Satuday Obsessions- Art, Bread & Vacay

Red Velvet Art

Cute. Colorful. Creative.

Oscars Bread Sticks

Especially when I'm sick. 

Vacations
I love going on vacation. It's not a lazy thing. It's a discovery thing. 

Just Trying to Figure This Out.

Lately I've been pondering alot about my life. 

What I'm doing. What it's worth. And if what I'm doing now will change. 

I hate change. 

Being married to a man with {5} years more wisdom and life experience than me, I sometimes forget that I'm still just {22}.

I'm still young and overflowing with immaturity.

Even in our recent arguments we've had to stop and look @ each other with a look of understanding. That sometimes we're on different pages and that is ok.

I haven't figured this life out yet. 

He hasn't either but he's definitely more along than I am. He's already been through the fears and worries of the {22} year old stage. 

The unsettling question of "What exactly am I doing with my life?" 

I'm going to school.

Working {3} part time jobs. All of them I love.

But then add in being a wife and keeping a house clean. That's a part-time job all on its own. And I love that one too.

I'm tired more hours of the day than I'm not. I use to think it was because I wasn't getting enough sleep. Like I was working too many hours of the 24. 

However, last night I had an epiphany~

My body isn't tired :: My mind is tired.

I am trading too many hats for one day.

I'm feeling the pull between passion and necessities.

All I know is that I want so bad for God to speak and I haven't been silent enough to listen.

iTunes lovin'

Dear Readers {and Listeners},

I am excited to announce that the Morlet's are now on iTunes! AH!

 Finally got the time to get our first album submitted. If you have iTunes, which you all should, you can find it by searching: Morlet.

The first {5} songs of this album, Ty and I wrote together during our dating and engagement season. Each one has a story behind it so I'll try to briefly let you behind the scenes.

1. Light [The Ireland's Song]: We were sitting on my backyard swing one night and I started humming this little riff. Ty had his guitar with him [because he always does] and began playing along. We only had one lyric. "Light." And we sang it over and over and over again. Well one night we met our friends Jeremy and Andrea Ireland for dinner and they told us about their heart-wrenching story of infertility. After we left, we both felt like this new song was going to be for them. About a year later, the Irelands adopted three siblings from the Philippines and asked us to sing the song @ their coming home party. Ah! I bawled like a baby that day.

2. Heavenly Sound: This song has multiple sentiments for me. The first is that Ty wrote this song as a tactic to get me to hang out with him. He called me one day and said, "Hey I wrote this worship song but it needs a girls voice, will you record it for me?" And so the saga began. But it was in October 2008, when we were in that little make-shift recording booth tracking this song that I knew Ty was going to be my husband. The second sentiment is that this song blew up during one of our church-wide worship nights. I mean, I have never heard our congregation sing so loud...ever. I was blown away @ how God was using words and melodies he had given to me and Ty to bless His Church and cause His people to worship.

3. Micah: The second song we ever wrote together and we wrote as the theme song for a middle school Summer camp. [The passage they were studying was Micah 6:8] This one was mostly Tyson's doing. I just added a few pretty notes here and there :) This song also made it on Rancho's worship album. It's a fave.

4. As Time Goes By: This song started out as a project I had to do for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. I was telling Ty about it and he said, "hey let me help you!" I reluctantly agreed but said, "It has to be for my grandparents...not us!" Moral of the story, I walked down the aisle to that song at our wedding...he's good. So it served two very memorable occasions. I love love love it the most because it's a story song and I love story songs. 

5. Taste and See: The first song we ever wrote together. I was studying Psalm 34 and meditating on this whole idea of those who trust the Lord will have no want. I was inspired and was sharing it all with Ty and bam! The song was born. 

The last {3} songs are Tyson's most romantic creations. Seriously, these songs will make you cry. Tomorrow was the first song he ever wrote for me and I cried. Chapter One he wrote while I was away and I cried. And May I Have This Dance he wrote for his proposal and I cried. Correction I bawled! You will too :)

Phew! There you have it. If you don't already own this cd, get it.

Morlets signing off.

Love,

Saturday Obsessions. Sleep, Worship, & a Stud.

1.Sleep

I love sleep. I need sleep. 

I crave sleep. I have gotten no sleep. 

