Meet Miss 'Caiah Catch-Up

Well it looks like we all know what sort of grade I'll be getting on my "Photo-a-day" section of my December report card...

So, as a sort of apology ... I present you with this:

 

I call it: "Let's see how many photo-a-day requirements I can meet in one picture".

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy Christmas, and family, and large meals, and decorations, and having an exuse to keep a real tree in the corner of our living room?

This time of year never gets old.

Joyous

One thing that makes me jump for joy is sunshine and blue skies in the winter.

Here in Germany, the winter months are sadly sun-deprived.  Which is not good for me.  Since I am part solar-panel (true story).

Sunshine and snow are like oreos and milk. 

They're amazing by themselves, but so much more enjoyable together.

You must embrace the German winter sun while you can.  Because it won't be here for long...

Red

Advent gifts week #1!

It's Christmas time, you guys!!

Favorite Holiday Film

My favorite holiday movie by far is White Christmas.  Typical, I know. Sorry.

I've watched this movie every year around Christmas time for as long as I can remember.

It's one of the most nostalgic movies I know.

On my eighth birthday, my dad took me to see White Christmas at an old theater on Winner Road in Independence, MO.  Complete with one red-curtained screen, red velvet seats and the yummiest popcorn in the history of the universe.  We were almost the only ones there, I got to pick our seats, we ate tons of popcorn and candy, and then, to finish out our wonderful evening: it was snowing as we left the theater.

Good memories.

 

(Yay for VistaVision!)

-- RM

My View Today

It's that time again...Christmas markets.  I love everything about them. The sights, the smells, the people, the music.  Everything.

It's wonderful.

Well Hullo December..

I can not believe it's already December!  Where has my year gone?!  It's right about now that things start to get crazy in our house.  What with basketball season, birthdays, Christmas, online classes, and midterms...I'm just hoping to survive.

I take that back.

I'm hoping to survive and even enjoy my December.

• Stay organized.  This includes room, calendar, school work, pictures, everything. (...We'll see how well that works out..)
• Pass midterms (hopefully with flying colors..)
• Bless at least five different people with unexpected gifts this Christmas season.  Spread the holiday cheer!! :D 
• Cut back dramatically on Facebook usage.  A couple of days ago I ran across this ad on my blog's facebook page.. 

And I realized how much more time I had spent on the internet instead of with my family over my Thanksgiving week off.  A lesson learned and Christmas will be different.



• Then finally, a December photo challenge...



 

What are your December resolutions?

 

-RM

Squash That Little Voice. Squash It Now.

Perfection.

It's something I and many other people like me struggle to reach daily.  It's a picture of something beautiful and complete and creative and flawless.  It's something I want to be.

Perfection also just so happens to be something that is not possible for me to become.

That's why it's a struggle.

I want every blog post of mine to "wow" people.  I want all of my school-work to be done well (preferably without tons of effort on my part).  I want the Christmas presents that I've planned for family and friends to be exactly what they wanted.  I want friendships to be deeper than they are currently.  I want my relationship with God to be this amazing cohesiveness where I know His plan for my life at all times.  I want to be able to bless people with my creativity.  I want my clothing line to be a booming success.  I want to know exactly what to say and when to say it in every situation.

In other words...

I want disappointment.

None of those things are going to happen right away.  Some might not even happen at all.  The only thing I cause by wanting perfection is frustration with myself.  For not being perfect.

I end up feeling like I've failed something before I've even tried.  My blog ends up being without a new post for over two weeks because I can't think of something entertaining to write.  But then I realized... this blog is not about writing what other people want to read. It's a place for me to write stories about my life, my thoughts and feelings.  The fact that those might just entertain/intrigue other people is a bonus.  I love my readers, don't get me wrong.  But I want them to love me for writing about things that I love (...that sounded a bit Disney...sorry..).

I live with that voice in my head telling me that I should write like this, talk like this, act like this and I know other people hear and deal with it too.

