i have adopted a new motto recently, i say it all the time. i tell people to “plant a seed”. it’s kind of like paying it forward except why wait to have someone do something nice for you to do something nice for someone else? just go out and do it!
immediate gratification is something that is drilled into our heads as being a good thing which i think makes us not want to invest in things without an immediate return. people want the fruit right after planting the seed and well, unless the seed is horribly genetically engineered or something wacky goes into it, i really don’t think that’s possible.
i’ve learned a lot over the past year in interacting with people of all sorts of demographics that i can invest and invest and invest but may never see what comes of the investment… in a bible study a few weeks back a man said that when you give money to a homeless man, it’s not the value that’s important, it is that i am giving control over and trusting that the money will do some good. it’s not my place to judge and immediately stereotype the recipient of the money, it’s only my place to know that i am blessed and that i trust that the money will go to good and God will have the responsibility of judging, not me.
what i am trying to challenge myself to do (and believe me, i have room to grow in this) as well as a lot of the people i interact with, is to plant seeds EVERYWHERE. something small to you may mean the world to someone else. and the worse thing? not really, but i know you’re thinking it… you may NOT be around to see how the plant grows! trust that every seed you plant will be sowed, if you have the opportunity to sow, then do it, but if not it doesn’t mean you should withhold kindness.
it’s what we’re called to do. LOVE. i challenge you to do it. give someone a hug who needs it; drop a card in the mail to someone who you haven’t talked to in ages; ask someone how they’re doing and really mean it. go ahead, plant some seeds!
all 4 finishing out the night with a song
i think it’s the movie “where dreams may come” where people go to heavens that are created by them (correct me if i am wrong). well tonight was probably close to what mine would be, at least what it would sound like.
for those of you who don’t know, i ABSOLUTELY love music, well at least i used to and there are times where a show will bring out my inner music lover. tonight i got to see the lead singers of thrice, saves the day, the get up kids and bayside – dustin kensrue, chris conley, matt pryor and anthony raneri (respectively). while i am not a big bayside fan the other three bands are some of my favorite bands, so tonight was such a treat. i kept telling my friends that this is what heaven would sound like.
it always amazes me how music can be like a bullet that goes straight into my heart. tonight chris conley (of saves the day) sang “don’t know why” and i NEVER would have guessed that that would be a song that would be sung tonight. but immediately i began to tear up, this song brought back a painful memory of a time in my life. i sang a ton of songs tonight but that one was too hard to sing. i love that music can bring a memory up instantly even a tough one.
all in all, i love music but i forget how much i love it sometimes when i am surrounded by it. tonight i was a kid in a candy store, listening to what my heaven would sound like 
it’s good to be happy sometimes even if my voice will be gone tomorrow because of it.
yup, one year ago i got dunked in a nice cold body of water to express my love and belief in Jesus. it was a very tough decision to make since i had grown up catholic… in the catholic church’s eyes i had been baptised as a baby but after being a christian for a few years i knew i wanted to do something professing my decision to follow Jesus which is why i decided to do it.
below is a youtube video of my baptism followed by my ‘testimony’ which i love looking at every once in a while. it help reminds me of how faithful God is even when i throw temper tantrums constantly. i will say it’s so great to document as much as you can (journal, etc.) because it can give you hope in tough times just to see how things have fallen into place.
enjoy!
. As time progressed, there came a point where I didn’t just listen to the music but actually listened to the words and messages that were on the station. This all was very new to me; I got curious and began going back to church at the end of my senior year in high school. i always love to talk about music that i am currently listening to, but with christmas season beginning in retail world it means… good music is on its way to store shelves!
