Tuesday, December 30, 2008

'Tis the season

I know! I'm a terrible blogger. But getting past that, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! So much time has gone by that I thought I'd just highlight some moments with the "best" pictures from the holidays. This was a holiday season of "firsts" for me.

This is my first major break vacation from work. Testing computer software was a temporary solution until I found something more permanent. I now work at an elementary school as a Para. For me, that means that I work with kids with special needs. I work in the EBD (Emotional and Behavioral Disorder) room, supervise the lunchroom, help kids in math, and do before/after school daycare. This probably sounds like a nightmare job to some, but I've been surprised at how much I love it! The kids have won me over. After the New Year, they want me to work in the "Time-Out Room." I'm sure I will have stories to tell! Anyway, back to the holiday of firsts:

My first-ever Gingerbread house! It's pretty tacky, but pretty awesome.
Actually, these pictures don't represent a first, but they are entertaining. Gerrit and I spent Thanksgiving with my family. We had a great time playing with the kids, going to movies, shopping, eating, and playing Telephone Pictionary.Here's Owen and Gerrit singing. Thanksgiving was a hoot!This was my first Christmas away from home. It was hard not to be with my family, but Gerrit's family made me feel at home. We definitely kept busy by seeing both sides of his family, going to movies, playing games, and teaching me how to do a Sudoku puzzle. The hardest part was teaching me how to pronounce Sudoku.
This is Gerrit's sister, Ahna and cousin Daniel.
Gerrit's sister, Darcy was there too! We haven't seen her since last year.And finally, this is the first time I've ever dyed my hair black. Eeeeek! I thought it would turn out dark brown....not so much. Whoops. Sorry for the gap in posting. I promise to do better! How was your Christmas?

Monday, November 17, 2008

Two Left Feet

Tonight, Gerrit and I were playing a game. We took turns choosing songs and music videos from youtube. Okay, so...not a great game, but entertaining enough and a fun way to reminisce. After a few song selections, I chose KC and JoJo's "All My Life." To those readers who are over 30, that was a song that came out in my Jr. High days. I made Gerrit dance with me. I'm pretty sure the boy I had a crush on in 7th grade rejected my request to dance while this song was playing. Obviously, I was devastated. My dad later picked me up and asked if I had danced with any boys. I said, "No." He responded with, "They're just intimidated by your beauty." Awwww, that's the sweetest lie I've ever heard. Thanks, Dad. Anyway, Gerrit and I didn't meet till college and we missed out on dances together in our pre-teen years. So, we danced in true Jr. High fashion: with 2 feet between us. Gotta leave room for Jesus! And I think maybe Gerrit was a little intimidated! :)

Monday, November 3, 2008

Looks Can Be Deceiving

I have a confession. I am not who I seem to be. At least I'm not who I seemed to be for the past couple weekends. Last weekend I was a movie star. This past weekend I was a temporary Vikings fan. (Please don't disown me, Dad!)
My sister Carey and her husband Greg hosted their annual Halloween party last weekend. I went as Angelina Jolie, while Gerrit went as one of his favorite characters....MacGyver. I put on a pregnant belly and Gerrit drew some tattoos on my arms. In the dark Halloween lighting, some of the guests actually thought I was pregnant! Yikes! Gerrit rocked a mullet and a swiss army knife. We had a great time. Thanks, Carey and Greg!Yesterday, Gerrit and I went the the Vikings game with his sister, Ahna and her boyfriend, Rico. I am actually a Packer fan. But I couldn't safely show my face at a Vikings game decked out as a Packer fan. Now, I know my dad might give me flack about this. But Dad, remember the verse in Ruth that I picked for Gerrit at our wedding: "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, your God will be my God," and your favorite football team will be my second favorite football team. Okay, I added the last part. But in that Vikings shirt, I think Gerrit found me more beautiful than on our wedding day. :) We had a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of our afternoon.Gerrit insisted on taking this picture (below). He really wanted to document my temporary betrayal and the moment he fell in love with me all over again.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Girl of my dreams

This is Gerrit. Here is a picture of Cassie. She is beautiful and I love her.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Tag! I'm it!

I've been blog "tagged" by my sister, Carey. The rules are:
1. I need to link her blog. Here is her blog. I love it!
2. I need to give 10 random facts about myself. Those will be below.
3. I need to tag other bloggers. I tag Erika and Jenny.

