The Weekend.

It was a wonderful, wonderful weekend. I have been working so much at the coffee shop that the weeks are just a blur. I couldn't believe that the 4th of July was already near so I needed to do something that made me feel like I was using my summer time wisely. So...Truman and I went to the Zoo! (We were limited with things to do since it is Nebraska). I also attended a wedding shower for Sharon, got to spend some time with Alyssa (I really miss my old roommates), ate dinner with Truman's brother and sister-in-law, babysat Jenny's dog Bella, and baked tea cakes. Needless to say, it was a full weekend and I started the week with much joy.

Tru and I on the Skyfari.

My delicious tea cakes.

Nap time.

She is just way too cute.

Kayaking Down the Nile...Basically.

It has rained oh so much here as of late. The Platte River is a few feet away from becoming the Faeh's backyard. Truman and I decided to go on another kayak adventure. It was fun for the 20 minutes that it lasted (the river was moving very quickly).

We decided to document a little this time.

First Aid Kit

I was flipping through the recent Nylon magazine and read about these girls. They were placed under the "folk" category so I had to check them out--I fell in love. A few lyrics are a bit iffy and I don't necessarily agree with, but their sound is incredible.

It's different, no doubt. To me, they are Tilly & the Wall meets Neko Case meets the female (better) version of Fleet Foxes. Give them a try! If anything, admire their cute pictures.

J.

Saved By Grace

About half a year ago, I started the book "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning. I read the first chapter and was in love with the concept (and truth). This was about the same time I was inspired to create a blog (hence the name "Notes From a Ragamuffin"). School started and I got busy...then Truman stole it from me. So here I am starting over from the beginning--determined to finish this time.

I haven't been able to put it down.

The book is too powerful and brilliant for me to even try and put it in my own words so I thought I'd just share a few passages.

"In essence, there is only one thing God asks of us- that we be men and women of prayer, people who live close to God, people for whom God is everything and for whom God is enough. That is the root of peace. We have that peace when the gracious God is all we seek. When we start seeking something besides Him, we lose it... That is his call to us- simply to be people who are content to live close to him and to renew the kind of life in which the closeness is felt and experienced."

"The kingdom belongs to people who aren't trying to look good or impress anybody, even themselves. They are not plotting how then can call attention to themselves, worrying about how their actions will be interpreted or wondering if they will get gold stars for their behavior."

I have been convicted very often in this book and I'm only on the 4th chapter. It is so important to be reminded that everything we enjoy on this earth is from God. We are so undeserving, but he willingly shares it with us anyway. That's how great He is.

I strongly recommend picking it up this summer.

J.

Down By The River

The Platte River flows through the backyard of the Faeh home. Truman and I went kayaking down it the other day. It was my first kayaking experience and I had a blast. It was a beautiful, calm day and the scenery was peaceful. I could barely move my shoulders the next day but it was definitely worth it. We plan on doing this very often this summer. Oh, how I love nature! (Most of the time...)

J.

Song on repeat this week: Hey Hey My My - Neil Young

Peggy Honeywell

So I was watching this documentary about artists from the 90's. This is where I was first introduced to Peggy Honeywell. The fact that she had a banjo in her hand already won me over.

She is fantastic. Her soft,southern sound is perfect for summer and I highly recommend giving her a try.

Cheers, J.