LOTS of new pictures

Ticino Album

Everyday Stuff Album

And if you click on each picture it will get bigger for you to see and then you can click the picture again to go to the next one....

The Housewives' Ice Cream Man

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:30am the Milch Express man, comes around the village in a big colorful truck. It looks just like an Ice Cream truck with a walk-up window and ads written on all sides. But its not for kids. He pulls onto each street, and blows a loud whistle and waits for about ten minutes. I look out the window to see all the housewives of the neighborhood coming out with baskets and laundry hampers. The Milch man sells fruit, milk, bread, eggs, etc. Basic, everyday things, but you have to bring your own bags. Its so funny to see which wives are still in their PJ's, who's buying what, and to watch them all stand around, chating on the sidewalk, "Oh your out of bread? Say, you should come by for tea. Oh your busy? Well, I'll be home later, how 'bout coffee after dinner? Ok then! Great! Oh look at Mrs So-and-So, she got a hair cut. Poor thing." Today I saw a lady with her screaming baby in one arm, a toddler dangling from the other and her basket to buy bread, another woman who looks like one of those wake-up-early-for-sunrise-yoga type people with a hemp basket probably buying soy milk, and the next door neighbor with her colorful woven basket she made herself. (I'm going with her next Wednesday to her Art class in the village) Its one of those things that makes the comunity so friendly. People talk to each other everyday, they get together for tea, share rides into the city, and everyone knows everyone. Its like the 50's but with better hair, less racism, and modern technology.

Did he just say, "Guegenfloopt?"

I'm starting to think that German isn't actually a language. And they all are playing a game to see how long I'll go along with it. "Hey Yall, Let's say 'floodle putz' and see if she will believe that it's actually a word!"

San Francisco Pictures

Album #1

Album #2

After you click on the link, you can click on each picture to make it bigger and to read the captions below it. Also, to more to the next picture, just click on the image again and it will take you to the next one in the album.

honeymoon

Hotel click here.

Montenegro!!!!!!

Being Silly

Click here to see just how bored I was the other day.

Mantra

I’m feeling very Buddhist today. I’m here (in Utah), but not here(for much longer). I’m awake, but deep in thought. I am in this reality, but waiting for the next. I am nothingness. Ohmmmmm.

Marco and I don’t know what is next. When, where, how, for how long...I guess you could say we are just spinning in the Wheel of Samsara. We are at the beginning, waiting for the journey, waiting to be birthed into life. I am learning to see it as a happy place of newness and the unknown. The unknown is a good thing because it means adventure and that anything can happen. Whatever will happen, will happen. (Even if we have to move to Seattle.) Even if we are poor, or sick, or bored…things will always change. Nothing last forever, so just go with it….ohmmmmmm, again.

In Buddhism, there are Four Noble Truths followed by The Eight Fold Path, followed by a lot of explanation on how to follow that path. But they basically say that all suffering comes from clinging too tightly to material things, living too far to the extremes, not having a right state of thought or intention, and by being too dependent upon our personal desires. Suffering is life, life is temporary, and all things change. There is also a concept of Wu Wei, which is to let go and to free ones’ self. If you are stressed out, you are not Wu Wei. If you are cold or hot, your body is not Wu Wei. If your bank account is empty or overflowing, it is not Wu Wei. To truly “wu wei,” you must flow effortlessly like the river. Nothing matters, but all is important. To drink, but not to drown, etc, etc. So, let go of trying to have control and just flowwwwwww, ohmmmmmmm.

Buddhism and Taoism are two of my favorite religions/philosophies because I see it as very much like the life of Christ. Obviously that could cause a ”gassssp!!!” from many a Bible Toter, but its true. Christ was the embodiment of peace and love. He was a humble man. A hippie from Nazareth telling everybody to love each other and share all that you have. He even said to love people who hate you! But the Wu Wei of Jesus is really clear when he said stuff like, “if they hit you on the cheek, just turn to the other one,” or “sell everything you own and follow me.” (Material things don’t matter=The essence of Buddhism) Meanwhile, the Romans were building, and expanding, and developing, and exploring, and conquering. Then along comes Zen-Jesus saying, “Be like the child, be humble, live a simple life, be a fisherman of men, be a servant, wash yucky feet.” The Jews wanted the Messiah to tear it all down and beat up all the Romans and kick ‘em out and take over. But no. Jesus said, “to love is the greatest thing.” Buddhism is really good at the loving/compassionate stuff. In The Eight Fold Path it says not to kill anything, steal anything, harm anything, and not to even think harmful thoughts. Most Buddhist are vegetarians (comme moi) cause they don't want to harm animals.

