i wanna be like Mary

lately i have been reading a lot of random blogs (ok, ok, not just lately. unless lately counts as the past 2 1/2 years) and it has been interesting to me where God keeps taking me.

links about marriage. links about personal faith journeys. links about struggles. links about illness. links about God's miraculous ways. links about life.

links that bring me to a point of awe of God. links that bring tears to my eyes. links that make my heart swell. links that make me smile. links that make me think.

so, i do what Mary did. i treasure them in my heart. what will God do with them? i have no idea. but, i know He has a plan. and i know that no thing in life is an accident.

oh the weather outside is frightful ...

its that time of year again. winter. the time when the wind gets a bite to it, the world gets a softer edge and the toes go cold.

you know how i could tell?

by looking out my window and watching everyone taking little itty bitty mincing steps.

its wintertime people - you gotta be careful how you walk or you'll end up on your tuckus!

my personal brand of comfort

(this was originally written for a discussion for my Intro to Mass Com class)

Book are like comfort food - they are what I reach for when I'm tired, when I'm sick, when I'm stressed and when I just need a dose of comfort. Whether I reach for my Bible, a political thriller, an archaeological mystery, ChickLit, Christian growth or fantasy, they all satisfy a need I have - a need to escape to another place, even if just for a little bit. A need to let this world's weight slip off my shoulder and disappear for awhile. As an introvert, I need that time with just me and my book to rejuvenate and to get ready to face the world again!

Books have been a part of my life since I was very young. Once I learned how to really read when I was 7, my book consumption took off. No longer was I dependent on my mom or a read-a-long tape to meet my fix - I could take care of it on my own! So, from the time I was in first grade, books consumed me. It was a punishment to take away my book. My mom would ask me to do something and it was always "at the end of this chapter, mom!"

While I can't say that I have quite the same dedication to books as I once did (I am finding as I get older that sleep time is a slightly bigger priority than books - but not by much!) they are still a priority in my life. I always have at least 2 or 3 books going. My Bible is a daily necessity, my fiction book is for right before bed so I can relax and my Christian growth book is to help me think about some issues that I have never thought about before.

When I walk into a bookstore I practically purr with satisfaction as I peruse the shelves, picking up this book, flipping through that book or just touching the spine of a bunch of books as I glance through their titles.

Whatever the occasion and whatever the book, give me something with a couple hundred pages and a binding and you'll have one happy Rachel!

saturday night in Ekalaka

there were 7 of us crammed into the pick-up, all cold and dirty and smelling like fish. it was late, we were tired and we were hungry. so, as we made the 40 mile trek back to jim's to clean and fry the fish we had just spent the last 2 hours catching, we did the only thing we could:

we cranked up the Sirius Satellite Radio and sang along. ages 5-45 belting out "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions" as loud as we can.

as i was squished between two grown men, belting out Queen lyrics, looking at the dark road ahead of us, i was just overwhelmed with the urge to enjoy this. its the little moments, its the bonding together, its the enjoying life that is worth it. this is life.