spilling out

I miss writing.
Oh, how I miss it.

I miss mixing words together.
Stringing thoughts into paragraphs.
Thinking up the best word to exactly fit what I am thinking or feeling.

I miss the click-click-click of the keyboard as I type.
I miss the scratch of the pen on the paper of my journal.
I miss re-reading the words that spill out.

These things, and so many more, I miss so much.
I've always been a big writer.
Stories, journal entries, blog posts.
Since I was a little girl, I had to find a way to get the words out of my head and on to something tangible.

I start to feel a bit crazy when I can't write.
Like my mind is completely filled and the faucet needs to open up and empty everything out.
I run around looking for pen and paper and just start writing.
Everything comes spilling out.
Word after glorious word.
It's fantastic.

Anyway,
I miss writing here.
So very much.
Just wanted to tell you that.

on my radar

I have a small semi-life outside of camp during the summertime.  

Okay, not really, but I like to pretend I do.

Here are a few things on my radar as of late:

Amazon MP3's and Cloud Player app for iphone ~ this is, like, one of my favorite things all summer.  The app was just released for iphones a few weeks ago and it is already my favorite, besides Instagram, of course.  

Great things about it?  Well, #1: it's not itunes (itunes = my extreme dislike) #2: Amazon gives away free music/free music credits all...the...time.  I have 41 one songs (including two full albums) in my cloud right now and I paid about $2 for all of it.  Follow @amazonmp3 on Twitter for all the freebie info.  They were giving out $3 mp3 credits just last week.  

Music I'm loving right now:  The Bloom album by Beach House (99 cent sale on Amazon) and the new Cornerstone album from Hillsong Live (99 cents after $3 in free credits).  Plus Rivers and Roads by The Head and the Heart (sniff, sniff, Chuck) and some Ingrid too.  

TV:  Our DVR died, you guys.  Sad, sad day.  We lost all of Downton season 2 and a bunch of Sherlock episodes and my favorite Emma that the BBC did a few years ago.  Ugh.  Plus, Dish (our current provider) dropped AMC.  Not okay.  No Walking Dead or Mad Men?  Not okay at all.   

I've watched very little TV recently (besides my Dr Quinn marathon when I was sick 2 weeks ago).  Truly, it just hasn't been appealing lately.  I've watched a few episodes of White Collar season 3, and they were fantastic.  That's a great summer show.  I love recommending that show to people who need something to watch.  

Books:  I am now currently in the middle of 5.  Wool by Hugh Howey (a self published book I found on Amazon and downloaded to my Kindle).  The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester (not to be confused by The Boy Who Could Fly, the 1980's Disney Channel movie that I watched about 45 times as a child.  anyone else?) The Story Girl by L.M. Montgomery (free on my Kindle). Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller (I will finish it this summer and return it to you, my dear brother.  I will.).  And I just started The Soulkeepers by G.P Ching (free through Amazon Prime on my Kindle).  I like variety.  Always been one of those people who is in the middle of a bunch of books at once.  And I'm still loving my Kindle.  

Treat:  My favorite thing at snack shop right now is Horizon's Chocolate Milk.  Good gracious, it's delicious. A perfect bit of chocolate without all the calories and fat that are in candy.  

Movies:  I've seen two movies lately and both were just ho-hum.  I think The Avengers ruined me for the summer.  It's bad to start out with the best one because everything else just pales in comparison.  The two "ho-hum's" were Brave (it was fine, but didn't wow me like most Pixar movies do. ex: Wall*E and Up) and The Beasts of the Southern Wild (it didn't live up to the ridiculous hype it's been getting).  The Dark Knight Rises is up next.  Oh, and I watched The Artist again and it was just as lovely the second time.  

Podcast obsession:  A few months ago, I found Kevin Pollack's Chat Show by way of hearing that a certain Zachary would be on it.  After listening to his episode, I dove in head first into the library of over a 100 other interviews, downloading them and listening to them constantly.  I just finished Damon Lindelof's, and can I just tell you that I was entirely enthralled.  No joke.  It was fascinating to hear the story of how he became a writer for TV and ended up doing Lost.  I'll be listening to that one about 7 more times, I'm sure.  Nick Offerman's is also fantastic.  He is fascinating.  

