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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

On Being "Colorblind"

Being a student at UNC and living in a highly educated area of the country, I feel like I'm constantly bombarded with political correctness. There's usually lots of talk of being accepting and open-minded and being "colorblind," or not being cognizant of racial differences.


Quite frankly, I think this is a load of crap.

I used to feel defected or in the wrong because I couldn't ever not notice racial differences. That's when I realized maybe I wasn't supposed to.

This semester I'm in an anthropology class and we've discussed how colorblindness is harmful, not helpful, to white people and people of color. Socially, ignoring race creates problems because race itself does in fact exist. From a Christian standpoint, ignoring race denies God's creativity and robs humans, who are made in God's likeness, of dignity.

"Colorblindness" assumes that differences are inherently negative. However, as Christians, we know that not to be true. Non-moral differences are meant to be celebrated since they reflect a good, diverse, and loving Creator who made each individual in his image.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Monday Musings: Retreating

This weekend Miles and I went to Georgia for the Winshape Preparing to Last retreat, which was basically a long weekend of preparing for marriage!


We drove what seemed like forever (aka 8 hours) to get there and stopped at some quality joints along the way...


We kept swapping off so the driving wasn't as bad - although Miles' expression wraps up how we felt about spending 8+ hours in a car together: glad to be together but more than ready to get out of a itty bitty Civic.


About 30 minutes from our destination we decided to roll down the windows. Miles felt a massive bug hit his hand so we rolled them back up and kept driving. Much to my horror, a few minutes later I saw something drop from the interior roof of the car. I'm still uncertain what type of bug it was but it looked like a combination of the biggest fly I've ever seen and an imminent-death-inducing Japanese hornet. Being minutes away, seeing as I was keeping my cool FREAKING OUT, we pulled over and Miles trapped it in a cup! Such a hero :)

Victorious fist pump.
The retreat grounds were in the mountains near Berry College and it. was. beautiful.! The staff had thought of everything. We pulled up and they unloaded all our bags and had special treats waiting for us in our (respective) rooms.


My room: Pretty sure I could live with this decor the rest of my life and be happy. The picture really doesn't do it justice.


Plus the fact that there was a personalized note, a chocolate truffle, and music playing in my room upon my arrival didn't hurt!


Another perk: free CFA mints all weekend long everywhere we went. I think this is like what heaven will be like.


All the architecture was inspired from Normandy, France. Every small detail was taken care of and it really felt like we were in the French countryside. 

Obvi pumped. 


They gave us these cute little Winshape picnic kits to keep and go on picnics in the future :)



We had to take a couples inventory before we went and on the retreat we got to discuss it and decipher it to figure out what it meant. We found out we're a vitalized couple, which is the highest level - pretty exciting considering that vitalized couples who continue to work on their relationship have the happiest marriages and the lowest divorce rates!

After hearing our results - despite Miles' scared face we were excited :)
It was such a relaxing weekend (barring the travel) of getting to know Miles better and work on our present and future relationship. I'm just ready to get married to this man already!


I would definitely recommend the Winshape Preparing to Last retreat for any seriously dating or engaged couple! They also have some pretty awesome retreats (including sailing cruises!) for married couples. We learned lots of practical things and are excited to apply them now and in the future!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

On Being an Emotional Basket Case

Freshman year in my Psychology 101 class we discussed the "Big Five" personality traits. If you've ever taken a psych class you're likely familiar with the five traits that comprise personality: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

We had to complete a self-report survey on each trait and my score for neuroticism was extremely low (the fact that I completed this my hellacious freshman year is, in hindsight, hysterical). I vividly remember one of my friends having a very high score for this trait and feeling super sorry for her.

...fast forward a few years:

 
This is a screenshot from a survey Miles and I just had to take for a pre-marriage retreat we're going to. Guess which bar is mine and which is his.

I'm the green itty bitty bar on the right side. Hah. (To give you some perspective the lightest shade of purpleish grey means I scored in the low range.)

All that to say, in the past few years, specifically this year, I've realized how emotional I truly am. For a while I think I was in denial because as a society, even within the church, emotional control is valued. Nobody wants to be best friends with an emotional roller coaster of a person (aka a girl who pops in A Walk to Remember to let a good cry out. ...Not that I've ever done that or anything. Especially not while eating raw cookie dough.)

My friends and family are wonderful but if I were to share every emotional twist throughout my day with them, they're probs going to feel (1) emotionally drained, (2) avoid me, (3) think I'm crazy, or some combination of the three.

So, who can I confide in?

(drumrollll... *Sunday School answer*) Jesus! I know it sounds cliche, really I do, but it couldn't be more true. Why? Jesus know the fullest extent to every emotion because in some way every emotion is a reflection either of him or the need for him.

