We're Moving!

Okay. We're not moving as in "moving" moving.  My blog is moving.  But we're not moving.  Yet, anyways.  ....This has become more confusing than it needed to be. 

Visit (and follow) my new blog at A Dandelion-Wish Away. :)

Tschusse!!

And We're Back!

To quiet all of those crazy rumours that I know are circulating about why I haven't blogged recently:

No.  It was not due to the fact that I had finals this month.  It was, instead, due to the fact that I was abducted by green, mind-reading aliens with slimy tentacles and three eyes.  It wasn't until just yesterday that an astronaut rescued me and I was returned to our lovely planet earth.  The experience was horribly traumatizing and I don't know if I'll ever recover.

True story.

Even after this scarring event, I am determined to continue my failed blog challenge.

Because I'm focused like that.

Thank you for dealing with my sudden disappearance with such poise.  (Though I might have appreciated a search party, missing person report or something like that. But it's okay. I forgive you.)

Onward! To summer and freedom and consistent blogging!

-- RM

Time to Partayy!!

Oooor lay on my bed, stuffing our faces full of popcorn and chocolate while watching a movie.

The only problem is ... twin beds can only hold so many people.

I draw the line at four.

There was not enough room for Isaac, Abi, Plutarch the Lamb, Pablo the Mexican Ducky, Snoopy, AND me..

Someone had to go.

I made my siblings sit on the floor.

It's not me being mean, I promise ... It's just that Pablo's claustrophobic.

I mean look at him! He's freaking out about being stuck in the middle.

Poor thing.

(It is completely normal for sixteen-year-old girls to take pictures of her stuffed animals, right? Right. Okay, thanks.)

We picked Mulan.  I do love that movie.  So, I thought I'd share one of my favorite clips with you...

Never gets old.

-- RM

Yes. Sometimes Even I (Me, Micaiah) Don't Know What to Say

I had to think about this post for a while.  It would be so easy for me to post just a few photos with some funny captions, instead of actually describing some "Awana fun".

I find that whenever I'm asked, "What do you like most about working at Awana?" I freeze up.  I don't know what to say because there is so much to say.  The fact that God has given me the chance to have such a huge impact on children's lives and teach them about His word.

That fills me with too many emotions to form into coherent thought when I'm put on the spot.

I get to watch their faces light up when they say "Deuteronomy" correctly for the very first time.  I get to give them a high-five when they finish reciting all of the books of the Old Testament.  I get to tell them the story of Samson or Samuel when they don't know what the picture in their book is about.

I get to congratulate them when they run up and tell me they lost another tooth.  I get to cheer them on when they're running in the relay race.  I get to offer them a spot on my lap when they're upset about their dad being gone.

So many things that I can remember my Awana leaders doing for me and now it's my turn to share the love of God with these kids who I love so much!

I'm so thankful.

-- RM

Because I Fail at Life...

So. What I am posting today is from yesterday but about something that happened today.  I'll wait a second while you figure that out.

...

You good? Okay. We'll move on.

Because of my amazingly advanced procrastinational skills that I've mentioned on several occasions, I didn't post yesterday.  Fourth day into my challenge and I mess it up.

Say it with me, folks, "F to the A to the I to the L."

Anywho.  The slip I drew yesterday was:

I thought I'd tell you about something that happened today but was supposed to be blogged about yesterday, except I wouldn't have known it was going to happen, so we can pretty much just sum up with the fact that this is a blog post from the future. .... Now that we have that cleared up ... Onward!

Today, just a few hours ago, I nearly destroyed our house.

And no.  I'm not exaggerating.  I don't know what you're talking about.  I never exaggerate.

Ever..

See.  I was making these ridiculously amazing, completely delicious things called sopapillas.  They're like cute little Mexican donuts.  And I'd done it before, it wasn't as if this was a new recipe.  All you do is make the dough, roll it out, cut it into little triangles, fry (in hot oil...), coat with cinnamon and sugar and then enjoy! Really, really simple.

Unless, of course, you decide to move the pan and spill cooking oil onto the stove which just happens to be turned on..

The flames were really pretty.  Unfortunately, I was too busy jumping up and down and waving my arms in a totally helpless fashion to grab my camera.  And that is why this post doesn't have any fun pictures.

Anyways, thanks to my level-headed mother who was conveniently close-by, the fire was extinguished.  This story will be archived right next to that one time when I melted plastic on a coffee cake.

You're looking at a culinary genius, right here.

