unregrets

Not going to see the Script on Friday...multiple reasons, but ultimately, although it would be the best graduation present and my parents had already approved this last-minute offer, I'm deciding against it.

It's sort of killing me since I love the Script as of late, but there will always be other opportunities :).

Meanwhile, today was graduation practice and I have a feeling we are all horribly unprepared, but that's the beauty of it, no? Our class has never been one to over-prepare and winging it seems like the best possible solution. I love the elevens. It's definitely bittersweet saying goodbye. And I'm listening to For the First Time again so it's not helping much.

Also, Spring Retreat went well. We had YLF and something about how Francis Chan says it's appalling to say "you're my favorite speaker" clicked. Our speaker, Thomas Wong, was fantastic, but ultimately, FC is right--all glory to God and how He works despite our shortcomings. Being able to speak with my roommate, the only female filling our post-college adult gap in the church...that was also very eye-opening and quite a nice experience. I'm excited to see how God changes and works in me in college, though that's not to say I get to ignore the present-day situations. But it really does feel like a new start, a reality check.

Anyway, prayer meeting in a few. I'll end here. It seems like a chapter of my life is closing...and it really is.

do something each day that makes you uncomfortable

RS

I'm flat and sharp simultaneously (is that even possible) and the vocal range of this song is a strain, especially when sitting. But God loves me so it's all good! :)

Going to sleep now.

before the storm, after the storm

And there will come a time, you'll see

With no more tears; and love will not break your heart

But dismiss your fears; get over your hill and see

What you find there; with grace in your heart & flowers in your hair.

day twenty-nine

Something you would never get tired of doing

Eating portobello mushrooms.

...Okay fine. I'll never tire of spending time with friends, participating in a great worship session, playing with birds and squeeing about how adorable my puppy is, taking photos (I hope) and obsessing over Apple products, reading a good novel, listening to wind-chimes at night, enjoying a clean room, listening to the I Heart Revolution on full blast, flossing my teeth, trying on a new pair of shoes, taking showers, going to the beach and going to the mountains, making faces at friends from across the room, smelling fresh laundry and putting on jeans after shaving, watching inspiring movies and old favorites, dreaming and pursuing my dreams (according to God's will, that is).

day thirteen

Your favorite musician and why

When I was reading my old posts the other day, I actually found one that answered this question (though only for one of my favorites). I guess I could redirect, but that's too easy, so here's a shorter explanation for my top three, who have been my constant rotating favorites over the course of a few years.

• Incubus because of raw emotion
• Hillsong because of raw passion
• John Mayer because of raw musicality

I'm trying/starting to branch out, though. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to tell me! :)

day eight

A song to match your mood

Le Parapluie -- Yann Tiersen (ft. Natacha Regnier)

As I stated yesterday, I finished sorting all my French music...and I've been listening to this nonstop. So calm, so nostalgic.

parasseuse

I haven't done anything all day except eat (Five Guys' fries are sinfully delicious), look for a graduation dress--not premature at all--and shoes, sort the French music a friend gave me, find album covers for iTunes, and also find a vinyl headboard wall sticker (here, how cool is that? If I repaint my room before I leave for college, which is the plan, it would go so well with my proposed new theme...).

Hmm...what happened to my work ethic realization? I suppose the idea of a three-day weekend makes me lazier than usual. Nevertheless, I'm going to take a short nap, head off to church for a combined dinner, and then come home. I promise to tackle my AP Lit midterm and start Physics after that.

Let's see if I keep my self-promises...

(On another note, I actually love all the French music I received. There's something so whimsical and beautiful about the language. I can't wait to delve deeper into the culture and language in college!)

day eighteen

Whatever tickles your fancy

I've been running, trying to be one who sees

I've been working salvation out of my knees

There is nothing better than knowing

We are redeemed

I'm believing, trusting in Creative Hands

I am praying for our world to bow to Your plan

And this one thought is unmistakeable

I take up my cross and follow You, Lord

When You stand, the tall trees and mountains bow

When You speak, the fiercest of oceans is still

And I see the sinner seek devotion, the lost become chosen

And I fall to my knees

I'm forgiven by a Savior who did not deserve death

He was blameless, and I was lost in shamefulness

I'm delivered, but it doesn't seem right

Unless I keep my eyes focused on the Savior who gave His life

In the middle of a world that denies it believes

It is breaking apart at the very seams

There is one thing to be alive for,

And it's to take up my cross and follow You, Lord

When You stand, the tall trees and mountains bow

When You speak, the fiercest of oceans is still

And I see the sinner seek devotion, the lost become chosen

And I fall to my knees

And I fall to my knees

I will take up my cross and follow, Lord where You lead me

I will take up my cross and follow wherever You go

When You stand, the tall trees and mountains bow

When You speak, the fiercest of oceans is still

And I see the sinner seek devotion, the lost become chosen

And I fall to my knees

When You stand, the tall trees and mountains bow

When You speak, the fiercest of oceans is still

And I see the sinner seek devotion, the lost become chosen

And I fall to my knees

And I fall to my knees

Lord, You bring me to my knees...

