♥Lessons Learned.

Oh, geez, talk about the most emotional, heart-wrenching week I've had in probably my whole life. These past few days have stretched me beyond what I thought possible. Makeup didn't really matter much- I cried it all off hours after I put it on. I do know that God is using this time of turmoil to teach me, mold me. I just don't see what He is aiming to make me into. Stronger? Yes. More trusting? More than likely. But it's slightly difficult to see the big picture in the midst of so many overwhelming details.

I've been listening to some powerful, Christ-centered songs and allowing the spirit of encouragement and strength to fill my heart. Truly, I want this hour to be my finest hour of faith. A muscle can't grow and become stronger without first being ripped and torn. I feeeeel the burn. Having done all to claim victory, my trust in Christ's will and all that has been promised to me. After I have stood against the sly voice of fear and worry; against the nay-sayers and the antagonists, I will simply stand. I won't fall. I won't lie down. I'm standing my ground.

Ephesians 6:10 -18

"Be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people)."

Let me clarify something here (for all those of you who would love to make it an issue). I am not referring to my ex or any part of his family as "the enemy". This is about the darkness that creepeth on the edges of my happiness; the temptation to just give in and stop fighting against hopelessness.

All those words that I've bolded? They seems to be keys to not letting a crisis overtake everything. I'm determined to use them as my defensive and offensive measures. And when I feel that I've used up every ounce of my energy and determination, I'll stand and let my Savior just take over and stick up for me. There are times that this little blog here is all talk. Empty words. But, I feel that if I keep speaking them, they just might come true. Some days are better than others; some days my faith feels strong and invincible. The other days, the ones with the heavy cloud cover, blocking out all piercing rays of the sun- they are the days of faith building.

It's amazing to me that the only requirement of the scripture verse is to stand. Christ doesn't require any special skill or tenacity. All he requires is a heartfelt willingness to not give up. He quietly whispers to me, through the heartache that nearly always drowns out all other voices, "I'll do everything else. I'll sustain you. You will stand in awe of the strength that I have and that I will impart to you. "

♫ The Strong One; Single Mom Song II

Dear Single Moms,

I need to apologize. I promised a while ago a heartfelt blog about being a single mom. I promised to encourage you. And I failed.

I am not deleting the blog I wrote this week, because I meant every word of it. It came from my heart, and that's never wrong. However, it sounded bitter and angry, which admittedly, I am sometimes...but that's not all there is to being a single mom is it? There's SO much more to this jigsaw of motherhood.

Every single mom has her own story.

Single is a tricky word. I really don't think it has anything to do with your current relationship status. It has everything to do with how much support you have in raising your child(ren).

A single mom is sometimes only single during the week, while the husband is away for work or travel.

A single mom can be somebody that has a fully engaged spouse, and a completely disengaged daddy.

A single mom might be divorced.

A single mom might be a rape victim.

A single mom can be a choice. Sometimes, motherhood is everything, and companionship with a spouse is secondary, or maybe never a desire.

Really, you can remove "single" completely, because at some point in every moms life, we feel completely alone in the challenge of raising a child.

**Single Daddy's...this blog can apply to you as well. I'm writing this from experience, and therefore it is only fair to address fellow females. I'm sure we have much in common, and we appreciate those of you out there that are completely involved in your children's lives.

Becoming a Parent

When you become a mom, everything changes. You go from putting yourself first, to making every decision for somebody else. Whether you made the choice to be a mom in the first place has no bearing. All of a sudden, there is nothing in the world more beautiful, or more important. You love nothing more.

Becoming a Single Parent

Regardless of your story...you'll go through every emotion.

You'll explode. You'll cry. You'll be proud of your choices. You'll love. You'll forgive. You learn to stand on your own. You'll learn to laugh when you feel like crying. Your heart grows to accommodate life's demands. Every single one of these emotions is reasonable, is normal, and what makes you the amazing mom that you are.

Those little things in your life that make you a mom will be there when nobody else is. No matter how frustrated you get, remember that you'll miss this. YOU'LL MISS THIS. You'll miss them driving you up a wall and back down. And if you hide too much in yourself (your anger, your bitterness, your current boyfriend or lack of one), you're already missing things. God never fails, never walks out, and never gives you more than you can handle.

Yours Truly,
Nomz

Words, pictures, and a song. Read them all, add your own. And know that you're never ever alone.

"Faith doesn't make things easy, it makes things possible."

"Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible."

"Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either."

"Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression."

"It is the Law that any difficulties that can come to you at any time, no matter what they are, must be exactly what you need most at the moment, to enable you to take the next step forward by overcoming them. The only real misfortune, the only real tragedy, comes when we suffer without learning the lesson."

"Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came out of a man's rib, not from his feet to be walked on, not from his head to be superior, but from his side to be equal! Under the arm to be protected, & next to the heart to be loved"

"Some believe in destiny, Some believe in fate, I believe that happiness is something you create."





Read the lyrics to this next song, the words are epic. Read the words, especially if you dislike country, because let's face it, you can't get more country than Clint Black.
Thank you Candy!

