{Life} It's Been a Good Break

I'm back in the blogging world.

*waves hand at cheering crowds*

As an assignment, I love this blog. I can do it when my brain just won't handle Algebra 2, or a cow eye dissection. Like today. But when I'm left to my own motivation, it just doesn't seem to happen. Ah, well.

This summer, like most, was just over the top. I had some lovely adventures and some wonderful down time as well. Then volleyball started and life got even better. So, to recap:

I went to Alaska again. My dad did not come surprise me in the airport, but I had some equally memorable adventures. Like one day when I was babysitting four children versus the usual two, and due to some shenanigans with the locks on the door, myself and three panicking girls were locked outside and four year old napping boy was locked inside. The solution? Climb a ladder that was stabilized by the aforementioned girls, to the roof and wake up the napping boy through the window so he could unlock the doors. Good times, I tell  ya'. I also kayaked quite a bit and fell in love. More on that later. Here's some of my favorite picks from my Alaskan adventures:

RV trip sites- Liberty Falls

Liberty Falls Hike

My cousin, Jena, in Valdez, AK

Hiking with the fam

Yard view at midnight

Boat captain selfie

The 4 year old bed thief

Yard view

Cousin camp tshirts

Kayaks and the river

Sorry, I had a lot of favorites!

Anyway, by the time I made my way home, it was time for volleyball to begin. And my usual doubts about my team, my own performance, etc. Volleyball can show me many of my own sins. Worry, pride, idolatry. But it brings so much fun. I love it. Love the game, love the people.

We also had kittens born this summer. We've actually never had kittens at our house. Which is pretty unusual, because we have had barn cats. By the time I got back they were becoming cute and fun. 

One of my favorite activities this summer was taking my cousin's senior pictures. He was excited, which made me excited, and made the whole process easier. He took me all over creation to his favorite spots. It was a blast! (Anytime with him is!)

Blooper reel!!

As a little wrap up, I got two vehicles this summer. A car, which I named Bruce and a kayak, which my dad named the USS Banana (it's bright yellow). Bruce is being worked on a little bit before he's ready to go. The USS Banana went on her maiden voyage last Sunday, and worked like a charm.

So that, is my break in a nutshell!

The End Has Come...

As in, the end class. Which means, I will no longer be required to post on my blog. Which means, it will probably go very silent. I may have good  intentions, but I see an  future of little blogging.

I feel like I should post some "wrap it up" post....

....
....
....

...Nothing inspiring is coming. So I'll just say, this has been a really fun project. Difficult, maybe. But not nearly as difficult as a research paper or very detailed instructions. Blogging has been my go-to "be productive while avoiding difficult subjects" project. Which is really handy! :)

One more thing: I have so much enjoyed reading all the my other friends' blogs! Thank you for a peak into your lives and for sharing your creativity!

Signing off for who knows how long :)

~Beth

{List} 10 Reasons You Should Go Shopping With The DeWolfs

1.) The DeWolfs love shopping. Shopping with someone who loves shopping makes it more fun. Mom and I shopping together means we feed off each other's misery. Bad combo. But the DeWolfs love shopping, so it immediately becomes more fun!

2.) They're detailed. Especially Mrs. DeWolf and Savanna (sorry, Avery see #3 for what I consider your shopping skill!). Mrs. DeWolf thinks through everything before spending money on it. For instance, yesterday (when we were shopping with DeWolfs), Mrs. D found a dress she really loved (and I'll add, was the perfect color for her), HOWEVER (<see that, Mrs. Mann? :) it had a small snag. No problem, there was another one of her size. Instead of just grabbing the other dress and leaving as quickly as possible (my tendency) she tried it on. And you know what? It was different! It was a tiny bit shorter and had some extra rumply fabric. Like I said, very detailed. Perfect person take shopping!

3.) (AVERY!) You should go shopping with Avery because she "sprint shops" or "speed shops". I think it's quite funny. If you ever want to get in and out of a store as quickly as possible, take Avery along! Or race shop... she would definitely win. She'll also goof off and escalators with you... which is just pretty fantastic :)

4.) They know what stores to go to. And can quickly mark out any that just wouldn't be promising places.

5.) They're thrifty. Mrs. D will spend money on something if she loves it enough, but her tendency is definitely toward thrifty. Which is perfect!

6.) They're encouraging. When mom and I start flagging, the D girls are there with helpful words! ("That's so cute!", "Oh, I LOVE it!")

7.) They make you try things on. Seriously, mom and I REALLY avoid trying things on. But we went into several dressing rooms yesterday absolutely loaded down with dresses! It was actually a good experience. I feel like if I were going to order things online, I would be more equipped to pick out styles I like, because I've tried so many on!

