+write out write out write out your words

Slowing down, how much we love just walking around together, coupons, water bottles, finding deals, nectarines and peaches and blueberries, it being the month of June, our fun money, counting it up, homestretches, calls from mom, fun groups of friends, never as you expect it, appreciation.

+you're just screaming into the wind

Nervousness and days back, conversations on the phone, focusing, still missing, using the Italy journal, homemade pizza nights, driving so much for good reasons, explorations, protein protein, down one!, football cravings, musical-mixing, moments that stop time.

+does summer come for everyone? can humans do what prophets say?

Sweet mornings with Sarah, independence and living alone, little plans, haphazard, calendars, envelopes, easily gliding, secret moments, renewed determination, the smell and feel of Summer weather in Nashville, purusing, new teas to try, handmade cards, thick tipped pens, compliments out of nowhere, predictable and cute movies, collapsing out of good exhaustion.

"If I die before I learn to speak / Can money pay for all the days I lived awake but half asleep?" -John Nolan

+the sun starts to climb in the eastern sky brings a quiet sleeping town back to life

Chauffering and teasing, working out in my living room again, "again"s feeling so right, missing a newly deepened relationship, humidity and feeling the drastic climate differences, grocery shopping fun, flattery, journals, confidence, mid-afternoon rain showers, dinners and dvds, reading nights.

+let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears

Cherryridge Drive, sleeping in again (at-last), long walks, lemonade stands, goofy sunglasses, butterflies of happiness, free frozen yogurt, airport sitting, writing, reading, reeling in the contentment, trains, sweet friends who act like super heros, late night blushing hugs, deep breaths of happiness, home again home again.

"Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears / while we all sup sorrow with the poor / there's a song that will linger forever in our ears / oh hard times, come again no more."

+let us let go of two that they might become one

5am wake-up calls, funny dreams, big cups of coffee, THE day, prepped and ready, nerves and crackers, juice and lighting, stress and laughter, tearing up at the beauty, hearing stories of the Christ-centeredness, not enough words to describe the beauty and rightness it all felt, relief and calm, hugs and memories, pictures and exhaustion, thousands and thousands, new friendships formed, falling asleep in yet another city.

+i understand because my heart and hers are the same

When events match personalities, mountains in the fog, adventures in new cities, sharing all our memories, learning what it means to be "life-long," sharing a pot of tea, eating scones, all-about-you, adorable story telling and laughter and smiles, kickball games, chik-fil-a, families coming together beautifully, the way he looks at her all the time, stolen kisses, long walks, chores together, air mattresses, talking out the nerves.

+wake me up when september ends

All of "us" in one place, parking at the air force, security checks, sunscreen, chills because of such perfect formations, attention grabbing keynotes, pride...the good kind, crying out of complete happiness, non-stop smiling from every person involved, packed sandwiches, getting stuck in traffic for the good talks it produces, pizza parties, new faces and families.

But, words are not even needed. These are the best details.

+nothing worth anything goes down easy

Small mountain towns, the history of it all, finding the locale fascinating, recorded tours, dancing all along the way, precious perfect friendships, pho, pablo's, free cookies, Italian adventures and using my imagination, text messages, packing up, yoga and movies and sleepovers.

+we can make it through another day, we could burn like the northern lights

Sweet breakfasts to start a Sunday, a new church experience, intelligent speakers, a brand of thoughtfulness that is rare, low-humidity, college campuses and all the promise I feel like they hold, green landscapes against vibrant blue skies, gearing up for mountain biking, chicken, riding through a beautiful canyon of sorts, goats, raging rivers, being capable, exploring little trails, feeling strong and thankful, gushing over the beauty of nature, trail mix & fruit never tasting better, high school graduations, leftovers, learning so much, never a pause in conversing, soreness and laughter, lollicup and surprising pregnant women, being beat in connect four, crashing.

+tell me all of your doubt, and everybody bleeds this way, just the same

A long jog in the clean & fresh mountain air, playing with cute little kids, connection, lunch-making, water water water, splurging on a spa afternoon, health advice, bright orange, colorado(ians)?, caribou coffee's strong coffee, ice hockey games, stories of cultural differences, the way the breeze feels and smells, feeling alive and not wanting to sleep in fear of missing something, my first thai food experience, sunsetting, hammocking, single star risings, late night workouts, lookout mountain, healing conversations and discussions, a new project.

