i have been enjoying plenty of great music this year, 2010.
so, i thought i would compile a top picks list.
seeing as we’re just past the half way mark of the year.

monica’s top albums of 2010 (so far):

beach house / teen dream
this album is still blowing my mind.
i think i got it in january or february.
it has become my go-to album.

school of seven bells / disconnect from desire
this just recently came out a few weeks ago
and i can’t stop listening.
favorite tracks: I L U, Windstorm, and Bye Bye Bye

the national / high violet
i listened to this album and this album alone
for approximately 5 weeks.
seriously, did not come out of my car stereo.

gorillaz / plastic beach
i’m not a huge gorillaz fan,
but this album has caught my eye (or ears)
and i’m really digging it.

i recommend all of these, but if you’ve only got the budget for one or two,
the top two are must haves.
actually, they’re all must haves.
forget the budget – BUY THEM ALL!

it’s been since april that i’ve written on here.
part of me feels like it was just last week.
part of me feels like it’s been ages.
a huge part of me feels like the last year or so
has been a complete blur.

i haven’t experienced liberty to write
the things i want to write on here.
so i’ve waited.

and now i am currently speechless
in regards to this random glitch in my life.

moving along,
soon, i will be starting graduate school
and pursuing some of the very things that
were placed in my heart before my heart was formed.

and next week, i head to peru again.
feeling blessed that i get to go back so soon
and see the people whom i love dearly.
my peruvian family.

much more to come as i enter this new season.

sometimes i just think about how crazy mysterious God is.
so much so that my mind gets lost in it.

i love that i have no control over who He was and is.
there’s nothing i can do about it.
He’s just Him.

and i love that i’ll spend my entire life pursuing this thing,
this thing that i know my tiny human mind will never comprehend.
i’ll never be able to wrap my mind around all of His intricacies.
and yet i spend every day chasing after it.
wanting to know more.
wanting to understand.

i hope this never changes in me.
i love getting lost in the mystery of it.

it’s been a really long time since i’ve written
anything seriously on here.
and i don’t really know or understand why.

my mind still wanders the same way
it always has…
i’m still for the most part the same person.
[this has proven to be true]
yet i lack the inspiration for this.

i’m discovering that the older i get,
the more private i’ve become.
i can’t really explain this either.
it might be wisdom,
or it might just be how things are meant
to be.

but i hope to become
reacquainted with my old friend soon.
until then,
my mind is my own.

a flaw in character can often be much worse
than a blemish on the surface.

a complete lack of character
shows me who you are inside.

a really cool project:
http://www.100abandonedhouses.com/

i like all of these old houses.

i’ve been wearing a bit of a uniform these days.
inspired by this post on the sartorialist.

cognac tuxedo shoes.
rolled up old jeans.
and a sweater of some sort.

i don’t seem to be too happy wearing
anything else.
and i’m ok with that.

also, i really loved this movie.
and i often think that i was meant to live
in another time.

i have a friend who makes fun of me for that.

a glimpse of warmer weather
makes me realize i am not ready for spring.

this spring is going to consume my time.
in the form of showers, weddings, more showers, births.
i am so looking forward to each of these things.
but in my heart, i wish i could suspend time for just a moment.
so i can catch my breath before it all begins.

until then,
i will still wear my winter clothing,
and prepare for so many good things to come.

it’s snowing outside and i’m packing up my life
for my move this weekend.

as i pack, i find so many memories.
i pick up a cd, a book, a plane ticket,
and the memory comes flooding back.

i have been in one place for over a year.
much longer than i anticipated staying.
i never thought i would settle here,
but i find myself tearing out the roots,
as i pack these things.

even though i’m only moving 20 minutes away,
i’m finding this move to be life-changing.
in more ways than one.

my favorite time of year has come!
i eagerly await December each year.
and when it’s here, my heart is so full.

each year i feel a bit of grief,
as Christmas is never as it was
in my childhood.
but i’m so glad for it too.

because Christmas is no longer Christmas to me.
it’s Advent.
it’s a season of anticipation, rejoicing, and celebration.
celebration of the coming Son.
rejoicing because the Father sent a way of redemption.
an outstretched hand.

my heart is overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness.
my Savior has come!
my Redeemer.
Emmanuel.