Life, New Moon, And A New Laptop

I've had an amazing week. It was very, very busy, and very stressful at first... but the holiday weekend was just awesome. All the stress I was feeling... God completely took that away. It was a powerful, great change. I feel so much better.

Songwriting is incredibly therapeutic. I wrote a new song that really captures everything I've been feeling, and having it out there just makes me feel 100 times better. And also makes me realize how silly it was to have felt that way to begin with.

I have to say, I'm really proud of the new songs so far. I'm growing as a songwriter. :) I think the new album will be amazing, and I can't wait to record it.

Jesus has really been moving in my life, and in the band. He is planning big things, I think. I'm really looking forward to it.

On a random note, I've seen New Moon twice so far. And I have plans to see it a 3rd time. haha! It's AMAZING. So if you haven't seen it, you should. I'm also finally working on a new podcast! Yay! I got a laptop during the summer that was supposedly "just what I needed"... I think it was a lemon. The computer was made for movies, and yet I couldn't get any videos to play on it. So I couldn't edit all our podcast footage all summer and fall. Finally, they replaced my computer, and now I have an epic laptop that is the best computer I've ever used. So, podcasts are getting done! haha Keep an eye out for it here in the next day or two. :)

I need Africa more than Africa needs me.

"I've come to understand that I NEED AFRICA MORE THAN AFRICA NEEDS ME. Why? Because it is Africa that has taught me that possessions in my hands will never be as valuable as peace in my heart. I've learned that I don't need what I have and that I have what I need. These are just a few of this continent's many lessons. I came here to serve and yet I've found that I have so much to learn, and Africa, with all its need, has much to teach me." (read more about why We Need Africa More Than Africa Needs Us here)

When I read that, and all the wonderful things that the Mocha Club is doing, I was convinced that I wanted to partner with them and start a team to help benefit one of their projects. By giving up 2 mocha lattes a month -- hence the name, Mocha Club -- I can put that $7 towards something amazing. $7 here in the US doesn't mean much. You can't see a movie for $7 anymore, can't eat out at most places for $7... So we take for granted what so little and just a tiny bit of sacrifice can do.

To the people of Africa, $7 means food for one person for a month. It means clean water for 7 people for a YEAR. 2 children can be educated for a whole school term for that much. $7 can save one person's life from Malaria.

Honestly. Can you imagine that? By just skipping two of your coffee indulgences a month, you can SAVE A PERSON'S LIFE. To me, that's big. That's something worth taking notice.

So, that said, we as a band decided to start our team, and chose to pick Orphan Care as our project. When I went through the list of projects, that one just stuck out to me. Picturing all these young children, orphaned, and without a home... living in bushes and the desert to fend for themselves, and highly susceptible to animal attacks... It broke my heart, and I wanted to be able to do something about it. Our project helps provide food, shelter, and education to these children who have lost their parents to AIDS/HIV and war. That $7 a month can help provide all these needs and more.

So, now, I'm asking you: What can you do with your $7? Do you feel a calling to help those in need in Africa?

Check out mochaclub.org to join our project, and to see all the good they're doing.

Be the change.

~Cait

Fall Is The Season Of Change...

The color of the leaves, and the temperature haven't been the only things changing here lately...

It's been a while since I've posted. Sorry for the lack of blogging. Things have been crazy busy for the band! Past couple months, I've been working really hard at singing, learning new cover songs, figuring out a new set list... And then we've been practicing it like crazy! On Saturday we had a photo shoot. I just got done sorting through 900+ photos, and editing about 25 of them. Now I'm working on a new myspace layout, and website design. I won't be posting the photos until the myspace is done, but I'll share exclusively here one of my favorites... :) We were very fortunate to have sponsors for this photo shoot. LifeLoveMusic -- The clothing line that's partnered with Ben Kasica from Skillet -- sent us some of their shirts to wear, while Michelle Flowers at Beaux Cheveux did all of our hair. I -love- my hair and was so thrilled to get it done. :)

Tomorrow my best friend, Rii, comes to visit. I'm so excited!!! And then we're playing two shows this weekend... And we have one or two shows every weekend this month.

