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zo2paintedlady · 3 years

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LGBTQ+ Novels/Memoirs

Here is the book list from my LIS 618 class. The links will bring you to their Goodreads pages.

The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater (2017) *based on a true story* "One teenager in a skirt. One teenager with a lighter. One moment that changes both of their lives forever. If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight."

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz (2012) "Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship--the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be."

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson (2016) "Two boys. Two secrets. David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl. On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal – to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in year eleven is definitely not part of that plan. When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long…"

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (2020) "Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle...."

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe (2019) "In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity--what it means and how to think about it--for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere."

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver (2019) "When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school. But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life."

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert (2017) "When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. L.A. is where her friends and family are (along with her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support. But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new...the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself--or worse."

The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg (2019) "IMax: Chill. Sports. Video games. Gay and not a big deal, not to him, not to his mom, not to his buddies. And a secret: An encounter with an older kid that makes it hard to breathe, one that he doesn't want to think about, ever. Jordan: The opposite of chill. Poetry. His "wives" and the Chandler Mall. Never been kissed and searching for Mr. Right, who probably won't like him anyway. And a secret: A spiraling out of control mother, and the knowledge that he's the only one who can keep the family from falling apart. Throw in a rickety, 1980s-era food truck called Coq Au Vinny. Add in prickly pears, cloud eggs, and a murky idea of what's considered locally sourced and organic. Place it all in Mesa, Arizona, in June, where the temp regularly hits 114. And top it off with a touch of undeniable chemistry between utter opposites."

Odd One Out by Nic Stone (2018) "Courtney "Coop" Cooper Dumped. Again. And normally I wouldn't mind. But right now, my best friend and source of solace, Jupiter Sanchez, is ignoring me to text some girl. Rae Evelyn Chin I assumed "new girl" would be synonymous with "pariah," but Jupiter and Courtney make me feel like I'm right where I belong. I also want to kiss him. And her. Which is . . . perplexing. Jupiter Charity-Sanchez The only thing worse than losing the girl you love to a boy is losing her to your boy. That means losing him, too. I have to make a move. . . . One story. Three sides. No easy answers."

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy (2017) "'Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever. Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever."

Rethinking Normal by Katie Rain Hill (2014) "Have you ever worried that you'd never be able to live up to your parents' expectations? Have you ever imagined that life would be better if you were just invisible? Have you ever thought you would do anything--anything--to make the teasing stop? Katie Hill had and it nearly tore her apart. Katie never felt comfortable in her own skin. She realized very young that a serious mistake had been made; she was a girl who had been born in the body of a boy. Suffocating under her peers' bullying and the mounting pressure to be "normal," Katie tried to take her life at the age of eight years old. After several other failed attempts, she finally understood that "Katie"--the girl trapped within her--was determined to live."

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (2017) "On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day."

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan (2013) "New York Times bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other."

We are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson (2016) "Henry Denton has spent years being periodically abducted by aliens. Then the aliens give him an ultimatum: The world will end in 144 days, and all Henry has to do to stop it is push a big red button. Only he isn’t sure he wants to. After all, life hasn’t been great for Henry. His mom is a struggling waitress held together by a thin layer of cigarette smoke. His brother is a jobless dropout who just knocked someone up. His grandmother is slowly losing herself to Alzheimer’s. And Henry is still dealing with the grief of his boyfriend’s suicide last year. Wiping the slate clean sounds like a pretty good choice to him. But Henry is a scientist first, and facing the question thoroughly and logically, he begins to look for pros and cons: in the bully who is his perpetual one-night stand, in the best friend who betrayed him, in the brilliant and mysterious boy who walked into the wrong class. Weighing the pain and the joy that surrounds him, Henry is left with the ultimate choice: push the button and save the planet and everyone on it…or let the world—and his pain—be destroyed forever."

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (2020) "Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington. The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?"

#lgbtq+ literature #lgbtq+ books for adolescents #lgbtq+#book list #lgbtq+ book list #novels/memoirs #ya books #lgbtq

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inkyardpress · 7 years

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10 LGBTQA+ reads to pick up in 2017

1. Our Own Private Universe—Robin Talley

This stunning novel from Robin Talley drops at the end of January, and follows fifteen-year-old Aki as she explores her sexuality. She’s always known she was bisexual, but so far has only dated guys. When she goes on a four-week youth mission trip to Mexico with her BFF, her mind isn’t on dating, but then she meets Christa and everything changes. This book will wrap itself around your heart and squeeze until you are left with nothing but gooey feels.

2. History Is All You Left Me—Adam Silvera

When Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend Theo dies in a tragic drowning accident, his world is flipped upside down. Even though Theo had moved on—heading to college in California and seeing someone new, a guy named Jackson—Griffin had always imagined they’d find their way back to each other. This book explores grief and its effect on Griffin’s OCD…and what happens when the only person who could possibly understand you is the person who stole away your ex.

3. Dead Little Mean Girl—Eva Darrows

What really makes a mean girl tick? Quinn Littleton was a skinny blonde social terrorist in stilettos, and now she’s dead. Proud geek girl Emma had been enjoying a quiet life playing video games and staying off the radar until her mom announced she was happily moving in with Quinn’s mom…and Emma’s new nightmare of a stepsister. Now that Quinn is dead, Emma is finding out there was more to Quinn than was obvious at first bite. Eva Darrows busts stereotypes in this novel, including what the traditional family looks like. Look for it on bookshelves March 28.

4. This Song Is (Not) for You—Laura Nowlin

There is so much to get excited about in this little glitter bomb of a book! If you are looking for asexual representation in your YA or a beautiful exploration of a polyamorous relationship, step right up. Ramona and Sam are best friends who are falling for each other, even though they both are afraid of risking their friendship. When they meet Tom, not only does he instantly fit with their band, but he complicates (in the best way) the existing dynamic between Sam and Ramona. When the three of them follow their hearts, what results is a whirlwind of music, love and glitter.

5. Beast—Brie Spangler

Dylan doesn’t look like your average fifteen-year-old; he’s tall, muscly and hairier than the average bear. High school hasn’t been kind to him, but when an accident is viewed as an attempt to self-harm, Dylan finds himself stuck with a broken leg in group therapy where he meets Jamie: funny, smart, stunning Jamie. Her warmth and kindness bring out a new side of Dylan, but there’s something he missed that first day when he was zoning out in group: she just happens to be transgender. This book walks the line between taking a hard look at transphobia and exploring the sweet story of boy meets girl.

6. We Are Okay—Nina LaCour

Setting aside that gorgeous cover, this is a book that is going to haunt you. Marin is a character who screams off the page and feels so authentic that she could be your best friend. All alone on campus in her emptied dorm during winter break, Marin anticipates the arrival of Mabel, the friend she hasn’t spoken to for months—not since she tried to outrun those final weeks and the tragedy that pulls at her. Forced to face everything that has remained unsaid, including what happened between her and Mabel, she must confront her own feelings and her own loneliness. Pick it up on February 14 if you like to spend Valentine’s Day having a good cry.

