grace.

it’s 4:40am.
no, i have not been to sleep yet. that is because i have managed to mess up my sleeping patterns once again… it happened immediately after finals. i can’t say i’m really surprised…
i’m currently packing up 23 or so days worth of clothing and junk so that i can head back to central oregon in a little over two hours.
equipped with some homemade iced coffee and a super kick-ass playlist i just compiled (lady gaga will be making a few appearances), i’m really hoping to stay fully awake on my 3+ hour journey over the mountain… fingers crossed.

right now, i’m honestly really relieved to be going home.
i’ve had a lot of mixed feelings over the past week, not necessarily just about going home, but just about… well, everything. but this morning i feel okay.
i’m trying really, really hard to appreciate the present for exactly what it is… for this moment that god has put in front of me.
this morning.
this day.
what am i going to do with it?
well… i’m working on making it the best i can be… instead of always dwelling on what hurts, what is stressful, what is wrong…

god does a really funny thing for me… he will see me on a day where i feel really weak; on a day where everything, all at once, is weighing down me and i don’t know if i am strong enough to keep holding myself up… and on days like that, where nothing is going right, out of the blue, a complete stranger on the street will offer me kind, uplifting and encouraging words.
an amazing and inspirational conversation will occur with a good friend.
the sun will come out and i will get the chance to take a photograph that i’m really proud of.
or someone who i hardly know will take my breath away with random compassion and sweetness towards me.
all of these things occurred recently… all on days where i least expected. all on days where i did not anticipate much goodness or positivity.

sometimes, i really wonder how i could be deserving of the incredible, beautiful, amazing people who have been put into my life… people who bring such light and strength…
i really do not know.
but it is truly a blessing to, for once, be overwhelmed with love, instead of being overwhelmed with all the other things life seems to throw at me.

in my late-night-insomnia-internet-adventures last night, i created a mellow pandora station. at one point, they played “your love is a song” by switchfoot.
to make a long story short: i love switchfoot. the last time i saw them in concert, i was brought to tears.
every one, i think, connects with their spirituality in different ways… and one of the ways that i connect with mine… is to listen to switchfoot.
anyways, in the song i heard last night… jon foreman sings:

“i’ve been keeping my eyes wide open…

oh, your love is a symphony.
all around me,
running through me.
oh, your love is a melody.
underneath me,
running to me.
all your love is a song.

oh, your love is a song…
your love is strong.

i’ve got my eyes wide open.
i’ve been keeping my hopes unbroken.

your love is my remedy.
all your love is a song.”

a love that runs through me, even when i am undeserving. a love that is all around me, even when i feel alone. a love that gives all of my hopes and my dreams life. overwhelming grace.

love is my remedy.

– d.

why is your face sparkly?

i’m not slipping away from blogging again, i swear…

and it’s not that i’m too busy to blog. it’s just that… i really don’t have much to say. and for once, that is a good thing.

life is peaceful. work, boy, friends, sunshine, more sunshine, good tunes, pretty pictures, more work, great people, great conversations, inside jokes… sleep. repeat.

oh. birthday? awesome.

it really was a blast! i adore camping.

the heat was miserable in the afternoons when there wasn’t much to do and there was little escape from the sun’s death rays of pain, BUT, other than that… i couldn’t have asked for a more lovely birthday.

 

 

 

 

there’s something really wonderful about waking up with the sun… or waking up with the little animals in the trees above you… the REALLY LOUD little animals.

i love the bugs (but i’m still terrified of them). i love the little animals trying to steal our food. i love the huge variety of plants and forms of life surrounding us. i love the giant trees and wondering how old they are, and how the world has changed since they’ve been there. aaand, i love it when my face gets slightly tan so i barely have to wear makeup.

i can’t wait to go again. :)

—

i have been having these wildly intense cravings for yoga and rock climbing. and really, really really really cold water.

though, i have a feeling the rock climbing desire may have been exacerbated thanks to these guys: 

 

 

when they aren’t climbing rocks, drew and alex have been keeping us folks at green plow company over the last few weeks, and are never lacking in smiles and genuine kind words. these guys are in the midst of a cross-coastal rock climbing trip! (i’m way jealous.) you can check out their blog read about their totally rad and evolving journey!

http://27crags.com/climbers/abiale/blog/away-we-go

http://27crags.com/climbers/dlaplante/blog/the-vertical-dance

we’re glad you’ve found a home in green plow, guys. :)

—

be curious. be thankful. be well. give love.

– d.

amazing because…

nothing i can do that can’t be done.
it’s easy…

there’s not a whole lot to say today… except to simply express my amazement in the things and the people god delivers in my life.
the way he puts things into place… and how grateful i am that patience, faith and prayer truly pay off.
thank you, jesus.

seattle… soon. like, maybe even sooner than i am prepared for! eeeeeeeee!

peace & l o v e l o v e l o v e ,
– d.