My Blank Canvas

Crazy Love

2010-04-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited for tonight.

Last Tuesday, we started a group Bible study using Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love." Our first discussion was great, and I am excited to see where it goes tonight.

Not only that, we are all pitching in for a HUGE Italian dinner.

Rotini & Penne Pastas. Tomato & Meat Sauce. Garlic Bread. & Dessert is a surprise!

Good friends, tasty food, thoughtful discussion, and one great God.
What more could I ask for?

My Pretties

2010-04-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

The story goes like this.
Nick and I went to Ikea, and I saw some frames that I wanted.
I had no idea what I was going to put in them but I knew I'd think of something.
Well, this is what I came up with.
Fabric pictures made with the colors that I'm using in our room.
Each picture has a special meaning.

This one I named Love Bird.

This is Moon Honey.

And last we have Floating Hope.

P.S. These are made from left over fabric from the place cards at our wedding :)

Italy Evolution

2010-04-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Italy is coming along nicely. So far I have our first 5 days planned. I'm about 1/3 of the way through our trip!

The more I plan the more excited I get! In our room we have a large cork board that I use to organize and plan our next big vacation. Here is the evolution of our trip to Italy via our vacation cork board.

February: We bought maps, and the Rick Steves' guide book to Italy. I also wrote out a rough itinerary.
Venezia --> Padova --> Vicenza --> Verona --> Milan --> Cinque Terre --> Pisa --> Florence --> Siena --> Assisi --> Naples --> Rome

March: When we were in Colorado we stopped in a REI store an bought a waist stash and neck stash for our money and passports. So I threw them up on the board!

April: This weekend I made cute little pockets that say "Transport," "Sights," and "Sleep." In Transport I put our itinerary for each city, along with train and vaporetto/metro maps for each city. In Sights I put all of our reservation information for sights that require reservations. For example the play we will see in Venice (in the Fenice opera house), or the Scrovegni Chapel. In Sleep I put our hotel reservations.

That's our trip so far! The more I plan the more both my board and excitement grow!

My Grey Period.

2010-04-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

So it seems to me that I can pretty much chronicle my life by colors. I define different life periods by my favorite color at that particular time. So far I've lived my burgundy, blue, and green period.

I am most definitely in my grey period now. What is in a color? Why do we prefer one over the other? Well, I feel like grey has so much dimension. I find myself using my grey matter more than ever before, I find the boundaries in my life a faint and dotted grey line, and my once rigid opinions becoming muddled and grey.

Its quite an exciting time in life, and I love living every moment in grey. for now.

Aside from this introspection, I have some updates!

My first bathing suit was a glorious disaster. Completely see-through. Lovely. Here is a picture of it... not on me, of course. Hopefully I will start attempt #2 Wednesday as its pretty much already summer.

Nick and I had a great time in Colorado Springs, CO. It was great seeing my cousin get married, and a lot of fun to show Nick Colorado Springs. He has never been to there and with how active and health conscience the community out there is I new he would love it.

Our first stop was Garden of the Gods. It was a gorgeous day. The temperature was 30 degrees but since there was no wind or humidity it felt like 70. We strolled through the garden for most of the morning. It was just so beautiful. You can see Pike's Peak in the middle of this picture. Its the tallest snow capped mountain. In Florida the only "mountains" we have are landfills.

We also made a stop at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. I love zoos! This zoo is one of my favorites... a close second to the Denver Zoo. Here is my favorite picture. Elephants are my favorite. I was so excited that Nick captured this moment where they intertwined their trunks. So cute. I wonder if part of why I love elephants so much is because they are grey.

Well, that's all for now. More updates to come! For now... bedtime.

Small Taste of Summer

2010-03-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

Its hard to pick my favorite part of this past weekend... It really was a great one!

Friday night Nick and I hung out with our friends Ryan and Liz downtown. We ate at a restaurant we are obsessed with right now called Bento (the best spicy cream chicken!) and then to see Alice in Wonderland 3D. The movie was good. I have actually been reading the book (on my iPhone) on and off for the last few months. It was cool to see how the book was translated into a movie. Its amazing what visual effects can do these days! The Cheshire Cat was my favorite.

Saturday we went to the Strawberry Festival. We got kettle corn, and fresh lemonade, and watched the pig races, and carnie acts. The weather was amazing, and I am excited to say I got my first sun burn of the year. Yay! We got home with a flat of strawberries.

