Up To The Surface

I won't sugar-coat it. If every new year was actually a baby like that antiquated metaphor about father time and baby new year, 2015 came into the world with complications and the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. Maybe not for everyone, but certainly for my husband and I. We rang it in quietly on my parents couch, with the ball drop broadcast on an ipad. There was no ticker-tape parade or getting dolled up. And that's ok. The reason we were there and not in Georgia with his family celebrating with lots of champagne at his older sister's huge house was because we needed a quiet getaway. Just days before the new-year, Both my husband and I received the terrible news that our incomes were possibly in jeopardy. There was no clear-cut "yes" or "no" about either situation. Mine was because of an unfortunate and possibly avoidable mistake at work. His was because he is paid by the VA to go to school and paid an allowance every month u...

A list of tiny blessings I got recently Things I wanted that I got for free. A brush hair straightener...looks like a hairbrush, has heat in it so it straightens hair. Another work shirt Clothes for my husband... button down shirts, shorts, polos and more A few things my mom would love  goat cheese lunch More TBA 

10 Years ago, On august 28, 2005, I arrived here in This little coastal tourist town in north Florida After a 3 hour ride in a large rented SUV full of my stuff. My parents helped me set up my college dorm room Then left me here to start the next chapter of my life. August 28 was the eve of my 18 th birthday. I didn’t get to leave my parents and my hometown The way some kids do, But with their financial help I did literally start a new life On my 18 th birthday In a new town As a college student. After college I stayed here. A lot has changed since I was just becoming “legal”. I no longer have my innocence, Which I lament all the time But I did gain a large amount of wisdom From my mistakes. 10 Facts about 18-year-old-me 1)     I’d been raised Christian but had only attended church since I was 15. I loved the “Christian youth scene” but I didn’t really grasp what it meant to have a personal relationship with God until aft...

What Adventure Time taught me about my purpose in life Adventure Time is a cartoon that has been on Cartoon Network for the past five or six years. It is simply drawn, yet trippy. It is set one thousand-some-odd years in the future, After the world was destroyed by nuclear explosions And later rebuilt and repopulated by colorful creatures Like people made out of candy and talking animals. Instead of continents like North America, the main land is called “Ooo”. It has reverted to a somewhat-medieval monarchy style With various kingdoms that have princesses. The princesses all have the theme of their kingdom. The show centers around Jake the Dog and Finn the Human, however. Finn is a 12-year-old boy and the last human on earth. Jake is a talking, shape-shifting yellow dog. Both were raised by Jake’s talking dog parents. Finn and Jake are best pals who live together in a giant tree house. They have one main purpose in life: to go where they are...

Plan B Most people want their lives to follow “plan A”, Which is whatever their biggest dreams are. Most of the time, life does not turn out that way So those who are wise also have a “plan B”. The other career path if their first choice doesn’t work out, The other school if their favorite doesn’t accept them…. Plan B is also the name of a pill That I don’t believe in using. It is meant to be taken the night after sex gone awry, And it triggers an early menstrual cycle, Thus flushing out a possible two-cell fetus. It is basically a sneaky, over-the-counter form of abortion. When I was in my early 20’s, I didn’t believe in it because I had read reviews And learned that the side effects can be severe cramps, Nausea, vomiting, heavy bleeding… basically a period on crack. For some reason, the thought of “dying” on my bathroom floor Was more terrifying to me than the concept of Being unwed and carrying a “watermelon” around And all the judgment...

God and His mysterious ways God really is mysterious. I was taught growing up that He always Answers our prayers… it’s just that the Answer isn’t always “yes”. It can be “no” or “wait”. Often it is “wait”, then “yes”. He always knows the plans that He has for us, And He knows what’s best. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Throughout my life, when I got to the other side Of the “waiting period” and to the “yes”, I have come to realize that God’s “yes” Is still different than my own. When I ask for something, I often see in my mind and heart what I want The outcome to look like. Later on, I am given a blessing And it takes a minute but I discover That th...