The Emmys

My random thoughts on the Emmys....

• I LOVED Tina Fey's dress.  She generally goes black, and she didn't stray far but this is the best version of what she does.
• I wonder if Sophia what's her name from Modern Family minds that she is portrayed like such an airhead.  I'm sure she can't mind being called beautiful all the time (not a fan of her dress), but she is treated like an idiot.
• Kathy Griffin brought her mom...and they matched....that's...cute...
• Edie Falco genuinely looked shocked.
• Toni Collette's dress is awful.
• George Clooney in the Modern Family promo thing was fantastic.  Genius.  I loved it.
• I wanted to love Keri Russell (Felicity love and all that), but it was just not quite right.  Not sure if it was the length of the dress or the neckline...just something off.
• Jenna Fisher's dress is really pretty.
• If I see one more Oprah commercial....good grief.
• Rita Wilson....sniff sniff...bless her heart.
• The little guitar genre transitions were cute.  I liked the drama one.
• Awe, people clapped for Friday Night Lights...love that show!  I am actually surprised that FNL got nominated for anything because it is on the DirectTV channel which is why I watch.  JP was lucky his bff is a customer when FNL moved from NBC to DirectTV.
• Anna Paquin's dress is awful.  I am not a fan of all that embellishment.
• Neil Patrick Harris is so likable but...
• Kyra Sedwick's dress is lovely but her hair is a hot mess.
• Heidi Klum's necklace is bigger than her dress.
• This is kind of boring because I don't really watch that much TV.  No one to root for...
• What's up with January Jones' look?  I guess she is going for a look I don't get.
• I love Nathan Fillion.
• Jimmy Fallon's tribute to the 3 leaving shows was fabulous.
• I feel like Julia Louis-Dreyfus wears the same dress every year.
• I am SSSOOOOO excited that Kyra Sedwick won!!!!   YAYAYAYAYAY!!!  I love The Closer!
• Ricky Gervais is stinking HILARIOUS.
• The nominee questions were stupid.
• Kelly Osbourne's dress was AMAZING, but her make-up was off.
• Mini-series and movies...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
• Not a fan of Claire Danes in general, but she looks pretty.

My Favorite Dresses:

My Least Favorite Dresses:

WORST DRESSED:

BEST DRESSED:

A Rant: Cats and Dogs

Good grief!  My kids have driven me crazy this weekend!  I know that it is the adjustment period of getting back to school and back onto a schedule that is much more demanding for their little bodies.  We also complicated that adjustment period by very recently bombarding them with all of our family.  I love them overflowing.  BUT.  They have been fighting with each other like I have never seen.  They are being ugly to each other and Troy and I.  Whining and crying, complaining and misbehaving....AAAGGGGHHHH.  It is making me grumpy and tired.  I had such a hard time worshipping this morning because my spirit was filled with...yuck.  Praying for patience and grace.  God, fill us with patience and grace.

Mom, Dad and Troy to the rescue!  I am super excited already about getting to see them this coming weekend!!! 

Emotions

Totally stealing Troy's idea!


Anger is injustice.
Annoyance is not getting everything done that I had planned.
Contempt is mean girls focusing on my daughter.

Disgust is dirty feet in my bed.
Irritation is unthoughtful people.
Anxiety is avoidable.
Embarrassment is mismatched children.
Fear is burying a child.
Helplessness is watching him struggle.
Powerlessness is absent in light of who I am in Christ.
Worry is part of being a mom.
Doubt is a constant companion.
Envy is demonstrative affection.
Frustration is being asked to lie.
Guilt is a tool of the enemy.
Shame is going to God one more time to confess sin...and then one more...and one more...
Boredom is small talk.
Despair is in a two year old's hospital room.
Disappointment is parenting failures.
Hurt is echoed words.
Sadness is not having a person.
Agitation is cats...and dogs and trees and grass and...
Stress is feeling inadequate.
Shock is anaphylactic.
Tension is speaking the truth in love.
Amusement is his laugh.
Delight is their laughter.
Elation is my children choosing Christ.
Excitement is the perfect card.
Happiness is a pedicure with my mother and my daughter.
Joy is studying God's Word with others.
Pleasure is knowing someone well and being known.
Caring is a tender hand on the small of my back.

Affection is a kiss.

Empathy is marriage.

Friendliness is a smile.

Love is sacrifice.