So, my challenge for both myself and my fellow perfectionists out there is...

Squash that little voice.  Squash it now.  Before it becomes a big voice.

Stop trying to be someone else's perfect.

"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly."
-- G. K. Chesterton

 

“Writer's block — so what? Write something bad. Just throw it in the trash can when you're done, you're always improving. That kind of writing is like doing a bunch of push-ups. Every individual push-up is not the important thing. On Tuesday you're going to think, "Is it really important that I do it today?" No, but the collective impact is. If you write every day, you will improve.”

-- N. D. Wilson

 
“Do not resent your place in the story. Do not imagine yourself elsewhere. Do not close your eyes and picture a world without thorns, without shadows, without hawks. Change this world. Use your body like a tool meant to be used up, discarded, and replaced. Better every life you touch. We will reach the final chapter. When we have eyes that can stare into the sun, eyes that only squint for the Shenikah, then we will see laughing children pulling cobras by their tails, and hawks and rabbits playing tag.”
― N.D. Wilson

 

 

 

Inspiration

George the Pumpkin's Tragic End

A couple weeks ago, my mom bought me a pumpkin at the grocery store.  It was one of those moments where she really didn't see a need to buy a pumpkin... but I was bouncing up and down and saying excitedly that we could name it George and pleasepleaseplease could we buy George, take him home and give him a theme song??

My cuteness won her over eventually.

That or I was embarrassing her...

I did end up singing "George, George, George is a pumpkin!  WATCH OUT FOR THAT GOURD!" till the end of our shopping trip..

Yeah. I'm pretty sure it was the cuteness....

Anyway, yesterday I decided that it was time for George to make a nice exit.  He had graced the center of our table long enough...It was time to disembowel him and eat his innards. (ha.)

Sooo I googled.  And decided I would toast and sugar some pumpkin seeds.  The recipe turned out delicious, even though I kindof changed some things ;)

 

Ingredients

• One medium sized pumpkin
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Vanilla (optional)
• Cinnamon and sugar (optional)

Preparation

1 Cut open the pumpkin by cutting a circle around the stem end, and pulling off the top. Use a strong metal spoon to scrape the insides of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds and strings. Place the mass of pumpkin seeds in a colander and run under water to rinse and separate the seeds from the everything else.

2 Measure the pumpkin seeds in a cup measure. Place the seeds in a medium saucepan. Add 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to the pan for every half cup of pumpkin seeds. Add more salt if you would like your seeds to be saltier. Bring the salted water and pumpkin seeds to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

3 Preheat the oven to 400°F. Coat the bottom of a roasting pan with olive oil, about a tablespoon. Spread the seeds out over the roasting pan in a single layer. Bake on the top rack until the seeds begin to brown, 5-20 minutes, depending on the size of the seeds. Small pumpkin seeds may toast in around 5 minutes or so, large pumpkin seeds may take up to 20 minutes. Keep an eye on the pumpkin seeds so they don't get over toasted. When nicely browned, remove the pan from the oven and let cool on a rack. *If you want your pumpkin seeds with vanilla and cinnamon and sugar, all you have to do is pour a little bit of vanilla and sugar mixture into the pan and mix it all up.  Then pop it back in the oven till their nice and crispy.*  Make sure you let the pumpkin seeds cool all the way down before eating!

 

-- RM

Currently...

Currently, I am re-reading Peter Pan.  One of my very favorites when I was younger.

I just rediscovered it thanks to a lovely friend of mine (Emilyann over at the nine tenths) who wrote a song based off of the book.

I can't stop replaying it and singing it and humming it and ohgoodness, she's amazing.

Rememberings

October has always had a unique smell.

The smell of holidays fast approaching, crisp autumn breezes rushing through me as I stomp on crunchy fallen leaves, recipes that have been put away till winter time making their annual appearance. 

These smells bring both anticipation..

And memories.

