Thrive

I cannot help but post about Jon Foreman once again.

Switchfoot's new CD, Vice Verses, has been my constant companion for two weeks now.

It is so good.

And one song especially has really spoken to me.  It's called "Thrive."

Have a listen...

I know I said this before, but I'm going to say it again -- it amazes me how he can take things that I'm feeling and put them into words so effortlessly.




been fighting things that i can't see
like voices coming from the inside of me
like doing things i find hard to believe in
am i myself or am i dreaming


i've been awake for an hour or so
checking for a pulse but i just don't know
am i a man if i feel like a ghost
the stranger in the mirror is wearing my clothes


no i'm not alright
i know that i'm not right
a steering wheel don't mean you can drive
a warm body don't mean i'm alive
feel like i travel but never arrive
i wanna thrive not just survive

Long Day

Today was a Monday to surpass all Mondays.

Yes... it really was that bad.

But, now I am home.  Relaxing, eating, drinking, doing a little bit of cleaning, cuddling with the dog, watching old episodes of Lost, browsing through some pretty sweet blogs.  So... it's better now.

Just got home from a few days camping at Higgins Lake.  It's one of my favorite places.

Every July, we go up for 12 or so days with my Dad's family.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins, etc. The first year I went, I was 3 months old.  And I've been every summer since.

There's just something about it that I love.

Another year has passed and I feel so thankful that my family is able to come together and enjoy each other's company.

They've been going for 30+ years... and I hope it continues at least another 30.

_____________________________________________


I guess that's all for now.  Have a beautiful evening.

A Birthday Wish

My birthday is next week and I want this...

So I can make things like this...

It's called a silhouette... and I want one  : )

The end.

An Addiction

I love houses.

I dream about houses.

I could spend hours thumbing/surfing through pictures of houses... the interior, the exterior, and the floor plans.

So, I stumbled across this architect's site a few years ago and I can never get enough.

House plans are sorted by styles... craftsman, cottage, farmhouse, lake house, ranches, traditional...

A few of my favorites so far...

The Silvergate

The Summerhill

The Serendipity

The Kendleton

I could go on and on... looking and dreaming.

Dreaming is fun... take some time to dream today :)

Let Me Count the Ways

I love Christmas.


I cannot explain to you how much I love Christmas.  It is beyond words.


So, let me demonstrate for you how much I love Christmas...


Phil & I had a Christmas wedding.

I start listening to Christmas music on November 1st... 

Go here to listen to Christmas music 24/7:  http://www.live365.com/index.live

I cannot listen to this song without getting goosebumps... no matter which version/artist.  But Nat King Cole makes any Christmas song 5 times better.

Candlelight Christmas Eve service makes me cry every time.

We still go to my parents for Christmas and I'm up at 5 every Christmas morning, begging everyone else to get up.

{Yes, that is me, my sister, and my grandma in our Christmas pjs.  I am not ashamed.  Hopefully Gma and Lauren aren't either.  If they are, too bad... it's already posted. haha}

Phil proposed on Christmas.  {Phil + pretty ring + Christmas = very happy Rachel}

 

There are so many things I love about Christmas.  They're innumerable.

There's a feeling about Christmas that is unexplainable.  And I'm starting to get that feeling once again : )

It's just around the corner.

{The Puppy}

So...

I thought I should introduce you to a member of our family.

This is Lionel.  And today is his first birthday.


Lionel is our baby.

How we came about getting Lionel is a very sad story - one that I'm not quite ready to tell - But the story of the past ten months has been a very happy one.

Lionel is a pure-bred Golden Retriever.  We got him when he was about nine weeks old.

From the very beginning, Lionel has been a lover.  All he wants to do is be loved on - be scratched and pet and snuggled with.

 

{Yes, that is our broken screen door}

He's a good boy, and we love him very much!

Dogs are so wonderful.  If you don't have one -- get one  : )

ArtPrize

A few weekends ago we went to ArtPrize.

If you don't know what that is, I'll explain...

ArtPrize is an art festival/competition that takes place in Grand Rapids, MI.  Hundreds of pieces of artwork are displayed at all different venues across the city... All types of art {2D, 3D, time-based, etc} are located at almost 200 different venues {museums, restaurants, hotels, etc}  People come from all over to view the art and then vote for their favorite.  The top 10 pieces receive prizes.. with 1st receiving $250,000.

Lucky me... I live not too far from Grand Rapids : )

This is the 2nd annual ArtPrize, and for some crazy reason Phil and I did not go last year.  So, we were completely blown away by the amazing pieces of art we saw!

Here's some of the ones we really enjoyed.

This is my sister : ) She went with us.

