Hello April

Today was a very good day. I accomplished a very nice amount. Yes, I am an achiever (my top strength according to the strengths finder test we have to take upon arriving at Greenville).

Writing has been so good lately. Ok, The last time I wrote a whole new song was almost two weeks ago. But it doesn't feel that way. I don't feel like I'm gasping for inspiration. I feel like all the extra work I've done and rewriting I've done on older songs has kept me completely full, and I'm so excited about a lot of new songs right now. New songs as in, yet to be performed publicly.

Zach and I have been collaborating with Storm Sharrett, a good friend of ours. It's been fab. Really really fab. Zach and I work really well together, but it's given us a good perspective. I absolutely love cowriting. I love the rewriting process. I think I've actually gotten a lot better at it. I used to hate changing things, but now I love it. I love the feeling when all of a sudden the right melody happens. Literally... it's like all of a sudden a problem just vanishes, and good news abounds. It's a beautiful moment.

I've gotten a rhythm with rewriting. I have been writing a lot lately, and I feel like every time I go to the piano something good happens. I'm looking forward to this month. I'll be performing more than I have recently.

Also, The Madison Letter EP comes out April 15th. Formerly known as the Clayton Jones Band... the EP is so good. Recall in January when Zach and I were in Nashville. We were there for a few reasons, and one of them was recording with the band. I sang in We're Gonna Make It. It sounds so awesome... I'm so excited for the release. The band sounds fab, and I'm just excited to sing with them more this month.

I expect you faithful followers of this blog to buy the EP on April 15th on itunes. Seriously, they are great. You'll like their music. I love it.

Clayton and I cowrote a little bit the beginning of the semester. It was great. Zach is filling in for electric guitar in the band this semester. It's been cool.

I've been in a peachy mood the past few days. For a few reasons.

First off, I've started a goal for the month of April. Reading 10 chapters a day in the New Testament. I know. It's a lot. Trust me I know this well. I usually read smaller portions at a time so I can digest it better, but I read the idea in a book, and it was something I decided I would do. This means I'll be reading the entire New Testament by the end of the month. That's pretty spectacular... I just need to be filled with the Word of God. I've been anxious and just not at rest in my spirit. So much is about to shift in my life. Graduation is more and more of a reality with each passing day. It's unreal. But it is real. And I just need peace, and I need discernment as I'm making decisions. So much to be thinking about. And I've gotten so lazy with my relationship with God.

You know... some people might disagree with how open I am about things like this. For example, I just told you I'm aiming to read 10 chapters a day in the Bible... some may feel like I'm pulling a "holier than thou" crap. But I don't give a rip about that. I think the Body of Christ ought to share things like this. True if I were doing this out of pride that's lame. But I don't think I am. I think it's encouraging to hear what other Christians are going through and what they're doing about it. So I dunno... be encouraged I guess. And try it. Cause it rocks my world.

I feel like I've been somewhat transformed... I can hardly handle so much of the Bible. I want to take a year and dwell on so many little things. But I guess that's a new way to look at "being filled with the Word." It's to the point I feel like I can hardly handle it all. I can't take it all in. I like that. It's a cool feeling. It's cool to be experiencing it.

Yesterday Elijah, Michael, Haley and I went for an outing. We went for a walk down to Wayne's Produce, and on our way we stopped at an antique shop, and then at the Greenville Museum. It was so much fun. We just did whatever we felt like. The sun was so warm, and the wind was as well. So it was ok.

Then we got a bunch of fruit, and stopped at IGA to get some extra odds and ends. We set up our perch on the back of a wooden trailer behind the Kelsey Building by the train tracks, and ate our fruit. It was wonderful. One of the best times I've had on a weekend in Greenville. Just simple, with wonderful friends and good weather, and fabulous fruit.

Let the good times roll. I'm not really interested in any way in letting these last precious weeks of Greenville go by without being wonderful and embraced.

I love life.