here’s what i am anticipating these next couple months
(from left to right)
1) dear & the headlights – drunk like bible times: yes the title does make me feel bad, but i absolutely LOVED their last album and am very excited to see what they come up with this one. (09/30)
2) keane – perfect symmetry: i like keane, enough said (10/13)
3) copeland – you are my sunshine: unlike many people i adored the last album and can’t wait for this one to come out (10/14)
4) ben folds – way to normal: i am a fan of mr. folds’ creative lyrics and wonderful piano tunes. i just saw him play with the nashville symphony and the two new songs he played sounded fantastic! (09/30)
5) david cook – whatever he feels like calling his album: yea, i’m a nerd. but this would be my first american idol winner purchase (and no, i didn’t purchase daughtry either). i loved him from the beginning and am excited for the album to come out! also, while looking for a picture, i found out we have the same birthday! haha, his is one year before me though. (sometime in november, i think…)
there are a couple that have released that i still need to pick up (and one i received in the mail today) that i need to listen to: cold war kids, delta spirit and united nations
here’s what is rocking my ears today…
tokyo police club – elephant shell
i first saw these guys in concert a little over a year ago and LOVED them. this album is like one big sing-along. it took me a few weeks to put it in the cd player (no idea why), but once it made it in, it didn’t want to come out
ruth – anorak
this is a picture of their first album “secondhand dreaming” (the new cover isn’t available yet). the new album “anorak” comes out in october! it’s amazing.
acceptance – phantoms
unfortunately this amazing band has broken up since this beautiful record was released 
but it is still a wonderful listen. i still hope for the day there will be a reunion!
bebo norman – bebo norman
comes out next week and is also wonderful.
the get up kids – something to write home about
unlike acceptance, rumor has it that they are getting back together (not sure if that’s just for a tour or like actually reuniting… i hope it’s the second one!) this one’s been playing a lot lately… my favorite album of theirs
jason mraz – we sing, we dance, we steal things
fun album.
the schermerhorn symphony center
tonight i was blessed to make a return visit to the schermerhorn symphony center in nashville to hear the nashville symphony accompany ben folds for a special show. it was phenomenal. hands down the best concert i’ve been to sonically.
but i always gain a new sense of appreciation for music when i see people who are perfect at their craft mix together to make a wonderful sound.
so here is my call to action. go see the nashville symphony in all their glory! they are absolutely wonderful and their resident conductor is a load of fun! they have a great 08-09 schedule and no matter what i am doubtful any of those days will be bad.
so check them out. nashvillesymphony.org
diving
due to the olympics the hours i sleep everyday has diminished. who knew all these sports could be so addicting? from swimming to volleyball to kayaking to trampoline (who knew that was even a sport…) it is all so exciting.
however today i have realized my favorite. diving. there is something so cool about the few seconds these people spend swirling in the air only to enter the water with the least amount of splash possible. i love it! what is even more amazing is, synchronized diving. because not only is there one flawless diver, but two and they do the exact same thing at the same time.
so there you have it, i have realized my favorite olympic sport.
what is yours?
some friends and i started a blog based off of the story of a man who took a polaroid picture every day for almost 20 years. at the end of his life he ended up with several thousand memories captured. so we are taking a picture everyday and sharing it with the world (or the 50 or so visitors each day ). so check it out at lifeinapicture.com
here is my post from today:
i LOVE stained glass
a beautiful stained glass cross in brentwood
i saw this while driving home last night but didn’t have my camera so i purposefully drove over to the church to take a picture of it today. it’s striking, yet simple. i love it. i sat in front of it and prayed tonight.
i saw this on my friend melissa’s facebook and thought it would be cool to do myself.
Type your answer to each of the questions below into a Flickr search. Using only the first page, choose your favorite image, then copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker(http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) (3 columns, 4 rows). Leave a comment if you play, so I can see yours!
The questions:
1. What is your first name? (nicole)
2. What is your favorite food? (tacos)
3. What high school did you attend? (victor valley)
4. What is your favorite color? (green)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (jim sturgess)
6. Favorite drink? (jamba juice – orange dream machine)
7. Dream vacation? (santa barbara, california)
8. Favorite dessert? (cheesecake)
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? (i want to save the world)
10. What do you love most in life? (people)
11. One word to describe you. (emotional)
12. Your Flickr name (dont have one so i searched for my full name)
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