looking for a good read??

One of my favorite things about summer is finally being able to read for fun because it's something that I definitely don't have time for during the school year. {textbooks it is from September to May for me} Some of the best books I've ever read have been recommendations from other people so I thought I'd do the same and share with you my favs from this summer.

Moloka'i *****

This is a historical fiction story beginning in 1890 where new diseases, particularly leprosy were being carried to the Hawaiian islands from foreign travelers. Those who acquired this disease were exiled from their families to the island of Molokai where they lived together in isolation. The story focuses specifically on the life of a seven year old girl who shows signs of leprosy and is forced to leave her family to a whole new world where she learns a lot about love, life, and what it means to find happiness in your trials. Make sure to grab a tissue with this one. Hands down this book was my favorite this summer!

Heaven is for Real *** 

This is a true story about a pastor's son who is rushed into emergency surgery from appendicitis at three years old. Several months after he has recovered from the surgery he begins sharing with his parents bits and pieces about his journey to heaven during the surgery. Many of the stories that he shares are things he could have never known without his parents telling him. This book was very interesting and definitely a page turner for me. It left me thinking even after I finished it. 

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas ****

As a future elementary teacher, I really wanted to read this book as it is one that many children are introduced to in school between fourth through sixth grade. It portrays the holocaust through the eyes of a young boy whose father is a German leader over a concentration camp. The boy discovers a fence only a few feet away from his home and makes a friend with another young boy on the other side, a Jewish boy in "striped pajamas". This was also another tear jerker for me but a very interesting perspective coming from the naive minds of children. 

Hidden Children Series ****

At first I didn't realize this was a series. I had heard of the title of one of the books in the series and began reading it while realizing that it left out information that must have happened before and ended with a cliff hanger. Clearly I should have checked the back of the book first, oops. haha Loved these books though. They are about a society where families are only allowed to have two children. If they have a third, they are forced to keep their child in hiding so that he/she isn't killed. These are short quick reads but definitely page turners. 

Like I said, I always love book suggestions so if you have any please share. They will just have to go right to the top of my "reading list" for next summer. :)

goodbye summer, hello first day of school

                             

                                   * Inspired by and linking up with Lisa Leonard's Hello Mondays!

Hello to a Monday I've been looking forward to for a reallllly long time now! 

{as in four years} :)

Hello to waking up to the beautiful sunrise that I've missed all summer.

Hello name badge that I get to wear to my first day of teaching fifth grade tomorrow!
Hello favorite TOMS shoes and thrifted button up.

Hello PE Methods class. Yep, I've been putting you off until the very last semester.

Hello cute little backpack that I open up multiple times a day just to see the polka dots inside.  

                                     
                                      Hello permanent smile, I don't see you leaving any time soon!  
                                          Hello last year of college... I thought you'd never come.

and a very happy Monday to you and you and YOU! :)

xo

a little project

With a week and a half left until school starts and being home alone all day I felt like I was going stir crazy last week. I realized there wasn't a better time to learn some of my favorite hobbies because when school starts back up next week, I know I will no longer have the time or luxury.

I got my very first sewing machine last Christmas and in the last eight months and a zipper pouch was the only thing I have made. I already felt like that zipper pouch was a bit ambitious for someone who went into the project only knowing how to thread the machine. Well I did the very same thing this last week, took on another ambitious project for a beginning sewer. I have been head over heels crazy about the A-line pleated skirts I have seen all over the internet so I found this tutorial and gave it a try.

Don't get me wrong, that sewing machine was at its slowest speed the whole time and I had to seam rip a few things but other than that, I was so happy with how it turned out. I think my best moment though was getting the invisible zipper on my first try! I'm pretty sure my fabulous seamstress of a grandmother would be proud right now.

the kind of fancy office adults have where you get to hang your diploma on the wall

Nic came home from work on Friday with the exciting news that he would be moving offices. The original office they gave him when he got his new job was more of a hallway cubicle. Still had a desk, phone, computer, etc. just was shared with another person. Since then, some space has opened up and he got to move into an office, with a door, and walls, and his own window! Pretty exciting. To my surprise, he came home eager on Friday to shop for things to decorate it. Me? Shop for stuff to decorate? Don't pull my leg. However, it turns out a "manly" office was harder than I expected.

We spent Friday night and Saturday morning on the hunt for a lamp and a few various things to hang on the walls. The vinyl clock was already there when he moved in. The most "girly" thing that went in there was the table cloth over his filing cabinet which, I'll have you know, he picked out himself. An adult job with an adult office, when did we get so old? Here's a few pictures of the details...

You can even put your feet up on your own desk! It turned out pretty good if you ask us. This little experience got me dreaming of our future house we can decorate together. Oh if that dream were to come true right about now... ;)

on my heart

I've had a lot of things on my heart lately. So much so that it is hard to put into words. Somewhere between my adolescent and early adult years I got this notion that I need to be great at everything that I do. The best student, teacher, writer, and blogger. The best seamstress, pianist, and cook. And perhaps the one that weighs on my heart the most, the best wife, daughter, and friend. It sounds so trivial when I say it out loud and easy to change this need for perfection, but it hasn't been for me. In fact, I am hard on myself about each one of these every day and it has become detrimental to my desire to do better. Overwhelming even.

