A Best Friend in Between.

They were both my best friends. He was blonde, athletic, and funny. She was brunette, bubbly, and beautiful. They both had a love for basketball and got to know each other better. Before I knew it they were dating. Almost a year went by and the summer was coming to an end. She started a new school. His friends started college classes away from school. They didn't see each other very often and it was hard. They kept fighting and she felt at fault. He didn't treat her the way he should. She took the blame for everything and soon it was over. A fight in his driveway and a phone call the next day broke them apart. She cried for weeks at night and all he did was put every feeling he ever felt away. It's only been a few months. When I'm with him we don't bring it up. When I'm with her, I don't mention his name. Being a best friend in between this situation is one of the hardest things I've ever been through. Pleasing people is what I do. Then one night I got a text from her that said "I can't be friends with you if you're friends with him..." *Cue tears and heart breaking* That night was hard but I was not ready to let either of them out of my life and thankfully it all worked out. "You need to become friends with him and mend this break between you two" was how the conversation ended. It's been a slow transition but I know that eventually this situation will be over and someday we'll look back and laugh at ourselves. Best friends...Can't live with them, can't live without them.

The Truth About Flirting

I thought this might be kind of a funny post to do, because as a teenage girl - I'm pretty familiar with flirting.

Of course I'm not saying I do this allll the time or I have guys falling at my feet. I do go to a public school and our classes are not segregated.

So here are some things that I notice with flirting:

#1 - Let me ask you a normal question. 
This is something I notice probably the most. A certain person might see you and then you start having a conversation. They'll start with asking you a basic question. "Hey what did we do in math today?" Then you answer the question and all of a sudden you're talking about your dreams when you graduate college, as you laugh and "they gaze into your eyes."

#2 - I'm going to be really sarcastic.
Something that I usually see the most in "couples" is sarcasm. Yes that might sound really boring or dumb, because sarcasm can be incredibly rude if you're not just joking with your friends and saying sarcastic things. "Did you finish the science project that was due today?" "No, I shredded into a million pieces and used it as confetti." And then they laugh and laugh and laugh.....

#3 - I whip my hair back and forth.
I personally usually do this with my {girl}friends because it's entertaining to mock girls who actually do this. A girl will stand there and flip her hair with her hand as she brags about how amazing the other person is...and how much she just loves playing football....*cough* when really he's just the star player on the school's team.

#4 - Call me maybe.
Ahh yes the familiar song by Carly Rae Jepsen. Fun at first & now....just no. Oh the pickup lines I have heard recently. Want their number? Think they're cute? Something like this might run along the lines of I'm going to say this cheesy pick up line and hope you think I'm drop dead amazing. "I was reading the book of Numbers last night and realized I didn't have yours." Singing the chorus of 'Call Me Maybe'. "Hey do you have a map, because I just got lost in your eyes."

#5 - SWAG.
Seen the boys with their pants under their butt, but yet are still wearing a belt? Big hoodies and "skater boy hair"? Flat brimmed hats and funky sunglasses? Yeah, some think that is what you call "swag". Apparently our society has become so confused that if someone isn't wearing the coolest clothes, then BOOM they're as ugly as your mom's old floral curtains.

To be completely honest, I've probably done at least two of these. And we must remember to think of the little things that count and that an outside appearance is not the whole package. :)

~Michlyn

Through the Eyes of a Teenager: Relationships

Through the Eyes of a Teenager: Relationships

Having a boyfriend or girlfriend as a teenager is looked at as "important". Teenagers think that it's cool if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend. You're looked at as popular or dominate if you have another person of the opposite gender hanging out with you. Holding hands, taking pictures together, giving hugs and anything else. Public schools, private schools, and charter schools. Anywhere... It's talked about. It's debated about. It's thought about.

Sometimes it great and sometimes it's not. Is it wrong to be in a teenage relationship? Absolutely not. Is is necessary? Absolutely not. It just depends who you are and how you look at it. Is it your goal to have a girlfriend or boyfriend by the time you are 15 or maybe 16? To me there's should be no "goal" to be in a relationship. I'm not against dating at all, and some day I can guarantee you'll see me dating.

What about your parents? Would they approve of your decision to have a boyfriend or girlfriend? I do realize that some parents don't care if you date. They look at it as cute and how "grown up" you are. Other parents on the other hand... They definitely care. They might tell you a certain age you can start dating at. They might want to meet the person. Or maybe they just care about you and don't want you to make any mistakes. Most parents have more than likely had experience in difficult relationships - or ones that didn't work out. Ask them. Make sure you talk to your parents about it and know that you are ready for a relationship.

"The prettiest smiles hide the deepest secrets. The prettiest eyes have cried the most tears. And the kindest hearts have felt the most pain." ♥ -Unkown

I know quite a few girls who have had about 3 boyfriends in the last year. That's 3 different guys, all within 12 months. How do you take that? Sometimes it's sad and sometimes it's good. It all depends on the reason for breaking up. Some think, "If I don't hurry up and find someone who likes me, my friends are gonna think I'm lame." Girls out there and guys... Please don't think it's bad, or lame, or that you're a loser if you aren't dating someone. Even if all of your friends are.

I've said it once and I'm going to say it again... I'm not against dating. What. So. Ever. It's the way you get to know your best friend more, and maybe see a future together as your new husband or wife. God didn't say that finding the right person is easy. He wants to help you with it. He wants you and your significant other to be focused on Him and the plans He has for you. And just because it feels like you're the only "loner" or single one with your friends or at school, doesn't mean it's going to be like that forever. God has bigger plans for you and He wants you to trust Him every step of the way.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34

~Michlyn