August, 2008

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100,000 reasons to blog.

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

So today I will [barring some weird blog boycott] have my 100,000th reader. Which in the grand scheme of blogging, isn’t that many. But for someone who just started a blog to copy her sister, this has turned out rather nicely. And honestly, it’s not about my numbers compared to anyone else’s numbers.

It’s about you.

I got an email this week from someone at some University doing some research on Christian girls who blog. I thought, “You gettin’ a degree in lady bloggers or somethin’?”. But no, his degree is in Communication. He asked four specific questions, but one stood out to me.

“What is the purpose of your blogging online?”

Though I am not sure that question is grammatically correct, it did get me thinking.

Why do I blog?

I blog because I love to write. I blog because I can’t keep anything to myself. I blog because I like to cross things out and leave them there for no other reason than the sake of humor. I blog because it gives me a chance to make stupid jokes to a larger audience than just my roommate. [My dad can appreciate that- he loves a good crowd when its time to drop a joke.]

But really, I blog because my story isn’t for me. What God is doing in me, through me, to me, for me, around me- its great and all, but if I just keep it to myself, that isn’t enough for me. That’s not the call I feel God has placed on my life.

I blog for you. For you out there that need a laugh, need a break, need encouragement, or just need to know that someone on the other side of the screen is human and full of doubt and hurting and scared and stupid and weak and posting it nightly for you to see.

I blog for her. For that girl, or that woman, who doesn’t have a voice, or a way to express their heart to God. I blog for her to see that it starts with typing one word, letting it out, and being honest. I blog for her to see that God is enough. Even when your emotions don’t agree. And honestly, sometimes “her” is me. Because sometimes getting the words out on here BEGINS the healing process in my own heart.

I blog for them. For them that don’t know God. For them that stumble onto this blog, having no idea what this place is all about. I blog for them to maybe see a glimpse of a God who is so very loving that He is truly irresistible.

I blog for Him. I blog because God deserves my utmost praise. I sing like a donkey and can play a guitar a wee bit better than a camel, so this is my form of worship. I worship with words of complete adoration. And complete frustration [at least I'm honest, right? ]. Though there are days when I am faithless, He is always faithful. So I’ll wake up tomorrow and do it again. Write for Him. Live for Him.

So Mr. Fancy Pants College Blog Survey Dude, there is your answer.

I blog because my life is not my own. My story is not my own. I live, I write, I move- all of it- to bring Him praise.

**Congrats Grand Junction, Colorado! You are #100,000!!!**

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 18 Responses »

Listen up. For some good music.

Monday, August 18th, 2008

I have a few things.

First of all, if Jeff Lewis is reading this, we should be friends. [Just had to get that out of the way, you never know, people. We are on a mission.]

Secondly, as you see here on the top right, we have a memory verse. And by “we”, I mean “I plus any of you”. I’m going to memorize Psalm 145. Join me if you dare. Or care. Or stare. [I don't know about that last one, it just rhymed.]

Thirdly, if you will scroll down on the right, you will see a link to FREE MUSIC. Seriously. Again. It’s from JJ Heller. And she is awesome. Her voice is spot on and her lyrics make me cry. I’ve listened to the whole album three times today. [Yeah, I love my life.] And did I mention that it is FREE? That’s beauticulous. So download it and then email her and say, “You are so very good at what you do”, or something of the like.

Fourthly, I have a super great friend named James. We’ve been friends for nine years or so and I absolutely adore him, could put him in my pocket and keep him with me all the time. [Except that would be weird.] My friend Kat has a music blog that is excellent and on Mondays she has other bloggers talk music-speak. So let’s put those together- I love my broseph James, Kat wants music.

James meet my blogmies and bloggites. Kat meet James.

He has an AH-MAZ-ING voice. In fact I sat on a couch last night as he played a new one he has written and I said, jaw on the floor, “Uh. Yeah. That’s a good one.” He writes from honest places and sings like no one else I know personally at this particular point in my life.

So, I super duper encourage you to go listen to his myspace (my personal fav- “Long Way From Tomorrow”) and then head to iTunes and buy his EP. It’s cheap. And good. [And when he goes on tour, I get to man the tshirt table and wear a headset. So by buying his EP, you are, in essence, securing my future job.]

