My Own Little Corner

The Cutest Spice Rack Ever

2010-01-24T23:31:00.000-08:00

I've been on the lookout for a good spice rack for ages, but most of them take up too much counter space or have the most random spices in them that I'd never use or are just plain NOT cute. And we all know cuteness is a priority when I make purchasing decisions. (It was even a factor when buying my car.)

So, a few days ago I found these at Goodwill:

Perfect size, great price, but not super cute. On top of that, the woods in the two racks were different, and I knew that would bother me. So, I decided that the situation called for some crafting. I found spice bottles at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and spent the weekend transforming my boring spice racks into one-of-a-kind, shabby chic, absolutely adorable creations. It's amazing what a little paint, scrapbook paper, and buttons can do!

My spice racks went from this:

To this:

I sanded off the varnish on the spice racks and then painted them with two coats of white acrylic paint. Next came a coat of crackling medium, topped off by the lime green paint, which crackled as it dried. To give it an extra weathered look, I sanded the edges just a bit after all the paint dried, exposing a little more of the white underneath, and then finished it off with a coat of clear acrylic spray paint to protect it a little more.

Then came the spice bottle caps.

I found the perfect scrapbook paper on clearance at Ben Franklin's this morning and cut 1.75" diameter circles to Mod Podge onto the top of each lid. Then I cut out flowers from a doily-like piece of scrapbook paper and added some buttons for extra character. Buttons make everything cuter, don't you think? The spice names I just printed out on large mailing labels, cut out, and stuck on to the lids. A couple coats of clear spray paint over the lids, and I had myself the cutest spice racks ever!

Here's a better view of all the lids I've come up with so far. I still have 7 extra spice bottles, so as I figure out what kinds of spices I might use frequently (yes, that means I have to actually cook more often), I'll add to my collection.

It certainly wasn't the world's quickest project (took me a good portion of the weekend), but I'm absolutely thrilled with the results. It makes me want to go cook something now! =)

Decoupage Frames

2009-11-21T16:38:00.001-08:00

Today I continued the Christmas crafting, and absolutely love how my project turned out! I was inspired by this Decoupage Harvest Frame at Brixton Lane and created my own little twist on it.

Here's one I made for Nana:

And another for a friend:

I got the frames at Michael's for $1 and had everything else on hand. Such an easy and adorable gift!

A Book Lover's Dilemma

2009-11-16T19:52:00.000-08:00

I love books. Always have. Always will. During my years working at my college library, I learned how to break in the spines so they'll last longer. I never turn down corners or bend back covers. Signs of wear on my books are there only because I've read a favorite book over and over (like L.M.Montgomery's Blue Castle, my copy of which the cover is falling off).

So you can imagine my dilemma when I saw this project on a great crafty blog tonight:

On the one hand, I love it! It's beautiful and made of one of my favorite things. But...can I really destroy a book? Much as I love books, I have to admit that not all of them are brilliant literary works. The best part of this project is that you can't really read the pages once they're on the wreath, so I can find one of those less-than-inspiring books at a thrift store (no offense to the author who's poured his/her heart and soul into writing it) and make it more valuable with a little paint and hot glue. Meanwhile, my favorites remain unscathed!

Ooohhh...I wonder what it would look like with book pages printed in French or Italian? This is definitely going on my list of projects to try!

Domesticity

2009-11-15T20:24:00.000-08:00

I know I've been absent from the blogosphere for awhile...but I'm making a comeback. Now that I've reclaimed my life and have only ONE job in addition to grad school, I've had time to rediscover life and hobbies (novel idea!). I've been busy crafting and cooking and have become completely addicted to crafty blogs.

I have a long list of projects to try, courtesy of all those creative domestic divas out there. Most of my projects so far are intended as Christmas gifts, so I can't share quite yet. But here's a gift I made for my Nana, inspired by Heritage Unwrapped's post HERE.

A 2x4, cut into blocks at Jerry's, some spray paint, a little Mod Podge and scrapbook paper, and voila! Fun little tip I discovered: to make the letters in "family" metallic and sparkly, I sprinkled silver embossing powder on the wet paint and then used my heat gun to set it.

More to come soon as I continue exploring my crafty side. =)

Logophilia

2009-02-23T21:45:00.000-08:00

I love words. They fascinate me. The etymology, the layers of meaning, the often ridiculous spellings of our crazy English language. Yes, I'll admit to being one of those people who reads the dictionary for fun. And to having the complete 20-volume OED (that's the Oxford English Dictionary for those of you less nerdy than me) on my wish list of books to someday own.

Until that floor-to-ceiling library of mine (a la Beauty and the Beast) makes its appearance, I'll have to content myself with other sources of word entertainment besides the OED. For example, this delightful list of some of English's funniest words:
100 Funniest Words in the English Language

I think I need to work "collywobbles" and "snollygoster" into my presentation tomorrow night.

What are your favorite words?

Freshman Memories

2009-02-13T15:39:00.000-08:00

In a moment of reminiscence, I pulled out the old stories I wrote about college life. Wow. We had quite the times. One story in particular made me laugh out loud, centering around my freshman roommate Sara, a smuggled toaster, a hapless bagel, and a protesting fire alarm. Maybe this is only funny to me, but I thought I'd share anyway. =)

_____________________________________

It was a peaceful evening of procrastination, with all of us doing our best to forget about the homework we had to do. Sara decided to do something to calm the hunger pains she was experiencing and proceeded to draw her forbidden toaster out of its hiding place. Soon she had a bagel snugly lodged in the appliance and it was happily being seared.

Unbeknownst to the luckless bagel, however, it was not destined for a mere moment of warmth, for it soon began to feel the effects of overexposure to extreme heat and discovered its delicate white flesh turning not tan, but charcoal. An acute sense of pain also accompanied this event, until the bagel was finally rescued from its torment and soothed with an excess of butter spread over its burning wounds.

The fire alarm, however, was next to be injured, with the smoke caused by the bagel’s overexposure offending the alarm’s delicate sensitivity to the acrid odor. In decided protestation of this invasion of the fresh air, the fire alarm felt called upon to let out its loud warning cry of “Beeeeep, beeeeep…” This in turn caused all of us to start in wonder and worry and a scramble ensued as we tried to determine the problem.

Sara was soon able to get the alarm calmed and quiet again, and all was well. The ironic thing however, was that we had been without a smoke alarm for the entire first semester. My mom had taken a picture of me on my bed the first day we moved in, and said bed happened to be positioned directly in front of the smoke alarm’s residence, though it was empty at the time. This disturbed Mom every time she looked at it, and she finally called our R.D. to inform her of the delinquent alarm. While we were on Christmas break, a replacement was found to fill the space, and my mom’s anxieties were relieved. However, it also made this entire scenario with the burnt bagel possible.

