Hermiting

Yup. It's a word.  I just made it.  After a long weekend of 12 hour days and wedding daze/haze/craze, hermiting is what I did this morning.  Some people feed off of constant human interaction.  Not this chick. I love relationship and people.  But every now and then it becomes too much.  I have to be by my lonesome and refill.  Refuel. 

So today I slept in till 10.  Then I got up and leisurely got ready for my day.  Went to Cracker Barrel with a book and had a tasty breakfast involving bacon.  By myself. 

It was heaven. 

This week will be another week full of people and service and business, but this morning was a lil island of peace. 

Lately I'm digging Miss Indie.Arie

perfection

.....like a handprint on my heart......

things that you should know

i like key lime pie
sunsets
kittens, but not cats.

Jack Sparrow might be
my favorite
right behind Edward(not scissorhands)

there is a birthmark
on my leg
right above the knee

I believe that beaches
and volleyball
were meant to be like peanut butter & jelly

tacos are indeed
the world's most perfect
food.  for all meals.

(an exception might be made for waffles)

a night of laughter with heart friends
is deeply to be desired
especially if campfires are involved

I read books
like all the cliches
(see fat kids/cake and addict/crack)

but mostly
the important bit is.
i miss you

The Texas Inn/Tavern/T-room

I work next to this lil establishment.  Colorful.  Local.  Unique.  You can order a cheesy western, and then prepare to promptly die of a heart attack.  :)  Cheesies consist of a fried egg on a cheeseburger.  Quite a favorite of anyone with a hangover, I've been told.  It's been around in the Burg for more than 75 years now.  It's a greasy spoon in every sense of the phrase, and I love it.

A first happened yesterday.  We arrived at one of the most beautiful places I've ever shot a wedding to discover that the bride was making her own flower arrangements.  2 hours before the wedding.  So guess which intrepid photographers made the bridal bouquets?  yup.

Speaking of the wedding Saturday, they had one of the baddest get away cars I've ever had the privilege of photographing.  But guess who announced it as a Hewlett Packard on facebook?  hahahaha!  Apparently a Hewlett Packard is a printer/computer company.  The CAR is just a Packard.  Today's blond moment brought to you by Crystal George. :D

The Blue Angels have been zooming all over the Burg for a week.  It's surprising me how nostalgic I am over seeing them around again. 

I've been exhausted lately, and it's really not a good time to be tired.  Chuggin' the vitamins and hoping not to scare all my friends and family away with extreme grouchiness.

quietly dreaming

We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams, says Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  One of the greatest movies ever.  I love both versions.  I think Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder both brought something good and creative to the character of Willy. 

Anyway, all that doesn't really matter.  What I wanted to say was how much I love this song.  It's one of those that touches a cord.  Like Somewhere Over the Rainbow.  Celebrating innocence.  Dreams.  Imagination.  Joy. 

One of those songs that can crack my heart open like an egg. 

let's draw each syllable out
when movie stars say I love you
cry tears for commercials
the dances of strangers
other lover's kisses

the scar tissue here is thick and deep
and when it's cut I don't feel
anymore


let's laugh and walk through days
with smiles and masquerades
let's wear our billboards proudly
no strange vandal has been
audacious enough to
scrawl truth across this
forehead

the scar tissue here is thick and deep
and when it's cut I don't feel
anymore

live safe and alive
says the preacher to his audience
waiting with bated breath
yes the fairy stories are true
tell us that, they demand silently
yes, they must be
yes

the scar tissue here is thick and deep
and when it's cut I don't feel
anymore

Like You Shot Something Crazy Into My Veins

I have!!!  Date. Venue.  Details.  Ideas.  Casting call out for a couple. 

Joy & Sorrow

Inspired by this song: 

Say What?

The Lord and I had a conversation the other day.  It went something like this:

God:  Crys, you are going to get up at 6:30 on Fridays for a few months.

Me:  Say wha..?!

God is moving in women and getting ready to do something amazing in and through us here in Lynchburg.  But in order to do be a part of it we have to be fully committed.  Fully chasing after God.  So leadership is meeting and praying together on Friday mornings.  For me, in my heart, God has been asking for me to remove the boundaries in my life and let him have everything.  Oh gosh, even in just typing that, my palms get sweaty.  Scary. 

So the next few months should be very eeeenteresting for this very non morning girl. 

When Spanglish goes awry

Tonight I tried putting together Good night and Buenas Noches in a cutesy way like so: G'noches.  Unfortunately, it seems a lot more like an Italian food than an evening salutation.  ;)

More Snippets

You know how some days a crisis seems like the end of the world, and then you wake up the next day and turns out it's not. haha. Welcome to last week.

I've had a week of superbly social good times.  Which means I haven't been the workaholic I normally am.  Which means that this week I shall be a hermit.  Hidden in mine studio, growing a long beard.  Well, maybe not the last part. ;)

I went to fun movie night last night.  We saw Something Borrowed.  Meh.  Not a fan of the movie.  Big fan of the pink shirt scene. ;)  Also, I might have to You Tube the Push routine, cuz I do want to be that cool...all of which leads to Ash, Amanda, Carter and I droppin' it like it's hot in the mall lobby.  For God and errebody.  I've never laughed so hard in months. 

I've been a list making fool.  It's the only way to stay on top of what I have to do.  Weeks rush by and I'm like...wait, it was just Monday 5 minutes ago. 

I've had a delightful week of funny dreams.  Cee Lo, waterparks, proposals, road trips.  They all have made an appearance.  It's nice to wake up smilin' :) 

Just had a bride call and complain because I did her cousin's wedding 2 years ago and my prices have gone up.  Welcome to life and inflation, sweetheart. 

