Category Archives: Personal

09.21.15
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Getting Personal #16: Building A Capsule Wardrobe

Image Credit: theproject333.com

Image Credit: theproject333.com

As some of you may know, I love my friend Megan’s blog, Freckled Italian.

She has a series called “What I Wore” that I love. Her style is amazing!

Back in July, she published an awesome post! Check it out: What I Wore 51: Restyling Old Clothes

In this post, Megan talked about the concept of a “capsule wardrobe.”

I’ve been curious about this for a while. So, I Googled it. So many links, and photos!

All of these links were super interesting, but they center around one concept:

Less is definitely more.

Right now, I struggle immensely with the sheer amount of clothes and shoes that I have. Like Megan has expressed in her posts and comments, I do like getting rid of things to reduce clutter, but I always find myself debating whether or not I will ever use that particular item ever again. It’s tough!

Thanks to Megan, I bought a book titled The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. I’m so glad I bought this book at this point in my life. I’m starting to read it now, and as I read, I will be applying it to getting ready to combine my life with Al’s, and then when we combine our lives when we marry, and then apply it again when we get our own house!

Watch for a book review on that one!

Anyway, back to this capsule wardrobe concept.

I like the idea of setting a number of items that you have. It forces you to look really hard at what you have, and make some hard decisions.

Thinking of my closet right now, it’s organized, but it feels like it’s busting at the seams, particularly with shoes!

On top of my closet, I have NINE dresser drawers that are full, containing everything from T-shirts to jeans to workout clothes, and everything in between.

On top of all that, I have a huge 66-quart storage bin in my parents’ storeroom that has most of my fall/winter clothes!

Whew! I’m exhausted already!

As I read through The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I am going to evaluate every piece of clothing and every pair of shoes that I own. I am also going to do the same thing with jewelry.

I have a bunch of bags and boxes ready to donate to various local charities, with a particular focus on Blankets For The Homeless, and I hope this journey will only add to that. I want to help as many people as possible.

Everything else that doesn’t directly benefit the local homeless, that’s all going to Goodwill.

Look for a follow-up post soon!

I look forward to this journey – I feel lighter just thinking about it.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

08.28.15
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Getting Personal #15: Nerdy, Geeky, and Damn Proud Of It

I saw this amazing piece on Facebook recently:

I just bought a similar 16 x 20″ print earlier this month. Last week, it arrived from Texas!

I can’t wait to frame it and put it up in our eventual house.

Growing up, I was classified as a smart kid, probably a nerd too. I wasn’t ashamed of it, except for the couple of boys that regularly taunted me with the classic “teacher’s pet” insults. Thinking all the way back to elementary school, I was the girl that enthusiastically raised her hand in all my classes, sat right up front (for the most part), that kind of thing. I enjoyed school overall and enjoyed learning as much as I could, whenever I could.

This art print spoke to me in many ways.

We believe in Magic

I remember first learning about Harry Potter in elementary school – The first book was released on June 30, 1997, when I had just finished second grade. Many of my friends had read and re-read the books by the time we were getting ready to go to middle school.

I’ll admit, I was a late follower, and definitely a skeptic at first. I wasn’t a huge fan of fantasy works in elementary school. However, once I got my copy of the first book, the others quickly followed. I still have my paperback copies of all seven books, well-loved and well-read.

I was fortunate enough to travel to Europe with 40 of my high school classmates and teachers for 17 amazing days in the summer of 2005. Our first stop was England for a few days. At some point when the trip was being planned, it was announced that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was scheduled to be released on our last day in England! The majority of us were big fans, and this was a highlight for our trip. We were in London, and there was a Waterstones (the British equivalent to our Barnes & Noble) bookstore close to our hotel. The book was being released at midnight on July 16th, so we all lined up around the block and eagerly waited. Because of that trip, most of us have a hardcover copy of the British edition! It was such a cool experience!

