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I am the ship that was lost on the sea,

You are the lighthouse that called "Come to me."

I am the sailor that yearned for the land,

You are the shoreline of soft golden sand.

I am the compass that points to the North,

You are the pole that was leading me forth.

I'm the first mate who could not sail alone,

You are the captain who made me your own.

♡ ♡ ♡

Hello all! I have some very exciting news. A week ago today, on the first of May 2016, my boyfriend asked me to marry him, and I said yes! 

(This is the view from the spot where he asked me to marry him. I know, right?)

(We saw whales.)

I'm so very happy, happier than I ever imagined I could be. And half the joy of being engaged is seeing the one you love look so happy, too! Marriage won't be easy (that's what they tell me, anyway), but I'd rather face those troubles with Jon by my side than anyone else in the world. God has brought us together, and I'm confident He will continue to do so if we commit ourselves to following Him. In the meantime, I'm experiencing the fun and stress of planning a wedding! Right now we're trying to pick a date that isn't too far away nor too soon and that it hopefully won't rain on and that all the relatives can make it to! We may have to settle for the lesser of two evils. But at any rate, we'll be married at the end! 

Love to you all. And, at the risk of sounding patronizing, I'll give just a word of advice. That man you dream about -- the one who is good enough to LEAD you -- is 100% worth the wait. Don't settle. Relationships are hard enough when everything is in your favor. You don't want to try one where everything isn't.

To Jon: I love you.

A Conversation in Verse

Hellooooo. So, for about a week or so, my friend Cori and I have been working on a conversation in poems, where she would write a poem and I would write one in reply. The result is four poems that we're both rather pleased with. Hope you enjoy them, though I daresay they'll be a little hard for others to follow ...

Cori

Poisoned hearts, rotten through

Darkness thick as beading dew

None worthwhile

None upright

Depending all on phantom might

Butchered bodies, wearing wrong

Silence sings a numbing song

Never question

Never fight

Die and languish, it is your right. 

Scraped scars, reddened raw

Weary eyes of sights they saw

No relief

No respite

The tortured soul is doomed to night.

Emily

Aye, doomed to night -- but after night comes dawn,
And though the darkness lingers on and on,

A whisper of the sunrise ripples through

The rotting world that we are bound unto.

Some will not hear; it is indeed their right

To stop their ears to truth with all their might,
To shut their eyes and turn with haste away
From any glimmer of the coming day.
And so I say, let's make it ever more
Impossible to let the lost ignore
The song we sing and shout into the night
And pray that they will come into the light.

Cori

I hoped for the morning

But false hope it was

In the night I was mourning

And thought dark was the cause

Of the shadow that choked me

Of the burden I bore

But now I can see

It is not night anymore

The dawn brought the first light

And I lifted my eyes

But the Shadow was not night

I was hoping in lies

And now I am warning

You of this strife

Shadowed the morning

The curse of this life.

Emily

Though shadowed, it is morning still

And rather than despair until

The shadow melts away, I say,

Rejoice in traces of the day.

You caution me of strife, and I

Will heed your words, and yet reply

If you'll not look at aught but strife

You'll miss the glories of this life.

Yes, all creation groans, and yet

I urge you friend, do not forget

That all creation sings as well,

Rejoicing in its tale to tell.

So lift your eyes from grief and pain

And add your voice to the refrain,

The symphony that's singing of

The splendor of our Lord above.

End. 

:) Wasn't that neat? I really like the third poem, where Cori explores and redefines the spiritual connotations of night and dawn. Ahhh, such amazing imagery. It's so fun to have a good poet for a friend. Oh, and by the way, that picture is of a dogwood tree outside Cori's window. Lucky girl.

Enjoy this lovely spring day! Adieu ...

I know at times it feels as if you walk beneath a cloud,

A constant storm of tears that always follows you around. 

And now I know you well enough to know what you would say:

"Don't come near; you'll get wet, too. So please just stay away."

