Olympic-love

Creme de la creme! I think that is supposed to me "Cream of cream" in French, but I use it in the same manner as I use "Good grief!" which is to say, it appears in Rachel's Dictionary like so:

creme de la creme: an expression used to denote extreme surprise, exhaustion, etc. Usually paired with a raised eyebrow.

Now that you are informed of the proper usage, I may continue. For some reason the hotel internet will not work in my room. I have concocted a brilliant plot in my head as to Why. Some crazy techno-chap is in the room next to us using up all the internet. ;)

At any rate, I am downstairs writing this blog post while talking with Mamie and Charles. We are all excited about watching the olympics tonight. :) Unfortunately we won't be at the hotel to watch them on the t.v.--we'll be at dinner--but hopefully we can find them online somewhere, or come back not too far into the show. I am dead-set on hearing a Scottish accent. Honestly, the men don't know how easy it'd be to catch my eye--or ear, rather. All they have to have is a tolerably passing Scotch accent and I'm theirs. ;)


I've never been able to tell which Olympics are my favorite. I think I change every four years...when Summer comes around I swear those are my favorites...then winter comes and I swing back in the other direction...I'll have to limit it to my favorite sporting events:

the ice-dancing finals:

men's figure-skating:

swimming:

girls gymnastics:

men's beach volleyball:

downhill skiing:

speed-skating:

fencing:

Golly. I love it all, it seems! :D Anyhow, I am so excited the Olympics have come around again, and that they are held in my beloved Britain! But Team USA is still my favorite--in fact, I'm wearing my blue Team USA t-shirt and some red lipstick and some gold, glittery eyeshadow just to celebrate the opening ceremonies tonight! Let's win as many gold medals as we can! :)

//Further chronicles of the south//

Hello darlings! I'm still down in Georgia, and am presently enjoying a quiet hotel room before heading out to The Varsity this evening. :) (It's supposedly some amazing, All-American greasy burger place that is entirely famous. :P) It is also supposedly the world's largest drive-in restaurant! We'll see how it goes. My 20th birthday was on Friday, and the dear guys went all out for it. It began with a wonderful package from my family--you can read about that here--and went on to include being treated fabulously all day. :) 

My glitzy package. :) <3

Toward the evening some people were needed to run down to the office and map out a precinct or two--initially I was not going, but then Daniel changed his mind and asked me to come along. At first I was suspicious that something was afoot, but after getting down to the office and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, I forgot all about it. 
We got back to the hotel and Daniel tried his key in the door--it didn't work. He then told me that Ian (one of our guys) needed me to help him with the laundry machines. I went to the second-floor laundry, but then Daniel called me back: "He's on the first floor!" So I tramped downstairs to the first-floor laundry and was almost there when Daniel came dashing out of the elevator: "He's actually on the third floor--sorry!"
At this point it was midnight and I was exhausted. I began despairing over Ian's sanity--I mean, what 18 year old guy can't figure out a laundry machine? But I am the unofficial hotel-Mama (the only girl in a group of 11 guys!) so I knew I had to help. ;) Then Daniel took pity on me. "I'll get it," he said. "Just come in and put your stuff down." He fit a different key into the door and swung it open. All at once a loud chorus of "Happy Birthday!" filled the air and the light-switch came on. :) Brandt, Justin, (two of our home-guys) and John (An Arkansian--and a twin! :) had stayed awake the whole time we were at the office, and had decorated my room with all the things Mama had apparently sent. :) 

They did an amazing job, and I was so touched and blessed by their forsaking their sleep to wait up for me and give me their little gifts and cards. It was so much fun! Zach (another of my boys) had bought a huge card on behalf of the whole crew, and everyone signed it. They bought Bieber because they knew I was such a fan. ;)

Hee-hee. :]

^My enormous birthday-pin....yes, I wore it to Steak n' Shake. :P

Because of course we had to seal the night with Steak N' Shake afterward. That put us back at the hotel after 1:00 a.m. I definitely let my golden-birthday out with a bang! :D I think the  best part of this whole campaign has been being the only girl in the hotel--the guys are such little gentleman, and make me feel like the queen of the realm. :D It's rather a lot of power. ;) When a decision is to be made, one or another always pauses and says, "Well what would Rachel like to do? She's the girl!" :)

Here are some pictures of the rest of the fun we've been having between all the work...enjoy!

