these were supposed to be in my 1000 gifts

1000 Gifts 2nd Post

• Beach days that last until sundown on a white sand shore, with blue-green water, and a game of frisbee.

• The sound of my husband's even steady breathing next to me in bed as I fall asleep.

• A friend who truly understands.

• Books that swallow me up and pull me in. Making me feel as though I have become a part of their world.

• The companionship of a loyal dog.

• My mother's prayers.

• An unexpected phone call just to say hi and let me know I am missed.

• Having a husband that loves to make me laugh.
  

• Forgiveness

• Grace

• Hope that knows no boundaries.
  

My husband is not white...

Dear all major greeting card companies,

I am apart of a pretty significant community of people. They are all over the world, they are of all ages, and most importantly they are of ALL races. I am the wife of just one of many many many interracial couples. Here's the thing, you don't have any cards to offer us. My husband and I will be celebrating our one year wedding anniversary this month. So naturally I have been keeping an eye out for the perfect card. As I have browsed through the thousands of cards that fill stores I see tons of beautiful cards expressing love. The picture of two hands holding, an illustration of a couple embracing each other, kissing each other, smiling, just all around showing love. But they do not fit us, my husband is not white. I am not black. Where is a card for us?

I understand there are many cards that just have words or illustrations of hearts and flowers and other symbols of love and romance. However, I am a photographer, and pictures express things so beautifully. They also look less cheesy than glittery hearts and stars. I want to be able to to have the option of purchasing a card with a black hand and a white hand intertwined. It's not just my couple combo either. Unless you are a just Caucasian couple, or a just African American couple, there isn't a card for you. I have never seen a card with an Asian bride and groom, or a Latino couple celebrating their anniversary. They simply do not exist and it's frustrating. I even looked on the Internet, and I did find more than I do in stores, (it only takes one card to do that) but nothing great. Nothing but cheesy and somewhat awkward cards that were definitely not worth ordering and paying shipping and handling for. There is that point too, why would I want to pay shipping and handling ON A CARD? Lame.

So I ask all of you huge wealthy greeting card companies, spend a little dough on the colorful couples. Give us a few lovely cards for every occasion that we can identify with, and I promise you they will not go unnoticed. Or un-purchased.


Best Regards and Wishing your Sales Team Luck for the Upcoming Holidays,

Courtney

1000 Gifts

So one of my dear friends who I have known since I was a little girl, Carrien, also has a blog. http://shelaughsatthedays.blogspot.com/

I love to read it, and some of my favorite posts of hers are her 1000 gifts blogs. Then I went to the gratitude community which insprired her and loved that too. That community is here: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2003/06/gratitude-community.html.
(Unfortunately I don't know how to make the link hide in a word that you can just click on.)

Anyway, I'm going to join in the praise. I naturally have the tendency to find joy and happiness in the simplest and sometimes weirdest things. So it will be interesting and fun to keep record of some of those things here in my blog. I will also be keeping my collection of gratitude written down in a little notebook. I'm not going to pick a specific day of the week to do so, I'm just going to share as I feel led. But I will be making a 1000 Gifts post once a week.
So here it goes....

My husband coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me. There is something extra affectionate about those unexpected hugs.

The Library. Especially when the book I have been waiting for is finally checked in.

The item I'm purchasing being on sale, but not knowing this until I am paying at the register.

My hair being long enough for a ponytail again, but not long enough for the ponytail to give me a headache.

All the amazing people who fought for equal rights. Without them I wouldn't have been able to marry my husband, let alone hold his hand in public without severe consequences.

When a band I love releases a new album and it does not dissapoint.

A 75 degree day in Florida and almost no humidity. I got to wear jeans.

Seeing a daddy carry his baby around in one of those back pack like things that goes on the front. I internally squeel everytime I see this, well sometimes externally too.

A close friend deciding she wants to be free and taking the steps to quit smoking the healthy way.

The fact that my mom took tons of beautiful pictures my whole childhood, now I am able to look back on my life and share it with my husband and eventually our children.

God is Good.

In The Words of Bob Dylan, " I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler"

I have 200,000 things on my mind right now.

Okay, so maybe not quite that many but a lot. And it's not helping me blog. Maybe I should just throw it all down on here, and then seen if I can get a real blog out after. This should be interesting.

My brother's birthday is in October, what do we get him?

My mother in law's birthday is in October, what do we get her? Oh yeah I already know, CRAP, i need to get to work on that!