I decided that I was going to take care of all of the strawberries that very evening. I am really bad about starting projects and not finishing them, so I didn't want this to happen to my strawberries.

I decided to make one batch of jam, and just freeze all the rest. I looked into strawberry wine but that would take 7 pounds of my berries, and that wouldn't leave me with very much if any.

So I followed the instructions on the pectin box and brewed my strawberry jam concoction. It was a little intense. For the jam to set up correctly everything has to be measured perfectly, and everything has to happen at exactly the right time or else... FAIL.

So I looked up ways to make my own "canner," measured out all my ingredients to a T, sterilized my jars and lids, and got to cooking. You have to let your jam sit for 24 hours before you know if its set up correctly. I am very thankful that mine did.

Here is the final product! I am going to test one out and then I think I am going to dress them all up and give the other 7 away. I thought about selling them, but I think it would be more fun to give them away.

Sunday Nick lead at Fellowship Orlando. After Church we went to lunch at Bento. I told you we were obsessed.

When we were done with lunch we got a text from Kristin and Jeff inviting us out for some window shopping in Winter Park. It turns out that Winter Park was having their St. Patricks Day Parade. 10 days early, but the parade was so entertaining and the weather so nice that I really didn't mind the earliness.

We were all in the mood for some frozen yogurt after the parade so we went to Gurtzberry and ate up. After some window shopping Nick and I headed out. He had an evening service to play at FO. Driving home with the windows open I thought to myself weekends like this one are what life is all about. Peace, Love, and Happiness. oh ya, and strawberries!

Let's Get Festive

2010-03-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

So I love celebrating. I will take any excuse to celebrate and run with it. Including strawberries.

This weekend is Plant City's Strawberry Festival, and Nick and I are making our annual trek to enjoy delicious strawberry shortcake, watch pig racing, eat way too much kettle corn, and buy way too many strawberries.

Needless to say, I'm excited :)

Maybe I can talk Nick into making another batch of our homemade strawberry jam with me. We will surely freeze a bunch of strawberries for smoothies. Maybe attempt some strawberry wine...

Drum roll please...

2010-03-03T07:39:00.000-08:00

We have come to a decision. Finally! All of my obtuse and vague posts can end. Nick has decided to accept a new job. He was offered a position at Fellowship Orlando as their worship pastor/creative arts director.

We have put a ton of prayer and thought into our decision. We really feel like this is where God is leading us, even though to be honest, we were really caught off guard. I guess that's just how change happens sometimes. God doesn't always give you opportunities that you expect. So we are taking this huge opportunity to make an impact for him and running with it.

I'm very excited (and of course a little nervous). I just keep reminding myself that in God's will, amazing things happen, and I just look at this as the perfect chance for Nick and I to grow as Christians, and as people.

Gastritis

2010-03-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

Well, I had big plans this weekend. Sewing projects, cleaning, homework, and errands. Unfortunately, things didn't quite go as planned... do they ever?

Nick started getting sick on Thursday and by Friday he was really hurting, so we spent a good part of Saturday looking for a walk-in clinic.After a few hours at the Centra Care clinic, we got the diagnosis. Nick has gastritis.

Gastritis is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the lining of the stomach. Symptoms: Abdominal pain; Abdominal indigestion; Loss of appetite; Nausea;

So I spent Saturday and Sunday keeping him distracted with rest and movies, while I did chores, and homework. Chores take twice as long when you do it all by yourself, so I didn't get nearly as much done on my homework or sewing as I had wanted to, but that's life. I was happy to take care of my hubs, and I am even happier to report that Nick is feeling a lot better.

2010-02-26T12:20:00.000-08:00

February is almost over, and I am excitedly anticipating the arrival of March. With so much up in the air right now, its nice to have some sturdy events to look forward to in the near future. The Strawberry Festival (3/6), St Patrick's Day (3/17), Girls Weekend (3/19-20), and Josh's Wedding in CO (3/26-28).

I got the material in for my bathing suit project so I will be able to start it this weekend! Wish me luck! haha.

Another thing I want to tackle this weekend is our Italy itinerary, and a few more Rosetta Stone lessons on Italian. Oh ya, along with laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, homework, and bathing suit making...

