Two songs today folks! Yesterday I got the chance to fill in on keys with one of the other worship bands. I love nearly everything about playing in a worship band (not the early mornings) but one of my favourite parts is hanging out with everyone backstage. The conversations that go on when you put a group of creative musician types in a room together are usually hilarious. And hard to keep up with. Yesterday, we had music sharing time in which we all gathered around someone’s phone to watch Youtube videos. And I was introduced to this song. San Cisco – Awkward
Note: when watching this video with Marc Ross his initial reaction was to roll his eyes and be like, “Ugh! Hipsters! I just cannot keep up with what’s cool anymore!” Look past it, you guys. Look past the formal shorts and super hiked up guitar strap and the retro hair swirl. This song is 100% catchy. Also, chick drummer!
It took me awhile to get into the latest, greatest Bon Iver album. For me it was not love at first listen. It always seems to take me awhile to warm up to my favourite albums and artists (see: National, The and Adams, Ryan) but once I love them I love them forever.
This is my most favourite song off of Bon Iver. I think it’s the tone of his guitar at the beginning that really kills me. I’ve listened to it a whole lot of times in the past week or so. This video was just released and I’ve got to be honest… I don’t think I really “get” it. But it sure is pretty.
When I first moved to Vancouver I knew one person in the entire city. I used to call my family three to four times a week just to have a longer than 1 minute interaction with other humans. I wanted to move back to Edmonton almost every single day. For six long dark months I was lonely and miserable, wondering what had possessed me to pack up my life and transplant it to the most expensive city in the world.
Then one rainy Saturday night in February of 2007, I went out for drinks with a friend of a friend from back home. She invited two other girls along, and the four of us talked about church. I told them how much I was struggling to find any kind of community or friends here, how I’d tried different churches but never felt at home or like I fit in. I bemoaned the prison-like campus of SFU and how it was impossible to meet anyone at school. One of the girls grabbed my arm and emphatically said, “Me too!”. One of the girls suggested we check out this little church plant she’d been attending called Westside.
The next morning Kim and I drove into the city to attend Westside for the first time. We were practically strangers, having just met the night before. But it was nice to have someone to walk into the theatre with, someone to sit with. And I remember leaning over to her at the end of the service and saying, “Do you feel like you just came home?”
Over the next months I met people who would become my family when I didn’t have Family nearby. My friendship with Kim grew over the first six months. And when I started playing in the worship band I met Ben and then Michelle and I felt like I had a big brother and sister for the first time in my life. A year or two later I met the Kneppers. And then Natalie.
The past few weeks have been so hard for me, you guys. I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, because there are some things that are just too personal for the internet. But it’s been such a blessing to have people here who know me inside and out and love me no matter what. These three ladies have been my voices of reason and truth in the midst of all of it. Loving me and talking through hard things. Encouraging me and praying for me. Just being the best sisters anyone could ask for.
This month marks my five year Westside-iversary. God has brought so many amazing people into my life through this church. I have learned so much about how the church is supposed to function, how community works and what it means to be one body with many parts. I have been both encouraged and admonished and my walk with Jesus has grown so much. I look back over the past five years and see the faithfulness of God in my life and how he has met every need. I have no idea what the next five years are going to look like. Or even the next five days. But I trust him, and I am so thankful that I get to walk through it with this family.
Happy Shrove Tuesday, everyone! The only thing I really know about Shrove Tuesday—besides the whole Mardi Gras thing, obvs—is that you are supposed to eat pancakes. So guess what I’m having for dinner?
The big news for this week is that The Cloven Heart has launched! Tami’s blog and Etsy store is a compendium of wonderful things. The styling and design are to die for and there are lots of wonderful treasures in the shop worth buying.
I credit Tami for any tiny hint of stylishness I may have. This is the woman who found me a bad-ass leather jacket and then convinced me I could pull it off. Any time I have had a fancy event to go to I stop by to shop her closet and she has had a hand in making me feel beautiful on many occasions. She’s one of my bestest friends so I’m a tiny bit biased, but she is honestly one of the most stylish and creative ladies I know. I am so proud and so excited to see all her hard work come to fruition.
Three
I don’t usually observe Lent. I think once in high school or the year after I tried to give up television. It lasted until the first hockey game. If I wasn’t already doing the year-long bible reading plan I’d be very tempted to try this ambitious New Testament in 40 Days one. Do it. You will be so ready for Easter!
On Saturday, we did a ½ the Bridesmaids trip down to the USA for dress shopping. We left at 8am and did not return home until after 10 pm, so it was a looooong day. But it was totally worth it in the end because not only did I find a beautiful dress but I found new shoes (not for the wedding, but still) and an awesome purse and we had hours and hours of gabbing in the car. I hadn’t bought new clothes since November (this is probably a record for me). I missed shopping. First world problems, I know. Let’s just assume that since I’m not living in Africa all my problems are first world problems, shall we?
