn't leave Him again. It didn't take long for me to start pushing Him away and slowly trying get away from Him. He continued to pursue me and I stayed around for awhile. I loved Him with all my heart, but it was time to run again.

I tricked myself into believing that by playing the part I was still standing there with my groom. My dress was on, but I was running. I continued to date my groom, but would soon run away again. I couldn't dare truly surrender. Luckily, He continued to pursue me and tugged at my heart consistently. I continually try to run and continually pretend that I have surrendered, but I am only fooling myself.

It's been a very long and tiring journey for me the runner. In June I became very tired of running. I became weak and famished. Christ ran along side me the entire time. He picked me up and carried me the rest of the way. I lay there in awe of his grace, love and mercy. I desire to love Him with my everything and to mean it this time.

I surrender...Lord, here are my running shoes!!

Goose Egg

The story of how I got this goose egg is actually rather embarassing and I don't mind telling it but don't really think I want to post the story on-line. But I will go ahead and give you the cliff note version.

I woke up at 4:45 am with excruciating pains in my stomach. I went to the restroom and while sitting on the toilet I managed to pass out knocking myself out on the doorknob on the way down. I woke up around 4:55 only to find a good tennis ball sized goose egg on my forehead. By the time I took this picture I had already had ice on it for two hours...kind of wish I would have taken it earlier, but I was kind of in too much pain to consider taking a picture.


Please pray for me though because I am going to need to see the doctor. Several people have told me they wonder if it is vasovagal syncope. I also need to get checked for anemia because I have seen several symptoms of that also. Fainting=Fun!

Braggin' Time

My more than adorable nephew...this picture made me laugh so hard!!

My Selfish Life

About a week ago a friend of mine said that he felt like our generation was narcissistic. I disagreed coming from a clinical stand point because someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder takes selfishness to a pretty extreme measure. Also I disagreed because I felt like I did a pretty good job of putting others above myself. However, I do realize there are times that I can be pretty selfish too. When I told him that I didn't feel I was narcissistic he agreed, but now that this past week has gone by I'm not so sure I agree.

Last Saturday night my heart was broken and I found myself crying and needing a friend. I called a particular friend and have yet to hear from them. At first I was deeply wounded and still find myself a little frustrated, but at one point this week God told me to stop being selfish. "Really God? I'm being selfish, what about them? They aren't being a very good friend to me and I really need them right now." I continued to argue with God because I kind of think He's ridiculous at this point and then "Shhhh...Jana, listen to yourself." If you look back at my sentence it's all about me...they aren't being a good friend to me and I need them. Me, me, me. I kind of sit back frustrated because I can't believe that God is telling me to stop being selfish when I needed someone to listen to me because my heart was aching. But I do as I am told and I get over myself and I think about that friend. Yes, I admit I'm still a little frustrated but I also have come to realize that my friend has a lot going on right now and has many priorities.

This message has continued to play a part in my life over the course of the past week. I am constantly reminded of my selfishness. First, God points it out to me directly. Then I hear a message at Recovery on Thursday night where I hear it again. Then I am talking to my sponsor last night and I hear it again. And then this morning I sit in Step Study only to hear it yet again. I am selfish. I want my needs to be met by others. Not only am I selfish but I'm a spiritual adulterer and I put my friends in the place of God. Only God can truly fulfill those needs and I continually look to others.

Scentsational!

After falling in love with my Scentsy warmer I have decided to start selling the product myself.
This warmer has been a great addition to my home as I no longer have to worry about forgetting to blow out the candles and it makes my house smell better any way!!

I can't help but share this with all of my family and friends because I know that you will absolutely love this product! It's perfect for those of you who are teachers and can't have candles in your classroom! It's also perfect for those of you sitting in an office that doesn't allow candles because let's just be honest in saying most offices don't smell that great. It's also perfect for the dorms because you can't really seem to do much in a dorm room to make it smell better.


