You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile.

So, it's been a while since I spilled my secrets and released my feelings, hasn't it? I have to admit, I do hope that people are reading this and are finding themselves taking a bit of my words with them. After all, "We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere."

That's something I've realized lately. I'm taking a bit of everyone everywhere I go with me.

I've taken some from my friends here at home, and of course my loving family. I've also taken some from, believe it or not, my understanding, classy teachers.

I've taken a lot from a gal I have just recently met. Well, not recently, I guess. More like a year ago. She is, hands down, the most beautiful person I've come across in life. She is so accepting, encouraging, and kind. Her words never ever fail me. If only she could realize how beautiful (inside AND out) she is. Her courage and strenght is beyond inspiring. Every so often, I come across a little saying on her Facebook page: "I see a thousand possibilities in every smile of yours."

There have been days when I just stare at that and let it run over and over in my head. Today is one of those days.

What is a possiblity? And a thousand of them? That's awful high isn't it?

No. I've gotta believe I'm beautiful. I've gotta believe I was put on this earth for something. I just have to.

After all, God Loves Ugly.

But, what is Ugly? This song has made me think. I know, right? I've been doing a lot of that. But that can't be a bad thing.

Anyway. Ugly. What is it? After this song, to me, Ugly is beautiful. And beautiful is accepting and loving yourself.

Christa Black has also been one of the few who have held onto a spot in my heart. Her inspiring story, her lyrics, her beauty is unbelievable and indescribable. She's a rolemodel. Her "God Loves Ugly" song was something I needed to hear. I freed me from this flawful world where everything is viewed as flawless.

Flaws are beautiful.

I've also realized how fortunate, lucky, and thankful I am for the past 4 years. I'm so glad I've been able to grow up with those boys. And watching them climb the latter of success was another thing I needed. I know, I know, sounds cliche, but hey. They're my black keys. Along with you. You're my black keys. You're showing me this world and I'm taking a tad of you with me.

For the longest time, I've just asked for a friend. A true friend that I can count on and learn from. And spill my secrets to.

I do believe that God has sent me these people because He knows how much they would mean to me. He knew they would forever change me for the better. He was right. I may only be 16, but I need to surround myself with those kinds of people. And He knows that. That's why he sent them to me! And I'm sure more beautiful friends are on their way. <3

Back to that smile quote. I've gotta smile more. And laugh. My one smile (or giggle) could force a gorgeous smile (or chuckle) onto someone else. Not a bad trade, huh? You know, a smile confuses an approaching frown.

And if I don't walk into that Allstate Arena venue VIP soundcheck party on July 10th without a smile planted right on my face, who am I? A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home. I wanna tell every single person in Chicago, "Hey. I'm home."

Now that I think about it, I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.

You're beautiful. Believe it.

My Hero

by Stephani Mager

I saw my hero
just walking down the street
the other day.
I see my hero
in my dreams
everyday.

I watched him leave
he had a tear in his eye
as he looked back at me.
He mouthed 'I love you'
and then he was gone.
I said 'I love you too.'
and then tears came down
my eyes
as I started
to cry.

I saw my hero
fighting for me,
fighting for you.
I saw my hero
in my dreams.

Why did he have to go?
Why did he have to leave?
Why is this happening
to me?

I miss him.

As my heart starts pounding
I watch as the light in his head goes dim.
I saw my hero
in my dreams.
I saw my hero
pleading to come back to me.

I saw my hero
in my dreams.
I as the light
in his head went dim.

I saw my hero
come back to me.

I saw him.

I see him.

My hero.

Waiting. Here. Without You.

Waiting is one of the most painful, miserable, and heartbreaking things in the world. I don't know how much longer I can wait here. But I keep telling myself; something worth having is something worth waiting for. I've still got so much hope and faith, but not enough. I've gotta have more. You can never have enough hope, faith, and love.

You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting for you. I believe that you'll find me. I truly, truly do.

I've been holding out my hand, waiting on you for the longest time. Isn't it time for me to stop waiting, and for you to step out and reach for it? But then again, time wastes for noone, but love waits forever.

I've gotta keep waiting. Remember: love is patient.

But, it's hard to wait here. Don't you know that? And I'm scared that this could be an absolute waste. You know, there's only a fine, fine line between love and a waste of time.

Surprisingly, I can feel it. I can feel that you're not going to let me down. You're gonna be there for me when I need ya, aren't you?

And I can't care what people think. If you're making me happy, opening my heart up, and forcing me to show my pearly whites; that's all that matters. It'll be worth the wait, won't it?

'Cause I've got hope, faith, patience, and love. No worries at the moment. All the worries at are the top of this blog. I'm leaving them behind.

So thanks, kiddos. Don'tcha see you're making me think really, really, really hard about all these simple things in life. And I'm so grateful I am. I wouldn't want to be any other way; especially taking these simple things for granted. 'Cause plain and simple is beautiful. Black and white is lovely.

I don't think you know about this, about my life, about my journey. And I'm not ready to share that quite yet. I'm waiting for the right time and the right person. Who will listen. And open up their heart to me. Golly, I need that person. I'm sure they're close. Or really far away at the moment. Heh. Heh. Heh.

To sum this up: the Black Keys are showing me a world I never knew.

And let me tell you, Black Keys are incredible. They're all about faith, hope, patience, love, acceptance, respect, and beauty.

The Black Keys can flip your world upside down...for the better that is.

Love Is Patient. <3

"If you want me to wait, I would wait for you. If you tell me to stay, I would stay right through."

The fact that every day I wake up and the first thing that pops into my head is July 10th, is sad alone. But it's even worse that I'm thinking about it right before I go to sleep. So that basically means, I'm thinking about it almost every single second.

Something else I'm thinking about is June 16th. Now, that's a little closer, but I need it to come just as much. I need those new stories, I need those new lyrics, I need those metaphors that connect my life with theirs.

Gah, I sound so dramatic. I promise I'm not. But one thing I do promise. I'm pretty sure "Turn Right" will sing me to sleep for a while. And "Much Better" will make me want to go dancing, along with "Hey Baby." Swoon. I kind of adore that song.

And if "Black Keys" is what I think it's about, it's exactly what I needed. Now that's a song, people. Recognizing the real beauty of the world and people. Could possibly sing me to sleep on those tough nights as well.

Anywho, July 10th. So there's this little issue that I spent 400 bucks on VIP; I think I have too high of hopes. And that scares me. Just because this one day will mean the entire world to me if all goes well. And if it doesn't go almost perfect, I could slowly fade away from this whole adventure. And that scares me even more. Now that I think about it, lots of things scare me.

I'm afraid things people say aren't true, that I won't be accepted, that I'm gonna be left, I'm afraid that this love I have could be just a waste of time, I'm afraid I'll have to let you go, things might not be as great as they seem, I'm also afraid that this isn't meant to be more than a dream.

But I have hope, I have faith, that someday. Things will change, and you'll finally see me. And that all my dreaming and wishing will be worth it.

But that's not going to happen unless I Turn Right. I have to Turn Right; but love is patient, so I have to wait for the right time. For everthing. I have to be patient for June 16th, for July 10th, for love, for life, and everything in-between.