The Casey Chronicles

I've Moved

2010-04-10T21:59:00.001-07:00

I've moved to wordpress.

There's not any good reason for the move, blogger has been good to me... but I wanted a change. An update. Also, I like how I can have pages across the top of my new blog.

So please update your RSS feed, your subscription or your bookmark and come on over to Wordpress with me. (Or, you know, keep checking this site in vain and lose track of where I am and what I am doing. It's cool. I'll never find out.)

Love,
Casey

In case you missed it the first two times: caseymackenzie.wordpress.com

Dana

2010-03-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hair & Makeup by Dalene Scheloske at Trendz Hair Studio in Livermore (925) 447-4247
Photography & Styling by yours truly

Jon & Courtney

2010-03-24T15:21:00.001-07:00

February 27, 2010
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Jodi

2010-03-22T17:59:00.001-07:00

Hair & Makeup by Dalene Scheloske at Trendz Hair Studio in Livermore (925) 447-4247
Photography & Styling by yours truly

Casey MacKenzie Johnson Photography

Promote Your Page Too

2010-03-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

The following was quoted at church tonight by Dr. Leron Heath, whose teaching was amazing. (I highly recommend giving it a listen.) This is how the church needs to be everywhere, now. Standing up for what's true and right... Hitler may be dead and gone, but people are being murdered, sold, silenced, maimed, and God knows what else all over the world right this very minute with no one to stand up for them. Let's do something about this. Let's do something about it NOW.

"Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came in Germany, I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but, no, the universities immediately were silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks….

.

Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly."

.

- Albert Einstein, Time magazine, 23rd December, 1940 p. 38

Something's Gotta Give

2010-03-15T23:44:00.000-07:00

I have gypsy blood. Or something.

I've been in Livermore since June... and I am so ready to leave. Not that I don't love my community here to pieces. I think having such a strong community behind me is what enables me to strike out into the world with confidence.

I have all these ideas, all these dreams. How do I choose what's next? How do I know what God's plan is? I am listening. Praying. Itching to go.

Seriously it's like I have bugs under my skin. That's how bad I want to go.

I want to go to India and take 400 million photographs. I want to hike through the jungle again (this time fearlessly). I want to teach English in Korea. I want to lay on the beach in Fiji. I want to eat myself silly in Thailand. I want to help the helpless, save the lost, bring light to the cause... and here I am, in one of the richest communities in the world, making lattes. Sigh.

The words on the bottom of the church bulletin constantly replay in my mind

What do I do now?

joy soda

2010-03-05T17:40:00.001-08:00

joy soda, originally uploaded by Marc Johns.

vagabond

2010-03-02T22:49:00.001-08:00

vagabond, originally uploaded by steffaloo.

Steph drew this. She is amazing.
(and also, I miss her)

macarena part 2

2010-02-24T16:33:00.001-08:00

IMG_2506, originally uploaded by ava berlin.

macarena

2010-02-24T16:32:00.001-08:00

IMG_2504, originally uploaded by ava berlin.

OMG I love this

2010-02-22T19:08:00.001-08:00

From Garance Dore

I love Google

2010-02-07T22:39:00.001-08:00

Not only is Google the greatest thing since peanut butter (which is pretty freaking great), they made the best commercial I have ever seen. I totally cried when I saw this during the Super Bowl (not that it is hard to make me cry...)

Enjoy!

I would like to wear this, please.

2010-01-20T22:59:00.000-08:00

From The Sartorialist

yumm

2010-01-17T20:45:00.001-08:00

photo credit :: Skinny Ricky

Things I learned in the last 3 minutes while I was being rung up at Target -or- Classic TMI -or- the lady checking me out wouldn't shut up

2010-01-14T14:45:00.001-08:00

1. If you want to get married find a guy that's almost 40. And rich.

2. Dont get a DUI. The judge will treat you like a criminal. (hmm go figure)

3. Marry someone rich. You'll regret it if you don't.

4. Checkers brother is a bad guy.

5. There is a cute blonde cop around here somewhere.

6. Really though, marry rich.

Thanks, lady. What would I possibly have done without you? Married a homeless guys?! Probably.

*mobile post

Sweet Nectar

2010-01-13T00:51:00.001-08:00

*mobile post

A Great "Amen"

2010-01-12T15:01:00.001-08:00

*mobile post

Insomnia

2010-01-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

8:00pm put on a movie

8:05pm decide not to watch a movie, rather finish my book

930pm finish my book (my heart is sad. it is sad to finish a book, sadder still to finish a melancholy book)

10:00pm get ready for bed/watch das racist you tube videos

10:30- lights out, sleeping pills in

toss

turn

roll over

apologize to Stella for steamrolling her so many times

squeeze her and give her a kiss cause i know she loves me any way

toss

toss

turn

garbled thoughts

random tears

achy neck

toss

turn

toss

Sorry Stella

11:30pm lights back on.

11:31pm write in journal

11:45pm check Facebook on my phone

11:46pm tummy rumbles

11:47pm grab my next book and my dog and head downstairs for a bowl of cereal

11:48pm huge bowl of Cheerio's with mini marshmallows (equal parts mallows to o's)

11:53pm cereal demolished. chapter demolished... and those sleeping pills are starting to kick in
now....

11:54pm write blog post so I don't forget this night. Immediately forget about it.

12:00am Check email. Read emails.

12:30am lights out. Again.

3:55am alarm goes off. SNOOZE

4:00am alarm goes off. SNOOZE

4:05am alarm goes off. CRAP! Late for work.

everything is illuminated (part one)

2010-01-09T17:06:00.000-08:00

2010-01-08T00:09:00.001-08:00

*mobile post

College Degrees: Fact or Fiction?

2009-12-28T00:17:00.000-08:00

I would really like to get a degree. I mean really. I put 6 years and a whole lot of money into this- Id really like to get it over with already.

I was passively planning on applying to SF State to finish there in the next year or so. Tonight I finally got online to fill out an application... and it turns out they're not accepting applications through winter 2011 due to the budget crisis. I can't go to any of the other local CSUs cause I would have to start over on my upper division work and 8 years for a bachelors degree just isn't right.

It seems like I have to go back to Point Loma. Oh San Diego, how I loathe you.

