Fan Girl Friday - Peace

This #FanGirlFriday is a little different than the others. Most Fridays, I'm sharing a product, a company, a brand or another entity that I'm fond of. Last night when I want to bed, I thought today would be about one of those kinds of things. Turns out, I'll save that for another Friday.

Today, I am a fan of PEACE. I am a fan of LOVE. I am a fan of COMMUNITY. I am a fan of FRIENDSHIP. I am a fan of FAMILY. I am a fan of JESUS CHRIST.

On Monday, we celebrated Independence Day and Freedom and our Country. The next day, a man was killed by police in Baton Rouge. The day after that, another man was killed by police in Minneapolis. The day after that, at a peaceful protest, five police officers were killed and seven other officers and two civilians were wounded by snipers in Dallas. None of this seems like Independence or Freedom to me. 

I can't stop thinking about this. I listened to a little radio, but I cannot watch television coverage. It makes my heart hurt and makes me sick to my stomach. I keep thinking about the families of all the people involved, and how easy it will be for them to let hatred creep into their hearts. Hatred for the police. Hatred for the shooter(s) in Dallas. Hatred for one another. Hatred for blacks. Hatred for whites. Hatred for those who are different, in whatever way. Hate. Hate. Hate.

We live in the greatest country in the world, yet we are still a nation divided. We're divided along political lines, socio-economic lines, ethnicity lines. All the strides toward narrowing that division we thought we might have been making over the past few decades are really just a drop in the bucket. We don't have segregated bathrooms, and we don't have different water fountains, and anyone can sit where they want to on the bus. But we also don't have unity, and we don't have common ground, and we don't have peace. It seems we are no closer to being a nation united today than we were fifty years ago. Division brings fear. Fear brings hatred. Hatred brings death. 

I know people who are afraid for their children right now. People who are afraid that their black sons and daughters will be targeted solely because of the color of their skin. My heart breaks for those parents.

I know people who are afraid for their children right now. People who are afraid that their police officer sons and daughters will be targeted solely because of their chosen profession. My heart breaks for those parents.

Right now, I am afraid of the chaos and anarchy and lawlessness that seems to be looming around every corner. I am afraid for all our children. My heart breaks for us all. But, I will not allow that fear to take over and fill my broken heart with hate. 

To stop the hate, we must stop the fear. To stop the fear, we must stop preaching division and start preaching love. And, I'm not talking about religion. Religion can make people crazy. We see that every day with those who preach hate and intolerance, and with those who seek to destroy us. I'm talking about following Jesus, and preaching and teaching love. Followers of Jesus love one another, because Jesus taught us love. Jesus said more than once that we are to love one another. It is a commandment second only to loving God with all your heart, soul and mind. It's pretty important. When we love with our whole heart and with our soul, there is no room for hate. I wish you love. 

Much LOVE,
~ME:)

Holiday List - May 2016

May 2016 

1 - National Bubba Day

2 - Robert's Rules of Order Day

3 - National Teacher Day

4 - Star Wars Day (May the 4th Be With You)

5 - National Day of Prayer / Cinco de Mayo

6 - No Diet Day

7 - World Naked Gardening Day

8 - Mother's Day / No Socks Day

9 - National Moscato Day

10 - Clean Up Your Room Day

11 - Eat What You Want Day / Hostess Cupcake Day

12 - Limerick Day

13 - Blame Someone Else Day / National Apple Pie Day

14 - National Chicken Dance Day

15 - Straw Hat Day

16 - National Sea Monkey Day

17 - National Cherry Cobbler Day

18 - Visit Your Relatives Day / I Love Reeses Day

19 - Circus Day

20 - Eliza Doolittle Day / National Pizza Party Day

21 - National Waitstaff Day / Do Dah Day

22 - Neighbor Day

23 - National Taffy Day

24 - International Tiara Day

25 - National Tap Dance Day / National Wine Day

26 - Red Nose Day

27 - Cellophane Tape Day

28 - National Hamburger Day

29 - Learn About Composting Day

30 - Memorial Day

31 - World No Tobacco Day / What You Think Upon Grows Day

Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.

More or Less...Some Resolutions

Happy New Year! It's a Sweet 16 year, y'all. This millennium can drive now! Really, if this year was a teenager, this year would be a sophomore in high school. No longer the baby of the bunch, but not completely wise to the ways of the hallway. Not looked down on because of youth, but not looked up to for wisdom. This Sweet 16 year is somewhere in the middle. Maybe going on a first date. Maybe getting a first kiss. Oh! The possibilities for the next 365 days!

As we go into this New Year, I'm going to try and look at it with a new and youthful outlook. I'm going to set my goals with the innocence and bewilderment that I can reach those goals

Very Superstitious...

I'm not really very superstitious at all.  I meet Friday the 13th head on.  I don't freak out about broken mirrors.  I'm not a scaredy cat when it comes to black cats.  Now, I don't walk under ladders, but that's because it's just not safe.  I don't particularly believe in luck - I believe in blessings.  I don't count on wishes - I count on prayers.  (Birthday candles and shooting stars are exceptions, however.)  I don't believe in magic, but I do believe in miracles.  

I do, however, have some superstitious feelings about the going out of the old year, and the coming in of the new year.  There's just something special and magical and lucky and wishful about a new year.  The old year is just..well, just so last year.  

So that I don't bring any dirty laundry into 2014 with me, the last load of laundry is in the dryer now.  I don't need any dirt from my past cluttering up my future, so the floors have been swept.  I'm over all that garbage, so the trash cans have been emptied.  On New Year's Day, we will do no laundry, do no sweeping and will not take out the trash.  Those acts could interrupt the space/time continuum and alter the course of the whole year.  We could unwittingly wash someone important out of our lives, sweep our good luck right out the door and trash our hopes and dreams.  I just don't need that kind of nonsense following me around for a 365 days.  

For good luck and prosperity, we'll have black-eyed peas and cabbage for lunch on New Year's Day.  I'll kiss my Sweet Hubby Ryan at midnight to ensure warm affection for the coming year.  I'll keep my thoughts positive and my words encouraging, so that the year will be filled with accomplishments for my family and friends, as well as myself. 

Yes, I make resolutions.  Every year.  It's part of the superstition, I guess.  I need to write down my intentions, in order for them to stick.  I always start out with great intentions, too, just like everyone else.  I can't find my list from last year, but I know it included going to the gym (I've been pretty steady at going two to three times a week!), making a point to perform at least one random act of kindness per week (that one has been pretty easy), writing in my journal and reading the Bible every day (those haven't held up as well).  There were some other things, but I sure can't remember what they were.  I'd like to say whatever they were, they have become so much a part of my life that they're now just habit.  I'm pretty sure if I did say that, it would be a big fat lie.  I'm certain I just forgot about them after a week or so.

This year, I resolve to a) commit to going to the gym at least four days a week, b) cut at least 85% of processed foods from my diet (cake will not leave the diet for good) and c) read one non-fiction book for every fiction book I read.  I have a few more, but they are for me only. After all, these are MY resolutions.  

In just a few hours, this year will be over.  Looking back, I'd say it was a pretty good year. Last year's black-eyed peas worked.  I'm one lucky girl.  

Much love, many blessings, good luck and Happy New Year!

~ME:)

What are your New Year's Eve and New Year's Day traditions / superstitions?