Hiking

Kwacha, Shirley and I have started a new thing.  Well, new for us.  We hike!  :)  Actually I wouldn't even say that hiking is new for us, but habitual hiking is.  We've gone hiking in a number of places but we've landed on a favorite.  The above picture is my favorite spot on the trail and it pretty much looks exactly like this.  I barely touched that photo.  

Going on frequent hikes has allowed us to see things we wouldn't see if we only went ever so often.  We have seen beetles (oh joy!), bunnies, caterpillars, frogs and even deer!  God is just such a brilliant Creator!  I love being out in His creation.  It's also a wonderful form of exercise.  I don't know of any other kind that is so enjoyable.  

The hills have been so green after the rain we had this year.  In these pictures, it's actually started to brown.  Can you believe that Santa Clarita was greener than this even?!

I also just love the time spent with Kwacha and Shirley.  I learn new things about my husband as we traipse through the mountains.  On Saturday night, I found out that he once killed a chicken by jumping on it accidentally.  He then plucked it, cooked it and ate it!  And he was only about 13 years old apparently.  That's what you get with an African husband.  :)

Kwacha spotted this gorgeous pack of lupines.  Have any of you ever read the story, Miss Rumphius? If you haven't, you should.  I always think of it when I see these flowers.

Anyway, I highly suggest hiking if you don't already do it!

I have...time!

Wow. I can't believe I have time to post a REAL blog post!



Not only have I been experiencing the busyness of being engaged, but work has been crazy!  Did every. single. one. of you purchase One Perfect Life?  Because I believe every one on the planet bought it.  But, the orders for that book are finally receding and we can now breathe at work.  ;)

Anyway, I feel like a little random update is in order.  (Mainly in pictures for those of you who don't like to read much.  These are definitely not in any particular order.)

 

First off, it was kind of surreal to take a morning off of work to go with Kwacha to fetch our marriage license. What??!!

  Also, really weird to change my last name.  Weird and just a little bit sad.  But not. 

 Another new happening is that Kwacha and I are now going to a new fellowship group at church, Mainstream.  That means that I obviously left high school staff.  :(  One of my small group girls was so kind to bring a cake to my last Bible study.

 And I was able to go to the Shepherd's Conference one day to work at the GTY booth.  Always fun to see my sister on the job. 

 (Wow, I'm just realizing how out of order this post is.)  Below is a picture from the shower that Emily and Melissa Norton threw for me at her house.  These are most of the GTY girls that came, just missing Bridget!

One thing I have really been enjoying are my early morning coffee dates with Em on Tuesdays and Jenn on Wednesdays.  It's amazing how much you can have to catch up on with people that you live with!  I always learn a lot from both of them and I always leave encouraged.

(Jenn is not typically THIS bright.)

 This year was the first year I've ever had a Valentine.  ;)  We celebrated the day after and went to some friends house for a Valentine's Day dinner on the actual day.  By the end of the night I was slightly disappointed that Kwacha had not really done anything or really even said anything about the day.  (Lame of me since we were going to celebrate the next day!)  But that night when I went up to my room after he left, this is what I found. 

 In Febrary, we were able to drive up north and visit our friends, Anton and Marietjie Van Straaten!  Marietjie used to disciple me and it had been three years since I had seen her!  Hard to believe.  We had such a fun time with them!  (Kwacha's just a little dark and the rest of us are super white so it kind of threw off the white balance.) 

 And you can tell I'm getting married soon, because the girls at work hung a veil over my desk.  Or a mosquito net...depending on how you look at it...

Can't believe the wedding is 25 days away!

Receptionist Duty

I really like covering for the receptionist at work. 

And I really don't like the quality of camera on my new(ish) phone.

Two seemingly unrelated things, I know.

When Michelle is gone sometimes I cover for her and that means I can arrive at work an hour later because I normally stay an hour longer in such cases.  Last Thursday (and tomorrow!) was just such a day, so I decided to use that hour and go to Starbucks to read.  I sat outside by the fountain and it was so nice!

(Here is where the sadness of my camera phone comes in.  I really miss the camera on my old one, but a smartphone was just really impractical for me.)

Anyway, here are a few pictures of the morning.

While I was looking at the fountain a hummingbird came by and flittered around, drank some water then zoomed off.  I just can't get over God's creation.  The speed on that little bird!  Amazing!  It's just so sweet to think of how God cares for and provides water for these little creatures.  Then we know He can definitely take care of us!

A breeze came by and I got a face full of jasmine scent!  Mmmm...is any smell better?

A classic short soy chai.  Say it three times fast.  C'mon!  The barista's can't do it most of the time.  ;)

Anna is letting me borrow Martin Lloyd Jone's commentary on Ephesians 1.  So good!  It's the first time I've read anything by him and he is so readable!  Even his commentary which you would think would tend to be more academic.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning!

Pinteresting Wednesdays

I haven't done one of these in a while probably because "everyone" is on Pinterest now and it's not really necessary, but I will.

I don't know what I think about the whole colorblock thing in general, but I really like this sweater.  Mabye because I like boyfriend sweaters in general.  They're so comfy!  Or maybe this particular colorblock situation is just not as extreme as many.

I have never thought to do this with frames.  Especially in the kitchen.  I really like it.  I've also seen this with bookcases.  I want to try it.

I think I'm actually going to do this to my hair when I get home today.  We'll see how it turns out...

Beautiful.  Like a dream.  I could stare at this for a long time.  I would love it for my room.

Speaking of rooms, hello??  Would you look at that??  Don't you want to go there?  Now??  It looks so cozy and nice!

If I have time I may watch Roman Holiday when I get home.  You know, after I do that thing with my hair.  All before 6:30.  I get home around 4:30....hmm....

Aren't you so happy that Spring is finally here?

:)

 

Happiness is...

Rejoicing in God's creation!

I love poppies!  I am so glad they are the California state flower.  (They are, right?)  There are poppies planted in front of Grace to You right now and I have wanted to take pictures of them for weeks now.  I finally did on Wednesday.  ;)