Can I add to the list??

Every week is full of new memorable moments for my Summer of 2010! We have season passes to Elitch Gardens (the amusement park in Denver), so today Mom and I decided to go. School is in session, and all the kiddos and teens are in class. This is the time of the summer when moms really enjoy themselves at the park. I didn't have to wait in line for the roller coasters, no one in our party used over emphatic repitition to get their way, and the lazy river was much lazier. Yes, it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. So, I'm adding this day to my "Top Ten" list.

August! WHAT?

Where is the time going?? I am sitting here having a really hard time believing that school is starting THIS month. Summer is leaving us! I enjoyed the hotter months of 2010. Did you? I think I'll dedicate this blog post to the summer of 2010.

Pause and think of your top 10 most memorable moments of the summer. Okay, ten is a lot. Do your best though.

Here's mine.
Number Ten: Mornings with Regis and Kelly.
Number Nine: Trips to the mountains to see friends (my bff from high school and my Teen Mania friends-everybody likes to visit the mountains).
Number Eight: Long boarding with my brother.
Number Seven: Ladies Night at The Rio with Kindra and Laura.
Number Six: Afternoons at Borders(i'm here now)getting lost in the world of the written word.
Number Five: Road trip to KC to see Lindsee dance in a recital.
Number Four: Family "Hootenannies" at Mom and Dad's.
Number Three: White water rafting with Lindsee through the Royal Gorge Canyon.
Number Two: Painting in the back yard while soaking up the "Mile High" rays.
Number One: Seeing my little sister go on her very first Global Expeditions mission trip to Panama!

Now the summer's not quite over yet, so I'll make it a goal to have at least one more "top ten" summer experience. Maybe fly fishing? Apparently, it's the thing to do if you're a "real Coloradan".

Enjoy your final weeks of your Summer of 2010!

The Weekend.

When an idea blossoms in Riley's brain, she talks it into existence.

She'll say, "I think we should have a picnic!"

Our answer might start as a "Maybe", but after Ry vocalizes all her thoughts on the matter, we really can't say no.

I walked into the kitchen while she was packing 8 different ziplock baggies with random foods she could reach in the fridge.

That's when I became apart of this grand picnic.

We walked a mile to my mom and dad's house to have our picnic in their backyard.

I made her this "flower power" ring on the way.

I've recently decided that Converse are cute.

(These belong to my 13 year old sister)

Today my mom and I took Hershey for a walk.

I wore these, and rode my brother's longboard.

I had to laugh at the scene.

Yes. I'm 23 and pursuing a professional career in journalism.

I'll dress and act the part someday.

maybe.

Riley has a small bladder, and she waits till the last minute to tell me she has to go.

I'm very familiar with the quickest path to the potty in most stores.

Have a great weekend everybody!

"The Roarin' 20's!"

Soon I will be starting a new blog. It should be a heck of a lot more entertaining than my non-existent blogging pattern over the past year. I'm thinking of a new blog name to go along with the new season of life I will be starting...

The incredibly beautiful, creative, and oh-so-fun Lindsee Brandmueller will be teaming up with me to do some life together. I.am.thrilled. !

I was thinking a Blog title like "The Roarin' 20's" would be fitting for our adventuring through this decade. Wait a minute...was it the roarin' 20's or 40's?? Oh dear. Well, if you have any ideas let me know!

Linds and I are looking for the perfect little home to fill with memories, and new friends (when we have them over for dinner and movie nights). Tomorrow I have an appointment to see a cute, antique-ish apartment downtown. It has pale yellow walls and the windows and doorways are framed in white. 

Cute, cute, cute!

The other, more hip apartment we are considering is seven stories up on Larimer street above restaurants, clubs, boutiques, and coffee shops (see below). We want to be close to my school and to wherever we will work (still figuring that one out too). We're praying for the perfect fit!

The Web

You have it all together, don't You?
I so strongly believe that You are the master author, and that You really do delight in the details of our little, people lives. But then there is this part of me that doubts.

That part that says, "He loves you, yes. He cares about you, of course. But, really Manda...all the details? Maybe not ALL of them. Just the major decisions: deciding where you'll live, what career path you'll jump on, choosing your spouse, adopting a baby, etc... "

Oh GOD! What about the story line??? What about the perfect plot??? Please tell me You're planning, writing, thinking about my web! please...

Why, oh why do I doubt Your perfect design in my life? I see the beautifully tapistrated webs in other people's lives ALL THE TIME. Here, let me explain what I mean when I talk about "the web".

When a spider spins a web, she does it so purposefully. Gracefully. Intentionally. She may not know it, but her instincts tell her to place one string here, and another right there, so that all the shiny trails connect and support each other.

Life is like that. Life designed by the creator, that is. He's the play writer- The "Master Weaver" (as KP calls Him). When the web comes together, it's strong and beautiful. It has purpose. But the web takes time.

Oh, Love...please help me to embrace this time of threading. I trust you, my Master Weaver. Strengthen this web.

A Permanent Seal

I've been thinking about getting a tattoo. I haven't talked to anyone about it yet, because I have a feeling this idea may never materialize after talking it over with my mom. I know. It's permanent. So is my relationship with the Lord, so I think it would be a beautiful, permanent "seal"-so to speak-of my affection. A friend of mine has "Song of Songs 8:6" over her heart. I think that is perfect!  

"Place me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy demanding as the grave."

 

I don't want to copy her, but I want something like that. Maybe behind my ear? I don't know. I really do like the idea of the seal over my heart. I'll ask Sasha if I can copy her.

Conversations with a Four Year Old

"...and it breaks my heaa-ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-eart." My ringtone is currently set on Regina Spector singing "Fidelity". When we were shopping the other day Riley heard the song and immediately it became her new favorite. I let her hold my phone so she could keep replaying the song, and she quickly caught on and sang along with Regina.

A while later, as we were walking around Target (after we looked through the cards, of course) Riley found a card making kit that she "needed". I think it was a legitimate desire. She held tightly on to the big box as we looked around for "mommy" to "tell her if" Riley could have it. She was quiet for a few minutes (which is abnormal for Ry) until she shared her thoughts...

"do you think we could make a card for, um-what's her name? Regina?"


"Yes. I think we could do that. What will we say?"

"Can I tell her I love her?"

"Why don't we tell her we love her song, because we don't really know her."

"Yeah. Regina Spec--what?"

"Spector."

"I love her song."


I so enjoy life with a four year old.