The Strong One by Clint Black



When God made woman I wonder sometimes
If it was a flower he had in mind
when he made her.
A touch as gentle as a butterfly
A kiss so sweet it could stop time
forever
God gave man a chance to be
the kind of strength a woman needs
He was suppose to be
the one to carry that load.

CHORUS:
But there she goes
Baby in her arms
World on her shoulder when her day starts
Working a job that don't pay much
but she thanks God it's enough
There she is
on her own two feet
He walked out
but she still got dreams.
Tries to laugh when she feels like crying
Nobody'd blame her if she quit trying
But she's got a heart that gives and gives
Now you tell me who the strong one is.

Tonight's the first night in a while
She put on her makeup wearing a smile
She'd going out
And everything was all planned out
but the fever that the baby's got now
It's all shot down
She gives up what she wants to do
for what she has to.
That's what a momma does
She'll be there like she always is
when the son comes up.

CHORUS
And there she goes
Baby in her arms
World on her shoulder when her day starts
Working a job that don't pay much
but she thanks God it's enough
There she is
on her own two feet
He walked out
but she still got dreams
Tries to laugh when she feels like crying
Nobody'd blame her if she quit trying
But she's got a heart that gives and gives
So you tell me who the strong one is.

And there she is on her own two feet
He walked out but she's still got dreams
Tries to laugh when she feels like crying
Nobody'd blame her if she quit trying
But she got a heart that gives and gives
So you tell me who the strong one is.

You tell me who the strong one is...

**Olympics Obsessed?

Love the Olympics? Have pride in a certain athlete, sport, or ceremony? Bite your nails? Turn off the tube? How do YOU react during the Olympic Games? Check out our latest guest blog, and show her some comment love! -Nomz and Sazaran

I admit it… I’m hooked. Every two years I’m glued to the television for news and updates. No, no, I’m not talking about the election cycles – I’m talking about the Olympics. Okay, I’m a self-confessed sports junkie and the Olympics fill a huge void even if it’s just for a quick two-week span. As I’m writing this, I have two browser windows open watching my bids on Vancouver 2010 gear – yes, a little obsessed…

The summer games are within my comfort zone – I can or have played some of those sports, some within “fun” part of life, others on a more competitive level. And who doesn’t enjoy watching games in the sunshine? The winter games, on the other hand, are way out of my comprehension of why would you do that to your body… I’m not a cold weather type of person and I like challenges, but I just can’t fathom the challenge of hurtling my body down a 90-foot drop bouncing up and down an icy mountain on two thin planks strapped to my feet. I just watch in awe…

It was a much different feeling watching the games during the Cold War era. Then it was a matter of “right versus might,” the western world against the eastern block. Watching an American athlete compete was with a hopeful and forgiving eye while athletes from the block nations had hyper-critical eyes looking for any bobble or miss cue. It didn’t always make for a relaxing evening of TV watching – yes, we could only watch in the evenings or on the weekends and not the nearly 24/7 coverage we have now.

The lump in my throat from watching the young lady from Canada skate in honor of her mother still has not gone away. I could feel an entire nation wraps its collective arms around her while she skated with an inner strength and grace. I don’t think I could have accomplished what she did….

Then there is the FANantical part of me that will watch some of the competition just because it’s on. I mean, can anyone explain curling to me? Yes, I’ve watched but I’m not really sure what I’m watching. The nearest I can figure is that it’s the ice version of bocce ball but really big, heavy stones are thrown rather than the wooden bocce balls.

And I so enjoy the medal ceremonies. Watching the flags rising up with the national anthem playing, I can’t help but get a little emotional – the eyes get a little watery, the chest swells a little. Okay, a little too over the top for some of you? It’s not a bad thing feeling a little patriotic at these times. Can you sing along to the Star Spangle Banner and remember all of the lines after “Oh say can you see…”? See… there’s that little lump in your throat swelling along with a bit of pride. As Martha would say “… it’s a good thing.”

-Maliaana

♫ Single Mom Song ... that's Bogus.

The song is bogus...if you made a decision for your kiddo(s). Not you. Not him. Not anybody else.

An outright confession:

When I first heard this song (months and months ago), it just six months after I had left. It was March of 2009. My gut churned, and flipped, and got sad all over again. It made me feel really guilty. It made me explode from the inside out over "breaking up a family", again. I knew I didn't belong back there...I always knew that. But it made me sick to think that I took my girls away from something good.

And then, after a few emails between friends, prayers; on my knees, tears, and going over my notes from counseling, I realized a few things.

Things:

*Nobody should or would leave a guy like Jason Michael Carroll. See, he's handsome, he's rich, he's romantic, and obviously, he wants to be a good daddy (if all lyrics are true).

This song is crap.

Anybody that has a man that's an amazing daddy...has a good thing that they wouldn't leave. They wouldn't deprive a GOOD DAD of his rights, his time.

I made the right choice.

All the things I had to do when I heard this song...I had to do before I chose to leave. I leaned hard on friends. I prayed; on my knees, a LOT. I cried for my girls. I spent hours and days in counseling.

Single mamma's...never ever doubt your reasons. Always put your children first. And never settle for less than what they deserve. If you do that, all the pieces...including the right guy...will come along.



