Keeping up with the sappy "things happen for a reason" theme...
I have to admit my belief of the long chain of events that brought Matt and I together. :)
It all started over 16 years ago.
When I was only 8 years old, my parents dropped a bomb on my brother and I that my dad was being transferred (job-wise) to Fort Worth and that we were going to be moving to Midlothian. (We are originally from a small town on Cedar Creek Lake). Like any normal 8 and 11-year-old, we were bummed, mad, and dang-near devastated. Reluctantly (as if we had any other choice), we moved to a house in a neighborhood called Lakegrove next door to the nicest family anyone could imagine, the Gaithers.
While I was always pretty shy growing up, my brother's personality was and still is that "never meet a stranger" type. So before long, he got to know the incredible girl next door, Lisa, and she quickly became part of our family. She was always at our house and acted as if she were our big sister. We were/are so lucky!
After a couple of years, my dad decided he wanted bigger house, so even though we stayed in Midlothian, we moved away from Lisa and her family. Over the next few years, we moved a few times within the town and although Lisa did not live next door, she stayed a constant part of our lives.
On my brother's sixteenth birthday, we threw him a surprise party. Lisa was, of course, in attendance and brought her new boyfriend, Greg Houchin... A guy she had been crazy about for a couple of years. It was the first time I remember ever meeting him and I thought he was the cutest and coolest thing ever. :) They continued to date for several years and got married in 2001.
In 2003, I graduated high school, moved down to San Marcos, got sick, got hurt, grew a pair, broke it off, decided to go to DBU and moved back to Dallas. From '04 to '06, I got well, dated again, got my pride crushed, picked a new major, did away with bad habits, made new friends, lost my mind, found my soul, broke a heart (or two), went to therapy, found my inner passion, learned from my mistakes, got hurt all over again and learned some more. Whew.
Meanwhile, Lisa and Greg moved to Weatherford for a while, then moved back. Lisa and I reconnected, and in 2006, she and Greg introduced me to his cousin, Matt.
So, long story short...
If we hadn't moved to Midlothian and next door to the Gaithers, if Lisa hadn't met and married Greg, if I hadn't come back from San Marcos, if the Houchins hadn't moved back from Weatherford, if I hadn't stopped my disastrous path and ended toxic relationships, if I hadn't learned from past mistakes, if I had given up on all relationships, I would have never met the love of my life.
Funny how it all works out... How can anyone say that God doesn't have a plan for our lives? I know He does for mine and He's been showing me for at least 16 years. :)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Oh, So Cliche'
Have you ever thought about the many cliches in life? While my cynical half tries to snarl every time someone throws one my way, I do believe in the truth behind "everything happens for a reason." Is it what I want to hear when I'm in the middle of the worst pain in my life? Absolutely not... However, looking back, I can't help but to see how everything in my life has brought me to this moment right here, right now. Lord knows it's been a long 24 years of lessons learned. :)
I first really started thinking about this two weekends ago. My best friend Lauren recently got engaged, and Matt and I went up to Little Rock to her engagement party. We have known each other for 6 years (since our Freshman year in college) and I couldn't ask for a better friend. I love her dearly.
Rewind to the day we met... My parents and I were moving all of my stuff into my dorm at Texas State. I'm sure there was a bit of tension in the air for the sheer fact that my parents did not want me to be in San Marcos. I had followed my high school boyfriend down there (by the way, I will die before I let my child follow their significant other to college-- just so you know). Anyway, we were getting my room all set up, when I heard people coming down the hall. The two girls were moving in the dorm room across from mine... Lauren was one of them. I would like to think I introduced myself to her, but knowing my sometimes "shy/unfriendly" nature, she probably made the first move. :) And the rest, as they say, is history. How about another cliche'?!
We clicked immediately. Shortly after we got all settled in and said our Goodbyes to our parents, we fell deeply into Rush Week. Devastatingly, we rushed different sororities, but our relationship was not affected. We each made new friends, but stayed close to one another. In November, my boyfriend and I ended our toxic relationship (shocker)-- Lauren was there to pick up my pieces. A few months later, I began having thyroid problems, lost a ton of weight, and the doctors thought I might have a tumor on my pituitary glands... Lauren comforted me. We spent New Year's together in Houston, went skiing on Spring Break vacation, threw an outstanding party at her parent's lakehouse, drank too much, made terrible decisions, but leaned on each other through it all.