Conclusion:  Fire is hot.  Smoke burns my eyes and makes breathing a little more difficult than usual.  But, we didn't die, the house is still intact, and our stove will still work.

Plus, those sopapillas were still pretty darn delish.

-- RM

Cue Collective "Awwwwh"

I really have no words for how cute this was and is.

Babies.

I love them.

-- RM

In Which I Cheat. Just a Little Bit...

Yes.  I'm cheating on today's challenge.  I drew "nature walk", and the reasoning behind the composition of the above photo is the harsh reality of school work and procrastination.

They don't mix well, boys and girls.

All that to say, because of some un-finished homework, I was not able to get out on a nature walk today.  So, instead, I'm using photographs of several different nature walks from the past couple of months.

Enjoy!

This. Is a hedgehog.  I named him Kirby.  For no reason whatsoever.

Spring <3

~ RM

Sibling Communication

Today's slip was "Photoshoot with: ____" And I chose my siblings, because I love them, they're pretty darn-tootin' good looking, and they also just happen to be my official guinea pigs. :D

And I apologize for the quality of the above photo ... I had a much better one, but didn't realize until after dark that it had been deleted from my SD card ...

Just my sister.  Being her gorgeously photogenic self. 

I love that it is so easy to find a setting for a photography session here in Germany.  We just simply up and walk a little ways to the fields and woods on the outskirts of our very own Lupburg.

To say that I like it here would be an immense understatement. 

Photoshoots with Abi are pretty simple.  You tell her where you want her and she'll pick her own pose.

Isaac, on the other hand, requires a little prompting. The above photos followed from me asking him,

"Would you do a serious face?  But not like that. Okay, never mind, just smile."

And then my comments ended abruptly with me falling over laughing.

Oh, siblings.

Well. I guess he got the message.

"Wait. What was that? What message?"

~ RM

Giggles and Paint

What better way to kick off spring and a blog challenge than:

After enjoying some sister bonding and snack time, we got down to the extremely serious business ahead of us.

On the left, Abi is sporting the ever-classy 'French Thinking Clown' while over on the right I am going with more of the crazed hippy look.  I apologize for my hair.  I am currently trying a "no heat curl" which I learned about here.  We'll see how it goes..

And then Belle. She seemed like she was feeling a wee bit left out.  So I cheered her up with a super snazzy purple nose.  I think it looks quite nice, don't you?

~RM

Happy May Day!

*Disclaimer: The following paragraphs are best enjoyed whilst reading aloud in a deep, announcer-type voice.*

In celebration of the month of May, the last month of school, the month of warmth and sunshine, the month of blooming flowers and green trees, I have decided to hold a blog challenge here on

My Story, His Plan.

For this blog challenge, I have filled a fantastically vintage glass jar with little pieces of paper.  Thirty pieces of paper, to be completely mathematical and precise.  Each paper has a blog post subject. Every day throughout the month of May I plan to randomly remove a slip (while imitating Effie Trinket...Hunger Games, anyone?) and post accordingly. 

I am doing this partly because I think it will be fun, partly because I need to make blogging a regular habit, and partly because I have finals this month and like to keep things as interesting and as complicated as possible.   

Happy May Day!  And let's hope my time-management skills are ever in my favor!

-- RM

March Madness Recap!

For all of those basketball fans out there, I'm sorry to disappoint. This is not, in fact, a post about basketball (even though I DID come in second in our family pool.. I know, crazy, right?). 
This is my attempt to cover some of the super exciting stuff that happened during the month of March... through pictures, because I don't feel like writing a novel or attempting to condense into a short enough post.  Condensing hurts my brain.  It does not come naturally.

One of the most exciting things that happened in March was spring!

The temperature reached upper 50s, maybe even some lower 60s, multiple times last month!

This was cause for much celebration.

The warm weather meant we were able to walk around Lupburg in tanktops and flip-flops.

It meant haircuts on the backporch and swinging at the park.

 Awana game-time outside! 

And, on the rare occasion when we didn't/couldn't make it out into the great outdoors, Abi and Bear set up shop in the living room.  This shop was open for everyone and anyone to come and buy an assortment of items.  Some of which may have even been sneakily removed from your very own bedroom.

"If you want your hairbrush back, you're going to have to pay 15 euro cents. And we accept donations!"

We are full of creative ways to make money.

~ RM

Back to the Burg (and blogging)

There are multiple steps involved when preparing for a trip... Most people pack.  Sometimes they even figure out exactly where they're going, so that the 3 hour road trip doesn't become an episode of the Amazing Race gone wrong.  If it is an annual trip, some people like to sit down, flip through pictures and talk about all the fun they had last year.