I know you say these words in love, because you fear for me

And you don't want to burden me with all your misery.

But I've got an umbrella that is big enough for two,

And it will keep you dry as well, if I walk close to you. 

I love you. 

If you happen to walk through town in Cannon Beach, Oregon, you'll see a pair of trees that have always fascinated me. They are hung all over with buoys of all different shapes, sizes, and colors. I like to reflect on where these buoys have been. I wonder what storms and waters, what ships and seamen each have known. But now, their traveling days are over. They hang together in these trees, reminiscing, I fancy, on voyages past. I'm sure they're pleased to be among friends. But I wonder whether they don't yearn for the sea, to ride once more the salty waves, exposed to sea and sky, with miles of air above them and leagues of ocean below.

Spring

My dear Spring,

Look at you! You look exactly as you did the first day I met you. Is that the same dress? Looks a lot like it, a floral print all daffodils and blossoms. No, I see that it's just a bit different, as Spring always is! But goodness, you're awfully damp! Still having a few showers, I see? Ah, well, I suppose those flowers wouldn't bloom so bright without them. But do let's have some sunny days, dear! I've had enough of indoors! Either way, though, rain or shine, I'm awfully glad you're back!!!

P.S. 100 points to whoever can identify what type of buds those are! Hint: fruit tree.

The Branch's Song

Because I've failed You once again, I think, "I won't succeed."

But then I look into Your face and see You're all I need.

When did I start believing I can do this on my own?

I'm just a branch, and severed from the vine, I'll die alone.

The things of earth can't satisfy the need I feel for You,

And yet I'm lying to myself, repeating "They will do."

Please tear this callous from my heart and leave me raw and sore,

That when I hear You knocking, I'll come running to the door.

Because I'm Happy

Hi everyone! Beautiful Becca (who is beautiful) tagged me to do this happiness tag. Which makes me, well, happy, because I just resolved last night to endeavor to be more thankful. Grumbling is a big part of our culture here in the US ... which is dumb, because we're so crazy well off. I mean, we don't have to worry (too much) about getting cholera when we drink water, or about where our next meal is coming from! God has given me so much, and I don't thank Him nearly enough for all the ways He has blessed me. So I'm glad to stop for a minute and write out some things that make me happy.

books: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham. It follows the adventures of Mole, Mr. Badger, Mr. Toad, and the Water Rat, four very-well drawn, distinct, and lovable characters. It's an adoring story about loyalty to friends and being close to nature. Other books: I always enjoy the Anne of Green Gables series, The Chronicles of Narnia, Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner (you need to read the Winnie the Pooh books again, regardless of how old you are. They're best when read aloud O.O).

words: Captain, sweethearts, lighthouse, music. Aria. Foliage. Peppermint. Newfoundland. Pleated.

movies and tv: The old animated Disney movies Robin Hood, Peter Pan, 101 Dalmations, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Pocahontas. Yes, I'm a Disney nut (Disneyland was FUN guys, and I was 20 when I went!). Also, Mary Poppins, Sense and Sensibility, The Sound of Music, and Chariots of Fire. -- Oh, and TV? Sherlock and Star Trek TNG.

scents: HA it's funny cause I can't smell. Or at any rate my sense of smell is severely impaired. Still, I like the smell of meat, potatoes, that tree in our backyard when it blooms (one of the few things in nature I CAN smell), summer, dirt, Sophie (my dog), the Whitlock's homestead in general and their cow barn in particular, my Grandma's house, roses, and vanilla ice cream.

songs: "Somewhere Beyond the Sea," this one still and always, "Stay Alive" from the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and "Alaska" from Owl City's Sky Sailing.

miscellany: rain, sunny days, bike rides, watching my sisters do their dance routine to "Rollin' on the River," dresses, high-heels, and chocolate cubes.

Right. I tag Sarabi, Lady Gargoyle who won't do it, Embers because she's awesome and I haven't heard for a while, and anyone else who wants to do this. Cheers!