The Changing Face of Marriage

In my life I had always been taught that your religious education starts at home. Even when I received my Confirmation I was taught that it was your responsibility to maintain your religious education by going to and participating in mass. In my own life my parents always made sure I was going to Sunday School and really understood the ideas of the Catholic Church. They modeled how I should act, and always show faith and love. I think it is important for parents to show, and teach their children about religion and how to live with faith, love, and compassion.--------- My mom even had a deeper experience with the "domestic church". My Nana was deeply rooted in her faith, and had even been a nun for a few years. When my mom was younger she often had mass in her home on the weekends. She told me the neighborhood would come over, the kids would play music, and the priest would stop by and say mass. My mom said it was very casual and anyone could stop by.My mom tells me that my Nana always made sure they were following the rules of the Catholic Church at home and at church .--------- I think the idea of the "domestic church" is changing. My mom had a very religious upbringing at home, which makes my "domestic church" life seem less. I think people are forgetting that religion isn't something you just participate in, like mass, but it's who you are. I think today people look to their religion as something they just go to once a week, and forget that it is who they are all the time. --------- I do feel compelled to establish a "domestic church" someday in my home. I enjoyed the experience when I was younger, and it helped to remind me that my religion isn't just going to mass, but it occurs outside of church as well.

Dating and Marriage

I think with any relationship communication, openness, and commitment are all key factors in making it last. I do agree that a relationship should supply some type of self-fulfillment. There are always stories where people say they never felt complete until they met their spouse. I believe that is important. A relationship should allow you to discover more about yourself, and make you feel whole and connected to your partner.The couple should be able to grow from being around one another. That makes the connection between two people special. I don't think the type of self-fulfillment described in the New York Times is healthy though.To me it seemed extreme. A person shouldn't commit to a relationship because they won't bored .It is important to have self-sacrifice and want to be in a relationship because you want to work with your partner and make them happy. I don't like the idea of being in a relationship to gain something. Personally, in a relationship I hope for someone I can easily talk to ,feel connected to, and grow from.I believe these intentions represent Christian values and modern values because I want to grow, but I also want to grow with my spouse.

Dating

I can understand the belief that dating is seen as practicing divorce. Someone who breaks up a lot or has many relationships may have the same mindset when entering into a serious relationship. Once married the person may fall back into their old ways and become bored with the marriage.

I do think dating is beneficial. How would you know if you were compatible with someone if you didn't date them? I think in order to make a commitment such as marriage, you need to test the waters and see if you really do like the person. When I think of not dating someone it reminds me of an arranged marriage. I know some people have courtships and get to know each other, but personally I wouldn't want to marry someone that I haven't gotten to know on an intimate level.

I think today many people have casual hook-ups and don't end up dating the person. When I refer to hook-ups I think of making out and not sex.I think that when I enter college hook-up may change to having sex, but right now in high school I think most people look at is as making out. I personally think hooking up with someone is fine. I think that some people need this in order to find out who they are, and if they really want a relationship.

I Love You Like a Love Song

To me, loving someone means believing in them no matter what, always being there for them, and caring for them unconditionally. When I think of love I imagine my Nana and Pop-Pop. They have been married for 50 years, and always seem to make each other laugh. When I look to the future, and a lasting relationship, I look to have similar qualities as my grandparent’s relationship. I want to always be able to laugh and I want to have mutual respect and understanding. I think love is about being who you are with no judgment.
I do believe in the quest for a soul mate. I admit I believe in chance and love at first sight. I think there is someone out there for everyone, but I also agree that the search for true love can be detrimental to a relationship. If you are always looking for the perfect person, you can end up unhappy.

My favorite song, Time After Time, by Cyndi Lauper talks of a relationship that may sometimes be difficult and distant at sometime, but in the end though the people will always be there for each other no matter what. I think this song shows an important quality of love. I think that in a relationship, your partner should always accept you no matter what, and always be there.

If you're lost you can look--and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you--I'll be waiting
Time after time

Nick Jonas’s song Who I Am talks about loving someone for who they are. He sings of loving someone so much that nothing is right when they are gone. I think a part of love is accepting someone no matter what. I also think there is that hint of true love, where you want someone to love you so much that they need you.

I want someone to love me
For who I am
I want someone to need me
Is that so bad?
I wanna break all the madness
But it's all I have.
I want someone to love me
For who I am


I think the song Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty talks about a boy who broke a girls heart, but realizes that he really does need her. I think this relates to not knowing if the person you are with is right for you. You never know what you have until it’s gone.

