it's all an adventure that comes with a breathtaking view

 

{a life update}

^ Silver Star. 04.07.2022 ^

  Wow, guys, life is about to get crazy, and I'm excited to be blogging again, so I can take you all with me on this adventure. The adventure of having The Lady B as my SISTER. That's right guys. My darling brother proposed to Brynna and she said yes!! (big shock. lol. jk. we all saw this coming) There is literally nobody else I would want to have as my sister-in-law. Brynna felt like a sister before her and Chancy ever became a thing. And now she's going to marry my brother and move here, and she'll be my sister forever and ever. I am over the moon over this. 

  The week that she was here was so fun. I loved having her near and I loved watching her and Chancy be a couple (behind my blush. I don't know why I blush so easily over them. Something to do with the fact that he's my brother, I guess) We went hiking up "our mountain", and even though the snow drifts freaked me out, I had such a good time. I love being up there. Sometimes I'd almost rather not even hike. Just sit there, look at the view, breathe in mountain air and shout, "Woohoo Mountain Dew!!" on top of my lungs. 

  Oh, and I'm not sure if y'all remember or not, but I played a part in bringing Chancy and Brynna together. Well, I also picked the proposal location *laughs* I'm just over here being their matchmaker xP It's super fun, if I'm honest. I love them both so much and will probably cry an awful lot at the wedding. 

  My family is one of those super weird close families, and we knew Chancy bought the ring, and we even knew exactly when and where he was going to propose. When he showed us the ring that he picked out all on his own, without Brynna even knowing, I nearly cried. Guys. My baby brother is getting married. 

{sneak peak at the engagement pictures. pssttt. the engagement actually happened at this location}

   As you can tell, I am very happy about this joyous event in our lives. But I'd be lying if I said that joy was the only emotion I've been having. And I think that's normal. This is such a huge change. A wonderful change, yes. But even wonderful changes can be hard. I always thought I'd be married by seventeen. Always thought I would've started a family by now. And here I am, twenty-two, and I've never even been asked out. Nothing has happened in that regard. No romance whatsoever has happened in my life. And now I'm watching my brother fall in love with my friend. And though I love it, it also hurts. That's okay, isn't it? These feelings are normal, right?

  Someday it'll be my turn... right?

  Spring is trying it's best to come to the PNW, but guys, we've woken up to snow three times this week, and I am just ready for summer now, thanks. I took the above picture on a very lovely spring day, before we were hit with all this snow and rain. But hey, that's spring for ya. Snow, rain, sunshine, all in the same day. xP But I guess time will start to fly now, and the next thing we know it'll be summer and my baby bro will be a married man. 

  Now that Brynna has gone back home, I am hoping to pick up my reading again. So far this year I am doing great towards my reading goal. I'm excited about that. Currently I am reading Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M White, but I haven't picked it up in so long. I am also reading through A Bundle Of Letter to Busy Girls, for the third time, lol. My nonfiction for the year. I'm not really a nonfiction reader, but I love that one.

Recently read:

Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin (4 Stars)

Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano (5 Stars)

All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner (4.5 Stars)

The Librarian of Boone's Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer (2.5 Stars)

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano (5 STARS. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING)

Recently watched:

Magnum PI (we're on season 7)

Spiderman No Way Home (ahhhh this movie)

Recently listened:

Birthday Cake by Dylan Conrique 

Take Her Off Your Hands by Midland 

Miami, My Amy by Keith Whitley 

Give Me His Last Chance by Lionel Cartwright

Wyoming by Skip Ewing

Love Me as I Am by for king + country

Made Up Story by Andi

goodbye may of 2020

It's almost June. It's almost June. It's almost June.

Maybe if I type it a thousand times over I will actually comprehend that time had past since March, and we're pretty much in summer now. I can't be the only one who feels like time has stopped for the past few months. Right?