As Jennifer so eloquently stated it, “We never had this problem before they put the smoke alarm in!” At least the fire department wasn’t called, and we escaped having to pay the $500 fine that a visit from them would have been!

Friends

2009-01-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

Last night I drove up to Salem for a mini-reunion with five of my friends from college. It had been years since I'd seen any of them, but we picked up right where we left off. I can't remember the last time I've laughed so much or so hard!

We started with dinner at the BEST Mexican restaurant in Salem--La Hacienda Real. We used to go there frequently during college--and Jimmy always finagled as many free tortillas out of the waitresses as he could. Last night Crystal actually assisted (it was more of a bribe to get him to come bowling with us) in obtaining an entire extra container of tortillas for Jimmy to take home with his leftovers.

After dinner, we headed to the bowling alley for a couple games of cosmic bowling. There were a few serious bowlers in the group, but I think most of us were more into catching up than focusing on our game. Needless to say, there were many gutter balls and not-so-great scores, but we had fun. :)

That's the whole gang, plus the addition of two boyfriends: Jason, Jimmy, me, Amy, Dan (Amy's boyfriend), Kari, Stephen (Kari's boyfriend), and Crystal.

We used to have such fun with game nights and such during college, and they're the kind of friends that will always be there, no matter how many years between visits. I love that! It would be so fun to get together more often, and I hope we do, but the reality is that we all have different lives now. We'll have a blast anytime we get together, but we still need friends who are part of our regular lives, part of the places we go and things we do every day.

Alyssa and I were talking yesterday about the difficulty of developing close friendships these days. In college, it's relatively easy since you're surrounded by hundreds of like-minded, similarly-aged people with whom you spend the majority of your time. After college, it becomes more difficult. Our circles narrow, and it takes more effort to get to know others and develop those friendships. I've started getting to know some people at church, but we see each other once a week, and everyone is in a different situation--most are married, have children, etc. Then there's the work circle. I have great friends at work, but they don't necessarily share the same beliefs and perspectives on life as I do.

So where does one find those close friends who will be there for life, with whom you can share your heart and thoughts and find encouragement and support? I think it comes down to priorities--making time to get to know others. Go out for coffee or dessert, read and discuss a book by a shared favorite author, invite them over for games. The whole single-person-trying-to-befriend-a-married-person problem does complicate things. We singles don't want to impose on their family life. But we need friends with a different perspective. And don't you married people remember what it was like to be single?

I don't know what the exact answer is to developing friendships in life-after-college, but I have a few wonderful ladies in mind that I'm going to ask for a coffee date and make it a priority to get to know them better. I have a feeling they could be kindred spirits...

What's your strategy for developing friendships?

2008 in Review

2009-01-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

I know this is completely late. I started this post weeks ago and finally decided maybe I should finish it. =) My friend Christine gave me a great idea for a blog post about my favorite things of 2008. And since she herself stole the idea from one of her friends, I'm hoping she won't mind if I follow suit as well! =) So, in no particular order...these are a few of my favorite 2008 things:

1. Facebook
It's been so much fun to reconnect with old friends and stay in touch with new ones on Facebook. It's an interesting concept, this whole friends-in-the-computer thing, but when it helps me stay in touch with friends I might otherwise never see, just due to geography and the busyness of life, I've got to love it. I even got my mom on Facebook this year, so there must be something to it. =)

2. Twitter
I resisted the pressure to Twitter for quite awhile, but finally succumbed, much to Alyssa's delight. It's been a great way to connect with people in the literary world. I even acquired an exciting new author thanks to the power of Twitter!

3. Girl's Nights Out at the Movies
In the midst of crazy busy life, sometimes a girl just needs a night out with friends. MiA, Savannah, Allie, and I decided such nights called for a visit to the movie theater, and we had many fun evenings watching chick flicks, clinging to each other in sheer terror at the one scary movie Savannah persuaded us to attend, and shamelessly joining the tween audience to see High School Musical 3.

4. A New Church
Last January I finally settled in at a new home church, Grace Community Fellowship. For whatever reason, being single makes it even harder to find a church that fits, where I can get to know people and get plugged in and find ways to serve. Grace is full of warm, friendly, authentic people and it's been so encouraging to start connecting with a small group, with our single women's group, playing with the worship team on occasion, and helping out in nursery.

5. The Blogosphere
Where do I begin? My Google reader currently keeps me up to date on 74 blogs--the adventures of friends, news of the literary world, thoughts on faith, and other topics of interest. I've (obviously) rejoined the blogging world myself with my sporadic posts here. Someday I'll have time to blog more frequently and actually explore the thoughts that run around in my head instead of just shoving them into the "think about that later" corner.

6. Local Vineyard Tour
In August my cousin Tiffany and her now-fiance Billy came to visit from Florida, and it was the perfect opportunity to tour the local wineries here in the valley. Even though I've lived in Eugene for 3 years now, it was something I had never done! King Estates was definitely our favorite, and the restaurant they have there is incredible. The scenery, the wine, the cheese--it was the perfect thing to do on a lovely summer day.

7. Sisters Weekend in McCall, Idaho
For 4th of July, I flew out to Idaho to spend the weekend with my little sis and our "adopted" sister/friend Julie. We watched fireworks over Payette Lake, stayed up entirely too late watching movies and gabbing, did plenty of giggling, and went canoeing. Julie and Carissa volunteered to paddle the whole time--they just didn’t want me to capsize the boat by trying to switch places with them--so I sat like a princess in my royal barge and enjoy the peaceful water, blue sky, and sunshine. One of these days, we're all going to live close enough together to do sister weekends whenever the mood strikes, but until then, I'll keep racking up those frequent flier miles.

8. Mother-Daughter Trip to Vegas
That same being-spread-out-across-the-country problem has prompted Mom to institute an annual mother-daughter trip, which is something we all need to refresh and rejuvenate. Our first annual trip took us to Vegas, where we walked miles and miles checking out all the hotels and their various attractions, each successfully lost a dollar in the slot machines, and visited M&M World--four floors full of all things M&M, a 3-D movie about the M&Ms, and an opportunity to pose with your favorite M&M character—how much more fun does it get?

9. Spring Break in Victoria
In March my friend/roommate Alyssa and I drove up to Victoria, British Columbia, taking the ferry across from Port Angeles. Now, I love Canada, but driving there is always quite the adventure, what with the flashing yellow lights, the road construction flaggers with a death wish, and the random traffic signs. Thankfully, we didn’t have to drive much since we rented an apartment right in downtown Victoria for the week. We had high tea at a quaint little tea room, did some shopping in downtown Victoria, and explored Craigdarroch Castle, a Victorian-era mansion. Sydney-by-the-Sea, 45-minutes from Victoria and heralded as one of the world’s book towns (thus a major motivating factor in our decision to go to Victoria), completely disappointed us, though, and we didn’t come home with a trunk full of books as intended. Such a tragedy!

