I didn’t include you in the last picture because I simply don’t miss you, @christianstolte. I have no affection for you whatsoever. I never think about you. In all my days of knowing you, I have nothing but distain and contempt for you. 😝😝😝😝😝
AFTER QUARANTINE! #imissmyfriends @nbcchicagofire @nbcchicagopd @nbcchicagomed
Wait for it… @nbcchicagofire #jessespencer #tickletheivories
Missing some of my best girls this chilly Friday. @lisawiegandasc @annieilonzeh @mrmayo YOU NERDS MAKE ME HAPPY!!! #cinematographerbosslady
Just a few ladies in my world that I love: #internationalwomensday @em.hutchins @colorbynelida @chicagomakeupartists @annieilonzeh @mrmayo @dushonmonique @eloisemumford @murphyminoso @martinasykesmakeup @snugasbugga @tarissegal @eloisemumford @pvonhouten
Just a few ladies in my world that I love: #internationalwomensday @em.hutchins @colorbynelida @chicagomakeupartists @annieilonzeh @mrmayo @dushonmonique @eloisemumford @murphyminoso @martinasykesmakeup @snugasbugga @tarissegal @eloisemumford @pvonhouten
Just a few ladies in my world that I love: #internationalwomensday @em.hutchins @colorbynelida @chicagomakeupartists @annieilonzeh @mrmayo @dushonmonique @eloisemumford @murphyminoso @martinasykesmakeup @snugasbugga @tarissegal @eloisemumford @pvonhouten
Makes me proud. @nbcchicagofire @nbcchicagomed @nbcchicagopd
I have the coolest job….standing a safe distance from raging fires. @nbcchicagofire @albertorosende @civilwill @garymalouf
Yes, I trained virtually this morning with @em.hutchins through the @onyourmarkstudios virtual portal today via Zoom! It still kicks butt even if you’re in your own living room…she can still see you, so you can’t cheat. Had a blast!! And yes, that is a massive puzzle on my coffee table.
Yes, I trained virtually this morning with @em.hutchins through the @onyourmarkstudios virtual portal today via Zoom! It still kicks butt even if you’re in your own living room…she can still see you, so you can’t cheat. Had a blast!! And yes, that is a massive puzzle on my coffee table.
Personally, I love clowns, as evidenced by the above…but Sylvie feels a little differently, as evidenced by below. @nbconechicago @wolfentertainment 🤡🥳😝
Christmas spirits! Blessings on you if you are with or without family today. #goodreads
PART 2
Whatever folks’ opinions may be on this subject, and I respect them all, I hear my fellow Americans crying out for help, support, and justice. 1 John 3: 17-18 tells me, “But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” Some may say, “What about the things we’ve already done to address these issues? Why is there no credit for those things?” If you are crafting a quilt that is supposed to last for centuries and blanket millions of people, you don’t say, “What more is there to sew? We’ve already sewn and resewn so much.” No, you examine where there can be improvement and where there can be innovation for the future. I see that our America has some old fabric that needs cutting out and holes to be patched. I want to RSVP to the quilting B. “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.” Galatians 6: 2-5 There are many burdens in our country that require much sharing, but I want to dedicate this painting as a specific commitment to addressing the wounding of racism. It represents a commitment to find immediate action in my home in Chicago and a more long-term dialogue that will keep me examining my own work as it pertains to racial reconciliation. I know there are some Bible verses in here, don’t be put off by it; for me, faith is the ultimate tool for holding me accountable and transforming my mind. It is not my expectation that you, the reader, share that view. I look forward to the ways we can bring about more freedom and more justice through the lense of truth and love so that we will see a legacy sewn together by the craftsmanship of many hands, of many races, and many perspectives.
Brittany Leigh is married to a police officer out of Wisconsin. This piece she wrote really spoke to me. I think compassion, selfless love, kindness, a willingness to listen, and a surrender to accepting what you just don’t know are all key components to navigating this crucial dialogue happening in our nation. Her words, and the gut wrenching words of Hess Love’s poem, have been compelling on my own journey into a deeper understanding of the grief, pain, and wounding of people of color, and convicting toward the execution of true and equal justice. George Floyd was murdered a month and two days ago, yet my heart is broken over more precious lives unjustly taken like Elijah McClain. He has a mama too.
Brittany Leigh is married to a police officer out of Wisconsin. This piece she wrote really spoke to me. I think compassion, selfless love, kindness, a willingness to listen, and a surrender to accepting what you just don’t know are all key components to navigating this crucial dialogue happening in our nation. Her words, and the gut wrenching words of Hess Love’s poem, have been compelling on my own journey into a deeper understanding of the grief, pain, and wounding of people of color, and convicting toward the execution of true and equal justice. George Floyd was murdered a month and two days ago, yet my heart is broken over more precious lives unjustly taken like Elijah McClain. He has a mama too.
