I'm sharing this because its just one more declarative song of to add to your library of All-or-Nothingness :)

For Once In My Life

Why we tryin to live like
There's no consequences
They tell us how to live right
We get all defensive
That's not the way that life works (life works)
Sorry to bust your bubble (bubble)
Every day that we don't change just leads to more n more trouble, yeah
I'm not lookin for a cop-out, lookin for excuses
I've made those for my whole life
I'm ready for a change, yeah I'm really ready for a change

Don't know about you I made up my mind
I ain't playin games, we runnin out of time
We made such a mess already, this ain't the best I can be
So you can keep playin I ain't got the patience
We ain't little kids no more, no more
I'm a gonna do the right thing, say (do the right thing)
I'm a gonna do the right thing, say (do the right thing)

For once in my life, I'm a good being passive (passive)
Lookin for shortcuts and fast lanes
I'm a do whatever it takes even if it hurts me even if it breaks me
Tired of livin my life half-hearted never finishin what I started
These dreams that I've disregarded, time to grab hold again
I'm not lookin for a cop-out, lookin for excuses
Made those my whole life
Oh I'm ready for a change, oh I'm ready for a change

For once in my life, my life my life my life
For once in my life, my life my life yeah

When my life is over, I don't wanna look back and say
Oh, that I held it all back (held it all back) and I got nothin' to show for

I'll let it all go now so it all doesn't go to waste
For once in my life I decided I'm ready for a change

I, don't know about you I made up my mind
I ain't playin games, we runnin out of time
Made such a mess already, and this ain't the best I can be
So you can keep playin I ain't got the patience
We ain't little kids no more, no more
I'm a gonna do the right thing, say (do the right thing)
I'm a gonna do the right thing, say (do the right thing)

Don't know about you, I made up my mind
I ain't playin games, runnin out of time
I'm a do the right thing, do the right thing
Do the right thing, do the right thing
You can keep playin I ain't got the patience
We ain't little kids no more
I'm a do the right thing, do the right thing
Do the right thing, do the right thing

For once in my life, my life my life my life
For once in my life, my life my life... my life

I'm just wondering.

Sometimes I'm just afraid to tell people the truth because confrontation isn't a strength.
Other times I'm afraid for them - that they might not be able to handle it.

My sister Peace and I began this conversation today and I'm wondering what you think.

If someone tells you that they don't like you, are you ok with that?  Do you need an explanation of why? Do you suddenly feel the need to make them like you?

If someone points out your character flaws, can you handle it? Do you appreciate that they care enough to tell you what's up? Or would you prefer they ignore those things?

I feel like the average person can't handle the truth.  I've had situations where I've put off telling someone the truth for years because I knew it wouldn't go to well.

Im just feeling lately that the average person doesn't really know how to handle the truth and so they go on ignoring the obvious to the point where they are living a lie or parts of lies.

Just processing.

I love Jeff Goins. He's a full-time writer who sends out daily blogs about writing, discipline, and entrepreneurism (is that a word?). His stuff is challenging and occasionally it makes me stop and really think about the "what" of what I'm doing, but more importantly the "how" and "why". 

Jeff recently wrote a post called  "The Three Levels of Commitment". It's a really great post that will help you determine how serious you are about your dreams, passions. I never thought of it this way, but your commitment to something can either be...

1. An Adventure (fleeting and temporary)

2. A season (for a certain time period)

3. Marriage (long-term)

I especially love this post b/c it makes me think of this whole "All or Nothing" theme and what it means to give your full attention to a pursuit - whether it's for a brief moment in time or indefinitely.  You could also literally apply this to the relationships in your life, which i think is cool :)  Read it!

Check out her fine, fine bodyguards :)

I've always told people that somewhere down the line, maybe when I get older and "settle down", I would like to own and run a hostel - a place for world travelers to come and be refreshed during their travels. It would be a cozy home with many rooms, group dinners, a lovely porch, and concerts in the living room. It would be home away from home.

Tonight, after a weekend of house concerts, I am reminded of what it means to really care for people for no other reason except that you want to bless them and give them that home away from home. The folks who housed us and welcomed us into their families truly blessed us; and I am heading back to Pittsburgh with more energy than when I left.

A few years back, while passing through Lancaster, I found this "Home Away From Home" sign at a yard sale. I immediately snagged it. A friend who was with me asked, "so where's home then?" My response was "away from home." The sign has been hanging on the front door of my house for the past 3 years as a reminder to welcome visitors into my house with open arms and to make them feel comfortable and wanted.

So this is a shoutout to the Edivans and the Bazer family for a wonderful weekend in North Carolina and Virginia. Thank you for being Jesus to us and for showering us with love.

Love to you!

Peace and I played a house concert last night at this beautiful home in Raleigh, NC. We're still here and we do not want to leave. :)
The couple are world travelers and they designed their backyard garden based off of gardens they've seen while visiting other countries.  It's hard to tell from this photo but this place is beautiful!

In the center is a grassy area in the shape of a heart (!) surrounded by beds of flowers and bushes. Behind that is  a tropical garden!! And behind that is a tiki  hut!  What!!!  I wish you could see this with your own eyes. The picture does not do it justice and you're currently only seeing 60% of the whole thing.

It's so peaceful here!  They couple and their kids are awesome by the way!!

"princess, i want to let you understand that if God use 1hr to creat each person, am sure
He would have spent 10 hrs to creat you because you are uniquely made,ur beauty
to my senses is beyond human explanation.if love can be injected,
i would have beg u to allow the doctor to start giving u hundred injection daily for ten years
so that you can feel the same way like me in love because iam fully loaded with love.?
pls , reply and i love u"

I don't know what you think, but this is pretty...

ALL.OR.NOTHING! :)