Yours Truly,
Nomz

♫ Random Monday 2-22-10

*I’m not sure why but I’ve got that terrible ”It’s just another Manic Monday…wish it was Sunnnnday song stuck in my head. Not that I’m fighting it, I do with it were still Sunday.

*I got to help a friend move this weekend, which was absolutely exhilarating. I love moving people, watching them start a new place from the very beginning. Like, I got to see the house empty, then box filled, and I’ll get to see it complete. Plus? Free exercise.

*In my opinion? Don't pass up any opportunity put in front of you. If it DOES work, God wanted you to have it. If it doesn't work, God said no. < -- does not apply to sky diving.

*I had an amazing weekend, I think you should know. Why: When my mom rolls out the table for breakfast, she means it. My guy pretty much rocks. My friends make me realize how blessed I am to have them. And it was a shopping, movie, food fest extravaganza, with an ending with just me, my guy, and a cute puppy face in front of the fire.

*I’ve said it everywhere I can say it except here: GO SEE THE BOOK OF ELI. Caution: It’s rated R for a reason, and has some pretty bloody scenes..but its recipe includes: a powerful message, filled with good acting, and baked at 350 degrees for approximately two hours bringing you to a perfect ending.

*If you only joined Twitter to follow one person, read all their updates, and that’s it? #youredoingitwrong.

*Please read my co-blogger’s, who looks fantastic in green by the way, Random Monday blog, to see what all I’m up to tomorrow night, and on October 10th. Tuesday!

*Relationships are hard. If they were easy, they’d just be called “sex”.

*Music Time! If we’re friends on Facebook, you’ve seen the posts. I’ve probably emailed it to you, if we’re in email contact. If I haven’t, watch it NOW. This video was originally done by a bunch of celebrities, and was redone recently by a group in Colorado (the third singer, is my soon-to-be-famous friend Isaac). WATCH IT PEOPLE.



*Quote: "Just because breasts are sometimes used in a sexual way, does not mean that the simple act of feeding a baby with them is gross or disgusting. Your mouth can also be used in a sexual way, but you still flap it freely in public."

Yours Truly,
Nomz

♥Screeeeeeeeeee!

Things to be excited about:

~ On Tuesday, Nomz and I get to see and meet Barlowgirl! If you don't know who they are, checkout a few of our recent blogs- we've been listening to them to learn more of their songs. My goal? To get a jumping picture. That's right. Here's to hopin' that they're cool enough to make fools of themselves with a couple-o-fans.

~ My genius friend, Stevie (insert FB and Twitter tag here), has been helping me with my little breakout issue. Her suggestion? Wash my face daily with plain yogurt, moisturize with coconut oil and, once a week, use a mask of mashed banana and honey. Thus far? I'm amazed. The coconut oil is brilliant; I don't think I'll ever use another moisturizer again. What about the Proactiv, you ask? I sold it to my brother. ;-)

~ There are precisely 261 days until October 10th, 2010. Not that we're counting. What is so special about said date, you ask? The wedding of the century, of course! Aaaand, I get to be apart of it!! Hello, who wouldn't want to be surrounded by damask?! I ♥ my Ashleyface.

~ Also on Tuesday, I get to whip my camera out and take pictures of a seven week old baby. Awwwwww. I may or may not also develop baby fever.

~ My friends are pretty much the best a human could ask for. When life consists of impromptu photoshoots, black dress shopping, escapes to the nail salon and Chick-fil-A on a regular basis, it's practically impossible to get down.

~ There are precisely 33 days until SPRING. Yes, I'm counting...

~ Taxes shall be deposited into my account any.day.now. I'm not going to spend it (not very much, anyway) and it feels so nice knowing I'm going to have a little bit of a cushion to build upon.

~ This whole divorce/custody issue? It's almost over. Soon, I'll be able to breath a little easier.

~ With Junbzee in tow, I finally had a semi-spa day. It was delightful--- and I love the sound of my indestructible nails clicking away on the keyboard.

“Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. And you can do it when things are tough.” -Richard M. DeVos

“Optimist: Day-dreamer more elegantly spelled” -Mark Twain

The Guardian

This is a dream my dad recently had, I think it is amazing, inspiring and thought-provoking. -Sazaran





Dreams are sometimes little more than an overdose of last night’s pizza. Some are entertaining and some can be quite meaningful. Like anyone, I’ve had both. But there is one dream I often reflect upon. It had to do with angels.

There’s no transition to this setting; nothing I can remember that led up to the context of what I am about to relate. All I remember is staring at this open of very tall wheat that was in front of me. Suddenly a vanguard of angels appeared to me. Here is one interesting part of the dream. They slowly materialized into a tangible form much like the camera work on Star Trek after Scotty beams someone on board the spaceship.

As they materialized, what stood before me was about ten or twelve massive angels dressed in contemporary clothing. I could tell by their physique that they were incredibly strong with chiseled cut lines outlining their muscles. Here’s another impressive feature: they looked to be about seventeen to twenty feet tall.

One of the angels, the one that seemed to be at the point of all them, looked at me and I looked at him. He didn’t smile but seemed to carry a noticeable gravity about him, a no-nonsense type of persona. Now don’t laugh when I state this: he was wearing bib overalls with no shirt underneath, and sandals. He had blondish-tan hair that was cut in the fashion of flat-top and short on the sides and looked like he had spent a lot of time on the beaches of sunny California.