When I decided in May not to return to Texas State in the Fall, I was heartbroken to be leaving her. I was lucky that she understood that I needed to make a new and fresh start. Being 200 miles apart was taxing on our friendship, but we never let it go. We were unable to be inseparable, but our relationship still grew. In the past 6 years, we've been through so much together. It's easy for me to see why she's my best friend. Still and always.
So where does the cliche' come in? Well it all boils down to my high school boyfriend. We started dating when I was 15, so naturally when it came to making a decision about college, I couldn't be without him. So, despite the lack of approval from my friends and family members, I followed him... I followed him to place where I didn't necessarily belong, a place far away from home, a place where my heart was broken and my faith was almost lost... A place where I met my best friend. That is the only thing in the world that I thank him for. If it hadn't been for my disastrous first relationship, I would have never met my life-changing best friend, Lauren. "Everything happens for a reason."
And for that one reason, I would do it ALL over again. Love you, Lo.
I first really started thinking about this two weekends ago. My best friend Lauren recently got engaged, and Matt and I went up to Little Rock to her engagement party. We have known each other for 6 years (since our Freshman year in college) and I couldn't ask for a better friend. I love her dearly.
Rewind to the day we met... My parents and I were moving all of my stuff into my dorm at Texas State. I'm sure there was a bit of tension in the air for the sheer fact that my parents did not want me to be in San Marcos. I had followed my high school boyfriend down there (by the way, I will die before I let my child follow their significant other to college-- just so you know). Anyway, we were getting my room all set up, when I heard people coming down the hall. The two girls were moving in the dorm room across from mine... Lauren was one of them. I would like to think I introduced myself to her, but knowing my sometimes "shy/unfriendly" nature, she probably made the first move. :) And the rest, as they say, is history. How about another cliche'?!
We clicked immediately. Shortly after we got all settled in and said our Goodbyes to our parents, we fell deeply into Rush Week. Devastatingly, we rushed different sororities, but our relationship was not affected. We each made new friends, but stayed close to one another. In November, my boyfriend and I ended our toxic relationship (shocker)-- Lauren was there to pick up my pieces. A few months later, I began having thyroid problems, lost a ton of weight, and the doctors thought I might have a tumor on my pituitary glands... Lauren comforted me. We spent New Year's together in Houston, went skiing on Spring Break vacation, threw an outstanding party at her parent's lakehouse, drank too much, made terrible decisions, but leaned on each other through it all.
When I decided in May not to return to Texas State in the Fall, I was heartbroken to be leaving her. I was lucky that she understood that I needed to make a new and fresh start. Being 200 miles apart was taxing on our friendship, but we never let it go. We were unable to be inseparable, but our relationship still grew. In the past 6 years, we've been through so much together. It's easy for me to see why she's my best friend. Still and always.
So where does the cliche' come in? Well it all boils down to my high school boyfriend. We started dating when I was 15, so naturally when it came to making a decision about college, I couldn't be without him. So, despite the lack of approval from my friends and family members, I followed him... I followed him to place where I didn't necessarily belong, a place far away from home, a place where my heart was broken and my faith was almost lost... A place where I met my best friend. That is the only thing in the world that I thank him for. If it hadn't been for my disastrous first relationship, I would have never met my life-changing best friend, Lauren. "Everything happens for a reason."
And for that one reason, I would do it ALL over again. Love you, Lo.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Spiritual vs. Religious
I have a confession to make... I absolutely adore Tori Spelling.
My infatuation started years after her days on 90210. In fact, she might have just been my least favorite character on a show I came to know mostly from re-runs. However, over the past few years, I have been watching her show(s)-- Tori and Dean (Inn Love, Home Sweet Hollywood, etc.). I have come to love her little family... From an outsider perspective, of course. I think her husband Dean has to be one of the sweetest men alive and there are times when Tori is upset, that I feel her pain. I know, I don't need you to tell you how silly this is. SO, because of my feelings toward her and her family, I decided to buy her first book, sTORI Telling.
I have been reading along steadily (in what little spare time I have) and thoroughly enjoying her "no-holds-barred" stories from the inside of 90210, growing up in the biggest house in Hollywood with a crazy mom, and through the trials and tribulations of her first marriage (and divorce). I even forced myself to look past the fact that she and Dean were married when they met and had an extramarital affair before they both filed for divorce from their ex-spouses. Hey, who am I to judge?!
