A New Day!

I had such a good day yesterday. I "surprised" Colton with a visit to Nashville. We ate, and played on various instruments in a music store, and went to a reptile zoo/aquarium/pet shop, and had such good coversation. I love him.

Plus, I've been getting all sorts of photography gigs! Here's a few pictures I took for my friends Natalie and Caitlin.... their Senior and Junior recitals are coming up in the spring. Beautiful, huh?

So Proud, and plus a Bucket List.

Hey guys!

Remember when I did all those paintings and production design for Colton and Bryce's short film?

The footage came back, so we all drove into the city to watch it on a friend's big tv!

GORGEOUS.

That's one thing that I love about Colton. He always, always surprises me with his talent. I'm so frequently amazed by him :)

Plus, I am given a confidence boost, because the set looked great.

Over the weekend, I camera assisted for Colton on a commercial he's shooting with some of the guys. I think it's going to be adorable. It was shot all over the city - it's for an organization called Create Here, which is very community and arts centered. I can't wait to see it!

Maybe I really do have what it takes to be in the film industry. I know that Colton does :)

Once the editing is done for the short film/commericial, I'll post a link if I can so you guys can see.

Finally, a short bucket list. I am inspired to write one by the lovely Lindsay, whose blog can be found here: http://lindsay-alogofmylife.blogspot.com/

Before I die, I want to:

1) Photobomb a celebrity on the red carpet
2) Change the path of the life of Arun, the little boy I'm sponsoring
3) Make a really good creme brulee, maybe even with one of those little kitchen torches, which I'm terrified of.
4) Learn how to surf!
5) Soundly defeat Coach Perron in badminton (This is certainly the least likely. He's an animal on the badminton court.)

I love stuff!

What I mean by that is that as I've grown older, I've proven to have an addictive personality.
Not in the sense that people are addicted to my personally... though I don't see why they shouldn't be, because I'm fabulous ;)

(Just kidding. I'm actually pretty awkward most of the time. But I'm okay with that now!)

What I mean is that when I get into something, I reeeeeally get into it.

Sixth grade - I read the Lord of the Rings series for the first time.
Average person's response - "My, what an artful example of literature! I will keep these on my shelf, return to them, and introduce them to my children one day."
My response - "My, what an artful example of literature! I will memorize the maps! I will know the rivers! I will make a grey cape! I will wear the One Ring for the remainder of my middle school days! I will read encyclopedias and biographies pertaining to Tolkien! I will not be outdone in LOTR trivia! I will write horrendous fan fiction, in which I am shallowly masked as the main love interest!"

Oops :)
But although my reaction might have been a little... extreme, shall we say? I stand by my love for the series.

Same thing with Harry Potter in highschool, except in this case, I was joined in my adoration by my best friends, Cassie and Tyler. Ps, you can view Cassie's new blog, filled with delightful gluten-free recipes Here: http://gfsoutherncomfort.blogspot.com/
I knitted them both scarves of their respective houses. (Gryffindor and Hufflepuff).
We all dressed up for the movie premieres. (Although really, that's perfectly normal.)
I still drive my car with one bumper sticker proudly displayed - "Harry for President".

(Ps, I have a confession - I refrained from voting in our local elections the other day. I couldn't decide who to vote for, because I don't really care for any of our candidates. They resorted this year, I think more than I can ever remember, to some pretty ridiculous mud-slinging, so I didn't want to show support for any of them. What you do think about that in light of our responsibility as citizens? Is it better to practice our privelege of voting even if we don't really support the candidate, or should we refrain. I suppose I could have done a write-in, but I've been so busy with school I haven't kept adequate track of the political goings-on at home.)

I'm also a holiday fanatic.
I started singing loudly along to christmas carols in the car at least three weeks ago.
Over fall break, I got to see Colton. (Hurray! I really miss him terribly when we're not together.) He offered be DJ priveleges, which always makes me a little nervous as his taste in music is much more seasoned than my own, but I happily switched on a song from the Sufjan Stevens Christmas Album. It wasn't even that Christmas-y! I think I chose something like "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella". He said, What??? It's not even Halloween yet! and immediately revoked my DJ priveleges. (I later chose White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes, which I viewed as a Christmas song sneak attack, since that's not technically a carol, but I still associate it with the season. How crafty of me!)
Like I said in my last post, I lump all the fall-winter holidays into one big holiday. I think it's perfectly acceptable to play christmas carols at the beginning of october, because it's almost halloween, which means it's almost thanksgiving, which means it's basically christmas. I feel warm, and happy, and loved during the holidays. I love the bite in the air, the crackle of fires, and the smell of the season (which, to me, is a warm smell of cinnamon, cookies, fir trees, orangey spices, and a little smoke. And preferably something roasting in the oven.)

