A Sloppy Wet Kiss...Really?

"Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss..." [line @ 4:04 in the video below]






That's all I heard when I first heard this song and was WAY over it WAY fast. The song wasn't bad. And it wasn't necessarily completely theologically wrong, but it just was weird right? Most everyone thinks so as well, but I wrote the song off completely because of that strange line. Even though that was just one little sliver of the song. Hadn't listened to it since. 


Then Ty put it in the youth worship rotation and assigned it to me to sing.


Blurg. 


I actually laughed at him, thinking he was joking because he knew I thought it was weird. [In the most respectful way of course...] But he wasn't so I downloaded the Kim Walker/Jesus Culture [the video above] version of the song and listened to it approx. 10 times in a row. My world was rocked. I had never really listened to any of the other lyrics until then and I physically felt the weight of those words. 


It exposed me to a whole new dimension of knowing just how much God actually loves me and how much my afflictions, my troubles in life are shadowed, eclipsed, by His glory. He covers me. He takes care of me. He really really really really loves me.


And that my friends, overwhelms me. But it also urges me. It urges me and burns my heart to tell everyone about God's faithfulness, His power, and His love. He's real. And He loves you. So so so very much. 


So dear John Mark, I am sorry I judged your song. I love it. I'm a fan. But I did change that line...

-What do YOU think of the Song? 
-Like it, hate it, weirded out by it??
-And does your church change that line?

A Tall Glass of Water

A Tall Glass of Water

I'm at my kitchen table. It's a little dusty and needs to be wiped down. I wish life didn't get away from me so fast. The only sounds echoing in my one bedroom apartment is the loud consistent hum of the refrigerator and my husband's affectionate patting of our 8 year old black lab. I should be entering into dream world at this moment but my mind is buzzing with ideas and weak inspiration for my pathetic writing career. 

Everyone dreams of someday doing someone else's job. I dream of writing while sitting here in my humble abode with my tall glass of crystal clear water, when somewhere in the world, perhaps where the sun is rising or the summer heat is beginning to burn, there is someone wishing the led worship for a living. 

We all grasp. We all thirst. We all crave more. Some out of discontentment [myself included] but that is not always the case. 

Sometimes, like tonight, there is a burning my heart for something more despite my own satisfaction in my current season of life and state of being. I'm not sure what it is. Someone, somewhere has to have named it already. I'm sure I'll figure it out the same way they did. But til then, I'm just going to write, dream, wish, pray and drink my tall glass of water. 

June Round-Up// I'm Gonna Miss this Month

Oh California, where our weather's as bi-polar as our residents. Summer finally decided to show up this past week. It averaged 90 degrees and was the heavenly for sun-bathing and bbqs. Yes, it's July already. 


Here's my favorite posts from my favorite month. I love June. It was a good June. 

My JOB: My Days in Photos

So You Wanna Start a Blog

A Letter to My Brother on His Wedding Day

My Blogging Story Part 1
My Blogging Story Part 2
My Blogging Story Part 3
My Blogging Story Part 4
My Blogging Story Part 5

Toddlers in the Age of Marriage: On Our Anniversary


Happy Perusing!


So, What are you doing for the 4th of July? 


Love,

#Follow #Friday

Today's #Follow #Friday is a little girly. 

I would apologize but I can't. These are soooooo good. At least I think so. So happy reading and let me know who you're reading these days! I always need more things to read and pretty things to look at!

 Lune Vintage: Lunes online shop features both hand selected vintage collections from Lune Vintage and original designs created by Jill for her line Love Lune. The Lune blog is nearing its 4th year, and continues to be a source of creative business and lifestyle inspiration for readers worldwide. 

Food Coma: For you foodies and foodie photogs. This is Emma. She owns a catering business and works alongside her sister at Red Velvet. {Her sister's blog is one of my frequent faves!} I've tried a few of her recipes and I'm a fan. Pictures are pretty to look at as well. 

One Sheepish Girl: She knits. Alot. And is good. I found this girl because of her "Blogging with Confidence" series she's been doing. I love it. She's a shy girl that is working on breaking out. Red lipstick and all ;) I dont wanna knit, but I love her writing style and her personality.

