washed by the water.

i'll start out with this...

(i found a much better video)

that was the finale of the night and the highlight of the night. i think i was almost emotional at this point.

they unplugged their guitars and crawled up on an overhang in sloss furnace to play "washed by the water".

(i only wish the quality of pictures and videos was much better!)

"Though it might be painful
You know that time will always tell
Those people have long since gone
My father never failed

Even when the rain falls
Even when the flood starts rising
Even when the storm comes
I am washed by the water"

i had high expectations for needtobreathe, but somehow they far exceeded them! what a wonderful, wonderful night.

best $25 i ever spent. a much needed night as i head into my final two weeks of school. the performance was incredible... incredible... but what made it even greater was the fact that so many of those lyrics were exactly what i needed to hear.

bear and seth.

"We’re off to new lands
So hold on to my hands
It’s gonna be alright
It’s a whole lot brighter
So stand by the fire
It’s gonna be alright
Yeah, the road gets harder
But it’s not much farther
It’s gonna be alright
You know that it ain’t easy
Please believe me
It’s gonna be alright

Please don’t worry now
It will turn around"

- More Time

seth.

"So tell me why I should run for cover
At the sound of the coming thunder
All I hear is the cry of my lover
Yeah take your shot
I won't turn back"

- Won't Turn Back

bo.

"Give me motivation
Give me all my heart's desires
Show me something gorgeous
Show me 'til my eyes get tired
Give me all the drums and
Show me how to play them loud
Show me how to move
When I can't feel that you're around

It's clear enough to me
The ugliness I see
Is evidence of who I need

Give me the answer
Give me the way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times"

- Hard Times

matthew mayfield was great, too.

as was, matt hires.

sweet laura and me.

word for word what they said about the night...

"AMAZING show tonight in B'ham w/ @matthewmayfield and @matthires. Feeling very blessed after nights like these. Thank y'all!" - via Twitter

and, i'm posting these in reverse order. but, this was my first impression... pretty darn good, i'd have to say. check out bo in the red and black checked button up. he was definitely deemed the entertainer of the bunch... watch his legs move.

i really wish i could see this every day of my life. but, life does not really work that way.

off to the daily grind (SK, if you are reading this, that makes me think of you)!

change of plans.

needtobreathe

matthew mayfield

matt hires

i get to see these three guys tomorrow!! so, this is what happened. after much deliberation, my

two girlfriends and i decided not to go to the concert because of the bad weather. well, what i

feared happened. the weather was not nearly as bad as everyone predicted. however, after

accepting the disappointment, we received word that they had moved the concert to tomorrow

night! so, i will finally be going to see needtobreathe. it has been quite a saga. however, will

hoge will not be able to play tomorrow night. matthew mayfield is going to take his place... but

i am excited about that as well!

and, tonight ended up being so fun. i had much needed hang out time with some friends... one

of which ran a whole marathon this morning! wow. so, it was a chill evening... just watching

slumdog millionaire... quite possibly my favorite movie ever. so, so good. and we even

attempted to learn the dance at the end.

well, good night friends. i will hopefully dream good dreams of seth bolt and bear rinehart.

eek!!

i get to see these guys in a week...

oh my goodness, i am excited. i might post a video every day till then. well, probably not but i will have to constrain myself from doing such. i am excited... that's all.

my theme songs.

i don't think i could have made it throughout college without these five songs... no joke.

if you do not have them on your ipod, please download, today. i have even conveniently linked them directly to where you can purchase on itunes. these songs will bring great encouragement to your life... they have to mine for the past four years!

"In the arms of a good Father
You can go to the deep water
Where the questions, we have left unspoken
Come out in the open
We will find shelter here

So I lay down, what I cannot hold in my hands
Every sorrow and hope spinning out of control
And here I find sweet resolution comes in letting go
And we will find shelter here"

- sandra mccracken, shelter

"against the night sky of your waiting
your face is like starlight when he walks in
everything worth keeping comes through dying
love has come, love has come for you

so lift up your heart now, to this unfolding
all that has been broken will be restored
here runs deep waters for all who are thirsty
love has come, love has come for you"

- caedmon's call, ten thousand angels

"Because I'm so scared of being alone

That I forget what house I live in

But it's not my job to wait by the phone

For her to call

Well this day's been crazy

But everything's happened on schedule

from the rain and the cold

To the drink that I spilled on my shirt

'Cause You knew how You'd save me

before I fell dead in the garden

And You knew this day

long before You made me out of dirt

And You know the plans that You have for me

And You can't plan the end and not plan the means

And so I suppose I just need some peace

Just to get me to sleep."