Courage is choosing obedience instead of being swept up by the world.

Hope is future plans for my children.
Pride is thinking that I can heal him.
Satisfaction is hearing them describe God.
Trust is knowing He is working even when I don't see Him.
Content is sitting down to a meal with my husband, my kids and my parents.
Relaxed is watching my favorite shows with my favorite person.
Serene is reading on Mom and Dad's couch.
Politeness is answering the phone.
Surprised is learning something new about someone I know well.

FAB: What's Your Color Season?

So, I blogged about how important it is to wear colors that flatter you.  They ehance your skin tone, make you look more radiant, brighten your eyes...so important! 
I have known that I am a winter for quite some time because, like I said, my mom had her colors done.  But for those who don't know what season they are or which colors are in your season...here are some sources to figure out what colors look best on you.

The color swatch things you carry around come from Color Me Beautiful.  They have a very basic way of figuring out your season by assessing your hair color.  Remember to think about your natural hair color.

I found this at ehow.com 
Instructions. Determine Your Skin Tone

Decide which season most accurately describes your complexion. People - and skin tones - can be divided into "seasons," depending on their skin tone.

"Winter" complexions have blue or pink undertones. Skin can be pale white, yellowish-olive, or dark. Winter people are generally brunettes, with deeply colored eyes. Many Asians and African Americans fall into this category.
"Summer" complexions, like winter complexions, have blue or pink undertones. Skin is pale and pink. Summers are often natural blondes or brunettes with pale eyes.
"Autumn": Autumn complexions have golden undertones. Many redheads and brunettes with golden brown eyes fall into this category.
"Spring": Spring complexions have golden undertones and are usually creamy white or peach. Spring people generally have straw-colored or strawberry red hair, freckles, rosy cheeks, and blue or green eyes.

Choose Clothes to Flatter Your Skin Tone

"Winter": Winters should wear colors that are sharp, stark and clear. White, black, navy blue, red and shocking pink all go well with winter complexions. For lighter colors, wear icy tones rather than pastels. Avoid subdued tones like beige, orange and gold.
"Summer": Summers should choose pastels and soft neutrals with rose and blue undertones. Lavender, plum, rose-brown and soft blue suit summers well while black and orange do not.
"Autumn": Autumns should select colors with golden undertones, like camel, beige, orange, gold and dark brown. Avoid colors with blue tones, like navy.
"Spring": Springs can wear warm colors like camel, peach, golden yellow and golden brown. Avoid dark, dull colors.

Here are a few places to see seasonal colors:

http://trepanrr.tripod.com/tonal_color_palettes.htm#deep_winter
http://www.beauty-and-the-bath.com/Season-Color-Analysis.html

I don't love either, but they give you a basic idea...

Hope this gives you a push in the right direction!  TRY COLOR!!!!

FAB: Daily Devos!

Product Review:  Christianity.com

I have problems with waking up early to have my time with God in the morning.  I am NOT a morning person.  BUT, I definitely recognize the benefit in my day if I think on Him and the mercies that are new in Him for me each morning.  So, taking both of those things into consideration, I have started having devotionals emailed to me every morning.  I am loving it.  At first, I was worried that I wouldn't have much to choose from.  I knew that The Upper Room and Daily Bread did an online thing, and I visit Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest blog regularly.  Those are all great...but seem old fashioned.  So, I googled and found christianity.com. 
I want to say upfront that I have only used the site for the reason I looked for it.  There is tons on the site that I have not explored, yet.  But, I loved what it had to offer me in daily devotionals.  There are seventy-two devotionals to choose from.  They have the devos broken down under subject lists with descriptions for each one that includes the author of the devotional.  I chose several to see which ones were most beneficial for me.  I have found them all to be of great benefit for me each morning.  I chose one for different aspects of my life...parenting, marriage, being a woman.  I also chose one on the names of God which digs into some greek and one that is a reading plan through the Word.
I know that in terms of being fed spiritually an emailed devotional is fast food...but it is better than going hungry all day!

Crutches

So, I have a friend that just had knee surgery.  He should be using crutches.   He's not.  He is using a cane.  If he were using crutches, he would heal quicker and hurt less.  With the cane, he ends up in tons of pain and unable to do the things he normally would have.
I have been thinking a lot about the abundant life that we are promised in John.  I honestly don't think that most Christians live the full life that Jesus meant.  Laziness, misunderstanding, disobedience...they all block our ability to live the type of deeply committed life that leads to abundance.  One of the ways that we miss the full life is not completely giving ourselves to God in total dependence on Him.  We use Him for support as we walk on our own because we think we know better...instead of letting Him bear the load while He heals us.
It's kind of like using a cane when we were given crutches...

