Work, Waiting and Wishing

Hello my dear readers! Honestly I don't have a whole lot to report but I figured I'd update you anyway. Life is pretty systematic right now, but really that's okay with me! My schedule is as follows:


Weekdays - watch the boys and do homework all day, spend time with Dearest Carl and my family or his family in the evening


Weekends - spend more time with Dearest Carl and my wonderful family and his wonderful family, go to church and rest up for another week


Yup! That's the extent of it. However, Friday I am hopefully going to visit my lovely Rachel and spend some much needed time with her! Talking and laughing and long hugs and silly accents and possibly pillows involved? ;) *cue happy dance* Aaaaaand, this next week is 4th of July!!! *cue fireworks and band music* My family and I are going to the lake with some friends of ours and we'll be staying for a few days! That means swimming and cards and food and reading and more swimming and boating and laughing and games and no homework! I cannot wait!!!


Ok ok I'll quit babbling. Here is your song for today, the one that's been stuck in my head. :)

Keep your smiles on! Until next time!


It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them. ~ George Eliot 

To Carl

Hello all my wonderful readers! I realized something the other day. I'm shamefully behind! Almost a year ago now, you may or may not remember that I posted a few posts about my good friends (Rachel, Garrett, Zach and Joe). Well I also mentioned another good friend however due to certain circumstances at the time, I couldn't write about him. I intended to do so however once I could! Well.... I didn't. So, I'm making up for that now! 


Readers, meet my courtship buddy, confidant and bestest friend in all the world, Dearest Carl. :) Carl is pretty darn amazing if I do say so myself. He loves computers and fixing computers and improving computers and playing with computers. If you have computer questions, he knows. He loves sugar! Cookies, cheesecake, candy canes, you name it, if it has sugar in it, he's going to eat it. (Hey, keeps me busy.) He loves learning new things and understanding why something is the way it is (not so great when you're trying to figure out a girl ;) ). He loves being right. He loves little kids and they love him! He loves playing volleyball. He loves soundtracks and music happens to be our biggest argument. He loves good pictures and taking good pictures. He loves playing piano and is very good at it! He's a details kind of person and will surprise me often with what he remembers! He is a bike rider and put the Hilly Hundred under his belt last fall (O_o). He is a great listener and usually comes up with the logical answer that I couldn't think of. He is a hard, selfless worker. He is convinced that big brown puppy eyes work for EVERYTHING (which is almost true...)! He is curious beyond belief and will beg and plead and annoy to find out what he's looking for. He stays up entirely too late... usually chatting with me... And he definitely wins the award for Best Hugs In The World. Hey, he's wonderful! :)


So now that you know some about him, here is one of his favorite songs:

Well I hope you all have a lovely Saturday! Keep your smiles on! Until next time!

A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.  ~ William Penn


Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away.  ~ Dinah Craik

Feminine Friday: Everlasting Love

Hey there my lovely lady readers! We all love a good love story right? Right! Well, today I have one for you! 

There was once a seventeen year old girl who went on a trip to Florida with her church's youth group. While there, she became involved in a water balloon fight. This one boy, a swimmer and a fellow youth groupian, threw a water balloon at her. She looked up and BOOM! She knew... that's the guy she wanted to marry someday. Not too long after they returned home, the boy asked the girl to be his girlfriend. She accepted gladly. For the next few years, they had their good times, bad times, sad times, mad times and got to know each other and love each other more each day. He proposed to her one evening and they were married the summer as soon as they graduated from college, specifically, June 24. Twenty-two years and five children later, they are still so much in love and still thanking God for each other. 

Who are these people? My parents! That's right! Today is my parents' 22nd anniversary! The only better love story than theirs is my own which I won't tell for quite a while yet. :) 

I think its awesome is how God created a relationship to reflect His love for us! Marriage is a beautiful thing but what's even better is that the love a couple have for each other, God's love for us is like that times like a million trillion billion!!! It's never ending, overflowing, everlasting! And THAT my lovely friends is amazing. 


Now for your song!

Keep your smiles on! Until next time!

Love never fails... - 1 Cor. 13:8a

Girly Stuff

Hello my fair and fanciful readers!  


You know, this morning I've been fighting a bad mood. Meaning a series of events is threatening to turn my mood sour for the day like raisins or bad milk or peanut butter. However a little while ago, this thought popped into my head: "I just love being a girl!" Don't ask me what put it there because I have no idea. 


