Dear Taylor Swift

*Here is another fabulous post by my sweet girl Molly.*

Dear Taylor Swift,

I am writing this to you as an avid Swiftie. My fandom began around the age of 11 with your release of “Tim McGraw”, but this newfound interest in your music did not become quite as deep until I bought your first album and heard the first of what would be many favorite T.Swizzle jams, “Stay Beautiful.” I became more of a fan with the release of your second album (and to every true Swiftie, the best album) Fearless. Oh my goodness, this one was-in the words of my brother-“straight fire.” I remember myself and one of my best friends proclaiming “Fifteen” as our freshman year anthem, and I remember singing, rather jamming to, “Forever and Always” about a billion times until I no longer had a voice. At this point in the Swift journey I did not think that you could get any better, and then…you released your third album, Speak Now. This one was a little different from the other two, but nonetheless still amazing. Another one of my friends and I used to sing songs from this album everyday in P.E., at the top of our lungs, once it was released. We knew every word to every song and the album order the second day it was out. “Sparks Fly” was one song that proved you were a lyrical genius, “Enchanted” had every girl fist pumping (especially at the epic build up that comes after the first verse in the song…yes), and last but not least, Speak Now contained the very first “Taylor Swift Ballad,” “Dear John,” which no one can actually sing and sound even remotely pleasant, but that doesn’t mean we don’t all still try! I also experienced my first concert with Speak Now and it was amazing, as in no words to truly explain, so I’ll leave it at that. I remember clearly the day that Red was released. I was a junior in high school, and just happened to be on a field trip that day. I remember getting on YouTube and searching all the new songs, listening to as many 30-second samples as I could find, then tweeting the lyrics…I wish I could say I am ashamed of that, but I’m not. Red was awesome. This one claims a top spot, just under Fearless, and contains some of my all-time favorite T.Swizzle jams. Just to name a few: “Treacherous,” the song that is a perfect lyrical description of each of our lives at one point or another; “WANEGBT,” the song with that one line that everyone knows the words to; “State of Grace (Acoustic Version),” a million times yes; “Holy Ground,” because of all of the “oooays” (BGVs are my favorite); and the second “Taylor Swift Ballad,” “All Too Well,” the ultimate emotional roller coaster song that will have you needing a nap after one listen. I traveled to Nashville… to see you perform Red…on the last night of your tour…with my best friends…it was so worth the drive. Finally, in my first year of college, you released your fifth album, 1989. This was a weird one, but in a good way. I watched the telecast that you held the day you released “Shake it Off,” then proceeded to have a dance party with myself. I annoyed my roommate when you released “Out of the Woods,” because I could not get over how deep that song was, and played it over and over again. When the full album was finally released, I listened to it on repeat for weeks on end, including a entire weekend in Chapel Hill where one night myself and three of my best friends cranked the stereo in the car to its fullest potential just to hear “Bad Blood” (and just FYI, the song was awesome before you asked that one guy to rap for you, just saying). I do have to say that “All You Had to Do Was Stay” still remains as one of my favorites from this album, and it may or may not be because of the weird “STAY” in every chorus. I am excited to say that I will be seeing you again in concert a few weeks from now, in Atlanta, and I am sure I won’t be disappointed. To sum up this rather lengthy first part, I am the ultimate fan. I know every word to every song that you have ever released, including the bonus songs. I say this ashamedly, but I also know the order of each song on each album…we’ve all got skeletons in the closet, okay?! As I transition into the next part of this post, I do so as a fan who has been there every step of the way, and through every Taylor Swift phase, so here we go.

