four hours.

Before the plane that holds my sweet best friend and my dear boyfriend lands! To God be glory :) I know He's continuing to do great things in the hearts and lives of those left behind in South Africa as the team continues to fly west and home.

This week has been crazy busy and full of visiting with friends (love you, Hope!), family, work, and a bit of stress to complicate matters with the latter. But nothing that couldn't be handled through prayer, reliance on God's mercy, and much rest / coffee. I think I ingested enough caffeine to last me all month. And now, with four hours to go, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. Is this silly? I hope not. Excited!

henry wadsworth longfellow.

The nearer the dawn
the darker the night.

south africa. a love note.

My boyfriend is on a mission trip with our church. They are in South Africa for the better part of two weeks and I miss him.

In all honesty, I started today feeling a little sorry for myself... I mean it's hard not to miss someone who's in another country and virtually inaccessible. Especially if it's someone with whom you are able to communicate at any time all day long, if you so choose. I find it all too easy to be bummed because of a lack of communication.

But it's all a matter of perspective, isn't it?

The great thing about Ryan's mission trip to South Africa is that he is in constant contact with the One who called him there. The One who brought us together. The One who sustains life and offers His forgiveness and grace anew each day. The God of the Bible; the One who sent His Son to die for the sins of the world for all time.

So there I sat in front of my screen this afternoon, my attitude newly checked. I began to think about the people Ryan will encounter over the next two weeks. My heart ached.

Imagine ...

One day in the future, God will return and take His people home. For those He calls, it's going to be a day of rejoicing -- for those who have not repented and turned to Him, however, it will be a different day indeed. Total separation from God. Cut off from communication with Him completely. No one on earth has ever experienced this.

And the Bible says there will be a gnashing teeth. To 'gnash' is to grind or strike together by force. Have you ever heard this sound? Ugh. My dog grinds his teeth together whenever fearful or distrustful, and at times when he is angry and cannot find justice. It's not a pleasant thing to watch and it's even more painful to listen to.

I would never wish this type of desperate fear and complete separation from Truth on anyone. Especially on those who have never heard the Good News of a loving Savior and Redeemer, Who alone can rescue.

Who, Oh Lord, could save themselves, their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea; Your grace is deeper still.

You, Oh Lord, have made a way; the great divide You heal
For when our hearts were far away, Your love went further still

You alone can rescue, you alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us, led us out of death
To You alone belong the highest praise.

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes -- You're the Giver of Life!

(Matt Redman)

We who have the Truth and the Life ... should we not share Him with a world in need? Let us be His hands and feet, rather than bench-warmers, and rise up while there is still time.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
- Isaiah 6:8

Please pray with me for the team in South Africa, as well as for those lives they will inevitably touch while there. Love to you all.

la nina.

Sun-fed sunflowers.

This year, La Nina definitely shook things up in the northwest. We had an extended spring season followed by splotches of cool sunshine, downpours, clouds. I mean, above and beyond what is normal. Contrary to popular belief, summer and fall are actually gorgeous here in Washington!

Blueberries!

Whatever the case may be ... La Nina, I shall be glad of your departure. We had a record eighteen minutes of 80+ degree (Fahrenheit) weather, all the way through August.

Now that it's September, however... Summer weather is finally, defiantly here. I feel bad for the kids who have started school already.

Spar with tomato plants and squash vines.

We have this awesome thing called blue skies right now. Quite the phenomenon. Makes people tired and irritable. They complain about headaches and dehydration. They go outside without proper sun-protection and fry.

Looking forward to snacking on these late-fall grapes.

Imagine the lovely salads... yellow pear tomatoes.

I am currently in a skirt, slippers, and a long-sleeve shirt. Comfortable.

You thought I was kidding, didn't you?
I am SO fashion-conscious ;)

I have been freezing ever since returning to Washington. I wear sweaters at work because the air conditioning is too darned cold!

California, you have done me a disservice. I mean, I had a nice tan but now it's fading.

Colorful carrots were scrumptious!

But boy did this weather create the perfect mix for a garden! Sunflowers are towering over seven feet tall, the poll beans keep producing, sweet peas by the bushel (which magically never reached the inside of the house?), strawberries, cucumbers, more than enough tomatoes to share with several families, and a bumper crop of both raspberries and blueberries. Rhubarb was a success ... the grapes will soon ripen ... squash on the vine ... and we're holding out with the recent turn of the weather for a nice amount of figs, too. The non-native Himalayan blackberries have been great this year too ... thankfully we haven't found any in the yard!

Blackberry heaven. Be careful of prickers, however.
Scratches from those itch for at least a week!

