Your blue suitcase is empty, hey, what's your wait?

Erin McCarley is an artist I saw a few months ago at 8 x 10 in Fells Point.  She was a part of a ten-part show where there were ten, kind of unknown musicians from Tennessee all sharing one stage.  I went because I have been listening to one of the guys for a while and after I promised to pass out a few flyers and posters, I got in for free.  I don't really intend on using this blog for a "Music Review Center."  I love love love music, but I'm not going to pretend I know more about it than other people, and I find that most people don't think what I listen to is "cool enough."  But, all of that aside, I have to say, I bought Erin's new cd as soon as it came out today, and it's one of the best 7 dollars I've spent in a while.  I'm not usually fan of female singers either.  She has this awesome raspy, kind of always tired voice...maybe I like it so much because it's easy for me to sing along with it. Anyway, it's on iTunes and of course she's on MySpace.  My favorite song is Blue Suitcase.

 

Oh!  And, another CD I jsut bought was the new AAR one.  I LOVE it.  It's more like their old stuff with synthesizers and multiple voices singing at the same time.  LOVE LOVE LOVE it. My favorite song? Fallin' Apart.

The here and now

So, I realized that a lot of blogs are talking about this big, upcoming thing; China.  Well I wanted to write a blog that was talking a little bit about what I'm doing now.

The other night was my last Venture.  Of course I KNEW George was going to surprise me with something, because would always talk about how sad he was that I was leaving, so I knew it was just like him to make a a big deal out of it.  So, after the program was over, I saw George cueing Grace for a video that I did NOT know of...and that was it. He made a slide show of me in the last couple of years in Shockwave and Venture.  I started crying right away, and realized how much I was gonna miss everything and everyone from my last two years.  I know I'm only going for a few months, but I'm in such a sweet spot right now that it's hard to walk away from a group of people that support you and pull for you, all the time, no matter what.

So, here a couple of pictures of the last two years.  Starting with Mississippi, with all of my Mexico trips, pictures of the dteam in-between and my last year on staff.

My d-team, is one of a kind.  Seriously.  I know that we, as the d-team have told the story a million times, but when I met them in Mexico in 2006, I don't think I've ever felt as strongly about a group of people as I did them.  In 2006 I was still a student(which doesn't excuse my behavior towards them) and was rude to them.  Now, they weren't the most understanding group back.  When I became an intern I remember I was giving the choice between two d-teams; both of which couldn't stand me.  So, I chose "the freshmen."  I didn't know this would be a the life changing decision.  That next Sunday, the girls were walking around and asking who "Megan" was.  I asked them why they wanted to know and they said because "she was their new dteam leader." Then, I broke the news that their dteam was in fact, me.  The looks on their faces was hilarious.  And thats where it all started.

So, here are some pictures.

Mississippi.  The trip that broke my heart for the first time. Seeing people there, meeting people from here, and realizing that life is worth more than what we see with our eyes and that God wants so much more from us.

 

 

Mexico 2006.  Where I met even more Shockwave people, which eventually landed me an internship with Grace.

Mexico 2007

 

Mexico 2008

Finally, the Dteam...

and if you think we've improved....

That was us just the other night....

The ultimate expression of faith...

...is waiting and preparing.

 

I heard that the other day at church and it stung.  A lot.  I'm a horrible waiter.  Maybe it's my lack of faith, and I'm sure combined with my need for control and impatience, does not come out to a great mix.  I've waited these last two years and was a brat about it. 

Getting ready for China has been weird.  Not hard, not really that exciting(yet). I know things will change as time goes on.  I have no idea what to expect when I get there, so it's hard for me to wrap my head around any of it.  At the same time, it's kind of exciting not knowing anything.  I'm not freaking out about details, because I know in the end everything will get worked out.  For once, I have nothing to be in control of.  The only thing I need to do is make sure I'm at the airport for the plane taking off and then, it's all out of my hands.

I need to start letting go of it now though.  Not only am I a horrible waiter, but I'm bad at letting go of things.  I guess they are kind of along the same lines.

Well in the midst of all of this, (It takes me HOURS to write one of these because I think about more stuff in the middle of it, or pick up some kind of book that JUMPED into my arms..) a song came on that hits me every time...Well, two songs.  One of them talks about how His plans are often different than our own.  Another one is talking about how God continuously, comes to us.  We push and push and push, and yet, somehow, for some reason, he's still there.

I have despised my crown, I chose to place it down
running to catch the wind
Feet bruised and blistered now from chasing shadows around
a maze of empty promises

Am I still within your view
Have I gone too far for you to come to me

I see through broken glass a world of innocence past
Can you take me back to Eden
I’ve traded truth for lies, I’ve got no alibi
no excuses to remove this blame

Will you leave me here alone in my kingdom on my throne
I need a mutiny
Still you come to me
Why would you come to me

-Come to Me by Reilly

 

But there’s a different plan for me
Something better that I cannot see
And it can only be beautiful wherever you are

It’s a wonderful world I see when you’re in my eyes
I always lose sight of me when you’re in my eyes
I never want to move I never want to find
that I’ve wasted all my time away from beautiful you

-Beautiful You by Reilly