I love the sound of the rain, it gives me a nostalgic, warm, fuzzy feeling that I’ve come to associate with bed.

It’s been raining quite frequently these past few weeks. Although it’s a drag when I have to go to work, because I have to take out my umbrella and commuting is such a pain when it’s raining… but I actually find myself looking forward to curling up in my bed in the evening, listening to the rain fall outside.

Last night, it was raining pretty hard and I got wet trying to get home from work. When I got home, I took a nice, warm bath, cooked some soup, got some chips and milk from the fridge, and curled on the sofa to watch reruns of my favorite TV show before, the now defunct, Charmed. It might be a pretty boring pastime for some, but at that particular moment, listening to the rain outside, I was contented and I felt I was right where I needed to be.

Let me share with you some of the things that comes to my mind when it’s raining. I imagine:

• staying at home, eating ice cream
• being with a loved one, cuddling
• a kiss in the rain
• hanging out with friends at my house
• curled up in my bed, reading a good book
• sitting in front of a window, watching the rain
• playing chess or card games with my brother
• long talks with my cousins
• videoke/karaoke, singing like there’s no tomorrow
• chatting with my best friend, clutching pillows
• a nice warm shower
• watching TV/DVD’s, eating snacks
• playing a computer game
• grabbing coffee with a friend or alone
• warm chocolate with marshmallows

These are just some of the things I think of when it’s raining. I haven’t really done each and every one of them, but I sure would love doing them once I get the chance. How about you, do you love the rain too? What are some of the things you think of when it’s raining?

Copyright©2008angel

I remember back when I was younger, I used to fantasize about my first kiss. I’ve always imagined what it would be like, what it would actually FEEL like.

Then one night, it happened. It started off with a hug. I was so close to him. I could smell his perfume… I could hear his heartbeat… I could feel his warm breath on my skin. It felt so good to be wrapped in his arms like that. Without letting go, he kissed me on the cheek. It was a feathery light kiss. But it sent shivers down my spine. It was incredible.

Then slowly, gently… he tilted my chin and he leaned his face forward. I knew right then that he was really going to kiss me. My heart was pounding hard against my chest! I’ve fantasized about this kiss for ages, and now it’s actually going to happen! I felt a jumble of emotions going on inside me. I was nervous, and worried, and excited all at the same time! Well actually, I was more worried about the technicalities of the kiss. The truth was I didn’t know how to kiss. Yeah, I’ve seen it on TV and in the movies, but you know… I mean, this was the real thing. There’s this amazing guy in front of me, about to kiss me. What if I made a fool of myself? My mind was a wreck.

But I really didn’t have enough time to even pay attention to my thoughts because his lips were already less than an inch away from mine! And even then, I don’t think I would have had the strength to stop him. So I gave in. I let him kiss me. And I kissed him back. And then everything seemed to stand still. All of a sudden, it felt like we were the only people in the world. It was all I could feel, the softness of his lips, his skin under my hands. The kiss was breathtaking. Exhilarating. It was the most magical moment of my life.

I was only aware of his presence, how he was holding me and touching me… and telling me those 3 heartwarming words that sealed the kiss for me: “I love you”. I love the way he said it, slow and dragging… barely a whisper. It made me feel delicate… and special.

That kiss turned out to be everything I dreamed it would be. Even better. Way better. In the end, it really didn’t matter that I wasn’t an expert in kissing… because the important thing is, I care about him. And I guess, in one way or another, the kiss told him how I felt. And it did the same for me. I really am thankful that it was him. He gave me one of the most memorable moments a girl could ever have. My very first kiss. I will always be glad that I got to share that experience with him. It definitely was… a dream come true.

That cool night in March, a million other teenagers were probably having their first kiss too… but I’m one of the lucky few… because I got to share my first KISS with my first LOVE. And that’s one beautiful memory I get to keep for the rest of my life.

(P.S. I wrote this post 5 years ago, and I only just found it yesterday. Wow, time flies so fast, I can’t believe it’s been five years.)

Copyright©2008angel

A store that sells husbands has just opened where a woman may go to choose a husband from among many men. The store is composed of 6 floors, and the men increase in positive attributes as the shopper ascends the flights.

There is, however, a catch. As you open the door to any floor you may choose a man from that floor, but if you go up a floor, you cannot go back down except to exit the building.

So a woman goes to the shopping center to find a husband.

On the first floor the sign on the door reads: Floor 1 - These men have jobs.

The woman reads the sign and says to herself, “Well, that’s better than my last boyfriend, but I wonder what’s further up?”

So up she goes.

The second floor sign reads: Floor 2 - These men have jobs and love kids.

The woman remarks to herself, “That’s great, but I wonder what’s further up?” And up she goes again.

The third floor sign reads: Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love kids and are extremely good looking.

“Hmm, better” she says. “But I wonder what’s upstairs?”

The fourth floor sign reads: Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking and help with the housework.

“Wow!” exclaims the woman, “very tempting. BUT, there must be more further up!” And again she heads up another flight.

The fifth floor sign reads: Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking, help with the housework and have a strong romantic streak.

“Oh, mercy me! But just think… what must be awaiting me further on?” So up to the sixth floor she goes.

The sixth floor sign reads: Floor 6 - You a re visitor 3,456,789,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at The Husband Store and have a nice day!

Author Unknown 

I saw this survey, and it made me think back to the last time I actually took a risk and changed my hairstyle. I’ve changed hairstyles probably only 3 times in my life, and I remember the 2nd one, I totally regretted. That’s why I vowed to myself never to change my hairstyle again! So ever since, I would usually just get a trim every 2 months, and that’s it. No more drastic changes. But that’s just because I was “traumatized” by one lousy experience. How about you? How often do you have your hair cut? Do you change your hairstyle a lot?

