Long distance is
Reaching
To touch your face
Then realizing
That my fingertips can only
Brush
The screen.
Long distance is
Rubbing my thumb
Along the back of my
Own hand
Because it’s
Empty
Without your hand to hold.
Long distance is
Looking for your face
Every time I’m in a crowd.
It’s looking up
With a smile, to share
A joke, or trade
Glances
But you’re not there to
Catch
My eye.
Long distance is
Knowing I belong with you

June 24th, 2009
Dear Journal,
Mom just told me that she would buy me a phone since I'm gonna be babysitting a lot. She said it would be good to have it, just in case something happens and I need her. I'm glad because people make me nervous. Even nice people. I guess it's because there have been so many bad people in my life, even the ones that started out as nice people. I feel safer when I'm at home alone than I did when someone had to stay with me while Mom worked. I never told Mom because I don't want her to feel bad. She can't help it.
Kennedy

Philip Gray applied the finishing touches to his tie as he stood in front of a mirror. He took a deep, long look at his head make sure that each hair was in its proper place. Finally, he was ready for his date! After two hours of meticulous dressing, ounces upon ounces of hair gel and cologne, and careful preening of his garments, Philip decided it was time to call Renee to tell her when he was going to pick her up. His heart fluttered briefly as his finger flew over the well-known numbers on his phone. Renee’s melodious voice answered, and Philip faltered momentarily.

Before the turn of the century divorce did not exist. Married couples would never consider breaking the vows they made at the altar, for moral reasons or not. As time moved on however, the U.S. government gradually allowed more and more grounds for divorce until eventually couples had no need to justify leaving each other. Now, about 50\% of married couples in America eventually get divorced and that includes couples inside the church.1 People in America no longer understand love or what it looks like.

I was reading articles online the other day and they reminded me why I spent my youth differently from my peers. I have never understood why our current culture is so "into" the dating game. It is entirely illogical to think that spending years going from relationship to relationship during your youth will somehow prepare you for the reality of a marriage relationship.

Some people misunderstand certain "sheltered" homeschoolers ideas on dating. And there are also a lot of other homeschoolers who don't get the idea either.

Dating: We don't think it is a sin. It's a common misconception that many people hold on to.