Not my Daughter's Fairy Tale

Have you ever stopped and really thought about how different today's telling of fairy tales are from the original.  I always knew there was some changes, but never thought they would be so different, until I was reading the original "Little Mermaid" to my daughter. It was then that  I decided to take a look at a few of our favorite fairy tales and blog about how different the telling really is.
*Word of caution: Read at your own risk, some of these are really out there and may ruin your childhood. 


1. The Little Mermaid:

In Hans Christian Andersen's original tale the title character can only come on land to be with the handsome prince if she drinks a potion that makes it feel like she is walking on knives at all times. She does, and you would expect her selfless act to end with the two of them getting married. Nope. The prince marries a different woman, breaking the Little Mermaid’s heart. She’s faced with a dilemma: If she slays the prince and lets his blood drip on her feet, she’ll turn back into a mermaid. Ultimately, she can’t bring herself to do the deed, and instead flings herself into the ocean, transforming into sea foam.

2. Rapunzel:

I think we all know that Disney took a huge leap in their telling of Rapunzel, but I wanted to share the original ending with y'all. The king's son was beside himself with pain, and in his despair he leapt down from the tower. He escaped with his life, but the thorns into which he fell pierced his eyes.He wandered quite blind about the forest, ate nothing but roots and berries, and did naught but lament and weep over the loss of his dearest wife. Thus he roamed about in misery for some years, and at length came to the desert where Rapunzel, with the twins to which she had given birth, a boy and a girl, lived in wretchedness. He heard a voice, and it seemed so familiar to him that he went towards it, and when he approached, Rapunzel knew him and fell on his neck and wept. Two of her tears wetted his eyes and they grew clear again, and he could see with them as before. He led her to his kingdom where he was joyfully received, and they lived for a long time afterwards, happy and contented.

3. Sleeping Beauty:

In the original version of the tale, it's not the kiss of a handsome prince that wakes Sleeping Beauty, but the nudging of her newborn twins. That's right. While unconscious, the princess is impregnated by a monarch and wakes up to find out she's a mom twice over. Then  the father of Sleeping Beauty's babies triumphantly returns and promises to send for her and the kids later, conveniently forgetting to mention that he's married. When the trio is eventually brought to the palace, his wife tries to kill them all, but is thwarted by the king. In the end, Sleeping Beauty gets to marry the guy who violated her, and they all live happily ever after.


4. Cinderella:

In the Brothers Grimm version, one of Cinderella's evil stepsisters cuts off her toes, and the other her heel so they can both fit into the tiny glass slipper. The prince is notified by little doves that there is blood on the shoe, and finally discovers that the true owner is Cinderella. Once the stepsisters realize that they should try to win favor with Cinderella (after all, she will be queen), they attend her wedding, only to have their eyes pecked out by birds.



I hope that I haven't ruin anyone's childhood with this post, but I have to give props to Disney for keeping fairy tales "family friendly".

"That's my 'two-cents worth', what's your's?" 

October Challenge

At first I had no idea what to do for this month, but then I became part of a photo a day challenge. I wanted to take this post to share just some of my pictures, what they mean and how this challenge affected me.

This project took place in October in honor of Pregnancy/Infant Loss Awareness month.  Each day we captured our grief by taking and posting a picture based on the theme for that day, below are just a few of my pictures.

Capture your Grief Day 4 Light/Dark: The Dark: The days after each loss were so dark. My emotions were dark, my life was dark. I was angry! I became a victim of my grief. I was bitter and jealous. Guilt was always with me. I felt alone and scared. I felt responsible. Then came the light: I began to heal. I learned that I would never understand. I realized there were so many others like me. I admit some days the dark still creeps in, but I look to the light to drive it away. I look to the hope of seeing my precious babies again someday. 

 Capture your Grief Day 6 Books: I read several books from the hospital and from friends after each loss, but I can say that my Bible was the greatest help to me. There were days that I read and would not glean anything, but how wonderful were the days that I would open my mind to glean from his word. What comfort I found and still find to help on this journey.

