+i hope you know that where you are i wish you well

Double-checking and triple-checking, dresses, new flavors of coffee, fresh cut fruit, surprise easter eggs hunts, wonderful quotes, little chocolates, new traditions, remembrance, free breakfast coupons, pushing myself, feeling strong, hot weather at last, appreciating the shade/breeze again, crazy timing, giddyness, jumping up and down, no-stress-at-all-nights, dying easter eggs with devon, cross breezes, hardly able to sleep i'm so excited.

+if this is all we got, then we gotta start thinkin'

Getting there early, checking email constantly and waiting on that one particular one, the way stepping it up feels and looks, chacooooos, needing sunglasses, the way new books smell in the book store, leafing through the beautifully crafted notebooks and journals, yummy fresh food for dinner, opening windows and turning on the fan, warm fresh smelling laundry in a big heap on the ground, chocolatey chocolate chip cookies.

+there's no one you-er than you

Being a support, plugging away at work, crazy connections, making someone smile genuinely, the sunshine flooding now, running home - literally!, lunching away, almonds, celery, good sound systems, basketball in chacos, funny story telling, hard-boiling eggs (Easter time!), asparagus, catching-up and a willingness to articulate everything, listening and helping and asking questions, oh so many more jelly beans, rearranging the apartment and making it feel all the more home-y.

+everyday we wake if it takes too long, just tell me something new

Late late morning, armies and grenades, finishing the collage and hanging it, really expressing myself, feeling humbled and protected by God, making my bed, cleaning every nook and cranny, fresh foods, sour jelly beans, smiling non-stop still, trader joes, 19 cent bananas, news, good music that gets stuck in your head for days and days.

+another pale moon, shines like high noon

Early phone calls with the parents, big ole pots of coffee two steps away from my bedroom, photography on the most ideal of days, seeing a Preview Day in all it's complexities - from the outside, pilates, staying in pajamas for the better part of a day after a fast-paced week and traveling,  nap taking to a good book, getting a homemade meal made, sunshine and shadows all over my apartment, basketball playing, playing sardines in the park, good clean fun, playing tag and it starting to rain.

+without a change our lives won't ever last

Round two, confidence, strength from my Creator, freebies, even more confirming, fun ruffles outfits, curiosity, realizing I'd be sleeping in my own bed at night, shared thank-you cards, fancy lunches, meeting a legend, students students students, packing up and doing yoga, connections in the most roundabout way, free time at the airport to reflect, full length windows, fruit stands in the middle of nowhere, the whole row to myself, at peace and calmed nerved, pink shirts, kind neighbors, being picked up by Devon, popcorn and catching up, more basketball.

+we don't need our bags and we can just leave town

Seeing 5:00 in the morning, loyal friends, the way the ground leaves as you take off and dwelling in the clouds, sunrise over the plains, it's a small world, beautiful beautiful open air and space and that sense of freedom that comes with it, easy interactions, fun vans rides, everything clicking, when missions and values align seamlessly, mascot ice breakers, magnificent housing, fitting in, ghost stories! tents!, dakota-ians, iowa-ians, easy-to-walk-in-heels, the sunshine coming out and warming up the day, sharing nibs in class, sweet text messages of encouragement and support, apples-to-apples battles, feeling like old friends already, comfort, basketball going into overtime, awesome roomates, going to sleep smiling.

+but hours past like years, i wish you were here

Feeling like Friday all day long, those long walks to work, getting everything together, great conversations, researching and forming questions, former students who are still invested, pushing through with laughter, needs fulfilled, loving engagement, mentorship, listening to others, photography in the park, new treats, perfect evenings, articulating purpose/mission/drive and feeling confident in it, trusting God to calm me down.

+that only fear, my only hope, is letting go

Birthdays remembered, efficiency engaged, countdowns, rubbermaid, celery sticks, group fitness classes, getting reports all done, simple and yummy meals, learning how behaviors are mimicked, poofy hair on little kids, changing attitudes, butterflies.

+hard times come again no more

Cold weather and how it reminds you that the sunshine is not to be taken for granted, listening and listening and listening, friends&coffee, catching up on reading, feeling like steps and strides are worth it, defeating the feelings of it never happening, mail from Italy, vacuums, unexpected free-time, waiting and waiting.

