it's the weekend

it's the weekend....ahh...sigh of relief.
I plan on doing practical things like going to the store aannd umm... helping my mom buy a computer...aannd washing my car (if it doesn't snow. yes, it's supposed to snow in springfield) .... annnnd umm going to church... andddd going to target and buying another hairbrush and getting my mom a birthday present ...aand attending/throwing my friend Kesha's bachelorette party.
the end.

5 Good things:
1. every ounce of me is fighting for joy and today I feel like I'm winning.
2. there are a lot of people who love me and call me friend.
3. I have a grandma, her name is Mio.
4. I'm drinking coffee.
5. Jesus loves me this I know.

rainy

i'm sick now. isnt that just appropriate?

you know that saying is true that "when it rains it pours". Lately it has been pouring. and i'm saying not just figuratively.
in springfield it's flooded houses round number 2.
Because of so much water, at 6:00am Michelle and Jeff woke up to find at least 25 earthworms crawling on her floors inside their house...and some were in the guest bedroom. eeeeww.

weekend

gees. from my last post all the comments were spam.
wouldn't you think spammers (whoever those mysterious people actually are) have something better to do than put bad links up on blogs? I mean it's a blog.

So - all in all - great weekend. I spent the yesterday shopping with mitch, joe and jannah in the afternoon. I bought a hot little black dress, pulled out my old black rim glasses from college - and rocked my friends Jeff and Leah's wedding last night. I was lucky enough to be a part of it, I even got a little crosage (how do you spell that?) and was absolutely terrible at only giving one program per couple. It was so beautiful and so fun.

Right now I'm curled up on my bed watching the Oscars, sighing because another week has to start. Sometimes I feel like it just keeps going and I'm not sure where, or what "it" really is in the first place. But that's my emo side coming out for a sentence or two. Life still continues to be full of these mysteries that I'm not really certain how to share. They just keep happening and I just keep going, trusting, loving, living, eating chocolate and drinking coffee.

10 things that didn't suck this week.

10 Favorite things done this week:
1. sleeping - i LOVE my bed at my parents house. I have always had a true appreciation for 8 hours per night and naps, but I this bed makes me love it all the more. Oh and I appreicate my bed because while living in charlotte i slept on an air mattress for 6 months... Then my time on the air mattress expired when God gave me a real mattress (literally it just one day showed up in my living room), however, the mattress just stayed on the floor and was itself almost expired... Needless to say I'm loving my current sleeping arrangements much more.
2. On Friday I went to Starbucks on my way to work. The mocha went great with my busy day.
3. Praying this afternoon for a long, uninterrupted time. I prayed using Luke 11: 9-13...which i think are my favorite verses right now.
4. Hanging out with an old friend while being snotty and sick and not caring. Just good conversation and enjoying the company.
5. Going to the mudhouse today with a good book. Chai tea tastes like home and cookies.
6. Dinner with mom and dad every night after work. This has become the possibly the biggest bonus to living at home for obvious reasons.
7. Seeing 27 Dresses with friends. Highly appropriate movie to my life right now - being a bridesmaid now for the 4th and 5th time in the next coming months.
8. Making my hair appointment for next week. (I know it hasn't happened yet but it's still on my list because it NEEDS to happen.)
9. Watching Law And Order at Michelle's house.
10. Going to church tomorrow at the Vineyard. (I know this hasn't happened yet either but I'm excited b/c I love the people there so much, and I can't wait to worship somewhere other than my room).

Okay I'm done. Just thought I would think of the good things that happened this week because honestly, I'm sorta having a hard time adjusting to all the newness lately. It helps to be thankful for the things that God has given me and to remind myself of them.

empty tank of christmas cheer

i have been so stressed this week. i know it's nearing Christmas but somehow the stress just doesn't allow me to feel it...you know, the Christmas cheer and all.
i left Charlotte feeling rather conflicted about the move in the first place. Asking for the Lord to guide me and speak. I believe He did, but I always feared that maybe He was asking me to choose what I wanted. I kept praying that if that were true, if indeed the Lord was asking me to choose; that He would give me the grace to actually choose what He wanted and change my desires if they weren't the best. Does that make sense? B/c I just don't know what I want outside of just Him. I know it sounds like the goody-sunday-school-what-your-supposed-to-say answer. But it's true. I just don't.

