Don't Mess with My Baby Ruth

   Candy gets bashed way too much in this world. Being one of those people who eats candy more rarely than the general population of this candy-infatuated country, and the daughter of one of it's loyal and non-hypocritical eaters, I thought I should speak up for those who can't defend themselves - all the candy bars.
   My dad is a loyal and non-hypocritical eater of candy. He quickly silences anyone who says anything against his candy bars. "Baby Ruths are bad for your arteries." "Shush!"
   Ah, the loyalty. We could stand more of that in this world.
   I am a non-hypocritical non-eater of candy. I received a Reese's Peanut Butter Bar on Valentine's day. Half of it is gone. So, if I ever talk about how bad candy is for you, I'm legit. I don't have secret stashes of candy that I eat if I'm in my room when no one is watching or out somewhere dressed in a disguise. I usually leave anything bigger than those mini-Snickers alone. But I'm not bashing it. Candy has it's virtues. 
  Specifically, I'm here to defend the 'Baby Ruth' today. This is for you, Dad.
  So, what exactly are people calling bad for you when they say a Baby Ruth is bad for you??? Check out some of the ingredients:
  Peanuts. Aren't people always saying how good peanuts are for you? Yes, they are. They are actually legumes (like beans and lentils - see, they're as good for you as vegetables!), but they have nutrients similar to those found in walnuts and pecans. Packed with protein. And they have monounsaturated fat, which isn't the 'bad fats'. It's one of the 'better fats'. And they have a bunch of vitamins.
   Sugar. Who can bash sugar? I can't. I might skip the candy bars, but cookies and cake are another story. And frosting. Anyway, we can't live without sugar. Well, we could, but it makes life much more pleasant.
  Coconut oil. That stuff is supposed to help you lose weight!
  Palm tree oil - part of the vitamin E family...when in it's natural form, which, in a Baby Ruth, I don't think...moving on.
   Soybean oil. Soy is very popular right now. It's expensive and it's always in the "Organic food" aisles, so it must be good for you.
   Salt - no need to say anything there. We all know we need some salt in our diet. And since they are cutting it out of soup recipes, we have to get it somewhere, right? (By the way, don't try salt-free soup. Follow my example and listen to people who have - they say it's gross.)
  Nonfat milk. Can't complain about that. No fat.
  Cocoa. Chocolate.  Is good and good for you. Ask any girl. If you ask a girl that doesn't know, ask a different girl. If you are a girl that doesn't know, ask another girl that does. I should ask someone too. I've never caught up with the "chocolate is a girl's best friend" theory. I think my mom trained me not to think that way so she could have all the chocolate in the house. Maybe?
  Carageenan - it's from seaweed. For people to use that stuff for food, it has to be healthy.
  Ok, I think that's enough. Most of the rest have to do with preservatives and color, which you find in the average loaf of bread. So if you are going to bash a candy bar for having those, then you better not be eating  bread either. Or start making home-made bread.
  I think I've presented enough of a case in favor of Baby Ruths. I won't be eating one anytime soon, but I don't think there is a need to look down my nose at all the people that love them.
  So, go enjoy a Baby Ruth, guilt free.

Dedicated to my Dad. And Baby Ruths. And their friendship.

Sources:  
  http://adams.extension.psu.edu/Family/Family%20Articles/Peanuts.htm
  The ever reliable http://www.wikipedia.org/ . Just research any of the about mentioned ingredients.

My Life Without You...

 My life without You is colorless,
 It's boring, and the days
 Drag on and on,
 Endlessly, pulling me with them,
 The moments run away.
 No hope, no dreams,
 No joy inside...

 My life without You
 Is like a world without songs,
 Like laughter with no smile,
 Like a violin with no strings...
 It's meaningless,
 It's dry as a desert
 With no oasis.

 My life without You
 Is impossible.
 You take me through the storms
 And You bless me with the calm.
 You heal the ache
 And dull the pain
 In my restless heart.