If I can endure for this minute
Whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is
Or how dark the moment may be-

If I can remain calm and quiet
With all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me
When everyone else seems to doubt me-

If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning
And that this will pass away, too-

Then nothing in life can defeat me
For as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening
For I know God will break all of the chains

That are binding me tight in the darkness
And trying to fill me with fear-
For there is no night without dawning
And I know that my morning is near.

Helen Steiner Rice

Six year-old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.

He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten.

Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.

He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn’t know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.

And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. All he’d wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.

Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.

That’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can’t stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.

Author Unknown 

Breaking up is tough. But in the world of relationships, it seems to be inevitable. People experience it at least once in their lifetime. For those who ended up marrying their first love and never ever had a breakup, then good for you because you’re one of the lucky few! But for the majority of lovers out there, a breakup is a process that they should be able to deal with. Breaking up with someone you still love is hard, but at the end of the day, what’s important is the lesson that you’ve learned from it. Do we all learn the same things after a breakup? Maybe yes, maybe not… but every situation is unique, and each person has different things to learn. Also, what happens after the recovery period? We all have different ways of dealing. How do you deal?

The child in me was satisfied that I got to see the movie again. I guess as I grew up I forgot how fascinated I was with mermaids when I was a kid. But it wasn’t really the mermaid that caught my attention this time. It was the song playing towards the end of the movie, the theme song sung by Rita Coolidge, “Love Came For Me”. I was really touched by the song. Perhaps, it’s the melody… I really like the melody. But then when I listened closely, the message of the song is really beautiful as well, not to mention the catchy title!

Around the world, at least one person everyday falls in love, right? But until now, love has always been a mystery. It’s a beautiful feeling, but can never really be fully explained. You wake up one day, expecting a perfectly normal day, and here comes love… knocks on your door, sweeps you off your feet and takes you by surprise. Sometimes, even though you’re not really asking for it, it comes for you. And then there are also those who long for it, and are desperate to find it, but haven’t really found it despite their best efforts! I know, life really has a way of complicating situations, huh?

But it’s when you least expect it, that these things usually happen. Feel free to disagree with me here, but in my opinion, once you’ve stopped looking for love, that’s when it usually comes for you. I’m talking about romantic love here, of course. Not the love that we feel for family, friends, or ourselves… but the love that brings two people together, and connects them like no other. It’s the kind of love that cannot be explained, and cannot be fathomed, the kind of love that takes your breath away, and completely transforms you.

I believe that everyone deserves to find that kind of love. Some people DO find it, some people don’t. But if it’s meant to be, love will come, at the right time, and in the right place. And when that happens for you, cherish it and make the most out of it. When love comes for you, embrace it, accept it with open arms, and nurture it. It’s the most wonderful blessing ever!

Did love come for you already?

Copyright©2008angel

I have not a friend left on this planet,
And no place left to go.
All of my life I have wondered what it would be like to lack one of my gifts,
And now I know what it is like to be hated.
To be cast out into the cold and cruel world and ignored by every person whom I may turn to.

To not be wanted…

Now, after all of my time of searching,
I now know what it is like to lack one of my most important gifts.
I now know what it is like to lack…

Friendship.

Morris Lawson

Let’s say you’ve just broken up with your ex, will you be willing to still be friends with him?

I remember this conversation that I had with my cousin a while back, I remember asking her, “How can you still be friends with your ex? How can you move on, when you still see him and hang out with him?” My cousin just shrugged and told me that it’s just the way it is. They both don’t have hard feelings for each other despite the breakup, so there’s nothing wrong with being friends even though they’re not “together” anymore.

For me, personally, I think there’s nothing wrong with being friends after a breakup. If two people have parted in good terms, what’s to keep them from being friends, right? I mean after all, they do have history, they’ve become lovers and even though that didn’t work out, they still like each other’s company and that’s definitely reason enough to stay as friends. But for bitter breakups or relationships that have ended badly, it’s a lot more difficult.

Usually, people refuse to stay friends with their ex because they’ve been hurt. It may be because they didn’t want the relationship to end in the first place, but unfortunately it has… and they’re just learning to deal with it. As much as possible, they would want to avoid their ex and not be reminded of what used to be, in order for them to really move on. Or maybe, the relationship just ended with both parties hating each other, thus, there’s no possibility for continuing friendship.

It’s also difficult to remain friends when you’re still in love with your ex. I mean, how can you be contented with just being “friends”, right? Every time you see that person, there will always be that longing… deep inside you’re hoping that you’re back together again. So instead of going through even more hurt, you opt not to see that person again, so you could truly move on with your life and find someone new.

There are lots of reasons why people don’t want to be friends with their ex. But in reality, there ARE in fact ex-lovers that end up being friends even right after their breakup. In my opinion, these are relationships that just died a natural death. Meaning, both parties have decided that it’s time for the relationship to end, or maybe both parties feel that they’re better off as friends. Whatever reason they may have, both have accepted the facts and they’re both ready to move on.

I think if I have to answer this question myself, I would say, “It depends.” If the moving on process is hard enough, then maybe in the beginning, I would give myself time to adjust and I won’t have any contact with my ex at all. Getting over someone is hard if you never wanted the relationship to end in the first place. And having him around all the time, when I’m trying to move on, only makes it even harder. I think separating myself away from him for a considerable amount of time, will do the trick. Then when I feel that I’ve truly moved on, and I’m ready to face him again, then maybe we can be friends. After all, I’ve cared about this person once, his friendship would be valuable to me. But of course, it will happen in due time.

How about you, can you be friends with your ex?

Copyright©2008angel