10 Facts You Probably Don't Know About Me

1. I'm a biker-girl at heart. I would ride a bike in a heartbeat if 1. I could afford a motorcycle and the necessary licences, etc. and 2. I could find a cute brown leather jacket and boots, and an adorable helmet. ;)

I think this is the first picture I got of Lydia... gosh, she had a lot of hair!! :) (she's lost most of it now.) 

2. I am shy. So groups are hard for me, and I tend to be that person that follows their one friend around because I'm terrified. ;)

3. I love to swing dance. I feel like, when compared to other styles, it's less romantic and more about just having a blast, and getting exercise. ;) The music is amazingly fun and you can wear amazing twirly dresses. win-win

I want to hug this calf and then feed it a bottle. ;)

4. My personality type is INTJ

5. I love to sing. And someday when I have a real job and a car that doesn't have a head-gasket blown out, I will take voice lessons again. ;)

6. I journal obsessively. Currently I have 5 going: One for everyday ramblings, one for sermon notes and personal devos, one for bible study notes, one for random writings and scribbles, and one is a gratitude journal. :)

7. I love to make people laugh, and I am very, very, very sarcastic. It's dangerous sometimes. I need someone to follow me around and tell people, (after I offend them,) that whatever awful thing I said was actually a joke.  (It's an area I'm working on. ;)

8. I hold conversations with myself, and sometimes it's outloud. Which can be embarrassing in the grocery store when you accidently talk out loud as someone is passing you...

9. I'm a very vocal driver, and I talk to the other cars rather than the idiots people driving them. I comment on bumper stickers, pretty colors, ugly cars, people who cut me off, speeding cars, cars that zoom around you and then get stuck at the same light, weird paint jobs, adorable little cars and 1949 ford trucks, (my favorite vehicle in the entire world, btw.). I also comment on everything else when I'm driving too. Like houses, people walking/biking, trees, clouds, everything. (I guess I get easily bored so I start randomly talking about everything. lol)

10. I love horseback riding. It's been forever since I got to ride last, but it's one of my favorite things ever. I can't even explain mounting a horse and feeling the emotional and mental connection and then flying across the earth in perfect rhythm. It's a stress reliever for me, (I used to go riding when I was feeling sad or depressed, and feel light as a feather when I got back.), and it makes me insanely happy to ride.

i'm a small-town kinda girl // missing my hometown

     Last weekend I was able to go home to Goldendale for a very quick and spontaneous trip to see my bestie. The weather for my drive was amazing and that made me incredibly happy, because I was able to see The Gorge in it's entirety, and soak in lovely views of my mountain and the river. I had the window down the entire way up the Maryhill Grade, and was thrilled that it was windy! I guess it would seem strange to people who didn't grow up there that I love blustery, hard, strong winds. It's always windy back home and I grew up loving it.

    
      When I finally rolled into town I couldn't keep a silly, huge grin off my face.  It was thrilling and wonderful to drive past all my memories. Places I've visited a million times, to see the truck that's been parked in that same spot for over 5 years, the three blinking-red stop lights in town...  My dad's old store, and the sign that just says, "Hey Blue Eyes, who's your daddy?" The Christian Book store and the tiny grocery store we shopped at all the time. My "favorite" coffee shop that served ah-mazing hot chocolates for only 1.50. Flying past the adorable fabric store on the highway towards Hannah's. 

     I still haven't driven past our farm though. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to do that without being absolutely forced.  I miss everything about it, and my horse is buried there...

    I was so happy to be back. It sounds silly, but I really just wanted to drive all over town and soak in just being there. I love the slow, happy pace of the small farming town. The people waving at each other, and no rush and bustle. No traffic, or stoplights. No people honking or flipping you off. 
     Leaving again, after barely 24 hours was oh so hard. I was close to tears, (rare for me!) and about to have an emotional breakdown. I decided to run though the drive-thru to grab something to drink on my way out, and recognized one of my best-friends truck right in front of me. So I texted "I'm currently right behind you!!" and totally surprised my freind. The text I got back read only "WHAT?!?!" :) We parked and visited for awhile, and by the time I left I was feeling much better and cheered up. ;) That is one of my favoritest things about small towns; you run into people you know everywhere. And then I drove home and it was raining...