I remember raking leaves with my siblings in my grandma's front lawn all afternoon.  And then, because we had so much fun, the next day we'd rake her neighbor's lawn too.
I remember dressing up as some creature from a greek myth (Medusa or a centaur or a muse) and collecting enough candy to last me at least six months.

I remember gathering with family to watch the Chiefs play after church and eat chili.  October was always the month of chili.

Now I listen as my dad tosses the football around with my brothers.  One high-pitched laughing voice warning two deep throated giants about his "really long toss" that they'd better catch!

Now I watch and take pictures as the children I teach build leaf piles to jump in.  I may even join them.

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”
― J.M. Barrie

 

Now I sit.  Enjoying life for this brief moment.  Amazed at how quickly time has flown.  Frightened by the same thing.  But content to just be for as long as I can.

 

 

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Katy's Senior Shoot

 I had my very first official, not of a family member and not as an experiment, but a real photography session this past weekend.

I might have maybe enjoyed myself just a little bit...

We skipped all over, exploring Lupburg and its many camera-ready spots.  Hallelujah for living in Europe.  It is so very easy to find photogenic areas here.  Castles, tumble-down buildings, fields, forests, character-filled junkyards.  Germany's got it all.  And within walking distance, too!

When Katy asked me to do her senior pictures, I stood there, thought about it, checked my calender and then coolly replied, "Yes. I suppose. I wouldn't mind taking your senior photos."

Oooor...you know.  Jumped up and down, giggled, hugged her and said, "YESYESYES!! PLEASE! I'D LOVE TO!" 

Because I'm just that professional.

I thought I'd share (some of) the fruits of our extremely business-like afternoon.

 

(We interrupt this broadcast for a special announcement:  I just love candid photos.)





 

--RM

This Is Fall

Turns out, that what I described as "fall" a month ago is not, in fact, fall.  Even if leaves were descending...

This.

This is fall.

A drive through countryside bursting with multitudes of wonderful, rich, golden color

is fall.

Beautiful purple flowers mixed with the reds and browns of leaves in all of their glory

is fall.

Watching farmers work in their harvested fields, preparing them for winter

is fall.

The orange burst that can't possibly be the sign of something dying

is fall.

And I can't get enough of it.

 

The Project Unveiled!

I am opening my very own clothing line!!

HURRAY!!

This summer has been devoted to getting all of the wrinkles worked out and the system up and running and now we'll see how it goes!

 

 

DWA Design

 

^^ Click the link ^^

:D



I've Been Awarded! Huzzah!

My beautiful friend, Sierra over at as the earthen vessel has awarded me the Liebester Award!  Thank you so much for the tag, Sierra!

 

The rules are:

 

1) Each person must list 11 things about themselves. 

2) Answer the 11 questions that the tagger has set for you PLUS you MUST create 11 questions of your own for the 11 people you will nominate with this award.

3) Choose up to 11 bloggers linking them to your post.

4) Go to their page and inform them of the nomination.

5) Absolutely NO tag backs.

6) Remember to ONLY tag bloggers with less than 200 followers.

  

Here we go!

So, eleven things about myself!

1. I've been told before that I smile too much.  But, I say that if smiling makes other people smile, then it's definitely worth it.  I like smiling :D  

2. If I had to choose between jeans or a skirt/dress I'd definitely pick the skirt/dress.  What can I say? I like dressing up. 

3.  I have an odd habit of naming inanimate objects. My camera's name is Philola.  Case and point.

4.  I have never met over half of my friends. Oh the joys of being an online student.

5.  Reading. Readingreadingreading. I love it.

6.   I run on chocolate.

7. I am sixteeeen going on seventeeeen! (And I may or may not have sung this song on my sixteenth birthday....don't judge.)