****WARNING:  I would rate this show with a giant PG-13 or higher.  There are no censors online, so the language can be harsh at times.  You've been warned.  

Other than that, it's just been boat repairs, hot summer days, lots of sand and brackish water and a couple children.  Okay, more like 200 children.  I do love that summer is a completely different lifestyle for me.  I don't miss TV.  I don't get bored often.  I'm busy and investing in people and trying my hardest not to melt into a puddle.  My days are filled with things that most people dream about doing.  Driving boats and having conversations.  Getting snack shop treats and going to the pool.  Don't get me wrong.  It's tough and exhausting.  But I wouldn't trade it for any other summer job.....well, maybe a house sitter on Oahu's North Shore, but still.  This job is pretty fantastic.  

Side note:  It has taken me four days to post this.  If I could just get a decent internet connection... It's so incredibly frustrating.

the third week

Week #3 of Summer 14.

Week 3 turned out to be pretty crazy.  Why?
Well...

1) We started a day late because of the power outage caused by that crazy storm the Friday before.  First time I think that has ever happened and I hope it will be the last.

2). It was blazing hot.  I mean, I felt melted by 10am H-O-T.

3) I got sick with a yucky cold.  I realized just how sick I was when I was sitting on the beach on that hot Tuesday morning and I wasn't sweating.  It felt comfortable.  Fever.  Yes, indeed.  And I lost my voice too after all the yelling I do at the beach.  It still isn't back.  I miss it.

4) Lots of great conversations with the staff.  So very much younger than me, but oh, how I love them.  I just l-o-v-e them.

5) I got to spend a good chunk of time in our neighbor's backyard while my roommate was house sitting for them.  It's a dream of a back yard (Day 15).  A pond, full garden, green house, chickens, flowers everywhere.  I sat for a long time watching the frogs in the pond and wandering through the yard.  I didn't even mind the crazy hot evening.

6). The jellies are here.  They arrived with a vengeance this week. We didn't have a single jelly fish last summer.  Well, this summer is making up for that already.  They are everywhere.  And huge.  Some of them are the size of a dinner plate.  Jelly fish stings are happening constantly now.  I hate it because there is nothing you can do for a jellyfish sting to make it better. I feel so bad for the kids when it happens.


On to week 4.  Or Teen Week, as we call it.  Lots and lots of boating going on.  But it's only going to be in the temperature is only going to be in the upper 90's.  Bliss.

written everywhere

If only the Lord would write words on Target's parking garage walls.  

Imagine seeing the Psalms written all over the place.  

In the sky.

On the road.

On buildings and roof tops.

In ocean waves and sandy shores.

On rolling hills of green.

Sounds like a perfect idea for my next photography project....

Sweltering

Week #2 of my #campsummer14 project on Instagram.  

Because of the power outage last week, I couldn't post last weekend, so here it is a bit later.

Week 2 was lots of HOT days.  Close to 100 degrees mostly every single day.  Yes.  Hot.

I was talking to one of my camp co-workers about the weather the other day.  You know how people say that you talk about the weather if you can't think of anything else to mention?  It's like a safe topic of nothingness?  Well, when you spend 85% of your day outside, the weather becomes essential.  I check the updated forecast about 37 times a day.  Praying for rain (we haven't had a good rain in over a month).  Looking out for storms that would affect our activities on the waterfront.  Planning my day around the hottest part of the day if it's going to be sweltering.  Case in point:  the weather is important when you work outside all day. 

Week 2 was also one for the books because we had that crazy storm that knocked the power out on Friday night.  No running water.  Trying to feed the kids breakfast with no power.  No phones.  We managed (read: the Lord showered mercy upon us) to have one random phase stay on giving us limited electricity to get the necessities.  And we got two generators hooked up so that we could have running water.  

The campers were gone by 11am and we were left to die of heatstroke in the extreme heat.  Thankfully though, the kids were pretty much unaffected by the loss of power.  Had it happened a day or two earlier?  Nightmare.  But, as hard as it was the days that followed, the Lord was gracious and the damage was minimal.

And lastly, Week 2 was the week we had problems left and right with our boats.  Those two old workhorses are showing their age with a vengeance this year.  We haven't had two boat working simultaneously even once this summer.  It's been tough, but again, the Lord is gracious and we've been able to move the schedule around and get all the kids through their activities with just one boat.