- caedmon's call, table for two

"and when you write a poem
i know the words
i know the sounds
before you write it down
only wear your clothes
i wear them too
i wear your shoes
and your jacket too
i always knew you
in your mothers arms
i have called you son
ive made amends
between father and son
or if you havent one
rest in my arms
sleep in my bed
there is a design
to what i did and said"

- sufjan stevens, vito's ordination song

"Oh weary, tired and worn,
Let out your sighs
And drop that heavy load you hold
Cause Mine is light

I know you through and through;
There's no need to hide
I want to show you love
That is deep and high and wide

I am constant; I am near

I am peace that shatters all your secret fears

I am holy; I am wise

I'm the only one who knows your heart's desires

Your heart's desires"

- jill phillips, i am

(shout out to meghan for that one)

and... happy easter!!

beautiful invites.

i'm taking a breather from this week. it has been oh so busy. and, i'm not done yet, for sure.

but, my finance test is over!! yay. now, i have to finish writing a paper and begin studying for beverage. but, i needed something fun for a second.

plus, i'm having to be super careful right now with whatever i do or wherever i go. see, RUF has begun "shenanigans". everyone has a name of person they are supposed to shoot with a water gun. once you "kill" your person, you have to kill the person they were after. so, someone is after me and i am after someone. it is the craziest time because you can't really talk to anyone or hang out. and you walk around paranoid all of the time. anyway, we are in the middle of that. maybe its a good thing so i can actually get a lot of work done rather than hang out.

but, onto pretty things...

minted has design challenges for different types of stationary... party invites, notecards, business cards, etc. well, they just had a design challenge for wedding invitations. new designers from around the country send in their designs. they have not announced a winner yet. but, these are some of my favorites. there were so many beautiful invitations!!

...and a song, of course. i'm a little obsessed with cat stevens.

right now, i'm really liking "hard headed woman".

well, one more...

i found this today. it's the background story to one of my favorite songs ever, "i still haven't found what i'm looking for". it literally brought tears to my eyes. U2 is one of my favorite bands... this is fascinating...

what i'm listening to right now.

here is some music that i'm loving these days...

good ole' dave barnes with "greyhound"... he is a hilarious guy and very talented. ^

QUEEN!! "save me"... they make me emotional. ^

beautiful song, winter song... sara bareilles & ingrid michaelson. ^

Christmas!! and drew and ellie holcomb! adorable... "baby, it's cold outside" ^

and... finally... 500 days of summer comes out TUESDAY!!!!! ok, i rarely branch out with explanation points and all uppercase... therefore, you must know i'm pumped. ahh!! i think this is my favorite movie ever. i think i'll know in maybe 5, maybe 10 years. it takes a while to know if a movie really is your favorite... but nonetheless its fabulous. here's a snippet... maybe the best scene in the entire movie... maybe. that's a pretty big statement. hall & oates "you make my dreams come true"... fabulous song. ohh... and the movie is nominated for best comedy/musical for a golden globe and joseph gordon-levitt is nominated for best actor in a comedy/musical! yay.

just a few things.

3 projects down, 2 more to go! some how this semester eased its way by. i can't say i have ever had a semester like this one and i can't say i have learned as much about my major in all three years as i did this semester. but, that would be because i so do not learn simply through reading or lecture, but i HAVE to actually work to understand something. and, well, work this semester is what i have done. 5 projects and coordinating a wedding! i am almost through. i don't know how i got here.

ok, so... i'm in a dilemma. i mean, not really. but its torturing me just a little bit. abby larson from style me pretty is hiring a personal assistant! ahh. i can't even tell you how perfect the job sounds... this is the description....

1. Managing our editorial calendar
2. Sorting and organizing emails
3. Communicating with vendors on real wedding features
4. Running errands here and there
5. Coordinating my schedule, booking trips, phone chats, etc
6. Driving in to Charlestown for meetings 1 time per week
7. Pinch hitting in other areas when needed

and this is what i would send in order to try to get the job...

1. Resume / Brief letter introducing yourself (no stuffy cover letters)
2. Two or three examples of your own wedding style (through links to real weddings or jpgs)
3. A list of your favorite blogs and why you love them

so perfect!! but, she wants to hire immediately and i feel like God has called me to something else. so, thankfully she is hiring now, or else i would drop everything to try to get that job. the position is in boston and i believe it might possibly be possible to support myself there with the salary that the job offers. i think. but, oh well... God is sovereign. He is in control.

and, finally... i am loving this song and this video right now... loving it. a great song for the end of this week :) and i kind of copied my friend, sarah marie... she posted the same video on her blog. gotta love michael buble...

Father, let my heart be after you...

so, yesterday was a pretty tough day and a pretty honest post... but i'm good and God is giving me joy today! last night my sister told me to read Job 38 and i thank her for that. this is what it says (from the Message bible, which i typically don't use, but for this passage i thought it was a good interpretation)...