8.) They add laughter. For example, when Mrs. D was undressing a mannequin. In her defense, the dress it had on was one the size Savanna needed to try on. It was still a little embarrassing! :)

9.) You get to try chipotle for the first time! I liked it-I'm a sucker for mexican food!

10.) YOU GET A DRESS! It's a rare thing to find a dress I like, and mom likes! A miracle!

{Thoughts} The Earth is the Lord's

I'll get back to those pictures in a second. In the meantime, you can just enjoy them without my commentary!
 
During family Bible time in the mornings, dad has been reading through a book called What is the Gospel? (by Greg Gilbert). Last week he read this bit:

(Context being, the writer is telling a story of he and some college friends who went on a road trip to Yellowstone National Park, and after they got there, just took of hiking... with no map.)

"...But then, all of a sudden, before any of us really had time to notice that anything was changing, the forest cleared and we found ourselves standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Stretched out below us for miles was a magnificent gash in the earth. A river ran through the bottom of it, sparkling as the sun glinted off it. Birds flew below us, and low-hanging clouds sped by above, caught, I guess, in the wind currents being channeled by the canyon. What an incredible feeling of smallness I had at the moment, staring into a dizzying expanse below me and looking into the sky. For a few moments, all three of us were-for the first time all day-speechless. And then one of my friends began to sing, 'O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds they hands have made...' {...} For the next few minutes we stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and praised the One who had created the awe-inspiring masterpiece."

When I first heard this, I just thought how cool that was. These young men obviously had a strong grounding in God. When whey were faced with this awesome beauty, their first thought was to praise GOD for His marvelous work.

Then, as I kept considering it, I realized I was subconsciously thinking, "Yeah. If something so big, and awesome, and beautiful was before me, I would praise God too!" One of my favorite things to do on Pinterest is look at the "Travel" category. I mean, talk about cool. Professional picture after professional picture of wonderful places all over the world. The pictures at the beginning of this post are some I ran across recently. But, as I look at these big places that are just overwhelmingly beautiful, and thought I would certainly praise God if I lived there, I realized in my life there are beautiful things God created, too. If I can't be grateful for those seemingly small and insignificant things, or don't even try to be grateful, would God really be glorified by my praising Him over the "big" things He created? I put big in quotation marks because that's how my brain thinks about it. But I don't think God really sees a soaring mountains as so much "bigger" and more important the the smallest flower He created.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;
Psalm 24:1

That's just what I've been thinking over this week. :)

{Journal} Take 2

Today was one of those days in class were my mind was going so fast over our journaling prompt, that it just quit going at all! :) So, this is take two.

PROMPT: What is something on your bucket list-something you want to do someday.

When I was younger, I always planned to be on "The Amazing Race" with my family. (The Amazing Race is a show on television that is just a bunch of teams competing in a world-traveling scavenger hunt.) Some of the things they are required to do/places they get to go would just be pretty awesome to do/see. When I was REALLY young, I wanted to be on "Zoom". Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

I would like to see tulip fields in bloom. I don't care where. I just want to see a whole field of bright tulips stretched out in front of me!

I would like to tour a castle. Preferably an old, abandoned castle with an overgrown garden, and huge hedges. I would like to take the tour with a fantasy-style dress on as well :)

I would like to have a huge game of hide-and-go-seek in a store with a bunch of friends.

I would to be an actor in the movie versions of some of my favorite books. I don't know which books, or what character, though. This may be one of my most far-fetched plans. I just think it would be really fun to have a job where you play-act everyday. Someone plans your hair, and your wardrobe. I especially think it would be fun to try crying. Just how exactly do actors manage that I want to know?

I would like to be on a beach volleyball team with Avery. 'Cause playing volleyball with her is just so much fun! ;)

I would like to take cake decorating classes.

I would like to learn to play the harp.

I would like to do an adventure race. These are races that require navigating, running through difficult terrain, and just unexpected obstacles. I think it sounds like more fun than just paying to enter a race where you just run.

{List} Movies, Books, Characters

THIS, EVERYONE IS A COPYCAT POST. FOR THE ORIGINAL IDEA GO HERE, TO CHLOE'S VERY CREATIVE BLOG :)

Please note: this may contain book spoilers!
These will mostly be from books I listen to often, or are family favorites.

Who is a character you really like?