So there we go.
A quick re-cap.
Week 2.
Over and out.

Zombie apocalypse

When I look back over the past few days, I realize why it seemed so entirely overwhelming:

Friday Night 11pm: the power goes out during one of the worst thunderstorms I've ever witnessed. I literally thought the cottage roof would blow off. Tree branches and trees crashed down.

Saturday morning: try to feed 120 kids breakfast with no power. Initial clearing of debris from walkways.

The rest of Saturday: temperature soars to 100. No AC or fans. Venture out into town, but it's like a zombie apocalypse happened. No working streetlights. Flares all over the roads. Grocery stores with empty selves and no power. Restaurants crammed with people trying to stay cool.
Go to a neighbors house for a party. They still had power and blessed AC. Sleep at this house because the cottage is now 90 degrees inside.

Sunday: No church because there is no power there. Fight the 500 other people at Panera trying to get breakfast at one of the few shops with power in the area. Temperature is close to 100 again.
Call every family that is supposed to be coming to camp that night to tell them we don't have power and can't have camp. On our cell phones because we don't have working phones. Every single family for 170 kids.
Have a meeting with the staff asking them to go to a house with power because we can't take care of them.
Sleep at neighbor's house again still too hot to go home. Get sore throat.

Monday: wake up with a cold. Perfect. Start cleaning away debris at 8am. It takes 4 hours with 15 of us working.
Power finally restored!! Call back 170 families to tell them camp will open that night.
Clean out fridge full of spoiled food at the cottage.
6pm Registration for week 3.
10pm management meeting.
Cold now in epic form. No sleep. Watch TV and drink hot tea because medicine won't work.

Tuesday: morning activities on the beach. Try remain conscious, but now have a fever. Get coverage for the rest of the day and spend the afternoon and evening on the couch sleeping, drinking water and watching lots and lots of Dr. Quinn. (I love you DVR). In the AC. Glorious AC.

I'm so ready for things to get back to normal. And I'm also incredibly thankful the Lord kept us safe during that crazy storm. Now I just need to feel better...

112

I have 112 (that is the real, true number) posts that are waiting to be read in my Google Reader.
That seems highly overwhelming.
Plus, the intreeenets is still painfully slow here in the ol' Cottage.

So, instead, here is my first week at camp in photo form.
I gave myself a little photo challenge, and I must say I'm enjoying it a crazy amount.
One photo each day with a quick sentence or two to describe it.
They are all taken with, editing on and uploaded with my handy dandy iphone.

Photo app details:
VSCOcam for editing/filters.
Phonto (free) for text.
Picture Frames Free for diptych.
Instagram posted.


***this post brought to you by a slice of PW chocolate cake.  Make some for yourself.  You'll thank me.  
***my friend, M, ate a piece of this cake right before we took that last photo.  See how happy she is?!

because I like to obsess over things

I've been desperately trying to blog for a few days now.  
But the intreenets is not cooperating. Driving me nuts!    
Today was a minor reprieve, so here we go.  
A post I have been trying to write for almost a week now...



Things I am obsessed with lately.
Because I'm a girl who gets crazy obsessed with things randomly.

1.  Amazon Cloud App for iphones.  It just came out about a week ago.  Amazon is always giving away free credits.  I've gotten about $5 worth of free music in the last month.  Follow them on Twitter to get in on all the fun.  The cloud has 5G of free storage, too.  Side note:  I'm am not a fan of itunes.  In fact I despise it.  I buy 99% of my music from Amazon.  Their sales are the best.

2.  Boats, boats, boats.  This is my life.  Making sure they are running.  Putting gasoline in them.  Praying that the "sick" one will be "well" soon and that the "doctor" can figure out what the heck is wrong with it.

3.  Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.  Wait, what?!  'Tis true.  I love me some Dr. Mike.  My blog friend Allison (whose new blog is the bees knees. seriously.  you should check it out!) admitted to her favorite ridiculous TV show recently.  I feel the need to come clean as well.  My favorite part of the ridiculousness that is Dr Quinn is when the acting/writing is so very bad that I can't help but literally laugh out loud.  I love it.  I just love it.  And I DVR it and watch several episodes at once.

