Dry hands and five important people.

You know what's really annoying? Dry, wintery hands. No, I'm not about to go into an advertisement about hand lotion... not enough people read my blog for that to make money. But seriously, my poor knuckles and nails and are all cracked and raw. SO annoying.

You know what's NOT annoying? The fact that Aaron and I are crossing things off our wedding checklist left and right.

One of the things that we actually squared away while we were still in Mexico was our wedding party. For me, this was such an easy decision because I knew right away who needed to be a part of our day.

First, my maid of honor, Talicia. She'd argue that she knows me better than anyone. I'd say it's pretty close. We met sometime in middle school... and I realize that sounds really vague for someone I am claiming as my best friend, but growing up in a small town means you know people before you really KNOW them. Does that make sense? Anyway, it wasn't until we were on a retreat with our youth group that we actually bonded (oh my gosh, such a cliche term but I had to do it) and we've been best friends ever since. She's the kind of friend that calls me to describe a shirt she just bought, while I am tossing a target bag into my car that contains the exact same shirt she's describing. We're in each other's head or something.

[Photo: Typical. Talicia's 19th birthday, sunburned, overtired and probably hungry because we had no money. 2009.]

Then there is my matron of honor, Katy. I've known Katy for a long time too. I'm trying to think of how to describe our friendship, but honestly, we just get each other. Katy always understands what I'm saying, which is a feat because I talk fast and don't always make sense, and she can usually finish my thought or sentence. And vice-versa. We've spent the last five years of our friendship living roughly 1,200 miles apart, dreaming and scheming of different business plans and dinner party ideas. Now that her and her husband live in Washington again, our business plans have not really taken shape and we don't quite have the set up for dinner parties yet, but I'm just glad to have her around.

[Photo: Me and katy sporting Auburn jerseys on a trip to Alabama in 2006 for a wedding. Yes, that is the men's section in Wal-Mart. How could you tell?]

Kelsey is actually my oldest friend of all my bridesmaids. My memories with her start in 8th grade when we were both TA's for the same class. I was pretty sure she did NOT want to be my friend. Obviously I was wrong. Or she changed her mind. Either way, I have been so blessed to have Kelsey as a friend over the years, through the awkwardness of middle school, many, many lunches in the yearbook room, school dances, Daffodil selection, her first time driving through a drive-thru (yes, Starbucks on our way to a meeting!) and to have been a part of her wedding. We've made some great memories and now I am excited for her to be a part of my wedding!

[Photo: Talicia, Kelsey and me on a trip to Snoqualmie to go tubing. We adventured up the pass in a chained up mini-van and were SO EXCITED to finally reach our destination, we had to take pictures. 2008.]

Now Sarah... oh, this is really funny. I think I've only really told Aaron this, but I was actually scared to meet Sarah for the first time. If you put yourself in my shoes, maybe you can see it. I mean, she is Aaron's cousin and actually more like his sister, and she is so stylish, and I think I love Aaron, and I'm having a bad hair day, and what if she doesn't like me... okay I was definitely over thinking, but I was nervous. In reality, I had nothing to worry about because Sarah is wonderful! There is something about her friendship that makes it feel like I've known her forever. And maybe that's just how God planned it. But seriously, I am so excited to have her as a bridesmaid and as a cousin and as a sister!

Like with Sarah, I know that God planned mine and Sophia's friendship to feel like we've known each other forever. Because as I sit here, I can pretty much count the times that we have hung out on one hand, but that doesn't seem right. Somehow we must just be able to cram years of friendship into a span of 3-5 days each time we see each other. Which, for the record, I think is actually possible. My bridal party would not be complete without Sophia, and I am so looking forward to having her in my wedding and in my life! (And Sophia, I'm still all for you moving to this side of the mountains, just saying.)

[Photo: Sophia, me and Sarah on Christmas 2012. We did not plan on basically matching, but it happened. Also, why did I not get the memo to fold my hands like that? Dangit.]

My favorite part of 2012.

It keeps hitting me... like I could forget. I get my marry my best friend.

