I found the one whom my soul loves. Song of Solomon 3:4

This makes me happy :)

An ode to my tiniest of cousins.

Mitch and Cami. I had the best 15 minutes of my life with you yesterday. While you crawled all over me and knocked everything off of the bookcases my heart was melting. Please stay and play with me.

love, your grown up cousin, Val

Somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

-- e. e. cummings

5

Today marks another year for me and John.

I'm such a lucky girl.

Ok. So I got a personal trainer.

And I LOVE it!

It's only week 1 of my 10-months-to-go-time-to-bite-the-bullet training. I've been left feeling positive and motivated about doing something good for myself.

My trainer, Katie, is a total sweetheart with just enough silly and drill sargeant to make the sessions productively-fun. She loves showing me all the ways I'll be able to discreetly show off my newly toned muscles.

She started competing in triathalons after she had kids. Isn't that hardcore?

Muscles I didn't know I had are sore. And I'm sleeping more soundly than I have in months.

Basically this is the beginning...of something good.

I'll keep ya'll posted :)

Ok.

From Bird and Banner.

These are sweet. I'm searching for photobooths in Seattle right now.

Flea markets are awesome!

I just picked up this manual typewriter for $20!

Guestbook = done.

Eureka!

I just came across this inspiration board. It's exactly what I've been scouring the internet for over the last 6 months.

I think I've finally settled on a simple centerpiece that I (or my wedding posse) can do without any trouble.

I'm so excited. <3

Maybe the coolest thing ever...

A few years ago, when I lived in Burien, my roomie/big sister Kim took me to the church she was attending in Tacoma. It was called New Song. I remember her telling me that they do a lot of neat things with prayer. I didn't really know what that meant, but I went with her and really enjoyed the vibrant/worshipful atmosphere.

After service she took me up front and asked a couple of girls to pray for my original design. It was a really memorable experience for me. As they prayed they wrote down 5 things that God had showed them about who he designed me to be. So, if you look at my big ugly banner that says "generate" and wonder what that's all about...this is where it comes from.

Here's my list :)

1. A picture of a generator: used to bring life where there has been a lack of life of hope. The Lord will confirm this through people's reactions to you. Pick-pocket: you see life and people with a fresh set of eyes. You pick the "obvious" (to you) things out of a person's pocket to show them hope!

2. Worshipper: He will put a song in your heart! There's a purity to your worship that's unique. Exposes who God is.

3. Instrument of truth and woman of integrity: You are a really good friend because of these qualities. You see a gap in friendship - you stand between them, the two join hands.

4. A heart of prayer: Emotional and physical healing. Something hard breaks because of your prayers.

5. Woman of intuition, wisdom and discernment: Picture of a puzzle - you are able to move things to where they are complete.