I Failed the Photo Challenge.....

.....or did I? 

The goal wasn't necessarily to finish, but just to start blogging more, which I did, so while I failed at the specific challenge, I achieved my over all goal....at least that's what I'm telling myself, so I don't feel so bad about completely dropping the ball! =)

~Random Updates~

~Staff meetings are as fun as I always thought they'd be.....at least I got paid for the extra time!

~In spite of the staff meetings, (along with a few other annoyances.....) I really am enjoying my job!

~Clark (my car, in case you didn't know) scared me by attempting to die, but thanks to the mechanics and my amazing dad carpooling with me and my crazy ever changing work schedule, my the car is fixed and I always got to work! 

~The fall bug has bit me hard, I've been doing back to school at work for 3 weeks now and I'm drinking pumpkin and caramel apple themed drinks from Buckhead. So I wish the temp would stop reaching into the 90's, accompanied by "air you can wear" as one weather man referred to the humidity!

~I'm thinking of doing this to my hair again.....

.....as I have to wear it up all the time, it just gets in the way when I work and I get headaches when I wear my hair up everyday.....any thoughts?

Life Lately and a Photo Challange

As you may have noticed my posting has been a bit hit and miss lately! Life has been crazy between moving , finding a job, getting new bills to support said job, loosing job, finding another job and now adjusting to having a job that has me out of the house for a total of 10-11 hours a day, there is almost 2 hours of drive time in there, so you could say I've been  a wee bit preoccupied and to top it all off I get to wear something akin to this 5 days a week.....

.....except my shirt is about 2 sizes to big, and covers my butt while reaching my elbows.....and apparently if I post pictures of myself wearing said uniform on the internet there will be pain and banishment involved.....though why they would think anyone would want to post pictures of themselves in this particular get up I'm not sure.....

Ahem, anyhoodle, enough complaining, I really am getting used to it and it's almost nice not to have to think about what to wear in the morning!

Hey, I just realized, I never told you guys, I got a job in a preschool!! I'm a floater for now, someone who covers breaks and basically just steps in wherever they are needed, but there are lots of assistant teacher positions opening up, so fingers crossed! I really enjoyed my first two weeks and while last week was all you can imagine a week with 20+ 3 years olds in a room meant for 14 could be, this week the class sizes should be normal again!

Saw this on Pinterest, to be honest it was the cherries that caught my eye, and decided to give it a go!  Hopefully it will inspire me to get back on a regular blogging schedule!

See you tomorrow with a photo of my breathtakingly beautiful handwriting! ;-)

Let me know if you decide to join in on the fun!

A B C,easy as 1 2 3.....

I have seen this on a few blogs and finally decided to steal the idea for myself!

 Feel free to take this list and use it write your own ABC's, if you do leave me a comment with a link, I'd love to read yours!

Ambition: To do all for the glory of God!

Bad Habit: I am one of those people who choose the squeeze the toothpaste tube from the middle or *gasp* even the bottom instead of the top!

Celebrity Crush: I would have to pick this guy!

           .....He's hilarious and I've loved everything I've seen him in, plus he fangirls with the best of us about shows like Doctor Who!

Drink: Icy cold Dr. pepper. Though I have recently discovered Sonic (How did I not know about this place, they have cheese sticks, can you say heaven in a drive though?) and the vast array of flavors you can add to your beverage. I can say with perfect authority that the blue coconut and Dr. Pepper go splendidly together!

Education: Public schooled through 6th grade then home schooled through the rest of middle and high school and that's all!

Food: I happen to share Sam Gamgees affinity for potatoes, boil em, mash em, put em' in a stew....though I would add bake and fry to that illustrious list! =)

Guilty Pleasure: Rice Krispie Treats Cereal, a childhood favorite recently rediscovered at Wal-Mart!

