Peace is Possible

I know that I haven't posted in a few days, and it's not that I can't find things to be thankful for, it's just that life gets crazy and exhausting and it's hard to sit down and write amidst it all.

But, here I am, sitting and writing. Life is still crazy and exhausting, but I'm writing.

This morning my dad, sister, and I went for a walk through a park near our apartment. The sun was shining, baseball teams composed of middle-aged men were playing, and the ducks were waddling. There was a park bench at the top of a grassy hill that you could sit on and see the tippy-top of the mountains in the distance. There was a playground with a tire swing that my dad swung my sister on, and swings that she and I competed to see who could swing the highest on.

I was at peace. Even in the midst of a crazy and exhausting life, this morning in the park was proof that peace is possible.

Blogging and Dancing

Right now, as I'm blogging, my sister is dancing.

I love how different we are, and how much we love, accept, and encourage each other, even in our differences.

I'm going to miss Colie so much when I go back to school. Thank you, Lord, so much, for this summer we have spent together. She is growing up into such a wonderful young lady.

Father Daughter Date

Tonight I went on a date...with my Dad. :)

We went down to  Edmonds and visited the Waterfront Coffee Company, got our delicious drinks (I ordered a Mexican Mocha and Dad had an Iced Coffee), talked with the Barista for a bit, and then headed down to the water to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Since my summer is about to close, I wanted to spend some quality time with my dad before I headed back to school. And quality time we had. We spoke of our summers, our thoughts on C.S. Lewis' many books, and more. We had great conversation, and I am just so so glad he is my dad, and not anyone else.

I wanted to take a picture of the two of us in front of the water, but lucky for us there was a nice man near us who was willing to take our picture, so it didn't have to be all 'myspace-ey' haha.

Thank you, Lord, for this fun time I had with my dad. Let us continue to grow in our relationship with each other and with You.

Tonight's Plan

- I drink a delicious mug of hot cocoa
- Nicole drinks a delicious mug of chocolate milk
- We sit together and finish reading Lewis' Prince Caspian

Thank you, Lord, for this fun night of yummy drinks and great literature.

TPW

Sometimes he drives me absolutely insane. But deep down, I know that I love him like a brother. Which would explain why sometimes he drives me absolutely insane; brothers do that.

I've known Truman since he was six years old. I was eight when we met. Our dad's knew each other from work, and our families moved to Washington from Kentucky together to plant a church. We have, for all intensive purposes, grown up together.

Why am I thankful for Truman? Great question. I'm thankful for him because I know that I can be myself around him. I can talk about the things in my life that cause me pain and those things which make me rejoice. I don't have to act like anyone but myself around him, and sometimes 'myself' can be tired and cranky. I'm sure, at times, I've bothered him with my attitude just as much as he has bothered me with his, but I know that we care for each other like family, and that bond can never break, no matter how annoying the other gets at times.

I feel very blessed to have the friendship God has given me with Truman. He is my oldest friend. Having moved around a lot growing up, I've never had friendships last longer than just a couple to few years. But, with Truman, we have been friends for 12 years, and for that I am truly thankful.

Thank you, Lord, for Truman P. Whitaker. Thank you that we are friends, and that even though through our friendship we have come to know each other's flaws, we have also come to truly know and appreciate the other's wonderful qualities. Truman loves his country (he recently enlisted himself for the United States Marine Corps), his family (even though sometimes he picks on his siblings haha), and God. Thank you for that.

My Favorite 5 Year Old

It was almost five years ago that my family and I went to the airport to meet the little baby we had been looking forward to meeting for months and months. 

That little baby was the lovely Miss Catherine Le Whitaker, and now she is five years old. 

Her family adopted her from China five years ago, this Sunday. They usually celebrate her Adoption Day with a cute little cake commemorating her becoming the part of their family. I am so excited to be with them this Sunday as they celebrate their 5th Adoption Day. 

Catherine is sweet, with a little bit of sass. She's funny, energetic, and loves to snuggle. I love her so much; she's like a little sister to me. 

Thank you, Lord, for Catherine. :) 

The Whitakers

Today has been the day that I have been looking forward to all summer long; the day I would go to my home away from home: DuPont, WA.

DuPont is home to the family I have known since I was eight years old. They are basically my second family. I feel at home when I am with them. I can be myself with them. And they can be themselves when they are with me. It's fantastic, and I wouldn't trade my relationship with the Whitaker family for the world.

I'll be with them for about a week, and I am just so excited about living life with them during this time. Playing imagination with five year old Catherine. Watching movies with my buddy, Truman. Sharing stories and playing card games with my good friend, Cheryl. Laughing with Andrew. Sharing the work of Christ in my life with Rich.

I am so incredibly thankful for the Whitaker family, and the immense blessing they are in my life.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with their love and friendship.

Baker's Therapy

Baking is therapeutic for me. 

When I need some constancy and a sense of control in my life, I usually find myself in the kitchen, baking for my family. 

Tonight, it was chocolate chip cookies. I asked Nicole to take some pictures of me because I knew this is what I would end up blogging about tonight. :) 

Pouring brown sugar. 

Look! Chocolate chips! :)

Insert caption here. haha.

Don't worry, Nicole didn't take this picture. Our dad did. Yay, cookie dough! 

When I'm baking, I'm in control. It's up to me how much of each ingredient I put in. It's up to me how hot I make the oven. It's up to me how long I put the cookies in the oven for. That's part of the reason I love baking so much; it's all up to me. 

Now, I know that this actually reveals a deep psychological flaw in myself that I needn't ignore. Baking is coping. Coping with stress which needs to be addressed head on. And, in time, I will address it. In time. 

But, for now, baking is also joyful. I love it when my entire family comes in the kitchen and grabs a spoonful of delicious dough and says how yummy it is. I love it when the cookies are fresh out of the oven, and people are waiting to snatch one up while they're hot. I love the feeling of contributing something to my family which brings us all together and makes us happy. 

So, whether it's coping with stress or just trying to bless my family, I thank you, Lord, for baking, and it's therapeutic effects on me. 

Creativity

Today I am so thankful for the creativity God has blessed my family with.

My little sister and I are about to make posters for a Summer Fun Kick Off-Party our church is throwing tomorrow for the whole community (so, please be praying that God will bless all of our hard work and bring many people to know the Lord), and Nicole is going to be the main artist for these posters. My dad designed them. I just have a really artistic and creative family.

Thanks, God, for not making your children boring. Thank you, Lord, for giving us all unique gifts to serve you with.

Spontaneous Fun

Today my mom and I went shopping for birthday presents for my dad and sister. Since my dad reads this blog, I will not reveal what was purchased. mwahaha. :)

Anyways, as my mom and I were starting to head home, my mom said, "I just wish you and I could go out to dinner or something". Then I said, "Well, why don't we?"

So we did! It was spontaneous and fun! It was spontaneous fun!

We drove down to Edmonds, an adorable little town right by the Puget Sound. We parked and walked around and happened upon a quaint little restaurant called Chanterelle. We decided, yes, this is where we should sit and eat delicious food.

We walked in and were seated at a cute little table right by the window.

Our appetizer was a Pear, Brie, Spinach, and Garlic Quesadilla. Yeah, it was DELISH.

Then, we got warm bread and our little bowls of potato soup.

And, then, oh my goodness, the best part of the meal was Pork Loin Saute with luscious Madeira wine sauce with apricots and cranberries. Yes, it was more delicious than it sounds and looks.

All in all, it was so magnificently wonderful. Thank you, Lord, for spontaneous fun with my mom. And delicious food. :)