Thanks to all the Jerks who came before

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Sometimes time hop brings back memories you don't really need to recall. That happened today but in my new desire to look only at the brightside I thought I would take this opportunity to say thank you to all the jerks, idiots, and total well you know what's I dated before I met my husband because every once in a while they remind me...to be grateful for what a great man I have.

So thank you to the loser who left me crying in a bar.  I appreciate that you didn't want me because you really didn't deserve me.  Thank you also for standing me up a month later when I invited you to a tailgate.  You were a real jerk, not just a minor jerk.  The best part is as bad as you treated me, you never did apologize.  I wonder sometimes how you lived with  yourself but then I realize, you are just a selfish jerk who never cared.  My husband tries all the time and that's way more than you did any of the time.  I  Thank you for  not being the one. What a total disappointment you turned out to be.  I promise I don't live in a state of angry at you, I don't even think of  you.  I just remembered how pathetic I felt crying at that bar and the anger came back.  You were a real piece of poop. I hope nobody EVER treats your daughter the way you treated me.  

Thank you also to the other guy who tried to be charming but really just wanted to use me as a port of call when he was available.  I appreciate knowing I am not worth the extra effort to you because I was to my husband.  I really just want to thank you for helping me mend my broken heart over the dummy above and make room in it for my hubby.  The truth is, I didn't really try with you either so we are even. 

Thank you to the countless fools and idiots who passed because I didn't meet your expectations of what a woman should look like or act like.  Women aren't a cover on a magazine or a centerfold and if all you want is a trophy wife with no brains, fight, or will it is probably best you moved along. 

Thank you to all the spineless saps too afraid so ask.  I would have crushed you. I am way too strong for you.  

Thank you to all the women who came before and kissed the other toads so I didn't have to.  Kissing toads gets old.  

I am glad things worked out the way they did. I couldn't see it 3 years ago when I was crying, or 2 years ago when I was mending that broken heart.  I can see it now. Nobody else was good enough for me.  God knew it.  God had this plan all along.  I just had to wait for the timing.  That should be a bright side if you are waiting for  your prince something while kissing toads.  It will happen. Just stay away from the jerks who can't make up their minds or don't know what they want..  They are an absolute waste of time. 

An open letter to the President of the United States

Dear President Obama: 

I can't speak for all Americans, only myself so I am going to tell you honestly how I feel.  I doubt you care but here it is.  

When you took office I was excited.  I was full of hope that this country was on the brink of exciting change.  I hoped you would usher in a new era of understanding and wisdom.  You sounded so right and you looked good, on paper.  You could bridge the gap between two cultures and bring understand.   You could be the one person who could see things from all sides.  You had policies I thought I agreed with. You sure do talk "pretty".  

What I have found in the time of your administration is that things have only gotten more muddled, more confused, and more frustrating.  There is no understanding.  There is no respect between the cultures only greater and greater division.  Friendships have become strained.  Relationships have been lost forever.  Cultures on both sides are being attacked on a daily basis.  Respect is lost.  It breaks my heart. 

The President of the United States should represent all people of the United States and instead you force your ideology down the throat of the American public and respect only those who agree with you.  You seem to bask in the division instead of trying to unite the country you say you love.  

This country faces huge obstacles from the outside and knowing this, you decide that a rainbow colored White House is the message you want to send the world.  I am all for equality of marriage however I also believe in respecting our national monuments.  You have alienate a large portion of your American citizens who are offended by this act as much as those offended by a flag flying over the capital of any state that should have been removed decades ago.  

I don't feel like you care about the majority of American citizens be they white, Hispanic, Indian, of Asian heritage or pretty much anyone who doesn't get you a sound bite on the nightly news.  Your policies are so divisive and you cater to an audience so exclusive, that in my opinion, it is tearing this country apart. 

In conclusion, I can only hope the next President is a strong and wise leader because I fear it will take years to fix the internal problems your administration has left.  History may not be kind to the Obama administration but America and the people of this country are stronger than any one President. The country will survive and somehow, some way, it will become stronger despite the division or because of it.  

God Bless you Mr. President.  I pray for wisdom for you daily.  

PS:  I was a life long member of the Democratic Party.  I prided myself in never having voted for a Repubican for President until 2012. You lost me. Probably forever. You have moved so far to the left there is nothing left for those of us in the middle. You can look in the mirror for that one.