Literally, getting a degree couldn't be more awful and frustrating. Why is that? Why can't things just be simple?

Scott: Graduation Photos

2009-12-21T21:58:00.001-08:00

A Fun Christmas Baking Fact

2009-12-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

Allspice, also called Jamaica pepper, kurundu, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or newspice, is a spice which is the dried unripe fruit ("berries") of Pimenta dioica , a mid-canopy tree native to the Greater Antilles, southern Mexico and Central America, now cultivated in many warm parts of the world. The name "allspice" was coined as early as 1621 by the English, who thought it combined the flavour of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

From Wikipedia

Clean Water.

2009-12-14T23:28:00.000-08:00

From Clean Water for the World by Tales from the Motherhood:

"Approximately every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related illness.

Approximately 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe and clean drinking water.

It's estimated that it would take approximately $10 billion to give the world clean drinking water.
That seems like a lot of money.
Until you hear that each year Americans spend about $450 billion on Christmas.
Clean water for all is so possible.
I know many of you already have tight budgets so let me help you out. Instead of a contest where I give away a rubber chicken that you must really work for . . . I am doing a really easy giveaway. I want to get people excited about making clean water happen for the world. So from now until December 15th:

1. Leave a comment on this post (on the actual blog, not the facebook note) and I will donate $2 towards clean water.
2. Tweet or facebook this post and I will give another $2 towards clean water. Then leave a comment (on the blog, not the facebook note so I can keep track of it in one place) letting me know of your tweeting/facebooking activity.
3. Link this post from your blog and I will give another $2 toward clean water. Then leave a comment letting me know that you've linkified this.

In other words, each person has the opportunity to give up $6 toward clean water by simply exercising their fingers for a few seconds. And feel free to leave a random fact about your self in your comment. Because I like random facts."

Do not comment on my blog. I am not doing this. Please go to Clean Water for the World

Party like a Farmer

2009-12-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

Today was awesome. Let me tell you why.

Church was so good! Pastor Steve taught from Isaiah about the virgin birth of Christ and how we should party because of it.

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice
when dividing the plunder...

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:2-6

What that says it we're supposed to party like farmers. He went on to talk about dancing and having a good ol time. We have so much to celelbrate this season! The birth of the Messiah!!! Amazing.

Also, his sermaon was really short, so that was good. And also we sang Christmas songs in church which is my absolute favorite thing in the world.

After church Scott, Ingrid and I went to lunch then Ing and I went to the City to look for wedding shoes and bridesmaid dresses. It was super fun. I love her. Our entire conversation on the way there was spoken in fake British accents. We are awesome. Ingrid even found a YouTube video on how to speak proper English.

Then we saw this lady singing on Maiden Lane... I was first tempted to make a joke about it 'being over' but then her voice captivated me! We stood and listened for several minutes. I could have stayed for hours.

When we got back to my house Scott came over and we made grilled cheese sandwiches and cinnamon rolls. It was the perfect Sunday.

love actually is, all around

2009-12-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

Getting up to work at 4am really has a way of screwing up one's day. I walked around in a fog all day, but it was a nice lazy winter day (after work, anyway). I watched the Glee finale and Love, Actually for the 3rd time. I built a website, painted some picture frames, had dinner with mom and then watched her bake hecka delicious cookies. I am cold, but it's ok. Cold means Christmas.

Parting thought:
I thought this often on my road trip, and it's true (to an extent).

Home is where the laptop is.

Since I really am home I figured I could say that without hurting my moms feelings.

Here's to working at 6am tomorrow.

2009-12-09T00:16:00.001-08:00

I think I've just figured out what my problem is. Why my words have dried up... I haven't been reading. I think in pictures these days. I look at pictures. I listen to songs and they make pictures in my mind. No words. I've got to find more words.

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes

2009-12-08T22:58:00.000-08:00

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.”

I'm sitting in my room, all kinds of bundled up, watching Love, Actually. Wearing my grandfathers Russian tea cozy hat drinking hot apple cider and eating popcorn.

I was going to write a nice entry tonight, but I just don't have it in me these days. Emails to friends, blogs, journal... I've really had a hard time writing lately. It's like my minds gone blank.

I will say this: I absolutely can not wait for Cynthia to get home for Christmas!! It will really be Christmas time when she gets here.

I love this movie. “Let's go get the shit kicked out of us by love.”

Nikon vs Canon

2009-12-03T23:21:00.000-08:00

A little inappropriate, but a lot awesome.

The SOLD Project

2009-12-01T19:23:00.001-08:00

The SOLD Project is a grassroots organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering individuals to stop child prostitution before it begins.

The SOLD Project is a film and an organization. The purpose of the film is to tell the stories of children whose lives have been affected by prostitution, and allow those stories to inspire you to Re:Act. The purpose of the organization is to prevent the buying and selling of children through The SOLD Project Prevention Program.

The Prevention Program is made up of 1) Scholarships 2) Mentorship for every child that is sponsored 3) After School Programs including sports, art, English, and tutoring 4) Human Trafficking Awareness Programs at the school starting in every 6-grade classroom to teach the children about the realities of human trafficking and prostitution.

The SOLD Project also seeks to support our partner organizations in Thailand that work in the areas of rescue and rehabilitation for children at-risk.

The SOLD Project is targeting the 20 and 30-something generation. We believe we are a generation hungry for social justice and full of the passion and resources to create change. We are confident that the power this generation possesses will make a lasting impact on this issue worldwide. Although this age group is our target, we hope to reach people of all ages. We see no limit to what can be achieved when we all stand together to confront child prostitution.

-from The SOLD Project website

This is their new merchandise for sale to raise money for the project. The jewelry is really cool and made by street children in Northern Thailand. It should be up for sale on the website soon... I highly recommend it! I will even give you styling tips of you buy one!

we will have wings

2009-11-30T00:38:00.000-08:00

And when we are dead,
we all have wings.
We won't need legs to stand.