Anyway, since I have been here (Springfield - and yes I realize I've only been back for a week) it has been compounded by walking straight into a job that had me hit the ground running the week before Christmas. And when I say running I mean running.
I'm one of those types of people who puts my whole self into any task that I do when it comes to work. I like to work hard and effectively. But I fear the many details of my job I really don't know how to do. And my stomach hurts realizing that it will put me in a position of weakness on a pretty consistent basis. At least for awhile... And I don't like not knowing what I'm doing.
I guess no one does really. (that was an awkward paragraph)

Anyhow, I'm praying that God would give me grace and wisdom. That He would keep my eyes open to what it is He is doing in my life. That I would want His best and the road He has picked for me. Wherever that is. I recently started writing a song based off of Psalm 61 - and have been humming it all week in the midst of my empty tank of Christmas cheer:
"Hear my cry o God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You. When my heart is overwhelmed, Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." // "So I will sing praise to Your name forever, That I may daily perform my vows." ps 61:1-2,8

Lord I won't grow slient nor weary, I will daily perform my vows.

short post

Well, I finally have the short window in which I can write something. I won't make it long because i need to make it to bed, but I just wanted to say hi to everyone. I've been busy transitioning back to Springfield and I must say my life has been crazy. But I finally feel semi-settled tonight and even almost ready for Christmas.

I love Springfield. I'm excited to see what God has in store for me in this season.

To and From

If your in Springfield you will be graced with the opportunity to go see To and From, starring my very own brother-in-law Jeff Houghton. It's playing at the Moxie Dec 17-19th. Aaaand...it looks good people. Don't miss it.

Cider Days

hi. hi hi hi.
i wanted to post a few pictures from Michelle's booth at Cider Days. In case you haven't heard me ramble on about it, nor seen one of the items of her's that I wear - Michelle has a little side sewing business called mitchandwinnie.
So for Cider Days she tried her first show ever. It was one of those little festival art-walky things where there are tons and tons of people and tons and tons of booths. It was a lot of work, and a lot of fun.
It's a little late on posting the pictures - but here some are:

Michelle hiding behind her GIANT purse. She was a little nervous the whole time.

Oh friends this is my Mara. Mara has been my best friend since the 3rd grade. Michelle and I really refer to her as our other sister.

And this is me sporting what I like to call my "nasty wrap" I wear it when my hair doesn't look too hot. It was raining outside so on came the nasty wrap.

And this is friends and friend's dogs. well, mara's dogs.

week in short review

well it's been a good week mixed with a little saddness. this always does me good somehow. I'll later post some pictures from michelle's Cider Days booth. that was really the only time i got the oppourtunity to take some pics.

i'm excited about what the future holds.

in transit

Well, I just got back into Springfield from Kansas City. I would say "I just got home" but I don't really have a sense of where that is right now. Somewhere in the skies between here and Charlotte? I'm not sure. I've been in MO for about a month now...minus one quick week in Charlotte. I'm finding myself missing two things: the prayer room and a routine to get into.
Today I thought I was excited to get alone after all of the funeral activities, family, etc that have been whirling around me. Now that I'm alone I feel strange. I think my grandpa's death hasn't really effected me too much personally - other than watching my grandma and mom go through many tears. I cried with them, but they were more shared tears than my own. There was one time on my way to the funeral i got out a good cry. I was feeling very sick from my sinus infection (yeah that was fun to have in the midst of all of this) and started to cry from the pain...then I just kept going through the funeral. Feeling thankful and sneezy at the same time.
So here I sit, in Springfield again. Alone with my thoughts and hopefully I can drink them in.

questions, comments, and more pictures

some questions, comments and pictures:
1. How do you know when it's time to say something you really want to say? Do you just wait for the right moment to pop up or do you think about it first and then say it?

2. i went on a bike ride today on a brand new mountain biking trail that is literally a minute from my house. It's complete with rocks, twigs, and even a nice river. It's as if God gave me a fall gift.

3. Here are more pictures from Springburg:


Here's a painting I did while in Springfield. It's of a door in Michelle's sun room. I love it. I'm not going to lie I'm sorta proud.

This is a shot I took at the house of Mitch and old man Jeff. Jeff was filming his future self and making a time machine at the house. Yep...he was I promise.

I love this picture of Michelle at Tea Bar and Bites...yum.

Michelle, Kat, and Me

this is a bunch of us sitting on the front row of Jeff's mystery hour. Never before have I seen something so funny live. I had to say i completely surpassed all of my expectations.

i think the contrast of our hair is so funny. never before have michelle and I looked so different. must say mitch i love your hair.

My friend Will and I while he was snapping pictures. This my friends is my ninja turtle face. grrrr...

