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.

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.

Jeep!

"Are you saying that I get to go test drive a Jeep, while getting paid to work, and   I get a gift card to the mall for driving the Jeep?" 

I asked this question to my manager after he told me I could do exactly what my question posed. 

"Yeah, I'll just say it was your ten", my manager responded. 

"OK! I'll be back, then!" I said with a smile. I was so excited! 

That's right, my friends. While I was at work today (I work at Brookstone), the Jeep company was doing a promo where people could test drive their vehicles, answer a couple of questions about the car they drove, and then receive a gift card to the mall where I work! I got to drive a super nice 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee around the block and have a great conversation with Chase, a pre-med student at the University of Washington, who was working at the promo event this weekend. He was there to make sure I didn't run away with the vehicle haha. It was so much fun!

It sure was nice to do something out of the ordinary and not stressful. Thank you, Lord, for this random excursion of fun. :)

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.

As Easy as Breathing

Tonight was the first night of my church's Vacation Bible School (VBS, for short), and I am one of the teachers for the 5th and 6th grade class. I absolutely LOVE my students. :)

It's so much fun to teach kids about Jesus. Especially if the kid is receptive to what I'm saying. It's encouraging that my students like me and that teaching them comes naturally...just like breathing. I love teaching. I love helping people figure things out. I love it when the light bulb above their heads turns on...when they finally get it, and a big smile reaches across their face.

Thank you, Lord, for VBS. Thank you for my students. Thank you for giving me the gift of teaching.

My Short Trip Down Memory Lane

Tonight I had a splendid evening with one of my absolute favorite people and best friends from high school, Elena. We went to our favorite hang out spot, Cutters Point, grabbed some delicious beverages, sat down, and with our conversation traveled down memory lane together. 

After that, we mozied on over to Best Buy to just walk around and look at cameras. Little did we know that three people that we went to high school with worked there! So, we walk in, and the reunions begin. Slightly awkward at times, funny at others, but all around awesome to see how people are doing since high school. Not much time has passed, but a whole mess of life has happened in the past two years. 

So, that was my trek down memory lane. Thank you, Lord, for fun, awkward moments. :)

Cheryl

Today was a wonderful day with my wonderful friend, Cheryl Whitaker.

Cheryl has been a student of the New York Institute of Photography for the past couple of years, and today I was her model for her last photo project. We went all around Tacoma looking for rustic backgrounds to take pictures of with me in front of.

Brick walls. Graffiti. Ivy. Old barn. We felt so artsy.

I don't have pictures to put up yet from today (Cheryl is loading all 375 of them on her computer right now), but that's not what I am exceptionally thankful for today. Today, I am thankful for Cheryl and her friendship.

We are able to talk about life, love, and loss. We are able to laugh together, be sad together, and talk about God together. She's such a blessing to me.

Thank you, Lord, for Cheryl Whitaker. :)

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.

Fun in Seattle

For those of you who live and breathe this blog, and become very sad when I don't post everyday, I'm sorry. (Actually, I doubt any such person exists haha). But, I do apologize for not posting yesterday; I was at a place with no internet service, so blogging was not a viable option.

This is what I did last night, instead of blogging:

Yogurtland at Capitol Hill in Seattle! :)

Foot-popping with Atia.

standing in front of vandalized property. :)

sitting in Pikes Place Market...after hours. :)

Ah! Elena and I! And Atia took the picture! Fun!

So, yeah, I had a fun time with my lovely friends in Seattle. Thank you, Lord, for the adventure you gave us. :)

Nerves and Expectations

I was so nervous.

Why, you ask?

Oh, I was only going to a brand new place full of people I have never met...all by myself.

Granted, it was a church, so I shouldn't have been as nervous as I actually was.

On my way there, I got semi-lost. Go figure.

But then I found the place and was welcomed by the most kind and welcoming people a nervous stranger could ever hope to encounter.

I talked with people my own age, which hasn't happened in a long time since coming home for the summer. I worshipped God with my new friends. I heard a sermon on 1 John 5. I went to  fro-yo afterwards with my new friends. It was fantastic.

I met people I wouldn't have had the chance to meet otherwise. God took my expectations and blew them out of the water. He has a way of doing that sometimes.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the courage to go to a new place tonight. Thank you for blessing me with wonderful conversation, worship, and fellowship. I love you.

Funny Accents

 "'...It was a bright, secret, quiet place, and rather sad; and all four stepped out into the middle of it, glad to be able to straighten their backs and move their limbs freely.'" I closed the book, and looked up. "Nicole, that's the end of chapter one; do you want to read chapter two?"

"Sure", she says, as she grabs C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian  from my hands. It's summer time, and that means it's Narnia time. Our goal is to finish the entire series before the summer closes. We are sitting outside on our porch; the sun is shining, a rarity in Washington. Nevertheless, it's still chilly enough to drink our delicious mugs of homemade hot cocoa as we read to each other.

"OK, chapter two. 'The Ancient Treasure House' Oooh."

I roll my eyes. "Keep reading, Colie".

She smiles, and continues. "''This wasn't a garden,' said Susan presently. 'It was a castle and this must have been the courtyard.''" Colie read in a deep Southern accent.

"Colie! They are from England! They aren't southern!" I laughed as I spoke.

"Hahaha, oh yeah, that's right", Colie said with a laugh.



Thank you, Lord, for a hilarious time with the southern children from Narnia.

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. :)