Sexist Language

Do you use sexist language?  

We all use sexist language and we probably do not even realize it.  

Years ago people carried different titles than they do today.  

In Years Previous                                                              Currently

Mailman                                                                               Mail Carrier

       

Policeman                                                                             Police Officer

Stewardess                                                                            Flight Attendant

Weather Man                                                                        Meteorologist

Fireman                                                                                 Firefighter

Salesman                                                                               Sales Associate

Waitress/Waiter                                                                     Server

Isn't it crazy how thing change over time!  

Even things like the titles people carry from day to day!
Sorry it's all wonky... Blogger hates me and I'm hating it too today!
I won't be by your blogs until someone decides I can read them in my google reader!

Boycotting

I'm angered, and outraged?! Are you? You should be!

Many of you know that I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and spent every summer on Gulf Coast Beaches.  This BP rig has sparked America's biggest oil spill in history.  BP missed 16 required inspections in the years leading up the the deadly explosion in April that killed 11 workers, and sent oil crude gushing into the Gulf of Mexico.  This has altered the way of life for many people along the Gulf Coast whether they were shrimpers, restaurant owners or even real estate agents.  BP was wreck less and had no concern for the people they might affect.  The Mississippi Gulf Coast hasn't even fully recovered from Katrina much less for this to occur and drive tourism away from a place that needs tourism to thrive.  This is the problem across the board in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.  The oil has driven tourism away from all Gulf Coast Shores.  I know of several Realtors that have lost over $20 K alone in rentals, so this goes way beyond the fisherman.  This isn't something SHORT TERM... It's a LONG TERM affect, and something must be done.  

Funny how we jump in to help a foreign country in time of need..

What's the government doing now?! 54 days later and it's finally addressed. About Time!

Taken from my Aunt a real estate agent in Panama City, FL


Where is everyone?! See the tar on the beach?!

Courtesy of Mississippi Press

Courtesy of Mississippi Press

Courtesy of Mississippi Press

Waiting Patiently...

If I asked my close friends and family to write one word to describe me...
Patience would not be one of them.  That is one thing I know and I'm sure they know too.

This past week I decided that I wanted to purchase the ipad with some of my graduation money.  

I went to Best Buy and of course... OUT OF STOCK.

Then I called 3 other Best Buys around my parents house.. OUT OF STOCK.

and NO we DO NOT have an APPLE store.

I was one UNHAPPY girl

and BEST BUY always seems to disappoint me..

So currently.. I am attempting to wait patiently for my little baby girl to come in....

Courtesy of Apple

This post by my blogging friend Courtney made me really want my ipad right about NOW.

I'm afraid it might become my NEW OBSESSION.
Hope you are having a wonderful week.

The Craziness

The Craziness has began.  You heard me right... It's Crazy in my little world.  

It is WEEK 9 officially.  

Wow, you got here so quickly.  Where did the time go?  

I'm afraid to blink due to the scare of it being WEEK 10. 

This week is really crazy since practically everything has to be done.  Everything from preparing boards for presentations to finishing up little assignments all along the way is due.  

So I will be busy, busy this week and I will post as much as possible. 

So Bare With Me!

I wanted to apologize for not making it around to all of my new followers blogs as well as the ones I follow frequently, but I have a limited time to spend on the computer.  When I am on the computer I am preparing an exciting event for all of my readers on my NEW Blog.  So if you haven't started following, you may want to start since it launches today!  (Click Here)  Details of the exciting news will be on the New Blog Tomorrow.  

Hope You All Have A Wonderful Week!

A Letter to a Younger YOU:

When I read about the "In My Daughters Eyes" Project by Janae at Pink Moss, I immediately knew I wanted to participate, but I was scared and leery of what I would even say to myself. For me it was an emotional journey, but I found pieces of myself that I had forgotten all about.  It was a journey worth taking.  The project involved 100 letters written to the 12 year old version of yourself about what true beauty means, what happiness means, and words of advice along the way.

I hope that you will stop by "In My Daughter's Eyes" and maybe even you will decide to participate.  Here is my letter to myself...

