Violet Hill

So I know that all of you aren't big Coldplay fans like I am (I feel sorry for those of you that aren't), but I feel compelled to tell you all that they are giving away their new single for free from their website for the next week. Enjoy it!

green and blue

Time: 10:34 AM

Books: Life of Pi (not so original, but worth it), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Convergence (by sam storms on "charismatic calvinism", and once upon a time I started Brothers Karamazov and intend on finishing it someday.

Music: the hum of air conditioning, typing, and florescent lights

Location: work. I'm typing up the state events for fall 2008. Thrilling. But I did find out that I get to make the article that I wrote for the last issue a series, so more writing experience to come.

State of Mind: content. enjoying the brilliant green leaves outside my wall of windows as the blue-sky sun dances shadows on my desk.

So, waking up next to your very best friend and love every morning is just as spectacular as you might imagine. Making our home might be even more fun than we had imagined. Our apartment is really feeling like home and we're enjoying it thoroughly. So far marriage is great, definitely not the easiest thing I've ever tried--don't be fooled--but the promise of God's heart for us and this union is peace in a heavy form.

I wanted to say thanks to all of you who shared in our wedding. It was fully what we hoped for and more. A weekend to celebrate you: our community, family, and friends (all titles apply); the grace and promises in Christ that got us here; and each other. beautiful.

And, here are some pictures from the honeymoon. Oregon is a refreshing and beautiful place.

Another Quick Note...

I just got an update from Thailand this afternoon, and I wanted to share some awesome news with you guys. Many of you will remember me sending out messages asking you to pray for a freshman named Beer (or having him add you as a friend on facebook). Beer was on the Thai Summer Project these past few weeks, and I spoke to him about three weeks ago. He told me that he felt that he was very close to becoming a Christian. Well, he did this week! I am so excited! It is so encouraging to get news like that... Thanks for your prayers

It's a Bittersweet Symphony; That's Life

April is the cruellest month, breeding/Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing/Memory and desire, stirring/Dull roots with spring rain

Time: 1:38 P.M.

Book(s): Pilgrim at Tinker Creek- Annie Dillard; Paradise Lost- John Milton; The Reason for God- Tim Keller

Music: Jose Gonzalez- In Our Nature

State of Mind: tumultuous; fearful; excited; anxious; reflective

It’s Tuesday afternoon. I’m sitting in the Samford food court, because I, sixteen months post-graduation, have still not fully grasped the fact that I am no longer a student here. I miss it. I miss each of you. Sitting here alone with my computer, vitamin water, and Paradise Lost makes me realize that even more.

The weekend was perfect. This man who has meant so terribly much to me, who has so profoundly and consistently helped to shape my walk, who always humbly, lovingly, and encouragingly pointed me back to the cross, who slept-talked like a champ (and thus, whose dreams were always so comically influenced by whatever nonsensical thought came to my mind- "Keith, what is that Ferris Wheel doing in the middle of the quad? Wait, is that LAVA that it's sinking in!?), who's been almost as famous for his inability to articulate what he's excited about as he has been for his near-matchless enthusiasm for whatever it was he wanted to tell you, was getting married… to a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, godfearing girl. I could not be any happier for them. I cannot wait to learn so much from their marriage.

Their rehearsal dinner was such a testament to their relationship. They cited their absolute dependence on community to sustain this marriage; they explained their boundless joy in understanding God’s love more fully through his gift of romantic love; they were made to hear what profound influences they had been.

I have been so privileged to have such friends. How could I do anything but thank God for all of you over and over again?

Keith has been the third resident of 1701 to leave via marriage. Parks will be the first to depart for any other reason (though even that is somewhat debatable). Joseph Rhea & Cliff Cook will be moving in with us soon enough. Life moves endlessly and mercilessly forward, and we feverishly clutch to community because we know we cannot survive without it. We cannot survive without the prayers of our brothers & sisters, without their encouragement, accountability, tears, and rebukes. I am too fearful to guess when we shall all be reunited again.