Sufjan Stevens

I don't write anymore. I talk a lot. I think too much... but I don't write anymore. I've kept a journal since I was 12. I have a metal suitcase from World War 2 under my bed crammed to the gills with notebooks full of hopes, love and anguish. My current journal has hardly anything in it but sermon notes and prayer requests. I don't like it. But, like I told someone, I am a linear thinker. I think how I write and write how I think. And when I'm not thinking I am talking. The same process. And to be honest, I don't think I've much going on that I can't talk or think about. What have I got to put down in my journal? What have I got to say that is meaningful enough to share with the masses (all 4 people that read my blog)?

I love to write and I love to tell stories, but I'm not sure about writing stories. I take photographs of stories. I tell stories (over and over again). I want to write a book. To be a "writer"... but I haven't got it in me. I sat down to write a book about my road trip, but I couldn't go back to that place. I can't tell the story without reliving it, and I can't relive it. Nor do I want to. Maybe for my next trip I will write my book as I go. Yes. That's a wonderful idea.

Totally unrelated, I watched The Notebook tonight. I've seen it once before when it first came out on DVD in 2004 or 2005. I lived in the dorms at PLNU and didn't have a TV. Andrea and her roommate were out and let me commandeer their TV for the night. I cried like a baby. And resolved never to watch it again.

That's not real life. Things don't happen like that. (Even if they do, it will never be me.) Movies like The Notebook just set us up for disappointment.

In the last several months I have become an absolutely hopeless romantic. Maybe The Notebook isn't so bad. I thought about false hopes as I watched the movie. Thought about all the books and movies that set women up for a let down. But is it really a let down? I have several friends that are recently married or will be married soon. I've taken up wedding photography. There are so so many people around me that are so in love. Is it like a movie? Can a man really, really love a woman that much? I'm not convinced. I have no problem believing women can love like that- women are built for love. We're nurturers. It's in our nature to love.

I suppose the answer is out there waiting for me as I wait for him.

I want to go back.

2009-11-22T23:26:00.001-08:00

Thank you, Pandora

2009-11-17T22:23:00.001-08:00

This is the gem Pandora is playing for me right now:

Merry Christmas from the Family
by Robert Earle Keen

Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk at our Christmas party
We were drinking champagne punch and homemade eggnog
Little sister brought her new boyfriend
He was a Mexican
We didn't know what to think of him until he sang
Felis Navidad, Felis Navidad

Brother Ken brought his kids with him
The three from his first wife Lynn
And the two identical twins from his second wife Mary Nell
Of course he brought his new wife Kay
Who talks all about AA
Chain smoking while the stereo plays Noel, Noel
The First Noel

Carve the Turkey
Turn the ball game on
It's margaritas when the eggnog's gone
Send somebody to the Quickpak Store
We need some ice and an extension chord
A can of bean dip and some Diet Rites
A box of Pampers, Marlboro Lights
Halelluja everybody say cheese
Merry Christmas from the family

Fred and Rita drove from Harlingen
I can't remember how I'm kin to them
But when they tried to plug their motor home in
They blew our Christmas lights
Cousin David knew just what went wrong
So we all waited out on our front lawn
He threw the breaker and the lights came on
And we sang Silent Night, Silent Night, Oh Holy Night

Carve the turkey turn the ball game on
It's Bloody Mary's
Cause We All Want One!
Send somebody to the Stop 'N Go
We need some celery and a can of fake snow
A bag of lemons and some Diet Sprites
A box of Midols, some Salem Lights
Halelluja, everybody say cheese
Merry Christmas from the Family

Felis Navidad!

I got a REAL website!

2009-11-17T17:33:00.000-08:00

I built a new website, complete with official, easy to spell URL!

Check it out! Let me know what you think!

www.CaseyMacKenziePhotography.com

The Coli Women

2009-11-12T22:51:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the Dollhouse

2009-11-05T21:50:00.001-08:00

Hair and Makeup by the awesome Alana Halvorsen!

Hello, Dolly

2009-11-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Man in the Red Cravat,

2009-11-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

You are my hero.

Love,
Casey

Photo from The Sartorialist

Scott & Ingrid

2009-11-02T16:27:00.001-08:00

2009-11-01T22:09:00.000-08:00

Tonight I planned to blog about sitting alone in church... but I have to work at 4am tomorrow, so I shall leave you with this:

I love sitting alone in church. It's more private, and I am not tempted to write notes and whisper. (Not that I would ever do such a thing!)

I hate sitting alone in church. It's lonely and makes me feel pathetic and like an old spinster.

Goodnight.

Scott & Ingrid Preview!

2009-10-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you.

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful, and so are you.

It wont be long, 'til I belong to you.

all quotes by the Beatles

We Love Love

2009-10-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

Today I shot Scott and Ingrid's engagement photos. Ingrid is one of my dearest friends and I have so loved watching her become the woman she is today over the last several years. She is very much like a little sister to me... easy on the little, heavy on the sister.

I couldn't be happier for her and Scott- they are meant for each other, though I had not seen the depth of that until today.

This afternoon we went to Tildon Park in Berkeley where Scott proposed. We reenacted the proposal for the photos. It was... it's hard to find the words... It was striking. I have never in my life seen a man look at a woman the way Scott looked at Ingrid. His face radiated with love, joy and the Lord. I can't explain it any other way, but God was there and I got to be a part of it... and hopefully, catch it on camera.

Today was a perfect, wonderful, beautiful, love filled day. I love my life and the Bay and my friends and the LOVE that God has put in us.

And the Avett Brothers...

And I was sick with heartache
And she was sick like Audrey Hepburn when I met her
But we would both surrender
True love is not the kind of thing you should turn down
Don't ever turn it down

I hope that I don't sound to insane when I say
There is darkness all around us
I don't feel weak but I do need sometimes for her to protect me
And reconnect me to the beauty that I'm missin'
And in January we're gettin' married

Dave & Lauren

2009-10-22T21:15:00.001-07:00

Lauren and I were in a band together... and I might convince Dave to be in a bluegrass band with me. The Avett Sisters?

This Glorious Life

2009-10-21T22:48:00.001-07:00

Tonight during Bible study I thought, "I have got to write a blog about how awesome my life is right now. Probably not using complete sentences." So here it goes.

Last night I spent several minutes trying to convince my mom that we should get a Christmas tree now so we can enjoy it longer. How awesome would that be?!