Jes,

You may wonder what this letter is all about, but I'm writing you from the future.  I am 20 years old now.  I understand that being a little girl is not easy, but you are so blessed despite everything else that has went on in the 12 short years of your life.  I won't pretend that I have all the answers for you because here I am, only 9 years older than you are now. But I can give you a few hints about what's ahead, and things to remember along your journey.

I want to tell you not to be in such as rush.  Not to rush into adult responsibilities so fast, and to linger more on the way.  Life may be long, but living goes by fast. 

In your teenage years, a relationship will distract you and will blind you to what’s really in front of you.  And what’s really in front of you? Is YOU.  You don’t know yourself yet, but you think you do.  You think you know and you want to assert that you do, now that you’re a certain age, but you don’t.  What’s in front of you is a whole world of experiences beyond your imagination.  Put yourself, and your growth development first.  One relationship will cause long term repercussions.  Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold forever.  It’s imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways – ways you are not aware of yet.  With that in mind, guard your heart more carefully.  You’ve had your share of heartbreak, but remember it has made you into who you are today.

People love you for who you are.  I know you are going to waste so much time trying to change yourself and wishing you were different.  Don’t waste your time satisfying those who don’t care like they should.  In the end, you will learn that it is all those things people most love about you. 

You are going to make lots of friends growing up. Some will change your life, some are going to teach you life lessons and others will be true friends who stick with you through it all.  Whatever types of friends they are, you are going to have a great time with non stop laughing.

I want you to believe in yourself.  Never forget that you can do anything as long as you believe.  You will amaze yourself with the walk with God you have early in life, but your relationship with God will falter at times.  Never give up though, you know that he always has your side.  You will be scared at times, but you are not alone.  God is holding your hand along the way.  

Trust your instincts.  You have a strong intuition and you need to listen.  It will guide you down the right paths, but if you don’t listen.. It’s Okay.  You will learn from those mistakes and continue on.

Always have fun.  You will do some funny and crazy things, but know that as you get older you will only do more.  

There are going to be rough times in your life.  Times when things are not going as you planned or even hoped.  You are going to be betrayed by friends, and hurt by people you love.  I am not going to warn you about any of them because you get through them all.  You are stronger than you think and these events never take away your spark for life.  I promise you the good times will out weigh the bad.

More Importantly, I want to tell you that I love you.  I love you because you make me who I am as a woman today. I love you because there will be times when you don't love yourself and it will be okay, because you will get through that. Never stop being who you are.  Now I can only take this advice I would have given you and apply it to my life today, because I have a whole lot left of living to do.  I will love openly and wholeheartedly, but will be more careful, I will pay attention to the new things I am learning, I will make plans to travel to places I have never been, I will cherish my friends because they teach me lessons daily, and I will enjoy LIVING whole hearted.

These are things in your life that make you, YOU.  
So remain true to yourself, and don't apologize for being who you are.  

CHANGE: Why are we scared?

Change can be wonderful.  People often change their appearance, get a new jobs, get married, and welcome little ones into their families.  Those babies turn into sweet little toddlers and pretty soon they are learning to read and write, and then you are celebrating their Sweet Sixteens. Then you blink your eyes once more and they have moved off to college, gotten jobs, and started families.   

That's what change is for a lot of us.  These are things we pretend to embrace even as our heart sinks.  Fear of Change and Fear of Failure usually go hand in hand.  I often feel worried and anxious when I think of everything that lies ahead in the next few months because at times I doubt my abilities, my intelligence, and my capacity to overcome obstacles that may arise. The other thing about change is we want change as much as we are afraid of it, and we need it as much as we need food.  We may hate our job, but are afraid of something new.  

It doesn't matter whether we like CHANGE or not, whether we embrace it or run the other direction. Changes will be taking place all the time with or without our participation.  Even if we change nothing, ultimately things will change anyways.  CHANGE is inevitable kinda like snow is in the winter.  Some people put on their winter coats and make snowmen while others stay cozied up inside by the fire.  No matter what we try to do... The snow still falls.