This is great for you, but it's also a great gift for everyone so go ahead and check out my website: http://www. scentsy. com/scentsfromjana

Feel free to help me with my Debut party by placing an order between now and the 26th of August.
Plus it's 10% off everything this month!!

If you would like to host a party email or call me and we can talk about a party!!

A Changing Heart

I recall my freshman year of college thinking my friend, Lauren, was the sweetest girl you would ever meet. She loved everyone and no one could ever do her so wrong that she be angry with them. That wasn't the case for me. I couldn't understand how Lauren could be so sweet and how she could deal with some of the people she did. I didn't get it at all, but I valued her friendship so much and only wished I could be more like her.

I was a bit feisty by nature and was ready to put up a fight. I was wounded and defensive so if you crossed my path at the wrong time or I felt wronged then you would pay. Simple. I was good with my words and knew just how to hit right below the belt. I was pretty good if I don't admit so myself. I kind of enjoyed being this way--it was easy, it was what was known. No one could hurt me this way. Let me clarify by saying that I was sweet and I did have friends, it just wasn't good to be disliked by me. It wasn't good to catch me on a bad day. If I was mad you could guarantee you would know about it.

Wow, the Lord has done a number on me in the past few years. I am still not nearly as sweet as Lauren and am unsure I will ever be that sweet. But now I can look in the mirror and see a sweet girl. I can look in my heart and know that I've changed a lot and also know how I really feel. I feel so guilty about all the people I probably hurt. I love them, each and every one of them. And even though they may have hurt me I wish that I wouldn't have turned around and been hateful back. So if you were one of the ones I hurt then I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I want to be sweet. I want to be that friend you can really count on. I want to be someone that you can see Christ in...I'm pretty sure you were able to see the devil in me back then. But I know God has done a number in my life. If I have hurt you in any way please let me know so that I can apologize to you apart from this general apology. I truly am sorry for any hurt I may have caused any of you. I pray you can see a cahnge in me and that you can trust me again. I love you all very very much!!

A Blast from the Past

Can anyone else relate to these awesome memories? Perhaps I am missing a few great classics, but I couldn't help but come up with this list as I sat and watched a few of my favorite movies this week. Leave comments of your favorites from your childhood!!

Movies

Benny & Joon
Curly Sue
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead
Harry and the Hendersons
Love Potion #9
Willow
Short Circuit
Ghostbusters
Clue
Big
Indiana Jones
Annie
Death Becomes Her
Troop Beverly Hills
Beetlejuice
Twins
Bio-Dome
Drop Dead Fred
Newsies
Back to the Future
Empire Records
The Goonies
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Weekend at Bernies
Steel Magnolias
The Karate Kid
City Slickers
Edward Scissorhands
Three Men and a Baby
Freaky Friday
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

TV Shows

Roseanne
Full House
The Cosby Show
Alf
Punky Brewster
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Out of this World
Saved by the Bell
Who's the Boss?
What You Talkin' 'Bout Willis?
Growing Pains
Dumbo's Circus
Sharon, Lois and Bram
The Smurfs
Kids Incorporated
Fresh Prince of Belair
Fraggle Rock
Webster
Double Dare
American Gladiators

Music

New Kids on the Block
Wilson Phillips
Tiffany
Debbie Gibson
MC Hammer
Michael Jackson

Toys

Popples
Strawberry Shortcake
My Little Pony
Cabbage Patch Kids
Pound Puppies
Rainbow Brite
Raggedy Ann
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Differences Among Us

In the past year I have noticed a lot more about relationships than ever before. It may have something to do with a particular relationship in my own life or perhaps the counseling, but none the less I have made some observations.

