"What's the matter with the men?" - a musical venture

Because it is Valentine's Day and we are all single (and most of you are single) and because we love singing/lip-syncing/the Broadway version of Cinderella, we thought we'd give you a bit of a treat. Suppose we had a variety show: this might be on it...and it's the first take so do forgive us. ;) Hope it gives you a laugh!

Love,

Rachel & Sarah

Singleness According to Period Dramas

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. In case you're wondering, I don't feel morose at all. My first book is hitting the world tomorrow, I've got friends coming in town and a no-couples-party planned for Saturday night...there is dark chocolate in the world and life is always good. No, life isn't always good. God is good and He gives beauty to life and because of that, I'm not pining away. We have a rather funny little thing planned here tomorrow so you'll have to stay tuned. For now: humor! I thought I'd do a post featuring Period Dramas on How Being Single Isn't All That Bad. Get Ready? Get Set? GO!

Mi, mi, mi, mi, miiiiii:

1.
Married people tend to have too much stuff.

"Look, Mater, you can't expect to bring the whole Panjandrum!"

2.
Husbands expect to tell you what to do. 

"A husband would expect to tell her what to do and Emma won't like that, I can assure you."

3.
If married or romantically involved, you are much more likely to catch cold from being exposed to all sorts of inclement weather and/or cotton mills.

"What care I for a cold when there is such a man?" 

4.
As a single woman, you are much less likely to be coerced into squandering your fortune on your lover's hare-brained schemes.

 "They say he sold his soul to the devil. If he did, I don't know what he did with the money!"

5.
And, of course, you don't have the bother of a mother-in-law.

 "Five thousand a year!"

6.
And while unmarried, there are always more chances to meet dashing young men unexpectedly

"You'll just have to live here then. Bye-bye."

7.
And do we even want to mention the fact that while single, there are chances to nurse handsome people back to health and thereby gain their admiration?

"I think I'd like to be a nurse; isn't that a romantic profession? Smoothing fevered brows and then some handsome millionaire patient will fall madly in love with you..."

8.)

As a single woman, you are free to gad about and state your opinions freely, including the fact that you think botany is really quite boring.

"I don't share your opinion!"

9.

While single, you can still dream that--contrary to your own upbringing--you'll marry and end up with enough money to pay all expenses and have a bit left over for keeping a cook.

"Ever since I've come to live with the Boffins, I've been constantly avariciously scheming!"

10.

And, of course, is there really anything as satisfying as spying on and making fun of the couples in your life?

Yeah, didn't think so.

Happy Valentine's Day, Darlings!

I HAVE A SWEETHEART!!!!

{Actually, a whole box of them.}

Welllllll look! Two posts in one day. I wanted to do the first one since it was serious, and then I wanted to do a light-hearted one and since they didn't seem like they belonged in the same post, I thought I'd better do one this morning and one this evening. :D All right. Excuses, excuses. Maybe it's just because some rather interesting things happened after I got up from the couch and set the computer aside. :D

First off, Mama and I opted to do a Shrinkage-friendly breakfast rather than cinnamon rolls or something else, so we made Cherry-Triple-Berry-Banana-Oatmeal Sundaes which have the combined appeal of being raw as well as healthy. :) I loved them, so I hope they'll stay in our recipe box!

I was given chocolate, but most of it was *dark*chocolate and was followed up by my customary 3-ish mile walk so I didn't feel too bad. After breakfast, Abigail went out to check on the goats and came hurtling back in yelling that Emma was having her kid. (I forgot to mention it, but two days ago Nessa had twin boys....Benedict and Martin...both as stinkin' adorable as the actors. AHEM.)

I took the opportunity to take some pictures of Gracie, who was being her typical awesome little self in a black tutu, rubber boots, and pearls among the goat muck and mire. 

Benedict is the one with the coat, and his collar flipped up which--considering he is Sherlock--is very fitting.

Here he is: Benedict.

Benedict giving Abby some love.... :)

The new baby that was born was a little girl, and Anna named her "Juliet". :) She was still wet and hadn't even tried to stand up when we found her.

And then the most exciting part of my day happened. Actually, it happened last night late. I got this text from a really cute, really handsome, really great guy I have loved for a long time. His name is Matthew, and he sent me this message:

"Will you be my Valentine?"

In'n't he cute? ;)

Needless to say, I was ecstatic.

Then I heard that he'd also asked my younger sister, Sarah, to be his valentine. Talk about double-dipping. ;) So we decided to make it a triple date, and Matthew would divide himself between Sarah and I. We headed out to a Mexican restaurant to get the lunch special. Sarah and I couldn't decide who got to sit next to him, so we just both sat across from him.

Okay. Sorry to scare y'all. 

Matthew is our beloved cousin who lives across the field, and he took Sarah and I out to lunch since we're all single and didn't have other plans. :D 

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all! <3

Love's like a hurricane

Last Sunday at church we were having worship time and started singing a song that--until quite recently--I hadn't adored as a do now. But the last several times I have sung it, I have found myself deeply touched by this love song. Literally, it is a love song. A ballad about My King's great love for me, and it gets me. I get it. Whatever the case, it's beautiful, and if you don't know it, you need to listen to it and remedy that right now.

.

He is jealous for me.

Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are

And how great Your affections are for me.

Chorus:

Oh, how He loves us 

Oh, Oh,

How He loves us,

How He loves us, Oh.

He is jealous for me.

Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory

And I realize just how beautiful You are

And how great Your affections are for me.

Chorus again

And we are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes.

If His love is an ocean, we're all sinking.

And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets 

When I think about the way

That He loves us,

Oh, how He loves us

Oh how He loves us,

Yeah, He loves us....

Happy Valentine's Day, Everybody!

Let Me Call you Sweetheart?

....that is one love-song I absolutely despise. I mean, really. Ew. But I have to admit that I have an affinity for love songs in general. The other night, Sarah and I were sitting together at the computer helping a friend compile favorite songs for her trip to NYC! :) I was laughing over how many of the songs I suggested would classify as love songs. Haha

Though I'm a romantic, I don't go in for all the sappy, sad love-songs, nor the cheesy ones. Broadway and Vintage music have my numbers, as do Michael Buble and several country stars. :D  What are some of my favorites?

"Beyond the Sea" by Matt Belsante

This song is such a loved one it made it into a large part in my latest novel.. ^.^

"I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz

Such a sweet song. I love the dedication. :)

"Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait

One of the cutest little songs ever.

"Haven't Met You Yet" by Michael Buble and "Everything"

Two of the most adorable songs from one of the best modern-vintage singers.

"The Way You Look Tonight" by good old Frank Sinatra

"Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra (again)

"Coffee in the Morning and Kisses at Night" by Dale Evans

This song just makes me so happy and cozy. ^.^

"Why Don't We Just Dance" by Josh Turner

"Would You Go With Me" by Josh Turner

(A favorite from the very first moment I heard his astonishingly deep voice. :D)

"The Lights of Old Santa Fe" by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Another precious one by my favorite cowboy-couple

"Sweet Afton" by Nickle Creek

(YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS ONE BECAUSE IT'S ALSO A MONTAGE OF LADY MARY AND MATTHEW CRAWLEY! <3) 

"De-Lovely" from Anything Goes by Collin Donnell and Laura Osnes

(This couple is way too cute for their own good.)

There are more. There are so many more, because the world is just chock-full of good, cheery, sweet love songs. But these are the ones I will give you, and for further news, check out Meghan's post of her own favorites! :)

Love Never Fails!

Please listen to this song--it will bless you so much! :)

"Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." -1 Corinthians 13:8-10

Happy Valentine's Day, girls! <3

Alone...or Not?

As Valentine's Day approaches it can be tempting for me to start despairing (even tongue-in-cheek) about my lot as a single young lady. It is tempting to start betiding woe to my sisters: "This is so depressing--there's not a single guy I could marry even if he'd want me!" After all, nearly the only eligible guys I know are my brother and cousin... :P
I don't know about you girls, but my bouts of wistfulness in the marriage area jump me. They never creep up. I will be entirely content and all gung-ho for living the rest of my life in a nunnery if that would be what it takes, and then the next moment I will be seized with an overwhelming ache for a Someone of my own. I've told you I'm a romantic sort....

I'm sort of/kind of/really guilty of standing outside on more than one occasion and singing "Goodnight my Someone" when no one is listening. Ahem.

So what on earth do I do with these random/sporadic/vivid bouts of love and longing? Well, I'm not sure what your particular situation is, but I've told you mine. I have been spared many of what I'm sure would have been opportunities to get my heart entangled by the sheer lack of men in my circles. However, this brings up a different struggle--I am deeply in love with a Nobody. Seriously. I pray for my husband a lot and I can truly say this has caused me to love him...which is dumb because I do not have the slightest idea who he could be.

So back to the question. What on earth can a girl do with these moments?

I've been in this stage for the past couple of days...I think it was triggered by my watching Little Dorrit. For those of you who have not seen it, the hero is Arthur Clennam, and he's a man after my own heart. Contrary to what you find in most heroes (even our beloved Mr. Darcy) Mr. Clennam is not handsome. He's not particularly charming or witty, even. But he's good. He is so good. Learn his story and your heart will be forever melted....I think what gets me is that his character is such that he is very real. I actually feel that there is hope that I will meet a man like him one day.
I had forgotten how much I love him and then it all came flooding back. Note to Self: Never watch Little Dorrit when your heart is anything but perfectly staid and sober. But back to the point of this post. I was washing dishes and I suddenly knew what I needed to do. I needed to take a walk and talk to the Lover of my Soul. I finished up my chores, zipped up my coat and headed outside, and once I was quite sure that no one was listening, I started to pray aloud.
I told Jesus everything--from my wistfulness to my wish that Mr. Clennam was real to my wonderings about where my Someone will come from. And He listened. I know He did. And as I talked with Him in as conversational a way as I talk to my friends, the wistfulness slipped away, the longing quieted, the pain dulled, and I knew that He loved me. What do I look for in a husband? Someone to whom I am important. Someone who looks for me first thing when he walks in the door. Someone to whom one of my smiles would brighten his whole day. Someone, in short, who is mad about me.
And as I told all this to Jesus, He smiled at me. "Don't you see that One is Me?" He asked. "I'm crazy about you. If you had been the only on the face of the entire earth I would have died for you. Just for you, Rachel. I didn't come to die for all mankind. I came to die for one Rachel Heffington."
And suddenly, in that one moment, everything was set right. I don't have a man of my own. I will spend Valentine's day receiving sticky, over-loaded, precious cards from my siblings. There are no Secret Admirers for me, and I won't be getting any boxes of chocolates with a sweet card...but none of those things really matter because I have learned again just how much my Lover cares for me.