Freedom Isn’t Free

Today I want to say that I’m grateful to live in a safer country.  My parents are immigrants, and they came here with almost nothing in hopes of building a better life for their kids.  When I see where their home country is at now...  oh boy.  I’m glad I didn’t have to grow up in a dangerous place like that.  It’s such a shame because South Africa is such a beautiful place, but it has been ruined by corruption.  And it scares me to think that the U.S. could easily turn into that.  It already seems to be on its way there.

The biggest threat to a country is its people, which the corrupt elites know full well.  If they can just divide the people, which the media has done terrifically, it will be easier to make us their peasants and slaves.  Wasn’t the Revolutionary War all about preventing us from living in that kind of tyrannical system?

—

I don’t expect people to fly an American Flag on their cars year-round, but let’s have more respect.  This hatred for our own country and complete ingratitude toward those who sacrifice THEIR lives to protect OUR rights is downright disgusting.  It needs to stop.

If you really hate the military/police of this country so much, feel free (courtesy of those protecting your freedom) to get the hell out!

Your freedom is NOT free.  Nothing is.

So much time and energy is put in by people that don’t even know us, just to keep us all safe as we mindlessly watch Netflix and scroll through social media.

People have died protecting your rights.

People have been given mentally and physically debilitating injuries protecting your rights.

Somebody else’s freedom ends where yours begins.  Let’s not forget that.

—

And I know this post is pretty scrambled, so welcome to my mind!

Grow Old With Me

Dear Taylor,

How are you real?!

And how did I ever live without you in my life?

Actually, I already know the answer to that, so let me tell you.

Before I ever met you at that dance, I was in a dark place.  I based my self-worth on whether or not guys liked me. And that way of thinking lead me to a pretty low point in my life. 

I honestly didn’t think I would make it to an age that I could be married.  Sure, the idea that there was a man out there for me was cool.  I even prayed for him almost everyday when I was 14.  But I still couldn’t have ever dreamed up the amazing person that you are, or even imagined that I was be lucky enough to live my life with you right now.

I remember when I first met you that I felt something new spark in me.

I immediately knew that you were special and that I didn’t want to screw things up with you by moving too fast.

Other than my siblings, you were the only missionary that I missed.  And it was so crazy to me because we had only hung out a handful of times at that point.

But it totally makes sense now.

You are my soulmate.

And here we are nearly 10 years later, and I wouldn’t want it any other way!

You are a strong, sexy hard worker.  You are so kind and generous, talented, intelligent and hilarious.

You are an absolute dream!  And so is being married to you.

I love you so much that it makes me cry when I think about it.  And you make me feel so loved, which also makes me cry.  How could somebody so amazing love me and want to be married to me?

Thank you for all that you do and choosing to be my person. ♥

Lisa Belle

Did you put this on my Pinterest today?  Because it sure reminds me of you!

On your birthday I have been missing you and thinking of you extra.  Even though I can’t see you right now, I have no doubt you’ve been around today. It is a special day, after all!

I love thinking of our memories together.

All of the sleepovers, silly interests that we both just understood and shared.  I remember a couple of silly fights, and how quick you were to forgive.

And I remember missing you when you moved back to Morgan.  This feels a little bit like that, except so much worse.

Even though I hate that I can’t see you and talk to you for the rest of my life, my missing you is evidence that a great friendship existed.

It makes me smile knowing that I had a true friend who would help me carry out hilarious plans to get our (yes, OUR) crush’s attention together.

You were such a badass daredevil, but also a sensitive healer at the same time.  A combination I would imagine being hard to balance.

I regret not being a better friend when I had the chance.  That was something that I felt even before you passed, especially after re-reading old messages between you and me. Those messages showed me a girl who had just moved after barely settling into her last place, who probably felt lonely and needed a friend to talk to.  And then I saw that friend totally missing those signs.  Totally blowing you off.

I’m sorry for not being there then.

I’m sorry for not following through with our plans the last time we made them.

I’m sad that I took you for granted and didn’t get to say all of this to you directly.  And honestly, I am not even sure anymore of what comes after this life, but I hope I will get to see you and hug you again.

Happy 25th Birthday, Lisa!