My Life in Music

Apparently, it's been a long time since I've sent you an update.

As I am too exhausted to write a lengthy and enthralling post and am currently in the middle of the chaos and turbulence of finals (wherein my creative juices are steadily depleting), I have only the strength and time to send you a snapshot of my life via music videos.  You will love them and, as you listen, rest assured that I'm probably listening to them too...for the hundredth or the thousandth time...but who's counting?  So, grab your hula hoop...or your children...and dance away...


Welcome to My Life in Music:


This first video has been the soundtrack of my mornings.  Given the fact that I am not (and not as in not even slightly) a morning person, mornings are particularly hard for me.  Especially, when my slumber has been shortened thanks to extensive paper-writing and tedious page-turning.  I recently found this song...and set it as my alarm ring on my phone.  It has transformed my mornings.  Trust. me.  If you play it when the sleep is still lingering in the crevices of your eyes, suddenly you will feel a steady and increasing surge of hope, life, and motivation.


So, this one is for all of those mornings, when you just want to put your head back under the covers.

The next video is the one my roommates and I love "hooping" to in our expansive backyard (in fact, we just had a hoop session to this song earlier this evening).  Yes, I said "hooping" as in hula hooping.  It's the perfect song when your stress levels are exceedingly high...and, who doesn't love Africa?  The boys will especially love dancing to this one.

And, here's my final selection...because My Life in Music would not be complete without a country favorite.  This one is so sweet...enjoy.

I wish I had time to post all of the songs I love to listen to at 2am to spur me forward, but I'm running out of time...and my papers are calling.  But, I mainly took a moment to write this post because I love you all so much and miss you and hope that these songs make you smile.  

Visitors

Mel came to visit.  (She's a dear friend from college and lived with mom & dad in Nantes for a semester.)

 We went to the beach...

 a few times...

and loved the sunset...

and enjoyed Bubble Tea...

 and hiking in LA...

 and dinner in Santa Monica...

 and, my favorite, frozen yogurt.

It was chill.

Now, it's Marnie's turn!  I'm loving this...CANNOT WAIT FOR TOMORROW!

Who's next? ;)

"A farewell is necessary before we can meet again, and meeting again, after moments or a lifetime is certain for those who are friends" - Unknown

Lots of Love

Happy Valentine's Week!  (Hey, why not celebrate Valentine's day for an entire week?)  Here are some of the highlights of my Valentine's Day/Weekend/Week:

 Over the Weekend...

 Eating at a sweet Mexican restaurant with friends and an out-of-town visitor.  Marnie, I think I will take you here for an authentic taste of Southern California when you visit.

 I drove to Irvine (thought I'd get some practice on the freeway) Sunday to visit a new friend - "Breezie."  Anna met us there.  Brianna (Breezie) suggested I apply to work at her coffee shop.  I thought about it for a day or so but the commute is too far.  (I hear the deep sigh of relief from mom & dad).

I was on the Conan O'Brien show on Monday...if you click on this link (http://teamcoco.com/video/full-episode-mon-213-ice-t-and-coco-adam-pally-and-musical-guest-wale), watch the clip around 6:20.  The crazy kids who shout out at the mention of "Texas" were my friends who went to the show with me.  (David Feiser, Alison, Marquita, Manny, & Doug).  David appears twice; he is sitting right in the middle of his friends and about 3 seats away from me.  I  was SO close to being on TV! You can't actually see me BUT I WAS RIGHT THERE!  David's friends were visiting from Texas, and he had extra tickets so Anna & I joined in the fun.  (Only watch that section...the rest of the episode is pretty trashy).

Waiting in line.  David (right of me) and Marquita (just behind) are the ones in the shot.

We had ice cream at this really cute parlor...and David told the waitress it was my 16th birthday...so I got a free sundae!

Did I mention his friends were a lot of fun?  Here's a random outburst of singing that occurred right before we left...the waiters and waitresses sang throughout the evening...so we decided to serenade them all...not sure if anyone's done that before...

And then we found some wigs...

Should I go blond?

I'm so thankful to be surrounded by lots of love...