4.  Raspberries.  They are all a'bloom right now.  I've already gathered a bunch on three different occasions. I took some to my parents on Saturday (Happy Father's Day, Poppa) along with some shortcake from Trader Joe's (oh my, delish) and some whipped cream.  Heaven.  And they have been going in my cherry/raspberry/pineapple/spinach green smoothie.  It's the best one I've made in a long time.

5.  ER Season 14.  My Netflix has been full of it.  I squeeze a few episodes in on the weekends.  It's just as delightful as the first time around.  Archie....Morris...

6.  Phonto and VSCOcam. I've been exploring the fun in adding text to my photos on Instagram. I'm trying to do a photo with the day # text on it every day for camp this summer.  A little photography challenge for myself.  Side note:  I've kept up with my other challenge too.  5 1/2 months of a-photo-every-day on Instagram.  And I'm still loving it.  It tough some days and a pure delight on others.  But looking back through them makes me giddy inside.

7.  Running.  I didn't do it once last week.  But I think about it and obsess over it every single day.  It felt really good to get up early this morning and go before my crazy camp day.  I still didn't like the running part.  Nope. But I do love how I feel after.  And by "feel", I mean glad that I didn't let my laziness win.  Mental victories even if the physical ones are small.

8.  Waterproof iphone cases.  Because my phone has to be on me at all times, even at the beach, I've been researching cases like a crazy person.  I'm so scared I'll drop this expensive piece of my life into the river and it will sink straight to the bottom. This one popped up on Instagram this week and now I'm in the "do I spend $60 on a silly phone case" debate.  Anyone know anything the scuba suit vs. lifeproof?

That's enough for now, I think.
I hope the waves of the internet decide to go my way more often.
I sure do miss blogging....sigh....

2 point 5 seconds

My sister came to visit with her brood last week.
I got to see them for about 2 point 5 seconds.
Staff training ate up all my free time.
That was tough...

My littlest niece just turned one.
I can't even believe it.
I found the cutest books (that I wanted to keep for myself) to give her for her big day.
She's such a peanut with hot red hair.

It was torture knowing they were so close, but I was too busy to get away.
Hopefully they won't forget who their auntie is.

I'm already contemplating a visit when I'm released from these 22 acres.
Perhaps a long weekend in late summer?

no rhyme or reason

My life has no rhyme or reason lately.

For instance, here is a list of the things I have done in the last few days.

Taught the new staff to safely drive a boat (at 6am).
Gone to the health department to get my lifeguard license renewed. (and be be-littled by the lady at the desk)
Mail out 6,141 newsletters.  This is not an exaggerated number.  (and be be-littled by the guy at the desk)
Take an hour to put gasoline in 2 power boats (we have to do it manually now.  NOT fun.)
Tie-dye t-shirts with the new summer staff girls.
Do a cleaning check out for a building that 20 boys had been living in.
Have a deep conversation and give advice with compassion and grace.
Answer the phone 459 times (exaggeration, but it really felt like that many)
Go running (I'm particularly proud of myself for doing this after teaching a 6am boat class)
Laugh with friends.
Made my first smoothie for the summer (peach, pineapple, OJ, chia seeds)
Answer emails.
Make lists.
Hand the gift shop over to the girl who will be in charge of it this summer.
Tow a boat to the marina to be fixed (Now both boats are officially broken.  Uh-oh.)
Pray, pray, pray.


This is just off the top of my head.  There are about 20 other things that I've already forgotten.  Never a dull moment around here.

Summer #14

Oh my.
Summer is here.
Did you notice I've been a little MIA lately?
That tends to happen when camp is in full swing.

We are deep in staff training around here.
Lots of new faces and names to learn.
Lots of teaching and learning.
The excitement of all that is before us.

Summer #14, here we go....

"Fulfill your ministry"

My pastor challenged us this morning with this little section of scripture from 2 Timothy 4:5...

"But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 

Could there be anything more appropriate to hear right before I begin 10 weeks of summer camp?
"Fulfill your ministry", he kept reminding us.  "Whatever that may look like for you."

Yes.  Exactly what I needed to hear today.
And something I'm going to post in my room in a place where I can read it 10 times a day.

He's the sweetest

I love to read.  

Surely you have gathered that from my many, many posts on books.  

So imagine my glee when I opened this, a birthday present from my brother.