7. Lies We Tell Ourselves—Robin Talley

In 1959 the battle for civil rights is raging. No one at formerly all-white Jefferson High seems to want Sarah Dunbar at their school. Not the governor, not the teachers and certainly not the students—especially Linda Hairston, who happens to be the daughter of the town’s most vocal segregationist. When a school project throws Sarah and Linda together, they discover that they aren’t so different, and they both start to feel things they’ve never felt before. This book is unforgettable, powerful and completely beautiful.

8. If I Was Your Girl—Meredith Russo

Amanda is the new girl in school and she desperately wants to fit in. But there’s a reason she transferred schools for senior year, and she’s determined not to reveal her secret to anyone. When she meets Grant, he’s unlike anyone she’s ever known, and she might just be falling enough to let him into her life and in on the secrets she’s been keeping. This is a tender, own-voices love story and an exploration of what it feels like to be a stranger in your own body. It’s also a look at just what life can be like for trans teens when they have solid support from family and friends.

9. The Upside of Unrequited—Becky Albertalli

We have to wait until April to get our hands on this one, but as it’s from the author of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda, you know it’s going to be worth the wait. When Molly’s twin sister, Cassie, starts dating a cute new girl, things get a little lonely, especially because Molly is too self-conscious about her body and cautious with her heart to put herself out there. But things look up when she discovers Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a hipster sidekick. If she can charm him, she could have not only a date, but more time with her twin. It’s a good plan, except that her nerdy, troll of a coworker Reid starts getting in the way.

10. Ramona Blue—Julie Murphy

We fell in love with Julie Murphy’s voice in Dumplin’—now meet Ramona! Since Hurricane Katrina changed her life when she was just five years old, she’s been confident of three things: she likes girls, she is devoted to her family and she’s destined for greatness. When her childhood friend Freddie reenters her life, Ramona discovers she’s having shifting feelings for him. Having always been confident that she was a lesbian, she wonders if her feelings for Freddie are just a fluke or if, for her, life and love are more fluid than they first appeared.

#lgbtq #ya books #robin talley #Eva Darrows #Harlequin TEEN

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tatekitkylejimmyjamesrorylover · 7 years

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Everything I Wanted Was You Kyle Spencer x Reader

Words: 3,424

Request: @shellscreams : I would like a Kyle Spencer imagine please love the last two you wrote xx

Description: This is an imagine where you and Kyle are together and he dies and you have to deal with that and don’t worry there is a very happy ending.

Author’s Note: I would like to say thank you to @shellscreams for requesting this! I am so sorry if this isn’t you wanted. Also requests are always open so don’t be shy XOXO

2013

It was cool windy Saturday in the middle of Spetember. School had just started for me at Tulane University in New Orleans. I was a senior and had been in total bliss for the past three years. The reason? Kyle Spencer my amazing boyfriend. He was a frat boy and I was a frat girl. My fraternity was having a party tonight at the Zeta Kappa Mu house, aka my fraternity. Yes it was very popular for someone from our fraternitys to get together. I didn’t care it was fate for us to meet. It all happened when I was walking on campus on my first day at school and some jerk approached me.

2010

“Hey sugar! You want some of this?” this college boy asked as he started running towards me.

“No thank you.” I said trying to make him go away.

“Awwww. Don’t be like that baby. I just want to have some fun!”

“Well you better scram before my..” I hesitated and blurted out the first thing that came into my head,” boyfriend comes to meet me!”

“Oh really? Where is this so called boyfriend?”

“I just said that he was meeting me here soon.” I said getting annoyed that the guy wouldn’t go away. He started to approach me and I backed away. He got closer to me and grabbed my wrist.

“HEY! Get off of me!” I yelled.

“I thought you had a boyfriend.”He said. But little did I know that a boy heard the whole thing an decided to stop it before it went any farther.

“She does.” The boy said. I turned my head away from the from the college student and looked at the boy who saved my life. My (Eye Color) eyes met his dark brown eyes.

“I think you should get your hands off my girlfriend mister.” The boy said. The college guy then released his grip on my wrist and the boy wrapped his arm around my waist protectively.

“Like I told you, you better scram you know now since my boyfriend is here.” I said confidentley. The college guy looked at who had his arm around me and ran for his life.

The boy released his arm from my waist when we couldn’t see the jerk anymore.

“Thank you for doing that. I really appreciate that.” I said looking at the ground rubbing my arm.

“Hey don’t mention it. I can’t help myself from saving someone espically if it is a beautiful girl like yourself.” You immediatley blush at his compliment and look up in his eyes. “Kyle, by the way.” Kyle held at his hand and you took it.

“(Y/N)” You reply shaking his hand.

“Beautiful. Just like you.” Kyle responds. I chuckle lightly at his flirt. “What do you say we go and get a coffee?”

“I would love that.” I say. Kyle takes my hand and holds it. We walk to the coffe shop on camous, hands in hand. Ever since then we have been in love.

2013

Tonight Kyle and his frat brothers were coming to the party tonight. I was excited to see him because he just got back from a school trip for football. Yes I texted him if his team won adn he texted back saying that they killed the other team. Once I read the text I decided that we would have a party in celebration for their win as soon as they came back. They arrived early this morning so I sent out party invitations to everyone. Apparently the new of having a party reached outside the campus and reached to the movie star Madison Montegomery. I one-hundred percent believe that someone tweeted it and it got around EVERYWHERE. I wasn’t upset that more people were coming, I was actually happy. That means that I could show off to more people about how great my boyfriend is.

I started to get ready at eight o’clock since the party started at nine and supposedly to end at midnight but I doubt it. I got finished changing into my (Favorite Color) dress and went down the stairs to finish decorating. I hung up the red and blue disco lights and the ice sculpture of God knows what. It was about nine o’clock when people started flooding which was good. This party was much bigger but it is okay the more the merrier. I saw some guy name Chad enter with packages of beer which I didn’t really care unless underage people were drinking it. I just let it slide because I was too busy trying to watch when Kyle’s limo bus was going to arrive.

It was a good ten minutes of me just waiting until a big black bus arrived on the curb infront of the house. I got so excited and decided to wait for about five minutes becasue I knew that Kyle was giving his brothers the chat about public parties Do’s and Don’ts. That is one of the reasons why I loved his personality so much was because he was respectful and a gentlemen. I always had great respect for him because ever since hurricane Katrina he had been providing for his single mother.

Kyle finally came running out of his bus with his brothers yelling “ Kappa Lambda Gamma” which was their fraternity. He saw me sitting on the step waiting for him to arrive and he immediatley ran to me. Once I had seen what he was doing I started to run to him. We meet in the middle and he engulfed me in his arms picking me up.

