♫ December Photo Challenge!

From now on, this contest will be known as DPC, followed by a date.

Here's the deal. I met this great gal via Twitter, who happens to blog, and is also an awesome mamma. Anyway, the point, is that she's doing this "December Photo Challenge" thing, where a bunch of bloggers are posting a photo a day...in an effort to network, get some link juice, AND SHARE AWESOME PICTURES. See? I told you she was brilliant. Or maybe I didn't mention that...but she is.

Anyway...you'll be getting a photo a day from me, or at least I'm going to try, until the end of December. Also, make sure to check her blog daily of pretty pictures, and grand blogging skillz.

Read more about the contest here: December Photo Challenge, and find her main blog homepage here: Thoughts n Stuff

Drum Roll Please....

DPC: December 7th, 2009:



My Leyna Bug. My sister captured this shot...but since it's my kid, my camera, and my backyard, I totally get to use it to kick off this thing.

Check back daily!

Yours Truly,
Nomz

♥Just to clarify...

This post is not mine. I wish it were. You can find the actual article here: What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff? I wanted to share it because I agree with every.word. And I think that (although He can manage His own) the record needs to be cleared. Please, don't base your opinion, or lack thereof, of Jesus on what you see imperfect people doing. Kthxbai.



To all my nonbelieving, sort-of-believing, and used-to-be-believing friends: I feel like I should begin with a confession. I am sorry that so often the biggest obstacle to God has been Christians. Christians who have had so much to say with our mouths and so little to show with our lives. I am sorry that so often we have forgotten the Christ of our Christianity.

Forgive us. Forgive us for the embarrassing things we have done in the name of God.

The other night I headed into downtown Philly for a stroll with some friends from out of town. We walked down to Penn's Landing along the river, where there are street performers, artists, musicians. We passed a great magician who did some pretty sweet tricks like pour change out of his iPhone, and then there was a preacher. He wasn't quite as captivating as the magician. He stood on a box, yelling into a microphone, and beside him was a coffin with a fake dead body inside. He talked about how we are all going to die and go to hell if we don't know Jesus.

Some folks snickered. Some told him to shut the hell up. A couple of teenagers tried to steal the dead body in the coffin. All I could do was think to myself, I want to jump up on a box beside him and yell at the top of my lungs, "God is not a monster." Maybe next time I will.

The more I have read the Bible and studied the life of Jesus, the more I have become convinced that Christianity spreads best not through force but through fascination. But over the past few decades our Christianity, at least here in the United States, has become less and less fascinating. We have given the atheists less and less to disbelieve. And the sort of Christianity many of us have seen on TV and heard on the radio looks less and less like Jesus.

At one point Gandhi was asked if he was a Christian, and he said, essentially, "I sure love Jesus, but the Christians seem so unlike their Christ." A recent study showed that the top three perceptions of Christians in the U. S. among young non-Christians are that Christians are 1) antigay, 2) judgmental, and 3) hypocritical. So what we have here is a bit of an image crisis, and much of that reputation is well deserved. That's the ugly stuff. And that's why I begin by saying that I'm sorry.

Now for the good news.

I want to invite you to consider that maybe the televangelists and street preachers are wrong — and that God really is love. Maybe the fruits of the Spirit really are beautiful things like peace, patience, kindness, joy, love, goodness, and not the ugly things that have come to characterize religion, or politics, for that matter. (If there is anything I have learned from liberals and conservatives, it's that you can have great answers and still be mean... and that just as important as being right is being nice.)

The Bible that I read says that God did not send Jesus to condemn the world but to save it... it was because "God so loved the world." That is the God I know, and I long for others to know. I did not choose to devote my life to Jesus because I was scared to death of hell or because I wanted crowns in heaven... but because he is good. For those of you who are on a sincere spiritual journey, I hope that you do not reject Christ because of Christians. We have always been a messed-up bunch, and somehow God has survived the embarrassing things we do in His name. At the core of our "Gospel" is the message that Jesus came "not [for] the healthy... but the sick." And if you choose Jesus, may it not be simply because of a fear of hell or hope for mansions in heaven.

Don't get me wrong, I still believe in the afterlife, but too often all the church has done is promise the world that there is life after death and use it as a ticket to ignore the hells around us. I am convinced that the Christian Gospel has as much to do with this life as the next, and that the message of that Gospel is not just about going up when we die but about bringing God's Kingdom down. It was Jesus who taught us to pray that God's will be done "on earth as it is in heaven." On earth.