Whether we are getting older, changing jobs, celebrating new life... It is beyond our control.  We can either be frightened of life or look for the new changes.  

The worst part about being afraid of change is we end up settling for whatever happens, happens.  This is something I have said often, and have lived by for quite some time.  I guess it seems less scary that way, but honestly it is a more frightening way to live.  It is more frightening because we are not in control of what might happen.  If we take action and face fear not only does this provide us with a sense of control, but it could ultimately provide us with a life full of purpose and joy.  Isn't that really what we're all trying to achieve? 

CHANGE can be wonderful.  CHANGE can be scary: But CHANGE is, more than anything, inevitable.

Love Happens

Rainy days are usually spent doing homework, but this Saturday was my last Saturday of "FREEDOM." I spent Saturday with my Mom and Ashlee getting pedicures, and watching movies.  We picked up 2 movies at red box; one being "Love Happens."  I expected this movie to be like every other love story, but it proved me wrong in many ways.  

"Love Happens" Synopsis

Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart star in the romantic drama Love Happens.  When self-help author Dr. Burke Ryan (Eckhart) arrives in Seattle to teach a sold-out seminar, he unexpectedly meets florist Eloise Chandler (Aniston), the one person who might be able to help him help himself.  But with two people who make have met the right person at exactly the wrong time be able to give love a chance? If they can, they'll find that sometimes when you least expect it... Love Happens.

These are some of the lessons I learned from the movie...

Lesson 1

via Bing Search

Sometimes despite your best efforts. Life will give you lemons.  

When that happens friend, you have 2 choices....

You can wear a sour face or make lemonade.

*This quote is so true.  We all choose and decide how we are going to feel.  When we are facing problems of troubles we can choose to either look at it negatively or positively.  I think we all struggle to find the positive in all situations, but God doesn't PUT us through something to not PULL us through.*

Lesson 2

Via Bing Search

Alcohol is no more a cure than a band aid is on a bullet wound.

*What a cute thought?! So True Though*

Lesson 3

Via Bing Search

Happiness is a state of mind, and like all things it takes practice.

Devote 5 minutes a day smiling, just smiling, and after awhile it will come natural.

*Never done this before, but I think it's worth trying.*

Lesson 4

via Bing Search

During your travels it is always important to keep one thing in mind..

When one thing ends..

Something else always begins.

*Always True! When one chapter is written in your life, then another one is always starting."

Lesson 5

via Bing Search

Fear is a state of mind.

*Exactly, what I needed.  Why do we fear?! I over analyze and sometimes "worry" too much. 

This worry turns into fear, and FEAR holds us back.*

Lesson 6

via Bing Search

You can't move forward when you have your eyes stuck on the rear view mirror. 

*Hmph.. Wow! I've experience this in my own life.  I get so stuck on the 'what ifs' and looking to the past, but once we stop looking in the rear view mirror.. our lives turn around and we move forward.*

Lesson 7

via Bing Search

Love Happens when you least expect it!

In 3 Words...

Quick Reminder: "Around Your Town Tuesday" is this Tuesday the 20th.  The topic this week is Parks.  The MckLinky will open up at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, and will be extended until Wednesday at midnight.  I hope you join us.  

Quote:

In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.  

- Robert Frost

Hope Is...

This is something that I wanted to share, because it inspired me, and made me want to strive for the right kind of hope, but also gave me encouragement.

There are 2 types of Hope

1.) Hope for Something

2.) Hope In Something 

The hope 'fors' will disappoint us.  We often hope in so many things.  We hope that we get all of the things done around our house, hope that we get all our work/school work done, and hope that we have a good day.  Often, we are disappointed if we have a bad day or don't get everything done that we need too.  Hope is just so much deeper than hoping for something, and I guess I didn't realize that.

What do you strive for? What do you long for?

If we really think about it, we all want hope.  If we don't have hope we are powerless.  

