hmmm- the sweet spot of my life

"Sweet Spot" by Antje Duvekot

Once you stood below a mountain
Now you find yourself surprised
This is the sweet spot of your life
‘Cause this new view compares to nothing
Gone the hardship of your climb
This is the sweet spot of your life

And it would seem the ice is melting
It seems you’ve come in from the cold
This is the sweet spot of your life
And all your streams they are now fuller
Than what their riverbanks can hold
This is the sweet spot of your life

So you must hold these days like treasures
In a jewel box in your heart
This is the sweet spot of your life
For you know well they are most precious
Into an old tree you must carve them
This is the sweet spot of your life

May it only sting a moment
When you dive into that blue
This is the sweet spot of your life
‘Cause by the time you hit the surface
It has rearranged you
This is the sweet spot of your life

You always wanted something solid
Just one solid thing
Oh but angels are so fickle
They only love you when you sing
But you don’t need those fickle angels to shine
This is the sweet spot of your life

Once you stood below a mountain
Now you find yourself surprised
This is the sweet spot of your life
‘Cause this new view compares to nothing
Gone the hardships of your climb
This is the sweet spot of your life

May it only sting a moment
When you dive into that blue
This is the sweet spot of your life
‘Cause by the time you hit the surface
It has rearranged you
This is the sweet spot
This is the sweet spot
This is the sweet spot of your life
This is the sweet spot
This is the sweet spot
This is the sweet spot of your life

...

Six weeks ago I was medically cleared- YAY!
Two weeks ago my dad got married.
A week ago I joined facebook again. 
(Feels like) Forever ago there were lots of tears as I said goodbye to a dear friend of mine in Missoula.
Days ago, my dad went into the hospital for (yet another) infection in his line.

Tomorrow I will:
Call Peace Corps to find out if they have more news for me... (it's been 6 weeks!)

This week, I will:
Complete (2) 20 page papers
Present in class (X2)
Say goodbye to many good friends.
Attempt to be outside as much as possible to enjoy Spring in Missoula.

6 months from now I will be....


What a crazy life this one is.  But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

"It's a romantic weather forecast..."

http://blog.onbeing.org/post/22116369450/the-witness-of-true-love-and-the-grace-of-loss

Sweetest love story.  If you haven't explored either "On Being by Krista Tippett" or Storycorps, you've got to check them out

Medical Clearance

Just got (provisionally) medically cleared from the Peace Corps- yay! One year to the day of when I originally received my medical paperwork. wow.  All this means is I will be sitting on the edge of my seat for at least the next two months until I hear from the Placement Office with further information.  I have no idea where they will put me.... One step closer fhough!

Oh, and flashback to this...!

Ominous Peace Corps notifications...

Yesterday morning I woke up, opened my e-mail and saw that my Peace Corps status had been updated. Of course, they don't give you much information except the following:
"Medical: Complete. A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail."

I don't know much more than the fact that "a decision has been made..." Thanks for the details Peace Corps. This is the longest part of the application process and I'm excited to get through it. Today marks 1 year from the date they sent me my medical packet. Feels like forever ago I started the application.

I'm just hoping and praying that I will be at peace no matter what the decision may be: medical deferrment, rejection, or clearance. I'll keep you posted!

One for you Maria- you go Maria!

Kudos (and royalties) to Maria Karlya, my close friend from college, who has just published her first book, with the help of several others. Buy this book if you plan on traveling to Ghana or nearby in the future or if you want to read some of the best travel writing ever written.

Congrats, Maria!

Click here to check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935850105/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

These days I am continually drawn back to music, music, and more music. I have a natural affinity to music. I forget that being able to play music, read it, and appreciate it is a gift. Just a couple weeks ago, a few friends & I had a music jam session- complete with guitars, voice, ukulele, cello, and a full makeshift drum set. In the past week, it's kept me going. I think there's a lot on my mind I haven't quite articulated, and reflecting on music is somehow the best avenue for me to find those words. I've found myself wrapped up in listening to music, trying to write a paper, meanwhile four hours passes, and all I've written is one page... I get so lost in the music. Maybe I can incorporate music into my Peace Corps service.

Here's a stellar video of us playing "Rivers & Roads" by Head & the Heart- enjoy!

Right, so have I mentioned I'm continuing my application to the good 'ol PC? I paused for a good 8 months or so last year while I explored other options. Yup, four years later, same story, almost. I will complete all my medical paperwork hopefully this Friday. I'd really like to know where I'm going by May, before school gets out.

Instead of becoming paralyzed by my confusion, questions, and inner conflicts, playing music seems to be just enough split between being reflective and active.

this is why we're friends

Nicole: Sarah, I made a new guy friend!
me: really? where'd you meet him?
Nicole: He responded to the craigslist ad I put up trying to find other ukelele players in the area.
me: Of course he did. And of course you did... Sounds like a catch!


We're the worst band ever....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIWubAYqpA0&list=UUZSwSTNeMWnBGJQML9_HcSQ&index=40&feature=plcp

"Carolyn Myss, the medical intuitive who writes and lectures about why people don't heal, flew to Russia a few years ago to give some lectures. Everything that could go wrong did- flights were canceled or overbooked, connections missed, her reserved room at the hotel given to someone else. She kept trying to be a good sport, but finally, two mornings later, on the train to her conference on healing,she began to whine at the man sitting beside her about how infuriating her journey had been thus far. It turned out that this man worked for the Dalai Lama. And he said – gently - that they believe when a lot of things start going wrong all at once, it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born - and that this something needs for you to be distracted so that it can be born as perfectly as possible."
-Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies

So poignant.

Namo- Home

Home.

I can't imagine a time in my life when the memory of this Sunday drive won't bring me straight back here.

I can't imagine not living amidst this beauty everyday.

I can't imagine home without these magestic mountains.

I can't imagine never returning here.

This is home.