JA & LB

If you missed the Jason Aldean/Luke Bryan tour this year... you missed out.  They sold out EVERY tour date, and with good reason.  Both of these guys know how to entertain a crowd.

Before and After:

Calm before the storm : Full House

CMT Premium Lounge

 

No, LB... you shake it for me.

Yes, JA... you can take me for a ride on your big green tractor.

 

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My Heart is Full

I first met Gina during my freshman year of college at Seattle Pacific University.  We had a few Youth Ministry classes together and quickly became unlikely friends.

For as outgoing and energetic as I am at 27, I was obnoxiously loud and outgoing in my early college years. For whatever reason, Gina, in all of her quiet and somewhat introverted ways, took me in as a friend.  I can't help but smile and giggle a little thinking about it.  Our friendship just works.

At the end of my freshman year, I was leaving SPU, not to return, so Gina and I loaded up her SUV and headed toward Southern California.  Gina is the perfect road warrior... no stopping to pee - you can pee when we get gas.  Though I didn't return to SPU, our friendship has remained the same.  She has been, and always will be, someone that I count as one of my closest friends.

This weekend, I headed up to Irvine for another round of the Country Megaticket Parties at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.  The only positive to a REALLY early load-in is the excuse to head up the night before.  Along with the ridiculously comfortable bed and warm cookie at the Doubletree, time with Gina and her family is something that I always look forward to.

Thursday night was one of those nights that will make my heart feel full for a very long time.  Gina made a yummy dinner full of goodies from her amazing garden that we enjoyed under the dim glow of string lights in the backyard.

We broke bread and shared life.  I experienced more Church in that backyard than I have in years.

We talked about love, life, hopes, dreams, fears, how it should be, how we can be active in changing the world, and who God is in our lives.  Hours went by and we could have stayed the whole night. 

I am wiping tears from my face as I compose this post.  I am so thankful to know these people and to call them friends.  The lessons that I have learned from them about Commitment to love, about serving others, and about hard work have forever changed me.

BarToole's: I love you and am so thankful for you all.  Thank-you for coming to the show and supporting me in my dreams.  You all are gifts.

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Words Have Weight

Whether we like to admit it or not, our words have weight.

Please.
Thank-you.
You're welcome.
God Bless.
I miss you.
I love you.
How are you?
Is there anything I can do?
Friend.

So often we say these things without thinking about the weight that they carry. 

We pass by someone in the office and say, "How are you?" without breaking our stride to hear the answer.  We ask someone in need, "Is there anything I can do?" while we silently hope that their response is, "no, thank you."  We are quick to speak and slow to listen... I am pretty sure James warned us about this very thing.

We say things that we think others won't hear.
We say things that are meant to be taken lightly.
We say things about people that we hope won't get back to them.
We say things we shouldn't.

Sometimes, we are genuinely sorry.  We realize that our words were wrong, hurtful, deceptive, mean, or just ridiculous.  At that point, we have a choice.  We can choose to own up to our words, apologize, accept responsibility, and move on.  OR... We can choose to sugar-coat, deny, and make excuses.

As I have been navigating the seas of a hurting heart this week, I have been reminded of how heavy words are.  Words were spoken that cut me to the core.  This situation has reminded me how important it is to watch what I say and how I say it.

No one is immune to having a "stupid mouth" as John Mayer so eloquently puts it.  In this "stupid mouth" society I strive to be "quick to listen and slow to speak" as James instructs.  Easier said than done... but it is something to strive for.

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Just a thought...

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