I used to struggle with this, but I love myself because I have learned how to let go of things, and people, if it’s necessary to my growth or just an unhealthy situation.
Almost Finished!!!
Don’t forget to celebrate why you love yourself today!
Recently I was introduced to Emily, at Newlywed Moments, through Sarah, who blogs at Love, Sarah K (and is working on a Monologue Monday post commenting on how she knew her husband was the one… can’t wait for that btw!), and I must say that I’m so glad I found them. They are both really sweet and considerate (and have also been added to my favorite’s bar because their site’s are that good!), so please check them out when you get a chance if you aren’t familiar with them already.
Well after emailing back and forward with Emily, she agreed to have her “My First Kiss Went A Little Like This” post that she wrote over on her blog, reposted here. (Even though it’s a repost from her blog, reposts are great because they expose readers from one site to another site’s content and all the guest poster has to do is consent!)
We both agreed that not only was it appropriate in terms of the subject matter, but it also deals with something that many women (and men) think about at some point or another in their dating or courting phase.
Check below to see how her first kiss went, and feel free to leave a comment about when you think is the most appropriate time to share that first kiss. (At the altar? The engagement? First date? Whenever the moment feels right?)
(Oh and she encourages those who aren’t familiar with her and her husband’s love story to check it out because it’ll provide more background information).
Monologue Monday: Newlywed Moments
Okayyyy so let's get down to it.
Hudson and I have never dated anyone else. We started dating when we were 16, and never broke up.
Was it hard? Yes. Did we argue? Of course. Was it worth it? Absolutely.
Anyways, as if that isn't crazy enough, another crazy thing is this:
We saved our first kiss until the day we got engaged.
WOAH.
So the actual kiss happened right after Hudson proposed, walked me down a memory lane he had created in the woods, and sat me down on a picnic blanket covered in roses.
It was the most special thing ever.
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And then it started pouring rain.
HAHA. That would happen. We went from having this beautiful, special kiss to running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to pick up all of the memory lane stuff before having to sprint a mile back to the car. I'm guessing this was definitely not Hudson's plan, but hey, I was just thrilled to be engaged so it didn't phase me. It was the best day of my life (until my wedding)!
But so many people have asked us, why? Why save your first kiss until you got engaged?
Before I answer, I need to give some disclaimers. (1) In no way do we think kissing is "wrong." Almost every single one of our friends kissed while they were dating like normal people -- ha. (2) I am not writing this to judge anyone or make anyone feel bad. I am writing this so that single people might read our story and be encouraged to stay pure. (3) Waiting to kiss wasn't something we "had" to do. We chose to do it. Yes, we are Christians and God does call us to be pure. But He doesn't say kissing in and of itself is wrong.
For me and Hudson, saving our first kiss signified that we were committed to being pure. We didn't want to JUST be virgins on our wedding day and get as close to the line as possible -- we wanted to be as pure as we could. Also, although when we were dating I was like 99% sure I'd marry Hudson, I wanted to know for sure that my future husband was the only person who I shared something so personal as a kiss with.
Everyone's experience is different, and some of my friends have said that through dating other people they actually learned more about who they wanted to marry. But for us, dating only each other and waiting to kiss really worked -- and I am so thankful that we did what we did.
Yes, it was difficult. Really difficult at times. We had to set strong guidelines and make intentional decisions to not be alone together for too long. But my recommendation is this. If you are currently in a relationship, take some time to talk with your boyfriend about your boundaries for purity. Or if you are single, take time to think about what you want your boundaries to be. Write them down now, because believe me, the longer you date the more difficult it gets!
If you have questions about purity or want to discuss something, feel free to email me -- I would be happy to talk with you!
Hi Web friends!
It’s time for another Monologue Monday post. (And speaking of weekly posts, is it just me or is time FLYING by? It will be Christmas again before we know it… Ok, hopefully it doesn’t move that fast, but seriously it seems like the New Year was just yesterday…just means that I need to make more time to stop and enjoy the moment).
But back to this post, as you probably already know if you’ve had time to read the About The Site tab, this site focuses a chunk of it’s attention on us ladies (and gentlemen) sharing our personal stories with each other in hopes of either encouraging one another, inspiring change, evoking thoughts, promoting healthy discourse or just letting each other know that we aren’t alone.
Well, today we are doing just that: Shar, a fellow reader turned friend, is sharing her personal thoughts with the idea of love, her expectations of a storybook romance, and her actual reality of it all in a post title “What Does It Mean To Love?”.
P.S. This is a repost of the same post that she wrote on her personal blog Shumblebeginnings sometime last month. Please feel free to stop by and check out her site if you get a chance; I’m sure she would love the company :).
Shumblebeginnings: “What Does It Mean To Love?”
