Life in Austin

Things I love about Austin:

1. The weather. We have recently bid spring (85 degrees) goodbye and have greeted summer (99 degrees). While I do feel that 99 is too hot for things like hiking and running, I think it's excellent for swimming, tanning and reading outside. I much prefer the latter activities anyway, so 99 is fine by me!

2. The skyline. Austin has a really trendy feel to it and the skyline seems trendy to me too. It's nice to hang out down town like we did today. I felt pretty trendy laying in the grass at Zilker park reading a book about Zimbabwe (which is really good in a really horrible sort of way). We even gave people directions twice. That's right, we're basically locals.

3. The hill country. We live right on the edge of the really pretty part of "hill country." The other day I went on a field trip and we drove out past some really pretty parts! Visiting some wineries and state parks in the hill country is on our to do list for the summer.

Apartment living

It's weird to live in an apartment complex. It's kind of awkward, socially. We recognize the same people, and we are always friendly and they are friendly back, but anything beyond a "Hey, how are you?" is crossing the unspoken boundaries.

The exception to this is at the pool. Anyone can be friends at the pool! Although the time I'm most aware of the fact that I live in Texas is when I visit the pool. Stereotypical, beer drinking, beer bellied, tattooed, loud TEXANS. I've seen two tattoos that have been particularly...mmm, redneck. First, in giant letters across the back: TEXAS (with Austin and Houston written smaller below). Second, in giant letters across his chest: WHITE TRASH. I only wish I was making this up. Let's just say the pool is best in small doses.

Speaking of the joys of apartment living, I'm pretty sure my upstairs neighbors are going to come through the ceiling one of these days. Like maybe any minute.

Oregon- Part 1: a wedding and a niece

Now that my sister has been married for more than a month, I don't feel like I have much to blog about! I've been waiting for pictures, but I don't have any yet.

First, let me say that I can't believe my baby sister is married. I was so much more emotional at her wedding than I was at my own! The ceremony was beautiful and so simple. She looked beautiful in her cowboy boots and dress with pockets!

The newly weds are doing well, they were meant for each other. Now that the wedding is over they are preparing for their next big adventure in life: the arrival of my niece, Adalee Megan Taggart.

I can't wait to meet the little monkey! I think she has my nose. ;-)

Oregon- Part 2

Ok, ok. I know, part two is a long time coming. Sorry!

My friend, Rachel, asked Andy and I to be godparents to her baby girl, Lilliana Rose Mary. While we were in Oregon we got to attend her baptism. She is a precious little girl and it was such a blessing to see her receive the gift of baptism.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

I love those words! Liliana has been born into a living hope, the same great hope that we have because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Oregon- Part 3

I have three major things to blog about from our Oregon trip. However, I am starting with the last one because it's the easiest. We had the privilege of witnessing two of God's greatest demonstrations of His love (these will be the subjects of Oregon- Part 2 and Oregon- Part 1): marriage and baptism.

This blog, though, is about the complete majesty and awesomeness of His creation. These pictures do not even begin to do it justice!

I know that I grew up in Oregon and everything, but for whatever reason, I have hardly ever been to Mt. Hood. Don't get me wrong, when the "mountain is out" (an Oregonian phrase meaning that the clouds have gone away long enough to see the mountain), I smile from ear to ear when I catch a glimpse of it. I miss seeing it when I am away from Oregon, and I love flying into Portland when I can see it from the air. I just have never really been TO the mountain. Until last weekend. My dad took Andy, Kelsea and I up to see the snow while he skied a few runs. It was beautiful. And cold. But mostly beautiful. See?

A break in the clouds makes for a beautiful sunset!

Cool icicles!

This is a THIRD story window! That's the top of a Douglas Fir (those are tall trees)!

Andy in the snow bank by the parking lot. It was about twice as tall as him.

Sunset pic...that the mom of the red headed boy in the background wanted also.

Etsy

My friend, Bethany (who has two of the cutest little boys on the planet) just started an Etsy shop! She's got a great sense of style (she managed to always look cute in Malawi, and that really means something) and I love the jewelery she put in her shop. You should all check it out by clicking right HERE.

These are two of my favorites:

I think this is so sweet! I love the off center rose and the matching earrings!

Fun! I love that it's basic. It would dress up all my plane-jane tshirts for sure. Love it.

Warning: Etsy can be really addicting. There are a lot of people who are very talented and creative. While I was browsing, I came across this:

It goes inside your purse to organize! Isn't that a great idea? My mom gave me a super cute purse for Christmas, but it is one big pocket. I am forever digging around to get things out. This would solve my problems. Now, why couldn't I think of that?

7 things

My friend Marley, who lives in Vermont, gave me a blog award. I'm not really sure what that means, but I know I'm supposed to post seven things about myself. Usually I kind of construct a blog post in my head before I sit down to write it. I have not done that for this post, so consider yourself warned. Here goes nothing.

1. I hate exercise. Always have, probably always will. The only exception to this was in Malawi when I used to power walk up and down the the 1 km hill with some ladies on campus. I liked that. Now, I force myself the gym at our apartment complex and I'm lucky to get 20 minutes in on the Elliptical before I'm bored to death, and tired and sweaty. Three things I hate: bored, tired and sweaty.

2. I had fruit salad and yogurt for dinner tonight. And goat cheese. My favorite combination of foods lately is grapes and goat cheese. I'm not sure why I haven't discovered this until now. But it's really delicious.

3. I have a degree in teaching, but have not really been using that degree for the past two years. Not that I'm in a completely unrelated field, I'm just doing a job I could have done without my degree. This makes me sad on occasion. Then I remind myself to be thankful that I have a job.

4. I love Africa. I miss living there and working there. I plan ways that we can get there as fast as possible, only to remember that I'm not in charge of things like that, God is.

5. I waste a lot of time on the internet. Sad, but true.

6. I could eat Mexican food for every meal and not get tired of it. I can't wait to try a new restaurant up the street that I bought a Groupon for a while back.

7. I love hymns. I love the melodies, the harmonies, and the theology in the words. We sang Holy, Holy, Holy in church on Sunday and it gave me goosebumps.

It took me far too long to thing of seven things about myself!

Now to pass this award on:

Bethany @ Still in St. Louis

Rachel @ Life of Lily

Kristy and Gideon @ Go Forth