Prom on Grand Bahama

From colorful airborne balloons released from impressively decorated vehicles to reenactments of the Cinderella and Prince Charming scene, from delightful paige boys and shy flower girls escorting elegantly dressed couples, to energetic trumpeters, dashing dancing, young men and charming young ladies… Prom time on Grand Bahama is usually quite a show. Hundreds of spectators line the sidewalks to watch prom goers make their entrance. They are always in for a treat and show their appreciation for the free show by their awe struck oohs, aahs and loud applause.

Young ladies choose their dresses weeks and sometimes months in advance. On the day of the prom they usually spend most of the day in the beauty salon getting hair, nails and makeup done, wanting to look their best for the grand event. Unfortunately many do not really enjoy the prom because they get so caught up on preparing for the event that they're often too tired to enjoy it.

So a word of advice to you who are planning your prom, remember that it's all about you! Relax! You don't have to impress anyone. It's your prom, enjoy! Have some good clean fun with your friends. Also remember, prom usually is a celebration that signals the end of your high school career. However, it also signals the beginning of something... your life as an adult. Consequently, don't make a decision at the end of one stage of your life that will negatively influence the beginning of the next stage. Don't begin your new life as an adult with a mind that has been clouded with alcohol. You can have fun without it. Your future looks bright! Don't mess it up by choosing to drink or have sex on Prom night. Have fun then go home and dream about the future...college, a great career, your own business, a family of your own... the possibilities are endless.


Seeing that tomorrow night is prom night for several graduates whose photos frequent the pages of Girl Talk I thougth I'd post this old GT article again.

Congratulations Ladies, have fun at the prom.



Girl Talk Magazine
June/Aug 02

Walking by faith...

“Faith never knows where it is being led,
but it loves and knows the One who is leading.”
~ Oswald Chambers ~

Eighteen years ago in a dusty little library at my old high school I went weeping as an invitation was given to accept Christ as Lord and Savior of my life. I didn’t know what the future would bring but I had faith in the one I had fully entrusted my heart to. I knew his love would lead me in the right path and it did.

About thirteen years ago I left home to go to college to follow my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. I had enough money to get through one semester. I didn’t know how I was going to make it through three years but I had faith in Jehovah Jireh and he didn’t let me down.

About five our six years ago I went through a serious period of depression that I thought I would never recover from. The only thing that kept me sane what my relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter how bleak things got, not matter how difficult I kept my eyes on him and guess what... the love of Jehovah Shalom brought me through.

Three years ago I walked nervously into a bank to see if I could qualify for a mortgage for a home. I barely had any money saved but I had faith in God. Because of his provision I have been living in my own home for a year and a half.

These are just a few examples of God’s guiding presence in my life after I entrusted it into His care. Life has not been perfect, far from it. It has not been without struggles, disappointments and pain. However my Savior has been with me every step of the way. Because of His guiding presence in my life I look towards the future with anticipation. I don't know what the future holds for me but I know who holds my future and oh yes, I do love, know and trust the One who's leading.

Visit Iris at Sting My Heart for more thoughts ont this weeks topic.

Count down....

One more week for students and then another week to finish records. Yes! In exactly two weeks my vacation begins and I can hardly wait. My plans...?



I have several new books that I'm looking forward to curling up with. Besides the new, I plan to visit some old friends like Captain Rayford Steel, Buck Williams & Chloe Steel in the Left behind series. I've read the entire series but they're worth reading again.





Also, I'll definitely be reading one or two books from my Grace Livingstone Hill collection again. Beyond the reading,(and some writing projects of course) I don't have a definite plan yet but for now that seems like heaven!

A Little Girl Talk

"Hey Dawn, what's up?" asked Elaine as she walked towards her best friend who was sitting on her front porch. "What are you reading?" she continued as she saw Dawn looking intently at something.

"The latest issue of GT."

"Oh, it's out already? Did you get me one? What's in it this time?”
"I was just reading that the next issue is the seventh anniversary issue."

"Wow! Time really flies!"

"Yeah, do you remember when we started getting Girl Talk back in fifth grade?"
"We felt so grown up getting a teen girl magazine."

"Now look at us, almost all grown up."

"Uhhmm, Girl Talk really feels like an old friend. It’s helped me a lot through the years," replied Elaine.

"What helped you most?" asked Dawn.

“Remember the interview with Tinnyse Johnson?”

"Yeah" Dawn replied.

"Well after hearing her talk about how she brought up her GPA from a 1.9 in tenth grade to a 2.99 before graduation it made me want to try harder especially after reading some of the things she went through. What about you?" she asked Dawn.

"I really liked Vinzanna Patrick because she was in it twice. I remember the first time she was in she was so real! She was in twelfth grade and she talked about being punished by her parents for sneaking out to a party. It showed that the Spotlight Teens aren't perfect, just girls like us. I also liked the follow up interview where she's following her dream in college.” Dawn replied.

"Yeah"

“What about articles?” Dawn continued
.
“I like the one with the mother who wrote in response to a story,” Elaine responded, “remember where the daughter was supposed to be going to class but went to the movies with her boyfriend instead?”

"That one was good,” Dawn laughed.” “I bet her daughter wouldn't try that."