When Al and I met in 2010, the last two movies were being released. They were awesome! It was so great to see all eight movies in theaters over the course of several years.

I distinctly remember Al and his brother Nick getting up at the crack of dawn on Black Friday, 2011, to pick up the entire series on Blu-Ray from Best Buy. I didn’t join them for the trip, but I have enjoyed having them available to watch over and over.

We have epic adventures

Over the almost five years that Al and I have been together, we have had so many adventures! Most of them have revolved around movies. We love checking out the newest releases in our local theaters.

But we love getting out of the house and the theaters, too. We’ve enjoyed exploring different areas of Hampton Roads and beyond!

For more on the adventures we’ve embarked upon, check these out:

Galaxies Far Far Away

Star Wars. Enough said.

Photo Credit: Debbie Vardaro

Halloween, 2011. Photo Credit: Debbie Vardaro

I loved this post on a Star Wars Facebook group today:

Image Credit: Julie Bowser

Image Credit: Julie Bowser

Yeah. December 18th. I have my Yoda shirt all ready to go!

We Do Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey Stuff

Doctor Who is pretty rad. Al’s brother got into it, and as a result, we have watched several episodes together. It’s an interesting concept, time travel. And it’s amazing that DW has been airing since 1963!

Tidewater Comicon, May 2015.

Tidewater Comicon, May 2015.

Going Where No Man Has Gone Before

Al and I love Star Trek. We’ve seen all the movies, and Al has almost all the series saved in his Netflix queue. My personal favorite is TNG, but I have enjoyed watching all of them over the years. The new movies are great, and I look forward to more!

The odds are ever in our favor

I got hooked on The Hunger Games trilogy almost immediately. Reading the three books in rapid succession only furthered my interest in both reading and writing young adult literature. The movies have been great too. I’m kind of sad because the movie series is coming to an end in November! But, I plan to re-read the books and keep them, and the movies, in my collection forever.

We do cosplay and passion

Buying costumes and thinking of new ideas has become so much fun!

Al and I started dressing up for Halloween together in 2011.

Then, over the last three years, we’ve had a lot of fun:

Photo Credit: Lane Bellar

Halloween, 2012. Photo Credit: Lane Bellar

Photo Credit: Debbie Vardaro

Halloween, 2013. Photo Credit: Debbie Vardaro

Photo Credit: Al Vardaro

Halloween, 2014. Photo Credit: Al Vardaro

Photo Credit: Al Vardaro

Special Ghostbusters Jamberry nail wraps. Photo Credit: Al Vardaro

In May, Al and I embarked on our first comic-con adventure together. It was so awesome!

Image Credit: Al Vardaro

Image Credit: Al Vardaro

The dates for 2016 was recently announced: May 21-22.

For more info, check them out: Tidewater Comicon.

So excited!

We also recently learned that there will be a Hampton Comicon! Go to their Facebook page and click Like and Share!

I look forward to building my Stargirl cosplay for 2016 🙂

In addition to comicons, Al and I also like Superman:

Facebook Credit: Al Vardaro

L to R: LB, Jesse, and Al. Facebook Credit: Al Vardaro

We are looking forward to the new Supergirl TV series this fall, as well as Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice when it’s released in March.

Image Credit: tvline.com

Image Credit: tvline.com

We also watch The Flash on TV every week – Grant Gustin is a local boy! Besides that, it’s an awesome show too. Check it out, season 2 is coming soon, Wednesday nights on the CW!

So, I’m definitely a nerd and a geek, and I’m so damn proud of it. I feel fucking awesome.

I enjoy absolutely everything I talked about here, and even beyond this. To name a few:

  • The Divergent book and movie series
  • The Lord of the Rings
  • Comic books
  • Comic Book Men
  • Batman: The Animated Series
  • Tabletop web series on YouTube via Geek & Sundry
  • Back To The Future
  • Jurassic Park
  • ThinkGeek.com

I look forward to passing on all of this, and more, to our kids someday.

