INTROS!!!

Hello my beautiful people. You are all very beautiful. You know what else is beautiful? Drinking iced white blueberry Tazo poolside in Phoenix, AZ. I was doing that about 4 hours ago when I first started to try to post to this blog. Guess what??? I finally figured it out!!! ...actually I called Amanda and she told me what I was doing wrong, but I'm here now! Yes! Pumped.

My name is Matthew Danielson. My background as a Christian is that I was born into a very lawful, critical, protestant family that had beef with one aspect or another of every denomination, so I bounced around churches a bunch. I've never really belonged. Being that I heard Christianity from a variety of viewpoints as a child, I have learned to love listening to and discussing these different views with various people. I have also developed a few unique viewpoints of my own. One of the strongest is my general distaste of the current state of the church, and a strong admiration of small groups studying and learning more about the creator, our father, and the source of all light and love in this world. I certainly hope that this group will eventually go down that road. I think that's what it's for, right Amanda?

So, to go with the flow, these are a few of my favorite things:

1. Lately, making lists.

2. Tea. I'm sorry. I feel like the goose in this pool of ducks right now. I really do have an appreciation for coffee. I love it. I love the texture, the warmth, the story of the beautiful tropical places it comes from, and the social ambiance it creates. But honestly? It makes me dance with goats. I get a caffeine hangover from decaf. Tea has just always been more my thing.

3. Music. When I moved to Phoenix, I had room for 4 things on the back of my motorcycle: a backpack of clothes and food, a sleeping bag, a skateboard, and a guitar/ ukulele. A guitalele. It's basically a ukulele sized guitar, and it's already been there for me more than most humans.

4. Humans. I forget that I like them sometimes, but I really do. They are cool.

5. Everything that isn't a human. I love animals, I love trees, I love plants, and I love the earth. I want to explore every nook and cranny of it. I want to fly with birds and swim with fish. I want to meet every animal and organism and hear their story. I just wish I didn't have to give up so much to pursue that dream.

6. God. The most important thing is definitely easy to bury, isn't it? That's why people like you are so rad. Thanks guys!