Ok kids, that’s all I’ve got for today. This past week has been really hard, and I’m sick, sick, sick. How about I leave you with the past few pictures from February Photo a Day?
February 15th- Phone
February 16th- Something New
A new song. There’s a bit of a story behind this one. I have been having a really hard time sleeping the last few weeks. Bad dreams, not being able to shut my mind off, you name it. On this particular night I woke up at around 2:30am and could not fall back asleep. I was nearly crying in frustration because I knew I was exhausted and still I could not.stop.thinking.worrying. And I very clearly heard the voice of God tell me to “sing about it”. So I did, and I wrote a chorus that is probably my most favorite thing I’ve ever written. Pretty much immediately after I fell back asleep.
February 17th- Time
Time…for Josh to start acting like a grownup? Sorry. That was half-assed, I know.
February 18th – Drink
Remember when you used to be able to get this in Canada? Am I the only one who likes it?
February 19th – Something You Hate to Do
I hate sore throats. And I also hate this tea. It tastes super gross. But it is also the only thing that I’ve found that seems to work when you have to lead worship for a bunch of ladies and your throat feels like you accidentally swallowed razor blades.
February 20th – Handwriting
My handwriting. Romans 8.
February 21st – A Favorite Photo of You
Me and Dad, circa 1986. I wish I still had those red pants.
When you are sad do you like to listen to sad music, or are you the kind of person who blasts KC and the Sunshine band until you feel better, dammit? My dear friend Nat absolutely cannot handle sad music because it puts a damper on her permanent cheerfulness. Nat is the kind of girl who will send you a hilarious dino joke when you are in the middle of a stage four meltdown. Just try putting on something by The National and she will immediately change it. “NO! Too Sad! Not Helping!”
Personally, I subscribe to the sad-songs-can-soothe-a-hurting-heart philosophy. It’s the same principle as turning into the skid instead of out of it to regain control of your car when driving on icy winter roads. Ok that metaphor might be lost on most of my Vancouver readers. It’s profound, just take my word for it. And so. Here is a mildly sad song for what has been one of the worst Mondays on record for me. I have definitely posted the Head and the Heart here before, but I love the acoustics and the sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs feel of this video. For me anyway, the solution to getting over a bruised heart is almost always to sing it out.
Unless you have been following me on Instagram, you may have thought that I forgot all about the February Photo a Day challenge. Fear not! Here are the photos from the past few days. If you are following me these will be old news to you so you can go watch a cat video instead. Seriously though, we should be Instagram friends (heysarahmiller, look me up).
February 9th – Self Portrait
This is me with straight hair in the bathroom at Café Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive. About five minutes after this picture was taken I bugged my friend into letting me sing with him for open mic. This was a really fun night.
February 10th – Front Door
I totally mixed up February 9th & 10th. This was supposed to be self portrait day. Oops. These are the front doors I walk through every day on my way into work. Kind of looks like something out of Gotham City, doesn’t it?
February 11th – Makes Me Happy
Saturday I stayed home, caught up on reading/tv shows, cleaned my house from top to bottom and put in a couple of freelance hours. It was glorious. I haven’t had a day at home to just catch my breath since before Christmas.
February 12th – My Closet
Here is my tiny closet situated in the hallway next to my bathroom. My whole place is so small that everything is kind of crammed in where it can fit. There is no space for a proper closet in my tiny bedroom as my bed takes up almost the whole thing. When I move in a couple of months I will have a whole closet to myself plus a spare one to share with a roommate. I am not sure what I’m going to do with all that luxurious space. Probably get a whole bunch of new clothes.
February 13th – Blue
Nearly one week ago, I wrote about how Vancouver is a totally different place when the sun is shining. Here is the proof. Blue sky at 4:30pm in February is something to be celebrated. You prairie people with your year round sunshine and snow sparkles wouldn’t understand.
February 14th – Heart
I spent Valentines Day working on design projects and my heart was happy. Here’s one of my most favourite Oswald Chambers quotes (and there are many). The human heart must be satisfied in God first!
Happy Valentimes everybody! Now, I know this is one of those polarizing holidays that people either love or hate. But I really don’t think it has be to a feel-sorry-for-your-single-self-and-eat-a-tub-of-ice-cream kind of day. If you don’t have a sweetie, I’m sure you have friends who you love! If you don’t have friends…call your mom! I’m just saying, love comes in all shapes and sizes and it’s a blessing to be grateful for. So don’t be like this guy, ok?
