Monday, June 28, 2010

Exciting.

I like Harry Potter. Does that make me a dweeb? I am pretty sure I would be one without the addition of enjoying Young Adult fiction, so without further ado, here is the Deathly Hallows preview. (Insert annoying teenage squeal.)

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Death of the washing machine

You never realize how much you rely on something until it is broken, gone, or damaged beyond repair. Like when you cut your finger and it makes everything you normally do with your hand awkward. 

The washer died over the weekend. Sad. Trying to wring the water out of jeans is nicht so gut

Thankfully, Dave saved the day and today we picked up a new-to-us washer at the Appliance Exchange center. We even got a 2 year warranty just for giving them our broken one. 

Having even just a few days without a washing machine made me think of how much I have. I know I am always aware of my pioneer (and not pioneer) ancestors shaking their fists at me for being picky or "spoiled" even when I think I have it bad. I am glad I have running water that is clean and drinkable... ooh, doesn't a huge glass of water sound delicious?.... I am glad I have a heater, a safe house, and a computer. I am glad I could have my babies in a hospital with an epidural.... not hanging on to tree branches for this lady. I am grateful for cell phones and my Volvo wagon. And so many other things. 
Even the poorest people in America have it better than so many people in the world. 
Speaking of America, I can't help myself, but I still cry when I hear "God Bless the USA" when they sing the part  about "and I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me." 
Random. I know. Don't even ask me to sing it. 


For girls eyes only....

I mean it. Males, don't read it. I warned you. Some of you ladies might not like this either, but I just have to share this.....



I have wanted to tell more people about the Diva Cup for ages. For some of you a reusable menstrual cup sounds so gross. For others it is just the thing you have been looking for. I know my mom thinks it is weird. It is really not so bad. I have converted at least 5 of my friends and a few are undecided, but that is only because they haven't wanted to put up the money to buy one. I probably would convert more if I wasn't afraid of bring it up with every female I know (I guess I am telling quite a few with this post). I have had mine for at least a year and a half. I love it. I can't even remember how I came across them, but I am glad I did. It saves me so much money (I was able to get mine on sale for only $18), it is easy to use, and I get to be best friends with the environment (again). I still use other feminine products now and again, but it is more comfortable than tampons and less icky than pads. Think about it. What do you think?

Tell your friends.

The view from my roof.

I am so lucky to live behind an orchard.

We were up on the roof so Dave could show me the swamp cooler so that I would be able to troubleshoot if anything went wrong during the day while he was working. I turn around and was struck by the view. I have never been up on the roof and we have lived her 4 1/2 years. It is great to have an orchard behind your back yard. Lucky us. 

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Personal Progress

I am Mormon. I enjoy church. Not everyone does, but I do. Either way, it's ok. Not everyone needs to like church. Some go because they want to be obedient and they really struggle with certain views the church has, but, still, they attend. Others skip church all together. Some like to attend, even enjoy it. In each category there are many levels of "activity." Like in Mansfield Park when Fanny Price says, "there are as many forms of love as there are moments in time." (I love that book, that movie (1999 and 2007), and that quote.) So too, there are as many types of people as there are moments in time. We all progress at our own rates.

I love my calling with the Young Women (12-18 year old females) in my ward (our local congregation). There is a program for the girls called Personal Progress. It aims to help the girls, "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9).  It really is a good program and I am enjoying my experience with it. As a "leader" I get to work on getting a medallion just like the girls do. I should mention that this is my second time through the program. I received my medallion for completing the program as a teenager and now I get to try out the new program with my YW. The point I like to emphasize is that each girl should make it a personal journey. Hence the name, "Personal Progress." She should not worry about how fast or slow she is compared to others. She should make goals for herself and at her own pace. Gain her own testimony of the truth of things. Accomplish things for herself. I love people. I have a tendency to "fall in love" with people easy. I want the best for people and hope that we can all help one another through life. That we can lift one another's burdens and befriend (and be friends with) others. One of my favorite quotes is by Spencer W Kimball. He said, 


"God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other. . . Unless the way we live draws us closer to our Heavenly Father and to our fellowmen, there will be an enormous emptiness in our lives."


What things help you to progress personally without worrying about how you compare with others?

Thursday, June 10, 2010

I like her....

Go check out this blog- She is open and great and funny and maybe a little crazy and love this post.


I found her because of Jill, my sis-in-law. 

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

In Honor of My Anniversary....

My favorite Shakepeare Sonnet.
SONNET 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
     If this be error and upon me proved,
     I never writ, nor no man ever loved.



William Shakespeare
(1564 - 1616)


If you want so fun entertainment check out Shakepeare Retold.
My favorite is The Taming of the Shrew. It just may be my favorite movie.... at least lately.
I didn't really care for Mid-summer night's dream or Macbeth. I only bought it for Macbeth.... Richard Armitage (Think BBC North and South). At least I wasn't disappointed in the rest.

Hello, my name is Rachael, and I am addicted to BBC period drama and the like.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Strawberry Jam

My first attempt at canning jam. Winco had strawberries on sale again. $2.98 for 4lbs. I wasn't planning on making jam with them, but the idea just popped into my head this morning. I have only done freezer jam before, so hopefully this small batch works out ok. Half of the lids have already sealed, I love that popping sound. The sound of success.



Wednesday, June 2, 2010

7 years.

I am married.
This is us now.... (and Jill.)

and this is us on our wedding day.
(Too bad I don't look like this anymore.)

My anniversary is on Monday. We celebrate 7 years on June 7th. It is our good luck year. (Alright so I made that up, but I can pretend all I want. I have a thing with numbers, for instance, I prefer odd numbers. I digress.)

My husband and I are very different. He has a beard, I don't. I am a prude, he isn't. He likes to ride, I like to hike. I like to eat an entire bag of chips within a couples days... ok sometimes in one sitting, he would never do that. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Marriage is different than I anticipated. It is hard sometimes/most of the time/always. We didn't start out like many other couples. Our "honeymoon period" was short lived. We started to get under each other's skin quicker than most. I turned into a backpack for a while. We've had sort of a rocky road, and I am not talking about ice cream (I wish). It has been probably the hardest thing to deal with a struggling marriage over the years, and....

I would not trade it for anything. I am so grateful for my husband, for my marriage.

Maybe it comes down to the whole, "opposition in all things" thing (2 Ne 2:11), I don't know. I just am glad that we have stuck through so many things. I love my husband. He makes me better, stronger. He drives me crazy, I drive him crazy, but in the end I know I have come through the trials a better woman. I have had to face things within my own character and learn and refine myself. Dave and I are both stubborn. Maybe that is what has kept us together over the years, neither of us wanting to fail. While part of that may be true, I know that I love him. Even when I'm mad at him, I love him. I know I have to give credit to following the Holy Ghost's promptings. During the most difficult times I wanted to leave, it would have been easier in some ways, harder in others, but it always came down to the fact that I knew in my heart that I was supposed to be with him.... "for better or worse."

I am so glad that my sweetheart fell in love with me despite my issues, despite my awkwardness (I'm so awkward!), despite my boy-crazy ways, despite the fact that I had braces (again) when we started dating.

Thanks, Dave, for everything. 
I love you! 
Happy Anniversary!

How about a few pictures to end this fantastic post...

(One of our engagement pictures. I'm so cool.)


On an outing to cut down Christmas trees.


(How many of you can get your man to dress up as Winnie the Pooh for Halloween?..... None? That's what I thought. This was early on in our dating.... you can see my gorgeous brace-face.)


We're so in love. We are on the left next to he-who-will-not-be-named.