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!

You're the Top! You're an arrow collar....

So I don't know about the rest of you, but I have seriously enjoyed this All The Single Ladies blog party. I mean really--it's some of the most blogging fun I've had in a year! And today while I was sitting all by myself at Panera eating soup and salad and wishing someone was there to keep me company, I brought up Meghan's latest post on my Samsung Galaxy Tab and was brought to a state of  (if not tears) great sentimentality. She challenged us to write a post about the girlfriends we love and how we came to know them, why we love them, anything and everything that has to do with them. So I thought, what better way to show my love for some of my particularly close friends right now than to do a friendship celebration post? :D

First off, of course, is Abigail. She's pretty much my sister in law. (Well, give or take a ring.)

This could be us. (any guesses who I'd be? ;)

But this is actually her, as seen from my perch in bed on the frequent weekends she comes a'courtin' my big bro.

This is also her, as seen atop her brother's shoulders cleaning fly poop off our ceiling. 

What? We live in the country. It happens.

. 

Hee-hee-hee. Blackmail? ;)

Okay. I'll be nice now. Here are the lovey-doves themselves. (And tomorrow they celebrate their first Valentine's Day together! I am sure they are both very excited. :)

Abigail is absolutely one of the most genuine, adorable, countrified, rosy people I know. I loved from the moment I clamped eyes on her, and that's seriously not poetic exaggeration. It's the honest to goodness truth. I don't know if I've ever told y'all, but I saw Abigail at a friend's graduation and thought to myself, "Now she'd be a good friend." and then was too shy to introduce myself, and we eventually got to know each other on the blog-world and then through emails, and then finally met and then I played Emma Woodhouse and got her in love with my brother. And now they are going along merry as the morning at present. :) She's wiser than I am, older than I am, mysterious-er than I am, and altogether quite worthy to be someday-wife of The Gentleman. Marybelle, are you laughing and blushing yet? ;) She also has a penchant for making up nutsy nicknames for me. Throughout the course of our relationship I have been:

Frankie

Miss Waffle

Mr. Dorrit

and more.

Oh. I forgot that she looked on complacently while I let Grover kiss me.

I have many other friends that are near and dear to me, but they have featured on this blog before. Katie, Morgan, Maryanna, and Joanna, I love you lots and lots and if I had pictures of us together (JOANNA and MARE! WE'VE NEVER TAKEN A PHOTO TOGETHER!?) Julia and all my MOHL girls, I love you so much too!  But there are two friends that have become very very close to me this past year, and whom I don't believe I've mentioned at any length.

First off, Josie. 

Josie is the chick with swag who--while I might not always understand her entirely--makes me love her through and through.

 She's tenacious, and even when struggling with various and sometimes serious health-issues, always manages to laugh at herself or someone else and push through. She's sarcastic and funny and sincere and I have so enjoyed growing closer and closer and very close with her this past year. Working together on the SAT was awesome....even though every stinkin' photo on that trip could easily qualify as blackmail. 

She's the girl who will stay up till 3 watching the Hobbit Premier with me and still look gorgeous in the pictures. She's the one whose laugh I like to imitate. She's the one who's just as tiny as I am plump, but still manages to look a scary-lot like me on occasion. She came to the County Fair and played Lone Wolf. She is a a self-proclaimed Lonestar, but she's learning how to bring a few people into her constellation. She has awesome taste in music and knows how to dance. In short, I love her. 

And last but not least, Katie Frost.

I met Katie working on the campaigns down in Georgia, and we hit it off down there. I have no pictures of Katie. This is nuts. But seriously, the girl is such a huge ball of preppy, Southern, High-class spunk that there's no stopping her long enough to take a shot. :D We discuss everything under the sun. Pretty much literally everything. And she's plain and simple fun with a sweet heart. Over the months since leaving GA we've gotten closer and closer and closer. She's my hilarious Single Friend because we discuss this season with absolute candor. We have planned that we are going to travel to Europe together someday, and if we aren't married by 30, and are going to live in London where I will lurk about the streets collecting writing inspiration, and she will work at Burberry and bring me back a trench-coat. 

So all you girls, I love you. I love you a whole lot. You're a major part of why I love the season I'm in some days, and why I'm surviving it other days. I thank God for each and every one of you, and....well...thanks for putting up with me! 

                 Much much love,

                                  Rach

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! :)

You might just be single if...

Today on the All The Single Ladies blog party, Meghan challenged us to do either a post with our favorite Pinterest "single" pins, or an amusing story that highlights the season of life we're in. Since this last year has been a really hilarious one in many ways, I have several anecdotes that you might find amusing to hear.