10. Holy Fools
I work with nearly 60 authors who published 19 new books last year, all of them with their own great qualities. But the one that impacted me the most was Holy Fools (Tyndale) by Matt Woodley. It's a call to live outright for Christ, even to the point of "folly," and is at once inspiring and challenging. I know I'm guilty of censoring my actions and words based on what is "acceptable" to those I'm around, but really, as Christians, our only concern should be to follow Christ wherever He leads.

11. Christmas Gift from My Sister
I just have to say that my sister is the most creative, thoughtful gift-giver. Knowing all too well how ridiculously busy I am and how cooking for myself is the last thing I want to do after a long day, she put together all sorts of individual-portion, ready-to-eat meals for my freezer. I'm trying to figure out a way for the food-fairy to visit my freezer on a regular basis now, so she may not have realized what she was getting herself into with this great gift idea.

12. Give Me Your Eyes
More than any song this year, "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath has kind of become "my" song. Alyssa and I have been talking about the possibility of opening orphan homes in India and just taking the time to care about the suffering and hopeless in the world. While I have a long way to go in the journey to get out of myself and focus more on others, this song is a reminder to make seeing things through God's eyes my prayer and my purpose.

13. Ivy
After the child my sister and I had been sponsoring for the last few years withdrew from the program, I decided to sponsor a child of my own through Compassion International this year. Ivy lives in the Philippines with her mother (a housewife), her father (a farmer), and two younger siblings. I've just started getting to know her and her family through correspondence with Ivy's mother, but I can already tell it's going to be one of those relationships of mutual blessing. Just the other day I received a letter from Ivy's mother telling me how Ivy prays all the time and loves to sing and listen to Bible stories, thanks to the Compassion program. I hope one day I can meet this wonderful family!

And on that note, I'm going to end my 2008 in review and force myself back into 2009 where I have a paper waiting to be written before I gallivant off to Salem tonight for a reunion with old college friends.

Leave me a comment with your favorite experience of 2008!

What's Going to Happen to Books?

2009-01-06T09:00:00.001-08:00

With the increasingly tough times book publishers are facing, there's been much speculation about the future of the book industry. Will it survive? Will we go completely electronic? Do authors who aren't celebrities stand any chance of getting great writing published?

It's hard to say exactly what will happen with book publishing in 2009, but Anne Jackson had an intriguing post about it the other day. Check it out! http://www.flowerdust.net/2009/01/05/the-death-of-publishing-as-we-know-it-who-holds-the-smoking-gun/

As a literary agent, one of my biggest frustrations comes from those authors who are absolutely convinced that their not-so-unique, not-so-well-written, limited-audience idea simply MUST be published because it will change the lives of the five people who actually buy the book. I understand that your life story is incredibly meaningful to you and I admire your passion--but that doesn't mean it's worth an entire book.

Take Anne Jackson's advice. Think about your readers. Before you decide that your book needs to be added to the 821 books published daily, be open to honest feedback about your idea. Often, an article or blog post really is sufficient.

Trusting God

2009-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

As you know, turning 27 has brought up all sorts of reflections about how different my life is from what I thought it would be. Looking back, I can see so clearly that this is exactly how my life should be and I wouldn't have it any other way--even the being single part. It's taken a year or two for me to accept that little detail and find contentedness in being single, since marriage and family has been my dream since I was a little girl. But it turns out, God knows so much better than I do just what path my life should take, and there are so many experiences, so many lessons that I would never have had if my life had taken the direction I planned for it.

Renee Johnson over at DevotionalDiva had a post about a month ago that got me thinking again about my own relationship experiences (not there have been that many). Like Renee, I tried eHarmony for awhile, too, until a particularly emotional break-up put me on my knees in prayer. God brought Proverbs 3:5 to my mind: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding," and I had to ask myself, "Do I trust God?" I realized that I do. Completely. He has never let me down before and I know He never will.

I can trust that He knows what's best for me and will provide for each of my needs--including a relationship--at just the right time. I don't need to go searching for romance or relationships in an attempt to find happiness. All I have to do is faithfully serve God in the life that He's given me. Sure, there will still be those days when I'm struggling to be content with single life, when weddings and baby showers and family functions remind me of the occasional loneliness of singlehood. But there's so much joy and hope in knowing that God knows my heart even better than I do and He has a plan for me that is greater than I can imagine.

Things to Look Forward to in 2009

2009-01-04T11:30:00.000-08:00

I usually make New Year's Resolutions. But, as with most of us, they don't typically last too long. So this year, instead of resolutions, I thought I'd make a list of the things I'm looking forward to in 2009--some challenges, some experiences, some (hopefully) personal growth. In no particular order:

1. Itzhak Perlman Concert
On February 28, Itzhak Perlman is performing with the Oregon Symphony at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland--and I'm going to be there, thanks to my amazing birthday gift from my family! I am SO excited! Itzhak inspired me to learn the violin way back when I was a wee lass of 6. He made an appearance on Sesame Street and after I saw that, I had a very decisive answer to Mom's question of whether I wanted to learn the piano. "No, Mommy. I want to play the violin." We on the West Coast don't typically attract a lot of big-name talent, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I can hardly wait!

2. Spending time with Julie
My dear friend and college roommate Julie just moved to Portland from Boise, which means we'll finally get to see each other more than once or twice a year. Looking forward to lots of girls' weekends and exploring Portland together now that she's only two hours from me.

3. MBA Classes
Despite a highly disappointing last class in my MBA program, I'm hopeful that the upcoming classes this year will provide thought-provoking material that I can actually put to practical use. We're starting with Christian Leadership & Ethics, so it seems promising. =) Still not sure what I'll end up doing with the degree, but perhaps this year will bring some answers or at least some insights and direction.

4. Conversion
Only two more months until our big computer system conversion at the credit union. We've been preparing for this for almost a year now, and I'll be spending almost the entire month of January delivering training to our staff on how to use the new system. It's been a huge, all-consuming project for many of us on conversion teams, and I know we'll all be glad to get back to our normal jobs. But we're also super excited about all the functionality of the new system. It should make us so much more efficient and allow us to do so much more than our current system. And not take five minutes to load one transaction. What a concept. Yippee!