One of Jesus' most scandalous stories is the story of the Good Samaritan. As sentimental as we may have made it, the original story was about a man who gets beat up and left on the side of the road. A priest passes by. A Levite, the quintessential religious guy, also passes by on the other side (perhaps late for a meeting at church). And then comes the Samaritan... you can almost imagine a snicker in the Jewish crowd. Jews did not talk to Samaritans, or even walk through Samaria. But the Samaritan stops and takes care of the guy in the ditch and is lifted up as the hero of the story. I'm sure some of the listeners were ticked. According to the religious elite, Samaritans did not keep the right rules, and they did not have sound doctrine... but Jesus shows that true faith has to work itself out in a way that is Good News to the most bruised and broken person lying in the ditch.

It is so simple, but the pious forget this lesson constantly. God may indeed be evident in a priest, but God is just as likely to be at work through a Samaritan or a prostitute. In fact the Scripture is brimful of God using folks like a lying prostitute named Rahab, an adulterous king named David... at one point God even speaks to a guy named Balaam through his donkey. Some say God spoke to Balaam through his ass and has been speaking through asses ever since. So if God should choose to use us, then we should be grateful but not think too highly of ourselves. And if upon meeting someone we think God could never use, we should think again.

After all, Jesus says to the religious elite who looked down on everybody else: "The tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom ahead of you." And we wonder what got him killed?

I have a friend in the UK who talks about "dirty theology" — that we have a God who is always using dirt to bring life and healing and redemption, a God who shows up in the most unlikely and scandalous ways. After all, the whole story begins with God reaching down from heaven, picking up some dirt, and breathing life into it. At one point, Jesus takes some mud, spits in it, and wipes it on a blind man's eyes to heal him. (The priests and producers of anointing oil were not happy that day.)

In fact, the entire story of Jesus is about a God who did not just want to stay "out there" but who moves into the neighborhood, a neighborhood where folks said, "Nothing good could come." It is this Jesus who was accused of being a glutton and drunkard and rabble-rouser for hanging out with all of society's rejects, and who died on the imperial cross of Rome reserved for bandits and failed messiahs. This is why the triumph over the cross was a triumph over everything ugly we do to ourselves and to others. It is the final promise that love wins.

It is this Jesus who was born in a stank manger in the middle of a genocide. That is the God that we are just as likely to find in the streets as in the sanctuary, who can redeem revolutionaries and tax collectors, the oppressed and the oppressors... a God who is saving some of us from the ghettos of poverty, and some of us from the ghettos of wealth.

In closing, to those who have closed the door on religion — I was recently asked by a non-Christian friend if I thought he was going to hell. I said, "I hope not. It will be hard to enjoy heaven without you." If those of us who believe in God do not believe God's grace is big enough to save the whole world... well, we should at least pray that it is.


Your brother,

Shane

Le Divorce

It’s odd how often divorce is brought up, discussed, argued over, etc. It’s a really sad thing that all too many people are going through. It’s all too common, and it’s heart wrenching. We had a ghost blog come in this week on it, and thought we’d add our own twist to it by giving it a few different perspectives. We ask that you participate by commenting, but as always-and especially this time-for a healthy, non-judgmental discussion. Those that feel the need to come down on our writers, our authors, or our comment-ers will be deleted. We appreciate you opening up your heart and mind to this blog, and love you for taking the time to read it and think hard about some of the things said. It took a lot of guts to put this stuff out there!

Nomz:

It’s been over a year since I left. According to my therapist, I’ve been mentally gone for about two and a half. That’s right…I have a therapist, and I highly recommend therapy to every person going through anything life-altering. I have an amazing support system-full of friends and family that both agree and disagree with my choice-and a therapist. An outsiders view with no emotional attachment, lending a shoulder and handing out expert advice.

Divorce sucks. It’s not easy. It’s heartbreaking. Even if you know with all your heart that you are not supposed to be there…you have to make that choice to break up a family. Whether you have kids or not, you’re walking away from your entire lifestyle. Your ex’s family. Your family has to let go of your ex (even in a healthy divorce, relationships with opposite families are completely shaken). People will judge you. Cast you out. Give you advice that’s not welcome. Make you feel unloved. Some people will encourage you to make the choice for you. As much as you want support, you don’t want to talk about it. As much as you love your support system, you wish you were left alone. It’s the most emotionally shaking experience you’ll ever go through, one that follows you forever, and changes every relationship going forward. It’s the definition of “baggage”.