 Capture your Grief Day7: Memory: It seems strange that this flower is my memory, but the story is mine. After each loss this Butterfly Bush had blooms. Sometimes many, sometimes only one. I remember looking at the beautiful purple blooms and wondering how something could still be so beautiful when my world had turned so ugly? Even now to look at it reminds me of those darkest days, but it also serves to remind me of how far I've come and to just keep pressing forward.

 Capture your Grief Day 3: In Honor. These are three small pictures frames each containing the name of one of my three babies. I keep them displayed as a way to honor them. I have no pictures of them or any of their belongings. Having these small frames shows others that my babies mattered, that they are loved and remembered and a very important part of our family.

 Capture your Grief Day 8: Wish List: My wish is that my story, with all its hurt and sorrow will help others. My wish is that my heartache will one day bring comfort, hope and peace to someone else.

Capture your Grief Day 18- Seasons: Winter is the season that most reminds me of my losses. Not only is it a cold and harsh time, it is also the season that each of my lost babies would have been born. I so looked forward to each of their births knowing it would bring light and happiness into our world, but those times did not come. 

I have to admit that this was a very difficult challenge for me. I was forced to face somethings that I did not want to. I was faced with a topic that was very painful to deal with.   I wish that I could tell you that I completed this task, that I was able to post everyday, but I was not.  It seemed that the deeper I dug into my grief, the more difficult the days became. I think of my babies everyday, there is not a day that goes by without them being in my mind, but this challenge brought up all the grief that my heart contains.

Dealing with grief is not easy, even when surrounded by people who support and love you, but it seems that most think I should not be bothered anymore.  That I should just be able to live each day without feeling sadness, but that is just not true. I wonder which of their children they could lose and not feel that for the rest of their lives? The answer, none of them.

Maybe I should have just continued on with this, it may have been beneficial in ways I can not see, but my heart just couldn't take the pressure. Maybe in the years to come I will be in a place where I can do this, but not right now.

"That's my 'two-cents worth', what's your's?"

September Challenge

It took a little while to come up with an idea for a challenge for this month. I wanted it to be something that I felt I was actually able to accomplish without giving up and to be something I needed to form a habit for. So I decided to make this months challenge about my skin.

I have always been slack when it came to really taking care of my face. I am the one who will go to bed with make-up on and wake up in the morning with raccoon eyes. When I was a little girl I remember watching my grandmother use Oil of Olay every night before bed and I remember her looking much younger than she actually was. I don't know if it was the cream or just good genes (which I hope I inherited) that made her look so young. Now that I have gotten a little older I see the importance of being good to my skin. I have tons of creams, scrubs and rinses, but just never really use any of them. So starting the first of this month I decided to make cleaning, toning and treating a part of my daily habit, or at least I plan too. I guess we will see how all that works out at the end of the month.

Here it goes!!!

I guess I should start out by explaining what I decided to do. Each morning I would wash, tone, moisturize and use my eye firming creme. Each night I would use my eye makeup remover (if necessary), wash, tone and use my night creme. I have to admit the habit was so hard to get into. I mean twice a day for 30 days made 60 times I had to commit to something. Out of 60 times I only missed four. Once was in the morning, I was so busy I just forgot. The other three were at night and I was just totally exhausted and wiped out.

My morning routine

My nightly routine

My eye make-up remover

After comparing my before and after pictures I can say that I see a little bit of difference in the look of my skin, but I can tell that there is a difference in how it feels. My husband says my skin feels softer and smoother and he would know.

The following are my before/after pics. The first thing I noticed is that I look slimmer, which is explained by the fact that I have lost about 5 pounds between these two pictures (homeschooling is apparently a good diet plan.) The second thing I notice is that the bags under my eyes look less and my skin does look "fresher".


