Five Happy Moments of the Week

1. Found two beach chairs at Target on sale for $10.00 each

2. Florida afternoon thunderstorms every day this week

3. Spent Saturday evening with the Whites and learned a new card game called Garbage

4. Visited my old livejournal account and read posts from my freshman year in college...I was hilariously immature and ridiculous

5. Got a salt water fishing license so I can start fishing with Kyle

xoxo

Measuring the Universe

One of my favorite blogs I follow is called **Happiness Is...** 

http://www.happinessisblog.com/happiness-is/

One of my favorite things about her blog are her link posts where she will find really awesome things on the

Internet and compiles the links into one post. It's like opening up little presents. And I love presents! The first link 

was just so beautiful that I had to share. It reminded me of Kyle's family as they still have a door frame in their

kitchen of everyone's heights from when they were toddlers all the way up to when they stopped growing! I think

their dogs are even on there lol. I definitely will be doing this with our family some day. 

Enjoy and check out **Happiness Is...** !!

Roman Ondak's Measuring the Universe

http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/tateshots-roman-ondak-measuring-universe

Fresh Start Friday

It's Friday. But more importantly it is a new day. And i am thankful for new days, fresh starts. By the time I went to bed last night, I was feeling very frustrated about the day and some things here and there in my life. I don't really know why, but little things were bothering me and the frustrations just kind of added up and I unexpectedly had a venting session with my sweet husband who is always so patient with me and just listens when he knows that's exactly what I need...even if he has no idea what I'm talking about or thinks I'm being a little irrational. He just listens and offers advice when needed...but a lot of times he just listens because he's learned that's usually what I need. Sometimes it feels good to just vent and then sleep it off and wake up refreshed. It helps too that it's Friday. I love Fridays. Here's to a great day!! x x 

Retrace

Anberlin has always been mine and Kyle's favorite band since highschool. We recently got to see them in concert at the state theatre in St. Pete. It was amazing and simply perfect! It caused me to go back and listen to some of their past albums. I came across this song last night that I hadn't heard in very long time...and when I heard it, it immediately reminded me of the fall of 2008. Kyle and I had actually broken up at the end of this summer and it was certainly a difficult time for the both of us. (Maybe ill tell that story in detail here someday...it's not one of my favorites, but it is a part of Our story...and without it we wouldn't be who we are today.) When Kyle and I had gotten back together, I remember he had shared with me that he had listened to that song often during our time apart. He said it encompassed all that he was feeling during that time. As you can imagine, my heart just about exploded.

And this is why I love music. A song can ring true with every thing inside of you, just like this song did with Kyle. Songs live alongside memories, good and bad. And I love that sweet moment when you hear a song and it takes you right back to a moment in time you don't want to forget. 

Thankfully, this song did not mark the end of our story. If it did, I'd probably hate Anberlin to pieces and would send this song to it's grave where the songs of Britney spears and backstreet boys lie. :)

"Retrace" - Anberlin

Oh how I've tried to get you out of my head

And I lied, the broken words I said

Never thought I'd walk on this street again

Standing where it all began

And I tried to forget

When I left this town

But it takes me right back

When I come back around

Retrace the steps we took on that lost summer night

I'm back there by your side

Retrace the steps we took when we met,

Worlds away, counting backwards while the stars are falling

Oh now I find, every subtle thing screams your name

It reminds me of places and times we shared

Couldn't live locked in these memories

Now I'm chained to my thoughts again

And I tried to forget

When I left this town

But I'll take you right back

If you come back around

Retrace the steps we took on that lost summer night

I'm back there by your side

Retrace the steps we took when we met,

Worlds away, counting backwards while the stars are falling

I need some shelter, I need some safety

Photographs, they haunt me lately

Chasing shadows as the evening takes me

I'm still searching, but the picture's fading

And nowhere else has ever felt like home

And I can't fall asleep when I'm lying here alone

I replay your voice, it's like you're here

You moved the earth, but now the sky is falling

Retrace the steps we took on that lost summer night

In my mind I'm back by your side

Retrace the steps we took when we met,

Worlds away, counting backwards while the stars are falling

An ordinary Tuesday evening

The sound of gentle folky music is drifting through our apartment at this moment. This ordinary moment of time. Kyle is on the floor reading his book (for some reason he finds that comfortable...). I'm sitting in "my spot" on the couch flicking through old Facebook posts and pondering on the beautiful twists and turns that life has taken me. Taken us. As I sit here on what most would consider an extremely boring evening, I am overwhelmed with contentment. And that's a good place to be. I've been gazing at our living room and at all the random pieces of garage sale/thrift store/gifted/up-cycled furniture that all just happens to work together so beautifully to make the coziest little home for the two of us. I have loved creating a home with Kyle over these past four years. I love the life that we are building together. There is no one else in this world that I'd want to do this life thing with. I love that I can sit in the calmness of this evening, stare at my sweet husband, and simply by his presence be assured of the love he has for me. I love these ordinary evenings where I am reminded of how extraordinary my life really is. 

