Yesterday I bought tickets for Chris and I to go to Arkansas for Christmas. I don’t think I’ve been this happy in awhile. There’s nothin’ like a southern holiday and I’m so glad Chris finally gets to experience one. This will probably be the craziest Christmas, though, considering we’ll be flying from Salt Lake to Little Rock…for a week…then from Little Rock to Carmel, CA for about 5 days. Doesn’t sound too relaxing, but it will be the best Christmas in about 3 years. I’m so excited to see all of my family! I saw some of them at the beginning and end of the summer, but it was a very short visit each time. Also, my best friend, Sasha, is having a baby in a few days and I can’t wait to meet Harper when I go home! I am looking forward to all the goodness Arkansas has to offer, and to seeing old friends and family. Just a couple months!
water babies
I’ve recently been very interested in water birthing. I had a friend do this a few weeks ago and she had the best experience. I like being as prepared as possible for anything, so I’ve been doing a lot of research. A few weeks ago I watched a film called The Business of Being Born which gave insight into different options available. I’m in no way getting ready to have a baby, but I do like being informed. I love the idea of a calm setting, without the chaos of a hospital room. I’m not sure if I would do this at home, but there are birthing centers in and out of hospitals. I remember being in the room when my sister was born. I was 9 and have been scarred ever since. It wasn’t until I watched the film that my nerves started calming in regards to pregnancy, labor and delivery. When talking to a friend (a nurse) about this I was telling her that I don’t think it could be worse than when I had kidney stones. As I was watching the film I was laughing a little at how much the women in labor looked like me when I was passing my kidney stone. She asked if they gave me drugs, and after naming off the cocktail of medicine they put through my IV she calmly said, “it’s a good thing you want to do natural birth because if those meds didn’t work, then an epidural isn’t going to do anything on you.”
We’ll see what happens…someday.
scarves and s’mores
This is my most favorite time of year, not because of Halloween, but because I really, really love scarves. Sadly, this won’t last too long before the snow comes in freezing us to death. Until then, I’m excited about the beginning of yummy treats, campfires, s’mores and good friends. I’m also excited because this season has marked the return of my favorite tv shows. Dexter, Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. (Looking at that list it would seem as though Dexter is definitely out of place, but it also holds a dear place in my heart.) I hope during this season you all are spending time with friends and family enjoying haunted houses, hay rides, corn mazes and candy. That’s all.
2-14-2013
I’d like to take this time to write about something I wholeheartedly support.
As I talked about earlier, I have had my own experience with this issue.
This is a cause that anyone can relate to in some way.
Whether or not you or someone you know has been assaulted or abused in some way,
we all know young girls and women whom we would never want to go through anything like this.
The statistics alone are astounding.
- 1 in 3 women on this planet will be raped or beaten in their lifetime.
- One of every seven victims of sexual assault reported to law enforcement agencies were under age 6. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Incident-Based Reporting System, based on reports from law enforcement agencies of 12 States from 1991 through 1996)
- Studies in the US, Israel, Canada, Australia, and South Africa found that 40-70% of female murder victims were killed by husbands or boyfriends. (World Health Organization)
- In Ghana, 1 in 7 (15%) females have been circumcised (Coker-Appiah & Cusack, 1999; Ghana National Study on Violence 1998,survey of 2,069 women and girls supplemented by a five-year review of official records).
I’m rising on 2/14/2013.
I’m rising because I no longer consider myself a victim, but a survivor.
I’m rising for those who will never have the opportunity to share their own story.
I’m rising for those whom have felt the same physical, mental, emotional and spiritual pain that I’ve felt.
I’m rising because it’s time.
Are you?
fromjocelyn.com 