Just take the cross for example: Jesus was abandoned by his earthly followers and his heavenly Father. Jesus is the only person in the history of the world that has ever experienced loneliness in its most true and raw form. The weight of the world's sin was on him - he felt burdened to the point of sweating drops of blood. This burden was so extreme, yet so necessary in order to reconcile man back to God once and for all.

Aside from the cross, while Jesus was on earth he not only read people's minds (literally), he saw into the depths of their heart. One of the reasons Jesus' answers to people's questions are often so random is that he was looking into their soul and talking to them about the heart issues that were behind their questions.

So, real talk. What does this mean? Jesus is worthy of trusting with everything - even (and especially) our emotions. I struggle daily to trust him with everything; but, knowing he sees and is full aware of all my craziness and loves me still is unbearably wonderful - to whom and where else could I go?


My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.
-Psalm 73-

Friday, September 7, 2012

High Five for Friday + Giveaway Winner!


Per yoush, I'm linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk blog for this H54F post.

I'm so excited for this Friday specifically because its full of wedding things! And better yet, I get to spend it doing wedding things with my mom because she is coming into town! Yay!

1. First wedding dress fitting

My real mock wedding dress
*Fingers crossed* I hope it fits and doesn't need more alterations because, let's be real, I want to randomly wear it as much as possible.

2. First cake tasting!

Bless you, Pinterest.

Miles is going with me on this wedding venture to try out some cake flavors. It's our first taste test for cake and I am super excited. I know exactly what kind of cake I want - white design a top of white buttercream icing with a monochromatic monogram.

3. "Matron of Honor"

My former roommate and maid of honor Emilie lovingly asked me to be her matron of honor for her upcoming May wedding! (Doesn't the word "matron" just make me sound like I'm 41 and making jean jumpers for my 18 children? Yes? Glad we agree.) This is kinda old news, but I'm still just as excited as the day she asked me. I love that girl and our sweet relationship. Plus, I love the fact that she picked supacute J.Crew dresses that were on sale. Score.


4.  Pre-marriage retreat! 




Next weekend we're going on a pre-marriage retreat in Georgia! Miles' boss is graciously sending us on this and we couldn't be more excited! There's supposedly a masseuse, freshly popped popcorn, and a pottery class, not to mention amazing food. I can't wait! 

5. Shopping
So, real talk, this isn't really much of a high five, its kinda a big giant thumb down. For some reason, when it comes to accessories like a veil, shoes, etc., I can envision exactly what I want, but for some reason, designers can't. Then I shop and don't find anything I like because it doesn't match up with the precise and perfect vision in my mind. Its a curse. Here's to hoping I find some things like these pretties:

Blue Nile freshwater pearl bracelet

Super fun sparkly earrings from Etsy!

I love a good sparkly heel.

Aaaand last but not least, the winner from the Wind Blown giveaway!
Entry #9, which is Heather S.! Congrats, Heather! Just shoot me an email to claim your prize!

Happy Friday, y'all!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

First Giveaway Ever: Wind Blown!




I am so so SO excited to finally have Life with Liz's first giveaway everrrr! (*Rampant applause*)

My roomie Emilie's best friend growing up, Rachel, is an amazing jewelry maker/artist/fashionista. She can seriously pull off outfits that would make me look like a grandma on a good day.

Rachel has graciously offered to host this giveaway and send some goodies your way! Not only is the jewelry fantastic, the packaging is super duper cute!

You can enter below to win a beautiful cross bracelet:

And 2 Golgotha rings of your choice!

To enter, you just use the little handy widget below. You can have up to 4 entries if you...
  1. Follow my blog
  2. Like Wind Blown on Facebook
  3. Leave a comment here telling me which Wind Blown piece is your favorite
  4. Tweet about the giveaway
Head on over to www.shopwindblown.com and check it out!

The giveaway will close Thursday night at midnight and the winner will be announced on Friday! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, September 3, 2012

Monday Musings: Keeper

I don't know if I've told y'all this before, but I've got a keeper.


This weekend I got to watch him play with some sweet kids in my neighborhood.


So strong.

I wasn't ready when Miles showed up at my house (story of my life), so once I finished up and came downstairs I found this:


Snuggling and reading the Jesus Storybook Bible. So sweet there are hardly words.

Then after church, Miles asked if he could take me on a date the next day. The answer to that is always yes.


We went to one of our fave restaurants and then went to Frankie's fun park :)


After 18 holes of mini-golf we played some arcade games. I definitely dominated at mini-golf but Miles was the arcade champ.


I'm probably too competitive for my own good.

Neither of us are perfect, but I'm so thankful I get to spend the rest of my life with this keeper.