I had a dream a few months back that we all, around the age of forty or so (which assumes, of course, that I’ll last that long) decided to move to the same place and teach at the same high school. It was incredible. I was so happy. In my dream, the students and community surrounding them were changed. It was so beautiful. Maybe one day…

Less important musings: I’m headed on the junior high retreat with Big Time this weekend (I’m speaking the first night on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet); Erin & I are working on a two-week road trip post-Emily/Claire’s weddings- anyone down?; I have a blog: mattfrancisco.blogspot.com. I’ve tried to keep it mostly a secret, but I’m not afraid anymore. You hear that, “I’m not afraid anymore!” –Home Alone, anyone? And at least you know I’ll post more than Will…            Much love.

chasin' waterfalls

time: 12:03 am (malaysian time)
book: just finished the Judson History and Legacy...a very humbling book
state of mind: missing B'ham in the spring with all of you but excited about new adventures
ugly babies: i can't remember the last time i saw a baby in person (actually, i think it was nate and jessie's baby...she was not ugly)

As some of you may know, I have a small infatuation with waterfalls. You see, something magical happened on a drizzly Friday afternoon in April three years ago (wow, has it really been three years?). My friend, John, convinced me to venture to Little River Canyon with a group of guys: Wardo, Lambuth, Hamilton, and Nate. Ahh, I just found an essay I wrote about this magical day for class...we had to write about a special place...

My Special Place

As I loaded my car, I checked to make sure I had all of the essential items: food, a towel, a bathing suit, and friends to keep me company along the way. With the backseat full of three young men and another in the passenger seat, I began to wonder why I was the only girl going to this special place. I turned left out of Samford’s gates with John’s words ringing in my ears, “We’ll hike a little and probably jump off some cliffs.” He had said it as if jumping off a cliff was as commonplace as watering the flowers.

“Sure, I’m up for that,” I’d replied, not sure what I was getting myself into on a cool, gloomy April day. Once my Toyota hit Interstate 59, everyone in the car realized that my music selection would not quite suffice for the two hour journey ahead. However, this minor roadblock only strengthened the conversation and allowed the five of us to bond as we traversed the interstate to reach this special place.

Ryan, the only one of us who had been to the special place before, informed us what was in store. “There are huge waterfalls, at least forty feet high, to jump off and then you can hike back up and around to do it again!” The enthusiasm in his voice was not as contagious as I had wished. A sinking feeling came over me as I felt my stomach drop. How could I, the girl who doesn’t enjoy or even ride roller coasters, enjoy this special place?

Ryan continued, “The locals showed me the best places to jump and informed me where the deep water lay. Even though it’s illegal, it’s perfectly safe and no one ever gets in trouble.” Illegal!? My heart stopped. Was I going to commit a crime today? I kept my mouth shut and pretended like illegally jumping off a forty foot waterfall was no big deal. Maybe we would have a wreck. Maybe we would run out of gas. Maybe we would decide to sight-see the sock-capitol of the world, tour the musical group Alabama’s museum and never make it to Little River Canyon.

As the road grew steeper and narrower, I withdrew from all conversation and attempted to create my excuse for not joining the guys on the trail. I could tell them driving gives me migraines, or tell them my stomach was killing me. Better yet, why not tell them I’d had ear surgery as a child and wasn’t even allowed to jump off a low dive. I knew the guys wouldn’t give me too hard of a time, considering I was the only girl brave enough to face the cold with them.

“Turn right directly after this bridge,” Ryan’s instructions brought me to reality as fast as I could see myself flying off the cliff. I parked the Toyota next to a blue Buick, proud that my car had made the journey, yet frightened by the approaching forty foot drop. We slowly winded our way around the thirty foot trail, passing notices to “Jump at Your Own Risk” and “Caution.” My palms were sweaty and my heart was racing as we finally reached the water’s edge. The frigid water took my breath away and the view demanded me to inhale deeply. The smell of spring was evidenced in the fresh, green leaves along with the sound of chirping birds. The water cascaded over the rocks, never slowing down but always running together, creating a beautiful image of life and teamwork. The shallow water flowed thinly at one spot, marked by jagged rocks and the sound of a roaring lion, which seemed to be waiting to eat me, alive. The apparent forty foot cliff appeared to tower high enough so that even a pebble would take an hour to reach the bottom.

