awesomesauce

.

• Your face, even though I don't know what it looks like.
• Sunny days that make life feel worth living.
• Getting three magazines from the library for $1 and feeling like I'm winning at life.
• Hoodies are acceptable things.
• Purple is a grand kind of color. 
• Bike riding is also the jam.
• I have eyes that see the world.
• And I really dig my vinyl collection.
• And this weekend is going to be the bomb. 

"I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips." ~ Psalm 34:1 

Even when I'd rather have a pity party.

dead? alive. lost? found.

Do you ever feel so sinful sometimes that you become just downright ashamed of yourself?

"Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." ~ Psalm 34:5

That's been me this week. Nay, this month. I've been so busy and distracted with school and with self, that I haven't been spending time with the Lord like I ought to. And even the way I phrase that feels false -- "like I ought to." As if loving God is an obligation, just another thing to check off my endless to-do list. Which sometimes, honestly, it is.

This morning I decided it was time to read the passage on the prodigal son. So often I have self-righteously read through this parable looking down on the prodigal son, but now I feel like I can relate to him better than ever. I've wandered off, done my own thing, but it only makes me feel more empty inside. And a lot of the time I think the Lord looks down on me for it. But then I read this verse:

"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him." ~ Luke 15:20

That's the kind of love that I will bleed myself dry for. That's the kind of love that the Father continues to wrap me in, despite my filth. He ran.

I don't know, I have homework to do and projects to present and all these things, but I felt like it was important for me to share that with whomever reads these ramblings.

"'For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." ~ Luke 15:24

Dead? Alive.

Lost? Found.

today just feels like the kind of day to

• fail at making a pancake 
• eat strawberry cake 
• procrastinate my assignments
• wear a polka dotted dress

the simple life: parks

Parks are great, because they are.
But also, because you can walk hand in hand with someone you love and tell stories to them and end up laughing so much that you forget where you are, yet you are still somewhat grounded, somewhat tethered to the earth on which you walk, with the sunshine beaming and beating through the trees; yet, if it wasn't for him, you probably would make like a balloon and float away.

I miss you, love. Why must we always walk in separate parks? 

+ Fall's here. Have you heard?

not without hope

The more out of touch I get with the word of God, the more disheartened I seem to become.

This is a lesson I have had to learn over and over again, unfortunately. When I'm not reading the Word and turning it over in my soul each day, I'm listening to someone (or something) else. Our minds are active, sharp. But I've found that negative thoughts can hole up there and ferment for days if we let them.

In many small ways, God has been showing me that He is always, always, always a God of hope -- He is for me. And He is for you.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." ~ Romans 15:13

For more on hope, I would highly recommend reading the first chapter of Ephesians. It's a great refresher on identity. It's not hard to forget who you are. Especially living in this world. So check out that chapter and just spend some time reading through it or praying it, because there's some solid truth in there, yo.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." ~ Ephesians 1:18-19a

You are not without hope.

I may or may not have gone rooting through old photos in a quest of nostalgia; this shot is from a 2010 trip to St. Augustine and was probably taken by my sister. If you're still reading this, you should check out Sophie's blog because she has some darn wonderful things to say.

here goes nothing

Jesus made the need.
Jesus will meet the need.

darkly drink each other's eyes

A rare sighting of the North American 20-something on the advent of a perfectly ordinary early morn, which was nonetheless exquisite, and made all the more beautiful by the kiss of light breaking through the trees. 

i like simple things
and simple people
and the way that you always, always have ideas
and how you are never far from the written word.

i miss park benches, and
the places we used to talk, and
poetry that makes perfect sense.

but everyday we each get a little older
and a little colder.

hmmph.

+ If you like twenty one pilots, then my studies show you will be 76% more likely to enjoy this vinyl review I wrote about their latest album, Blurryface. Click here.

the simple life: walk this way

At the risk of sounding like I am 22 going on 87 (although this is admittedly not much of an exaggeration), I would like to just take a moment to sing the praises of walking.

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." ~ Robert Frost

This post is part of a new series I want to start about life's little simple pleasures. My sister and I have been talking lately about how we dislike the current culture in America. And as a Christ follower, I want to live different. I want to live slower-paced. I don't want to get caught up in the obsessions and Internet culture that my peers do. I want to live my life more naturally, more in step with the Lord. And one of the steps (pun 100% intended) I've been taking towards a slower-paced lifestyle lately is walking.

"A song is anything that can walk by itself." ~ Bob Dylan

Not only does walking help burn calories (if you're trying to get in shape like me, this is a definite bonus), but it gives you time to think and reflect on your day. When I walk, I like to work my way through my neighborhood right before sunset, but sometimes I'll go to a park and wind through the tree-laden paths. I'll pray, or listen to music....sometimes I walk in the early mornings, or late evenings; after a run, before heading to school...it's simple stuff, folks. And it's beyond relaxing.

We just need to slow down, see the beautiful things. 

