Saying Good Bye...

2 of my favorite people in the world have left for a new adventure. My little sister Brittany (no longer little, but still my little sister) and my best friend, also named Brittany. For about 10-15 years I have referred to my sister Brittany as Britt Sis and my friend Brittany as Britt C. I also frequently refer to them both as skank, ho, prostitute, etc….LOL our loving terms endearment that are not true in any way but still fitting at the same time.

Britt Sis got engaged a few weeks ago. Her fiancé Mike lives in Massachusetts, owns a home and is very close with his mother and grandmother. After further discussion they made a mutual decision that it would be best for Brit to move to Massachusetts. Britt, being the free spirit she is, she was up for the adventure! She packed her bags and headed back east. She is even planning on going back to college!! They are currently planning their wedding which should be in the spring of 2012.

Britt C is moving back to San Diego (this time probably permanent, tear) to start a new job and move in with her boyfriend Billy. Throughout high school, our dream was to move to San Diego and live an exciting college life style. That dream fizzled quickly for me since I was broke and my parents were broke, and plus the thought of being that far from my family made me sad. I know right?! A 1 hour plane ride was hardly far away, but I was happy with where I was. Britt however, managed to leave Roseville and started a life in San Diego where she met many friends including her boyfriend Billy. Billy got accepted to firefighter school which is extremely time consuming and gave him no time for a full time job. He moved back home and Britt moved back to Roseville. Billy has now graduated from fire fighting school and they are ready to start fresh. (Keeping my fingers crossed that another engagement is coming!)

Funny how life works! Excluding my sister Mallory, all of my best friends no longer live in this area. Thank God Mallory is here or else I’m sure I would have a nervous breakdown. Britt Sis is in Massachusetts, Britt C is in San Diego and Kassi is in Connecticut. Even though there is physical distance between us all, I know I can call on then any time, morning noon or night, and they would be here for me. I’m so lucky! Good luck ladies!

My first “Religious” blog, or I should say “Relationship” blog.

The church just likes to tell people “what to do and how to do it.” The church likes to give its people a whole bunch or “rules” to follow.”

I have a lot of friends/family who have made these comments to me. Over my 27 years of attending church I can see why people feel this way about “Religion”. However, as I get older, I learn more, I am challenged more, my faith is put to the test and more times than other I feel discouraged. It’s only natural as human beings to fail and be wrong. But it is also with great gratitude that we are forgiven and provided with more opportunities to grow. What I would say to my friends and family who are discouraged with “Religion” and “Church” is to re-read the 10 commandments. Most believers (I hope) believe in the 10 commandments.

These aren’t “rules” but “instruction” on how we should treat Him and how we should treat other people. Remember, it’s not about “religion” it’s about “relationship.” A relationship with God and relationship with people. He provides us a lot of instructions on how to behave and interact “socially”.

We are pursued and adopted by a God we all seemed to reject at one point or another. In our ‘Relationship’ with Him, we are being forgiven by the husband we cheated on, and being embraced by the Friend we betrayed. So again, my thought is, the “rules” that are in the Bible are really “instructions”. I’ve learned that people today are more open to respond to a faith that encourages positive social behavior rather than just “rules”.

It’s NOT about RELIGION – it’s about RELATIONSHIP!!!

ONE: You shall have no other gods before Me.

TWO: You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

THREE: You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

FOUR: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

FIVE: Honor your father and your mother.

SIX: You shall not murder.

SEVEN: You shall not commit adultery.

EIGHT: You shall not steal.

NINE: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

TEN: 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.