Oh, Thanksgiving! 

Don't those kind of look like screaming turkey faces?

I was SO stinkin' proud of this. So proud that I couldn't eat it...

mmmmm season that turkey!

Note Bryan's resistance to prayer hand-holding...

So lovely!

We're so blessed to have amazing parents who love and support us through life.

We're blessed to have the most amazing friends.

aaaaaaaaaand i love these guys too

Last game, sad day.

Football season comes and goes so quickly. My tummy and rear end will be thankful that there won't be any more tailgating for months to come, although now we have to get through the binge-eating that accompanies the holidays...

Gators, I have to admit you were a bit of a downer this season. We supported you and went to your games, but you lost. A lot. Which is okay, but you lost without any style. In fact, last night's game against FSU was so uneventful that I found myself humming along to opposing team's war chant just to have something to do. Thank you, though, for providing beautiful weather and grass space for ample tailgating. That, at least, made the season worth it.

I want. 

*sigh*

I'll keep prayin'.

Love this guy:

someone has a birthday!

Dear Michael,

How do I put into words what the anniversary of your birth means to me? Your birthday represents the life you've been given and the fact that I get to celebrate every year with you from here on out. You've been my best friend since senior year of high school, when life was fresh and new and we thought we'd never grow up...We'd sing, "We're gonna stay 18 forever, so we can live like this forever..." and hold hands exploring the empty streets of campus on warm summer nights. We snuck onto the football field for fondue and made frequent trips to the prairie for star-gazing, attempted skiing trips and first backpacking excursions.

You're always up for an adventure, and you don't mind that I'm always planning our next trip. I've loved being alongside you as you've taken on the role of an incredible husband who lives his life working diligently, gaining the respect of everyone around you but taking the time to enjoy living. It makes my heart happy to watch you love on Diego, because I catch mere glimpses of the amazing, devoted father you will be one day. Thank you for your love, grace, and the absolute joy you bring to my life.

I love you with my entire being, to the moon and back.

Love,
Rachel

Oh, and enjoy the 'Royal Package' at the Art of Shaving and get rid of the 'stache already. 

my heart

God's been working on my heart.

Out of nowhere I found myself in a dark place last week. In the grand scheme of life, I'm absolutely certain that I will look back on this point of time and realize I had it made compared to the future challenges that will arise, but whew... it got to a point where I. was. miserable.

The thing was, I really couldn't pinpoint why I felt the way I did. I allowed a black pit of hopelessness consume me for a brief moment, catching a mere glimpse of what it's like to feel utterly and completely helpless. It was awful.

But it's a good thing I'm able to bounce back pretty quickly; I'm beyond blessed to have friends full of love, grace, and wisdom to pull me out of slumps. This year has provided quite the challenge with my faith... rather than sprinting after the Lord at neck-breaking speed when I need him the most, I'm more like a turtle attempting to cross I-95, believing I've reached the other side when it's only the median. And there's a barrier wall.

Anyways, the point of this post was to say that God is working on my heart, softening it just a bit, teaching me what it means to pray for a heart that is humble, transparent, and genuine. To fully understand to move along with the 'unforced rhythms of grace,' to 'recover my life' and to 'live freely and lightly.'

I honestly don't know how I could do this life without the hope of Christ.

Part of last week's desperate need for love + rest resulted in an impromptu park trip on a school night.

Diego was happy. 

Orlando Calling

Awesome weekend. I haven't been to a music festival in a loooong time, the last being "Rock the Universe"with Christian bands at Universal circa 2003. So when Alex asked months ago if we were interested in checking out "Orlando Calling," we were game. 

It was a gorgeous day (& the company was even better!) 

The people-watching was epic. 

But not as epic as the special effects put on by the Killers:

Confetti!! Made my heart so happy to look up to a sea of fake snow..

Fancy lights and a giant screen to visually accompany the songs..

Ending it with an "Our-Feet-Are-Tired" bike ride was priceless. 

Today we stumbled upon the downtown Orlando farmer's market and a gay-pride parade. 

Made for some EXCELLENT people watching. 

Too bad my phone was dead....

I love that Jesus speaks so sweetly in my dark oh-lord-i-can't-do-this-anymore times. 

First, through a stolen chocolate moment and an encouraging word.

Tonight, by watching our lovely littles sing their hearts out on stage

and then opera songs in the car he knew would fill the empty holes in my heart, 

the holes that have been void of music for a while. 

I can't wait for the weekend. I need to recharge already!!

to a new *CLEAN* me

A new month always presents new challenges and the chance to start over. Lately I've been struggling with my inability to keep a clean house... I know in the grand scheme of life that sounds so trivial but I find that life's just a *teensy* bit less stressful if I come home to a relatively clutter-free home. My current cleaning style is waiting until I can't see the counters anymore beneath the junk, or I can't fit anymore dishes into both sinks, or there's mildew creeping up the sides of the shower wall and toilet paper rolls spilling like a waterfall over the side of the bathroom trashcan. So, although it's not spring or new years, I'm officially dubbing this November as a month devoted to starting fresh and forming effective cleaning habits.

First and foremost, I vow to put everything back in its place immediately. I will not leave the banana peel and lathered peanutbutter knife on the counter; I will toss the peel and lay the knife in its final resting place. My dirty clothes will make it all the way into the hamper instead of on my dresser counter. I'll make sure the sink is empty and clean each night.

And (drumroll, please) I'll attempt to clean 15 minutes a day during the week so I no longer have to give up one of my precious weekend days. We'll see how it goes.

Monday- Floors
Tuesday- Dust & vacuum bedroom
Wednesday- Laundry day
Thursday- Clean master bathroom
Friday- kitchen-- clean counters, mop, wipe fingerprints

What do you love right now?

There's a blog that I read that warms my heart. The writer has such a profound way of expressing herself that I leave loving life just a little bit more. In her recent post she talked about how she challenges her littles to answer the question, "What do you love right now?" I feel like I've been rushing through living, ready for the next adventure, always looking forward to something else... but I truly need to be reminded to slow down and savor each unique day on its own. I heard the country song "You're Gonna Miss This" the other day, and I found myself tearing up because nestled within the stress of life, I'm so stinkin' blessed to be right here in this present moment of life.


The writer of my favorite blog wrote on being thankful:
"And I think that's what gratitude really is--recognizing every bit of wonder in our surroundings, from the seagulls that swoop in the background at the beach to the extra sprinkles that are generously spooned on scoops of vanilla when we venture out for ice cream."


So simple, and so me. I find myself most grateful for this life when I slow down and notice the little things... like how the two oak trees on my drive home form a heart with their branches... the baby cows that are loping across the field... enjoying a drink on the porch while Mike mows the lawn... little kids' faces lighting up when they receive their sugar cookies at Publix. I always thought myself to be a little corny for being so joy-filled over little things. But it's okay. It's who we were created to be. 


So what do I love right now, in this very moment?


I love...
    ...snuggling with Mike and Diego on the couch, watching Man vs. Food.
    ...that I can't go to school for the next two days, even if it means I'm sick. 
    ... the change of weather, the smells of fall, and chili for dinner. 


What do you love right now?