...I found a place, caught in open arms

Where love's embrace mends a broken heart

Here I will stay, all my days

Draw me closer

day sixteen

A song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Shipwreck -- Starfield

Random fun fact: did you know that the word "shipwreck" is naufrage in French? Yay vocabulary!

beats

I need some good, heavy-bass songs to listen to with my Beats...I love John Mayer and all, but rap/intense/loud stuff is thee best with these on :). Immersing myself in "Rocketeer" by FM right now. After years of avoiding headphone use, I've totally succumbed. I'm going deaf.

Loves itttt.

(Will revert back to the 30 day challenge tomorrow...I opted out yesterday since I was tired and didn't want to look for a picture of myself from the younger years. Same for today. Yearbook is sucking the life out of me...)

day one

Your favorite song

I'm horrible at choosing favorites, as there are a few absolutely-necessary-to-survive songs I've garnered over the years, but I really have two that I always always always go back to.

Drive - Incubus (click!)

Covered in Rain - John Mayer (click again!)

In brief, Drive because it's ubiquitous and applicable in everything, not to mention that Brandon Boyd is incroyable and words cannot describe his music. My musical taste has changed and encompassed every label you can imagine (foreign to video game to country to metal to very heavy metal to indie to alternative to instrumental to pop), but Incubus is the steady musical constant in my life.

Covered in Rain because it's unique and poetic and heavily showcases Mayer's genius soloing capacities--no words are needed in that lengthy interlude; it bleeds with emotion. The song's history also baffles me...I love that it's the minor, more melancholy part to well-known City Love. It's beautiful.

salvation is here

Salvation that died just to set me free...

Just got back from the Delaware Valley Joint Youth Retreat, which occurs once every three years...I believe that the last one I went to, in 2007, was my second winter retreat since joining the youth group. Pretty ridiculous; I can't grasp how much has changed since then.

I don't want to ramble on and on about this, especially because I hate admitting that things are over (and that I probably will not be able to attend another joint retreat ever again) and I'm avoiding all the "I miss you!"s at the moment since I feel like it was just too early to say goodbye to everyone I spent the weekend with :(.

On the plus side, this was maybe the first drama-free retreat I've been to in a while, though winter retreats are usually more mellow than spring retreats. It was a good feeling to just sink back from day-to-day living (although I've been out of school for ten? days now) and just learn and smile.

Something I have to be very thankful about is praise. In preparation of last night's candlelight service/worship session, I had been continuously praying for a humble heart...from what it felt like three years ago, and the mentality/vibes I had picked up on, it almost seemed as if the one-praise-team-per-worship-session schedule was a show-and-tell of whose praise team is the best. And even besides that, the whole notion that most churches don't mingle (or at least when we have our normal retreats, our sister church usually stays with themselves, and for the most part, we do, too) made me a bit hesitant. But to cut a long story short, "Give me a humble heart" was maybe the most repetitive part of my prayers for a while now, and after what was essentially months of practice, it all paid off. One audience, one God.

I almost think I could do it again, even though I've mainly retired from playing the keyboard for praise. But I am so, so glad that everyone proved my preconceptions wrong and the weekend just flowed wonderfully--the insightful messages, interesting workshop, welcoming churches...I'm just so glad right now.

I can't even say I'm at a spiritual "high" right now, but I am very thankful and I feel like a new side of this whole fellowship business has been properly revealed to me. I know I've gained something unlike what I come out of from normal retreats, and I am convinced it will last.

I am so glad.

chilllll out

mmmm whatcha say,
mmmm that you only meant well?
well of course you did
mmmm whatcha say,
mmmm that it's all for the best?
of course it is

Despite the fact that I did not realize that this song was completely ripped off "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap (the worst part is I actually have the song, heh) and I could have sworn the vocalists were singing about lollipop men, I like this song.

What bores me is people who complain about music. I fall into this category at times, but I like to think that I will actually admit when I like a song, even if I probably shouldn't. This is one of them. Just because Jason Derulo primarily used Imogen Heap's lyrics to make himself an instant success doesn't make the song any less catchy. If Imogen is offended, let her fight her case. As for the rest of us, it's probably fair to say that there are much better things to do with our time than try to lower the song's iTunes rating and leave negative comments on every lyrics site imaginable.

In the end, I like to say that everyone who acts negatively towards mainstream music in general just wishes they could make music that was as appealing :). There's a reason why it's popular, and if I've learned to appreciate it after being totally anti-media for years and restricting myself to heavy metal and screamo, I think anyone else can, too.