You’ve got remember though…divorce doesn’t separate you from Christ’s love. You’ve got to remember that finding your happiness, finding your true self…is more valuable than any other persons opinion. You’ve got to follow your heart, and trust that you’re making the right call. You’ve got to stand strong when you feel like crumbling. It’s amazing how many new opportunities came my way when I chose to walk. Things really worked themselves out, almost as a sign that I did the right thing. In fact, I'm confident I made the right choice...if for no other reason than to realize that I'm happier now then I ever was there. I also think you have to go through something bad-to appreciate when things are great. I've found somebody amazing, and am so happy that I'm not taking that for granted.

The statistics are scary. Divorce isn’t “right”, in my opinion…but sometimes, when you’re young and naïve, you make choices you shouldn’t. And you have a right to change your mind. One door closes to another door opened. As long as you love yourself, it doesn’t really matter what everybody else thinks.

People ask “how do you make that choice? How do you walk away?” Or…”overnight you went from happy to divorced.”…let me tell you, from an outsiders view, it may seem like relationships break overnight. It takes time to fall in love with a person, and it takes time to fall OUT of love with a person. It’s not ever overnight. And it hurts like hell. God can heal broken relationships, God can heal you-should you choose to walk.

"My Song" when I made that choice...I listened to it over, and over, and over....



You can read most of what I learned here: Letter to Me. Follow your heart…your “inside voice”. It’s the only thing that won’t lie to you.

Yours Truly,
Nomz

Sazaran:

I was going to write a whole, heartfelt blog about getting through divorce without feeling like Hell is your destination... that was a little too serious for me. I shall save it for a different time. Right now, I will introduce you to some awesomely therapeutic breakup songs that will rock your face off, get a little aggression out and make you feel better about the breakup. It's cheaper and more efficient than a shrink, right?!

#1. All American Rejects- Gives You Hell (we all have to admit it, the best line is "truth be told, I miss you and truth be told... I'M LYIN'")

#2. P!nk- So What. Yeah, try not to sing along with this song and feel like the strongest.woman.ever. I dare ya.

#3. Kelly Clarkson- Already Gone (Bimbo Jones Remix). I'd like to change one line in this song: "You could have loved me better."

Take these songs with a glass of Arbor Mist and if you don't feel better by the morning give me a call.....

Ghost Blogger:

The Dreaded ‘D’ word...or should we say, the beginning of new ‘L’ (Life)?

This blog is about DIVORCE. That darn ‘D’ word is almost as bad as the ‘F’ word...people don’t like to say it, talk about it or do it.

This blog may be a bit too much for some of you to read, but please read it anyway. Read it for yourself, read it for your friends, read it for your parents or your children. You may not agree with the content of this blog, but that is ‘ok’...you are entitled to your own opinion. This is about ME and sharing my past divorce experience.

I myself have been through a divorce. My husband and I were more like roommates or good friends after many, many years of marriage. We loved each other still, but were not IN love with each other and hadn’t been for several years. We married at a very young age, then grew up and grew apart. We continued to attend church every Sunday morning together. We also attended family dinners, weddings, funerals or what have you, together. We put on such a ‘happy’ front for everyone, that none of our friends knew that we were truly unhappy.

The thought of divorce was extremely scary. We would need to divide and separate all assets. We would lose all our couple friendships (or those couples would need to decide whose side to take). Our families would be distraught because they still would want to invite both of us to dinner. Our church family would be shaken...’oh my, who cheated on whom’, of course assuming the worst because that is how the rumor mill goes.

Fast forward. The first year after our divorce was an emotional time for all, our families adjusting to our split, even though we were still ‘friends’. Our church connections accepting us sitting separately at church services. Our close couple friends understanding that they could still be friends with both of us and if not, they were truly not our friends in the first place.
Fast forward again. Even though after that many years of being married, we had finally divorced...we are BOTH now in new and wonderful loving Christian relationships. We are both MUCH happier in our new lives, with our new (and old) friends, and our Church community still loves us both, more than ever. Why? Because we are NO longer ‘faking it’ for the outside world. We are now in loving and productive Christian lives.

God does not like divorce, at all. But, also, God will not judge us alone, on this one major event in our lives. God wants us to be truly happy. I know God loved me before my divorce and I know God is happy with me now and loves me unconditionally.
Take that chance, take the hardest step you’ve ever taken, hurt a little, hurt a lot, rock the boat...but...be sincerely happy and joyful for the rest of your life...