I want to first thank you for not being a Miley Cyrus, or a Lindsey Lohan and for staying rather loyal to who you are throughout the years. Almost-20-year-old me appreciates that, but 11-year-old me is a little hurt. I tried not to listen to the critics, or rather, people much wiser than me, when they said things about this last album. They’re just songs, right? It’s Taylor Swift!!! I said that, I believed that, and I refused to move off of any obligation I held to being one of your biggest fans. Naturally, I ignored mostly all of the negative because I did not want to believe that it could be true. Yeah, okay, you are not swinging (naked) on a huge ball and chain while licking a sledgehammer, or leaving rehab for the billionth time, and you definitely have not boasted about kissing another girl…and liking it. But, I had to face reality when the music video to “Wildest Dreams” came out. Girl, you insinuate a few risqué things in this song, and they are portrayed, briefly, in the video. Do not get me wrong, as much as I hate to admit it, the song is super catchy. However, when I ride in the car with my 11-year-old sister, another avid Swifite, and we listen to this album, I find myself always skipping over this song. I hate that. I hate that while it is only one song, it is still on the album, and is still talking about something that Taylor Swift would never talk about, or at least the Fearless-phase Taylor Swift. Why am I so hurt by this? I mean, it isn’t a big deal, right? But then I go back to sweet 6^th grade Emma and it becomes a huge deal. Here I am feeling like you are dancing on the edge of what sells, and what is true to you, that makes me sad.

So, I write this in love, and I write this still remaining one of your biggest fans. I also write this in no way shaming you, or banning your music, or not still promising to jam to each song that you have released and will release in the future. I guess what I am trying to say is that I hope you remember your curly-headed phase, and I hope you remember all the little girls who have grown into bigger girls and have remained faithful Swifties through it all. Don’t forget where it all started, before you had to appeal to a fallen world, and a warped image of what society says is the “norm.” My 11-year-old self thanks you for the image you have portrayed as I have grown up, and my almost 20-year-old self asks you to remember it-

“stay, stay, stay. I’ve been loving you for quite some time, time, time…”

Love,

Molly

Happ-(He)-ness: A Guest Post by Molly

I have some amazing kids [I know. I am biased. But they are amazing. Have you met them?] and my oldest wrote a blog entry.  I asked her to share it with the world as my first guest blogger. 

Love. This. Girl.

This girl’s got a boyfriend. Yep, ‘tis true. For those who know me and my extremely high, almost unattainable (okay slightly dramatic, but they’re pretty high up there) standards, you know all too well that this boy must be the cream of the crop, top notch, A+, extra special boyfriend material. He is. But sadly, this isn’t a post solely purposed around this extra special, cream of the crop, top notch, A+ boyfriend of mine. As word has spread around the two very small towns I spend all of my time in (seriously, in one there is literally a single stoplight), that I can now change my Facebook relationship status to “in a relationship” the reactions, responses, etc. that I have received have been across the board, much to my surprise. While they have all been positive, some have been unsettling and have really made me ponder life in a different way over the last few weeks. There has been the obvious, “Tell me about this boy” and “when do I get to meet him” and “that’s so exciting” and oh, my personal favorite, “you have a boyfriend?!” Yes, I realize it is shocking because I am so homely and un-dateable (is that a word?), but it is really very true. Okay, back to the main point. Another, very frequent, response I have gotten has been simply this: “You deserve this. I am so glad you are finally happy.” That word, finally, has really shaken me to my core. Why is it that people have been assuming I have been so unimaginably sad up until this point in my life? Then it hit me. People assume that I am suddenly so much happier because that is the worldly view speaking. The world says you need a boy to make you happy, you need a boy’s approval, you need a boyfriend so people will not assume you are sad, a.k.a. the world is saying, you need our approval. In this society, we are so very consumed with our image, and I am guilty of this as well. I will be the first to admit that identity has been a crutch in my spiritual journey; it has been a crutch in me being a stepping-stone versus a stumbling block for many of my long 19 years of life. I am a firm believer in the fact that the Lord places people in our lives for a reason, but ultimately it is always for a greater purpose that we cannot even begin to understand. I believe that He lets our paths cross with one another because HE is doing something extremely awesome within each of us, and maybe, just maybe, He knows that through one another we will uplift, encourage, and ultimately glorify Him more. That being said, I have really tried lately to not let my image get in the way of something amazing the Lord may be orchestrating. And you know what? I have found that I am so much happier when I have allowed the Lord’s work to be done with me in the background and Him upfront leading the way. So, as I have pondered this word “finally” that has been thrown at me over the last few weeks, I have realized two things: one, I have always been happy, and two, who cares what they think anyways?

