A Very Lucky Girl

This November I was extra thankful for my Kindle! Between spatchcocking turkeys and trimming the Christmas tree, I still made time to read 21 books and there are several 5 star contenders among the group. Add some of these to your Christmas list ASAP! this meme was SO TRUE this month too, y'all. All of the feels!! The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams 4 stars I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz, so I had high hopes for The Summer Wives . For the most part, she delivered. The timeline was more difficult to follow as it hopped between decades, but it didn’t take long to catch on. The secrets were jaw-dropping and the ending was satisfying. Bear in mind, this book is long with a capital L! You Knew Me When by Emily Liebert (audio) 3 stars This story passed the time on neighborhood walks and house cleaning rounds, but it certainly wasn’t spell-binding. Frankly, I found the feud that drove the plot fairly silly, but the inviting charac...

Words are weird. I can sit down and type out strings of words that mean something to me in record time. I trip over my fingers because those words have been inside me for so long and I'm anxious to spill my feelings in a tangible, manageable, form. But when I notice I haven't blogged in a while and it's time for a new post I am often stumped. Not because my blog posts are meaningless (although I did write about Tinder...so you be the judge), but because I'm nervous to share all of me with all of you (John Legend reference YES). Maybe you won't like what I have to say. Maybe you will criticize it. Maybe you'll think differently of me. Writing is risky. Writing is permanent. I need only to scroll back on my own blog to find posts with words I wouldn't write now. My words are permanent outward expressions of a constantly changing person. The words I'm currently most worried about are my two essays for the Fulbright ETA funding. I need to write a personal...

I'm sure most of you know by now that an F4 tornado ripped through the city of Moore, Oklahoma, approximately 15-20 miles south of me and my family yesterday afternoon. I feel almost guilty to have a safe family and an intact house. It's devastatingly hard to find words to cover such a tragedy. People have endless opinions and voice them without thinking (i.e. Westboro Baptist...) and right now words aren't the answer for Moore and the surrounding areas.  It has never been truer that Actions speak so much louder than any condolences. Prayer is important, don't discount that in what I'm saying. But words aren't going to  bring back the perished people. Words aren't going to clean up the damage.  If you're like me you might be broke as a joke. Kevin Durant just pledged 1 million dollars to the relief efforts, how am I supposed to compete with that?  But my measly $25 to the relief and restoration fund at Lifechurch  will certainly be something. And a...

Don't even ask me about Townsend's book. Please. I've been trekking around Texas this week and it has been WONDERFUL. But it also means that I haven't had (or made) the time to read his words.  But I'm still working through the words of Jesus and this week focuses on "Love does not dishonor others." I actually got out my handy dandy dictionary app to see what the complete definition of "dishonor" is because when I think dishonor, all I can think is:  The definition in my head had more to do with "do not insult" others, which is partially true. But it means even more than that. I can dishonor somebody by having a poor reputation. If I have a poor reputation, then the people that associate themselves with me are disgraced. It was enlightening to learn that love is more than being kind and not hurting others. Love is about recognizing that my decisions have an impact on my immediate world. Love is a lifestyle.  A Very Lucky Girl des...

Delay isn't denial. It's often hard to accurately express what I'm feeling. I've been working at it. It's difficult to enunciate what I need from people. Something about putting musical notes to words makes them easier to understand and connect with.  Winter has come back again Feels like the season won't end My faith is dying tonight And I won't try to pretend I've got it all figured out That I don't have any doubts I've got a busted heart, I need You now. I'll show them I'm willing to fight And give them the best of my life So we can call this our home Lead me, cause I can't do this alone I got a front row seat To the longest wait And I just can't see Past the things I pray Today. I don't know, I don't know What tomorrow may hold But I know, but I know That You're holding it all So no matter what may come I'm gonna fix my eyes on all that You are 'Til every d...

This is the first Valentine's day that I will participate in as part of a couple, but I have never actually loathed this day of expressing affection. Because I am always surrounded by people that I love and that love me, even when it's not a romantic sort of love. Even last year I let Ke$ha speak for me on Facebook and said "I'm in love, alright, with my crazy beautiful life." Her words are still true. Who can hate Valentine's day for the general message of love it sends to ALL? Plus, there's candy.  So. much. candy. Others scoff at the chocolate roses and candy hearts appearing in Walmart aisles in mid-January, but I say WELCOME. BRING THE CANDY COMA ON.  I have a weakness for conversation hearts. However, the inscriptions have really gone to hell. luv me? marry me? yes? u rock? I feel like the chalky morsels are meant for illiterate married couples living in the 70s.  A very happy heart day to you from A Very Lucky Girl. Please accept these virtua...

