Time for more "Florence and the Machine"

Just because...
Here is another video from my favorite beautiful and talented performer.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Small steps towards making a big change.

We live in such a complicated world – a place with so much beauty and art and if we are lucky our world is also a place filled with loving and kind people.

Then there is the stuff we don’t like to talk about – the stuff that is better swept under a rug and forgotten…at least until that pile under the rug becomes too big to ignore.
I’ve recently been lucky enough to hear this talk from a woman that is trying to make a change in our world. Sunitha Krishnan is a strong woman who is lifting back the rug and exposing all the stuff we really don’t like to talk about.

Sunitha Krishnan fights sex slavery Video on TED.com
Warning - due to what is discussed this isn't a easy message to watch - but, it's worth it.
note: if you have a hard time understanding her accent - you can turn on English subtitles.
Once you listen to this talk and if you feel compelled to make a change – pass her message on or check out this organization http://www.gems-girls.org/ and see what you can do to make a difference.

We all have a voice in this great big beautiful complicated world – won’t you let yours be heard?

Spiritual Crisis

;)

This semester at school has been a very introspective experience - I challenge anyone to take a semester of courses which include topics such as: Death and Dying, Intro to Biblical Interpretations and Women's Studies and see how much your worldviews stay the same. 

I think these areas of study have created a sort of "spiritual crisis" in my life.  I am developing a greater empathy for anyone who is silenced and ashamed to speak out because they are afraid of not being accepted.  This world is not black and white and there are so many shades of gray that it seems foolish to stand in one corner and say this is the only true way to believe.

I am saddened that we live in a world where people are bullied because of so many things - including gender and sexual orientation.  I found this quote in an article about a Pastor of a church who recently announced his homosexuality after 52-years of silence where he said,  "There are two things in my life that are an absolute," he told his flock. "I did not ask for either one of them; both of them were imposed upon me, I had no control over either of them. One was the call of God on my life ... and the other thing ... was my sexual orientation." 

More of this article can be found at: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/torn-by-bullying-suicides-mega-church-pastor-jim-swilley-says-hes-gay/19717048. 

Why should anybody feel distanced from God because they are told their sexuality is wrong and sinful?  I know that the church I attend does not embrace homosexuality and even says it is not part of God's plan.  But, yet - there are members of the Mormon church who feel the desire to be true to themselves and still have a loving relationship with their Heavenly Father.  Luckily we have people who are trying to make their voices heard through websites like: http://mormonsformarriage.com/

I pray that my children will know that I will love them no matter what and that they are loving spirit children of a loving creator...IMHO (In My Humble Opinion).

Just for You!

Have you ever wanted to tell someone off or wished you knew voodoo magic and could make a voodoo doll?  It has been several years since I tried dating and during the last few years - I thought I was ready and put myself out there.  Instead, I experienced much more grief and heartache to even make it worth my time.

This is a song I have loved whenever I experienced a break-up!  I discovered this song in 1996 - and had  hell of a time trying to find the CD.  But, I was thrilled to have found it on e-bay.a few years ago.  And today while searching through this great abyss (aka - the Internet ) I discovered the video for this song (which I had no idea even existed!)

So, for all the lying cheating tools that I have ever dated - this songs for you baby!

Artist: Zoe  Song title:  Hammer

THE ORIGINAL Scary 'Mary Poppins' Recut Trailer

Happy Halloween!!
I hope you had a wonderfully creepy Halloween - if not, maybe this will help.  This recut trailer is genius!  I love it and I hope you do too!!

Motherhood+Feminism+Religion=?

As most adults I know (and even some younger people) I really dislike Barney. I also get a rash when I participate in lengthy discussions about diapers, what colors would be great to paint the dining room, the neighbors, or even about television shows.


Over time I have learned that I do enjoy having my young son disagree with me about the creation story in the Bible. (At least he’s thinking and having the confidence to express his thoughts!) I also take pleasure in trying to teach my children why some people believe the things they do. It’s even fun to completely ruin any attempt of my kids trying to play a word game trick on me when they ask me what color is the sky (I’m supposed to answer “blue” ) but, instead I answer that it is occasionally blue or gray or even sometimes pink and orange.

Over the years, I have been taught that in order to be a woman I need to act a particular way, I am also taught that when I want to be a mother that I need to act another way. I even hear at church that motherhood and marriage are revered as sacred callings – but, the isolation of single motherhood is ignored.

Guess what? I like being a single mother! I love going to college! I love spending time with my kids doing the silly things we do.

So, before my brain goes on lockdown from pondering issues of feminism, religion and motherhood – I think the kids and I will head out and see what we can explore. Maybe this time we will go to the local coffee shop, order ourselves a hot chocolate, and sit next to a business person just to watch their reaction.