5. New Books
With the way the book industry has been going lately, there has been a lot of speculation about the future of books as we know them. Christian publishers have been cutting back on their titles and looking for bigger-platform authors in their new acquisitions. But, books have a power to change lives that few other mediums have, and I think it will be many years before they disappear all together. I'm looking forward to landing many new publishing contracts for my authors and continuing to help develop encouraging, thought-provoking, spiritually-rejuvenating new books. Renee, Eileen, Theresa, Christine--keep praying that those first book offers come this year!

6. The Blogosphere
It's been fun getting back into blogging this year, and I hope to be more consistent with it in 2009. It's such a fun way to connect, and I'm loving keeping up with friends and other interesting bloggers through their blogs, too.

7. Church
I'm so glad to finally have a church home that I love, where I'm encouraged and challenged and actually know some people. I'm looking forward to getting more involved this year--doing nursery once in awhile to get my baby fix, playing with the worship team on occasion, connecting with other believers.

8. Enjoying the Moment
In my crazy-busy life, I can easily get so focused on the necessary to-dos that I miss out on the in-the-moment joys. I'm still not very good at enjoying the moment, but I'm trying to make it a bigger priority and make a more conscious effort to enjoy those off-the-topic conversations at work (even when there are things to do), the spontaneous excursions with my roommate (even if it wasn't part of my plan for the day), those moments when God demonstrates His incredible love and patience, and the general experiences that make life full and meaningful.

As we look forward to 2009, I pray that you find joy in the little things, stand in awe and wonder of our amazing God, and enjoy the daily adventure of life.

A New Look for the New Year

2009-01-03T20:16:00.000-08:00

All my life, I've had long hair. As in, shoulder-length was short for me. Growing up, this had much to do with the fact that getting a haircut always required negotiations with Dad--ask to get 10 inches cut and maybe he'd allow 4 inches. =) But I'm beginning to realize that longer is not always better, and a new year (calendar and age--so handy that they always coincide) seemed like the perfect time for a new look.

This was the inspiration:

I totally splurged (thanks to that Christmas bonus), went to Chikara this afternoon, and ended up with this result:

And the back:

It's drastically different from anything I've ever done before, but I'm loving it! So much fun!!!

Thoughts on 27

2009-01-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

When I realized sometime Tuesday afternoon that my 26th year was almost at an end, I admit I had a moment (or two) of panic. What is it about 27 that makes it seem SO much older than 26? And why is it that we have this instant reaction of fear and dread when we think about getting another year older? A co-worker unsympathetically told me to "Wait until you hit 29," to which I replied that he shouldn't rush me and, besides, when I reach 29 I will stay there for awhile. Yes, more than the traditional year.

I awoke on New Year's Eve (aka my birthday) with a more rational and accepting view of 27...and even a hint of excitement about my old age. You know how everyone always asks, "So, do you feel any older?" Well, for the first time in my life, I actually did! Although maybe it was just the dress and heels I decided to wear. Heels always make a girl feel more grown-up. At any rate, it was kinda fun to officially enter my "late twenties" and feel like I've gained a little bit of wisdom and made a little bit of progress in growing toward the woman God's designed me to be. Looking back at the lessons I've learned (or tried to learn) always leaves me in awe of God's incredible patience and love.

On the flip side, though, I don't feel anywhere near as old as I always thought 27 would be. It's like when you're in elementary school--or even junior high--and the high school seniors all seem SO old and grown-up. And then you get to 18 yourself and you feel nowhere near as grown-up as you supposed you would. At 27, it seems like I should know so much more about what to do with my life, be more established in a career... And, of course, there's the ticking biological clock that always reminds me of its presence as another year slips away. Maybe it never changes. Maybe our vision of 5 or 10 years into the future is always vastly different from the reality when we get there. Maybe we never feel "old enough" to be the age we are. Because I suppose most people would consider that I do have a successful career (or two) and am doing all sorts of things with my life. But I feel like I should be doing so much more now that I'm in my late twenties. It's an interesting conundrum. I suppose maintaining that constant desire to challenge oneself to new heights and new depths is what keeps us growing.

Don't get me wrong. I love my life. God has blessed me with amazing friends, two careers that I love (plus a little side business for fun), the opportunity to go to grad school, plenty of traveling. But 27 has just set me to thinking, wondering what direction my life will/should take and how I will make a difference in the world. I guess I'll see what 2009 brings!

Don't You Want to Adopt Me?

2008-12-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: I'm pleased to announce that Kiera has a new home! Thanks to everyone for your concern and your help in spreading the word!

Almost two years ago, Alyssa and I adopted Kate and Kiya, poor little kitties abandoned in the middle of winter. Now, we have another homeless kitty in our care.

In the midst of this frigid, snowy weather, this poor little kitty (whom we've dubbed Kiera) showed up at our back door this week, shivering and starving. We obviously had no choice but to feed her, and we've let her into our garage to at least protect her from some of the elements. But, Kate and Kiya aren't too keen on a new sister, and there really isn't room on my bed for any more cats.

Kiera is skin and bones, but otherwise seems healthy, and she's super sweet--quite willing to cuddle. And knows how to use a litter box! Knowing her probable fate if we take her to the Humane Society, we'd prefer to try to find a good home for her first. If you'd like to adopt a pet this Christmas (or know someone who might), let me know! Kiera would love to come home with you!

I've posted ads on Craigslist, too: http://eugene.craigslist.org/pet/962255194.html

Snow...snow...snow...snow!

2008-12-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

What is it about snow that brings out the kid in all of us? The roads become treacherous and our usual routines are inconveniently interrupted, but we still get giddy at the sight of that blanket of white that transforms the world into a winter wonderland. We feel the need to bundle up in scarves and hats and mittens and make snowmen and throw snowballs. Maybe this is more true in Oregon simply because we only see snow once or twice a year. Of course, that also means that no one knows how to drive in it, and the propensity for snow to turn to ice here doesn't help either. But since I get to stay snuggled up at home all day and simply enjoy the snow from my window, I say, "Let it snow!" My inner child thinks it's great fun. =)

Jane Austen

2008-12-14T12:59:00.000-08:00

I love Jane Austen--her delightful satire, her witty turns of phrase, her wonderful heroines, her fantastic writing style. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live in an Austen novel. Probably not as glamorous as I think. Apparently, I would be living in Sense & Sensibility:

Take the Quiz here!

I also think I'm a lot like Jane Bennett from Pride & Prejudice, but she wasn't one of the heroines on this quiz, so I guess we'll never know just how much like her I am.

And now, having just completed my very-chatty Christmas letter without any difficulty at all, I'm wondering if this quote from Jane would be sufficient evidence for my professor to let me out of writing my final paper for class:

“A person who can write a long letter with ease, cannot write ill.”

I obviously don't need any more writing practice.

