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The Swirl World

Celebrating and Elevating Black Women - mind, body, soul and spirit!


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We Remember Their Service

May 25, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

shareasimageMemorialDay2015

All gave some . . . .
Some gave all.

Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We remember their service and honor them this Memorial Day.

 

To view photos of interracial military couples and families, visit The Swirl World’s sister Facebook page at Military Swirl.

 

 The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Copyright ©2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, The Swirl World Inspiration Daily™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved.

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Filed Under: Festivals and Events, Holiday Observances, Inspiration Daily 2015, Special, We Love Our Military Tagged With: Airforce, Army, holiday, Marines, memorial day, military, National Holiday, Navy, servicemen, servicewomen, ultimate sacrifice

#70| You Look So Much Better . . .

March 11, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

shareasimageHowell70M

You look so much better. . . when you smile!

 

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts!

If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Copyright ©2015  Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, The Swirl World Inspiration Daily™, All rights reserved. Photo used with permission.

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Filed Under: BW/WM, Inspiration Daily 2015, Interracial Families, Military Couples Tagged With: Army, Black women, couples, interracial, interracial couple, interracial marriage, love, military, smile, White men

THIS Is What Happens When A Man Loves A Woman

January 8, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

What happens when a man loves a woman?

I believe we’ve found a good example in our first couple of 2014.

Meet Stephen and Raquel Davidson. We’re delighted to present their profile for a couple of reasons.

First, we’re delighted because it’s an honor and privilege to spotlight a couple in the armed forces. Stephen and Raquel are both in the Army. Woot Woot!

STEVEN AND RAQUEL 2 - Military

We’re also especially delighted to feature this couple because their profile was filled out by Stephen.

Don’t you just LOVE it when a man loves his woman and wants to share his story??

Stephen says:

“We are currently long distance because I am deployed to Afghanistan and she lives in MN. We have been together for 7 months but have known each other for almost 3 years and never dated because of the distance and the nature of our jobs in both being in the Army. We don’t have any kids, but they are in the future.

First time we met was in 2011 during a Military training class. I came up to her and said: “Hi” and asked for her number, not thinking much of it as well as her. I had always liked her and always talked to her every chance I got whether I was thousands of miles away overseas or a few states away.

Finally this summer we decided to give it a try and it has been the best thing, and I kick myself in the head for waiting such a long time.

What I like most about her is her brown eyes, her curly long hair, how she understands the lifestyle and how she brings me down to earth when I am way up there in space. Also her butt. LOL!”

STEVEN AND RAQUEL 1 - Poolside

Stephen continues:

“My advice to others; communication is key, Don’t do long distance unless both of you are in the same path working towards one goal.

You can love whoever you want; never let anyone tell you different and if they do, whether they are friends or family, even if it hurts, stay away from them. Your happiness is first.”

Raquel’s advice?

“My advice is that you should love whomever, whenever! At first I was iffy because dating a white man can be intimidating especially with the other person’s family and they don’t understand the struggle (combing curly hair, tanning easily, etc.) so finding someone understanding of those things as well as the family is heaven! Happiness is what matters; no one should dictate who you love!”

STEPHEN AND RAQUEL - Poolside 2

Stephen and Raquel, we couldn’t agree with you more!

A special thanks to Stephen, Raquel and all our men and women who serve around the world. Let’s send lots of love and prayers Stephen’s way as he serves during his deployment in Afghanistan.

STEVEN AND RAQUEL - Military 2

Join in the Fray: How do you know when a man loves a woman?

All rights reserved. Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, Dallas, TX, USA. Photos used with permission. 

Want to be profiled here? Inbox us on Facebook or send an email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

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Filed Under: BW/WM, OPEL Tagged With: active duty, Army, Black women, Black. White, dating, deployed, interracial, interracial dating, interracial marriage, interracial relationships, interracial romance, military, swirling, white

How Do You Define The Reality Of Love?

December 4, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 1 Comment

If you were asked to describe “The Reality Of Love,” what would be your response?

This week’s couple, Valentai and Justin Cook reflect the reality of love – but not for the reason you might expect.

I’m especially excited about this installment of “Ordinary People – Extraordinary Love” for several reasons.

First, Valentai and Justin Cook are a military family (Justin is a Marine). Valentai is Black and Justin is Irish-German.

Needless to say, we at The Swirl World love and appreciate our men and women in uniform. Not only that, as a former Army brat I know what military life is like and I’m acutely aware of the sacrifices required of every member of the family. Kudos to all who serve their country!

Second, Justin and Valentai are together because her brother (1) loved her, (2) wanted to see her happy and (3) was open-minded enough to realize that love comes in more than one color.

That’s right: Valentai’s brother brought them together.

The Cook’s Sweet Story 

Valentai says:

“We live on Camp Pendleton in California. We’ve been together for 2 1/2 years. We have two children, both boys. Their ages are 7-years old (Albert) and 2-months old (Dylan). 

Valentai Cook 1

We met through my brother who is also in the Marines. 

I knew I was in love with Justin when I saw how wonderful he was with my son. I knew he’d make an amazing husband and father. 

What I like most about him is his kindness and determination to always make the best out of whatever life throws us.” 

