Teaching Moments from my Father: The Value of Veterans Day

Recently, I had the opportunity to join the Peer Ministry at my University with the recommendation of a professor that I admire greatly. Prior to obtaining my certification, I sat through several training sessions where I got to know my fellow Peer Ministers better, learned how to help others make decisions through listening, how to make someone feel welcome, and other practical skills with a spiritual influence that I can carry over to both my personal and professional life.

One of my favorite discussions our Peer Minister group had was at the conclusion of our training, when we each shared who had been a witness to us through our faith walk. I immediately volunteered to go first and had no hesitation in saying that both my Dad and my Grandpa had been excellent examples of Christians throughout my life.

For as long as I can remember, my Dad has always been volunteering his time, energy, resources, mobility, and advice-a trait he learned from my Grandfather, and a trait that is so pleasing to God, a trait I wish I did more of. My parents are so good about helping others in need, and doing it without looking for any reward, something I have always admired.

Hebrews 13:16 says: "Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Having a servants heart is just one of the many things I have always admired in my Dad, but as Veterans Day approaches every year, I find myself reflected on (if I had to pick one) my favorite trait my Dad also instilled in me-the gratitude and respect he shows to our Country and those who have defended its freedoms.

Take some time to remember those that served, and continue to serve on Veterans Day.

My Dad is a very special man to me-I am often reminded of him by even the smallest things, but when it comes to Holidays such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and even The 4th of July, I go back to a conversation I had with him when I asked: "Dad, why don't you cry? I have never seen you cry, and even mom said you didn't cry when you got married, or when my sisters were born." His response was not what I expected, but something I will always remember. He said: "I don't cry because nothing in my life has been as traumatic as a wife losing her husband to war, parents living their life everyday without their son, or a boy being told he will never see his Daddy again; thats real sadness, and thats reason to cry, our family has been so blessed to have never experienced that, be thankful everyday."

As we spend the month of November being thankful for our blessings, families, and good health, lets also remember to be thankful for our countries Veterans. American writer and producer Sidney Sheldon once said: “My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place—police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces.” As you go about your day on Veterans Day, and spend the day with your family on Thanksgiving, I ask that you pray for our countries armed forces, and always show gratitude and respect to those who protect us.

A Developing Faith

A couple of weeks ago in my Christian Faith and Meaning class, my professor (who I adore), asked us to write a paper on our Faith History-an assignment I really enjoyed and thought I would share here on my blog. I entitled my paper "A Developing Faith", because nobody's faith is every really complete. We are always being shaped, molded, and tested by and through our faith. So here it is, A Developing Faith:

My faith was acquired through a methodical routine of attending worship, praying at meals, and connecting with others through the expression of similar beliefs. I was born into a Christian home where my parents believed that Sunday was a day set aside to attend church as a family, you always thank God for your blessings, and helping others was a suitable way to honor God.

In some regards, you could say my belief in Christ came as an expectation due to the firm foundation of faith instilled in my family. My grandmother was raised by a minister, and my grandfather attended college to pursue a degree in religious studies and served as a youth minister for a period of his life. My grandparents sought to dedicate all aspects of their lives to God. They regularly went to church growing up, met at a church camp when they were teenagers, attended Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma together, and even continued their involvement in the church when they became parents, so naturally my grandparents instilled the word and presence of God into their three children’s lives; one of whom was my father.

Although I do not have a particularly defining moment in which I completely understood Jesus for myself, I do know his presence was always around me from a very young age. Being raised in the Methodist church, I was baptized as an infant; which by John Wesley’s standards serves the purpose of: “cleansing of the guilt of original sin, initiating into a covenant with God, being admitted into the Church, becoming an heir of the divine kingdom, and being spiritually born anew.” (By Water and the Spirt: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism). I was given my first Bible at the age of one, attended a private Christian school from the ages of three to five where in my early developmental stages began to memorize The Lords Prayer, certain Bible verses and Children’s Chapel songs. I verbally accepted Jesus Christ as my savior through what Methodists call a “Proclamation of Faith” at the age of eleven immediately following my confirmation, but yet I still find myself learning more about my God each and every day.

