I have been given a task: before Monday, I have to create a CD containing my 20 favorite songs. I took this to mean 20 songs by 20 different artists, whether or not that was the intent of the original assignment. I have 19, so far. It's a pretty good mix - everything from David Crowder Band to Kanye West to Johnny Cash. The question: what is magical song number 20? Any advice?

I feel like I forget, remember, restate, and then re-forget this all too often...but I have been blessed with some amazing people in my life. I am so thankful for all the people who I can call "friends," whatever it means for that individual person. I am thankful for the people who are always there, whatever "there" means for them. I'm thankful for the people who get my sense of humor SO well. The ones who tell me not to play with my hair so much while I'm watching TV and then say "I can not bug you about that if you want..." The ones who run across a room because they haven't seen me since May, and the ones who tell me they love the eight-page emails, even if they don't have time to respond. The ones who hug me and mean it. The ones who challenge and comfort in the same breaths. The ones who know that God's Love and Truth are closer to beans in a jar than my favorite song. The people who see the same beauty I do in a true friendship.

A friend told me yesterday that we feel discomfort when God is changing us. I told her I was miserable, and she told me it was beautiful. After I looked at her like she was crazy, she told me that she thought it was beautiful, to watch me realize that the life I had once led now makes me miserable. And you know what? Somehow, an hour later, I totally agreed. I still have to figure out how to "grow out of this skin," and I know that might not be easy. But I can see now that I'm not trapped by who I have been; instead, I can be whoever God is making me. And I'm pretty excited about seeing who that person is. But here's the coolest part: even when the excitement fades, and even when I start to lose sight of this feeling (because, odds are, I WILL lose sight)... it's just as true. God's Truth is unchanging. And whenever I decided to remember it again, the excitement, peace, and joy will come back. I hope that, someday, I can learn to hold onto the peace and joy, even when the excitement ebbs.

Sorry that my thoughts are all over the place. Hopefully I'm not the only one who can follow my meandering mind.