 My life without You...
 Wouldn't be life.
 It would be mere existance.
 You feel every tear I cry,
 And You comfort me
 When no one else can,
 Or when no one else sees.

 I am so glad I have You,
 Because my life without You
 Wouldn't be life.
 Thank You for the life
 I have with You...
 I love You,
 Jesus.

I really don't like the hype over valentine's day. I find it to be annoying. It's like all the couples in the world are screaming out to the singles "Hey! It's the day to spend with your sweetheart! Don't you wish you had one?"
 Ok, so it's not that bad. I think Valentines day can be really sweet for couples, a fun day to do special things for each other and celebrate their relationship. That part doesn't bother me, even though I think people who argue and tear each other down all year except on their birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, anniversaries, and Valentine's day don't have much to celebrate on Valentine's day. They might be better off just skipping it.
 Then there are the people that have the mindset of "every day is Valentine's Day!!!" (Imagine the syrupy sweet voice and all the little hearts floating in the air, harp music in the background.) "We love each other soo much that we surprise each other with wonderful gifts and sweet little notes all the time, and we never, ever disagree!" Those people must be: (1) really rich to afford nice gifts alll the time, (2) not have much going on in their lives to have to work through together, or (3) newlyweds. Newlyweds since about ten minutes ago.
 Other people think "Valentine's Day? Why???"
 There's another set of people that we don't hear from as much. They are the people who do love each other, treat each other like they love each other, work through the tough times together,  know that every day together is a gift, and still recognize that Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to celebrate their relationship, so they do if they want to, or they just don't. Yeah! They have the right idea.
 Have you noticed that one of the biggest topics on the internet right now is 'How to not MESS UP Valentine's Day' ?
 Seriously?
 Most of them seem to be geared toward guys. "Guys, read this to know how to not make your girlfriend or wife mad at you for the gift that you give her!!!" "Find the perfect gift that she'll love you for!" Sounds like pretty shallow love to me. When you have to worry about getting the right gift to celebrate your relationship or else your girl will be mad at you, you don't have much to celebrate. Yeah, there are the guys out there who will rush to the dollar store at the last minute and get a gift that means absolutely nothing to either him or her, and maybe they need to read those articles...but that's not the point...
 It's really not Valentine's Day that I mind. It's the way people treat it.
 However, I do think that with all the holidays our nation has, we should be able to get an actual holiday in honor of singles. Maybe there is one. I haven't heard of it if there is. Anyway, it would be a day when all of us singles could give our brilliant advice to couples and critique them with our great wisdom that we haven't gained from being in a relationship...kinda like me writing this right now, in criticism of couples, when I'm single, and I wouldn't really know, having never been in their shoes...But I think of it like this - couples are lost in a maze, and singles are watching them from where they can see the whole maze, so we can tell them where to go. So we singles help couples find their way through life. They need us. And we're happy to help.

My God is an Awesome God...

 My God is an awesome God!
 When I'm walking in the dark,
 He holds my hand...
 And every time I fall,
 He is there, to make sure,
 That yet again, I stand.

My God is an awesome God!
I think that I have wandered
So far from His grace,
 But His love pulls me back,
Makes me fall in love again.

My God is an awesome God!
My heart is singing with joy,
His praises ring within,
I could shout for all to hear
That He is faithful and true.

My God is an awesome God!
He does great things for me.
Breaks my chains and sets me free,
Opens my eyes so I can see.
I love Him; My God loves me.

Feeling...

I'm feeling a little broken, a little let down...
Working through these frustrations is hard...
I don't know how to focus on my Lord,
Instead of what I want from life.

When I think of what He has for me,
What He wants me to do in this life,
I feel afraid, and I think I hide inside,
Inside a little shell.

I'm trying not to block You out,
But I feel like I'm pulling away...
I'm sorry, my Jesus, please pull me back.
I'm just scared, every day.

I'm scared...everything is uncertain...