the icarus account, sanctus real, and elisa. :]]]]

i just wanted to say all over again how much i LOVE this time of the week! it's friday night, no homework, no social pressures, my Bible study's already done and i feel really close to God. i've been watching some A-Road podcasts, and i pretty much love them. i love the new icarus account single, "so in love," (check it out... www.myspace.com/theicarusaccount, it's awesome). i love it that i am going home in a couple weeks (actually, in 13 days!!!! eep!). i love it that i'm going to my second sanctus real concert on march 14, and that this time i get to take my little sister, too! i love it how i saw Jesus' heart in my Bible study tonight, and how i wasn't the only one who thought the accusation that Michael W. Smith's music being of the devil (especially his worship songs) was a bunch of baloney that made us all really mad, lol (really bad vespers, don't ask... okay, maybe you can, but it is still really frustrating). i'm in love with the story i'm writing right now... it's called "Elisa", and it's about this band and a little girl that finds hope. it's gonna be a best seller if i have anything to do with it, and i love it to death! and i really love all the characters, especially elisa, noah, and hadley! and grant, abby, and jacob aren't bad, either!!!! it's snowing here in the midwest, and that's kinda cool, too! mainly i love too many things!!! lol.

i haven't been up to much, i have a bunch of projects due in different psych classes, lots of midterms (oh, i happened to sleep through my first one, that was BAD!!! but i got to make it up. i love grace!). my roommate's painting a few feet away, and i'm considering going to bed relatively early this friday night (i usually don't call it a night until at least one o'clock... silly me).

tomorrow's my dad's birthday. well, wait, i lied. i am just so used to SAYING that it is his birthday, because he's a leap year baby, so we celebrate it on feb. 28. i wish i could be there! and i wonder where my family put that big recliner that my mom got him for Christmas.

i'll try to post more often, probably more like once a week, even though i don't really have anything to say. i'm just really happy to be alive; i don't really have anything else to say.

oh, here's the lyrics for that song... it's so simple and raw, not like singers who have been playing for decades and everyone thinks that everything they do is gold. it's simple and beautiful. their music makes me want to fall in love. :)

your hand it fits perfect in mine
the world has stopped
and so has time

cuz we're so in love
we're so in love
we're so in love

city lights, cloudy skies,
slow dance in the rain,
i won't forget how it sounds
when you say my name

so we saved the best for last tonight
a simple hug, a kiss goodbye
as all of the angels sing a song
heaven and earth join to sing along

and we're so in love
we're so in love
and we're so in love

i'm turning the table, i'm changing the time
i'll do anything just to keep you mine
you're one of the angels, yeah it's true
i'm saying it happened when i'm with you

and we're so in love
and we're so in love
and we're so in love
we're so in love
we're so in love
we're so in love

i love the way that you say my name
i love the way that you hold my hand

like we're so in love
cuz we're so in love
and we're so in love

well, happy Sabbath!!!

goodness.

it's late. haha, for some reason, i usually do most of my blogging late at night, or early in the morning. not sure why. but i love this time of the day. everyone is asleep, and i have time to listen to my favorite music and commune with God. it's just amazing. and it helps that i can look up into the sky and see the stars twinkling and winking down at me, reminding me that all that is good now will always be good.

i mean, sure, the world is in upheaval. when isn't it? there are always going to be murderers and liars and money launderers and rapists and terrorists. this world is broke and falling apart. but all that is good now has always been good and will always be good. isn't it true?

think about the good things in life. the way a mother loves her babies unconditionally. the way Jesus showers mercy on this pitiable orb that needs that mercy and grace so badly. the way hope is in the eyes of african children, and the way three-year-old little girls jump into the arms of the ones they love with utter and complete trust and unabashed love. all that is good will always be good. it's true.

in my life right now, a lot is good. i'm studying a major that i thought i would hate but i am fastly falling in love with it. i am making plans to change the world. i have a family and tons of friends who love me. i get to go to church tomorrow. Jesus still gives me more grace. that in itself is worthy of saying all of life is good.

where would we be were it not for God's grace?

wow.

i'm just looking out at the lincoln, nebraska, sky tonight, listening to matt hammitt sing the words of my favorite song by sanctus real, "things like you," and i'm falling in love with life again. i've had some problems lately, stuff so personal i don't want to get into it, but in the midst of it all, God is still here. Emmanuel. God. with. us.

it seriously sounds like i'll get to go to my second sanctus real concert. something i'm completely stoked about. in 21 days, hopefully i will get to see a sunshiney three-year-old little girl by the name of laney, and i'll get to carry her out to her car like i have done every Sabbath afternoon for weeks last semester. for the first time since i semi-moved out of my house, i've heard that my baby sister misses me. i've heard that she missed my brother, but never me. that means more than i can imagine to figure out how to say. and one of my biggest dreams just might come true in three weeks. that would make me pass out, almost, i think. maybe i should bring smelling salts, just in case. lol.

God is good.

i guess that's all i'm trying to say tonight. no matter what has happened, life is still good, because God is always good.