It's November 29 and it's Birthday Time

Amsterdam, 2010 above and 2009 below

Whenever the clock turns to 11:29, the time has arrived to make a wish! Because ever since we were in high school, Kate Beck has been conditioning me to always make a wish on her birthday time. This year, I wish that everyone would get to know her a little better, so here you go!

1.       Her birthday is November 29. Whew, got that out of the way.

2.       She can run for days, or at least 12 miles (so however long that takes).

3.       Naturally blonde, but naturally smart as well.

4.       Naturally doesn’t get blonde jokes the first time around.

5.       Despite those things, has also learned how to do a handstand. 

6.       Is a super nerd (which means she's an English major).

7.       Could also pass as a super model.

8.       If she can add sweet potato to any given dish (or situation), she will.

9.       Can have a conversation with a llama.

10.   She will make you play Dutch Blitz, even if you don't want to.

11.   Manages to find all the good deals at yard sales.

12.   One time tortured me by making me do a cleansing diet with her for a week.

13.   Fluent in Spanglish.

14.   She is very good at harmonizing; in song, with babies, birds, kittens, but not directly with nature.

15.   Does not like nature.

16.   Does not like hiking.

17.   Does not like camping.

18.   Does not like dirt.

19.   Does not like sleeping outside.

20.   Does not like fire drills.

21.   Does not like being made fun of.

22.   Does not like it when she is not in the middle of the group photo.

23.   Yet always seems to be in the middle of the group photo.

24.   Has a perfect nose.

25.   But also has a college degree!

26.   Will eat directly off your plate without permission.

27.   Maintains an open closet policy with me. What’s mine is yours, even though I may never get it back (you are never going to wear all those sweaters anyways!).

28.   All the workout playlists on my iPod, she made.

29.   I look like a confused, weak, mangy ferret working out next to her so I try to avoid that at all costs. No one looks that good when they lift weights. Or run. Or do crunches. Or walk in general.

30.   Has always let me copy her Spanish homework. And math homework. And English homework. As well as History of Adventism homework.

31.   Has such a swagger that I would recognize that booty anywhere in the world, as long as she’s walking away from me.

32.   Gives the best gifts, and the best hugs.

33.   Makes the best coffee (and always remembers what you usually order).

34.   Creates so beautifully.

35.   Dances so wildly.

36.   Laughs so heartily!

37.   Believes so deeply.

38.   Loves so fully.

39.   Lives so freely.  

And truly, she is my greatest friend. Love you, bestie boo. Hope I didn't offeeeeeend yooooou! <3

Joshua Tree

A weekend of firsts: first time in Joshua Tree, first time using anchors made from cams and webbing and whatever else Sean rigged up, and first time Kjohn has ever climbed outdoors. Which is all good and quite significant.

the signature of every thing.

Let me preface this by saying, I am not disappointed at all  by the book I'm reading, but I do feel a little cheated by it because the title sucked me in- The Signature of All Things. When I read about part way through the book that the idea of "the signature of all things" was that God had pressed Himself into nature, like a lithograph, so that there would be signs and trails to him through every bit of nature, every flower, petal, stem, tree, and blade of grass- I thought that was extremely beautiful. And then there was no more elaboration in the book about it! That was the disappointing part. 

But it did make me think of where I see the signature of all things. Where God has pressed Himself into this planet and my life and the faces of my friends and family and strangers, too. It makes me think of my friend Danielle's mom who had knit her a blanket, and said prayers for Danielle the entire time she was weaving it together, so that her mother's prayer for her daughter would be caught in between the loops. To be carried always and lead Danielle back to where she came. The signature of a mother. 

It made me think of how I make fun of Nick because his eyes make the ladies swoon. I often tell him that we get a table right away at a restaurant or complimentary stuff because they'll look into his deep blue eyes and be instantly lost. But those are the same eyes that have witnesses so much life- and so much of my life! It is amazing that I can look into his eyes and know that there is something so far back in them, what they have seen, that brings me back home to his heart. And his to mine. That is a signature too. 

Or how I, too, like in the book, have examined a flower and found God's handwriting in it's wiring. In the way it moves and works and it is so similar to the way I move and I work. The joints and veins, my elbows and knees, and blood rushing back and forth to my heart. And I am in wonder and awe of how God has pressed Himself into me, as well, and I can look at my own hands and find Him there.