ハッピーバースデー

For those of you who have never had the deep pleasure of receiving a letter from Stephanie Waite (aka negev, aka a million other names), I would like to share this beautiful experience with you. It is too wonderful/magical for you to go your whole life without at least knowing this experience exists. Prepare for bliss.

First and foremost, a letter from negev always comes in a delightful/heartwarming one of a kind homemade envelope.

A beautiful straight from the heart note or letter of some sort is always included. These generally include a hello, 40 inside jokes, buckets full of love, life updates (that i usually have already heard by the time i read them), dreamy dreams...and more love.

Poetry, lyrics, and whimsical pretty words of many sorts are a key element of these letters. It is impossible to not be entirely inspired by these and everything else in here. The poems are the best because they make you just breathe, take a break from the business of everyday life, and just enjoy something beautiful!!!

And last but not least there is always and assortment of other wonderful odds and ends (including but not limited to: photos, MORE poems, cute things, hilarious/weird things that reminded her of you, uplifting bible verses, tasty things and MOREEEE).

Basically, getting a letter from Stephanie is always like the best part of my.. dayweekmonth! I am always so inspired, uplifted and feel downright LOOVVEEDDDDDDD!!!!!! really really really. Oh and I always end up having a SUPER good laugh. Sometimes a cry. idk. just good stuff. This one was my birthday present! SO goooood.

So there you have it. A peek into the world of being pen pals with my negev. Isn't it great??? I love you so much steph that I could never ever ever ever ever describe it in words! sayonara.aloha.um yah um yah um yah.but also. i love you now and foreverMORI.

On another note. Today one of my favorite customers at work described my face in these words. I thought it was really funny. He said my face is mysterious, cheeky, old celtic, a smidge vacant, stoic, mischievous, elvish, and over all uniqueish-freakish. hahahahaha. I love lou!

This is lou. Hes a very nice friend.

;skdjalkdosjfh

Please Pooping Thanks

I saw this tonight when I was on a walk. Apparently my new neighbors are very anti poo.

hope is important. dreaming takes courage.

Spring Has Sprung...

.. and has sprung quite pleasurably if you ask me. In celebration of spring being here, here's some recent fun times.

This is my favorite picture from this day. (below)

Sooo good to spend time with her. (below)

This picture perfectly defines our friendship. (below)

Our shadows went for a walk! P.s. Look at the cute baby moon in sky!! I love day time visits from the moon. (below)

Story of my life. That cat....kjlnjnhg.

Carolina Tide

SORRRY!! This album is just sooo good. I think I am just understanding redemption a little more lately and its the most beautiful thing in the UNIVERSE. These are just too beautiful and too deeply inspiring not to share.

"Hey girl, let's go down

wash our hands
in the Carolina tide
Let's go down and die
and come back like babies

Hey girl, let's go down
wash our sins
in the muddy brown wave
Wash the world away
and come back again

All these scarlet stains
like the blood red clay
on the knees of our jeans
You can come out righteous
if you want babe
you can come out clean

hey girl drive all night
down to the water
and live like we're alive
Let our sleeping die
and roll out of these graves

Hey girl, the water don't know
the shore don't care
who you were before
We're not them anymore
you know we're not the same.

All these scarlet stains
like the blood red clay
on the knees of our jeans
You can come out righteous
if you want babe
you can come out clean

Hey girl, let's go down
wash our hands
in the Carolina tide
Let's go down and die
and come back like babies

Hey girl, let's go down
wash our sins
in the muddy brown wave
Wash the world away
and come back again."

P.s. Where the heck did march go?? Fastest month evaaa

Belly of the Lion

"Dance the dance
We call living and dying
In the valley of the city
in the belly of the lion
Work all week long
All week long
You can lose your soul
In the concrete riverbeds
Rolling with the flow
Of the currents of the walking deads
Five comes and you're a rolling stone."

-John Mark Mcmillan

Fact:

We (mankind) are starving for love.

Fact: I am enjoying this song as of late.

I've Got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

and its often these negevs. I think I might die of love for them. best friends now and foreverMORI.

Some Tokens of Wisdom...

... that stood out to me in Proverbs 19:

Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

The fear of the LORD leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

i think one of the most powerful things someone can do with their lives is to truly be themselves. that is probably why it is so hard to do.

Stars

"You should see the stars tonight
how they shimmer shine so bright
against the black they look so white
comin down from such a height
to reach me now, reach me now

you should see the moon in the flight
cuttin cross the misty night
softly dancin in sunshine
reflections of this light
reach me now, you reach me now

and how could such a thing
shine its light on me
and make everything beautiful again

and you should feel the sun in the spring
comin out after a rain
suddenly all is green
sunshine on everything
i can feel it now, i feel you now

and how could such a thing
shine its light on me
and make everything beautiful

and you should hear the angels sing
all gathered round their king
more beautiful than you could dream
i've been quietly listening
you can hear 'em now, i hear em now

and how could such a king
shine His light on me
and make everything beautiful
and i wanna shine
i wanna be light
i wanna tell you it'll be alright
and i wanna shine and i wanna fly
just to tell you now
it'll be alright, it'll be alright
it'll be alright.

cus i got nothing of my own to give to you
but this light that shines on me shines on you
and makes everything beautiful, again.
it'll be alright, it'll be alright."

- David Crowder Band

What a beautiful song.

"we are the music-makers,
and we are the dreamers of dreams,
wandering by lone sea-breakers,
and sitting by desolate streams;
world losers and world forsakers,
on whom the pale moon gleams.
yet we are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems..."

-arthur o'shaughnessy

Thanks negev.