8. I would rather dance than walk.

9. Bananas make me shudder.

10.  I shoot people.  Regularly.  (with a camera....but that doesn't sound nearly as dramatic).

11. Penguins are my favorite. Dress them in a bowtie and suspenders and I am one veryvery happy camper.

 

Sierra's questions for moi:

1. Right-brained or left-brained?  Probably more right-brained. 
2. Favorite books?  Oh dear goodness. Tough question. Currently: The Ashtown Burials Cycle by N.D. Wilson.
3. Ride a horse or ride a whale? A horse. Whales have this bad habit of remaining underwater for long periods of time.  Which....I can't.
4. What is your favorite Bible verse and why? This changes regularly, but my favorite as of now would have to be Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."
5. What is your favorite pastime now that you could use as a source of income (or a "job") in future? I love designing and sewing clothing. And painting/crafting.  And dancing.  All of which can be jobs :D
6. Do you have a favorite time of year? If so, what is it? I love all the seasons because they're all so different  and wonderful.  But I would be lying if I said that I didn't have a soft spot for spring. :)
7. Performing arts or ... not? Performing arts!!! Theater, dance, musicals, the whole shabang.
8. Sunny days or cloudy days?  Can I have both?  I love them both for many different reasons. Oh. Weather <3 
9. What is your worst fear? Being completely alone. No friends, no family, and no God.
10. Quote? 

“In this story, the sun moves. In this story, every night meets a dawn and burns away in the bright morning. In this story, Winter can never hold back the Spring... He is the best of all possible audiences, the only Audience to see every scene, the Author who became a Character and heaped every shadow on Himself. The Greeks were right. Live in fear of a grinding end and a dank hereafter. Unless you know a bigger God, or better yet, are related to Him by blood.” 

- N. D. Wilson, Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl

11. (If you would like, and if it is possible) What is a picture that makes you smile? If you cannot post it, please describe a memory that makes you smile :)

 

I mustache you a question. But I'll shave it for later.

At the football games last night.  Good memories with good friends. :)

My eleven questions for my eleven bloggers:
1. Lord of the Rings or Narnia? (I know. Start it out with a tough one)
2.  Introvert or extrovert?
3.  What is your favorite season?
4.  Favorite quote?
5.  Rain or sun?
6.  What is your dream job?
7.  Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
8.  If you could vacation anywhere, where would it be?
9.  Hotel or tent?
10.  What is your favorite type of food?
11.  Nature park or carnival/theme park?

The eleven (or nine) chosen bloggers!!
Hannah over at Genuine
Annie over at Pixels and Stories
Valentine over at Rain and Shine
Isaac over at Not All Those Who Wander are Lost
Megan over at Once Upon A Canvas
Abi over at Lopez Family Fieldtrip
Emilyann at The Nine Tenths
Alexis over at Stargazing and Nonstop Praising
Lillian over at Of the Field



The Suspense is Thrilling

I am so excited!

"Why?" you might ask.

Well, because all summer I've been working.  Working on a project.

'Cause you know..

All work and no play!  That's my motto!

(no play meaning...vacations, reading books, watching movies, taking pictures, sleeping...and puttering around enthusiastically doing nothing)

 

This project is finished you see, and now the only thing left to do is to

announce that I'm going to announce it this

Saturday.

As a suspense builder, don't you know.

And here's a mysterious picture that really doesn't reveal anything about the project.

Feeling the suspense yet?

 

You Make my Heart Smile

"When I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, I make a place for God to grow within me."

- Ann Voskamp

One Thousand Gifts

 

This month I'm thankful for:

1.  Letters written to fellow Veritas students, some of the most wonderful girls

that I have never met!

2.  Fall leaves falling.

3.  Teen nights, inside jokes and funny hats.

4.  Late night/early morning skype dates with the lovely miss Sierra Mackenzie over at

as the earthen vessel.

5.  Celebrating 15 years of Isaac.

6.  Budgeting for and planning a trip to the states for my school's End of the Year Gathering.

 

 

“A life contemplating the blessings of Christ becomes a life acting the love of Christ.” 

- One Thousand Gifts