My Little, Big Brother

When my family came to visit in July, they left something behind. My 6', lovable brother, Derek. Derek and I were born just eighteen months apart and we've always been close.

It's been an interesting switch for me to have family around. Derek fits in so well here at the base and I've never felt like I had to babysitting him or make sure he was comfortable. Don't get my wrong, he can still be my incredibly annoying, little brother, but all-in-all I'm glad he's around.

Quote of the Day

"The mathematician goes mad, not the poet. Because the poet can swim in the in the sea of infiniteness and the mathematician tries to create a bridge to cross it."
- G.K. Chesterton

The Purple Carpets

Spring is in the air and around here that means that the Jacaranda trees are blooming in full force. These flowering trees bloom only once a year for just a few weeks. The countryside is littered with random splotches of purple and as they shed their flowers a thick purple carpet grows beneath their limbs. I wish these trees bloomed all year round!

My New Hat

I knitted my very first hat! I am learning to read patterns and while it still looks like a foreign language to me I am excited to keep trying new things and exploring this whole new world of knitting.

A big thank you to my friend Amanda who took the time to teach me this pattern! If any of you are interested in learning more about knitting, my friend Jen has a great tutorial on her blog.

Too old to Color?

I'm not much of a visual artist. I know a few people who are amazing at getting the images from their head down on canvas in fantastic, individual ways. Sometimes I wish I was better at drawing and painting, but I'm learning my own creative outlets and even though I'm no Monet it's fun to occasionally get out crayons, paint, or markers and pretend like I know what I'm doing.

As children, most of us loved to draw and paint with anything we could get our hands on, whether that was watercolors or our mom's lipstick. What happened? When did we get to the stage where we put away our crayons and coloring books and regulated it to childhood? When did we start believing the lie that grown-ups can't color, play hide-and-seek, or climb a tree?

I'm on a mission to recapture elements of my childhood and not just when I'm babysitting my friend's kids. I want to buy a coloring book for myself, wear funky, mismatched clothes just for the hell of it, and laugh until my sides ache and I can't breathe. I want to say things without worrying what other people think and wear a bathing suit without stressing about my weight. I want to order mac and cheese at a restaurant and occasionally throw a temper tantrum when I'm tired. I want to cry when it hurts and pray like I really believe Jesus is listening.

When did we all become so serious?

Africa in Bloom

I may not enjoy the heat, the bugs, or the rain, but one thing I love about summer in Africa is the blooming flowers and greenery. The trees, grass, and bushes change from the brittle dryness of winter to lush beauty from the summer rain. It's a beautiful transformation to watch.

The Tune Without Words

Lazy Saturdays

My friend and roommate Hayley and I, have started a great tradition of going to a local cafe called Zannas on Saturday afternoons. It has great food and coffee and a wonderful atmosphere. Though we spend most of the time chatting, we bring journals, books, and computers and while away a lazy Saturday.