I will leave you with an image that makes me think about the blank canvas sitting in my bedroom again... This image is inspiring to me.

Ping Pong and Progress!

2010-02-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

Ok so right now I am playing a mental game of ping pong. Nick and I are right on the precipice of making this life changing decision, and it really feels like we are just going back and forth... Yes! and then No. Yes! and then No. Right now we are at a No, and I can't decide if I am ok with that...

In lighter and brighter news, I got some of my bathing suit supplies in the mail today :)
I recieved the elastic, and lining from Sew Sassy. I hope I get my material in tomorrow so that I can start cutting and sewing this weekend.

The Original Classics

2010-02-24T15:54:00.000-08:00

So the last few days I have been trying to break out of the musical "box" that I have spent most of my life in. All I have exposed my self to is country, what is on the local radio station, and some oldies (classic rock and pop). So the last few days I have listened to classical music. To be more specific I have been listening to "Symphonic Classical from the Romantic Period."

It is amazing.

Yes, there aren't any words. Yes, its old, old-mostly-dead-people music.

But it really is amazing. It's ear-opening to heard the emotion and art that make up these songs. When it's on and I'm driving it's so easy for me to become distracted by the visual stories these symphonies create. Thank you Pandora... for expanding my musical boundaries.

DIY... In Progress!

2010-02-23T20:43:00.000-08:00

Click here to check out True Up's amazing article on making your own swim suit. Last night I ordered my materials, and today I plan on making a trip to JoAnn's to pick out my pattern. I found some material that I really like at Spandex House. Here are the materials I chose...

The first one I am envisioning a halter top, and tie on the sides bottom.

This pattern I am envisioning it as the ruffle material on a white bandeaux bikini, with a simple bottom with ruffles too.

This material I am not too sure about, I am thinking that since it is so busy I might just cut out certain pieces that I like and applique them to the suit. We'll see.

This last one I am just picturing a triangle bikini with a string tie bottom.

After writing this out, I am realizing that I am pretty ambitious. I'll be sure to update the results!

DIY

2010-02-22T19:58:00.000-08:00

I think I am going to make my own bathing suit. I can't find any I really like for a price I am willing to pay... I wonder where I find bathing suit material. They look simple enough, right?

I found this Hello Kitty sewing machine on google images... Creepy? I say yes.

Decisions, Decisions

2010-02-22T07:35:00.000-08:00

So Nick and I are facing a decision.

Its something that we have only talked to our parents and best friends about. We are trying really hard to seek God's will, and follow it. If any one happens to stumble upon this blog, I'd just ask you to pray for us.

We change our minds almost daily on whether or not we are "in or out." To only enhance the situation, when I am in, Nick is usually out, and when I am out, Nick is in. (Balance isn't always good in marriage.) And in the moments we do agree, we are both out. Its definitely an interesting situation, and I would say an infinitely interesting topic of discussion.

I feel like this is one of those life moments. You know, where there is the fork in the road, and you have to choose which direction you want to go. I guess in this instance, we can continue on the road we are currently on, or take a detour, pretty much into the unknown. It makes me think of that poem by Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken."

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

This poem is 95 years old, almost a century, and yet it is playing out in my life as I write, urging me to take the path less traveled.

the Married life

2010-02-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

Life is so exciting right now, and I can't begin to count my blessings.

Nick and I had a simple and romantic Valentines Day, reliving our first dates. It was fun to be able to take pictures, and sit in the same seats we sat in when we were virtually strangers to each other. How far we've come! We finished our trip down memory lane on the date that he asked me to be his girlfriend, at Cocoa Beach, with some champagne and Oreo cheesecake from the dessert lady (Mmmm). I have so much fun with my husband.

My cousin Josh is getting married in Colorado Springs, CO in March and Nick and I are planning a mini vacation around the festivities. He has never been skiing and I know he'd love it. So I am on the flight search daily looking for a deal.

My best friend in the whole world is getting married on August 6th and I am so excited to be her Matron of Honor! Despite the fact that we have lived away from each other for longer than we ever lived together, we have a bond that distance doesn't even phase. So it looks like I will be headed out to Oklahoma City, OK in August to stand next to Bonnie as she marries the love of her life. I can't wait!