FAB: Fabulously Fashionable

Ok, Girls!!!  Here are some fashion tips you can take to the bank!

• Pockets.  Here's the thing:  pockets matter.  Let's talk back pockets on pants.  The position, shape and size of your back pockets is extremely important...they can add or subtract size to that area.  No pockets is very rarely a good option unless you are wearing a dress trouser with some drape or a legging (which should be worn very wisely).  If you are sporting some junk in your trunk, make sure that you have a pocket to break that up and make it look smaller.  The placement is also key.  Look at your butt when you are trying on pants because other people will be looking when you aren't.  The pocket should hit mid-cheek!  If you have a tiny caboose, a pocket is still a good idea - just make sure it is proportionate.  You don't want a really large pocket because it will make your butt look even smaller.  If your rump is flat...try finding heart shaped pockets.  The curves will trick the eye.  Now let's talk about what you put in your pockets.  Some women don't like to carry a purse...I don't understand it, but I know it is true.  Unfortunately, that means keys, phones and wallets get put into pockets.  It's not attractive to have bulges in any area that you have pockets.  Find a purse you can live with...a small one, your favorite color, anything.  It's worth it.
• Color.  Colors are one of my favorite thing to play with because you can do a million things with color.  I know that black is slimming, but it is very rarely (maybe never) the best color for any given person to wear.  Back in the day, you could get your colors done.  I am not exactly sure what it was called, but you would go see someone who would tell you if you were a Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter based on your skin tone, eye color...or whatever.  Then they would give you a little book with color swatches that you could carry in your purse when you went shopping or something.  (My mom totally had one.  She is a summer, by the way.  I am a winter!)  I don't know if you need to go through all that but finding colors that look good on you will make a 100% difference in your wardrobe.  All of us have a shirt that we bought because the style was flattering, but we should never wear because the color is all wrong. The same style of shirt (or even a less flattering style) in the right color for you will get tons more compliments and look a thousand times better.  Color can make us look happy and gives us warmth.  It changes the way your face looks.  I also love to pair unexpected colors...it is a great way to make people look twice!  Jewelry can also be a great way to add an unexpected color to your outfit.
• Fit.  I know that this maybe a hard one for some people to take but dress the size you are...not the size you want to be or were.  Look fabulous and beautiful exactly like you are.  That means thinking about fit.  Too tight doesn't look good on anyone.  Ever.  I don't care what a man says.  Classy is always the way to go.  Conversely, oversized clothes are not flattering either.  We don't want to hide who we are...we want to enhance the good and minimize the bad.  Body skimming can be very flattering...pick things that hug parts that you love and float away from parts that you don't.  Experiment with size and take someone you trust with you when you go shopping.  If you have a friend that you love but can't pick out her own clothes properly, don't let her pick out yours - no matter how close you are or how much she wants to!  If you have a friend who agrees with everything you say, don't take her shopping with you - she won't tell you the truth.  Don't be afraid to try something new.  Claim the parts of yourself that you love and show them off.  You are beautiful.

FAB

So, I have finally come up with a name for my product reviews, tips and all things wonderfully woman.  F.A.B!  At first, I thought it would stand for Fashion and Beauty.  That somehow felt confining…like I can only review fashion or beauty products.  So I have decided that it can mean that but doesn’t have to…  FAB can also mean Fun and Beneficial or Fantastic and Beautiful or Feminine and Blessed.  I am going to officially go with Fabulously Awesome Beauties…because we all are.  Seriously, YOU are…I asked your Creator.  I hope that these posts will be fun, beneficial, fantastic, beautiful, feminine and a blessing to you!
So be on the look out for FAB posts that give tips, product reviews and encouragement for us girls as we journey through life as Fabulously Awesome Beauties!

The Greatest of These...

SO, I have been thinking about something since Sunday school (we have an excellent, thought-provoking teacher!). We are beginning a study in 2 Peter and spent some time looking at verses 5-7 of chapter 1.