Four days after Christmas, on a beach in Mexico, Aaron asked me to marry him. The sunset was fading quickly and a sneak attack photographer snapped pictures of everything. Aaron got down on one knee and I can't imagine a more perfect moment. Of course I said yes!

The rest of the night, and probably the rest of our vacation, I floated around with little hearts encircling my head. I am so blessed to have him and I couldn't be more excited to be his wife and spend our life together! 

continued thankfulness

Did you think from my last post that I was going to post everyday? Gotcha!

I am very thankful that I am too busy to blog everyday. Is that okay to be thankful for?

I'm thankful that my mornings are busy pouring cereal and refereeing foursquare and mushroom ball. (I may not understand their rules these days, because they have changed since I was in elementary... but I love spending mornings with those kiddos.)

I'm thankful that my days are filled with friends... coffee dates spent learning and growing and enjoying these friendships are the best.

I'm thankful that my days are also filled with office time. Being a natural organizer/recorder, I love spending time filing and scheduling and planning.

I'm thankful that my afternoons are spent with sweet kindergarteners and first graders. I get to teach them to tie their shoes, resolve conflict (ALL THE TIME) and most importantly I get to show them how God loves them... not just in my actions and interactions but I can actually bust out my Bible (or their kid's Bible) and read. Ah, private school. :)

All of these daily activities make me even more thankful for the days that I can sit down and relax. And blog. And sip coffee for the taste and not just for the energy. You know those kind of days? Maybe you don't, but they are nice. And I am thankful for them.

day one of thankfulness... orting.

I could start an entire new blog that just chronicles my thankfulness day-to-day.

With that being said, I'm giving in to the stereotypical 'thankful' posts this November.

Today I am especially thankful for my sweet town. No one can convince me that they live in a more beautiful place than I do. I am continually amazed at the beauty of God's creation in the PNW, and especially in Orting. 

Take a moment to look at what us Ortingites... is that right?... get to see everyday. 

 Blue skies, gray skies... it is always beautiful here. 

And let me tell you, the beauty of our surroundings is only a small part of what makes Orting so great. 

I have traveled the country, and seen a little bit of the world, but I am so thankful that God brought me back to my hometown. I love being a part of this community... knowing everyone in town, going to each of the little festivals in town (there are so many!), running on the trail, joining the entire population at the high school football games... its all so good. 

 

 I'm not sure if we have some sort of special bond because we all chose to live under an active volcano or what, but the people in Orting actually act like a community. I love it.

 

If you haven't been to Orting, you're missing out. It's a gem. And I am thankful.

God knows me well and loves me so.

Every few months, I blog about how much of a failure I am at blogging. 

So my dear readers, I am a failure at blogging. And I'm sorry.

I do have some cool crafting ideas and a crafting party coming up, so I will update with pictures and what not.

Until then, I'll update you on why I'm not blogging. My summer was filled with adventure and excitement. I went to Haiti. I drove back and forth across the state multiple times. I worked at Abundant Life's summer camp for eight days. I had a family reunion/camping trip in Cle Elum and then went to Lummi Island with Aaron's family on Labor Day weekend.

I had no time to slow down between summer festivities and the start of my new job in September. I came home from Lummi and started working the very next morning. 

I have been blessed with a job that I love. It is so perfect for my life right now that there is no way I could have planned or even prayed for something this good. God knows me well and loves me so. 

This post is short and sweet, but I'll leave you with some pictures.

 These are a couple kids from my class on Fair Day. We did some face painting, obviously. And we have a husky fan... which I am a fan of.

 Our theme this week was creepy crawlers. Since I'm not a fan of REAL creepy crawlers, we made cute pipe cleaner spiders instead. :)

 At camp, I hung out in the sound booth everyday. Our campers practiced dramas all week that they performed at Summerfest in the Orting Park that weekend. I played and replayed and replayed and REPLAYED the song for one of the groups while they practiced. It was very fun, and that coffee mug was my very best friend all week. :)

 Of course, Aaron and I made a trip to the bakery while we were in Cle Elum. It is ALMOST as cute as the Orting Bakery. 

Ah, the mountain in summer. Its already completely white again, no beautiful blue peeking out. But that's okay, I have this picture to remind me of its summer beauty.