"And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:

"Why do you confuse the issue?
Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about?
Pull yourself together, Job!
Up on your feet! Stand tall!
I have some questions for you,
and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?
Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that!
Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
How was its foundation poured,
and who set the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus
and all the angels shouted praise?
And who took charge of the ocean
when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
That was me!

"Have you ever gotten to the true bottom of things,
explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean?
Do you know the first thing about death?
Do you have one clue regarding death's dark mysteries?
And do you have any idea how large this earth is?
Speak up if you have even the beginning of an answer.

God then confronted Job directly: "Now what do you have to say for yourself?
Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?"

Job answered:

"I'm speechless, in awe—words fail me.
I should never have opened my mouth!
I've talked too much, way too much.
I'm ready to shut up and listen."

"Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong?
Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?

Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything.
Nothing and no one can upset your plans."

- verses from Job 38-40

wow... exactly what i needed to hear. God is a mighty God.

and here are some lyrics that are comforting to me as well...

Garden

Needtobreathe

"Won’t you take this cup from me

‘Cause fear has stolen all my sleep

If tomorrow means my death

I pray you’ll save their souls with it

Let the songs I sing

Bring joy to you

Let the words I say profess my love

Let the notes I choose

Be your favorite tune

Father let my heart be after you

In this hour of doubt I see

But who I am is not just me

So give me strength to die myself

So love can live to tell the tale

Father let my heart be after you."

when i ride in the car music.

this will be my final music post untill i get inspired again to post about music. these are simply some of my favorite songs... mostly melodic, soft alternative/rock music with great lyrics. great music to listen to while you ride in the car.

• "Shelter", Sandra McCracken - this could be my anthem song. a beautiful song by a very talented musician. love the lyrics. if you have never heard it, please download it.
• "Let It Be Me", Rosie Thomas - simply a beautiful love song. i really like rosie thomas. her music is very sweet.
• "A Falling Through", Ray LaMontagne - i love ray. such a beautiful, yet sad song. i love to relax to this music.
• "Why Do I", Joe Purdy - joe purdy is a fun musician... his music is very catchy. love it. this song is too often very relatable.
• "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", U2 - an older song, but one that i love. i am a big fan of u2. such a classic song... with great lyrics.
• "I Can't", Ben Sollee - my friend recently introduced me to this guy... i really like him. he has a souldful voice. it's a simple song that i feel like you can relate to.
• "Til Kingdom Come", Coldplay - one of my favorites by coldplay. great love song.
• "I Like To Be With Me When I'm With You", Drew Holcomb - i heard this guy play when i went to visit my friend in Nashville. such a cute song!
• "You Picked Me", A Fine Frenzy - this girl has a beautiful voice. the music has an interesting sound... which i like very much.
• "Mirage", Griffin House - great singer/songwriter type. fun music with catchy lyrics.
• "It's Amazing", Jem - great, poppy music. unique sound. i heard this song the other night in the trailer of the new movie coming out, Julie & Julia.
• "The Youth", MGMT - love, love, love this band. such a unique sound.
• "Falling Slowly", Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova- glen hansard has a beautiful voice... soulful sound. this could quite possible be my favorite love song.

i could go on, but i believe i'll stop. i hope that somebody gets some good suggestions from this music. nonetheless, it was fun just to compile some of my favorites!

favorite hymns.

so, music favorites #2. here are my favorite hymns. i love beautiful, old hymns. there is no writing that expresses the depth of the Gospel and and allows believers to express gratitude and awe of how amazing God is, like the old hymns from writers such as william cowper, john newton, and isaac watts. today there are many modern renditions of these hymns thanks to indelible grace, red mountain church, and various Christian artists. here are just a few of my favorites...

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" - Isaac Watts

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small:

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Kathryn Scott version

"Be Still My Soul" - Katharina A. von Schlegal

Be still, my soul:

the waves and winds

still know His voice

Who ruled them

while He dwelt below.

Ginny Owens version

"For the Beauty of the Earth" - Folliott Pierpoint

For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies.

Lord of all to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

from Little Women

"I Asked the Lord" - John Newton

These inward trials I employ

From self and pride to set thee free

And break thy schemes of earthly joy

That thou mayest seek thy all in me,

That thou mayest seek thy all in me.

Indelible Grace version

"In the Hours" - Helen L. Parmlee

Thou the hated and forsaken,

Thou the bearer of the cross

Crowned of thorns and mocked and smitten,

Counting earthly gain but loss

When scorned are we,

We joy to be the more like Thee

Indelible Grace version

"Not What My Hands Have Done" - Horatius Bonar

I bless the Christ of God;

I rest on love divine;

And with unfaltering lip and heart,

I call this Savior mine.