Zach enjoying some sparkling-water at Moe's. We walked there for dinner the other night. :) I'm learning lots of fun trivia about my teammates. For instance, Zach and the Frosts love old movies, and are edu-ma-cating me in which ones I need to watch SOON! Arthur is afraid of strong medication, and dogs don't like him. Arthur's brothers [the twins] like BBC dramas! :) Zach's family owns and operates a British imports store called The Queen's Pantry that I want to visit someday!

I had my birthday lunch at Five Guys with my five guys. :D 

Left to Right: Brandt, Russel, Charles, Daniel, and John. (John and Charles are twins, and therefore two of my favorites. :)

Mail!

We campaigned in old Senoia, which is where many films have been shot, including Driving Miss Daisy! :) That was so neat!

Ever tried to fit 10 or 11 guys in the back of a mini-van? Well, it works....if you don't care about legality. :P L-R: Jeremiah, Ian, Zach, Arthur, Justin, Charles, Daniel, Brandt, and Stephen. John was buried underneath everyone! If you look close, I am told you can see one of his legs. I haven't tested that yet, though.

Our massive team we gathered for Saturday! Actually, Daniel, Brandt, and I ended up staying back at the office to make maps. It was a pleasant break!

Arthur and Ian saving the South, I believe. ;)

It's been such a blessing from God that after our long, grueling, highly productive days we have such an awesome group of people at the hotel to come home too! The hotel staff are pretty great too! :) All in all, I'm having a great time in Georgia, and I'm so glad that Daniel and I were given this opportunity. I appreciate all of your prayers, and all the dear letters many of you have sent!

More from Georgia. :)

Hey everybody! This is Rachel, and I'm here hollering up-country from the state of Georgia! I've been here a week and a half, but in many ways it feels like longer. :D We are campaigning for a godly Christian man who is running for Georgia State Superior Court judge. Our days are very long and full and productive! We start by getting to the local Chick-fil-A by 8:00 a.m. and meeting with the candidate and our boss, and then we divide out into cars and stared cruising through the neighborhoods going door-to-door on all the "hard R's" houses. :) The crew per car usually consists of 1 driver, 1 navigator, and 3-4 "runners" whose job it is to jump out at the correct houses, run up to the door, and speak with the people at the house. If there is no one home, they leave the lit, and we hop back into the car and continue on down the road.

We hit the jackpot on this one! :D

The leaders of the door-to-door teams (i.e. me, Daniel, Katie & Brant Frost,) have been hard at work mapping out the territories we plan to hit. :) The work is tedious and we pretty much pull 13 hour days, but it's amazing to slowly see our numbers climb and begin to get that heady sensation of the campaign race. :) It's hard work, yes, but to know that we're helping to get a godly, wise, equipped man into the position of Superior Court Judge is worth every bit of it. :)
But I think my favorite part of all has been the great company. I've grown to love Katie Frost and Mamie Carlstrom especially--we're a nutsy trio! Unfortunately, Mamie had to go home with her amazingly helpful family, and now all we can do is sit there and hope they'll make it back for the last week! :) Here are some of the pictures and links to some of our happy, funny, awkward, amusing videos! Many thanks to Mrs. Sherry Carlstrom for most of them! :D

I got to meet a dear blogging friend last Sunday! Julia is one of the dearest, sweetest people you'll ever hope to meet! :)

Daniel getting into "Haven't Met You Yet"

Some of us in front of McMurry's house

No, we did not use Campaign Money for our Starbuck's treat. :P

Worship time at midnight last night! :D

We have so. stinkin'. many. stories. Stories that make us bust out laughing at the slightest recollection, stories we'd rather forget, and many others that I can't wait to get home and tell to my family and friends! Actually, one really neat thing is that Justin W. and Brandt E. have come down to help through the end! Sing ho for home-peeps. They have been a real boosting-influence on Daniel and I. :) It's nice to have fellow-foreigners. :P

And this morning was the crowning happiness on the end of a tiring but good week:

We went to Passion City Church!

