Simple Soul Speak

I'd like to write today's blog in conjunction with Kevin Garrett's song "Refuse."

As a whole, I prefer letting photos do most of the talking these days. I'm realizing more and more how I am being shaped as a human. We were made to change. While words can serve as markers for growth, photos can too, in their own special way. I'm a highly visual person, and while I thoroughly enjoy (and am constantly) writing, I'm also constantly envisioning my words and my ideas.

I'm pairing my photos today with the song "Refuse" because it is a beautiful song that speaks to part of where I am now, in my soul. Listen to it! (Link below)

"I'm okay alone. It makes my soul stir."

"Under microscopes, keep my head in the dirt."

"Slow crash, stumble over nothing on my own path"

"Runaway, I'm just a nomad"

"No one ever wanted me to go back"

"I know I am anything but uncouth"

"People try and change me since my youth..."

"But I refuse."

"Far away from home, forgot my address"

"Mind is still on loan...keeps me prepossessed."

"Slow crash, stumble over nothing on my own path. Runaway, I'm just a nomad. No one ever wanted me to go back. I know I am anything but uncouth. People try and change me since my youth. But I refuse."

Press play and thanks for checking out yet another of my "naturalist" soul refreshing adventures. 

Peace, and be a hobbit. 

Perfection

"I found it today at 2:09 pm.

I found something so sweet, pure, and beautiful. I found perfection in the midst of contradiction and tension. I found the newness of perfection within the defeat of the old. 

It was spatial, but it wasn't. It was another dimension, but I was touching it in this one. It was a moment. It was a lifetime. It was fleeting. So permanent. So indescribable yet here I am trying to box it with words. Words. Boxes. Definitions. 

Maybe I'm crazy to call Wednesday Wunday but the thing is, I can do it if I desire. You see, words are normal, but are not required. Definitions are standard, but not absolute. 

This is why I can say I found perfection today. This is why I can tell you that where the elephants blast, I touched my past with the gentle brush of new. You see, here the children screech and the birds tweet, the lions roar and unfortunately the eagles don't soar. I was not far from home, but perfectly far away in my halo of perfection. I was the angel and I was the light, too, today, at the zoo."

On Being A Naturalist

Imagine a craving. Imagine wanting a juicy Whataburger with fries and their ketchup. Imagine wanting the perfect kale salad with nuts and cranberries. Imagine a cosmic brownie or your grandmas best snicker doodles. Imagine Hyderabad's best biryani or your mom's pancit. Imagine craving a nap or watching your favorite show or listening to your favorite song. Whatever kind of craving you ever have, crave it right now. Right now. Do it. And then...imagine you just got what you want. 

That's what being in nature is like for me. A breath of relief. Satisfaction. But it's different. Because instead of being able to give myself nature, I have to let it give itself to me. I have to let the gentle flow of the creek heal my soul. I have to let the leaves dry my tears. I have to let go of myself, remember I'm small and just breathe. Breathe with my diaphragm. Breathe with my soul. Breathe away from the cars and rent and bad grades. Sound kinda boho-hippy-hipster to you? This is what it's like to be a naturalist. 

Ok, maybe it's not exactly like this for every naturalist. But I have a need to experience God in nature. It's how he made me. And I'm glad to know it. Nature including anything from the beach to forests to mountains to rivers and rocks and sand and dirt and rain and wind and cold and hot and green and leaves. Forests with the most beautiful grassy floors. Waterfalls big and small. Mud, the kind you lose weak shoes in. Scratches and falling and climbing up unexpected things and always learning something new and being in awe. This is what helps heal me. 

I just wanted to give you a tiny little portrait on what being a naturalist fronts as. But...it can speak for itself. And I promise you, it has a lot more to say than you can imagine. 

Mmm, mid-walk snack.

Broken bridge? Deep ravine? Challenge accepted.

Definitely wore the wrong shoes. First time here and I didn't know what to expect and I came straight from work. Say hello to my huge bandage covering my saw wound (from when I built a shelf the other day). And say hello to my henna!

[Insert all the poetic words and feelings here]

Found my spot.

More angles of my spot.

Hanging in my spot. Thanks, nature, for taking da pic.

The view from where I swung was rather marvelous.

How about them perfect blue skies on this amazing Texas day of "winter."

Stream whispers.

Definitely wore the wrong shoes. Didn't limit my adventures, though. Then I thought, Jesus wore leather sandals too, right??

What's an adventure without some blood? Left my mark! And it left its mark, too... Also, full disclosure of my Filipino nose right there. 

Walking on a dream. 

I LOVE NATURE WOOOOO!

Shanna || Arusha's || July 11

Pictures from our time at Arusha's today.  Shanna's been down with shingles. She's finally to a point where she can move around without the pain bothering her too much. I eased her back into the world with some down time at my favorite Belton coffee shop. Enjoy!

Happy Monday from Galveston Island!

It's Monday so I thought I'd blog about my time at the beach last Friday. I love the beach. I love the shhhhh of the waves, the pounding presence of the sun, the annoying yet inviting sand, the little treasures on the shore, all of it! It just so happens, though, that I conveniently live in central Texas... Which means actual, authentic beach experiences are infrequent. The closest set up we have is Galveston Island, but hey it's a beach! I'm still in love. 

My baby sister and I made the four-ish hour drive to Galveston early Friday morning. We have Moody Gardens passes that expire in August so this summer we are trying to use them to their fullest. Our first stop was the Aquarium at Moody Gardens. 

 Our next stop was the Rain Forest Pyramid. This is one of my favorite places at Moody Gardens because of the butterfly section. I love butterflies. I always brag on them when people look at me like I'm a little girl for liking them. Monarchs can fly from Canada to Mexico. Can you do that??? Didn't think so.

I was just so satisfied to sit there and marvel at these incredible creatures. 

The next thing to do was check into our hotel BUT I screwed up the booking. We were supposed to stay a night but our plans changed. We just shrugged our shoulders and readjusted our mindset to enjoy the day as well as we could. Then... We headed to the beach!!!!

So here is my Galveston secret. We never go to the beach on Galveston Island anymore. The island is cool for doing touristy things but for chilling at the beach? Eh. We like to go to Bolivar Peninsula instead. There you can drive up on the beach (after you purchase a $10 beach pass at local stores) and pick a spot to hang! You have to take a ferry to the peninsula and sometimes it's busy, but it's always worth it to us. Plus the ferry ride is a fun experience! 

After we got our pass (and I got some drinks) we chose our spot on the beach and enjoyed all the fun things. It was a great day. 

One of the other pluses about Bolivar is that there are plenty of shells on the shore to collect. We love shells. Although the Gulf of Mexico isn't one of the prettiest or cleanest seas, it has a special place in my heart. I still thank the Lord for it :)