Christ is Here! Finally!

Outside the snow has added a fresh layer to the corners of the window. My tea warms my hands as I curl up on the couch, listening to my favorite Christmas album. My family's Christmas tree sits before me, miraculously holding up the pounds of ornaments that adorn its branches. It's Christmastime in the Midwest and I am beside myself with joy and contentment. There's something about coming home, holding family tight and celebrating the birth of our...

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It's Christmastime in The Cottage!

One of my favorite traditions during Christmas-time is all the Christmas decorating. Who doesn't love staring at lights, tinsel, garland, and, now that I live in Southern California, *fake snow? A couple nights ago, my roommate and I went to go get our Christmas Tree, which we later affectionately dubbed "Alfalfa," for he has a funny cowlick of a branch in the back. He smells like a great Christmas tree and oftentimes I will walk up to the tree just to close my eyes...

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november

In Ten Words:searching . preparing . tea . writing . friendships . hopeful . wandering . pumpkin . longing . caribou mug (I concede the last one is 2 words.) Perfect Day:Sunday. No matter how tired, frustrated, stressed, worried, and anxious I am about everything, from the time I enter into worship in the morning, take the afternoon to wander and be quiet, and then spend the evening with the youth group, it's a day full of spiritual refreshment. I wish all days could...

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contentment

I usually think of birds symbolizing adventure, soaring on the wind, taking the breeze wherever it leads them. Watching them fly on the streams of air, I often forget that they just sit, too. I recently saw several birds sitting on phone wires and singing to each other. And I couldn't help but wonder about their seemingly content nature, just resting and enjoying the place they're at. Part of me longs for adventure, always wanting to fly away. But many times, I often...

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far from the madding crowd

somewhere south of bemidji, mn it seems to me i'd like to go where bells ne'er ring or whistles blow; where clocks ne'er strike and gongs ne'er sound,but where there's stillness all around. not real still stillness - just the trees' low whisperings or the croon of bees; the drowsy tinkling of the rill, or twilight song of whippoorwill. 'twould be a joy could i behold the dappled fields of green and gold, or in the cool, sweet clover lie and watch the cloud-ships drifting...

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Adventuring with Ashley

My apologies for missing last week! I had a splendid time adventuring and catching up with my friend Ashley, also affectionately known as "Carlizzle." Ashley and I have known each other since high school when we were put in the same cabin at camp. And then we eventually both ended up working at said camp. And, so they say, the rest is history. Well, to make a long story short, she ended up dating someone from just down the road, who happens to know, like, ALL of my...

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A Birthday to Die For

(Lunchtime Fiction.) He chewed on his sunflower seeds, spitting the shells into the cup. His fisted hand clamped the steering wheel so tight as he sat watching the children play. It didn't need to happen this way, but they made it happen. His child died, after all, so why shouldn't they also know the burning pain that seers through your heart every moment of every day. His son would never get to play football with his buddies, go fishing with his family, flirt with girls in his teenage years. If his son would never experience life, theirs shouldn't...

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Paint the Light

One of my favorite films, albeit rather cheesy, is The Christmas Cottage, a fictional film representing the work and life of a great artist, Thomas Kinkade. I've always been fascinated by his work. His paintings seem to capture enchanting scenes of a life I wish for. Streets filled with the laughter of children, or a quaint and charming cottage tucked in a corner by the riverbed, where the water meanders its way through the pasture. My favorite, of course, are his...

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handprints

I love walking around our neighborhood. I've met several of the families that live on our block, and typically have conversations with Jerry, our neighbor, on a weekly basis. On one of my recent walks I found a line of handprints outside of a home. I'd never noticed them before, but as I walked past, they had an inexplicable draw that kept me staring at them, trying to guess who each family member is, how old they were, and how their lives have changed since. I'm always...

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It's a Writer's Life

Plotting each act for my different characters One of my favorite things about living in a house with these girls is we are all in one facet or another creative people. Mackenzie is creative in many endeavors, but shines in her career field as a fashion designer for 2b while building up her own business as a custom wedding gown designer. (You can find her exquisite work here.) Alli is in school pursuing an art degree, and in the meantime, paints occasionally for decor...

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3 things I learned from Butternut Squash.

Last night I got all excited about the autumnal weather we've been having and decided I needed something "fall" to make for dinner. So a variation of butternut squash soup it was. I learned several things while doing said activity. Here I slave away on my butternut squash soup while Rachel takes it easy. She was on doctor's orders to do just that, so I insisted that she could, in fact, make herself useful by chopping the onion and reading me directions from a seated position.  1)...

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The Rain Protector

I was born in Elmsford, New York, a small town just a short drive northeast from the city. It's a quaint and cozy place, one where people nestle among the trees, sipping their coffee as they drop in and out of each others' homes and businesses. The town was named after my predecessor, Mighty Ulmus the elm tree. Mr. Ulm was the town protector, and upon himself he took the duty of sheltering the town as he could by stretching his branches and leaves along the town....

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. october .

Making: a novel, a yearbook, and a website design.Cooking: French Dips and Au JusDrinking: peach teaReading: Escape to Morning by Susan May WarrenWanting: to come home and drive unhurriedly up the North Shore of lake superior with all the beautiful fall foliage, which should be nearing its peak really soon.Looking: forward to doing laundry with a non-leaking, working washing machinePlaying: Branches on PandoraWasting: gas on a drive down the PCH to Malibu.Sewing: something...

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Inspired.

It's so refreshing to have a new design on the blog. Like a fresh start, there's a renewed energy towards blogging. My beautiful friend Julia keeps inspiring me with her beautifully simplistic posts. Part of me used to, and admittedly, still does, think that I have to have something incomparably beautiful to blog about, and if I can't compose anything that could compare to Jane Austen, there's no reason to write it. I had a Saturday excursion with the lovely Samantha...

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The Trees Want You Back

 As I drive down the PCH and take in grand, picturesque views of the ocean, I am struck with awe. It still doesn't grow old - the piercing blue of the water. the waves that crash upon the shore and like a magnetic pull, are drawn back to the very thing that pushed them away. the adventures by the break-rocks, discovering starfish, anemones, and crabs. It's so unique to me.  I grew up in a land where the deer bounded across the fields and the beavers kept...

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Creating from the heart - the best place.

I was once told that in order to write a story, you need to write from a place that speaks to your own soul, and something you have knowledge about. I find that true of just about any creative endevour - is that in order to produce a work that feels authentic and true, you should create from a place in your heart. About 5 years ago now, my cousin showed me a photographer's website, the music on which was beautifully executed by the talented Amy Seeley. I loved her from that moment. As a musician, she has a completely unique sound that moved me....

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Reflection can be a good thing

It's not often that I post these. Actually, it's very rare. But a friend of mine recently posted her annual "Year Reflection Questionaire"...and I thought it appropriate for me this year given that 2012 was a big year for me. So, here goes. 20121. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before? Live more than 500 miles away from my family. 2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I typically don't make any new year's resolutions. I think the biggest one is simply just to pursue my relationship with...

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