For me

It's been a while, little blog. Four months!! I was feeling nostalgic the other day and decided to read some of my old blog posts. My, how much time changes your perspective on things. And my, how beautiful it is to see where life has brought me. I had a different blog before this one...and then I decided to switch to blogger one day...but I've actually been blogging on and off since 2005. Blogging really started out as a social media thing. It was before we had facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, and all that jazz. For me, blogging started around the time that people were using instant messaging. (There's a little Throw back Thursday for ya!!) Your blog was a place to write about everything you did in a day or a weekend. It was all pointless really, but it was a way to connect with friends and share with the World Wide Web of the awesome piece of pizza you just ate and that you were about to take a shower. haha! Oh, and there were always these surveys that people would post that had all these random "about me" questions. I did so many of those...(learned later in life that those are often used by horrible people who like to steal identities. Which reminds me...I have some deleting to do...)

As I read through some of my old posts...and some semi-recent...I saw how much of my heart has been spilled all over these digital pages. I guess Intricacies of the Heart has always been a perfect name for this blog. While you can't always visibly tell, I truly feel things so deeply, at the core of my being, whether good, bad, happy, or sad.  I guess that isn't really a surprise to me...but as I was reading various entries, it was almost embarrassing to read some of the stuff I posted. Especially during this one season of life when I was working through an annoying yet legitimately hurtful experience - one that I drew out much longer than necessary. But that's just me. It takes me a while to deal with stuff. And that's ok.

Growing up as the youngest has certainly played a part in how I tick. Ever since I was little, I've always wanted my voice to be heard (but sometimes felt like no one wanted to listen or cared). I wanted my opinions to matter. I wanted people to care about the things I cared about. For the record, I haven't been wounded for life or anything - I had an awesome childhood and even more awesome siblings! This has just helped me understand myself a bit better. And I think that's why I've always written about how I'm feeling or what I'm going through. Because I felt like someone was bound to read it - and thus I would be heard. And writing always helped me make sense of what I was going through - I felt better when I could put my emotions on a page.  

So many times I've told myself that this blog needed more of a purpose. A blog based on a theme - like cooking or pinterest projects...something other than all the personal stuff in my life. Because who really wants to read that? But after reading all my old silly posts, I realized that this blog was always a place to share my heart and my life, and it simply needs to stay that way. Maybe one day I'll have a more themed blog about renovating my house and maybe get paid for it at the same time... (haha! JUST KIDDING - I could never do that...and I really do love Young House Love btw)

So my goal for this blog is for it to simply remain a place where I can express what's in my heart and share all the different facets and experiences of my life - even if it is about something as silly as food! If someone somewhere benefits from it or enjoys it, then that makes me happy...but this blog is really for me. An expression of Leigh Anna Mullett in word format - and I look forward to reading it 10-20 years from now...that is if the internet is still around then...haha who am I kidding! 

x x 

  

Noel Fielding

So I'm a little wary about posting this entry, because its kinda strange and personal...but I think its time I just put it out for the World Wide Web to stumble upon.

If you've followed my blog for a while, you may recall a couple posts I've written about prayer, praying for the salvation of others, my heart being burdened for someone I don't know, but I pray for them anyways...etc. Well, I just wanted to share about who it is I've been praying for.

I know I shouldn't feel embarrassed about it...but for some reason I do. Maybe because this person isn't just some stranger I've seen in a coffee shop or a random acquaintance...but because he's actually someone I've never met and probably never will. He is a celebrity in the U.K., an artist, a comedian, an actor. His name is Noel Fielding.