Jesus lived simply, he loved deeply, and gave everything for the ones He loved. But he also said for us to do it too! To let it all go and just be. Be joyful, be loving, be peaceful, be kind, be gentle, be patient and wu wei like the river. Ohmmmmmm.

So I guess that's why I’m feeling Buddhisty. Because I know everything will work out. The unknown is only unknown to me, but God knows. Whatever happens will happen…ohmmmm.

Did you know?

Buying popcorn kernals instead of bagged is WAY cheaper-you can just pop it in a paper bag in the microwave. Plus, you skip all those trans fats and calories from yucky fake butter.
And, one cup of popcorn is equal to a full serving of whole grains! And, AND if you add a dash of cinnamon and sugar it is a sweet treat with hardly any calories. and And AND cinnamon helps boost your metabolism, increase circulation naturally, and aids in digestion. One tenth of a teaspoon of cinnamon can burn up to 30 calories...doesn't sound like much, but adding it to cereal, toast, popcorn, and even hot tea in just one day can really start adding up.
Just thought it was interesting. So pop that pocorn and spice up your breakfast.

engagement

I knew very soon that I loved Marco and that I wanted to marry him. Mostly I just had a feeling of, "Uh-Oh, my life is never going to be the same again." We had discussed marriage many times, we imagined what our kids would look like, where we might live, and we both knew where the other stood - we wanted to always be together.
I looked forward to all the traditional events of an engagement, wedding, and marriage like any girl does; with tremendous excitement and giddiness. But the clash between fantasy and reality became more and more evident as our relationship neared the 3 year mark, and I couldn't help but feel guilty and even dumb for having expected life to be like in the movies.
What I got wasn’t picturesque, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more real. Marco is genuine and down-to-earth, as is our relationship. So it should have come as no surprise when he proposed to me in my living room, surrounded by laundry and while I was wearing yoga clothes.
Yet in that moment, the moment you dream of, the moment where you’re supposed to gaze into each other's eyes and kiss and whisper sweet nothings at sunset, I remember feeling alone and confused. Alone, I suppose, because for the first time in my life I was making a decision that I couldn't ask anyone else to help me make. Not only that, but it was a huge, huge decision, a "til death do us part" kind of decision. So, before I could answer him, I broke down crying. Not a cute, romantic cry, oh no. It was a gooey, snotty, gasping cry. My mind was whizzing a million miles per hour while everything was moving in slow motion. And there he was, smiling nervously up at me and waiting.
Of course I was thrilled, and of course I wanted to marry him, but this was it? It was happening now? Already? In my living room?
As I sniffed and wiped away tears, I realized I was crying and snot-ing all over the one person who would be there for me to cry and snot all over for the rest of my life. I felt wanted, I felt needed, and most of all, the ring was perfect.
We sat cuddled together on the floor as I recovered from my nausea and near-panic attack. And then we prayed together. I felt a calm and peace cover me and I knew I was making the right decision. We were bringing God into our marriage right from the start, and I believed that only me, Marco, and God, together could make this work. (Even though I was a total mess).

Utah Salt Flats

Just a few engagement pictures...more to come!

Lately

A few days ago my Russian friend, Vlas, asked me, “What are you doing now in life?” And though I knew he meant to say something along the lines of, “What are you up to?” the way he phrased it made me start to wonder. I am unemployed. I am endlessly job searching. I am basically floating. To some it sounds great, but after a few days of “ahhh, nothing to do,” it quickly becomes, “Arrrr! I have nothing to do!” It almost feels like the calm before a storm, and I can smell the rain coming. But for now I have to realize that this is a peaceful time. How much longer will I be able to sit up until 3am writing? Or watch four consecutive episodes of celebrity hot-bods followed by two episodes of Lost? I look forward to the minute Marco comes over everyday because I have been alone all day and even if he just tells me about his group partner who had something in their teeth, I love it.
Being bored can start to wear on you, so I have to be strategic about how I do things. Other wise, I might find myself vacuuming twice in one day like I did a few weeks ago. I have already made my way through 4 novels, 3 self-examination books, 2 world religions books, a wedding planning journal and a book about what to expect in my first year of marriage. I have also extensively researched the local Mormon culture, which even included a trip inside their holiest of holy sites, the Temple. I have found it all to be both enlightening and fascinating!
I have met the managers of every Starbucks, bookstore, café, bistro, and grocery store within a 5-10 mile radius of my home in search of an income. And a few days ago I had a wonderful conversation with Dobby, the cat who prowls around in Marco’s apartment building.
Of course there are days that I am bored and lonely, but I have to get out and find something to do. Otherwise Dobby the cat will mock me in his crabby British accent, “Haven’t you any life, my dear?”