So big stuff has been in the works! I hope you guys will enjoy the photos, the new web designs, and the upcoming shows!

Today, one of my dreams came true...

I got to take my picture with Carl Edward's race car. :D The only thing cooler would be if Carl himself had been there. Of course, he's at Bristol today for the race. :P

I don't really get all fangirl-y over anyone, but I think if I met Carl, or Dale Jr, I would freak. hahaha

Yes, everyone, I'm a big NASCAR fan. :P

Lots of band stuff has been going on. We're doing a new photo shoot soon... I love photo shoots. It makes me feel like a model. :D hahaha Seriously though, I am looking forward to it, and being able to edit the photos and design our myspace and website based on those photos... I love doing that stuff, even though the web layout part is really difficult.

Also, you should check out THEDRIVEtv ... Our music will be played on their show. :) Pretty exciting! It's a cool show, so you should watch it.

We have some other cool things in the works, but the details aren't final yet, so I'll tell you about them later... :)

So, today, I am treating myself to girl time. :D My friend, Brooke, and I are going to the mall and going to just hang and be girly. It's a nice change of pace! I usually hang out with all guys, or mostly guys and a few girls... So I'm excited. :) Brooke is awesome!

Enjoy you're weekend everybody! :)

Lots of concerts! Oh, and I can't wait for New Moon...

I haven't blogged in a few weeks...

I went with Nic and some friends to St. Louis a little over a week ago... my first time ever going there. It was crazy. XD We went for Rock The River. It was pretty cool. We only caught some of Red and Hawk Nelson, but saw Kirk Franklin, Skillet, and Flyleaf... I think I've seen Skillet 5 times now. haha I've seen Hawk Nelson and Red once before, but not the other two... Kirk Franklin was okay, just not really my style. Flyleaf though??? I loved them!! I like them even more now! They put on a great show. I really like Lacey, and felt she did a great job connecting with the audience...

I really want to meet her. :)

Last night we had our friends over and played this crazy game called Banzai. It's a British spoof of Japanese tv... it's the most random, hilarious game ever. Sadly I got owned... D: I'd never lost before until last night! hahaha

I almost went to a concert tonight... Ryan Cabrera was playing at a local venue, and I really like his older stuff, but I changed my mind... Which worked out nicely because I ended up chatting with one of my best friends for a couple hours. I've hardly talked to her all summer! So it was nice. :) I've missed her!

Tomorrow though, I'm meeting up with some of my friends to go see Abandon. Can't wait! I've been going to their concerts for years now. Happy to see them touring with big acts, and about to release their first full length album since getting signed. They're cool guys.

Oh, and I'm debating... should I go see Bandslam this weekend??? The new full length trailer for New Moon premieres before the movie! hahaha... I don't know much about Bandslam really, except it stars Vanessa Hudgens (way too tween for me) and Aly Michalka (who I like). Decisions, decisions.

Well, I was just taking a break from practicing... need to get another hour in. Back to work! :)

Good week!

My best friend is coming to visit!!

I haven't seen Rii in two years... we talk all the time, of course... but yeah. Wow. I'm so excited! She's flying up here in October. :] We're going to have so much fun! We've known each other for... just about 8 years now. It'll be 8 years in two weeks and two days. haha

Had an awesome day today. I went to bed at an almost normal time the past couple of nights, and got plenty of rest. Feeling pretty good! Went shopping for a few things today... got seasons 2 & 3 of Psych (one of my favorite shows!!) and the X-Men trilogy (some of my favorite movies, and shockingly didn't have them). My Grandma treated me to a pair of new PJ bottoms. :] Really nice, comfy capri ones too from American Eagle! I never buy myself PJs, so most of mine are a year or more old (some being as old as 4 years), and starting to get really worn out... haha So I'm pretty excited to go get in my comfy new PJs!

Yesterday was pretty awesome too. Nic, David, and I hung out with some of our buddies... Luke, Cody, and Brandon. We went and saw Wolverine again. Great, great movie! Love it! It was a lot of fun... we went to Starbucks and Taco Bell afterwards, and then played some Apples to Apples. Good times!

