Also

This! I didn't like this song at first because I don't like the voice of the first guy to sing (too nickleback-ish for me). BUT....then I realized what was even going on.. and suddenly it didn't matter. This is true brilliance!

I enjoy this. Thanks Lonz.

Mingus Plays Piano

I know traditionally Charles Mingus  is most famous for his fantastic bass playing... but gosh, I'm a sucker for the piano and this album is so wonderful. I love everything about it from the music itself, to the soul flowing through it, to the concept behind it.

The album (Mingus Plays Piano) is Mingus in a studio, playing improvised/spontaneous songs on the piano. Although this word is cliche, the album is technically very "raw". (He even talks in the beginning of the track saying he is uncomfortable cause he usually just plays by himself at home.) You wouldn't really guess any of that though because the pieces are so beautifully composed, complex and complete sounding. 

.... I guess that's what happens when you are a musical genius?

Makes you wonder what other impromptu masterpieces have flown from his fingers (and heart) in the secret of his own house for only such privileged walls to hear. 

Lifes paradoxes

Free time = struggle for creativity

Finals cram time = deep well spring of inspiration and an endless trail of creative ideas.

(Paradoxes... not to be confused with pairofoxes)

Writers

Writers are just thinkers with a bad memory and a dash of determination.

Rest

"Because we live in a world that is ignorant of the work of God, we overestimate the work of man."

 - Dave Lomas

New self

“There are no real personalities apart from God. Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self. Sameness is to be found most among the most 'natural' men, not among those who surrender to Christ. How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been; how gloriously different are the saints.

But there must be a real giving up of the self. You must throw it away 'blindly' so to speak. Christ will indeed give you a real personality; but you must not go to Him for the sake of that. As long as your own personality is what you are bothering about you are not going to Him at all. The very first step is to try to forget about the self altogether. Your real, new self (which is Christ's and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him...Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”

-C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity 

Yah it hurts, but the taste of true freedom is the sweetest. "If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39).

I truly love when I can lay in bed and see the moon out my window. It's equally as amazing and stunning to me every time. It gives me joy and butterflies in my tummy.

Soweto Gospel Choir

Though I have been in one myself, I've never really like choirs... like almost at all. I will admit there is something uniquely powerful and beautiful about the sound a good choir puts out. It's like nothing else and can move you to the core.... but still... I always get a cheesy vibe surrounding the whole choir thing. That being said, I just found a choir that changes my mind about all that. I introduce to you the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa: 

(Just try and not cry.. hang in 'till the end.)

This isn't the best they have, I just love this song ha. It's the deepest song of my soul. :))))))))))))))))) (Thank you Jesus!!) The songs in the South African dialect and style are the best in my opinion. But yah.. dang man. They're good.

Gillian Goerz

I stumbled across a neat illustrator today named Gillian Goerz. I like her work because it's simple and therein lies its power. 

Outta-sight watercolor!! (Below)

Love this one.

I just did "in-depth research" (google image search) of about 10 cities in South Korea. I am blown away by the geographic diversity and beauty of that not so large country. I could post a lot of photos... but I want to leave you with one from Gangneung: 

I think it might be magic there.

Jeju, South Korea

Tonight I discovered the island of JeJu (South Korean province) on the internet. Simply put: I want to go there.

 I ever increasingly marvel at this world...and to think it's just a glimmer of what's ahead? I can't even imagine. (And I'm pretty good at imagining).

My sentiments exactly:

Fun blog.

Bangs = fall appropriate 

Feel inside...and stuff like that

This is genius. I just watched this in coffee bean and managed to semi-contain my laughter supernova. (It still escaped in a mini, creepy giggle meteor shower.) I'm not sure if that's a feat or a shame. ANYWAY, watchhh thissss.

"Jemaine and Bret from Flight of the Conchords were asked to write a song for CureKids- a charity that funds research for childhood illnesses. They interviewed a bunch of kids about what they should write the song about, and then, based off of the ridiculous ideas, they did, along with a bunch of famous New Zealand artists."

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
  -Jacques Cousteau

Family is more golden than gold can ever dream of being.