I got up at 3:45am and I have had the longest, funnest day ever. I work with the funnest people, none of the creepers came in to work, my hair looked good, I made hecka good vegan chili and cornbread and we talked about weddings and husbands for, like, a full 3 hours tonight.

BFF. Bible Friends Forever. Brilliant.

Currently I am spreading a rumor that Chris P. has a huge crush on me. It's not true of course (or is it?), but now whenever I see him I get flustered cause I'm not sure if the rumor has gotten back to him.

I get to shoot Jon and Courtney's wedding in Colorado in February and I am stoked. For them and for me. I am loving the direction my photography has taken. I could potentially do this for a living. Who'd have thunk?

I have the best group of girlfriends in the history of girlfriends.

I feel like Beth Moore and I are friends.

I am making progress on mastering the art of latte art. Today I made a christmas tree, a pumpkin and a snow flurry.

Love, love, love.

(I guess that was complete sentences... my apologies.)

Family Portraits

2009-10-20T21:53:00.001-07:00

Christmas is almost here! (At least, in my mind it is!) It's time to start thinking about Christmas cards and family portraits for grandma and Aunt Marge.

Book a 30 minute family photo session by November 21 and your photos are guaranteed by December 1- just in time to send out the annual family newsletter.

Just $150 will get you a 30 minute photo session and a CD of 15-20 high resolution photos.

Merry Christmas!!

Tom & Katy :: San Francisco

2009-10-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

I am in love with them. Here is why:

Tom & Katy (sneak preview!)

2009-10-19T17:35:00.001-07:00

I love my life. And the rain.

2009-10-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

Tomato soup and grilled cheese, a romp in the rain an The Avett Brothers. Can it be any better than this?

*mobile post

Dave & Lauren (sneak preview!!)

2009-10-19T15:46:00.001-07:00

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-17T23:45:00.001-07:00

I feel like the only person in America that hated Where the Wild Things Are. I was so excited to see it, and total disappointment. It was dark, depressing and pretty disturbing.

But I suppose, now that I think of it... I never really liked the book.

2009-10-16T17:10:00.001-07:00

The most beautiful view is the one I share with you.

Church of Peet's

2009-10-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

So I work at Peet's Coffee. (Please don't stalk me.) I really like my job. I love coffee, I love interacting with customers, I love the people I work with... but what I really love is the community. Coffee shop community... or as I shall refer to it from here on out, the Church of Peet's.

For awhile now I have been meaning to blog about the older couples that come in every morning together. There are three of these couples in particular that I just love. One couple walks to Peet's together, one couple gets their coffee for here and sits together for the better part of an hour, and one man- when his wife isn't with him- always brings her something. I love that they set aside time to be together. They all seem like they have been married a long time- they're older and have that deep cadence that married couples have... I want to be like them. They make my heart happy and give me something to aspire to.

But that's not what this entry is about.

By about 10am every morning every chair in the cafe has a butt in it. People talking, catching up, making deals, studying the Word. It's amazing. There are a lot of Bible studies that happen at Peet's on a weekly basis. It amazes me how many of our regular customers are Christians. It's probably safe to say that at any given time there are Christians meeting in that space sharing their lives, studying or praying. I love it!! I feel like I am a part of something bigger. God is moving. He is here.

Today when I was taking the trash out I overheard a man sharing the Gospel with another man. The basic gospel. Missionary status. It was so exciting! And got to be a part of it! The whole time I did trash I prayed for them. It was awesome.

Man, God is so good. This is a great time to be alive.

2009-10-12T00:14:00.000-07:00

"It is... through being broken to pieces, and those pieces being torn to shreds that we become people of strength. And it is the endurance of one believer that produces a multitude."

from Streams in the Desert

On a totally unrelated note, the teaching (on Acts 12) at church this morning was amazing. I highly recommend giving it a listen. (Go to cornerstoneweb.org to download the podcast or watch the video... It should be up by Tuesday.)

Canyoneering in Zion

2009-10-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

This morning (Wednesday) Dalene and I sat in the car in the parkig lot at Zion and listened to our Beth Moore study. While we listened two dudes pulled into the spot next to us. Dalene though she recognized one of them as a friend of Jacks but wasn't totally sure. She finally rolled her window down and chatted with him. It turns out they locked their keys in their car. We helped them out then hey asked what we had planne for the day. We were having a tough time deciding which trail to hike so they invited us to go canyoneering with them.

Jesus totally brought them to us. They gave us clothes and neoprene booties to wear and we were off. We had to change by the side of the road then climb up a super steep sandstone hill. As we climbed I got nervous. The rest of our party is in great shape and I was worried I'd hod hem back and they'd be bummed they invited us. It turns out the inicial ascent was the hardest part of the day.

We climbed over and around the sandstone hill then dropped into the canyon. We repelled about 20 feet, crossed some ice cold water, chimneyed through some crevices, reppeled some more, climbed some more, crossed several more ice cold pools... It. Was. Awesome. You are going to die when you see the photos.

And I totally held up like a champ! I loved every minute of it (after the as ascent!).

Afterward we got coffee then went into St George for Taco Time. We had a blast with our new friendsfrom Livermore.

Tomorrow, we climb.

Oh, and it was Keyhole Canyon. Google it.

*mobile post

Spirit filled alcoholic potluck

2009-10-03T23:07:00.001-07:00

About 40 people, strangers and life long friends ( all strangers to me save 2) hold hands in the dark around a dying bonfire. The full moon shines bright as the voices murmer together,

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

Amazing. Hallelujah, praise the LORD!

Dalene and I had the wonderul privledge of attending an open bonfire AA ( Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting tonight. Eveyone shared about fellowship and therefore told a smidge of their stories. Never have I seen so many dramaticly, outwardly transformed people. Praise God for His work in them!

The transparency, humility and community that are at the core of the AA program just blow me away. It's such an effective ministry even though it's not necessarily a Christian program.

Tonight was a great night. It made me so thankful for the wonderful community inhave around me in livermore and so excited to live a spirit filed life and see where He leads me. God is so good, isn't He?!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!!

We're having a great trip! We got to meet my new cousin, Emily; visit salvation mountain and go t an alcoholics potluck bonfire! (and let me tell you, they can cook!!) Tomorrow- the Grand Canyon!!