Two
That being said, I think we can all relate to Charlie Brown on this one:
I do believe I am the reigning queen of friend-girl unrequited love. Don’t you just want to give him a hug?
Three
You know, girls. If you are really looking for love and you are maybe a tiny bit crazy/you’d would like to be on television(same thing)… The Bachelor Canada auditions are going to be in Vancouver on Sunday!
As far as I’m concerned, this is the most romantic song ever written.
Six
My friend Juli has just launched her own baking business,Just Taste! Last weekend she had an open house where I sampled all the products and can tell you first hand that they are 100% delicious. Especially the Linzetorte and the Cardamom Drops.
(photos by the illustrious Ryan Schroeder)
(ps I helped her with the website)
Seven
Tami Knepper—whom I love and adore, who has the best taste of anyone I know, who keeps beating me at words with friends—is launching her very own blog and online store, The Cloven Heart! Soon. For now, you should check out her Facebook page. And like it! There are some behind the scenes photos up right now. And spoiler alert (!), I may have seen a sneak peak of her first post and it might be amazing. Stay tuned.
(ps logo designed by yours truly!)
Eight
Westside is launching a new campus on the North Shore in April. I’ll let Norman D. Funk explain the vision—
In the months leading up to launch time, there is a pre-launch campaign happening, Sent and Sending that aims to cover the cost of the launch budget and start the mission off strong. I really encourage you check it out. Give if you feel led and pray, pray, pray! God is doing good things in this City.
Nine
A Valentine to Vancouver…from de Islands?
Ten
Love is mentioned about 700 times in the Bible. Ok, I didn’t count or anything but I googled it and that was the first number that came up. It’s a lot, anyway. There are so many scriptures that talk about God’s, steadfast and faithful love, and how we can never be separated from it. But I thought this one, from one of my most favourite books in the Bible, was appropriate to meditate on this Love Day.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.
Did you guys watch the Grammys? Let’s be serious: I mostly watch them just to see all the performances and clothes. Who cares who wins the awards? Not me. Overall I thought this year’s was just ok. There wasn’t really anyone who blew me away except for maybe Jennifer Hudson. Which…did she seriously just have one day to put that together? Simon Cowell, what were you thinking?
Adele is so great. Beyond loving her voice—which is still amazing even though it’s changed a little bit since all the surgery, etc.—I just love the way she is unabashedly herself. Same South London accent, same body, laughing at snot jokes. It’s the best. That being said, I don’t know if this was really album of the year? Like, ok I get that it’s the Grammys and they don’t nominate everyone because album sales and radio play all factor into it, etc. Her voice is amazing but I think that her song writing is just ok? Don’t throw things at me.
Sidebar: One time a friend described Rumor Has It being like a 1960s spy song where you’d expect someone to pop out from behind a tree and sing the “Rumor Has It!” back up part and then disappear again. He demonstrated this and now I cannot hear that song without thinking about it. And laughing. Ruined.
Anyway, her second dress was to die for. Sparkles and polka dots and sleeves and tea-length! Oh my! Sorry guys, I could not find a full length shot of it.
Love, love, loved the Civil Wars. Loved the joke about thanking all the other bands for opening them. Joy Williams’ Shoes! How could she dance around in those? There is no way. I’d break my ankle. I wish they had let them do a full song.
Chris Brown. I can’t even. I am all for forgiveness. There are so many things that I need forgiveness for in my life, on a daily basis. Sin and brokenness is sin and brokenness. But forgiveness doesn’t mean no consequences! It should not mean that you get to come back and be celebrated at the same event where you beat.up.your.girlfriend! only a few short years ago. And he got a STANDING OVATION!?!? It felt like him being up there made everything ok. Something about that just did not sit right with me.
Dave Grohl is the King of Rockstars. His acceptance speech/shot at autotuners/celebration of the craft of music was one of my most favourite moments of the night. Also how great was Justin Vernon and his Chad MacDonald beard? Loved how he talked about all the people who would never be nominated and how he makes music for the reward of making music. I could have done without the terrifying Nicky Minaj performance in favour of a Bon Iver song, just saying.
All in all, I’d say this year’s Grammys was a success. I was entertained, and that’s the point right? Oh ps, I was glad they ended the night with Sir Paul et al (and not Nicky and her crazysauce priest) but that was Too Many GUITAR SOLOS. Egads.
Kidding! I think I actually had chicken soup for dinner this day. And like, toast or something. Who wants to see a picture of toast? Not you. This was a designated Bridesmaid Wedding Prep Task night. Britt, Ariana and I cleaned out about 60 jars/vases and drank a bottle of wine. And talked about boys, obvs.