Just stop already!! Ugh. I didn't realize it, but apparently, I've never listened to Van Morrison much until this week. The man has an unbelievable amount of soul for a little white Irish boy.  The stuff that comes out of him is beautiful! Its leakin' into my soul and it feels great.

mmm.

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen,

The saddest are these: "It might have been!"

-John Greenleaf Whittier 

(Maud Muller)

And so I am reminded again of my theme for 2012: "Thankfulness and contentment." 

Word (unfortunately)

"The music moves me, but it moves me ugly."

 -Wild Hogs

What do I know of holy?

Wow, this is a really awesome song. It reminds me of something I was taught this week: It is not just the fact that we have done wrong that makes us deserving of hell, it is who we have done wrong against. If you raise your hand to slap a dog, people probably won't do much to you. If you raise your hand to slap the president of the United States, you'll probably get shot. We as humans have sinned against a holy, perfect, powerful God. I know that He loves me. I know that Jesus lived a sinless life and sacrificed his life on the cross to take the punishment we all deserved, and to credit to us all his of righteousness. I know that through Jesus shed blood that I am forgiven and now have right standing with God, and that when He looks at me, He is so pleased because He sees Jesus. I know that I am covered now and will spend eternity with God in heaven. I have the Holy spirit now that teaches me about God and gives me His own desires instead of my old, crusty selfish ones. All of these truths are radical, life changing, and have set me free to love God and worship him without any fear or shame despite all of ways I have and still sin against him. All of my hope, strength and identity rest in these truths. Sometimes though, I become big headed and arrogant and forget who God is. I begin to think more of me than Him, and think that He is just some nice guy who helps me a lot and loves me. Every once in while when I have time in MY schedule I throw Him a bone, give him some attention and read the bible to "please him." However God, in time, and in all of his grace and kindness always gently takes my eyes off of me and places them on him. He reminds me of who he is and opens my eyes to see his glory and love. That is when everything changes. That is when I change. Yes, I know God, but I also hardly know God. He is infinite. We as humans, even the ones that know him most intimately and have seen his mighty works, have only scratched the tip of the iceberg. I am learning a little bit, but still, what do I know of Holy? I look forward to knowing God more and more everyday on this earth and in heaven.

But really, good song huh? haha

¡¡¡Mariachi mo...friday!!!

My nephew Seastian turned one thursday!! That certainly went fast. I like him so far :). He is crazy and definitely 100% boy, but he is also very sweet and happy. One reason I love this picture is it perfectly displays what I love most about Penny (my niece); She is such an encourager and always cheers people on and sees the best in them. I hope she always stays that way. 

Probably my favorite thing about summer beside sleep, surfing and hikes, is sleepovers with pen. This  was our first one of the summer! I am so thankful for all of my family, but especially these two summer babies. Basically what I'm getting at is that being and auntie is just the greatest!

Merry July!

Yogaho yogaho!

"... be content with what you have, because God has said,
'Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.'"
-Hebrews 13:5

Psalm 73:20-28

"When you arise, O Lord,

you will laugh at their silly ideas

as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. Then I realized that my heart was bitter,

and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—

I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you;

you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel,

leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

he is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish,

for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter,

and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."

I think flannel shirts are the most perfect things ever invented.

Summerspiration

Dreamy dreamboat

It's funny...

It's funny how when your life finally slows down, all the issues that got left in the dust of your busyness manages to, well, catch up with you. It's funny how when your life quiets down, all the noise that your loudness successfully drowned out is surprisingly more -- audible.

(and by funny I mean perturbing.)

I praise God that I have deeper peace than my circumstances would care to display. I praise God that his love is an anchor for my soul...really I do, because honestly, everything else is in constant motion these days: circumstances, feelings, locations, companions, desires..etc. If I didn't belong to a faithful God who loves unendingly, I'd have nothing to hold on to. Sure I experience heartbreak, worry, depression, loneliness and anger like any other human, but it's what happens next that is the miracle. Before I settle into dismay, Gods spirit tenderly comforts me. He teaches me, corrects me and reminds my heart of fiercely hopeful truths and promises if I am open to him. He changes everything. Him. Not religion, not spirituality, not optimism, not stuff, adventures, people or better circumstances.