Someone pointed out very clearly to me yesterday that I am far from my best. In the moment it stung like crazy and I poured my heart out to Nic about it afterwards but later I realized that what she said had some truth to it.

After spending a lot of time on my knees and talking with my best listener, {he really is my better half like they say}, both have helped me to realize that I may not be the best but I try with everything that I have.
And sometimes I think it is trying that matters most. Taking those small and simple steps even without immediate results.

I know I won't lose this desire to be perfect over night but little moments like yesterday help to renew my attitude and perspective. To try and focus on being my best at one thing at a time instead of several. To not be so quick to point out to myself my past set backs or the ones I'll make in the future but to instead, focus on the desire I have to be a better version of myself one step at a time. Because truthfully, what lies behind us and what lies before us really are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. {that Ralph Waldo Emerson sure knows his stuff, doesn't he?}

one of the many wonders of the world (ahem i mean Pocatello, ID)

As Nic and I were driving to our bank the other day we took a different route than I'm used to and came across this several story brick building. It was in an area of town where there are a lot of old rundown warehouses so it kind of stuck out like a sore thumb. The parking lot was completely empty which I thought was strange for a Friday. With the two second drive by I had to figure out what this place was. 

Lately I've noticed more and more tourists in this small town. They aren't hard to miss as they funnel out of big greyhound buses with their cameras (and sometimes binoculars) swung around their necks. Then I think to myself, where do these people come from and what exactly is so intriguing about this town?

Don't get me wrong, I love this small town. In my four years here I've loved going to school at ISU and of course, where would I be if I hadn't met Nic here but other than that, there isn't anything fascinating or out of the ordinary about it. In fact, our "mall" currently has like 10 stores all of which are clinging to stay open. We have an unusual amount of Subways, about 10 in a five mile radius but what town doesn't have at least one of those?!

Well folks, my perspective changed and I have now learned one of the many wonders of Pocatello, ID.

Insert THE MUSEUM OF CLEAN here.

I kid you not!

They MUST come far and wide to see that.

On our drive, Nic proceeds to tell me how the building was old and rundown just like all the other warehouses surrounding it. A wealthy man who owned a cleaning supply store in town invested in the building, fixed it up, and began his journey to find the very first vacuums, mops, and other cleaning crap ever made. Riveting I tell you what.

So, I know next time you are planning a vacation that Pocatello, ID will most definitely be at the top of your list. After all, I'm convinced this is one of the many wonders of the world. Who doesn't want to know the evolution of cleaning?! :)  

girls camp

Things have been quiet around this blog as I have been preparing for last week to happen. Every summer in our church, the young women go to girls camp together. Another woman and I were put in charge of planning camp and while it seemed like a A LOT of work at times, we really did make some great memories. We took the girls up to Palisades, Idaho and stayed at one of the girl's family cabins up there. Some of the leaders slept inside and the girls, myself, and the other woman I planned camp with stayed in tents. We went on a hike the first day which, through occasional glances, proved to be so gorgeous. Most of the time however was spent staring at your feet so you didn't a) step in horse poop or b) face plant it from rocks. Afterwards I was rethinking the whole planning a hike on the first day as we all seemed to sweat a gallon of water and then didn't shower for three more days. haha

Another activity we planned were skits in a bag. The girls chose their own groups and a bag full of random items. They had thirty minutes to plan and then put on a show for everyone. I learned to never underestimate their talent. They were hilarious! I about fell out of my chair during a "bachelorette rose ceremony". The sunsets were incredible! There is something so magical about being surrounded by nothing but nature and really taking the time to recognize the beauty that God created around us. For me it was a trip that I really needed to renew my faith and trust in the Lord.

On the last day, we drove the extra 15 miles to the reservoir. Probably my favorite part about that day was the Hogwarts every flavor jelly bean game the girls decided to play. I guarantee that game was made for the spectators entertainment! I wasn't willing to take a 50/50 chance and land on black: skunk or black licorice or yellow: lemon or moldy cheese or brown: dog food or rootbeer float or green: throw up or watermelon. GAG.ME.NOW! Their faces where priceless. It took about 3 chews before they were either grinning or... NOT grinning if you know what I mean. haha

I learned that I can cook several days worth of meals for 30 people and that I definitely don't want to go from no children to 18 teenagers at one time ha but I did have some seriously fun dance parties with those girls! The months of planning were worth it and fun was had by all!

a second attempt a year later

The last time I tried using yeast, it didn't turn out to be my best Betty Crocker moment ever, but on Saturday when we were both craving pizza I decided to give it another try. Instant yeast became my new best friend in the kitchen. The recipe for the crust was so easy and yummy that I'm pretty sure we won't ever be ordering pizza again. I'm also pretty sure I won some serious brownie points with a certain someone's taste buds. And the fact that it magically came out of the oven in the shape of a heart, it was a like a dream.

Happy Monday!