I read this today & felt really moved by it. I'm a rebel at heart. If someone tells me to do something, or to not do something, deep down in my heart I want to do the opposite! Even for stupid insignificant things. If you tell me to do something I was already planning on doing, I feel like you don't have faith in me. If you tell me to do something I don't want to do, I want to whine & cry & get my way until I can do it - for that sense of freedom/rebellion (and this isn't my LITERAL thoughts, but the deep down seed of rebellion in my heart is thinking these things...)

Needed to read this, need to keep reflecting on it:

http://michaelkelleyministries.com/2012/02/the-electric-fence-and-the-abuse-of-the-law/

New Discovery

This are kind of random, but here you go:

I was never good at braiding when I was younger. I would only ever attempt it on my Barbies - and just your regular, normal braid. French braiding was out of the question.

When we were in Latvia a couple months ago, it was a common occurrance to shower right before bed, and it was too hot to think about blow drying & I was always too tired anyway. So I had Emily french-braid my hair most nights before bed - much less scary in the morning than if I'd just gone to bed & woken up all crazy/flat/hair plastered to my head.

Last month I had just gotten busy or lazy or procrastonated showering until late in the evening (& I hate showeringin the morning), so I talked Jess into braiding my hair on a couple of occasions before bed. Well, one night, she was not home (or refused to do it for me :) ), so I haphazardly attempted my own french braid - it took forever :) It felt all wrong & messy....but when I looked in the mirror, it was straight, not too bumpy, & actually looked pretty good! I had not attempted a french braid since I was probably 8 or 10 years old.

So off & on when I shower too late or don't want to dry my hair, I've been doing the french-braid. Jess was mad because it always looked nicer than her attempts for me :) So we tested the theory about braiding someone else's hair - which I assumed would be easier. However, it wasn't! I tried to braid her hair one night, and not that it was terrible, but for whatever reason, I do a better job doing my own. Who'da thunk it?

Some recent pictures from Latvia....(out of order but that's okay!)

Family lunch of cold beet soup

Nelly translating during our Kids Club activities outside the church
Mia & German

Raindrops on the cobblestone

Last night all together

Meghan, me, & Emily leveling out the sand & rock

& Carl bringing us more Emily & Nelly leading craft time

Hanging out at the Baltic Sea

Nelly translating church service for Alexander

Visiting an old castle & trying to fight jet lag our first day there

An addition.....

HOW COULD I FORGET # 7:

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE RETURNS MAY 29th!!!!!!!!

Gahh! It's been more than 4 months since my last post!

I'll blame it on the limited internet. I only usually have it when I'm at work.

Things I'm looking forward to in the near future:
1. Baby Girl niece is due in less than 2 weeks! Can't wait to hold & snuggle & spoil her :)
2. Bon Jovi May 12th!! Nosebleed seats but in a superb location to enjoy the music (according to one of my musically gifted co-workers, he's in a band).
3. Trip to Latvia with close friends from church to work at Nelly's home church. We'll do some construction (learn a little about plumbing :) ) and put on a VBS-type program for the students in the surrounding villages. And I'll get to meet her family - Jess stayed with them 2 years ago on a previous trip.
4. Midnight Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2. (Anxiously awaiting tickets to go on sale!)
5. My golden birthday this summer - I'm trying to think of something fun to do - either 27 Things to do on my birthday, or 27 Things to do before my birthday (one thing each day that month), or maybe just 27 Things I want to do in my Golden 27th Year :) If you have any suggestions, let me know!!
6. Midnight Breaking Dawn (this will come later this fall - Kate & Jess - let's make a date!!)

Feeling Holiday Festive

So, I don't cook. I don't like to cook. I don't really know how to cook.

But I'm bored of salads, frozen pizzas, and toast.

After work I stopped by Fareway, purchased some groceries, and proceeded home to make dinner. The evening looked like this:

Menu: Baked chicken with seasoning, baked potato, and Middle Sister California Moscato wine.

Music: Glee Christmas music playing from my Ipod

Decor: Candle burning, dressy work clothes - red flowered top & gray pants.

Activities: Cut the chicken, sprinkle the seasoning, nuke the potato in the microwave before putting it in the oven with the chicken. Dance about the kitchen to Glee, cut up some cauliflower and broccoli for the rest of the week, chill the wine in the snow outside while dinner's in the oven. Eat said baked potato, chicken & break out the fancy wine glasses (Christmas gift from last year).

Dessert: Free Subway cookie that Jess brought home - Thank you!

All in all, a fun, festive, holiday dinner :)