How sweet of him to know what I would so greatly enjoy?!

I'm already filling it up with lots and lots of titles.

My summer reading list may be a tad bit longer now. 

Right now I'm trying out Wool by Hugh Howey, which has received nothing but rave reviews.  

So far, it's intriguing.  

Anyone else read it?

Next up is Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. 

I can't believe I haven't read any of his books with as much as I love his shows.  

I think he has such a fantastic way with words. 

And I'm also into Story Girl, by L.M.

I can't believe there are still books of hers that I haven't read 20 times.  

This one has been on my self for years and I just haven't been able to past chapter 4.

I did love Avonlea back in the day, so surely I'll love it.  

I like to be in the middle of about 7 books at any given time.

This makes reading while traveling problematic.  

I have to have options, which means a tote full of books.

I can see this little gadget becoming my new favorite traveling companion.  

Thank you, dearest brother.

I think of you every time I use it.

Love you!

on the radar

I was all ready to post last night and then...blam-o.  The power went out.  Awesome.  Thankfully it came back on about 3 hours later.  It didn't get too hot and humid in just 3 hours.

Anyway, here are a few things on my radar lately....

The Two Towers.  I'm watching it yet again.  I realized this time why I love it so much.  The Rohan.  Edoras. Eowyn and Faramir, two of my favorites, enter the story.  And how  Aragorn and Arwen's story is shown in flashes.  It's so beautifully shot and makes me want to immediately blow all my savings and go to New Zealand.

Snow White and The Huntsman.  I can't wait to see this one.  Chris Hemsworth is quickly becoming a favorite.  (ps...did you know his little brother is Gale from The Hunger Games?  Crazy, right?!)

Valtari.  Came out this week. My copy is on it's way at the moment.  Vinyl addition.

VSCO cam.  I'm addicted to this app.  The website explains it as "less as more" and it is.  The filters are perfect.  And the amount of editing you can do in your phone is just amazing.  I'm loving it and taking lots and lots of photos just so I can play with it more.

Reading.  I've been reading some Story Girl, one that I have actually never read.  I know.  An L.M. book I haven't read.  It's a miracle.  And then reading House of Dreams, or at least the last 4 chapters because I just needed to read the part about Captain Jim finally reading his Life Book.  And then the ending of Little Women.  I never tire of Laurie and Amy's chapter at the end.  

Newsies, the musical.  I think it's hilarious that Broadway is oooooing and aaaahhhing over it right now.  As a crazed fan of the 1992 movie that the critics hated, I just can't get over all the attention the musical is getting.  I want to see it.  To compare, of course.  But I bet it won't be as good as my high school self remembers the movie being.

Bed time.  It's here.  I'm tired.  It has been a long week.

Night, all.

Cottage Girl

TV gushing

(sorce) 

Last week was the season 2 finale of Sherlock on PBS.  

I just feel like I need to implore you once again, dear readers, to give this show a try.

It's 2 seasons.

Each season only has 3 episodes.

90 minutes per episode.

And they pack a wallop.

I'm going to say that I think it's the best thing on TV in years.

Truly.

The casting is perfection.

The characters are endearing.

The dialog is snappy and witty.

The story lines are sharp and intriguing.

Benedict Cumberbatch is the best thing since....I don't even know what. At first I wasn't sure how to take him as the famous Sherlock Holmes.  But he won me over before I was even half way through the first episode.  His performance is magic.  His facial expressions and wit make the show.

Martin Freeman, well, I became a huge fan of his years ago when he was on the British version of The Office. I just can't wait for him to be Bilbo this December.  He is the perfect Dr. Watson.  The finale of season 2 was his shining moment.  Wow.

So there's a little TV gushing for you.
I haven't done that in a while.
But this show is too good to just breeze by.
Looking for something fun to watch this summer?
Sherlock is it.

haunting

(photo found here.  Story behind the photo found here)

I posted this exact photo back in 2010. 

It still haunts me. 

Tacked onto the forefront of my brain forever.  

I think about it every American holiday like today or the 4th or Veteran's Day.  

Just seemed appropriate that I should post it again, 

since I haven't stopped thinking about it all day.

I am so blessed to live in this country.

Never want to forget that my freedom comes at a great price.

Thankful for the millions who have sacrificed.  

Today, I remember them....