Great South Western Road Trip: Prologue

2009-09-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

Dalene and I (and hopfully Stella) are heading out early Friday morning to conquer Salvation Mountain, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. We've got enough coffee and chocolate covered espresso beans to keep us awake the entire time, but I'm not sure that will be necessary.

I am really excited to hike the Grand Canyon and belay into the crevice things in Zion, but I am also nervous. The heart is willing but the body is weak!

Things we are going to do on our trip:

Listen to folk music
Roll the Party Wagon
Bible Study
back country adventure time
stay in a cabin on a mountain with no electricity or running water
eat fluffernutters and smores
wear our superawesome Australian dread wraps (sans dreds)
hike

Things we are not going to do on this trip:
bathe

Stoked.

Swept Away: The Avett Brothers

2009-09-30T23:01:00.000-07:00

This might be my new favorite song. It's been stuck in my head for a week
and I just can't get enough of it!!

Also, one of my bff's just got engaged yesterday(ish) and I am
soooo excited for them. Yay love.


Well you set my life a whirling
Darlin when you're twirling, on the floor
And who cares about tomorrow
What more is tomorrow, but another day

Well you swept me away
Yeah you swept me away

I see the end of the rainbow
But what more is a rainbow than colors out of reach
If you come down to my window
And I climb out my window then we'll get out of reach

And you swept me away
Yeah you swept me away

You said with such honest feelings
But what'd you really mean when you said that I'm your man
And how my darling can it be
That you have never seen me, and you never will again

Chorus

Life is ever changing
But I will always have a constant and comfort in your love
With your heart my soul is found
And as we dance I know that heaven can be found

Well you set my life a whirling
Darlin when you're twirling on the floor
And who cares about tomorrow
What more is tomorrow than another day

And you swept me away
Yeah you swept me away

Here's a crappy video of them performing the song:

2009-09-27T20:16:00.001-07:00

"I have friends who are openly suspicious/distrustful/derisive of Obama. As Christians we pray for him not only because God calls us to but because the appropriate response to whatever fears we may have about the future of our nation is trust in God and responsible, well-planned, just civic action -- not fear, mocking, shouting, disrespect, rumor-mongering, and visceral reactivity. This has to go out of vogue among God's people. It is simply not appropriate." Andrew Wolfe

Just another day at Peets

2009-09-24T15:16:00.001-07:00

"Hi, what can I get for you today?"
"Large coffee"
"Would you like room for cream?"
"What?"
"Would you like room for cream?"
"What?"
"Would you. Like room. For cream?"
"What's 'room for cream'?"
"Um. Space at the top of the cup so you can add milk."
"Oh, yeah."

And then someone, an American, ordered in French.

*mobile post

Community

2009-09-22T23:53:00.000-07:00

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:3-10 (NIV)

Good Samaritan

2009-09-22T00:47:00.000-07:00

I had lunch with Derek today. (And when I say we had lunch, I mean I ate a bowl of cereal while we chatted on my lunch break at Peet's.) He told be about a friend of his that went to India for a few months. When he got there he felt the Lord press on his heart to give all his money away- and not just put it in beggars cups, but to engage. So he ate meals with people, bought old men coffee, things like that. It turned out to be an amazing trip. He met great people, other YWAMers, stayed with families... all kinds of stuff. I want to do that. Where do I sign up?

(I probably got that story all wrong. Sorry, De.)

So I've decided to plan a trip. It will be 3 or 4 months long and I am going to go to several countries. (Tentatively the UK for a month, India for couple weeks, Thailand for a few weeks, Australia for a few weeks, New Zealand for a week and, hopefully, Fiji or some exotic island in that part of the world... but this could all change. Everything changes.)

This may or may not happen. But I figure if I plan it a year out and am extremely frugal I can get the funds together to do it. Go team.

Brittany

2009-09-20T17:43:00.001-07:00

Hair cut, color and styling by Dalene at Trendz in Livermore.

Stephanie

2009-09-20T17:42:00.001-07:00

Hair cut, color and styling by Dalene at Trendz in Livermore.

If I could only wear one pair of shoes for the rest of my life

2009-09-18T18:01:00.001-07:00

It would be these.

*mobile post

but the greatest of these is LOVE

2009-09-18T00:12:00.001-07:00

...there are too many good shots not to keep sharing!

Love is patient,

love is kind

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

To the Moon

2009-09-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

Music: To the Moon by Sara Groves

This was the highlight of my summer.

2009-09-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

Some things (this is a pointless entry):

2009-09-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

Dalene and I bought sweet headband things like the one she brought home from Austraila to wear on our road trip. They are hecka awesome and the seller on etsy is super nice and sent us a free one. You should buy one too: http://scarletterosefairy.etsy.com

Dalene is back in business! She is renting a chair in a salon in downtown Livermore. Today was her first day and she gave me my best haircut yet! It's sort of a faux bob. Agyness and P!nk are sure to follow.

This is the first week of intensive (sort of) Bible study with the girls. We decided to ramp it up for fall with a Beth Moore study on the book of Daniel. So far it is amazing. I read through the book (of the Bible not the study) before we started. It got me thinking about 'Daniel's diet' and how I'd like to try it... but maybe not really. I would die of starvation since I don't like vegetables. I've decided to try eating vegan for the duration of the study as sort of a fast, but I am failing somewhat miserably. I've been thinking about writing a blog about my experience with attempting Daniel's diet... but that sort of ruins the whole point of fasting. You're not supposed to tell anyone. (Whoops. No one reads this though, right?) So. Look for an upcoming entry on my failures as a faster.

I just watched Sisterhood of the Traveling pants. Here is what I thought:

- I am so glad I have awesome girlfriends

- Why didn't anyone tell me this movie was SAD??

- I'd like to go to Greece and be saved from drowning by a handsome man that owns a boat

- Do I have mascara all over my face? (the answer was yes. ALL over.)

(photobooth photos are amazingly unflattering. Or is it that I just cried through a movie? Anyway, this is my awesome headwrap/dreadwrap/thing...)

