8 Things I Admire About My Mother

Her Faith- I can remember even as a young child my mother always taking me to church on Sundays and quoting verses. I'd look up at her and see her mouth the words of a verse at the same time as the pastor, always in aw that she knew it so well. I did not have to hear her pray or recite verses to know that she loved God. I could and still can see it in the way she loves her family, the way she carries herself and the way she treats others. I can see the love of Christ in who she is.

Her Strength- Throughout my entire childhood life my mom was always the foundation of the household and always the mediator between my brothers and me. I've never known anyone that has been through the things my mother has, yet she loves fearlessly and without condition. My mother’s strength is something I can only hope to inherit from her. She knows how to overcome.

Her Modesty- I have never seen my mother wear anything that was not appropriate. No matter if she was going grocery shopping, to work or out to dinner with my dad at a nice restaurant, she always chose to keep her body a secret. She’s the most conservative woman I know.

Her Grace- Through her words and her eyes she can calm a raging sea. A talk with mom was all I needed to help me get through a breakup, losing a friend, or any difficult situation. She always knows exactly what to say and how to handle it. Her eyes are always colored with understanding and compassion no matter the conversation.

Her Laughter- Anyone who knows my mom knows that she laughs...a lot, but in the best way possible. Along with her smile, her laugh is contagious and keeps the mood light. Like my mother, I hope to leave a lasting impression on others with my laughter.

Her Determination- My mother is consistent in everything she does. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning or working, she does it to the best of her ability. I could come home from work one night and my room would be completely transformed from a landfill to the cover of a Good Housekeeping magazine. I've also never seen anyone type on a 10 key as fast as she does. She is the hardest working woman in my life.

Her Selflessness- No matter what I wanted on this aisle and that aisle at the store when I was a bratty kid, she’d let me get it if she thought I really wanted it. When the food she ordered looked much better than mine, she’d let me have a few bites without even batting an eye. When I told her of my future plans and what I wanted to do, with tears in her eyes she hugged me and let me start a whole new chapter of my life. I knew she wanted me there, to stay home, but because she was thinking of me and my dreams, she let me go.

She’s My Best Friend- Growing up I never realized just how close my mother and I would get, although now I know she’s the best friend I’ll ever. I’ve never laughed with someone so much, talked with someone so much and had so much in common with anyone before. My mom and I can talk for hours about everything and nothing at the same time and it’s still more fun than hanging out with friends. We can share clothes, makeup and hair products. I get along with my mother better than anyone in my life.

When I look at my mom I think of these verses:

"Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her..." Proverbs 31:25-28

I hope to be this kind of role model for my daughter, like my mother has been for me.

I love you, mom.

Why Serious Dating in High School is a Waste

Everyone has one and you wonder why you don't. She goes here and there with hers, and you're stuck in your living room chilling with your parents all weekend. 

Having a boyfriend was common when I was in high school and it's still common today. I wanted one. My friends wanted one. Some of my friends even had one. But why? Why did we feel the need to have a boyfriend? Looking back now it just seems so...stupid.

I wish I could go back in time and tell my ninth grade self that boys aren't worth the time at that age and to stay away from dating them. They will literally promise you the earth, the moon and the stars, and while they may have all the best intentions, it most likely won't work out. Why? Because you'll believe them. You'll believe everything they say, even if they say "I love you," on the 4th date because it's natural. It's natural to want companionship and to want to be loved but the problem comes when you realize they don't. The problem comes when you're sitting on your bed late at night, crying because he broke up with you, only after you decided to give your heart, your emotions and your love away. Let's be honest, for you, it was love. 

Let's look at the basics.     They probably don't have a car, and if they do they just got it. They still live at home (duh).They don't have enough money to take you out to Olive Garden (unless it's the boy who gets an allowance) much less purchase the entire galaxy (like they oh-so-heartedly promised). I don't know about you, but having his mommy drop you off at the movies together is too awkward to label "fun". 

Take a look around you. Whether you're in the cafeteria, in a classroom or in the hallway you'll see boys, but not the kind of boys you want. They goof off, tell jokes, act dorky and maybe even smell, but you know what? Why should they care? They have all the time in the world after high school to devote to someone they really care about. So do you.

You should be having fun with your friends. You don't have to worry about what you look like in the morning because the truth of the matter is, you'll never see those kids after you get your diploma. You don't have to cry countless tears because Steven likes Alyssa but Alyssa said she liked Tyler but Tyler likes you and you just want Steven. You don't have to waste precious kisses, embraces, time, or in the worst cases, your precious purity. 

When you get married, you're more than likely going to understand this more. When you look at your husband you're gonna wonder and want to know who's he's dated, when he dated them, how long he dated them for and what they did when they dated. But he's going to wonder the same thing about you. You're going to wish you hadn't dated that goofball in ninth grade or tenth, or whatever grade because all of those kisses, hugs, tears didn't mean a thing. They mean nothing compared to what they mean now, with your spouse. People will tell you all the time not to worry about what your spouse did before you blah blah blah, but it's human nature to want to know. It really is. Not always the best thing, but it happens. 