I looked at him and asked, “Are you my guardian angel?”

He stood there with his arms crossed at his chest in a gladiator-like demeanor and simply said, “Yes.”

Then I asked, “What is your name?”

“Snickey,” he said without any hesitation.

“Snickey!” I replied. The name didn’t seem to fit what I was looking at. It was would be like Goliath having the name of “Petunia” and challenging war-seasoned soldiers into a hand-to-hand combat. I thought to myself that my guardian angel should a name like Globatron, or Megathor, or Titan, or something that denoted massive power and strength. But looking at this colossal angel that stood as tall as a power-pole—well the name “Snickey” just didn’t fit.

Still caught in the bewilderment of his rather non-intimidating name I again said, “Snickey!”

With that he leaned forward to a height about five feet above me. I looked up and he looked into my eyes and spoke. I remember that the very movement of this gigantic person conveyed such power and strength that it seemed like nothing was his equal. His voice conveyed unmistakable confidence. The tone and volume wasn’t thundering or booming, but it was deep and strong.
“It means one to be feared.”

“Oh.” I regressed with a step back, nodded in agreement, and immediately added the definition to the vocabulary.

“Then I can call on you when I’m in trouble, right?”

“No”, he said. “You have to call on Jesus. We only take commands from Him, the Captain of the Hosts.”

With that, the dream ended.

**I have met a man....

**Lend our Ghost Blogger your eyes, and give her your thoughts!
-Nomz and Sazaran

I am tired of people being "concerned" for me. I am 28 years old, for crying out loud. I am an adult, have been for some time, and I think I am capable of making my own decisions (of course, with the influence of my Lord and Savior).

I have met a man. An honest man, a kind, loving, STRONG Christian man who wants to marry me. He is wonderful! (He is also divorced, but no kids yet.) My friend is concerned that I am rushing things. I met this guy about 6 weeks ago, and knew immediately that he was the one for me. The feeling is also mutual. We cannot imagine our lives without one another. We study the Word together, pray together often, and seek God's guidance and provision in our decisions. I have asked God repeatedly to show me if this is in any manner wrong or too fast, and have not received anything but the "go-ahead".

My question is, am I being blind? I just don't see a need to wait beyond the end of this year (or actually before that) to wed if we are guided in that direction. I have sought counsel from those closest to him regarding "red flags", hidden character traits, or any form of dishonesty, and have been informed of his shortcomings (impulsive spending, though he has impeccable credit and is working very hard to get out of debt, so i don't know how much of an issue that will be), but have been told by EVERY person I have asked that he is a GOOD man and would be very good to me. I have also taken note of the fact that he is worried that since his first marriage failed (he was unequally yoked and they were never in love, plus she cheated on him) he may fail me. I have told him that it takes two to fail in matrimony, and that when we both put God first and the other's needs second, followed by our own last, we shall overcome.

Can I please get an "AMEN!!" to the fact that we are all human, and being thus, are ALL sinners with shortcomings? Can my dream of being in love and having a wedding and a husband to care for and care for me not come true in this jaded day and age? I know that there are a lot of poor experiences in marriage these days, and though I have never been married, I have been deeply hurt several times. Can I not be one who shows that there is still wholesome, fulfilling, Christ-centered love in this world? I am tired of being looked at funny or questioned because things are going well and we're talking marriage so early on! I am tired of people snubbing their noses and questioning how long our relationship will last. Falling in love for me is like falling in a ditch. I have fallen in love before and it has only ended in disaster and heartbreak. I CHOSE this man because of the incredible spiritual connection we have, and we are GROWING in love. And though I am crazy about him, I am not a crazy fool over him. I have my wits about me. And I know it will be hard, I know that marriage is not an easy thing! I am prepared to fight for this man, and he is prepared to do the same for me. With this in mind, am I crazy to want to jump in? And anyway, if we know, what's the point in waiting? Why tempt the Devil to tempt us longer than we must? (Though we are keeping our relationship mainly very public to avoid tempting situations, and also praying fervently that our every action glorifies God.)

I hope that the audience is not one of skeptics and those jaded by love, and that I can get some stinkin' encouragement here. But by all means, be honest. Don't spare my feelings. Just be reminded that I have already received many words of caution.

-Anonymous

♫ Random Monday 2/15/10

Maybe it’s the dose of antibiotics in my system, but I’m downright ornery, cranky, and testy. The tone of this one might be slightly more abrasive than normal. Or maybe not, who knows.

*It’s amazing how much easier I can breathe at work when my desk is clean. Like, when all my papers are stacked next to each other so that their edges are parallel? Yeah, I’m that obsessive.

*It really drives me crazy when people start half conversations, just to make sure you respond. Over text or email. Example: I have a story to tell you. <- - - the only thing in the message. Just get on with the story, people! I’ll respond, I promise. And if I don’t respond in two seconds, and you send me three more, I’ll tailgate you sometime, just to piss you off back.

*I can tell that 5:30 pm today, is going to be glee-inducing. Like, my girly girl is actually excited to come out and play. And smell better.

*I scheduled an appointment today to make humongous changes to my hair. I’m craving change something fierce.