“I missed you so much baby.” Kyle said sounding out of breath. He placed me down, removing his head from the crook in my neck, he looked at me and oushed back my hair that had been messed up in this form of affection.

“I missed you so much too Kyle.” I said. He smiled and put his hand around the back of my neck and leaned in. His lips met mine and we started to make out in the middle of the lawn. It lasted a long time of just us letting our emotions out.

“What is that speech that you always tell your frat brothers? Isn’t public embarrasment apart of that? So wouldn’t kissing your girlfriend infront of everyone apart of that?” I ask jokingly.

“Shut up.”Kyle said laughing while putting his arm around my shoulders bringing me closer to his chest.

“I love you.” I said.

“I love you too.” He said kissing my cheek. He brought me to the couch and sat me down. “I am going to go get us some drinks okay.”

“Okay.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead. Once he left I looked towards the front door and I saw Madison Montegomery and I guess her friend. I was totally shocked that she came. I mean seriously a stupid frat college party? I thought that was too D-list for ‘celebrities. Again I didn’t mind that she was here. I just hope that her attitude doesn’t get the best of her.

Kyle soon comes back with two red cups and smiles at me.

“Here is a Coca-Cola for the lady.” He said and handed it to me while sitting next to me on the couch and putting his arm around me pulling me closer ot him.

“Why thank you.” I said to Kyle with a smile on my face,”Okay so you HAVE to tell me all about your football game please?” i said pouting in a begging form.

“Okay all right since you asked so politely. Well we obviously won. It was fourty-two to four and so we basically creamed them majorly.”

“Obviously,” I said but then Kyle was interrupted by the girl that entered in with Madison Montegomery approached us.

“Excuse me, I am so sorry to bother you but I can’t find my friend Madison Montegomery. I have looked everywhere and I can’t find her can you please help me?”

“Yes of course.” Kyle and I said.

“Let’s look upstairs to see if she might have accidentally found her way up here.” I said. We started to open up all the doors until we came to last on eand we opened it and found Madison and Kyle’s frat brothers. We looked around and realized that they were all takign turns raping Madison adn taking pictures even Kyles best friend Archie was in on it. Kyle was furious.

“WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? GIVE ME THE PHONE ARCHIE!” Kyle screamed. I had never seen him so mad in our entire relationship.

“NO KYLE! I am not giving you my phone so you can just delete the videos and pictures.”Archie said. Kyle started to run after Archie trying to retrieve his phone so he could not only delete it but so that he could beat him up for doing this. The girl who asked for Kyle and I’s help started to wake Madison up so she could walk downstairs and leave. I started to run after Kyle. I got to the front door and I saw all of the frat brothers and Kyle running into the bus. Then it started to drive off so I ran after it.

Madison and her friend weren’t that far behind when all of a sudden the buss flipped over and crashed. I saw it all happen and I fell to my knees crying. Once I had gotten the courage to get up I ran over to the flipped over bus and pried open the doors. I looked around and I saw Kyle, lying there in pieces. I rushed over to him and brought his chest and head close to my body and kissed him, over and over again.

“NOOOO KYLE! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE?”I yelled. I brought my head closer to his ear and whispered.”Everything I wanted was you. I love you so much. Why did you have to leave me? We were supposed to grow old together. I love you.” i finally got up and started to get up and walk away. Once that I had left the bus there was blood all over me. I started to cry and I ran back to the frat house which was empty probably due to everyone hearing the crash, getting scared and running.

I closed the door and locked it. I collapsed to the floor crying knewing that I was never going to get my happy ending with Kyle. I went upstairs, took a shower and cried myself to sleep knowing that there was never going to be a day with Kyle or so I thought.

The Next Day

I woke up and decided to go visit Kyles mom to see how she was doing with the news about Kyle. I got dressed and drove over to his house that i had been over a million times. I knocked on the door and Mrs. Spencer opened the door with a tear stained face.

“Mrs. Spencer? It’s me (Y/N).” I said knowing that she would remember me as Kyles girlfriend.

“Oh yes (Y/N), please come in.” She opened the screen door and welcomed me into her house. After I had entered seh had engulfed me into in a hug and the waterworks started to fall from my face. I pulled away and Mrs. Spencer gave me a tissue and I whispered out a ‘Thank you.’

“I came to see how you were doing.” I said looking into her eyes and seeing that she was so upset. She should be she just lost her son.

“Thank you for doing that (Y/N). I really do appreciate it. I think out of all the girls Kyle has brought home, you have always and will forever be my favorite.”

“Thank you. I know how difficult it must be losing you only son espically since you husband passed away. I just wanted to let you know that I am here for you. If you need someone to talk to please just call me and I will be there.” I said letting her know that she won’t go through this alone.

“Thank you so much. It means a lot to know that even though Kyle isn’t here that you will continue to be apart of this familly and I am forever thankful for you. Anyways I have something to show you. Kyle had all this stuff that he had for you in a bag so I feel like I should give it to you, even though he won’t”

“Okay.” I followed her to Kyle’s room and she opened the doors to his closet and bent down to get the bag. It was a large paper bag filled high with stuff. She handed it to me and I carried it and sat down on his bed and started to unpack it. “I hope you don’t mind that I am unpacking it here.”

“Oh no! Please go ahead. I wanted to know what was always in there so I hope you don’t mind that I am watching you open it.”

“Of course not.” I started unpacking and while I was unpacking I realized that these were presents for our upcoming anniversary of three years. I took out the first thing and it was a scrapbook filled with pictures of me and Kyle and little love notes he wrote. I sat there crying knowing that this must have taken him months to put together and he never got a chance to give it to me. The second thing I took out was a shirt that said “Watch Out Boys This Girl Is Taken By This Guy” and it had a picture of Kyle winking on the back. I laughed remembering his funny humor. There was only one thing left and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a small red box. I took it out and started to cry knowing what it is. I opened the box and found a small diamond enagagment ring inside.

I showed it to Mrs. Spencer and she started to cry her eyes out.

“I always knew that was a question he was wondering about when he was going to ask. I guess he was going to ask on your three year anniversary.” she said. I put my hands over my eyes and cried even harder. I put the ring on my left finger in a way of saying yes to his question.

After that I bid Mrs. Spencer a goodbye and then walked out of the house. I was walking to my car that was a couple houses down. While I was walking I could have sworn that I saw that girl that Kyle and I helped from yesterday approach Mrs. Spencer’s house with her holding someone up. I ignored it knowing that it was just my mind playing tricks on me. I walked to my car and got in. I just sat for a long time looking at my engagement ring and crying. I eventually stopped and drove back to my frat house. I walked in and went upstairs to my room and locked the door.

A Couple Months Later

It has been a couple months since Kyle died and I couldn’t have felt more alone. Sometimes if I went out I would think that I would see him and the minute I blinked he was gone. Other than that I haven’t left my room. I miss him everyday. There is nothing that can replace him. I haven’t felt love, compassion, or happiness since he died. I wish he would come back.