Luke 23: 44-55

Death makes life seem hopeless.  Often tragedy strikes, and we wonder if we will ever go on. We feel so hopeless that we just watch and are so overwhelmed.  It's like we are watching our life unravel at the seams.  

I mean I guess I'm so use to having everything mapped out in my life.  I'm the type of person that knows what I want out of life, and I have many big dreams.  Although when tragedy strikes or life doesn't go as I have planned, I feel hopeless and lost.  I think back to my life two years ago, and Boy was I happy.  I thought I was happy.  I was dating what I thought to be perhaps the person that I would settle down with forever.  I was so tired of crappy relationships, and thought I had found the one.  I was hoping that I wouldn't have to go through any more bad relationship situations, but God had a different plan for my life.  It was like what I hoped for and dreamed for was no longer a reality.  

I thought to myself, "Why God? Where are you? Do you see what I'm going through?" 

A year ago, I still wondered to some extent why things worked out that way they did, but I can tell you one thing... Two years later, I know why things didn't work out.  I sure I don't realize all of them still to this day, but a few reasons are good enough for me. It was like I was in a waiting period to figure out why everything happened the way it did... And what was going to happen next in my life.

Trust me I don't like to wait, and I want fast everything.  I want a fast car, fast driving, fast food, fast homework, and anything fast really.  I don't even like waiting on God, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.  The waiting part is something we don't talk much about.  We talk about what happened, and what the results are in the end, but we never talk about what happened in between.

In the Easter story, they waited for 3 unexplainable days, and the followers were left to wait on God.  Friday is known as Good Friday, and Sunday is Easter.

 But what about Saturday??? What happens on Saturday?

Saturday is the waiting day.  If I look back on my life, I'm living most of my life on Saturday, because I've done a lot of waiting.  Is it possible that God is doing his best work on Saturday? I have to think so.. I want to believe that God does his best work ever on Saturday.  It's like God does his best work in hopeless situations.

Luke Chapter 24

We have to have hope in the mist of it all.  Hope is based on a God that does the IMPOSSIBLE.  We can't manufacture hope.  It wasn't like I could pull myself out of my situation or I could fix it.  I don't possess the power to fix everything, and even if I did I'm sure I would make a mess of things.  But God has the power.  We try all kinds of things to find hope, power, and fulfillment, but it's in US.  God has the power, and he's in US!  He's there all the time, and he never leaves us nor forsakes us.

What is in your life that is dead or in the tomb?

I have Christ in my life, and I am devoted to Him fully, but sometimes we still are looking around, hunting for that hope, power, or fulfillment, but we must remember that we have always had it in us.  

Have a Wonderful Easter Weekend!

                                                              

6 months later..

When your name comes across my phone, I get sick to my stomach. It's been almost 6 months, and now you decide it is the right moment to pop back into my life. Time has gone on, and I've moved on. We haven't been together is 2 years. I had gotten to the point that I didn't think about you everyday,and I only sometimes though of the memories we made together.

I know we were friends before we even talked about dating. We were best friends and some would say inseparable. I understand that those memories started back in 10th grade, but sometimes I wish I didn't share them with you. The best friend I knew in 10th grade would never hurt me, and he always told me that I deserved the best. It's almost as if I see you as 2 different people... The one that was my best buddy, and the guy that broke my heart.

Why do you feel the need to be in my life after everything that has gone on? I know we promised to be friends if everything didn't' work out, but that's a promise I will never make again. It's just to hard to act like nothing ever happen. You ended things that wasn't my decision, but yours alone. That's a choice you made in which I had nothing to do with it. Why do you still need me in your life? You have someone else.. Why can't you just let things be?

Now that I think about things, she probably has no clue about me, however; you proceed to talk to me all day until you go home. I start to wonder why do I even allow that, but I feel guilty because of the promise I made.

You haven't contacted me in almost 6 months.. Why now? Can you just answer that one question?

Because I'm your best friend, and that you love me isn't a good enough reason anymore.

