Something Beautiful.

     Well kids, I think that it's about time that I let you know what is going on in my life, not just my head. :) Over the past two years I have really fallen in love with songwriting and challenging myself with new ways of telling stories,and melodies that I can't let go. So then, it is time for you to see and hear what I have been dreaming and creating for some time now. I'll be using another blog from now on, bellaamore.tumblr.com . Hopefully, in a few weeks time, you will be able to get there by typing in annajepson.com, but until then, this is what I've got ;) Feel free to navigate the links on the side, with a Facebook page to come soon. Music and videos will be coming within the next couple of weeks, and then the EP release is September 21st. I'm taking a big breath here guys, and I think I'll hold it for a while.

     I have to admit, I have been really cautious about how I have approached it, and discovered that most of what I thought was me being cautious was actually fear. Fear of rejection, inadequacy, or misinterpretation. But then I realize that in the areas of fear, there is an issue of control, and where there is control, there must be surrender. So I choose instead, to live in freedom, despite my fears, and allow something beautiful to shine where I can't shine as bright.


i love you bunches.
Anna


Something Beautiful.

Why Not?

So I talked to a friend recently, and he said that his new motto for life is "Why Not?" I thought it was pretty awesome. I'm sitting in Saints Cafe on Beaver Ave in State College, and I think I've just embraced the "Why Not" philosophy. Yesterday, my youth pastor Tim spoke at church, and Rocked it. But the point of his message was the importance of community, and playing it safe as people, as a church. He mentioned taking risks, and challenged us to think about our lives, and if we were taking risks. I thought about my life, right then and there, and I thought, yea, I do take risks. But I want to take more for the Kingdom- it's worth it.

There are a few things that the Lord has put on my heart in an unstoppable way, if that makes sense. Things that get me so riled up that I have to do something about it. As you know, music is one. Another is raising awareness of the sex trade, prostitution, and how adoption can help end all of them. God wants me to show the broken where there's healing. Well, I've been given a lot of ideas and visions over the past 6 months for how to go about that, and I think I may have just stumbled upon something. I was thinking, I have this idea. I have this passion. I have talented people around me, and multiple resources. I should do something about it. I should start a campaign.



I mean, Why Not?

Butterflies.

So this, is what they mean
when they say butterflies
catch you by surprise
So this, is what we'll say
When we're old and gray
And leave, A legacy
That butterflies brought you to me.

- New Song that warms my Heart :)


Today is my parents 25th wedding anniversary, and I could not be more exited about it. 25 is a big milestone! We had a large group of people out at the house 2 weekends ago, and we celebrated my Dad's 50th and had a little tribute to them as a couple. The older I get, the more I realize how influential my parents have been on my life, and how their wisdom and faith have shaped mine. Usually when someone comments on my perspective of a situation, it's usually because I had made a mistake in the past and learned from it. But the more I desire and pray for wisdom, the more I realize that the main place I get it form is my parents. They have always been open and honest with me. They are my friends, but parents first. Which brings me to an incredibly important point: communication. The Jepson Family is a talkative one. Now, I understand that not all people are as transparent as we are, however, the importance of clear and honest communication is so essential. In any and all relationships- With friends and couples, you need to be able to work out kinks, issues, likes dislikes, etc. With Jesus you need to be willing to be open enough with yourself so that you can be open with Him. Communication is always a two way street, but if you aren't willing to address the reality in your own life, you may not get very far. I have to remind myself of this often- to not be afraid to ask yourself the big questions. To be unafraid of what you may be afraid of. To be unafraid of the answers you don't want to hear. To be unafraid of being real.

Rearranging Furniture

So I've been pretty much everywhere lately. Except this blog I guess. Woopsies :) Time for an update. I left LA on May first, and have been missing it ever since. For some reason, I've always wanted to be there. Not really because of the Hollywood vibe, but because it's just awesome. Its beautiful- mountains, beach, city, parks, culture. So.Much.Culture. Also, I'm pretty sure that I would be ok with being a beach bum. I can't get enough of the beach- it makes me so happy. :) Which brings me to this- my new musica! I'm exited to be debuting (?) myself to the world soon. The EP is all about sunshine- its about beautiful days, people, places, and hearts. And its going to be wrapped up in a pretty little package and filled with smiles, or at least I hope it will make you smile. Now that the recording is all done, there isn't much left to do, and you will hear it soon:)

In other news, I have been traveling for the past month. And I loved it. My Dad and I (who is now half of a hundred years old) drove from LA to Flagstaff (hiked the Grand Canyon) to Memphis to Knoxville. In Knoxville we took a couple days off from driving, and then we went our separate ways again. I headed back West to Nashville for recording, met my friend Sara, made sweet music, and then headed back up to State College Pennsylvania. Happy Valley:) After being all over the US, State College is a nice break. I stayed there for one night, then drove up to Boston for a few days, and then back home. But the traveling isn't over. I had a week to rest and then drove back down to Nashville to finish up the tracks. I'm writing this from my friends house in Franklin, while watching 500 Days of Summer :) It's back to State College for the summer tomorrow morning. Hello 12 hour drive.