The Methodist Church is a very methodical system of tradition, customs, and practices; hence the root word of “method” in the name Methodist. Although there are certain things that United Methodist Churches do collectively, such as praying the Apostles Creed as a congregation, having acolytes come down the aisle at every service, and using a certain structure of prayer for the worship service, I believe that the church as a whole does not have a certain set of beliefs that everyone must abide by; in fact, The United Methodist churches slogan is “Open Mind, Open Hearts, Open Doors”. With that being said, I was not raised in a church or household where such strong convictions passed down from the history of the churches denomination were present, my parents abided and referenced the ten commandments, but were not literal Christians; this made it somewhat difficult for me to be secure in my own convictions regarding sometimes debatable views in the Christian Faith. For example, Methodists do not have a universal standpoint on drinking, abortion, or homosexuality, it varies from person to person, so as I matured, I had to formulate my own stand point or view on social issues and sometimes even Biblical instruction.

Growing up, I had a lot of teaching moments from my parents- my Dad especially. I was always learning how to keep myself safe, be aware of my surroundings, or do things more efficiently when it came to yard work or cleaning; but teaching moments referring to the Bible when it came to what encompasses an obedient child, good disciple of Christ, or a woman of God were not always emphasized through the quotation of scripture. The teaching of faith in my developmental years was the simplest form of teaching-prayers before bedtime where we thanked God for our blessings, and asked him to watch over those we love, and having a servant heart towards others were the earliest foundations of my faith. While I always knew I wanted to be a Christian from the influence of those around me, it wasn’t until I was much older that I began to comprehend the magnitude of what encompasses being a Christian.

My senior year of high school, when I was extremely anxious and stressed out about my college decision, I recall opening my bible just to read for the first time and actually began to let the words from the pages imprint themselves in my mind. Like any other Christian, I was familiar with John 3:16 and all of the common verses from an early age, but did not become familiar with some of the corner stone verses for a Christian until I began to read the words myself.

Following my graduation, as I moved twelve hours away from my beloved Texas, everything I was familiar with, and embarked on a new journey as I started my freshman year of college, I found myself being even more drawn to the comforting and informative words of the Bible. I began to read about the kind of person Jesus is as his traits of love, forgiveness, obedience, grace, and mercy were demonstrated to people of all walks of life. I learned through verses such as Isaiah 41:10 that God has the answer to every question, anxiety, and worry. I finally found some peace within myself when it came to my uncontrollable stress and desire for perfection over tests, volleyball games, and uncertainty of the future; something I have struggled with since the age of about twelve.

Within the last three years, I have learned to expanded my faith on my own accord, which is necessary for every individual at some point. I have learned that faith is not just prayer, or worship. It is constantly growing in spiritual development through not only prayer, but worship, fellowship, and the Lords instruction and knowledge from the Bible. It is learning to bear all the fruits of the Spirit. It is trusting God. It is loving him. It is allowing him to transform the heart and mind of not only yourself, but those around you sometimes as well.

Although I have been blessed to have the presence of the Lord in my life from a very young age, I am constantly seeking ways to become the teammate, student, friend, daughter, sister, woman, and some day wife and mother that God has intended me to be. I am always inquisitive about the way I should go about things in a godly way, how I can better be receptive to his words and teachings, and I often confide in my grandpa to help answer any questions I may have as I continue my never ending walk of faith.

Isaiah 41:10-A great verse for children, teens, and even adults.

Sometimes I wish I would have had the opportunity to have my parents help me memorize verses, associate their teachings, or rules with the rules and law of the Lord so that I would have been more confident in my understanding of Christianity as a child and teenager. I wish I would have had the intelligence at a much earlier age to understand the sometimes complex words and lessons of The Bible, but I pray that God would continue to work through me in order to mold me into the person he has planned for me to be, but I am forever grateful for the traits I witnessed in those that helped raise me that also helped play into the person I am today.

Often times I wonder if I am being the best Christian I can. Whether it be through my verbal and non verbal responses to those I love, actions to those I know and those I don’t know, or my lack of service to the citizens of my community, or the citizens of various Nations across the world. I have not been over seas to do mission work for those in need, or those who do not know Jesus. I have not discipled a non believer and converted them to live for Christ, I have not done my best to point to God in all that I do, and I know I fall short of the glory of God everyday.

One thing I can say I am confident in is my belief in God, his creation of the earth, his position to award salvation to those seeking it, and his endless love for all of his people. I am confident in the miracles he can perform and the transformations he is capable of. I am confident that I love him with my whole heart and look to him whenever I am weary, sad, or fearful. I am confident in his listening skills when I seek him through prayer, and I am confident in his plans for me. I am confident that he will return to earth again with his angels and bestow judgment on those who refuse to obey him. I am confident that he has purchased our freedom with his blood and promises eternal life for those who profess a belief in him; and because of that, I am truly blessed.