My friend Dana is getting married in October, and Hannah and I are having a sisters weekend soon to start working on some details for her November 2011 wedding. Yay! Tis the season, and I love being surrounded by love :)

The only Elephant I don't love.

2010-02-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

As I sit in my favorite spot, with the hairier love of my life cuddled to my right, warming my toes, I have the pleasure of listening to the rain fall to the ground, three stories below me. It is mystifying to me why I gain such comfort from the sound, yet I do. I do so that it is nearly paralyzing. Today I am inspired.

Thoroughly so! To a point where I feel it absolutely necessary to write, or I might EXPLODE! lol. My mind automatically pictures Violet from the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". So I consider this blog my blueberry juicer, and the resulting jelly... well, you get the idea.

Through a series of events I have been compelled to write. However before I move forward, I feel it absolutely necessary to get something off my chest.

I have a blank canvas... literally. It is sitting in my bedroom.

For months, possibly a year now, it has been the proverbial elephant in the room, my room. I know exactly who it is for, and what it should look like when I am finished with it. I know what it needs to symbolize, and how personally important it is me (and possibly its recipient). Thus I am terrified to begin.

I wonder, what if I have just built it up in my mind. This overwhelming sense of pressure to adequately express myself. But deep down in my core, I feel like this painting's inspiration isn't just of myself.

I hope to report back on the canvas situation with progress soon.

Now, moving forward! Italia. Oh just saying the word removes any feelings of apprehension my previous topic my have left lingering in my stomach. Italiana. Italia. Italy. I love it! Just thinking of all that lays ahead. A gondola ride, ambling along ancient city streets, viewing the playground of gladiators, hiking the cinque terre, and so so much more. I have decided to purchase a large map of Italy to aid me in pin pointing my areas of interest, and to make the most of our two week adventure. I am a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to planning, but in this case I really think it works to my advantage.

In preparation for this trip I am taking several steps. First, learn, at the least, conversational Italian. We shall see if the Rosetta Stone lives up to her name. I am also reading Rick Steves' Italy for the second time. He's a great resource for those on a budget, and is quite candid on what is and isn't worth it. Not in an elitist, snobbish way. Nor an uneducated, brash way. Just in a matter of fact, its the experience, not the price tag, kind of way. I like him.

As of now we are aiming for September. If it weren't for the whole biopsy situation we might have swung a May-"Happy One Year of Wedded Bliss"-celebration. Oh well, you live and learn... and I feel better knowing for sure... I'm not sure I feel 1,000+ dollars better. But ya.

Well suffice it to say, I'm excited. I have milled aimlessly for long enough... Its time for another staring sesh with me and my nemesis. My blank canvas.

1

2008-06-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today I was overwhelmed with the desire to write. So many thoughts have fluttered into and out of my mind this week. As I look out of my balcony window the view demands remark. Mammoth mountains lay sleepily on the horizon. They sleep soundly, surrounding this valley. As the snow gathers on the peaks of their backs. I wish I could witness the moment of their conception. A moment that solely God witnessed, as the rocky ground abruptly awoke and angrily jutted skyward these thousands of feet to rest in the heavens. Yes, this is a majestic place indeed.

I have been thinking of life, and what it means to me. Consequently, I think a lot of death too. I think of writing my story. I wonder how it would feel to have my heart in black and white. I wonder if I have the eloquence to express my heart.

Life is like a huge, wide river that splits off into different directions. I am free to choose whichever I want. Theres no sitting still, the water, like time, moves regardless of my will. I simply have to choose which direction. simply. ha. There are so many directions to choose from....
Marriage/Independence
Serving Humanity/ Self Service
Higher Education/ World Education
Engineering/ Motherhood

My dilemma comes from choosing. period. I WANT IT ALL! I assume this is a sign of immaturity. I can just envision a child, mid-tantrum, sitting on the floor of isle four in Toys'R'Us screaming "Mommy I Want It All!" Now, what is it in me that evokes this desire. Is it the world? If so then why do children, who are limited in exposure to the influences of the world share this sentiment with me? Perhaps the selfish desires of this world seep into our childrens hearts sooner these days. Or Perhaps this is a sentiment of human nature. A sentiment that the those who have lived, and chosen, tell us is necessary. What if the Choosers desire company in their misery. Less the regard, I have yet to choose, and perhaps I never will!