I guess these are something in life I will never understand, and sometime I wish things could be like the old days.... Getting out of school early to go eat at the local restaurants in town (Not that there were many) with all of our friends, running to the hardware store during school hours (without being checked-out) to get stuff for our school play set, and going to Senior Prom together. Those are the days I will never forget.

These random occurrences make me question God in a way that I really don't want too. I wonder at times why does God keep letting you come back into my life? I mean does God want me to stand up for what I deserve or what I feel I deserve? Will you only respect me if I respect myself? and if I choose you... Will it be all of you and NONE of me?

Just my thoughts.. I'm normally not this candid with what I'm thinking, but there it is. It's my feelings on a situation that has been going on for sometime now (meaning over 2 years). I just needed to get these feelings off my chest... Thanks, Jes!

What If?! Part 2

Many of you commented and it really started to make me think, so we have a continuation. If you missed the first part of the What If!?! post then it's HERE.

The strange thing is we are living in the NOW, which should make it ultimately the most important moment. Often we are so stuck in the What Ifs!?! that we don't live in the current place we are at. We tend to keep our focus either in the far future or the past. Why aren't we enjoying the HERE AND NOW. I know what your thinking or I do.. (Shouldn't we plan for the future?) Yes, you should. You should have goals, but you can't say that next year I'm gonna face my fears or when I'm more prepared I'll jump at that opportunity. If I always lived in the past, I wouldn't be the woman I am today. I mean if I answered those questions that I put in the original post this may be the outcome....

Q: What if I stayed home and went to college?

A: I would have went to community college with everyone else I graduated with. (Not that that's a bad thing, but I wanted more than that.)

Q: Would then I have been with that someone or would it have fallen apart?

A: Honestly, it would have fallen apart eventually, and it would have been harder than it was with me away. This is difficult for me to say, but when your in a situation you are blind to all that is going on around you, and you don't see past the problems that would have eventually been there.

Q: What if my family lived closer?

A: I would spend more quality time with them. When I did live at home, I didn't treasure the time I had with them. Now that I've been away for going on over 2 years, I appreciate my time with them.

Q: What if I wasn't graduating?

A: I guess I'd still be racking up MORE college loans (Thanks SCAD!)

Q:What if I can't find a job when I graduate?

A: I'll face that when it comes, but there are options out there. Life won't be over, but just beginning.

Those are things that could have happened or may happen, but why dwell. We get so caught up in this that we worry we have fallen off of the train that is headed in the right direction. If we did fall off, WE WILL FIND OUR WAY BACK. Would I be the person I am today if everything I ever dreamed happened the exact way I dreamed it? No, I wouldn't, and I'll be the first to tell you that. I wouldn't be that independent woman that can stand on her on two feet while I'm experiencing the most exciting time in my life. These are the exciting moments that I call MY LIFE.

Our blessings are right in front of us, everyday, but we are too busy looking forward or behind us. The little things that make us happy are those things that make life worthwhile. That's what makes living in the HERE AND NOW so AMAZING. It's easy to see the big blessings God has for us. The big things are the things that get our attention, but the sweet, simple, small events make us smile, for those we must be grateful. We must live in the NOW so we don't take those sweet, simple, small life altering events for granted.

Will YOU live in the now with me and stop looking back?

What If?!

Do you ever wonder "What If?" I mean I surely do, but do you ever think we are always thinking about the "what ifs" and forgetting to live in the present. Are we given opportunities, but then watch the opportunities pass us by, because we are too caught up in the things of the past?

What if I stayed home and went to college? Would then I been with that someone or would it have fallen apart like other relationships? What if my family lived closer? What if I wasn't graduating? What if I can't find a job when I graduate? What if today were my last day on earth? Would I be ready? Would I have regrets?

I mean there are all these "what ifs", but shouldn't we be living in the PRESENT... Everyone has those "What Ifs?"; however, I've come to realize its what you do with those "What Ifs" that really matters most. I'm choosing to put those "What If's" behind me.

