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.

This could be a deep one...

Location: my WMU desk. Fresh, post-lunch cup of coffee (but my only one of the day) at my left hand, white and pink flowered trees waving to me through the open blinds (a window makes a cubicle much less of a sad thing).
Time: 1:38 p.m.
State of Mind: contemplative. Hence the depth.
People within 20 yards: neighbors to my cubby, Dianna and Carole, who work for the language-focused materials and are frequently speaking on the phone in Spanish; and Leah, my editor and friend.
Last time I saw an ugly baby: ridiculous question, but it reminds me of a story I’ve frequently heard about keith when he was younger. It goes something like this: his mom has a dear friend over for coffee to meet her newly born baby for the first time. Little Keith, then called Beeper, peeks over the edge of the stroller and takes a look. He raises his head and remarks, “Lady, I hate to break it to you, but your baby looks like a monkey.”

So. I’ve had a little bit of a time-management problem at work lately. But not in the way you might think. I have too much time. I tend to finish things rather quickly, which may mean that I’m not being thorough enough, but honestly I don’t really know how to do it differently, and I fear my brain might explode if I just try to edit things over and over again for the sake of thoroughality. My hours go by a little bit like this: check work email. Respond. Check gmail. Respond. Check google reader. Read. Check work email. Hark! Something needs my editing expertise! Print. Edit with pen (my favorite! Oh the red marks are glorious). Make changes in document. Save. Back to gmail, and the cycle continues. What I’m getting at is this: well, it’s a few things actually. One, is that I’ve been reading a lot of blogs lately. Blogs are funny. They are a selective glimpse into people’s lives. And people probably only bother to blog about things that are cool and exciting. But the result is that it makes everyone else’s lives look cool and exciting. Just today, peeking into other people’s lives I’ve dreamt of becoming a photo-journalist (even for a local paper), moving to any number of fascinating cities and countries, working for a

(pause…a button for a website needs my copy editing …11 words in length…big job folks.)

47 seconds later. The big question is: Will I ever be truly content? And, am I the only person who feels this way? It just seems like there are different venues for our discontentment, for mine, they change in seasons, but that tugging, nagging feeling…does it ever go away? Is there this magical place where I will someday live, doing something magical, surrounded by magical people, where I will never long for something else ever again? And would I even want that? I mean, how many years did I spend focusing that discontentment on the prospect of finding my media naranja. (the Spanish term for soul-mate that I much prefer…it means half-orange). Now I have found him. I love him, and I’m SO thankful for the incredible peace and contentment that has flooded that little nook in my heart. What fulfilling companionship! But it doesn’t change that part of me that looks ahead and plans and longs and dreams.

I guess one thing I could learn from all this pondering is that if finding “the one” didn’t make me magically and completely fulfilled, then finding the perfect job or place to live or calling probably won’t either, right? And when I say that I’m discontent, please don’t hear that I’m sad. I’m not. I’m very very happy and I love life in Birmingham right now. I just can’t help but look forward to more. I want to really “make a difference” as cliché as that sounds, and I want to really spend all of my time in the nitty-gritty place where humanity, and community, and creativity, and justice, and love meet. now why isn't there a google map for that place?

At my core, I trust that God treasures these desires in my heart, and He is the one who will fulfill them. I just don’t know if it will be in this flesh-laden lifetime or not.

Jet-lagged with a Runny Nose.

location: my/Emily's living room
time of day: 8:17 am
state of mind: nostalgic
people within 20 yards: A sleeping Emily
last time you saw an ugly baby: Can't recall, I feel like I had a dream about one.
the book that you're currently reading and enjoying: Spiritual Depression (Martyn Lloyd Jones)...so good...really, very encouraging

So, Matt and I just returned from our trip to N. Ireland to visit the UCF peeps. It was awesome. We saw all the sights, celebrated St. Patrick's day where everyone should really, got to meet and play with some Irish kids, and really enjoyed hanging out with Erin, Dwight, John and Elizabeth. For more details see my facebook photo album obviosly entitled "Ireland"...or call me!

Now, for the meat of this post. In hopes of finding a different word document this morning, I stumbled across a short story I wrote last year about an experience I had with Jen. I believe the story was forwarded to some of you. It may have been disregarded then, and may be for a second time, due to its' length. I thought I'd post it because it makes me laugh, weep, and recall fond memories from senior year and the quirks of all our friendships. The length of this post I believe is appropriate seeing as I haven't posted in 1/20th of a decade. Enjoy.

