in which: it's not halloween, BUT...

...would you mind putting this on?

How about in support of movie you've never seen?

In support of people you've never met?

Or perhaps, in support of a message you believe in?

How is ANY of this related and why does it involve this horrendous costume?

Stay tuned my friends... this is only the beginning of the next 2 1/2 weeks of my life.

To Be Continued...

I am

Olli

Turn It Up Tuesday: John Mark McMillan

 

John Mark McMillan. 

He and Jon Foreman are the two people responsible for stirring in me the desire to worship (musically), like no other. You may not know it, but the song David Crowder made famous, "How He Loves" was actually written and sung by John Mark. When I first head the story behind it,  I got goose bumps.

 Rattled my bones a bit. 

The song has sentimental meaning for him, who wrote it following the death of a dear friend who, during a church staff meeting, prayed out loud "If it would shake the youth of a nation, I will give my life today." McMillan was awakened in the middle of the same night by a phone call; the friend had been killed in a car crash. He wrote How He Loves the next morning as, "a celebration of a God who would want to hang with us...despite who we are".

God sees the heart. No matter the words your lips speak, the action you take to prove a point -He sees beneath. If you mean it, He'll hold you to it. It's an amazing thing. 

And scary.

David Crowder's version made me cry, but John Mark's version (where he actually chokes up at the end),

 made me believe.

~

I was jamming out to his album The Medicine on my way home from work today and was again, reminded, of the depth and width of the love of my Papa. JMM's version of How He Loves is on his album The Song Inside The Sounds Of Breaking Down. ALL his albums are impressive though, so I suggest you hit up Spotify or iTunes and have a listen.

 Beware though... 

his words were intended for change.

I am

Olli

*To enjoy more hits by John Mark McMillan, just click on the link below.

  http://thejohnmark.com/music

in which: we work and we weed

I have been quite the busy bee these last two weeks. I've started my second job and although I am tired, I think I can hack it. I totally sympathize with students in college though when they speak of cherishing their sleep...  

"Move over Hunter..."

This morning was of one those delicious moments. Singing birds, soft pillow, the fan blowing a gentle breeze on my face, waking up slowly. *sigh* So far I haven't had a full day off yet but I have hope! I may start asking for Sundays off... or a raise. Either one will do.

Made a trip to Lowe's this morning (ohhh it was wonderful) and bought more seeds for my garden-to-be. Yellow Squash, Romaine Lettuce, Sweet Peas & Nasturtium flowers (which also have edible pods). I have Cherry Tomato seeds as well and recently picked up a couple of Strawberry plants. Also! I'm happy to announce the flower plant Peanut got for me this Valentine's Day still lives! I really did a poor job of caring for it once it was released to me - but yesterday, as I was finally going to throw it out, I found a blossom. A spunky magenta daisy, waiting to bloom. Of the three plants in the pot, two were dead. But one is better than none! It made me so happy for it was such a sweet gift. Multi-Colored Gerbera Daisies. Yay.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have a little time between work & bible study to plant a few things. Babe calls it farming. "Hey, wanna go farm?" 

I love him.

I am

Olli

in which: every day...

I dream a little bit about living in a place like this.

Mountains, fields of flowers, log cabin, animals, a wonderful husband, curious children... and the air.

Oh that sweet & playful, cool, wide open AIR.

Just another fingerprint of my Papa.

Like his breath on my face.

It excites me to witness the road he is taking us on that will lead to our dreams. Such an adventure. Of course, I can be quite impatient at times. What a comfort though, it has been to realize that his love and grace are big enough to cover my imperfection. It's silly how we are constantly trying to cover up our humaness. Brokeness. When this was how he made us. The new book I started is called Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredege. In it, he talks a lot about the intimacy Jesus desires (and always desired) with us. How we are his friends. His family. How praying unto him with names such as "Oh Holy Anointed One of Hosts", "God Almighty on High", and all that jazz - it only distances his image from our minds. You wouldn't walk up to your husband and be like, "Hello Gracious Leader of our Household" or to a friend and say, "Greetings Faithful Brethren whom I love". And not to take away from the truth in these statements, as the intention behind them is good, but... how weird would that be? If he is our father, why not call him Dad? Papa? Abba? FRIEND, even. For those waiting to meet their earthly bride & grooms, you could even go as far as calling him Sweetheart, My Love, Lovely. Admittedly, I'm not sure that I'm even ready to make that leap (into terms of endearment), but you get what I'm saying. My love was the one who told me about the book, but I suggest you look it up too. We could all learn a lot.