I came up with the clever little title, “Happ-[He]-ness” because it reminds me that in the middle of our happiness lies the Creator. The awesome, holy, completely flawless Lord, who died just to know us. How could you not just be a tiny bit happy about that?! Yes, it has been fun to have someone of the opposite gender (not including my daddy, although I do love him so) tell me I’m pretty, but really, if you think about it, there has been someone doing that exact thing for my entire life, and He beats them all because He was doing it before I was even a thought. The Godly view says we don’t need another person to make us happy, to make us whole. We don’t need worldly approval or 100+ likes on our “Facebook official” relationship. The Godly view says that Jesus, only Jesus, is true happy-happy-happiness. 

“HE will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

-Job 8:21 NIV [emphasis mine]

love,

Molly

There is nothing more awesome than knowing that my children are allowing God's will to be done in their lives.  I am so thankful for all they teach me.  I am blessed.

Long Live the Fab Four

One more week.

Seven more days.

168 more hours until Molly leaves for college.

She is so excited [and a little apprehensive because she is such a homebody] to be going to college, having a roommate, doing college stuff.

I am excited for her and I know that these will be some of the very best years of her life.

She is leaving behind some seriously awesome friends [biffles as she calls them] and my heart aches for her because I am not sure she has yet realized how much she will miss them.

Driving home this past Tuesday I heard this song:



And these words get me...EVERY. SINGLE. TIME...

Long live the walls we crashed through

How the kingdom lights shined just for me and you

I was screaming long live all the magic we made

And bring on all the pretenders

I'm not afraid

Long live all the mountains we moved

I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you

I was screaming long live that look on your face

And bring on all the pretenders

One day, we will be remembered

I cried like a straight baby.  

We moved here when Molly was going into the 7th grade.  We asked a lot of her to move away from all the friends she'd ever known and move to a new school.  [And because we worship an awesome God he brought my sweet girl back together with a forever friend from elementary school and they will be roommates this year.]  

To say this was one of the best moves ever made by us, as a family, would be an understatement.

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God knew, even in our apprehension and worry, that Molly would find three of the best friends a girl could ever ask for...EVER. 

I told her one day that they were the Fab Four and it stuck. 

They LOVE each other.  I mean truly, in a I-would-sail-the-ocean-for-you kind of love.  

1 Corinthians 13:3 ~ And now these three remain: Faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

These girls are HONEST with each other [even when it means brutal honesty like, "Does my butt look big?" and in unison, "Yes!"] but they respect each other for this honesty.

Proverbs 11:3 ~ Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

The Fab Four represent MODESTY.  I am proud of them for not giving in to what society says is acceptable for girls their age. 

Proverbs 31:30 ~ Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

If I had a few wishes for the future of their unique and amazing bond as friends they would be....

• call each other just to say hello.  College can be lonely and tough sometimes.
• continue to take pictures!  [When I say there are quite a few pics of the four of them I mean there are probably several hundred.] One day, when you have a family, you will have tons of fun reminiscing with these pictures. [And making fun of each other...] 
• making new friends is inevitable but remember to cherish this bond the four of you have with each other.  You never know when you'll need a favor...
• keep your focus on God and encourage each other through prayer.
• don't forget to keep dancing and singing...it makes life so much sweeter.

As a mom of one of the Fab Four I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

Thank you for loving my daughter enough to remain her biffle, even through the storms.

Thank you for your faith and encouragement of her these last 6 years.

  

Thank you for never settling and for remaining true to your values.