The Downfall of Dating: How Hook-Ups Became The Everyday Norm for Millennials

Facebook. Twitter. Pinterest. Instagram. LinkedIn. Tumblr. These are all forms of social media that the overwhelming majority of adults and teens use, but thanks to apps such as Tinder, there is a new form of social media on the rise amongst college age adults: Digital Dating.

In the "olden days", young adults would meet one another at public places, muster up the confidence to talk to one another, and ask for their number. From then on, they would call one another, set up a time and place to meet, and begin a series of face to face interaction called dating. I have found all too often, that this no longer exists.

There is no form of courtship nowadays, rather than a phone call, or even a detailed text, many girls receive a text saying along the lines of: "Hey, want to maybe meet up sometime for drinks?" Instead of a specific day and time, men use "maybe" out of fear of rejection, and rather than choosing a personal, "date like" setting, men choose a nonchalant setting, with a nonchalant time, thus demonstrating no form of real interest to the woman they are going after. Its rare for a man in this generation to treat a woman like a priority rather than another option on a roster of women.

How does one expect to find a quality partner, a possible spouse, or even long term relationship in general if the outlet they met through was a screen? How credible is a photograph or information on a app? How does a woman know that "the amazing bar Josh took her too" wasn't the same place he took all 40 of his other Tinder matches too? Why seek out possible mates through an app deemed "only for hook ups?" Why start a relationship over insecurity of other hook-ups, and why risk cheating being a factor due to apps such as Tinder?

Dating Apps such as Tinder are the reason that the courtship between men and women no longer exists.

For the most part, I believe the "Hook Up Generation" exists because it is low-risk, and convenient. There is no formal commitment of a "going steady" title, no obligations, no heartbreak if it doesn't work out, and no certainty of anything, really.

Its time for young adults and college students to stop being scared and lazy when it comes to dating. How many relationships are low-risk and convenient? None. Every relationship you get into will either end in heartbreak or marriage, its part of the experience, so if you want to meet "The One", get out there and act like it. Put down the iPhone and converse with one another in a face-to-face environment. Delete Tinder and see how many singles you might find just by frequenting your local places such as parks, restaurants, concert venues, church, and even stores. God will place a perfect person in each and every life, we need not seek out people so feverishly, and most likely, we certainly won't find the perfect person with the best intentions on an app centered around hook ups.

Once this generation rids themselves of these poor digital dating habits, tough exteriors and realize that the rest of the world is out there, we just may actually find "The One."

The Power of Positivity

Last term, in my Small Group Communication class, which for the record still stands as my favorite class; we spent an amount of time discussed the importance of a positive self-image and the steps one can take to obtain and maintain a positive self image.

In essence, self image is how you view yourself; your talents, your appearance, your dreams, and your thoughts. A positive self image is crucial for creating healthy relationships in multiple facets of life, and a negative self image can make an individual doubtful in their abilities and talents. Surprisingly, your own view of yourself is often times drastically different then the way others view us; we always seem to be our own worst critics. Typically, others view humans in a more positive and complementary light than the individual themselves does.

Self image has a direct effect on our happiness and correlates with not only our performance in everyday tasks at work, school, and in relationships, but it also effects the way we communicate with others.

There are many things that contribute to the development of our self image, such as the outcomes (positive and negative) of past experiences that may include: academics, relationships, work experience, and athletics. These experiences help to shape our self image, as well as the contributions of members in our primary groups: our family and friendship circles. Failure also has a big influence on ones self image. Whether the effect be doubtful influence, or a motivating influence, failure of past endeavors has a big contribution to our self image.

Positive self talk helps lead to a better self image and higher levels of self esteem, for example: waking up and starting the day saying "Today will be great, I can't wait to see what the day will bring" rather than "I'm so tired, I don't want to go to work/school" or telling yourself "I can do this" versus "I can't go any further, or I can't do it" leads to better results, and a better self image.

Our internal dialogue is what makes or breaks us in a multitude of situations.