Cars & Crises

Okay.  So, CHANGE.  It's a good thing.  Really.  It is.  But, for those of us who love to manage every detail of our lives and feel reassured that we have control over it, it's more of an annoying inconvenience.  (And, I'm mainly referring to myself...)


My car came this week.  I AM THRILLED.  My sweet little Sante fe Hyundai is finally soaking in the Southern Californian sunshine.  This is where it was always meant to be.  Thank you to all of the family members who have made this possible.

There's a new excitement in the air...in the knowledge that I could quite possibly drive to the grocery store if I needed to...or run to the dollar store for some last-minute Sunday school supplies (don't worry, mom, I'm trying to be careful and not make extra trips unnecessarily).  But, wow.  What a joy to have such freedom!  (And independence).  And, in many ways, my heart longs to revel in this new found freedom.

But, I'm absolutely not (independent, that is).  None of us are for that matter.  Shocking, I know.  Most Americans cringe at this thought; we love our independence.   In fact, we have very little control over most of what happens in our world and are quite dependent on the people and natural forces around us to continue functioning as they have so faithfully done in the past.  Will the sun show it's face again?  Will all the other cars on the road stay on their side of the yellow line?  Will our hearts continue to flawlessly pump blood through our bodies?  Will my professor show up to class tomorrow to impart knowledge?  Isn't it amazing how we live with such a sense of security, often forgetting how little control we have over all of these things?


Sometimes, you need a reminder...and it often comes when you are most desperate for a snippet of control.


Okay, dad, I've seriously tried not to philosophise...this is my very matter-of-fact and straight-to-the-point blog.  (I even tried to create a separate blog for all of the flowery and emotional commentary - and my, perhaps mislead, thought processes).  But, this is Meg.  This is Meg living in Southern California, thousands of miles away from her family.  I long to be able to share these things that I'm learning with you.  And, I know that we often struggle to find time to talk - life is moving quickly.


So, here's my heart.  I want you to be apart of what I'm learning and how I'm growing.  And, here's what I'm learning.  That it's okay to be dependent on one another with the right motivation:  out of the realisation that we were made to love one another and support one another -- not so that one of us continuously benefits from the generosity of others -- but so that the generosity of those who give sustains a chain of generosity.  --So that as we receive we give out of that abundance.  That's how I want to live.  But, I often feel that I'm on the receiving end...and I'm learning how to live generously when I feel that I have so little to give.


It's actually quite humbling.  I can't do life on my own.  We weren't made to do it alone.


Friday night, Ellen & I were discussing her mid-20's life crisis and my early 20's life crisis.  (I know, we have never really experienced a "crisis" but, when you're young and inexperienced, small stressors feel like crises.)  So, I got out my parchment paper, and we went to town mapping out all of our dreams and goals and hopes.  (Practical and impractical - realistic and utterly unrealistic).

It was helpful in releasing some of the stress.


I long for some security -- financial, emotional, relational, physical, mental, spiritual, etc.


Will it ever change?  I don't want to be dependent (especially financially)...and, quite frankly, I'm working so that I can be more independent. (Of course - financially and in other ways).  But, (Dad, can I quote you?  Because I'm going to...)  as my father said on the phone last night, "Sometimes, the hardest thing is to be okay with living off of the generosity of others."  [That's certainly not true of everyone (some people feel quite entitled), but, I know that in my life, my pride often resists wholeheartedly receiving the gifts of others].


There's something incredibly beautiful about allowing people in your life to carry you and provide for you when you are unable to...in order that you do the same for them when you are able and they are unable.  Sound like communism?  I'd say it sounds more like the New Testament.    There is so much unexpressed gratitude in my heart.  I promise you, if I ever become financially stable, I will give back to you because I have been given so much!  (I know you're laughing because you're thinking -- "Megan, financially stable?  Are you joking?")  It's hard to imagine, I know. :)


But, the Lord is doing something.  And, I'm walking in a state of patient and active anticipation.  I may never have a lot of money but I will live generously...as a student, or missionary, or development worker, or clinical psychologist, or professor.  I'll need you to hold me accountable to this.  This world is greedy.


But, we have been blessed to be a blessing!  (That was God's original intention in Genesis...and fulfilled in Christ who invites the nations to partake in Abraham's blessing!)


