signs of summer

Mosquito trucks. They might be killing us all but as I sit on my front porch, breathing in the pesticides, I appreciate them as I swat at my blood sucking enemies. When I was little my mom used to make me come inside when the mosquito trucks came by so I wouldn’t breathe in the poison mosquito gas. Now that I’m an adult I’m allowed stay outside and breath it if I want. 

so, 2 more days at home #1 before moving back to home #2. I hate that school starts when we should still be playing in sprinklers in our back yards but I also really like that I get to experience a little summer heat in Auburn… with family #2… ON MY NEW FRONT PORCH. I mean… it’s just going to be incredible. But, we all know Huntsville is my first true love and you know what they say about first loves. I can’t forget this place and no matter the fact that I equally love Auburn in different ways and for different reasons… it’s hard to leave. I will miss the NASA channel and Stearn’s and the smells of cows when I go to target. And of course, Southwood. Sigh. But that’s enough of that. I can’t wait for Big Blue and Town Creek and Haley Center and Gnu’s Room.

Speaking of Southwood, my first Sunday back in the States we sang this song. It’s called “O, Help My Unbelief” [not to be confused with the Red Mountain version of Help My Unbelief…. different song.] It’s also on the new Indelible Grace: Wake Thy Slumbering Children, which, on a different note… what a great album name, right? Here are verses 1 and 3.

How sad our state by nature is! 
Our sin, how deep it stains!
And Satan binds our captive minds 
Fast in his slavish chains
But there’s a voice of sov’reign grace, 
Sounds from the sacred word:
“O, ye despairing sinners come, 
And trust upon the Lord.”

Stretch out Thine arm, victorious King, 
My reigning sins subdue;
Drive the old dragon from his seat, 
With all his hellish crew.
A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, 
On thy kind arms I fall;
Be thou my strength and righteousness, 
My Jesus, and my all.

I heard a sermon a couple of years ago on the discipline of singing that said that God is so Good and True and Real and we are so limited by our speech that the only way to mend the disconnect is with the mystics of poetry and music. I think that is really true. And the language of this song just resonates with my soul. You can listen to it here and I hope it stirs you in the same way.

This is a hodgepodge. I wish I had awesome pictures to show you like meg but this is all for now.

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b/w

last weekend we went to muir woods to [finally] see some of the redwood forrest. it was breathtakingly beautiful. those are some big trees. 

here’s something i’ve noticed. the west coast is so much more dramatic than the east coast. everything is dramatic. from the people to the landscape to the homes to the malls- its go big or go home out here. 

i’ll say this…i’ve really enjoyed my time here. there are so many fun places to explore and lots of beautiful places to visit. i’ve loved getting lost in san francisco, hiking through the hills in the east bay, exploring the coast, seeing the redwoods, etc. However, nothing about the west coast feels like home. It’s a great place to visit and I’m glad that my parents like living here, because I love california-but i would never chose to live here. i just really love the east coast and everything about it. i could come up with a long list of things that I like and miss about the east coast, but I guess I could also do that for california…so it’s not really about pros and cons here. it’s just a feeling. i grew up there…it feels like home. when it comes down to it, there are a lot of perks about living in the west coast, but i feel so disconnected to everything here. i don’t know if i could ever get used to the interstates, the crowds, the architecture, the weather (no seasons, no fun!), etc etc…it’s truely a different world out here. a fun one, that’s for sure, but just not home for me. 

i leave here in less than a week and it will very bittersweet. there are a lot of things that i’m very sad to leave, but there are even more things that I’m ready to get back to. i’m ready to go home, but it will be hard to say goodbyes.

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Bonjour to ze city of romance!

Paris was a smashing finale!! Here is a little proof of the pudding.

 

Eiffel, of course. And Katie.

The Seine River.

 The end of Le Tour De France. Can’t you feel the excitement??!

Ladies and gentlmen, Carlos Sastre with the yellow jersey on his way to the finish line!

My dancing partner.

Jeff is so euro! In front of the Arc de Triomphe.

I couldn’t resist.

Outside a swanky outdoor art market.

Sigh…

 

Moulin Rouge! It’s much more romantic in film. This is actually the really sketchy red light district of Paris. We took this picture and scooted, avoiding eye contact.

Eiffel at night! It was blue for some kind of celebration.

Boat tour on the Seine.

Julian and Emma.. hahaha. Again, I couldn’t resist. “Fiance! It’s a French word! I’m ENGAGED!”

 

2.5 days in Paris is not long enough. 

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