// how can it be? //

For Kathryn's birthday, we were able to go to an open mic night at a cafe near where we live. We had a few songs prepared and did them(you can see clips on Instagram if you follow either of us there) then later on were able to each do another song.  And, since I had a track on our iPod, I chose this one.

'How Can it Be?' is just one of those songs, you know? The first time I heard it was kind of a fluke- I never listen to the radio, and if I do it's NPR for morning classical or Saturday opera. But for whatever reason I was waiting in the car and just turned to K-Love(I think) and heard this husky powerhouse voice belting this song. This was a while back so younger, music snobbier me was inclined not to like it- but it had something. The words just sort of pushed at me, and I jotted them down to look it up later. Since that day, I've come to absolutely love this song, and Lauren's voice for that matter. The words are so powerful, so personal and so true. However, in the original key I can't sing it. Recently I came across this high karaoke track and I was so thrilled!

One of my (and my sisters) dreams is to be able to perform and record CCM songs in popera style. There are so many out there that have such incredible messages, and recorded in a different style they could potentially reach even more people. Plus this is just how I was made to sing. Getting to perform this live and sort of off the bat was exhilarating, I have to say. I don't know what God has planned for me with a music career, if anything, but I was so blessed to be able to sing this amazing song, and I hope you enjoy it too!! Sorry about the poor audio quality- iPod camera, karaoke track and background noise can only be fixed so much :) Feel free to download if you should happen to want to.

So, what do you think of the popera/CCM idea? Do you know any CCM (or other songs) that you think could be covered classically? I'd love to take a listen, I love finding new music! Please let me know in the comments!!

(p.s. If they were Christians(praying- does anyone else pray for their favorite singers etc?? curious) Il Volo could cover this song and literally blow up the planet, just saying.)

// hebrew poetry //

 I will sing to the sky
send my voice on the four winds

I will take flight
on wings of gold, wheel in the sun

And  I will come down to earth again 
return to rest and fly once more

I'm taking a hermeneutics class online now, and we were learning about Hebrew poetry. They use parallelism(corresponding ideas) in different forms- this is the form called synonymous parallelism (similar thoughts expressed together).

Why should my head hang down?
I am blessed with the warmth of the sun
I am surrounded by a world full of flowers
and the smile of God has looked upon me by grace.
Thus will I hold my head high
like a sunflower, looking to the light

This is synthetic parallelism, where an original thought is built on to a climax.

In a clash of many colors without form, there is chaos
but where there is simplicity and expression, there is beauty.

Sort of weird poem, but this is known as antithetic parallelism, where one idea is contrasted with another. It's often used in Proverbs.

One last element, used in scriptural poetry and prose, is chiasm.

1.You are more wild than a thunderstorm
    2.More bright than a flash of lightning
        3.and yet quiet as the hush before dawn
        3.and yet I fear the quiet, as I fear a crouching tiger
     2.At least the brightness is visible
1.and the wildness beautiful though furious

Chiastic poetry  is a little harder to explain. Its name comes from the greek letter chi, which looks like an X. If the formatting is right, the poem should have a margin that resembles half of an X. This form uses a number of points/ideas, that build to a middle section. This middle section(in my example, the idea of quietude) is the main point of the piece. Then the ideas are repeated in reverse(as shown by the numbers). More than three ideas can be used, in the same form.

Anyways, hope this is a little interesting! I'm really learning about it, and am excited about using these structures in my own writing!!  Would you use them? Have you used them? Is there anything that needs clarity in my article? Let me know in the comments!

// fashion files: button down and denim //

So I thought today I'd do a fashion post!! I've gone through a long process of figuring out exactly what I want my style to be, but I think I've finally figured out a general base that is classic and hip all at once. Time will tell if I stick with it, but at the moment I think I'm probably at a point/age where my style shouldn't change too much more. Hopefully.

I like to look hipster- but not too coffee shop hanging, mega-bearded boyfriend hipster. (I hate those beards).

I want to look aesthetic- but not totally 'I just spent all my money at a thrift shop buying 90s clothes and am now trying too hard while reading a book about Van Gogh. Or at least taking a picture of it.' 

I want to look vaguely bohemian - but not like a hippy or gypsy or something.

Basically I've sifted down through this variety of related but different looks to find a starting point that I think general consensus would deem timeless- the French girl. (Told you- I'm becoming a Francophile!  Their style, and music...).

