we too often forget

the blog i'm about to share with you is truly a testament to the incomprehensible love that God has for each and every one of us

a testament to the fact that we are called to love others in the same way that Christ loves us

a testament to the importance of empowerment and encouragement

a testament to what most of us in our heart of hearts know and believe to be true, but much too often forget

i came across katie's blog several months ago, but since have read it only a handful of times. each time i have read it, my heart breaks just a little bit more. it breaks not only for the children, but for everyone else. for everyone else so wrapped up in worldly matters, that we forget the basics. we forget what's vital. we forget why we're here and that we're not here for long. we forget that there is still good left in the world and the magnificent truth of salvation. we forget to love ourselves, others, and God. and lastly, we forget that nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the baffling love that God has for his children.

i'm not by any means trying to imply that this sentiment applies to everyone, but it undoubtedly applies to me. and i can be fairly certain that it is true of others as well. at any rate, i usually don't go off on tangents on my blog, but read some of this girl's blog and maybe just maybe you'll understand why i felt compelled to do so.

real quick: basically after graduating from a high school in an extremely affluent southern suburb, katie moved (permanently) to Uganda. it's been over two years now and she is known as mother to many many children. some of her posts are a little long, but trust me that if you take the time to read about her daily life you won't regret it. simply mind-blowing!

katie's blog

everyone has a song

And the song you're singin'
It has always been
Down through the ages
Has been echoin'

the rest is up to you

The Rest Is Up to You: A Collaboration Between 118 Artists and a Boy Named Cohen Morano

description from the popdeluxe website
The Rest Is Up to You -- Like many kids, third grader Cohen Morano likes to watercolor. What's different about Cohen's paintings is that his father, Aye Jay, sends them out into the world to be embellished and altered by a stellar roster of artists and illustrators. The resulting collaborations between Cohen and a host of hip partners—including Gary Baseman, Shepard Fairey, Paul Frank, Barry McGee, Chris Ware, and Mark Ryden—form a striking and playful body of work. The Rest Is Up To You conveys a sincere message about the importance of making art with children. Families and art buffs alike will be inspired by what Cohen and his heroes have created.

Nine-year-old Cohen Morano has been making collaborative art since the age of 2.

Shared via AddThis

i know myself

i'm fairly certain that if i woke up to this ultra cool mural every morning that i might decide to skip work a tad bit too frequently.



instead i'd probably listen to songs like this

With a long lag runnin'
Upon the silver grass
And there is no future
Remember not your past

And the horses runnin',
Horses runnin' free
And you need not wonder
Of how it came to be

And Lord, I get so high
At the speed of sound I spin
Then I come down, I come down
Come down, I come down
Turn around and do it all again

And the song you're singin'
It has always been
Down through the ages
Has been echoin'

That no man can own you
No man can own you, see
If in your dreams you really
Dreams you really be

Oh
And Lord, I get so high
At the speed of sound I spin
Then I come down, I come down
Come down, I come down
Turn around and do it all again
A.A. BONDY

and shop for things like this


truth be told i bought this today :)

first image from the home of blogger here's looking at me kid

have a lovely afternoon!

come down again

do you ever have moments where time exposes itself to you completely? i do and it simulataneously irks me and enhances the beauty of this life. i can't decide if i like this quality that time has, but we pretty much have no choice but to embrace it, do we? i'd have to conclude that these moments are good. they incite me.

it's true

today is a happy day. there is life change. there are good friends. there was good food and right now there is good coffee! and later on there will be successful flower planting.

it's true
Originally uploaded by girlhula

happy friday: we love you.

a friend.

sarah. judge for yourself.

just a few questions.

Reinhold Niebuhr.

Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,Therefore, we are saved by hope.

Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;Therefore, we are saved by faith.

Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.Therefore, we are saved by love.

No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.