these last few months...

So much has happened.
My head is still spinning a bit...

I witnessed the marriage of my crony and her beloved...
had a reunion with dear pals...
went to leslie's halloween party...

decked out in goodwill finds...

Saw ben folds live...front row...best concert i've been to...

said goodbye to my days of nannying my nephews and niece. aren't they adorable?
We watched as God opened doors and led us to Prescott. In God's divine timing (and to our surprise) John was asked to become the Pastor of a church there. In such a short time our whole lives changed. What a great reminder that God's ways are so not ours.

So, we said goodbye to the home we've lived in for the last year...

and welcomed the winter weather in prescott as well as enjoyed the court house lighting.
Here we are in the cutest little cottage in all of Arizona, embarking on a new adventure in life...


simply resting in Him.
to live is an awfully big adventure.

It's Official. Jingle Bell Rocks.

It's Christmas music 24/7 on 99.9. I couldn't be happier.

On a funny note, this last week I happened to see TWO dog walkers carrying their dogs down the street.
Granted, they were smaller dogs, but they were on a walk. What's the point of walking them if you are going to carry them the whole way?
I did a look-over-the-shoulder-while-driving both times.
I had a little laugh to myself as well.

Funnier yet, I got smacked in the head with a book this week. One of the kiddo's I watch is on a "hitting streak" (God bless those mothers that have to deal with that all day) and as soon as he gets really excited (or over-stimulated, depends on your thinking.) He can't seem to hold it in and just starts smacking you with his hands. It started with a few hits from the plastic golf club and throwing plastic balls at your head, but has elevated to attacking me with his reading material! We were reading a book after his nap, looking at the pictures, laughing a little and all the sudden--WACK! On my face and up swelled my nose.
"Why?" I asked him. (He can't talk just yet, so I didn't get a response.)
But he is just so cute. What can you do?

Most Recent Inspiration:
Unicorn Whales. How magical.

They are actually called Narwhals and are rarely seen in the cold arctic sea. They grow to be about six feet long and weigh 1.8 tons. They are mysterious, magical creatures.

Since they are rarely seen not much was known about them, that is until a couple of years ago.
The biggest mystery? Why do they have the 8 foot long tooth sprouting from their head and what is it's function? It's beautiful spiraled tusk looks much like that of a horn on a wooden carousel unicorn or any other unicorn toy we had as kids.

Here is the coolest part, Scientists discovered that the tooth has hydrodynamic sensor capabilities. Ten million tiny nerve connections that tunnel their way from the central nerve of the narwhal tusk to its outer surface. Their tooth is like a membrane with an extremely sensitive surface, capable of detecting changes in water temperature, pressure, and particle gradients. Science Article

I love it. There's nothing like it in tooth form. These animals are rare, beautiful creatures. It's inspiring.

So inspiring that I think I'm gonna write a story with about this animal...perhaps include another favorite sea creature...

Look how ferocious that creature is.

On another note, I am so done with talking about voting. I am tired of discussing it, sharing sides and "did you knows" and getting all riled up over something out of our control. I just can't wait until it's all done with.


This was inspired from a sick day spent watching Arctic Tale.

A Lovely Little Diddy...

Just one of my favorite songs...


My new favorite Regina song...I think I could listen to it again and again...
beautiful.

Romulus

Try this...
Google each one of the questions below. Get the first and favorite picture of the bunch and put them up on your blog!

1. The age you will be on your next birthday

2. A place to which you'd like to travel


3. Your favorite place


4. Your favorite person


5. Your favorite food


6. Your favorite animal


7. The town in which you were born


8. The name of a past pet


9. The first name of a past love


10. Your favorite color


11. Your first name


12. Your middle name


13. Your last name

I randomly saw my grandma at the grocery store today.

I was driving home and remembered I needed coffee creamer. I made a u-turn and sped up to the green light. I had just been thinking about grandma on the ride home and how I wished I spent more time with her, visited her more, perhaps even stopped by her house this afternoon.

As I walked into the store I saw her short, petite swaying body walk through the automatic doors dressed in her typical ankle length skirt she's worn since I can remember. I quickly tried to catch up with her, hoping I wouldn't startle her.
"Hi Grandma!" I hugged her as tenderly and lovingly as I could. She hugged me a few times, each time a little longer.
"Well Hello." My grandma says. She always says that. I could tell she had been crying, but I never asked what was wrong.
"What are you getting here?" I inquired.
"Oh, I just need some creamer." She responded in her laughing-voice she often uses.
"Me too!"
We walked back to the dairy isle and made small talk. I asked about Grandpa, she asked about John. We made jokes about creamer.