*The fact that my two toddlers can actually make my ears tired, actually makes me one happy camper. The fact that they are both old enough to initiate conversation and story tell, even if it’s the same story over and over again, makes me beam with pride.

*My curiosity is eating me alive about a recent occurrence, but thanks to a promise I made to both parties, I cannot let my curiosity play. Note to self: Don’t make promises to yourself, or anybody else, that you don’t actually have any want to keep.

*Dear roommates, a request: Don’t be loud after 10pm, regardless of the day of the week (including but not limited to guests, tv’s, music.). Also, just because half of the house is yours, doesn’t mean all courtesy should go out the window (including but not limited to: throwing clothes from the washer in to the dryer, doing not just your dishes but all dishes, wiping out all toothpaste from the sink, not just yours, and scrubbing the entire toilet-not just half of it). For real people, losing all manners entirely just because you split the bills is uncalled for.

*Scratch n’ Sniff computer screens need to be the Next Big Thing. Why in the world would I buy perfume online, that I can’t sniff?

*I get to go to Barlow Girl, in concert, with one of my top favorite girls. Thus bringing us to the song of the day:



*Quote:”Because he was a ra-tard.” - - - The Hangover

Yours Truly,
Nomz

♫ No, I'm not making this up.

Landlord: GARDEN NOMZ.... You’re getting a new toilet!!!!!

Me: Yay! Haha, why?

Landlord: Yours doesn’t have enough SWIRLS!!

Me: Ooooh…

Landlord: And! It’s a handicapped one, so it’s tall so your knees wont hurt when you have to peeeee, and it swirls! And it holds golf bolls! HOLY SHIT HOLD ON IM RACING SOMEBODY. Im going 76 miles per hour I think, where the hell is my speedometer?!?!? You have a new pot! Ok bye!

I never wanna move away.

Yours Truly,
Nomz

♫ The V-Day

Valentine’s Day. It’s right around the corner! I’d be lying if I told you I was excited. I’d really be lying if I told you I’ve been thinking about it. I was reminded by a friend yesterday that it’s this coming weekend. I’m that excited. After a few discussions with some close friends today, I thought I’d throw something together, to help every person out there…not just the romantics.

I talked about my love/hate relationship with Valentine’s Day last year. It’s in the archives, if you’re interested. Sarah blogged on it recently too, here: Love

The best part about Sarah’s perspective, is that she’s dead on with how we should be looking at love…whether we’re single, in a relationship, or somewhere in between.

It wouldn’t be fair to say I hate Valentine’s Day completely, unless I was going to say the same for every holiday. Holidays aren’t about the actual day, in my opinion. They are just a gentle reminder of things we should celebrate all year round. The Fourth of July, we blow things up in remembrance of our Nation’s birth; a holiday that should be celebrated daily. Thanksgiving, we give thanks…something we should practice daily. Christmas, some celebrate Christ’s birth, others take time to love on their families, for no other excuse then just to spoil them. Valentine’s Day should be the same. While it’s annoying that all the stores out there are out to get you with their bargain romances, it is important to remember to celebrate whatever it is that you love. Take Sunday as the opportunity to love on somebody, ask for forgiveness, mend a broken heart, start something new, or hate the department stores. Then, try to remember Sunday’s actions, every single day.

For the Romantics

Ideas…for those looking for gift ideas, romance novelties, etc. etc.

*Cologne/Perfume

My mamma always told me that cologne is intimate. A sign, that things are getting serious. A sign that you really like somebody.

*Flowers

Yes, flowers die. Yes, they feel like a waste of money. But most women, whether outwardly or deep down, love to be spoiled, especially in front of people. They are overpriced. They don’t last long. But she’ll remember.

*Cook

Avoid the busy restaurants and cook your man (woman) their favorite meal. There is way more privacy for hearty conversation, you can control the food, lighting, mood, etc., and you don’t have to deal with reservations, the crowd, or the noise. Plus, it shows you’ve gone above and beyond for somebody when you cook something they enjoy.

*Anything out of the ordinary

Clean their toilets <- - - true romance, gents.
Clean the litterbox
Change the diapers
Do the dishes <--- by hand. We’ll notice.
Clean the garage <---ladies, DON'T organize, touch, or even smell the tools.
Detail their car/truck/horse
Let them sleep in <--breakfast in bed doubles your points

Actual quote from a friend of mine (hope he doesn't mind): "drew a "get out of the doghouse free" card Sunday..." <--Women remember everything...even the good stuff. What you do, on this day, will stick with us forever.

Remember…these are all things celebrated on a stupid woman’s holiday, but a concept that should be shared year round. And really, for anybody you love…not just your lover. ;)

Yours Truly,
Nomz

♥Saving Face

They can be called pock marks, pimples, zits, spots, blemish- basically, it doesn't matter the name: we all hate them. If there is any indication of my life right now... it's on my face. Those nasty little (or big), white (or black) and sore (or VERY sore) spots are invading.my.territory. I want it to stop! Now! In desperation, I dug a little to find out what causes acne and what puts it to a stop.

