Happy Birthday Jesus!!

The Word became flesh & made His dwelling among us. - John 1:14


How Many Kings - Downhere

What Books Am I Reading?

When I read Julie Metz’s PERFECTION, I inhaled every word! I loved it, not just for the raw facts of Julie’s ordeal but even more for the lyrical, insightful point of view from which it was written. Julie writes close to the bone as she searches for meaning and embraces the beauty of an imperfect life.

—Sarah Landis, Editor

(I know, I realize it's a little late for me to be jumping on the bandwagon, but I must read it before the movie with Reese Witherspoon & Robert Pattinson comes out in 2011!)

"For pure story, this colorful, headlong tale of a Depression-era circus simply can't be beat. Heroes, villains, romance, a wild-animal stampede! Big fun from page One."

—Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly: "Best & Worst 2007" (Entertainment Weekly )


"At its finest, Water for Elephants resembles stealth hits like 'The Giant's House,' by Elizabeth McCracken, or 'The Lovely Bones,' by Alice Sebold, books that combine outrageously whimsical premises with crowd-pleasing romanticism. . . . Black-and-white photographs of real American circus scenes from the first half of the century are interspersed throughout the novel, and they brilliantly evoke the dignified power contained in the quieter moments of this unusual brotherhood. . . . With a showman's expert timing, [Gruen] saves a terrific revelation for the final pages, transforming a glimpse of Americana into an enchanting escapist fairy tale."

—New York Times Book Review (New York Times Book Review)

The Mona Lisa Smile Complex

“In a world that told them how to think, she showed them how to live.”

This week I have been in the process of (re)watching "Mona Lisa Smile" before bed. Last night, when I finished it - I had a sudden revelation. You see, after having watched this movie multiple times, and pondering the message, I think it's safe to say that many women experience this "in between", this longing, this conflict, that I am now calling the "Mona Lisa Smile Complex".


The movie takes place in the early 1950's (1953 to be exact) on the campus of an all girls’ university, Wellesley College. It is the era of the American Housewife, in which a woman’s first duty is to her husband and family. The movie explores life through femininism, marriage and education. The lead character, Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts), is the art history professor at Wellesley. After quickly realizing that her students see their education simply as a way to pass their time until they are married, Katherine is appalled and she challenges them to reject the norm, and follow a path of their own choosing. She dares (demands) her students to think for themselves and go beyond their traditional views. Katherine saw the potential for these girls, the "brightest women in the country", and couldn't believe how, or why, they would so gladly accept their role in society to be nothing more than a dutiful housewife and homemaker in which it was their job to work hard and boost their husband up the corporate ladder. She encouraged and prompted them to explore their potential for change, rather than dutifully accept the traditional views of an institution where education was viewed merely as a stepping stone to getting married.

This movie was all about choice, and our lives consist of what choices we are going to make. These choices impact our lives in one way or another, as was the case in Mona Lisa Smile when what they chose grounded them to the roles they played in society. Back then, women lived in a world full of rules and regulations. Conforming to the ideal was expected and being an individual was not. The fact that these women were at a great university was good, but ultimately a woman’s role was in the house. She had no major decisions to make… she just needed to be a good wife. In Mona Lisa Smile, these women created choices and made them, which was "forbidden" for that time period.

The conflict that I think most women experience at some point in their lives is this issue of feminine independence, that the movie so greatly explores. I know I have dealt with it. It's this "in between", this conflict or battle that takes place in my mind/heart. Maybe it's just me - I am certainly an independent woman, a free thinker and free spirit. But at the same time, I believe in love and marriage and in playing the supportive and loving wife role. What I find conflicting is that even though it's not the 1950's anymore, I still feel like there are all of these expectations as to how a woman should act, what she should do, what her career path should (or shouldn't) be, how she should love, and what the relationship should look like. Maybe it's just Texas, maybe it's just the south. But I find myself on a different spectrum with each passing day! I am definitely in this "in between", Mona Lisa Smile Complex place right now. I want to be like Katherine, and defy the odds and do something extraordinary yet unordinary. I want to be out of the "norm" and do something out of the box - something of MY choosing! I am all about pursuing MY dreams, finding out MY perfect career path, doing what I want to do. And it is sooo wonderfully amazing. But, at the same time, my heart is torn! Like I mentioned earlier, I want to be married one day. I want to be a wife. And these "MY" things will have to change. Basically, one day I am all about the "Miss Independent", don't give up pursuing a dream or a goal for someone else and wanting to find that perfect "happy place" for myself. Then the next day I am all about this wonderful idea of love and finding it and recognizing that it's about sacrifices and compromises and so much more than "me".

This whole Mona Lisa Smile Complex is fascinating to me. And I'm blogging about it now, simply to put this idea out there. I certainly don't have the answers, Lord knows that. I'm one of the confused ones! Clearly! But I hope one day, I am able to have it figured out - and that I'm not regretful over it. I want to be certain with whatever path I choose, and I want to find joy in it! And, I know it's possible to be able to have both paths - I just want to find that perfect balance. I think, since I'm playing both fields, if I were able to find the perfect balance, then I would be perfectly happy with it!!

Playlist.

Here is a playlist. If any of you are like me, and actually working this week, then you may need this. :) Enjoy!

(No, sadly, it's not Christmas related. I figured, with all of my Christmas posts, I would refrain from forcing you to listen to my 150,000 favorite Christmas songs.)

Vote Coach Mike Sherman!

VOTE VOTE VOTE for Mike Sherman for Coach of the Year! WHOOP!!

Lowment.

My lowment from this weekend - Purchasing 4 Sprinkles cupcakes on Friday and having selfishly consumed them all by 8:30 AM this morning.

Hey, it's Ok!

...to believe your horoscope only on the good days.
...to spike the eggnog.
...to eat snow, pollution be damned.
...to never, ever want one of those annoying couple-y emails accounts. Just say no to we-mail.
...to wear your shades even when it's cloudy outside. A little chic privacy, please.
...to send out a Christmas card with a picture of your supercute, smiling, Santa-hat-wearing...pet. Absolutely, you can be that girl. Own it.
...to make everyone feel your head when you think you have a fever.
...to go shopping with the intention of buying gifts for others, but instead come home with only items for yourself. There's always next time, right?
...to love Frito pie. Chili served on a bed of Fritos & covered with cheese, Texas elementary school cafeteria style? It is OK.

Tis The Season.

Tis The Season.... for wonderful holiday movies and music!!

What are your MUST HAVES holiday movies and music? I have a few favorite Christmas movies and albums that I just cannot go without!!

It's A Wonderful Life with dear Jimmy Stewart. This is a Lukefahr family tradition - we watch it on Christmas Eve (before bed). This movie has been ingrained in me since I was a little girl, and it has come to be one of my favorite movies ever! Such a classic, and the opportunity at a second chance at life! (Thank you Clarence).

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! Definitely was parked at a stop light today and a cute college aged girl was jamming to this song at full blast. I just couldn't help but look at her and smile. It reminded me of my college days - this was definitely always playing on repeat during the winter, and it's a song I can't sing without thinking of a few of my closest friends from college! (Shout out to Bernie, Jenn and Paige for bringing me so much joy and delight through this song!!)

Seven words: All I Want For Christmas Is You.


Do you know what else is one of my favorite things ever? CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS!! Are there any family traditions you have that you would like to share?? Leave me some blog love by commenting!