2 Peter 1:5-7 "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."

We talked about the qualities on the list and the order in which they are presented.  Does the order matter?  I think the majority of the class agreed that the order was intentional and increasing in value.  We talked about what a relief it is that we don't have to have it all together the moment that we become a new creation...that there are aspects that we can work on individually and grow into who God wants us to be.  We also noted that there is an inward focus that moves outward and the basis for all of it is faith.  It wasn't until after class that I realized what was at the top of the list...the greatest of these is love.  Sounds familiar, huh?

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I have wondered about this verse before.  I pull a lot for faith to be the greatest.  Faith is, in fact, necessary...essential for life in Christ.  Faith brings us into relationship with Him.  Faith is...well...the foundation.
The other verse that comes to mind when thinking about love is this one:

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Love is the greatest because the source of all love is God.  He is love...by definition.  The difference between faith and hope and love is two originate from us and one is Him.  With the foundation of faith placed in Jesus Christ, I can begin to strip away my sinful man and pursue a holy God.  The pinnacle of a Godly pursuit is sincere love.  Truly loving people the way God intended is hard.  Very hard.  It takes goodness, self control, perseverance, kindness...it takes God.  The Greatest of not just these...

His

God has been teaching me so much lately.  He is just really pouring into me things He knows I need to hear.  Hard truths, tough lessons but ones that will grow me into who He wants me to be.  More than anything in my life, I want to be His.  So as He is teaching me, I read this devotion by Oswald Chambers.  The focal verse is the one where Jesus tells the rich, young ruler he must sell all he has to follow Jesus.  A hard truth for a very rich, young man.  I was struck by Chambers words on this passage because though the passage was very familiar, Chambers brought out something new.  Chambers points out that Jesus says a tremendous amount to us that we listen to, but do not actually hear.  Jesus' words to the young man were hard to hear and harder to follow.  Chambers goes on to say:

This man understood what Jesus said. He heard it clearly, realizing the full impact of its meaning, and it broke his heart. He did not go away as a defiant person, but as one who was sorrowful and discouraged. He had come to Jesus on fire with zeal and determination, but the words of Jesus simply froze him. Instead of producing enthusiastic devotion to Jesus, they produced heartbreaking discouragement. And Jesus did not go after him, but let him go. Our Lord knows perfectly well that once His word is truly heard, it will bear fruit sooner or later. What is so terrible is that some of us prevent His words from bearing fruit in our present life. I wonder what we will say when we finally make up our minds to be devoted to Him on that particular point?

How often do I listen to the words of Jesus but not hear Him?  Monday night, I sat in Bible study listening to Beth and then speaking with some wonderful ladies and one thing right after another God was speaking truth into my life.  He was convicting me and encouraging me.  The next morning, I read this.  I am taking it as a challenge.  Our Lord knows that His Word will bear fruit...I know it, too.  The challenge is to not just listen to what He is saying but to hear Him and determine to be His.  My mind is made up.

Dark Night of the Soul...or just lazy...?

Recently, I heard Beth talk about experiencing a "dark night of the soul," a time when finding and feeling God is just hard.  God and I were talking about it on the way to work one day.  I have been going through some stuff...not outward struggle or circumstantial difficulties but times of just struggling with God...trying to figure out what He wants from me, trying to be obedient and faithful in who He wants me to be, wondering why things are happening the way that they are or not happening as it may be...sadness, joylessness, discontent.  After hearing Beth speak, I wondered is that what this is?
Wikipedia defines dark night of the soul as a phase in a person's spiritual life, marked by a sense of loneliness and desolation. eh...not bad considering the source.  Beth described it as being able to know God is there in what you see around you but not feeling His presence.  I think that the dark night is a place God takes you in your walk with Him purposefully to teach something...a very hard lesson.  He is always there but somehow less evident. 
So, like I said, God and I were discussing it in the car one morning(...a clue, no?).  Very clearly and very loudly, He called me lazy.  I am not finding Him because I am not really seeking Him.  We talk all the time...constantly, but I am not truly seeking Him.  I can blame it on tons of things, but I have gotten out of the habit of seeking Him in His Word.  It is my fault...my sin.  Sin is never the cause of a dark night of the soul...sin causes actual separation.  I heard Him.

Can You Fill Me?

We are getting ready to start a new mini Beth Moore series.  I watched the first two sessions tonight, and I am already loving the incredible things that God is beginning to teach me in this series.  I can't wait for the discussion time during our first session when we talk about measuring up...and the way women try to measure up to or for someone.  I found this blog call Can You Fill Me? by Cathy Davis while doing some research for Monday night. 