Well. I guess I can't find a way to make my month sound fun and interesting, even though it was xP So I'll just do a small photo dump again:

went camping in my grandpa's new shop with my sisters (minus Felicity), The Aunts, and Kirsten. Hiked. Climbed up and down "cliffs". Found the spring and it was beautiful - just like Josh in the Seasons of the Heart books *winks* Played games. Slept in the loft. Drank coffee from a tin cup. good times. good times. 

went to town on a sunny day also I paaaiddd offff my caaarrrrr *happy dance*

spent a lot of time up at my grandpa's property and in the new shop, come to think of it. Had some good times there for sure <3 playing games with the cousins till later than I've ever stayed out besides a time or two when I stayed out till midnight in NH or something like that. (my cousins will read this be shocked to find out that I don't stay out late, but that's how it is when you don't have friends who live by you)

started a new diary!! who else gets excited by this!? 

babysat Kate, along with LaKaysha. She was such a joy to watch, and the sista's apartment is such a relaxing place to be <3

my parents went away one weekend, and so did the brother, so it was just us girls home. In this pic I;m watching The Waltons and writing in my diary, but mostly I watched Joanie Loves Chachi that weekend. Ended up buying that show on DVD after that *winks* 

Also, we had Marissa and Marita over for a movie night that weekend, which we never do so that was fun!

and lastly, we have a pic of me and LaKaysha on Mother's Day - which was a pretty good day, btw.

Read in May:
The Tender Years by Janette Oke
A Searching Heart by Janette Oke

Watched in May:
Monk (finally finished it!!)
The Waltons
Emergency! The Final Rescues (6 tv films)
Joanie Loves Chachi
Night at the Museum
Honey I Shrunk the Kids
Around the World in 80 Days
Antman
I Still Believe

Heard in May:
10,000 Hours by Dan + Shay
I'm Talking to a Girl and Vinyl and I Met a Girl by William Michael Morgan
Look at Me by Scott Baio and Erin Moran
Nine Times Blue by The Monkees (Johnny Cash Show version)
I Still Believe and Find Me in the River by KJ Apa
Cool With Being Crazy by Willow City

Hope your month was grand! What did you do? What are you currently watching? (I have been terrible at replying to comments, but I promise I see them and they all make me smile <3)

goodbye march of 2020

Goodbye, and good riddance. 

I sure am glad to see this month go. Who's with me?
This world is a crazy place these days, and I can't wait till this all ends. This Corona-virus thing, that is.
No work, no church, no life.
I hope this is over soon.

a n y w a y
I'm just going to do a small photo dump this month, since not much happened besides what's in the pictures. *winks*

On the last day of February we went to a wedding - back before gatherings were banned. So the below picture is technically not from march, but whatever *winks * it was a lovely wedding, and afterwards we got frozen yogurt so that was fun xP

drove the 40 minutes it now takes to get to Olive Garden from church. but Olive Garden is always worth it *winks*

random church bathroom selfie xP

made a little extra money, pruning for my grandpa, so this is what I treated myself with ^^^ aren't they beautiful??

morning sun on the way to work one day (when I was able to go to work)

Kate, hugging the teddy bear I bought her before she was born <3 this was taken when they still lived with us. Now Felicity and Josiah have an apartment of their own and I have my room back!

She's getting so biiiigggg!!!!!!!!! <33333333333333

I made brownies one Sunday, sense church was cancelled and all

playing old games at the aunts' after church (yes, these pictures are out of order, sorry)

enjoying the sunshine before the spring rains

looooooookkkk my dad put shelves in my room and they're soooooo beautiful <333333 I just want to look at them all day long *laughs*

random tea party with the sisters. #livinthequarantinelife

piiizzzzaaaaaaaaaaaaa



read in march:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott


watched in march:
Psych
Emergency!
Hogan's Heroes
High School Musical (1,2, and 3)
The Finest Hours
12 Strong
Red Dawn (1984)
Ice Princess
Tuck Everlasting
Father Knows Best
(with the lockdown, we've been watching a lot of things. don't judge *winks*)


heard in march:
Everyday Heroes by Dave Carroll
Love of the Common People and Problems by The Everly Brothers
Rewrite the Stars by Zac Efron and Zendaya
It Ain't Me Babe by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon
I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am by Merle Haggard

And that's all for now folks! Hope you're doing well. This will end soon and we'll be able to get back to our normal lives <3

goodbye february of 2020

February's almost over and it's time for another wrap-up post. I can't believe that the things that happened in the beginning of this month were this month. Feels like forever since I seen Janeya last. <3 on the last day of January we met her for lunch after work, and then brought her home to our house.  That was such a good time. i miss her. 

