To me, blogging keeps community in my life. It's nice to know how other people are doing, and what is going on. I read about things I can pray for, and ask about. I learn the views of others which causes me to question my own views and why I believe what I do (something I believe to be very healthy). I feel like I get a glimpse into the lives of friends.
Also, blogging is fulfilling. I get to journal out things that I'm feeling. I get to share something I think is funny. I get to be honest about my life. I hope that causes others to feel like they can be honest too. I think I'm pretty nice, but I'm not a sugar-coater. I'm sure most people know that. I think that honesty liberates others to be honest as well.
So if you don't blog, try it out! You've got nothing to lose, and rest assured that at least ONE person will probably read (that would be me, of course!!)
So, On Fridays I'm going to dedicate my blog to good food!
As of recently, our lives have been a little more hectic. While I'm working less then usual, it still seem that time escapes me. I normally cook dinner, but I find myself exhausted at the end of most days. So on a recent venture to Trader Joe's (a place I find myself visiting more and more often)looking for some healthy convenience foods, I came across these:
One word: YUM!
I don't eat meat, so these are right up my ally. I love Mexican food! But for my carnivore friends (my husband included) they have Chicken and cheese and beef and cheese as well.
It only takes 5 minutes in the microwave. While I've always wanted to learn to make homemade tamales, these are the next best thing until i have the time (and patience) to learn.
So try them! Even if you eat meat, I'm telling you, the green chili are delish! Matt is eating one as I type. If Matt will eat it, it must taste good!
My name is Sarah, and I'm not a Republican. While I am fairly Conservative, I don't like the commitment to one party, so I consistently register as an independent. Well, two weeks ago, I was approached outside of a store to sign a petition. I informed the man that U was sure I had already signed this particular one, but he informed me that some stipulation had been ignored and that they needed people to sign again. So I'm signing, and then he said needed one more signature "for it to count", so I gladly signed. Then he asked me if i want to be registered as a Republican. Unbeknownst to me, he was registering me to vote. I've been meaning to register in Lodi, as I'm registered in Stockton. I didn't think I would essentially be register-raped. Yup, that's what I said. This man was registering me against my will or knowledge. Ugh.
Not being one to like confrontation, I assured myself that it's something I had wanted anyway. So I answered "actually, I'm an independent voter, and would like to be registered as an independent!". He apparently didn't like my answer, as he proceeded to argue with me for the next 5 minutes about registering as a Republican. His argument was a suicidal one, as he claimed it didn't matter how you registered, to which I answered "OK, then I would like to be registered as an independent!". Finally, he said OK, and I went on my way.
Fast forward to yesterday. I receive my registration confirmation in the mail. How am I registered? As a Republican! I cannot tell you how angry this makes me. I want to complain, but who would I complain to? I just hate it when people can't just respect the views of others.
In fun news, A few girls and I made the trek to Sacramento to The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate Lexie's 20th birthday last night. We had some funny, and interesting conversations. I opted out of cheesecake to enjoy a huge piece of Carrot cake. Can you say "Yum"? I love it! It was a nice time!
Oh, one more thing. My computer is BROKEN!!! So if I'm not in contact as much as usual, it's because I have limited computer time until my laptop gets fixed (which should be VERY soon!!),
Peace. Isn't that what most people strive for? Some sort of inner peace? People have developed many ways of achieving that. Many turn to self-help, meditation, workaholicism (made up words rock), throwing themselves into roles of advocacy for poverty, animal rights, political agendas...yadda yadda. Of couse religion is the "biggie" of the inner peace arena. None of these things are bad in themselves. It's ok to stand up for things, to be "into" this or that. However, many times I think people idenify themselves based on what they stand for, and not who they are.
The reason why the self-help craze is so massive, is because no one is happy with who they are. It seems that most people are wasting their lives trying to become something that they aren't, trying to achive something that is out of reach. Usually this is by means of physical beauty. Everyone wants botox, or a nose job, or lipo, or gastric bypass. Yet most of this people have more to worry about. Inside uglyness is way harder to get rid of then the outside.
I'm a Christian, and while that encompasses a lot of who I am because of the values of the bible, and my relationship with Jesus, I don't think about Jesus 24-7. I watch TV, and I listen to secular music. I am friends with homosexuals, and people that don't believe in anything. I believe that even though "Jesus is coming back", that we should take care of the earth, and be kind to all living things. I'm not into all things "Christian", yet I'm happy with who I am. I think Jesus wants us to be people, with lives and interests. While there are sacrifices that you have to make to follow, Jesus doesn't want us to be religious nuts.
The reason this is so heavy on my mind, is mostly because I've been thinking about all of the things I've been through in the last two years. How I've worried so much about making sure people know that I was lied about and wronged. I was stabbed in the back by pastors, and people that claim to love Jesus. Why? Because I don't want people to think badly of me. Because I'm concerned about what people think. That's where my insecurities bust out of my soul.
I've been doing some heavy soul-searching, talking to friends, bouncing things off of my husband, praying a ton. The conclusion I've come to is "I know exactly who I am". I don't need the validation of other people, I don't need to be liked, it's going to be okay if someone thinks badly of me because I know what my intentions are, I know the truth about my situations. My true friends give me the benefit of the doubt, and those who don't, probably don't know me very well. Not that I don't make mistakes, but when I do, I try to own them.
Thinking about all of this, made me think of a popular country song from a while back.
This is my new anthem. I'm tired of trying to prove myself. Really, if there are people in my life I have to "try" to prove myself to, then they're not people that care about me. If I'm too sensitive for someone, then tough luck :-)
