i stumbled upon some good stuff this week!

i had to share with you some things that caught my fancy and had me thinking all week.
i think i really need to save things like this and share them once a week. i guess, in the past, i just share instantly what makes me chuckle, but its a bit chaotic.

so. here is stuff that made me think, or laugh, or smile this week.

my friend wrote this! so proud of you, matt. its about time someone realized how talented your writing is!!

this song, makes me cry...and ache for Heaven. somehow i just discovered the video now.

because i claim 'philly' as my own though an hour away. because i love violins. because i love anything from the 50s. because i danced to one of these songs in a mid-year recital. all combine to make me love this video.
(please, excuse the word at the very beginning, start watching at 12 seconds in and you'll be fine. ugh, why do people have to use crappy language and ruin what would be a great thing otherwise!?!)

oh, amber. thank you for this! one of my favorite poems, even better because its read out loud... as every poem is meant.

................
i think i mentioned earlier this week i read and finished nelson mendela's autobiography this past week. it was very enilghtening to read, especially leading up to visiting the apartheid museum. he says on pg.391 of his book:

"I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward he sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lay in defeat and death.*"

i walked through the museum with lauren. i'm sure she grew tired of the same exclamation from my lips, as i said over and over and over and over:
"i just can't imagine fighting for ONE THING for so long. with little hope. with constant struggle. i mean, lo, he was in prison longer than i'm even alive!"

and i mean it. the only time i was brought to tears (which surprised me) was when we got towards the end of the museum and they had quotes from Nelson and Walter on the wall about the love they have for south africa.
freedom had been won.
not only for Nelson, but for the people at large.
the first votes cast.
one-vote-one-man, finally.
he fought for something, a single determining goal, for so long.
i just felt humbled.
silent tears fell.

nothing brings me to tears quicker than men fighting against all odds for freedom.
freedom won.

makes me wonder if i'm seeking my ONE THING
with the same determination.
am i willing to be in prison for 27 years.
facing starvation, depravation, solitary confinement, assaults on my family, jabs, insults, numerous other forms of abuse for the sake of the ONE i Love, for the cause i believe in and treasure most dear.
i dont think i can say i am. i'm not even 27 years old! i want to say i could, but i feel that is immature.
prison shows a man's character, Nelson wrote over and over.
james says testing shows a man's value.
but i think testing will only show value if you use it right. if you stay fixed on the SON.
testing in and of itself is fruitless.

i want all to be free.
not in the sense that there is a
one-man-one-vote system in every country (though i do care for that very much).
but in the sense that all realize this and this, this as well, and this too.

*you know, i hate typing with correct punctuation and capitalization. but i felt for a direct quote, it was necessary here.
**fell led to share my mom has given up on the bachelor (again) after watching for a few weeks. apparently he slept this past week with the final 3 ladies to "test run" which girl he wanted to keep around. i say, go mom! what a sleeze...