God is huge. So huge and beyond comprehension. Sometimes its scary to think about. Yet He is Love!!! Like crazzzy huge love.

Jesus never takes his hand off me. I can confess that most of the desires of my heart are selfish and often they are really wicked. It is sooo cool though to see God take control of me and fill me with life and freedom. He is bringing a lot of brokenness and hard times, but even those are building me up like crazy! I can say without a doubt that anything at all that is good in me is Jesus. Its exciting because He never changes and He is faithful so we can trust him.

I just wanted to declare Gods goodness and faithfulness to me. The victory is his. All I have to show for this year in a lot of ways is brokenness.... but somehow... it feels good! It is liberating. That must be the spirit of God at work! I just want to know him more and more and more. I have a billion fears and sin issues and a billion things I'm confused about.. but I have peace. I have joy. I have God, and he is big and loving and in control.

Thank you to my friends who support me in prayer everyday. I wouldn't be encouraged at all without your prayers. Can I just say that prayer works? It does. Even when it seems like it doesn't. Even when it seems like it doesn't for a long long time. God listens and cares and communing with him is SICK!!!!!!!!!

"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“LORD, save me!”

The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
The LORD protects the simple hearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

I trusted in the LORD when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
in my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”

What shall I return to the LORD
for all his goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his faithful servants.
Truly I am your servant, LORD;
I serve you just as my mother did;
you have freed me from my chains.

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD."

- Psalm 116

khgnbfg,bk,m

I Am Still Running

"Build me a home
inside your scars.

Build me a home
Inside your song.
Build me a home
inside your open arms,
The only place I ever will belong."

♥♥♥

"Some day there will be no time to mind."

I think I was born to be an explorer. Yes; and I will go down as one of the greats. My photo will hang in the explorer hall of fame right in between Dora and Indiana Jones.

Chin Up Darling

"Whatever our failings may be, we need not lower our eyes in the presence of Jesus...we need not hide all that is ugly and repulsive in us. Jesus comes not for the super-spiritual but for the wobbly and the weak kneed who know they don't have it all together, and who are not too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace. As we glance up, we are astonished to find the eyes of Jesus open with wonder, deep with understanding, and gentle with compassion." - Brennan Manning

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Jesus

(Beautiful illustration by Caroline Morin)

“Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

Wow. We really only have to walk with Him huh? Walk, trust, love, rest.

I want to be able to say this honestly:

"My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it." - Brennan Manning

Umm I think I literally have the greatest friends in all of planet earth! I think they would give their life for me. I am rich!

I don't say this to boast in myself, but because I am just so thankful and full of joy! I realize lately that God has just handed me this amazing gift. I could not ask for anything more at all.

So if your my friend, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love you from the bottom of my heart and I think so highly of you, just so you know.

"Consider the Great Love of The Lord"

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for His UNFAILING love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains! Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron."

(Psalm 107)

Taste and see that the Lord is good. His love endures forever.

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” -Isaiah 43:19

This is beautiful to me.

"Stop scrambling for slavery when you already have daughtership." -Brittany Roorda

JESUS!!

Knowing Jesus, being loved by him, and loving him back is EVERYTHING. It is more important than school, relationships, family, jobs, health, friends, art.. anything!! He loves us soooooo deeply and complete FREEDOM and joy is ours. TAKE IT YO! This earth is fading fast and soon we will be with him (i just remembered that right now). We are so free to just love him now on this earth. All of the everyday things that swarm us for our affection and attention are all well and good, but remember, they are not everything. They did not create you, they did not die to redeem you, they can never change you. We are so loved!!!!!! Let us ask the Lord to make us ready to meet him and to have a blast walking with him now!

p.s. This is a good song

p.p.s. i just looked over at my little white board and laughed because I realized I am a little behind on life. bahah. (months later i haven't accomplished a single one of those things) OH WELL!!! hahahhaadhdfkjhldkjfh. ya ya yayayay.

Jesus Paid it All

I decided if it takes a visual reminder, than thats what it takes.

"Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: "I am with you kid. Let's go." ~Maya Angelou

"You placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name."

I am reminded that my God is capable and in control.

Come on Baby Let the Good Times Roll

Some good times as of late:

(^300 ft waterfall in the distance ^)

(^base of it ^)

(^handmade^)

simplicity

I think I am going to try something new. I suspect this something will be very beneficial. You see, I have been journaling (obsessively) for like three or four years now. It is rare for a day to go by without me at least jotting down a thought or quote...if not half a novel. It is rare that I go anywhere without my journal on my person. However, once I finish a journal, it usually just sits on a shelf (with its million other fellow journal-tribe members). I look through them on occasion, whether it be for the heck of it, or to try to remember when something happened. Of course, there is also the journal game that Steph and I play (opening up to a random page and reading aloud everything on the page no matter how boring/mortifying/dramatic/stupid the entry is)...but again, other than that...they are pretty dormant.

SO. The new practice that I think I should instate for myself is as follows: I think that every so often (once a day... once a week...once a month..whatever) I should read through the entry that I wrote for that day the previous year(s). I often get pretty small minded, self centered and start to nit-pick my life and thus feel like I'm failing at everything. I think looking back over a year or twos time like this would be one great way to see how I am growing..and it would just be fun. It would probably really lift my spirits and encourage me too because I usually write everything I am learning. Truth be told... I usually then forget those things in like a weeks time haha, so to be reminded of them would be awesome. Yah? yah.

March 1st 2010 provided a laugh. I was half-delirious (in bed sick with a fever), and deeply confused after watching into the wild haha.

I cant WAIT to read March 2 & 3rds entries!!! Tomorrow is a very special day! (More to come on that).