  My fellow members of Crew 303 and I did all of the above this past month ... with a few additions.

The first weekend of March brought the second annual Venture Adventure Weekend for our crew. This year, the theme was Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail ... meaning we had to:

• watch the movie at least twice. 
• obtain coconut halves.
• make and/or buy medieval costumes.
• work on our English and French accents.
• steal my brother's sword. (with permission, but that doesn't sound near as exciting.)
• quote the movie until we could quote no more.
• learn the song "Brave Sir Robin" by heart ... because road trips are just so much more fun when there is singing involved.

...all before we left.  It was an exciting prep time, to say the least.  And my outraaaagious french accent has been much improved (heh ;P).

This year, my friend and I got the privilege of staying on the fourth floor of THE TOWER.  Which meant lots and lots and lots of stairs....We forgot something in our room once..never again...

The 'Caped Crusaders' participated in many exciting activities, including:

Posing for pictures. (Dramatic? Us? Nooo.)

Photobombing.. ;)

Geocaching! Or searching for the Holy Grail throughout the town of Rieneck and surrounding area. With the added excitement of dodging killer-tractors ...
Good times, good times.

Ropes course, anyone? I've come to the conclusion that I want a giant swing in my backyard.

Badly.

This time around, being the "experienced and adventurous" Venturers that we are, we decided it would be fun to ride the swing upside-down.

And we were right.

I still want one..

Then it was on to the 'tree of truth' 'baby stick' 'wobbly log of death', whatever you want to call it.  And, unlike last year, I was able to complete this activity!  Hurrah!   

Did I mention we like posing for pictures?

"...And that, my liege, is how we know the earth to be banana shaped."

-- RM

A Lettered List

  Creative title, no?  See, I was going to number this post and title it "Ten Things", but then I realized that my last post was numbered.  That would be two posts in a row with the same look.  We can't have that... So this post is going to be lettered.  Just to mix things up. 

The new title of this entry is now officially "A Lettered List".

(I know.  The creativity. It's mind-blowing ..)



A.  I am currently dying (yes. DYING) for spring to spring already.  Germany has not experienced even one 'real' snow this winter.  There has only a been light dusting here and there that either melts quickly or is completely trampled by siblings attempting to sled or build a snowman.  Oh that snowman ... he was a jolly, fat, short type, whose nose was about the size of his head.  I do believe that carrot is still out in the backyard, but unforunately ... Frosty the Fat is no more.

Anywho! Back to what I was typing earlier.. I am tired of the cold wetness and would love for some warmer, sunny, not-as-wet-ness to come along.  That would make this girl very happy.

B.  While I was browsing through an old SD card, I came across a few (okay, about 147) pictures that Bear took last winter.  He should be going professional any day now.  Here is a sneak-peek of the amazing photography skills that my family is just full of (prepare to be amazed):

I know!!  Astonishing!  Once you've recovered your socks, we can move on...

C. As of this moment, I am redesigning my bedroom.  Well ... it's more like 'designing my room' since there really wasn't a design in the first place.  My sister and I painted a couple of our walls yellow, and believe me, that was a huge improvement.  But, so far we haven't done any framing of pictures, painting of colorful scenes, or anything to really decorate our walls. 

This is, of course, excluding all the cards, pictures, rocket ships and such that I have hanging up under the loft...
Other than that our walls are completely bare.. But! I have come up with a near genius solution that I will post pictures of as soon as it's finished...

(CLIFF HANGER! Hanging from a cliff! And that's why he's called Cliff Hanger!) 

D. Ahem. If you can't already tell, I am writing this long after I should have gone to bed..

E. This song. On repeat and repeat and repeat. That is all I have to say.

G. Oh...and this one.. Thanks to a friend ;) My iTunes money is becoming non-existent..

H.  I have multiple projects going on at the moment ... there's my room for one, a couple paintings.. just for the heck of it, and I'm working on capes. Since my Venture Crew is awesome, we decided that we should add capes to our awesomeness ... simply because we can.

One down ... only four more to go.

I. Finals week was just last week and I am soveryveryvery happy that they're over and I'm back to 'normal' homework for now.  This week 'normal' homework consists of reading the Apocrypha, chemistry (bleh), trig., writing a hymn for a Knowing God assignment (which I'm kindof excited about) and creative writing in composition!  Woohoo!

J.  And there we go! (almost) Ten things .... LETTERED, 'cause I'm full of creative genius! :P

~ RM