                                                                                                                       

             

                 Before                                                                                                                 After

Overall the experience was interesting, challenging and one I am glad that I decided to do. Hopefully my new found routine will become a habit. I think so many of us "moms" are always so busy looking after others, that we often forget about ourselves. If doing a short five minute facial routine twice a day makes us feel better, then why not do it. I mean who else is going to take care of us?

"That's my 'two-cents worth', what's yours?"

Decisions: Life is full of them

I am sitting here on this rainy, cold Saturday morning trying to decide what topic to blog about.  As I watch my youngest coloring I am reminded of my childhood and all those Saturday morning cartoons. I was always the first one up. I wanted to beat my brothers to the TV so I could pick what we would watch. I think back to those childhood days when the most difficult decisions I had to make where what cereal to eat and what clothes to wear. 

As an adult we all have big decisions to make some are easy and some are really tough.  My husband and I had to make a very difficult decision a few weeks ago. I admit it was the hardest choice I have ever had to make. The decision brought up so many issues and heartbreaks.  I wish we were not facing this situation, but the truth is we are. It is not something we can just sit back and hope will fix itself, because it will not.  This was something that could not be swept away or ignored. 

Will our choice change our lives? Of course it will. Will we have days of wondering if we did the right thing? Most definitely! Will I have days of doubt and want to take it back? I'm sure I will. Will I regret my choice? I am sure there will be days that the thought will cross my mind. Was it the right thing to do? We believe it is, but only time will tell for sure. Is it best for us and our family? Who knows, we believe so, but again only time will tell. 

I know that as difficult as this choice has been for us, others have made even more difficult decisions in the past. Our decision was made after serious conversation with one another and after much prayer to God.  We wanted to make sure what we choose lined up with his word and would be what was right to do.  We wanted to make sure that what we did was God's will for our life and that we were not making a mistake.  

I am sure that we are going the right way. The decisions that are the most difficult deserve more thought and prayer. God wants only what is best for all of us. Sometimes his will does not mirror the life or plans that we have in mind. I know that God loves each of us and anything he does or allows to happen in our lives is in our best interest, even when it hurts and we don't understand. 

"That's my 'two-cents worth', what's yours?"

My reflections of 9/11: Fourteen years later

The day was 9/11/2001. I was a student at our local community college and had a class later that day.  I decided to go to my Mama's that morning with my little girl, who was only 19 months at the time. I was helping my mom out, dusting the living room, when the news cut into the program that was on. The news crew was reporting that a plane had flown into one of the towers of the World Trade Center. I can see it now, just like I am watching it all over again. I saw that second plane on the right of the screen. I saw it crash into the second tower. I yelled out to my Mama about what I had just saw.  A short time later a third plane would crash into the Pentagon and then a fourth into a field in Shanksville Pennsylvania. I remember being so scared. I didn't know what was happening, I just knew we were under attack.  I had to leave that day and go to my college class. I remember kissing little Grace goodbye and crying all the way to school. I just wanted to stay home and be with her.  I knew that the America of my childhood was gone and that was such a sad feeling. I knew at that moment how the country felt when they got the news about Pearl Harbor in 1941. 

 

As I look back now, fourteen years later, I can also remember how united our country was. The Congress stood on the Capital building steps and sang "God Bless America". There was so much love for country and first responders. Patriotism was everywhere to be seen, flags were flying, people were pulling together and it seemed as if the country was one. People were flocking to churches  and looking for God like they had not done in years.  We had a President that stood up, took charge and lead our country. We showed the world that they may hit us, but they could not keep us down. We showed that American strength that helped us win our Independence.  The same strength that we leaned on after the attack on Pearl Harbor and during WWII. That American strength that had brought us through so much heartache and devastation.

As I sat here looking back I can't help but think about how our country is now,  I do not see that same country I did fourteen years ago.  Now I see a country that is more divided than I can ever remember. I see a country where people are being killed just for being a police officer. I see a country in which people are judged by the color of their skin and not by their character. I see a country where the citizens can only think of what is good for themselves. I see a country who has almost entirely turned her back on God. I see a country that calls good evil and evil good. I see a country that seems to no longer care about one another. The leader of our country now supports the very ones who attacked us. He is giving weapons to those same people. What is to keep them from attacking us again? Absolutely nothing. Fourteen years ago America was asleep, she was shocked awake by a tragic event,and now seems to slumber again.  It saddens me that I see my country in this condition and I wonder what will happen to us next. 