"We push and pull / And I fall down sometimes / And I'm not letting go / You hold the other line / Cause there is a light / In your eyes / In your eyes / Hold on and hold tight / From out of your sight / And everything keeps movin' on / movin' on / Hold on, hold tight / Make it through another night / And everyday, there comes a song with the dawn." -Mat Kearney

+shock me like an electric eel

Bursts of energy, sleeping with the lights on, empty Bongo Java and finding parking, rushing but with an end in sight, roma tomatoes mixed with cucumbers, butterflies of excitement, having a calming boyfriend even when all my plans get jolted and mixed up, how good it feels to sit in silence in a busy airport, aiports, the city lights, the scenery cross-country, having a hug of a dear friend waiting at the top of the escalators, signs that I'm in Denver, surreal happiness, excitement.

+you can try to swim the sea

Hello oatmeal pancakes, reading every spare minute, finding spare minutes, endings, closure, appropriate weather for emotions, the way malls always smell so good, jumping the fence to find a hug awaiting on the other side, being together again, target starbucks dates, packing & listening, dejavu.

"You can try to swim the sea / You can try to hold the breeze / You can try to hide the sun / But say goodbye to everyone" -The Avett Brothers

+i was thirsty so i drank, and though it was salt water, there was something bout the way, it tasted so familiar

Heart-warming phone calls, pictures, dreams of new spaces, josh ritter as loud as it will go in the car, teen movie drama, fresh garlic for cooking, noticeable differences, hours passing and not even realizing it, nostalgia, the Belmont campus and the rose garden, when good music gets stuck in your head all evening, new faces, celebrations, new thoughts and feelings.

+and your heart's still beating

"I know the dog days of the Summer / Have you ten to one outnumbered /Seems like everybody up and left and they're not coming back / The shadow that you're standing on's here still sometimes / that's all you can ask / And your heart's still beating / You're not the fastest draw in town now / How many times you been shut down... / and your heart's still beating."
-Josh Ritter

Big breakfasts and chilly mornings, drinking coffee and staring out the window and listening to birds, breathing slowly, those days that start out with an eerie sense of shiftedness, bizarre stories and unexpected turns, lighter than ever, non-stop-working-days, popcorn from scratch, american eating, crafting and how my entire being connects with the creation and understanding the spiritual nature of it all, double mirrors, mod podge (sp?), second-wind, phone calls from study-abroaders who are now safely on American soil, staring at the ceiling and lying in bed.

+but you need faith for the same reasons that it's hard to find and this whole thing is headed for a terrible wreck

Turning attention, jumping like a basketball player, inspiring trips to the library, deposits, golden delicious apples, Summer time produce prices, tabs, fruit salad, long walks down Belmont boulevard, dogs, cooler days, missing & praying, shopping and planning and listing and bonding, evenings where boredom leads to creativity.

+streets named for heros that could almost exist

Feeling a sense of closure, huge smoothies over varied talks, heavy weights, somber-ness, coffee to warm up the bones, pushes and pulls, energy from deep inside, needing art in a necessary way, planning the week, more reading and loving the art of words, watching an old animated film like a little kid all over again, watching your best friend drive home towards hard times.

+walkin' on sunshine

Bongo breakfasts and saying goodbye, adorable dress shirts and ties, huge smiles and support, comical speeches and the best music for leaving commencement, trumpet playing, mingling, being the hired-help, standing, eating strawberries, plain eating, exhaustion, babysitting adorable girls who like to sleep in their fancy dresses, good books that transport you to different worlds, calming down.

+not to break

Sleepy motivation, ready for the weekend festivities, support and love and lots of hugs, pride, my second-Birmingham family, note-writing endeavours, summing up a 4 year experience in prose, dinners and the comfort of family, grandpas, laughing, culminating.

+a sandstorm of flashbulbs and rowdy reporters

Happiest of birthdays, grinning from ear to ear, new opportunities, futures, that new carpet smell, campfires, bug bites, fireflies, clean cars, rest days, roma tomatoes for $0.21, planning adventures in arts & crafts, parking spaces all over, fast sleeping.