Until then, I’ll continue to be enthusiastic in my nerdom!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

07.23.15
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Getting Personal #14: Words

Image Credit: thedeconstruction.org

Image Credit: thedeconstruction.org

I’m on the team that runs the computer booth at my church. On Sundays, we run the computers and projectors, putting the order of worship, the scriptures, and the songs and hymns on a screen and the walls, big and bright and huge.

We have two services: an 8:30 service that is more modern and contemporary, and an 11:00 service which is more traditional.

I grew up going to Sunday School and the 11:00 service.

As a young adult, however, I feel more of a connection with the 8:30 service, especially the music.

On a recent Sunday when I was in the booth, the worship band at 8:30 played this one song, titled “Words” from the band Hawk Nelson.

Here’s an excerpt of the lyrics:

They’ve made me feel like a prisoner
They’ve made me feel set free
They’ve made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They’ve lifted my heart
To places I’d never been
And they’ve dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don’t wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
(Speak over the fear)
God, Your voice is the only thing
We need to hear
(We need to hear)

…

Let the words I say
(Let the words I say)
Be the sound of Your grace
(Sound like Your grace)
I don’t wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

I wanna speak Your love
Not just another noise
Oh, I wanna be Your light
I wanna be Your voice

…

I don’t wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

I realize the intended message is for us to speak God’s word, be his voice, etc.

For me, though, it’s more than that.

This song is empowering. It shows me that we should be a voice, not just for God, but for ourselves, for those around us. We shouldn’t be afraid to use the voice that God gave us!

Words are incredibly powerful.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names/words will never harm me.”

WRONG!

As someone who was taunted and teased, particularly in elementary school, words can and do hurt.

Why do you think we have such a fucking terrible epidemic of bullying and bullying-related suicides?

I know the old saying is “Actions speak louder than words.”

Normally, typically, that is the case.

However, words are also significant.

What you say, sometimes, can make more of a difference.

I’m gonna put my foot in my mouth for a second. Remember, earlier, I said, “We shouldn’t be afraid to use the voice that God gave us!”

Well, that was me. For the longest time, in college especially, I felt afraid to use my voice. I was afraid to speak up and make myself known, particularly to John, who was exerting powerful control over me with his own words and actions.

I was afraid that I wouldn’t be heard, wouldn’t have listeners.

But, I think it goes back farther than college. I was raised to be respectful, to let others speak (a.k.a., “Laura Beth, be quiet so that someone else can have a turn to speak…” I can hear my mother’s voice constantly.)

Because of that, I felt embarrassed. I remember turning red on many occasions when Mom (and sometimes Dad) brought that up. Yes, I know I’m a Chatty Cathy. But using my voice was (is) a way to express myself.

I realize now that, even though my parents said that I could always come and talk to them, about anything, at any time, I didn’t do it a lot. Unless I was desperate or had a problem or was in trouble (and even then, it was absolutely terrifying to open my mouth and say something), I didn’t always feel comfortable talking to them.

I don’t want to raise my future children that way. Words are powerful, and they need to be expressed, and they need to be heard.

To me, the written word is just as powerful, if not more so, than the spoken word.

Because of a lot of encouragement and support, I’m blogging a lot more, more than I ever have. And I fucking love it. I get a bit of a rush, a bit of a high, whenever I get an idea – Whether it be something for a blog post, or a story idea, or maybe something that I could mold into a novel.

Journaling is also helping me with my journey through counseling and anxiety. It’s a release. I like to talk things out, but writing things down also helps, so much.

As I reflect on right now, on this Thursday, preparing for the end of this work week and for an amazing weekend getaway (More on that next week!), I’m so happy that I discovered a love for words at a very early age.

I still have the blue binder, covered in random stickers, that contains the short stories that I wrote from fifth grade up through high school. I want to eventually re-visit those and expand them, as I want to do with my fiction pieces from my college workshop and more current NaNoWriMo novels, but for now, I really enjoy re-reading them, and reflecting on how I got those ideas. How I spent hours at my desk, in the car, and even on the school bus, writing until either my left hand cramped up from holding the pen or I literally ran out of paper.