  

Thank you for being real and for being honest and for being true friends.

You will be remembered... 

I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life

We survived....

PROM!!

Emily and Molly

Emily and Molly...getting photobombed!!

Lyndsay, Haley, Emily, and Molly...Totally describes them to a T!

Molly had an amazing time with her biffles and her handsome date. [I have TONS of pics of her and the boy but I didn't want to overstep my bounds by posting pics of him without really knowing him...He might find that a tad bit odd.]  

She was gorgeous [of course she was] and ready to take on the world. 

Her friends were gorgeous [at the least the female friends were...the boys may think gorgeous should not be used to describe them....the boys were very handsome] and full of fun and happiness.  

Oh to be 18 again....

[Its about to get deep...and not the kind you need a shovel for...emotionally deep.  You've been warned....]
  
13 more days.

I was thinking last night, as I began this post, about some things I want to say to Molly as she prepares to start a new chapter in her life.

Choose wisely.  Your friends. Your future spouse.  Your Saturday night activities. [I think this one needs no explaining but trust me on this one.] One choice, made out of anger or despair or desire can Cost. You. Dearly. When you are away, at college, your parents won't be there to question what you are doing or who you are with so choose wisely.  [I speak from experience.]  

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. 

Philippians 4:8

Take some risks.  [Some of you are scratching your noggin' because I just said choose wisely....]  Take a fun elective in school or pursue something you never thought you could do.  As a college sophomore, I took scuba diving.  I am SEVERELY claustrophobic [not afraid of Santa Claus but closed in spaces]. I took my certification dive in the CAYMAN ISLANDS.  Take some risks and don't be afraid.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Find a cause to support. Volunteer at Hospice or a soup kitchen. Be a mentor to an underprivileged child.  Learn to serve others because it ain't about you.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

Laugh...A lot. Yes. College is serious.  [I mean, I did squeeze 4 years into 6 years...] But that doesn't mean that you can't find the time to have fun and laugh.  You will make some of the best friends you'll ever have and hopefully, continue to grow the friendships you have now.  Find the laughter and the joy, even in the mundane times and times of hardship. 

She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

Proverbs 31:25 

Budget your money.  I am the WORLD'S WORST money manager. [Ask Craig. And my dad.]  I am not good because I don't [didn't] listen.  Don't be like me. Save up, save up, SAVE UP.  Tithe.  Spend your money wisely.  NEVER BUY ANYTHING YOU CAN'T PAY FOR UP FRONT [in other words...AVOID credit cards...avoid them like they are the plague...]. 

Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Proverbs 13:11

There aren't many days, here lately, where I am able to hold back the tears when I think about Molly graduating from high school.  This has been an emotional several weeks.  I know I have three more behind her [of course, the jury is still out if Gabe will actually finish high school because he is a first grade delinquent when it comes to homework] and each of them will bring bittersweet emotions. 

There are things I could tell about Molly's grand entrance into our lives but some things need to be kept private.  I will say that I was an unwed mother [we were married when she was 5 months old] and I'm not sure many people [including myself] really believed we would actually make this family work.  No one has ever felt more guilty than Craig and I for starting out the way we did, with a baby out of wedlock, but God does amazing things when we feel like the world is stacked against us.  

God already knew, even before we saw her in that first ultrasound, that Molly would change our lives in ways we could never imagine.

He knew that she would grow into this amazing young woman, who loves her Jesus, her family, and her friends without reservation.  

My tears are not to hinder her journey but because I am so fiercely proud of who she has become. 

13 days will go quickly but these memories will be here forever.  

My dearest Molly, I hope you've had the time of your life.  

The best is yet to come my sweet girl.

My Sweet Girl

**Remember that one time, when your son sent your husband the wrong testimony and instead sent his sister's work because it had the same file name?  Oh wait...that happened to me today.  This is not Cooper's work...it is Molly's.  I must be losing my ever lovin' mind.

