How do you frame your art?

Picture frames. Framed mirrors. Framed wall art. Framed glasses. Simple frames. These frames outline the beautiful images they hold.

Decorative frames. These are the frames around pieces of glass that act as a piece of art themselves. What is inside does not matter, the beauty is on the outside.

So what is your frame like? Is your frame beautiful on the outside with nothing to see on the inside, or does your frame outline the beautiful piece of art that God made you to be?

"God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

Every wrinkle, every dimple, every freckle is a brush stroke. Your smile, your laugh, the twinkle in your eyes. Your caring heart, your thoughtful mind and your playful spirit are all a part of you, you are a piece of art. But the most beautiful part of you, the part that the frame should merely highlight, is your Godly spirit.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4

It is important to take care of your body. But not for the purpose of looking good in a bikini or selling underwear to people who lust after your image. You take care of your body because it is the temple for your spirit (God's spirit within you).

1 Corinthians 6:20 says to honor God with your body. This is where the argument about hypocritical Christians who drink and get tattoos usually begins. This is not the argument. Enjoying a drink and indulging in drunkenness are two separate things. Getting [appropriate] tattoos is not wrecking your temple. You want your body to be a place that represents God because "you yourselves are God's temple and ... God's Spirit lives in you" (1 Cor 3:16).

Is your frame beautiful? Does it accent the beautiful work God has done in you? When people see you, hear you, talk to you, do they see an empty, decorative (tan, slender, nicely dressed) frame? Or do they see a frame surrounding the beautiful Spirit God has placed in you?

I know pieces of my frame are chipped. Chunks have fallen off in the past. But the only thing that can fix it is my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He often reminds us in the strangest ways. Make sure your priorities lie not in perfecting your earthly beauty, but in drawing out the beauty God has given you.

"We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom. so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ." Colossians 1:28

Having brothers taught me not to date.

Growing up, I was never the girl who "needed" a guy. I think a lot of it was because I grew up around my brothers and all of their friends. My father was a great man who showed me love and I didn't need to seek it out from anyone else. I didn't date when I was in school. Sure I had the teenage crushes, but when it came down to it, I was the girl who would rather hang out with my friends and my family than dress up and go out on a date. For those of you who know me, you know how awkward and carefree I am. It wasn't much better in high school. Growing up around all the testosterone meant I knew what they were like and how their brains worked and I wasn't interested in having a relationship with something like that.

I thought, "I'll wait until I'm older and the guys have grown up".

Then I became older and realized....the guys NEVER grow up.

The following apply to some/most men (including but not limited to my brothers and/or guys I have dated):

They still would rather play video games and watch football than do most other things.
They still want to go out with the boys and have a good time.
They still laugh at the words "poop" and "fart".
They still (genuinely) forget to call you.
They still think it's funny to tell a woman to "get in the kitchen".
They still want to blow things up in the backyard.
They still want to shoot things.
They still like cartoons and cereal.
They still pick their noses and (although some don't admit it) they flick the boogers.
They still wish they were a superhero.
They still wear footie pajamas. (Yes, I dated one of them...)
They still have loyalty to their mothers.
They still think it's funny to fart in the car and lock the windows so that you breathe in their death fumes. (My "hilarious" bothers.)
They still want bigger, badder, louder cars.
They still couldn't survive without a woman, whether it's their mother or a wife.
They still think if something looks or smells disgusting that they should share it with EVERYONE. And that it's hilarious.

"DUDE, Bill, you've gotta come smell this!" ** "..*Sniff sniff* That's disgusting. It smells terrible. JACK, come smell this!" ** "..*Sniff sniff* Gross. Let's go tell Emily to smell it. This will be funny." ...Emily didn't find it funny, in case you were wondering how this scenario ended.

Men are just really tall little boys. Their maturity levels are about the same, their sense of humor is about the same, their attention span is about the same. Hopefully, if you've found a good one, his income is higher, his IQ is higher and his ability to function in social situations has improved.

I see all my friends getting engaged, getting married and having kids. On one hand, GOOD FOR YOU GUYS. You get to change poopy diapers and do your spouses' taxes while I get to go out on the weekends and have poop-free (usually) fun with my friends.