The Culprit:
* Dirt. It's everywhere; on your hands, on the lips of your little toddler, in the air.
* Oil. When mixed with dirt in your pores, it can be a perfect potion for pimples.
* Hormones. Ladies, we know it. When "that time" is close, our faces break out like a bad dancer.
* Stress. As if being stressed out isn't good enough (why don't you just kick us while we're down, aye, Stress?!)

* Genes. It seems that if mom and dad had it more than most, their offspring will come upon the same challenges.

What doesn't cause acne:
*Chocolate. Thank.God.
* Dorritos. Long has junk food been blamed for acne, but it just isn't true. Unless your rubbing those potato chips all over your face.
*Age. Just because puberty has come and gone, doesn't meant that acne will. Babies are born with acne and elderly folk battle it too.

Fight, fight, fight!

Obviously, washing your face daily will help.

Not all epidermis is created equal. Just because Proactiv worked for your girlfriend, doesn't mean it will work for you. Unfortunately, a lot of skin care is trial and error. Slowly marking those soaps and systems from the long list, will help narrow the choices to one winner.

A healthy diet does contribute to pretty epidermis, as it allows your body to fight off free radicals (organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases), balance hormones and help skin in general.

Also paying close attention to how your skin reacts to different soaps will make a difference. Some acne can be an allergic reaction. If your skin is sensitive, some ingredients will agitate your pores. Me? I wash my face once a day. Otherwise (especially in dry, Wyoming climate) it would be much too dry. If your skin is oily, keep.using.moisturizer. Just find one that is lighter and isn't greasy.

Consistency is key. As skin is a living organism, it becomes accustomed habit. Once you find your successful beauty routine, stick with it. However, skin does change with time. As we age, we may need to drop certain formulas and find new ones. Allow your skin the freedom to prefer a new routine over another, especially if it seems to react well.

We've all heard it: don't pop your zits! But, really, who can resist?! I once read that if you must pick, to do so only after the zit has come to a head (when it is a whitehead) and never after a shower or when your skin is wet- it's too fragile in that state.

The most important? Don't get discouraged. Everyone (and I mean everyone) has acne. It may not be obvious or even on their face but it's all apart of life. Remember that with or without face invaders, you are beautiful (or handsome) no matter what. Because it is the heart of a person that matters most.

I've broken down and finally ordered Proactiv, myself. I used it previously and thought it worked. So, I'm trying it again. What about you? What works, what doesn't? I know I have a couple readers out there who know skin... let us in on your brain power, eh? ;-)

♥

♫ Random Monday 2-8-10

Random Monday 2-8-10

Let the randomness begin:

*My math brain likes the date today.

*I’m siiiiiiick. If you’re friends with me on Facebook, email me throughout the day, or stalk me on Twitter (because let’s face it, following is the same as stalking), you already know this. What you don’t know that that Mucinex does strange, strange things to my head including: short term memory fail, hearing problems, belly cartwheels, and groggy eyes. Moral of the story: I look much worse than I feel. I think.

*When I’m sick, I’m emotional. And I’ve been crying: all day long. Over nothing. I’m pitiful.

*I hate man caves. <- - - so much, you’re going to hear about that more than once this week.

*I love people and things from California. Their oranges and their people seem to be Cuties.

*I went to an entire convention this weekend to learn about Farming, and came away with new friends, new memories, Wind Energy knowledge, parliament protocol, and some pretty serious blackmail.

*Hotel shower heads should never, ever, be so short that it hits to the very tip top of the head of a 5’3 person, or the belly button of a 6’2 person. Somewhere in between would not only be common sense, but full of fantastic.

*I’m pretty sure along with the excessive nitrates in the water, exhaustion was also included at no extra charge.

*The Superbowl was boring to me this year…probably because I didn’t favor either of the teams, and slept through the first half, thank you Mucinex. However, I didn’t miss all the commercials, and this was probably my favorite of the whole game:



*Annnnd a song, because I really do miss him. Hard.



*The End. Commence: Coma

Yours Truly,
Nomz

The Virgin Movement

Recently, I saw a show on tv about this new "Virgin Movement" with teens and, more specifically, women who have stuck to their guns in an attempt to save sex for marriage. It's a load of crap, in my opinion.

Now, don't get me wrong, I fully support virginity and saving sex for marriage. But, have you seen virgins today? They make the red light district look like a St. Mary's Catholic church. And, please, tell me- what is the point of being a virgin if there is no chastity involved? I may be going back to my traditionalist roots here, but doesn't virginity require chastity? Doesn't being pure in every area of one's life go hand in hand with being virginal?!

I'd say yes. There is no more a confusing and blatantly two-faced thing than announcing, "I'm a virgin and I'll stay that way until I marry" and talking, acting and dressing as if those good intentions are a joke. When a man or woman (guy or girl) announces their intention of abstaining, it won't do them any good to flaunt what they've got. Who will they attract? Another who feels the same? The odds are against them, I think.

And I'll let you in on a little secret I have: I am saving myself for marriage. So, in this post, I am both calling myself to be accountable, but I am giving you the opportunity to hold me accountable, as well. And here lies my point: it doesn't take a virgin to be chaste, but it does take chastity to be virginal. I do fully intend on waiting until I've found that man who will want to dedicate his entire life to me as a husband before I allow myself to be intimate with him. God willing, I will go beyond that little goal into a whole new realm- keeping myself pure before the Lord. Living my life as a sacrifice and be a shining light that points the way. To say, "It's not just about the words, it's about the action what supports those words. Without them, the promise is nothing." I'm sure a lot of you will agree- no promise is worth it's weight unless the promiser follows through.

