Ah Summer...

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." - John Lubbock

It's A Beautiful Day!

I crossed one off my bucket list! I SAW U2 IN CONCERT!! Seriously, people. It was INCREDIBLE. The lights, the music, the performance-it was all what I could have wished for and more. There was one part particularly that left me in tears. U2 is incredibly flashy, with lots of lights and spectacle. At one point toward the end of the concert though, it got quieter. The lights got dimmer, the music faded and Bono was standing by himself. He started singing "Amazing Grace". The whole stadium joined in-80,000 people singing "Amazing Grace". It took my breath away. This must be what Heaven is like, but better. Then, the band segued into one of my all-time favorite songs, "Where the Streets Have No Name". By the way, that song is written about Heaven. It was truly incredible. God is so incredible, and He makes Himself known even at a rock concert with 80,000 people watching. The rest of the night was wonderful as well. This was an experience that I will cherish and look back on for the rest of my life.

Oh To Be Like A Child...

Actual Children’s Answers to The Question “What Is Love?”

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.” - Chrissy, age 6

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” - Terri, age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” - Danny, age 7

“Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.” - Emily, age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” - Bobby, age 7

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,” - Nikka, age 6

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.” - Noelle, age 7

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” - Tommy, age 6

“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.” - Cindy, age 8

“My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.” - Clare, age 6

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” - Elaine, age 5

“Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt.” - Chris, age 7

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.” - Mary Ann, age 4

“I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.” - Lauren, age 4

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.” - Rebecca, age 8

“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” - Karen, age 7

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” - Jessica, age 8

I Get A Thousand Hugs From Ten Thousand Lightning Bugs

I just got back from a late-evening walk around my neighborhood. Normally this would not be something to write about, except that summer evenings on the East Coast are different from all other summer evenings I have experienced. What distinguishes them? A tiny little glowing bug. I must confess: I love fireflies! There is something so magical about walking around and seeing little lights appear. As I watch them, I begin to feel like a little girl again! I love that God made something so wonderful. Do fireflies serve some great useful purpose to the environment/food chain/circle of life/whatever? Maybe, maybe not. But the most wonderful things in life are not determined by how useful they are. There is so much more to living than just gutting through a day. Just taking ten minutes aside and walking around the block allowed me to step into what felt like another world. I know it probably sounds ridiculous, but I felt like I was in the middle of an enchanted wood as I watched the little lights appear and float around. I'm going on and on, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love stopping and finding the little natural treasures God has put around this world for us to enjoy. Who knew a little bug with a butt that lights up could inspire so much joy? So, whether you're able to watch fireflies or not isn't really the point. There are so many simple joys that come just from slowing down and stepping outside. And those moments make this hectic life that much more enjoyable.

You Know I'm A Dreamer But My Heart's of Gold...

Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it.

Georgia On My Mind

Tomorrow my family and I are taking a weekend trip down to Georgia to celebrate a family friend's wedding. I LOVE GEORGIA. I don't know what it is exactly about this state that enchants me so much! But I just love everything about Georgia (except the weather-currently 100 degrees and humid beyond belief). I guess there are many little factors that contribute to my love of Georgia. I love the culture of the Deep South in general. I love how friendly and traditional everyone tends to be. I love the (soul) food, unhealthy though it may be. I love the big trees everywhere, and how lush and green it is. I love big juicy Georgia peaches. I love the song "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles (posted below), though I'm told that true Georgia natives are absolutely sick of it. Needless to say, I would be quite happy to live in Georgia when I'm older. I'm so excited to be heading down tomorrow, even if we are only staying a weekend. Hopefully one day I will get to call this state home! Don't look for me in D.C. this weekend. I've got Georgia on my mind.

You Put Your Arms Around Me And I'm Home

I'm currently in love with this song. SO CUTE! It may become the song of the summer (last year's was "Cosmic Love" by Florence + the Machine). Enjoy!