Painting

My life is beginning to resemble a beautiful painting. Each brush stroke is a moment, a walk in the evening, a day in the city, a kiss, a fight. Individually they are all just strokes of one color or another, but together they are my life, and its slowly becoming a masterpiece.
Stroke after stroke of the brush just makes my life more complex and more wonderful. And there are days like today, just an average boring day that I step back and look at the big picture and think "that's really something, something special and amazing. The artist bringing all these colors together is really making something beautiful." I am thankful for all the colors of adventure and vibrancy brushed all through my life, but also for the shadows and splotches, because it all blends and fades into this one beautiful painting.

Texas Christmas 78 degrees! (thats 25'C)

After I got back from Switzerland with Marco's family, I had a warm Texas Christmas with my family and our Filipino adopted family!

WATER

What if you went around the world and asked kids from every level of society and from every continent in the world, "What does water smell like?" Some kids, like here in America, would say "that's silly, water doesn't have a smell." Because we have clean, clear, running water. Or kids in Switzerland would say "its smells like the mountains or nature" because even their tap water is like fresh, bottled, springwater. But maybe a little girl in Senegal would say "it smells like chemicals or gasoline," because she walks everyday to the river and carries water back in an old jug she found on the road. Or a little boy in India might say, "It smells like garbage and waste," because the water is so contaminated and there are no dumping restrictions. Or kids in the Favelas of Brasil would say "It smells like drainage," because they have streams running through their make-shift villages that are the drainage ditches from the city.
When I was in India, I saw poverty like you can't imagine until you are there. Beggars aren't asking for money - they are asking for water. "Tanda Pani, Dee Dee? Tanda Pani?" in Hindi means "Cold Water, Auntie, Cold water?" I will never forget all the precious Hindi babies surrounding me in the street begging, actually BEGGING for a drink when they saw me take out my water bottle from my bag. They stood all around me with their mouths open and their little hands cupped for me to pour it into their mouths. Little mouths full of sores, missing teeth, rotting teeth, cracked lips. I felt helpless after I had poured the last drop into their tiny mouths, but those who did get a sip were so greatful. And my heart broke into a thousand pieces.
Today I am thankful for water. When you take a drink today, what does it smell like?

America

New semesters are always fun meeting new people and seeing all your old friends. There is one new guy this year who I can already see is in for a rough ride. If i hear one more time that "You American's are too fat. You Americans are so unhealthy, You Americans dont know anything about the rest of the world, You americans are all too religious." Ooo, buddy, yer dealin' with the wrong girl.
He even told me, Rachel, that the only "American food" is hot dogs and hamburgers?!? "Really?," I said in an an extremely sarcastic tone. Oh Mister, I thought, you are missin' out. What about Gumbo, or Crawfish, or Collard Greens, or BBQ, or Catfish, or corn bread, or Yams, or stuffing, or corn on the cob, or Apple Pie?!?!?!?!?!? I mean, I'm from the South, all we do is eat and go to church, and sometimes we even eat AT church! Don't even tell me my momma's food is nasty or my church is too religious! Ooo BOY!
I was getting really annoyed. Now, I have traveled quite a bit, (India, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Utah, Arkansas - its been a long journey) I've experienced many different cultures, and the NUMBER ONE thing to remember in a new place is to always have an open mind, well, that and don't offend the locals! It just burns me up. So, i took a deep breath and realized: I've been through this at one time or another with almost all my international friends and even at times with my boyfriend. There are always those days when your in a different country and you hate it and you just want to go home. So I decided to have patience....and I plan on cookin' him a BIG southern meal.
But it really got me thinking about all the wonderful things in America. For example, one of the biggest things I am thankful for here in Utah is Wal-Mart. I always meet somebody from a different country, I get to speak Spanish to at least 3 or 4 precious little niños, and its the ONLY cheap place in Utah to buy food. Also, in the neighborhood where Wal-Mart is, there is a Mexican restaurant, a Thai restaurant, a Vietnamese Nail Salon, and an Irish Bar. THAT is America. America is everything combined. America is opportunity. America is the Melting Pot. That is my favorite part about America. Many, many Europeans hate America, and yet they don't even know what they are hating! They hate McDonalds and George Bush. But they don't know ANYTHING about our pride, our families, our traditions, about who WE are. We are Jazz Music, Swing dancing, Hip Hop. We are basketball, baseball, and Levi's Jeans. We are low riders, and skateboarders, and graffiti. We are Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Ray Charles, and Johnny Cash.
I really am proud to be an American, despite what my mom thinks at times, since I am very vocal about the many, many things I don't like... like the government, health care, Rednecks, and ethocentricity to name a few.
But the more I have to defend my country, the more I realize how much I love it. Woo wee, I think I gotta put my cowboy boots on.

Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam Road Trip

PHOTO ALBUM


Click the photo link for all the pix. :o)

Bunches of Pictures!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025924&l=e2dc7&id=82200687

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025927&l=c92ab&id=82200687

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025930&l=f2381&id=8220068

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025933&l=22801&id=82200687

I'm back in America! I had to leave a few days early cause our apartment lease ran out. I'm actually sad I had to leave. I had an AMAZING time and I can't wait to go back! Oh, and Marco's parents are here in America and we are going to Texas in a few days! Both our families together! I'm so excited! What an GREAT summer this is...and its only the beginning of JULY!!!!!! Click on the links above, each one is a different album!

today

I started on Saturday working for DKNY and i really like it! The dressers and sellers and designers are so nice! We get delicious catered breakfast and lunch everyday...mmm. But the days are long; i worked for 12 hours today in 5 inch heels! ouchie! BUt the clothes are amazing and the clients are from all over the place: Turkey, Russia, South Africa, all over Europe. I LOVE it. I'm just really tired and I can't seem to beat this sniffly cold.

I still don't have a cell phone, or an alarm clock, though. (Marco calls my apartment to wake me up in the mornings.
Everything is goin' gooood.

Milano

I'm in Italy and I hit the ground runnin'. Auditions, photo shoots, castings everyday. Its a really fast life! Today I am in Switzerland, just for the weekend. I came here yesterday because Monday is an Italian holiday, so i jumped on a train and came to Basel. The Ferraros are having a party tonight for some family friends. When I arrived, Valentina and Mariateresa were making pasta to feed an army. Marco is in Utah all summer. I'll be back in Salt Lake in July. :D

Words from Joel Osteen:

Don't believe the lie that you are stuck and things will never get better. God already has a path of success laid out for you, but you must do your part and be willing to walk it out. The next time struggles come your way, the first thing you should do is pray. Get God involved in all your situations.
Your attitude should be, "Thats it, I'm moving on. I know I am better than where I am right now. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We already have the seed of Almighty God within us. We are forgiving, joyful, kind, and patient children of God.
Wake up each day and say, "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice. I will be glad. I will be happy." No stress, or situation, or mean bully should steal our Joy.
All things work together for good if we Love the Lord and put him first. Just smile and trust God.
God intends for us to be happy, peacful and to enjoy life. God wants us to be examples of what it means to live a faith filled life.
God has BIG plans. Say to yourself, "When one door closes, I will just wait for God to open another one."
Look forward each day to the big and little blessings that God has in store for you.

question

Do Asian computers have a backspace button that points the other direction?

Remember and be happy

Yeah Mom!

Good Job on your ACLS test! I'm proud of you!

shabby apple

I did a shoot Saturday for Shabby Apple...click APPLE to see the outfits that we wore. I was in the "Sabrina" dress. My friends Nina and Jamie were in the shoot too, so we all got to hang out all day more fun than actual "work."

Whoa, Look out!!!