The Night I Stood On Jen

A Short Story by Jamie Simpson

I was on Facebook looking at photos of Brian Cook when Jen Wilmore walked into my office and I hurriedly closed out of the web-page. She said, "Oh, no…you don't have to…" and I said, "Nonsense! I do." We made small talk for a matter of 13 minutes about what books caught her eyes on my bookshelf. Thoughts raced through my mind, like how it'd be such a great idea if I opened up my little built-in to the entire campus and allowed students of all shapes and sizes to filter in and out of my little office, perusing and borrowing any book that met their fancy…then I thought about the liability of it all…then Jen spoke and my little day-dream (well it was actually night, but you see I wasn't asleep and the sun had long set, so…I guess just dream…) was shattered in a thousand necessary pieces because we were, after all, in mid conversation. So I answered some questions and then fired back with a few. I think…if my memory recalls, there was a lull, a lull that provided me with just enough time to step up into the seat of the chair I had just been sitting in. I then felt the need to explain myself so I said: "I like standing on tall things." Jen, previously face to face with the caps of my knees cocked her head back expectedly and suggested I stand on her…I guess her reason being that if I like tall things so much…might as well try her since she clears the seat of the chair by a good 4 feet. Now, here's my confession, I was a little reluctant. When I indicated to my dear friend that I am fond of standing on tall things…I meant sturdy four…sometimes 3 legged things. So, I may have bit my bottom lip (memory fails me) and nodded in what Jen probably thought was mutual consent. Here's the thing, when I asked her how I should go about in participating in her being stood on, she just sort of barked, "Stand on me!" Uhm, so I tried it. I palmed Jen's head with my left hand and gripped the top shelf of my built-in with my right hand and sort of hoisted myself (meaning my left leg) onto her shoulder. I next shifted some of my weight to this left leg of mine and locked my knee a bit, but certainly not all the way, just enough to let her think I had done it.
I don't know how, but she caught me red-handed. She, in a gentler voice this time, asked if I would place all of my weight on her shoulder and actually stand on her. I, a little more confident this time, replied that I would, but only as a result of her being so unusually adamant…it's the type of thing where someone's got this really bad idea, and you know it right off, but they are just so darn persuasive that they end up flipping the tables and then you end up feeling silly for not having come up with the idea yourself. Before agreeing for the second time, I asked her to quickly brief me on the idea behind the brilliance…a sort of mission statement as to why we were executing the whole endeavor. She replied that it's clearly only to be done to say we did it. Her being so clear cut and all, I just went for it. I lifted with my arms and pushed with my legs. I was up…seeing things from a new perspective…legs almost locked…




Jen died.

Unimportant ramblings

Location: The office of the SOS bulding.

Time 1:18 PM

State of Mind: Furious  Anger at the Samford Portal

People: I'm all alone.

Ugly Baby: My boss's baby puked on him that was ugly, but she isn't inherently ugly so I'm not sure if it counts.

Dead Cat: I think last tuesday maybe.

So yesterday i decided to drive across the city to go to the apple store to buy an ipod shuffle with the money the easter bunny brought me early( because my parents are in Birmingham at the NCAA tournament and decided to cancel my easter. Anyways turns out will was there too it was the most awesome suprise I've had in a long time, he was in town for easter , so we went and saw our friend play last night. 

So life has been goin alright for me, the day after I got back from Ethiopia, I began spring break camps, and we now have just one more week left. Its been going well except for stepping on a nail, but no worries i got a brand new tdap shot for it. Its really been nuts, contrary to popular belief I have very little idea of what i'm doing, so my boss inevitable has to draw out a diagram of how to run new water lines, or how to hang kitchen cabinets on a napkin during breakfeast and then I have to go out to my site and try to convince my campers that I have done these things hundreds of times before. But , i love it here, its really never boring. I work with some amazing people. Anyways my point in this post is to at some point answer the question of what I am goin to do next year. Well, SOS has asked me to intern with them again, and to help them start up a smaller version of their camp in another neighborhood (Orange Mound) which has no real ministry in it at all. I'm really stoked to get in on this ministry in the beginning, the only problem is that it is not a paying position so I will be raising all my support for the year again, so I need ya'l just to pray that God will provide for me again like he did for this year, and that when I make decisions I will be thinking about what God's will is for me and not what my own is.

updates from macro world of microscopic labwork

yesterday, i found out that james (of "mistuh blian" fame) also mispronounces another lab member's name. james is thoroughly convinced that Nachiket, one of the post-docs from India, is named "lunchbox." we've tried to correct him. he won't budge.

i don't mind this for two reasons. first, it's funny as crap. no doubt about that. who's with me? but second, and more importantly, Nachiket and Arjun (the other post-doc from India) saw me today and asked how my trip home went. Immediately following my response, they asked what I brought them. I laughed. They maintained straight faces. I paused, and laughed more awkwardly. They did not pause, and kept the straight faces. "Wait, really?" I asked... completely confused. Nachiket then explained the age-old custom in India of always bringing your friends something from even the shortest trip... and asked if I didn't yet regard him and Arjun as friends. I stuttered and stammered- I'm sure that I was all at once as hard for them to understand as they often are for me to understand. After they left, Dr. Javed and Haiyan (mother of james) verified what Nachiket had taught me.

This went on for 2 hours, until I walked into the conference room for the weekly lab meeting, sat to watch the PowerPoint presentation, and lo and behold-- the second slide had no data... simply the phrase "We Got You!" in some tacky font.

I inquired if it was a big deal to be flipped off in India, China, or Pakistan. They said yes... but laughed.

This is my life-- foreign nerds with remarkable minds prank me. Kindof rocks. :-)