Happy Light

2008-12-04T17:52:00.000-08:00

Those of you who live in the Pacific Northwest know all about the seasonal depression that affects so many people when the grey skies of winter roll in. But did you know that seasonal depression also affects kitties? I had no idea until I noticed Princess Ki basking under various lamps around the house.

Apparently kitties need happy lights, too.

Shoes

2008-12-01T23:45:00.000-08:00

“I sometimes think that shoes have a life of their own. The ones that squeak don’t like to leave the shop, and the ones that hurt don’t like the person that’s wearing them.” - Danny Kaye in the movie Hans Christian Andersen

Alyssa and I watched this movie a few weeks ago and had to laugh at this line. We have kind of a fetish for shoes around our house--and, being girls, we occasionally wear shoes that hurt our feet just because they're adorable. Take, for example, these green polka dot shoes that I adore for summer wear:

I'll put up with blisters and sore toes just because the shoes make such a statement. Of course, I never realized until I watched this movie that the statement they're making is that they don't like me!

The Danskos I bought recently fit in the same category. I've been looking for brown Danskos for months and finally found these on eBay:

They were the right size, brand new, and nearly 50% off the regular price. Unfortunately, the fact that Danskos are handmade makes them nearly impossible to buy online, since you never know how they'll fit. Well, this particular pair disliked me so much that they wouldn't even let my left foot into the shoe--and gave me a sore foot for hours for my efforts at trying to force my foot in. So much for my great deal.

Then there are my Privos.

They're comfy and versatile and worked great for walking all over Italy last summer. Except...they squeak. Apparently they wanted to stay in the store on their clean little shelf and here I was making them explore Europe with me.

I did, however, have much more success with these adorable Danskos:

They neither squeak nor hurt, so they must like me. I knew pink was my favorite accessorizing color for a reason!

Who knew shoes had such personality?

Living in the Moment

2008-11-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

With an historical election behind us, the focus has shifted to the next four years. How will our country change? How will our daily lives be impacted? In the midst of all life's uncertainties, it's easy to get caught up in the what ifs and miss out on the here and now. I admit, I am not very good at living in the moment--I'm too much of a goal-oriented, plan-happy, control freak who focuses on getting things done, not stopping to smell the roses. But, this WikiHow article reminded me that even in the midst of it all, I can take time to cherish the little things and savor the moment.

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1. Take notice of the world around you. No matter what you're doing, try to find something beautiful around you. Maybe on your way to work or school, you go over a beautiful bridge, or you get a view of the sunrise behind the city buildings. Realizing these small little things can bring life and happiness even to the most boring or routine days. Be thankful for those little things.
2. Focus on whatever you're doing. Even if you're just walking, or wiping the counter, or shuffling cards - how does it feel? There's probably some kind of commentary spinning through your mind, and it probably has to do with something other than what you're doing. Let those thoughts go and focus on what is (not what was, or what could be). In Buddhism, this is referred to as mindfulness. Pay attention to your senses - touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste. Pretend it's the very last time you'll ever experience whatever you're experiencing. Have you ever been so engrossed in something that it seemed like the rest of the world just disappeared? Living in the moment is about creating that state of mind at any time. Slow down, and try to savor the present.
3. Smile when you wake up. You can set the tone of appreciation and awareness for the next 24 hours by simply waking up and smiling.[1] Don't wake up with a groan and a smash of your alarm clock. There's scientific proof that the expressions that you make with your face can actually influence how you feel.[2] In particular, true happiness is most closely tied to a Duchenne smile which involves smiling with your eyes, as well as your mouth.[3]
4. Commit random, spontaneous acts of kindness. Whether it's donating 1 dollar to a fund at the pharmacy, picking up litter, or helping victims of natural disasters, keep alert in every moment of your day for some way in which you can make the world a better place. Even the smallest thing, like complimenting someone, can bring joy. It's the most spontaneous and unexpected acts of kindness that produce the greatest impact, and you can't be sensitive to those kinds of opportunities unless you're living in the moment.
5. Minimize activities that dull your awareness of the moment. What are you doing that tempts your mind to run away from the present? For most people, watching television puts you in a passive state of mind, and time slips right by. Daydreaming and getting lost in a good movie or book isn't bad, but it's not living in the moment because it places your concentration on something that isn't right here, right now; it's a form of escapism. Don't zone out; zone in. Do things that are active, and that encourage you to look around and engage the world in that moment. Gardening, playing a game, knitting, and playing an instrument are all activities that lend themselves to mindfulness. So get off the computer after reading this article!

From http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-the-Moment

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And with that encouraging thought, I'm going to go spend some quality time with my kitties.

Duck Mania

2008-11-01T21:25:00.000-07:00

We're finally nearing the end of Duck season--the University of Oregon Duck football season, that is. After living in Eugene for three years, I should be used to the madness that emerges with the first game of the year. Every Saturday, the entire town dresses in green and yellow and knows they better not get caught wearing anything resembling orange (the color of arch-rival, the OSU Beavers). The green and yellow pom-poms flutter out of car trunks and windows, and the U of O flags wave atop the cars. The main topic of conversation is Ducks.

I really have no interest in the Duck games, and just bought my first real Duck shirt last week--mainly so I have something to wear on casual Fridays/Saturdays at the credit union. I've learned to pay attention to the Duck game schedule not so I can watch the games, but so I can get my weekend errands done while everyone else is at the stadium or at home watching the games. But I work at a branch of nearly all guy employees--guys who pretty much talk sports all day long. So, Duck spirit has crept its way into my life more than usual this year. So much so that I even agreed to participate in a tailgating theme for our credit union Halloween competition.

Side note: Halloween is perhaps the most important holiday at the credit union. Why? Because the Golden Pumpkin is at stake. That's right. The branch with the best, most creative, most elaborate Halloween theme wins the coveted Golden Pumpkin--and bragging rights for an entire year. It is simply not acceptable to ignore the holiday or throw a costume together at the last minute. This requires weeks of planning, careful costume-coordination, and hours spent decorating the branch.

Our branch tossed around several ideas. First we were going to do a Back to the Future theme, complete with a DeLorean and a clock stopped at 10:04. Then the guys thought we should do Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but we didn't think it would be so great to turn the branch into a sewer. So, we thought we'd do Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. But the guys couldn't find dwarf attire, so at the last minute (after our Snow White had ordered her non-returnable costume), they decided to go with a U of O tailgating theme. Thus Snow White and the Seven Tailgaters:

Needless to say, we didn't win the Golden Pumpkin, but we had fun building a truck bed in our lobby (only took two hours!) and at least we were comfortable. =)

Living the Map

2008-10-29T18:49:00.000-07:00

You know how, when you're little, you know exactly what you want to be when you grow up? Sure that one thing might change a few times, but you always have that dream job in mind. And it's not hampered by reality in any way. If we want to do it, well, we will. We never think that we can't be an astronaut or a doctor or a millionaire. Of course, my lofty ambition used to be waitressing--and I remember how relieved I was when Mom assured me that I didn't have to go to college to be a waitress. Now I'm going to grad school, so apparently I changed my mind about school somewhere along the way.