First of all, the topic of Ring-Checks.

Come on now--you know you do it. You see a person and you check their left-hand to see if they're taken. It's not as weird as it sounds when you realize that it's me saying this. And I'm always analyzing everything about everyone, so it's not as if I am husband-hunting my entire life. I just notice things. Including whether that rather attractive fellow across the food-court is wearing a gold band signifying NO VACANCY. ;)
(And for heaven's sake, if you're still taking me seriously at this point, please unbutton your shirt collar and realize that I'm being crazy and single here with a large dose of sarcasm on the side, so please take it all with several grains of salt. Sea-salt preferably, unless you're Jewish in which case it'd have to be Kosher salt. Which is very good on pretzels. Which I can't eat right now.)
Anyway, my sisters always teased me about my ring-checking propensities (I'm sorry! I can't help it!) until the day I finally realized I'm not the only person that does this. I was at a political function last summer with my brother, and we arrived late. Mind you, it was just the two of us attending, and we squeezed in next to these two men who were probably about 30 years old and the sort of Political Fellows who never have dates and have absolutely no lives but the current race. Well, these two chaps started casting glances in my direction, and whispering among themselves while the delegate at the microphone droned on and on. They'd sweep a glance over me and Daniel and whisper to each other, then look at us again and keep whispering. Feeling a little self-conscious, I tried to ignore them, but happened to look over just as the one with the impossibly blue eyes and the bald-spot fastened his gaze on my left hand, then turned to his friend with a confirming shake of his head. I was not taken.
Imagine my relief, then, when the two were called to leave before the speakers were finished and they had a chance to talk to me. O.o

Second thing that confirms my status as Single is this:

From my earliest girlhood I've made a practice of sending Valentines to all my friends. I mean, none of us grew up in homes with a dating mentality, so we weren't the girls who had a different "significant other" from the age of 12. Therefore, any Valentines fun we were to have we were forced to make for ourselves. Chocolate, cards, everything passed from their hands to mine and vice-versa. This year I sat down to make out my list of who I was sending Valentines too and I stared at the blank sheet.

And stared...

...and stared...

....and stared...

It took me several moments to get two people who were still single that I knew. TWO! When last year I practically hadn't time enough to make the Valentines for all my friends who were with me. Let's give us a nice word picture:

Last year we were Noah's ark about to sink with ze zingle ladiez. This year we might blow away in a kayak. 

No problem with that. It just means that those of you who will get a Valentine from me this year? You're special. You're part of a remnant. We're like...like the people in Red Dawn. Or in The Return of The King. "THERE MAY COME A DAY WHEN OUR COURAGE FAILS! BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!!!!!"

Number Three would be the fact that I shun Walmart this time of year:

I seriously do. I walk through Walmart and see all the cellophane and chocolate and red roses and I think, "If this is what love looks like, who wants it anyway?" I mean chocolate is awesome. I'm not a fan of red-roses, but the whole end caps and end caps and end caps of cheap stuff and I think....

Really? Really? 

And then I know that I would flip out if anyone bought me chocolate or red roses and then I think, "You're being cynical. Did you know that? You are. You totally are." And then I feel like buying myself chocolate since no one else is going to do it. And I end up buying dark chocolate and salted caramel. (Sea salted caramel--back to the  grains of salt!)

Number Four item that gives a nod to the fact that I'm single is:

My sense of irony. See, all those friends who have found a Someone over the last year and who didn't need my Valentines? They asked me to still make them one. I have a feeling they are feeling a little bit of remorse over leaving their single years behind forever an' always. So my list of Valentines To Be Made is actually a little longer this year than it was last. If that's not ironic, I don't know what is. So I amused myself by writing very very very saucy ditties in their cards (JUST YOU WAIT!) and made myself laugh with devilish glee as I sealed the envelopes. The cards for my Matched friends are awesome. But the cards for my single friends? Wait till they see them. You'll hear howls of laughter from here to Pittsburgh.

Haha. Oh my goodness. I have made myself laugh, and I hope I've made you laugh, and I also hope that you are enjoying this blog party as much as I am! I want you to realize that this week I am totally having fun with my "single state". I don't always think this wryly of this season, and you know I am a deeper person than some of these posts might seem. But sometimes I really think it's great toooooo:

"Let your hair down, hair down,

Get you some of this laid-on back!

Kick your shoes off, kick 'em off,

Get you some of this slow down fast..."

I will leave you now with a few of my personal favorites from Pinterest. Enjoy!