BUT-- She said something in her book that is hard for me to let go in my feelings of who she is as a person. She clearly states that she is "more spiritual than religious." Hmm... If I had a nickel for every time I've heard this mind-boggling statement (more often than not from the mouth of a celebrity), I'd be able to afford the $500 boots I've been wanting from Victorias Secret AND have plenty of money left over.
So what exactly do these much-loved stars mean by "spiritual." My guess, of course, is nothing but the speculation of a born and raised Christian. I believe that it's a half-hearted attempt to say "I believe in something (possibly a higher power, possibly even the same God Christians believe in), but because of my rebellious nature, I refuse to follow any sort of "organized religion." What is it about organized religion that turns people off? Oprah is a very valid example of spirituality vs. religion. She says she is spiritual, not religious, but if you ask me, ol' O is nothing but a fair-weather fan. She has a very large fan base, so she must keep all calm on the homefront... If she has a Buddhist on her show, she wants to seem overly-empathetic of that religion. If her guest of honor is a Scientologist, she will attempt to agree with him or her. In my humble opinion, all she is saying is "I don't know what I believe, so I follow the fad of the day." It's unfortunate if you ask me.
Once again, I am just stating my beliefs. I may buy the trendy clothes or cut my hair like Posh, but one thing that is NOT a fad is my belief system. It is unwavering. I believe that my Lord sent his son to save us from our sins.
Do I lend an ear and offer respect to others who believe differently than myself? Absolutely. But will I change my feelings because of a few strong-minded people with valid points? No, because that's not how my religion works... My religion is an unwavering, unchangeable part of who I am... All the way to the core.
Sorry Tori... Tonight we disagree.
My infatuation started years after her days on 90210. In fact, she might have just been my least favorite character on a show I came to know mostly from re-runs. However, over the past few years, I have been watching her show(s)-- Tori and Dean (Inn Love, Home Sweet Hollywood, etc.). I have come to love her little family... From an outsider perspective, of course. I think her husband Dean has to be one of the sweetest men alive and there are times when Tori is upset, that I feel her pain. I know, I don't need you to tell you how silly this is. SO, because of my feelings toward her and her family, I decided to buy her first book, sTORI Telling.
I have been reading along steadily (in what little spare time I have) and thoroughly enjoying her "no-holds-barred" stories from the inside of 90210, growing up in the biggest house in Hollywood with a crazy mom, and through the trials and tribulations of her first marriage (and divorce). I even forced myself to look past the fact that she and Dean were married when they met and had an extramarital affair before they both filed for divorce from their ex-spouses. Hey, who am I to judge?!
BUT-- She said something in her book that is hard for me to let go in my feelings of who she is as a person. She clearly states that she is "more spiritual than religious." Hmm... If I had a nickel for every time I've heard this mind-boggling statement (more often than not from the mouth of a celebrity), I'd be able to afford the $500 boots I've been wanting from Victorias Secret AND have plenty of money left over.
So what exactly do these much-loved stars mean by "spiritual." My guess, of course, is nothing but the speculation of a born and raised Christian. I believe that it's a half-hearted attempt to say "I believe in something (possibly a higher power, possibly even the same God Christians believe in), but because of my rebellious nature, I refuse to follow any sort of "organized religion." What is it about organized religion that turns people off? Oprah is a very valid example of spirituality vs. religion. She says she is spiritual, not religious, but if you ask me, ol' O is nothing but a fair-weather fan. She has a very large fan base, so she must keep all calm on the homefront... If she has a Buddhist on her show, she wants to seem overly-empathetic of that religion. If her guest of honor is a Scientologist, she will attempt to agree with him or her. In my humble opinion, all she is saying is "I don't know what I believe, so I follow the fad of the day." It's unfortunate if you ask me.
Once again, I am just stating my beliefs. I may buy the trendy clothes or cut my hair like Posh, but one thing that is NOT a fad is my belief system. It is unwavering. I believe that my Lord sent his son to save us from our sins.
Do I lend an ear and offer respect to others who believe differently than myself? Absolutely. But will I change my feelings because of a few strong-minded people with valid points? No, because that's not how my religion works... My religion is an unwavering, unchangeable part of who I am... All the way to the core.
Sorry Tori... Tonight we disagree.
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