**I'm just kidding about the usually part. Poop is never involved in our fun. Except the one time we lit some on fire on that mean guy's porch. Just kidding, Mom. That never happened....**

But on the other hand, I'm getting to that age where it doesn't sound so bad.
**Getting to come home to your best friend and talk about your day...while I slave in the kitchen make him dinner and he watches COPS or whatever he watches on the couch with one hand in his pants and the other filled with a beer can. (Sounds a bit like Al Bundy. Maybe I watched this too much with Daddy.)
**Getting to celebrate the holidays twice; once with his loving family welcoming me and once with mine welcoming him.
**Having that connection with someone that is so strong, they know what I'm thinking and what I'm feeling. If it's bad, they make it good. If it's good they make it better.
**Waking up next to someone that I love so much, I can't put it into words; someone who loves me so much, I can't help but feel it.
**Knowing that God made this person just for me. He made someone to complete me, to make every part of me perfect and complete.
**Having two incomes to support my lavish lifestyle. Yeah...right. That one was just to see if you're still paying attention.

I look forward to meeting this person one day. I know God has it in His plans. Sometimes I just wish I could peek at the plans so I could dress up and actually put some effort into my appearance on the right day...and completely ignore my appearance on all other days. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. So for now, I'll do my hair and makeup. Dang.

How to think.

Yesterday, an interesting man gave me a tidbit of knowledge; a seed, if you will. I have been chewing and chewing and chewing. Now it's time for me to spit it out at you. Yes, I realize that was a gross metaphor, but if you found that to be too vulgar, stay tuned for a future post: "How to loosen up".

He posed the following idea:

We were all born to this earth. We are all composed of matter. We are a walking example of biology. We studied biology in school. We are constantly surrounded with biological ideas. So how many of you consider yourself to be a biologist?

I hate science. I definitely didn't raise my hand. Neither did the folks around me. He continued:

We were all born to this earth. We were taught physics in school. If we trip, we fall to the ground: gravity. If we bounce a ball off of the wall, it comes back to us: ...some other physics principle. So how many of you consider yourself to be a physicist? 

Still hate science. Again, didn't even consider raising my hand. He proceeded:

We were all born to this earth. We all have a brain in our heads. We use that brain to think. We think about our day, we think when we're learning, we think about our friends and family, we think about what to cook for dinner, although we usually end up ordering pizza. How many of you consider yourself to be a thinker?

This was my chance! I could finally raise my hand. I think all the time. When I'm laying in bed about to fall asleep, I always have the most profound thoughts. Unfortunately, I never seem to remember those. But, I'm a thinker nonetheless. He looked around the room to see every hand in the air. Then he spoke:

No you aren't. Just because you are surrounded by thoughts doesn't mean you are a thinker. Just like being surrounded by biology and physics doesn't make you a biologist or physicist. All our lives, we have been taught what to think, not how to think.

Deep. It made the gears in my brain start turning. But then I was confused because I was thinking about what he said, and what it meant, and the meaning of the universe. Should I raise my hand and tell him he's wrong because I'm actually thinking right now? But then he might start asking questions and I don't want to have to answer spontaneous questions. Wait a second...I'm thinking some more now!! At this point, I was completely confused.

He continued on with some other thought-provoking ideas and all the while, my little brain was on rapid mode. This has been echoing in my head ever since. Was he correct? Have I not learned how to think?

Here's what I have come up with.

I actually have learned how to think. I don't accept things as the truth unless I have found them to be true in my own life. (Insert rant about people who accept their parent's beliefs and ideas as their own.) It was the way I was raised. Challenge, question and understand life.

Side note: All of my journalism schooling has been incredibly helpful. Give me a computer and I can get all of the information I need. I am an expert Googler as well. Journalists are pretty much glorified stalkers, to be honest. But I'll take that over a desk job any day!

Gravity: If I trip, I will fall. (Let's be realistic here: for me, it's when, not IF.) When I roll off the bed in the middle of the night, I will end up straight down on the floor. I accept the theory of gravity as the truth.

Air: I can't see air, but I can feel it. When the wind blows, my hair moves and the leaves rustle. I can hear it. Air does exist and I accept that as the truth.