Hometown: San Louis Opisbo California

Ice Cream:  Ben and Jerrys Cinnamon Bun Swirl, though I discovered a recipe for toasted marshmallow ice cream on Pinterest last year and that definitely gives the Ben and Jerry's a run for it's money....and then there is this salted caramel truffle at Krogers that I have been known to throw a little fit over when it's gone.....maybe it would be easier to just say, ice cream goooooooood!

Jonesing For: Some friends! It's been a little lonely down here in good ol' TN! My church seems to be in short supply of people my age who are single and my current profession of nanny doesn't exactly give me much a chance for friend making either, so I'm a little at at a loss here!

Kryptonite: Cheesy romantic comedies or books, add a quirky best friend with zany wardrobe and I am so going to watch it! You want to know who watches all of the made for TV badly acted and or filmed Hallmark movies? That's right, this girl does and is not ashamed to say it!!!

Look-a-like: *grumble*grumble* The few people I've been compared to have been Rosie O'Donnel and oh, you look just the fat girl from that show, you know the one..... =P

Movie: Penelope, Bride and Prejudice, Beauty and the Beast, The Anne of Green Gables movies, Lost in Austen, Labyrinth, just to name a few!

Nickname: KatySue or TayTay

Obsessions:  Different versions of Beauty and the Beast and accents of all kinds!

Perfume: Vanille by Molinard, it smells like creme brulee and I LOVE it!

Quirk: I rarely ever wears shoes, and if I talk to you for any length of time I will be cataloging your smell and quirks so I can remember you later, most likely with a nickname, rather then your real name!

Regret: Not appreciating the carefree-ness of my childhood more and I really should have applied myself better at school.....sorry Mom.....

Starbucks: Iced Grande Caramel Macciato

The Last Book You Read: The second book the the Beyonders series, Seeds of Rebellion. It's a good series, but you shouldn't become attached to any of the characters  I hear from my siblings that not many of them survive the third book.....

Unique Feature: Normal length torso, itty bitty hobbit legs! I appear of an average height when sitting down but when we stand up my 24" inseam catches up with me and I am now shorter then most everyone in the room! And my big hair, it's a bit of a love hate relationship, but I figure I'm not in bad company in the big hair arena!

 Vacation: Would love to go on them, but never had had the budget to travel much!

Wine: Ice, ice baby. Ice wine is my very favorite! They wait to harvest the grapes until after the first frost, then have to pick the grapes and press them before they thaw, something about the freezing develops the sugars in the grapes and turns the wine into the sweet nectar of the Gods! ;-)

X:-actly what am I supposed to write here? ;-)

Years: Just like the lovely gal I stole the idea for this post from, (thanks Kellie!) I have taken twenty six turns around the sun on this third rock from the sun!

Zen: A good book, sweet tea or coffee and a cool breeze!

Just a Little Bit of Life.....

I KatySue Pillsbury do raise the right hand of wrongess and admit the brussel sprouts (when properly prepared) or fantastically wonderful!

Mmm, brussel sprouts lightly sauteed with olive, salt pepper and craisins! 

New jewelry organizer that I've been crushing on for months. It's just as awesome as I thought it would be! =) Look now I have even more room for jewelry!

Have all y'all been to Hobby Lobby? It's a craft/home decor/magical store of wonders! I love it! I got the lamp that is in the picture with my jewelry organizer there. If you have one in your town I would suggest not taking your purse or you will have no money left!

Now that my jewelry is no longer a solid metal lump on top of my dresser (see above picture) it needed something to make it purtyful. Enter the vase in the middle which will change with the season. Hobby Lobby was having a sale on these fantastic plastic beaded flower stems and I might have gone a little crazy.....

My view leaving work at 6am every morning! I'm still in awe of the way the fog gathers in the low spots, it makes my smile every time I see it!

Does anyone else remember The Little Bits? Is was a show on Nickelodeon a looooong time ago. It was the adventures of David the Gnome and I loved it!!

Blog Party!

Today was my day in a budding author blog party, go and check it out over at  Miss Jack Lewis Baillot's blog, However Improbable.