Today I was forced to leave my room saying that I had a visitor at the door. I went downstairs and opened the door to find the girl that Kyle and I helped all those months ago.

“What do you want?” I ask with tears starting to fall from my eyes.

“I just want to show you something. Please come with me.” She said.

“Why should I go anywhere with you? I don’t even know your name!” I say

“Okay. My name is Zoe Benson.” Zoe said.

“You think just because you said that I am going to go with you?!” I said.

“Okay, fine! If you won’t come with me then just promise me that you will come to the cafe downtown. Please.” She begged.

“Alright I’ll be there. What time?” I asked.

“Just be there at noon. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Thank you.”

“Do I need to bring anything?” I asked.

“Just bring yourself.” She said.

“Okay. Bye.” I said. Zoe waved a goodbye back to me. I was so confused. Why out of all the people on Earth does she have to come back? I went upstairs and got dressed. I looked at the clock and saw that it was eleven fourty. I exited the house and went to the driveway to my car. I got in and started to drive downtown to the coffee shop. I looked for a parking space near where Zoe was standing. I got out of the car and locked it. I walked over to her.

“So why am I meeting you here?” I asked.

“You are meeting me here because I have a surprise for you inside.” Zoe said.

“If it’s a guy then I am not interested.” I said and then I walked in.

“I don’t think so. Well at least not with this guy.” She said. I walked around trying to find out what she was talking about. I finally understood when my eyes met his. The same dark brown I fell in love with. I ran over to him with tears coming down my face. I ran into his arms and he held me close. I pulled back my head and started to pepper his face in kisses. I finally ended with his lips. There was all of my emotions, his emotions intertwined into this form of affection. He let me down and pulled out my chair for me to sit down.

“Kyle! How are you back?” I asked with tears running down my face.

“(Y/N), I know you aren’t going to believe me when I say this but please do.” I nodded my head in response.”Okay well I died you saw me. Zoe and Madison went to the hospital and retrived my body parts and sewed me together. Another thing is that they are witches. There is a whole coven of them okay. So I was crazy and I couldn’t speak. I was a lot like Frankenstein. It was a long time before I could speak. But then their supreme Fiona Goode fixed me. She did something to me where i could speak properly. I guess you coudl say she brought me back to normal. So I remembered all about you. I had never forgotten about you, I just didn’t have all the details. But I called for you and then Zoe decided that it was best if I came back now and so I did. That is where that story ended.” He said looking into my eyes.

“I don’t care how you came to be here. I am just glad that you are here with me. Kyle, you’re all I have you’re all I want.” I said and he just looked at me emotionless and then he smiled and leaned over to kiss me on the lips.

I put my hand on his cheek and he stopped kissing me and looked at my hand.

“Oh sorry. I forgot that my hand is probably is cold. Sorry.” I said.

“No it isn’t that.” He pulled my left hand towards his and at my ring finger. “You said yes?”Kyle asked.

“Of course I did Kyle. I love you with all my heart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you unless you don’t want to anymore.” I said looking down.

“Hey,” Kyle said putting his fingers underneath my chin and lifting my head up so I looked at him in the eyes,”I want to start off where we left off. I want to be with you. I want to call you my wife. I love you.” He said.

“I love you too.” I said. I am so happy that Zoe brought him back. I couldn’t ask for anything better. After that Kyle and I started to plan for our wedding. It was perfect. Now we are living in total bliss and there isn’t anything I could ask for more. I love him and he loves me.

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jollylollylily · 7 years

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Like...why?

I can get if Beyoncé is not your “ thing” but the reasons some of y ‘all list for not liking her are just… just say you have no reason for not liking her and go. From saying she can’t sing, she doesn’t do “enough” for her people (or any people) to calling her overrated is so…show me on the doll where Beyoncé hurt you, boo.

Fine. If your personal opinion is that she can’t sing then you can have that. To everyone else, she surely can and shows it off the more she grows as an artist. Like…clear examples exist of her singing be more than just one dimensional. For example:

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Or This! ( Also note the BLACK members of her ALL FEMALE BAND. Also note that she is doing charity work by performing for sick children at a children’s hospital. I will get to the criticism that she does not do any in a minute.)

youtube

I could list many more but acapella singing kinda shows that she can sing but go on ahead and keep up the narrative that she “can’t sing.”

Next up is the idea that she does not do “enough” for her people. Oh boy…am I gonna have fun debunking this one! First off, a lot of what she does do is not publicized as with many celebrities. She only came out and listed some of her charitable contributions after Harry Belafonte accused her of not “doing enough” in an interview he did back in 2012. So…on to the contributions (which she released to a little underground and fledgling newspaper called “The Wall Street Journal.”) !!!

“An abbreviated list of the unselfish work Beyoncé has done and continues to do.” The list included co-founding The Survivor Foundation “a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston”; donating “100K in 2008 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund to aid Texas victims of Hurricane Ike”; performing in “MTV’s Hope For Haiti Now! Benefit in addition to making a generous monetary donation,” among many other charitable activities.”

If you pay close attention to the locations she donated too, you may notice a high case of melanin. Why? Because she donated to black people. Gave back to black people. Way before BLM was even a thought, she was doing her part to help her people. For example, The Survivor House, started in TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE, was made for the sole purpose of helping survivors of Hurricane Katrina in Houston,Texas region. The foundation also built a set of apartments for Hurricane Katrina survivors in Houston.

“ The project is a 43 unit, single room occupancy supportive housing facility for at-risk populations designed to provide permanent living accommodations for women and men who are taking significant steps in improving their lives after the traumatic effects of personal and natural disasters. The apartments will provide “a safe place to live” for all residents.”

Per the latest article I could find, which is from 2014 (updated in 2016), she has donated SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS OF HER OWN MONEY TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.

Oh, we are not done yet!!! Essence Magazine did an article on other charitable contributions she has made. (Jay-Z is included as well but I will highlight Beyoncé’s work)

Beyonce’s Trip to Haiti (it happened in 2015)

“Last week, Beyonce ventured to the poverty-stricken nation of Haiti, where she surveyed the damage and destruction that still plagues the country five years after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit. Bey alongside Valeria Amos, the United Nations’ humanitarian affairs chairwoman, met residents who were still recovering and was able to see firsthand all of the work that still needs to be done.”

Beyonce’s BeyGood Foundation

“Touching everything from the unemployed to the sick, Bey’s BeyGood foundation aims to make the world a more beautiful place. Her new initiative is currently raising money for the thousands in Nepal who were affected by the recent 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The superstar raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight for gender equality worldwide, given school supplies to students across the nation and hosted food drives in Houston (and she shows no sign of stopping!).”

