For years I've been thinking about all of the roles women in our society are supposed to play. We should be smart, but gracious; strong, but gentle; firm, but yielding; independent, but team players. Basically, we are supposed to be Cinderella - a hardworking, nurturing, domestic expert who never complains, and a beautiful, flawless, innocent temptress. It's a lot to live up to.
I wonder, though, if it's just as hard to be Prince Charming. Are those expectations just as unreal? We expect a "real man" to be strong, hardworking, handy, charming, and wealthy. He is supposed to be sensitive and intuitive, but must do so without revealing any emotions of his own. He is supposed to be there in an instant in times of trouble, solution in hand, sword drawn, ready to fight dragons, but isn't really necessary the rest of the time. (Except for the Royal Ball, of course.)
Maybe we should chuck both ideas and choose new role models. Or, maybe we should look to ourselves and not try to emulate others.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Monday, October 25, 2004
Nice Breasts!
Thoughts for the day -
1. Breast is not a dirty word. It is a major body part on roughly 51% of the world's population.
2. My grandmother died of breast cancer at around age 50, having been diagnosed before she was 40. My brother and I never met her.
3. This is breast cancer awareness month. Please make a donation of money and time to help those affected by this disease. You can go the the Komen Foundation, the American Cancer Society, The Wellness Community, the Breast Cancer site, and even Target, Lee, or Ford to help the cause.
4. What's your cause?
1. Breast is not a dirty word. It is a major body part on roughly 51% of the world's population.
2. My grandmother died of breast cancer at around age 50, having been diagnosed before she was 40. My brother and I never met her.
3. This is breast cancer awareness month. Please make a donation of money and time to help those affected by this disease. You can go the the Komen Foundation, the American Cancer Society, The Wellness Community, the Breast Cancer site, and even Target, Lee, or Ford to help the cause.
4. What's your cause?
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Patience and Politics
As most of you know, I spend my day surrounded by 19 fifth graders. Most days, we all get along just fine and I really like being around them. This week, however, my patience is almost gone. Maybe it's the warm front, but the kids are bouncing off the walls. So, my question for the day - other than prayer, how do you refill your patience jar when there's only one marble left in it? (Bonus question - how do you keep that last marble in the jar?)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
With the elections drawing nearer, there has been much lunchroom discussion about people's opinions and beliefs. I consider myself a moderate independent. Sometimes I agree with one side, sometimes the other. Sometimes I disagree with both. In the spirit of free speech, here are my beliefs.
I believe that the majority of people are good, hardworking citizens who just want a comfortable life for themselves and their families.
I believe in the old adage about fishing. If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he eats for life. I believe in creating jobs that pay a decent wage, rather than increasing government handouts.
I believe that education is the foundation of a strong society. I think that if we invested more resources in education (academic, vocational, community, & family) that we would eventually need to invest less in the penal and welfare systems.
I believe that the best defense is a strong offense - that we should have the strongest intelligence and military forces in the world. I believe that service members and veterans should be thanked on a daily basis.
I believe that we are destroying our world. Every day, species become extinct and ecosystems are unalterably changed. I believe that we continue to be poor stewards of the resources we've been blessed with. I believe that alternatives to fossil fuels, such as solar power, wind power, and vegetable oils, must be utilized.
I think we are returning to a Robber Baron state, if we ever really left one - that a handful of millionaires and billionaires determine the majority of what America reads, watches, listens to, and purchases. This scares me quite a bit. I also think that big lobbyists, like the gun, pharmaceutical, and tobacco lobbies have WAY too much power.
Finally, I believe in America. I think the ideas our country is based upon still hold true. I think we are a young nation with much promise, even with our growing pains.
Whatever you believe, please put those thoughts into actions and VOTE!!
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
With the elections drawing nearer, there has been much lunchroom discussion about people's opinions and beliefs. I consider myself a moderate independent. Sometimes I agree with one side, sometimes the other. Sometimes I disagree with both. In the spirit of free speech, here are my beliefs.
I believe that the majority of people are good, hardworking citizens who just want a comfortable life for themselves and their families.
I believe in the old adage about fishing. If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he eats for life. I believe in creating jobs that pay a decent wage, rather than increasing government handouts.
I believe that education is the foundation of a strong society. I think that if we invested more resources in education (academic, vocational, community, & family) that we would eventually need to invest less in the penal and welfare systems.