As the guys crawled over the slippery rocks to the peak of the waterfall, I cautiously followed, still not sure if I wanted to take the leap. I remembered the words of my aunt: “Do something that scares you everyday.” Well, this would certainly scare me. All of the guys gave me great advice: “Put your feet here; Run, then leap;” and my favorite, “Be sure you clear that ledge!” They taught me how to estimate the best place to start my run to ensure I had the perfect trajectory angle. Ryan was the daredevil who jumped first and the other guys followed like lemming running to their death. The only difference, however, was that my friends came up sputtering and laughing. Once they had cleared the landing pad, I waved my hands, as if to say, “Get ready; here I come!” I stepped back to the designated starting point, took a running step, leapt through the air, praying the whole way down, then splat! Gurgling down below, I fought the water to reach the air and with a triumphant smile realized that this special place had helped me conquer my fear of heights and opened my eyes to one of the most gorgeous scenes I had ever seen!
All that to say, I finally found my first waterfall here! Ladies and gentlemen, Sungai Gabai...

It's probably the longest waterfall i've ever seen...this picture only shows a section of it.

But don't worry, when you come visit I'll be sure to take you there. And don't worry Wardo, all the locals showed me the best place to swim and slide down some cool rocks!

Why Did You Hit Our School?

Location: 1701 living room couch
Time: 5:01 pm
State of Mind: Thankful for Spring in Bham
People within 20 Yards: Matt talking to Erin outside on Skype and Parks coming in announcing that he's got a new job and is moving to Huntsville.

OK, so I started a moving job until I get hitched to MCJ aka Elaine in a few weeks. I'm really enjoying it. I got to drive a truck actually today. It's really fun. I feel like I'm a racecar driver except I have boxes to deliver and I have to find the fastest route to random places all over Birmingham. For instance I got to drive to Downtown, Five Points, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Fairfield, the Galleria, Greystone, ect. Best part is I get done usually around 2. I hope my copilot didn't mind my obsession to NPR while driving. Man that station is incredible.

So my story comes about when I'm driving into Greystone Elementary School near Brook Hills Church. I am about to pull up and I start to drive underneath this overhead awning, which I've already successfully slipped under several times by this time of the day. Anyway so I'm pulling under and this nice young mom is walking by and waves at me and my co-deliverer, Ben. I procede to smile and wave back while simultaneously slamming into the the school building. I mean I hit it pretty hard. The lady proceeded to give me the "you stupid idiot, I feel sorry for you yet laugh at your existence" look. I knocked off one side of a sign from the overhang so that it is dangling but besides this there is only a dent in the gutter, thankfully. I don't think that anyone has seen me.

Anyone want to help me out with Movies when there were hidden people murders or something and they come back and make the person's life miserable or something..."I know what you did last summer" comes to mind and I'm sure at least three more Shakespeare plays.

So I decide that I'm going to be honest and tell my managers when I get back but not the school because honestly, they don't need to know and that sign wasn't that important anyway. Here's where it gets crazy. I think I'm almost home free, about to leave to go on to my next stop and leave this crime scene behind. I'm walking through the door to deliver my last set of boxes of paper when these kids come rushing to the door. One looks at me and recognizes who I am. He yells out, "Aren't you the one who ran into our school?" another brat says "Yeah I think that's him, Why'd you do that?" several more decide that my silence is not enough of an answer so they repeat "Why'd you hit our school?" This is when I turn around throw each of my boxes at kids, them falling to the ground as paper flies everywhere like a massive paper pillow fight. I bolt for the truck.

I peel out of that god forsaken place trying to hit a few kids on the way out like Wario on Super Mario Kart trying to get as many coins possible while dodging a red shell from Princess who is right on his tail. Anyway. I hate kids now.


I wasn't going to write this but then I decided I would because I'm the first in April!! I win. Forever.