Those that put all that they are on the self-proclamation "I'm a virgin" are foolish. Have you ever come across someone who uses it as their identity only to fall a short while later? It saddens me. While holding true to a conviction, I believe that it requires a bit of reality. Of course there is the reality of making a mistake- don't rely on yourself as the only source of strength for remaining so. It all centers on Christ; after all, it's after His will that a virgin chases, right? And, so, He will be the strength of the virgin (or un-virgin who wants to be pure). See how it all ties in?

**One ending is a new beginning

Please read our latest Guest Blog, and let them know what you think on this topic! ~Nomz and Sazaran

Not everyone is perfect, least of all me. These last few weeks I’ve been trying my hardest to let go. Let go of denial, hate, anger, resentment, insecurities, pain, fears… all the bad things that cloud someone’s mind.

If you constantly have a clouded mind, how do you get anywhere?

I’ve made it very clear to myself that I’m no longer to dwell on the past. I’m to live in the present. Opening up can be a very hard thing to do… The only analogy I have is “hot chocolate”.

Sometimes you crave the sweetness of it… and you want it SO bad. So you take a quick sip. Then you get burned. It hurts, but it doesn’t necessarily deter you from having more, it just makes you more cautious the next time. You may let it sit there for a while, waiting for it to cool down. Problem is that if it sits too long then it’s no longer “hot” chocolate, it’s cold, and you no longer want it as much. Or you may take a slow sip, hesitating a little, for fear of getting burned.

Like I said, it’s a process. Opening up is hard to do… but if you never open up, then you’ll never taste the “hot chocolate”. I guess we have to take the heat in order to get the chocolate, realizing not everyone who hurt us in our past will be seen in those we have in our future.

If we constantly live our life according to the past, will we ever break the pattern we are already in? Probably not. Therefore, I’m making the effort to live this day fresh and new, without baggage or fear. The end of my past is the future to my beginning.

Wish me luck.

♥I don't feeel like blogging...

... but I'm making myself do it anyway. Remember those big girl panties I spoke of? They're on. Apparently.

I don't feel like praying, either. But, I'm making myself do that, too. In times like these, it's the perseverance and pushing that makes things happen. When a woman is giving birth, she doesn't just lay there and say, "I don't feeeel like it." She has to push her way through and keep at it until the end comes. Coincidentally enough, the end is glorious. That's what I'm holding out for. That's what I'm forcing myself to keep at it for. It would be oh so easy to roll over and give up- I'm not going to.

I also don't feel like going to school. I'm going to anyway. My son needs a mama who will do anything for him. School will be that anything.

Without darkness we would never see the stars right? That's what I'm going to keep telling myself. Also, I'm going to read Hebrews. I've had a nagging thought: "What if that mustard seed of faith requirement feels more like an elephant size requirement?" The thing is, my dad reminds me, that Jesus did not admonish his disciples for little faith, He admonished them for applying their faith very little. Ahhh. Hebrews is the book in the Bible that addresses faith directly and teaches how to apply it. Handy, I'd say. Perhaps Harry shall wait a little while.

Also, have you seen the size of a mustard tree? They're quite big, from what I can tell. Anyway, something to think about.

Hebrews 3:6, "But Christ (the Messiah) was faithful over His own Father's house as a Son and Master of it. And it is we who are now members of this house, if we hold fast and firm to the end our joyful and exultant confidence and sense of triumph in our hope in Christ."

♫ Long Distance Relationships: Make Them Work

To say that long distance relationships are hard, would be an understatement. Anybody that’s been in one would agree. And, statistics show, that most of them don’t work out. There’s a quote that goes something like ”Absence makes the heart grow fonder…or wander.”. Whoever said that, had a point. Because you’ll either stay strong enough to make it work, or get so exhausted from trying.

I need to clarify my “long distance”. Coincidentally, both of mine had the same distance; approximately 90 miles. I have no idea what it’s like to have somebody you love across the world, or even states away. I feel for you. So when I say long, it’s considerably shorter than most.

I’m in my second long distance relationship ever. This isn’t my first rodeo. Similar to rodeos though, I’m afraid of climbing back in to the saddle. Wondering, if we’ll survive the ride.

Some background:

My first love, was my high school sweetheart. We met on a ranch. We trained horses together, worked with kids through the summer, and fell in love. In three months. Uh huh. Being all crazy in love, we managed to find time to see each other almost every weekend, talk each other to sleep every night, hit every school dance together, etc. We thought it was forever. Promise rings were busted out, happily ever after was discussed. Two years after our first meeting, he moved to the same town. He lived in his own apartment, but we saw each other nonstop. Things changed dramatically. We lasted another six months before we realized we were completely different people. It was heart wrenching.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified of a repeat.

My current love lives the same distance away. 90 miles. I see him every weekend, sometimes we make mid-week adventures, and we’ve had a few get-away’s. We’ve been together for a little over a year, and I can feel it coming...that need for the next step. I’m excited about the next step, but so afraid, thanks to past experiences, that one little change will flip this relationship inside out.