     Reading through what I wrote above, it kind of sounds like I'm complaining and whining, but I'm not really. It's just that sometimes you don't realize how much it hurts or how much you miss something/someone/somewhere until you see it/them again, and then it washes over you in a moment until you're drowning.

     I know my hometown isn't perfect. I mean, seriously, we had/have druggies everywhere, in fact several times in the last couple years we had a ton of SWAT teams making drug raids up in the hills. There aren't very many jobs, especially for younger people... Shopping is super limited... Gas is always more expensive... you can't hang out anywhere except the grocery store past about 6 o'clock in the evening. (I'm serious. Nothing's open.) Sometimes you got stuck behind a mini cattle herd... But despite all the flaws, I'm a small-town girl who misses her farming community. Even though it hurts like crazy, it's so good to go home once in awhile. 

these are a few of my favorite things // 1

+ doing morning devo's with the window open and the birds chirping and singing
+ hot, hot, coffee as soon as I wake up
+ this post by an amazing girl I grew up with that feels like she wrote down exactly what I was thinking.
+ 90 Days though the Bible (it's been amazing, and I feel like i've been discovering new concepts and things in all the familiar accounts.)
+ Rereading The Mitford Series (So adorable and sweet and chock full of God and truths in every page.)
+ A flying visit back home to see my bestie and her family last weekend. 
+ new friends over the internet
+ hilarious quotes by little brothers
+ getting to spend time with my oldest brother
+ driving on the highway with all my windows down and my hair tangling
+ my puppy who is always overjoyed to see and interact with me
+ finding $16 unexpectedly, in the back pocket of a skirt I hardly ever wear, this morning
+ Lydia's infrequent giggles
+ watching people interact
+ running into one of my best friends completely randomly
+ stupid pixar movies that make me laugh and rewatching the last season of one of my favorite tv shows in anticipation of another season coming out soon!!
+ enough flowers blooming in the yard to make bouquets
+ anticipating a coffee date with a friend
+ the vitamin string quartet (weirdest name ever, but I love their covers!)
+ being able to smile again without pain (!!! the blisters are finally gone, and I'm thrilled. ;)

This list was inspired by Dani, at A Vapor in the Wind

skydiving

This post is at the request of my friend, Rachel. :) We had so much fun, you'll have to come with us next time! 

Yesterday I got to cross the second number off my bucket list. #2 Skydive!! It was terrifying and intoxicating, and I'm already planning a second trip. ;)

 This is me. Way up there, having the time of my life! :)

I knew, based on previous experiences, that the plane ride was going to be super hard for me. I always have panic attacks, (where it's literally hard for me to breath, and I get jittery, shaky, and feel sick.), so I was expecting it. About a week before I asked informed my big brother that I needed him to hold my hand. Luckily, he was seated right across the aisle from me as was more than happy to try to calm me down. Looking back, it totally cracks me up because at one point I had him holding my hand and telling me that it was gonna be okay, my instructor talking me through it, and Andrew's instructor trying to calm me down as well. But I survived the plane ride, didn't hyperventilate, or faint, so we're good!

It took about ten minutes to gain 13,000 feet in elevation. Everyone is seated on benches, squished together like sardines, attached to their various tandem instructors. Once the plane reaches the correct elevation, the door is opened, (everyone's heart stops temporarily,) and one by one, extremely rapidly though, each "group" scooches forward until they reach the door. The instructors don't really give you time to think about it. Basically the moment you reach the door, they push you out, and suddenly I am free-falling, plummeting 13,000 feet towards the earth. I think I held my breath in extreme terror for about 20 seconds, and then I realized that I was I fine, I was strapped to a trained professional, and this was the coolest thing ever!!!!!!!! Free-falling was exhilarating, and I totally understand why those guys decided to become instructors, and get paid to do it 30+ times a day. I cannot even explain how amazing it was. There was a lot of wind pressure, but I was having too much fun to even notice, really. I was little disappointed when he pulled the chute. ;) But the  panoramic views from up there were stunning! We could see about 5 different mountains, and so far it was amazing. The instructor steered us in a lot of twirly loops, which was soo much fun. I expected to get dizzy, but was pleasantly surprised that I didn't. :) I decided not to steer the chute because of my shoulder injuries, (dislocated it when I was three weeks old, and it's been totally messed up ever since,) and I felt that the steering would be painful.  