I believe that the best defense is a strong offense - that we should have the strongest intelligence and military forces in the world. I believe that service members and veterans should be thanked on a daily basis.
I believe that we are destroying our world. Every day, species become extinct and ecosystems are unalterably changed. I believe that we continue to be poor stewards of the resources we've been blessed with. I believe that alternatives to fossil fuels, such as solar power, wind power, and vegetable oils, must be utilized.
I think we are returning to a Robber Baron state, if we ever really left one - that a handful of millionaires and billionaires determine the majority of what America reads, watches, listens to, and purchases. This scares me quite a bit. I also think that big lobbyists, like the gun, pharmaceutical, and tobacco lobbies have WAY too much power.
Finally, I believe in America. I think the ideas our country is based upon still hold true. I think we are a young nation with much promise, even with our growing pains.
Whatever you believe, please put those thoughts into actions and VOTE!!
Monday, October 11, 2004
Women of Virtue
This weekend, I attended a women's conference at my church. The main speaker was a woman named Vicki Courtney. Her latest book, The Virtuous Woman: Shattering the Superwoman Myth, takes a look at the Proverbs 31 woman and what she might be like today. Vicki was a great speaker, and I learned a lot. The music was also wonderful. Praise songs were led by Amy Nobles and her all girl band. They were awesome!! I highly recommend checking out their CD's. (On a side note, their producer, Ross King is also worth checking out.) It is so great when praise and worship time is really a time on focusing on God and not just a time to sing. I was really moved by both Vicki and Amy, and I am even thinking of writing a book based on some of the things I learned. I'll get back to y'all as that idea develops.
I also went to a wedding reception of an old friend this weekend. My friend Jonathan married a beautiful girl named Ela in Turkey last month, and they had a reception for all of his Texas friends and family. I had a wonderful time catching up with a few old friends and reliving good times. I always find it so interesting that friends can be apart for years, even decades, and yet when reunited the same warmth and rapport still exists. Friends rock!!
Finally, a verse for the day. Praise God for always being great, even in our times of adversity.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD , I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
I also went to a wedding reception of an old friend this weekend. My friend Jonathan married a beautiful girl named Ela in Turkey last month, and they had a reception for all of his Texas friends and family. I had a wonderful time catching up with a few old friends and reliving good times. I always find it so interesting that friends can be apart for years, even decades, and yet when reunited the same warmth and rapport still exists. Friends rock!!
Finally, a verse for the day. Praise God for always being great, even in our times of adversity.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD , I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Friends For Life
I read the other day that there are three kinds of friends: friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for life. I've had all three. Probably because I am a rather talkative person, I have never had a problem making friends for a reason. I am usually the first in a group to break the ice and get to know people. Friends for a season are harder for me. I tend to grow really attached to people, and it is hard for me when those bonds are released. Finding a friend for life is the hardest of all, but, of course, also the most rewarding. I have been so blessed to find my soul sisters. My original soul sister, Elizabeth, turned thirty yesterday. (Happy Birthday!) When we met at the age of 13, I never thought we'd play such a large role in each other's lives. Thank God for filling our lives with surprises. For some wonderful tales of other soul sisters, read the Sisterchick books. They're awesome!
On an unrelated note, I just thought I'd update my TV reviews. I saw Desperate Housewives on Sunday, and I really liked it. I'm also getting into Lost. If life as we know it is any good, ABC just might pull a comeback in the ratings. I am still loving Jack and Bobby, but Father of the Pride has turned out to be a dud. Of course Survivor and The Apprentice continue to thrill. (Gotta love that Mark Burnett!) Actually, my favorite show right now is on the WAM! network. It is called Higher Ground, about an outdoor school for troubled teens. I liked it when it was originally on a few years ago, and I love catching it again. Man, I would love to run a school like that one day.
Anyway, real life is calling.....
On an unrelated note, I just thought I'd update my TV reviews. I saw Desperate Housewives on Sunday, and I really liked it. I'm also getting into Lost. If life as we know it is any good, ABC just might pull a comeback in the ratings. I am still loving Jack and Bobby, but Father of the Pride has turned out to be a dud. Of course Survivor and The Apprentice continue to thrill. (Gotta love that Mark Burnett!) Actually, my favorite show right now is on the WAM! network. It is called Higher Ground, about an outdoor school for troubled teens. I liked it when it was originally on a few years ago, and I love catching it again. Man, I would love to run a school like that one day.
Anyway, real life is calling.....
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