Inspiring

Always looking for inspiration and am loving these blogs lately...

http://www.karenrussell.typepad.com/ and

http://aliedwards.typepad.com/

They two women are always coming up with something creative, and cute and new. This wreath caught my eye, I think I might try to make one for my new house this holiday season!

Other than that, life has been as hectic as always. The wedding is just 37 days away, school has only 6 days left, and the job hunting is as frustrating as always.

I am looking forward to some quiet time this evening!

Rest

Memorial Day weekend has become our camping trip weekend with Brandon's OSU CEM buddies. This year was the second annual camping trip to Crain Prairie- Cow Camp. It was such nice weather this year, and Brandon and I had our camp trailer to stay in. We had a blast! There were quite a few more people there this year, and we spent out time visiting, relaxing, fishing, sleeping, and eating. Can't wait till next year guys!




Brandon and I snuck away for a few hours and went fishing as Hosner Lake on his Pontoon Boat. We didn't catch any fish, but we did catch some rays and good conversation. While out on the
boat, I tired out my new mini camera and captured these images.




A few of my favorite memories:

1. A 3 hour nap on a mattress.
2. A group photo of Brandon's friends.
3. Brandon and I out on the lake enjoying the sun.
4. Brandon resisting Jake's "peer pressure" to do DUMB things. I'm so proud of Mr. Young! =)
5. A great dinner cooked on Brandon's new grill.
6. Cold beer AND cold water.
7. The chance to visit with Brandon's friends one more time.

Bridal Shower

I have had two bridal showers now, and they were so great! The girls at Rocky gave me my first shower, and we had so much fun at El Cazador eating, drinking and visiting. Pictures to come.

My last shower was given to me by my Maid of Honor and her mom, out at Helix. It was great, and we had lots of friends gathered to visit. It was so nice and I loved hearing all the ladies tell how they knew me. Here are a couple of pictures from the present opening ceremony. Thanks Jill!

This is the lovely bouquet that Susan and Tricia made out of my gift bows. Lovely.

Life IS like a rodeo

a wild one lately. I was just thinking about my normal response when someone asks how I am. Normally it's "I'm great!" Lately it's, "I'm tired."
Hoping this will change soon, afraid that it won't change for awhile though.
Life has been so crazy lately, lots of appointments and errands and things to do. So much wedding stuff, school stuff, moving stuff, job stuff, and life stuff. It seems like just when one thing good happens, something crazy comes with it.
I must be thankful for so many things in my life right now though.
One of those things is getting to be before 9:30 the past two nights.
An ENTIRE nights sleep two nights ago.
Baked potatoes for dinner.
Kids that care, even if they are naughty, noisy and off task.
Brandon.
Lindsay.
Francie and Kelly.
Sunshine.
Kleenex with lotion in them.
Good, caring doctors.
Caffeine.
A new computer.
and lots, lots more!
Planning to take something to help me sleep tonight, looking forward to some time with my mom and nothing to do Saturday outside of my house until noon.

Lovely

The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity. Doug Horton
Simplicity is not something I have experienced these past few weeks. I finally had my "I can't do this anymore, I'm tired!" breakdown yesterday. Twice actually, once after school, and once right before bed. I am still tired, but I feel better. Looking forward to sleep, organizing my home, cleaning, putting laundry away, fresh clean sheets on the bed, and thank you notes written. (Finally).

Here is a documentation of what my life 'looks' like right now.

My dining room table, full of wonderful gifts and wedding invitations.



My work table, that is in my bedroom. Covered with scrapbook pages, jeans to iron, papers to be filed, pictures to be dealt with, and one sun hat.


One corner in my dining room, filled with full and empty water bottles, one birthday vacuum, two big tubs with stuff to be moved, and one space heater no longer needed in my classroom.


Another corner in my dining room. Stacked with a bridal bag, one crock pot, one printer box, and another box full of computer supplies. However, no computer. =)


And, last but certainly not least, this is what I woke up to this morning. A kitchen sink full of dirty, hand wash only, coffee cups. Also, three empty beer cans, one empty diet coke can. Lovely.

One great weekend

175 inner envelopes addressed
1 tan sprayed on
2 trips to the grocery store
2 presents wrapped
1 party attended
100 miles driven
1 baby rocked to sleep
3 loads of laundry done
1 apartment dusted
4 rooms vacuumed
1 bathroom mirror cleaned
1 bathroom counter wiped down
1 kitchen counter wiped down
4 bags of garbage taken out
1 tank of gas purchased
30 min. out in the sun by the pool
4 hours in my classroom working
2 dresses purchased
1 application worked on
1 HUGE pile of magazines gone through
1 boyfriend visited with
1 awkward dinner at El Cazador
LOTS of smiles and laughs (mostly at El Cazador)

Fridays

Why are Friday's so hectic? They are one of my favorite days of the week... but they are so crazy!
Fridays:

• up just as early, or earlier than the rest of the week.
• trying to pack or get ready for the weekend.
• to Starbucks for my weekly treat.
• to school early to get ready for the day.
• trying to eat breakfast.
• social meetings (sometimes).
• saying goodbye to Jill, and hello to Brandon.
• craziness at school.
• last minute errands at the store.
• lots of driving.
• correcting lots of papers for school.
• getting ready for next week at school.

The list goes on and on! Oh well, this is my life and I love it. I like doing all of these things, I like knowing that next year will be different, because I will have Brandon near me all the time- not so many transitions with us. I like what Fridays mean, the weekend is here and the week is ending. I still have to get up and be motivated, but I also know that tomorrow is mine (not usually, but it's a nice thought).

Rain, Rain, I'm glad you came

Rain. Either you like it, or you don't. I grew up not liking the rain. Maybe it was because I grew up in Eastern Oregon. It was just a pain. You couldn't work, you felt trapped inside or you went out and got muddy, it was just not our favorite kind of weather.
Then I lived in the Willamette Valley. It rained ALL the time there. I met friends who were as new to this as I was, and we enjoyed it. (Mostly).
We danced in the rain.
We walked slowly in the rain.
We would get as wet as we possibly could, then go change into comfy clothes and laugh at ourselves.
And I learned a couple of things from these rainy moments with my friends.
1. Rain can help heal you.
2. Rain can cleanse you, and your soul.
3. Rain brings life.
4. Rain lets you cry, it lets you deal.
5. Rain is an excuse to stay in and clean, or read a book, or stay in bed and write in your journal.
6. Rain should be danced in.
7. Rain can be calming.
8. Rain is like chocolate. You only need a little bit to satisfy a craving.
I'm glad you came rain, but I am ready for some sunshine and summertime!