We've gone on a short road trip. I'm not happy with....my hair, my outfit, my bra (hello honesty), my shoes, what I have packed to wear and I left my tennis shoes in my car. We're going to be schlepping all over the place and I have no tennis shoes to wear. What was I thinking? Throughout the short weekend, I keep talking to my myself...Here's the gist of what I'm saying:

You're inadequate. Whatever you're wearing and brought to wear isn't "cute". How will you do your hair without styling products? Why didn't you bring those? Did he just look at another woman? Are you sure you're losing weight? You look heavy in those mirrors. Should you be eating that? Why can't he just tell me what I need to hear?

On and on I go. I've now worked myself into such a tithy and I want someone to make it better. So, naturally I go to James. (This is going to work out well.)

Do you still find me attractive? Do you think I'm pretty? Can you ever answer any of these questions adequately enough to take away all of my insecurities and doubt? I need you to fill me up.

The next day at Sunday school I'm sharing all of this with my class and I talk about how he just couldn't seem to tell me what I needed to hear and would it be too much for him to affirm me?

We've been working through Beth Moore's Measureless Love. Beth (she's my BFF so I can call her Beth) talks about who we're measuring up to, who we're measuring God up to and who we're measuring up for. That person we're measuring up for (Hi James) will never be able to fill us up and keep us full like Jesus will. If I'm not Jesus full, then I'll be desperately trying to get everyone else to fill me up. (ouch) If God is showing you something about yourself (sometimes it's over and over and over), then He's wanting you to kiss it goodbye! Goodbye insecurities and fear and self doubt and condemnation!

When we had a few minutes alone, I apologized to James for putting him in a position he was never going to be able to fill. (Of course, he had no idea how upset I had been!) Only God can fill me up. Only He can be the One who can give me total and unconditional love. I never have to wonder how He feels about me.

Will today be the day that I finally allow God to fill my cup with all the fullness of God? Will today be the day that I grasp that if God doesn't condemn me, then who am I to condemn myself?

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Eph. 3:19

Praise You Father for not condemning me. Thank you for allowing me to come to You when I start doubting myself. You will fill me up Your fullness and all I have to do is ask. I empty myself of my sinful nature and ways, pride, idolatry, condemnation, of the need to please everyone for my own sake, for looking for constant affirmation from others who can't possibly give me what I need way down in the marrow of my soul. I thank you for allowing me to say this prayer to you throughout the day or whenever I feel condemnation rising up. Fill my cup, Lord. I want to be full of You and not me. ~ Amen

I am so excited to get this going with my girls!!

10 Things I Love About My Marriage

So, I thought on the eve of my twelfth wedding anniversary, I would share what I love about my marriage.  (totally stole the idea from Beth!)

10. Our interests are rarely shared, but our values always are.
9. Commitment is a powerful, comforting thing.  There is just something about knowing the other person will stick around to work this thing out.
8.  I can always be proud of the work he does.  He is very good at his job.  He does each aspect with integrity and excellence.
7. I have learned so much about my relationship with God through the relationship of marriage, and he cares as much about my spiritual growth as I do.
6. No one knows me better than he does.
5. My kids love my man, and no one else loves them like I do but him.
4. No one makes me laugh harder than my husband...no one.
3. None of your business.
2. My marriage is a miracle.  God still works them.  I know for a fact.
1. My favorite thing about my marriage is knowing God picked Troy Marc Borst for me and He does all things well.

Happy Anniversary T!

Heart Family

So, Michelle and Josh just came for a visit with their baby boy, and it was wonderful.  We have such a rich history woven by God with those kids.  Here's the story...