Lies. It's all lies. Don't get me wrong, it's fantastic to have goals. But it's far better to make them attainable. If there's one thing I took away from my Gateway class during my Freshman year at OU it's the SMART acronym for goal-setting. S pecific, M easurable, A chievable, R ealistic, T imely New Year's Resolutions are not renowned for their longevity. January 1st finds people casually tossing around statements like "Yeah, I quit drinking. Yeah, I'm gonna lose weight. Yeah, I'm gonna read the Bible in a year." But January 15th rolls around and that one shot with your friends on Friday night was too tempting, Krispy Kreme had a buy a dozen get a dozen deal, and Numbers is not a riveting book of the Bible. Human nature is to collapse in despair after a failure and give up on your 2013 transformation.  Not to sound too Nike-esque...JUST DO IT. I'm not overly fond of New Year's Resolutions, the main reason being that I t...

The presents have long been torn into and the wrapping gathered into trash bags and I'm left with wonderful blessings from a thoughtful family.  Several monetary gifts that make my journey to Scotland in Spring 2014 much less a dream and much more a reality. A beautiful pearl necklace. A new (stylish) pill case to hold my necessary drugs. Make up that will greatly aid my face. Socks to warm my toesies. Gloves to heat my handsies. Jewelry to decorate my ears and my finger. Garments to clothe my body. And one of my favorites, words to warm my heart.  I unwrapped a box from Sharbear that contained a slim, green notebook, sturdy envelopes, stamps, and a set of pens. Inside the journal I found an entry with instructions. Mother-daughter journaling by mail. One of the sweetest ideas I've ever heard and I almost want school to hurry up so I can write her back immediately! Sure, my school is only about forty minutes away from home. But that doesn't mean life doesn't...

This budding blogger hit 10,000 page views at 10:24 AM on Sunday morning, November 11th.  I never thought that my meager words would reach so many corners of the world. People in Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Latvia, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Australia, Egypt, Japan, the Netherlands, India, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates (what?), Brazil, and several other nations have faithfully lurked averyluckygirl-taylor.blogspot.com.  I don't know how you found me, but I'm grateful to you. For silently encouraging me to do something that I love, even when it gets hard.  And to the 12% of you that are using Internet Explorer...a special shout out to the patience you must posses waiting for the page to load. You should be rewarded.  Why stop now? A Very Lucky Girl could go for 15,000. 

Tyler took me to The Warren in Moore the other night to see a movie I've been dying to see ever since I viewed the trailer. "The Words" intrigued me for two reasons: as one who dabbles in writing, I couldn't shun a story of the trade, and Bradley Cooper fills the screen for an agreeable amount of time.  I was not disappointed. The basic premise is of a stereotypical starving writer trying to make something of his words while supporting himself and his newlywed wife. They go on a jaunt to Paris for their honeymoon (a bit pricey I'd think, but who am I to judge holes in the plot?), where Dora, the wife, buys him an antique briefcase. Happy wedding, honey! Here's a manky old murse for you to tote around town! However, the purchase inspires him (Rory Jansen, played by Bradley Cooper) in ways she couldn't imagine, for he discovers an ancient manuscript tucked inside. As his own stories continue to be rejected, he retypes the typewritten, yellowed pages th...

Recently I've been trying to blog a post a day. But I'm stopping that, at least for now. There are lots of factors going into this decision, including:  I have about 20 days left in Norman for this semester. Which means that exams are hurtling towards me at a frightening speed, which means I don't need another excuse to procrastinate.  Putting an expectation on myself takes the pleasure out of writing. When I force words, it's noticeable. I want to claim authorship of a quality blog.  This gives you, dear and faithful reader, a chance to reread, reflect, and even catch up. You're welcome! I've been typing since February, have you made it back that far?  And finally, I am suffering from a severe case of writer's block. Or at least, I was until I started this post. Turns out the most effective laxative for writer's block is to write about writer's block (new tongue twister). Who knows when the source could dry up though, it could be only a tempor...

"Don't act like you suddenly have self-respect" A guy said this to me last semester. I'm not proud of my reaction (think words that sound similar to "kung fu" and a choice hand gesture), but I was stunned at the effect his words had on me. I don't respect him, I don't think he has anything of value to ever say, yet this phrase still haunts me if I'm not careful. Unharnessed, it can reverberate in my mind, crowding all sensible thought. I know I have self-respect. I've proven it to myself over and over again, especially in the past few months with the choices I've made. JK (even his initials are a complete joke) inadvertently issued me a challenge.  Oh, you think I lack self-respect? Watch this. Challenge Accepted, A Very Lucky (and self-respecting) Girl.

"What a world we live in. I want to be incredibly close to the heart of it all. To live honestly, truthfully and to be completely present is the ultimate enterprise. And right now, I couldn't possibly ask for anything more. I am a very lucky girl." Those are the words of Dianna Agron. I can't say that I am a huge fan of hers, but I think these words are very powerful. And I thought I should explain the title of my blog, before all else. Because I am , you know. A very lucky girl. I don't want to make this a place of complaining or ranting or pity. I want this to be a place of growth and this title will remind me everyday of how blessed I am.   Beyond that, I am such a lover of words. My Pinterest board of quotes is titled: "for the love of all words" because I do love them all (except of course for those disgusting words like moist, panties, and supple. seriously, those are gross. English would not suffer with their destruction). I finally FINALLY d...