I'll Be Your Emmylou

 My brother, Casey, and I have always seemed to butt heads. As children, almost every interaction involved fighting and crying. We spent one year of high school together-- his senior year, my freshman. There was little interaction between us that year, but it was nice knowing he was there considering my tendency towards homesickness. That being said, there were still times during our childhood when Casey could seriously be the sweetest big brother. I remember once he even bought me a Barney purse for my birthday. I found out about it and he got really mad at me, but still. As we have gotten older we get along much better-- that is, except for one area: those I deem worthy of his time and affection. In the past, there have been precious few (if any) girls whom I have considered to be good enough. Until now. 

Last Saturday family and friends gathered to celebrate the wedding of my brother Casey and his beautiful bride Kate. Their country style ceremony and reception took place in a field next to an old, wore down barn. Everything about it was beautiful, fun, and quirky, just like the happy couple. To say that I am happy for my brother would be a complete understatement. Knowing Casey, it is obvious that Kate was the one he was looking for far before he knew it himself. Seeing him so happy makes me happy,especially having witnessed the long search for him to find her. Kate fits in so well with our family and she fits so well with Casey.

Here's to Casey and Kate and a lifetime of happiness full of babies.

Here We Go Again.

I have been extremely negligent in my blogging this summer. Since I haven't updated for the past three months I'm finding it rather difficult to condense the whole summer into one post. But I will because 1. I am lazy; 2. School has already started and I massive amounts of reading to accomplish; 3. nothing terribly interesting happened this summer. However, it was, over-all, a pretty great summer.To kick it all off my very generous brother and sister-in-law let me tag-along with them on a vacation to Florida! I got to babysit my niece, Morgan, and lay out at the beach.

On the way home I stopped in Milwaukee to spend some time with my friends, Mariel and Allison. Mariel showed us all around Milwaukee. We spend an amazing day together, despite a insistent, not to mention old, business man from "out of town."

I got to spend some time at home, which was greatly needed and always appreciated. My sister and I rode bikes quite a bit.

I had planned on taking a math course over the summer, but it fell through and I was left with nothing to do and no money to do it. Luckily, my friend Ally hooked me and my sister up with a job in Green Bay picking and selling strawberries. It ended up being almost as fun as it looks in the picture. Staying with Allison and her family was amazing. Their hospitality is beyond measure.
The farm we worked on is called Sunny Hill and they really do have the best strawberries (not to mention corn) in the area. Surprisingly, I didn't get sick of eating them.

Josh Groban came to Green Bay. I am seriously at a loss for words to describe how amazing this concert was. He puts on SUCH a great show, and I love him.

Six Flags! It was great, but the older I get the harder this place is on my stomach. Superman was pretty awesome though. Also, why the heck did they get rid of Dejavu (sp?)?!

And now for the "fun" part. Fall semester 2011 has officially begun. Strangely, it feels good to be back. One of my professors went off in class about how much she loves being in school; the structure, environment, ect. While I really want to be done with school (mainly so I can start paying off my loans), I can definitely understand her point of view. After going to school for 15 years it pretty much becomes a comfort zone. What isn't comfortable about this semester is my work load. Below is an incomplete book-list for my two Literature classes. Add Psychology, Spanish, and a religion course chock full of busy work and I have a complete load.
However, I am prepared:
So that's that. And maybe when I feel more inspired I will write more. As can be expected, "What I'm Reading" posts are sure to come.

Swing, swing.

I'm out running (but mostly walking) this morning when I pass by the elementary school in Chetek. Across the softball field I can see all the little kids outside for recess. It takes me a second to realize that the children flying through the air are, indeed, on swings-- soaring through the crystal-blue sky with absolute, unadulterated, freedom and abandon.

Swinging is the best because it's everything in only two simple movements. A swing doesn't strap you in, but it still gives you something to hang on to(oh, the metephors!). Whoever invented the simplistic ease and excitement of the swing was a genius. And that is all I have to say.

My Dream House

My interest in renovated barn-houses is becoming more of an obsession. I love the mix of country and modern. Love. love. love.

I have had a bad case of the flu for about three days now. Fever. Coughing. Sore throat. Stuffy nose. Hot flashes. It's been pretty miserable, but I think I am finally getting over it. Friday night, amongst the sweat, coughing and trying to breathe, I had a dream. We were back on the farm and I was headed out of the house. As I walked out the door I had a quick conversation with my brother Rob, and continued towards the barn . I was wearing my favorite jeans and my rubber boots, and my hair was pulled back into a ponytail. I helped move some cows and I could smell the barn... and the hay. It was a really, really nice dream.

School is out, bring on the snow!

Medieval Literature, done. Spanish, done. Spirituality & Faith, done. Communications, done. Linguistics, done and DONE. This is how happy I am right now:

It's my first morning home on Christmas break and I have woken up to fresh coffee with spiced rum creamer and a winter wonderland in the beautiful state of Wisconsin. And Wisconsin can do a winter wonderland like no place else:

In all honesty, this semester seemed to fly by. But the past two weeks have been so crammed with studying, I'm just happy to be home; watching the snow, sipping coffee, looking forward to all the family and friends the next few weeks will bring.

God is My Apple Pie

Tonight I made an apple pie.
I used the same recipe from when I first started baking. It's simple, classic, always good. I know, that without fail, when I bake this pie it will be delicious. It isn't exotic, foreign or complex but it's classic. It's constant.I use the same blue mixing bowl and carefully add each ingredient, making sure the pie crust has just the right consistency at each step. I could do it blindfolded.

I make apple pie when I'm feeling happy.
I make apple pie when I need something familiar.
I make apple pie when I'm missing home.
When I'm feeling that I need one recipe I can make, without fail, I make apple pie.
God is my apple pie. He is the one constant thing in my life, without fail He is there. That still, small, familiar voice that comforts me when I'm longing for home the most. During the times when I have know idea what my future really holds, He's there; the one thing I can take with me throughout my whole life no matter where that may be. With Him, I know it will turn out perfect; my apple pie is perfect.