It is essential that parents build their children up, and teach them the importance of failure, mistakes, and success in various areas of life rather than just one area such as academics or sports. Ephesians 2:10 says: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Allowing your son to know he made an accomplishment in picking up his room rather than just hitting a baseball hard is essential for self confidence and self image. Children knowing that they have the ability to excel in more than just one facet or talent in life helps to create a well rounded individual that exudes confidence.

Along with confidence, positive self talk has also been proven to lead to lower stress levels, and healthier, happier life styles. Becoming aware of the underlying negative stream of consciousness that is self talk is the first step, the next is turning the negative statements into positive ones. Here are some common examples and simple solutions:

                                  Negative                                                              Positive

                  "I've never done it before."                     "Its an opportunity to learn something new."

              "I'm never going to be good at it."                          "I'll give it one more try."

                 "There is no way it will work."                          "Lets reexamine the possibilities."


Parents, I encourage you to establish a positive self-image in your children at an early age, and to teach them the power of positive thinking, and while you're at it, take some positive self talk and sprinkle it into your life, you just might be amazed at the results.

7 Things I Want My Parents To Know Before They Die

God was kind enough to bless me with the worlds greatest set of parents who not only love me but support me in everything I do. Both my mom and my dad mean a lot to me for different reasons-my mom is funny, loving, blunt, and compassionate to all three of her daughters, she is the kind of mother I hope to be someday; and my dad is hardworking, honest, and someone I will most likely compare every boy I date to. Since moving away to college, (12 hours away from good cooking and good advice), my love, respect and admiration for both my mother and father has only grown. I can't imagine a life without my mom's sarcastic stories of her day at work, or my dads Time Magazine worthy life advice. The thought of having to life a life without them weighs heavy on me at times with today's unpredictable world, so I thought it fitting to write a list of 7 Things I Want My Parents To Know Before They Die.

"Family isn't an important thing. It everything." -Michael J. Fox

1) You Cross My Mind Every Single Day
Yes, mom and dad I do think about you a lot- I'm not just here at college "partying it up" (mainly cause y'all raised me to know better than to try that)...but in all seriousness, between classes, on the weekends, when I'm at church by myself or during Volleyball season after games, you two are always on my mind.

2) I Realize How Much You Sacrificed For Our Family
All of the late nights Dad would come home, constant emailing on weekends, and the "I can't, I have to work" texts truly demonstrate how hard to work to provide for our family, you went above and beyond what was expected of you, and you did it without complaining. Between Disney World vacations, Hannah Montana CD's in the car, and sitting through Frozen for the 100th time, you two sacrifice time and your own happiness for the joy of my sisters and I, and that is something not every parent does.

3) Your Marriage Contributed To The Way I Was Raised
In a world filled with single moms, and children coming from broken families, I am both blessed and proud to say that I was raised in a traditional home setting, something that truly did make my childhood fulfilling. Piling up in the truck on Sunday mornings to head to church, gathering around the TV to race each other in Mario Kart, and joining hands at the dinner table in the evenings are memories and experiences I will never forget. Having a house full of five not only made life more interesting, it also taught me how to handle responsibilities. Because of your marriage, the ups and downs, there are certain family values I learned, and truly respect.

4) I Am Who I Am Because Of You
Everything that encompasses me, my likes, dislikes, tastes in music, and attributes are because of the two of you. I get my competitiveness, loyalty, drive, and love for sports, fishing, Ozzy, and the Longhorns from Dad, I get my stubbornness, adoration of children, and love for good Country music, reading, and laughing from Mom. The two of you raised me to be strong willed, focused, and driven; to not let anything distract me or get in my way. If I have been dealt a different set of parents, I am almost positive I would be a different person, I am blessed immensely by the both of you.

5) The Experiences You Gave Me Mean The World To Me
One thing I am especially grateful for is the way you chose to expose my sisters and I to a lot of different things about the world: from vacations to Hawaii, New York, and California, I have traveled a good portion of The United States and have knowledge of many different things, including how to hang a picture, ride a four wheeler, cook pork chops, hit a softball, shoot a gun, drive a truck, sew on a button, and do laundry. Everything you've taught me about life, God, sports, and school I have retained, and refer to often.

6) I Have The Utmost Respect For Y'all
Since moving to college, a lot of people, both peers and adults ask: "Do you get along with your parents?" and my answer is always the same, I say: "Of course I do, I love, respect, and fear my parents, I know they would do anything for me, but I also know what the expect of me and so I don't cross them." Not only do I respect you as parents, who provide, love, and care for me, I respect you for the people and citizens you are. The two of you are such amazing people, and amazing parents. Dad, you are so generous and caring, always donating your time and service to those in need, and mom you are so compassionate; always trying to make others happy and trying your best to be there for friends and family in need.

