rise and shine like starz.

i rose early today. i've decided a glass of wine before bed makes me feel well-rested. while i've always wished i was a morning person, i'm convinced i never will be. so, the more rested i feel the better. i think the previous sentence contains the most applicable-to-everyone statement i've ever said.

as of the moment, i'm at home and considering a nap. thrift stores can make you tired in a hurry. i made my rounds this morning and came home with.. [hold your breath]... one vase and two cork bottles. the bottles, which now have wildflowers stuck in them, look cute on my kitchen table. i'm also a little worried about whit. she was supposed to come to birmingham today to hear one of her favorite bands play, and i haven't heard from her. if i wasn't used to receiving updates from her via twitter throughout the day, i wouldn't think a thing about it. i have two hypotheses: (1) tim flew to alabama without her knowing, stole her and her phone for the weekend, and is putting a black diamond on her finger.. OR.. (2) she ran over her phone again. [whit, i hope you're alive and well!]

if i get brave enough to bust a tune at Starz karaoke tonight, i'll be sure to update.

update: whit is A OK, and neither of my hypotheses were correct [which seems to be the case most of the time]. we searched for a song to karaoke to but unfortunately couldn't find one that seemed to fit. we were, however, entertained by the others who sang their hearts out. oh, and the velcro pygmies have some major talent on those instruments.

She lifts her skirt up to her knees
Walks through the garden rows
With her bare feet laughing
I never learned to count my blessings
Ray Lamontagne

walk on, walk on, walk on.

these songs got me out of bed this morning...

1. "love and some verses" iron & wine
2. "all the trees of the field will clap their hands" sufjan stevens
3. "can't go back now" the weepies
4. "only love remains" griffin house
5. "blindsided" bon iver
6. "boston and st. johns" great big sea
7. "divine romance" phil wickham

short but sweet

it's been a sufjan stevens kind of day--good, thoughtful, and mellow.

"and i am throwing all my thoughts away
and i'm destroying every bet i've made
and i'm joining all my thoughts to you
and i'm preparing every part for you.."

word of the day: camaraderie - n. goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship; the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability. [syn: fellowship; companionship; intimacy; togetherness]

say it. it's fun to say out loud.

i want to sense a stronger camaraderie between me and Jesus.

p.s. one more thought from a friend of mine. what would you do if you knew you could not fail? as for me, i would fly..above all of the sadness, darkness, and shame.. and tell everyone there is hope.

April Fools!

since nearly all of my friends are getting engaged or married, i figured i should be in a relationship for a day. i used April Fools as an excuse to pull a fast one on my facebook friends. i am pretty sure it was a success. i got so many comments, messages, and emails it was ridiculous.

"congratulations!"
"who is the lucky man?"
"hold up!!! i'm gonna need details!"

i never suspected the attention and fame that comes with having a man. thanks, Adam Kidd, for being my better half for the day. it was a pleasure.

taking flight

i wrote this poem a few weeks ago. it stemmed from past experiences in planes and remembering why i love them so. sure, if i don't keep my ears popped constantly, the pain is near unbearable halfway into the trip [and chewing gum just doesn't seem to help my poor ears], but the views make up for it.


it makes me feel good to look down and see the world as simple for just a little while. i think the Lord likes teaching me from this perspective. i like writing so i can remember a tad of what i learn.

then, there are those times when my writing collides with my dreams as they come up to the surface of my heart. it's funny how sometimes i don't even know what those dreams are until they begin making their way to paper.

i'm sitting here, thousands of miles away from my town

looking down on the vertical distance between us is changing me
i'm wrapped up in this blanket because it's cold up here
but the inside of me is warmer than it's felt in years

the city looks clean and simple, tidy little boxes separated my streets
the square in the corner is lit up by a man who loves his family
he may have to work two jobs to give them what they need
but they know the long hours stem from love, not greed

from way up here, everything looks orderly and intact
the people have it all together and know what they've come to do
they speak with voices as calm as the ocean appears
and they all hold hands and pray because they know the end is near

the roads are never ending, left and right lead to the very same place
confusion isn't present when there's this bird's eye view
no one is questioning when or where and how or why
they just serve during the day and have peace in their homes at night

the clouds are below me now, so i'm above all the rain
these clouds may look heavy from where you are but that's not true
they surrounded me on my way up and wrapped me in white
and now they're parting just in time for you to see the light

when i land, i won't lose this perspective like before
when the newness wore off and and simplicities slowly faded away
distance has healed the pain and brought forth tears to roam
no more wondering what it's really like, i'm coming home

(c) 2009

fields of green

this is where i wish i was on this monday... in a wide, open field. i love fields. they make me so careless and free.

"Oh I see fields of green
Honey I see fields of green
I've been watching you in these dreams
I've been watching you in these dreams in fields of green.."
-Joe Purdy

look how they shine..

it's been a good day. i got up at 9am (earlier than i get up any other morning.. i have to make my favorite day count!) and worked on part of a practice test. Iron & Wine helped with this gruesome task. they're really good at setting the mood. since it was so warm, i spent the rest of my afternoon at the riverwalk with my fishermen friends. we ate chinese, as always, and caught up on life. my name is still carved on my bench, but it's fading a little. Carl goes back after a heavy rain to color it in again. it wouldn't surprise me a bit if i returned tomorrow with my name looking as good as new...

tonight, i had a movie night with nick and his family. bella is my favorite miniature pinscher in the world. i really just go to see her and josie. ohhh, i'm kidding. maybe. we watched a couple of movies, one of which really inspired me. i just have to rant for a few minutes.. starting now.

it really bothers me that various institutions and people have so much control over the human mind. one movie was based on intelligent design and how most won't ever be educated on it because it's not allowed to be discussed in classrooms at all; and yet, we can discuss Darwin's views all day long. having a degree in biomedical sciences, i sat through biology classes galore. i don't remember one professor ever mentioning God or creation. they gave us no option other than evolution. we are supposed to have the right to choose what we believe, but we are presented with only one choice.

i choose science and God. i choose to practice medicine and believe in a God who is supernatural and a much better Physician than i'll ever be. He created the first cell..the first human body.. so He knows it inside and out. that is such a relief. it's incomprehensible to me how people can put their faith in outrageous ideas such as aliens inhabiting the earth or the first molecule forming from nothing but turn a deaf ear to the sound of His name...

every design, however simple or complex, has a designer. the Designer i know created the beauty around me, and i wish everyone could see Him in all of His glory one day.

as i was driving home tonight after the downpour, i looked up and saw the stars in a very clear sky and smiled. it was just another moment that i realized how small i am and how sweet He is to me. i am blessed, and my life has meaning because of Him.

p.s. my best friend Stephanie just became a blogger. this also added joy to my Saturday in a really big way. now i can read about and remember her hilariousness anytime i please! i love you, Stephie. :)