The PRESENT is where I have the most wonderful family a girl could ask for. Don't get me wrong we all have flaws and we have our disagreements, but they are still my family. I have a great little puppy that lifts me up when I am down with all the puppy kisses and love. I also have great friends who are always there for me. I am experiencing this once in a lifetime opportunity to go to my dream college. Yes, I have worries, but I can't dwell on them. I'm trusting that God will see me through this, and that in HIS timing everything will work out.

Join me and take this time to

LIVE IN THE PRESENT!

Concerns

As you all know, I've been staying quite busy lately, and I'm enjoying studio to the best of my ability. This quarter has been quite different than others when a change of events occured with professors, and I got stuck with the one that there were terrible reports about. Well from my recollection, the terrible reports are true. As a class, we have been to the Chair of Interior Design, and then she sent us on the Dean of Building Arts. The Chair of our Department did as much as she could do for us while supporting us all along the way. The Dean.. well I'd rather not discuss my actual thoughts about him, because it's not very nice. Our meeting with him was a waste of time, and the rumors I heard about him were very factual themselves. So needless to say... It's been an eventful few weeks. Only to have 4 weeks remaining.

However, due to the events I MUST LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

On another note, I have a total of 24 weeks left of class. (Totaling to 4 weeks left in this quarter and 2 more quarters.) On one hand this is so exciting, but on the other hand I have mixed emotions. I'm sure some of you out there can relate, but I never dreamed that I would be finishing college in record time. (according to me) Graduating at 21... with a Bachelors.. a 4 yr degree in 3 years.. It's well deserved, but at the same time I have mix emotions.

HAPPY MAD SILLY SAD

Another concern that bothers me with this economy, is "Getting a Job." I've heard all the news reports that the economy is on it's way up, but I'm not yet convinced. All I can do is prepare my resume, and portfolio, and say a PRAYER. Praying is just what I'll do! Will you pray with me?

Dear God,

Dear God,

You have always told me you would never give me more than I could bare, but you never mentioned that you would push my buttons in the process. Amen.

That's how I feel lately, but the ones pushing my buttons happen to be my professors. (More on that Later.) Only 4 more days till the end of the quarter. Now I have the weekend to get everything in order. Hope every one is doing well, and having a great week!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Hey Everyone,

I know that it's been awhile, but I thought that I let everyone know that I will be back to blogging very shortly. I have about another 4 weeks of school, and this has been a very eventful past 6 weeks. That meaning that several changes have occurred in the last few weeks.

One major thing that has changed in my life is that I am now the only resident of Savannah, GA in my family now. As many of you know, my brother and sister-n-law and 2 nephews also lived here, but have recently moved due to my sister-n-laws job transfer. I've also had to make some major decisions about My immediate future.

- Decisions like whether or not to minor in Architecture

- Meeting Graduation Requirements

- Whether to go to Graduate School and if so where

- If I do go to Graduate School what to major in a MA or a MFA

- Or perhaps a Master of Arts in Teaching with a Art Concentration...

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS...

I'm still weighing out all of my options, and deciding what the best option is for me, so I haven't made a decision yet. However, I am going tomorrow to fill out Graduation papers. It seems like just yesterday I walked across the football field to get my high school diploma. Time Sure Flies... I'm learning to treasure it while you can. Hope you all are having a great week.

More Updates Coming Soon...

Blogging Balance

Hey Everyone!

Sorry, it's been awhile. My life has turned CRAZY, and I can't seem to find the balance between blogging and reality.

As many of you readers know, my Senior Year of College has ARRIVED, and I'm already on my 3rd week with only 7 more weeks to go. Usually ALL NIGHTERS don't happen in my life until after midterms or right before them, but this quarter has proved quite different than most. I happened to pull my first all nighter on the Sunday before my 2nd week of classes started. So let's just say it's been a ROUGH 2 weeks. Currently I'm working on many projects for classes, and I'm trying to stay above water. Also, my Mom is in town to help me out with laundry, food, ect., and to spend time with my brother and his family before they move. I appreciate her being able to take the time to come out and help me. Thanks Mom.

So Much To Do.. So Little Time...

Back to School...

