Your Love is Strong

Easter Sunday was yesterday here is Australia. It was my first Easter away from home and it was a tough one. I woke up happy but the dreary weather quickly put a damper on my mood. Katie and I walked to church but it just didn't feel right. Going to church felt right, but not going to my church didn't feel right, it didn't feel like home. I didn't have a delicious dinner to look forward to. All I could think of was my lean cuisine sitting in the freezer and how it would probably be the extent of my Easter dinner. Suddenly, I missed home the most since I've been here. I don't think you realize how valuable friends and family are on holidays until you don't have them there. Katie and I were going to go to an Easter art show but I was just not in an emotional state to go out. I sat in my room, feeling pretty lonely and depressed. I tried to nap but my mind wouldn't stop racing. Sweet Katie sent me a text saying she left something for me downstairs so once I mustered up the energy I headed down there. On every stair step there was a chocolate egg trailing to my makeshift Easter basket filled with an assortment of candy. It definitely brightened my mood but still didn't take away the loneliness I felt. After awhile I invited Katie back over and I made us some spaghetti and we watched Ratatouille. Though it didn't feel Easter-esque it was still enjoyable. When I woke up this morning and checked facebook, everyone's statuses were about Easter and all of a sudden it felt like Easter. Almost as if I couldn't celebrate Easter until my friends and family back home could too. So to me, today is Easter and I am definitely okay with that. I ate a chocolate bunny for breakfast and listened to some music to have my own little Easter celebration. One of the songs I listened to was "Your Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman and I ended up putting it on repeat. What a wonderful message. Thanks Jon, and thank you Jesus for your strong love and what you gave up for my sake.

Heavenly Father, you always amaze me
Let your kingdom come in my world and in my life
Give me the food I need to live through today and
Forgive me as I forgive the people that wrong me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window the birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune or out of place
I walk to the meadow and stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl on her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens is now advancing
Invade my heart, invade this broken town
The kingdom of the Heavens is buried treasure
Would you sell yourself to buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

Our God in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us weary sinners
Keep us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

It's December already?!

I cannot believe we're already a week into December. I don't know if it's just me but I swear November and December slip away much faster than the other months. It's like Halloween happens, then you wake up a few days later and you're eating Turkey on Thanksgiving, and then all of a sudden you're rushing around doing Christmasy things. What a crazy, chaotic, wonderful time of year.

These last two weeks have been ridiculously chaotic. Dead week and finals week have not been treating me very well but come this Friday it will all be over. And I am happy to say that I will not be attending school in the States until next fall.

I leave to study abroad at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia on February 10th. Words cannot express the excitement that I feel. I know it's only two short months away but I am getting so eager! I want it to be so much sooner than it is! But all good things are worth waiting for. I come home sometime around June 27th. So it will be quite the long adventure! I am excited to do a sort of travel blog while I'm gone.

Aside from listening to Christmas music 97% of the time, I have become mildly obsessed with Phil Wickham. I never really listened to him much until last February when my roommate and I went to go see JJ Heller in concert. Phil was the second act and I have never been so in awe of a musician before. First of all, his voice is unreal. I've never heard anyone with the kind of range that he has. His music is unbelievable. A new album came out a few weeks ago and I am loving it just as much as his other stuff. There are some of his songs that I can just put on repeat and not get sick of. The song that plays on my blog is called "You're Beautiful" and it honestly brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. It is such a beautiful song with such an beautiful meaning. Everything about God is so beautiful and this song expresses that. Ahh... I am just in love... with him and his music. Oh, and I am going to his concert in Portland on New Years Eve! I can't wait!

And if you forgot how ridiculously awesome and beautiful God is...

I want to live a simple life

This is one of my favorite songs by The Weepies and it's been stuck in my head the last few days. Good music, cute people, nothing not to like.

Can I get up in the moming
Put the kettle on
Make us some coffee, say "hey" to the sun...
Is it enough to write a song and sing it to the birds?
They'd hear just the tune
Not understand my love for words
But you would hear me and know

I want only this, I want to live
I want to live a simple life.

I dreamed you first
But not so real
And everyday since I've found you
Such moments we steal
Like little thieves, we rub our hands
We hold our hearts between them.
But will you hear me and know?

I want only this, I want to live
I want to live a simple life.

Move on, move on
Time is accelerating.
Drive on all night
Traffic lights and one-ways.
Move on, move on
Parking violations waiting
Turn off the car, breathe the air
Let's stay here.

I'll kiss you awake, and we'll have time
To know our neighbors all by name
And every star at night.
We'll weave our days together like waves
And particles of light.

I want only this, I want to live
I want to live a simple life.

Looking Up

The last few days have been kind of rough. I've been battling a bad viral throat infection and it has not been the most pleasant experience. Three doctors visits, four prescriptions, and lots of naps later, I'm starting to feel like myself again. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to go to all my classes, work, and be semi-productive =). My mind has been wandering so much these last couple days. Maybe just because I've had so much time to think about things. I'm not sure if its helpful or harmful to think too much, but I can't help it sometimes. I've gone through quite the series of emotions ranging from sadness, frustration, confidence, joy, and reassurance. I've also been listening to a lot of music and have once again realized its therapeutic qualities. This is kind of cheesy, and middle school-esque but I was listening to the song "Problem Girl" by Rob Thomas and for some reason it made me feel a lot better about myself. =) I also had a surprisingly encouraging conversation (via text... lame I know) with a friend who probably knows me better than anyone in the world. It was simple but he just made me feel like all the things I don't like about myself are all in my head and I'm not as much of a "problem" as I think I am. Oh, and just to be a little more lame... here are the lyrics to the song. =)

Don't let them get where they're going to
You know they're only what they think of you
You heard of this emotional trickery
And you felt like you were learning the ropes
But where you're going now you don't know

And when the kids on the street say
"What's your problem girl?"
And the weight of their smile's just
Too much for you to bear
When they all make you feel
Like you're a problem girl
Remember
You're no problem at all

Pride like promises can let you down
You thought that you'd be feeling better by now
You worry all the things they could do to you
You worry about the things they could say
Maybe you're seeing things the wrong way

Try
If you stand or you fall
You're no problem at all