Fifthly [is that a word?], my friend Sophie has an awesome music giveaway going on RIGHT NOW. So head that way if you want more free music. And I’m proud to say I was the first comment. I believe in small, attainable goals now that I am self-employed.

Seventhly, I hate doing things in groups of six, so I skipped straight to seventhly to say have a great day and your ears can thank me later.

Posted in Sounds good to me. | 2 Responses »

All you have to do is ask.

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

Some days lately have been really good. REALLY good. And I am grateful. REALLY grateful. But not everyday.

A few days ago was not so great. I think, to some extent, this moving, this giving up of my life and my world and my people, its kind of like going through a grieving process. Roller coaster-y. [Is that a word?] And just like a roller coaster, the dips sneak up on you.

I was going along, fine as could be, when suddenly, I didn’t want to make any more friends. I didn’t want to introduce myself again, tell folks I’m a writer, explain my current project, and try to explain why Nashville. That one is always a bit tricky. I just wanted someone to look at me and KNOW me. Really know me. I wanted, dare I say “needed”, someone to have a memory involving me. More than, “Oh yeah, you’re Jason’s friend” or “I met you at so-and-so, right?”. A real memory. Like a ha-ha-what-a-great-time-we- had-I-am-so-glad-you-were-there memory.

I lost steam. I lost motivation. I lost desire. I was already tired of being the new girl. I wondered, for the first time, what it would be like if I just went home. Just packed it up, thanked God and Nashville for the opportunity, and went home. For a second, for just a blip on this Annie’s story screen, it didn’t seem worth it.

I know, it’s only been 2 weeks. But give a sister a break. I left a REALLY great community. And my family. And my life. And have I mentioned I DON’T DO CHANGE?

So, I was driving home from Kroger, attempting to not use the Garmin. I was twisting and turning, inside and out. My car was behaving much like my heart. Searching for the turn that would actually take me home. Looking around every corner hoping something would feel familiar. My heart cried out-

“I just don’t like this at all, God. I’m trying so hard to follow You but it is BREAKING MY HEART. I’m more discouraged than I’ve been yet. I want to go home, but I know You have called me here. I need You to show up for me.”

And I looked up and my eyes caught this sign.

I guess all I had to do was ask.

Posted in Nash-livin' | 22 Responses »

MISSION: JEFF LEWIS

Friday, August 15th, 2008

I don’t often use my blog, and my blog readers, for my own personal gain. Except today. I will do it guilt-free today.

See this man? Jeff Lewis? The star of Flipping Out, possibly my very favorite show on cable television right now? I want to know him. I want to be friends with him.

I want you to help me.

And so begins MISSION: JEFF LEWIS.

I don’t care how you go about it, as long as it is legal and not at all creepy. But somehow I want Jeff to see this blog, read it and say, “That seems like a normal, nice girl that I would enjoy meeting” (because I am that, Jeff), and then proceed to schedule on his calendar for us to hang. I am going to Los Angeles in March, so that is a total possibility. Though a stretch, I understand.

So here are some other options that are equally acceptable -

1) a photograph signed to me from Jeff (with some sort of authentication)\

2) an email (easy, but again authentication required)

Okay? Oh, and there is a prize. Were you to be the one, The One, who makes this happen for me, fulfills a season-long dream of mine, you will receive prize-topia.

We’ll call it the Annie Lives In Nashville Prize Pack.

Included in said Prize Pack- a Scotland t-shirt (because I have a few extras), a pair of pajamas (that don’t fit in my PJ drawer), a book off my bookshelf (of your choosing), something Nashville-like (uh, a guitar shaped donut?), and maybe something from someone famous. I don’t know. I’ll try to meet someone famous and get something from them. And obviously, a blog post singing the praises of you, finest internet stalker I have ever been privileged to know.

So, there is your challenge, blog-land. Embrace it. Run with it. Make my proud.

But don’t get me put in jail. Or yourselves, for that matter. Or Jeff. Because that’s what we in the biz call “Counter-Productive”.