 Phil liked this one

 A rag rug dress!

 Phil's favorite and the 4th place winner.

 The 1st place winner.  A pencil drawing.  The minute details in this one were amazing!

 Elephants on the sidewalk : )

 No, this guy is not real. Definitely the most realistic model I've ever seen. Really cool, but kind of creepy too.

 

 So delicate and pretty.

{Sigh}... I love beautiful things.

And last but not least... my favorite, and the 2nd place winner.  That's stained glass.  Yes, that's right, stained glass.

I was completely enthralled by her... can you tell? 

 If you're ever around GR during ArtPrize... go!!  You won't regret it!

Bucket List

I don't think my bucket list is actually a bucket list...

Since it only consists of three or four items.

I guess it's just a work in progress.

Anyways, this is on my bucket list...

Be still my heart.  Isn't it gorgeous?

I am going to make this quilt... someday.

I have a slight problem though.  I don't know how to quilt.  I don't even really know how to sew... besides the very basics.

Oh well.  Guess I'll just have to learn.

A Song for the Seasons

Fall is here.  A new season has come.

For some reason, I didn't want it to come this year. 

I guess it's just that this changing of the seasons is bringing about a pretty big change in my life...  ushering in a new season of life for me.

Done with school.  Starting my career.

It's scary, and wonderful, and terrifying, and exciting... all at the same time.

This song is an older one.  But it fits perfectly right now.

Just wanted to share because it's so beautiful.

"Every Season" by Nichole Nordeman 

StarStruck

Last month, I stumbled across this post/giveaway on Young House Love.

I was instantly enchanted by the images from an Etsy shop called The Starcraft.  Hand-folded moravian paper stars are incorporated into beautiful hanging mobiles -- each based on actual constellations.

When Phil and I decide to have kids, { which will not be anytime soon, mom : ) } one of these mobiles will be the first thing to go up in the nursery.

They are beautiful... colorful... whimsical.  I love them.

Anyways...

After browsing through The Starcraft shop I was inspired to make my own moravian stars.

Here's the results...

I found an online tutorial -- here -- that had really simple instructions with step-by-step, pictures, and video.

I made mine using all different sizes of curling ribbon.  And I love how they turned out.

Right now I have them all in a big vase next to our bed.  I think I want to make some more blue ones and do a monochromatic star vase. We'll see though... anything's possible : )

My Favorite Breakfast {at the moment}

I have always been a lover of peanut butter toast.  For breakfast... for dinner... for a snack.  I'll eat it any time.  It's so simple and so yummy.  Especially alongside a big glass of milk.

So, I've been on a nutella kick lately.  Ok, it's more like a craze.  I'm crazy about nutella.

One morning, I reached in the cupboard for the peanut butter, and right next to it was the nutella.  I thought, "Ooooooo. That would be good."  So I added some to my peanut butter toast.  Yum.

Then, a few weeks ago, a revolutionary breakthrough occurred.  I'm laying on the couch reading a book when Phil walks into the room with a sandwich.  The following scene unfolds:


Me:  What'cha got?
Phil:  (with a mischievous grin) Something good.
Me:  Can I have a bite?
Phil:  Maybe.  (walks over to the couch and gives me a bite)
Me: (chewing) It's peanut butter and nutella... with... hmmm... with... cinnamon!!!  Heaven in my mouth!!!
Phil: (grinning) Yeah.  I know.  I just made it up.


I was amazed.  You see, Phil's idea of being creative with food is throwing a can of cream of mushroom soup in with egg noodles.  {Uuugggghhhh.  Gross.  No offense, honey.}  But then he completely amazed me with his culinary  brilliance :) and created what is now my favorite breakfast.

Whole wheat toast.  A layer of peanut butter.  A thin layer of nutella overtop.  And a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Along with a cup of milk {or coffee, depending on how my morning's going}. 

Oh so delicious.  Try this.  You won't regret it.

 

Let the Countdown Begin - HP7

I LOVE Harry Potter.  I'm talking love as in... I've read each of the books at least three times (some of them more), I wish I was J.K. Rowling, I have a crush on Rupert Grint (Ron), Phil bought me the LEGO HP video game for valentine's day, and my next dream vacation is to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios.

I know it might be kind of lame that I love HP so much -- but it's like the books and the movies transport me right into another world.  It's so enchanting and captivating!!

So, I am very excited to start my countdown to the new movie --

I cannot explain to you how excited I am!

 
Here's a few sneak peaks...

There's lots more pictures, interviews, and trailers at MuggleNet -- the #1 HP fan site -- if you're interested : )

Part 1 will be in theaters November 19th -- less than two months away!!

Let the countdown BEGIN!!!