That  night was her uncle's Last Night Out and, well, I went. xP Girls weren't allowed down in the field with the guys where they were driving old cars around. But we sat at the top of the hill and watched, and froze, and chatted, and it was a grand time.
The next day was the wedding. Kirsten drove down for a long weekend stay, and we spent most the day getting ready for the wedding that night. But we did find the time to run and get coffee before the local coffee shop closed for the night. *winks*

Weddings are always such great fun (and I get to go to another one this weekend!!), so that was a good time. But my favorite part of the day was after the wedding, when we went to Burgerville for milkshakes and stayed there till ten (pm), then went to Janeya's grandma's place (my great-aunt) and hung out in the basement before going home for the night. I didn't get any pictures from any of this. I guess I was too busy enjoying my out-of-town family.

Kirsten and LaKaysha, a coffee run to RedLeaf

Having Janeya here was such a blessing. She's a treasure for sure. <333333 we had coffee dates, and long chats, and just a lovely time. I can't even begin to tell how what a joy it was. Her time here was over too soon.

While both Janeya and Kirsten were here we took LaKaysha out for her 22nd birthday. We had such grand plans of surprising her with lunch and bowling. We did surprise her and we did go for lunch, but the one time to try to go bowling - the bowling alley is packed. whyyyyy???? We ended up trying a new coffee shop and walk a local shop, which LaKaysha really enjoys, so it worked out fine.

Kate is getting so big! She's so smiley, and adorable - and living with us while Felicity and Josiah are in between apartments <3 I may want my room back real soon, but this little niece is such a joy to have in the house, everyday, all day. I don't mind her cries in the night either. She's too sweet to get annoyed at.

So my February started out a little bit crazy - with work and visiting family, I will admit I got a little overwhelmed. But that calmed down, and so did work. If it wasn't for my grandpa being willing to let us prune his fruit trees, we wouldn't be working hardly at all this week.

Oh, Valentine's Day was a thing. I forget about that. Or try to - being a single girl. I'm not gonna lie and tell you that Valentine's Day isn't hard for me, because it is. LaKaysha and I worked that day, but treated ourselves to lunch and coffee after work. Also our mom gave us some special things at breakfast <3
At the coffee shop the random guy in front of us on line left cash to go towards our drinks, so that was sweet <3

I'm excited for the wedding this weekend - another one of those weddings where I don't know which side of the church to sit on because I am related to both the bride and groom. Maybe this time we'll actually do what we threaten to do each time my mom's cousin marries my dad's cousin: just sit in the middle of the aisle and make everyone walk around us *laughs* ok, I won't do that xP I'll probably end up sitting with my mom's side of the family... we'll see.

Watched in February:
Psych
Emergency!
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
A Walk to Remember

Read in February:
When Calls The Heart by Janette Oke

Heard in February:
Single Girl by Sandy Posey
Woman, Amen and Living by Dierks Bentley
The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert
Home by Phillip Phillips
Prayed for You by Matt Stell

How was your February? Your Valentine's Day? Have you ever been related to both the bride and groom at a wedding? Or is that just my family? *the bride and groom are not related to each other, for those of you who were worried*

goodbye january of 2020

Can you believe that January is already  almost over? only three more days.

How's your year going so far? Mine is pretty good. I'm getting back into the schedule of working after that long break in December. Plus I'm getting my life organized. And by that I mean, organizing my stuff by buying baskets and things to make my life feel just a little bit more put together.