Troy's first full time ministry was at the First Church of Christ of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.  We moved there when Abigail was not yet 2 and Nathanael was 5 months old.  Not long after we moved there, Troy had the privilege of baptizing Michelle, her sister and her dad.  It was a wonderful day for her family.
Troy was the only minister on staff so he did it all.  Preaching, counseling, teaching, and youth ministry.  We invested a lot of our time, energy and heart into the teens....mostly because they were the most receptive to teaching about living holy lives.  One of the first things we really got to do with them was go to PCTC (PA Christian Teen Convention).  At that time, there was an obvious divide in the group caused; there were 4 older kids and a bunch of younger ones.  A lot of the teaching at the convention was about purity in dating...not dating non-Christians and purity of actions within dating relationships.  During our group time, the discussion naturally turned toward that subject.  All four of our older kids (Tyler, Blake, Laura and Michelle) were in a dating relationship.  Blake's girlfriend professed Christ as her Savior...but she was the only one.  Our discussion was emotional, at times uncomfortable (we had only known these kids for 4 months) and honest.  We really challenged them with the truth of God's Word.  We told them that God's Word is clear on the subject so the choice is more about how willing each of them is to follow God.  After our talk, the kids holed up in the hotel bathroom.  They cried and talked...they were a tight group.  Laura broke up with her boyfriend that weekend.
It was that weekend that we first learned about Josh, and that he had been dating Michelle for 3 or 4 years at this point.  Josh did not attend our church or any other.  He was not a Christian.  Obviously, Michelle was upset by our discussion...so was her mom (a youth sponsor).  She wanted to be who God desired for her to be, but she loved Josh.  Her compromise...she brought Josh to church...every time she came...which was every time there was something going on; she brought him to Bible study at our house and youth group.  Michelle and Josh were also fixtures in our home.  My kids have always known Josh and Michelle.  They love them like family.  About 9 months after PCTC, Troy had the privilege of talking with Josh and baptizing him.  The following summer Josh was called to ministry at CIY.  To his family this was a radical, unfamiliar and unwise choice.  Josh applied to Johnson.  Troy took him to visit the school.  Josh and Michelle both ended up going to Johnson.  When Josh came home, Troy would let him preach and teach him with each experience.  By the time they left for Johnson, Michelle and Josh were engaged.  The next summer Troy married them with all three of my kids in the ceremony.  The summer after that Troy and Josh made official a relationship they have always had when Josh came to be the first New Beginnings intern.
There were a lot of things wrong with that first ministry...the relationship we formed with Josh and Michelle was something very right.

Ian:  "Mom, are Michelle and Josh part of our family?"
My no-but-yes answer confused him.
Ian: "Well, they feel like my family, and I love them."
Later he told his dad they were his "heart family."

Relationships created by God are our heart family!

When Harry Met Sally

Can men and women be friends...just friends?  I have been thinking about this a lot lately because it has come up. Last night, I sat in Bible study and listened to Beth give the characteristics of a close friendship; I had very few relationships that fit but one of them was with a guy. Troy quickly and emphatically always answers the question no.  He says a girl can be just friends with a guy but a guy cannot be just friends with a girl.  I can think of 3 times in 3 completely different contexts that he has said that this week.  Like I said, it has come up.  I have issues with that...big ones for a couple of reasons.
First, I have always found it easier to be friends with guys.  Guys use and need less words than women which suits my personality.  I hate small talk.  I am not good at it, and I find little use for it.  I am also naturally very shy.  I don't feel a need to fill quiet space with words.  I can sit with a person, say nothing and be satisfied.  I am very much like my dad in that way.  I will dig deep with you easily and quickly...which is why I love Bible study so much...but day to day little stuff...eh.  Guys are ok with that.  Women want to talk about everything, anything and nothing.  Also, I have very little tolerance for drama in my own life.  (I will listen to yours, but I don't need any of my own.)  I know not many women will say they want drama but, man, a group of women always end up with it.  Y'all know the games women play...they way they manipulate and all that.  I can't deal.  Men just don't tend toward drama the way women do.  There is also the side note that for at least four months out of the year the topic I will most want to talk about is college football.  So, I find it easier to really be myself with guys.
Second, I am very secure in my marriage.  I love my man.  There is no wavering in that.  I am not swayed by anyone else.  I can appreciate a good looking man and even can be flattered if a man is paying attention to me, but it would never cross my mind to cheat on my husband.  We have fought too hard for our marriage to think of it that cheaply.  I know affairs can creep up out of nowhere and happen on a slippery slope, but nothing about who I am wants that emotionally or physically.  My heart is taken.  I don't have it to give away to anyone.
But you know what, I may just be proving Troy's answer to be right.  I have never been a man.  He has.  He knows what a guy feels and thinks...how they act and react.  I explained how I feel from a woman's point of view.  It's possible...but that's what Troy said.  It's the guy that can't do it.
What do you all think?  Can men and women be just friends?  How about 2 happily married people?  Can they be friends with someone else?