My brother gave me the coolest book about what to eat and not eat at restaurants...its amazing. Here are some things I already learned:

• An 8oz Margarta has 500 calories and 32 carbs but a Bloddy Mary only has 130 calories, plus Vitamin C, A and Lycopine.
• Just one Chipotle Chicken burrito has 1,107 calories, 44 g Fat, 113 carbs, and 2,656 g of Sodium!!! Holy Moley!!!
• At P.F. Changs, the Pork Lo Mein Entre for one person has...1,820 calories, 127 g Fat, and 95 carbs. Thats as many carbs from 5 servings of pasta!
• (good news) At Chick-fil-A, none of their sandwiches on their menu have more than 400 calories. Plus, all their Chicken is 100% breast meat, not pressed, processed, or partial meat. Thanks Chick-fil-A...too bad there are only 2 stores in all of Utah!
• At Jamba Juice, sure you get all those servings of Vitamin C and fresh fruit, but in the 30 oz. Aloha Pineapple Blend, your drinking 650 Calories!
• At Sonic, get a regular Sonic Burger with Mustard. It has HALF the calories of a Chicken Club toaster. Also, try getting a Grilled Chicken Sandwich with NO mayo...try adding Marinara Sauce and then you get more flavor, you cut out 60 calories and 9 g Fat and you even added Lycopene to the sandwich.
  
• Getting whipped cream on your Starbucks drink adds 70 calories! Just say no! A Venti White Hot Chocolate has 640 calories and 28g Fat!!!! And you dont even get caffiene!

I love this book, Joey, and I think I'm never drinking Coke again. Oh, and here are some other books I'm CRAZY about right now... find them on Google!

Cradle to Grave runway show

smells when i was little...

Dad: ...like blue vinyl seats heated in the sun, sweat and lawnmower dust, sunscreen and baseball-glove leather, shaving cream and Dow's chemicals and car oil. But on Sundays he smelled like coffee breath, cologne and ironing starch.
Mom: ...like clorox and the sweet perfume that came in the little bottle with the dove on top, and like alcohol swabs and hairspray, black pepper, and basil. Like lotion and laundry detergent and plastic on her stethescope that pokes into you when she hugs you.

here i am...and i LOVE getting to do this!

Beach Days:

Beach Days:
Running across the sand. The searing powder stretches out before me. Surely I am bleeding by now. I must reach the cool waves and quench this pain.
"Stop!" She yells. "Sunscreen!"
How can I stop? I can't go back, I'll lose my feet! I see the sea and feel this baking pain. From one foot to the other each sizzling in the sand. I imagine turning back on bloody nubs, my feet left behind like that broken bottle or that dead crab.
"Sunscreen!" She calls again.
I think I will die. The cool waves lapping, children laughing, my feet burning.
She's threatening now.
I know I'll lose my snow cone later. oh, how she tortures!

Owa! Its in my eyes! The stinging cream runny on my sweaty forehead. She slathers the coconut-y goo in my ears and down my neck. I love the smell of it. It smells like her and swimming lessons and picnics. It smells like heat and childhood.
"Aaand done."
Those magic words, the shot from the gate. Across the fiery, gravely beast and into the salty sea. Splashing, jumping, falling, waves knocking be to and fro. The cool water stings in every cut and shrivels my lips.
In the car going home I am a salty prune with sand in every crevice. Sitting on a towel, the radio humming me to sleep. She carries me and her voice is just a mummer.
Just another long summer day.

Ah, Love.

Love feels like every dream I've had, or every childhood ambition could easily happen. It makes me feel like I will be a famous supermodel, and own a Tea Shop and a health food store, and teach yoga and ESL, and be a dancer on Broadway and a missionary in Africa while Marco goes to the Olympics and is an International business man, and a Pro Skateboarder, and we both are Ambassadors to foreign countries on the weekends! Because Love makes everything seem possible. But at the same time, Love also feels like, "well, even if all those things don't happen, thats okay too cause we can just stay home and watch a movie and play board games!" Thats the best part! If it all happens, or if none of it happens, I'll still be just as happy as ever, because we will still be together and still have love.
Of all the places I can dream of going, the best of anyplace I can imagine is right where I am, as long we are together.
It isn't foolishness, or maybe it is, but its happiness and glee. Its memories, and secret treasures and sunsets and swim meets. Its tears in an Airport. A silly fight over Chinese food. A box of notes and ticket stubs. Its a train trip to Lucerne, Lausanne, and a car ride to Louisiana. Its the smell of Chlorine and the smell of espresso. Its Marco -heart- Rachel. Its Love. Ah, Love.

Switzerland 2007

Fall is my Favorite

Super Duper Love

Licklider, where do you get a name like that? Germany, well...Austria.

Belly Button Pictures...mi pobre umbelicu!