I just love the feeling of being excited, and being involved in something. For me, it really applies to everything... I want to show an earnestness, and a passion for whatever is important to me... My studies in Biblical texts, my relationships with Colton, my friends, and my family (although I fail alot... I need to become a better girlfriend, friend and family member. We can always grow in our love. And I think that's what's special about love, as opposed to most other things in life... it really doesn't have any limits or boundaries.)

One thing that is different about people, as opposed to book series and holidays, is that people keep on surprising you. After a few years of Lord of the Rings fanaticism, I let my love for it temper. It was so familiar to me, and still a close friend, but that crazy fire couldn't last forever. Likewise, the holidays are only here for a season, and then they're gone. You can enjoy them while they last, but you can't hold onto them forever. It's the same with our lives here - they're only a season. So I want to have that fire during my life, and get as much enjoyment out of it as I can. But the thing that will last beyond my mortal years is my relationship with the Lord and with other people. What can we do to love the Lord and our neighbors better? I think it's in the little things. Just like me learning the names of the rivers in Lothlorien, we can seek to learn the tiny details of the identities of the people around us. People are so complex and ever-changing... I ran out of rivers to learn, but it takes a lifetime to really know someone. Even moreso with God - A million lifetimes of communion would not be enough to truly know Him, because of the barriers we have created between our existence and His. But I am thankful, in this moment, for that mystery, because it means I will keep on seeking Him, longing to know more of who He is, what He has done for His people, and why I am included in this unthinkable cosmic plan. Our fanaticism for Him does not have to be tempered! It can stretch on forever, because He stretches on forever.

And that gives me comfort,
and that excitement that I love so much.

Festive Foods!!!

I don't know if I have made this clear, but I love food.
I love it. It is a friend, art, and comfort. Food brings people together,
and I think it's one of things that God gave us for pleasure. He didn't have to create Adam and Eve with a need for sustainance, but He did!
And I am thankful for that :)

Some particular foods make me feel even more festive once the holiday season rolls around.
(I also love the holidays. I lump halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, and new years into one great big season of joy!)

These images aren't my own :)

Pumpkin Seeds! Or any other kind of squash seeds, really. Butternut is especially good, I think.
What could be better than a bowl of salty, crunchy, nutty seeds sitting strategically on the counter so you can grab a handful when you pass by? My friend Rachel is a champion pumpkin seed roaster. We polished off three-pumpkins-and-a-butternut-squash's worth of seeds in a day or two.

Eggnog!!! Okay, so I know eggnog isn't for everyone. But I think this stuff should be. I was thrilled about eggnog season, and decided to try Hood's Sugar Cookie Eggnog on a whim. Holy creamy crazy good but bad for you but I don't care deliciousness! I'm not exaggerating when I say it's the best tasting liquid I have ever put in my mouth. I drank the whole carton in two days. I MUST have more. But the thing is, I want to try a new flavor, because I'm sure it'll be equally as good, but I can't imagine walking out of the store without that liquid cookie heaven in my bag. Maybe I'll get two cartons this time :)

Pomegranate. Easily, Easily my favorite fruit. I love the process of opening them, even. I'm very careful not to rupture a single seed. I love that bitter-sweet taste, the incredible texture, and the fact they're so pretty you could make jewelry out of them! For some reason, I think they have a decadence to them that I've never experienced in a fruit.

And finally, sweet potato casserole. My mother's is unmatched. Thanksgiving would not be Thanksgiving without it.

Those are my top four. What are your favorite holiday foods?

Montgomery

Over fall break, we went to my mister's old farm/house/cabins and stuff.



I would like to live here, please.



My mister is so very handsome :)

He is also a cat whisperer.

He drove me all around the motocross tracks. He turned too sharp. We flipped over.

What a perfect day.

If we installed an oven, it would be perfect.

I like garages.

The End.

Little Lamb



Little Lamb Falls Into Trouble





Little Lamb Has A Quiet Moment



Little Lamb Finds A Friend