I need sleep {wait, I already said that.}

2.This Article

And pretty much his whole website. 

Bob Kauflin is the Worship Pastor for Sovereign Grace ministries and an anointed man of God. 

His wisdom on worship has provoked my thoughts a great many times. 

3.Husband

He's hot stuff. :) And he's so good to me. 

Probably too good to me. 

Hey buys me In N Out chocolate shakes @ 10:00 @ night. 

He lets me blog in bed late @ night too.

Happy Saturday.

{Tell me your obsessions!}

Love,

Blessed to be a blessing.

Yesterday I came home to a little rectangular box on my kitchen table with a big silver bow on its top. Ty had called me earlier to inform me there was a present for me when I got home...and guess what it was??? 

Oh baby it was these bad girls! AH! TOM's Silver Glitters!

The dear family that is renting us their apartment decided that because they looked like Christmas, they needed to get them for me. How amazing is that family?? I was way too excited and I even cried a little, not just because of the shoes, but because this family, amidst their own trials they're walking through right now, still makes it a point to bless others. 

{It melts me. Dear Family, you inspire me.}

Lately my heart has been stirring with this idea of blessing others. Ty and I went out on a date a couple weeks ago to one of our favorite places {YardHouse}. When we asked for the check, the waitress told us someone had already picked it up. Wha!? I've never had that happen before. It kinda caught us off guard and we didn't really know what to do. But we felt so special. Like taken care of. 

We found out later that it was a couple from our church who we didn't know but met that night :) The guy said something that stuck with me. He said, we just saw a quick opportunity to bless someone.

A quick opportunity. I love that. 

Since then I have been looking for quick and random opportunities to bless people. It can be anything from baking a batch of cookies to paying for someone's Starbucks drink in line. Paying for a stranger's dinner to writing a "thinking about you note". Anything. The world is your blessing field.


Is there a time when you've been randomly blessed by someone? Or when you've been the surprise blesser? ;)

Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

{Matthew 22:34-40}

Happy Wednesday!

Love,

It's What We Call a Rainy Day.

Thank you all for your allergy input yesterday. I got text messages, facebook messages, emails and blog comments with all very good info. I'll let you know how it goes. [I'm sure Ty loves this...shh.]

In other news, @ 5AM this morning I was awakened by the most glorious sounds. Cracking thunder and the pitter patter of heavy rain.

Oh baby. I love the rain. So romantic. And I finally get to use my new umbrella.

It makes me feel clean, new, fresh.

The synopsis of my book intros with rain:

"In years past, waking up to raindrops on the roof of our house was quickly followed by feelings of freshness and purity. It was almost like the rain had washed everything away and was now giving the world permission to start over. A new day with new life being watered and cared for. Sometimes I would lie in bed for hours after waking and remember all the things in my life that the Lord had freed me from. All the things He had washed away from my life and had allowed me to start over with. Clean. Fresh. Forgiven.

When I would finally get enough motivation to get out of bed, I would glance outside the window to see nature, not cowering or shriveling from the weight of the falling water, but rather blooming greener and brighter than ever. How does that work, I would wonder. When it rains, most creatures and humans run for cover in order to get away from the cold wet surroundings. However the grass, the trees, and flowers do not. Instead they open up all the more as if they are soaking up every bit of every drop that so graces them with its existence. It is as if they welcome the storms, despite the possible dangers it presents to them. There is no fear in their being, but rather full release to bloom even brighter amidst the pouring rain..." [Read the rest here.]

Go run, jump, smell, play in the rain today.

Love,

Saturday Obsessions. Pigg, Tom, and Decorations.

{Landon Pigg}
Ty and I got to see him live @ the El Rey theater before A Fine Frenzy.  When we were standing on the sidewalk waiting to get in there was this guy standing on the curb and I could have sworn that it was him...but no one was approaching him or anything so we blew it off. What I didn't know was that Ty memorized his outfit and when he came out on stage and it was totally him! And we didn't even realize it. We're bad fans, but still love his musica.
Loving this new song:




{TOM'S Shoes}
I have yet to be a proud owner of them, but I am working on that. I really really really like the silver glitter ones. Plus, the message and purpose behind them is quite inspiring. 

