Rock that hair...

Ok, just as I promised, I will now unveil my new hair style! But before I do, I have to do a little explaining. When I first came to Springfield for college, I lived in the dorms. Well it only took a couple of weeks before I noticed that Springfield had hard water. It only took a few weeks after that before it started to break off. I had hair past my shoulders. I knew that if I was going to have any hair, I was going to have to get it cut off and pretty much start over. So over Christmas break I went home and got it all cut off. Once Christmas break was over I was trying to get into my dorm room and I heard my floormates ask me, "Is there something I can help you with, LaTisha isn't in her room"? Turned to them and said, "hello, I am LaTisha"! They didn't even recognize me! I loved having really short hair. One mistake I made, I cut it in the dead of winter, your head really feels the difference of having no hair!

So now I've been back in Springfield for over a year now, and I am back to the same conclusion... I have to cut my hair because it was breaking off (badly). So, I started looking at short haircuts, and found a really cute one. I also wised up a little bit, I cut it during the summer, so that my head doesn't have to adjust to the cold, and by winter, I will have learned how to style it.

I love short hair, it takes me literally 2 minutes to do my hair. I wash it while taking a shower, put a little bit of conditioner in it and go. I curls up all on its own! Ok, well I will show you a before and after picture... enjoy!


I know, you're saying it was already short...


Not a very good picture, but it's ear length (bottom of the ear)


So...what do you think?

Love

Is there truly such a thing as falling out of love? I mean seriously. I hear that phrase all the time..."oh, we just fell out of love". What does that mean? I know that people say that they fell in love, but to be honest I don't know what that means either. Is falling in love the realization that you care for a person more than words can describe? If so, then why don't people just say that.

In marriage, does it only take love? Is there more to it than that? Some would say yes, others would say no. For that matter, is love worth fighting for, or your spouse...whom you love? Love can get sticky in rough times; especially if it's not consistant.

Lets take "God is love", for example. Mathmatically you are saying God=love, just like 2+2=4. You aren't saying that if I add 2 and 2 I might get 4, it IS 4, every single time, you can switch the number around, and 4 will ALWAYS be the result. So if you relate that to God, no matter how you move Him, He will always equal love. So then I can't help but ask the question...what is the true definition of love.

Encarta dictionary defines love first as a verb: feeling tender affection for somebody; then as a noun: passionate attraction and desire. In both of these definitons, love sounds like a choice. You pick and choose who you will love. So if you can pick and choose who you will love, then that must mean that you can pick and choose who you won't love. The only kicker is that if we claim that we are Christians, then we are like Christ. Christ is apart of the trinity, and therefore He is love as well.

So the question still remains, can you fall out of love... The reason the question is still a question? Because God gave us free will, and with that came the freedom of choice. So, for all those reading, what do you think. Can you fall out of love, and if so, how?

Over a month!!!

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've blogged... I'm letting down all my readers! I'm sure that you know that if it's been over a month... I'm kinda busy! No excuse, I know, but that's just the truth. If it makes it any better, I read blogs all the time; I would even go as far as saying every other day, but I just didn't have the time to write one. Well, here you are. So to recap, I went to KC for Father's Day, went to St. Louis for a family reunion (not mine, Karnell's)and then went back to KC for the Fourth of July. That makes 3 weekends in a row that I had something going on.

I also did something drastic... I cut all my hair off. I mean there is only about 1 inch of hair left. I haven't taken any pictures since then, so you will have to wait on that part, but here are pictures of other wonderful items...enjoy!


My cousin Monty's first time grilling!


My mom and my aunt Brenda


My brother Brian


My cousins Tyalor, Craig and Corey...pretending to swim!


While we were at the family reunion in St. Louis, we went downtown. Down by the arch we heard there was some flooding... so this is what we saw!

That sign says 12ft. 2in. (there is about a foot in between)


A street sign that is almost under water!


Flooding at the arch...look at the flag poles!


Karnell showing off his cooking skills at the family reunion


Karnell with his stepmom and sisters

Marriages...

So I have been on this soapbox for a while... you know... marriages. This past weekend Karnell and I went to a marriage training seminar. Before too many thoughts start running through your head, it was for work. I recently got "promoted" at work to where I teach relationship and marital classes for new or expectant parents that come through the Center. Well, one correct... I don't just teach them, Karnell, my husband teaches them with me.

So I heard of some very interesting, and sometimes disturbing information in regards to marriage. So I thought how appropriate to share what I learned with you... my ciber audience! I am more than likely going to have a small series of blogs, so, I hope that I get good feedback! I want you all to be a part!

