A LETTER

Dear Jeff, Andrea, Braxton, Adelle, and Emmett,

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Thank you for coming to visit us in Rexburg. It was a joy to play with such beautiful, well-behaved kiddos, eat chocolate covered pomegranates, and enjoy such happy company. We want you to come back as soon as possible. Will tomorrow work? Our leaves need to be "raked" again.

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Lots of Love,
Andrew and Rachel



P.S. Thanks for letting me steal pics from your blog...

Jeff, Brax, and Andrew playin' in the leaves.



Adelle, Emmett, and I watching on

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MEMORY MONDAY--Wanna Kiss?

Eighteen years old. St. George, Utah. First date of my college career.

The guy was a preemie leaving on his mission in a couple weeks. Apparently, he was DESPERATE for a kiss before he left.

I spent the evening frantically dodging his attempts to put his arm around me, hold my hand, or...worse. It was a first date, I wasn't an experienced dater, and he was a bit too eager.

I thought the last straw was when he drove us up to the local make-out spot. I may have been new in town, but I knew exactly where we were. I sat scrunched up against my car door observing his awkward attempts at "moving closer" until I finally informed him it was time to take me home.

I had a headache, you see. That's believable, right?

But then, on the front steps, after my quick, obligatory hug and a lunge to open the door, he asked:
"Do you wanna kiss?"
I stopped and stared at him in shock for half a second before responding with thinly veiled annoyance, "No."

What happened next will forever blow my mind. It was so sad. So pathetic. Piteous, even.


He reached into his pocket and pulled out a zip-lock baggy. Holding it up for me to see, I caught sight of foil wrapped Hershey's kisses in the yellow glow of the porch light.


I wish I could have seen my expression at that moment. It must have been something between a frozen forced smile and pure disgust. "He...he...he...that was...clever," I faltered as I accepted his offering of a chocolate kiss.


But after such a desperate display, I didn't feel bad for not inviting him in, as his hopeful face peered in at my roommate sitting on the couch. I didn't care as I said goodnight, closing the door an inch from his nose. And I didn't even feel bad as my shocked roommate mildly censured me for my rudeness.


It wasn't until after I got over my nausea that I was able to recognize the bright side to the situation: It makes for a funny memory, right?

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY--Underwater Wedding

This is NOT my picture.

I wish.

This shot was taken by ashlee aubach. Isn't it incredible?! The lighting, the colors, the shapes...

I follow many photography blogs and hers happens to be one of them. This particular post took my breath away. And apparently, this is just a pre-view, and there is MORE TO COME! I can't wait! Check out the original post HERE on her blog. It's bigger and better there. 

FOCAL POINT FRIDAY--10/15/10

Well, friends, it's a new week. Let me share the focal points of the last seven days from both ends of the spectrum.



WORST:
We drove to Main Street to feed my ardent shaved ice addiction...only to find a devastatingly depressing sign posted in the window.

I immediately made Andrew drive me to Wal-Mart, where a frantic search for snow cone making machines ensued. I was eventually informed however, that the item won't be in stock until after winter.

And what a long, dark, miserable winter it will be...

BEST:

On the other hand, Andrew's sister was joined in matrimony this week. I love how weddings bring family from other states that you are rarely blessed to see. There are never enough excuses for gathering to enjoy the familial associations that make life so sweet. Especially in the temple.

TUTORIAL TUESDAY-autumn garland

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This week I made something autumn-y. I had the time off from work, and I was feeling inspired by the fall-feeling rain.

I took a cheap-o clearance garland of fall leaves....

And some of this green tulle I got for a few dollars...

And wound them both together.





Then, I took these fancy leaves that I found at a craft store...
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painted pretty metallic colors...




And randomly attached them to the garland to add fullness and give it a more formal look.
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I attached them using old twisty ties, disguised with bits of tulle wrapped around them.




Next, I gathered some fancy ribbon I had gleaned from past Christmas gifts.




And to hold everything together, I tied bows every foot or so along the garland...

...In alternating colors.

Finally, I climbed on this crazy contraption Andrew had set up for me, watched my life flash before my eyes...

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And successfully draped my new creation over the living room mirror. Kinda pretty, huh?

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The entire project cost me about 10 bucks !

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY- Hula

My cousin Aimee, recently e-mailed me a scanned image of our Grandma Jennie. My mom's mom. Look at the placement of that arm! So graceful...so perfect. She was a beautiful dancer, who taught the art to her children.

My mom is also a beautiful dancer. It's been years since I've seen her do it, but I've never since found a hula dancer whose movements were as refined and balletic in my eyes.

Mom tried to teach me from a young age as well. But I never could get the hang of the hip thing...




Thank you. This has been the first in a weekly installment of...

FOCAL POINT FRIDAY

focal point

 \ˈfō-kəs\

–noun

1.The point at which all radiation coming from a single direction and passing through alens or striking a mirror converges. Also called focus .

2.	a central point of attention or interest

Mom used to always ask us:
"What was the best part and the worst part of your day?" This was her way, of avoiding the all too common: "My day was fine, Mom. Nothing happened." This question required a deeper response.

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With this in mind, I'd like to pick out the "focal points" from each week and record them in this on-line journal of mine: best and worst.

WORST:

I think I broke my finger. Both joints are purple, I can't bend it all the way, and I ain't never gettin' these wedding rings off (not that that's so horrible).

But how could such a thing happen, you ask?

It all seems to stem from the point where Andrew threw a football at me. Rude, right?

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We'll ignore the fact that I voluntarily agreed to play catch with my fall/football season-fever infected husband in the backyard. And that I'm a wussy girl whose stupid finger got in the way, ruining all our fun.

BEST:

It is Spud Harvest 'round these parts. School-age children all through southeast Idaho, are out in fields with their families to help bring in the potato crop. I, on the other hand, spend an entire week relaxin' at home. In my lime green socks.


It is a beautiful thing my friends.
(The week away from work, I mean. Not the socks.)




Happy Friday!

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