Dear Men of the World,

2009-09-14T20:35:00.001-07:00

Please dress like this:

Love,
Casey

(Photo from The Sartorialist)

Kelly in San Francisco

2009-09-12T22:44:00.001-07:00

The Linney Family

2009-09-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

Capture My Heart Again

2009-09-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

I used to write poetry. A lot of it. Most of it is pretty embarrassing, but some is decent... for a 16 year old.

On my Great American Road Trip God opened my eyes to the beauty in His creation. One night, at Castle Rock campground halfway between Yellowstone and Bozeman, Montana I sat in the back of my car watching the rain fall and contemplating God's creation. I wrote a prayer like a poem thinking of the Psalms. I figured I would go back to it, refine it, and maybe post it somewhere. I didn't.

Tonight in Bible study our lovely Erin opened us up in worship with the song Your Love is Extravagant. The Last line is 'Lord, capture my heart again.' I was immediately taken back to that moment. Coming out of Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, thinking about the big Montana sky and the rafting trip to come. I washed my face in the river and chopped firewood with my hatchet (then it rained! Oh well.)... My heart was captive to the beauty and glory of the Lord.

I'm back in Livermore now. God's love looks different here. It's love and sparkles in a latte (really), it's a snow cone, it's being nice to the creepy guy, it's girls Bible study, it's Derek leading worship... and it seems... less captivating. Easier to ignore, though no less real.

***

My Psalm (as written in the car that night)

Praise the LORD for His creation!!!

Father, Maker, Creator, Abba, LORD over all, Almighty, LOVE!

Thank You for Your creation, for Earth.

I know it didn't have to be this way,

But You delight in the beauty of the earth.

I can see now that all creation sings your praises.

Mountains point to You; they worship You in majesty.

Rivers bring life and sing your songs,

Waterfalls hint at Your power and rumble in praise.

Birds rejoice in songs,

Trees are sustained by You alone.

You are Life.

Thank You for sharing with me.

Teach me to love Your creation. To sing with the rivers and worship on mountians.

I love You, God. I love what You've made.

Thank you for finally giving me eyes to see!

May they never close again.

Amen.

Glacier National Park, Montana

Joey & Carisa part deux

2009-09-07T23:14:00.001-07:00

this is what a perfect summer evening in Livermore looks like

2009-09-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

wineland banjo band!

blue tongue- thank you snow cone

bye-bye balloon

Joey & Carisa

2009-09-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

I am still working on the photos of their special day, but here is a preview!

On Love and Unicorns

2009-09-03T00:11:00.001-07:00

I don't know what I am doing, and I am not the only one.

Maybe it's generational, maybe it's something in the water, but so many of us are floundering. Not sure what to do with ourselves, but sure that this isn't it. (Well, ok. By 'sure' I mean we really, really hope there is more than this.)

What I mean is, where is the greatness? The adventure? The... career? Something. I'm 26, single, work at a coffee shop, have no degree, live with my parents... this is not to say that I don't have ever so much to praise God for. His blessings are new every day!! Therein lies the rub. When I have so much I don't rely on God for my daily living.

That was the sweetness in the road trip. Sweetness in brokenness. In the state I was in this Spring I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't function at all without leaning totally on God. I praise Him for my healing and needed a new heart... but that sweetness is gone. I can get through the day without Him (at least, it feels like it), and I'm not sure I like it.

I need direction. Contentment. A degree. (A plane ticket?)

My night time devotional spurred this blog post. I was just going to post another quote, but I got to thinking about it. Thinking about how this applies to my life. Thinking about how this applies to the lives of my friends and decided that if I didn't pull out my computer and just write it down that I would lie awake thinking about what I would write and then forget everything by morning.

"Life with all its experiences is just our chance of learning love. The lesson is set for us—“thou shalt love”; “As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Our one thing is to master this lesson. We are not in this world to get rich, to gain power, to become learned in the arts and sciences, to build up a great business, or to do large things in any line. We are not here to get along in our daily work, in our shops, or schools, or homes, or on our farms. We are not here to preach the gospel, to comfort sorrow, to visit the sick and perform deeds of charity. All of these, or any of these, may be among our duties, and they may fill our hands; but in all our occupations the real business of life, that which we are always to strive to do , the work which must go in all our experiences, if we grasp life’s true meaning at all, is to learn to love and to grow loving in disposition and character." J.R. Miller from Streams in the Desert Volume 2

And I think he is right. Love. Paul tells us in Corinthians that we can do all these great things, but without love we are just a clanging gong. We're useless and annoying.

So, friends, that is our job. Our calling. Just love.

(I assume when we get this down the rest will follow... though if it doesn't, what does it matter? This is not our life to live anyway.)

2009-09-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

"come, gentle night, --come, loving black brow'd night,
Give me my Romeo; and when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with the night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun."

From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

*mobile post

2009-08-28T23:27:00.000-07:00

Testing my new camera
app on Stella...

*mobile post

The end of an era

2009-08-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

I'll miss the love and sparkles... But I guess I can make them myself now.

On Prayer (again)

2009-08-26T23:05:00.000-07:00

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Last week I decided to seek out some answers on prayer. I didn't. In fact, I hardly thought about it after I wrote my blog post. Whoops.

But here's the thing. I got answers.

Last week we prayed for one of the girls boyfriend to get a job. He did.

Last week we prayed that my wedding photo gig would go amazingly well. It did.

Last week we prayed for reconciliation in one of the girls lives. It's starting.

Last week we prayed for Ingrid to get into classes at Los Positas. She did.

Last week I prayed I would see answers to prayer, and I did!

Ingrid and I had a long conversation after Bible study tonight about prayer. God is listening. He is here. He is moving. I can see it. She can see it. When we pray for things, they happen. It's amazing.

Not in a God is like the genie from Aladdin amazing, but in like a my heart is slowly but surely becoming like God's so when I pray things happen kind of amazing.

I still need to seek the Lord on this. I still want to know more, and to see much, much more... but we are moving in the right direction. We are moving towards God.

