Here Comes the Bus!

...it's the first day of school tomorrow!

I can't remember many "first days" from elementary school (although I do remember anxiously riding my bike over to school to check out the posted class lists!).

I have a tradition that I finally broke a few years back. I have slept through my alarm on the first day of school 4 times. That has to be a record. I am determined to keep the streak broken.

What are your first day of school memories? Did you feel excited, nervous, sad to go back?

recreating childhood photos

Have you seen this? Young Me/Now Me is a blog where an artist named Ze Frank collects "re-creation" photos to eventually publish in a book. There are some pretty funny/disturbing photos over there. Hilarious. Now I want to try!

I wonder what Robin would say if I asked her to recreate this photo with me?

Or maybe this one with my grandparents? ;)

photos from Young Me/Now Me via Ohdeedoh

Letter to my 16-year-old self

Dear Rachel,

Go to bed! Ok, read this first and then go to bed. But do try to get more sleep! Staying up until 2 am to do homework is not healthy, and not worth it. You have the rest of your life to experience the wired world of caffeine. So, drink more water. It’s good for your skin.

Also, stop listening to “Dreaming of You” by Selena, every night on your disc man. Your current crush is NOT listening to the same song at the exact same time. He’s not even tuned in to Lights out Love Songs, dreaming of you too. He’s not. In fact, the guys are all listening to Dr. Drew. Listen to him sometime—you might learn something.

You can drive! Congrats! But while you’re at it, why not learn to drive a stick too? Maybe then your future self won’t have to practice driving with your future husband in some future parking lot on a future weekend.

Talk to your dad about the details of your track races, even if you’re sick of it. And let him coach you too, even though the only advice he ever gives is “pump your arms.” He critiques you because he loves to watch you run.

In fact, give your dad an extra big hug when he comes home from work tomorrow. And ask him about teaching, and married life, and parenting! Someday you’ll want to ask him a bunch of questions, but you won’t be able to. Spend some quality time with him today.

Let your sister read your Seventeen magazine. There is no need to rush out to the mailbox to grab it first. It’s not like the stuff in there is that great anyway. Except those cargo pants. Go to Abercrombie and get yourself a pair of those puppies.

A cheese bagel and an Emerald City smoothie do not constitute a real lunch. Neither do Otis Spunkmeyer cookies.

Say a swear word now and then. I mean it. Your friends will keep trying to get you to say “the sh word” so, surprise them…and throw a “d word” in if you want to. Why not?

Oh, and read your Bible. Seriously. Read it.

Listen to your parents when they tell you to join the cross country team and phase out soccer in your life. Soccer will still be there in the form of adult leagues when you’re older. But with running comes the feeling of exhilarating success, some great friendships, and one true love.

Pay attention in Spanish class. You’ll use it later.

Donate your hair.

Keep your blankie. Your future husband won’t mind.

Start putting dressing on your salad already! It adds such spice to life!

Stop going to the tanning salon! It takes years off your life!

Try to secretly learn a lot about the Internet. Then, start an online community where people can join, create profiles, post status updates, give virtual thumbs ups, and poke each other. You’re confused? Don’t worry, you’ll get it someday.

Appreciate:
Family vacations to Mexico, birthday parties, your dad’s guitar music as you go to sleep, the mountain view from your house, your mom’s meals, your grandparents’ stories (record them or write them down), your sister’s sense of humor, swapping clothes with girlfriends, and slumber parties. These are all good things.

It sounds cliché, but be happy with who you are. Notice all of the things you have and the people in your life that love you. If you do, you'll be content.

And don’t forget—God is with you, even when life doesn’t seem to make sense. He will fill it again with overwhelming beauty and love.

Your friend,
Rachel

to read more entries on the "Letter to my 16-year-old self" simul-blog, read Alisha's and click on the links below it

these pictures make me laugh

1.Chris' tie needs ironing 2.showing matching socks and a little leg 3.the guys + Joe Biden 4.a ladybug lands on Anna (good luck?) 5.Isaiah running part I 6.Cool Chris 7.Steve's excited to get married 8.Isaiah running part II 9.Steve gets a thumb's up for correct vows 10.bling 11.shock 12.steering the ship 13.taking the plunge 14.piece of cake














all images by jamie hammond

Summer! Don't go!

Exactly one week until I head back to work for another school year (it'll be my 5th, I can't believe it!). There are so many wonderful things to reflect on from this summer (expect lots of upcoming posts on the big events) but I feel like I'm still clinging to this last bit of vacation...

...before it's time to dive back in to a different routine, mindset, and set of responsibilities. I will actually have to change out of my sweats after getting coffee with steve in the mornings. I'll need to shop for office supplies, pack my computer bag (where is my computer bag?) and make my lunch every morning. But why think about those things now? It's still summer. I think I'd rather worry about what to BBQ tonight. :)

{with the dekokers on pipe lake}

chocolate chip cookies

In the past week, I've made these twice--once as a double batch--and these three are all that remain (ok fine, I had one for breakfast this morning)! Granted, we did share with others, but I'm telling you, these cookies are delish.

I found the recipe on heart of light's blog, but it's from allrecipes.com. Click on the link and enjoy!

wedding day: anticipation

I recently realized something about myself: I'm an all-about-the-anticipation kind of person. My favorite day of the week is Friday, since it's almost the weekend, but not quite, so you haven't even used any of it up yet. I love appetizers. I like Christmas eve better than Christmas. My favorite part of church is singing before the sermon. Really, I like anything that prepares you to enjoy something very very wonderful. It's no wonder that the "getting ready" part of my wedding day was probably my favorite part. I remember being completely relaxed as soon as my hair was done (hair had been a source of anxiety for me that week) and soaking in the morning sunshine as I drove back to my house with my mom and sister. A friend from high school came over to do our makeup and a family friend brought over the flowers. All the while, my best friends were there, listening to music, chatting, and getting dressed for my wedding. It was an amazing feeling.

I remember every part of those few hours, probably better than I do the ceremony or reception. But having Jamie, our photographer, there to document the time, was really great. She did such a good job, and I love having these photos to look back on.

Looking through these makes me so thankful that my sister was my maid of honor, and my biggest help in the days prior to the wedding. All day, she was in the right place at the right time, holding onto my lipstick, sunglasses, and even sacrificing her sash at the reception, since the garter was nowhere to be found (I didn't end up wearing it).

By the time the school bus showed up with the guys (a big yellow bus), I was ready. I had been dreaming of wearing my dress (made for me by kiko), hair clip (by lovely jen), shoe feathers, and veil (loaned graciously by jenny) for an entire year! I remember peeking out the window to see my friends decorating the school bus with huge white bows. It doesn't get much better than that. ;)

all photos by jamie hammond photography