Love, Equality, and a Thanks to my Wedding Minister

My minister, My Friend,  Ben

I can't say I was shocked or surprised when the Supreme Court came down with their ruling today.  I can say I feel like it was about time.   See, I am very clear on this subject, it is none of my business who anyone loves, just like it is nobody's business who I love.  If you love me and my husband great, if you don't get out of my life, I don't need you.  Sorry but I am not sorry.  I am pretty sure that is the way every Gay and Lesbian couple feels.  They don't owe you an apology for their love.  They don't owe you an explanation. 

So let me tell you a little story, about a woman I know who is going to Hell for dating the man she eventually married.  That is what she was told by a 'friend' of hers.  She told the friend to hit the road and married her man anyway.  They have a pretty darn good marriage. They laugh a lot, argue a little, work hard and play well together.   They have a beautiful house, share his kid, her two dogs, hunting land and 22 chickens.   Okay, yes it is me. You caught me!  Do I care that I am going to Hell?  Well, honestly I don't think I am.  If I am, it isn't for marrying my husband, but I am pretty sure it was not God speaking through that person anyway. That person happens to be unbelievably arrogant, obnoxious, and ignorant at times and when it comes to my relationship, that was one of them.  Here is the thing, my salvation is between myself and God and thank GOD that is the way it is.  God knows I am not a perfect person but He also knows I am pretty good at heart, honest, and carrying when it comes down to it.  I try really hard to love His people, see the best in them even when there isn't much to see, including the ones I don't like or find incredible hypocrites. 

So why do I tell you all of that?  I was married by the most amazing, loving, wonderful man I have ever met who just happens to be in a long term relationship with his partner who, until today, he could not marry himself.   That all changed with the Supreme Court ruling and thankfully, for couples all over America love is now equal for everyone.  They don't owe anyone justification for their love and they probably don't care if anyone thinks they are going to Hell.   It is between them and God and only God gets to judge.  If God knows my friend the way I know him, he is going to see what a loving, wonderful, fun, happy, creature He made and He made him perfect just the way he is, Period.

I may also add that my friend, my minster, by everyone's account at my wedding,  knew more about what it took to create a lasting, loving, wonderful marriage than any straight minister anyone in the audience had ever heard and everyone adored him including my husband's friends who are total rednecks.   I still hear from our friends how it was the best wedding they have ever been too and I totally believe the ceremony, which was charming, full of love, humor, and happiness was the key.  You only get that from true love, both the love between my husband and myself and the love of my my friend who is an amazing person.  

I thank God for making Ben my neighbor when we lived in our old home and for him being able to marry my husband and myself.  I also thank God he didn't have hot pink hair in our wedding photos because he was at a festival the week before our wedding and he had to change his hair back the day before.  He is a really fun person, I told you! :) 

(Just an aside, I have several other friends this effects and I am equally happy for you!) 

What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday 13: the one with Muscadine Wine

It is Wednesday so it is time for What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday!  Yay!!! Join me for the blog hop below by linking your post with what you are loving this week. 

What I'm Loving:

We had visitors this morning

I love living in the country.  You never know who is coming to visit.  These are our neighbor's ducks and along with his chickens they come to visit several times a week. I swear when I saw them coming up our front walk, I half expected them to be carrying suitcases.

My Husband:

I have had a really hard several weeks month and he has been just wonderfully supportive.  There are several changes that are going on, none of which I want to talk about and all of which are stressing me out a LOT, and he has been wonderful.  I am so lucky to have him.  When they say you should marry your best friend they aren't kidding.  I did and I can't tell you how nice it is to come home and know that my best friend is there waiting for me. 

A weekend of nothing special:

We have had people or kids over for five weeks in a row and I am so looking forward to peace and quiet this weekend.  I love having people over but I am worn out cooking and cleaning and cooking and cleaning up after cooking.  I am ready for frozen pizza and not having to do 5 loads of dishes before we start again entertaining for the 4th of July.  

Protein Shakes:

Let me be clear, while I don't really love them, I am trying really hard to lose weigh and I love how effective they are and helping me reach that goal. 

Have a Pinteresting Wednesday:

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We have a bunch of muscadine grapes growing in our backyard so I am planning on putting them to good use:

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Okay that is my Wednesday.   Link up below and add your blog.  Happy Hump Day!