I'd have to say the number one problem is our inability to communicate with one another. I find this to be true time and time again. The sad part is that we may have really good communication with one person but then with someone else it just doesn't seem to work out that way. I find that I have certain friends that I am completely okay with critique while others completely hurt you when they try to recorrect. The reason for this is because of communication. One person may be able to tell you something in a manner that is beneficial and even uplifting while someone else may tear you apart to the core. We must learn how to communicate effectively with one another in order to maintain healthy friendships.

I once was not someone who wanted to work through things. If you were mad at me or upset with me then I just let you be and I could have cared less. I didn't need you any way. Wow--I sure was prideful! But now I am someone who wants to sit down and figure out exactly how we can do life together, just exactly how we can get along better and really truly be friends. An issue came up this week between me and one of my roommates. I had hurt her feelings through my actions which had not been my intention. So we talked it through and I discussed with her exactly what it is she needed from me and what I needed to do to change. I then told her areas where I had been hurt and she apologized and learned from me what I needed. If we wouldn't have had this open communication we would have just destroyed our friendship, but instead we made it stronger. I encourage you all to set aside your differences with people and figure out a middle ground.

This brings up the second reason I think we have such a hard time interacting with others, we grew up differently so our value systems are different and our insecurities are different as well. I have seen this time and time again as I set up expectations for people based on my system of beliefs. Perhaps I expect a man to hold the door open for me and when one doesn't I get mad, but perhaps that man was never taught that was respectful in the first place.

In my last dating relationship the guy had a tendency to not call when he said he was going to which irritated me because I was raised in such a way that you at least made contact just to say you were busy or you would get back to them later. But he was raised in such a way that you just got back to that person whenever you could, whenever you were done with whatever it is you had to finish even if it meant not calling that person until the next day. I had to learn to forgive him when he would forget to call and he had to learn to try harder to call when he said he would call. I just encourage you to be open in communication so that when something comes up you can come to an understanding with one another so that you can strengthen your own relationship. If I would have continued to get frustrated with him and he continued not to try then our relationship would have been destroyed because both of us were too selfish to change a little.

The insecurities bit is another problem I've seen in relationships as well. One of my insecurities is that I don't belong or that people don't like me because I'm not "cool" enough. This comes from high school and being severely rejected by the "in" crowd. So I have a tendency to get my feelings hurt when I perceive someone "cool" as rejecting me. This often times happens with my own friends and I will become upset because I feel like they are choosing my more "cool" friends to hang out with and forget about me. While this might be the case sometimes, in most cases this is not the case and it was completely not related at all.

Each of us has our own insecurities that now cause us to react in certain ways in current relationships. Perhaps you were once cheated on so you don't trust the next guy you date because you just know that he too will break that trust. Maybe you've been betrayed by friends many times in the sense that they always end up dating the guy you liked so then you never tell anyone who you like so they can't steal him away. This week alone I told one of my friends that I understood if they didn't want to be friends any more because they started dating someone because I am used to people saying goodbye to friendships when they start dating. Yet this isn't always the case. Not only did I try to tell a friend goodbye, but I also withdrew from another friend who started dating just so I didn't have to be rejected. Be cautious of your insecurities and the affect they have on your life. Not only should you be aware of them, but you should make an effort to get rid of them. I know that's my goal because by having them I am allowing Satan to have a hold in my life.

My Adult Post

We have had a recent problem with one of our dogs peeing all over the place. We couldn't manage to find the spot for the longest time though. Then this week I finally got on my hands and knees and sniffed out the carpet...only to find that Bella had peed a lot in one particular area. And by a lot I mean she's probably been peeing in the same area every day for a month. We have decided that we need to do some serious cleaning considering it kind of smells like we have a nasty cat liter in our house which is not okay. So I was at working looking through websites trying to find some good advice and I found this amazing website and had to share it with all of you especially my mommy's. Turns out we are all adults now and we get excited about carpet cleaning tips!!

Carpet Cleaning

Sorry that I haven't posted the relationship blog yet...I have started it, but didn't realize I would need to organize my thoughts as much as I am. Plus I went to camp for a week.