Tiny Light

I think everyone has a dream that is in no way possible for so many reasons. Impossible barriers that would keep you from being able to live out that dream. Well my barriers are simply I can not sing and my musical instrument skills are limited. But by no means has that stopped me from trying.

When I was just a young little blonde thing I loved to put on a show. Give me a bathing suit and cowboy boots and I was unstoppable. My love of music started early and I eventually took on the challenge of learning to play the violin. I am a decent violinist. I love playing. This love of music even led to a few electric bass moments. I dreamed of being a rockstar. An incredibly talented, wild woman who showed the world her skills and passion for music(while looking incredibly trendy and chic).

Karen O

My favorite band in high school was the YeahYeahYeahs. I always gravitated to bands with a strong woman volcalist. And Karen O was no exception. In 2003 the song Maps was released and even though its been almost a decade her voice is still in my head. Its been a longgg time since I have heard a woman share this intense rock, edgy sound. In my opinion no woman has been able to share these qualities in recent years, until now.

The other night a friend insisted on showing me video after video of his favorite music. I say insisted, but that doesn’t mean I was not completely eager to hear music that I had yet to stumble upon. One video stuck out amongst the others because she shared that intense wild voice and wild indie vibes of Karen O.

Grace Potter.

My latest obsession.

She is insanely talented and I am shocked I have not heard her before (except for her little duo with Kenny Chesney. But You&Tequila does not do her justice.But it’s niccce).

Grace Potter.

My Favs:

Tiny Light

Paris

That Phone

Things I Never Needed

Even though not all my childhood dreams are feasible or even what I want anymore, I am glad I can listen to amazing artists like Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

Listening and dancing all the way to my dreams! 

-SJP

Let it Rain

My world in college has been busy and full of meetings, play dates, and fun times with friends. 

Oh yes, and studying and trying to get a degree. Couldn’t forget that one could I?!

 But the start of a new semester is always interesting. There usually are a few weeks of getting into the “new” normal of what life will look like. But this semester I am no longer holding any leadership positions and I am seriously not sure what to do with my time. My life is pretty ordinary on days even on days when the weirdest things happen to me. But sometimes it seems too predictable. Don’t get me wrong, but on days like today when all I want is an outrageous adventure and the bright sun beating on my skin, the reality of pouring rain and a day of gym,classes, and laundry just doesn’t quite do it for me.

They say when it rains, it pours. Living in Knoxville, TN. It never just rains. It only pours. Today was no exception and it poured all day. Since yesterday was a holiday Alpha Delta Pi’s Monday night meeting was moved to tonight. With the rain causing a blah mood for me and the only thing I wanted to do was cuddle up with a book (lame. I know. I am a nerdy girl at heart). I did not want to get dressed up.made up. just to show up at Panhellenic for meeting. But at the last minute I raced to get ready in my pin attire and made it just in time. I am SO glad I did.

Not only would missing meeting make me look a little bit lazy when I was not there to transition in front of our entire chapter to formally hand over my title as Recruitment Vice President to the lovely new RVP, but I would have missed the new chaplain give her first address to the chapter. She read from a book called, “His Princess” by Sheri Rose Shepherd.

“My Princess, it is never too late to turn to Me, My love. I didn’t start a countdown when I gave you the choice between life and death. There is no time limit on My love for you. I am patient, yet I don’t want you to miss out on any precious time with Me. There is no place you have to go to find Me. Just cry out to Me, and I will come to you. Wherever you’ve gone My grace has followed you. Whatever you’ve done My blood has covered you. Come to me today and I will do more than repair the damage…I will restore what was lost. Someday you will look back on this moment as the turning point that transformed you into the princess I called you to be. Now come to Me, and let’s fall in love all over again.

 –You King who knows no limits”

dancing in the rain.

The transition of new ADPi officers and a new year brought a beautiful reminder that God is there to be my comforter, calling me back to Him always even in the ordinary days when life is just, well life.

-SJP

Little Red Rodeo

Tomorrow is my last first day of classes. The past month I spent at home in Franklin, TN was just the break I needed with my family to come back for the grand finale. Full of typical Payne Family fun of course. Parades, festivals, board games, family dinners (including one with a coworker of Robyn’s. A nice Indian man who did not eat meat). Then there was the repeated theme that most people were always asking about and a popular small chat topic of conversation with distant relatives. 

The question : 

What are you doing after graduation? 

Their guesses are as good as mine.

My top career dreams are as follows:

-Own a greeting card boutique in Hillsboro Village. I would design my own line of cards while also stocking other trendy cute card lines.

-Become the next Diane Sawyer. Incredibly classy woman. I stopped watching Good Morning America when she went to the nightly news and have been a Today Show woman ever since.

-Write and Illustrate Children’s Books. I have one complete. I will get it published before I die. 

But with everyone’s questioning and others comforting advice all I figured out was the simple fact that I don’t need to figure it out. I spend so much time trying to do everything I need justtttt right, but being at home I was reminded that my life has a plan, a plan that was created long before Robyn Watkins and Jim Payne even laid eyes on each other back in the day living their own college dreams. I am blessed by incredible parents who have taught me many life lessons, which are so much easier, said than done.

One night this Christmas Break I was battling the art of a cover letter. And when I say battling, it was a war of words. Nothing sounded quite right. The balance to make it professional yet memorable was frustrating me. After my frustrations got the best of me (and my loving supportive dad) I finally had a cover letter that I felt confident in sending to the employer. Robyn made a great point as she witnessed this interaction between Jimmy and I.  She asked if I truly believed God had control. I said of course I do. She proceeded to make the point that God asks us to trust him in the plan, and me agonizing over a few wording issues would not make or break the plan.

As I begin my last first day of classes tomorrow, my plan goes out the window.

 (I also will not be wearing a duck sweater, but I doubt this means I will go all day without something wild happening to me. If you are unaware of the duck sweater story, it is well worth your time reading that past blog entry.)

 God’s plan and timing will be better than I can imagine. I don't want to live this semester focused on how my glory days will be ending, but more focused on how life after graduation will hold many new&outrageous chapters.

 My life in this moment will be filled with nothing less than an abundance of love, adventure, and success.

-SJP