• Edward Pevensie. I especially like how Edward developed in the Prince Caspian movie. Trust me, there's not much else I liked about that movie, but his character was certainly a high point in my opinion. 
• Mrs. Gardiner. Pride and Prejudice. I think she has got to be the best aunt character ever. Not only is she a kind character, she is very realistic in my opinion. I really liked her role, and found her character very lovable. I think it's a good thing when I find a character lovable!
• Halt. The Ranger's Apprentice Series (by John Flanagan). Old, rough, grisly, harsh, totally a softy on the inside. And sarcastic to boot!

 Who is a character you want to slap?

• Isabella. Northanger Abbey (by Jane Austen). OH MY WORD. She is inconsistent, inconsiderate, and just BEYOND annoying in my opinion. I skip over her dialogue when I'm reading this book sometimes, just 'cause I can't handle it! 
• Frank Churchhill. Emma (by Jane Austen). He is rude. Really rude and unthoughtful, even to the point of taking unnecessary pains to tease the girl he's engaged to. "Inconceivable!" :)
• Barat. The Brotherband Chronicles (by John Flanagan). He's really not a lead character, at all, but he's around long enough that I absolutely got to despising him. Overbearing, to say the least!
• Opal Koboi (Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer). Especially wanted to slap her in "The Time Paradox"!

What is a book or movie you thought was just strange?

• Rebecca (by Daphne De Maurier, I believe). I listened to this, and found it just strange. Somewhat like Jane Eyre, which I also thought was just a little weird!
• Jane Eyre... 
• The Series of Unfortunate Events (by Lemony Snicket). My dad loved listening to these. None of them end well. I mean, he purposefully ends every book with his characters in more trouble than they started. The whole series is like that. It's not just cliff hangers, Lemony Snicket is just a little odd about his writing!

What is a couple you thought was just perfect?

• Will and Alice. (Ranger's Apprentice) Horace and Evelyn (Ranger's Apprentice). These are coming up a lot, but my family has really enjoyed them! :)
• Amy and Laurie (Little Women). This just made me happy.
• Lydia and Mr. Wickham. I'm not saying I liked these two. Um, no far from it. BUT, my evil self says "They TOTALLY deserved each other!"
• Anne and Gilbert. It was MEANT to be! 

What books made you laugh?

• The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (and I don't know the author). These were the goofiest books I've ever read. In a "What was the point of that?" kind of way. But I liked it nonetheless!
• The Willoughbys (also, don't know the author). This was another, "I have no idea why I liked that, but it was really funny" books. The story was BEYOND unrealistic, but I still liked it!
• The Fairy's Mistake (by Gail Carson Levine, I think). This was a whole series of goofy fairy tale retellings. Emphasis on goofy. But still funny!
• Hank the Cowdog (by John R. Erickson). << Family favorite audio books. Told from a dog's point of view, and completely laughable. Featuring titles like "The Wounded Buzzard on Christmas Eve" and "The Case of the Booby-Trapped Pick-Up". :)

What is a book you just didn't like?

• Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl. This is supposed to be a must read. I did think it gave eye-opening information into the hardships of Jewish families, BUT knowing the thoughts of a teenage girl? Nobody should have to go through that! Trust me,  I know! ;)
• Where the Red Fern Grows. My mom TRICKED me into listening to this by saying, "Oh, I know you'll like it, it's all about dogs!" I was like EIGHT! I loved every minute of this wonderful story... UNTIL the dreaded last bit. I sat by the radio ('cause yes, this was back when I listened to books on the radio) and cried and cried. I've never trusted her book suggestions again. :)
• Fortunately, The Milk. Three Men in a Boat. Both books suggested by my dad. Apparently, he thought they were hilarious. But they weren't. They were actually pretty ridiculous! I'm starting to question his book suggestions, too! :)

Okay, that was really fun! I think I could've gone on-and-on! :)

{Pictures} March Photo-a-Day *Part 2*

(March 16) "Sunglasses"

(March 17) "Green" {This was St. Patrick's Day, by the way!}

(March 18) "A Corner of Your Home" {The pantry- my favorite corner!}

(March 19) "Funny" {Taking pictures of these two goofs for their graduation announcement!}

*March 20 does not have a picture*

(March 21) "Delicious" {Mom shared this granola she got. I thought it was pretty amazing stuff! ;)}

(March 22) "Kitchen Sink" {self explanatory}

 *March 23 does not have a picture*

(March 24) "An Animal" {Catniss, the cat with evil yellow eyes}

(March 25) "Breakfast" {The makings of oatmeal raisin pancakes}

(March 26) "Key" {The key to a happy family- a pile of warm cinnamon pancakes)

(March 27) "Your Name"

(March 28) "Trash" {The vegetables are "trash"-celery tops/onion skins/etc. my mom saves to cook with chicken.}

AND the rest of March turned into a failure... :)