"That's 'my two cents worth', what's yours?"

Fall: My favorite season

I have been seeing lots of these memes about fall: what it means to people, how many days to different fall activities.

Here a some of the reasons fall is my favorite:

• The mornings/nights are just cool enough for sweaters, but the days are still just right for t-shirts. 
• The leaves change and show off all their beautiful colors.
• We take a little day trip up to the mountains to see all that beautiful fall foliage. 
• It is fair time!! We have a tradition of going to the fair with the kids. The kids love the rides, but us adults live for the food!
• Sitting around the fire pit roasting marshmallows while wrapped up in blankets.
• We take our annual family fall vacation. It is only for a few days,but we so look forward to the little break we get. (This year we are heading to the beach!)
• Our annual trip to the big flea market in Virginia for my husband and I. It is just one of our little trips for the two of us. 
• The return of all my favorite television shows: Once Upon a Time, Castle, Bones, there are just too many to name.
• Day trips as a family. This year we are attempting a visit to our local Renaissance Fair. 
• Family pictures are always made this time of year. 
• We go to the Make-A-Wish walk to raise money to help other children get their dream wish. 
• There is the annual shopping trip with my church ladies. 
• Thanksgiving!! I love spending time with family
• Veterans Day!

There are a two things about Fall that I don't look forward to:

• September brings the anniversary of my grandpa's death. It will be 4 years this year. 
• October brings the Walk to Remember. This day is difficult as we take the steps our precious babies never will. 

Overall Fall is my favorite season, even with the tears it brings. I look forward to this time of year and enjoy spending time with my family as the days get shorter and the nights get longer.

"That's my 'two-cents worth', what's yours?"

August Challenge

I decided at the beginning of August that I was going to embark on a new challenge, the no make-up for a month challenge. Yes, you read that right, I was planning to go the whole month of August without wearing make-up.

I had several reasons for my decision to give this a try:

1. August is hot!!!
 Everyone knows that in the heat of summer, especially down south with the humidity, that your        make-up will just melt off your face. Now that's an image! I figured I wouldn't have to fight the      heat, it made perfect sense.  

2, August is emotional!
I knew that this month would be very emotional for me. It would be 5 years since my first miscarriage and our little August would be starting Prek if he had lived.  It would also be 2 years since my oldest daughter's cancer diagnosis and the beginning of that journey.  There were so many emotional ups and downs this month, I cried a lot and everyone knows tears and make-up don't mix.

3. I wanted to see if anyone would notice!!
I was wondering if anyone would actually pay attention to me. Do people really look at me? Do people really see me? All things that I wondered about.

4. I wanted to give my skin a break!
Let me just go ahead and admit that this wasn't really much of a challenge, but it was still kind of difficult. I normally only wear make-up on Sunday and Wednesday when I go to church. This month provided many times other than that when make-up would have normally been a must for me. Even so, I stuck to the challenge and learn something about myself and those around me.

After an entire month without wearing a smidgen of make-up I was able to test out my reasoning. The results are in and here they are:

1. My skin does look better!

2. I saved time each day!

3. I was comfortable in social situations that normally "require" make-up!!

4. No one even noticed!!!!


At first it was very difficult to not put on the make-up. I guess it was just my habit, but as the month went on it got easier. I have to say I was surprised that my family didn't see the difference. Of course, my husband prefers me au natural. Overall, I would say it was an enlighting experience, one that has helped me to see more beauty inside of myself. In fact, it was so much fun that I have decided each month until the end of 2015 to do a secret challenge, something only I am aware of. I am interested to see the results and if they really do make a difference.

"That's my 'two-cents worth', whats yours?"