I so rarely have so many days in a row off from band practices or shows, so this week has been a nice treat. Even so, I'm still working on tons of band stuff. Writing new songs, practicing on my own, editting podcasts and photos, learning how to design a website for the band... etc.

But tomorrow... chore day. Fun, fun!

Well, back to practice. Oyasumi nasai, minna-san!

Psalm 4:8

So, one thing I realized: this blog -- along with my Twitter -- are probably going to be used to talk about food a lot. :D I love food.

I'm really hungry right now, so food is on my brain. My dad's making scallops for dinner, along with baked potatoes and salad. Yummm.

I've been eating all my favorite foods again lately. I love bread, but for about a year I was gluten free. I thought I was allergic to gluten -- it runs in my family, and my mom and brother are -- but as it turned out, I don't think I am. I may be, but I think it's so minor an allergy. So the past two weeks, I've been eating bread and stuff again. It's been awesome!

I'm also vegetarian (something which I will never change -- I hate meat! Ew). Most meat substitutes have gluten in them, so the combo of being gluten free and a veggie head severely limited my diet.

Even though I'm pretty much eating whatever, I'm still trying to eat the best I can. I've cut high fructose corn syrup & it's variants from my diet. That stuff is just not good for you. And, of course, still trying to eat organic veggies and fruit. :] For being a vegetarian though... I am really not good about eating vegetables. :P

Okay, enough about food.

Show this Saturday. Getting ready. Just remembered I have a bunch of guitar strings to change... haha Oops. Better do that tonight!

But first, dinner. Trying to decide if I want to read while I eat, or watch Psych? I'm almost done with season one... hm. I'm thinking Psych. Good show. :]

By the way, if you haven't yet, go give Essential a listen on our Myspace! We just put it up. :) Have had requests for that one to be added to the Myspace... so now it is. Enjoy!

On a last note, I've been pretty stressed out lately... But I'm feeling better now! I feel like this verse greatly applies to my day today:
"At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep,
For You, God, have put my life back together."
Psalm 4:8, The Message

Always in need of Him, always needing Him to guide my life, and shape it to His will...

Blog at ya later.

You know you're rocking too hard when...

You break a string during sound check. Then, break a string on a different guitar during the first song of the set. Next song, on the same guitar as sound check, you break a DIFFERENT string. Borrow Nic's Telecaster for the next song -- which, during that song his strap broke and needed a different guitar as well -- and break a string on THAT guitar a couple songs later.

Left each of us with only one guitar to play the rest of the show. haha What are the chances of that.

I'll have a bunch of guitar strings to change this week...

Great crowd at the show tonight. Very energetic. :]

Longggg week though. Really ready for a couple days to relax. I need to spend some quality time with the Lord. It's been a very trying week, and I need Him to rejuvenate me.

Looking forward to our show next Saturday at The Vineyard. I love that store. So cool. And they've been great to us -- they sell our album and promote it a lot. Pretty nice.

Well, I have about 4 1/2 hours to catch some Zzz's before I need to get up, get ready, and head off to vocal lessons. haha Early morning... The race is on tomorrow night though! :D Looking forward to that.

Night all.

"'Ai no uta' wa owaranai, Owaranai, Love & Truth"

"This 'love song' never ends, it never ends, Love & Truth" -- "Love & Truth" by YUI

Probably one of my favorite songs ever, and definitely one of my favorites by YUI. :] Which is why I titled my blog that... I think it fits me, yes?

Ahhh, I've done blogs before, but not consistently. So I'll have to try to be better about that.

I went to bed at 4am last night, only to wake up at 6:30am... Wayyyy early for me!! I've been feeling fiesty all day. :D haha! I think it's one of my better traits... many may disagree... Who knows.

I'm surprised I haven't crashed yet.

I would write more, and probably something more interesting, but as it is, band practice is in an hour and 10 minutes, and guess what? I've been working in my pjs all day. hah! Guess I should go so I'm not even later than usual. :P