7) You Mean More To Me Than Life
My love for you is virtually indescribable. Y'all are my best friends, role models, spiritual influences, and so much more. Everything I do in life I do in the hopes of pleasing you, and making you proud. Often times I fear living in a world without the two of you, and that is something that will be extremely hard when the time comes, so always know that I love you, with all my heart.

The Difference Between Falling In Love And Falling In Lust

We all have that one friend... yes, you know, the one that is always posting about the new "love of her life" and her "perfect boyfriend." This woman may be a freshman in college, or she may be 35 and single, but either way, her definition of "perfect" may be slightly diluted since her last three ex boyfriends were also identified as "perfect." It is virtually inevitable that with every new Facebook post she makes, we continue to ask ourselves: is there something wrong with her, or the men she chooses?  But the real question we should be asking is: is she falling in love, or in lust?

Many times, lust is identified as purely sexual satisfaction and need, which in context of The Bible is accurate, but if we look deeper into the meaning of the word, we will see that in essence lust is selfish. Lust is not just merely wanting of the flesh, it is the fulfilling of personal needs and desires: whether it be related to money, cars, or sex, lust is only self centered. Lust is disrespect, detachment, and a lack of self control, all unfavorable characteristics in God's eyes.

Love is the exact opposite, love is:patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (-1 Corinthians 13:4-8). True love encompasses everything God taught us, which is providing, caring, and nurturing the other persons needs before our own selfish (and perhaps sinful) desires. When you love someone, you want to be with them, no matter what the cost.

Personally, I think lust does not require intimacy, but love does. Not to confuse sex with intimacy, intimacy is the setting aside of selfishness, intimacy is opening up to one another,  and being at our most vulnerable state, which is why it is so much easier for many people to lust rather than love. When we are intimate with one another, we discus feelings, goals, past experiences, and opinions. Lust doesn't encompass any of that, lust is merely temporary satisfaction.

When we are patient, and exhibit self-control (a fruit of the spirit God intended us to have), we can get to know a person for who they truly are, accept them for it, and learn about the kind of person they want to eventually be, we are demonstrating love as God intended us too.

As Christians, it is important to know the difference between love and lust, and to always choose to love.

Although I have not had a lot of experience with men in my 18 years of life, I have had the opportunity to witness a beautiful marriage between my parents, and I think its safe to say that universally, when you love someone you can:

1) Laugh Your Obnoxious Laugh With Them
Its an everyday occurrence in my house hold to hear mom and dad cracking jokes with each and laughing like two teenagers at a football game. The two of them are so comfortable with each other that its not uncommon to see mom wiping tears from the sides of her eyes from laughing so much. The "awkward" barriers were broken down long ago, and those two couldn't be more comfortable with each other.

2) Be Willing To Accept Them At Their Worst, As Well As Their Best
From high school, to their wedding day, giving birth to three children, dealing with the loss of her mom, and beaming with joy at her children, my Dad has seen my mom through out many stages in her life, and he chooses to love her and view her as the same beautiful woman he met 20 years ago, not just when shes at her best, or its convenient for him.

3) Compromise
I can't tell you the amount of times my mom sat through a Longhorn game on the TV, or the countless times dad suffered through a trip to Justice or Ulta. Love is all about putting the others needs before your own. When you love someone, and especially when you have children with someone, it is not all about you, its about compromise.

4) Be Open In All Aspects
Being comfortable about saying what upsets you, what you like, and dislike is a sign of love. Opening up to a significant other about opinions, thoughts, and views on various things in life is getting past the selfish desires of love. Along with being open to one another, you must also be willing to take into consideration what the other is saying, and even be willing to change the way you interact with them.

If you ever find yourself trying to decided whether you or a friend is truly in love, ask yourself: "What is his/her/my attitude towards this person? Is it selflessness or selfishness?" "Am I/Are They willing to keep going and persevering when times get tough?" "Do I/Do They want to invest in this person or only have temporary pleasure?" "Do I/Do They want to grow with this person, experience things with them, learn from them, and grow in God's love with them?" The answers to these questions will help you to see whether it is evident that you or another you know is always falling in love or simply falling in lust.