Posted in Dreams Coming True | 12 Responses »

Crush Numero Uno

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

Oh don’t you worry. I’m sure there will be a ridiculous amount a few more to come.

But this will always be my first crush in Nashville.

The Frothy Monkey. The coffee shop. I mean seriously. How cute is this place?

At no point in my Marietta life did I ever find a coffee shop that I really LOVED. I mean, me and CoolBeans got along alright, but nothing like my first love in Athens- Jittery Joe’s. If I think hard enough, I can still smell Jitterys.

I think I hear a collective sigh of fond memories from my college friends around the globe. Shireen? Amy? Is that you I hear? I knew it.

And when I saw The Frothy Monkey on Tuesday, my heart kinda did that thing that it does when a fine upstanding young man crosses my path. I immediately began planning our future together.

With the coffee shop. Not the dude. Not that I wouldn’t, obviously I would. And I do. Its one of my more serious issues. Just not today. But with the Monkey, it’s fine to plan a future. Lots of time together. You know why? FREE INTERNET. I know. It’s beauticulous.

On Tuesday, I met a friend there for breakfast. [Celebration enough- I have a friend!] I had a parfait of yogurt, granola [read: God's gift to the tastebuds], fruit and honey. SHUT UP. It was so good. And I was hooked.

So I went back today. And I was a little bored on the way… so I made a video.

A few things:

1) I meant for my hair to look like that.

2) The lisp. What can I say?

3) I think the whole book thing looks way more dangerous that it really was.

4) I still heart my Marietta book club girls. There is no replacement.

5) I really need to clean the windows of my car.

6) To be honest, the drink wasn’t lovely.

7) The whole video ends abruptly. Sorry.

So there you have it. A… how do you say… “organic” video. As in, I really didn’t take the time to edit it as well as I should. Who can blame me? Michael Phelps is about to race.

He’s cute. But the Frothy Monkey has my heart today.

Posted in Nash-livin', video blogs | 15 Responses »

Smile, Wednesday.

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

A picture is worth… oh cliches make my stomach feel kinda funny. In an uncomfortable yucky way.

On to the purpose of this post…. what a Wednesday looks like in Nashville. Well, what THIS Wednesday looked like in Nashville.

Any Wednesday, heck, any good summer day, starts with Certain Dri. Wait…. you don’t know the glory of Certain Dri?

Let me explain in non-scientific terms. You put Certain Dri on like deodorant, you just put it on at night. And then baby, you better fall asleep quickly because that junk BURNS. Somehow, it kills all your sweat glands. It can’t be safe, but it is sure effective. The Certain Dri A.M- its new to me. But when I saw it in the store, I could not resist. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve got a picnic to attend Sunday afternoon.

Today I also completed my craft, thanks to the skills and knowledge of my sweet friend Natalie who came up with this genius-ness. It’s so easy, listen. All you do is buy a frame, metal hooks, and some screen. Attach the hooks, staple on the screen, hang that puppy on the wall, and you’ve got yourself a fine little jewelry holder. Thanks, Nat!

Obviously, there is plenty of space left, so as soon as Target has another sale, baby, I’m loading up. [Did I mention how trendy Nashville is? Did I mention how NOT trendy I am? It's a really special combo.]

And then, once my craft was complete, I went and sat on our porch to read. It’s a tough life, folks.

Seriously, don’t waste your life away trying to figure out what I’m reading. [That's totally what I do when I see stuff like this, but I'm obsessively ridiculous about internet-stalking of this nature. As in, I love it.] I’ll tell you, sorta. One of them is a topic I don’t blog about. Yet. Right now. Today. Maybe soon. Maybe that’s what I’m learning in this book. Blah blah blah. The other book is The Ezekiel Option by Joel Rosenberg.

Both are good. Really good. As good as Tom Downs home grown tomatoes? Of course not.

Poor roommate, home from her first day of pre-planning, sat down and started working immediately on 3rd grade lesson plans.

My lesson plans for Thursday? Let me check.

Uh, kinda like today. Without the craft. Plus some writing. Lots o’ writing. 1000 word goal.

Tomorrow’s post… my first Nashville crush.