-Ghost Blogger

Make your own tree ★!

This year, I've really got my "Martha" on. Though my tree isn't glamorous or nicely smelling like real pine, it is a labor of love. Meaning, about 90% of my ornaments hare hand-made. Even my tree-topper. Here, I'll show you how to make the same one!

Things you'll need:
~ Styrofoam ball (they usually come in packs of two and can be any size depending on how big you want it to be. Keep in mind that the bigger the ball is, the harder it will be to balance it on the tree.) $2-4
~ Shishkabob skewers, the wooden kind. Find these at any grocery store. $2-3
~ Spray paint, any color. I chose gold because it's traditional but I've seen hot pink, silver and even lime green. Knock yourself out. $4ish
~ Spray adhesive, $6ish
~ Glitter, the same color as the spray paint $5


First, stick one skewer in the ball. Keep this the longest one as it will be how you will put it in the tree.

Then, cutting the skewers into different lengths, stick them all over the ball in random patterns. It doesn't have to be symmetrical. We found that breaking the skewers works just as well as cutting them with scissors. When you're happy with the amount of "bursts" from your star, spray paint it all over. This is best done outside so you don't get yours kids high. No, I did not learn this from experience. *cough* Then, spray the adhesive all over and go crazy with the glitter. I mean crazy. It looks better with a thick layer of sparkles all over.

One thing to be careful is the type of styrofoam ball you get, make sure it's solid, like the stuff that gets packed with fragile items. The porous styrofoam won't hold the skewers as well.

This whole craft takes about twenty minutes and can be done for about $10, if you split the costs with a friend. To attach the star to my tree, I wrapped the very top branch around the longest skewer. No rubber-bands or twisty-ties needed. ;-)

-Sazaran

♥Le Divorce II

It's everywhere. Isn't it? Good grief, have you seen the statistics, lately?! For crying out loud, car loans have a better chance of going until the end than a commitment between lovers who claim to be lost without eachother. Two or even three marriages are the norm. Why?

Like I've said, I never thought I'd be in this position. But, you know what? Now that I'm here, I'm pretty much happy that I won't have to live the rest of my life to someone who is pretending to be someone else (read into that allll you want- I don't care). I feel relief that there is someone else out there who will treat me with love, honor and desire.

So many people look down on divorce (it being a sin doesn't help much). But, who are we trying to kid here? Of the two, which would you think is worse: getting a divorce or denying Christ? Yeah, that's right: the latter. And yet, Christ used the very people who denied him to build the church. Why? Because He doesn't count our sins against us. There is no "point of no return".

I'm not really one for asking, "What do you think Christ would rather you do, pursue happiness or stay in misery?" Because, obviously, Christ wants us to be happy. He also wants us to work through life's issues rather than running and sticking our heads in the sand- pretending those vows were never spoken, in the first place. However, He is the Master Mixer and if we make mistakes and try to fix them in our own human way, He will make it all work together.

Am I saying that divorce can just be brushed off? No. But, don't be discouraged- those of you who have or are experiencing divorce for any reason- life will straighten itself out. And in the end, you'll realize that what happened, though it may be heart wrenching and very difficult at the time, will turn into a very.good.thing. which opened doors for fresh opportunities and new mercies.

-Sazaran

We Now Pronounce You: Engaged!

In an earlier blog this week, I mentioned I had a big secret. You wouldn't believe how many people asked me if I was pregnant. Ha!

My secret, has finally come out. And it really isn't mine at all! It was Sarah and I's amazing friend: Ashley(!) and her beloved, rarity of a guy: Gus. She's allowed us to interview her, and we want to tell their story. Please feel free to gush all over the place in the comment form below. We couldn't be happier for a couple that couldn't be more perfect. ♥



How did you two meet??
Once upon a time, in a junior high far, far away (OK, that’s a lie; it’s actually not far from my parents’ house; like, you could throw something into its field from my parents’ backyard if you tried), the fates happened to place us both in the same tech ed/home ec combo class. We also went to the same preschool—and have the awesome pictures to prove it, starring me as The Little Girl Dressed as a Witch and him as the Boy In Black Sweatsuit With Ghostly Painted Face. & no, it wasn’t goth preschool all the time; just on Halloween.