That’s background on this blog. I don’t really want to discuss either of those relationships any further. Let’s talk Long Distance. The strong points, the benefits, the drawbacks, etc.

The Benefits of Long Distance Relationships

*Space

Thanks to several miles, and a primarily weekend-only relationship, you get four days a week to have space. To be yourself. To live in your own home. You get a social life outside of the relationship. You have less chances of disappearing completely in to a relationship. You have no choice but to take things slow, and let things grow on their own.

*Trust

You don’t have a choice but to trust your partner completely and whole heartedly. That trust grows such a strong bond, that once you’re no longer long distance, you’ve got such a trust with one another that there’s never a worry. It forces you to assume the best while you’re away from each other for 65% of the time.

*The Build-Up, the Excitement

Thanks to anticipation of seeing each other all week, Fridays can’t come soon enough. You actually get that whole ”I can’t wait to leap in to your arms and stay there for a good ten minutes” feeling, every single week. It never goes away. There is something absolutely thrilling about long distance love, because it feels like a first date every weekend.

The SUCK of Long Distance Relationships

*Time Management

When you commit to a relationship that is Friday-Sunday only, it gets really hard to manage friend time, kid time, family time, AND one on one time in a three day time period. You’ve got to make an entire relationship that most people get to work hard at every day, in to three days. It’s hard to fit everybody in, keep everybody happy, make everybody understand why you’re not always around on the weekend, AND make things work with your partner.

*Next-Step-Pressure

As with any relationship, the pressure of when and how to take the next step is difficult. Making the choice to move closer, or IN together, is a tough, tough decision. It’s a little bit scary to think about the idea of seeing somebody for two days a week, to seeing them 24 hours a day. You don’t have a place to run away to if you find out they’re crazy. You might find that their bad habits are much more prominent during the week. You never really know. With a relationship in the same town, you generally get the idea of what they do 7 days a week. It’s so hard to make the call to turn what you’ve got, a completely different direction, and trust it doesn’t go belly up.

I really do love what I’ve got right now, and I know that in time everything will fall in to place when it needs to. I also know I’m not alone in this battle. For those of you in one, know that you’re doing the best you can. You’re not alone in those late night phone conversations, the missing somebody so much your body actually aches, the battling of your friends and family for time management, etc. Remember that no matter how much you want that special someone to be number one in your life, you cant leave the rest of your life behind you for them either. It takes a strong person to handle long distance. If you’ve got what it takes and you make it work, your relationship will be better for it.

I’m curious, anybody else have experience with long distance relationships? Care to share your thoughts?



Yours Truly,
Nomz

♫ Random Monday 2-1-10

Picture above put in here purely for the random part of this post, and for my Great Dane lovers. There are two of you out there that read this blog. I love you for it.


Oddly enough, I’m making a Random Monday post, on a Monday. Because I rock like that.

I’m with Sarah…in her Monday post, she mentioned how much she enjoys the 1st falling on a Monday. It’s like, when all my books are evenly flat on a bookshelf. Or when my closet is color coordinated. Or when my shampoo bottle, conditioner bottle, and body wash make a perfect symmetrical triangle in my shower. I’m not OCD, I’m organized. It happens.

*Did anybody else notice how massive the moon was last night? Did anybody notice the odd affect that same moon had on the male gender the day of? Because Sunday, they were all nuts. Moon, as pretty as you were, stay away if you’re going to have that affect.

*The wind is blowing today like only Wyoming can make it blow. Something I’ll never completely understand. We’re mostly flat, and square, what about that, draws wind?

*I’m really craving a photo op. Like, I want to take pictures of me and my girls, me and my friends, me and Brandon, everything. So, when I bust up in your space with a camera, now you know why.

*I just found out I get to go on a road trip, with my daddy this summer. It’s been since…2001 (?) since I got to trip with him, and I am so excited I’m already getting bubbly about it. Plus? I found out they have a pistol competition, sweetness!

*There are times that I really get frustrated with myself for being a big wrecking ball of negativity. Last week was one of those times. Consider my attitude, uplifted. Apologies all around, to any that got demolition-ed while I was at it.

*Can somebody tell me something? HOW IS IT FEBRUARY?

*My mom took over Leyna-duty for two days this past weekend. And she came back one happy, bouncy, clean kiddo, full of spoilage including but not limited to the following: Purple Jacket made of Adorable, stuffed Puppy named Tank George, and real Purple earrings. Grandma WIN.

*I’m in this place right now…where I’m in such a hurry for my life to get going, for the next move to happen, but sooooo comfortable I don’t want to move. It’s no wonder I’m emotionally all over the place.

*Hot Green Tea+Honey=Best Afternoon Drink Ever.

*Being a size 6, both top and bottom, even when I’m a little bit squishy, has me really grateful. Self, if we could be this rectangular shape for the rest of our life, we’d really appreciate it.

*If I put all my best girlfriends together right now, their names could spell: SCLAMPJ. Yeah, because we’re cooler than the flip side of your pillow.

Quote:

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals. …I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.

Song:



Yours Truly,
Nomz