Before and After surgery. (Its not bruised anymore) I'm so sad my cute little belly button isn't the same anymore. sniff sniff I'm never having surgery again! It hurts, you can't walk, it hurts and then they wont let you do anything for 6 weeks!!! Even when you feel fine...nooooo. PFT. Never again!

when i was at home in August...

Marco in Thailand!!!

Marco is in Bangkok, Thailand!!!
You can read about it and get updates about his and other competition results at: http://www.bangkok2007.com/en/main/index2.php
Or read all about it from Marco's perspective at: www.makkeboome.wordpress.com

Friends

When I come home, no matter how far, far away I've been, or what adventures I've been having, I come home and it feels like, well, home. Sometimes even like I had never been gone. Our jokes, our conversation, its more like I had left the room and I've just come back moments later. Sure, we all have our new outside lives and our new college friends, but we always have each other. We come home and there we are, sitting by the pool, laughing, cutting up, talking about mosquitoes. We have new piercings, new boyfriends and girlfriends, and new stories, but somehow we reconnect like little puzzle pieces. And even though each of our puzzle pieces have found a way to "fit" in other places as well, (and have even come to love the new fit just as much as the old fit) we each know that we don't have to try very hard to fit back here--at home.
I've been home for only a few days and already I feel it. Familiar smiles, the same silly laughs, a hug that could just as easily have come from a brother. But each time I leave I wonder how much longer we can keep fitting together this way? When we all move away for good, can we still come back to this place? When our rooms at home become a guest bedroom, and we bring our own children to visit? Its a sad thought, I know, but I just have a strange fear that someday it will end. Or maybe it wont. Will it?
When I ask others, none seem hopeful. But I am. Because very few have a connection like we do. Very few have been buddies since kindergarten, even our parents are friends. We've been on retreats, church camps, bus trips, ball games. We've cried together, we've snuck out together, we know the names and histories without an explanation. I hope we can find a way to come back, because we aren't just friends we are family. An extended BCS family.

Harry Potter Day at the city library!

It was a great day! There were so many Harry Potter nerds! My friends and I were Harry, Luna and Tonks. But there were other people as Snape, Narcissa Malfoy, Victor Krum, Hagrid, and even Mad Eye Moody. The picture of us with the five little girls is so funny... The little girls were Bellatrix Lastrange, 2 house elves WITh floppy ears, Professor Trelawny, and even Moaning Mertle with a toilet seat around her neck!!! The library cafe was selling butter beer, and every floor in the library was a different common room, Griffindor, Ravenclaw, etc. To get into the building you had to "walk through" platform 9 3/4 and the ATM machine had a cover over it that made it look like an ATM for Gringots Bank. It was a GREAT GREAT day, like being a little kid all day long!!!!

the last few days...

I finished the final chapter of the final book in the Harry Potter series, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Well done, J.K. Rowling, well done.

I will always remember when the H.P. books gained popularity and were soon after banned from BCS (our school). Of course, it made them even more mysterious to us all... Katy, Nick, Nicole, Ben W(who lost the book on tape that he borrowed from Mrs. Collins), Danny, Ryan, Josh Cole, all of our AP english class (except the anti-potter's like Adam Biesman and Greg Johnson.) And with the support of Mrs. Collins, we read on. Secretly we read, as to avoid detention for having the book in Mrs. Casas' geography class or the stern looks from Mrs. Beatty in Chemistry when slipping the book safley away into our backpacks.

We found foreshadowing, we discussed (in our free time) Rowling's writting Style, we contrasted Harry Potter with Lord of the Rings, We found chiaroscuro, good vs evil, aliteration...what nerds we were and still are. Hours on the bus to ACSI and TAPPs trips talking about Harry, what will happen next, is Snape good or evil? It's funny, when this book came out, even though we are all far away from one another, I've already gotten 2 am text messages and phone calls, "did you read page whatever?! Have you gotten to this part or that?!" ...and I've even heard that Mrs. Collins read the whole thing before she even got home from the book store...twice! hahah

The Rachels in Utah!

We had so much fun! Rachel finally got to meet Marco, and Todd hahaha...(sorry inside joke) Anyway, we laughed, we cried, we watched 2 full seasons of Friends, and I even got a (fake) tattoo! Its been a while since we got to hang out together. I do love Salt Lake City, but I can't wait to go home in August!
Marco left today for Switzerland/Thailand...sniff sniff.... I'm happy, sweaty, and counting down the days (til i go home and til marco comes back)

A person's a person no matter how small...

