I love Motown music. It speaks to me in ways that most doesn't. Motown artists pour their love, happiness, hurt, soul into their art. There's this one song, it goes like this:
i search the skies, well desperately for rain
cause rain drops will hide my tear drops and no one ever will know
that i'm crying when i go outside
to the world outside my tears i refuse to explain
i wish it would rain
When I hear this song, I always feel that if it would just rain, that the sadness would be washed away. It's like the grass, completly dry and straw-like. It has nothing left to give, but rain would renew it. Make it right again.
When I feel like the grass, it's hard to blog:
.When life is frustrating.
.When I can't sleep.
.When thinking about tomorrow makes my stomach churn.
I am a positive person. I love my life. I never want to take it for granted. I struggle to put out words that aren't negative while my thoughts are. I think of ideas and moments that I want to share with you, that I want to look back on in 20 years. Then I think of right now and am unable to bring the words out of me. But, things will get better. And when they do, I have a list of things I'm going to tell you about (friends, apartments, Harry Potter, cleaning, travel, 5 years, love, Kingdom Bound).
Humans should be more like sunflowers. Every day, they turn their face up to the sun and accept the Lord's blessings without questioning the right or wrong of it.
As those words were played at my wedding and my father and I danced, rather awkwardly, I thought about how awesome my dad is. To prove it, this happened:
I didn't get to spend Father's Day with my dad this year so I 'celebrated' during my vacation over the weekend. One of my favorite ways to let my dad know I love him is to bake his favorites. He loves chocolate chip cookies, butterscotchies and M&Ms [not that I bake those... but I can get them from the store with the best of them]. The last few times I have baked, my dad talks about the Cheesecake Cherry Cupcakes that his mom used to make, so I thought I'd give them a shot.
My cousin, Katie, blogs about the recipes that she discovers, so here's my attempt to give her a recipe for a change! Below is Grandma Chilson's Cheesecake Cupcakes. They're delicious and so easy to make.
Beat well together:
2 eggs
2 (8 oz.) bricks of cream cheese
2 tsps vanilla
3/4 c. sugar
Spoon into 12 cupcake liners. Bake at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes or until lightly tan. Cool. They will fall in center as they cool. Fill with cherry pie filling (or any flavor you like). Top each with a dab of whipped cream or cool whip.
I'm so grateful for the relationship I have with my dad and look forward to many more years of baking, laughing, and eating together.
Friday was pretty ordinary. No trips. No movies. No date. Just another day.
Except it wasn't.
On this particular ordinary Friday, I took pictures of what went on.
Below are the top ten moments of my ordinary day.
Good morning, work. Started the day right- going through my folder of things to do.
Contemplating my check list while talking to Sarah, who got me into this picture thing.
I'm happy to say I finished that list.
Is a caption really necessary?
My main man met me for lunch. It was fabulous.
When the end of the day comes, I contemplate the need for this pop up.
No, I don't want to log off and begin my weekend.
Yes. I'm sure.
I made a fort. In 5 minutes. That's why you can see my legs.
Otherwise I'd be invisible.
Justin and I played some Rummy. I took a photo of my winning score.
I don't want Justin to feel bad, so I'll omit it from here.
Sometimes Sammy thinks about coming right through our window.
Until then, she just stares.
Grilled cheese dinner. Extra sharp cheese. Cheese bread.
Delicious.
At the end of my day, I reviewed all the pictures I had taken, thought about the people in my life, and pondered the many blessings that continue to rain down on me. A thought struck me. I said to myself:
If you lead with love, friendship and thankfulness every day, happiness is sure to follow.
Last Thursday night my husband (or chocolate bar, as he is affectionately known to the blogging world) and I were watching Bones, my favorite t.v. show. Someday, I'll tell you why, but today I want to tell you about a commercial that aired during my favorite prime-time hour. Google Chrome has produced a powerful, brave and risky commercial.
This public service announcement commercial brought the struggle that GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi, transsexual) teens go through every day to the forefront of my mind. The weight of their fear and hopelessness should press on all of us. I'm a Christian, I love Christ and therefore, I am called to love others regardless of who they are or what they do. While I do think that people should be able to love anyone they choose, just like I am free to love my husband, I don't want to debate the "right" or "wrong" of sexual orientation.
This project, known as The Trevor Project, brings together people of different race, religion and sexual orientation to bring a message of hope. Individuals are able to upload videos filled with encouragement and empathy. President Obama and his White House staff joined the cause. Pixar employees gave personal testimonies; they showed an outpouring of love to those in need. Television stars from House and Glee are also throwing in support. The list goes on with corporate empires such as Google, Yahoo, Apple, Facebook and Adobe spreading the word of love and destroying the path of hate.
These stories of hope, love, and faith for the future are the stories we should be exposing any oppressed population to. This is not simplya story for those who are GLBT, but for anyone feelinghopeless, unloved or without faith. Allowing this community of people to be abused because we don't like something about them is turning a blind eye to hatred- and allows it to continue to burrow its way into society. This isn't about sexuality- it's about loving people because they are loved and they have purpose in this world. The news is filled each day with stories of anger and hatred; as people of God, or people of a common community of humankind, we should be providing support for those in society who are often disregarded.
Please take the time this week to show someone they are loved despite their circumstances. If it becomes a struggle, as sometimes it is for me, remember that youare loved despite your shortcomings.