{Home Decor Blogs}
I am in decor mode. I even created my own version of this. 

Here are a few of my recent faves. 
    - My First Little Place & Loving. Living. Small. [small space decor] 
    - Garnish [hosting and organizing] 
    - Nesting Place [decorating ur home to ur style]


Now I wanna hear your recent obsessions!


Love, 

New Seg=My Baby Sister's Wedding

3 of 6 kids, all about to be married within two years of each other. Lucky parents.

My sister and I have dreamed about our weddings since we were very young girls. When she was 8 and I was 10, we made our own wedding books filled with our favorite flowers, poofy dresses, blingin' rings, and dinner menus.

We always knew we'd be in each other's wedding no matter what. My sister and I have had some knarly hard times, but there is on thing that has kept us glued together and will always keep us together: My mother. She always encouraged us to make sure we're in each other's lives, encouraging, giving advice, give rides, and lots of hugs :) That's what family is for...no matter what.

She was my Maid of Honor and I am honored to be hers.

Most people have sisters they are close with, whether it's a blood relative or a best friend doesn't matter. She's the person you call when you're having a breakdown. The person you call when you're stranded at the mall. The person you cry to when you and your boyfriend break up. The person you steal clothes from on a daily basis. The person you get mad at when shows up wearing your new sweater. The person who will defend you, even though she knows you're wrong. The person who will bring you chocolate ice cream when you've had a bad day.

She's your sister and you're hers.

I think that bond is so special and uncompromisable. It was once said that "you can fool the whole world, but never your sister." She knows you in and out, sometimes even more than your own parents. I know that's true of us.

Having her help me plan my wedding was a dream come true. And I hope I can be the same for her. We'll finally get to put those books to use :)

All that to say, we're starting a new segment on the blog titled "My Sister's Wedding". :) We'll both write [she's a phenomenal writer too!] and post pictures and wedding ideas for your professional [and non-professional] feedback :)

So to set the stage, the theme of the wedding is an Alice in Wonderland feel. Classy and fun. 

{Our inspiration}

 Happy Tuesday.

Love, JM

Who's Ready for Some Lullabies??

 

It's almost done! Taking a bit longer than anticipated but it's gonna be worth it. 

We have one more song to record [mine of course] and then it needs to be mastered and printed. And after that, it's all yours!

I'm trying to get Ty to let me put a preview song on here...we'll see. 

I think it's the perfect combination of creativity and lulling serenity. Written and played all on guitar, some songs are for the boys and some for the girls, but all are guaranteed to make you smile, sleep, or cry :) 

One of the songs Ty wrote is for our baby boy {that is neither conceived nor born...just to prevent rumors ;)} The first time he played it for me my heart swelled and the overflow came out in tears. It is some precious stuff people.

But one thing we do still need is an album title and we're wide open to suggestions...anyone? 

Post your ideas below! 

Happy Monday.

Love, JM

Saturday Obsessions.

I apologize for the tardiness.

Changing Hair Color.

I love dying my hair. 

These are my favorite three, but I've had so many and way too often. 

I just got it done this morning and my hair dresser informed me that she was going to save the formula and then caught herself and said with a big smile, "who am i kidding? you're gonna wanna change it in 6 weeks anyways."

True that.

Original Brown {2006}

 

 

Crazy Red {2007}

 

Blondie {2008}

 

24

Probably one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. 

Possibly ever created. 

In the last six {6} months Ty and I watched all, I mean ALL of seasons 1-8.

A little obsessive. Yes. That's why it's on my Saturday's Obsessions :) 

We just finished the last episode of the last season last night and I'm not gonna lie, I cried. 

That ending really gets ya.

{ps. what's up with the backstabbing, betraying female characters???}

Boyfriend Sweaters

I have a black one that I have had for probably 3 years.

I wear it everywhere.

Almost everyday.

I probably need a new one actually.

Hmm....

What are your obsessions?

Love, JM

Morning Pages.

I recently discovered Julia Cameron's website. She's my new writing heroine. I did a couple reviews on her book, The Right to Write. There are some super good resources on her site that she uses for writing and creativity and has made available to the public. 