Wood Between the Worlds

Remember that part of The Magician's Nephew 

when Digory and Polly found the Wood Between the Worlds? 

Narnia was just a dip in one of those pools, as was a 1,000 other worlds.

One of my very favorite parts from the entire Narnia series.  

One of these days I will pick up my real camera again.

But for now, I'm in awe of what my little iphone can do.

The quality still blows me away at times.  

insanity around the corner

This week was one of those weeks that, by the end, felt like a freight train out of control.
Extremely busy days at work.  Interviews/boats/pool/meals/phones/gift shop/decorations.
I've been wanting to blog all week, but haven't had the chance to sit down and actually do it.
It was crazy-cakes.

Then, every evening was busy as well.
All fine, fun things, but still.
No down time to do things like laundry or clean.
I did get to see Battleship (fun summer flick with Tim Riggins in all his short hair glory.  And Landry too!).
I did get my haircut (love it).
I did get to watch a scary movie (actually watched about 15% of it. The rest was too scary to actually look at).
I did get to spend time with friends and have great conversations.

Oh, summer time is upon me.
Crazy, long summer days.
And it's finally hot here.
The pool opens this weekend.
Staff are arriving.
Camp insanity is just around the corner

Background

This is the photo on my background on my computer at the office at the moment.
It's California.
Venice Beach, I think. Not sure.
6 or 7 years ago.
I can't even begin tell you how much I just love it.
(must print it out.  must)
I dream about living in California about 30 times a day.

What's your background right now?

Where is my Flynn Rider?

My hair is ridiculously long right now.
Too long, in fact.
Because it is so baby-fine, long = too much weight.
It's needs a trim, like bad.

One of the perks though is that I can play with it.
Milkmaid braids. The best hairstyle when you need to wash your hair, but don't have time (or hot water).
Low buns with vintage scarfs.  Also great for bad hair days.  


And then there is always the pencil bun for those hot days in the office when we haven't turned on the air yet.

Since I am outside in the sun and heat all day for the entire summer, I appreciate being able to get my hair the heck off my neck.  It's hot!  I'm all about braids and ponytails and buns every single day.

I really want to master the braided crown, so I can be all Empire Strikes Back Princess Leia.  But I can't, for the life of me, master the backwards braid.  Hours and hours of practice still yield a giant mess.  That regular old French braid is the only thing that comes out every single time.

Okay.
Hair post complete.

The Cottage hot water heater sat in the middle of the kitchen most of the week.

If you are Sherlock, you might have deduced that meant there was no hot water during that time.

Correct.

After boiling water to take a bath after a hot sweaty run, I was again reminded how often I take the little things for granted.

This week I was reminded to be thankful, oh so very thankful for HOT water at the turn of a knob.

It is a wonder.

hear ye, hear ye

I've been running at least 20 minutes/2 miles for the last 2 weeks.

Now, to some of you, like my college roommate who have run (or are still running after having several children) multiple marathons, this may be no big deal.

But to this little 5'2" girl who has always struggled with anything having to do with sports or athletic ability, this a thing of epic proportions.

It is something that I'm immensely proud of for myself.

Proud because I'm not letting laziness and hatred of running win.

My sister asked me when I was talking to her about it the other day, "so do you like running now?"

My answer was a firm and hearty "no way."

It is still not something I look forward to.  It is still a chore.  It is still mostly miserable the whole entire time.

But...

I love that I haven't let my laziness win for 2 months now.  It's more exciting that I'm learning to defeat my selfishness than I am learning to love running.

Now, when that pool opens, I may have to trade my running shoes for my swimsuit because by golly, I do love swimming.  That is something I look forward to, want to do and miss quite a bit when I can't.

song and TV

I found out about their new album when I was watching The Vampire Diaries season finale last week.  The last 3 minutes (dear goodness, those last 3 minutes) "Dauðalogn" was playing in the background.  I shouted out loud, as we were sitting on the edge of our seats "It's Sigur Ros!"  I didn't recognize the song, so I went hunting online only to joyfully find out their new album comes out at the end of this month.  Eeeep!

You can see the clip from TVD here. (I've watched it about 15 times....just while typing this).  But major spoiler alert****if you haven't seen the season finale yet, or if you ever plan on watching the show, don't watch it.  It will all be ruined for you.  But if you could care less about TVD (but you really should watch it!), the song is fantastic. It may turn out to be one of my favorites of theirs forever.