~

And my point in all this is, I trust the one I am with. I trust Matthew. I trust my friends. Of everyone I know, why would I not trust Papa the most? That he surely knows what he's doing by now. That he has lead thousands before me and will lead thousands after me. That all I have do is trust him with today.

In the words he spoke to my love on that car ride home one night,

"These times are precious too."

I am

Olli

in which: i need to learn to speed read

Started a new book yesterday. I don't need to be doing that though with stack I already need to finish... A sad thought occurred to me a few weeks ago that I will probably never get to read all the books I want to. As soon as I open one, five more come out that I want to dive into. It also doesn't help that I work at a bookstore. I constantly have a pen and scrap paper in my apron pocket for when I come across those gems that I remind myself to look up one day.

Shaun, like the dog above...

has obviously been a great help.

NOT.

Two & half days more of house/pet-sitting.

I am

Olli

in which: poetry

Crying

Crying only a little
bit is no use. You must cry
until your pillow is soaked!
Then you can get up and laugh.
Then you can jump in the shower
and splash-splash-splash!
Then you can throw open your window
and, "Ha ha! Ha ha!"
And if the people say, "Hey,
what's going on up there?"
"Ha ha!" sing back, "Happiness
was hiding in the last tear!
I wept it! Ha ha!"

Galway Kinnell

Thanks to Beth Hernandez so much for sharing this treasure of a poem with me! The night before she gave it to me, I was crying. And in the midst of it, detested that I couldn't just cry a little, but that it always insists on coming out blubbery and in rivers.

This poem was just what I needed.

I am
Olli

in which: i miss them already

My dear friend 

Ashley

~

My friend Ashley loves trees.

And going barefoot.

And is tremendously giving.

Ashley makes a great cup of tea or coffee.

My friend Ashley loves photography.

And people.

She loves books and reading and writing.

Ashley loves to create.

And live music.

She really loves Mr. James.

But mostly,

Ashley just loves.

Ashley just got accepted into Emerson College in Boston, you know.

So Ashley is moving.

~

Starting a new life with my ole friend Pierce.

In a little over a month she will be a Pierce.

And I'll be there to see it happen.

A glorious day in beautiful April, the day before I turn 23.

These wonderful, beautiful Californians.

Bittersweet never fit the bill more.

~

And yet, there is grand perk in all this.

(Aside from them following their dreams)

Ash & I are going to be pen pals.

For now... that will be enough.

I am

Olli

*all photography courtesy of facebook and ashley-diana.blogspot.com

in which: i am twenty two

"If you are twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel - as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on the floor if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them - wherever you go."

Anthony Bourdain

in which: meet shaun

This is Shaun.

He's Bill & Dorothy's dog. When I worked at a vet clinic an older couple brought him in saying they'd found him on the side of the road with another puppy. He was very sweet and obedient for an 8 mo. old dog. I told B&D about him and within a couple weeks, they brought him home. He's my buddy. He loves toys and walks and cuddling and jumping (I joke that he's Italian since his hardest habit to break has been using his front paws - jumping, playing & pawing at people.) He hates his crate. He has to wear a shock collar when he gets put up or else he yodels like a demon. I'm serious.

It'll make your eardrums burst.

Shaun when I first saw him.

Found a few awesome new blogs/websites today I thought I'd share.
The photography makes my eyes drool:

• Freckles & Ivory
• Home Edit
• That Kind Of Woman

I am

Olli