What Marriage Is to Me

I saw the hashtag What Marriage Is to Me on Twitter last night, and decided to write a post on it. So, here is my opinion on this subject. (Note: This is MY opinion, and only mine. You do NOT have to agree with it, or like it. I am just expressing what I think on this subject.)

 

To me, marriage is the love that two people have. It is happiness, having fun, letting the little things go, truly enjoying each others' company. It is finding the good in everything, no matter what happens.

 

It is love no matter what race, religion, sexual orientation, income, etc. I believe that everyone should be allowed to get married, no matter who they are. Marriage is a basic freedom, and denying someone that, based on who they love, is going against that freedom. You are denying them their freedom.

 

I believe that if you love someone, then you should have the right to marry them if you want. I don't think it should matter what the person's sex, color, or religion is. It shouldn't matter what they look like, how much money they make, anything like that.

 

I wish that people were more accepting others for who they are, because the world is constantly changing, and things aren't what they used to be. Life is supposed to be about being happy, and being rejected for who you are is not what we as a whole are supposed to do.

 

Please do not judge people on who they are. They cannot change who they are, and they will not change for anyone. Accept them for who they are, and move on. If you want people to accept you for being you, do the same for others.

 

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.

Volunteer Appreciation Week

This past week was Volunteer Appreciation Week, or at least it was at the local library here. I volunteer at the library, delivering library materials to those who can't come in for whatever reason, and I also volunteer in the children's department, helping alphabetize the books. Soon I will be helping with the games and crafts with the children.

I have been with the home delivery program for just about a year (this coming Friday will be one year), and I absolutely love it. I get to meet new people, and it has brought me out of my shell a little. I am a very shy person, and being able to open up a little more is awesome!

I just started with the children's department this past Monday, and it has gone well so far. All the people I volunteer with, in both departments, are very nice, and are great people to work with. I am so glad to have the opportunity to work with them in this way.

This coming Wednesday is the library's Volunteer Appreciation Reception, and I am looking forward to it. This is the first time I am going to it, so I don't know what all to expect. But I am sure it will be great. I love the library, and am very happy being able to help them out however I can.

Quite a few times, a few of the people I deliver materials to have told me they really appreciate what I am doing for them, and that makes me feel good. I love it when I hear that. It is awesome to be able to help people like this. They really do notice what others do for them.

I plan to volunteer at the library for as long as I can, and hopefully I can get a job there. I love hanging out at the library. They have a lot of things for the community to do, and they always try and find ways to help out. It is so great what they do.

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.

Fears

Everyone has them. Me, I am afraid of spiders, heights, and the biggest fear of all, death.

I remember when I was in Montana for my oldest brothers' wedding, my family and I had driven up one of the mountains there, and when we got out of the car and took in the view, I was really, really scared being up that high.

I really did not like it, but I loved the view. Plus, there was a chipmunk up where we were, which was worth being so high up.

With spiders, I think it's all the legs, the eyes, the way they walk and look that creeps me out.

With death, the first time I remember experiencing it was when I was thirteen, after my maternal grandpa died. I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't really know how to react/act when we had to go to his funeral.

I remember before the funeral had started, my family and I were in a room off of where the funeral would start, and my mom had asked me if I was going to be ok. At the time, I didn't think anything of the question, but now I thought that was a weird question to ask someone at a funeral. But, I thought I was going to be ok, and I told her so.

However, when we went into the main room and saw my grandpa in the casket, it freaked me out, and I started crying. One of my aunts, who is/was one of my grandpa's daughters, hugged me when she saw me crying.

Ever since then, I have been extremely afraid of death, although I am starting to come to terms with it, and accepting that I will die myself one day. But, it is a very, very slow process for me. I am still very afraid of death, mainly because I don't know what will happen after I die.

If there is any way that I can be as comfortable as possible with death, I would gladly accept that, and would make me feel better about it all. I really don't want to be scared anymore, as I know I will have to go at some point.

Well, that is all for now. More to come later.

National Day of Silence

Today is GLSEN's Day of Silence. I printed up the Day of Silence sign and wrote what I will do to end the silence. If you would like to participate, you can go to http://dayofsilence.org/ and click on Get Involved.

Please do not judge people by who they are. They cannot help being the way they are, and just want to be accepted. Get to know a person before you decide anything. It may be the best thing that you can do.

Wow...

As if we didn't have enough sadness in the world, there was an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas last night. The last I heard, up to about 50 people died, and 130 or so were injured. The explosion cause damage ranging from broken windows to demolished buildings.

This week has been hard on many people, with the Boston marathon bombing, and now this. I will be praying for those affected, and I hope nothing more happens in the future.

Please keep the people of West, Texas in your thoughts and prayers, as well as those in Boston, and the friends and family as well. They need all the support they can get.

More Volunteering Responsibilities

Last week I applied for more volunteer work at the library, since most of the week I am not doing much outside of the house. I have school Thursday mornings, and volunteer at the library Friday mornings with the home delivery program (I help deliver library materials to those who can't come in to the library for whatever reason).

I felt that I needed more responsibilities, and had decided to volunteer more until I can get a job (or in addition to getting a job).

I wasn't expecting to be contacted so soon, but a day or so after I applied for the extra volunteering, one of the library employees contacted me to figure something out.

So, I start on Monday, April 22, helping out with games and arts/crafts in the children's section. I can't wait to start!!! I will be doing this work on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 2 to 4 pm, which is perfect for me.