Okay, 10 random facts...this is hard! But here:

1. I make faces that I am unaware of making. My face has a life of its own.2. I can lick my elbow. This is supposed to be physically impossible, but I have an unusually long tongue. Sometimes, I literally have to fold it up in my mouth to make it comfortable.

3. I got sent to the Principal's office in Kindergarten for slapping a boy across the face. But he made fun of me first! And he punched me in the nose after that!

4. I looked like a boy for a good chunk of elementary school/Jr. High. I still think I look like this.5. I was in 8 plays and musicals throughout my school years.6. I knew I wanted to go to Northwestern after I watched the tape of my dad as Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof." I was probably 4. I went! And I loved it!
7. Once I have an idea in my head, it's stuck. I'm stubborn and obsessive compulsive!

8. I think my family is made up of the greatest people ever. They are all so special in their own very different way. (I don't think they know that though, so don't tell them!). I love them. (And my in-laws too!)9. I secretly sniff Gerrit's neck when he hugs me.10. I have a pumpkin spice cheesecake in the oven RIGHT NOW!

I hope you enjoyed this! I know I did. Erika and Jenny-go for it!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Good and the Bad of a Night With the Girls

Tonight was girls' night. We try to meet once a week with as many of us as possible. We especially wanted to get together tonight because MANDY'S ENGAGED! Congrats to her! She got to tell us the story of the proposal and share her excitement about wedding planning. We were all happy to hear her story (GOOD). We were happy to hear at all because the restaurant had this incredibly loud machine that was hummmmmmmmmming constantly (BAD). The food hit the spot. Whoever came up with the soup and salad combo idea is a genius. Perfect for fall weather (GOOD). The person who spilled her red soup on her green sweater is not a genius (BAD). I am my mother's daughter.Our jobs were a big topic of conversation. We're just glad we have them most of the time (GOOD)! But Rachel had a hard day at work and shunned the work conversation (BAD). I don't blame her. Teaching eleven-year-olds is tough! After we ate, we headed to Jess' new place. On the way, I was trying to take candids of our night. I clearly need to learn how to use my camera. And my camera clearly needs to learn how to use its flash appropriately (BAD). But as Delani and I were trying to take a silly, funny-faced picture, we took a cute one (GOOD)! The night was a GOOD reminder that I've been blessed with some wonderful, fun, Christian girlfriends and there's nothing BAD about that! Aw, wasn't this cheesy?

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Gross.

This afternoon, I was about to clean the bathroom. I took the rugs out, put dirty towels in the basket, and put items back in drawers. Then I sprayed the whole bathroom down with my handy-dandy multi-purpose cleaner. I mean everything; I sprayed the mirrors, the sink, the toilet, the tub and shower walls. I like to let the cleaner settle. Next, I was getting ready to use the brush on the toilet. I got into position, ready to do the job I hate, when the whole paper towel roll fell into the toilet! Not only was the whole roll ruined, but I also got splashed IN THE EYE with toilet bowl water. I think God is punishing me for working on the day of rest. I've learned my lesson.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Modern Love

I was just now looking at an old book of poems my mom gave me one year for Valentine's Day. I came across one titled: To My Dear and Loving Husband (written in the 1600s by Anne Bradstreet). You can skip to the end if you wish, but it goes:

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.

Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold

My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.

Thy love is such I can no way repay.

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let's so persevere

That when we live no more, we may live ever.

I finished and thought, "How nice. I will show this to my dear and loving husband" Gerrit took the book, read the poem, and when he finished he said in monotone, "What's this say? That you love me?"
Yup...that's what it says. I love you....dearly.

Monday, September 29, 2008

From Coffee Shop to Cubicle

I have served my last cup of coffee at Caribou! Good-bye "large-extra-hot-no-froth-skinny-latte-with-a-half-shot-of-hazelnut-hold-the-lid." Hello computer software testing!
Of course, I will miss Caribou dearly. I had some great co-workers and customers that I enjoyed seeing daily. One customer actually cried when I told her I was leaving. "There are just some people, like you, who bring a little joy back into my life," she said. I'll definitely miss her and others.
But alas, it is time to move on. For the past week or so, I have been in training to test computer software at the same company where Gerrit works. So far, it's Greek to me. But they tell me I'm catching on fast. I even broke some software today! In testing land, this is a good thing. At Caribou...not so much. Anything I can do to help!
Looking at a computer screen is certainly a change from making mochas. The change in attire is a nice change, too. Instead of coffee stained, frumpy, black shirts, I get to wear pretty, fitted clothes...in color! (Though I'm not diggin' the heels all day.)
I will miss the interaction with customers, but it is nice to back in an office. It's a step in the right direction.
And I get to work with Gerrit! (He's this super hot guy in the next cubicle!) I think I see an office romance in my future!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

My Birthday!