What’s his last name? Are you going to USE it?
“White,” and bless it for its pure simplicity. OH how I can’t wait to have a last name that doesn’t end up being misheard as “Arsonist” or “Anderson,” and doesn’t require me spelling it out every time I need to use it. I can just be all, “Hi, I’m Ashley White,” and that’s that. I’m definitely planning to change my last name once we get our I Do on; I’ve always thought there was something uniquely cozy & romantic about it, signifying the start of our lovely little family together.

Rumor has it that he once sported a hawk; once the knot is tied…will he be allowed to appear that way again?
Over the course of the 10 years we’ve been together, his hairs have been hakwed, spiked, dyed (pink, bleached, mint green, purple & even deep burgundy to match my prom dress—he’s a keeper, this one)—and they’re always welcome to do whatever they want. I mean, hi, the kid can make Barbie-pink hair look jaw-droppingly gorgeous; do you really think I’d restrict him from adventurous hairs? No, no, no.

Name “your song”-and why!
“Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica; we both loved their black album (and both usually had it playing while we were talking on the phone), and one night during a phone date, he said, “You should listen to this song; I think it’s us.” Nothing since has fit better.

The BIG question: How did he propose?? Did you cry? Who did you tell?
He took me back to where it all began—amidst the butcher-block tables and grey metal stools of the woodshop at our junior high—under the guise that we were going to meet our old shop teacher to pick up car parts. (If you know my love, you know that this is so far from out of the ordinary. If there are car parts to be had, oh how he will have them.) And it was in the woodshop, surrounded by table saws & nostalgia, in the exact same place where he asked me to be his back in seventh grade, that he got down on one knee & asked me to spend forever with him.

My face was too happy to cry; that didn’t come until later, when Gus’s sister Sandee called to congratulate us and said, “Welcome home.” I was so in shock that I didn’t even pull it together enough to call my Mom & Dad until almost 45 minutes after the fact, when we were on our way to a celebratory dinner at Cinzetti’s (a sparkly ring AND an Italian feast? Like I said, this boy = keeper)—where I cried, again, because this wonderful girl I know (you might know her too; gorgeous eyes, blonde hairs, occasionally known as ‘Nomz?’ you’d love her) & her equally wonderful boy met us there with open arms & pretty flowers.

Tuesday morning was when I let the rest of my “inner circle” in on the news, via text & email, although we held off on posting to Facebook until later that night.

Why did you wait to do it digitally?
I wanted to make sure that our nearest and dearest heard the news straight from us, rather than secondhand or by seeing a random congratulatory comment on Facebook.

Were you completely surprised, or did you know it was coming?
I was completely convinced that our garage was going to be getting a few new car parts richer; never did I expect that I’d be walking out the front doors with some KAPOW sparkle on my left hand. Oh, that, and I spent probably a full minute staring at Gus, open-mouthed, and repeating, “Oh my god. Ohmy GOD. Oh my god,” after he proposed, before I could manage “yes.”

It seems size really does matter; do you want to discuss your ring? Because we prefer just a picture…



Have you set a date?
Currently, we’re just basking in the newly-engaged glow & haven’t given much thought to actual details, which could be because the inside of my head at the moment is singing, sparkly fluff. We do know, however, that we want a mid- to late-August wedding, preferably outside & surrounded by our favorite faces.

Who had the best reaction? If not who…then WHAT was the best reaction?
Everyone! From my parents’ “WHOA” faces when they saw the ring; to my co-worker BFF Prairie nearly bursting into tears & jumping and shrieking with me at work; to my practically-sister Brandy sending me the most heartfelt, adorable email & “congratulations on your engagement!” pictures; to my female co-workers shrieking and jumping around with me in the middle of our office at 8 a.m.; to my longtime bestie Danie calling all the way from England to leave me an accent-filled voicemail of joy; & really anyone who’s shared any sort of excitement about it. It’s one thing to be engaged, but entirely another to have a beautiful, incredible, soul-charging group of people who share in the joy with you, no holds barred.

How do Emerson and Ella {?} feel about this? Are they handling it ok?
Mostly they’re upset that I won’t put the ring on the floor so they can carry it somewhere & likely bury it inside one of our shoes.



How sparkly is the ring, honestly?
Dude, it’s a driving hazard. I’m like a bird; I see it sparkling in the sunlight on top of the steering wheel, and I’m all, “OOOH SHINY!” & then a few minutes later I remember that, oh hey, I’m in a moving vehicle that I’m responsible for not hitting people and/or objects with.

