Wave After Wave

Your praise will ever be on my lips,
ever be on my lips...

This is from the depths of my heart. I'm stuck on these lyrics from How He Loves:

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Even when I rejected him and turned from his ways, he pursued me ferociously, because his love surpasses anything I've known. It chokes me up to think about how much it must have hurt to watch his beloved run away from him, turn in disbelief of all he's done, drown in shame and guilt, and conclude I could do better on my own.

This all sounds cliche, but I can't deny it. Has the world ever known a lover who embodies perfect peace, love, endless grace and everything in between? Does anyone come close to the way God loves and cares for us? Looking at myself, my long-term devoted parents, the most chivalrous man on the planet - no one dares to come close to my living God.

It was God who sent my family to speak truth and kindness into me when I needed support, not judgement.
It was God who carefully planned each step of my life, so that I would eventually praise His name.
It is God who heals my aching heart, although I often get swallowed up in the pain of my own mistakes and past feelings at times.
It is God who holds me tightly, as I face the unknown of marriage and commitment.
It is God who is shaping and chiseling our character, as we learn to deal with one another's differences and weaknesses... it's hard, but so rewarding and worth every step. I think this one's going to be a life-long process!

All in all, I'm trying to wrap my head around all the incredible people and events surrounding my life. Six months ago, I saw myself in an entirely different place than where I am. I guess we never know where life takes us, and we're not always aware of all the big and small things He's doing in our lives. As for me, I'm caught in the mystery of his unraveling plan for me! I look back and I'm amazed at the beauty of his perfect plan.

I want to learn to be joyful, to the depths of my soul, because I have a savior I can hold fast to anytime, in whatever season, for all the days of my life.

x Sola

Oceans by Seafret

I want you

Yeah I want you

And nothing comes close

To the way that I need you

I wish I can feel your skin

And I want you

From somewhere within

It feels like there's oceans

Between me and you once again

We hide our emotions

Under the surface and tryin' to pretend

But it feels like there's oceans 

Between you and me

I want you

And I always will

I wish I was worth

But I know what you deserve

You know I'd rather drown

Than to go on without you

But you're pulling me down

It feels like there's oceans

Between you and me once again

We hide our emotions

Under the surface and try to pretend

But it feels like there's oceans 

Between you and me

I want you

I want you

And always will

It feels like there's oceans

Between you and me

Aspirations

I need to keep reminding myself that dreams don't happen overnight. Just take the next step, take it one step at a time. What am I doing right now that leads to where I want to be? Am I so consumed with the comfort of "now" that I've forgotten about the bigger things that lie ahead? I can't help but notice that the deeper I fall into this way of thinking, the fire within me slowly weakens. 

I need to reignite my passions - before it's all gone!

A Letter

Sally!

Do what you want to do. You can't always please everyone. In the end, those who support you will support you no matter what choice you make. And let's say you give into the pressure of other people's advice, and you make a decision that wasn't 100% from your heart. Who do you have to blame but yourself? It's your life and your decision to make. 

So don't think about the others, and go with what's within you. 

I'm always here for you. I love you.

Ben Howard Live

October 7, 2015 - Ben Howard live at the Greek Theater

There is something special about live performances. There's a definitive exchange of communication that occurs between the performer and the crowd, making it something beyond a sit down film or show. It's a kind of storytelling, heart-opening, and interactive environment. 

Ben Howard's performance was overall dark and filled with immense sorrow. I'm not going to lie, coming from a place of vulnerability, it tipped me over the edge. I felt so distraught after the concert, like someone had pestered my soul with sad darkness until it finally gave in. I hated the way it made me feel, but in an odd way it amused me.

Sights of LA: High bridges above cross roads, park avenues lit up by lampposts, small gardens growing in street corners, and rushing water lined up along the borders of the local park. So much beauty and history lies within these few miles encompassing City Hall. 

 October 10-12, 2015 - Hermosa Beach, California

I'll never understand the beauty of how the sky, sun, sea, shore, and sand simultaneously kiss one another for such a pretty sight.

October 17-18, 2015 - Santa Barbara, California

I'll always have a special place in my heart for Santa Barbara. It's the place where I discovered new sides to myself, learned life lessons, and made sweet memories. Each time I'm here, nature surrounds me and enthralls me completely.

^ Santa Barbara coast, seen from the hills P.O.V. at the Goleta Butterfly Preserve cliffs

My heart is filled with wonderful sights and memories. Till the next one.

Vinegar and Oil by Jane Hirshfield

Wrong solitude vinegars the soul,
right solitude oils it.

How fragile we are, between the few good moments.

Coming and going unfinished,
puzzled by fate,

like the half-carved relief
of a fallen donkey, above a church door in Finland.

- Original post on The Atlantic.

The One Who Hears

It's a long, sorrowful night. I feel as though I've lost grip on my life's centerpieces. My eyes are swelling and my heart is faint. In the dark I cry out to You.

Stay Gold

"There's something about you - I can't exactly say, but I know you're different from other girls. You have something within you that others don't have. And I think you need to realize that that's something special. When the world makes you feel like you need to change, to be more like them, don't fall for that. Don't ever change. If you remember anything from tonight, remember to stay gold."

Creator Spotlight: Justin Kyung Photography

For more artworks, check out Justin Kyung Photography.

No better term than "sun-kissed" hair. 

August 2015, Los Angeles, California.

Back to Shore

You find me

Drowning in a sea of misery,

Engulfed by my memories.

Then out of the blue,

A high wave tumbles over.

Without air to breathe, 

I'm overwhelmed.

As I frantically search for dry shore,

you stretch out your hand.

With a sigh of relief,

I gently take your hand.

Hand in hand,

Together,

We race back towards the sand.

-Sola Lee

All Most Made Up Poem by Charles Bukowski

She’s mad but she’s magic. 

There’s no lie in her fire. 

I loved you like a man loves a woman he never touches, 

only writes to, 

keeps little photographs of.