{7.29.14} Snapshot

//because she couldn't eat the pie.  And that was very traumatizing.

{7.26.14} Snapshot

//because after a long day of transporting, lifting, and unpacking, this wee family is finally installed in their new home :)

{7.25.14} Snapshot

//because any time I get to spend my afternoon with these two punks, the day seems a whole lot brighter :)

Elsa's Graduation Celebration :)

My goodness.  Do I sound horribly sentimental if I say that time flies by so fast?  It seems like just yesterday that Karolina, Elsa, and I were dressing up to match our American Girl dolls, playing "Farmer In the Dell" after church, painting our faces with oil pastels to look like Indians on the warpath, taking turns on the swing hanging from the oak tree, and seeing who could do the most impressive jump from the diving board.  Now Karolina will be a junior at Grove City, I'll be a sophomore at PHC, and Elsa will be a freshman at Hillsdale.  My goodness.  

All memories aside, today was the day that this dear sister graduated high school.  Needless to say, we had quite the party :)

(yes aren't we attractive?)

There were lots of spirited badminton games....

....and don't even get me started on the food.

Elsa is a ridiculously talented artist (hence her art major at Hillsdale) so it was lovely to see some of her work displayed :)

(she was rather excited about the hanging lanterns.)

Can you tell they're sisters? :)

All the Grove City attendees...

...yeah they were a little crazy :D

Elsa, thanks so much for asking me to take pictures today!!  It has been such an honor to grow up with you, and I can't wait to see where the Lord leads you in these coming years :)

{7.19.14} Snapshot

//because this was the weekend that we decided to abandon adult responsibilities (aka: "work") and travel to one of our favorite places (aka: "Lancaster") and along the way we got sidetracked by outlet malls and ice cream factories and we took crazy pictures and ate too much food and all in all we decided that this annual trip really is the best part of the summer :)

(and because lists make the world a much happier place, I have everything organized for your easy reference :))

Stop #1: Turkey Hill's "Ice Cream Experience"

If you spend any amount of time with my dad and I you will quickly find out that mint chocolate chip ice cream (ok, any ice cream) is our biggest weakness, so naturally we were intrigued by Turkey Hill's ice cream factory/museum/hands-on experience :)

(did I mention it was hands-on?  As in, you got to create your own flavor.  Now these are the kinds of places I could get used to!)

Yeah I don't think I'm taking up the dairy life anytime soon.

My dad, on the other hand, just might have found his new calling!

No we're all just crazy.  Anyway...

Stop #2: Outlet malls

(I didn't take any pictures here because that would have been kind of weird and besides my mom and I are power shoppers and we whipped through the clearance racks so fast that we were done in record time)

Stop #3: Smith's Candy Store

Ah yes, Lancaster's best-kept secret.  Yes I told you we ate too much this weekend, and this store did nothing to help matters.  With endless rows of glass jars filled with every sugary goodness imaginable, this store is definitely for the serious candy lover.

(and because I think lollipops are one of the best photo props ever created.)

Stop #4: Lunch

Did I mention we ate a lot?

Oh and coffee shops have cool artwork, mirrors, etc.

(from your token third wheel on this trip :))

Stop #5: Walking around Lititz

This town is a very happy place filled with adorable stores and amazing book nooks.  It is good for the soul :)

Stop #6: The Best Chocolate You Will Ever Have

(aka: "Wilbur Buds")

Why thank you!  Don't mind if I do....

Stop #7: My Favorite Place On Earth

(aka: "Sight & Sound Theater)

I really need to stop going here because I question my career choices every time.  Seriously, if you have never been here you need to make a trip out to central PA just to see one of these Broadway-caliber musicals.  Even though we've seen every single one of their productions for as long as I can remember, this new one was probably one of their best yet!

(and don't worry - I thought about things rationally on the car ride home and decided that PHC really is where I belong.  But I still wouldn't mind doing this kind of musical theater on the side.  That totally fits with international policy....right?? ;))

And that's that!  These are just some late-night ramblings, but I can't even say how wonderful it was to spend a relaxing weekend with the best parents in the world...the Lord truly has made my cup overflow with blessings :)

{7.16.14} Snapshot

//because no birthday is complete without cupcakes.

{7.14.14} Snapshot

//because I just started packing for college.  And that makes my heart unbelievably happy :)

{7.13.14} Snapshot

//because on this rainy Sunday morning, I pray that I will never forget what an incredible privilege it is to not only be able to walk into a body of believers and praise God's name with them, but also to worship with my church family back in Virginia.

"She's the block. You're the chip."

.....at least that's what my dad always says :)  Honestly, I'd have to agree with him.  I may like kitchen dance parties and spontaneous adventures and she may prefer daily routine and peaceful evenings working on her latest craft project, but that's about where our differences end.  

We're dramatic.  We have the same shoe size.  We don't keep our opinions to ourselves.  We like to get things done.  We love "What Not To Wear."  We agree that high-low hemlines are never a good idea.  We can't say no to Ann Taylor Loft and Banana Republic clearance racks.  We are just slightly addicted to Chipotle's salad bowls.  And we can belt out the all the songs from the Sound of Music like there is no tomorrow.

This is the woman who was told she was crazy to have another baby when she was 40.  This is the woman who somehow survived my daily childhood temper tantrums.  This is the woman who bought me an E-Z Bake oven 14 years ago and hasn't been able to get me out of the kitchen since that day.  This is the woman who gave up 30 years of her life to teach her children at home.  This is the woman who dragged me into high school forensics, and then spent countless hours agonizing over speech after speech.

She has prayed over me, counseled me, challenged me, supported me, laughed with me, cried with me, argued with me, and loved me like no other person ever has.

Every time I went on stage to collect an award at an NCFCA tournament, I knew that all I had to do was look behind me to see that the biggest smile in the audience was cheering me on.  And in the times when my name wasn't called and I didn't move on, an arm was slipped around my shoulder and I was enveloped in a big hug.  

Now that I've ventured out into the "great big world," my favorite times of the week are the times when I can call home and unload all the latest news.  And no matter how far and wide I may wander, there is no feeling that can compare to pulling into the driveway and running inside to find all my favorite foods waiting on the kitchen counter.

When I said I wanted to do 5 speeches and debate in a competition year, she said, "Let's do it."  When I was accepted to Patrick Henry College, she said, "I couldn't be more excited for you."  When I survived my freshman year, she said, "I always knew you could do it."  When I said I was thinking about law school, she said, "Go for it!"

This Godly, beautiful, and caring woman truly is a worth far more than rubies.  The Proverbs are true when they say that "Her children rise up and call her blessed," and I can only hope to be like her someday.

Maybe I am a "chip off the block," but there is no one I would rather be like.  She is a constant example of Christ's love, she never fails to point me to the cross, and she is my hero.

I love you, Mama.