Posted in Smile, Wednesday, Ze Bloggy Goodness | 11 Responses »

Annies are talented.

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

First of all, my roommate saw RON at Kroger today (you may remember him- I’m his baby). He was leaning on the glass in the meat department, flirting [gasp] with the butcher lady. Talking about his tattoo. In a sleeveless shirt. Obviously.

I am so very jealous that I didn’t see him. I almost stole the story and made it my own, but that would be lying. And though the only lie I have told so far in Tennessee was directly to Ron, I figured it was time to stop that trend. Because then those of you who have my phone number will ring me endlessly wanting to laugh about it and I will feel really bad for lying to all my friends.

So.

In what has become “Live Music Tuesdays”, I got to go hear my dear bloggy friend Annie singin’ and strummin’ the night away. She was awesome. And no, at no point tonight did she call me baby. At least not to my face. Behind my back? I don’t know. Which honestly, if you really want to call me baby so much that you choose to do it behind my back, then I say bravo to you. Go ahead with yo-self.

Ahem. Where was I?

Ok, yeah. She was SO SO good.

So here’s a lame grainy picture of Annie. All I had was my phone. Freshman mistake.

And let me tell you this. I don’t care how talented you are (Annie is), whether you play the guitar the best in the world (Annie does) and sing the roof off the place (Annie did), the fact that anyone is brave enough to sit on stage in front of crowds of people and sing their own songs earns my respect (Annie has).

If it gets the Annie Parsons approval, I’ll show you the video too. No pressure, Annie. All my people are just waiting on it…..

Update- video permission granted. Booyah. Remember, this is from my cell phone- terrible picture, beautiful voice. Next time [and there will be one] I’ll do a real live bona fide video.

I’m getting crafty tomorrow. I’ll show you. Maybe our first step-by-step craft project? I know that has all the fellas excited.

But for tonight, I finish blogging to go watch Flipping Out: The Reunion Show. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is absolutely worth staying up for. Oh yeah, and its really not a big deal to stay up until midnight because I don’t have a “job” so I really don’t have to “wake up” at any certain time. I also don’t have a “paycheck”, so….

My friend Brad the Canadian Pastor is doing a series of posts on his personal struggles with lust. I respect his openness and honesty and I love what the Lord did in his life. He’s a good man. Check it out.

Posted in Ze Bloggy Goodness | 5 Responses »

Catch up. Ketchup. Whatever.

Monday, August 11th, 2008

The weekend at home was good. Sitting at Macaroni Grille having a bellini and an apple crisp dessert and talking with your best friends for 2 1/2 hours about everything and nothing- that’s what living is supposed to feel like.

Things in Nashville are, well, good. Church yesterday was awesome, ate lunch with five families and a gaggle of children, went to a movie with a couple of girls. Had lunch with A Better Blogger Annie today, we’re going to make it a weekly tradition.

You are going to have to be full of grace with me this month. I actually have a writing deadline on Sept. 1, so my best words, the “gettin’ paid” kind, are going to be focused on that. I don’t know what it looks like to run a blog and be a full time writer. So we’ll discover this together. I know I’ve been a fairly faithful blogger, but I just can’t make any promises.

If you’re new around these parts, then you know this already. But God and I- we work in themes. He knows I’m a simple minded lady, need a bit of “reinforcement” when it comes to lessons and growth. The phrase I can’t seem to shake is that God is my portion. I can’t fully dissect that yet, I don’t know what it means even, but I’ve looked up all the scriptures and read all the commentary and have mediated on it for days. You got some insight? I know I’ve got some pastors and wise counselors out there- go ahead. You know you wanna preach a little. Comment up, puppies.

It’s moments like this that I wish I was a painter or sculptor, I just need another way to express my heart. So I play on Picnik.

Lord, show me what this means. I want it to be true. In my heart, it is. Make it true in my life.

Posted in Nash-livin', Ze Bloggy Goodness | 10 Responses »

A gift for you. All of you.

Thursday, August 7th, 2008

Listen. Your sweet emails and comments after yesterday. You are too much. Your prayers were fully felt today. I got a couple of messages from Nashville friends saying nothing more than that they were glad I am there. Ate lunch with an awesome friend, saw two others after lunch just randomly. It honestly was a beautiful real-life picture of Psalm 16:5-6.

Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

It’s not all roses and sunshine, but God did hug me today, and I am really grateful. Nashville and I, we may make it after all.

So because you are such an awesome blog community (blog-unity? comm-blog? I dunno.), I’m going to let EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU download a free CD. Ok, actually. I have to be honest. It’s not a gift from me so much, it’s more a gift from Phil Wickham.

All you have to do is GO TO HIS BLOG tomorrow (8.8.08) and download this puppy. Totally. Free.

That’s beautiful and ridiculous. At the same time. Beauticulous.

Download the songs, listen to your heart’s content, think over how to define “beauticulous”, and then send Phil a little “thanks a million” email. Cause he’s a giver.

Oh happy day. Free music from an awesome musician. Booyah.

Posted in Sounds good to me. | 12 Responses »

Fresh water.

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

My friend Marie and I just got to iChat- talking for a while about everything and nothing. Seeing her face. Talking with the illusion that I’m not 300 miles farther away than the last time I saw her face. It was fresh water to a thirsty little heart.

I know it’s only been four days, but for an extrovert who gains momentum, strength, and life from her people, apparently it doesn’t take long to feel the affects of not having “people”. The dryness. The empty.

Mom and I talked on the phone. Molly and I talked for a while. Nan texted. Jenn called. Many emailed. Sweet Katie B sent me a card in the MAIL. I even had 2 Nashville friends make plans for next week. With me, obviously. And yesterday I got to babysit Bennett for Kevin and Mandy. All long drinks of the fresh water that I need to be me.

Amy Beth shared some good water with me. The living kind. Hebrews 11: 8-9, 10, 13-16

I guess I didn’t realize how much I needed it. I don’t expect to dry up this quickly. But after just a few minutes of talking with Marie, and multi-readings of Hebrews 11, I felt stiff things in me break apart. Like the softness returning to a rigid sponge when it’s held under a running faucet.

It’s to be expected. I know that. I know that at some point in the future, Nashville will refresh me. Somebody (or somebodies) here will get me. They will join the vagabond group that are my people. And I will feel like me here. Right now, I don’t. I mean, hilarious stuff happens here and I’m happy, but at the core, in my knower, I’m not brave enough to be me. In fact, I was scared to email a mutual friend tonight to see if she wanted to meet for lunch next week because I was worried that I wasn’t cute enough.

Not cute enough? It’s been around 10 years since that thought stopped me from doing anything. In fact, I’m pretty confident of my cute factor. In Georgia, at least.

But the vibrancy that flowers gain from sun and water is the vibrancy I lack today. The confidence that God worked long and hard to build in me is hiding behind some wall that says Annie and Nashville aren’t a good fit.

I get to go home tomorrow. Thank God for people wanting to get hitched. And wanting me there to see it. And I’m going to drink it in. I’m going to sit back and laugh at stories that have happened since I left…. all of a week ago. I’m going hug the babies that I love and smell them deep. I’m going to sit on the couch real close to my dad. I’m going to appreciate every second that I spend with a family member or friend who has lived real life with me- and chooses me anyways.

I’m going to wish I got to stay there. That this was just some weird dream, like in It’s A Wonderful Life, where I look to the sky and scream something along the lines of “I realize how great I had it. Can I have it back now?”

But on Saturday night I will point north again. And probably weep my way over the Georgia/Tennessee border. Which is honestly counter productive to release that much water. But I’m weeping now as I write because I feel that loss already. The loss the comes after the gain of a weekend I have yet to live.

I don’t have a great closer. It should be something about how fresh water is all around or something of that nature, some great takeaway for you, the reader, that points you to God and makes you give me a blog-pat on the back for being so spiritual.

This is all I’ve got- I’m heartbroken and I miss my life at home so badly it physically hurts. But somehow, God will be enough for me. I don’t know what that will look like or feel like. I have no idea how. I truly don’t. But His promises are sure, even when my heart is so sad and my keyboard soaked.

Posted in Nash-livin', Ze Bloggy Goodness | 9 Responses »