I forget about him and I push him away often, but HE is the faithful one. He is patient, loving and wise. I am never alone. Please ask me about Jesus if you don't know him in this way. You need to. We all have the same opportunity to walk this life with him and enjoy and share his love. The invitation is wiiiide open to all, but not for long. He is coming back for those who belong to him. We will finally be with him face to face. Man... unadulterated freedom, acceptance, peace, joy, and true love. For those who reject him the opposite will be true: punishment, sadness and separation. But here and now it is NOT too late to ask him to rule your heart and to be utterly fulfilled by his sweet love, peace and joy.

Want freedom? Seek Jesus. He has proved himself more powerful than death, sin, disease and my terribly fickle and weary heart. You, your problems, your habits, your family, your worries and your hurts are not too much for him.

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3 NLT)

"Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet ...(Hebrews 12:12NIV)

"...If only you would listen to his voice today! The LORD says, “Don’t harden your hearts..." (Psalm 95:7, 8 NLT)

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

I like men. They inspire me to be simple.

Two years ago (from last friday the15th) I was baptized by my close friend, and roommate at the time, Camille. Two years later, through lots and lots and lots of messy messes, and through even more blessings, I want to declare that God is the most gracious, loving, faithful God. There is no God like him. He is still drowning me in His grace and love. He is still teaching me. I love Him, and every joy, trial, lesson, disappointing, blessing...etc has been entirely worth it. His Spirit in me is all my hope and strength. Keep sustaining me Father; Have your way.


P.s. I am taking this first part of summer to truly rest before I start work and eventually school again. I am so excited and can't wait to spend it with Jesus and with my friends and family. Rest rest rest. Thank you God. He surely knows what we need.

Dear Jesus,

"...you have won me. You have broken every chain with love and mercy. You have triumphed over death and you are worthy of glory and praise..."

Love,
Heather

From the desert

"...Onward brokenhearted soldier

into the great unknown.

Lay down your weapons and follow

into the light of the sun.

When I couldn't walk any further,

I fell to my knees to pray.

With my final breath I cried out,

in the blowing wind I heard you say:

Onward onward good soldier

into the great unknown

hear the golden trumpet sounding

calling the tired soldiers home..."

To the Desert

By: The Branches

Wisdom for the ages

Summer at last

Cheers to the first tastes of sweet, sweet summer...

Rest rest ressssssst and jamming under a lemon tree

 Bro-bro did it!

Best friend time

 Farmers market with my favorite baby girl

 TurbanTeaTuesdays 

Lil' boobie 

 TurbanTeaTuesday (redneck edition...easily the most flattering picture of me in existence)

  Volcanic party hats

 Post underwater photo shoot (photos to come)

 Roommates

... here's to the whole summer feast still ahead! <3

Soggy bottom girls

 Just two years later and all we're missing is Jess :)

Phay knows a thing or two about a thing or two.

An afternoon at sea

This last Saturday was one of the funnest, summeriest days of my life! I spent it with some of my best friends swimming in a stormy sea under stormy clouds. The day was fancy free and full of love, fun, joy, friendship and youthful spirit. It concluded with good food, warm tea, and a house full of laughter (and smize practice: second to last photo). Straight up medicine for the soul. Thank you, thank you, thank you God for restful and inspiring days like this.

Turban tea tuesday

My hope

God woke me up in the night for this one. It is exactly what my weary heart needs to hear and know. I need an intravenous drip of this truth. Settle down into this beauty:

"O LORD, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God!

Do not let me be disgraced,

or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. Show me the right path, O LORD;

point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me,

for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love,

which you have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.

Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,

for you are merciful, O LORD. The LORD is good and does what is right;

he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right,

teaching them his way. The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness

all who keep his covenant and obey his demands. For the honor of your name, O LORD,

forgive my many, many sins. Who are those who fear the LORD?

He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity,

and their children will inherit the land. The LORD is a friend to those who fear him.

He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on the LORD,

for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. Turn to me and have mercy,

for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse.

Oh, save me from them all! Feel my pain and see my trouble.

Forgive all my sins. See how many enemies I have

and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them!

Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. May integrity and honesty protect me,

for I put my hope in you. O God, ransom Israel

from all its troubles."

(Psalm 25:1-22)

Best friends jumping in jumpers

Psalm 125:1-2