THREE

I don't have a dad on this earth.

My dad lives in heaven with Jesus and the Heavenly Father, my Heavenly Father.
My Heavenly Father is the Alpha and Omega. I am His. He knows my needs.

Sometimes I need to feel loved by dads on this earth as a daughter is sweetly and carefully loved by her daddy. Just in the past week there have been three dads who have loved on me.

One is a classmate. He is dad-aged and reached out and touched the depths of my heart last week in class. I was having a hard day. He made it better.

Two is a dad who is a Christian Counselor. He affirms me, encourages me, and lets me be me. Last week, he let me cry in his office and he handed me tissues. He didn't judge.

Three is a dad who I do aerobics with at the gym. There are lots of other dads in the class, but this dad is thoughtful and caring. Today, after class, he gave me a book then drove me to my car because it was cold and raining.

Amazing fathers pouring out the love of the Heavenly Father. On me.

"This is my Fathers world,
He shines in all that's fair.
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere."
(Fernando Ortega's version of This Is My Father's World)

120 Reasons Why I Love Dallas

Adapted from D Magazine's June 2009 119 Reasons Why We Love Dallas
I've lived here in Dallas since I was 2 years old except for my fabulous 4 year stay in Memphis, Tennessee at Rhodes College and for a 10 month stopover in 2007 dwelling with the Frenchies on the outskirts of Paris. So, it's safe to say, Dallas is my home on earth and I like it that way.

No1=Because We Have Manners. So true. And thanks D Mag for sayin' so!

No6=Because We Protect The Rights Of Humans. D Magazine praises William O. Holston, Jr., and his firm, Sullivan & Holston, a company comprised of a local group of lawyers, social workers, pastors, and students who "provide legal representation and social services free of charge to those who have fled persecution and arrived in Dallas with nothing." I personally want to praise Vickery Meadow Ministry (www.vickerymeadowministry.org) and all the hearts and hands that make daily sacrifices in that community to serve the families and refugees and to show them the love of Christ.

No8=Because These People Once Called Dallas Home. Lance Armstrong, Jamie Foxx, Norah Jones, Meat Loaf (my mom carpooled with him), Lisa Loeb, Jessica Simpson, and Luke & Owen Wilson...to name a few. It's highly likely you'll spot a celebrity on your stay here. My most recent spotting - Troy Aikman at Mi Cocina Highland Park Village. And in other celebrity news, we have recently welcomed back the former US President and First Lady, George and Laura.

No50=Because You Can Wear Cowboy Boots With Your Suit. And it looks pretty darn good on the cowboys around town. Cowgirls can wear them too. Mine make the occasional Friday appearance at the office.

No51=Because We Invented the Perfect Summer Drink: The Frozen Margarita. Back in my boozin' days, the quality of the frozen margarita decided the dinner place. It's been a while since I've made my rounds, but any of Mia's legacies will suffice (Mia's Tex-Mex, Mi Cocina, Taco Diner). Get an order of brisket tacos while you're slurpin' on your 'rita. Yum!

No54=Because We Get Things Done. Twenty-four Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters in North Texas. Who knew? I didn't.

No54A=Because We Are Educated. 20 colleges and universities, 17 graduate schools (I attend one of 'em), 3 medical and dental schools, 2 law schools, and 20 community colleges.

No55=Because We Are An Olympic Medalist Training Ground. Carly Patterson - check. Nastia Liukin - check check. I've always loved gymnastics. I secretly wanted to go to DFW airport when the girls got back from Beijing.

No60=Because We Have The Most Interesting Sports Owners In The Country. Tom Hicks, Jerry Jones, and Mark Cuban. D Mag doesn't say the best...says the most interesting. Indeed we do.

No65=Because Mia's Brisket Tacos Are The Perfect Tex-Mex Dish. Amen!! See No51.

No68=Because We Yell "Stars!" During The National Anthem. At Stars games and Mavs games too. No lie...I've participated many times.

No69=Because We're The Hollywood Of Reality TV. Ok, I'm not that proud of this one and since I'm not that into reality tv...anymore...I simply feel the need to list one name and number. Emmitt Smith, #22, 2006 Champion of Dancing With The Stars. Ok, maybe one more name...continue reading...

No91=And Because Kelly Clarkson Is Still The Greatest American Idol. 'Nuff said.

No92=Because NorthPark Is...A Fantastic Art Gallery, A Babysitter (drop the tweens off at the new AMC theater and go grab a 'rita and a bite at Luna de Noche, another great Tex-Mex spot), A Library, A Quiet Space, And Oh, Yeah, A Great Place To Stimulate The Economy. And D Mag forgot something, it's a gigantic, air conditioned, visually stimulating track. I've seen white sneakers making the rounds for decades ... at opening hours, lunchtime, or in the evening, NorthPark is a great place for a carlorie burnin' speed walk.

No97=Because We Make Dreams Come True. D Magazine writes here about Stanley Marcus (former CEO of Neiman Marcus)...My shopping is minimal these days, especially at Neiman's, but the Mermaid Bar (Neiman Marcus NorthPark) and Zodiac Room (Neiman Marcus Downtown) are always favorite spots to dream BIG while you lunch with the gals.

No99=Because We're Such A Demanding Sports Town That We Don't Fully Appreciate The Fact That We Are All Nowitznesses. We all see the BIG German. We all know who he is and what he has done on behalf of our Mavericks. As long as the BIG German is still carrying the team, this MFFL still has hope of an NBA Championship one day, one day soon!!

No101=Because We Love Our Dogs More Than Ourselves. Indoor and outdoor dogparks, specialty dog bakeries and boutiques, groomers, trainers, doggie day cares, and more. Indeed a little too much, but in my opinion, man's best friend is worthy of the very best and apparently Dallas has that to offer. Now if only the dog whisperer, Cesar Millan, would relocate...then our dogs would really have it all.