Community, the paintball episode.  HIGH-larious. 

Ryan gets back from Texas tonight. 

I really like eating breakfast. 

Never would I put you in
a cage and ask you to sing
or take vows to loneliness
& lock your heart in a tower
like some long ago story-tale princess

So, now you leave; perhaps.
immediately my heart clenches, contracts
and these hands reach to grab
futilely for a hand
a finger

and pass through air

This Song. My Heart.

Filled. 

Brooke Fraser

I've loved Brooke's music for years.  We go all the way back to Albertine, even further to Arithmetic.  So when Faith said she was in concert in Cville, and should we go?  The answer was clearly, yes. 

Charlottesville is an hour north of Lynchburg.  Home to UVA and various random celebrities, like Dave Matthews.  The downtown, East Main St, is a delightful brick street that is lined with little shops and 2 old theaters.  Brooke played in The Jefferson.  The Jefferson is small, standing room only, maybe 150 tops-- can fit onto the main floor kinda theater.

But it's old and delightful and has a place on the side, called Cinema Taco.  Perfection.

 

 

This is Cary Brothers performing.  

He was delightful and charming and sings a song called Blue Eyes.  

I went with my sister and Faith and Amanda.  We had a blast.  Brooke opened with The Thief.  My fave of hers.  So I was in my happy place.  We randomly all sang Edelweiss in the middle of her set.  Kiwis. They're just crazy like that. ;)  She was super cute.  It was very fun.   Here are more pics and my fave song.....

 

My Essential Ingredients

The lights went off in the house as we sat in the car. In the driveway.  Hard things were said.  As well as gentle and loving things.  We cried a few tears and laughed a few times.  This is friendship and relationship.  I appreciate it when people speak into my life to make me a better person, and in keeping with that idea, here are the things that I want to define me.  A friend made a list awhile ago, and I was interested in this idea, but didn't really know how to define them.  After some thought, here they are:  characteristics or goals or values, whatever you want to call them.  I call them my essential ingredients.  There may be other personality characteristics that add flavah.  But these are the things that I want to be basic.  Intrinsic to who I am.

So if you're interested, read away.  And if you see something going crazy with one or more of them in me...say so.  Here's your permission.  Not your sign. ;)

I am a Christian.  That means I will endeavor to live my life in submission and obedience to Jesus Christ.  Letting him influence all aspects of my behaviour and thoughts.  I will seek counsel from the church leadership he has placed me into community with, and my final authority is the Scripture. 

I will speak honestly and live transparently.  I detest deceit and find that no good ever comes from trying to maintain an image of perfection.  When I make a mistake or struggle, as much as when something good happens, I will tell the truth in love.

I am called to love, and I will give that love without reservation or fear to those around me.  Understanding that pain will be part of that giving, I accept that and choose to continue to love.

Loyalty and faithfulness matter.  I will not be a person who can be easily swayed or moved from the truth.  I want my friends and family to know that they can count on me in the good and the bad times.  That I will not run away or quit if the going gets rough.

When given the opportunity to forgive I will forgive.  And reconcile, to reconcile a relationship.  Without closing my eyes to consequences or living in a rosy-hued world.  

I am an artist.  I choose to push myself to improve in all areas of creativity and perfect my chosen medium to the best of my ability.  I choose to make my art a celebration and a reflection of goodness and joy in life.  I choose to address difficulties in my art in a way that can find the positive and highlight that rather than despair or depression.

I am a woman of many cultures.  I rejoice in diversity and the differences in people that make us unique and offer rich flavor to life.  I choose to travel and learn and nurture the gifts that I have been given in reference to my Hispanic and American and British/Canadian cultures.

Ah, Insecurity

I got to hang out with some new fun girls tonight.  I really had a good time, and I walked away hoping they did too.  And hoping they liked me.  I'm a dork.  Hello again, insecurity. 

Yup

Humility

I'm a can do kinda girl.  Give me a challenge.  I'll take it.  Tell me I'll never be something.  I'll go kick butt at being it.  If you have a problem, I'll try to fix it.  If you need something I'll try to give it to you.  Maybe it's being the oldest in my family.  Birth order and all that jazz.  Maybe it's the aftereffects of not having it all handed to me growing up.

The bottom line is, Crystal likes to make it happen. 

Through several really difficult situations in my life over the years God has brought me to my knees again and again to remind me:  I don't have it covered.  I don't know it all.  I can't fix the world.  And in letting go, and saying I'm sorry a few times I've learned wisdom.  And humility.

Humility isn't talked about too often.  We are a proud society.  Humanity in general runs to pride as a virtue and a reason to start wars big and small.

Pride.  It keeps us from talking.  It keeps us from saying I'm sorry.  It keeps us behind walls.  Breaks relationship.  Makes us do stupid things in the name of looking awesome.

Jesus washed some feet and recommended that we do the same.  God is pretty clear about he feels.  Check this out:

 ⁵ The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
   Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. 

Humbling yourself is really hard.  No matter what the situation is, it goes against who we are naturally.  Not taking first place.  Not taking the spotlight.  Admitting you're wrong.  Asking forgiveness of someone who's wronged you.  Serving in the background, quietly.  All of these things kinda suck.  But they are the things God says he prefers.  Rewards.  And they are the things that build relationship.  That preserve.  That teach wisdom and goodness.   And we need the grace of God to go there.  It's a lesson I'm still learning.

It's a good thing He's promised to help us. 

 ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”