Olivines Charm School: I'm going to give you her own written bio because it's so good :) "Here you are encouraged to immerse yourself in style, beauty, juicy health and (self) love as well as pretty things, inspiration and incredible tools. Being a full time stay at home mom, I’ll frequently share tips and advice for women and mothers looking to start their own business and manifest their pleasure-filled dreams." {BIO}


Happy Reading! Soak up some sunshine eh?


Love,

Toddlers in the Age of Marriage

I woke up this morning to my husband standing by the bed with a freshly picked rose in his hand [insert "awww's here]. I'm not exactly sure where he got that rose, and if any neighbors are reading this and you're missing one, just know it went to fan the flame of love. :) We laid in bed talking about how crazy it is that two years have flown by so fast and how much we've been through, accomplished, and fought. 


I realized, in this moment, that age of marriage is kind of like the ages of children. We hit 2 today. We are "toddlers" in the age of marriage. We know enough to walk about and experience the world, but we still fall more times than we don't. 


Ty and I both agree that this last year was a smoother sailing than our first [here's a video on that one]. We are learning how to talk like grown ups. Our vocabulary has increased from "wahhhhh" and "wahhhh" to "i feel sad" and "you hurt my feelings" and "you smell good".


I know that any of you married and reading this will agree and have more than a blogs worth of advice, but if there's a running theme I've heard today from dear loved ones in the stages of "teenage" and "adult" marriages its, it's tough so worth it. 


To that I say, touche. 

In 3 hours our marriage will be on it's way to 3. Not sure what's going to happen in the next 365 days, but I'm glad I have my BFF by my side. 


I love you Tyson Morlet. 
More than you'll ever know. 
I can't wait to grow old with you and learn how to ride bikes together. 
I can't wait til we raise a family and marrying them off. 
I can't wait to move all around the world [hint, hint] and buy a house boat. 
I can't wait to spoil our grandchildren and one day be pros at this marriage thing. 
But til then, I am glad that I'm learning with you. 
Only you.


Love,

2 Years and Counting// Where it all Began

Today is my 2 year anniversary with this amazing guy. It has been a good, long and windy road for us and we're never shy about it. We know that marriage is hard. We know that marriage is good. But we also know that that's pretty much all we know haha. Throughout the day I will be posting some of my thoughts on marriage and love from a rookie's perspective. Not really advice, just experiences.

But first! Though most of you know our love story or lived it with us, I thought it highly appropriate to visit where this day all began. So here is the recap of the Morlet Real Life Fairytale.

We fight, we quarrel, we kiss and makeup. Repeat. Our marriage isn't perfect but it's a Morlet Real Life Fairytale.

Enjoy.

::I only put segments below. For each full story click on the "read more" links at the end of each segment::

On my golden birthday, the man of my dreams knelt down on one knee and asked me, Julianna Hallworth, to be his wife. Through a song of course. Music is the Morlet way. I don't remember if I even said yes, but the sobbing and the hugging and the kissing might have given him his answer. The rest of the evening was spent with bubbling friends and relatives, smiling and laughing, reminiscing and dreaming of everything wedding and marriage. I'm pretty sure grandbabies were a hit topic as well. It was truly the beginning of forever. Read more.

It was seriously perfect. Relaxing. Amazing. Beautiful. Christ-centered. Smooth. Fun. Perfect. These are the words that describe our wedding day. It is definitely one for history books. With 600 friends and family, 11 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen, 4 flower girls, and 2 ring bearers surrounding us, I felt so much love, hope, and happiness from the hearts of people who have been praying for us, loving on us, and encouraging us through this journey. But the thing that I am most satisfied in my heart about is that not one single person could have walked away that day doubting they heard the message of Jesus Christ and the purpose of His Church. The ceremony was exquisite. Tyson and I could not stop talking about it our whole honeymoon. The way everything flowed and the words of wisdom all the pastors had for us (there were four of them) made our wedding the most memorial day in my life. The Lord was most definitely the focal point and for that we are grateful. It was our prayer that nothing would distracted from such. And I believe that prayer was answered. Read more.