I’ll keep writing. I’ll keep blogging. I’ll keep journaling.

But, most of all, I’ll keep on keeping on, knowing that I have a powerful voice that should be heard.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

07.04.15
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Getting Personal #13: The Psalms, A Journal, and A Journey

Image Credit: thebottomofabottle.wordpress.com

Image Credit: thebottomofabottle.wordpress.com

Image Credit: crossfireverses.wordpress.com

Image Credit: crossfireverses.wordpress.com

Image Credit: livingwords.in

Image Credit: livingwords.in

“What I see in the Bible, especially in the book of Psalms, which is a book of gratitude for the created world, is a recognition that all good things on Earth are God’s, every good gift is from above. They are good if we recognize where they came from and if we treat them the way the Designer intended them to be treated.” -Phillip Yancey

In my last Getting Personal post, I talked about how I planned to read all 150 Psalms in reverse order, ending with the morning of my wedding.

It’s been quite a journey so far. I wake up every morning excited to read the day’s Psalm, although sometimes I wait until I go to bed. It depends on the day. But I’ve been determined and diligent.

I’m so glad I decided to do this.

In addition to reading the Psalms every day, I have started a journal again. For those of you who know me, writing is a HUGE form of therapy for me.

I like writing down my thoughts whenever I get a chance. It’s very random, so I like to always write the full date and time. It makes for fun memories when I read back through the journals I’ve amassed over the years.

The other day, my journal came in handy when I had a cool story idea strike me on the way to Al’s after work. I wrote the immediate details on a legal pad when I first got to Al’s safely, but it was nice to transfer them into my journal later that night.

I’ve also started to fill this new journal with meaningful quotes, excerpts of the Psalms, and photos.

This particular journal is helping me through my journey with anxiety.

A few weeks ago, I dug up an old email from my boss. He had sent it to me after I had returned to the office after my car slid off snowy U.S. 460. It was about employee assistance with counseling.

I took the first step and called the number in the email on a Tuesday afternoon. I felt so much better after that one call. One phone call can truly make a difference.

After that first call, they set me up with a local counseling center, about 15 minutes from my office.

My first appointment is this coming week, on July 8th. I’m looking forward to this. I’m excited to take bigger steps in this journey. I know I will go into that office with my head held high, not ashamed of where I’ve coming from, nor ashamed of what I’m doing or where I’m going.

Anxiety is often misunderstood, more often than a lot of people may think. I myself was one of those people a few years ago, with a pen pal of mine. But now that I’m dealing with it myself, it’s been eye-opening. There are so many who struggle with it. It manifests itself in so many different forms.

I’ve known several people who take medication for it, to control it, and they lead amazingly normal, happy lives.

As I was pondering my journey so far, earlier this week, I stumbled upon an article titled “How I Stay Happily Married To A Man With Anxiety.”

It was an amazing read. It struck so many chords with me.

On this long holiday weekend, I’m grateful to be an American. I am an American who is currently struggling with anxiety, but I’m excited to be on this journey. I have the Psalms, my journal, such an amazing support system, and inspiring words to look at, to make every day a little less anxious for me.

I look forward to getting better, and becoming a better Laura Beth.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.17.15
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Getting Personal #12: 150 Days, 150 Psalms

At a recent chapter meeting, one of my PEO sisters and I were discussing my wedding. She asked if I knew the date on the calendar that marked 150 days before the big day. I asked her to look it up and text me – Personally, I was really curious as to why she asked, and I found myself eagerly awaiting her text!

Turns out there’s this idea that the bride and groom read the Book of Psalms in reverse order, together, starting at 150 days from the wedding to the actual day. Then, read it again, this time in numerical order, for the first 150 days after the wedding.