Beyonce’s Partnership with Goodwill

“In 2013, Beyonce partnered with Goodwill to tackle the unemployment crisis. “Goodwill helps people get back to work by providing education, job training and placement,” Beyonce said in a statement. “I wanted to team up with an organization that puts people first and works every day to help them improve and re-establish their lives,” Beyonce said. She encouraged her devoted Beyhive to donate clothes and electronics that would help disadvantaged people search for jobs.”

Beyonce’s Phoenix House

“While prepping for her role in Cadillac Records, the 2009 biopic detailing Etta James’ tumultuous life, Beyonce was introduced to Phoenix House, a rehabilitation center for recovering drug addicts. Bey became so enthralled with the organization that she donated her $4 million salary from the film to foundation, and went on to open an affiliated cosmetology school, which offers Phoenix House residents a seven-month training program to learn real-world skills.”

Oh yeah...almost forgot about the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center she opened up, in partnership with her mother, Tina Knowles, in Brooklyn, NY that helps recovering drug addicts get back on their feet.

STILL NOT DONE!!!

“CHIME FOR CHANGE, founded by Gucci, is a global campaign to convene, unite and strengthen the voices speaking out for girls and women around the world, with a focus on using innovative approaches to raise funds and awareness for Education, Health and Justice projects. Through the power of crowdfunding, CHIME FOR CHANGE has funded more than 400 projects in 86 countries through 144 non-profit partners reaching hundreds of thousands of girls and women around the world. CHIME FOR CHANGE co-Founders Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Salma Hayek Pinault continue to lead the campaign with its coalition of partner organizations.” ( I am aware Selma is hella annoying after her “all lives” mattering Jessica Williams a couple weeks back but again, this is about Bey.)

She also raised money ($82,000) for The Flint Water Crisis

And this whole ass list of organizations as well.

Last, and certainly no least, is the $1.5 million dollars Tidal will be donating to Black Lives Matter and other social justice groups.

So like…Beyonce clearly cares…a lot. She also gives…a lot. She shows up and out and she does not have to. She could just perform and collect her check like some other artists do but she realizes that she can do more. And she does. Often.

But back to this idea that does not do enough for her people. Her mere existence as a black successful woman does enough for her people. Yes, I am aware that colorism plays a role in her success but she has never touted her skin color as something “special.” She just exists as a proud black woman. She fully embraced and yelled that from the rooftops with the majestic and glorious gem that is “Lemonade.” That album celebrated black women, black love, black struggle, black strife, black life.(Lest we neglect to remember her having the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Mike Brown and Eric Garner not only in her video but bringing them to the VMA’s with her in 2016.) She absolutely did not have to do that album. She could have given us another “Beyoncé”(which was a celebration of her embracing feminism) album and her fans would have been just as satisfied but no…she gifted us with “Lemonade.” I know other artist have done unapologetically black albums and I’m sure those were great albums. But, we are on Beyoncé and her album right now. It means something to have a global artist such as herself remind people that she is, in fact, black as fuck. Southern black. Black with a side of mo’ black. A black woman living a black life with her black husband and black baby(soon to be babies!!!) Also…lil’ side note: (the, now deleted, tweets from dreamhampton that talks about both Jay-Z and Beyonce donating money to help bail out Ferguson protesters.)

Now, oh now…on to the very idea that Beyoncé is “overrated.”

“overrated

adjective US

/ˌoʊ·vərˈreɪ·t̬ɪd/

(of something) considered to be better than it really is:

After seeing the award-winning movie, we decided it was overrated.”

How? HOW??? So help me God…I will never get this one. She gives consistent albums every time she comes out. She tours. She sings. She sings and dances at the same time. Like…I don’t even know how to properly address this baseless lie with sounding like I have a “BEY STAN 4 LIFE” tattooed on my forehead. But like…her albums go gold or better. Her albums always seem to be relevant to the times and also seek to do more than simply “provide music.” Her music provides a soundtrack to life. To her life mostly but we can glean life lessons from it. From the the grossness of male entitlement to a woman’s body with “Yes” (go listen to it again, my fellow Bey lovers and bask in the early peaking of her feminism.) She gives us visuals along with her music!! Like, visuals that propel the already great music to another level. Over the top or subtle and subdued theatrics. All while look gorgeous as hell ( Side note: I saw a man say she look “regular.” I took one look at his picture and knew Jesus still had work to do on me because the words “shit explosion of a face” crossed my mind.”) What is overrated about any of that???

Listen. Beyoncé is not above reproach. No one is but…the reasons people list for disliking her are so common when you have literally no reason to dislike a person. She can sing. She contributes her time and money to charitable endeavors. She is not overrated because…she just isn’t. She gives us a complete show. A complete package. Michael Jackson did the same thing and no one calls him “overrated.” Prince did too. Yet…somehow we are here…with me writing this dissertation because this wave of dislike keeps trying to wash ashore and no…just no.

P.S. Let us remember that just yesterday,a white artist, Adele, stood herself on stage and praised Beyoncé for being. Simply being who she is. Acknowledging Beyoncé as an artist she loves, respects and realizes that Bey deserved to win album of the year.

youtube

Then… she continued to praise Beyoncé even after the show…

youtube

It’s twelve minutes and she mentions Bey any chance she gets and I love it.

#beyonce #queen bey #bey #beyhive #beyonce knowles #beyonce giselle knowles #beyonce giselle knowles carter #beyonce knowles-carter #yonce #lemonade #queen 🐝

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batenchantingcollectorsong · 4 years