I've never been the planner type person, but I guess I sorta turned into one over time. Because the idea of getting a planner and using that to schedule my job and also just keep track of important dates sounds fun. Though I haven't actually taken the time to pick up a planner yet. But I've been writing lists lately, and I find it refreshing. Helps to organize my thoughts. Lists of what books I need to read (I have way too many books on my bookshelf that I haven't read), what I'd like to watch this year, and things I'd like to do this year. I wouldn't call these goals, they're just lists of things I want to get done. It helps my brain not explode. *laughs*

I've also been trying to write in my diary more. I know my family is already wondering how I could possibly have so much to say, but if you read my diary you'd understand what I mean. I've been trying to write down my thoughts more. Instead of just the typical "Today I...". Though I do still write that *winks* also, I started a new diary so that's nice!

So, yeah. Basically I've "getting my life together" xP and so, I'd say the year has been off to a good start.

This post was supposed to be a photo dump, and I know that that's what most of you want to see. But, to be honest, I don't feel like taking the time to download my pictures from my phone onto the desktop. and I don't feel like putting that post together. I'd rather just talk about what's going on in my life. Maybe share a picture or two. So that's what I've decided to do instead of photo dumps. I hope y'all aren't angry with me. But really, I shouldn't force myself to do posts I'm not proud of, right?

So, here goes. January of twenty-twenty.

Well, first of all we started the year off on the right foot. As is, we were standing on our right feet *winks* New Years Eve was spent at my aunts' house. For those of you who haven't been following me for a long time, I have two aunts who are pretty close to my age, and they live together in an adorable little house near by. So, that's where I spent New Years Eve. We had ice cream sodas, watched The Avengers, and played games. So, that's how we welcomed 2020 *smiles*

January was full of snuggles, and giggles, and smiles, and "talks" with darling little Kate. She's getting so big! I'm pretty sure she can recognize people now. She loves her Uncle Chancy. She nearly bursts with excitement whenever he's around. When he walks away her eyes follow him all across the room. It's adorable. And if someone she doesn't know is holding her she sometimes acts shy until one of us who see her weekly comes and talks to her, and then she's ok.
He little "chats" are the cutest things ever. As I write this,  my mom is holding her, and she's looking all around the room. Like an adult *winks*

We got some snow this month. Not much, but enough to make the drives to work beautiful. There's nothing like a pine-covered hillside all white with snow. And then when the sun shines just so on that said hill *hearts for dayyyyssss* Despite the snow we got each night, we were always able to make it to work each day, so that was nice. Snow in our area usually means slushy or icy roads, but not this round. A part of me is hoping we get some more snow before winter ends, but the other part of me wants to be able to go to work every week xP

Work had been going pretty well. As well as cleaning strangers houses can go *winks* We have done some school, and that seems to be going well too. I really do enjoy teaching that cute little boy, who's now seven! He was five (turning six) when I started teaching him, so that's crazy.
It's nuts to think that we've been doing this cleaning thing for over a year now. With four clients now. I'm secretly hoping to get one more client this year. Only if it's a client from my church of family. Just because another stranger client would be too stressful. xP

Felicity and Josiah will be moving out of their apartment next month, so we went over there yesterday to help Felicity get some things packed. So that happened *winks*

Also, I was in town with Liberty (and NOT LaKaysha. shocking, I know) one Saturday and my dad said I had to take my car in and get one of the tires fixed because it kept getting low. I was super stressed about this. It was my first time taking my car in for anything, and I was afraid of what it would cost. My dad was sweet enough to meet me at the tire place and talk to the for me. (I think I'll be able to do it alone if there's a next time) and guess what! it was freeeeeeeeee!!!! My cousin (who we bought our car from) bought the tires there, so fixing them was free! So that was a bunch of stress wasted *laughs*

Watched in January:
Jurassic World
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Geronimo (1993)
Spiderman: Far From Home
Emma (1996)
The Shadow Riders
Psych

Read in January:
Girl Defined by Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal
A Bundle of Letters to Busy Girls 
The Orphans Wish by Melanie Dickerson
The Book of Proverbs

Heard in January:
Give Me His Last Chance by Lionel Cartwright
Make Him Wait by Abby Anderson
Manic Monday by The Bangles
The Great Northwest by Mighty Oaks

So that's how my January went! How was yours!? Are you going to miss photo dumps, or is this kind of post ok?