Oh How The Years Go By...

I'll give you two guesses as to who might have inspired the title for this blog. Ok. Time is up. If you guessed Lady Gaga....




YOU WERE WRONG! It's Amy Grant, of course. I saw this card yesterday and it seemed like something my mom should buy for me. It's so appropriate. And if you really think about the different generations it makes sense. I've always said that my generation is extremely feeling and emotion driven...and my parent's generation seems to be much more no non-sense and success driven. They make decisions because they've thought about it. I make decisions because it feels right. They just seem to be a little more private. And I wear my heart on my sleeve. Or I just write a lot of songs. :)

Anyway, I loved this card. I wonder what my kids will be like.

All Things Random

I am starting to sense a pattern.

At my church in Nashville, whenever new members are initiated into the church, the pastor reads a Bible verse for the new member they claim as their "life verse." I think about this sometimes. What would be my life verse?

And then, this morning, it became perfectly clear. You know when you can just feel the change coming? When everything is set for something new to happen and there's no way to stop it? I hate that. I don't like change very much. And every time this happens a little voice in the back of my head remembers, "Forget the former things; Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" This is from Isaiah 43.

I realized that every time I hear this my heart just screams, "NO!" Because I know something's coming. Something's about to change. And I want to stop it. And sometimes I even try. I am so desperate to keep things just the way they are. I feel like my reluctance to change and my determination to hold on for too long are precisely the reasons that God brings Isaiah 43 to my mind so often. I need to keep it with me.

This morning that all became very clear to me. So when I stand up in front of my church and the pastor reads my life verse...it might end up more as a life chapter. The whole flippin' thing. Isaiah 43. I want all of it.

Anyway, so that's my life.

In other news. I love my roommate. Let me set the scene for you. I'm in my room, reading "Searching For God Knows What," by Donald Miller. I'm laughing out loud. Literally. 'Cause he's SOOO funny. And so right on. And all of a sudden I get a little distracted by some noises coming from the bathroom. And I realize that my roommate is in the shower, kind of half-singing/ half-talking to herself in English and in French. I've really never heard anything like it. And then I remembered that I had borrowed my friend's Flip camera and so I documented this amazing moment in my life. I know you will love it. Watch it. Laugh. Share it. Here you go: http://twitvid.com/3F411

My singing roommate and me.

And since I'm blogging about such random things, I will also throw in that I went to an amazing concert tonight. Andy Osenga played (he is my friend and my producer) along with the one and only Waterdeep. OMG (oh my gosh). I am floored. I am actually on the floor. That's how great it was. Don and Lori Chaffer (Waterdeep) melt me. I am like the Wicked Witch of the West. Just a puddle on the ground.

I have been told that if you go to Waterdeep's website this month you can download Lori Chaffer's solo record for free. It's called "One Beginning." I remember when I heard that record for the first time. I was driving on my way to visit my friend Erin in Joplin, MO. Not only could I not stop listening to it, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. I will never forget it. It was my #1 favorite cd of that year. I think it will forever remain at least in my top 5. Get it and let me know what you think!

Alright. It's late. I've shared enough of my randomness. Goodnight.

Music City Unsigned

My junior year of college I had to take Biology. I don't remember our professor's last name, but I know it started with a "P" and her first name was "Angela." I don't think I liked much about this class. Didn't Belmont University know I was there for the music?? Dr. P was nice enough, but Biology isn't really my thing.

The best part about this class, and the reason I'm talking about it (rather than my math or history or Spanish class), was that Dr. P made us get into groups of 4. And these groups did everything together for the whole semester. It was in my group that I met my good friend Rachel. And it was in my group that I met Ryan and Jon. The 4 of us had to come up with our own group name and we chose the "Umami's." It had to relate to biology. I remember making t-shirts that said "Umami said so!" Yea, we were so cool.

Anyway, it's great 5 years later to see what all my friends are up to. Jon has since started an organization called Music City Unsigned that basically helps unsigned artists in Nashville to unite. Jon just has a heart for helping people (and all things good) and does a lot of non-profit work on the side. He is getting ready to launch a non-profit called "Harmony Republic," which I think is really amazing.

this & that is the newest addition to the MCU roster and we are super excited about it. So check it out when you get a chance: this & that.

Be sure to read the bio Jon wrote for us!!

Fright Fest '09

I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but in regards to Halloween I get really hyped up about it and then have a really hard time with the follow through. I get so nostalgic about the fall and pumpkins and costumes and kids and candy...but the closer I get to October 31st and realize I have no clever idea for a costume, I just get less and less jazzed about dressing up. I wish I had the clever mind to come up with something really great. Last year I didn't do anything. I see other people's costumes and think, "why didn't I come up with that?" Even my parents are better than me at this whole Halloween thing. This year they went as a priest and a pregnant nun. Funny, huh? By the way, Mom, I'm gonna need a picture of that.

But sometimes I overlook the obvious. What is my current obsession???? Well. Lady Gaga, of course.

There was one major obstacle in creating this costume. Lady Gaga doesn't wear pants. Perhaps if I looked as good as Lady Gaga (whatever her real name is), I would have considered this as an option. But I didn't think that would be a great look for me. Then I remembered the hair bow! Believe it or not, there is an online tutorial you can watch to create that thing. Unfortunately, the layers in my hair were too short for it to work with my actual hair. So I had to buy a hair
extension.

(the real deal)


(I decided Lady Gaga needed a cute accessory)

(with my roommate, Tamarind - the gothy smurf)

I know I've talked a lot about channeling my inner Lady Gaga. But it really was a blast to be her for a night :)