When I graduated college, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to do. But now, I'm not so sure what my future holds. Sure, I have plenty of options. But how do you decide what's really the right fit for you, the most meaningful career choice?

One advantage we have in today's society is that we can change careers multiple times in our lives. So I can be a literary agent for now, start a non-profit someday, and have all sorts of other job opportunities in between. But not many of us get to try 50 jobs in a year...

Daniel is living the map and working his way all across the U.S. He's currently hanging out with my mom at the Fishtail General Store in Montana, and this is big news for a tiny little town. It's a crazy, adventurous, life-changing idea, and I found it rather inspiring. Not that I'm going to pick up and do the same thing, but just the idea that we really can do anything we want to with our lives, no matter how crazy our goals might seem to others. Check out Daniel's story: www.livingthemap.com

In the midst of my research on dream jobs, I happened upon this site: Vocation Vacations. How fun would that be? What a great way to test out what you think might be a dream job before you commit to it.

Oh, so many options and so little life in which to try them all...

When Traveling Abroad...

2008-10-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me know I love to travel. I think I've taken seven out-of-state trips this year. But those aren't as fun as the out-of-country trips. One of the keys to a successful travel abroad is attempting to speak the language of the country you're visiting. I had my oh-so-handy Lonely Planet guide to Italian when I visited Italy last summer, and while I'm sure I butchered far more vocabulary than I pronounced correctly (as if my American accent alone wasn't enough to give away my lack of fluency), the locals seemed to appreciate my attempts to speak their language. Someday, it would be nice to actually be fluent in a foreign language (all those years of French in high school didn't amount to much without the opportunity to practice), but until then, maybe these tips will get me through my next travels abroad:

Meet Ivy

2008-10-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

This is Ivy Maria, my new little girl..."adopted" (aka sponsored) through Compassion. My sister and I sponsored a little boy, Abel, for the past several years, but he recently withdrew from the program, so I've been praying about a new child to sponsor. When I saw Hello Kitty on Ivy's shirt, I knew she was the one. =)

Ivy is 5 years old and lives in the Philippines with her dad (a farmer), mom (a homemaker), and two siblings. She loves dolls, art, and playing house, and I can't wait to learn more about her. I love that Compassion's program allows you to make a difference in a child's life both through financial support and through the opportunity to actually build a relationship with that child. I may never get to meet Ivy, but I feel blessed by the opportunity to watch her grow and get to know her and her family and culture through letters and pictures. And how rewarding to know that I'm helping provide education, health care, and Bible teaching--things that will make a difference for the rest of her life and for eternity--for my little girl.

Autumn Rain

2008-10-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

The rain is finally back in Oregon! I've been listening to it patter on the skylight in my living room and watching it fall gently outside. Fall is officially here, and I’m so excited! I've been waiting and waiting... Most people think I’m crazy for wanting the rain to return, but I love the chilly weather and the coziness of snuggling up with a blanket, a book, and a mug of tea. You just can’t get that feeling in the sunny summer! Of course, by March I'll be ready for sunshine again, but until then, I'm going to thoroughly enjoy the gray days of a Pacific Northwest fall/winter.

Cheap Money

2008-09-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

Seeing as how I work in a financial institution, many of the conversations that take place there revolve around money and its value. Today I had a fascinating conversation with a five-year-old who is very conscious of the value of his money. He has THREE quarters, which might be worth just as much as dollars, and LOTS of pennies. But not so many nickels. Apparently, “nickels are cheap money.” That’s why pennies are better. Did you know?

Guess we better all get back to saving pennies!

Wonder Woman

2008-09-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

These days I find myself rushing from one activity to the next, zipping through the never-ending to-do list. As soon as one task is complete, it's time to change focus and work on the next task. Some people have decided that it takes Wonder Woman powers to do everything that I do. One of my authors completely cracked me up this week when he sent me this:

But I was reminded this morning in church that it's not because of my amazing Wonder Woman powers that I'm able to get through each day--it's only by the grace of God, who gives me just the strength and energy and clarity of mind and joy I need to get through each day. All the things that I'm involved in are because God has given me the talents and skills for them, but it's so easy to forget that little detail and think I'm just doing everything myself. Instead of taking time at the end of a crazy busy day to thank God for all that He's given me and all He's allowed me to do, I just skip right to thinking about the next thing on my to-do list. When really, I wouldn't even have a to-do list without Him.

With that in mind, I'm going to resume my homework with a thankful heart, remembering that I have this opportunity and the skills to pursue it only because God has provided it. And, even when I'm feeling completely overwhelmed, He'll also provide all the strength I need to get through. One day at a time.

Kiya thinks she's going to help.

The Modern Journal

2008-09-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

I was corresponding with my friend Melodee this morning, reminiscing about how I used to be such an avid journaler. All through junior high and high school and even college I would spend hours handwriting my thoughts and experiences. Something about that physical connection of pen to paper just allowed me to slow down, reflect, and sort out my thoughts. I could write whatever I truly felt, knowing no one but me would ever see it. Oftentimes my entries would turn into prayers as I poured my heart out to the Lord.

Now, in our fast-paced world of blurbs and twitters instead of paragraphs and pages, journaling as I once knew it has become a thing of the past. We share our thoughts with whoever cares to read them via these crazy things called blogs, and the public nature of these modern journals makes us censor ourselves more, carefully considering the words and topics we choose to discuss. On the other hand, blogs also offer everyone a voice, an instantly-published medium for sharing the thoughts and ideas that may not emerge in our every day conversations but that we need to express.

I've been reluctant to give up my pen-to-paper journaling, and I'll probably always have a journal on my nightstand, waiting to be filled. But after not writing in said journal for nearly a year, I've finally accepted blogging as an acceptable alternative. It will probably never provide quite the same emotional release as a real journal, but it's really rather fun. =)

Trash Ties

2008-09-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

Check out your chance to win these super fun hair ties!

Who doesn't love free stuff? And free stuff that makes us feel pretty--even better! =)

Writing in the Sand

2008-09-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

Alyssa and I made an afternoon trip to the coast today--we thought we should do something out of the ordinary on our day off from our crazy busy lives. It was predictably windy and chilly, but delightful nonetheless. We did get a little carried away writing some of the phrases we find most inspirational in the sand.

One of our life mottos:

A philosophy we live by:

In the indescribable beauty of the coast, one can't help but reflect on:

Insanity...or is it?