But really! I do love being a girl! We get away with so much! We can wear pink however much we want, make all kinds of baked goodies, have hundreds of pairs of earrings and shoes at our disposal, dance around our kitchens without looking too strange, watch the romantic movies, talk for hours on the phone, make even plane shiny lip-gloss look good, receive flowers and chocolate and love notes and pretty much get to be all around amazing! Ah yes, I do love being a girl!

Ok ok, enough pink feathery sweetness. Now for your real song for today. :)

Keep your smiles on! Until next time! 


"Let us be elegant or die!" ~ Amy from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 


"Why do women want to dress like men when they’re fortunate enough to be women? Why lose femininity, which is one of our greatest charms? We get more accomplished by being charming than we would be flaunting around in pants and smoking. I’m very fond of men. I think they are wonderful creatures. I love them dearly. But I don’t want to look like one. When women gave up their long skirts, they made a grave error…" ~ Tasha Tudor


"It seems to be the fashion nowadays for a girl to behave as much like a man as possible. Well, I won't! I'll make the best of being a girl and be as nice a specimen as I can: sweet and modest, a dear, dainty thing with clothes smelling all sweet and violety, a soft voice, and pretty, womanly ways. Since I'm a girl, I prefer to be a real one!" ~ Mrs. George de Horn Vaizey 

My Daddy

Today is Father's Day! So today's post, I'm going to tell you a little bit about my Daddy! He is a wonderful daddy. He's a pastor of our church which means he's quite busy with other people's lives however he somehow manages to make time for listening to me too! He takes great care of my family and me and makes sure we're all provided for and are never in need (and sometimes, without want too). He can sometimes frustrate me but hey, dads aren't perfect! He loves giving surprises and can hardly keep them a secret while waiting. He actually likes Jane Austen and will willingly watch it with my mom and I every so often! He writes me letters for my birthday and Valentines Day, the most precious treasure to me. He also will randomly sing and dance when he's in a really good mood. Here is one of his favorite songs:

Ridiculous right? Well, he loves it! Along with Puff The Magic Dragon and Goin' Up Country, we also have to watch out for the random 80's music streaks after dinner. But he's great! The best daddy in the whole wide world. I love you Daddy!!!


Keep your smiles on! Until next time!

Choosing

I've had a lot going through my mind today (and the past couple days) and throughout it all, this is the song that's been going through my head. 

Keep your smiles on! Until next time!


You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ~ John 15:16

Feminine Friday: Cooking Inspirations

Okay ladies! Grab your aprons and cooking utensils! Today, I was at a loss as what to give you for a Feminine Friday and then, up popped a brilliant idea! What is more feminine than a woman in her apron, cooking deliciousness for her family?! So, I am going to give you my ever favorite (and very easy) Chocolate Chip Cheesecake recipe! Cook away!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake 

Ingredients:
- 1 roll refrigerated cookie dough (you could make your own but this is easier)
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 packages of cream cheese (softened)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 package chocolate chips 

Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Press cookie dough on the bottom of a springform pan (I put wax paper in the bottom so it comes up easier)
- Thoroughly mix eggs, vanilla, cream cheese and sugar
- Stir in chocolate chips
- Bake about 1 hour
- Refrigerate overnight
-Enjoy!

Yes, it is that easy! And so far, it's been a hit at my house! :)


Now, for your song today, the main theme from a movie that always gives me inspiration to go experiment in the kitchen and make something elaborate and delicious!

Keep your smiles on! Until next time!


She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. ~ Prov. 31:15

Dreams On Wheels

Okay so Sunday, me, Garrett and Carl went on a 24 mile ride! (A new record for me :D ) While we were riding, we passed this couple and the lady had the most awesome bike ever! That got me dreaming about my idea for the perfect bike and I figure, instead of telling you about it, why not show you in pictures! So here you go, my perfect bike:

That's right! An old blue retro-style bike with a basket and ribbons on the handles. Perfect in every way! 


Now because this is a dreamed up bike, your song for today needs to be happy and summery sounding right? Well I've got the perfect thing for you. :) Enjoy!

Keep your smiles on! Until next time!


Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~ John F. Kennedy

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. ~ Zeph. 3:17

Color Me Happy Sunshine Yellow

I am in the BEST mood today! Why? Cause my big little brother is home!!!!!!!! :D We've had the best day hanging out so far and are going to continue having a great day! And it makes me ever so happy! Just so you know, I have the bestest brother ever!! 

Keep your smiles on! Until next time!