 What I love most about her is that she is not just a big shot teacher/writer. She teaches what she does herself. "Herself an award-winning poet, playwright, and filmmaker, she has written thirty books, ranging from her widely-praised, hard-hitting crime novel The Dark Room to her volumes of children's poems and prayers." 

One of the tools she requires of all her students is the Morning Pages exercise.  "Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages-- they are not high art. They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind-- and they are for your eyes only." 

So I will be starting this tomorrow morning. I have my over-sized journal and my blue pen [i love writing in blue] neatly stacked on my new free desk [thanks jo!] and the coffee maker set on a timer. 

Try it with me! And let me know how it goes. 

Happy Writing.

Love, JM

Here's a video of her talking about this exercise...be warned, its a little boring but the content is good :)

Breathing, Singing, & Praying.

“This is how we live spiritually—we breathe in the air by prayer, and we breathe it out by praise! 

This is the holy respiration of a Christian’s life! Prayer and praise must be mingled in a divinely wise proportion and then they make a sweet incense, acceptable to God. 

I hope we can say that we have never finished praying but that we feel we must begin singing, and that we have never finished singing but that we must begin praying! 

What a blessed interchange this makes for the whole of life!”

—Charles Spurgeon 1895, Sermon

On Writer's Block

I think I have writer's block. There was a season at the beginning of the year when I was crazy inspired to write and write and write. I would write about anything and everything. Then Summer  came and went and the book stayed unopened, un-edited, and unwritten. Then one night Ty and I had a bit of an argument and after agreeing to disagree I laid in bed wide awake, mentally begging God to let me sleep.

I inevitably gave up on the idea of sleep and got up. I washed the tears from my face, opened my computer and unloaded everything onto my book. I mostly unloaded on God. I told him I was angry. I told him I was afraid. I told him I was just really mean to my husband, as if He'd missed that one. I told him that this book was taking too much time. That I didn't think I was ready for it. But then my mind began to open and I recognized [by God's sweet and gentle grace] that I was the problem. I was feeling overwhelmed because I had lost sight of the goal. The purpose. I wrote these words that night:

I don't want to remember.

I don't want to be afraid anymore.

I don't want to be angry or fearful.

I want to be free. I want relief. I want rest. But I know God is working.

I wish I could give you the whole chapter because it was the most real thing I've written in all the chapters. It was like everything I was trying to neatly and precisely to put onto paper came out in the mess of that night. It was real life. It is far from precise. It is so not neat. When I read it back, I could see a scared girl crying out to her God and her God reaching down and touching her soul. Rest did not come that night, but peace did. 

Oh the sweetness of peace. 


-JM

Saturday Obessions.

Decorative Pumpkins.

Especially now that it's fall, pumpkins in the house are an automatic mood booster. There is something weirdly comforting about them. Pretty ones that is. Scary ones, not so much. Use your discretion ;) These are two of my favorites so far.

Brooke Fraser's New Album: Flags

I cannot wait for this album to come out. Plus, Ty and I are going to her CA concert :) This girl is a chameleon. She can lead worship with such awe and reverence and then flip a switch and sing fun, catchy, yet profound lyrics...that she wrote! I hope you are as captivated as me. 

Photography

I have alot of photography savvy friends. Though I cannot shoot myself, I love to admire their work. Here are some of them. 

Faithfully Focused

Lukabella

Oopsy Daisy

Lukabella

What have you been obsessed with lately?

Love, JM

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

 As many of you know, for me the Christmas season starts on October 1st. I started this tradition freshman year of college and will continue it forever. [Literally. In heaven I'm gonna convince Jesus to make it a tradition.] My argument remains the same after all these years:

There is too much good Christmas music to listen to for only one month out of the year.

Now with everyone and their mother and brother and uncles re-recording the oldies, I'm thinking October might not even be early enough...[haha just kidding babe.] In college I would wake up all my dorm mates to Martina McBrides Holiday Album blasting through the hallway. They may have hated me then, but now it brings back all those fond memories ;) Right girls?? 

So, the For-Sures on the Music menu this year are:

Colbie & Jason

Carrie Underwood's Christmas Special

Christmas with the Chipmunks 2010

Point of Grace Tennessee Christmas

A Fine Frenzy Blue Christmas

and of course, This Guy

Happy Listening!

Love, JM

PS. Merry Christmas: