Fantasy vs Reality

photo by AdrienneMorrisa

Reality always wins, but fantasy never gives up!

Off to Outdoor School!

Fear

Today's challenge: Grab the nearest book (randomly picked this book from the shelf in my living room) "The Purpose Driven Life" and flip to page 29. Write about the first word.

FEAR  

I actually had a post in my drafts folder that I started sometime ago.  Ramblings that coincides with this word - WORRY. 

Being a worry wort isn't just a burden, however it would be nice to be able to just turn off one's brain.

 "Ignorance is bliss."

But having a mind that is constantly wanting to figure out future events, shows the ability to examine things from many angles, and look at the big picture. These worry wort's are the people that change the world. We are not idle thinkers, whether we want to or not, our brains are constantly exercising. 

The Suicide’s Soliloquy is an unsigned poem, thought to be written by Abraham Lincoln, first published on August 25, 1838

This stanza paints the picture of the burden, but also shows the artistic ability an overactive mind can have.

To ease me of this power to think,

      That through my bosom raves,

I'll headlong leap from hell's high brink

      And wallow in its waves.

The problem I have that I share with many other worriers, is when I get lost in the cycle of worry it can turn into fear. Fear puts a kink in your thinking shutting down the analytic and rational left brain. 

Although FDR is most famous for this quote, the bible states many times how fear can overtake one's life. I pray for peace from worrying and fear life throws us. I don't have the personality to live my life blind-fully bliss, my scatterbrain searches out the many "why's" encountered, not only in my crazy life, but the the world as a whole. But by putting my trust in God, knowing his plan has our souls best interest at heart, eases my fears and worries. God gave me this mind, let me put it to good use. To stop my own cycle of worry, and shine a light in fearful hearts.

Too many thoughts

Refrigerator Art by Sam

Jr. High - Brought to you by Mean Girls

This week my kids in health class are learning about sex and puberty, can you say "AWKWARD!"

Yes girls are obsessed at this age about their weight :( 

I'm happy to report that more kids are finding their own style! 

The cool words we had at that age, are null and void. "Whatever!"

"Awkward" is my daughters favorite word, and it's rubbing off on me

But at least it's better than some of the other colorful words kids use

Luckily there are more good little tweens/teens than bad

This lesson starts in Jr. High

It takes a special person to have the patience and humor to teach middle school!!! 

To my daughter who hates going to school everyday,

I did my time, taught me a lot. I can save you a lot of heartache and headache if you listen to my insight. Some things may have change, but human nature tends to not. Too bad schools are cutting history out of the curriculum. History always repeats! 

Fifty Shades of Gray... OH MY!

Loved
Hated
Protested
Secretly watched

Fact of the matter is people will read and watch movies, and always come away with their own opinions based on their own reality.

Some find it offensive to women based on their values.
Some loved the love story of a broken man, and a women who wants love not just a lifestyle.
Some book and or film connoisseurs (snobs) want to show how horrible they find the film / writing product.
Some BDSM lovers wish to set the record straight this is not what their lifestyle entails.
Some horny women who are sick of their stale vanilla sex life want to fantasize about a dominate billionaire who will take them over their knee.

But I think most just wanted to see what they hype and protest was all about. Curiosity killed the cat? Guess we'll have to wait to see what future events will be blamed on this movie.

My take on all this is that if you want to change the world, save souls, or are one of the many sick of people trying to force it down your throat. Try perceiving the world through the lens that colors their world first.

"Delicious," He murmurs, licking his lips. "Amazing how good plain old vanilla can taste."

Oh the irony of it all!  :) (Inside joke)

Happy 14th Birthday Christian!

Under the Bridge

A place belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest, remembers it most obsessively, wrenches it from itself, shapes it, renders it, loves it so radically that he remakes it in his own image.

– Joan Didion

I cannot visualize my memories very well, but I do remember the feelings they invoked. The solitude and peace I felt under that bridge. The reprieve from my exhausting efforts to fit in. A place I shared only with true friends.

As a kid there aren't many places you can go to just be. However each time my life was turned upside down by a move, the first thing I'd do was find a place to call my own. Atop of a cinder block wall, an abandoned fort, atop of a parking garage, but my absolute favorite was under a bridge.

Retreating everyday to my spot, I'd climb the hill up to the top where there was just enough room for a small person like me to stand. I loved when there was a lull of cars atop, then suddenly you could hear and feel the thunder above. I used to think if there was an earthquake I'd be the first to go, but at that time I didn't care. I'd sit and wait for my friend to arrive, she knew where I'd be. It was cold and dim, a prefect place to sit and sulk a while. My mind free to wander and ponder life's deep meaning. Throwing a rock watching it tumble down the hill, I'd think of my space and time. Why I was there in that moment, what impact my self had on the world. Wakened from my somber solitude, I'd hear her bubbly presence, laughing as she'd run up the hill with confidence and style. We'd spend hours complaining and laughing about our day at different schools. More teens would sometimes show up to find out what mischief was in store. We were misfit toys, the after school breakfast club, there to add colorful injustice quotes marking the cement walls. We knew our place in the world, it was there under that bridge.




Carl von Clausewitz

You see mother, I make all things new

This by far is the hardest scene for me to watch. Yes, the many trials and tortures Jesus endured was horrific! Yet, I often think of how Mary felt. Jesus knew his fate and accepted his role to save our souls, for this I am grateful. But those faithful stood by and watch fate unfold! I can't help but feel the pain they must have felt, the injustice their brains scattered as a murderer was set free. When lashes sliced his flesh the sound and sights that they could not free themselves of. The helpless, heavy feeling in their arms as he fell to the ground, yet could not lift him up. As a believer, I know his pain and suffering had a purpose, and I am humbled to be his child. He was more than just a man, however, his mother WAS just mom. She cared for him and watched his growth (astonished I'm sure to witness his glory). Forced to stand by as the history of humanity unfolded around her son. It is hard for any mom to stand by when their child endures something difficult. Even when your intuition tells you it will be ok, your senses still battle with your will to hold back. Every bone in your body is programmed to protect from the harm of the here and now, it takes great faith to just breathe and be still knowing everything will be just as it should.