I wanna glide down over Mulholland
I wanna write her name in the sky
I wanna free fall out into nothin'
Gonna leave this world for awhile

I am a huge fan of The Fray, so naturally I had to include one of their songs. Be Still does not say love in it, but I think the meaning behind it is a loving one. The whole song is about not worrying about the bad things in life because that one person will be there. This song reminds me of the love God has for us, but it also can be related to two people in love. In love, especially in marriage, the two people should always be there for each other, even in the bad times.
When darkness comes upon you
And covers you with fear and shame
Be still and know that I'm with you
And I will say your name

If terror falls upon your bed
And sleep no longer comes
Remember all the words I said
Be still, be still, and know

LOVESONG by The Cure may be the epitome of a sappy lovesong. The songs whole message is about no matter what, the two lovers will always love each other and the one feels complete when they are together. No matter what, the love will always be there. I think this is important in any long term relationship.

Whenever I'm alone with you,
You make me feel like I am home again.
Whenever I'm alone with you,
You make me feel like I am whole again.

Images in Media

I saw this Katy Perry perfume ad while flipping through my Seventeen Magazine. This ad has Katy in a very tight outfit and in a provocative position.I think the name of this perfume and the way Katy Perry is dressed suggests that this perfume is seductive and sexy.I don't think this ad is appropriate, especially in a teenage magazine.The perfume also has more emphasis on Katy Perry than the actual perfume.

Images Today

On the day of Super Bowl XLVI I checked my mail like any other day. My Aol news came up promoting and warning against the always anticipated commercials that would be on between the game.I decided not to read the article in order to be surprised, but something caught my eye. The picture advertising the article was of a women's leg with a caption like "is this ad to inappropriate". I still decided to ignore it, and waited for the game and commercials to come on.

Immediately I knew exactly what commercial my Aol news was talking about when it came on the TV. It was a flower commercial that had a model getting ready for a night out. She was in a low cut dress and positioned and moved herself so she was constantly trying to be provocative. I was unsure of what this commercial was supposed to be advertising,and even when the flowers came on the screen I still did not understand how this women and those flowers went together.I think the flowers could have been shown in a commercial that was not provocative. The commercial could simply just be of someone receiving flowers and being happy.

I think this ad leads men mostly, and consumers, that flowers and gifts will get you the girl and whatever else you want.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWrJgFjxlS0

Who Am I? My Identity

As I wrote the dreaded college essays this year ,themes reoccurred in the prompts and in my responses. Most of the prompts I responded to asked about my life and who I am. Even though some of the prompts asked about my favorite things, the answer always ended up the same as the prompt about my identity. I realized that many of the activities or things I choose to participate in and like have really shaped and affected my identity. The top three reoccurring topics that I think best shaped me are my involvement in sewing, my love of the Amazing Race, and my involvement in service.

I began sewing in second grade. My brother had to take a sewing class at his high school and I would always offer to sew his projects for him. I think the idea of creating something from scratch and unique to the creator is amazing. I begged my parents for lessons so I could learn how to sew on a machine, and they let me. Every Saturday I would attend lessons and soon got my sister involved. I enjoyed the peace I got from sewing and the feeling of accomplishment at the end of every class.

As I got older and more advanced my family decided to put my skills to use and create a quilt for my Nana and Pop-pop. My Mom and Aunt Sue decided to join in. We sent out pieces of fabric to my many cousins, aunts, and uncles to trace their hands on and send back with a signed fabric heart. It was my job to sew all the thirty some hands and their signed hearts onto blocks of fabric, and with the help of my mom and aunt create a quilt.This is now one of my fondest memories of sewing.

I say sewing is a factor that has affected my identity because it shows that I am creative, and is something I do to relax. It consumed so much of my time when I was younger that I honestly could not image my life without it. It has allowed me to give back by creating curtains for my elementary school, and costumes for the church play. It is something that is apart of me and I am grateful that my brother had to take that class in school.

THE AMAZING RACE
Those words have appeared on my television screen almost every Sunday since 2001. On the show contestants race around the world completing challenges and trying to make it to the finish line first each league of the race.If you asked anyone in my family what is one of my biggest goals in life they would say to be on The Amazing Race. Anytime I am in a situation that calls for a map or requires any activity like they do on The Amazing Race, I just say it's training. Going through a corn maze with me in October is something my family does not always look forward to. I am usually trying to get us out in less time than it takes the average person to complete. Needless to say I am a little intense and a huge fan. This show though has shown me the world. Without it I probably would not have the same love of travel.It allows me to see different cultures and understand the world we live in better. If not for the Amazing Race I probably would not have the collection of travel books I do or huge dreams of traveling.

Finally my involvement in service has affected my identity. Every summer since I was in third grade I was involved in my parish's play. I decided that freshmen year I would return in the summer and volunteer my time. I work as the costume director and make and coordinate what the cast wears. I love spending my afternoons working on the play in the summer. I enjoy the feeling of giving back, and the excitement the kids have when the show is finished.