I have phenomenal people in my life.
Tonight I'm speechless and my heart is so full.

My Week in Photos

This week was good. Nothing extraordinary. Just life. Monday was National Margarita Day so me, Christina and our friend Andrew went out to celebrate.

The rest of the week was just life as normal. I did finally get to go to the chiropractor on Friday and it was amazing! It had been WAY too long and boy did it feel good. Work was what it always is. A little boring, but thank the Lord I have a job and at least the people I work with are great. This week we did have our first tornados here in Nash. It got pretty bad for awhile. There was no actual tornado where we live, but the winds were so bad they tore off a Captain D's sign right down the road and some of the street light wires fell. Not everyone was as lucky. There were places in and around Nashville that were torn up due to an actual tornado touching down. It was pretty crazy. Now, I'm from Oklahoma so I am used to that kind of weather, but I very much understand and respect how dangerous and unpredictable they can be, so I would be ok if we didn't have to deal with another one for awhile.

Saturday was full of grocery shopping, going to see my friend Jimmy Needham play at Acquire The Fire in Nashville, and good long conversations with friends about life, the struggles of being in this phase of our lives, our dreams and desires and even explaining to people from up north what a "hipster" is. haha. It was a good week.

Right now, it's raining outside and I'm curled up on the couch watching movies on our new free Starz channels. UP is next, I love that movie, but the beginning always makes me cry. Then tonight is church and small group. Sunday is probably my favorite day of the week. My church and the people who surround me in it are incredible. I am a very blessed girl.

Well I hope you enjoy your Sunday and have had a wonderful love filled weekend.

Torn

Lately I have been torn. I absolutely LOVE Nashville. I do. I love the culture, I love the people, I love the style, and I love the music. But...there is still a place in my heart for the beach life. Slow, relaxed, warm, the smell of the air, everything. I miss heading to the beach for a few hours to just soak up the warmth, or listen to the waves roll. There is just something about the idea of living on the beach, surfing, working at a local coffee shop or cafe and living a simple life that I can't quit thinking about.

vs.

I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. And I don’t want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes. I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car with the windows open and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down, and I want my everyday to make God belly laugh, glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift.

Jalapeño Poppers

I need to make these immmediately!! I found the recipe HERE and fully intend to make them this weekend! They are jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese wrapped in bacon. Amen Amen Amen

Beautiful Tattoos

Oh, Henry

love

Texas Loves

I mean seriously. Could you just die? I could. A trip to Dallas needs to be in my IMMEDIATE future

Weekend Playlist

Ombre Hair

I think I like this new hair trend that is happening. It's called Ombre hair. I think it's kind of rock star-ish. I also think I am going to give it a try with my hair. I alway love doing new things with my hair color and this just looks fun!

What do you think? Do you like this look or do you think it just looks like you have let your roots grow out?

So our internet has been a little testy for the last week and it still isn't working unless you are plugged directly in to the router, which has made posting a little difficult. I am pretty bummed I missed out on all the possibilities for Valentines Day posts yesterday. I'm hoping we can get this fixed this week so I can get back into the swing of posting. But until then, I leave you with this:

Fear of the Waves

Matthew 14 tells the story of Jesus and Peter walking on the water. Jesus approaches the disciples while they are on their boat. He is walking on the water towards them. Once Peter realizes it is Jesus he steps out of the boat to go to him. After he gets out of the boat and looks around, seeing the waves and the wind it hits him what he is really doing and he begins to sink. He thinks he is going to drown. Jesus pulls him up, telling him he has little faith. But Peter got out of the boat right? That showed more faith than the other disciples. He just let fear overtake him in the middle of it.

Sound familiar? It does to me. I have trusted God enough to get out of the boat. I made the move, I gave up that relationship, I took that risk. But then things don't go exactly how I thought they would. The wind is still howling and the waves are still raging. Fear starts creeping in, then doubt, then I start to feel myself sinking. Sinking into self pity, anger, frustration, insecurity.

I knew God asked me to step out of the boat, so I did. I had the faith to make it that far. But I didn't have the faith to believe he wouldn't let me drown. I honestly convince myself that he called me out here to let me drown. I mean, things aren't lining up. The job isn't happening, I haven't met my knight in shining armor, it's still scary and he is not stopping any of it. How could he?! I trusted him!

Then I stop, and look up and there he is, hand extended, shaking his head with a slight smile on his face saying "Oh you of little faith, did you honestly think I would let you drown? Don't you know me at all?" He pulls me up and suddenly I realize how foolish I am.

I know my Jesus is not like that. I do. He will never ask me to get out of the boat just to sit by and watch me drown. But if I start to, it I let fear get in the way, he will always extend his hand out and pull me to him, if I allow him to.

Tunes Tuesday: Adele

Adele is brilliant, she's from England, her voice is captivating and she's only 22. When she starts to sing you instantly know it's her, he voice is unmistakable.

I don't have much to say, just listen for yourself

Adele - Chasing Pavements - Watch the best video clips here

To be unguarded.

I've forgotten what that feels like

GLB

"I believe that everything happens for a

reason. People change so that you can

learn to let go, things go wrong so that

you appreciate them when they’re

right...And sometimes good things fall

apart so better things can fall

together." {marilyn monroe.}

I used to hate the normal patterns of life...predictable moving apart from people, growing up...[time & space]. I wondered how people could watch that happen in their lives and be okay with it. It terrified me to think of doing the same. Because - in my mind I pictured everything changing without me. Now that I've changed, I realize life isn't as cruel as it seemed, fear has faded away, and in the end, I know love will still win.

Tunes Tuesday: The Civil Wars

So "Tunes Tuesday" seems to be "Tunes Sometime During The Week". This week I am telling you about a band I have known about for a couple years now, but just recently they have started to explode:

The Civil Wars

They were on the Jay Leno show a couple weeks ago and KILLED it, it was so exciting and I think the entire town of Nashville was tuned it and cheering them on from their living rooms.

Joy Williams and John Paul White are just as nice as they are talented. Seriously, beautiful people inside and out. Two musicians who met, wrote together and magic followed. As did hard work that landed them where they are now.

They just released their first full length album yesterday named Barton Hollow, and by mid day it had already reached the number one spot on Itunes and it's still holding onto that spot! You can also listen to the full album on AOL music. Guys this album is magical. Please please please go buy it. Support these amazingly talented artists who have earned and deserved the success they are experiencing.

Here are a couple of my favorite songs from Barton Hollow: