forgot one...

I'm sorry, but this song is darn good.

A Playlist for the Weekend

1. Mama Said- The Shirelles

2. Emmylou- First Aid Kit

3. Hold On- Alabama Shakes

4. Fall of '82-The Shins

5. The Once and Future Carpenter--The Avett Brothers

6. Home- Dierks Bentley (Don't judge)

7. I Found You- Alabama Shakes

8. I Can't Make you Love me/Nick of Time- Bon Iver

9. It's Only Life- The Shins

10.Paranoia in B Flat Major- The Avett Brothers

11.Touch the Hem of His Garment- Sam Cooke

12.Hard Times Come Again No More- The Chieftans and Paolo Nutini

13.The New Love Song-Scott Avett

Enjoy, friends!

McKenzie Butler

Sometimes I like to highlight my various and wonderful friends in this forum. And, boy is today a treat. Meet McKenzie. MCKENZ!!!

Isn't she the cutest?!?

I remember the day McKenzie and I met. I was with my mom, moving into my dorm room at Furman University, scared out of my mind to go to college. Being the oldest child (read, sacrificial lamb of the family) Mom and I had no idea what going to college entailed (y'all, I ordered my bedding through the University. It felt like lavender sandpaper.) So, after moving my meager stuff in, we had to make a run to the local WalMart for things we'd forgotten/ never knew we needed. When we got back, my RA told us that another girl on the hall was moving in. Down the hall, I see the cutest darn girl sporting jeans and a red tee shirt, sandy blond hair pulled back in a barrette, and a sweet smile. We shook hands and she said, "I looked in your room when you were gone to see how you set it up. I hope that's okay." Sure, I nodded. And then, quietly, with the courage and grace that marks this girl, she said, "I also looked at your books and...Are you a Christian?" My eyes welled up. (And still do, actually, in remembering). A friend.

Little did I know that McKenzie Butler would be not only my first friend at Furman but one of the very best. We took history classes together, we played club soccer together, we joined Tridelt together, we went to Chile together--essentially, we experienced college together.

Since those halcyon Furman days, McKenzie has lived in Washington, D.C., participating in the Falls Church fellows program and then working for a microfinance nonprofit. She had fantastic friends and leads a bible study for high school girls. She sometimes even participates in skits. I am often jealous of those who get to spend their days with her in D.C. Who get to hear that infamous cackle laugh, go on late night McFlurry runs, take long walks through the leaves, and listen to her generous wisdom. McKenzie is a friend who will sit with you for hours, who will encourage you with Truth, who will really pray for you in hard times. She has a softness that does not shy away from sorrow. She is the kindest, gentlest, wisest person and I am blessed by her so often, even from far away. (But, McKenz, come on, move to Nashville!!)

Happy New Year!

Ringing in 2012!
Yes, I realize it's almost April.

Sorry for the blog silence to my tiny but faithful readership (ie: maybe my immediately family, if they're bored.)

2012 has been pretty wonderful so far, and I am going to do my best to fill you in on the happenings of the last few months. Plus, I'm also planning to do a "week in the life" post soon, to share what life in Nashville is really like and also as a keepsake for myself of this special season in my life.

SO, the New Year. This year I made two major resolutions.

1. Budget.

Those of you who know me know that this is not my strong suit. I am horrible with paperwork. A simple transcript request or insurance form can take me weeks. I don't ever see my bills. A kind roommate calculates the costs, divides by three, and I get a post-it note with what I owe and a smiley face. I also live in that blissful financial state where I have enough to live relatively comfortably but not enough to really save, making it easy to go month to month, within my means, not really paying attention to where my money goes. This is not only irresponsible and immature, but it is shortsighted. God calls us to be faithful with what we've been given, and I think part of being faithful is being aware and charitable. If I could see where my money is going, I might be able to save some and give some. That'd be worth the effort. So I joined mint.com. I wish I could tell you my finances have totally turned around, but they haven't. I still find it hard to actually train my mind to calculate how much I've spent on what throughout the week. I still spend too much money eating out with friends. I still spend too much at Trader Joes. I sometimes splurge on things like this, and this, and this. But I'm trying, and that's a start.

2. Write letters.

In an age of increasing technology which offers wonderful advantages like instant information, endless communication, and democratic education, there is also something lost. What's lost is lingering over a piece of paper pen in hand, searching for the right phrase. What's lost is the articulation of emotion without the use of smiley-face symbol or ubiquitous elipses. What's lost is thoughtfulness and intentionality. What's lost is the ability to, years later, come across a folded card in a drawer and be immediately drawn back to a moment in time, to hear a voice unchanged through the years. I love the idea of an exchange of letters and have determined to set aside time to write to those in my life. I've always been a letter writer in serious situations, for condolence or confrontation, but I want to write more lighthearted letters as well full of the quotidian occurrences that color our lives and draw us into the lives of others. So far I've written a few letters and hope to do more. But, y'all, one was basically a love letter. So there's that.

Those are my New Year's Resolutions. And, of course, run more and eat cleaner, blah, blah.

What about you? How are your resolutions coming?