Jim Cork Burning

2009-08-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

Dreamers of the golden dream

Sailing on forbidden seas

Words are so uninteresting

Don’t kiss me; it will trigger things

The conversations we replay

To catch the hints in what we say

The houses we find ourselves in

The games that end when we begin to live

I swear I’m getting out of here

Oh someone drag me out of here

Servant to the matriarch

Sleeping in a burning car

Lovers of the lovable

Respond to the incredible

Blood is thick with medicine

And I am chasing smoke again

Humming some new mystery

Alive inside the history of us

I swear I’m getting out of here

Oh someone drag me out of here

Create in me a grateful heart

Forge it out of twine and tar

Take the dark unusable

And make it something beautiful

And make me something beautiful

A song by Derek Walker. Listen to it on Sky Fidelity.

...it's tough being a girl

2009-08-26T22:50:00.001-07:00

"...that in me ye might have peace." John 16:33

2009-08-26T00:03:00.000-07:00

I have been through the valley of weeping,
the valley of sorrow and pain;
but the God of all comfort was with me,
at hand to uphold and sustain.

As the earth needs the clouds and the sunshine,
our souls need both sorrow and joy;
so He places us oft in the furnace,
the dross from the gold to destroy.

So we'll follow wherever He leadeth,
let the path be dreary or bright;
for we've proved that our God can give comfort,
our God can give songs in the night.

Agyness wants to be me

2009-08-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

So, either Agyness is stalking my Facebook page, or we're twins seperated at birth. This is just weird.

Prayer

2009-08-19T23:11:00.000-07:00

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

The subject of prayer has come up in our last two Bible study sessions. I guess I have never really thought about why we pray before.

When I was in DTS with YWAM we had to get up early and do intercession for India and North Korea, fast on Fridays for America and spent hours on our faces before the Lord. Mostly I slept through it (because really, who can close their eyes and pray for an hour at 7am!?). I didn't engage and I didn't get it. I blamed it on the morning... and on my stomach.

Recently, a tragedy struck a church I am very close with. I found myself praying a blanket over everyone involved and everyone that knew the boy who died and was reminded of the YWAM prayer sessions. I suppose praying for the masses in India is different than praying for a few hundred in Dublin, California... but is it?

I brought this up at Bible study last week and we decided that prayer is for us. Mostly God is going to do what He is going to do, but not only to we get to be involved, but we are commanded to be involved.

I'm not sure I buy this. I think it's more complicated than that... but in God's infinite infiniteness its more simple, too.

I could spend my whole life trying to get to the bottom of this and will never really succeed, but that's fine. God is too big to fingure out, and it's not that I doubt Him. That He is there, that He listens, that 'prayer works!'... I just don't get it, and the more I think about it the less I get it.

Step 1 was to search prayer on BibleGateway.com- the NIV has 155 references to prayer so I guess it is time to dive in.

Here is what I think I am looking for:

-Why do we pray? I mean REALLY why.

-Do my prayers change God's mind?

-If I don't pray for something will it not happen?

This links to Facebook, and I would love to hear what you think, too.

Love and Sparkles

2009-08-19T17:18:00.001-07:00

Let's try this again.

This is the sweet headband that I made. It took about 5 minutes and cost a grand total of about $2.36 and it gets quite a few comments from Peet's customers. I think it was well worth the investment.

Taco Night and Cynthia's preBirthday

2009-08-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

I'm such a good cook. You're welcome, family.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sarah's painting adventure

2009-08-08T18:04:00.001-07:00

Awesome.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

2009-07-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

Life planning with Dalene at Ale House. Love.

The Vision

2009-07-19T01:20:00.000-07:00

Summer 2001, Ensenada, Mexico with the church youth group- it was our first night there. A guy came on stage and shared 'The Vision'. He said it came out of YWAM London, but no one really knew much about it. (Several years later I learned it was written by Pete Grieg from 24/7 Prayer International.) I think it is safe to say that moment changed my life. The words on that crumpled up piece of paper with the MSN logo at the top seared my brain and my heart. It made my palms sweat and my eyes water. At that moment I wanted to leap from my chair and sing, and shout... and yell... and get a tattoo. From that moment on I was different.

But then I stopped being different. I'm not sure when. Maybe around the time I turned 20 or 21. But I am ready to be different again. It's time.

So here it is. Soak it in. Print it out. Read it again. The Vision.

So this guy comes up to me and says, “What’s the vision? What’s the big idea?”

I open my mouth and words come out like this:

The vision? The vision is Jesus – obsessively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus.

The vision is an army of young people. You see bones? I see an army.

And they are free from materialism.

They laugh at 9-5 little prisons. They could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesday. They wouldn’t even notice.

They know the meaning of the Matrix, the way the west was won. They are mobile like the wind, they belong to the nations. They need no passport. People write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their strange existence. They are free yet they are slaves of the hurting and dirty and dying.

What is the vision ?

The vision is holiness that hurts the eyes. It makes children laugh and adults angry. It gave up the game of minimum integrity long ago to reach for the stars. It scorns the good and strains for the best. It is dangerously pure.

Light flickers from every secret motive, every private conversation. It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan games. This is an army that will lay down its life for the cause. A million times a day its soldiers choose to loose, that they might one day win the great ‘Well done’ of faithful sons and daughters.

Such heroes are as radical on Monday morning as Sunday night. They don’t need fame from names. Instead they grin quietly upwards and hear the crowds chanting again and again: “COME ON!”

And this is the sound of the underground, the whisper of history in the making. Foundations shaking. Revolutionaries dreaming once again. Mystery is scheming in whispers. Conspiracy is breathing…

This is the sound of the underground.

And the army is disciplined. Young people who beat their bodies into submission. Every soldier would take a bullet for his comrade at arms. The tattoo on their back boasts “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.

Sacrifice fuels the fire of victory in their upward eyes. Winners. Martyrs. Who can stop them ? Can hormones hold them back? Can failure succeed? Can fear scare them or death kill them?

And the generation prays

like a dying man

with groans beyond talking,

with warrior cries, sulphuric tears and

with great barrow loads of laughter!

Waiting. Watching. 24/7/365.

Whatever it takes they will give: Breaking the rules. Shaking mediocrity from its cosy little hide. Laying down their rights and their precious little wrongs, laughing at labels, fasting essentials. The advertisers cannot mould them. Hollywood cannot hold them. Peer-pressure is powerless to shake their resolve at late night parties before the cockerel cries.