Here are links to other posts I've done on my various writing projects. So grab a cup of tea, or your other warm comforting beverage of choice, and hang around for awhile, don't forget to let me know what you think! =)

Into the Woods

NaNoWriMo

Poetry

Writings

Words

Osage Oranges

When we first got here we found one of these in our gutter. We discussed at length as to what this strange wrinkly, incredibly hard (I stomped on one and it didn't break!) thing could be. We then saw more at a local park we were exploring,  but couldn't figure out if they came from a tree or bush. We did decide if it was a tree, we did not want to be walking underneath said tree when these suckers are falling off!

We did find one some very determined person manged to smash open and it looks like this.....

and smells like watermelon and cucumbers.

Then on one of the blogs I follow I noticed she had a bowl of them on her coffee table and had what they were written underneath the picture. Some internet searching later, I discovered that placed under your bed they supposedly kept spiders and other bugs at bay! The wood is also good for masts and fence posts as it is almost impervious to rot.

We went back to the park and went on an Osage Orange hunt!

After searching for a few minutes and only finding a few rotten looking ones, we were about to give up when we came upon the mother load!

The plants are also used for natural barbed wire as the smaller branches have rather long sharp thorns!

I can't wait to see this place in the summer, it's so pretty now, I can only imagine what it will all look like in the summer!

A bright green bug with a smiley face on it's back!

A pond with a cool looking water feature.

 The happy hunters!

Here's a link to a Wikipedia page on this strange plant!

Osage Orange

Dear Bend,

     I was a wee lass of 9 and you had only three stop lights when we first met!

My family was living in Big Bear California (Yes, people do live there, they just don't go there to ski!). We sold our car to someone who happened to give us a Bend paper from the ONE DAY a local company ran an add looking for computer programmers. Next thing you know, here we are!

I went from being 9 year old, scabby kneed, public schooled, Catholic tomboy, to being a 26 year old, still accident prone (though not as scabby), home schooled, doesn't care what denomination as long as they have the right core beliefs, sparkle loving young woman!

You went from being a mill town, in the weird hippy northwest, to being a must see, nationally known vacation spot, still with the hippy northwest vibe, only it's cool now! ;-)

I've had some unforgettable moments, both good and bad! From paper routes, first jobs, driving tests, broken hearts, friendships made and broken, amazing scenery, huckleberries, three more fantastic siblings and the dreaded teenage years, you've been with me through it all!

We grew up together you and I, and there is no way I could repay you for the woman you've helped me to become.

Thank you and fare thee well,
KatySue Pillsbury

In Defense of Darcy

Ahh, Fitzwilliam Darcy, how many girls have idolized him over the years, holding him up to be the perfect man, and while I can't agree with that, I ALSO don't agree with the Darcy bashing that has been going around the blog world lately!

Yes, he's prideful, vain, unfriendly, judgmental, holds grudges and an often over looked fault, he is extremely shy and socially awkward. A "fault" I can definitely identify with!! 

But, he is also a faithful friend, is wiling to change his mind when he is wrong, kind to those beneath him, takes care of those he loves and upon further acquaintance becomes much more personable! If he was truly  a bad person, Bingley, Georgina and his household staff wouldn't like/love him the way they do!

So, while  he is a flawed man, he is also a good one, so while he may not be your cup of tea, I don't think he deserves the scorn and put downs I've seen about him lately!

*she now steps down off her soap box and shoves it behind her grinning sheepishly*

Now, on to the fun portion of this post!

I've seen three versions and while I have liked them all, I definitely have rated them in my mind!

~Third~

 I liked this version well enough, but they cut a lot and while I know this was necessary to make a 2 hour movie, it annoys this bibliophile non the less! And Darcys hair kind of bugs me, it's a little Beiber-esque for me!

~Second~

This version stays closest to the book, and was my favorite until I saw Lost in Austen.....but more on that in a moment. Colin Firth did an excellent job of capturing the pride and the social awkwardness that is Darcy, and I LOVE Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth! I am tickled pink that I test out as her on, Which Austen Heroine are You, personality quizzes!