I can still feel the knot that was in my throat as I walked with my grandma to the checkout line. I can remember her character so clearly. The love she always showed, the million games of Skip-o we would play when I was a kid, the tender hugs, soft kisses and thoughtful birthday cards. And her laugh. That sort of awkward, soft laugh that tends to trail into the next sentence.
She's getting older. Her memory is going. She'll be driving somewhere and forget where she's going. Grandpa loses his patience and makes her feels horrible. All of this is going on, but she is still in there. I still see her. My mom is panicking about how she's changing and how they need to move into a home, but I still see the spunk and spirit and love she has in her. I wanted to hug and and kiss her cheek only to say, "Don't give up yet, just hang in there a bit longer." She is one of the hardest working women I have ever met in my life. She took a train across the United States by herself when she seven because her dad had tuberculosis and she had to live with her Aunt in Arizona. She raised seven children. She ran a chicken farm with my grandpa and when her kids were in school took a second job to help make ends meet. She took care of her own mother after she had a stroke and later passed away. She is a pillar of strength and an example of a woman of God. She is incredible. I pray that Jesus will bless me with half of her genuine smile, honest concern, hospitable nature, creator of incredible food, story telling ability, singing talent and tender heart, if He wills it.

My mom thinks she's "fading fast" and "who knows how long she'll be around." but I won't believe it, not yet. When I see her sweet smile and loving demeanor I can just see God's not finished yet. There are still things He has for her here. In His time, I know she will be re leaved, but until then I think I should just visit her more.

доброй ночи.

A Little Bit of Friday Delight

I'm not sure why I like this song so much. It's definitly not because of the show, I wasn't aloud to watch it as a kid. I think it's because of the words and the joy in the song. It reminds me of Room Six mate Kate. We wrote these lyrics above the sink in our room and would play the song occasionally on hard-to-wake-up mornings. I think it might also be the dancing...the dancing...I love the dancing.

Kind of like in this one,


Another memory of our Kate.
Where is she?
In Bronx, New York.






Teaching lovely kindergartens.
What I would give to be 5 years old and be a child in her classroom.

Tonight I was listening to Delilah.

Now, I should let you know that this is not a rare occurrence for myself.
Last December I took a liking to her late night show simply because during the entire month of December she plays continuous Christmas classic! It's awesome!

Back to tonight... I was driving home from class, it was late, and I had just had an annoying encounter with a Wendy's employee.

"How much is a mini Frosty?" I yelled from my car.

"Uh, eh....er....a dollar something?"

I repeated my question again.
Exactly the way my mom does. I shudder to think.

"HOW MUCH IS A MINI FROSTY?" I bellowed. Come on, it had been a long day.

"Uh, 2 dollars."

Another employee took over shortly after and I drove home with my Frosty in the cup holder and a chicken nugget in my hand.

I turned on 99.9 and Delilah was reading a sappy letter about an appreciated person and why she was so loved. I listened, but was focusing on my new shortcut to see if I could get home faster.
But then, I heard it. It started out softly.

"Oh YEAH!" I shouted alone in my car. And there you have it.
Elton began his piano prelude into Tiny Dancer.

In recent celebration, one of the CP's in this lovely video (credit to Spiro) is getting married! Bonnie will wed this awesome guy in February.

Bon was a room mate at Capernwray Bible school and a dear kindred spirit.
i miss her.

Register to Vote.....says Leo.

I still don't know what I think about this. It's kind of weird the influence they know they have on America.
Who do they think they are?
Oh well, it will get people to register, I guess. Kind of weird.

My favorite part is when Sarah Silverman says "you can literally register to vote while you're pooping...if you have a laptop."
She is hilarious.

It's All Happening....

SHEJust came out with a

CD
We'll see how it is...

"Bounteous is Jehovah in His nature; to give is His delight. His gifts are beyond measure precious, and are as freely given as the light of the sun. He gives grace to his elect because He wills it, to His redeemed because of His covenant, to the called because of His promise, to believers because they seek it, to sinners because they need it. He gives grace abundantly, seasonably, constantly, readily, sovereignly; doubly enhancing the value of the boon by the manner of its bestowal. Grace in all its forms He freely renders to his people: comforting, preserving, sanctifying, directing, instructing, assisting grace, He generously pours into their souls without ceasing, and He always will do so, whatever may occur. Sickness may befall, but the Lord will give grace; poverty may happen to us, but grace will surely be afforded; death must come but grace will light a candle at the darkest hour. Reader, how blessed it is as years roll round, and the leaves begin again to fall, to enjoy such an unfading promise as this, “The Lord will give grace.”
-Evening C. H. Spurgeon

//

Fall, in all it's splendor, has truly arrived. I love the changes. The sun setting earlier. The day beginning later. The warm cups of coffee. Potentially wearing sneakers instead of flipflops. This morning I was reminded of the beauty in change.