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LAFAYETTE, Louisiana—Dawn over the Gulf Coast revealed initial damage from Hurricane Laura, which hammered the region hours after making landfall overnight in the tiny parish seat of Cameron as a Category 4 storm.Winds of up to 150 mph put it among the most powerful storms yet to hit the U.S. Officials initially feared an “unsurvivable” storm surge that was forecast to push a wall of water an unthinkable 40 miles inland. Laura was later downgraded to a tropical storm.Gov. John Bel Edwards announced four fatalities linked to Laura, all caused by falling trees. A 14-year-old girl and a 60-year-old man were among the victims. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he’d received unconfirmed reports of one death near Sabine County.“We do expect that there could be more fatalities,” Christina Stephens, a spokesperson for Edwards, told reporters.Images from the city of Lake Charles showed entire skyscrapers with their windows blown out as winds well over 100 mph whipped the city beloved as a travel destination. Police reportedly spotted a casino that floated away. The National Weather Service issued several warnings for tornadoes in the area, but none have been confirmed to have touched down.In Delcambre, near the coast south of Lafayette, Jacob Lombas said Thursday morning that his own house was just inches away from flooding and his neighbors’ had already done so. “It was a crazy night. I barely got any sleep. The wind was the worst I’ve ever seen,” he told The Daily Beast, adding, “We had to go next door to my dad’s. His house is raised up.”> Breaking news major damage in Downtown Lake Charles many skyscrapers have blown out winds. > Some of the building may be total losses. > Many roof off massive flying debris. @NWSLakeCharles lawx HurricaneLaura pic.twitter.com/s9EgeDtz43> > — Jeff Piotrowski (@Jeff_Piotrowski) August 27, 2020At least 700,000 homes and businesses were without power, according to the website PowerOutage.Us.NOLA.com reported the highest wind gusts were recorded at the Lake Charles airport, 132 mph, and at the Emergency Operations Center in downtown Lake Charles, according to Joshua Schroeder, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Brownsville, Texas. The outlet reported the Brownsville office was backing up its Lake Charles counterpart, which was forced to evacuate.Schroeder told NOLA.com the NWS had lost contact with radars at Lake Charles and Fort Polk overnight, likely due to “equipment issues” in the raging storm.Storm chasers on social media posted videos of heavy rain and swirling winds, which meteorologist Reed Timmer reported was “gutting buildings” around Lake Charles as the eye wall of Laura moved through.> BREAkING! Buildings gutted in Lake Charles LA in powerful eye wall of HurricaneLaura @RadarOmega_WX @ChasinSpin pic.twitter.com/wP3fPyREIZ> > — Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) August 27, 2020As of Thursday morning, more than 500,000 people had lost power in Louisiana and Texas, with many more outages expected.“Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,” the National Hurricane Center said ahead of the storm’s arrival. “This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline.” Later advisories pushed that threat to 40 miles inland.> Even after nightfall, we have the tools to keep watch, and issue the life saving warnings to keep you, your family and friends safe. We're going to be watching Laura all night, thinking of those of you facing the brunt of the storm.https://t.co/VyWINDk3xP for the latest. pic.twitter.com/heSYqX0kyQ> > — National Weather Service (@NWS) August 27, 2020Edward Rappaport, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, told The Daily Beast exactly what the term “unsurvivable” means.“At its worst, the storm surge will reach from 15 to 20 feet, with waves riding on top of that,” he said. “I cannot imagine what that means to any human who is in the line of that water. Any human or structure.”Footage from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Aircraft Operations Center showed its Hurricane Hunter pilots struggling in heavy turbulence squarely in the eye of the hurricane.> OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO - Aug. 26, 2020. Heavy turbulence leaving the eye of Category 4 Hurricane Laura on @NOAA WP-3D Orion NOAA42 Kermit. Credit: Lt. Cmdr. Doremus, NOAA Corps. Our thoughts are with all in this storm's path. FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/m7Bc3Gttnn> > — NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) August 27, 2020Officials in Texas and Louisiana ordered more than 580,000 people to evacuate, including those in areas severely damaged during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. At least 6 million people in Louisiana and Arkansas were also under a flash flood watch. Arkansas has also declared a state of emergency in preparation for the storm, setting aside $250,000 for relief efforts.As many departed, an ominous signal of the storm’s strength appeared on the Mississippi River, which was forced to flow backward as Laura approached, an anomaly seen only during the strongest of hurricanes that have raked the Delta. The Texas Hurricane Center on Wednesday issued evacuation warnings to more than 385,000 residents from several areas, including Beaumont, Galveston, and Port Arthur. Ten more Texas cities and counties issued voluntary evacuation orders, including parts of Houston, as officials stressed residents should remain vigilant and prepared. All told, about 60 Texas counties were under a disaster declaration. “If you decide to stay, you are on your own,” Port Arthur, Texas, Mayor Thurman Bartie said at a press conference. “I will not put my people in harm’s way. If you stay, it is you and God.”> Only a couple of hours remain to protect life and property! Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes lawx txwx HurricaneLaura pic.twitter.com/eYTEH89rGu> > — NWS Lake Charles (@NWSLakeCharles) August 26, 2020In Louisiana, about 200,000 people were ordered to leave Calcasieu Parish and parts of Cameron Parish—low-lying coastal regions that were already seeing flooding hours before the storm was set to make landfall. Social media posts on Wednesday showed rising waters along southeast Louisiana and even parts of coastal Alabama. The City of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services on Wednesday said they were sending their ambulance bus to southwest Louisiana to further aid evacuation efforts.> Here’s the current state of LA 1 below the Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow. The highway remains closed and this area remains under a mandatory evacuation. Laura pic.twitter.com/p5OkD7t0wN> > — Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office (@LafourcheSO) August 26, 2020Among the evacuees was Fabienne Celestin, who found herself stuck in Lake Charles without enough money to get out of town, and had never been in an emergency evacuation situation, especially not while facing a monster like Laura. A Florida native, she moved to Lake Charles in late 2010. So she missed the devastation of Katrina and Rita in 2005 and the double whammy of Gustav and Ike in 2008. And she was desperate to get out of town with her children—Roodson, 16, Jayden, 10, and Moisha, 4—before Laura came ashore.“I didn’t have no gas money, no transportation,” she told The Daily Beast Wednesday night. “I have one special-needs child. He was crying. I have no help, but at the last minute a friend sent me some gas money so I was able to make it to Lafayette.”The desperation of being trapped made Celestin frantic. To top things off, her boyfriend was arguing with her about the decision to evacuate, she recalled: “I was scared because I never took the highway before.” Even with her own emotions on edge, she had to keep things together—especially for Roodson.“It is a scary situation,” Celestin said. “My special-needs son didn't understand, so he was asking a lot of questions.”Emergency workers had already been in Lake Charles for 48 hours, helping people in need like Celestin find shelter out of the storm’s path. When storms approach, the state’s Department of Children and Family Services coordinates transportation for thousands of evacuees.Gov. Bel Edwards said in a news conference Wednesday that Hurricane Laura had the potential to bring storm surges that residents had not seen seen since 1957. He added that Louisiana had activated its entire National Guard, something it hasn’t done in “many years.” “This is a very serious storm,” he said. “In the five years I’ve been governor, I don’t believe I’ve had a press conference where it was my intention to convey the sense of urgency that I am trying to convey right now.”The storm coincided with the Republican National Convention, where the danger it posed received little attention. CBS reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed only once on the impending storm as of Wednesday afternoon. He tweeted Wednesday, “Hurricane Laura is a very dangerous and rapidly intensifying hurricane. My Administration remains fully engaged with state & local emergency managers to continue preparing and assisting the great people Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Listen to local officials. Listen to local officials!”Bonnie Lee, a Lake Charles resident for 40 years, saw her home ravaged by the storm while her neighbors were pretty much untouched, she explained in an interview on Thursday. Among other damage, she said the chimney had been completely taken off, roof shingles were gone, and that there was “a hole in the roof like an alien ship came down and put in a new skylight.” Bizarrely, she explained, her potted plants were fine: “Apparently an asparagus fern can survive a hurricane. It’s unscathed.”It was a marked contrast with some of the more notorious storms to roll through the area in previous years.“During Hurricane Rita, we had no damage at all,” Lee told The Daily Beast. “This one got us.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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tendance-news · 4 years

