Happy New Year!

What will you be doing?! I'm ringing it in at Jon & Ranae's with Jeff and some of our other good friends. We have so much to celebrate and be grateful for. But I also just love fresh starts, and am taking full advantage of starting new. New perspective, new hope, new faith, new wonder, new opportunities, new love.
Cheers to 2012 being another wonderful year! 

Of course!

How to Make a Baby from Cassidy Curtis on Vimeo.

Cate Parr, Fashion Illustrator

I see Cate's work and am inspired all over again to keep practicing my watercolor skills.

What I'm listening to today...

HINK OUTSID THE OX

I love this print!

Found Here

Nice Layers

The History of the Sky

Watch this.

I wish there was a way to capture life like this. Where every day is a box, 

filled up with the most meaningful moments.

Ukraine's Green Mile Tunnel

I'd like to be the conductor of the train that runs through this forest.

I'm in love.

Save the Date!

This is the Short Version

The day: Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

The scenario: Jeff, Kati and I were going on an early sunrise hike, but because of the rain, we cancelled. 

So Kati and I decided to go to Oddfellow's for brunch instead. Fun, right?

The problem: I woke up that morning sicker than a dog. The nasty head cold I woke up to provided me with a migraine, which provided me with the nausea. BUT! I would prevail. I was determined. I hadn't spent time with her in months and I missed her! I had new music to show her! She had new music for me! I couldn't just cancel. I probably should've stayed in bed, but I knew I could come home and sleep the rest of the day. 

But what ended up happening that day was completely different and wonderful - a day I'll never, ever forget. 

Kati picked me up and drove me to Oddfellow's. 

While she was "parking", and I was "going in to get seats" I ran into this fine fellow.

(Kati, you sneak!) :)

The Fine Fellow

He hijacked my day. 

He put me on a boat.

And asked me if I would be his wife.

I said yes!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He hadn't realized I was so sick until I was actually on the boat looking for the best place to puke my guts out. Luckily I didn't! But the whole time he was so sweet and so understanding - and then eventually I could actually sit up and carry on a normal conversation. 

I started feeling better, and it ended up being the perfect day, just two best friends hanging out and in love.

I can't wait to be Mrs. Rose Kline. 

boat picnic

the beloved ring (more stories to come about this!)

our view of Lake Union from the electric boat he drove - so pretty & peaceful!

and finally, Michigan

LOTS has happened over the last month, and it would be wrong to get ahead of myself, so I'm going to write about Michigan, and then move on with my life.

First of all, can I just say I love the light tunnel in the Detroit airport? One morning around 5am, during one of our layovers there, we were the only ones walking through. It's so dreamy. Then again, when you're in love, everything seems dreamy. Until I ruined the moment by spilling coffee all over Jeff. Whoops.

It was my complete joy to meet Jeff's family. They instantly felt like my family, and I was at home with them. Mike, Lynne, Allison and Cayden are in my heart now and I find myself missing them.

Let me describe them.

Mike: all smiles, all sweetness, full of unexpected humor and depth. I'd met him a few weeks prior to our trip, when he came out here for the week the MC's graduated, so we were acquainted. I knew I really liked him, but it's an entirely different thing when you're staying at someone's home and apart of their day-to-day life. My favorite moment with him when when we were sitting around an outdoor bonfire one night. At that point, I knew in my heart I would marry Jeff, and become apart of the Kline family. But as Mike and I sat there talking, I was overcome with it again, so grateful to become apart of a family, with a dad, who is loving and faithful and kind. I don't know if he could tell I was crying, but I was. His example to me as a father to Jeff and Allison, a grandad to Caden and a husband to Lynne makes me trust not only him, but the son that he raised to be just like that. Since then, we've exchanged meaningful letters and conversations and I can say that I love Mike!