Quite a summer for garden-fresh produce!

Perhaps La Nina isn't so bad after all...

since may...

Hi everyone!

So...

This is the longest overdue post in the history of EVER. Well, for me anyway.

I was trying to come up with an excuse, but words fail me.

I am back home in Seattle, which should not come as new information to any of those who follow my clearly sporadic blog. I have been home since the end of May. Four jam-packed months of crazy adventure after crazy adventure. With a few huge events thrown in between for good measure.

As a little update of sorts, I will include a smallish outline of late spring / summer events that have occurred since May...

1. Boyfriend flew to Cali to help me pack; I met him at the Fly Away with all my stuff JAMMED into my tiny car.

Packing with Kayla Joy. More like ... AHHHHHH! Where did all this stuff come from??

Last of the large items and I should have put it in first...
my car was packed so tight!

On the way up the coast from Cali...
We stopped for coffee at a Denny's around 2am or so.

2. Returned home, with almost all my stuff. Fun fact: I can now FILL an entire two-room apartment with everything I own. No joke. And I would actually be comfortable. I am not presently comfortable. Got a small rental storage space for said stuff.

3. Had a birthday party, courtesy of my bestest friends :) I love you, Ry and Britt. They're wonderful, selfless people. Another fun fact: I SUCK at thank you notes. After high school, I just apparently lost that skill. If I ever truly had it.

Taking a break from being wonderfully domestic
to pose for this shot with me. Love you, boo.

The marvelous host and hostess at the after party.
Combine too much sugar and bubble tea... fond memories!

4. Finally got to spend some quality time with friends from home... you know who you are. And you're all amazing!!!

Briggs' beach house!

Egroup + Newly-weds + Dev + S'mores

5. Helped my mother with wedding decor / etc., as well as organizing things for my sister's wedding. It was a crazy time. Wedding: June 17! There wasn't much time. Celebrated the wedding of the year with my sister.

Helping Mom with decorations.

Pinwheels.

This was so fun!

Fun tie-shopping with Allen for the groomsmen.

Bachelorette party! Italian candies at Pike Place Market.

Presents for the newly-weds. Wow!

6. BANGS!

I have never been happier with a haircut.

7. Went to several other lovely weddings between now and then with my handsome boyfriend. We also celebrated one year together at the beginning of July. Pretty much awesome :)

Roses <3

8. Missed Valencia. How in the world I managed that, I'm not sure. I vowed that would never be the case. And I definitely miss my students. Can I just say... I loved teaching that crazy bunch, no matter how much grief they gave me about assignments.

Two class periods... My seniors. They've since graduated!

The boys in Period 4.

My girls brought me balloons for an early birthday surprise.

Barb, my favorite customer from my old store in Valencia.

She brought me flowers to say 'good luck at home' and 'happy birthday' all at the same time... miss her much as well.

My store buddies, out to breakfast at Egg Plantation the day before I left ... Kenny, Kim, Bryan.

Des and I on our last late-night sushi date.

9. I'm feeling like this list is a little longer than I promised.

So for your viewing pleasure...
I have included this picture of my guy.
Makes me laugh every time I see it! :)

10. Ocean Shores with Ryan! Best minivacay since Carpenteria with my sister this spring.

Driving around Ocean Shores on mopeds... a blast!

Toes in warm sand? Perfect. Sign me up!

11. Enjoyed being home. Baked cookies, took naps in the sun, watched the rain fall (do you know how much I missed the rain?!), and did all kinds of PNW activities. Hikes. Rock climbing. Biking. Swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Mopeds. Chicken chasing.

Out to eat at Cactus with my parents... they missed me.

Baby chicks, in their cute stage.
They are now eating squawking machines
that hate to be held...

My sweet friends, Renee and Brittany, and I.

Early season hike with some fab kids.

Walking Maluku with Kayla, Allen, Mom at a local park.

Berry-picking.

12. Went to the doc to update my asthma and migraine meds. Not that this is the greatest, but life is drastically improved when you can actually get through a day without a migraine or allergic reaction.

13. Live at a Starbucks nearby. Well, actually I work there but you know. Small details. I sometimes overlook those ;)

This is me on a day off ;)

14. Finished my quilt!!!! This is a huge accomplishment. I kid you not. I have only been working on the thing for two years now. Between school and being in California for a year and work, however, something had to give. This was one. Very happy with the final product.

Tackling the hand-sewing portion.

I think that's enough of an update for now.

Actually, I may have bored you to tears. I may get into it more and add pictures as I go along... it's a tedious process and it's kind of late now :)