Anyways, so now that we are coming up on our year anniversary, the marriage beautifully solidifying, God decided to bait and switch me. A couple months ago, Ty was presented with an amazing opportunity to study and lead under the ministry of our High School pastor (now exec. over Student Ministries), Steve Salomon. Amazing guy with an amazing passion for God. He has been Ty’s mentor and his friend. His faith in my husband makes me fall in love with Tyson all over again. Every one of the God given gifts, characteristics, and talents [my man can teach the Word!] that Steve has affirmed in Ty, I already knew, but to see another great man of faith encouraging him, bragging on him, and putting complete confidence in him makes my heart just want to jump out of my skin. Read more.

In one of our pre-marriage counseling sessions, our pastor warned us that, for us specifically, our first year was going to make us or break us. After we heard that encouraging news, we decided that breaking us was not an option. From then on, every time we got to that breaking point we asked ourselves the golden question: Are we choosing to make it through this one or are we choosing to let it break us apart? Read more.

Love,

My Blogging Story: Part 5

*In light of the publishing of my new e-course [So You Wanna Start a Blog], I have written out my own personal blogging story. Today is the last day, Part 5. Need to catch up? Here you go: Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 and Part 4]*


Chapter Five

Blogging is more than just my hobby. It is my very own window into the world. I've said many times before that everyone blogs for different reasons. I have also said that mine is because I love to hear, tell, and create stories for all the world to experience. [Not every story of course, but most ;)] I want so bad for people to know you are not alone. 


I want you to laugh with relief that you're not the only ones who makes mistakes at being a husband or wife. 
I want you to cry and comfort because you know what it feels like to lose a child. 
I want you to offer advice or wisdom to the younger generation.
I want the younger generations to ask you for help and direction.
I want to connect people to people because we can't do this life on our own. And sometimes we just need someone to bridge that gap of awkwardness for us. That first instigated interaction. That's what I want this blog to be.


I'm not 100% sure what that looks like yet, but I'm trying. And if you have any suggestions they are more than welcomed.

But to start, here are my blogging goals for the rest of 2011:

 I want to have more guest posts/speakers interviewed on the JM blog, talking about real life issues.

 I want my blog to be a platform for things that connect people for the purpose of relationship and encouragement.

 I want to help people feel again, love again, trust again, learn again, and grow again.

Today is the last day of my blogging story. I hope that it has given you so inspiration to start your own blog or gain a new perspective on the one you already have. 


I have enjoyed every bit of recounting this journey I am on. And thank you for coming with me. Without you I'd be writing into the abyss of nothingness, but I guess that's ok too.


The End.

**Wanna blog but don't know where to start? Let me help you! Go here. 

My Blogging Story: Part 4

*In light of the publishing of my new e-course [So You Wanna Start a Blog], I am writing out my own personal blogging story. Today is Part 4. Need to catch up? Here you go: Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3.]*


Chapter Four
In the last 3 years of blogging, I have had both good and bad days. In blogging, in the very beginning, the journey can be a bit of a hit and miss. You're still finding your niche. In the beginning, not all your posts will fit into what you hope to be. At least for me they didn't. 


I just wrote. I wrote what I felt, from my current state of emotions to that annoying charlie horse that kept coming back. I didn't know what my blog focus was or even who was reading it. Most importantly, I didnt know who I wanted to read it. It was just, well, there. 


So once I began honing in on the message and purpose of my blog [you can read more about that in my new and improved ABOUT page and my START HERE page.] and writing nearly everyday, my posts began to transform. For the better. Mostly. 


So here is my blast to the past, post evolution for your reading pleasure. 

 My Worst Blogging Idea ever: My P90X adventure...[why oh why did i do this?]



My Best post to date [in my opinion]: Just Trying to Figure This Out...[this post was a turning point in both my life and my blogging. It was the most real thing I've posted.]



The All-time Reader Fave: It's Time, A Time to be Born and a Time to Die...[For some reason this post has been #1 since it was posted last August. It's near and dear to my heart.] 


Moral of the story: Develop a purpose. Who and what are you blogging for? What are you trying to say? 


Here are some more favorite posts. Just because.
-10 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started Leading Worship
-Dear Satan
-Hospital Room
-What I Feel Vs. What I Know
-My Miracle Baby
-My Birthday Wish
-It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To

Happy Thursday!

Love,

**Interested in blogging but don't know where to start? I wanna help you tell your stories! Read more here.*