I really liked Laura’s account of her own journey – Check it out.

After Joy texted me the date a few days later, I started reading and researching. I pondered. I prayed – A lot. I talked to a few others, asking them if they had heard of it. I talked to Al as well.

After all of that, I decided I was going to do it on my own. I was very excited at the thought, very eager to get back into regular Bible reading. I have read the entire Bible over the years, but I haven’t been consistent or disciplined with it. So I saw this idea as a personal challenge, as well as seeing the potential for this to be a great reward.

As the date drew close, I started to feel a sense of great purpose with this idea, while also thinking of it as a final countdown to one of the biggest days of my entire life.

Today, June 17th, marks 150 days until I marry Al. It is so exciting!

Each week, I plan to share one of the Psalms with you. I am thrilled to get back to reading my Bible – I use The Message. There are several Psalms I know by heart – The 23rd Psalm, for example – but I had no idea that there were 150 of them total!

I hope you’ll follow along on my journey as I prepare for the last few months of my engagement!

Today was Psalm 150. I took a few minutes this morning after my shower, in the quiet of my bedroom, and opened my Bible for the first time in, well, forever.

I was instantly comforted.

As I read the words, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and calm come over me.

I felt so empowered.

For the first time in forever, for a few minutes, I truly felt calm and relaxed, focusing on these words.

This psalm focuses on music, which made me think back to the post I wrote last year on music and identity.

After I read the psalm, I sat there, on my bed, in awe. A lot of negative/sad/depressing things have happened in my life in a very short period of time recently.

For a few minutes this morning, however, all those thoughts disappeared. It was amazing!

So, the words of Steven Curtis Chapman came to mind:

“…I’m diving in, I’m going deep, in over my head I want to be
Caught in the rush, tossed in the flow, in over my head I want to go
The river’s deep, the river’s wide, the river’s water is alive
So sink or swim, I’m diving in (I’m diving in…)”

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.24.15
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Getting Personal #11: Memorial Day, The Military, And An Awesome Charity

With Memorial Day coming up tomorrow, I wanted to share my thoughts on the military, and tell you about an awesome charity that was highlighted by TODAY.com earlier this week.

Something I see online almost every year, around this time, is the the reminder that this weekend is not all about the day off from work on Monday, the road trips, the “unofficial start to summer,” and so on.

One of the images that I saw on Facebook being shared earlier this week definitely made me pause and reflect:

I’m not sure if the numbers under Iraq and Afghanistan are accurate anymore (unfortunately), but the numbers in general are stunning, breathtaking, compelling.

Also, the Gulf War was unfortunately omitted from this graphic, so I am adding 294.

Since the U.S. entered World War I in April 1917, a total of 619,594 U.S. men and women have died for our country.

Wow.

I loved this article about Elsa Zarate. She started Bands4Courage, making custom bracelets and wristbands out of old military uniforms.

Image Credit: Elsa Zarate

Image Credit: Elsa Zarate

It all started when she took apart her son’s old boot camp uniform and made a wristband of parts and pieces, to keep him close to her while he was deployed with the Marines.

It was so unique that people started ordering bracelets and donations of uniforms started pouring in. She provides five free bracelets to anyone who donates a uniform. Bracelets typically cost between $5 and $10. One-half of the proceeds directly supports organizations that work with service members and their families. With every bracelet, Zarate includes a card with information about the uniform used in the piece and the person who wore it for our country.

Her son returned home safely and is stationed in California, but Zarate knows of those whose sons, daughters, parents, and other family members weren’t so lucky.  She made her first bracelet in 2011, and, to me, she is definitely proud of what she does.

I’m definitely going online and checking out Bands4Courage. As a proud Coast Guard brat and having other relatives serving and have served (grandfathers, cousin, extended family), I’m very passionate about the military. Throughout the last several years I have considered joining the CG, but ultimately realized that I’m just not military material. However, I will tell my kids about my dad and my family with great pride and admiration. And if they decide some day to go to one of the military academies for college, join the ROTC, or enlist in one of the branches of service, I will beam with pride as I encourage them to serve their country proudly and with great honor.