The only unpleasant part about this, (besides the panic attack in the plane, of course.) was that I'm having a weird breakout of blisters on my lips. Mom thinks it has to do with the high fever I had earlier in the week, but whatever the case, my lips are/were covered in blisters, and are super, super painful, and the free-falling made it even worse. Hopefully next time I won't be dealing with that! haha

I was going to apologize for the way our hair looks. But you know what. We just fell out of an airplane from 13,000 feet. I could care less about my hair at this point. ;) L to R, Cindy, Andrew (my big brother,) me, Rachel, (a bestie whom I grew up with. :)

Rachel and I tried to take a selfie, (turns out it was only the second one she's ever done.) but we were way too psyched up, so they all turned out strange, and we're laughing in most of them. :)

The landing was super easy. Basically he just told me to keep my feet up until he said to stand up. So I did, and it worked perfectly. No falling on my face, or tripping over anything. Being the klutz that I am it was great! I was a little oblivious of everything after we landed, because I was so stoked, but I do know we took some pictures, and took off all the gear. (and a word about the jump-suits. Seriously, guys. They were like a cross between pant-suits, (which are coming back, btw) and sleepers. A bad cross. Basically, they were completely unattractive. Okay. I'm done. ;)

So, I heartily recommend that you make some reservations to go skydiving as soon as possible. It was breathtaking, amazing, inspiring and so cool! I cannot wait to go again!

xx,

creation// why I decided not to "speed read"

     

As a homeschooled, christian girl who has grown up exposed to the Bible, taught at church and at home, listened to countless sermons and various teachings, I was tempted to "speed read" through the creation account while beginning a "read the bible through in 90 days" challenge. I'm so familiar with the account. I believe in God. I believe He created the universe, and I believe in a literal six day, 24 hour days, creation... check, check, check. I know all this! So I started bombing my way though Genesis 1. But I didn't get very far before I had to stop and think.

     "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1. (I told you I didn't get very far. ;)

That one verse has to be {one of} the most openly debated, heated and important arguments in the entire world right now. {However, I could be forgetting a really important theology "argument" that is more important, but I honestly cannot think of anything right now. Don't hesitate to correct me if you think of something!}, 

I admit, the idea, or concept, of God creating the entire Universe and all it contains is unimaginable and confusing. The more I think about it, the more overwhelmed I become. It HAD to be awesome! God spoke-that's it!- and everything was created. There was nothing, a void, a darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving and suddenly with his breath there was light!(!!!!!!!!) When I say unimaginable, I mean that my brain literally hurts when I try to imagine what creation must have been like. I cannot wait to talk to God about it in Heaven someday.

The idea of Evolution amazes me. I don't understand the logic. There is nothing...nothing...nothing... and then suddenly-BAM- a cell explodes into existence (from absolutely nothing, remember) just suddenly appears, and that is the beginning, no purpose for that life cell, no plan. It's just there, existing and from it everything evolves.

The evolutionary view is so hopeless. I cannot even imagine living like that, with no purpose. "Knowing" I existed only because of a random chance millions of years ago.

Back to Genesis 1:1. I totally understand why Creation vs. Evolution are so openly debated. If those ten words are wrong, and I am 100% certain they're not wrong, then all 1012 pages of my Bible are wrong. If God didn't create the world and all it contains then there would be no need to serve him. Why follow the commands of a God who has no power? There would be no need for Salvation. Morality and justice would be useless. Right and wrong wouldn't matter because life would only be the here and now. The past and the future wouldn't matter because everything and everyone ties back to an accident millions of years ago.

Instead, Creation is filled with hope. God created us for his Glory. We were given free-will, and we rejected him, but through his Grace he offered a redemption though Salvation and the death of his Begotten Son. God created the universe for a purpose, with a precise, detailed plan. there was no "accidental creation exploding" involved. Everything happened/is happening according to God's Will.

