Clever...

Tonight, walking to school, I passed a homeless guy sitting on the footsteps of a small shop.

The sign in front of him read:

"The US banks are failing. Your money is safe with me."

Hahahaha! He is so clever! If I had a dollar on me, I'd give it to him. (And I don't usually do that!)

Renaissance

Tonight, driving home from small group, I felt an incredible connection with God. I know I don't write much about my spiritual life on here - because I haven't felt all that connected recently. It's like, I want SO badly for it to be there, but it's not as strong as it once was.

I popped in a CD I haven't listened to since maybe last summer. Mat Kearney's Nothing Left to Lose. Many people don't know that he's a Christian singer, but he is. And he's fabulous at it.

As I get in the car, the song "Renaissance" starts to play. This song was instrumental in getting me through some tough times I had around May of last year. I must say, it brought back a rush of things I haven't felt in quite some time... tears in my eyes and a smile across my face. As I looked out of the sunroof, the moon was shining bright, the air comfortingly warm, and the clouds were remarkable.

Here are the lyrics. I highly recommend listening to the song at some point. His voice is amazing.

Through the chorus of this song, I am reminded that He is here for me when things are rough. He's the "wall when you fall down", "on the rocks when you break down", and you can "hear it in the song when you call out".... and that's just the reassurance I need sometimes. :)


Mat Kearney - Renaissance

This is my renaissance
This is my one response
This is the way I say I love you

This is my second chance
This is my one romance
This is the cutting line
On which I stand to show you

It happened fast in a flash, just this evening
As I hit the gas, horn blast, brakes were screaming
As the car crashed, broken glass, broke my dreaming
I hit the dash, so fast my ears are ringing
My sister's on the right side just slightly leaning
I grabbed her hand hard until she started breathing
My brother's in the back, jaw cracked from the beating
The breath in my chest has slipped and I'm sinking
Blinking through diamond spider webs of cracked glass
I'm trying to remember all the words you said in the past
Through the ash, siren screams and red beams
I hear you sing softly to me

CHORUS:
I can be the wall when you fall down
Find me on the rocks when you break down
I heard it in the song when you call out
But I got to say now it's got to change

This is my broken heart
This is my bleeding start
This is the way I've come to know you

This is my winding road
This is my way back home
This is the narrow door you know that I will walk through

I got a letter today of why she went away
She said, "It's better this way, you knew I never could stay."
Half empty closets and frames, all that's left to my name
As she left in the rain and left my heart on a chain
Three years I've built this two-face tower for hours on a lease
You gave me one yellow flower that said rest in peace
In pieces I've broken open to think too much or just enough
Alone to trust midst the rubble and the dust
Humbled, it took this much to break down and understand
Spent my life this far on castles made of sand
Tossed in the breakers in the palm of your hand
Now I can finally stand

I can be the one
I heard it in the song
And I can be the one
I heard it in the song

This is my renaissance
This is my one response
This is the way I say I love you

Reviews of a new city. Part 4: Dallas, TX

I was born in Houston, TX. I've known this all of my life, but never really had been to the place. Michael and I landed at the Houston airport for about an hour or so on our way to Hawaii back in September, but I haven't been out on my own there... well, ever.

Dallas is Michael's hometown. About an hour south, to be precise. We were there a few weekends ago, and I absolutely loved it. I don't know if it was his family that I loved, or the city, but both were absolutely amazing.

The city has a lot to offer a young college grad (like I will be in August)... There are consulting companies (fabulous!)... I've already got connections, instant family that is incredibly welcoming... the works!

It was a bit windy while we were there, but isn't every city at some point? I LOVE the warm weather, the many options that life brings, and everything BIG that Texas holds.

Maybe I'm just biased... ;)

Weather: 10
Sites/Stuff to do: 8
People: 8
Location: 8
Food: 9
Overall: 9

Visitors and Anonymity

Carrie is definitely here :) We're having SUCH a girl-time. We went to see Confessions of a Shopaholic today (which, I did not like her outfits, but thought the movie was great!). We went to get mani/pedi's (I have not done this in at least a year). We got Panera (Yumm!!), shopped a bit, and came home for dinner and delicious bottle(s) of wine. We each got one... and I'm about 3 glasses deep in mine at the moment.

We're about to head to a favorite bar of ours that we haven't been to in FOREVER, it feels like. Blaire is coming to pick us up and be the DD tonight. We're going to have a BLAST!

I dropped Michael off yesterday morning... he's headed to a month-long business trip far, far away from here :( but I'm going to visit him the weekend of the 20th. That's only 2 weeks away, and we get to tour the city together.

I have been contemplating, with all the cities I've been traveling to, revealing to you where I live. I know, I know, this has been my greatest fear - someone I work with, in my oh-so-professional life, will find this blog and read all about my personal life. This is something I hold sacred in the professional world. I don't think co-workers should be allowed into your personal life, unless you let them.

SO - I'm THINKING about writing about it... but for now, you'll just have to read about my newest "Review of a new city" :)

Oh how I love cheap wine.