Sometime soon, maybe this summer, I hope to be able to volunteer at the food pantry as well. I love helping people, and helping out at the food pantry is perfect for me. Every month they have an orientation thing for new volunteers, and I hope to be able to go to one of them soon. I would really love to help out.

I am so happy that I am able to do stuff like this in my town. It feels great being able to help others, and knowing that they really appreciate it. It is so awesome!!!

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.

Boston Marathon Tragedy

Yesterday during the Boston Marathon, a few bombs had gone off near the finish line. Two people died, an eight-year-old boy and a 29-year-old woman, and many, many more were injured, some severely.

Why would someone do this? What kind of person would think it is ok to do this to people? I absolutely hate seeing suffering, and hurt, and pain.

I heard that after the bombs went off, many of the runners participating in the marathon went to the nearest hospital to give blood. Just goes to show that there are still good people in the world.

I just wish all this violence would stop. There's no need to hurt others, just because you are hurting. If you feel like that, please get help. It is worth it in the end, and you will definitely feel better. Life is worth living, if you can only just see the beauty in it.

Please pray for everyone affected by this tragedy.

Loving Linguistics

For quite some time now, I have been really into linguistics. I don't know why. I think it's the intrigue of how a word came to be, it's origins.

I recently found out that there are degrees in linguistics, so I may go to school for that someday. I love writing, and would love to write at least one book in my lifetime, so studying linguistics would be great for me.

I am not a very outgoing person, but writing is like speaking for me, it is like my voice. Words have a deeper meaning for me, than for other people, and I want to learn as much as I can about them.

I don't know why or how I became so interested in linguistics, but they have always fascinated me in some way. I can't wait to see what happens in the future with this field of study, and where it takes me.

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.

Debating Over Double-Majoring

For quite a while now, I have been wondering whether or not I should double-major in school. I am going for my Hospitality degree right now, for baking and pastry, and there are a few other degrees I want to go for as well: special education, photography, teacher's aide, and creative writing.

I am thinking about going for my teacher's aide degree/certificate, in addition to Hospitality. I love children, and would love to help them in this way.

I am hoping to take two classes in the fall, and see how that goes. Then, I may double-major, depending on how I handle the workload next semester. I really hope it goes well, because I am starting to love school now.

I am also really into linguistics, and have found out that there are degrees for that. So, I might major in that as well. I don't know why I love words so much, since I'm a quiet person normally. I think it's because I wonder about the origin of words, and how they came to be.

It's kind of weird that I am really into schooling now, as I never liked it before. I guess that is because up until now, I never really did that well in school until I got to college. College is a lot more flexible when it comes to how many classes I can take, and what times the classes are offered.

I can't wait to see how this all goes in the future, and I am really looking forward to school!

Well, that's all for now. More to come soon!

Birthday Fun

Even though my birthday isn't until December, I'm already getting ideas on what I want to do to celebrate my next birthday.

I really want to have a masquerade party, and that has a bit of work going into it. But, I am willing to put in the effort to have one.

Last year, around Halloween time, I was at a thrift shop, looking around, and found a great dress that I will definitely be using for the party. It is blue and white, floor length, full-lenght sleeves, with a gold belt on the front. It looks wonderful, and fits me perfectly.

The hardest thing for me to do for this party is to figure out where to hold it. There isn't a lot of space at my house for it, but it's free, which is great for me since I don't have a job yet, and my dad gives me money every week for stuff done around the house.

So, we'll see what happens. I have some great ideas for decorations, food, music, and games, plus photography ideas as well.

I really hope I can pull this off, and hopefully for my upcoming birthday. If not, I am willing to wait another year to try again.

Well, that's all for now. Moreto come later.

Visiting Cousins

For the past month or so, I have been thinking about visiting a couple of my cousins, who live in another state. I haven't been there in ages, and I haven't seen them for about a year. It would be nice to be able to go there again, and see them.

One of the cousins is graduating this year from high school, and I'm going to try and time my trip with her graduation party, whenever that may be. I really would like to go. Even if I can't go to the party, I still want to visit them.

I am Facebook friends with my cousins, and uncle, and had asked them the other day if I would be able to stay with them whenever I made it out to where they live, and they said they were happy to have me, so at least I know I have a place to stay when I travel there.

I can't wait to start planning this trip, because this will be my second trip I take by myself. The first time was to California, to visit my oldest brother for a couple weeks, as a high school graduation gift. I love traveling, and would love to do more in the future.

I hope everything works out with this trip, and that I can go this summer. I really want to go out there again, as I haven't been that way in many years, and miss it.

Well, that's all for now. More to come soon.

I Love Thrifts Stores!!!

Yesterday, I had gone to a thrift store sale, and that made me remember my love of thrift stores. They have awesome stuff, and I always find great things whenever I go.

The store I usually go to serves several charities, so the money you spend there goes to amazing causes. They serve a day nursery, a children's clinic, a counseling center, Hebhzibah, the Animal Care League, and a senior citizens' center.

It is a wonderful place to shop at, and it is close to home. The people who volunteer/work there are really nice people, so it is always a pleasure being there as we shop.

I usually go with a friend of mine, who invites me to go a long with him. I am so thankful/grateful for thrift shops, and the people who put their time in to working there.

So, if you have a thrift store near you, please support them. They are doing wonderful things for the community!

Well, that's all for now. More to come later.