So, this is all stuff that I've known before. But sometimes I need it shoved in front of my face, and to be reminded that this is what God has done, why he has done it, and what he is capable it. So, no skimming over Genesis 1-2 today. I'm going to soak in every detail about God's power and glory!!

This morning, practically the very moment I stumbled climbed out of bed and headed downstairs to the coffeepot, James came running to me with a loud, exciting announcement. "GaliAna laid her baby!!" I thought it was completly adorable. We have had so many poultry chicks hatching/arriving during the last month, (pigeons, turkeys, ducklings, and quail,) and as a result James is quite confused with the terminology. Nevertheless, Gail's baby is insanely adorable, appears to be quite healthy, and was running around and frisking so much that it was impossible to take a clear shot. :) Gail  has always been my best mama, and it is so sweet to watch her follow this little guy around.  He doesn't have a name yet. :)

dancing

Daniel and I attended a huge celtic/line dance this weekend in Mcminnville with a bunch of friends and had so much fun. We're starting to improve {at least a little} and catch on to line dancing faster and easier. I didn't trip or fall flat on my face even once, which was really exciting!! haha And I only almost killed us once on the drive home. (Burned rubber for the first time. My car was seriously surrounded by a huge cloud of white awful smoke because I had to slam on the brakes and swerve into the shoulder to avoid rear-ending the car in front of us. Nobody can say road-tripping with me is boring! ;)

This picture is actually the only one we took all night. ;) (we're great at documenting things...) I think I was talking at the moment it was snapped, and Daniel was giving the our friend a "you're weird." look. :) 

pop-tarts // completing my childhood

Last week I approached my Mom with what I deemed a big problem. I was reading a book and the main character started talking about having delicious pop-tarts for breakfast, and I realized that I had never had a pop-tart, let alone for breakfast. It seemed like everyone else had eaten pop-tarts and loved them, and I felt that part of my childhood had never been completed. Actually, I didn't even know what a pop-tart was. (Mom is kind of a major health-nut, so they were taboo in our home.) She explained pop-tarts to me, "They're awful, sickening and you'll hate them." She assured me. I didn't believe her. I think her "pop-tart are terrible" reasoning is the same as her "kale is delicious" reasoning. 

But mom surprised me over the weekend and bought me pop-tarts, (I think it must have been very difficult for her to place them in the cart. Nevertheless, Mom is awesome! :) and this morning I officially completed my childhood. And may I just say that pop-tarts are kind of amazing. Not like "all my dreams came true," amazing, but they were pretty good especially when combined with a cup, okay... three cups of coffee. :) Now I can move on and become a responsible adult. (haha)

xx,

how to console a baby instantly // : )

My very favorite way to console babies is to play piano. Lydia stops her crying/screaming almost instantly and just listens. (I also did this with James, who photobombed us accidentally when mama snapped the picture this evening. ;) It's actually really comical to see how fast she stops, and then to watch her eyes flit back and forth to whichever hand is playing faster or louder. It did take awhile to learn how to keep a tiny baby upright, relatively still, and from slipping off your lap whilst playing a melody. (Correct posture and fingering goes out the window at this point.) Mom also pointed out yesterday that certain songs, (namely the German piece I was playing yesterday...) should be kept for other times. Lydia became extremely startled and concerned when I began playing. She much prefers quiet, simpler melodies. :) Actually, playing the piano for her is totally a win-win situation, she is consoled and amused, and playing piano is my biggest stress reliever, so it makes everyone quite happy.

snapshots from this week

A couple nights ago James (3) insisted that Lydia (5 mo. ;) sleep with him. Mom compromised by laying her beside him for a few minutes. The results were some adorable and hilarious photographs. 

Freshly baked bread right out of the oven has to be one of the most amazing smells in the entire house. :) Right now the entire house smells heavenly.

The weather was really weird this week, super cold (by my standard at least. :) and pouring buckets of rain, and then a few hours later sunshine and 60 degrees. One afternoon I went out to take water drop pictures in between rainshowers, something that is always fun but rather frustrating too. :) 

This child is the cutest thing that ever happened. just sayin'.