The List

Song: My List by Toby Keith
Dating, while at times difficult, has it's good points too. I have learned so much about myself in this short window of time. I've learned what is a have-to on my list and what is a good-to-have. This is assuming I actually follow my list any longer. Let me also mention I am a list person. I love making lists. Once I made a list of lists I needed to make. A bit much but that's just me. I started said "things to have in a mate" list when I was 18. This was under no prompting of anyone else. I was playing receptionist at job number 4 and needed something to pass the time during the waiting for the next phone call. On this list, I found it necessary that he like Chinese & Mexican food. I also wanted him to be Tom Cruise-esqe, Drew Carey-esqe, Nicolas Cage-esqe.

He should also want to go to concerts with me even if he didn't like them. Even at the age of 18 I had started my likes and dislikes list- although it was not as accurate as it needed to be. Years later, I heard a story of this woman who made a huge list of everything she wanted in a man- it was about 150 items, down to he needed to play a musical instrument. She met a man who actually fulfilled all but the musical instrument. She was ready to walk away when she discovered he was in fact musically inclined. At the wonderful news of this woman finding a diamond in the rough, I promptly went to work on my list. While I didn't know hair or eye color, I was willing to let God decide this feature. The items on my list seemed reasonable. Weeks, months, years passed as I waited for this list of a man to appear. During that time, I began to loathe the list and narrowed it down to 2 items- Love God, Love me- this seemed easy enough to remember. Present day, I don't have it written down yet but I have started a new list. The things we deem as so important early in life seem to fade with maturity. Sure it would fabulous to have a man with a Tom Cruise smile, a Drew Carey comedic timing- although I would go with Steve Carell today, and the mysterious talent of Nicolas Cage-- even though I can't recall the last movie of his that I've liked (in this decade). There was a brochure I used to teach from called 101 Things to Know Before Dating & Marriage. A lot of questions on this brochure made me laugh--
What is their last name?
Do they have children?
My favorite was, would you hire this person if they applied for a job?
I recently honed in on that question as it is the essence of dating. You apply for the position of being a person's significant other and quickly know within the first meeting if this job is for you. You accept under the terms of a 90 day trial. After 90 days, there will be a review to decide if this is indeed a good fit and things should proceed. Just as every job is not for you, every person is not for you. But sometimes you never know until you try.

Tick Tock

Song: Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper/ Time by Culture Club
It's time that we want to speed up to get to the next season of our life. It's time that we want to slow down during a 3 day weekend or vacation. Time is so precious. It's times of waiting that we learn to trust God for His best. It's times of waiting that we learn it's worth waiting. Time helps to gain a fresh perspective. Because in the end, we can hurry things up to get instant gratification for something that is so-so or we can practice patience which perfects and prepares us for what's to come. I continue to convince myself it's worth the wait because deep down I know it is.

Movie: Time Changers
Let me first start by saying I highly recommend not seeing this movie. I saw this time travel movie one New Year's Eve night at church-about 10 years ago. I had just started actively attending church again. Let me also state that when I get involved in something, I'm all in. I went all in to church, no turning back. There were some good points to that. I learned to have a relationship with God. I learned how important it is to give of your time and resources. I learned that God has graced us with talents and gifts. This last point I got but I didn't fully grasp how I could utilize my gifts without having it encompassed in a Christian field. Seeing as my passion was film and acting, Time Changers was my first eye opening experience with a Christian film. I had spent 4 years in college marking off the list of those American Film Institute's top 100 films I watched. Time Changers did not come close in any category of great acting, cinematography, direction or writing. It didn't make the list. I wanted to run out of the building. Instead I watched the movie and left crying and thinking this was the fate I was doomed to have. I thought I could only watch films that had a good message that were G or PG. Because of this, I watched very few movies for about 3 or 4 years. I surpressed the very thing I loved most. So maybe I took this to the extreme. Balance- it seems is something I continue to learn how to obtain. It took time for me to see that I could do what I'm passionate about without it having to involve people acting as biblical characters in their 100% cotton sheets. I realized that more than anything people want to see and experience stories that encourage and motivate them. Who doesn't enjoy a feel good movie? Who doesn't love the passion behind William Wallace in Braveheart? There definitely is a market for Christian film and acting. But ultimately people do not want God to be shoved down their throats. Nor do they want to be a cookie cutter of a person. It is possible to love God with all your heart and be yourself. People want to make the decision themselves. It's our job to expose the truth. It's the truth that empowers people. It's truth that changes heart motives. It's truth that brings freedom. These are the stories I would love to tell. And in time, I will do so.

Pretty Woman

Song: Perfect by Pink
It amazes me how we sometimes see ourselves in light of how we see others. Others around us seem to have it all together. They dress cute. They have flawless skin. They are disciplined with eating and exercise regimines. They wake up on time, without snoozing, for their dream job. They are the epitome of what we desire our life to emulate. The truth is they have just as many complications and difficulties they are working through as we do. No one has a perfect life. No one is perfect.
I was explaining to a friend recently that at times it means more when strangers tell you "you look pretty" moreso than when friends and family sing your praises. Why? Because it's a mother's job to think their baby is beautiful. When someone-- not blood related-- thinks you are worthy of stating a simple compliment, it seems to adhere more to your psyche. Am I discouraging friends and family to compliment me? Absolutely not. I welcome and thrive on all encouragement. Random guy on the stairs, thank you again for thinking I looked good on Saturday night. It made my night. Well... that and my friends and the band and the older balding man dancing while doing the white man overbite.