Then the other night I was watching We Bought a Zoo and was so excited when I remembered that they/Jonsi did the soundtrack for the movie.  So many great songs.  And they fit so well with the whole mood of the movie.  The red kites at the end...hello?!   

If you haven't ever listened to Sigur Ros, you are missing out.  I first heard about them from another blogger who posted their Glósóli video years and years ago.  And then The Bro let me borrow all their albums, and I was hooked.  And then...I saw Heima one night with him and I was moved beyond words. It's probably the best video I have ever seen in my entire life.

Sigur Ros.  New album.  This month.  Yessssss.

beauties

My sister sent me the most lovely present for my birthday.  

I can't get over how beautiful it is.  

Anyway, I just had to take a photo of how it was packaged when it arrived in the mail.

Note:  I took these before it knew what was inside.  

It was hard to wait.

Once the box was open, there was this pretty-ness.  

Because I love wrapping presents so very much, 

the whole opening of this was a sheer delight.  

I appreciated the detail and care that went into the wrapping,

just as much as I did what was inside.

Hello, beauties!
They are even more lovely in person,
let me tell you.
So delicate and charming.

Ignoring my wrinkly old lady hand.
Look how lovely they are.
And they perfectly fit my doll sized fingers.

The rings are from the adorable shop Lumafina on Etsy.
The polished sterling silver ring is was a gift from my parents on one of their trips to Alaska.  The gold is a little gold nugget from an Alaska mine.  This ring never leaves my finger.

Thank you, dear sister.
I love them so much.
And I think about you everytime I glance down at them.
They are perfect.
xoxo

read this one

If you've been reading here for any length of time, you will know of my love of all things adoption related.  It's pretty obvious from the sidebar as well.  In fact, I started this blog way back in 2005 because I discovered blogging through Chinese adoption blogs.  True story.  Those blogs introduced me to what blogging was.

God planted the love of orphans in my heart before I think I ever really understood what it was.  When I was little and my brother and sister and I played pretend, we didn't play "house", we played "orphanage."  It's true. I would make them bundle up in blankets and I would be the orphanage director who would go and gather them from the rainy, cold streets.

When I was in second grade, a little boy who was adopted from Korea (which was un-heard of in the early 80's) was placed in my class.  I was fascinated by him. When he did a presentation in class about his heritage, I was riveted when he told his story.

Rambling way off track...let's bring it back around, shall we?

A few years ago, this sweet girl came to work at camp.  Selfishly, I like to think that God brought her here because we were kindred spirits.  He knew what a blessing she would be in my life.  But I'm sure it was because she is so good with kids and fits in perfectly at camp.



I found out a few days after she had arrived that her family had adopted 3 of her siblings from around the world, China being one of those places.  I, of course, begged her to tell me their adoption stories and let me see every photo she brought with her to camp.   To make a long story short, I adore her.

Last year, she didn't return to camp (sad face), but she had a pretty good reason why.  She was spending the summer in China doing some amazing things.  Fast forward one year later.  Her family is now in China adopting a little cutie, who will seriously melt your heart the second you see her.

You just have to read the story of how her family was brought together.  Part 1.  Part 2.  Part 3.  And then keep reading.  They are in China right now, finishing up their adoption.

I asked M if I could share her new little sister's story here because it is seriously one of the most amazing adoption stories I have ever heard.  God was completely in every single step.  It has been so neat to walk along side of her during the whole process and see God open doors and make the most incredible miracles happen.  She and I were texting the other night and she said "It just goes to show that when God has a plan...He gets things DONE!!"  I can't think of a more perfect way to sum it all up.

Love you, M!  So much. Thanks for letting me share your family's story.

Momma

Love you, Momma.
I'll always ride Splash Mountain with you.
Or Tower of Terror.
Especially Tower of Terror, two time in a row.

xoxo,

Your oldest

Summer reading list

(Check out my $1 yard sale score.  I've been on the hunt for vintage clocks for years)

It's the time of year again!  Yes, it deserves an exclamation point.  It does.  It's time for the annual summer reading list.  That glorious list that is a joy to check off throughout the summer months.  The list that is for nothing but fun.  New worlds and characters beckon.