What is your favorite thing about Gus?
That he comes up with the wittiest, most hilarious things without even trying; that he texts me every single morning, just to say “I love you”; that he is an amazing cook & LOVES to cook for me; that he’s always down for the most random, spur-of-the-moment adventures; that he can fix anything with an engine in it; that he supports me in everything I do, loves me even when I’m cranky, and never once has complained about having a camera shoved in his face; and, above all, that he’s mine & I’m his. That’s my favorite.

What is your favorite thing about Ashley?
Yes, we actually contacted the infamous Gus White and asked him this question. He took a few moments out of his busy, busy day to call us back and let us know this:

"I would definitely say my absolute favorite thing about her is how genuine she is. About everybody. She really cares about every single person she knows. You can tell it's real, not forced. She's not waiting her turn. It's amazing."

According to the answer above, we don’t know when your wedding will be-do you want an engagement party to happen?
YES! What better excuse for a party than the fact that this hot, hilarious boy wants to hold hands with me until we’re old & wear cardigans a lot?

You’ve lived together for quite some time, obviously proving you have a lot of stuff together already. Should we start a “let’s buy Gus and Ashley a house and a car for their wedding” money pool? If not, what should we be on the lookout for?
This, my darlings? This simple fact right here, that you would even think to do something like this in my honor? That’s worth the world <3 (But, you know, if you happen to get the urge to buy us more damask things, I’m not going to stop you.)



There's their story folks!
Gus and Ashley, we raise our glasses to you, love you to pieces, and wish you all the best.

Yours Truly,
Nomz and Sazaran

Quotes:

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." ~Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." ~Emily Brontë

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." ~Author Unknown

♫ Dear Nomz...

I obviously cannot claim this as my brilliant idea. You see them everywhere.

A letter to me, to help remember who I am, and where I’ve been.

Dear Nomz,

Never be afraid to try something new. As much as you hate tomatoes, you love Bruschetta-all because you decided once to leave your meal fate to a waiter.

Your girls will always, always be your whole life-no matter who else chooses to come or go. You love your hair long, but look better with it right around your shoulders-in every shade you decide to try. You have great friends, horrible friends, and new friends coming. Don’t forget to love yourself first, but love others more.

Sometimes, life doesn’t go as planned. Sometimes, you think you found something great-only to realize it was all in your head. Remember that no matter how high on life you get, you’ve got to drop to reality to find its truth. Remember that day your first daughter stole your breath to take her first? NEVER forget that feeling-because when life is at its lowest-you’ll remember you’re fully capable of complete happiness.

Always love like you’ve never been hurt.

Try changing the world, from right where you are. Change, doesn’t require you to move. Running away only gives your problems a chance to gain momentum.

You love coffee. A lot. Stop trying to give it up-one cup, with the perfect amount of cream and sugar chases away your hate of mornings, and really doesn’t kill your diet. Also? Truly? You’re a bitch in the mornings. It’s not a great thing that you’ve learned to accept that.

Follow these lyrics whole heartedly: I will learn to let go what I cannot change. I will learn to forgive what I cannot change. I will learn to love what I cannot change. But I will change, I will change. Whatever I, whenever I can.

You have to sleep in the bed you make. You are going to make mistakes, you’re going to fall down. You’re going to get hurt, you’re going to feel abandoned. You will always have God.

Divorce isn’t the ultimate sin. You aren’t going to hell, because you made a mistake getting married for all the wrong reasons. Letting go of your past, opens new doors to your future. You were put with that person in your past to get the two best things that have ever happened to you. Never ever forget that you’re one hellova package deal. It’s not fair to be self conscious of what you’ve got, but instead be proud of it, and feel like it’s a treasure-one that you get to choose who to share it with. As of June 3rd four years ago, you will never put yourself first again-those girls define magical. No matter what anybody says, finding your happiness will not take you away from God’s love. Your daughters will not follow in your failures, but in your strengths.

Brandon is one of the best things that’s ever happened to you-he’s opened your eyes-you owe him for that.

It’s ok that you can’t decide on a favorite anything. Being an indecisive person has brought some huge opportunities in to your life. Keep it up.

Remember that how you treat others is your karma, and how they react is there’s. You can love others, but you do not possess them. You can assist, pray, and wish for them-but you cannot use any of those things to determine their paths or their happiness.

Hope is like a balloon-it always floats up.

I’m going to write you a lot of letters, because I plan on learning more tomorrow. Never stop reading-or writing-or learning.

Yours Truly,
Nomz