The Shrinkage Diaries: Plateaus and Peaches

Dear Figure,
       Well.... we've had some intense moments of WILL YOU EVER SHOW YOURSELF!? this week, but I know that's just an attempt on your part to hide yourself from me and make me give it up. But know what? I'm not going to give it up because that would be lamer than you being a coward and hiding. I call this stage in Shrinkage the "Plateau". It's the time when you've shrunk along quite well for a week or two and suddenly stop "seeing" the results. You feel great, yes, but the results aren't visible. These are the times that are easiest to revert to your old paths, but these are also the defining moments when you'll see if you have what it takes to rummage up a Figure.

I am determined. Though I did buckle for a couple tiny slivers of Sarah's buckeye brownies, I successfully avoided many things this week that could have totally become snack-time. Including the beautiful, aromatic cinnamon raisin biscuits Dad got up and made this morning. I sat there with my energy bar thinking about you, Figure, and wishing we hadn't toasted the sesame seeds this time because it made the bars taste like savory crackers crumbled in honey.

But I didn't cave.

On Pinterest I saw a list of things called "The Skinny Rules" and one of them stuck out as being a really good piece of wisdom. (something Mama has always recommended, and I follow.) Plan one meal a week that is your fun meal. Have something at that meal that isn't necessarily good for you. It might be some pizza on your family pizza night. It might be a little cheesecake at a church dinner. (*smiles at Julia*) It could be anything, but it keeps you from feeling deprived.

I've been experimenting further with awesome sugarless-flourless desserts, and here is the promised Peach Froyo recipe. I made Chocolate-Banana froyo and the peach froyo, and the peach was by far my favorite. :)

Peach Froyo

• Two cups Greek yogurt
• 2 cups fresh or frozen peach slices
• 2-3 Tbs. honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 pinches sea-salt (this is essential, as it brings out the peach flavor!)

The only steps here are to stick it all in the blender and blend it till it's....blent! (And Shakespeare uses that word so THERE!) Then you dump it in a loaf pan, and stick it in the freezer for a matter of 3 or 4 hours. If you leave it in longer than that (and even then) you will want to let it sit for about 20 minutes to be soft enough to scoop. I used a cookie-dough scooper to scoop out the froyo because this is really really rich and you don't want a lot of it! What I served my helping in is a small teacup, and you can see the size-reference from the almonds. :)

So dear Figure of mine, though you're deluding me with thinking you'll never come out of hiding, I am continuing on my exercise regime, continuing on making new and wonderful recipes and living a life of Shrinkage!

For those of you who are already shrunk or already eating healthy, I'd encourage you to send a brief note to a friend who is still fighting for her Figure and for general health and fitness. One of my dear friends Facebook-messaged me just letting me know how proud she was of me and that she entirely supported my fight for a Figure and admired it. That made my week, and I intend to pass the favor on someday. After all, how could she have known that I was having a Plateau Week? You never know when your little message could mean the difference between excellent Peach Froyo or Buckeye brownies. ;)

             Much much determination and tough-love,

                                                 Rachel

All the Single Ladies! :)

I was so excited to see that Meghan of Just as I Am is hosting a Single Ladies Valentine's Day party! It is such a neat idea, and she's set it up so sweetly! I mean look at the button on the side-bar. Is there anything cuter than that? And what's even better is that though I'm new to Meghan's blog, I can already see that this girl is intent on living life to the fullest now. Not waiting for anything. Any man, any job, any day. She's living now. :)

Today's challenge was an ice-breaker game. :)

1. White chocolate or milk/dark chocolate? Definitely milk or dark chocolate. Since I'm on my Shrinkage plan, the only chocolate I indulge is is 60% cocoa chips or higher which are essentially just cocoa. :) And since white chocolate is just blah anyway, I never have liked it very much.

2. Tea or coffee? I am very fond of a good cuppa tea, but coffee is good in the morning. Definitely good in the morning. Or Hazelnut coffee as a comfort food. (I actually bought myself hazelnut coffee in GA on the campaign last year when I got really stressed. Mind you, this was July.)

3. Movie or book on a night-in? If it's a movie I haven't seen, I'd choose a movie. See, my family usually watches movies at night, and since the only light good enough to read by is in the living room and I hate reading smack-dab in the middle of noise, that's the deal. But if it was a night in by myself, I'd definitely go with a book! :)

4. Rom-com or tear-jerker? Once I realized that rom-com stood for romantic comedy, I'd go with a rom-com.I mean, Les Miserable is amazing and I truly love it, but as far as sad movies go, I'm more of a period drama fan myself and they don't count as tear-jerkers in the true sense of the word. I am also especially fond of old rom-coms, as well as a couple new ones like Letters to Juliet. (Review coming soon!)

