This Is My Fine Art

Today has been a very nice day. I didn't finish washing clothes like I wanted to, but that's okay. Patrick and I got up, cleaned up, and went to Sunday School. For both of us it was the first time in a long time that we went to church without feeling like it was an obligation. Do you realize how nice that is? It's wonderful.

The sunday school lesson really hit home with me. Everything that was addressed was an issue that I have been dealing with, and Joy doesn't know anything about those parts of my life. I felt very warm inside. She has these Bibles that have wonderful devotions in them that are just right for the things that I am going through in my life. I asked her where I could get one and she told me I could hold onto the Bible for as long as I needed too. Funny enough, Patrick asked about the Bible himself. So both of us have a copy now. I was surprised when he asked, but it made me feel good.

Patrick and I both want religious direction in our lives. I, for one, have had a great difficulty in finding a devotional for someone in my point of life. I have a women's devotional, but it addresses married women with children. I'm neither a wife nor a mother yet, so I can't quite relate to these issues right now. The other book I have is for teenagers. I'm 23 years old and pass that stage of my life. Patrick and I were both impressed with how organized this Bible is and we're starting our studies tomorrow. I'm actually quite excited. I'm probably going to share the scripture and my thoughts on what is studied each day.

After sunday school, Patrick and I had children's church. No children showed up, so we just talked. It was nice. It was very nice. We picked a card off the angel tree. The child on the card is a 5 year old girl named Daisy who loves princess toys and Dora the Explorer. I hope that she will enjoy the Christmas we are providing for her this year. We couldn't afford to buy her a bike or a giant Dora the Explorer doll, and we couldn't find the backpack she wanted, but we did get her a new dress and a coat to keep her warm in the cold. We also got her some Princess dress up jewelry that lights up when you press the jewels. A spanish children's bible was listed on the things to get for her. We're still looking for that. I just hope she'll really like what we've got for her. I've never met or seen her before, but I want her to have a wonderful Christmas.

When church was over, Patrick and I joined my parents, Glenn, Sharon, Joy, and Joy's brother at Ron's Barn. Ron's Barn is a local country restaurant that's really popular in the area. The food is quite delicious. I had fried chicken dark meat, buttered potatoes, broccoli with cheese, and a glass of sweet tea. The conversation was good and later Joy's daughter, who is a year older than I, showed up with her husband and two children. It was good to see her again and finally get to meet Kevin. God really blessed her with a beautiful family. It makes me smile.

After lunch it was time to head back for the youth group. Once again, we had no children, but Joy, Patrick, and I have been having a nice bible study together to pass the time while we pray for the Lord to send us more young couples to the church. The Bible study tonight really brought back many good memories of mine. She asked, "What are three of your most longed for dreams?" I said to be a mother, be a wife, and be an artist. Another question was, "What is your favorite story from childhood?" I said Beauty and the Beast.

Then the questions delved deeper. She asked us to name three of our most intimate moments and we had the option to tell about one of them. I chose to tell about the six weeks involved in my first meeting of Patrick back in 2002. It was a wonderful time for me full of much love and growth. I learned alot about myself in those six weeks and found someone who was willing and able to help me through the hardest years of my life. Patrick and I have really grown close to each other in the past five years. I can't imagine my life without him.

"What is one of your most treasured memories from your childhood?" I remembered when I was very very young and we still lived in Texas. I loved my father passionately. Whenever mom told me his car pulled into the driveway from work, I would get extremely excited and hide behind the couch, waiting patiently with anticipation. As soon as he'd walk through the door, I'd leap out from behind the couch and tackle his legs with my small frail body giggling. He'd act surprised every time even though he always knew where I was hiding. He'd pick me up, hold me, and give me kisses. I loved my father deeply.

"What was your favorite toy as a child?" When I was two years old, I was given a realistic plastic baby doll. I named her Toby after the baby in Labyrinth which was one of my favorite childhood movies. I carried that doll everywhere I went. I had a baby bag full of beautiful dresses that had been mine when I was a baby. I dressed her up in them, gave her a bottle, and treated as well as possible. Mother said she was always impressed with how I handled the doll. Where most children she saw carried dolls by their heads and arms dragging them across the ground, I always held my doll as if she were a real baby. I would coo to her and talk to her as if she were real. Mother said she feels that I will be a wonderful mom to my children. I loved and carried that doll every where up until I was about ten or eleven years of age.

Needlesstosay, you get the point that I enjoyed these moments of nostalgia. Our study is to help us retouch with our hearts. I'm really enjoying it.

I've had a wonderful day. I hope that you have too.

--Destinie