Always scan ads carefully before applying..

Reading between the lines is key when responding to ads nowadays... anything can be made to sound above-board:

Tired of being out of work? Sick of dead in jobs? Well then join our
hands on customer service team with plenty of perks. Close to home.
Pays really well. Has benefits. Social atmosphere. Room for
advancement. Elite clientele. On the job training with immediate hire,
no bosses looking over your shoulders. Beat the recession. Join our team
of well rounded ladies. Get paid for your hands on relaxation therapy
in a calm setting.

A life lesson

THERE! little girl; don't cry!
They have broken your doll, I know;
And your tea-set blue,
And your play-house, too,
Are things of the long ago;
But childish troubles will soon pass by. --
There! little girl; don't cry!

There! little girl; don't cry!
They have broken your slate, I know;
And the glad, wild ways
Of your schoolgirl days
Are things of the long ago;
But life and love will soon come by. --
There! little girl; don't cry!

There! little girl; don't cry!
They have broken your heart I know;
And the rainbow gleams
Of your youthful dreams
Are things of the long ago;
But Heaven holds all for which you sigh. --
There! little girl; don't cry!

---James Whitcomb Riley

Marley&Me

"A Dog has no use for fancy cars, or big homes, or designer clothes. A walk along the street, will do just fine. A dog doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb… Give him your heart, and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special… How many people can make you feel... extraordinary." -fave quote from this movie

All the Way

When somebody loves you
It's no good unless he loves you - all the way
Happy to be near you
When you need someone to cheer you - all the way

Taller than the tallest tree is
That's how it's got to feel
Deeper than the deep blue sea is
That's how deep it goes - if its real

When somebody needs you
It's no good unless he needs you - all the way
Through the good or lean years
And for all the in between years - come what may

Who know where the road will lead us
Only a fool would say
But if you'll let me love you
It's for sure I'm gonna love you - all the way, all the way

(as performed by Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion)

There is NEVER any reason to be unkind. -Ravi Zacharias

Last night after I got home from a family function, I was going through all the usual pre-bedtime rituals and all of a sudden I was enveloped in a very sad mood. I was thinking about how sweet it was for Mr. C to initiate a huge party for Mrs C...and my thoughts drifted to how much he loves and cherishes her. Then I thought about my friend D, whose husband S had a hot bath ready for her when she got home from work one night last week, complete with candles and soft music. And I thought about my lawyer’s husband who was at her baby shower on Friday and how much he obviously loves her and holds her in the highest regard.

I have a real soft spot for husbands who are radically in love with their wives and not afraid to show it. Husbands who say things like, "I want to take care of my health so I don't miss one day on earth with my wife." Husbands who bring their wife a cup of tea in the evening when she's watching TV, not because she asked, but just to bless her. Husbands who never utter an unkind or negative word about their wife to others. And they're not trying to make an impression but really truly live their love for their wives in everyday life in little, almost effortless, ways that are completely foreign to me. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have someone treat me with such honor.

And I know these marriages aren't perfect - two imperfect human beings living under the same roof will always experience their share of tiffs and disagreements. The difference is that these couples don't focus on the differences but on their love for and commitment to each other and the respect for the bond of marriage that causes them to put their differences aside and focus on being one.

On one hand I'm happy with my life the way it is. I have freedom to come and go as I please. I don't have little kids to worry about or a husband to check in with. I can be spontaneous in meeting someone for dinner or going shopping or whatever. I can watch whatever I want on TV, eat whenever and whatever I want without worrying about feeding someone else, and pretty much do as I please. Yet as content as I am in that respect, there's still a part of me that wants someone in my life that will love me with abandon...and I would return that love in the same manner. I would love to be reminded at some point in my life what it's like to be loved, cherished, respected, and a little spoiled.

I don't know if God will give me a second chance at being loved, cherished, respected, honored, affirmed, edified, and blessed. But it is a deep, long-abiding desire of my heart to experience this, to know what it's like, to not be alone anymore but share my life with my soulmate. I feel a sense of urgent need for a husband and family unit.