prepare Him room.

I can't stop thinking about Friday and Sandy Hook Elementary School. I can't stop thinking about the families of those who were taken too soon and all the precious souls now embraced by their Heaven. As I watched this clip of this heroic man and father, one thing Robbie Parker said, struck a chord deep within me. "As we move on from what happened here, what happened to so many people, let it not turn into something that divides us..."  Let it not turn into something that divides us. Let it not turn into something that divides us. Let it not turn into something that divides us. It's a line worth repeating. Over. And over. And over. Again.

There's already been lots of talk, plenty of opinions and exchanges of attitudes and judgments regarding the views of others. When we live in a world where unthinkable tragedy occurs, we live in a culture already full of division, where many are quick to speak, but few are willing to listen. We need more listening. And as Robbie Parker also so beautifully said, we need to be "more compassionate."

In this sacred time of year, often drowned out with excessive fluff, may we be awake and vigilant, purposeful and prepared, to offer Love room. Not by moving the couches or creating extra space for the five boxes of Christmas decorations (although many of our living rooms know this rearrangement all too well), but most importantly, may we prepare Love room, in the place He longs to dwell, in the place where music dances to a beat of it's own, in the place that sustains us all, our hearts.

This Christmas is going to be incredibly difficult for all the families and loved ones of Friday's victims. And by no means, can I speak for them or claim to know what they are feeling or going through, but if this Christmas we all work hard at fulfilling Robbie Parker's simple request, we could trade our pride with compassion, our division with embrace, and maybe, just maybe, we could ignite a tiny sliver of peace amidst all the pain and suffering. As 'Joy the World' begs, let every heart prepare Him room.

God who is Love, may we prepare you room.
Every heart.
Broken or mended.
Weary or anxious.
Tired or lonely.
Confused or doubtful.
Empty or sorrowful.
May every heart this Christmas, prepare Him room.

All the families of Sandy Hook, our thoughts and prayers remain with you.

♥ photo by one of my favorite photographers, Marianne Greig

::

september eleventh.

We all remember where we were.
We all remember the fear we felt.
We all remember the prayers we prayed.

We will never forget that eleventh day of September, 10 years ago.

As perfectly as I can recall what 9/11/2001 looked like for me, that day is not about my story. There have been many words strung together in an effort to convey the questions our minds juggled and the pain our hearts harbored in the midst of those tragic attacks. But writing about 9/11 right now, I'm humbly reminded of how there are hardly adequate words to honorably present the emphasis this day truly deserves.

With that said - this post is simple and sweet. As we drove to Church today, we passed by a street where all houses were proudly flying our country's flag. Such a simple gesture that spoke so loudly and echoed with impact. Regardless of the attacks against us then and even the fights among us today, united we stand. It's so easy to forget those three words "united we stand" - words that were our nation's backbone in 1776 and words that continue to be our strength and our shelter in the storm. These words assemble us together and prove regardless of all threat, opposition, and conflict...we are one.

And you better believe that today, just as they were ten years ago, our nation's prayers were united as one.

::

born bold.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a young teenager and my dad, Pop, was talking about parenting. He told me that his dad, my grandfather, GrandPop, used to tell him that it was a challenging time for him and my GrandMom to be good parents. Pop explained to me that even though it may have been tasking for my grandparents generation, it was even more difficult for his and my mom's because of the competition they were up against...a society with a lack of morals, faith, family, and ultimately, love. And then he said it would be an even greater battle for me and my generation when I would one day be a parent. Once again, my father's wisdom set the stage for truth.

I'm not going to sugar coat this post so if the salt burns a little, I'm sorry, but I need to be bold.

As I mentioned in my confessions post, I'm enjoying American Idol this season, but tonight's episode upset me. Not because of who was sent home, I actually think the two remaining contestants deserve to be in the final. The reason why I was bothered had nothing to do with the competitors or the competition.

The show had clips of Scotty, as he went back to his hometown, and the video was full of humble, emotional, reflective moments of a young man realizing his dreams were coming true. It showed his immense love of family, hometown values, highschool bliss, and gratitude to the Man upstairs he owes it all to.

After such a precious and pure moment, they showed a live performance from Nicole Scherzinger and 50 Cent. And from one extreme to another, I was blindsided...not by the two performers themselves really, but more by what they represent. Ms. Scherzinger is physically beautiful, has a great voice, and is an incredible dancer, no doubt. But she doesn't have to be half-naked singing about sex to prove that. And I'm sure 50 Cent has musical talents of his own, but it wasn't really clear to me by his performance where those talents lie.

I love appreciating good music, good acting, good writing, good dancing, and good performing...because they all have the potential to inspire the masses. But all these half-naked performances debuting songs about grinding in the club inspires us to do what? Exactly that? Get naked, go out, and have "good" sex? Nice. I'm totally inspired.

It's actually more sad than upsetting. And the fact that young girls and young boys see this stuff all around them and this is the music that's inspiring them? Oye ve!

Pop was TOTALLY right. I, along with Joseph of course, have my work cut out for me. I alluded to this challenge when I started this blog with my hello world post, but being reminded if this reality is sometimes sad.

Ah well, with faith in our hearts and love as our inspiration, we will fight for baby girl to know where true talent lives so she can recognize it, as it inspires her to step outside of herself and dig within her heart to dream big, whatever those dreams may be.

.: I want her to know that no amount of make-up can make her beautiful when she already is.
.: I want her to know that no attention worth getting is attained with little or no clothing.
.: I want her to know that family values are by no means dead and I want her to know what it feels like to come home to a house with doors wide open, full of love.
.: I want her to know that she is better than ANYTHING that's ever happened to her father and me - and as per tonight's episode of Grey's Anatomy...forgive me if I get all "Life-y," as Cristina accused Owen of while he was referring to their unborn child, but Marabelle has ALWAYS been Marabelle...despite her once microscopic size or undeveloped parts, she was always her - even in the making. All of us were never anyone or anything other than ourselves and I like to think that my life started when I first existed, no matter how small I may have been, but that's just me.

Bold.

.: And I want her to know that it's okay to be bold, because as I have learned from my favorite design programs on HGTV, bold = bright and if being bold means she will contrast with others, so be it. May she be boldly bright and beautiful and may she inspire others along the way to be the same. Amen.

:: victoria marie