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LAFAYETTE, Louisiana—Dawn over the Gulf Coast revealed initial damage from Hurricane Laura, which hammered the region hours after making landfall overnight in the tiny parish seat of Cameron as a Category 4 storm.Winds of up to 150 mph put it among the most powerful storms yet to hit the U.S. Officials initially feared an “unsurvivable” storm surge that was forecast to push a wall of water an unthinkable 40 miles inland. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced four fatalities linked to Laura, all caused by falling trees. A 14-year-old girl and a 60-year-old man were among the victims. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he’d received unconfirmed reports of one death near Sabine County.“We do expect that there could be more fatalities,” Christina Stephens, a spokesperson for Edwards, told reporters.Images from the city of Lake Charles showed entire skyscrapers with their windows blown out as winds well over 100 mph whipped the city beloved as a travel destination. Police reportedly spotted a casino that floated away. The National Weather Service issued several warnings for tornadoes in the area, but none have been confirmed to have touched down.In Delcambre, near the coast south of Lafayette, Jacob Lombas said Thursday morning that his own house was just inches away from flooding and his neighbors’ had already done so. “It was a crazy night. I barely got any sleep. The wind was the worst I’ve ever seen,” he told The Daily Beast, adding, “We had to go next door to my dad’s. His house is raised up.”> Breaking news major damage in Downtown Lake Charles many skyscrapers have blown out winds. > Some of the building may be total losses. > Many roof off massive flying debris. @NWSLakeCharles lawx HurricaneLaura pic.twitter.com/s9EgeDtz43> > — Jeff Piotrowski (@Jeff_Piotrowski) August 27, 2020At least 700,000 homes and businesses were without power, according to the website PowerOutage.Us.NOLA.com reported the highest wind gusts were recorded at the Lake Charles airport, 132 mph, and at the Emergency Operations Center in downtown Lake Charles, according to Joshua Schroeder, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Brownsville, Texas. The outlet reported the Brownsville office was backing up its Lake Charles counterpart, which was forced to evacuate.Schroeder told NOLA.com the NWS had lost contact with radars at Lake Charles and Fort Polk overnight, likely due to “equipment issues” in the raging storm.Storm chasers on social media posted videos of heavy rain and swirling winds, which meteorologist Reed Timmer reported was “gutting buildings” around Lake Charles as the eye wall of Laura moved through.> BREAkING! Buildings gutted in Lake Charles LA in powerful eye wall of HurricaneLaura @RadarOmega_WX @ChasinSpin pic.twitter.com/wP3fPyREIZ> > — Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) August 27, 2020As of Thursday morning, more than 500,000 people had lost power in Louisiana and Texas, with many more outages expected.“Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,” the National Hurricane Center said ahead of the storm’s arrival. “This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline.” Later advisories pushed that threat to 40 miles inland.> Even after nightfall, we have the tools to keep watch, and issue the life saving warnings to keep you, your family and friends safe. We're going to be watching Laura all night, thinking of those of you facing the brunt of the storm.https://t.co/VyWINDk3xP for the latest. pic.twitter.com/heSYqX0kyQ> > — National Weather Service (@NWS) August 27, 2020Edward Rappaport, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, told The Daily Beast exactly what the term “unsurvivable” means.“At its worst, the storm surge will reach from 15 to 20 feet, with waves riding on top of that,” he said. “I cannot imagine what that means to any human who is in the line of that water. Any human or structure.”Footage from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Aircraft Operations Center showed its Hurricane Hunter pilots struggling in heavy turbulence squarely in the eye of the hurricane.> OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO - Aug. 26, 2020. Heavy turbulence leaving the eye of Category 4 Hurricane Laura on @NOAA WP-3D Orion NOAA42 Kermit. Credit: Lt. Cmdr. Doremus, NOAA Corps. Our thoughts are with all in this storm's path. FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/m7Bc3Gttnn> > — NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) August 27, 2020Officials in Texas and Louisiana ordered more than 580,000 people to evacuate, including those in areas severely damaged during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. At least 6 million people in Louisiana and Arkansas were also under a flash flood watch. Arkansas has also declared a state of emergency in preparation for the storm, setting aside $250,000 for relief efforts.As many departed, an ominous signal of the storm’s strength appeared on the Mississippi River, which was forced to flow backward as Laura approached, an anomaly seen only during the strongest of hurricanes that have raked the Delta. The Texas Hurricane Center on Wednesday issued evacuation warnings to more than 385,000 residents from several areas, including Beaumont, Galveston, and Port Arthur. Ten more Texas cities and counties issued voluntary evacuation orders, including parts of Houston, as officials stressed residents should remain vigilant and prepared. All told, about 60 Texas counties were under a disaster declaration. “If you decide to stay, you are on your own,” Port Arthur, Texas, Mayor Thurman Bartie said at a press conference. “I will not put my people in harm’s way. If you stay, it is you and God.”> Only a couple of hours remain to protect life and property! Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes lawx txwx HurricaneLaura pic.twitter.com/eYTEH89rGu> > — NWS Lake Charles (@NWSLakeCharles) August 26, 2020In Louisiana, about 200,000 people were ordered to leave Calcasieu Parish and parts of Cameron Parish—low-lying coastal regions that were already seeing flooding hours before the storm was set to make landfall. Social media posts on Wednesday showed rising waters along southeast Louisiana and even parts of coastal Alabama. The City of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services on Wednesday said they were sending their ambulance bus to southwest Louisiana to further aid evacuation efforts.> Here’s the current state of LA 1 below the Leon Theriot Lock in Golden Meadow. The highway remains closed and this area remains under a mandatory evacuation. Laura pic.twitter.com/p5OkD7t0wN> > — Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office (@LafourcheSO) August 26, 2020Among the evacuees was Fabienne Celestin, who found herself stuck in Lake Charles without enough money to get out of town, and had never been in an emergency evacuation situation, especially not while facing a monster like Laura. A Florida native, she moved to Lake Charles in late 2010. So she missed the devastation of Katrina and Rita in 2005 and the double whammy of Gustav and Ike in 2008. And she was desperate to get out of town with her children—Roodson, 16, Jayden, 10, and Moisha, 4—before Laura came ashore.“I didn’t have no gas money, no transportation,” she told The Daily Beast Wednesday night. “I have one special-needs child. He was crying. I have no help, but at the last minute a friend sent me some gas money so I was able to make it to Lafayette.”The desperation of being trapped made Celestin frantic. To top things off, her boyfriend was arguing with her about the decision to evacuate, she recalled: “I was scared because I never took the highway before.” Even with her own emotions on edge, she had to keep things together—especially for Roodson.“It is a scary situation,” Celestin said. “My special-needs son didn't understand, so he was asking a lot of questions.”Emergency workers had already been in Lake Charles for 48 hours, helping people in need like Celestin find shelter out of the storm’s path. When storms approach, the state’s Department of Children and Family Services coordinates transportation for thousands of evacuees.Gov. Bel Edwards said in a news conference Wednesday that Hurricane Laura had the potential to bring storm surges that residents had not seen seen since 1957. He added that Louisiana had activated its entire National Guard, something it hasn’t done in “many years.” “This is a very serious storm,” he said. “In the five years I’ve been governor, I don’t believe I’ve had a press conference where it was my intention to convey the sense of urgency that I am trying to convey right now.”The storm coincided with the Republican National Convention, where the danger it posed received little attention. CBS reported that President Donald Trump had been briefed only once on the impending storm as of Wednesday afternoon. He tweeted Wednesday, “Hurricane Laura is a very dangerous and rapidly intensifying hurricane. My Administration remains fully engaged with state & local emergency managers to continue preparing and assisting the great people Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Listen to local officials. Listen to local officials!”Bonnie Lee, a Lake Charles resident for 40 years, saw her home ravaged by the storm while her neighbors were pretty much untouched, she explained in an interview on Thursday. Among other damage, she said the chimney had been completely taken off, roof shingles were gone, and that there was “a hole in the roof like an alien ship came down and put in a new skylight.” Bizarrely, she explained, her potted plants were fine: “Apparently an asparagus fern can survive a hurricane. It’s unscathed.”It was a marked contrast with some of the more notorious storms to roll through the area in previous years.“During Hurricane Rita, we had no damage at all,” Lee told The Daily Beast. “This one got us.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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ralphmorgan-blog1 · 6 years

