did you know???

okay, so i feel awful......turns out some of you don't know that i got engaged this summer...... why didn't i post it on facebook, my blog or send it out over email?? well, for one thing, i wanted to tell most of you in person.... and that's more or less happened throughout the summer, except for now, i'm realizing that the task in itself was nearly impossible..... so, here is the official announcement..... we're engaged as of june 9, 2007!!

by golly, it does!!!

hmmmm.... so does this thing still work?

my word!! it's been 5 months!! how rediculous is that???

are people still out there?? i need to start posting some updates!!

oh, good gracious... how much time has passed since i've last been on this thing?? sad, sad, sad......

folks, spring is here!! tulips, tulips, and azaleas! and sunshine, rain drops, and warmth. the beauty of four seasons is that you truly learn to appreciate each season as it comes....

hey, so, life is good, it's busy, it's at times frustrating, but in general, it's good. not quite sure what to post, though i did tell my dear emma that i would post a funny story that wario clued me in on.... here goes:

Drunken man parks horse in bank foyer

Yay for Germany!!!

grace

sometimes grace comes softly and gently.... and if we don't take a moment to reflect we may miss it all together. once we recognize the grace, it is then that our hearts are flooded with thankfulness.

walking in the rain does that sometimes for me.

and i'm thankful. for everything in my life. grace.

you know, i have to tell you.... i really, really have missed taking pictures.... my camera has been sitting here staring at me... and i've just not taken the time with it.... BUT i did just develop some photos that i took over the last month.... and thought you might enjoy some of these....


'pancho' east jordan, dec 06


'a splash of red & a new habit' holland, feb 07


'little rascals' holland, feb 07


'going nowhere' east jordan, dec 06

as habeeb says, i am now officially part of the statistics of the blizzard of 2007.

wouldn't you know it.....

* a frozen waterpipe - thank you, Lord, for not letting it burst... and yes, now it runs hot water, although i can't turn it off with the faucet. any ideas, anyone?

* coming from kalamazoo today, i took the otsego exit and hit an icy patch.... before i knew it, I sailed right over a metal pole, up a snowbank and onto a street sign which is now at a permanent 45 degree. again, thank you, lord, for keeping me safe.... my car is okay, i'm okay, i didn't get a ticket, and i didn't even mind paying the $40 for the tow truck to pull me out. i'm just glad to be safe!

ahhhhh... spring, where art thou??

in the spirit of superbowl commercials.... one of my favorites from 2003

twilight '06

good folks.

i know it's been too long.... i can barely explain where the time has gone..... every so often, i manage to make it back to 'chicken scratch' and peruse it, but truly lack the motivation or creative muses to put something down. but seeing that people have been checking in on me even when i just make a 'peep,' makes me feel pretty special.... so gracias.

can you believe it's the first week in FEBRUARY???? lately i seem to be reliving the freaky moment when i realized that i only have 5 more weeks of research and writing before my first draft of my capstone paper is due. okay, i'll give it to you straight-up. i'm way behind and though i may work better under pressure, at this point i'm praying for a miracle and a full realization that it's not by my strength, but only by His.

do you ever name your past year? i mean, i'm still looking for a word to describe 2006.

so, some of you may have heard about this blizzard that hit the mid-west and michigan in particular..... we've been dumped on.... and pretty much stranded in our homes over the past few days. but it was quite enjoyable.... lazy, really. i convinced rodrigo that we needed to help the critters in the woods - so we bought some bird seed and brick of bird trailmix and then a corn thing that hangs from a bungee cord for the squirrels. i'm now an avid birdwatcher. i have a fat woody woodpecker who is a regular at the feeder - i named him 'albert.' and then there is a beautiful red cardinal who sometimes allows his spouse to come..... let me tell you - that dash of RED in the midst of white, gray and brown is so stunning. even albert's red head and blue back stand out.

deep, bold colors. primary colors. what a beautiful gift to the world .... can you imagine if life were only in black and white? (yeah, i know ... there's a movie out about that.)

i made the mistake of picking up a gardening magazine while waiting in the check-out line the other day. i'm ready for spring and to work in my garden. again. deep, bold colors.

there's much to ponder. i hope you are all doing well......

******************

by the way, i received an email out of the blue on sunday.... from a guy i grew up with in germany.... it makes me sad to think that i have forgotten about some of the people from that time in my life. i haven't heard this guy's name in 19 years. he now lives in the canary islands. 19 years.

peep. i'm still alive.