Love: Well, let's be honest here. I'm single. I'm sitting at my computer alone in sweat pants and a ponytail. I can't preach about love. However, the love I have for my family and my friends is something I understand. It's something I feel. I feel it when I give love and I feel it when I receive love. I accept love as a truth. (Love at first sight...eh, we'll save that for another post.)

Anyway, what I'm getting at here is that, after careful thought, I've come to the conclusion that I do know how to think. I don't accept the things that are thrown at me to be the truth unless I have evidence to support it. But I was intrigued when the idea was thrown out to me.

So, here's a seed for you: Are you a true thinker?

 

 

A little bit of thanks.

I am thankful for so many things. And not just on Thanksgiving day, but year-round. I live a pretty good life filled with many blessings.

There is just something about this day that floods my body with emotions. Memories rush through my mind, like a glimpse of time replaying for a quick smile. My heart is warmed by the reminders of love given by my friends and family.

I am thankful for many little things: my headphones when I'm on the bus with obnoxious passengers; my sleeping pills on those restless nights; my otterbox because we all know how clumsy I am; DVR, Pandora, price scanners, the chipotle app..the list goes on and on. But let's get a little serious for a few minutes.

At the times in my life where I have felt so low, so lost, so deeply confused and hurt, my family and my friends (my TRUE friends) and even my numerous roommates have been by my side. I am thankful for them.

When I felt like no one understood what I was thinking or what I was feeling, my sister was there. She doesn't judge me, she doesn't tell me I'm right or wrong: she listens and opens her heart to my words. I'm thankful for her.

When I have a terribly inappropriate joke or a secret, or a piece or overly intimate information that I need to share, Katie listens. And usually responds with something witty or a simple "this is why we're friends". I'm so thankful for her.

I would give anything in the world to have my father back with me on this earth, to walk through life with me and to share my memories. However, that is but a dream. Though I miss him terribly, I have grown so much and learned so much through this experience. I have touched others' lives in ways I never could have before. I have learned so much about myself and my relationships with others. I have heard his words echo through my mind for the last four years and I know they will continue to resonate for the rest of my life. I am thankful for everything my dad has given me and continues to give to me.

I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my belly. I am thankful that I never have to question where I will lay my head, where I will find my next meal or how I will make it to tomorrow.

I have been forgiven. I have been saved. No matter the mistakes I make, He will always love me unconditionally. I am thankful for my God.

I am thankful for every experience I have had in my life, both good and bad. I am thankful for the heartbreaks that have helped me to learn about myself. I am thankful for the mistakes I have made and the lessons I have learned from them. I am thankful that I have the capability of always trying to find the silver lining.

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with the ones you love and to remember that they love you. Be thankful for what you have and know that you always have what you need in Christ. Enjoy your holiday, friends!

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Breathe in.

My thoughts jumbled.
My emotions confused.
Heart pounding,
Eyes tearing,
I remember.

Breathe out.

First, it slithers in; sadness.
Next, a memory; happiness.
Then the timing; anger.
And the longing; heartache.

Breathe in.

Four years.
Four years of no hug,
no smile,
no "I love you",
no butterfly kisses.

Breathe out.

His cheeky grin,
his giant water mug,
his socks with sandals,
his contagious laughter,
his animated stories...
A smile creeps across my face.

Breathe in.

His words adorn the board beneath the calendar.
I hear them like a distant whisper.
His pictures are scattered across the walls.
A glimpse of time still held so dear.
His laughter echoes through my vacant mind.
It bounces around, from thought to thought.

Breathe out.

Gone, but never forgotten.
Away, yet still so close.
In heaven he rests,
never alone,
eternal life he chose.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Forever my hero, I love you Daddy.
10.07.08

My afternoons.

My afternoon class is usually a group of boys; only boys, ages 4-10. On occasion, I have a girl that stays for an hour or so, but I'm usually trapped in a room with young boys playing action figures and legos. Listening to their conversations is the highlight of my day. Kids really do say the darnedest things!

Here is a small compilation of things I have heard them say that I felt were worth writing down. (I will simply use a letter to represent the children's' names and a number for their age. Keep in mind, they're all boys unless otherwise specified.) The list will continue to grow. Enjoy!

..........................................................................................................................................................