How to Become Your Daughters Best Friend

Moving 600 miles away from great cooking and the only person that can properly people watch with me recently made me realize how much I miss my mom; but it also made me realize she's not just my mom, she's my best friend. How, do you ask is it possible for an 18 year old to be best friends with her (30 something) year old mom? Well, it's simple if your mother is as amazing as mine, but for other mom's who may be worried about how their daughters will be once they hit 13, or the mothers who are already experiencing the dreaded pre-teen years, here are a few things to keep in mind while raising your daughter (in the hopes that she will become your best friend in years to come):

1) Be Patient 
With girls, (especially hormonal teen girls), patience is essential to avoiding arguments and frustration. For me personally, as I was growing up, all I ever wanted was approval. I never wanted to disappoint and all I ever sought out (and still strive for) is to have someone be proud of me. Although I was not the best at certain things the first time around, (ex:learning not to back talk, remembering to take out the trash, and math...even though that never really improved), I have always been determined to be the best I can at whatever I am applying myself too, and while that may not happen the first time around, girls will always know when they are in the wrong, or when they have disrespected their mother. Whether it is at age 14, or 18, they will come around.

2) Don't Mold Her, Let Her Mold Herself
The worst thing a mother, and parent in general can do is try and make their child into the set image they have of them. It is important to remember that every child, girl, and human has different interests and hobbies. Your daughter may not want to be a pee-wee cheerleader, she may not wear the dresses you adored in middle school, and she may not be like every other little girl in her class, but that's okay. As a mother, I think you have to trust that you instilled good morals, qualities, and manners in your child, and with your teachings, she will mold herself into her own unique individual.

3) Be Blunt
There is only one person in my life that calls me out on my stubbornness, and that is my mom. For as long as I can remember she has been painfully honest about my wardrobe choices, sass, and athletic performance. Nothing says momma like "I'll wait here while you change" as she lets me know we are not leaving that house until I wear something she favors more than a ragged t-shirt and Nike shorts. While she may have spoken her mind a little too harshly a time or two, I wouldn't trade her honesty for anything; because at the end of the day, I know she always has my best interest at heart.

4) Always Show Her Love
My mom is the best at knowing all three of her daughters likes, interests, and styles. Every school backpack, and Easter basket she got for us was always tailored to our individual personalities. I can't tell you the amount of times I came home to nail polish or a Target clearance shirt on my bed with my momma yelling down the hall: "I saw this and thought of you." Although she didn't have to do that, she chose to do it as a simple gesture to show me she loves me. Most times, it doesn't take much.  Sometimes its was a Red Box movie she knew I wanted to see, or other times it was a Sunday afternoon spent at the mall. It's important to spend individualized time with each and every child, and show your kids your love for them.

A good relationship filled with trust and respect is essential for any mother and daughter. 

5) Respect The Goals She Has
From talking about going to college out of state, moving back to Austin after college, and even talk  of raising my kids in Germany for a couple of years, my mother has always respected my goals and plans I have for the future. Although it may have been hard to let her first daughter go 4 states away to college, she knew the vastness of the opportunity God was presenting to me. She never once complained about me not being with her, or her missing me too much; my mom wanted me to spread my wings and experience the world for myself, (maybe it was because she knows I'm coming back to Texas as soon as I graduate college,) but for whatever reason, I am truly grateful for her supporting my ambitions.

6) Establish Trust
When I say my mom is my best friend, I truly mean that. My mother knows everything. Literally, everything. In fact, she knows so much about my life, and my friends lives that she probably wishes she didn't know everything she knows...but, nevertheless, I know that anything I tell her, whether its about a boy I like, or about my friends, she never judges. She simply listens, and presents her honest opinion. I know that I can come to her with any kind of issue I encounter in life and she will give me better advice than any book or talk show host could.

7) Know That One Day It Will Be Worth It
Although I am not a mother, I hope my mom would agree with me when I say it will all be worth it someday. All the tears, attitude, left dishes in the dishwater, tantrums over clothes, and drama will be worth it when your daughter moves away to college and realizes everything you sacrificed for her, and all the small things she misses like good home cooked meals, laughs, and movie nights.

I'll be the first to admit that girls are not the easiest to handle, but the bond between a mother and daughter (if its anything like the one I share with my momma) is something you should cherish. I just hope one day I am half the selfless, fun-loving, stubborn, amazing, beautiful mother and wife my mom is.