Summer reading list 2012.  

1.  The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester.  Bought this one on my birthday.  One of the B&N employees saw me looking at it and highly recommended it.

2.  Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller. Borrowed from The Bro and started, but needs to be finished.  Also want to read A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

3.  At least one book by Lucy Maud.  About this time, every year, I start needing an Anne-fix.  This year feels like a House of Dreams or Island year.  Or maybe Jane again.  Or Kilmeny.  So hard to choose. (bonus:  lots of her books are free for e readers!)

4.  Home by Marilyn Robinson.  I've been wanting to read another of her works since I read Gilead a few years ago.  

5.  Partials by Dan Wells.  Started reading this one at the Black Hole, and I've been thinking about it still, weeks later.  I want to know where the story goes cause it had an interesting start.  


6.  Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.  I'm not an "Apple or nothing" person (although I love my iphone), but I think this would be a fascinating book.  And I love biographies.  


7.  Autobiography of Mark Twain Vol. 1 by Mark Twain.  Still working on this one.  I feel like I should buy it and keep chipping away instead of borrowing it from the library every few months.  It's so incredibly interesting.  But at 760 enormous pages with 1,000's of footnotes, it's going to take a while to get through.  I just don't want to have a 20lb book when I'm all finished with it. Hmmmm...

 Here are the past few summer reading lists 2010. 2011.

Best parts of today

The best parts of this long, über busy day included:

Not letting my laziness win, which meant running 2 miles before work this morning knowing I had an insane schedule in front of me. I didn't necessarily love the actually running, but I loved kicking my laziness in the pants.

A 30 minute Sun Tea break on the Cottage Porch with my roommate and friends/co-workers.

Bright sunny day that was semi-warm.

Rain (or water falling from my rain shower head) on tired limbs at the end of the day. (That shower head was the best $35 I ever spent 8 years ago.)

Chocolate cookies.

Scrubs discussions with a friend that is just watching it for the first time.

The Vampire freakin' Diaries season finale. I was literally on the edge of the couch for the last 5 straight minutes. I...I...I would like to have words to explain myself, but alas I am speechless. It continued its streak of "wow" season finales.

A cozy bed full of pillows that I am so grateful for after a day of running around.

words and phrases

I hereby acknowledge my absence here.
I also hereby proclaim to do something about it.
The horrible intranets connection that is upon my house shall not disway me anymore.

I have a summer reading list to post.
And then there is oh-so-important summer movie list.

Plus, I haven't raved and blubbered over how eeeeek(!!!) The Avengers was last night.
Wonderful, hilarious, uber-entertaining, it was.
If you go, you must stay for the extra scene at the end of the credits.
No, not that first one, but the one after all those black and white credits roll.
It's so Joss.
It's reminded me of the Scoobies.
And speaking of that Joss, this made me tear up like a giant nerd.
So, yeah.
Go see it.

And can we talk about records for a minute?
Oh, wait, I haven't even told you about my beautiful present from my parents.
Well, there's another post.

Fifthly, I think I'm going to start watching the later seasons of ER again.
I just finished up seasons 1-3 of The West Wing (my favorites) and I need something else character driven.
On a podcast I was listening to recently, I heard Zachary Levi mention seeing Scott Grimes at Disneyland and now I can't get Archie Morris out of my head.
Bet you were wondering where the heck that last sentence was going didn't you?

And since we're on the subject, have you ever made Pioneer Woman's salsa recipe from her newest book?
I made it for the first time about a month ago.
I've made it about 5 times since then.
My roommate made the garlic kale again tonight too.
We love us some PW recipes.
Yum.

And to end it for the evening,
Here's the song that has been stuck in my head for the last two days.

Additionally, what should I spend my free $5 from Amazon on?  

Bon Iver on vinyl?

That's exactly what I was thinking.  

Signing off....

On the agenda for this evening

Considering my love of Tony Stark and Joss Whedon, it would be a slight understatement to say that I'm excited.

My expectations are ridiculously high, which is usually a bad thing (unless you are the Hunger Games movie).

Summer movie blockbusters with things blowing up/planet-wide disasters are to me like romantic comedies are to most other girls.

I heart them.

And I must see at least one or two each summer.

Let the summer movie season begin...