"We're back..."

The Triple Threat is back and we are going to Vegas. Watch out!

A Christmas Prayer from Me

This greeting card personalized with Smilebox

Needed.

What better than an open ended threat to go with our Triple Threat blog.

Defining Points

College is a funny time. It is a time for independence and personal growth; for leaving your family and making it all on your own. But somewhere during all the "growing up" that's going on, you long to slow down a bit.  And maybe just maybe, wether you want to it admit it or not, you just want your mom. Like I said, it's a funny time.  

It was during one such occasion, when I was home on break for the holidays. My mom came in my room with almost a sixth sense sense that something was up. (What was up was simply the passing of time. How did I get so "old" all of a sudden?) She had just started a new book and asked if she could read to me for a while. Like so many times in my childhood, we once again entered into some other world together. As she read I was whisked away..."I have no complaints about my path and the places it has taken me; enough complaints to fill a circus tent about other things, maybe, but the path I've chosen has always been the right one, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

There was something about this moment that has always stuck with me. I can't really put my finger on it. It was like the junction of my past and all my childhood with my future and all the places I would go.

So here I sit at 26 wondering does everyone have a moment like this, or is it just me? Are there more to come? My guess is yes. 

Too much to ask?

Dear men of the world:

I don't want to be an obligation. I don't want to just be something you "have to work on" or "have to pray about."

Yes, there will be work involved.

And I deserve commitment.

And there'd better be lots of prayer.

But I want to be delighted in. I want to know that you're exited to talk to me, that you can't wait to see me, that you want to know not just the events of my day but also how they made me feel. I want you to feel like it's a privilege to gain access to my heart, and to work like you mean it.

I don't want to be told I'm beautiful; I want you to show me.

Sincerely,

Women

Reality Check

When it comes to dating, I don't think I'm the stereotypical girl.

I'm very independent and I like my space (unless you give me TOO much of it).  The words "I Love You" scare the shit out of me (even though I dream of the "happily ever after"). I like being in control (but I want the guy to lead). 

OK, OK, I am TOTALLY the stereotypical girl. I'm just like the rest of them. No wonder men can't figure out what the hell women want. It's because we don't know what we want half the time. Yes I admit it, I have no idea what I want. Well, that's not totally true. What I want is my "happily ever after." But I have no idea how to get it. One thing I do know, that fairy tales are all hype. Lies I tell you, lies. 

LIE NUMBER ONE: "Love at first sight" 

This does not happen. Sure, some old couple that has been married 50 years might tell you, "it was love at first sight," but I guarantee they will also tell you it was a whole lot of work to get to where they are now. What I'm learning, if you ever want to "fall in love," well, you better get the heck off the couch. Because love just doesn't happen, you have to work at it.

LIE NUMBER TWO: "Your prince sweeps you off your feet and carries you into the sunset." 

Stop it. Put me down...now! Do you know any guy that has ever done this? Better yet, what girl would let him? That is just highlighting insecurities, seriously. Let's be real, maybe in fairy tales this is romance, but not here, not now. A guy can't sweep a girl off her feet unless she lets him. And for me, this just ain't happening. What if he drops me? What if it's a sham? What if it's just "vacation dating" and it's not real? I don't know about you, but I have some trust issues that need sorting through before I can be whisked away into the sunset. 

LIE NUMBER THREE: "Prince Charming."

Prince Charming does not exist. Girls, you need to hear this again, Prince Charming does NOT exist. He was made up. He is a character in a fairy tale. We can't expect our men to be perfect. There has ever only been one perfect man, EVER, and I hate to break it to you ladies, but he was also God. So lets cut our guys some slack, and loose the list. Come on, we all have them, our checklist making up the qualities in our perfect guy. Well, in real life, I'm starting to realize that "the One" could be a totally amazing person and still not have all the check marks I'm looking for. That's because I'm looking for Prince freaking Charming, a fictitious character. 

So what does all of this teach me? That I should hate hate fairy tales and curse Prince Charming's name? Well, maybe. More so, it's my reality check. In my relationship I freak out...a lot! I worry (What if this is going nowhere?). I fret (Is this how I'm supposed to feel?). I have not so good days, followed by even worse days sometimes. But, this is real life, and for now, I'm going to keep living into it.

2 dates, 2 looks

Two weeks ago I went on 2 blind dates in one week. I know...CRAZY. For a girl who doesn't often go outside her comfort zone this was a big deal for me. After the week was over I realized I prepared for the dates in very different ways. For the first one, I was set up by a friend of mine

and went to get coffee together. I called a co

uple of my girlfriends to make sure what I was wearing was good and even stopped by a friends house to make sure I looked ok. I was assured by my 2 year old Godson that looked beautiful. Whew! and was on my way on to my date.

The following weekend I went on another date. A blind date with Jesus. I went on a retreat lead by the Dominican Sisters of Nashville and had no idea what to expect. Oh what a feeling that what I packed was not a worry. I had my comfy jeans, sweater, and even my glasses so my eyes would be comfy. What I wore in front of Jesus didn't matter. Even though I had no idea how the weekend would go, how I would react to so much alone time with him, or what my feelings would be toward him....I did not have to worry about what I looked

like.

What a great reminder of how God loves us. Girls worry so much about appearances but in front of Him all that goes away.