As we celebrate Memorial Day 2015, I will be thinking of my Grandpa Madan in heaven, who served in the Army. He married my Grandma Grace just five days before D-Day in 1944. He fought valiantly in Europe and received the Purple Heart. One of my favorite pictures of him is him in his Army uniform. I definitely miss him, he’s been gone for nearly seven years now, but I always think of his service. He never talked about the war, but I know his service left a lasting impact on his life.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.14.15
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Getting Personal #10: Halfway There

Image Credit: admiredlyrics.com

Image Credit: admiredlyrics.com

“Woah, we’re half way there …” ~Bon Jovi

This song, I think, fits perfectly with my post today.

Today is May 14, 2015.

Our wedding day is November 14, 2015.

Doing some quick math – That’s six months away from today!

Everything is coming together beautifully. Right now I don’t feel stressed or overwhelmed.

But, this whole endeavor wouldn’t be possible without a bunch of awesome people:

  • Al is such an awesome and supportive fiance!
  • My mom is a rock star.
  • My dad is just awesome.
  • Our wedding planner, Crystal, is amazing, awesome, absolutely wonderful. I could fill pages and pages of praise.
  • Many thanks to Nick and Savy for the hook-up with Crystal!
  • Everyone who has offered to pitch in or help – Y’all are freaking fantastic!
  • All of our vendors have been so kind and gracious, including Aldersgate UMC, Cedar Point, Stellar Exposures, Wholesale Flower Market, and Music Makes You Happy, to name a few.
  • My bridal party rocks – Melissa, Stephanie, Katie, and Liz 🙂

I’m beyond excited to walk down that aisle six months from today, to marry the love of my life!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

 

04.21.15
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Getting Personal #9: Back From My Hiatus

Image Credit: inkmonster.net

Image Credit: inkmonster.net

In the beginning of April, I felt like I’d hit a brick wall at a high rate of speed. I didn’t feel inspired. I was struggling with a few things.

The blog was one of the first things to drop off my radar. I didn’t like it though. I hated that I wasn’t posting new things.

But everything that I normally feel with blogging – Energy, excitement, happiness, positivity, the sense of accomplishment, pride – just wasn’t there.

Every once in a while, we need to make the “time out” sign.

Take a breath.

Take a break.

And that’s exactly what I needed.

Over the course of the past two weeks (although it’s felt much longer than that!), I’ve been thinking a lot.

There’s been so much going on. 2015 has been a big year so far! And it’s almost May!! Time is flying by. It gets faster every single year.

Two weeks ago, everything just caught up with me, very suddenly – Hence the slamming into a brick wall, going from full speed to a complete screeching halt/standstill feeling. I’ve been overwhelmed a lot. Stressed. Nervous. Adding things up, both in my head and on paper. I was beginning to drive myself crazy. I knew I needed to pull myself out, one way or another, but at the right time.

I received answers along the way. Confirmations, waves of relief, assurances, lots of hugs, promises of good thoughts and prayers. Lots of people have said, without having a clue about what I have been experiencing internally, “Everything is going to be okay.”

I started praying again. I took a hard look at my spiritual life and my involvement with my church. Because of that, I was humbled. I was overcome. I felt something ignite inside me again. I felt confident. I felt restored. I felt at peace.

Yesterday was my first day back in the gym after being on the DL for almost three weeks, due to six stitches in my back. Skin cancer runs in my family, and this was the second time in several years that the dermatologist found a pre-cancerous mole on my back. I won’t lie, sleeping in on the weekdays was nice for a change, but having established the consistent gym routine and then breaking that pattern for a bit threw a lot of my internal workings out of whack, more than I realized.