I remember a time in my life when I never met anyone special.
Life then was a simple and non-complex thing. There were no worries. Only my dreams for romance that I saw in Disney movies and what I read in storybooks.
That was what love was for me. Hiding behind a tree when your crush walked by. Your words getting caught in your throat because you were unable to tell your best friend how you really felt (about him). You were in fear because you didn't want to destroy that friendship.
Yes, that used to be me. I remember those days spent daydreaming for the day my prince would come.
Would he climb my long braided hair to rescue me from the evil queen that kidnapped me? Or would he battle a sea-witch that took my singing voice away? Those were my questions. Yes, those dreams continued to swim in my thoughts until the very day that I met that one special person.
Everything changed. Life wasn't as simple and non-complex as it used to be. Life now was something that was now being shared with him. Getting to know him was exhilarating. It seemed as if my dream had come true. He was my prince charming that saved me from the evil queens and sea-witches. That was all a girl could wish for right?
Wrong! my dream came crashing down into a screaming nightmare. The boy I fell for wasn't who I thought he was. He wasn't my dream anymore. Things became even more complicated. Things became rough.
Nights that were spent thinking about him, were nights spent wanting to hate him. I didn't want us anymore. My heart couldn't take the pain of wanting things to return back to normal.
I never knew how fragile a woman's heart was until those moments I spent laying in my bed wanting to give up. My pillow was my best friend and my covers were my sanctuary. Yet, I knew deep down that I could never truly hate him. The boy was now a man and I knew that my love for him ran past my emotions, past all logic in this world. It was a love that could only come from God himself.
This is when things became even more complicated. I was caught between what I knew and the unknown. Loving my prince nightmare was the hardest thing to do. Especially when I had voices all around me. But despite all of the nightmares and all the heartbreak. I realized one thing. I still loved him even when my heart was broken. I hated that fact and loved it at the same time. I became a walking contradiction. Still yet I continued to love him.
This was when I realized something else. What it truly means to love. Loving someone isn't the happy lovey-dovey feeling that you feel when you first meet someone. Truly loving someone is still being able to say I love you when that person gives you every reason to walk away. You find something in them that makes you want to stay.
-Shar
“You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly”
-Sam Keen
I love myself because of all of the awkward moments that I sometimes have, or the laughable uncomfortable situations that I sometimes unconsciously place myself in 
funny fun, but consequently I have learned to be prepared for anything.
I am the perfect balance of unpredictable and expected….I love that!
What about you? Why do you love yourself?
P.S. There are only 9 days left, so let’s finish out strong!!! (And thank you to everyone who has been participating whether as a silent participant or by leaving a comment. You are all fabulous!!! But I guess you already know that :))
I love myself because I am learning how to see my shortcomings through different lenses and how to use them to my advantage. In doing this, I shift my focus from the negative to the positive, and keep myself encouraged while acknowledging that I have some areas that I need to work on.
Besides, what’s the point of naming everything that’s wrong with you if you aren’t going to try to make those things better?!?!? It’s only going to make you feel bad, and you should strive to continually build yourself up. (Trust me, there are plenty of people watching and waiting for you to make a mistake or fail, don’t add yourself to that list. Be your own cheerleader!)
We are more than halfway there; please don’t give up now!!! What’s one more reason why you love yourself today? (Please leave a comment below….or if you don’t feel comfortable doing that just tell yourself…as long as you celebrate you, that’s all that matters!)
I love myself because I’m finally learning how to walk in freedom. It’s one thing to claim freedom but it’s an entire different experience to enjoy and live it….so thankful for grace and forgiveness.
Negative thinking breeds negativity, and positive thinking optimism. Change your thinking and it will seriously impact your life…. For real!
But what about you? Why do you love yourself today?
I’m always thinking and I always have a notebook with me at ALL times…ok, maybe I forget it sometimes, but for the most part I’m always around pen and paper.
My younger brother used to think that I was weird because I was always writing anything (papers, journaling, quotes…anything to express myself). He got wise quick though and learned how to use that to his advantage!
Any way though, I wish I had something deep or thought provoking to share with you all today, but I’m just a simple girl really.
What I have to say isn’t philosophical, it probably isn’t going to change your life, but hopefully it will make an impact on your relationships, your thought process, and how you interact with others.
What I want to share has profoundly affected me personally and that is this: Love people where they are and not where you think they should be.
Give others room to make mistakes and to try.
No one is perfect, love isn’t a pedestal for people to be placed on, and life is a journey (meaning it takes time to get there).
I know today is celebrated as a day of love, (and believe me, I’m all about Valentine’s Day! It and Christmas are my two favorite holidays hands down), but as you go about your day today (and honestly the rest of your life),try to express love to those who are deemed “unlovable” or who don’t “have it all together”. Whatever that means.