Lynne & Mike on Crystal Lake

Lynne: beautiful, down to earth, unassuming, with the best, dryest humor ever. As soon as I met her, I knew we would have a real friendship. She had a way of making me feel comfortable even though it's the first time we'd ever spoken. When I was expecting to be drilled with 20 questions, she sweetly gave me space to talk and get to know her with ease. My favorite moment with her was when we were walking along the foggy beach of Lake Michigan (photo below) and she told me how she came back to Christ, and they eventually adopted Jeff and Allison. Her openness to me about her story surprised me - mainly because I realized she was trusting me with a deep part of who she is. I respect her so much and I can only pray to be the type of mother she's been to them. Side note: It was cool watching Jeff laugh at things she would say. He loves her humor and gets that same dryness from her.

Lake Michigan Lighthouse

Allison: fun, endearing and brutally honest. I couldn't help but appreciate every quality of Allison when we met. I never had to guess what she was thinking, because she would say it. When we first met, she hugged me like we'd been old friends forever. She's been through so much in the last year and you can see how tired she is in her eyes. But she is a miracle. She really shouldn't be alive right now, but she is! In the midst of some crazy health problems, she's been raising a beautiful son, working and bought a beautiful home. I'm inspired by her drive and persistence through it all. One morning I was getting ready in the bathroom and she sat down and talked with me while I got ready. I love that she made a place for herself in the middle of my routine. In that moment, we felt like sisters.

Caden: no words.

Okay, so yes, there are words, but words will never do this kid justice. He's honestly the sweetest little guy I've ever met. He gets his endearing side from his mama. He has so much energy and is so curious and excited about everything he sees. There's not a rebellious bone in his body - just pure wonder. I loved the way he trusted me instantly by giving me his little hand to hold. I probably won't see him until the Spring...too long!!

Caden!

Some more favorite highlights:

saw my first firefly
climbed the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes
rented a beach house on Crystal Lake
long walks
lots of coffee and cherry pie every morning
saw "Raising Arizona"...a goodie
Jeff bought me a beautiful antique jade necklace!!!
meeting Jeff's bio family
swimming in Crystal Lake
watched old videos of Jeff as a kid :-)

Jeff & Caden

There were so many wonderful little memories that can't be put into words (like sitting on the dock on Crystal Lake) that I will remember forever. This trip made me more confidant than ever that Jeff is a man I love and trust and respect. He's someone I want to spend my days with.

It was hard coming back from a trip that was so defining and meaningful. It felt like I was jumping onto a moving train when I got home and haven't slowed down since. Because of that, it's taken time to slowly process all of it and more and more realizing the value in all of these relationships Jeff and I both have. Family is so important because it gives us something bigger than ourselves to be apart of. It reminds us where we come from and that we're miracles, placed by God to be connected to specific people at a specific time....fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives.

Thriller!

There's a nursing home in Kirkland called Merrill Gardens. I used to go there and read to patients, do crafts, just talk and we even did a modified version of swing dancing once. But on Halloween this year, they dressed up like zombies and did a choreographed dance to Thriller. Elderly Zombie Apocolypse - - yes please! Watch all the way to then end, 4:33 is hilarious.

Intermission

Georgia

So...waaaaay back in early September my bf and I (bf stands for best friend and/or boyfriend...same diff) flew across the country to Georgia to visit my granddad, who I haven't seen in a long time.

Before I start showing off pictures, I will say this: Jeff is so awesome to travel with. We weren't able to sleep through the first red-eye flight so there were lots of games of war & battleship. Sometimes I get nervous to fly, but not this trip. It makes me love thinking about all the other places we'll go someday. When we got to Georgia, we drove through the Smokies, and saw all sorts of small mountain towns. There are rivers everywhere, and the hills are so green! I thought it would be hot and muggy, but the weather changed right before we arrived, to record-breaking rains the entire time. Aside from the pictures I'm posting, we did a ton and had a great time with my family. We had good conversations and I met family I'd never met (Uncle Jim & his daughter Cassie). I tried (and loved) grits for the first time. Jeff shot a machine gun. We discovered our mutual love for a certain country singer. Jeff did a bunch of projects around Grandad's house. I slept in every morning. Jeff made me coffee every morning. It was a wonderful time.