PCC is the church where Chris Tomlin and Christy Nockels lead worship. The building is essentially a warehouse, and entirely unassuming. The people are friendly and the spirit vibrant. It's also the church where Louie Giglio preaches, and after having (multiple times) watched his "Indescribable" and "How Great is Our God" sermons as well as "Fruitcake & Icecream" and "The 12 Words of Christmas," I was really really looking forward to it. God was good, and it was amazing. 

The worship time was like sweet balm to our weary souls, and the message was piercing and beautiful and as near perfection as any mortal message can be. Louie was preached on John 21, and once more in that curious way he has, his words hit close to home as he showed us the importance of this ending to Peter's story. It was simply and utterly amazing.

at Passion City Church this morning.

We hope to come back during our time in GA--it was so refreshing after the long week! Please keep us in prayer for energy, health, and patience, and I'll try to keep y'all updated on everything going on down  here! :)
                      Love,
                             Rachel

the boat song

I pretty much consider this the single cutest love-song/homemade music-video ever. JJ Heller and her hubby made it in their dining room with a few simple props, and came out with something beautiful, sweet, and happy. Watch it and be blessed. :) <3

brown-paper packages tied up with string...

I don't know about in your families, but in ours we have lots of birthdays in the summertime. Being the campaign, I'll miss my 20th birthday. (July 20th) Perhaps I will fold a pamphlet into a hat and wear it on my head to celebrate...or maybe not. ;)
This lead me to wondering and thinking about fun ways to wrap presents. :) Here is some inspiration for you and I!

Homemade paper-flowers to use atop gifts!

A cute twist on the traditional brown-paper package! :)

Love it! Queen of Hearts gift-wrap--perfect for a friend who loves Alice in Wonderland!

Whoa! String-art packages! :) I likes it.

And of course a Rachel-Gift could not be complete without peacock feathers. Absolutely brilliant <3 I love it. I want a gift wrapped in peacock feathers for my birthday! ;)

I don't even know how they did this one, but I think it's awesome!

Everyone has plenty of newspaper, right?

Aw! Perfect for the musician in your life.

What are some of your favorite ways to wrap a gift? :)

Blessings in the murk :)

Even though the campaign work is crazy and stressful and fun and hideously tiring all at once, a friend did playfully challenge me to make this month a month of thankfulness rather than a month of ungratefulness. :) [Yes, even when I'm so tired my head feels floaty.] So, in an effort to smile past the shabby bits, I'm starting a sort of "One Thousand Gifts" list for this month. 'Course I won't get 1,000, but I'll get plenty if I work at it! So here we go:

1. friendly, outgoing people
2. a cute little ol' town to base out of
3. a nice hotel room
4. "Touchable Softness" shampoo
5. an episode of the Reba Show (it was like a modern-day Lucy! :)
6. red campaign shirts! (They could have been yellow, and then I'd be sunk!)
7. jeans
8. flipflops
9. Ankle socks
10. highlighters
11. highly organized bags of snacks. 
12. gatorade
13. Googlemaps
14. Julia
15. emails from friends
16. MOHL
17. southern courtesy, even when inconvenient
18. town squares
19. "yes" when you ask if they're voting for your guy
20. pictures
21. sunglasses rescuing
22. little girls
23. laptops
24. the luxury (even though I'm ready for home cooking! :D) of eating out 3 meals a day
25. lemonade
26. Steak n' Shake milkshakes
27. new friends
28. timely scripture reminders. :)

Georgia Adventures!