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My Family DOES Do Santa Claus–And We Do It BIG.

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It’s almost December. The hustle and bustle is in overdrive. Everything smells of Fraser fir. Pinterest is a holy grail for moms everywhere. It’s that time of year where decorations, fashion and even radio music all have the same focus. I find this time of year magical. I always have. That span of calendar between Thanksgiving and Christmas is, in my opinion, the most wonderful time of year!

Now that I have children of my own, this time seems even more precious. I get to see Christmas through the eyes of a child. Two actually, an eighteen-month-old and a four-year-old. And now, those children are being raised up in our Christian home and it seems I am asked almost daily, “Do Y’all do Santa Claus?”

Here is my answer: Absolutely! And we don’t do anything halfway.

There are countless articles out there explaining how different families have chosen to go about handling what is apparently a huge holiday predicament. This blog is simply that, MY family’s choice and how we came to it. I have appreciated ALL the articles I’ve read. Like anyone, I agree and disagree with various points. I expect any readers to do the same of me. I just wanted people to know why we do our thing. It’s not a holiday predicament. It’s a tradition. Like eating turkey on Thanksgiving. It doesn’t kill you. It doesn’t make you any less spiritual. Has today’s culture made it consumeristic? Yes, but they’ve been doing that for decades. They do the same for birthdays and back-to-school.

Now, my family does our best balancing the reality of the TRUE meaning of Christmas with the magical aspect of Christmas. I have amazing conversations with my four-year-old when she sees our Christmas tree ornament with Santa kneeling before the manger. She asks why Santa is praying and I explain that he is thanking God for the greatest gift of all, Jesus. Santa is NOT a God. Santa, real or not, bows to Christ because Philippians 2:10 tells us we all will. She asks why Santa brings gifts. I explain that Santa was so thankful that God gave the gift of Jesus that his heart wanted to bring gifts to others. God set the example of a giving heart and we are to have a giving heart. All these lessons must be taught to our children, though.

Simply, Christmas is about giving – because God gave.

After Chris and I went through Hurricane Katrina, we experienced the body of Christ and how they give. We received gift cards, gifts, and it seems every time we shook someone’s hand they were slipping us cash. It was uncomfortable. We were vulnerable. I wasn’t sure how to receive help. I spent so much of my ministry giving that I’d abandoned the power of receiving. That time was a great reminder to me of the importance of receiving. God gave His Son and we are to receive Him.

There’s a balance. It is learned. It must be taught. We are to teach our children both: The importance and joy of giving and the humility and heart of thankfulness from gracious givers.

It is hard to compete with Santa if you are letting the culture dictate what is important to your family. My 18-month-old has NO idea that Santa brings gifts. She just knows that Santa is funny and we get excited when we see him. She gets just as excited about singing Jesus Loves Me or going outside to play.

“But Santa is make believe and it supports an unhealthy view of reality.”

Guess what? So does Doc McStuffins, Sophia the First, Transformers, Disney Princesses and every other thing your kids get excited about. Spoiler: Stuffed animals don’t really come to life and talk when adults aren’t present. Girls with magic necklaces can’t talk to animals. Heavens, our parents grew up watching Mr. Ed the Horse talking to Wilbur. It’s just my generation that panics about the psychology behind damaging our children due to skewed realities. What parent sits down with their child after every tv show, video game, movie or stuffed animal gift to explain “how this isn’t reality. It’s fantasy and I want you to know the difference.”

Bottom line, they are kids. They don’t get to be kids for long. They will quit believing in magic and make believe all too soon. They will struggle with identity, acceptance and body image for MUCH longer than if the Elf on the Shelf really traveled to the North Pole every night. Their struggles will be real, and hard, and painful. Reality will crush them and beat them and wound them and scar them. My children are learning of Noah, Moses, Adam & Eve. These are stories of truth and biblical history. But before that first heartbreak, I cherish the fairy tales too.

Don’t come at me with your “Santa pushes good works” fight either. Good. So do I. If you go in the potty when potty training, you get a piece of poo poo chocolate! When you push your sister down, you get in trouble. If you behave properly in Target, I’m probably gonna give you a Cafe Icee because I’m proud of you. Do you get treats for every good thing you do? Nope. I EXPECT good behavior, but sometimes I’m gracious in my treats and gifts. Sound familiar?

Guess what…scripture teaches us we are judged according to our works too. Now, salvation – THAT is free! But our actions and works while we live on this earth will bring both blessings and consequences (in this life and the next). Read the bible.

I believe I can be both gospel-centered AND have fun this season of my kids’ lives because that’s what it is – a season. This season will be gone in the blink of an eye. Sure, for 30 days I’m cheering on Santa, but I’m also doing everything I can to glorify God 365 days of the year. I take my kids trick-or-treating and when they lose a tooth I’ll put a dollar under their pillow (maybe I’ll even wear a tutu to get in character). They watch Disney and Power Rangers. They eat Cheetos and bread filled with gluten and they love to sing Jesus Loves the Little Children and Let It Go! They won’t find a scale in my home to weigh themselves and I’ll give them Tylenol or Thieves essential oil…whatever I can find if it makes them feel better. They get vaccinated but it’s usually at an appointment three months behind. They are hopefully balanced and won’t feel the legalism of pro or anti sides. I try not to stress myself. They are God’s and I am a steward of them. He controls their destiny. But while He entrusted them to me we are gonna bake Christmas cookies, feed Rudolph and read the Christmas Story for as long as they will let me.

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