Brittany Leigh is married to a police officer out of Wisconsin. This piece she wrote really spoke to me. I think compassion, selfless love, kindness, a willingness to listen, and a surrender to accepting what you just don’t know are all key components to navigating this crucial dialogue happening in our nation. Her words, and the gut wrenching words of Hess Love’s poem, have been compelling on my own journey into a deeper understanding of the grief, pain, and wounding of people of color, and convicting toward the execution of true and equal justice. George Floyd was murdered a month and two days ago, yet my heart is broken over more precious lives unjustly taken like Elijah McClain. He has a mama too.
Brittany Leigh is married to a police officer out of Wisconsin. This piece she wrote really spoke to me. I think compassion, selfless love, kindness, a willingness to listen, and a surrender to accepting what you just don’t know are all key components to navigating this crucial dialogue happening in our nation. Her words, and the gut wrenching words of Hess Love’s poem, have been compelling on my own journey into a deeper understanding of the grief, pain, and wounding of people of color, and convicting toward the execution of true and equal justice. George Floyd was murdered a month and two days ago, yet my heart is broken over more precious lives unjustly taken like Elijah McClain. He has a mama too.
Brittany Leigh is married to a police officer out of Wisconsin. This piece she wrote really spoke to me. I think compassion, selfless love, kindness, a willingness to listen, and a surrender to accepting what you just don’t know are all key components to navigating this crucial dialogue happening in our nation. Her words, and the gut wrenching words of Hess Love’s poem, have been compelling on my own journey into a deeper understanding of the grief, pain, and wounding of people of color, and convicting toward the execution of true and equal justice. George Floyd was murdered a month and two days ago, yet my heart is broken over more precious lives unjustly taken like Elijah McClain. He has a mama too.
Brittany Leigh is married to a police officer out of Wisconsin. This piece she wrote really spoke to me. I think compassion, selfless love, kindness, a willingness to listen, and a surrender to accepting what you just don’t know are all key components to navigating this crucial dialogue happening in our nation. Her words, and the gut wrenching words of Hess Love’s poem, have been compelling on my own journey into a deeper understanding of the grief, pain, and wounding of people of color, and convicting toward the execution of true and equal justice. George Floyd was murdered a month and two days ago, yet my heart is broken over more precious lives unjustly taken like Elijah McClain. He has a mama too.
Brittany Leigh is married to a police officer out of Wisconsin. This piece she wrote really spoke to me. I think compassion, selfless love, kindness, a willingness to listen, and a surrender to accepting what you just don’t know are all key components to navigating this crucial dialogue happening in our nation. Her words, and the gut wrenching words of Hess Love’s poem, have been compelling on my own journey into a deeper understanding of the grief, pain, and wounding of people of color, and convicting toward the execution of true and equal justice. George Floyd was murdered a month and two days ago, yet my heart is broken over more precious lives unjustly taken like Elijah McClain. He has a mama too.
PART 1
I’ve been working on this painting for the last few weeks while I’ve been processing through the pain and anger that has been brought to the forefront in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and the movement that has followed. I’m calling it ‘The Hands that Mend.’ While I was painting this, I thought about how America is much like a handmade quilt. It requires a very specific vision, meticulous skills, ownership of mistakes, patience in revision, and lastly, a teamwork of beautiful hands to craft it into fruition. We are a people of many peoples; many cultures, many beliefs, many perspectives. We can be ambitious, rebellious, hard-working, well humored, innovative, generous, protective, self-sacrificing, courageous, and much more. We can also be stubborn, arrogant, ignorant, overbearing, blood-lustful, self-seeking, unkind, envious, slanderous, judgmental, prideful, foolish and much more.
These qualities are what craft and tear the fabric of our homeland. In these last few weeks, I’ve had rich conversations, listened to sermons, podcasts, panels, and have found one truth that is throughout all of these outlets; mending begins with me. We have the ability to look at ourselves and see where wounding, conditioning, and ignorance have power in our lives and in the lives of others. When we do the transformative work of mending the tears, holes, and poorly sewn patches of our own hearts and minds, we create the possibility for real and lasting change where all men and women can abide in equality, justice, and love. Who can sew straight with a crooked mind? Who can cover their neighbor with a shredded heart? I desire to see a nation that is designed with the workmanship of each unique hand. That includes the hands of Black Americans. Black lives do not merely matter to America, black lives are VITAL, black lives are PRECIOUS, black lives are CHERISHED IMAGE BEARERS OF GOD ALMIGHTY.
Deadline extended to March 14th! Get those scripts in!! #massepiphany @joeminoso
Bring your masks, gloves, rakes, and shovels and come out THIS SATURDAY and help serve our communities with the City Treasurer, Melissa Conyears-Ervin! It’s a great way to connect with incredible people coming together to spread some love and serve our neighbors. Register for free at chicitytreasurer.eventbrite.com !
