Looking Back

2008 has come to its end. It was a very good year for me. It had its ups, and most certainly had its downs, but overall it was a very good year. As I look back at all the tears I shed, all the times I laughed, and all the moments of joy and pain, I think of how God was there by my side through it all. I think I can safely say that this past year has been the best year of my life.

But I cannot hold on. I've seen what happens when I linger on the past so much that I cannot enjoy the present or think about the future. The year 2008 was wonderful, yes, but what is stopping these next few years—or the rest of my life, for that matter—from being just as wonderful? If I linger too long, I will lose some of the most precious moments that God gives me. I must step into my future. It will soon become my past. In this story called life, we come and we go. The earth spins and orbits the sun. The stars shine and go out. Everything is in motion. God remains the same.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

My Very First Tag

I feel kind of weird saying "so and so" tagged me, when they merely tagged "all who wish to participate", but…I've always wanted to do a tag, and I've got to start somewhere, so here goes! Let's say that Jasmine tagged me on her A Tag! post.

Rules:
* Post the six to ten things that you do on a daily basis.
*Link to the person who tagged you.
*Tag five other people.
*Leave a comment on the blog of the person that tagged you letting them know you posted this on your blog.

Here are my six things:

1: I journal. Every day I wake up, read some scripture, and then write in my two journals. Yes, two! One is for writing more spiritual stuff and the other is for writing more daily happenings stuff.

2: I listen to music, whether on headphones or on the speakers set up in the living room. I can't concentrate very well without it!

3: I dance very randomly in the living room (to the music playing, of course).Sometimes it's faking ballet, sometimes it's swing dancing at an imaginary 50's party, and sometimes it's waltzing with an invisible partner. : )

4: I walk. When the weather is decent, I walk outside. When it's not, I relish the opportunity to go to the grocery store!

5: I daydream. This is a habit which I wish to break (at least somewhat)…I think I daydream far too much. : )

6: I stare out the window, and look at the splendor of God's creation. It's truly a blessing to be able to see the beauty of nature!

I tag everyone who likes to frolic in the rain!

Sincerely,
Miss S.

"It Feels Like I Have a Uni-Leg!"

When I was twelve, I was well-known for going barefoot as often as I possibly could. When I wore shoes, I tried to wear exclusively flip-flops. The reason? I didn’t like socks. And likewise, I disliked every pair of shoes that I had to wear socks with. I didn’t like the feeling of my toes being together that much. When asked, I stated that it made me feel like I had a “uni-toe”. : )

Also when I was twelve, I had a great aversion to skirts. I wore pants, capris, and shorts…but very rarely skirts. When asked, you may guess my response. Yes, it made me feel like I had a “uni-leg”!

Then came that notorious day in August. Around three years ago in late August, I met a young lady who was two years older than me, and a beautiful dancer. She wore the prettiest skirts, and when she danced, they would flitter all over the place in a very pretty way. I decided I wanted to be just like her. So I asked my dad, (who just happens to be the Israeli dance teacher at our congregation) to teach me a few dances. And also, to the shock of everyone around me, I stated that I wanted to buy a skirt. Nobody knew why I made this turnaround, and it was several months later before I told anyone the reason.

After that, I decided that maybe skirts weren’t as bad as I thought. They didn’t seem quite as uncomfortable as before. I started wearing skirts a little more often. Around once, maybe twice a week. It was around two years later before I started wearing them daily. And even then, my reasons for doing so were not right. I wore them daily with the thought that I would be seen as a “good” girl, who took consideration to the way she dressed (even though in my heart, I knew I didn’t). After finding the Rebelution’s modesty survey, I saw modesty in a whole new light. I found that if the desire to dress modestly, femininely, etc. was not for the right reasons, then what good would it do? If I dress modestly, but act immodestly, I have failed to understand what modesty truly is. And also if I dress femininely, but act unfeminine, I have failed to understand what femininity truly is.

So now, over three years after first admiring the flowy skirts of the young lady who is now one of my closest friends, I wear skirts every day; not because I want to be seen as “good”, but because God has put it upon my heart to be a lady, and wearing skirts is, for me, very much a part of that.

Sincerely,

Miss S.