I have been searching for words to write for a while now.  I still have nothing fantastic to give you until I read this testimony from my sweet girl.  

Romans 1:16 
Since I was little, I have always been a Christian, believed in God, and attended church on a regular basis. I gave my life to the Lord when I was seven years old, which is the age that my relationship with the Lord began. Believing has never been something that I have struggled with and knowing that the Lord was watching over me has always come naturally. However, it was not until the summer of my tenth grade year of high school that I truly began to encounter God in a powerful way. I’ve never been troublesome, but I am still a human and I still sin. While attending an M-Fuge summer camp at North Greenville University I was impacted by the message and burden of God. At that moment, it occurred to me that my sin was keeping me from experiencing all that the Savior had for my life. The main verse of the week was Ephesians 3:20 that, “God can do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.” Those words spoke so clearly to my heart that week, and this particular verse has continued to be one that I hold dear to my heart to this day. Since leaving the camp that summer, I have continued to hear God speaking to my heart on the plans He has for my life and have become very passionate about missionary work, especially in the area of human trafficking. My plan for college is to study to become a missionary and turn this calling into something great for the Kingdom of the Lord. My life is not perfect, but I find peace in knowing that God is always there for me and has been since the moment He created my innermost being.

Wow.  Molly wrote this for a scholarship. She is amazing :)   

Yes.  God can and will do immeasureably more than we could ever hope or imagine.  

Thank you Lord for this sweet girl of mine..thank you. 

[Yes. It is confirmed that this testimony, in fact, came from Molly. Talk about egg on my face....] 

World History Revelations and myTunes

Tonight I helped Molly study for her world civilization final.  Two new ideas emerged during this study session...

1. Whoever create these quizzes is not fluent in what most of us call GRAMMAR. [I am no grammar queen myself but I know a run-on sentence when I see one.  Tonight I saw so many I think I am blind.] 

For example [take an enormous breath now because you won't come up for air for a good three or four minutes while reading it]: 

True or False: Even though the Magna Carta had been signed, bringing the English monarchs under the law like everyone else, the kings of England lost very little power in the 15th century because the creation of the House of Commons in Parliament actually limited Parliament's power because its membership, more numerous than before, was always divided and arguing, leaving the kings freedom to exercise power 

[What? Seriously?  Is this a statement, a group of clauses that gathered for a conference, or a question?  Is it a medieval torture device?  Is it a joke?]  

I told her she should have written her own T/F out beside it:  My teacher needs to buy some punctuation.  

2.  I took world history at some point in high school.  [At least, according to Craig, it was a requirement.  I don't remember that class at all.  I can't even think of who would be the teacher.  I guess I learned a lot didn't I?] Tonight as I helped Molly study the above mentioned test, this is a conversation I had with Craig:

Me: I have never heard of most of this stuff on this test.  Are you sure it happened?
Craig: Yes Missy.
Me: Did I learn this in world history?
Craig [insert eye roll]:  Yes Missy.
Me: I think you are wrong.  I think this stuff happened since I took world history.  Or they added it to the book after I graduated.  Maybe they wanted us to be without knowledge or something.  

True conversation. I still think he is wrong. 

[On to things that I know are true...]

Tonight at church I felt sorry for the people in front of me.  

I cannot sing. I SUCK at singing  am a horrendous singer.

Now some of you out there know what I'm talking about - admit it.  You can't carry a tune in a tin bucket so you mouth the words when put in the position of singing in a group.  That is me...most of the time.  I love music [it does NOT love me] and I really enjoy worship at my church.  Our praise band plays some awesome music.  In that service it is so loud that I don't feel as bad about my horrible set of pipes.  However, in the regular church service, it isn't loud enough to drown out my singing [I use that term very lightly].  

I know we are just asked to make a joyful noise.

I am sure the people in front of me don't consider it joyful. I apologize.  If we go to church together I will understand if you avoid me so that you don't have to hear me sing. 

You've been warned.