all of these things represent dear memories of my life thus far.
i love each of them dearly.
and every time i move,
i find myself looking through that old box.
i never throw any of it away.

in other [related] news,
i’m moving back home.
it’s the best decision as i enter the season of poverty
that is known as grad school.

and all i have to say is…
i’m ridiculously happy in this season.
i wouldn’t change it for the world.

i hope to always be around inventors and creators,
those who see the positive things in everything,
the people who love every experience they have,
and have gratitude for all of it.

the people who see beauty in life.
not the ones who complain that it’s not beautiful enough.

i’m absolutely determined to always be grateful
and to find life generous and loving.

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!

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.

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.

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 complete lack of character
shows me who you are inside.

i like all of these old houses.

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.

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.