young dumb and in love

things got a little crazy around here this weekend. crazy but good. [isn't that the best kind? (: ] my sister arrived thursday evening to visit for the weekend. three days filled with peppermint mocha lattes, lots of laughter, catching up, a work event all day saturday, a clothing swap girls night, shopping at target, and, oh yes, seeing mat kearney on tour!

mat kearney rocked our socks off. so, so incredible. i've loved his music for years. i saw him do a show for the first time in akron, ohio where it was him and just one other musician. on this tour he had brought a band. it was one of the most fun shows i've been to. probably because i can't resist dancing to his latest album. here are a few pics of the night [photo credit: first: me, two - five: buffalo.com, last: me]:

his set was amazing. it was simple, rustic and earthy. they burned incense throughout the show. the two small upright pianos were so sweet. and i'm already convinced that creating something similar to the big lighting piece in the background would be great for a reception. (:

we danced, we sang, we laughed. they played all my favorite songs. mat was so engaged with the audience. you could see that he was having just as much fun as we were. and john was impressed with him as a songwriter and musician. he went to the show because i wanted to go and came out a fan. if you have a chance to see mat kearney, go! you won't be disappointed. (:

gathering all around you is what you wanted all along

ugh. i've been a bit frustrated lately. and quite a bit more absent from here. words aren't flowing as readily as they have in the past. i'm working through helen cepero's book, journaling as a spiritual practice, and just hoping from that that a) this writer's block will fade quickly and b) taking some time to write just for me and God will only benefit and better my writing in the future.

though, before i go...

i'm listening to number one gun's new album right now. i've said it before and i'll say it again. music does something to me that i just can't put into words. it's therapeutic, energizing, relaxing, empowering and just nourishing for my soul! the rest of this entry was originally written a few years ago, but at moments i like this i like coming back to it because it reminds me just how much i love music and the part of my life it has been, is and will be:

(7:16am) it is dark and rainy. and at this moment i am driving by two hard-working individuals each dressed as the statue of liberty, waving at me on my dark and rainy commute to work.
(7:21am) i pass by a delivery truck that informs me its contents include Heiner's. i chuckle to myself as i envision the sight to be seen should said vehicle hit a terrible bump in the road, causing its back doors to be flung open and heiners to be exposed to anyone who happens to be driving behind it.
(7:33am) pulling into the parking garage, a song starts on the radio. i park… and cannot leave my car. it takes all i have to turn the car off and get out while the song is still playing.

what is it with music? why does it compel me to abandon whatever it is that's in front of me? what is it with some songs that can make me want to sing aloud in the middle of the laundromat or dance and tap along in the middle of my workday despite all the social stigmas these sorts of behaviors would elicit? it's as though a force inside of me is fighting to burst out. certain rhythms, voices, beats… they pull at me in an indescribable manner. i can literally feel it pushing on my chest. i don't know what this force is, but it is powerful and takes everything in me to control it. and all too often, it really does control me.

i have to take this moment to apologize to anyone who has ever been in the car with me when such a song has come on. first because anything you may have said to me during the duration of the song was not met by any comprehension on my part. and also because as i sat there, i was getting very upset with you as you talked as i could not understand how you could not be gripped by such music. i may have even started the song over or turned the radio up a little bit. even as i sit here trying to type this i have had to turn off the music and concentrate on writing. but i tell you the truth, this is not my fault. it is the music.

is this some form of addiction? do i struggle with this alone? the way it inhibits my behavior and life… should i be concerned?

i don't know but for now, i'm just going to continue to let it carry me away…