PS

I nearly forgot- the pic above is totally one I took up here at the lake awhile back. So sweet :)

We're halfway there-- livin' on a prayer

[Livin' On A Prayer, Bon Jovi]

That's how I feel right now- the feet and back are spasming, my head is pounding from forgetting to drink water all day, and I am about to pass out.

I.

Hate.

Moving.

But praise God that this is, God willing, the last time I'll have to pack alone, and hopefully the last move for the next 5 years or so... by the next move, if all goes according to plan, Jas and I will be moving into a house that we will live. In. Until. We. Die.

The end.

As for the new look... if you know me you know I like change. I think this suits me better :)

I better go do a little update on the Love Blog so as to not alienate those that keep in touch only via that medium.

Band Love!

I KNEW The Fray were awesome!

Sweet The Fray Article

These faces and these places are getting old...

... I'm going home

[Home, Daughtry]

I know it's one of the biggest songs in the country and has been for weeks, but this song just really struck me deeply today.

I was packing and came across a bunch of photo albums. I couldn't help but flip through each one, and basically they chronicle everything since I graduated from high school. I graduated exactly 7 years ago last Saturday... that's amazing, right? I can hardly believe how much I have grown and changed in those 7 years, and how many amazing people I have met. All of my best friends, save for two (mad love to you, Clinton and Darla!), are people who have become woven into the fabric of my life post-high school. Which is, I think, fairly common.

Another random happenstance of the day (though I actually think it was ordained) was that I recalled a song from my high school days called Westside by TQ. The basic point is that he loves the west coast, and he says, "West side til I die". So I was already on this west coast love roll, then I saw pics from my life pre-North Carolina, then I saw a paper from Institute (the TFA training that I did in Houston the summer before I began teaching in NC) that I drew all over and decorated all up while doodling that says, "West side til I die". Strangely enough, I haven't thought of that song probably since I created the paper two years ago, yet today in school I recall the song, download it from iTunes, and then come home and get nostalgic while packing and then see that paper.

Then, of course, I was really feeling the pull to the west coast, to Jason, to marriage, to the next phase of my life which will be completely distinguished and different from the last... I was seeing the faces of people I love and miss so much in photo after photo... and this song, Home, came on.

That's my favorite thing about music-- it speaks to every person where they are no matter how different their situation is from the next person. For me, home means I am drawn back to a region of the United States, more specifically, the Pacific Northwest. I never knew exactly how much I loved Washington state until I left it. Of course, I'm becoming a west sider (I always lived in the eastern half of the state) and Jason is a pretty huge draw, but I realized that while it's a bit emotional to say good-bye to my beloved roomies (I'll see Becca and hopefully Elise in September... who knows when I'll see Liz again, if ever, which is sad) and it will be REALLY hard to say good-bye to my kids (I tear up just typing it, no kidding)... the truth is that these faces and these places are getting old.

I'm ready to go home.

I'm going home
To the place where I belong
Where your love has always been enough for me
Not running from
No, I think you got me all wrong-
I don't regret this life I chose for me
But these places and these faces are getting old
I'm going home

I'm going home.

Awesome Songs!

I nearly forgot--

If you're a ROCK STAR and you use iTunes then check out this sweet iMix I made!

Tim Henderson Mix

My heart will choose to say...

... Lord, blessed be Your name
[Blessed Be Your Name, Tree 63]

So today I checked in on the blog of a friend who was in Europe lately, and there were some sound clips of a wedding that he sang in. The songs were in French, and I realized that singing along in English to a worship song (they were Blessed Be Your Name and Lord, You Have My Heart) being sung in another language, French in this case, is one of the most incredibly amazing feelings in the world.

I can't really explain it-- worshiping God in song is my most treasured form of worship, and singing a song of praise in my heart language as others praised Him in their foreign tongue simultaneously just took it to another level. That was just over a fairly low-quality clip online!

In other news, I think my blog is in need of more pictures. Everyone loves a good picture, right?

Here are some of my favorite things :)

Being in my fiance's arms

Pics where Jas looks ridiculous- ha ha!

Pictures of cities at night; I took this one of Charlotte after leaving a Bobcats game (they won!)

My ring and my Red Sox sweatshirt :)

Being Ridiculous :)

Making really crazy faces for the camera

Ok, I REALLY love making nutso faces for the camera... never leave yours unattended.
For real.

Beautiful sunsets

I'll give you one guess :)

Being silly with my kids :)

Young children

My kids :)

Friday night lights :) I'll really miss keeping stats

The randomosity that is Warren County

Inside joke, but when my kids are funny (and watch Jeopardy!)

The natural beauty where I live

Our glorious lake house :)

Miko

Sweet pics ;)

Being Ms. TK

My adorable roomies (I don't have any pics of Elise :( )

Hurricane Days! One word: ERRRRRRRNESTO!!

Crazy times with Liz :)

My hair when it's long :)

The randomosity that is my house... we didn't choose the decorations on the book shelf, PS

Funny bizness

Root beer mystery taste tests

My baby... even if the sun & wind were in his eyes and he's squinting :)