 They are artistic, and the original hipsters, all while managing to remain classic.

I look to classic icons from the 60s and 70s- such as Francoise Hardy, Jane Birkin(selectively) etc. for inspiration, as well as modern ones like Jeanne Damas and others. 

Granted I'm neither tall nor particularly thin- but who cares.Todays' look is very basic- white button-down and denim.

A staple of any wardrobe should probably be a good white button down. Mine isn't ideal, but it works for now. 

 
And an A-line button-up denim skirt, fresh from Old Navy. I'm quite happy with it, it fits well, was on sale and is long enough for general wear.

And, of course, the bangs. I cut them myself so they can be a little messy, but isn't that the point of french bangs?


I'd like to do more posts like this, going forward. Sort of a fashion files ongoing series, with posts on both my outfits and on different inspirations, as well as some makeup stuff.  If anyone who already has tackled any fashion blogging has tips for me- PLEASE, I'd love to hear them.
Thankfully my sister is a great photographer. It really helps. 

// wings //

via pinterest

I feel it, I feel it...

The quickening, the tightening, the stirring

The rush of blood, the beat of heart

Growing, growing...

I hear it, I hear it...

The rustling, the blowing, the shuddering

The taking off, the soar of wind

Going, going...

I see it, I see it...

The dizzying, the widening, the realizing

The stretch of sight, the broad of world

Flying, flying...

// on a street in paris //

via pinterest

‘If there was any hope she could love me, she would have looked my way, given some sign…’ He mentally moaned behind his paper, watching over it’s edge as she slowly moved along the street. In fact, every movement she’d made since noticing him had been choreographed for his benefit.

But of course, he didn’t know that.

‘Why doesn’t he look up, say hello, anything? Instead of just staying stuck inside that stupid newspaper?’ She fumed silently, as she sauntered down the street, glancing in the shop windows and fixing her bangs with careless movements. In fact, he hadn’t noted a word of that paper since the first step she’d taken onto Rue Amour.

But of course, she didn’t know that.

The little old lady across the street, selling red geraniums in terra-cotta pots, smiled. She didn’t say anything about the way of young love she’d been observing for years, the same thing in different people.

But of course, she knew.

xx sappy. i've turned into a vague francophile lately. i'll hopefully be posting something more productive soon xx

// portraits //

 

Full portrait, as promised. I don't have a name for this one... Suggestions? • • #portrait #painting #acrylic #red #girl

A photo posted by nina derespino (@ninette1998) on May 18, 2016 at 1:06pm PDT

Full shot of Memories. Anyone guessed the subject? • • #portrait #painting #acrylic #man #green

A photo posted by nina derespino (@ninette1998) on May 18, 2016 at 1:07pm PDT

I've been getting into acrylic in the fairly recent past... I'm loving doing these portraits. I'm planning to do more, but I say that a lot and then never fulfill so no promises.

// the quote tag pt. 3 //

Now, I might differ in that I have strong feelings about early man and the way humankind has 'progressed' since the fall.  Don't ever talk to me about cave men or you might regret it. Therefore if he's buying into the idea of early man being primitive in their understanding I reject that part. However, I don't think he necessarily is; and even if so, the quote still speaks truth. Besides, who's to say that thinking of tree's and stars in such mystical terminology is less developed? Our reasonable explanations for these things have in some ways taken from them.

Anyways, I was actually just thinking about these sorts of concepts yesterday afternoon in the car, before I came home and looked at quotes haha. The older I get the more I feel there is incredible, in some cases incomprehensible, imagery and symbolism woven into the tapestry of even the simplest things of nature. The Bible speaks to God's revelation in nature, and in our own hearts.

Of course, it can never be comparable to scripture- our doctrine and truth must be founded always and only in the Word. But we can, through the light it gives our eyes, then view all of creation as a beautiful storybook, with the most exquisite of illustration and masterful execution. We can look for the truths we already know for fact in the Bible, then hidden in swirls and whispers all around us.

So thats the end of the tag!! Hope I don't sound too weird or mystical because that's definitely not how I'm meaning it.

I enjoyed it a lot, so thanks again to Maggie @ Traveling Home for the tag!

My last nominees-

Ava @ Quiet Land
Abbiee @Abbiee- the music blog

I'll be back before long with some new posts, look for a book review, an instagram roundup and who knows what all else. So there you go!!