Whoa Mama Wednesday- Brooke Eldridge

Last fall, for weeks, everyone told me that this girl had moved to town with whom I would be instant friends. I am always skeptical of such comments thinking, “Does the person saying that really know me?” Or, “Does this new girl feel pressure to like me the way I feel pressure to like her?” One day, our unavoidable first encounter happened. To my excitement, she happened to be wonderful on a hundred levels. Even though we’ve only been friends for a few months, I am certainly destined to be friends for life with Emilie Brooke Eldridge.

Brooke originally hailed from Oklahoma, but made it to Waco via India where she worked for some friends of mine in a consulting business. When they moved back to Waco, Brooke came with them. Everything was new for her. New people. New places. New job. New house. Still, Brooke immediately jumped into friendship with me and instantly became one of my favorites.

I could list thousands of things I love about Brooke. One stand out thing about her is the peace she carries. My life is usually spinning wildly out of control to a degree and then, I have lunch with Brooke. As I emote, over a Chipotle salad, she lovingly reminds me who I am and what I’m made for and the world is right again. Often in the same situation, perhaps over a latte at Starbs, she offers incredible perspective. Isn’t that what we need most of the time? Perspective? But not just anyone can bring it. You have to trust that the person is wise, believe that they love you and know that they are for your highest good. Otherwise, it’s a bunch of silliness, in one ear and out the other. And that’s the thing with Brooke. She is absolutely, 100% on your team. She is unabashedly thoughtful. And she loves people sincerely. Which I guess is why I can hardly imagine life without this new, but dear friend.

Brooke, I salute you!

Tunesday- Copeland

I figure that as much as we need new music, we also need a healthy dose of the old faves. Here's one of mine. #RIPCopeland.

Whoa Mama Wednesday- Amanda Cook

Have you ever had one of those long-time acquaintances? You find yourself in the same environment, around the same people, but haven’t really crossed into the friend zone for one reason or another. Once you do, you kick yourself for not doing it sooner. That’s how my friendship with Amanda Cook started.

Amanda Kay Cook has been one of the most surprising friendships of my life. We grew up in similar towns, both went to Baylor and had lots of mutual friends, but it wasn’t until 4 years ago that we really became friends. At first glance, she was quirky, a little dramatic and funny. And, I learned pretty quickly that she was the oldest of 3 girls, unbelievably smart and loved Starbucks coffee. What took a little longer to learn was her authenticity, sincerity and loyalty.

The depth found in Amanda comes from her intimate friendship with Jesus. She has a fierce faith in Him that lets her dream big dreams and live a life of freedom. It’s a life that is more about other people than herself. She lives day in and day out for something bigger. What I haven’t told you is that Amanda left a comfortable, American life 2 years ago to serve the people of Haiti. Something else I haven’t told you is that she decided to go before she even visited because of the severe need after the devastating earthquake in 2010.

Day after day she is faced with patchy electricity, the foreign language of Creole, and the nearly unbearable heat of the island. But the thing that marks Amanda is not complaint or counting down the days until her commitment is finished. Instead she lives every day with beauty and grace despite inconsistent generators, large machinery and lots of sweat. Though it’s been tough to live these last 2 years with her so far away, it hasn’t kept her from being an amazing and dear friend. What a gift to have a friend like Amanda, a friend determined to be your biggest fan, best listener and love you well, from even hundreds of miles away.

Amanda, I salute you!

Tunesday- The Head and the Heart

Often your favorite music is the music you stumble upon and for me, that was definitely the case with The Head and The Heart. I'm sure by now you've notice my appreciation for vocals, good harmony in particular. I hope you enjoy this little snack, entitled "Honey, Come Home."

Whoa Mama Wednesday- Johanna Six

Despite my Texas upbringing, from a young age my parents exposed me to art, music and other cultures exponentially more than horses, hunting, or anything related to cowboys. I literally sat on the floor for hours with encyclopedias and the globe reading about other places and looking for them on that old-world-hued orb. Nerd, I know, but I think my young love of geography fostered an uncommon appreciation for diversity in me. In first grade, I had 2 best friends at school. One was an African-American girl called Shamonica. The other was a French-Amercian girl named Yvette. And thus began a lifetime of friends who opened my eyes even wider to places and people I longed to know.

The older I’ve gotten the more this desire has grown in me. And, perhaps that’s what first drew me to Johanna Six. Her five-foot flat stature and lovely almond eyes make you think you know what she’s going to be like before you speak to her. While it's true that she likes Hello Kitty, one conversation and know you've not even scratched the surface. It's likely one of the most thought-provoking, heart-engaging conversations about Jesus or music or life that you’ve maybe ever had and you realize, “I have to figure out a way to trick this girl into being friends with me.” The best part is, she is so uncommonly humble, she has no idea and actually loves the idea before you even start scheming.