February 7th – Button
This is my new favourite nail polish color, Cute as a Button by Essie. When Nat and I were having preliminary discussions about becoming roommates this summer I believe the first thing she said to me was, “You should totally move in! WE WOULD HAVE SO MUCH NAILPOLISH!”
February 8th – Sun
Vancouver is a totally different place when the sun is shining. It’s like that scene in 500 Days of Summer where he dances his way into work and everyone is shaking his hand and there’s cartoon birds flying through the air. When it’s rainy you can just feel it in your bones and everyone walks around all sad and mopey like Eeyore. We had a few days of glorious sunshine to start off February and then as soon as I was supposed to take a sun picture, this happened. We can all blame #febphotoaday
Hope y’all are enjoying Love Month so far! It’s ok to still like Valentine’s Day and Love Month in general even if you’re single right? I feel like you can choose to be sad about it or you can choose to be happy you have so many awesome friends and family who you loooove. Right? Right. Check out this cute Love Month desktop wallpaper! There’s hearts. ps if you’re going to get me a Valentines Day card, I really like this one:
On Friday night my friend hosted a clothing swap and I think this might have been the best one yet. Personally, I feel that the best thing about going to a clothing swap is that it forces me to get rid of all the clothes in my closet I don’t wear anymore. I’m not much of a pack rat except when it comes to clothes. But…but what if this horrible t-shirt that never fit me right in the first place suddenly comes back into style? I came away with a sweet jean jacket and purse that used to belong to Jenn and a Tami Knepper sweater. They are pretty much the most stylish people I know so I feel pretty good about wearing their old clothes.
Three
A friend sent me this helpful chart explaining social media using donuts. I guess he has come to think of me as some kind of social media guru. The Google Plus one is my favorite.
Four
Speaking of social media, at least three people last week told me that they “always read my tweets” or that my twitter feed is their favourite. Two of those people were pastors. I am not telling you this to congratulate myself, I promise. It’s just…think of the pressure! I have to be funny and holy now? Great.
Five
This is maybe kind of lame because it’s already February but I broke down and ordered an actual old school paper day planner this week. I’m still using Teux Deux in the actual day to day to make sure I get everything done, but I need help scheduling myself and seeing all my commitments actually written out for the month and iCal was just not cutting it. Last week I had a near breakdown because I said yes to more things than I have actual hours in the day for. And I hate disappointing people by having to cancel on them. I’m learning, you guys. Balancing freelance work and an office job is hard. I would like to have some kind of a social life in there too. And maybe time to read, also.
Six
Speaking of reading, Douze got me this book for Christmas and it has been a total game changer for me. Between the Bible reading plan I’m doing and this I feel like my prayer life has grown so much over the past month and a bit.
“In praying scripture, I not only find myself in intimate communication with God, but my mind is being retrained or renewed to think Christ’s thoughts about my situation rather than mine.”
Seven
On Sunday night I got to catch up with an old friend from junior high school who was in town checking out a very fancy and impressive clinical psychiatry program. Honestly, everyone I went to junior high with grew up to be super brainiac doctors or engineers except me. It was nice to catch up and fill each other in on everything that has happened in the past 10 years or so since we’ve seen each other. She asked me a lot of questions about what it’s like living in Vancouver and at the end of the night she said it seems like I’m really in love with this City. And you know, what? I really am!
Ok. Have you all seen the new Hunger Games trailer? Egads, I cannot wait to see this movie. Me and Ariana have even been talking about lining up with all the crazy people and going at midnight. It changes every few days between “yay! Let’s do it!” and “we’re way too old, midnight is past bedtime.” Might be a game time decision.
Ten
K. So…remember all that freelancing I’ve been doing? Well one of the projects is finished. This past week we launched the new and improved Marc Ross Music site! Drumroll…tada, all that:
I’m super proud of it, you guys! Marc wanted something really simple and clean and I think we managed to pull it off. You can listen to all the songs from his EP (they’re good, so you should go do that) He’s out on a Canada wide tour right now and we’ve set up a Tour Photoblog. Everyone always talks about how it’s hard to do business with friends but this has honestly been the best experience. Marc is going to be playing at the Railway club next week for those of you in the Vancouver area. You should come! Make sure you tell him how much you love his new website.
I don’t know what’s scarier, the fact that I’m holding hands with a zombie or my wrinkly old lady wrist.
February 4th – Stranger
What is stranger than a peacock made out of seashells?
February 5th – 10am
Ok guys, this is totally cheating. I did not even take this picture. Ryan did and I stole it from him. But this is where I was and what I was doing at 10am on Sunday. Taking sermon notes.
