245/365: Mallard

My step-mother never ceases to amaze me with...well, a lot of the things she does. Like insisting that Seth and I take "citrus" home with us, or sending me a random card in the mail with pictures of people I don't know inside. 

Well, Seth and I came to Greenville for short stay and this is what I found at the foot of the bed. A duck in a basket. A mallard duck in a basket. There was also a framed painting of some ducks sitting on the floor near the bed, so maybe she is going with a duck theme.

What I instantly thought of when I saw the duck was the episode of the office when Dwight gives Jim a mallard duck so that he can spy on Jim after he was promoted to co-manager and given his own office. So maybe my step-mom is trying to spy on us...creepy. 

218/365: The Fair

Growing up, the fair was the highlight of my summer. Back then the fair lasted for a whole week, although now it is only 5 days and over the weekend. I haven't been back to the hometown fair in a few years because well, life got busy and I had more important things to do then the fair.

Then this little lady came along and I've been reorganizing my schedule to see her as much as possible. The fair sure isn't what it used to be though. One afternoon was way more then enough for me to have my fill of the fair.

Not enough for me to have my fill of Savannah, though. We hung out before the tractor pull started. And boy was it HOT. And dusty.

Before long, the tractor pull started (an hour late) and my twin was chasing another first place finish. 

And then it was time to leave....

210/365: Champaign County Fair

Yep, my blog is now going to be following the county fair circuit.

Just kidding! My brothers were at fairs within reasonable driving distance two days in a row and I couldn't resist the chance to see them.

I'll let the pictures do the talking.

I'm not sure what this says about me, but I was swelling with pride as I took this picture.

And this one, too. Just a few seconds after this. Jeremy walked over to the tractor and leaned up to give Jonathon a high five. Just thinking about it makes me swell with even more pride.

I love my brothers, I really do. Which should be obvious since I came to a tractor pull at noon. Seriously who schedules a tractor pull at NOON? In JULY?

As it turns out, my twin destroyed the competition. He got first place. The first time that either of my brothers has ever came in first. Chelsea and I ran down onto the track to see Jon as soon as the class was over. They had my brother drive the tractor down in front of the grandstand and then had a mini-interview in the "winner's circle."

Here's one picture I captured and didn't even realize how much I loved the photo until later. I just wanted a closeup of Savannah. When I uploaded the photo onto my computer though, I realized that my brother was so happy in this moment. He was standing in the winners circle and I can see that his nose is all scrunched up because he is smiling. He doesn't smile very often. At least not on camera. And then there is Miss Savannah holding onto her daddy's arm and I think it is just about the sweetest thing ever.

209/365: Fulton County Fair

Randomly, this afternoon Seth and I decided to drive to Lewistown to see my family. It was well worth the trip.

Miss Savannah was there to greet us. 

And I got to see my twin as well. Savannah loves her aunt and uncle. Just look how happy she is to see the twins together.

Of course Savannah loves her uncle Seth, too!

But let's get to the main event, the reason my brothers came to Lewistown in the first place: the tractor pull!

I've got to admit I get nervous every time I watch my brothers in a tractor pull. Of course, I'm use to a few summers ago when they weren't as good.

They've really started to figure things out though, and there's no need to be nervous at all. Jonathon was able to bring in a second place finish!

After the class my brother's pulled in was finished, it was time to sit back and enjoy the show!

175/365: Mini-Golf

I couldn't help but think back to family vacations from my younger days when we played mini-golf today. I don't think we ever went on a vacation where we didn't play mini golf.

163/365: Oh Baby

Cutest. Baby. Ever.

162/365: Prim de la Prim

Seth and I are in Greenville today, visiting my family.

Zita offered us cream soda and declared it to be the "prim de la prim" of cream soda. Whatever that means.

Isn't this a sweet pic of my twin and his girlfriend? He needs to put a ring on it.

141/365: Fine China

After almost a year, I finally get to open these boxes. The boxes that hold my "casual" china.

I actually have fine china that my mom and grandma bought for me when I was a small child. I have only even seen the fine china two times in my life. Once, when I begged my mom to show me and then again, a couple years ago when my parents were moving to a different house. My brothers got fiestaware, which is MUCH more practical but I am pretty sure neither one of them have gotten any use out of their dishes either. For now, all of our dishes live in a basement; probably not what my mom and grandma had in mind when they bought them.

Not only do I have fine china, I also have fine silverware (what do you call really nice silverware?) that has been sitting in that same basement for years and years. Unlike the china, I have actually seen the silverware several times and I think I even got to pick it out. I know that I still like the design, which just goes to show my taste is consistent from when I was a small child to now that I am a "grown" woman -- whatever that means.

Anyway, back to the casual china at hand! This was a wedding present from my step mom's entire family -- 8 place settings!!! Although a rather boring gift, it was probably my favorite. It was the gift I never would have bought for myself, ever. Since this was such an expensive gift I never unpacked the dishes to use because I thought I was going to be moving somewhere later that summer. I didn't realize it would be almost a year before I moved.

There Are No Coincidences

Last week one of my friends said to me, 'I'm starting to think that there are no coincidences."

I'm inclined to agree with her. this comment came after I told her about being passed by a friend on the highway on the way home from school.

It got me thinking about the other coincidences that have happened in my life.

Is it just coincidence that I was accepted into the U of I's School of Social Work program, this year, where I have made what will probably be lifelong friends?

Is it coincidence that my mom had leukemia and my step-sister's dad also had leukemia? And that I am great friends with my step-sister?

Is is coincidence that friends of mine were prevented from flying to Asia the day after the most wanted terrorist was killed?

Is it coincidence that my internship and Seth's new job start on the exact same day and that neither one of us had any control over our start dates?

I think I am becoming more convinced that there are no coincidences. The orchestration of God is nothing short of amazing. I'm no Calvinist, but I certainly think that it is amazing the way God works in the details. I love the rare moments I am able to recognize God's hand in the details.

I'm starting to think there are no coincidences.

59/365: Chubby Cheeks

Alright, so this picture wasn't taken today. Look at that face, though! Such a cute baby--must take after her aunt. haha! She's gained just over a pound since the last time I saw her and I think every ounce went to her cheeks!

30/365: Aunt Jess

Last wednesday I became an aunt. Over the weekend I was able to meet my brand new, not even a week old niece, Savannah Grace. It was love at first sight. She slept on my lap for three hours yesterday afternoon and I absolutely loved every minute. I can't wait to see this little lady grow up.