No102=Because You Can Get Great Italian Food Here. Get this, Jimmy's Food Store is the main restaurant picture on page 56. I love Jimmy's. I had yet to find anything like it since Memphis (check out Fino's Italian Grocery on Madison Avenue next time you visit Elvis' hometown), but some DTS gals introduced me to it and it's divine. Subs and other sandwiches overflowing with cheeses, meats, Italian spices, and olive oil. Fat sandwich for a slim price plus tons of other one of a kind Italian goodies, like handmade lobster stuffed ravioli in the freezer section. D Mag tells us this little grocer has Italian items not found any place else in Dallas. It's one of a kind, for sure.

No109=Because Some Things Really Are Bigger Here. D gives its readers a picture of the ridiculous new Dallas Cowboys stadium, but I'd like to consider other things, simpler things, finer things, that really are just bigger in Dallas and well, in Texas, in general...smiles, friendliness, heat index, hair, trucks, wide open spaces, burritos (Freebirds), churches (you know, those MEGA ones), highways, steaks, watermelons, margaritas, pride, and the list goes on and on. You know what they say, "Everything's bigger in Texas!"

No115=Because We Embrace Home-Grown Restaurants. We're a great restaurant town. Come taste for yourself. Even though I don't frequent one of a kind upscale restaurants, I have enjoyed fabulous food creations, on occasion, from some of Dallas' finest chefs like Stephan Pyles and Dean Fearing. This foodie recommends Al Biernat's, York Street, Lola, Fearings, Rise No. 1, Nick & Sams, and wait for it...Snuffer's. Sip a Snufferita (see No51) while you dive into some hot and greasy cheese fries.

No117=Because We Can Rock Big Hair. And we apparently rock other big things as well. See No109. And because we just rock. Listen to Jackopierce (an awesome duo born in the late 80s at Southern Methodist University, see No54A) for a minute and you'll agree.

No118=Because Mexican Immigration Means A Beautiful, Chaotic Blending Of Cultures. This entry takes up an entire page in this copy of D Magazine, as it should, it's an important and relevant issue today. Good news, Fiesta Mart and Tex Mex/Mexican dining places are all staying strong in this weakened economy. After all, Texans and Mexicans know how to eat and even merged their fine cuisines to establish Tex-Mex (see Nos 51 & 65). Only time I have a problem is when I need to speak some Spanish and French just happens to be my second language. Not so bueno!

No119=Because We Love Our Skyline At Night. Come see for yourself.

No120=Because The Back Cover Of This D Magazine Is A Picture Of Josh Hamilton With The Words I Am Second. Sure I Am Second wrote a check to make this happen, but someone at D Magazine approved it. I am second. Are you? www.iamsecond.com

I added commentary to most of the entries and inserted No120 myself and could actually contribute plenty more...but for now, go ahead and enjoy the ones I selected. They are my faves. Even if they aren't the most meaningful or inspiring attributes of a city, I found them to be fun little tidbits. Whenever you're in the Big D, be sure to give me a call!! See ya'll.

What are freckles?

Recently I was unwinding at the pool at my apartment building. George, my friend and fellow student at DTS, asked me what was wrong with my legs. Besides the fact that they are pretty stinkin' white, they looked OK to me. George is from China and according to him, asians don't have freckles, so naturally, living in a multi-cultural context, you see, smell (this can be the most shocking and unsettling), and hear strange and different things. Freckles were, until this conversation, one of those new, strange, and different things for George. In very unseminary sounding (i.e. not smart) jargon and pretty unsuccessfully, a couple of us tried to define a freckle for him. "Uh, it's when the sun, er, uh, something about the pigment, or wait, the melanin, uh, they come out in the sun a lot. Look see, I have lots here, but none here because this part (revealing the underside of my forearm, which is even paler than my legs) never sees the sun." We did successfully tell George how to spell the word so of course, he went and WIKIed it. Excellent idea George since apparently I, a freckle sporter all of my days, couldn't really tell ya much about a freckle except that I've got 'em, lots of 'em.

WIKI reported the following to George who then informed me via Facebook:
A freckle is also called an "ephelis." Freckles are rare on infants, and more common on children before puberty; they are less common on adults. Ephelides is a genetic trait. Ephelides are more common in those with light complexions, although are found on people with a variety of skin tones.

I continued the research myself...
Freckles: genetic, can be found on anyone (ah ha, asians aren't immune), triggered by exposure to sunlight which makes them become darker, related to the presence of the dominant melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene variant, predominantly found on the face but can be found anywhere, not a skin disorder (I'm pretty sure this is what George was thinking until we with the help of WIKI enlightened him), will reappear with sunlight if they have been altered with creams or lasers, sunscreen is suggested absolutely necessary (I was a wee freckle-faced girl when I figured this one out!).

So why Freckled Thoughts? Freckles, like thoughts, are random. There might be a series of one or the other with some sort of pattern and then a sudden halt. Some are dim, some are bold. They (still on freckles and thoughts here) can be all over the place, almost invasive, or disappear for a while. They always come back. They can be ugly and in the wrong place. They can be hidden or shared, covered, uncovered, and discovered. And they can be lovely and beautiful. Freckles are enhanced, darkened, and strongest when soaked in the sun. Thoughts are most righteous, pure, and accurate when washed and cleansed by the Son and bathed in the Word.

I've considered keeping a blog for a long time. Something else I considered for a long time...having my freckles removed until I learned that they "will reappear with sunlight if they have been altered with creams or lasers." Obviously I'm starting the former today and will never do the latter.


"When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me.
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be.
And I know our Creator didn't make no mistakes on me.
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see."
India Arie, Video