I try to remind myself that, "People are just people and every person is a person."
I am learning very quickly that you cannot expect much from people. We are all just human, after all. We lie, we cheat, we are selfish and fake, we want our way. I always knew it to be true, but until recently I had never been so surrounded by this fact - staring it in the face, living in the same house with it, feeling it pressing in on me.
But I suppose this is a lesson I had to learn eventually. And what is worse, is that it is something I must deal with in my own actions. Doing what is right and not what is easy. And is it okay to tell a lie if it will protect someone else or keep them from getting hurt? When you say nothing, is it the same as lying? Lovers cheating, friends quitting on friendship, apathy, loneliness, pain. Oh how my heart hurts for us all. We finally make it out of the wilderness, but then we get selfish. We finally see what is right and good but we are too impatient and lazy to work for that blessing. Oh, we people, we need a redeemer.
But "every person is a person." I know it is dangerous and I know it is naive but isn't it what we would want for ourselves? To be trusted from the beginning until proven to be untrustworthy? To be loved until proven to be unlovable? We are human. We each have had a mother who loved us. We all have felt a tear on our cheek. Wanted water to drink in the heat.
Who are we to say "no" to that homeless man who wants some spare change? Who are we to say she is a bitch because of her mistakes? Who are we to be free when there is war far away?
"While we were yet sinners Christ died for us," right? So why don't we live this way. As you have been forgiven, go and forgive. Freely you have received, freely give.
I can't imagine this world without love. The Beatles sang it, Shakespeare wrote it, Mother Theresa gave it.
When will we begin to live our lives the way we should and not the way we want?

lately

I moved up here to Utah and have been living in a house with 4 girls from the swim team (Shanon, Ania, Jen T. and Jen F) and one boy from the basketball team, Sayer. One of the girls Ania is the girlfriend of the basketball player and she is also an international student from Poland. Well, she's been gone all summer and just came back a about a week ago only to find out that Sayer has confessed to cheating on her SINCE she left in May. And with who? GASP?! Shanon our other roomate!!! So there has been DRAMA DRAMA going down in my house!!! Everyone is fighting, Ania and Shanon are sworn enemies now and of course Sayer has moved out. Well it gets worse. The four girls signed the lease in April saying they wouldn't have more than four people living in our house, so since they broke the rules of the lease, the lease is now being terminated. So the question is where do we go to live? Who takes the kitty? Etc etc... Well, there is a possibility that I get to stay in the house. So cross your fingers. Meanwhile, my house is filled with tension and argument ALL day long. Everyone is in a bad mood. And the 4 girls are constantly fighting over one thing or another. It's like living in the lions den. SO until we know everything for sure, who goes where, how much is this or that...all i know is, Shanon didn't just screw Sayer, she screwed us all!!!!!

But I can make it, I just have to hold out til morning when the battle ends.

just seems fitting (dont cry mom)

Who's never left home, who's never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Many precede and many will follow
A young girl's dream no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed

She traveled this road as a child
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test

As her folks drive away, her dad yells, "Check the oil!"
Mom stares out the window and says, "I'm leaving my girl"
She said, "It didn't seem like that long ago"
When she stood there and let her own folks go.

a quick stop in Park City, Utah

from the mountains to the prairies...

Ridin' the train! wo ist der zug?

Click on the pictures to see them bigger.

Membrin' my roots: "Sing it out if ya know it"

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more
And the morning breaks eternal bright and fair
When the saved on earth shall gather over on the other shore
And the roll is called up yonder I'll be there
When the rooooooll is called up yonder, when the roll, is called up yonder, when the roll is called up yooooooonder...when the roll is called up yonder i'll be there.


Softly and tenderly,Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See,on the portals he's waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me
Come home,come home
Ye who are weary,come home
Earnestly,tenderly,Jesus is calling
Calling,O sinner,come home
O for the wonderful love he has promised
Promised for you and for me
Though we have sinned,he has mercy and pardon
Pardon for you and for me
Come home,come home
Ye who are weary,come home
Earnestly,tenderly,Jesus is calling
Calling,O sinner,come home



After all that, kinda makes ya want some tomatoes, salt water corn bread, lil fried Spam and some Collard greens. OOOoooo weee, Mmm. Pass the salt.

(I think I can hear Papaw singin from his chair.)