*Playing some hiding game with action figures*
N(10):  "HAHA, I found you!"
E(8):    "Uh, no...you didn't. I'm black so you probably can't even see me through the
          smoke."
N(10):  "Fine. (Turns to another boy) I caught you!!"
V(6):   "No way. I'm too big to catch. I'm 500 pounds because I like McDonald's."

..........................................................................................................................................................

*His friend walks away and starts goofing around*
L(5):   "Well, I'm gonna do this while you do all your jibbelty jack. Such a waste of
        time."

..........................................................................................................................................................

*Arguing about action figures*
E(8):  "Okay, but my character is deaf."
V(6):  "Your guy is death?"
E(8):  "No, not death. Deaf! Death is when you die, deaf is when your ears die."

..........................................................................................................................................................

*Talking during snack*
N(10): "Yeah because zombies eat peoples' flesh."
Me: "Let's find something else to talk about!"
M The only girl in class (8): "Yeah! Like puppies or rainbows or stickers. Stuff like that."

..........................................................................................................................................................

*Showing me his lego creation*
E(8):  "It's like the third quadruple most amazing thing in the world."

..........................................................................................................................................................

N(10):  "Let's have a dance competition!"
L(5):    "No, I can't."
N(10):  "Well, why not?!"
L(5):     "They're my secret moves. I can't show people my secret moves. That's why
            they're called secret."

..........................................................................................................................................................

N(10):  "Gross, who just farted?"
Me:    "We don't need to talk about that. And let's use a different word next time,
         please."
V(6):    "We say toot, or pass gas, or stepping on frogs, or booty whispers."

..........................................................................................................................................................

*Talking about eating cherries*
M(5):  "Sometimes they feel juicy and taste like mushrooms."
V(6):   "But mushrooms grow out of the ground and cherries grow from..umm...God?"

..........................................................................................................................................................

O(4):  "I learned how to tie my shoes. Something about a rabbit in a hole, but my
         rabbit never stays in his hole. That's why we had six more weeks of winter."

..........................................................................................................................................................

V(6): "Ms. Miller, how old are you? Well, umm...if I had to guess, I'd say you're like 80.
       Because you look young and old. I think my mom is 85. So you look younger 
       than her, but older than me."

Just got to thinking...

I would say I'm lucky, but I don't think "luck" has anything to do with it. I am blessed beyond belief.

I have been blessed with four wonderful roommates who have already filled my heart with joy. The laughter we all engage in warms my soul. Despite the stress and sadness that I feel at times, when I come home, it feels okay. It feels like a home; a safe place where I can let my hair down (actually put it up because I get tired of having it down!), throw on my sweats and relax in the company of people I love.

I have been blessed with two grandparents that go out of their way to show their love for me. If I need anything, they want to be the ones to provide it. Even when I don't need something, they want to provide it. Through all of the heartache and smiles and tears and laughter, they have stood by my side. They have been an example of love, both to my brother and me and to each other. Married for over 50 years, I know what a strong bond looks like. They set the bar for a marriage that I want.

I have been blessed with a brother and sister (and not to mention my two wonderful nieces) who look out for me in ways that I may not always realize. I can talk to them about anything with all judgment put aside. I can trust them with my thoughts, my emotions and my life. No matter where we go or what we do, laughter accompanies us. Lots of laughter. The kind other people might find obnoxious. We don't care.

I have been blessed with many friends that I can call my best friends. One of them has put up with me for almost 20 years. She carries with her a piece of my heart. I know that piece will never get lost or broken and I can't thank her enough for that. I have been blessed with her family. I may not have my father here on earth, but I do have hers. That man has loved me like my father loved me. Since my father passed, there is no one on this earth that I have yet to call "Dad" (in all seriousness) other than Saad Abouabdo. He is one of the biggest blessings I have. I look forward to having him as my father for the rest of my years. I know my father will be proud to sit back and watch Saad dance with me at my wedding and shake the hand of the man who he finds good enough for his daughter.

I am blessed. My life gets crazy. My heart gets broken. My dreams don't always come true. But I am so blessed. God has a plan for me that is greater than I could ever imagine. All of the heartache and pain that I face now will mean nothing when all of the pieces of my life fall together to paint such a beautiful picture of the life he created for me. Life is a blessing and I will treat mine as such.