Dave Matthews at the beach!

In Chicago, we saw Glen Hansard (for free!) in Millenium Park

In San Diego, we saw Coldplay (not for free) in Qualcomm Stadium

In Miami, we saw Dave Matthews Band (for FREE) on South Beach

I think we've circled back pretty well from the beginning of our free concert days, huh babe?

We were literally watching the local news on a Friday night, something we don't typically do (watch local news) when they announced Dave Matthews Band, THE Dave Matthews Band would be performing a free show on the beach. We looked at each other and knew exactly what our plans for the evening would be. So when 9pm rolled around, we walked to the ocean, and could hear the band playing from afar. The streets were closed since New Years was a few days away, and the city was packed with tourists. When we got to the sand we couldn't believe it, we were no more than 20 feet from the stage after slowly making our way through the waves of the crowd. It was amazing, to say the least. 

This whole walking to the beach thing is pretty surreal to experience as a normal part of our lives now. In the Chicago days, walking to the lake became one of our favorite things to do, and was often therapeutic for us in the businesses of full time student life. One of the things we talked about wanting for the future is that city life by the water, and man did God give us the desires of our hearts more than we could have dreamed. All I can feel when I think about all this, is gratitude.

So grateful for these days

lyrical: ain't no grave

Oh, shame is a prison as cruel as a grave

Shame is a robber and he's come to take my name

Oh, love is my redeemer, lifting me up from the ground

Love is the power when my freedom song is found

There ain’t no grave

Gonna hold my body down

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

When I hear that trumpet sound

I'm gonna rise up outta the ground

There ain’t no grave

Gonna hold my body down

Ohh, oh-oh-ohh-oh-oh-ohh

Ohh, oh-oh-ohh-oh-oh-ohh

Oh, fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue

Fear is a tyrant, he's always telling me to run

Oh, love is a resurrection and love is a trumpet sound

Love is my weapon, I'm gonna take my giants down

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

And when I hear that trumpet sound

I'm gonna rise up outta the ground

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

And there on a tree, the Lamb of God was crucified

And He went on down to hell, He took back every key

He rose up as a lion and He set all captives free

There ain't no grave

Could hold His body down

There ain’t no grave

Could hold His body down

When He heard the trumpet sound

He rose up outta the ground

There ain’t no grave

Could hold His body down

There ain't no grave

Could hold His body down

There ain’t no grave

Could hold my body down

There ain't no grave

Could hold my body down

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

If You walked out of the grave, I’m walking too

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

Gonna sing about it, yeah

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

I'm gonna meet Jesus

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

Oh, if You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

If You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

And when I hear that trumpet sound

I'm gonna rise up outta the ground

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

There ain't no grave

Gonna hold my body down

Oh, there was a battle, a war between death and life

Oh, if You walked out of the grave, I'm walking too

Ain''t No Grave 

Bethel Music

Cheers to 2018!

1 trip to Miami in the first month of the year that changed everything, and started our plans for the big move!
2 many tears shed since we were part of...
3 grand weddings, including my baby brothers and one of my best friends of almost 20 years, in Mexico!
4 months in Escondido, CA where I had more winery dates with my coworkers than the past three years combined!
5 babies met and gushed over! Ellie, Lily, Kamali, Jason & Juliana, who we love so freaking much!
6 months spent traveling and living with family until moving into our new home at the beach.
7 years of marriage with g, who amazingly planned a weekend in New York City to celebrate. 
8 average phone calls a day between my mom and I. What can I say? Mamas girl.
9 minutes of panic & prayer as the cop in Texas asked G to step into his vehicle & questioned my relationship to him.
10 minus 5 games Brazil played in the World Cup, which is 2 less than it should've been. haha
11 visitors we welcomed into our new home in the short 8 weeks we've lived here, and loved every minute of it! 
12 weeks of 5 to thrive, thanks to Rachel Hollis and her encouragement to take care of yourself sister!
13 free lattes at Peets since discovering happy hour, and living a brisk 60 second walk away.
14 states driven through on our cross country trip! Favs: Arizona/Grand Canyon & Georgia/Savannah. Worst: Texas.
15 screams of excitement as we watched dozens of dolphins swim and jump around our boat in SD!
16 minutes of mediation I tried and failed to do every day, but am committed to starting again.
17 corresponding messages between Facebook Market and Craigslist for the best thrifted finds.
18 pounds shed and a newfound love for exercising every single day because life is too short to stop moving.


With a grateful heart, happy new year!