Friday, November 27, 2009

My Hubby

There is a slight possibility that I'm prejudice, but I think this baby is ADORABLE.   By the time this picture was taken, he'd come a long way from the 5 lb premie that spent the first few months of his life in the hospital, looking like an alien baby.  Fast forward twenty-some years, and this is the man I married.  And yes, he's still as handsome now as he was then. 

I wonder if his parents knew he'd grow up as handsome as he did?  Did they know he would be strong, independent, confident, and a little stubborn?  Did they know he would be a man's man, working on his own cars, being a great shot with a gun (although not quite as good a shot as the wife -hehe), doing his own construction?  Did they know he would be a thoughtful husband, getting up on Saturday mornings and cooking breakfast for his wife or stopping by her work on an icy day and scraping the ice off her windows so she wouldn't have to? (I won't list all the sweet things he has done or continues to do, we'd be here forever)
Did they know he would love the Lord with all his heart, and seek to be more like him? 

They couldn't have known what an amazing guy they were raising.  I think they know it now.  I think they know he has great taste...he picked me didn't he?  :)  I thank God everyday for the husband he blessed me with.

And, if he ever decides to bless me with a son that looks like his daddy, I'll be doing well. 

Thursday, November 19, 2009

What Kind of Animal Would You Be?

When I was 3 years old, I was in my hometown's "Little Miss ____" Pageant.  I had a blast.  It must've showed too, because I got 1st runner up.  One of the questions they asked me was, "If you could be any kind of animal, what would you be?"  My answer was...."I don't know."  I've never been good at questions like that.  In fact, if you'd asked me that same question on Monday, my answer would probably have been the same. 
That's all changed now though.  I had an epiphany on the way home last night.  It may have something to do with the fact that my life has been a little (okay, A LOT) stressful lately.  I finally came up with an answer to that question though. 

If I were an animal, I'd want to be a BEAR.  Yes, a bear. 

Maybe a black bear

And, I have reasons...

* I could hibernate through the winter.  Sounds good to me.  I hate cold.  And lately, the idea of sleeping through the winter and starting fresh in the spring has sounded really good too. 

*My hubby says I'd have to eat a lot of fish.  I'm ok with that.  I like fish just fine.....
but I might have to swipe a pic-a-nic basket or two.

*I'd have plenty of fur to keep me warm.  Maybe roam around the mountains in the summer, and sleep through the winter.  ( I keep coming back to this sleep through the winter thing)

Or maybe I would be a grizzly bear.
Do you know they can smell things 10 miles away?  And look how tough I would look.   Nothing would mess with me. 

And yet, they're still adorable enough that children everywhere curl up with their likeness....


Yep.  I think I would want to be a bear. 

Monday, November 16, 2009

All I Want For Christmas

With Christmas a little over a month away, I thought it only appropriate to post my Christmas list.

Rachel's Christmas List

1. 
That's right...a HOUSE. Only, not necessarily red.  And not cartoon.  A real house, please. 
Placed right here, would be fine: 
Heck, I would settle for our tiny little building/apartment, as long as it's FINISHED and I don't have to pay rent. 

2.
Who doesn't want a new car?  I think an SUV would suit me just fine.  GMC Acadia, Ford Escape...something of the sort.  Classy, but efficient. 

And for days, when I just want to look good: 
I haven't decided what color.  Black, perhaps. 

3.
New boots!  My old ones aren't very versatile.  Very cute with jeans, but what if I want to wear them with a skirt? 

4.
A new, nice watch...to replace my cheap (but cute) Target watch

5.
A new casual coat.  I love my wool peacoat, but it just doesn't work with sneakers. 
Sherpa lining, perhaps. 
6. 
A new niece or nephew.  One just isn't cutting it anymore :)  One of our own eventually, but I'm going to leave that one up to God. 

oh yeah, and one more thing...

7.

An airplane would make traveling to see our parents much easier.  Especially the times we try to cram both siides of the family into one trip, (i.e. Christmas) and spend about 14 hours total in the car. 

I chose this pic because it looks similar to the plane we were in when Dean proposed. 

Friday, November 6, 2009

Thoughtful...

I love to reminisce.


I love looking back on good times, and happy memories. One of my favorite things is sitting around the kitchen table at my mom's house after a good lunch, talking with my brothers and laughing about past memories.




Yesterday, I started thinking about thoughtful things people have done for me over the past years.
Here are a few of the things that came to mind...




1. Last week, my mother-in-law who lives 5 hours away, made us cookies and sent them to us via UPS.
Mmm.....
2. One year in college, my roommates and I were headed home for Christmas. I was the last to leave. When I got home from class, I walked in my room to find it covered in flower petals and a Christmas letter laying on my bed.

3. While we were dating, my husband spent a semester in his hometown. Throughout those few months, he would drive the 5 hours and take me on dates. The day before one of his trips down, he sent me flowers at work (sweet? yes) with a note that simply said: "Can't wait to see you on Saturday." I'll never forget that note, or the way it made me feel.




4. After high school, I worked at a local bank. Every Friday, we were allowed to wear jeans if we paid a dollar. At the end of the year, all the money collected went to a family in need that we all agreed upon. I left the bank and went to college almost 3 hours away, where I didn't know a soul. A year after I left, I was struggling a bit to work few enough hours to keep up with school, and still make ends meet. About a week before Christmas, my mom called me. She had gotten home from Christmas shopping and found an envelope on the door with my name on it. Inside was a money order from the bank, signed "Santa Claus." I knew immediately what had happened. And I was absolutely speechless.

I am amazed at, and grateful for, the thoughtfulness of others. I am blessed by how God uses those in my life to provide just what I need when I need it.

Thank you, Daddy, for always taking care of me!