So I have a lot of theories

So I have a lot of theories; I discovered that this is a large part of who I am on the way to Cornerstone this year; Michal and I decided it’s a family trait we get from our mom. This is the way I see the world really, some of them are completely set in my heart, part of who I am and the way I live my life others come out in a more joking manner like; the sun must set earlier in the south because the sun should not be setting at 9:30 in Illinois when it sets at 10 where we live in Michigan. And since this blog is my perspective on world and theories are so much the way I see the world, I thought I would share one of my core theories with you tonight so here goes. The right song heard at the right moment can change a life; I spend hours a day with headphones on, I listen to my i-pod while I work, so frequently I take the music I listen to for granted, it turns into background noise and loses a part of what makes it special, but when I stop and listen, truly listen, there is power, for different people it’s different things but when you listen to the words or to this instrument or that instrument or this or that progression, the way it all comes together, there is beauty, there is power, and there are those moments that change people. It’s been two weeks since I got back from Cornerstone, while we were there going to show after show I was amazed by how frequently we heard references to letting this festival change you. I am a firm believer in Christian music, it’s where I find my joy, my moments. We were at a Christian music festival so of course God was playing into the people being changed, but I find a tremendous amount of beauty in the way He uses music to foster that change; music brings people together, music becomes a part of the consumer, at least when you listen and experience it, music changes people, I know it changes me, at least, in theory.

My List

I’ve made a list; this is a list of things that I enjoy, moments that make me smile, memories that I hold close to my heart and the beauty of God’s creation. This list was Amy’s idea, but I found the idea to be more than beautiful. Over this past year my prayer and focus has been to find beauty in simplicity and experience every moment for its true value, to truly see people and to “be” more than “have”. The creation of this list is in itself a memory to hold dear; a fun thing to do with a good friend and an act of worship to thank God for so many of the wonderful things He has created, it’s a time of self reflection; to find the things I put value in and remember to be thankful for how blessed I am. This is my Joy List for today, hopefully not the only one I ever write, for there is always new joy to be found.

1. Knowing God has a plan for your life

2. Deep conversations at 3 am

3. Spending a weekend reading a book

4. Listening to someone passionately play the guitar

5. Black and White photography

6. Looking at a perfect starry sky

7. Odd terms of endearment

8. Watching someone get lost in worship

9. Silent laughter

10. “Right there”

11. Aslin’s song in the Magicians Nephew

12. Capturing a moment in a photograph

13. Hearing someone sing along with the radio at work

14. Amazing Grace at a Flatfoot show

15. Unexpected gifts

16. Feeling safe in a thunderstorm

17. Listening to the rain

18. Smelling the smell of spring

19. Being the only girl with your guy friends

20. That butterflies in the stomach feeling

21. Seeing a movie you loved as a child

22. Getting lost in worship

23. finding adventure with your friends

24. Writing a blog and knowing its God speaking to you

25. Witty people

26. Knowing the answers in a trivia game

27. Seeing how people think

28. Notes from your friends

29. The persistent asking of your friends for you to hang out when you can’t

30. Having such a good time you don’t care you stayed out too late even though you still have to work in the morning

31. Knowing what movie a quote is from

32. “Praise Jesus”

33. Finger painting walls

34. Random inside jokes

35. Good hair days

36. Christian musicians talking about Jesus at a concert

37. Being at a concert when the whole crowd is into the show

38. Cute plaid clothing

39. Morning devotions and worship in Guatemala

40. Bonfires

41. Comfy hoodies

42. Phineas and Ferb

43. Band t-shirts

44. Comfortable hugs

45. Hot cocoa dates with friends

46. Watching Pride and Prejudice

47. Baking Christmas cookies

48. Going to a restaurant and talking for hours

49. Cheesecake

50. Grandma McRae’s macaroni and cheese

51. Bozzy and Maggie (the two coolest dogs I know)

52. Riding in the back of pick-up trucks in Guatemala

53. Cole

54. Long walks with friends

55. Meaningful conversations in the car

56. Learning Spanish words

57. A full notebook

58. People who still shoot in film

59. Getting film developed and loving your prints

60. Worship at Cornerstone

61. Playing with photos on the computer

62. Hour long phone calls just to talk

63. Seeing a grown man play with children

64. Finding a song that perfectly fits your mood

65. Discovering a new band you absolutely love

66. The way fresh snow sparkles

67. Someone talking about the person they love

68. Laughing so hard your abs hurt

69. When people who aren’t your family feel like family

70. Playing Mario games

71. Pictures of random signs

72. Finding money you forgot you had

73. Singing along with musicals

74. Singing in general

75. Receiving a stocking on Christmas morning

76. Spell check on your web browser

77. Warm cloths right out of the dryer

78. Polka Dots

79. Colorful pens

80. Dairy Queen ice cream cake

81. Random complements

82. Realizing you now like food you never did before

83. Getting comments on you blog

84. Being alone without feeling lonely

85. Finding the perfect gift for someone

86. The view from the prayer chapel at Monte Flor

87. Being called Beautiful

88. The way water tastes when you really thirsty

89. Saturday mornings

90. Cheddar biscuits from Red Lobster

91. Being outside on a summer night

92. The excitement of children

93. Pizzeria pizza

94. When you click with someone the first time you meet

95. The feeling of accomplishment you have after a good workout

96. Eating cookie dough while baking cookies

97. “Home”

98. Being in that, you just have to write mood

99. Facial expression

100. British, Australian and New Zeeland accents

101. Knowing what your friends are saying without them saying anything

102. Seeing people truly enjoy music

103. Having such a good day work goes by quickly

104. Reading Michal’s blog

105. Being so tired everything is hilarious

106. My camera

107. Make believe

108. God’s love