Serious dating in high school is a waste of time because people rarely ever marry the person they invested their time and emotions in. Kisses that are given cannot be taken back, no matter how hard you wish. And sadly, neither can innocence. 

Have fun. Be young. Save the serious stuff for later.    

A Relationship With God: My Choice

Most of the time when people find out I'm a Christian, they assume is must be because of the fact that I was raised in church. That even though I have my own brain and my own free will, I could not have possibly chosen to have a relationship with a God on my own that has changed my life.

Throughout my entire childhood I can remember going to Sunday school. I can remember singing songs about Jesus and while not really understanding the greatness and the magnitude of who He was, knowing He was special and He made me feel special. I can remember always drawing pictures about Jesus, saying how much I loved Him, almost like He was a close friend of mine. As I got older that faded. The drawings ended and the friendship was now more of an acquaintance. I knew He was there, but didn't necessarily pay Him any attention. I had "grown" out of Him and left Him on my closet shelf like he was an old stuffed animal that I had once needed beside me every night in order to peacefully get to sleep, now forgotten because I felt it was of no use. 

Yet every time I had a bad day and someone at school had said something about me, maybe even to me, that hurt my feelings, I'd pull that stuffed animal out of my closet, hold it and cry until I fell asleep, the only thing that could bring me comfort and the only thing I wanted to bring me comfort. No matter how long I had left Him in my closet on that shelf. He was there every time I needed Him. Every time I needed to cry, to vent, to forget the world, His arms were out-stretched, waiting, ready. 

Mid-junior year is when I realized I needed Him in every day life, not just when I had a problem that needed solving. He was my friend, someone I could share defeats and triumphs with. I needed Him when I went to school, and I needed Him when I went to work. I took Him off that shelf, and I've carried Him with me always ever since. 

I chose God. Though I was raised in church and brought up knowing who He was, I could have chosen to leave Him on that shelf permanently. I could have decided I didn't "need" something I felt I'd no longer had use for unless it was convenient for me. 

It was a choice. A choice that continues to bless my life each and every day. 

Why I Have No Interest in 50 Shades of Grey

"50 Shades of Grey" tells about a seemingly "good looking", wealthy man who shows interest in your everyday average girl and takes her into his world of handcuffs, whips and essentially pain. Sexy right? Ouch.

I do not title myself as a feminist, but I do believe the movie seems to be a bit demeaning to all females everywhere. I constantly see women protesting asking for "equal rights" trying to show that we, women, should be treated just like the males of the world. Yet, they endorse a movie based on a man completely dominating a woman that depicts her to be just another sexual object. 

Why would I want to watch another movie that demoralizes the meaning of sex and completely takes all sanctity of sex away? Why would I want to pay for and sit through another movie that distorts the role of a woman? Because we're all supposed to be a size 2 and practice erotic sex with the first rich guy we meet, right? Pass...

Based on what I've heard about the book, if in fact the movie was completely based on the book, it would be porn. Simple fact. But since it isn't so xxx, it's deemed okay. I've also seen women's reactions to who is playing the role of Christian Grey. Most said he wasn't "hot enough". Those same women would be mortified to learn that their husband was waiting for a movie to come out and on his first learning of the female lead said ,"She isn't hot enough." I myself would be pretty upset if it was my other half, especially on such a movie as this. Double standard?

There will likely be more worthy box office hits to spend your time and your money on.

This is a "love" story I won't be watching. 

The Importance of "I'm Sorry"

Almost every time my husband and I get into an argument, not even 30 minutes later one of us is apologizing and asking for forgiveness. He's looking me in the eye holding my chin with his fingertips or I have my arms wrapped around him. Either way, it's an easy resolution, and it has a certain humbleness to it that can stop a mini war in it's tracks. 

Sometimes I storm off, usually up to our bedroom and just sit on the bed. I've always done this, even as a little girl. My bedroom was always my safe haven. I could think and talk to God about how angry, upset, or hurt I was at a certain situation or person. Nothing has changed. Except now I was just laying there, staring at the ceiling swearing to God that I'm not saying, "I'm sorry" this time. Why should I? He can come up here and apologize if he wants to anyway. And in all my stubbornness, I wonder what he's doing downstairs. I wonder if he's thinking the same thing I am and I picture what it would be like if I went down there and said I was sorry. 

Nope..no way. I've already made up my mind. I have nothing to be sorry for. At least in my eyes. But then out of nowhere an image pops into my head and the very thing I need to be sorry for is playing over and over. 

I get off the bed, slowly open the door and make my way downstairs. As I walk towards him sitting at the dining room table, I wrap my arms around his shoulders, plant my nose in his hair, breathe in the familiar scent of Head and Shoulders shampoo and whisper, "I'm sorry baby."

"No..I'm sorry babe," he whispers back. And just like that, we're hugging and kissing and back to laughing. 

"I'm sorry" doesn't mean you've 'lost' the argument or that you're by any means weak. I mean, yeah, it's okay to stand up for yourself and put your foot down, but it's a very good thing to know when to put your weapon down.