That's my grandpa! Isn't he handsome? He drives the biggest truck you will ever see,

and it has a horn that sounds like a locomotive in your ear. 

This is the front view of their house, Loafer's Glory. He and his wife Chris have a beautiful piece of property,

full of cats and dogs and chickens and horses and deer and apple trees.
This photo doesn't do it justice.
Picture a long, winding uphill driveway. So long you can't see the house at the top.
Picture it surrounded by green, rolling hills bordered by green forests and creeks.

Jeff and I went out riding ATV's almost every day. At first we rode on the same one. We drove through miles of the Smokey Mountains, and even got lost once. Then we joined my uncle Jim and cousin Cassie and we each had our own. We had to move fallen trees and go through creeks.

I would do this everyday if I could. It was adventure at it's finest. I like driving fast.

This is Molly (it's a dog if you can't tell), and her blonde locks. She followed us everywhere.

My uncle Jim took us to a farm up the road where I met a Zebra for the first time.

Pretty eyes!

And I got to look at this face from morning 'til night for the whole trip. What a lucky girl I am.

It was a wonderful time with my Grandad & Chris. I ate more than I've ever eaten in my life.

I saw some beautiful country. We got to relax, and the monsoon rain helped us do that. Our plans to raft and be in the rivers didn't happen becaue of that, but it forced us to stay in, watch movies, play pool, take naps and eat some more. Just what we both needed!

After 5 days in Georgia, we flew to Michigan...

Dahlia Power

Have you ever seen a dahlia as big as a frisbee? a plate? a fat mans face?

Now you have!

He scattered our debts upon the waves...

Road Warriors

This post is for you, Linda. 

It doesn't require any commentary and the pictures say it all. 

We're baaaaack...

It was a wonderful time! Photos to come shortly!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Tomorrow Jeff and I leave for our trip. 

It's only a day away!

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO:
sleeping sound through every flight
playing thumb wars if we get bored (or just want to hold hands)
not losing any luggage
 foggy morning hills and dales (what's a dale, anyway?)
Georgia peaches (guaranteed they taste better there)
drive-in movies
sleeping in
Chris's killer bloody mary's for brekkie (seriously AMAZING)
riding motorcycles and horses
white water rapids (Level 1, por favor)
lightning storms
fireflies
small mountain towns (don't think of Deliverance)
conversations with Grandad
meeting Lynn, Allison and Caden (so excited!)
meeting everyone else (really)
visiting Jeff's hometown
long walks
listening to more of Mike's stories
tall sand dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan
enjoying the non-stop rest and adventure with Jeff (!!!)


This trip already feels so blessed. All the details came together just like we prayed for.
I feel really fortunate to be able to go on a long, full vacation with my wonderful boyfriend.
It will be full of meaning and substance and irreplaceable memories.

So long, for now! 

Say Something Nice!

We need to do something like this in Kirkland. :) It totally made me smile.

[Except I'm trying really hard to ignore how many germs are on that thing.]

In 3 weeks it will all be over...

"What will be over?" you ask.

This will be over:

I'm going to Michigan with Jeff to meet his family. Wooooooooooooo!

I pray to the good, kind, gentle, accommodating and sweet Lord of Hosts that I don't make a complete fool of myself. 

But seriously, I'm really excited. Excited, as in, I have no idea what to expect, but I'm looking forward to seeing that side of Jeff's life. His dad is in town this week so we've just met, so I have sort of a preview of what our trip to Michigan will be like. He's the most warm, genuine man with the greatest laugh. We had dinner at Milagro a few nights ago, and at one point we were all weeping from laughter. Personally, I think if you can laugh with someone that hard that you just met, that's a good sign.

Now if I can avoid long, awkward prayers at the dinner table, pool volleyball and admission to milking my cats teats (which I've never done), I'm good to go.

Our trip to Michigan will actually be Part II of our adventure out East. Part I is Georgia, and Jeff is coming! Yeeee! $%&@#!!! Can you sense my excitement? First ever vacay with my man!!

Lord, have mercy.