~First~

A note of caution about this one, it is modern and British, so is a little off color at points, but I have to admit, that's one of the charms about it, the modern clashing with the old fashioned! You get to see another side of Wickam, which is nice and it totally fulfills my fangirl dreams of escaping into my favorite stories!

This is one of my favorite parts and illustrates the clashing of worlds I was talking about perfectly!

Candy Smuggling.... Sin or Justified Rule Brekaing?

A friend of mine posted a link to THIS ARTICLE on my FB page. He is an unashamed smuggler and I am a horrified rule keeper. We've "discussed" this topic before, he laughs at my horrified face and I get emotional and annoyed and both of us end the conversation with unchanged minds!

It seems like most of the commenters agree that it's fine to smuggle candy, drinks and even whole meals into the movie theaters, but do you know that the theater makes no money from ticket sales the first two weeks of a movie and the only money they make is from the concession sales? So, if the movie doesn't last more then two weeks.....

I know the movie snacks are super expensive, but so are the tickets to get in. Why not just have one person buy a ticket and then let the rest of the group in through the exit door?

You know what else is expensive? Cd's and DVD's, so illegal downloading off of the internet must be okay too! Yippie, no more Netflix or Hulu subscriptions for me, I'll just download everything or free!

And I really like those boots at Target that I just don't have the money for right now.....there is no sign specifically telling me NOT to steal them, so I can just tuck the boots in my purse, right?

See where I'm going with this?

How does it look to kids who see us only keeping the rules we like or think aren't stupid? What if they don't like the rules you set and think bed times and vegetables are stupid? How can you explain that sneaking candy into to movies is okay, but they have to obey your rules, what's the difference?

How does it look to nonbelievers that we can't keep a simple rule like not sneaking candy into the movies? We read and watch all the same things, sneak candy, sleep around, pirate things off of the internet and from our friends, the divorce rate is almost identical in the church as out, is it really any wonder they view Christians as hypocrites?

WHEW! That went deeper then I thought it would.....fire away with your thoughts and objections!

Ps. If you don't like the prices, YOU DON"T HAVE TO GO TO THE MOVIES! They're not forcing you to sneak (the very use of words like smuggling, sneaking, hiding ect ect ect, kind of denotes guilt or wrong doing, don't you think?) the contraband food in! And using Dave Ramsey as a scap goat is just sad.....but officer I HAD to steal the car, I would have to dip into my 6-9 month emergency fund to buy it otherwise and I need it! =P

Pss. My family used to be candy smugglers, but my parents consciences were pricked after going through Growing Kids Gods Way and stopped!

Fiendish Squirrel

Picture this.....a nice friendly squirrel that lets me pet him (he was sooo soft!)..... 

 .....turns into a Mom chasing, screen door climbing/shaking, house infiltrating, cat scaring fiend by the afternoon. My Mom calls animal control.....wait we don't have animal control in Bend.....the cops tell us to trap it, but not hurt it. 

Then a man from our church comes and tries to shoot it with a pellet gun, no luck there either! I came home from work and the squirrel is up in a tree and then vanishes.

After dinner the fiendish squirrel is back, chasing Mom and little bro inside the house, I throw on my shoes (of course I'm in my PJ's at this point, not exactly evil squirrel chasing clothes I know, but whatever.....) and am stalking the little guy around the front yard with a five gallon bucket.....

.....Wait, now what do I do with it? 

......squirrels fate is pending at the moment.....check back later for full status report!

Spring/Summer Bucket List

Saw this on Marie's Blog, thought I would steal her idea! These are things I know I can do before fall hits! At least they are things I can theoretically get done and back on track before fall hits....as to the actual completion and or doing of them might be another story entirely! ;-)

~The big and kind of all consuming one is moving 2,000 miles to Tennessee! 

~Run for 30 minutes without dying (I will do it, I will!)