//



O, and when I say sneakers I mean these badboys that just arrived...hello fall.

.a current joy.

Bollywood dancing is a truly enjoyable, feminine way of dancing. My fascination began a couple of years ago when my cousin introduced me to belly dancing. We spent an hour prancing around her room to Indian music--and had smiles plastered on our faces the entire time. I love dancing in any way possible, but belly dancing is something so beautiful and captivating that truly celebrates the beauty of a woman.

I rented this DVD from the library and LOVED the workout. I don't even know if I could call it a workout. I'm not an exercise person (as many of you know) but I actually LAUGHED as I danced with this one. It's a blast. There's such a simplicity to belly dancing--almost like it's instilled in a woman.


My dream, someday, is to be able to dance like the beautiful Aishwarya Rai.


Yeah, right. Maybe not.

///

I've had so many post ideas lately! Inspirations, shall we say.
The first ones was this:
These were a pleasant Autumn surprise I found at... Anthropologie...but I resisted and didn't get them---even though the big owl was only $12. (I'm regretting it now.) They reminded me of Bridget (who I've only met once, but shared a connection with.)

I had never really enjoyed owls until she started writing about them. In fact, in a matter of a year they are a SUPER popular and I discover owls everywhere! (Including Target, which is much better prices.) Needless to say, this Bridgetreminder brought along a dream later that night. In my dream we were in a house and I saw her little guy Finn running around barefoot. I smiled, said hello and he looked up at me and said a very, VERY complex, sophisticated, not-likely-for-a-1-year-old-say. I still can't remember what it was, but I was impressed.
I think it was because of this commercial:



I love it! At the end of my dream I kept telling Bridget how impressed I was of Finn...little genius. (Which he truly is.)

the end.

What I'd Like to see For Christmas

My brother and I were catching up on the phone last night. In the Fall we tend to browse apple.com trailers and see what is to expect that winter. This was one that he told me about. It's incredible and I can't help but want to watch more.

My favorite movie from the summer?

I saw it 4 times.

Once with my sister and cousins,

Another time with John (I really kind of made him, but he says he liked it!)

And a very late showing with Our dear Kate who was visiting for the weekend
And lastly, with these precious friends right before Rachel's wedding!

It was a great movie! I totally recommend seeing it.

NOTE TO SELF: When having bratwurst, grill the entire package. They make the best leftovers.

Autumn is finally waving it's breeze from around the corner. I have already tried to create an atmosphere that invites the Fall leaves (although they will never come.) and makes me believe things are changing. I have truly tried to embrace the early setting sun and cooler mornings and ignore the 100 F heat and inability to wear anything warmer than a pair of jeans.

I'm not complaining. I truly love the fall in Arizona....when it gets here.
After a recent trip to Kansas, I told John that the real deal isn't that Scottsdale is too big, it's just that I, myself, am a small town girl. That's all there is.

I keep trying to trick myself into thinking Fall is really here. I try to imagine it is in some other places.

So, remembering fresh fall days like this one in Ohio,

And try to enjoy warm days like this one. It IS beautiful just not the Fall I fondly remember.
Though Monsoon season is a blessing...
And thankfully, Prescott is only an hour and a half away,
Oh well, grass is always greener on the other side.
Lord, help me to be content.

Today, John and I woke up late (10:30) and decided to go to Border's for Seattle's Best Coffee, a "Maple Mocha." It was delightful. When I ordered the drink the guy behind the counter responded with, "Oh, you don't want that, it tastes like french toast loaded with syrup." I looked at him and then at John. "Oh, she'll love it then." John quickly responded. I didn't even know what to say to the employee. I mean, truly, come on. The whole point of going to Borders in the first place was for this drink (annnd a coupon that said buy one get one free) so why would I suddenly change my mind because it tasted like French Toast? I happen to LOVE French Toast.....drowning in syrup. It was amazing. But it hardly looked like the picture, ;)

At any rate, I do believe Autumn is my favorite season.



the end.
and i take entirely too long doing this blogging thing. goodness.