Gosh it has come entirely too soon.. I've been on break for exactly 16 days and now it's time to start my Fall Quarter. Savannah College of Art and Design is quite different with their schedule than most colleges. We are on a quarter system which is 10 weeks of classes and 3 classes is full time. So I will start classes tomorrow and finish up on November 20th, but this is really nice to be off for the holidays. This quarter will determine a lot of things for me..

Like..

Will I decided to do the minor in Architecture?

Will I decided to do a Masters in Interior Design?

Will the job market be better by the time I graduate?

Will I get a internship and how will that work with no time off?

Ah.. That is just a few things that are going through my brain now..

On a happier note, I have exactly 40 weeks of classes left which will have me graduating the end of Summer 2010 with a Bachelors of Arts in Interior Design. This may alter if I do the minor but only by 10 weeks. This is great news for me, and I know there is an end in sight.

Hope Everyone has a Great Week!

Now off to get things ready for classes tomorrow...

Mailboxes...

This is somewhat of a rambling post.. So I will go ahead a apologize for the rambling.

I hate going to the mailbox, because if I have mail it usually is a BILL or JUNK MAIL. No one likes a BILL and I don't like JUNK MAIL.

However.. If I had this mailbox.. Maybe I wouldn't mind going to the mailbox anymore.

Isn't this just the cutest mailbox you've ever seen?!

Is the grass greener on the other side?

Before reading “Swapping Lives” by Jane Green, I pondered the question that was left in the summary on the back of the book. Is the grass greener on the other side?

Now I have you pondering…..

Jane Green is a amazing author and not until recently was I familiar with her books. Although the books do have some language in them, overall her books make me think about everyday life situations.

Summary

What if a successful, single Londoner and a comfortable, Connecticut mother were to walk in each other’s shoes for a month? Vicky Townsley is the director of Poise!magazine and lives a glamorous London life. She has everything she wants-except marriage, children, and a house in the country. Amber Winslow has a stone mansion in Connecticut, two kids, and a nanny, but she hasnt found the fulfillment she had expected from being a wife and a mother. When she spots an intriguing contest inPoise!, Amber never expects to be chosen.

A must read for every modern woman who’s ever considered the road not taken,Swapping Lives is a warn and a realistic chronicle of two women who do more than wonder if the grass is greener on the other side of the Atlantic.

This book truly made me thing about my own life. A quote that I say often is “Everything Happens for a Reason” ,and in this book it was repeated often. Through the characters you see that everything in their life had a reasoning for happening. After realizing this, I relayed the quote "Everything Happens for a Reason" to my own life, and realized that even though I have said it before didn’t necessarily mean that I lived by the quote. I thought to myself that this was something about my life that I would change, because I know that God is in control of my life. He puts us through trials to make us better people; This made me want to learn from the trials that I faced or will face in the future.

Something else I thought about after reading this book was that in life we always ponder what if I was in this situation or I had this or that, or whatever it may be that you are after in life. That even though the grass may look a little bit greener doesn’t necessarily mean that it is, and although I don’t have the yard I dream of, and the flowers aren’t fully blossomed, my grass isn’t so bad. In the end, who knows my grass might not turn out so bad after all, and that I should be grateful for the here and now. I need to appreciate my life, my family, my dog, my apartment, my relationships with friends, and perhaps appreciate exactly where I am RIGHT NOW!

Reflection....

What do you see in the mirror or reflective surfaces?

Well, my dog sees himself... It has never bothered him before until recently.

He found his reflection in my magazine racks.. Who would have even thought about that? I definitely didn't have a clue.

Here are a few pictures of him going crazy and trying to figure out where the other puppy is?!

He sat there for quite awhile trying to figure this one out?!
Then he decided to paw at them to see what happened?!

Nothing of Course!

Finally he found it quite odd that the dog looked just like him and had a hamburger toy too!

I've gotten many laughs at him doing his, because it has been so out of the blue. He will bark and whine at his reflection, which makes it even funnier. Currently, I've turned all the magazine racks around that have reflective surfacing on them, because he ends up discovering this in the middle of me attempting to do school work.