"Girl, if she did I wouldn't like to be in her shoes” Elaine shivered dramatically.

“Lanie you know your Mommy is just as bad,” Dawn joked. “Wait a minute I think that lady has something in here too; it's called, The Issue of Trust, From a Mother's Perspective.

“Hmmm, that sounds interesting." Elaine said. “And you’re right Dawn, Mommy is worse. I speak from experience, remember Dion?”

"Yeah, aren’t you lucky you lived to tell the tale” Dawn joked “. What’s your favorite piece of advice from GT?” she continued.

“That's easy,” replied Elaine, “I memorized it remember the Jennifer Hudson article?”

“Yep, did you know she won an Oscar???”

“Of course girl, we watched it together remember?”

“That was you I watched it with?”

“Oh stop being silly, now back to my favorite piece of advice.”
“Believe in yourself; believe in your dreams Believe that you CAN succeed! Believe that if you work hard there’s nothing you can’t do
.
Dawn quietly joined in with Elaine,
There’s power in belief young lady, Believe that God will make your dreams come true.”
“I really hope GT stays around for a long, long time. Dawn said quietly, “I'll probably be reading when I'm 30.”

“Me too,” Elaine said as both girls sat silently for a moment.
"Okay now enough talk,” Elaine said breaking the silence. “Did you get a copy for me?"

"You know it girl!" Dawn passed Elaine her copy and they settled down to read the latest issue of Girl Talk.

On time...

I finally finished the new issue of Girl Talk. This is the first time in at least a year that I actually finished and got everything copied, sorted and stapled on time. Hopefully I'll be able to keep meeting my own deadlines in the future. (I won't bet on it though I'd probably lose.)

I've decided to start updating Girl Talk's website again but I'll still be posting some of the articles here.

Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?
We've all wondered what other people see when they look at us. I know I did. When I was a teenager I struggled with my self-image. I thought everyone's opinion of me was more important than my own. Thankfully I don't anymore. These days, if someone compliments me I say thank you. If there's something about me they don't like, well it's their opinion. I refuse to look at myself through the negative eyes of my critics and neither should you.

Yes, it is nice when people tell us how smart we are, how beautiful we look. But it's even better when we see it in ourselves. Hence, what I want to know is what do you think about you? What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a beautiful face looking back at you? How do you feel about your accomplishments? What do you think your good qualities are?

Having a good self- concept is very important. Here are a few things you can do to help see yourself in a more positive light.

· Focus on your successes. Congratulate yourself when you do something right.

· Don't compare yourself to others. You are a unique individual unlike any other, be proud of that.

· Hang with friends who are positive. If you surround yourself with negative people you won't see the good in yourself or others.

· Don't label yourself negatively e.g. I'm so stupid, etc

If you truly believe that you are a beautiful person with good qualities it will show. When other people have something negative to say it will roll off like water off a duck's back.

Here's something to try saying every day.

I look in the mirror and what do I see? a beautiful princess staring back at me. Oh wow! I thought, who could that be, (then smile and say), oh! It's only me.
Also, say it until you believe it and then say it anyway!!!

Do you know what it means to be the apple of someone's eyes? Well you're the apple of God's eyes and he thinks you're simply the greatest! So hold your head up high girlfriend. The person who matters most in life thinks you're special!

Write in and share your thoughts on what makes you beautiful. Remember it's not only physical.

Girl Talk Magazine
March/May 01

Not Quite Perfect

For the past few days I've been reposting some of my favorite articles from Girl Talk Magazine. I thought this one that I wrote a few years ago fit this week's IOW's topic.



“Lower your expectations of earth. This isn’t heaven, so don’t expect it to be.”
Max Lucado



On Friday nights at 10:00p.m I enjoy watching the television show Monk. Adrian Monk, the main character is a genius crime solver with an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Everything in Monk’s world has to be just the way he likes it or he can’t function.

In the last episode I watched, Monk had an opportunity to take a test, which if he passed would help him get reinstated on the police force, something he wants more than anything. Unfortunately for Monk he did not pass the test. His ‘disorder’ kicked in just as he sat down. If he did not fill the circle on the answer sheet perfectly he erased it and started over again. He did this continuously until the paper tore. Then he’d ask for a new answer sheet. This self-defeating and unproductive cycle went on until time was up and he had not gotten past the first question.

Monk continuously sabotages himself because everything has to be perfect, to his exact specification in order for him to perform. However, it’s difficult for everything to be perfect in an imperfect world. Let’s face it none of us is quite perfect, all of our halos get a little crooked and we make mistakes now and again. But you have to learn to deal with it; If you find it difficult to look past the imperfections of others life is going to be frustrating and disappointing for you. So my advice to you is to remember these three words… not quite perfect.

Not quite perfect… whisper this to yourself when it seems as if you’re the only perfectly sane person in an imperfect and crazy world. I’ve felt that way a few times. In fact, I chant the words “not quite perfect” quite a lot. But in all seriousness, remember to find your own place of acceptance and tolerance to the weaknesses of others and yourself. We are all striving for perfection but none of us is quite there yet.

Girl Talk
March/May ‘04

For more thoughts on this week's IOW visit Iris at Sting My Heart