Valentai’s Advice

“My advice I would give to anyone in or seeking an interracial relationship would be to know what you want 100% and don’t let anyone tell you they you don’t deserve happiness. People will always be judgmental, but as long as you and that special someone are happy, then nothing can break that love. “

The Reality Of Love

When someone – be it family member, friend, neighbor, coworker, whomever – genuinely loves you, he or she will want the best for you.

They won’t begrudge your happiness – and they won’t try to dictate it, either.

Valentai’s brother recognized that Justin, his fellow Marine was a quality man.

So much so, he introduced him to his sister.

There was no haterade flowing or blocking going on – just a loving brother who wanted to see his sister happy.

The reality of love is that it always seeks the good of its object – no matter what.

Does this depiction of love reflect your reality? If not, what are you going to do about it?

NOTE: Valentai informed me that Justin just left for deployment, so let’s be sure to send lots of prayers and love to the Cook family. We look forward to hearing more from this couple and wish them and their sons all the best.

2-month old Dylan Cook

2-month old Dylan Cook

 

Join in the Fray: How’s your “love” life?

Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, All rights reserved. Photos used with permission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: BW/WM, OPEL, Series Tagged With: Army, Army brat, Black women, Black. White, brother, brothers, couples, extraordinary love, Family, interracial, interracial dating, interracial marriage, interracial relationships, love, Marine, military, military family, OPEL, ordinary people, reality, sons, swirl, swirling, white

This = Love

August 17, 2012 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 4 Comments

It’s in the eyes of the children

As they leave for the very first time

And it’s in the heart of a soldier

As he takes a bullet on the frontline . . .

Last week I had the privilege of driving my Dad to an appointment at the VA Medical Center in Alexandria, LA. The hospital is located a little less than 110 miles from my parents’ house, so this trek to the VA qualified as a mini road trip.

Traveling with my Dad is fun; he’s a sporadic talker so we enjoyed periods of comfortable silence and engaging conversations. This time our conversation on the way to Alexandria was spotty at best; I drove to the hospital in what amounted to a deluge yet made it there safely (all courtesy of my Dad’s back-seat driving ability, of course).

I knew we were headed to the VA hospital, yet I have to admit I was still taken aback by the sights and sounds that greeted me on our arrival: Military personnel, the vast majority of them male, in various states of mental and physical health. So many of the men were in wheelchairs or on crutches; I even spotted a blind soldier making his way down the hallway with his white cane, his wife’s hand resting gently on his arm.

Glancing at my Dad, I fought an overwhelming urge to break down and weep as he and I walked that narrow hallway. I’d already noticed last year that his steps were slower, and the stoop that seemed slight to me before we arrived at the facility was now glaringly obvious. I took some deep breaths to keep myself from tearing up, and instead elected to deliberately make eye-contact with each serviceman who glanced our way. I gave them a small nod of appreciation that silently said, “Thank you. I appreciate you.”

This is why we do it

This is worth the pain

This is why we fall down

And get back up again

This is where the heart lies

This is from above

Love is this, this is love . . . 

My Dad fought in two wars during the course of his Army career; the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. I’m ashamed to admit that it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I genuinely recognized the magnitude of this, even though I knew that he had sustained service-related disabilities. The enormity of my Dad’s service finally hit me when a friend, whose father had also fought in Vietnam, described to me how his gregarious, jokester of a father went off to fight, only to return as another man; this one paranoid, drug-addicted, abusive, and suicidal. His father eventually took his life.

It’s in the soul of a city

What it does after it crumbles and burns

And it’s in the blood of a hero

To know where he goes he may never return 

The words to Love = This by The Script played constantly in my mind the entire day. I looked at those men and women; so many of them now in their senior years, broken and bruised, and all in the name of serving their country. I thought about the photos I’ve seen of the young version of my Dad, proud and stalwart in his crisp Army uniform, and tried to picture the same younger versions of the persons who shared the hallway and waiting room with him.    

My Dad, Columbus Matthews

Love is why we do it

Love is worth the pain

Love is why we fall down

And get back up again . . . 

I sat there, and when my Dad went in to see the doctor I silently thanked God for bringing him home those many years ago, alive and whole. I asked God to forgive me for my self-centeredness and ingratitude, my failure to recognize what a precious gift my Mother, brothers, and I were given in getting my Dad back. Just the thought of that gift moved me to ask Him to bless and strengthen the families of those who were not as fortunate as my family was. I prayed for my friend who had lost his father, and for other fatherless and motherless sons and daughters whose names I would never know. I prayed for the thousands of servicemen and women all around the globe, separated from their families yet willing to serve the country they love.  

Love is where the heart lies

Love is from above

Love is this, this is love . . .

 

Join in the fray:

What says “love” to you? What sacrifices have you made for love?

Copyright © 2012 Michelle Matthews Calloway, All rights reserved.

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Filed Under: Special, Uncategorized Tagged With: Army, Family, Father, Fathers Day, God, Home, Korean Conflict, Parent, vet, veteran, Vietnam, war

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Welcome!

I’m Michelle Matthews-Calloway, and I’m A Swirl Girl! Greetings to you from The Swirl World. We encourage Black women to expand their relationship options by dating and marrying interracially. Our overarching mission is to see Black Women live their best life. Come Swirl with us in The Swirl World™, where we celebrate Black women and the diverse men who love us!™

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