Where do you like to walk? 

home is where one starts from

Lately I have been wanting a home of my own. It's not like I'm ready to move out and be self-sufficient -- I still have a ways to go before I will be able to fully support myself. But I'm at least a little more mentally prepared for the day when I will have my own sleepy cabin or cottage. I can't wait to wake up in the early morning in my own home, rising before dawn to write and fix myself a bowl of oatmeal. Basically my life's goal is to sustain an 85-year old woman's lifestyle for as long as humanly possible. But anyways, this shot from last year's trip to St. Augustine (I'm game to go back) has got me longing for the place pictured, tucked away in some wonderful corner of the world. Whether that be on acres of land, or a lazy side street is all up to the Lord.

"A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness." ~ Robert Frost

+ also, if music is your thing, check out my new vinyl blog here. 

i must be on a zombie kick

First, I felt like the absolute undead this morning. I've never been so tired before a class.
Then, I spun Michael Jackson's Thriller album for my listening pleasure.
Now, I'm about to watch Warm Bodies.

ZOMBIE THEME MUCH

i've been thinking too much; help me

"For He has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
He has not hidden His face from him
but has listened to his cry for help."
~Psalm 22:24

the vinyl notebook

One of my favorite things about my class load this semester is that I ACTUALLY GET TO BLOG FOR COLLEGE CREDIT.

Yeah, that's right, you heard me. This crazy child has actually been entrusted with the task of creating a new web space for an Intro to Blogging class. My assignment, besides posting, is to study up on an already-successful blog all semester long, and promote my new bloggeth on social media platforms. It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

This is actually kind of super rad, because I've been meaning to create a music blog that I can consistently post on, and this class will give me the motivation to stick with it. So, without further ado, I present to you my newest creation: The Vinyl Notebook!

22

"And she looks at the man and says, "Where are we going?"
And he looks at her and he says, "We're going to a party.
It's a birthday party. It's your birthday party.
Happy birthday, darling.
We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much."

~ Bright Eyes

I'm going on record as saying I have some very, very special people in my life. I have been blessed beyond belief to have such a sweet sister, mother, father, brother & countless other family members and friends that love and care about me so much. They are the best people I could have ever have adventured with in this life, and each one of them is so very special to me. 

I'm sure I'll have more stories to tell tomorrow, but 22 began with a Bob Dylan biography, and garage sales, with perusing the bookstore, watching a hiking film and eating lots of awesome food. But most importantly, praising God for another year of life!

what a goon

I'm not sure I've ever shared these on the blog before, but I figured they were worth a laugh. I usually tend towards the sappy and emotional and wildly nostalgic photos for my Film Friday posts, but for this edition, I thought I'd post these hilarious photo booth shots my Dad took back in the day. As in, way before I was born, or even a possibility, for that matter. I just love the progression from uncertain to normal to the true spirit of my father. I'm rather fond of that third shot, oh my.

Which frame is your favorite?

souls indifferent to trees are not to be trusted

beauty

& twenty years later, Erin finishes her novel

Photograph source here.

So I don’t post about this too much on my blog, but I'm writing a novel.

Let me *gently* rephrase that: I’ve been writing a novel. For years now. Almost seven. (EGAD!) But every time I get really dedicated and moving with my writing, and actually write some 200 pages, I quit that draft and start over and rework everything. Folks, I've changed perspectives, voices, chapters, characters....sometimes even the fonts get the ax. (It's a really ridiculous procrastinating habit of mine.) So I basically allow myself to rework my novel every time I get close to finishing, which may be my perfectionist tendencies working hand in hand with a near-debilitating self sabotaging mechanism.

Ok, awesome.

My question to you lovely folks of the Internet, as I get ready to start rewriting this novel for what feels like the eighty hundredth time, is what kind of books do you normally read?

A first person novel, written from the view point of the main character?

A third person tale, told from the viewpoint of someone outside of the story, who may or may not be all knowing and able to peek inside the brains of all the characters?

Or a multiple first person perspective, which features more than one narrator?

In the words of the Killers, "you know, you got to help me out." Please?

collective thoughts

Image source found here.

+ I miss this view something awful. I wish I lived somewhere I could hike for hours and then return home. What a fun, revitalizing workout walk that would be!
+ Speaking of which, since I can't get onto the Appalachian Trail as of currently, it gives me all the more reason to see A Walk in the Woods on my birthday. I vote yes.
+ Even when I feel farthest from You, You still choose to use me and that is beyond humbling. Who am I?
+ I am going to go on record as saying that Mumford & Sons did a fantastic job on their Wilder Mind record. I only just today got around to finally listening to it, and I was impressed! I hope to post more on that very soon.
+ People just fascinate me. I'm learning so much by being back at school, but I'm also falling a little more in love with people, and learning from them. This is something I hope to grow in each day. I want my life to be spent and poured out for the sake of those around me.
+ I miss my campers.
+ I never read the book of Micah, but this verse is reason enough to:

"I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness." ~ Micah 7:9