in the sun.

so, i'm back to the world of blogging. if i'm being completely honest, my week of digital detox was a bit of a failure. sure, there were some things that were easier to do (for example, sending fewer text messages), but other things (like staying off facebook) were difficult. on the whole, though, it was a really good time for me to set some boundaries for my use of technology, which i guess makes it more a success than a failure. we can't escape technology after all, and who really wants to?

anywho, i woke up to a lovely spring morning today. there is something really magical to me about mornings. some of my most favorite memories are from the summers i worked at Kanakuk, where we got up at dawn (literally) every morning and spent time looking out over Table Rock Lake reading, journaling and praying. Spring mornings are particularly wonderful. the temperature is perfect, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the grass is green. it's a feast for my color-starved winter eyes.

this morning i'm doing a little reading and listening to She & Him. i love their sweet retro sound, and seriously, isn't Zooey just the greatest? i love her style.



alright, i'm off to enjoy this fantastic weather. if i didn't have work to do at the clinic today, i'd put on a dress and some Chacos and bask in the sun all day. is the weekend here yet?

detox.

i've been feeling overwhelmed by technology lately. all of the facebooking, emailing, blogging, texting, etc. doesn't seem to be making my life any easier or more enjoyable; instead it's become a source of frustration. it seems like i can't go a single day without feeling ruled by technology. not only has it been a bit of a burden recently, but it has also distracted me from things that should be given much more importance in my world.

so on that note, i think i'm going to take a mini break from all things digital. john mayer instituted a challenge on his blog at the beginning of the year to do a "one week digital cleanse." i love this idea. here are his guidelines:

-cell phones can only be used to make calls, and no text messages or e-mails are allowed - if you receive a text, you must reply in voice over the phone. E-mails must be returned from a laptop or desktop computer.

-no use of Twitter or any other social networking site - this includes reading as well as posting.

-no visiting of any entertainment or gossip sites. (No need to detail which ones - you know what they are.)

so, farewell for now. maybe when i come back i'll have something new and inspiring to share with you!

matty and davy.

i'm oh so excited about new music from matty and davy. love these guys.



i also love adding a "y" to the end of many names: matty, davy, johnny. it's a sign of endearment, right?

monday, rainy monday.

it's been a wonderful monday (who knew that was possible? ha!). i've loved the rain (despite the fact that i wore a skirt and the most impractical shoes today). the warm/rainy weather lately has made me so excited about the arrival of spring!

i think i'll take a break from thinking about clinic and finding a job and deciding where to move and spend the afternoon curled up on the couch finishing Traveling Mercies (maybe i'll even start another in my never-ending stack of books) and sipping a cup of hot tea. by the way, if you haven't read Traveling Mercies, i highly recommend it. Anne Lamott is such a stunning storyteller and her raw honesty about life is so inspiring.

p.s. please sing the title of this post to the tune of "sunday, bloody sunday" by U2. in case you were wondering, almost everything makes me think of a song. i'm such a music nerd.

reckless love.

i've been reminded through several different avenues lately of the counter-intuitive and absolutely reckless love of Jesus. it's one of the most amazing things to me about the gospel. these lyrics from bethany dillon's song "you are on our side" pretty much sum it up:

You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side

i mean, what kind of God would choose to spend His time with the lowest of the low in society? it's mind blowing, really. and it makes me want to love more like He does, to give to others the kind of forgiving, reckless love that He freely gives us.

assassin.

john mayer killed it last night. it was the best concert i've ever been to, hands down. there was a major snafu over the location of our seats (we weren't actually in the second row. you can imagine my devastation.), but no matter whether we had been in the front row or the last row, it was a damn good show. there really are no words to describe it. he played a good mix of old and new songs, and he covered "ain't no sunshine" and "don't stop believin'," which was hilarious. i was hoping he would play a new new song like he did at another show earlier this week (see you tube video), but he didn't. in any case, it was a brilliant show. all time favorite.



love him.

circa 1997.

i've been on a 90's kick lately, listening to some favorites from my jr. high days (gasp!). here's a few for you to enjoy:

natalie merchant:


matchbox twenty:


jamiroquai:


sarah mclachlan:


p.s. i was also a diehard mariah carey fan during this time. she was still good back in those days, right?