My awesome brother-in-law took pictures of Mr. Hercules and I today.. here's a couple previews. My other awesome bro-in-law will be taking more pics next week :)

I also just bought some Staedtler pens that are waterproof, and VERY fun with watercolors! (Ann, you're gonna love what I'm doing with them!)

Coming home from work is my favorite time of day. Last night, Ty spent about an hour sitting on the couch with me, my feet in his lap, while he let me babble about my day. I have been feeling so grateful for things in my life the past few weeks--grateful for my family, my parents, for Tyson, my job. Grateful for answers to prayers--even though they ABSOLUTELY do not get answered in the way I thought. (Ever heard that Sarah Ban Breathnach quote--Ann, I know you have--"Do you know how to make God laugh? Try telling Him your plans.") But lately I know that I am the most lucky, blessed woman in the world.


I bought Mr. Hercules' ring today.

Only 35 more days :)

If you want to join in, feel free :)

My heart in 1 poem:

My heart in 1 song or piece of music:



My heart in 1 phrase or quote:

Julian of Norwich


My heart in 1 piece of clothing:
(I'm cheating and doing 2 :) lol)




My heart in 1 place:

I'm in a funk.

I'm getting married in 37 days and starting to feel the stress. I woke up this morning thinking that there's no way this is all going to work out, and I seriously want to just run away, have our parents there when we get married, and call it good. I want it to be beautiful, but I wasn't one of those girls who dreamed of what her wedding would be like when she grew up--I planned on being a nomadic Earth Child for most of my adult life. Wander around with my sketchbook, camera, and books, and be content.

Unfortunately, that's all I'd probably ever be--content.

With Ty in my life, I have this new feeling--it's called joy. What a new experience!

I know everything will work out, and that my ennui is stress-induced, but for today here's a few quotes that are getting me through.

I stole this from Libby and think it's a great idea! :)

The first five people to leave a comment on this blog will receive something made by me. However there are some limitations:

1. I make no guarantee that you will like what I make :)
2. What I create will be just for you
3. It will be done within a year (might take a while)
4. You have no clue what it is going to be
5. I reserve the right to do something really fun.

Edit: I'm taking the "catch" out of it. Only post again if you want to :) 
There is a catch. If you choose to do this, you must post this on your blog and be ready to make something for five people too. This will be fun! When you receive the fabulous item I make you, you must post a picture of it on your blog.

For any who haven't heard yet, Mr. Hercules proposed to me in the middle of a gorgeous blizzard last night!

We took a drive out of town and just up the mountain a little bit to one of my favorite spots. It had been raining, but once we got further up the mountain it turned into a blizzard. We were listening to music ("You Found Me" by The Fray, if you want the specific details--which many apparently do! lol), and then got out of the truck, rolled down the windows with the music still playing, and tried to catch the falling snow on our tongues. After a minute, Ty hugged me and told me he loved me and then got down on one knee, right there in the mud and snow, and asked me to marry him, please.

Of course I said yes. (I hope he was able to understand me through my sniffling and crying tears of joy)

I tried to take a picture of the ring, but it didn't turn out really well, so here's one I stole from the jeweler's website:


It's titanium with an aquamarine stone. I don't like diamonds, and Ty's not a big fan of them either, so I was really happy with the aquamarine. :)

It was the perfect moment with the perfect man. I can't wait to be his wife!

Last night I couldn't sleep and didn't feel like reading any of the books I've started. Instead, I started reading Czeslaw Milosz again.

It may not be the best insomniac reading (or the cheeriest), but I fell asleep!

Here's a few of my favorites:


Do ut des
He felt thankful, so he couldn't not believe in God.

Longing
Not that I want to be a god or a hero.
Just to change into a tree, grow for ages, not hurt anyone.

Portrait
He locked himself in a tower, read ancient authors, fed birds on the terrace.

For only in this way could he forget about having to know himself.

Supplication
From galactic silence protect us.

... There are more computers that people in the house

... Your little brother calls you up to say that he finished building a converter so that he can play his WII on his computer. (just because he's that smart)

... When your boyfriend starts saying "suckafish!" because he's been around your brother too long.

... When your sister starts calling your boyfriend "Captain Awesome" instead of Ty because she thinks it's funny (Yeah, Ty says "Awesome" a lot, but not that much!)



... When you frequently hear "Yeah right!" or "That's a CAT5 cable! They can't do that with that!..." and other such jargon when watching movies with the men of the family (Dad, Joe, John, Ty, Adam...)

... When your sister refers to you as "a Lorelai" and your boyfriend as "a Luke."

... When every girl in the family has an unnatural fear of pigs because of that stupid story grandma would tell us all the time as children.

... When you need little provocation to light up some fireworks. Just give us a lighter. And, if it's not a holiday or legal, give us the lighter, we'll have a good time anyway :)

... When half of you can rotate your appendages well beyond the normal range.


... When your life could be described as a (maybe less exciting) version of NUMB3RS. Because, while beating at a Coke machine for your soda that's stuck, your little brother begins to explain the reason your soda isn't coming out. When you glare at him, he picks up a phone book as a visual aid and says, "Ok, think of it like this..." (and goes on to explain the inner workings of the Coke machine, asking afterwords, "Do you have paper towel roll and some duct tape? I'll teach you how to pick the lock with it." And no, not so I could steal soda--I wanted to see how it worked, why it was getting jammed every time I wanted root beer, and just to be a more informed person... :) lol  And yes, that conversation did happen. )





I love my family :)

Lately I've been spending my lunch breaks in the bathtub. I feel like that Yellowcard song, "How I Go" (or like Albert Finney's character in Big Fish)--I feel like I'm going crazy and drying out if I don't spend a certain amount of time in the bathtub every day. I've been known to take a shower + two baths a day. The world is a sane place if you're in water.



Today while I was in the bathtub, I was thinking about all the things I would have told my 10-year-old self if I had met her.  As I thought, I came up with more things my 10-year-old self would tell me if she met me. Looking back, I seemed more fearless, and more of a free-spirited dreamer. Of course, I'm still Ty's free-spirited "Earth Child Little Girl," but I allowed for the possibility that absolutely anything could happen. (Believe me--I'm the girl who wanted to be a violin-playing, volcano-studying, space-exploring, USA-presiding, cake-baking, flower-arranging, greenhouse-growing, astronaut/astronomer/physicist. If you don't believe me, just ask my mom and dad lol)


I think the 10-year-old me would tell me:

Play in the rain. Don't be too afraid of anything (Ty would say including pigs). Watch more funny movies. Don't take yourself too seriously. Play outside more. Chase rainbows. Take your camera everywhere. Remember that God loves you. Love yourself as much as you love everyone else. Remember you're a princess.



I would tell the 10-year-old me:

Not to worry about the sleepless nights, not going to Prom, being called a bookworm. Ignore the accusations about being either bulimic or anorexic (some girls really are just skinny, and sweetheart, you were one of them). Draw and paint to your heart's content. Don't worry so much about what other people think. Realize that you are beautiful and perfect. Keep believing in fairies and fairy tales. Love unconditionally, but chose your friends carefully. Remember that life is beautiful.

But most of all, I'd tell her to remember to close her eyes and breathe deep often.


'Cause baby, it's gonna be great.