I’m sure you’ve realized that these amazing women I always write about have real lives. They grew up with challenges, face hardships and are human. But, you’ve also probably realized that those things don’t hold them back, which is why, in my mind, they deserve honor. Jo is no different. Though she’s dealt with some of life’s hardest realities, her heart is wrapped up in praise. Day after day, she lays her life before Jesus and asks Him to come and change her into something more beautiful than the previous day. Even at some of her lowest points, I’ve watched her believe that He can and will move on her behalf. Because of this faith that could move mountains, she has seen Him come, over and over again. Not only that, but she has this amazing way of telling you all about it. Her stories usually come in the package of life-altering songs. What’s even better is that she can sing lights out and play piano like a dream. When all of those elements converge, it makes you feel like you’re a little closer to heaven and like you understand a little bit more what the Psalmist meant when he said, “bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name.” The thing that is most beautiful, most amazing, and most rare about the songs that Jo writes and sings is that they come from the deepest depths of her soul and she lives every word.

Every encounter with Johanna plunges me deeper into the heart of the Father, farther into the arms of Jesus and awakens me again to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. I’m profoundly grateful for a friend who lives a vulnerable life of worship in Spirit and truth the way that she does.

Johanna, I salute you!

Tunesday- William Fitzsimmons

I first heard William Fitzsimmons when he open for a band I had tickets to see. His creativity and musicianship hooked me immediately. Take a listen from one of his earlier albums.

Whoa Mama Wednesday- Leslie Alba

Do you ever think of your friends as animals? You know, like Zach is a fox or Lauren’s a lion or Boone is a dog? I have a friend that reminds me of a butterfly. If you’ve ever watched one of those PBS specials about the life cycle of a butterfly, you know they come from caterpillars. At some point in their life, they decide it’s time to do work and they get all spun up in the cocoon and from the outside, it looks like they take a long nap. Being a well-educated adult, you now know that they are, in fact, transforming. The thing is, no one really notices how hard the little guy is working until he comes out as every child’s favorite winged creature. That’s why Leslie Marie Alba reminds me of a butterfly.

If you look at Les you see style, creativity and passion. What you don’t see is what is going on internally. After walking closely with our glittery butterfly for years now, I feel compelled to give you a little peek into the cocoon from my point of view. Mostly because, like the butterfly, it’s what’s going on below the surface that is the true miracle.

Leslie’s ever-morphing nature may be seen in a plethora of ways. For instance, she’s gone from tie-dye to Anna Sui in only a few short years. But, underneath the fabulous clothes, Les is a deep thinker. She contemplates how to bring the beauty of God into every part of life. She deliberates over the perfect way to celebrate her friends and family. And, while that may seem that like enough to consider, she’s also got dreams galore bouncing around her cropped-fringe, capped noggin. With all that thinking comes a lot of questions and Les is a great question asker. I think it’s her questions that most often show off her genuine humility. She keeps herself open to input, correction and wisdom from others. In keeping with the other invited change-agents, Les presses into challenges. As long as I’ve known her she’s fought for a way to get to the heart of every trial in her life to see how it can make her better. And though I’d never try to make you think she hasn’t made mistakes along the way, every time she has made her way back to the center where it’s her and Jesus in the cocoon. She believes in her core that He is after her highest good and won’t give up until she gets it. Her heart is tethered to one thing that always gives her life.

That’s probably what makes life with Leslie enjoyable. Even though she’s constantly changing, it’s in a peaceful way because she looks more and more like the beauty that she was created to be. I think if she really were a butterfly, her metamorphosis wouldn’t be complete until she turned into a bird. Leslie is made for the highest heights and her wings are getting stronger day by day.

Leslie, I salute you!

Tunesday- Sugar & the Hi Lows

If you need something for your sweet tooth, try this on for size.

Whoa Mama Wednesday- Jenn Sunderland

Ever met one of those people that as soon as you introduced yourself you immediately thought, “I’ve gotta be her friend”? Perhaps it’s because you have a similar style. Maybe it’s because they possess uncommon charisma. Most of the time for me, it’s simply a “vibe”. Sometimes it’s a vibe of confidence. At other times, it’s passion. With Jennifer Louise Sunderland, it was both.

Only a sophomore at our first encounter, Jenn radiated confidence. People told me that she led dynamically, planned things like a pro and could probably change the world with one arm tied behind her back, but I had lots left to discover. For instance, Jenn has 2 styles. One side is a Chaco-wearing, Patagonia-toting, trail-riding hippie. The other side is a well-groomed, J.Crew-loving, tailored and trim lady. While you may be thinking that this is a girl with an identity crisis, it is in fact quite the opposite.

Jenn gets more comfortable in her own skin by the day, it seems. In fact, over the 4 years I have known her, she’s only grown more into the paradox that she is. Not only does it make her flexible and relatable, it makes her “Jenn”. This “Jenn” is also full of surprises. You may expect someone with such confidence to be proud or self-important. Not this girl. Her MO is hungry, humble, and teachable. Over and over, she positions herself to serve those who should be serving her and honors those in authority above her.  Courageous, uncomplicated, vulnerable, encouraging and refreshing, she’s simply an amazing friend.

Jenn, I salute you!