+if it doesn't matter than just turn around now

Feeling like I have a second family, fruit bowls, comfy beds, leisure mornings, helping out wherever is needed, sweet reunions that are not what I expected, throwbacks, fall colors and foods, feeling welcome, not looking at the time, pumpkin-flavored anything...even in March, siblings and siblings-in-law, detours and dad loving maps, sleeping passengers and feeling like a caretaker, the happiness in arriving at home especially when it is later than expected.

+our boats collide i feel the breeze

Make-believe, attempting to bike-ride, straight hair, documentary-dvds, baking lunch for one, feeling warm, spring dresses, going anyway regardless, running on fumes-successfully, sunglasses, old shorts, getting fancy, relaxing, make shift pinning, goofy tables, appreciating good friendships, late night driving in new cars.

+you just haven't seen my good side yet

Week ends, not packing a lunch, open afternoons, cute cupcake shops and garden sitting, pleasant days that make everything peaceful, skin, late dinners with the fan going, new creations and good books, headbands, dark rooms, clean sinks, quiet dogs.

+what in that moment when you were running so hard and fast made you stop and turn for home?

"She said, 'What on earth made you stay here when you finally figured out what I was all about?' He said, 'I always knew you'd do the right thing even though it might take some time.' She said, 'Yeah I felt that's probably what saved my life..."

Desiring wholeness, not feeling guilty, beautiful & restorative sunshine, steadiness, reaching into my identity as a new creation, relearning patterns, windows down, photography and the way details can be satisfyingly captured, the smell of freshly cut grass, invitations into a home, working out the schedule, fantastic connections, struggling with approaching, new facts that change things, half-birthdays, nectartines, candle flames, ceiling fans.

"...There is a love that never fails, there is a healing that always prevails. There is a hope that whispers a vow, a promise to stay while we're working it out. So come with your Love and wash over us."-Sara Groves

+oh Love wash over a multitude of things

Morning birds singing, Crazy Love, across the street, salsa, so much better than expected, THE survival dinner, when the world seems still and perfect, ridiculously good meals with lots of leftovers, free milk, coupons, Robots, living, dreams with old characters in them.

+true love is not the kind of thing you should turn down, don't ever turn it down

Calming due to my Christ, stress managed, one thing at a time, homecookin', germantown, deep appreciation, a beautiful world in the now and looking forward, park days, digging in, smoothies in wine glasses, packed lunches for dinner, new collages chuck full of meaning and creativity.

+when a heart breaks no it don't break even

Catching the news early, straight, cursive, fun umbrellas for drizzly days, sweet tears on a comfy couch, surprise visitors, bus stop waiting, easy play dates, 15!!, tackling stress with baby steps, outfitting ezzy, facing stark realizations, feeling impressed, floored, comforted, and shy.

+i am humbled in this city, there seems to be an endless sea of people like us

The sleeping cave, getting texts with pretty pictures like the one above, lazy sundays, bowling with style, surprise high scores, turkeys, focus, funny emails from dad, coaching, more strawberries to go with the shortcakes, stress immediately cured, watching lots of episodes as the rain drizzles outside, always always having good meals together, wind, picking up the sarah, a good hug, bangs.

+now i just want to see you smile you know how it's just been awhile

Cleaning and time and energy, health and breathing, magazines and books, fancy cooking and preparing a feast, catching up with Lauren, desiring sunshine to break through, full use of the library, soft clothing, basketball obsession (?), teal blue/green, Saturdays and the way they feel endless sometimes, lovely movies, helping with videos, beyond the level of full.

+but if i move my place in line i'll lose

The sun peaking through puffy clouds, relaxing schedule, ken-kens, npr & the new yorker and their intelligent commentary I appreciate, talking to candidates, smiles from across the table, candles in cars, catch-ups that seem easier than most, kitchen-ware, eating local and it being the best meal in a long-while, basketball post-dinner for the 4th night in a row, good old movies, night-yoga.