Movie: Pretty Woman

It's a classic story that we've all come to know and love. Hooker needs money. Hooker hooks and gets money. Hooker is asked by her hookee to be an escort for a week. Hooker falls in love and becomes a lady. I'm pretty certain this doesn't happen everyday. What I do think is great about the story is the character transition. One person, Vivian, lives a lifestyle thinking she can portray something she know she is not. It's not until someone, Edward, pulls her out of her norm to treat her as the special lady she truly is. The truth sets her free.

Things I discovered this week:

The stars look more amazing when sitting on the beach listening to the waves crash on the shore.
Sea shells are beautiful even when crushed.
Children’s laughter is contagious.
I want a large patio with a grapevine trellis and a comfy couch.
Coffee is better when someone brings it to you.
It's better to have God-confidence than self-confidence.
Just because they sell bikinis in your size doesn't mean it's ok to wear them.
Our faults are not as large as we deem them to be.
Gloria Estefan and Barry White make for great pool side music.
Many songs are best when loud. Will Smith- Get Jiggy With It and Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA- two of those songs.
Solo vacations are great. Sharing it with someone is better.

Life is Beautiful

Song: It's a Beautiful Life by Ace of Base
Sometimes it takes a brief respite to revive and refresh, to give you a fresh perspective on life-- on what's important. There is so much beauty to experience in this life that we so often overlook. For one- people. We checked into the hotel yesterday and I encountered such a polite young man who carried up my bags to the room. I discovered that he was going to school at UT Austin and after a few wrong choices is now on academic probabtion and attending ACC in the fall. He told me that he is now back on track and would have to change his major because of his low GPA. I encouraged him to not give up and pursue after his dreams. Mario was humored that I got this individuals life story. I saw it as a means to speak words of life to this person. It's easy to think that what you want to do is not achievable because of the obstacles that stand in the way of getting to that goal. Many times its a word of encouragement or a change of thinking or both that gets someone back on track. I am so thankful for those God has placed in my life. I am forever amazed at His grace and love for me. He knows exactly what I need and when. This mini-getaway has already far exceeded my expectations. I am a blessed woman.

Movie: Life is Beautiful
This beautiful Italian film is a comedic love story set in World War II. A Jewish man, Guido, wins the affections of a wealthy Italian girl, Dora, by his charisma and love for life. They marry and have a son before being taken to a concentration camp. While in the camp, Guido creates a game out of the daily routines to keep his now 4-year-old son calm and oblivious to severity of the situation. Guido's passion and creativity keeps his son alive.

Holding Out For A Hero

Song: Holding Out For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler
Movie: Day 2 of Footloose

Why this hasn't been my theme song sooner, I'm not sure. It is, afterall, my main ringtone. I am not anticipating a white knight to sweep me off my feet. I don't need a tractor race nor drama. What I'd like is someone to woo me and fight for me. Flowers would be nice. Simple gestures of thoughtfulness are great. What's most attractive, however, is someone who is willing to fight. Someone with drive and passion for life and people. And if he could do a warehouse dance like Kevin Bacon, bonus points will be awarded.

The Dance

I recently saw Footloose the musical and was reminded again of why this is one of my favorite soundtracks. It makes me want to dance.
I used to be religious. Let me explain. I absolutely, 100% believe that God created man in His image. I believe that Jesus Christ came to earth to save the lost, heal the broken and redeem mankind so that we could have a meaningful relationship with God. Religion, however, takes this and adds so many rules to cloud and cover the real purpose of Christianity. Jesus' death and resurrection was the most beautiful story of redemption and sacrifice. It's all about love. God is love. He sent His son because of love. He left us with 2 commandments: 1)Love God and 2)Love People. Wearing pantyhose does not make me more godly. It only makes me look more foolish and hot when it's 100 degrees outside. Having tattoos or piercings doesn't make you less godly. It just means you opt for a style that many deem "unacceptable". Dating or courting or not dating or not courting does not make me a better individual. God has a plan for every person's life. He gave us free will and intended for us to use our minds. My plan may not look like anyone else's plan. So wouldn't it behoove me to hear from God about what He wants for me? After all, He made the plan. I used to think that in order to be better/holier than others, a certain set of rules/guidelines dictated by my authority were to be followed. I, at one time, was told that my previous Pastors did not approve of dancing at weddings. I was shocked and appauled at the time-- especially when I had such an eventful entrance planned when they announced Mr. & Mrs. at the reception. In a nutshell, it was Moulin Rouge meets Dirty Dancing (and no my future husband is not a gay man).

Movie: Footloose

Who knew that a cheesy 80's storyline could bring about so much dialogue? No one likes to be supressed or told what to do. Am I abdicating rebellion? Absolutely not. I know it's necessary to have guidelines, rules and standards to live a healthy lifestyle. Too much of anything is not good. Kevin Bacon's character, Reyn, wanted to be free from unwarranted rules. There is a time for everything. A time to fight for what's right. A time for dancing. A time to be free.