So, even though it was absolutely pouring rain at 4:30 a.m. yesterday, I got up, put on my workout clothes and raincoat, and drove over there. I walked on the treadmill for 45 minutes and cranked out 2 miles.

It felt so good, that I did it again today!

Now – I want to write again.

I’m ready to write again.

I feel inspired again.

I feel excited again.

I feel refreshed.

I feel calmer, more at ease with everything going on.

I love this quote from Walt Disney:

Image Credit: livefitandsore.com

Image Credit: livefitandsore.com

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

03.05.15
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Getting Personal #8: “Top 10 Names Of Men Who Make The Best Husbands”

So, I found this image on Facebook today:

Image Credit: HOT 104.5 Facebook page

Image Credit: HOT 104.5 Facebook page

I posted it just for fun, but I got some interesting feedback as well.

So, I decided to create my own list!

For me, I wanted to cross #5 off the list automatically, because of my past. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

Although, I thought it was interesting to see mostly Biblical names on this list (this is the researcher in me coming out):

  • David – Well-beloved, dear, beloved, King
  • Andrew – Manly, strong, courageous, warrior
  • Daniel – Judgement of God, God my judge
  • Paul – Small, little, humble, few, modest
  • John – The grace or mercy of the Lord, Jehovah’s gift
  • Simon – That hears, that obeys, he has heard
  • James – The Greek form of Jacob, supplanter (to take the place of another, as through force, scheming, strategy, or the like)
  • Stephen – Crown, crowned, wreath, honor, reward, that which surrounds or encompasses

Anyway … Here’s my list! Notice that it’s not numbered. “Top” lists are for ranking things, usually from best to worst, or based on number of votes.

Here, rank doesn’t apply. These are the names of men who I know will be (or already are) awesome husbands.

  • William
  • Alfred/Alphonso/Albert/Alan
  • Steven/Stephen
  • Nicholas/Nick
  • James/Jim
  • Bruce
  • Andrew/Drew
  • Justin
  • Joseph/Joe
  • Jake/Jacob
  • Jesse
  • Nathan/Nate
  • Matthew/Matt
  • Robert/Bob

Frankly, your name and/or what it means doesn’t matter.

As long as you’re a good person and you treat your spouse lovingly and with as much support as you can, that’s what counts.

Anyone can be the best husband (or best wife, best boy/girlfriend, best partner).

It’s your choice, and yours alone.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

01.01.15
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Getting Personal #7: A 365-Page Book

Yesterday, I found an awesome image on Facebook:

I love Brad Paisley. I’ve seen him live more than any other artist. He is an awesome performer, singer, songwriter, and a great guy all-around.

So it was great to see this quote from him.

Many of you know that I am a reader and a writer.

I love books. Reading is one of my favorite things to do. I don’t do it or get to do it as much as I’d like to, mostly because of life and staying up late with other things and being distracted. It was great that I read five new books last year – That was a major goal for me, and I really enjoyed it. I want to keep reading as much as possible, year after year. I just need to make more time for it – a.k.a., turning off the computer and smartphone in favor of the trusty pages of a good book.

I love writing too. I love getting the stories out of my head and out on paper, whether it’s in cursive or if I’m typing it out on a screen. I want to write and publish at least one book in my lifetime, hopefully more than that. I love that I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo for three consecutive years, and I am astounded at how many words I’ve written.

I’m so proud that I’ve been blogging consistently for almost an entire year, and I want to keep that momentum going. Seeing all of your likes and comments on Facebook, along with the stats that WordPress provides to me, keeps this writer going. I’m constantly getting inspiration, and I’m so happy to be able to express myself freely through this platform.

This is day 1 of 365, and I am determined to make the most of it. I probably won’t write a blog post every single day this year, but I am going to write every single day this year. Whether it’s drafting a blog post, or adding more to a previous novel attempt, or starting a new story, I feel the need to write every day.

Thank you, my readers, for inspiring me.

Cheers to the New Year! I hope 2015 is one of the best yet.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