Reasons to smile

I have three things to share with you.

1. A work of art.

This is the third or so year that my church's youth have stepped up to visually represent the pastor's vision for the upcoming year.

Today, we finished Vision 2012, on two small canvases:

Somehow, all three years we've managed to stick to the same color palette: black, purple, and gold. :) 

I think it's cause the gold looks really AWESOME when the light hits it.

2. Good hair day. 

I had to capture it, even if I felt weird doing it [and even if I'm probably the only one who notices the difference between today's hair and yesterday's hair :)] I give credit for this idea to my good friend Ellie.

 

3. Church Music

 

I know what you're going to say. I'm like a year behind. David Crowder Band came out with this album ages ago!

But I have spent the last hour or so listening through the entire album, while reading both the lyrics and David Crowder's comments on each song. 

I also did this a few years ago with their album A Collision. 

Both times, I have been really impressed -- not just at their music and cleverness, but at how truly God has marked His fingerprints ALL OVER THE PLACE. He and His ways are evident in so many things, from the number of petals on a flower to the love between a man and a woman [not that Crowder addressed these topics specifically -- these were just examples that came to me.]

Anyway, I'm sure you've heard the album, so I won't say much more on the topic except that I LOVE how they love to celebrate God's goodness!

Sisters

I had a realization while visiting Ivory yesterday.

There is no one like a sister.

Miss you, Ivory. You're the best.

The past month, in pictures

Now that I bored you all to death with an exhaustive list of the goings-on of the last month, here are some photographs depicting the events in a more fun way!

So, it actually begins before Thanksgiving, with Ivory's despedida.

I recycled things we already had at home for all of the centerpieces, like this frame with engagement photos, a napkin, and a hair clip. :)

You've probably played it before: toilet paper wedding dress! Susy's team [far right] won.

Now, on to Thanksgiving.

Mom never fails to make Dad's two favorite pies: pecan and apple.

 

Then, of course, black Friday shopping!

Oliver: "What's a budget?"


Followed by Mom's birthday:

[Notice the pie left over from Thanksgiving!]

Then, it was time to move on from Thanksgiving to my favorite holiday.
Dad and Oliver did it all this year, from cutting the tree:

To trimming it:

 As The Day approached, I got to accompany Mom and Ivory to her seamstress's house. She tried her dress on for size, one last time. Then, we carried it home with us. The wedding seemed to getting nearer by the day!

 And then it was like - boom! Rehearsal, rehearsal dinner,

 pictures,

 WEDDING!

Ivory was married. Just like that!

I didn't think about it this way before, but the trip I made to Michigan was like my own honeymoon after Ivory's wedding. It was a time to process it all while serving in Laura's wedding.

Of course, it was also a time to reconnect with sisters in Christ, and to strengthen each other.

And now it seems I've entered a new season - one of transition, and transition implies vulnerability. I can trust that it will only be for a season. This will be a season of increased intimacy with the Lord and with my parents. Just as God has given me grace before, so He will give me to grace again, to do whatever He is setting before me now.

Blah, blah, and Michigan :)

Sometimes a blank page is intimidating.

Especially since I haven't blogged since Thanksgiving.

So, let's just list the major events since then:

1. Hosted a despedida de soltera for Ivory [aka bachelorette party]
2. Attended Ivory's personal bridal shower at the Bakers' home
3. Survived finals and passed all 6 classes! :)
4. Wept as I watched my sister drive away from home
5. Traveled to Kirkland for Jared & Ivory's wedding weekend
6. Saw my sister kiss a boy for the first time
7. Worked my last day as a tutor at P. Middle School and at O. Middle School
8. Flew to Michigan for Laura's wedding!
9. Saw Amish people!! [in Michigan]
10. Had my first real manicure, and my first taste of Biggby's [also in Michigan]
11. Spent quality time with various friends, namely Rebekah, Ellie, Laura, and the Gilleys
12. Had an MC class Christmas party
13. Got a tour of Jared & Ivory's apartment!
14. Drove home, did laundry (!!), and went to church --- aaahh! :)

I don't know how major some of those events were.

Enjoy some photos from my recent trip to Michigan.

Below is my good friend Ellie, and her sister Emmy. I stayed with them while I was in Michigan.

The morning of the wedding, Ellie took Rebekah and I to experience "Biggby's," which is to Michigan as Starbucks is to Washington.

After Biggby's, Rebekah treated the three of us to manicures! A very pleasant Vietnamese family did them for us, and the daughter took this picture for us:

Then, it was off to the wedding! It was hard to get good pictures, but here are a couple.

This is just before the reception. I had to snap a photo of some of Ellie's siblings.

First dance:

MC sisters:

Prayer partner photo 1:

Prayer partner photo 2:

Aside from the wedding, a definite highlight of the trip was our visit to Ellie's family's farm. The remaining photos were taken there.

 [someone referred to Rebekah as a pumpkin with a tu-tu! We all had to wear something bright-colored when we went out for a walk, to avoid being shot by hunters. Rebekah got the coat - haha :)]

Ellie and Emmy tricked us into believing this was an old Native American toilet:

 Turns out, it was just a grinding stone.

 It seems our excursion in the woods left Rebekah and I ready for a nap on the couch; and Ellie, being always up to her sneaky devices, snapped a picture of us trying to nap.

Our last morning at Ellie and Emmy's apartment, Emmy and their roomate Rose made us a lovely pancake breakfast!

 I was blessed by so many people on this Michigan trip. I am grateful for everyone who sacrificed sleep, time, and gas to accommodate and transport me. :)