I learned about Noel through a television series he did called The Mighty Boosh. (I may regret writing that...!!!) Kyle and I find it quite hilarious...but it's definitely not for everyone. Let me repeat that...it's definitely not for everyone! Anyways...back in 2010, God really began a work in my heart and life in regards to prayer and the lostness and brokenness of this world. And it was around this time when I learned of who Noel was. My heart became so incredibly burdened for him and for his salvation. Now, if you're a complete stranger/fan of Noel reading this, I understand how absurd this all must sound, especially if you are not a Christian (and/or if you have a negative view/experience with Christianity.. I know many Christians have done horrible things in the name of Jesus, and this breaks God's heart so deeply...) If that is the case, I hope and pray you will encounter the true love of Jesus.

Anyways at this point in my life, I really struggled with God. There were many nights I cried at the reality that so many people are going to hell. (There would be times when we'd be at a stop light, and I would look at the person in the car next to me and think "they may never know the salvation of Jesus and will spend an eternity without him...in hell. yes, leigh anna...in hell. Will they ever be told about the love of Jesus?") I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. It was honestly unbearable. But this is a journey I'm thankful for, because I learned (and am still learning) to have faith that moves mountains. And part of this learning process was praying for Noel.

"Um Leigh Anna...Shouldn't you be spending more of your mountain moving faith on people you know and love that need Jesus?...why waste it on a stranger? Let someone else do that..."

This was the number one doubt and frustration I had in praying for Noel. I felt like I should be spending more time praying intently and intensely for those close to me...why him? And God revealed to me..."because he needs prayer too...and there is a good chance he might not have anyone at all praying specifically and intently for him. Your prayers for Noel are NOT wasted. I want you to pray for him, Leigh Anna..."

So I did...and still do.

I actually wrote Noel a letter 2 years ago. Yup. I contacted his management company for the address to send fan mail to and sent my letter off. I simply told Noel that God had put him on my heart, that I pray for him often, and told him that God loves him beyond measure and desires Noel to know Him. I don't know if Noel actually got it...and if he did, I don't know if he even read it. And if he read it...he probably spewed a mouthful of tea all over the place because he found it so hilarious and pathetic...

But what if...what if he tucked those words of truth quietly in his heart..."What if she's right? What if the whole God thing is real. What if Jesus was and is who they say he is...am I really worthy of a love like that? Why the freak is some stranger praying for me? I don't need prayer...or do I?"

Who knows what happened with all that...only God knows. And only God knows the countless prayers I've prayed and still continue to pray for Noel Fielding, for Noel's family, Noel's closest friends and those in his life. God's heart breaks at the truth that many may never come to know him in this lifetime. But I believe He has given us prayer as a means to move His heart and His Holy Spirit to work in the lives of those who so desperately need Him, even if they don't know it yet. I know my prayers for Noel are not wasted...nor are they taken lightly by my loving Father. I believe that Noel will come to know the saving grace of Jesus. Maybe he already does...Say and think what you will...I'm weird, psycho, crazy, misunderstood, whatever...But I will not stop praying.




(...and I cant believe I've just posted one of the most vulnerable things in my life...but there you have it.)





"Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation..." -Romans 10:1

Swedes sure know how to make a home.

Um, hello! Can this be my home Please?

Fool for you

There are times when faith and common sense do not align; When hardcore evidence of You is hard to find.And I am silenced in the face of argumentative debate,And it's a long hill, it's a lonely climb. 'cause they want proof, they want proof of all these mysteries I claim, 'Cause only fools would want to chant a dead man's name.Maybe, it's true but,
I would be a fool for you,All because you asked me to.A simpleton who's seemingly naive,I do believe, You came and made Yourself a fool for me.
I admit that in my darkest hours I've asked what if...What if we created some kind of man made faith like thisOut of good intention or emotional inventionAnd after life is through there will be no You.
'Cause they want proof of all these miracles I claim,'Cause only fools believe that men can walk on wavesMaybe, it's true....but,
I would be a fool for youAll because you asked me toA simpleton who's seemingly naiveI do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me.
Unaware of popularity, unconcerned with dignity,You made me free, that's proof enough for me.
I would be a fool for You only if You asked me toA simpleton who's only thinking of the cause of love.
I will speak Jesus' nameThat makes me crazy, they can call me crazedI'm happy to be seemingly naiveI do believe You came and made Yourself a fool for me
A fool for You




-Nichole Nordeman

I'm sitting here in our living room, in the peaceful quiet (except for the sweet sound of my husband breathing as he's conked out in the tiny love seat across from me...while I hog our 8 foot long ikea couch...), and I realize how good life is.