+no one loves me like you, no one loves me the way you do

"As I survey the ground for ants
Looking for a place to sit and read,
I'm reminded of the streets of my hometown
How they're much like this concrete that's warm beneath my feet."
-Caedmon's Call

Half-awake goodness, earlier days, appreciating focus, the re-establishment process, oh sweet yoga, looking forward to afternoons in the sun even if it's a job, breaking through the patterns already established, care-taking and learning how to teach, constant plans that make me feel alive, spaghetti, basketball games and feeling the wind in our faces, chartering a new course for us both, mud stuck to shoes, laughing at all the sports stuff, imagination. 

+and i'll be on the other side to catch you when you fall

Morning pilates in my living room, longer strides, happy thinking sorts of days, giving devon haircuts and that he even likes them, sweeping, accidentally napping, good evenings and efficiency, beyond amazing dinners, alicia's element, caring about different things, new bluegrass jams.

+nobody said it was easy

"I was just guessin' at numbers and figures,
Pulling the puzzles apart.
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart."
-Coldplay

Bananas, the way your body feels after you stretch it out, Josh Ritter, relaxing schedule, new 'shortcut' recipes, comfy work clothes, pandora, hearing familiar voices return again, emptyness and silece of a break week, motivation, new smoothies, baking baking baking, celery sticks in peanut butter, JJ's late at night, brick walls, ecclectic design & people, sharing thoughts.

+give me a break let me make my own pattern

Driving with the sun, sleepy goodbyes, mcdonalds coffee (so cheap), scents that fill you with smiles, long afternoons in the park, chacos(!!), shorts, slow-paced, surprise visitor for errands, new movies to dive into, amazing albeit late dinners from scratch, basketball one on one, understanding and time to re-group.

+it's only a change of time

Keeping up, new formats, appreciation of generosity, sitting idian style, more interviews (!), fancy lunching, elevating moods, energy, my best friend, how the oscars feel like watching a family, the promise, lounging around, the creek, quiteness and stillness.

+i'm nowhere and you're everything

Shimmering sunrises, morningsingenerallikealways, multiple walks, big shopping trips, fresh fruit for miles, tasty cookouts, a new basketball, feeling the love once again, sit down concerts, people watching, old people dancing, glowing robots, calmness.

+maybe i don't know where they'll take me, gotta keep movin on

A packed car that's ready to be driven, packing cereal for lunch, sweet messages and notes that fill me up with smiles, peaches in grocery stores again (even if they're not exactly ripe yet), lovely friends both near and far, recovering gently, bananas, rolled down windows, open roads, the family at dinner together, eating my body weight in chips and salsa, cutting up old t-shirts for saving/future crafting, feeling safe and protected in a real house again.

"And don't apologize, for all the tears you've cried -
you've been way too strong now for all your life."
-Mat Kearney

+a bridge weak enough to walk across

Designed well, sturdiness, lunch breaks outside, unwavering love when it is needed most, wrestling, s&c's, continued realizations that people are necessary, basketball, lists, burnt crusts, cookies with thumbs up approval, cinnamon, strawberry jam, desperation, old 90's bands.

+and i don't know what it is

"A need for something, now let me break it down again

A need for something but not more medicine." -The Avett Brothers

Cheerios, firsts, enjoying meetings, being able to support someone, not drowning, blushing, craving for more than the simple, helping with 8th grade homework, animated vocab, casual clothing, scarves, trader joe's for almost anything, fresh dark roast coffee, intiative, trying to understand how to accept love, the idea of the night-time sky, wonderings as I drift into sleep.

+just the tall grass and the trees - silhouettes and crickets singing

Crepe batter ready for breakfast time, steaming hot coffee that makes any cold and rainy day feel better, management, support from unexpected places, headbands of any sort, feeling every part, organization, desiring efficiency, imprints, news, easier than I prepared myself for, fruit salad / yogurt, falling asleep on my best friend’s shoulder, fantastically driven.

+don't let the human factor fail to be a factor at all

Walking...everywhere, pleasant weather, dalmatians, new books that get you from the start, feeling like it would be a good idea to go ahead and run towards freedom, creative recipes with what's left, looking forward, ink, higher, waiting on something and it being worth it.

"If we can call them friends then we can call them on red telephones and they won't pretend that they're too busy or they're not alone. And if we can call them friends when we can call - holler at em down these hallowed halls. Just don't let the human factor fail to be a factor, at all." -Andrew Bird