I will share statistics, and other interesting facts! I'm going to start chronologically... meaning... single, dating, engaged, married, divored, and we will even touch on remarriage. Now, for the record, this is just what I've learned and have been trained in by Forest Institute here in Springfield. Most things I've experienced in some shape, form or fashion. One thing that I don't know from experience is remarriage... I've only been married to Karnell. Ok, let the ride begin!

The statistics: In 1930 84% of couples were married, in 1990 it was 56%, in 2005 it was 49.7%. The probability for divorce in blacks 70%, whites 47%, high school drop outs 60%, college graduate 36%, under 21 years of age 60%, over 21 years of age 40% In an Oklahoma Statewide survey...the reasons divorce happened: lack of commitment 84.9%, too much arguing 59.2%, infidelity 57.5%, married too young 42.9%, little to no marriage prep 41.4%, economic hardship 38.9%, domestic violence 30.1%, religious differences 20.6%.

So there you have it folks... these are just the statistics. This is good stuff, so you don't want to miss out! Have a great day!

Arguments...

What is the point of arguing? What does it prove? Is there a point that is "suppose" to be made? One thing that I have discovered is that I hate...utterly hate arguing. The thing that I hate to admit is that if you are married, arguing is the inevitable. Nobody told me that was apart of the "package" of getting married.

It is amazing what you will find yourself arguing over...typically it's something that doesn't have substantial value. Meaning one or two weeks from the argument, it will become irrelevant. The main reason an argument happens is because and expectation didn't happen. Whether it was communication, misinformed, hurt feelings, disrespect...the list could go on and on.

I do believe that there is a such thing as a healthy argument. Meaning something positive was accomplished...some type of ground was covered. And by the way, the whole saying to "agree to disagree" is a bunch of bull in marriage. Someone always wants to "win". They want to make sure that their point of view was seen, heard and understood. Not only that, but they want to know that you are going to change. It is almost like it's a demand.

So, if you can't avoid an argument, and they are apart of marriage...is there a way to argue in marriage?

When I argue...I get beyond upset, and it takes me a very long time to "cool" down. Maybe not the best way to handle an argument...but nevertheless, that's how I am. If I should be different, or whatever, please let me know. When I say a long time, it can take a couple of days...

So, for all those reading... what are your thoughts about arguments?

Food, Fun, Friends, and Babies!

So this past weekend I helped to host a baby shower! It was such a blast. Being around friends, is always a fun time. Especially when you have the group of friends that I do! When you have good friends, you better hold on to them tight!

I made a diaper cake for the first time...I think it turned out rather nicely! Overall the baby shower was a huge success! So, here are some pics of the very beautiful day! Enjoy!

Things are looking up!

If you know me at all, you know that I have this "man" figure in my life...called a husband. The reason I say "man" figure is because for our whole marriage, we really haven't had time to really enjoy being married, because he always worked.

When I first met Karnell, he worked at Cheddar's in Springfield, he had a constistant schedule--but still very rough hours. The consistency really helped us, or I think it would be safe to say that we probably wouldn't be together...

Once we moved to KC, he got his first management position at McDonalds. That was a shocker because his schedule was not consistant and he worked every possible hour that was available in a day. Not so bad because we were engaged; I was living with my mom, working and planning a wedding, so I didn't have a lot of free time to begin with.

A few months before we got married, he moved to Jack Stack BBQ where he was the back of the house manager. Better pay...horrible hours! The better pay cushioned the blow of not seeing him. He only got Thanksgiving and Christmas off, anything else he had to request it off, and still was no guarantee that he would get it. He worked there a little over a year.

Next in line after that was Panera. Again, better pay...much better pay and now we were looking a decent hours. Things started to smooth out! We were able to see each other, get ahead on bills...the whole nine. Then we moved back to Springfield...

He went back to Cheddar's (also better pay) because there were no positions at Panera at the time. So back to working horrific hours. I would like to say that I hated it with a passion. I was lonely...all the time. Karnell finally said, enough is enough. And decided to try for Panera again...it worked!

Karnell has been at Panera for a month now...and loving every moment of it! Not to mention...better pay! Karnell has had his weekends off for 4 weeks in a row! That hasn't happened in the history of us knowing each other! He only works late 2 nights a week, and we've had a blast. I've had more fun with Karnell these past four week than I've ever had...take that back, the most fun I've had with him was on our honeymoon--that was a whole week of vacation, and no job to go to at all (for the both of us)!

I can officially say, I'm lovin' it! Things are looking up...once again.