Well...here I am, safe and sound in GA. :D My first day on the job was yesterday, and it went very well! (I was being Lewis and I had a fellow female highlighter-cartographer [Clark]) Bascially we were making walk-maps, which means that we are literally mapping out every street in the counties we're covering, and then Clark and I go along with our lists of Hard R's (Republicans) and highlight all the roads we need to walk and drop literature along. Tedious, but effective! :)
 Daniel and I came home plum tired though, and it was 9:30 before we found the Panera's where we wanted to eat. I crept in feeling "worn out and provincial and positively twelve years old" to quote Anne Shirley, but after consuming two cups of piping hot Hazelnut Coffee (COMFORT FOOD ALERT!) I felt much better. :) The clam chowder was good too. I don't know what possessed me to eat clam chowder when the day had been 100 degrees, but I think I was cold in spirit and needed some warming. :D
Daniel and I proceeded to Walmart to get a couple of things, and then we came back to the hotel and watched Spiderman 2, which was actually better than I expected it to be. :) Then I was lost to the world until dawn. All this morning Daniel and I have been going hammer-and-tongs at a fever-pitch to roust out some volunteers. Getting help on a local campaign is hard enough, but we'd definitely covet your prayers for getting enough people to help when we don't know anyone in the area! Our employer and his family have been able to give us some contacts, but it's definitely harder. :)
Daniel and I are about to eat lunch and then do laundry. He's been here most of a week so he's already cycled through much of what he brought. :D Hopefully we'll be getting some out of state help (immigrants! ;) for weeks 2 and 3 of the campaign to push us through to the end (it's looking up!) but we do need prayer for stamina, protection, and encouragement! :)
All in all it's been a good first week, I think. Daniel and I are keeping each other sane, giving out Advil and shoulder-massages, and quoting secret things to each other when we get stressed. :D Here a couple pictures I took this morning in between phone-calls:

My bed has a mirror at the foot so I can see myself every morning and inspect my bed-hair. ;)

The remainder of a good night's sleep.

(who can say Memory Foam?)

Very skeptical about these new mobile devices--it's Daniel's and it and I are not exactly chummy.

Well, please pray for us, and I'll keep you updated on further Georgia Adventures!

Georgia on my mind!

Hello darling people! I wished to tell you that after much flipping and flopping and waiting and going and not going and waiting some more and going again and flipping and flopping every more, I am leaving tomorrow to be in Georgia for a month, working as an assistant on 3 primary campaigns. :)
Daniel is heading up the door-knocking campaign, and I am his assistant as well as a general all-around helper. I am so so excited about this! Getting to work on campaigns in a state I've never been in, flying (and having a lay-over) by myself both ways...it's going to be awesome! :) The Lord brought this up really quick for Daniel and I both, but I am so blessed it worked out! 4 weeks on a mission like this with Daniel is going to be fabulous.
I'd appreciate prayer, both for safe travel and a blessed time down there--and safety in the Georgia heat! Virginia gets awful sultry and sticky, but I've GA's worse.... :P
Anyway, I'm off to our dear little local Fourth of July picnic so I've got to scram! Oh yeah---and this was what I wanted to say in the first place:
I'm on Facebook now, so you girls can stay updated with me there! :) (I have some posts scheduled here as well, for those of you who don't have FB. :) Ciao!

The Bookery

I have decided I need to name my library The Bookery--you know, like the Rookery? Only not? :P
Goldberry (among the rest of you) read my blog post a while back about my Summer Reading List. And then, being the spontaneous woman that she is, took it upon her generous self to hijack that Summer Reading List. She really did. She apologized, but I think we were both glad she hijacked anyway. ;)

You see, Goldberry (who, if Abigail and Daniel get married will be my sister-in-law's sister-in-law.) lent me quite a few books, and bought me a couple. Here is her official hijacking list...long may my former list live in antiquity. I've renovated. ;)

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

^ These books are not written by a Christian author, but I really really enjoyed them. They are adventurous, intriguing, and amazingly well-written. Since Turner is a modern-day writer they've also been a marvelous research-tool for me as I rummage up modern-day-style tips for my own writing. :)

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers
An Echo in the Darkness  by Francine Rivers
As Sure as the Dawn by Francine Rivers

The Silver Branch (no hijacking here! This one was on the list. :) by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Lantern-Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff

^ More modern-day-style research for me! Can't wait to read these!

Dombey & Son by Charles Dickens. This is probably my favorite of the gift-books, because:
1. It came from England
2. It's hard-bound
3. It's illustrated
4. It's unabridged
5. It's Dickens
6. She wrapped it in brown paper and string and sent it off to me <3

And Abigail pressed into my hands a book to read...a Polish book. More specifically With Fire and Sword by...oh...get ready for this: Henryk Sienkiewiczk. I haven't the foggiest notion how to pronounce any of these names. I think they'll get some coughs-and-sneezes-sounds in my brain. Do any of you ever do that? Just make up some gibberish as you read along?

So these books make up the next set of books that now make up most of the reading that will get accomplished this summer! Thank you so so very much, dear Goldberry! I love you forever and always. (Even if you hadn't done this magnificent hijacking for me. :)