Indelible Grace version

"Holy, Holy, Holy" - Reginald Heber

Only Thou art holy;

there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Sufjan Stevens version

favorite songs.

i really like music. i am no expert on music and don't really know why i like what i like, but i love to find new music. i am not musically talented... i only have remnants of things i learned having piano lessons many years ago. but, nonetheless, i love music. i so enjoy hosting parties and coming up with playlists for parties. a couple of friends and i are already talking about a back to school party in auburn and in my pasttime have been looking up so really fun party music. here is a bit of my "party playlist".

• M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"; i love this song so stinkin much. it energizes me so much... makes me want to dance, run, whatever, which is good because i can always use a little help getting energized. i wonder if i will ever grow tired of this song.
• Coldplay - "Lost (feat. Jay-Z)"; the amazing coldplay. this song pumps me up. more upbeat than your average coldplay song... great for a party. plus, i love the way coldplay's songs word things... beautiful lyrics. love it.
• Rilo Kiley - "Silver Lining"; my friend gave me this song recently on a mixed cd. it's such a fun song. very catchy. i'm beginning to really like rilo kiley.
• Regina Spektor - "Hotel Song"; oh, regina. she's wonderful. very good beat. i don't know if there is a song of hers i do not like.
• No Doubt - "Spiderwebs"; i am a big fan of old school no doubt. i think it reminds me of when i was younger and loved cheesy teen movies. no doubt just makes me happy. its fun.
• MGMT - "Time to Pretend"; i think this is my new favorite band. they have a very unique sound, unlike any other band i've heard.
• Stevie Wonder - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered"; i love some oldies, and i really like stevie wonder. so fun at a party.
• Michael Jackson - "The Way You Make Me Feel"; this truly has always been one of my favorite songs to workout to, play at a party, just to have fun to. michael jackson truly created some great pop music! oh, and i loved watching him dance! this video music makes me very happy. i had never seen it until trying to find links for this post!
• Blackeyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow" - i think people would be surprised to know that generally, i really like the blackeyed peas. they create such energetic, fun music with incredible beats. i really like this new song of theirs. and side note: one of the members, Taboo, just looks really crazy cool to me. he got married recently and his wedding was featured in InStyle Weddings... just had to get a wedding plug in there.
• A.R. Rahman - "Jai Ho"; i will end with another Slumdog Millionaire song ("Paper Planes" is featured in the movie). this song is the one played in the end dance scene. i love that movie and the energy it produces. i love the ethnic Indian sound.

summer.

i think i am going blog crazy now that i am at home. i am really enjoying looking at some of my favorite things online and conglomerating it on this blog.

so, i found out about this musician that i am really, really loving! so, listen to this song... by rosie thomas... ok, i tried for a long time to post the youtube video and i could not get it to work. so, you can just click on this link... kite song. i feel like it goes along well with the theme of my post.

so, i had coffee with a friend the other day. she asked me about my favorite season, and i told her that it is summer. she was thankful because she said she does not really know how to completely appreciate summer and wanted me to tell her why i love it so much... here are the reasons...

1. honeysuckles... oh i love the smell. one of the best smells ever! we used to pick them when we were little and sip the juice from the inside. :)

2. lightening bugs... i like things that are whimsical and lightening bugs just make everything seem whimsical and magical. we used to catch these and put them in jars. so fun.

3. the beach!! oh how i love the beach. so peaceful, beautiful, warm and SUNNY, laid back... oh it is just heavenly. i really do believe i could live there for a little while.

4. blackberry cobbler & ice cream... yummy! reminds me of sitting on the backporch having family get togethers. i loved it! still do. here is a recipe for blackberry cobbler courtesy southern living.

blackberry cobbler

Ingredients
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 (14-ounce) bags frozen blackberries, unthawed
1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts
1 tablespoon sugar
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Preparation
Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Gently stir in blackberries until sugar mixture is crumbly. Spoon fruit mixture into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish.
Cut 1 piecrust into 1/2-inch-wide strips, and arrange strips diagonally over blackberry mixture. Sprinkle top with 1 tablespoon sugar.
Bake at 425° for 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and center is bubbly. Serve with ice cream

5. summer weddings! :) i had to include them. there are so many weddings during the summer and they are so beautiful right now... as long as they are later in the evening when it has cooled down a little. but combine all the elements... smell of honeysuckle, lightning bugs, crickets chirping, beautiful night sky, cool breeze in the evening but still the warmth of summer, and yummy food. oh, it's just perfection. reminds me of a Gatsby era party. beautiful!