Welp, it was my birthday on Thursday. The day was just what I wanted it to be. Gerrit had the day off of work. He told me he would have to go in for a couple hours to get some things done. So, he got up as usual and left. While he was gone I got up and put the chain on the door (just for the extra feeling of safety). I woke up an hour later to someone breaking in! Don't panic! It was Gerrit surprising me with a dozen roses and....McDonald's breakfast!!! I was so happy and relieved. I nearly wet my pants when I heard the chain stop the door from opening. Anyway, we spent the day relaxing, playing scrabble (of course!) and going to the movie "The Women." Gerrit's a keeper, I tell ya. Not only was it an extreme chick flick, it wasn't even a good one! Ialso got phone calls and cards from my wonderful parents and sisters! (We celebrated together when they were here for Owen's dedication.)On Friday night, my dear friend Mandy took me shopping as her birthday gift to me. She bought me some cute clothes that I'm very excited about. Oh, and purple is the new black. It seemed that everything in the store was purple.On Saturday, Gerrit's family came over. We went to lunch, played games and had cake! Gerrit and I dominated in the game Cranium. That night I went to my friend Amy's house for dinner and a bonfire with our group of friends. Bonfire's bring out the best conversation topics, I think. We talked about our obsessive compulsive habits (everyone has them!), Britney Spears (why???), geneology and old college memories.
I've been blessed with some great birthdays.
All this to say that I feel very loved by everyone in my life.

Monday, September 1, 2008

S-C-R-A-B-B-L-E (14 pts)

Gerrit and I have been playing A LOT of Scrabble lately. I have been avoiding playing Scrabble for over a year and a half (since we registered for the game for our wedding). When the time comes to play board games, I suggest LIFE or a card game. But alas, I could not tip-toe around it forever...Gerrit asked to play Scrabble. And here I am a week later--slightly addicted to the game. We've played every night. I even won once! :) And this is the excitement in my life! This is why I don't blog, people!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

I Carry Your Heart

As you may have noticed, Gerrit did some interior blog design. The picture in the header is from our first official date on May 16, 2006. We went to dinner and then to the lake at sunset. The words are from a poem by e.e. cummings. I used this poem in a scrapbook I made for Gerrit and it has become a favorite of ours. The full poem is as follows:

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Friday, August 1, 2008

New Hair. New Woman.

Well, I did it. I got my hair chopped off. What brought this on, you ask? Gerrit has said before that I would look cute with short hair. Of course, I was hesitant because of the 5+ years of my childhood that I looked like a boy. Sometimes I still see that person staring back at me in the mirror. I worried that if I got my hair cut even to my chin that I wouldn't look like a female anymore. But I decided that maybe my face is more feminine now than it was in Jr. High. So, here it is, my new look:So, I think I still look like a girl. What do you think? This is my new grown-up hair. Hopefully this will be help me with getting a grown-up job. I really like it so far and I still feel feminine. As Shania Twain says, "Man, I feel like a woman!"

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Girls Night Out in England!

Last weekend, a few of us girls went out to a British pub and eatery for Jess' and Brittany's birthdays. We definitely enjoyed the cuisine. I myself had a Cornish pastie....whatever that is. Very tasty. It was great to be together since we haven't all hung out in quite a while. There always seems to be someone missing, which is sad because I love these girls! Lately I've been thinking about what a weird time of life we're all in. Some of us are job searching. Others are getting ready to start new jobs. Mandy and Rachel just got back this summer from year long teaching jobs in foreign countries. Brittany will be leaving in a year for a four year(!!!!!) missions trip to Ukraine. It seems everyone is going through a transition period of some kind. Who warned us that life after college would be this way? No one! What now? I'm glad God knows what's going on. Anyway....other than the taste of life confusion in the air, it was a good time.