~Host a blog giveaway/event

~Actually wear some the beautiful scarves I've collected (I always tank in the summer with them!)

~Start journaling the old fashioned way more. I used to be pretty faithful, but this darn digital age has made me become lazy and lax in the pen to paper journaling department!

~Read War and Peace.....(Yeah, sure.....maybe the third times the charm!)

~Get back on track with my quiet time with God (sadly, it's been a bit hit and miss lately!)

~Organize the complete and utter mess that my recipe self has become!

~Finish a cross stitch project I've been working in for about 8 years now *shame* Not constantly for 8 years mind you, it's just one of those things I'll pick up and work on feverishly for a few weeks then lose steam and tuck away for another year.....I only have some outlining and embellishing left, so it shouldn't take more then a few weeks.....

In other news.....

.....cookies goooooood.....

...Grimm, also good.....

.....Monroe, VERY good..... ;-)

.....The Lizzie Bennett Diaries, amazingly funny! Posted the first one HERE!

Surprise.....

Remember the hint that there might be a trip in my future? Well, guess what? It's going to happen!

...and not only am I taking the trip, the rest of the family is too, along with all of our stuff!  

Yep, you guessed it, the Pillsbury clan is moving to Tennessee! (With a stop along the way to visit big sis and my adorable little niece of course! Though early next year they will be moving to DC which is only 10 hours away from where we are moving, is that serendipitous or what?)

Dad got offered a permanent place with the company he's contracting for and he said yes! There are some i's to be dotted and t's to be crossed, but for all concerned it's a done deal and hearts are all a-flutter with the prospect of moving 2,00 miles!

I am filled with excitement, it's always been a dream of mine to live in the South.....and to acquire an accent!.....

Yes, one of the first things I did was check to see of there was a Chili's (My very favorite restaurant) close by, try more then 5!

....but I'm sad and nervous too! I'll desperately miss my tea girls!

 .....and church family we've found here. I've lived in Bend for the last 16 years, and our current house for 15 by far the longest I've lived anywhere! When we moved up form California I was 9 and there were only 5 of us. But, God has a plan and I am looking forward to see what he has in store for us in the coming months!

Source: flickr.com via Traci on Pinterest

Blog Party!

~ The Questions ~ 

I'm supposed to introduce myself, so here I go! My name is KatySue Pillsbury, I'm 25 and love reading, writing, sewing, jewelry making and all things food related! =) 

Hmm, something random about me.....one of the items on my bucket list is to slap someone across the face, but only if they really deserve it, you know? So don't make me mad or you might be the person that helps check that particular item off of my bucket list! ;-) 

What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? 

A heroine to me is someone who will stand firm on what she believes in, but can also see the necessity of change! Can roll with the punches keeping her wits about her, and someone who is hopelessly flawed, I like to relate to my heroines! 

Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. 

Jo from Little Women, it's eerie how much I can understand what she's feeling (I can hardly read the chapter where Amy burns her book, I get so mad and yell at the book, Amy so didn't get in enough trouble for what she did!) and she also has my dream life at Plumfield! 

Anne of Green Gables, her dreaminess and knack to get into trouble. I've been compared to Anne on more then one occasion! 

Anne Elliot from Jane Austens Persuasion, every time I read this book I'm stunned at how much I feel like her, feeling like she been left behind and the everlasting waiting for something. But, she doesn't let it get her down, don't get me wrong she has her moments of internal struggle but she doesn't let it show. She she is a helpful, happy and has a genteelness of spirit I strive to have myself! 

Five of your favorite historical novels? 

Gone With the Wind 

Eight Cousins (Louisa May Alcott) 

Persuasion 

What Katy Did 

The Bronze Bow 

Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why? 

Melanie form Gone with the Wind, she is just so good and kind. She has a peace about her that she spreads to those around her, even in the midst of a war! She has always been my favorite character ion the book! 

Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why? 

Cousin Mac from Eight Cousins, he's an adorable bookish fellow who is slightly absentminded and isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in! (Though I think you see more of that in the second book, Rose in Bloom!) 