2008-08-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

It's always entertaining to watch people's eyes get big and their jaws slowly drop when I tell them I have not one, not two, but three jobs and am going to grad school, too. I know everyone thinks I'm insane--and sometimes I have to concur.

But I love all the things I do, and they all serve different purposes in my life. As a literary agent, I get the opportunity to help authors realize their dreams of being published and share potentially life-changing messages with wider audiences. As a loan officer, I get to satisfy my nerdy affinity for order and procedure and numbers while offering financial solutions that can provide tremendous relief for people struggling to make ends meet. As a beauty consultant, I admit my motivation is purely selfish--I just love the girl time! And as for school, I have high hopes and expectations that my MBA degree will open up all sorts of new doors and opportunities for me to make a difference in the world.

So, you see, I really can't quit any of this. But while doing my first MBA assignment today, I learned that (contrary to popular opinion), I am NOT insane. I'm simply preparing for the second half of my life--and it's never too early to start! According to Peter Drucker's article, "Managing Oneself," parallel careers are a great way to prepare for the second half of one's life, when "having options will become increasingly important." So, I'll keep plugging away at my parallel careers, trying to avoid insanity one day at a time while I keep my options open...

Another Tag

2008-08-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

Amy posted this tag on her blog, and I thought I'd play along since it's a fun one...and I need to post something. =)

What was I doing 10 years ago?
Zipping around Montana in my very first car, an '88 Honda Accord, getting ready for my junior year of high school (the absolute best year), spending my summer working as a nanny at a nearby ranch, and relishing the carefree days of youth.

What are five things on my to-do list today?

1. Finish orientating our two new employees at the credit union.
2. Throw together a stir fry for dinner.
3. Spend the evening with my favorite cousin.
4. Call the eye doctor about lasik surgery!
5. Place a Mary Kay inventory order.

Snacks I enjoy:
Pringles, Oreos, ice cream, yogurt, fruit...

Places I've lived:
Florida
Montana
Oregon
Arizona
England (for a semester, at least)

Things I would do if I was a billionaire:
Buy a villa in Tuscany or a cottage in England--or both!
Build a library in the style of the amazing one in Beauty & the Beast.
Found an orphanage.
Start my own business.
Pay off school loans.
Sponsor lots of children through Compassion.
Support some other good causes.
Travel Europe.
Buy a Mini Cooper.
Invest and save!

Tag, I'm It

2008-08-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Alyssa decided I wasn't blogging frequently enough, so she thought she'd encourage my creative process by tagging me. =)

Q1. If you were to be in ministry 10 years from now (whether you’re in ministry now or not) what would you like to be doing and where?

Ever since I saw a 20/20 special on orphans in Romania my freshman year of college, I've had a strong desire to minister at an orphanage. Ten years from now, I'd like to at least have made a short-term trip to a Romanian orphanage or be somehow involved in ministry to the 210 million orphans worldwide.

Q2. If you could wake up tomorrow with a degree and all the learning that would have gone with it from any seminary which one would you pick and why?

Seminary's not something I've ever considered, but I'm looking forward to getting my MBA degree from Northwest Christian University in 2010!

Q3. What’s your poison: donuts, beer, wine, pizza, chocolate, Twinkies, key-lime pie?

Of these options, probably pizza. Unfortunately for my body, I really love carbs.

A Moral Dilemma

2008-08-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

I love the Olympics. Though I typically pay no attention to sports, there's something about the Olympics that makes them fascinating to watch. I find myself becoming an expert commentator on gymnastics, swimming, and volleyball, critiquing the athletes' performances even though I could never even attempt to do what they've accomplished. The Olympics bring out one's national pride, uniting the country in a common vision for gold.

I was all set to enter the spirit of the Olympics again this year...until I heard about this. I realize this is old news, but I just heard about it (apparently I live in a cave). I find it incomprehensible that a country would completely disregard the livelihood of its citizens just to host the Olympics and show the world how "modern" they are. To me, this thought process proves just the opposite.

And so I find myself faced with a moral dilemma. I would love to watch the Olympics and cheer for team USA, showing support (from my living room, of course) to the athletes who've trained so hard and sacrificed so much for this opportunity. But how can I support an event that has jeopardized the lives of so many Chinese citizens? I realize the Olympics will go on whether I watch them or not, and boycotting any TV viewing of the Games will not likely make any difference except to my own conscience.

What do you think? Am I overreacting? Is the tradition of the Olympic Games worth this forced sacrifice by the Chinese farmers?

Memory Lane

2008-07-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

As I was driving home the other day, I took a slightly different route than usual and drove by Memory Lane. Yes, it really exists, and I’ve seen it several times. But I’m not really known for my skills of observation, so what I noticed this day that I hadn’t paid any attention to previously is that Memory Lane is a dead end street.
I couldn’t help but think what a true statement that is. I love reminiscing about “the good ol’ days,” all the fun memories, etc., but I can also too easily fall into wishing I could go back to the way things used to be instead of focusing on growing and learning new life lessons where I am now. It’s wonderful to take a drive down Memory Lane, but sooner or later, we have to turn around and come back to today, where there are new experiences, new opportunities, and new memories to make.

How to Order Pizza at Costco

2008-07-18T13:01:00.001-07:00

First, you call the Costco food court about five hours ahead of time to place the order.

Then, they promptly lose the order.

At the appointed time, you navigate the chaotic Costco parking lot, snag a PTL (ie, praise the Lord) spot, and claim a place in line at the ever-popular food court.

Arrive at the front of the line and discover that they have no pizzas ready for you.

They try to convince you that someone else may have already picked up your pizzas. Wasn’t the lady who was in here earlier really picking up your order for you? It’s just way too much of a coincidence that two people would place the same order (one of each of the four kinds of pizza they offer—very unusual order, right?) on the same day!

Finally convince them that you would have been the only one picking up the pizzas and you definitely have not done so yet.

They reluctantly agree to make new pizzas for you and even offer you a free fountain drink while you wait.

Half an hour later, you emerge from the warehouse, realizing that efficiency and planning ahead are not appreciated at the Costco food court. But at least you got fresh, hot-out-of-the-oven pizzas!

Italia

2007-10-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

I’ve just returned from my Italian vacation and am working my way back into reality…not easy to do after two weeks of breathtaking scenery, delectable pasta and gelato, the relaxed pace of European life, and, oh yeah, no work! =) To quote from a dear literary friend, Anne of Green Gables, “I don’t know how I shall ever return to ordinary life after this.” From the rolling countryside of Tuscany to the picturesque towns perched on hilltops, from the historic ruins in Rome to the unique, watery streets of Venice, it was all simply amazing—just the way one imagines Italy to be.