5. Who is the first literary couple to come to mind? Mr. Darcy and Lizzy. Boring, I know, but it's because I'm teaching Pride and Prejudice in English Lit and it's foremost in my noggin.

6. First *movie* couple that comes to mind? Lady Mary Crawley and her cousin Matthew Crawley.  LOVE them so so much. Gah. (They are from Downton Abbey in case you hadn't heard.)

7. Roses or Chocolate? Well...roses. But not the hot-house kind. Roses as in growing up the side of a house and smelling divine in the sunlight.

8. Fancy dinner in a 4-star restaurant or a simple picnic? It entirely depends on several things: What time of year it was, (after all, if you suggested a picnic in a snowbank in January I would certainly choose the restaurant) why the restaurant hadn't made it to five stars (did it lose a star? Horrid! Over what? ;) who I was going with, (cozy friends? A picnic. Glamor and glitzy friends? 4-star restaurant.)

9. Dream wedding scenario: Outdoor family affair, or a formal church wedding & reception at a 5-star restaurant? Oh! Did the restaurant finally earn it's fifth star? Well! Actually, neither. I'd like to be married outdoors, but I would like a rather nice cushy guest list.

10. What was the last love song you listened to? "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars. Besides one verse, this song is ADORABLE! Especially the all-male version by Anthem Lights. *sigh*

11. Favorite real-life/celebrity couples? William and Kate. :)

12. One piece of advice about love: "Baby why don't we just dance?" Josh Turner's song, "Why Don't We Just Dance". :) Because I'm a firm believer in having fun in your love even when you're old and married. And I do realize this is a very very very little piece of advice that doesn't exactly rock the world. But I know that everyone else will have the big ones so I thought I'd risk it. ;)

Wow! Looking SO MUCH forward to this blog party. Thank you, Meghan! You have made this week so special!

For everyone else, I'd like to direct your attention to the fact that we finally got the donation buttons up on the Romanian Blog and if you can help out in any small smidgenish (or large benevolent) way financially, I'll love you forever and like you for always and as long as I'm living my baby you'll be. ;)

Ciao bellas! 

The Shrinkage Diaries: Almond Joy Truffles

Dear Figure,

     The start to this week has been most wonderfully heartening because despite the fact that it has only been a week on the quest to you, I did think Sunday that I caught a glimpse of you lurking about. Mama further pleased me by stating that my body seems to respond nicely to Shrinkage efforts and she could tell after one week that I was on the right track and that I was gaining a waist. Yippee. I've foiled all your attempts thus far at eluding me.

      But at certain times in a girl's life, she craves treats, and when she is trying to find a Figure (yes, in spite of the buckeye brownie she chose to eat on a coffee date), she goes on a track to find the best recipes. And sometimes she decides to fling caution to the wind and completely change a recipe so it doesn't look a thing like the original. Thus, Figure, I have outwitted your schemes to make me crave chocolate, and I now present for you and all other Shrinkers, the Clean-Eating Almond Joy Truffle. 

Clean-Eating Almond Joy Truffles

• 3/4 c. almond butter
• 1/2 honey
• 1 3/4 c. rolled oats
• 1/4 c. unsweetened, flaked coconut
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/3 c. cocoa
• 1/2 c. raisins
• 1 Tbs. + 1 tsp. coconut oil
• 60% cocoa chips for dipping

1. Warm almond butter and honey

2. Mix other ingredients together, then add the almond butter and honey and roll into 1" balls.

3. Chill for a little while you melt chocolate chips with the additional teaspoon coconut oil. Remove from fridge and dollop chocolate on tops of truffles.

4. Cut a few raisins into triangles and poise on top of truffles.

Makes approximately 30 truffles

Figure...these things are killer. Seriously. They taste just like Almond Joy bars, and certainly don't leave you wanting for anything else. I managed to exercise every day last week. What is hilarious is that I didn't mean to exercise Sunday, but I worked myself into a rather bad humor and decided to dose myself with one of my fierce, wonderful walks on which I pray aloud and come home cheerful as you please. I ended up walking at least a mile and a half or so, which made me laugh when I realized God had managed to change my attitude and help me with Shrinkage all at once.

I did see you Figure. I really did. And this T-shirt showing less lumps is witness. Boo-yeah. Stay tuned, Figure, for more shockingly amazing recipes which include Peach and Chocolate-Banana Froyo recipes!

    Chasing after you with a club and my awesome truffles,

                            Rachel