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? 

Ireland!!!!!!! 

As for what I'm going to do there? Wander and soak up the green magic that makes Ireland so irresistible to me! Oh, and listen to the lovely accents all around me with a big stupid smile on my face! 

What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? 

Ireland.....anytime! But seriously, I love Irish history and haven't read a book about a time period there that I haven't liked. My Mom tries to get me to turn the focus to another country, but so far it hasn't worked! 

You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? 

Comedy! Because the outcome of any of the above would cause raucous laughter, so why not call it what it is from the start! ;-) 

If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? 

Jo form little Woman, like I said before, I connect with her on an almost eerie level! Besides, I already have a civil war costume! 

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? 

YUM!! 

Favorite author(s)? 

Louisa May Alcot 

Jane Austen 

Ryhs Bowen 

Robin McKinley 

Tamera Pierce 

Dan Brown (Don't judge!) 

Clive Cussler (Again, no judging!) 

L.M Montgomery 

Douglas Adams 

Rick Riordan 

Georgette Heyer 

Christopher Paolini 

etc etc etc!!! 

Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land? 

Camera, journal, a few favorite books! Never having traveled I can't come with anything else! 

In which century were most of the books you read written? 

21st...I think! 

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… 

Gosh, I don't know.....It would have to be a tie between Gilbert Blythe and Sherlock Holmes! 

Describe your ideal dwelling place. 

CLICK HERE to read the rather long answer to this question! 

Sum up your fashion style in five words. 

Vintage, bohemian, romantic, prairie chic! 

Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? 

A characters? No. Mine? Yes! Candy with a K was the longest lasting one..... =P 

In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... 

Doubt!! Nothing can throw our hero/heroine for a loop like doubt! 

Three favorite Non-fiction books? 

The Hiding Place 

All Creatures Great and Small (I'm pretty sure those are non-fiction!) 

How the Irish Saved Civilization 

Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? 

It would totally depend on how I was feeling that day, but if I could really pick anything, roaming about some pretty pocket of wilderness, with a few good friends, a picnic, books, cameras and all dressed in wellies and skirts of course! =) 

Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. 

A simple straw boater with a bright ribbon band ribbon band and a feather/flower tucked in the ribbon! Simple and old fashioned with a touch of whimsy! 

Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. 

The fact that I'm going to be an Aunt soon is the biggest news this year! 

Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently. 

Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. 

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 

(I think the Lord is telling me I need to be happy and content!)  =) 

Someday My Prince Will Come....Wait, or is He Already Here?

Happy Valentines Day!

Now, I know what your thinking, here comes yet another single girls valentines blog post insisting she's perfectly fine about being single and that God is her prince charming and if He happens to bless her with a husband then that will be fine too!

This is NOT on of those posts! 

(Well it kind of is.....but you'll see why I say this in a moment!)

I have always felt a little ooked out at being told by married, single, older then me, younger then me and pretty much every single article, book, blog post etc etc etc I've read on being content while single that God should fill the space in my heart that I have been selfishly holding back for my earthly prince.

I know that I should put God first in my life, I mean that's kind of a given. I know should strive to be content and spend time with Him everyday. I know that I should view Him as my all in all and my ultimate comforter and friend. I really do try to do that, but I still have an ache in my heart some days, a discontentment that won't quite go away!  I have felt called to be a wife and mother someday and I still believe God will bring a man into my life one day! (hopefully soon! *fingers crossed*)

Now, If I follow the advice I've read I need to put God in that spot and view God as my prince until my earthly one comes along...

Erm, am I the only one who doesn't feel quite comfortable viewing God as a husband replacement? I don't want to feel the same way about God as I do about my husband.....just sayin'! 

Seems to me if I truly used God as kind of a husband replacement until the real deal came along I would be forming unrealistic expectations of how my husband should love me, because being a human man he will disappoint me and not love me like God does! My relationships with God and my husband will two very different things. Yes, they will most definitely overlap, but I don't believe one will ever replace the other!