I've been rearranging all my possessions. Like rearranging the furniture to cover where you've been.

Open Your Eyes.

     
     Do you have an open mind? I feel like in a lot of ways, it's like my mind is like the sky. And in other ways, I feel like it's a safe. I'm a dreamer. I believe the impossible to be possible. The unlikely to be, very likely. I believe that the mundane should live wildly and passionately. I believe in an awakening; a Revolution. Which brings me to Jamie Oliver: Chef, Television Personality, Dreamer, and Revolution Starter. He has a new show on ABC (Friday nights at 9, and Hulu after that) that centers around his passions. In every way. He is passionate about food, cooking, people, and bringing change for the better. But the brilliant thing about the show, and Jamie, is that he isn't trying to just bring change, he wants them to choose it. He desires to open their eyes, to show the people of Huntington, West Virginia their lives  from a different perspective. He's gathering these people, and showing them the effects of their lifestyle. By his example, he is teaching them that cooking and a healthy lifestyle isn't that difficult, not to mention extremely beneficial.  
      Jamie and his show has been so encouraging for me. I was able to see someone who, against his odds, win people with his passion. It is so nice to know that there are people who believe crazily like I do. I'm not satisfied with a less than crazy love. I'm not satisfied with a 9 to 5 that only pays the bills. I don't accept the belief that any task is too big. I don't accept the idea that my dreams are just dreams. I am a barbarian, as Eriwn McManus would say, and in a lot of ways, so is Jamie Oliver. He's been placed in an area where he can reach the masses through television. He is bringing a revolution through pop culture. It's a slightly different avenue that I feel called to, but it is proof that Pop Culture can, and will, bring change for the better in this country- and the world. Yes, I do dream that big. And so does Jamie Oliver.


      He's infectious. He is passionate about cooking, and believes that he can literally extend years to a person's life, just by teaching them how to cook.


 Deep rooted passion (and love) is contagious. People desire that. Other than an obvious display of how we were made for more than the mundane, this is one of the best supporting arguments that I have ever heard for the existence and pursuit of Jesus. 


So ask yourself, are you contagious? 

Colors Make Me Smile.

It's true. I love colors. Color combinations to be exact. It makes for superb scrapbooking and crafting skills, I must say. I'm like a slightly right brained Martha Stewart in the making. :) I think thats pretty neat.

Last night, and the night before, I prayed that my eyes would be opened to how the Lord loves. That I would see the world as a new canvas, and see the beauty that He's made. I want to see the beauty of the Lord. And I found it. :) Probably just a smidgin, but it was enough to keep me smiling all day. And right now, in this moment, I'm pretty happy. :)

I went to the beach twice this weekend, to add to my freckle collection. (see color coordinated, freckle faced girl here. )

I l.o.v.e. the beach. I always have, but after being here, I don't ever want to live far away from a beach ever again. It's, in a word, lovely. I played hooky from church this morning, and my roomates and I had brunch on the beach instead. We laid out, took pictures, and played frisbee in the sand, right where the waves come and touch your toes and you can catch the foam in your hands. It was the most fun I've had during the 3 months that I've been here. I read a little Steinbeck and later swam in the pool, and over lunch I talked to my beautiful friend Sara. In all of this, God showed himself to me.






In a game of frisbee.
In a little girl's joy for the waves.
In relationships.
In long talks.
In openness.
In creativity.
In places.
In movies.
In new opportunities.
In freckles.


And In Colors. :)


loveyoubunches!
Anna

Freckles :)

So living in Southern California, I've been in the sun a lot more. Usually, it takes a while for me to get tan, but it doesn't take much to get a lot more freckles. :) There's no real significance in that, other than I just really like them. I didn't use to, but after a while I got over it and embraced them. So, when you see me next, I'll probably have twice the amount of freckles compared to the last time you saw me. That is neat:)

I was talking to a friend last week, and due to the course of our conversation, she confessed to me that she really felt like I had made an impression on her. She said that I really "bring something" into a conversation, and into her life at the time, that inspired her. As soon as she said it I was overjoyed to know that I was making an impact on someone. This is what I have been praying for-That people would see the difference in my life through Jesus, just in simple conversations; in the way I talk to them. That night while I was journaling, I thanked my Father so many times, with sincere gratitude for using me to make an impact on her.

Until tonight, I had missed a completely crucial part to this entire story. Any good in me really comes from the Lord, so what she sees as different, is really Jesus. I had thanked God over and over for how He has been using me and working through me, but failed to praise Him because He is Good, and it was His Goodness that has begun to seep into my friend. I was so exited to be helping to change people, that I forgot who it was that was doing the changing. Even though my intentions were, I think at least, honorable, there was still enough "me" involved, to make God's part not seem involved enough.

I hope this wasn't confusing. It may be one of those things that only I'll understand because it has to do with the way I felt in a particular moment. Who knows, but I'll leave you with this. He deserves praise. All the time. Just because He is who He is.

The beginning of developing a servant's heart is first asking the Lord what you can do for Him.


Proverbs 22:11
LoveYouBunches

Anna