So, there's a whole lot more to this story...and it involves alarm security systems, coffee, micro-financing, and Skid Row.  But, if you want to know all of the boring details, you should call me. :)


I hope that we will remember together that, no matter how independent we think we are, we are utterly dependent on God...for life, meaning, and hope.  I'm allowing my current state of dependency to remind me of how much I need Him.  And this is the humbling reality.  And this is why I can, at times like these, embrace dependency.


Because we all need someone or something...and, incredibly, He is the source of all of those things.
He is the source...and (unlike everything else in our world), He NEVER changes.  James 1:17 - 
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Recent Adventures

Outreach to Skid Row.

These people are awesome.  Love the diversity.  








 We brought sandwiches with verses for the homeless.  I'm hoping to be more involved in the inner-city this semester.  

 It was an awesome day...ended with worship with Kenny & Wilson.  Only 4 of us...but the Lord's presence was so tangible.  If you have a chance, read Isaiah 58 - a powerful reminder of how He cares for the poor and broken.

Out with the old.

  In with the new.  It's incredible how new furniture can transform a room...thank you Craig's List; I found an L-shaped sofa, ottoman, and coffee table for $150.00.

 Candles at our "New Couch House Party."  Wish you could have come.

 Our tree is ready for February.

 Homemade Valentine's decorations for our door.

 Reading.

 Two of my dearest friends - Cara & Anna.

 Puppy love.

 Anna, my kindred spirit.

 Hollywood.  Yes, it's not too far from me.

It's a New Year - time to get fit!   So, I've begun running with a few friends.  Meet Andrew & Jonny.

We love to run...and so we've started a Fun Run Club, every Wednesday @ 4pm.

And, here's our motto:  "Some people wait for adventures to happen. We find them." -Meg

What adventures have you been on lately (or unintentionally run into)?

Take A Moment

I'm reposting this poem because I like it so much (stolen from a friend's FB status).  Take a moment, and be thankful with me.
~~

Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are.
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings.
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.
There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible.
Thank you, Lord, That I can see.
Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising.
Thank you, Lord, that I have strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud.
Thank you, Lord, for my family.
There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced.
Thank you, Lord, for the food we have.
There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous.
Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest.
Thank you, Lord, for life.


And, a song to go with it:

Sunday Blessings

1. Seeing all of my cute, Asians (and one little blond hair, blue-eyed boy) in my 3-yr. old Sunday school class.  I missed them.


2. Eating at Crepes de Paris in Brea with my small group after church.

Mark

Mark & Hiroko, my small group leaders

3. Exploring Brea with my dear friend, Susan.

(Brea is where our church is located)

And, eating French macaroons!  Yummy...


4. Going Thrift store shopping with the roommates.


5. Rearranging Tiffany's room...for hours.


6. Reading a great book (Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist).  (I also just finished The Healing Path by Dan Allender).  You should read BOTH.  The Healing Path is sort of life-changing.  One of the best books I've ever read, for sure.


Here's an inspiring excerpt from Cold Tangerines in regard to Waiting:

"But this is what I'm finding, in glimpses and flashes: this is it.  This is it, in the best possible way.  That thing I'm waiting for, that adventure, that movie-score-worthy experience unfolding gracefully.  This is it.  Normal, daily life ticking by on our streets and sidewalks, in our houses and apartments, in our beds and at our dinner tables, in our dreams and prayers and fights and secrets -- this pedestrian life is the most precious thing any of us will ever experience.  

I believe that this way of living, this focus on the present, the daily, the tangible, this intense concentration not on the news headlines but on the flowers growing in your own garden, the children growing in your own home, this way of living has the potential to open up the heavens, to yield a glittering handful of diamonds where a second ago there was coal.  This way of living and noticing and building and crafting can crack through the movie sets and soundtracks that keep us waiting for our own life stories to begin, and set us free to observe the lives we have been creating all along without even realizing it."

7. Shopping at the $.99 store (and buying a bunch of groceries...for under $15.00!)


8.  Organizing, organizing, organizing.


9.  Playing with Amadeus (our littlest roommate/puppy).


10.  Blogging!


What a terrific Sunday.  I am so thankful for every blessing in my life - big and small.