Don't let your soul grow weary...

I'm sitting at the CSC on a Saturday night, listening to Ray LaMontagne in the background, downloading E-sword, and wearing my favorite gray fleece lounge pants and coral sweater pull over.

I've missed blogging. My poor pink Sony Vaio has been the victim of a spyware virus (look at me acting like I know computer lingo) and blogger has been affected by Google Analytics...everytime I'd try to get on it would constantly redirect me without ever taking me anywhere...I would just stare at a white screen for 5 minutes before becoming frustrated and shutting my computer off.

I have been so busy this past month I didn't really have time to unwind and blog, but the past couple of days I've been in pensive mode. Naturally, now that my computer is fixed and I have time to write, I can't remember any of the thoughts that ran through my mind while laying in bed at 1 a.m.

I guess I could catch you up on some of my everyday doings from the past month.

(p.s. I would like to include pics but my memory card reader isn't working...your whole world gets rocked when people wipe your computer clean and you have to start anew.)

My trip to Memphis was wonderful and busy and full of friendly faces. I loved seeing Mattie Poo again and I even managed to trick him into hugging me like 3 times in one night (which is huge considering I probably hugged him about 3 times over the course of our 20+ year friendship). It was nice to sit around the Rogers' house with old friends and all try to make convo while Buster intently watches the History Channel.

I had hoped to spend a little bit longer in Memphis for my break, but had to come back early for 'Freshmen Sunday' at church. In case you haven't heard, I am totally the President of the Christian Student Center on campus this year. It's not the biggest deal ever, but it's an honor in my eyes. I love the fact that someone thought I was cool and responsible enough to take on this task. So far, it's been awesome. I mean we're like 3 weeks in and no major problems yet! I feel like I have purpose again, which is always good, and it makes me feel busy in the work. Before moving to Knox, I always enjoyed the multi-tasking of being a church secretary (on most days) and volunteering my free time to set up events or projects for the college age group back home. In the past two years, I've just kinda idled around. Now that I'm back in planning mode, I feel like my old self again. I think I needed that purpose in my life. I'm a planner, now I just have to work at being a better follow-througher.

I started class again on the 18th, and am not excited to say that most of my classes are on 'The Hill.' Not a fun hike for 7:30 am but I have befriended the free 'T' bus that runs all over campus and I thoroughly enjoy sitting in the air conditioning and watching as to how close the driver gets to pedestrians in the crosswalk when we turn. It's pretty entertaining stuff for early in the morning.

I traveled to Atlanta on the 20th to spend a night with some of my favorite people in the world. The Cortezes, the Carratts, the Crowes, and I (party of one) spent a rain-drenched night with Jack Johnson. It was awesome, I think he played almost every song he ever wrote. I think sitting in a storm for an hour, trying to anchor yourself on a grassy hill in the mud made for an even better experience. I love nights that turn out to be some of your best memories, especially in part because things didn't go according to plan. Lost, late, disgruntled, wet...and yet I don't think I would have changed a minute.

The next day I drove home to Knox for an evening with my favorite Jewish rapper, Matisyahu! Bridget said I should marry him, I think that would make my dad proud. 'Dad...my hubby is Jewish, and he's a rapper, and he has tendrils on the side of his head.' Yep, that would be awesome! :) Another rainy concert evening, but it was well worth it. I couldn't move for two days after, but hearing Matis jam out on all my favorite songs, and beatbox, and touching his foot when he crowd-surfed might have possibly made my year. I wrote down on my list of 29 things to do before I'm 29 that I wanted to see Matis live again. Three weeks later, he does a free concert at UT. Coincidence? Probably. But I like to think that things just work out in my favor.

Today I've officially been in my apartment for one month.

I can't express how much I feel like my old self, while feeling like a new self. I'm happy and content and energetic and fun and enjoy 'conversating' with people again. It's a good feeling...to feel like I know what I'm doing again. I'm living without any TV channels and internet but it opens up opportunities to be productive. I've cleaned things that have been dusty for the past 4 years, gone through pictures that have sat untouched, and started projects I've actually finished.

I feel good.

And I feel whole.

And I feel thankful to God for never giving up on me when I was weak and even when my soul had grown weary. He pulled me through.

And I'm excited that fall is almost here. I can feel it in the air at night, there's a cool breeze and it just smells different. The sun is shifting in the blue sky and it's just fall. There is nothing like a deep blue clear sky on a fall day. My skin tingles just at knowing it's right around the corner.

Hopefully I'll be able to start posting more frequently again. I have to appease the masses...or just cousin Hannah.

Coffee & Chocolate & A Whole Lotta Friends...

Hi friends.

I've moved in to my new apartment, and I'm settled, and it's all that I ever hoped it would be (minus the occasional whiff of old smoke smell that creeps in...yucky). You will get pictures and stories of my move once I get everything in its proper place. This sign is a glimpse of things to come (I got it at Bliss and it's the first thing you see in my living room).

I officially finished my first summer class yesterday morning...with an A I might add. Yes, yes, I know I can do it...and if I would apply myself all the time I'd get more A's. I'm working on it...

This summer has turned out to be, well, amazing.

And it's not over yet. These next two weeks I'm getting to spend time with some of my closest and dearest friends.

J. Phil visited me in Knoxville for a night on Monday. We normally don't get to hang out for more than a couple of hours every few months, so a whole afternoon and evening was good for our souls. Plans included lunch with Cousin Hannah and a few trips to local bookstores. I took her to Market Square in downtown Knox and we spent time browsing Bliss and then ate a dinner at this trendy chic restaurant called Cocoa Moon. Afterwards we had life discussions about God and boys and everything in between at a quaint coffehouse, Coffee & Chocolate. I think it's one of my new favorite spots in Knox. I can't wait to spend my nights studying while sipping a black and white mocha. I think it's my new 'High Point.'

I drove home to Memphis yesterday after my last class and last night J. Fred and I hung out like old times at Poplar Perk'n and East Memphis Target. Yet these weren't like old times because we had never hung out at Poplar Perk'n (just the former High Point Coffee) and our old Target is in the midst of remodeling and nothing looked the same. I always liked East Memphis Target because it had the old feel...and now that's gone. I guess nothing stays the same...except for the fact that I love these times with these people.

Tomorrow Mattie Poo and Rachel will be in town for the first time since they were married last August. That was the last time I saw either of them...with their 'Just Married' blissful faces. Amelia and Cortezy will be here and we're having dinner at the Rogers' house just like days of old.

Lauren Martin's in town and I hope I get to meet her newest family addition and hug her.

Then it's back to Knox on Saturday and another Fall semester begins at UTK on the 18th.

And if that wasn't enough, I'll see the Carratts, the Crowes, and the Cortezes (I've been told I have to marry someone with a C last name to join their private club) for a night out with Jack Johnson in ATL on the 20th.

All of these people make it feel like Christmas in August. Times like these are good for my soul and heart.

Side Note: Today is Mrs. Leta Fay and Mr. Freddie Anderson's 65th wedding anniversary. 65 YEARS! Wow...that's alot of years and a lot of love. Congratulations to two of my favorite people.