As of lately...

I think I am really going to get back to writing more regularly soon, but as for now...

Eating-- Vegetarian Chili from the Healthy Grocery Girl Nutrition Plan. This is not the exact recipe, but it is a twist on the original. Even though it is crazy hot, this was super easy to make and made a TON of food!

Listening-- Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (Previously of Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate). Jack's Mannequin is one of my all time favorite bands and their song "Swim" is pretty much my anthem.

Drinking-- Water, water and more water. Have I mentioned it is hot here?

Thinking-- About cyberbullying and how it doesn't necessarily get better once you become an adult (more to come on that later)

Wasting-- time watching "Royal Pains" on Netflix #obsessed

Dreaming-- Weird dreams that somehow take place at the Louvre and Disney World at the same time #lifegoals #wanderlust #happiestplaceonearth

Eyeing-- Tory Burch Riding Boots from Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Laughing-- At my coworkers and their ridiculous stories. They keep me sane :D

Reading-- Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman. I just started it so I haven't formulated an opinion/review of the book. The topic, though, hits right on point.

Wishing-- I had air conditioning or a tropical beach. But at least it isn't winter....

It's burning in my soul

I've been trying to feed my spiritual life more lately.
The closet church to where I live is the Basilica for our Archdiocese, so I tend to walk there on Sunday mornings for an early mass. The walk there is not that interesting, so I try to listen to music.

For the past few weeks, the first song I instinctively played as I start walking is "Burning in my Soul"by Matt Maher. Now. I. Love. Matt. Maher. (but more on that later)
The song leaves me with a desire for more, to have a passion reignited in my soul for Christ and His Church. I love listening to this song on my way to Mass, because it almost "pumps me up" for Mass, gets me excited to spend time in the celebration, gets me ready to "hear the sound from heaven, a mighty rushing wind" through the Word and to be nourished by His Body.

I love this song because it reminds me of the beginning of this year, when I started to thirst more for a deeper relationship with our Lord

I got to see Matt Maher perform in October at a music festival called Abbey Fest at the Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pa. 

He played as adoration began, in a field under the stars and I full on lost it.

I have always loved spending time in adoration and God has led me to some powerful experiences in adoration but I guess this time felt a little different.

I think I had been starving myself spiritually. I was so preoccupied with everything else going on in my life that I was not nourishing my soul. In that moment when Adoration began, I fully submitted to God. I didn't know what to say, to think, to pray for, so I just tried to be present in the moment of adoring a loving God.

The song has a line that says "we are calling for revival, God let your fire fall again, " and while that could be looked on as a greater metaphor for our generation calling for revival, I also take it as a personal call for me. A cry for something deeper and something more. I want my desire for Christ to be "burning in my soul" but that doesn't happen if I don't nourish and feed the soul where my desire needs to grow from. I too often want the big revelation without taking the small steps to work towards a meaningful relationship with God, and I know that I need to recommit to those small steps now in preparation for something more.

Musical Mondays

I'm trying to get better about posting. I'm a fan of alliterations, so Musical Mondays it is!

Music has been a critical component of my life. I grew up with great artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel on repeat in my house. I've been dancing since I was three, my brother is a phenomenal musician and my sister is a jack (jill?) of all trades when it comes to performing, singing and dancing. I like to sing (key point: like to sing, not necessarily good at singing) and I love all types of music.

Today's feature is a song that has been on repeat all day yesterday and today. I love its simplicity, just vocals and guitar, and I LOVE the video concept. The lyrics are beautiful and feel old-timey romantic, so I think the video is a good fit. Plus, the choreography is amazing!

Ed Sheran-Thinking Out Loud