j-sayin: day2day

day2day

How Napping is Ruining My Life (feat. Psychic Hand Lotion)

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, by J Padre

day2day

Justifying a $13 bottle of Ginger Beer

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, by J Padre

day2day

I was going through some old film photos the other day, and I thought I'd share a few. The first two were taken dayz on dayz ago in my sandy hometown, and the last two were taken while I've been living in the Puget Sound area. I like 35mm a lot; it just gets sor expensive to develop. I wish I had more time to get out and play with my camera this summer because sunny season in the Pacific Northwest is unbelievably photogenic.

Torrey Pines Reserve (San Diego, CA)

Torrey Pines Beach (San Diego, CA)

Cougar Mountain Park Reserve (Bellevue, WA)

Mt. Hood, Oregon

I can't believe it's been a whole dang year since I moved here *insert 5 gasp emojis*. I am constantly needing to remind myself that I live in Seattle because it just feels so normal. If you told me a year ago where I am today, I'd probably chuckle and begrudgingly shrug it off. It's astounding the amount of change undergone in such a [seemingly] short span of time. I get so caught up in the routine of starting and finishing different stages of life - classes, jobs, projects, etc. I live day in and day out moving from point A to point B trying so desperately to keep my head above water. It's a crazy feeling waking up one morning and realizing an entire year has gone by.

I am insurmountably grateful for all of what this year has brought. The tiny nuggets of wisdom, imperative doses of humility, and acquired callouses on my psyche have strengthened my bones and encased my heart. One year older. One year stronger. One year smarter. I look forward to another year of growth and insight, but most importantly, another year of finding those beams of light - the ones that peak through your window sill glimmering with the afternoon sun reflected off a million swirling dust particles - that make you step back and say "Wow. I'm so happy to be alive!"

I hate getting all heavy and meta soulful, but sometimes it'll start to happen and I have no choice but to accept it and keep writing. If it brought you down, I'd recommend chewing on a muffin or something (because they're cute and their job description is to lift you up when yous feelin down, namsayin?). If you do that, feel free to let me know how it goes! I assure you that it will 100% make my day.

Take some time to explore this week, little ducks! Break out of that old routine. I guarantee it'll freshen up your entire week.

Jazz hands,

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, by J Padre

day2day

Cinnamon Raisin Toast & Colossians 1

I'm starting to get real fond of Saturday mornings as of late.

Today I enjoyed a nice b-fast consisting of cinnamon raison toast wiff peaunut buttah, chopped strawburburries, & bananas accompanied a mediocre dirty chai that I tried to make sans an espresso machine. All of this was savored in tandem with some q time with the Word and mi journal. So if you're interested in some ramblings on Colossians 1, read on!

{ Colossians 1 }

This message is from Paul & Timothy to the people of Colossae, who are super kewl because Paul and Timothy specifically thank God for their extreme faith in Christ and love they show for His people. The first half of this chapter essentially serves as a shout out as well as a reminder to the Colossians to keep on keepin' on, while the second half goes on to paint of picture of Jesus and his purpose:

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)

I like this verse because it touches upon the whole concept of "before-ness" - how God was before everything - and also how Jesus is the glue that holds everything together. He's the force behind gravity that binds our universe and everything in it. Without Him, everything would fall apart. He's what makes life prosper, time continue, and the world go 'round. Cool.

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." (Colossians 1:18)

There's that whole "before" thing again. Hm.

"But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - " (Colossians 1:22)

There you have it, folks; the entire gospel wrapped up in two dozen words.

"... If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel..." (Colossians 1:23)

Annnd there's that big "if." You knew it was coming.

Alright, so the wonderful and awesome Christ Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. **Totally just quoted the Apostle's Creed #yolo

Jesus was a physican MANifestation of God and lived his life preachin' the Gospel. He listened to the smallest voices, recognized the tiniest characters, spent q time with the socially unaccepted, and gave them all hope. True, unyielding, and insurmountable hope. The people's lives of whom he touched became brighter, fuller, and happier. No longer were they weighed down by the burden of their sin as their focus was now shifted to the freedom found in the grace of God.

A problem that I face in my own journey of faith is that lack of focus. We often get preoccupied with being better Christ followers (*and making others be better christ followers*) that we forget the whole message of the gospel in the first place. Instead of setting our hearts on loving God and loving his people, we start to nitpick. We focus on those "blemishes," burdened with "accusations." If something (or someone) doesn't align with our beliefs and our values, we build up a big, concrete wall with a huge red "x" on it. We cut out others - who are just as much a son or daughter of God as we are - in the attempt to lead a Christ like life. By doing so, we are diminishing our hope held out in the gospel; we are denying a part of God's creation in order to protect our own personal standing in His eyes. Kind of selfish, don't you think?

Anywho, those are just a few of the thoughts I had this morning while dissecting this passage. I guess since this is a religiously affiliated post, I need to follow up with a disclaimer that I'm so not here to fault or judge anyone. Totally not on my agenda, ever. We are all on different journeys, hold different beliefs, and lead different lives. It's never my intention to deny anyone of what they believe in because, frankly, it's not my place. I just like learning more about Jesus. The purpose of posts like this is regardless of whether or not anyone reads it. It's just my way of growing in my faith and having something to personally reflect on later in life.

People are cool; they're unique and each one has something special to bring to the table. I, personally, have a hard time faulting anyone for that.

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, by J Padre

day2day

How My Life Is Kind of New Girl

Story time!

Once upon a time, in a land very damp, three dudes and one gal moved in together to reduce their cost of living. The result? Chaos.

(Not really.)

Instead, it's a daily collection of madness, musings, and music that often make me wish we had a camera rolling to document our insanity. We're just your average young adults trying to schlep our way through this topsy turvy world we call life - which, at the moment, looks something like an on-going journey to make rent, finish school, and take over the world. We are a cultural melting pot of engineers, artists, entrepreneurs, and *occasional* dirt bags living under the same roof during - quite possibly - the most transitional years in our lives.

As I sit here in our small dream catcher kitchen, with a sink full of dishes and a left over Domino's box on the counter, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. Living with three 20 year old fellas is tough (and smelly) sometimes, but it most definitely has it's moments.

Like the other day, when I was taking my daily post work power nap, and was awoken to the snazzy [and loud] sounds of D-Money on the ukulele, Kev on the trombone, and R-Slim on the sax covering Beirut's "Post Cards from Italy." Or most mornings, when I wake up to the kitchen and bathroom covered in sarcastic sticky notes. Or when someone comes home with a hand crank mixer they got from Goodwill just because it was cool and they wanted it. Or when Ramulus flies his quad copter into my room and lands it on my head. Or when Dan comes home and says things like, "I left class early 'cause I was cold."

All these little firecracker moments light up mi heart and make me so dang happy to be living with these 3 guys. They're some of the shiniest diamonds in the rough, and life without them would be thoroughly and exorbitantly boring. I may not have the most pristine bathroom or the emotional affirmation I need sometimes, but I do get three funky brothers to lean on. Life with these duders is simple and uncomplicated. Shout out to the kewlest roomiez on the block!

beeg hug beeg kees,