They are incredibly cool, dangerously attractive. Inside.

On the outside? They hardly care. They wear clothes like costumes to communicate and celebrate but never to hide. Would they surrender their image or their popularity? They would lay down their very lives - swap seats with the man on death row - guilty as hell. A throne for an electric chair.

With blood and sweat and many tears, with sleepless nights and fruitless days, they pray as if it all depends on God and live as if it all depends on them.

Their DNA chooses JESUS. (He breathes out, they breathe in.)

Their subconscious sings. They had a blood transfusion with Jesus.

Their words make demons scream in shopping centres.

Don’t you hear them coming?

Herald the weirdo’s! Summon the losers and the freaks. Here come the frightened and forgotten with fire in their eyes. They walk tall and trees applaud, skyscrapers bow, mountains are dwarfed by these children of another dimension. Their prayers summon the hounds of heaven and invoke the ancient dream of Eden.

And this vision will be.

It will come to pass;

it will come easily;

it will come soon.

How do I know?

Because this is the longing of creation itself, the groaning of the Spirit, the very dream of God.

My tomorrow is his today. My distant hope is his 3D. And my feeble, whispered, faithless prayer invokes a thunderous, resounding, bone-shaking great ‘Amen!’ from countless angels, from hero’s of the faith, from Christ himself. And he is the original dreamer, the ultimate winner.

Guaranteed.

Streams in the Desert Volume 2

2009-07-16T00:15:00.001-07:00

From July 15

"And I know not any trouble
For I have the tempest's King
To change my winter's fury
To the gladness of His spring."

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I made a delicious dinner!

2009-07-15T18:13:00.000-07:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Home Sweet Home

2009-07-13T23:54:00.000-07:00

I am so glad to be home. So glad to be in Livermore. Things could not be better. Thank you Jesus!

I got a job at Peet's- it's quite pleasant. I have a girls Bible study meeting at my house. My mom started a 'Summer of Love Quilting Club' at our house (sounds turdy, but is SO fun!), my best friends live upstairs, across the park and across town... you can't beat that!!

I may not be trekking across America, climbing a mountain, or flying across oceans to distant lands, but I am deeply content.

Thank you Jesus.

Northern District

2009-07-13T23:41:00.001-07:00

This is Derek Walker.

Sometimes I call him my best friend, sometimes we lie and say we're siblings, sometimes I just take his order at Peet's (medium low fat iced mocha in a large cup- no whip).

Derek is a musician. He leads worship at Cornerstone Fellowship here in Livermore, and his most recent musical endeavor is a collaboration (not sure I'd really call it a band...) called Northern District. I voted for Northern Knives, but it's not my project so apparently my vote didn't count.

Northern Distrct doesn't have a website yet, but Derek just started a blog. Derek, the ever private songwriter is finally sharing a piece of himself and his songs with the mindless masses (and us).

This is great news. Derek is brilliant. Really. People say that about their friends. They love them so things sound better, but I am 99% sure that he really is brilliant. Yes, I love the guy, but he has a gift like I have never heard in real life before and I am proud to call him my friend.

Listen to his songs. You won't regret it.

Sky Fidelity

Oh good. Mom made dinner.

2009-07-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Best part about LA part 2

2009-07-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The best thing about LA

2009-07-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

release

2009-06-27T00:31:00.000-07:00

In Your love I find release

A haven from my unbelief

Take my life and let me be

A living prayer my God to Thee

On Relationships.

2009-06-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this old blog entry today written in December 2006 and feel compelled to share it with you all again...

A while ago I read The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis. In fact, I think I read it while I was in Tibet. No, scratch that-- that was Mere Christianity. I read The Four Loves a couple of summers ago... anyway, not important when I read it, just that I read it.

Tonight as I drove home from seeing Stranger Than Fiction with Ingrid (excellent movie. I love love loved it. Loved.) I had the heater blasting and I listened to Jimmy Eat World's rendition of "Last Christmas" on repeat and I ate some very, very cold generic 'Nilla Wafers from Target... I got to thinking.

I got to thinking about relationships... the friendship kind and the we're in love kind (from here on out referred to simply as a relationship). I thought about my own friendships and other people's relationships (since I've none of my own to think about).

I don't remember much about The Four Loves- but what I do remember is profound. Lewis writes that a true friendship is two people walking side by side working for a common goal. I imagine two friends holding hands and making their way towards God. When one trips the other helps her up- no words of judgment and no mocking. Just helps her up and they continue on their way.

The other thing that I remember is that Eros- the relationship kind of love- is like people looking at each other. They love each other. I see this love often. I see this love in friends of mine, and in the movies... I imagine lovers gazing into each other’s eyes on a hilltop with a background of brilliant stars. This is the love people long for- the kind of love they think will make them feel whole. The kind of love that made everyone cry in The Notebook. The kind of love that makes life worth living... but is it?

Frankly, I don't want that kind of love. I am not interested in gazing into someone’s eyes and feeling like we are the only two people in the world that exist. I don't want to feel as if all time has stopped and there is only this moment.

I think about the people in my life that have relationships that rely far too much on the moment when all time stops.

I love my friends. The people that know me well know that I am a very devoted friend and that I invest a lot of love, time and myself into friendships-- often at the risk of losing the friendship. (You see, to be a real friend to someone, I think you've got to love them enough to risk your friendship in order to show them that love. Risk the friendship to save the friend.)

There are a few people in my life that I truly feel as though we walk hand in hand towards the common goal of loving God more. When I was in DTS someone prayed over me and, I think it was Stacie, that out of our love for God and His love for us, that our own love for each other would grow. I loved that prayer. I pray it all the time now. The love I have for my God and His for me is what feeds the love I have for my friends that I so treasure.

And so when I fall in love I want a love not like The Notebook, Romeo + Juliet, or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days... rather I want to hold his hand and walk towards God. I want a friendship that runs deeper than our love for one another, and the love of God flowing from one to another.

I want to walk with a man towards God and share a sidelong glance- a stolen moment. Time will not stop. We will never be alone in the world. When I trip he will help me up and when he stumbles I will steady him. We will work for a common goal. And it will be amazing.

It is Well

2009-06-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio G. Spafford, 1873