First stop, Rome. Julie and I met up with our tour group there and spent the next seven days in a whirlwind of activity, led by our energetic and enthusiastic tour guide, Amedeo. There was no time for jetlag, since the first event on the agenda was a walking tour of Rome—at 10pm! What a unique first glimpse of the Eternal City, though! We climbed the Spanish Steps, threw coins in the Trevi Fountain (so we’ll be sure to return someday), and stopped by the Pantheon.

Day two took us toward Siena, our home base for most of the tour. We spent some time exploring quaint, centuries-old towns, took an 18km bike ride through the Chianti region to an old castle where we had a wine-tasting and basked under the Tuscan sun, saw Pisa’s famous leaning tower, spent an afternoon at the beach, splashing in the waves of the Mediterranean Sea, ate lots of gelato, and took hundreds of pictures. Julie and I even had the chance to meet some of my relatives—my second cousin and his wife—who have a villa in Tuscany!

After Siena, we spent some time in Florence, which is absolutely beautiful. We took one afternoon to “escape” our tour group and picnic and wander through the Giardini di Boboli (Boboli Gardens), which was the perfect, tranquil antidote to all the crowds of tourists in the streets of Florence. We managed to find some good shopping in Florence, too—the city is famous for jewelry and leather—and decided we’d just have to go back again someday to take in all the art museums we simply didn’t have time for. (When you only have a few hours, shopping of course takes precedence!)

Our tour ended back in Rome, where we got to walk through the ruins of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. It really makes ancient history come to life when you’re in the place where so much of society as we know it today began, where Julius Caesar was buried, where the gladiators fought… Definitely my favorite part of Rome.

At the end of week one, we said arrivederci to our tour group and set out on our own for a relaxing week in Venice. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible not to get lost in Venice, although the maze-like streets could certainly cause confusion if you’re looking for a particular location. We had a delightful week wandering the streets, discovering great photo ops on all the little bridges connecting the city streets, and generally experiencing Venice. We rented an apartment right in the center of town, which was the perfect location for our home base. In the mornings, we’d take a 10-minute walk to the Rialto markets to get pastries for breakfast and fresh fruit, bread, and asiago cheese for lunch later in the day. The evenings took us along the Grand Canal, over the Ponte di Rialto, and to Piazza San Marco where the city’s best (or at least most expensive) restaurants had their outstanding musicians serenading the crowds in the moonlit square with classical selections from Vivaldi and other great composers. Our days were spent exploring Venice or riding the vaporetto (public transportation boats) to the glass-making island of Murano, the lace-making island of Burano, and the once-elite resort island and beach of Lido.

Venice highlights: Our second night in Venice, we attended perhaps the best chamber music concert I’ve ever heard…in the most perfect setting imaginable. We’d seen posters all over Venice advertising various classical concerts, most featuring some of Vivaldi’s compositions (since he was, after all, a Venetian), and loving Vivaldi as I do, we decided to get tickets to an Interpreti Veneziani concert…in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, a 500-year-old building with interior walls literally covered with the work of Renaissance painter Tintoretto. Talk about breathtaking! The music was fantastic, and the setting only made it better. We even got three encores from the musicians! Simply divine!

Wednesday afternoon we had another unique experience, although cultural in a completely different way. We were told that the owner of our apartment would need to stop by and “check something,” but it didn’t sound like anything major. Well, we wandered back to our apartment Wednesday after a day at Burano, only to find half a dozen people crammed into the entryway at our apartment, working on the sewer or some such thing. The apartment manager said we could go in if we wanted, but that it would be much better “to drink-a the spritzer” with him while we waited for them to finish. So, we walked around the corner to a little bar/café and drank-a the spritzer whilst getting an entire history of the spritzer, how to drink it, where to drink it, and why to drink it—and a bit of history about Venice and its 40,000 inhabitants, too—from our new Italian friend.

For those of you who may recall my now-infamous punting incident on the Thames in England several years ago, I’m pleased to report that I successfully managed to stay on all the boats in Venice. (I decided not to attempt gondoliering.) The Grand Canal was, however, the scene of a very tempting offer I received to stay in Venice…permanently. Julie and I were sauntering back from an evening in St. Mark’s Square, strolling past the restaurants along the Grand Canal, enjoying the comments of, “Ciao, bella!” from the very cute Italian boys. One such Italian boy was apparently so overwhelmed by my beauty that he proposed on the spot—“Shall we be married?” If I had been thinking, I would have asked to see the ring before so quickly declining—especially since he proceeded to explain that he owned the restaurant and so I would never have to work. Moonlight, flattery, the Grand Canal, a handsome boy, the promise of no work—very tempting offer indeed! =) But alas, reality beckoned, and I bid my would-be Prince Charming arrivederci. It was certainly quite the end to my Italian adventure!

For glimpses of Italy, check out my pictures posted here: http://picasaweb.google.com/bekaann/Italy2007

Rain, Rain

2005-04-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

I love rainy days. I guess that's good since I do live in Oregon, and today is another of our trademark grey and rainy days...the perfect day (not that I need much incentive) to curl up at home with a good book and listen to the drip of the rain from the gutter, the patter of rain on the roof, the splash of raindrops making puddles in the grass. Rain is an intriguing phenomenon, I've decided. In some ways, it's gloomy and depressing, blocking out the sun and making the world look dreary. Yet that same greyness can be comforting and cozy, like a blanket wrapped snuggly around your shoulders. The cool of the rain refreshes, washing away worries and stress, reminding of all the blessings God rains down on us. And what joy to splash barefoot on the puddled ground or dash thru soggy grass to the mailbox! =)

Rain, rain, you can stay and come again some other day.

In My Own Little Corner

2005-04-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my own little corner of the internet, where I can be whatever I want to be, dream impossible dreams, and never cease believing in fairy tales. I've never quite outgrown my girlhood love of all things Cinderella (thus the inspiration for the title of my blog and this evening's post), and I can't help but echo her songs. "On the wings of my fancy I can fly anywhere, and the world will open its arms to me..." and "Impossible things are happening every day."

The advantage I have over Cinderella is that, rather than a fairy godmother to make my dreams come true, I have a heavenly Father who delights in showering me with his perfect blessings...perfect because he knows my desires even better than I do. I can dream that someday I'll travel all over Europe, I can hope that someday I'll be a real writer and editor, I can wish that someday I'll meet my Prince Charming, but I've learned that my plans and dreams for my life, however grand they may seem, are so small in comparison the the "impossible" things God makes happen every day in my life.

All that to say...I don't know where I will take you in future blogs, but you can be certain my ramblings will be filled with thoughts, discoveries, lessons learned, blessings received, experiences enjoyed as I meander through this adventure called life. I hope you enjoy getting a little glimpse of my world...