I’m sure at some point someone else probably thought the same thing about you…can’t relate? I’m sure someone has definitely thought it about me a time or two, so I can appreciate people loving me when I was undeserving!
So as you go through your day today, try not to get caught up in the flowers, the candy, or whether or not you are in a relationship. (That stuff’s important but it’s not everything).
Instead, love yourself and try to extend to others the same grace that you required in order to be yourself and still be loved and accepted.
-Happy Valentine’s Day web friends
I love myself because of my emotions. One thing that you might learn about me, if you haven’t already picked up on it yet, is that I’m extremely sensitive. This used to be a problem because I was one of those people who “wears her heart on her sleeve”, but I have since learned how not to allow my emotions to get the best of me.
Now instead of my sensitivity being a downfall or shortcoming, I have learned am learning how to use it to hone in on my compassion and kindheartedness. I think I’m able to relate and connect with people because I try to be aware and sensitive to their needs…that said, I don’t always get it right, but l do try.
What about you? What do you want to celebrate about yourself on this international day of love?! (Please leave a comment below)
P.S. So I was just looking over previous posts and realized that I wrote that I loved myself because of my faith twice, but who’s counting right?!?!? If you are, I apologize for the oversight 
P.S.S.
I love myself because I don’t give up easily. If someone tells me that something is impossible, if I really believe in it, I try to find a way to make it possible. I’m not obnoxious or pretentious about it, I just have faith that even the impossible is possible when you believe (and put action behind it).
What about you? Why do you love yourself? Celebrate what makes you beautiful by leaving a comment below :)
I love myself because I know how to laugh! There is nothing like a good laugh (the kind that makes you feel like you have been doing ab crunches), and enjoying the people around about you. Knowing how and when to just let go and enjoy the moment has made my life so much more enjoyable.
What about you? What’s one thing about you that makes you love and admire yourself? (This isn’t about being conceited or egotistical, this is about celebrating the extraordinary person that you are). Love yourself today because you are So Worth It!!!
I love myself because I try even when I have no idea how something is going to work out. One of the more recent examples of this is when I created this site. I had to overcome any fears or apprehensions that I may have had, and take a chance at sharing my thoughts and perspective about issues affecting women, and as a result I have received nothing but warmth and positivity.
People of all backgrounds and creeds have welcomed me with open arms, and I’m extremely grateful for that.
What about you? What one thing about you makes you love and admire yourself today? (This isn’t about being conceited or egotistical, this is about celebrating the extraordinary person that you are). Love yourself today because you are So Worth It!!! 
I love myself because of my faith. Without a doubt, it has been the one thing that has sustained me, defined me, and given me hope for the future. I am an optimistic and positive person because I believe.
What’s one reason why you love yourself? (Please leave a comment below)
-Hope you have a good Sunday
P.S. Megan over at Ephesians5:33Wife is going to be sharing her story for this week’s Monologue Monday post. Please feel free to check out her blog here, and check back tomorrow to see what she had to say.
I love myself because I’m fearless and adventurous. As long as it’s not too dangerous, won’t harm me, or doesn’t go against my morals, then I’ll pretty much try anything. Life is too short not to take chances or not to step outside of our comfort zones, so if there’s an opportunity for me to try something new and experience a different way of doing things, then I’m up for it!
What about you? What do you want to celebrate about yourself today?!?!?
P.S. Just wanted to let you all know that Megan over at Ephesians5:33Wife is going to be sharing her story here on this upcoming week’s Monologue Monday post. In the meantime, please feel free to check out her blog here, and check back on 11th February to see what she has to say.
I love myself because of my patience. I have learned how to wait for the things that I want and not accept things that maybe aren’t right for me, solely because I was in a rush for things to happen instantly.
Your turn… What do you love about yourself? (Please leave a comment below)
I love myself because of my sense of humor. I know I sound serious most of the time, but that’s because I’m serious about things that are important to me. The truth is I’m just a goof ball that loves to laugh.
Even though you do hear crickets every once in a while, and I sometimes have to consult a book to get my jokes right (just kidding…kind of), the point is I make people laugh… or maybe the jokes on me…either way, it’s always a good time!
What are you loving about yourself today? (Please leave a comment below)
I love myself because of my faith. It defines who I am. It establishes my morals. And it shapes my character. I have hope because I believe in God and I know that He can make a way when everything else seems impossible. He is my God and I adore Him.
What about you? Why do you love yourself? (Please leave a comment below)
I love myself because I’m a foodie, who balances it out by working out and making sure things don’t get too out of hand. I LOVE trying out different cuisines and devouring enjoying various desserts…give me a delicious meal (or a trip to somewhere exotic) over a handbag any day!
What are you loving about yourself today? (Leave a comment below 
