+i cracked the ceiling i stared at it too long

Waking up smiling and giddy, painting like nail polish, simple meals, light packing, rushed for nothing, sunshine-y drives, iced coffee from mcdonalds, productivity on a lazy day, jumping hugs, flip flops and painted nails, great conversation with a lovely lady, fancy dinners out for celebrations, neat and thoughtful things, amazement, feeling lucky, if i traded (needed to) it all, progressive.

"Everyday we've got to hold on,

'cause if we hold on we could find some

new energy." -Badly Drawn Boy (again).

+and if i knew the answers, i would tell you now

Raspberry cream cheese, stickers, good leftovers, the-good-kind-of-really-sore, hugs, excitement, affirmation, jelly beans kickin' in, bowls of cereal for dinner, the amazing difference two years can make, library dvd nights, tired hugs, realizing what the future may look like, certainty and writing out the lessons learned, embracing Easter.

"Do you know what true romance is, and could you show me now? Just what would be the chances, that I could tell you how.... and could you hold me now?" -Badly Drawn Boy

+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.