So, being told that I shouldn't be discontent because I already have my prince charming always annoyed rather then encouraged. I despaired of ever finding someone else who felt like I did. But, today I finally ran across an article that I LOVE and fully agree with. She echos my thoughts and feelings exactly!

CLICK HERE to read it for yourself!

Why I am NOT Going to See Courageous

Okay, let me just say before you start throwing rocks, I'm pretty sure I agree with the message of the movie and what it is encouraging men to do and or become, at least from what I can tell, not actually having seen the movie! But, for reasons that will soon be explained, I am not going to watch this movie.....

I've actually seen Fire Proof and while it was a bit tough for me to take Kirk Cameron seriously, my only previous exposure to him being on Growing Pains (if you've ever seen the show, you'll know what I mean!) I heartily agree with the message of the movie and am glad that it gained so much popularity and rejoice for any marriages it helped through hard times! But, it needled me just the same!

Now, on to the reasons behind this rather against the flow opinion I have!

Sermons (especially fathers day ones), the two above movies, how popular culture and yes, even the church, treats this topic, has become a pet peeve of mine in recent years.....what on earth could I be talking about?

It's what I like to call, the Man Up and take back your God given (or if your not in the church, just where ever you get the ideas of gender roles from) responsibilities. I can't count how many sermons I've heard on this subject, the men getting lectured from the pulpit about how they need to become better husbands and fathers. But, I can't think of ONE sermon or movie that tells us women how bad of a job WE are doing!

Yes, you read that right, I WANT to hear a sermon about submiting to the men in our lives, I WANT to see my nagging, belittling, prideful, selfish faults 20 feet high on a movie screen and then go and by the companion book, then hear about it in the sermon for the next few months!

I used to be quite the little feminist (in a very loose sense of the word mind you!) and sit there, a small smile on my face thinking.....yeah guys step up and do your job! Preach it Pastor, let em' have it! Take charge and raise your children, be the head of the household! 

But, a few years ago, I noticed that while the Mothers day sermon was all glowing praise of how great mothers are (or if not the subject of the sermon, they are at least asked to stand and clapped for!), the Fathers day sermon was yet another step up you lazy men, type of sermon. Hmmmm, something was not right here and so I started paying more attention and noticed that this wasn't just a one time thing, it was a disturbingly lasting trend!

The men are told through movies and from the pulpit to be "courageous" and us women go and watch these movies and listen to these sermons and leave feeling like we need to "fix" the men in our lives, if only they could step up and be like the men in the movie.

I have not seen one woman come away with the thought that maybe if SHE tried to change and fulfil her God given roles maybe that wold encourage her husband to do the same. But no, we just judge and shake our heads at the men in our lives. I have only heard 2 guys say how much they liked the movie Courageous, just 2! But, I have lost count of how many sighing I wish my husband was more like that comments I've heard from the fairer sex!

I'm not saying that the men don't need to be reminded that they need to step up and become Godly sons, husbands and fathers, but I would like to see some pulpit banging and convicting movies for us women to do the same!

So, girls I am asking you to stop focusing on how the men in your lives could be better, we need to focus on fulfilling our rolls as Godly daughters, wives and mothers. That in my opinion is the best thing we could do to encourage and support our men. We have to first submit, put down and step away from the men's repsonibilites so they can pick them up and become the men we want them to be!

So, to wrap up this alarmingly long post, why am I not seeing the movie Courageous? First off, the message is not directed at me, I don't need to know how to be a better husband and father! Secondly, in my own small way, I'm protesting what I consider to be an unfair bias towards men, and will be focusing on fixing my MANY faults and problems and then after I'm perfect, we'll see about watching the movie! ;-)

Date a Girl Who Reads

Found this on a  friends blog, and it rang so true it made me tear up! Read it, it's amazing! 

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“Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag.She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.”

- Rosemary Urquico

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Ps. I added the pictures, all of them or sourced from Pinterest! =)