My mother in law has cancer, and we aren't in the same state. I wish we were there to help, to spend time with her, to take care of her. I miss her.

My mom and my brother are both sick. It makes me sad. I don't like it when my family is sick.

The Volvo needs its registration renewed.

Ty's birthday is in November. I know what to get him, it's sort of expensive. But totally worth it.

I don't have a job, I WANT a job. I really want a job at Borders. I called them today. I talked to Dennis, he took my name, he says he is going to look up my application, he is going to start hiring! He's going to call me back. Please Lord, PLEEEEEASE, I really want to work there. Call me Dennis!

I want a haircut, no wait, I need a haircut. Nothing drastic, just get the nasty ends off.

HOLY CRAP, we are going back home for Christmas! That's exciting. We HAVE to pick dates this week. These dates must make sure we are in SD for Dec. 29th. John Mayer will be playing. I NEED to see him again. Oh man, tickets will cost a lot. For the plane I mean, oh and probably for the concert too. I wish I had a job.
I should start looking up plane tickets too.

Why is my skin so jacked up right now?

I wish it would cool down here all ready. The weather man said a cold front was moving in. We'll see if that happens. Even if we could just get a break from the humidity that would be splendid. Oh how I hope it's cold back home in December. I miss wearing my scarves, and my peacoat. *sigh* I love fall, we'll when there is actually fall like weather. Wow, i am obsessing about the weather right now.

I miss my family.

I miss having friends to do stuff with. I miss the bestie. Her two week visit was amazing. It didn't even feel like two weeks. Definitely went by fast.

This is such a stupid blog. I'm glad hardly anyone reads it. Well at least I am writing, getting my juices flowing. Why do people say that? It's actually quite a nasty sounding term. Ew. Okay, so I'm getting my words flowing. That's better.

I don't like Mondays.
I need to wash my face.

Momma's Girl

Over the past few days I have been noticing more and more little things about myself that remind me very much of my mother. I remember when I was much younger and my rebellious streak was aimed more towards my parents, I was convinced I was nothing like her. I get my rebellious streak from her. Ha! So here are some of the ways I have noticed recently that I am a lot like her.

The picture taking doesnt stop, I do it constantly.

I need an apron. Whenever I cook I later notice whatever I cooked somewhere on my clothing.

I don't know if it's Tampa's insane drivers or not, but I am becoming very verbally involved in my driving.

I absolutely love to give away food that I have made, especially baked goods. I have yet to try my hand at my mom's delicious chocolate chip banana muffins however.

I too want to adopt someday.

If Van Morrison starts playing, I have to sing.

And the thing I noticed and am most proud to say is:
I am becoming less and less concerned with the judgements others might make of me. My mom ALWAYS encouraged me to not care what negative things people might think of me, ESPECIALLY if they didnt know me. I was encouraged to just be me, if people didnt like that, SO WHAT?!

thanks Mom. <3

Home

So I was gone for a while. Two weeks to be exact.

I flew to San Diego on July 15th and stayed until July 29th, I had been gone for about 6 months. I went "home" for a visit and to be in my friend of 12 years, wedding. It was wonderful and beautiful and such an honor to be in the wedding. The picture above is of me with the gorgeous bride out on the dance floor.

I was also there for her maid of honor's (who is also her sister) 21st birthday which was 3 days after the wedding. I got to celebrate with her and we were giddy with being back together again.

The whole time I was in San Diego I had great adventures and visits with my family and friends. It felt so amazing to be surrounded by those I love and who love me again. My heart was so full, overflowing even, the whole time I was there. My trip to San Diego was refreshing and very much needed. But I realized something quite surprising. After being born and spending my whole life in San Diego, it is not my home anymore. However Florida is not my home either. Home is, as cheesy and cliche' as it sounds, totally where my heart is. With my husband, with my family, with my friends. Wherever my husband is, is where I belong. He holds the largest chunk of my heart here on earth, and he is my home. But little parts of my heart are spread all over. I have a home with parents, I have a home with my in-laws, I have a home in a Borough of Blue in Escondido, and a several homes in Poway, there is a home in Canada that will soon re-locate to India, I have a home in Clairemont, and many more, wherever these people go who carry parts of my heart. This was very comforting to realize, it brings me peace to know this.

To know now, wherever I go and wherever these important people in my life go, no matter the time or distance that seperates us, whenever we are brought back together it will be like coming home.