Planes and Deeogies

So..
on the way home I was in the lucky 50% that didn't have to be subject to delayed or canceled flight status. Lucky me. I actually had a ticket with the right gate numbers AND the right time. Watch out. Could this be a turn around for the Nation's popular form of transportation? (probably not)
I wasn't so lucky though as far as seat selection goes. I got to sit next to the most fidgety lady who smelled like alcohol and stale cigerettes. She also happened to have a wonderful cough that made it into my personal space more than I care to recall. Today I'm not feeling so hot and even though it's not a cough I want to blame it on her. And if it could get any worse it did - but I won't tell you about the people that crazy cough lady and I sat behind... Lets just say they were crazy bar dancers. I was begging for more time to use my ipod so i could not listen to their revealing (and loud) conversation.

Well here I am back in Charlotte, NC. Mostly safe and mostly sound. Today I slept in, did some laundry, and went to the grocery store. Exciting. Actually it was a little - I really really like grocery stores and if you get me in the right mood I actually enjoy shopping for food. However it's a trade off because typically when I enjoy it I spend more money but whatever.

Now it's time to jump into the world of the emails that piled up over the weeks. However before I do that I must share with you some pictures from Springfield. This time it is of the deeogies that I spent time with...


This is Lilly Seifert - the new addition to the Seifert family. My dad thinks it's going to be a hunting beagle but my mom thinks that all Lilly will do is go shopping with her. Lilly proves to be as aborable as my parents. :)

Sam Houghton the deeogie. i miss him at the moment. he's a love bug. all he lives for is to be petted. Oh and behind him is a painting that I worked on while home and finished. I'm really excited about it. I'll post some pics of the finished product on the next bloggie.

Michelle and Sam Houghton.

leaving springfield...sucko.

where do i begin? shall i start by uploading pictures or talk about how much this week has meant to me...
I feel like this week i fell in love with my friends and my family again. so much that i have little knots in my stomach thinking about leaving and what comes next in light of that.
done so many things i have loved...i've met new people i'm excited about, had some really good conversations with best friends, met a new member of my family (lilly the puppy). I've painted, gone to the mystery hour, watched (literally) a friend get engaged, eaten lots of sushi, watched my sister sew new things, laughed at flight of the conchords, cried with my mom, and just overall have had this huge good feeling i can't describe.
God is good. He makes good people.


here are my first pics. my friend will vastine took them. we laughed at my funny faces because i had no idea how to actually pose...he was gracious with me.

less is more

here are my girls from a couple of nights ago. love them all sooo much.

feeling good. thinking less. praying more.

don't know why i have this metalic taste in my mouth though?

in the brain

i think too much. or lately i have been. decisions are easier when they are based on someone else and not the abyss of merely one's self. i'm having tough times in my brain. i don't know what i want. i don't know why i don't know. i'm frusterated because i want more stability.

in other settings rather than my brain - my visit to springfield has been full and fun. lots of friends to see. yesterday i went bike riding from 3-6 and biked around downtown with my damsel in distress, then hung out and talked about life in scotland with my friend andy...we watched flight of the conchords for awhile too. (v. funny show) today it's lunch with the rents, coffee with kesha, and then hanging out with a newly married Todd woman.

i sorta don't want to go back. i ♥ it here.

Tonsils and Space Moses - together again!

now please

truly it is good to be here in the midst of friends and family. i find most of my friends are doing well and are stable living out their lives. i find my parents in tougher of times lately so i think it's good to be around them and ask for smiles.

currently i am sitting in michelle's house. lucy and sammy are asleep making little puppy noises. i haven't done much today but be here. i feel as though introspection is slightly taking over my brain - though i don't want it to. thoughts of the future and what life holds for me. whether or not i feel fulfilled or empty. whether i like how things have shaped up thus far and where they are going. life and love life and love...
i'm trying hard not to be too introspective while I am here. I know usually it's a one way road to destinations i have no desire to go to - though it's hard not to be. each day while I have been here there has been a fair amount of alone time - something i'm finding myself avoiding like a plague on my happiness. my sister is busy with work and life and she has a beautiful life at that. my mother busy with her mother who may be on the last weeks of her journey in life. my dad is wading the waters fishing for trout. friends all at work in their busy careers. and here I am trying to fight lonliness with a stick and hoping i come out on top. I guess it's not really lonliness, it's just all these unanswered questions about direction that i want answered.
now please.

springburg 2

made it home. i didn't end up having to stay in detroit because the second flight was also delayed (which was actually a blessing).

here i am in springfield - waiting for michelle to get home so i can see her.

i'm excited to be here you all.
(oh and tk - i will look you up when I am in Kansas city. I was today but was tied up with family - will probably be back through at least once if not twice while I am here. I really want to see you!)

springburg

springfield here i come!

button shoes

Can you get cuter shoes? Well...the answer is no but you can buy these on www.esty.com under Mitchandwinnie

and will you just look at that tatoo. seriously my sister is the COOLEST