Oh, maple syrup.

This is why I love it.

The end of a great weekend.

*sigh* It was a really fun, full weekend in Chicago with Natalie, Charity, Nate & Mere. Tons of walking around the city, concert in Millenium Park, fireworks at Navy Pier, going to Nate & Meredith's church...

Tomorrow: print job with Elise Bergman, a local designer who makes beautiful dresses. I met her through Meredith.

Elise is giving me one of those beautiful dresses. :)

Then I have to go to a "rehearsal" for Elite's huge 25th Anniversary Celebration. The party is Thursday night, and apparently they're parading us around on stage in front of 900+ people (many of whom are big deals) for entertainment & promotion. So we have to go practice that...

I'm now at Marcus' for the night and am hoping to catch up on some sleep.

Keith is at home and is leading worship for Teen Week at Argyle, which started tonight. Next weekend is Andrew and Sharon's wedding, which we are both standing up in. :)

I miss Keith. But by God's grace I have been doing well emotionally for the past few days.

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

xo

No Listerine.

I did not get the Listerine commercial, but my great friend Ashley D. did!

She's shooting it now. I'm so excited for her!

And I'm just so excited that I've gotten called back to the first two commercial auditions I've gone to! I think that's a great sign!

YES. Better.

Today: great.

This confusion I've been feeling lately: definitely the Enemy trying to discourage God's work.

Today's models' small group: amazing time. God is so great!

Today's casting: I think I'm going to get booked for it.

Today's "fierce bikini poloroids" (as Marissa called them) to be sent to Greece, which she felt the need to take out on the sidewalk in front of the agency as people walked and drove by: actually went as well as that type of thing can go.

Getting together with Meredith tonight: wonderful talk.

This weekend with Natalie & Charity & Meredith here in Chicago: so excited.

I'm at Marcus' overnight because I found out today about a casting tomorrow. It's for Active Endeavors. They booked me for my very first paid print job ever. That was a year ago this past May. I had no idea how to move in front of the camera--I thought I did horrible and cried afterwards. It really wasn't that bad. But maybe tomorrow I can explain to them that last time we worked together was my first real print job and I'm much better at modeling now.

That's all for now. It's late.

xo

Needed: Perspective.

My mind is everywhere.

Home, Macomb, Chicago, Greece, Bushnell...

I have to stay grounded in the Word. Or I will seriously lose it.

I'm going there now.

Greece?!?

I got a call from Marissa yesterday.

Greece. Confirmed. 2 months. Leaving late August.

Just now getting a chance to process this...

Listerine & the Class of 2002.

I was called back for the Listerine commercial! I took the train up this morning & my callback was at noon. It went well! I should know by early next week if I got it, because it shoots on Thursday.

In order to make it back for my class reunion tonight, I was going to have to take an afternoon train to Galesburg and be picked up by someone. The ticket was going to cost me $51!

But I am so thankful: Leslie (my classmate & great friend who lives in Chicago) was driving down from Chicago today for the reunion. She pushed back her departure time a couple hours so that I could ride down with her. Perfect!

So now, the five year reunion of the Bushnell-Prairie City High School Class of 2002...

I have to go get ready.

StatCounter.com

If you have any kind of website, I really recommend StatCounter.

I just added it. It's way more than just a hit counter. It tells you all sorts of information about visitors to your site. Really interesting/fun/addictive.

Listerine.

Day trip to Chicago today.

My second TV commercial audition. It was for Listerine. It was simply three takes of me coming into the frame, rinsing out my mouth with water, spitting it out, going "Ahhh.", and leaving the frame.

Hope I get it! Seems like it would be a pretty easy first TV commercial to shoot.

Then I hung out with Ashley D., a fellow model, for the afternoon. She was going to come to Cornerstone this year, but ended up not making it. She gave me a bag full of some of her so-cute vintage clothes that she's passing on to me. Thank you!

I'm still going crazy inside spiritually, but I really don't know how to describe it with words. And I'm finding it really hard to get motivated with modeling stuff. I know I need to. I just have a really negative attitude about it right now. And I don't fully understand why... I'm feeling pretty conflicted and a little confused, if that wasn't already apparent. I think I may need some counseling. Anyone available?

My sweet green 60s Schwinn (see right) that I finally started riding at Cornerstone is ready after its tune-up at The Bike Shop! It should be in ship-shape condition now & I'm picking it up tomorrow morning! I feel like using my bike has started some kind of a new phase in my life. I'm excited about it.


Photo by Natalie Waymack

Happy Anniversary, Us!

We were wed three years ago this day.

Photo by Natalie Waymack

What an amazing three years it's been. Marriage just blows my mind. What a gift.

Stay tuned (for another couple of years) for details about our big Fifth Anniversary Bash!

The inspectors just came back.

And this time I'm not crying.

We worked pretty hard over the weekend on it, and then while I was in Chicago Sunday night through this morning, Keith finished up--and did an amazing job!

The best anniversary present!

We've sprayed white distilled vinegar on our mold a number of times, and then reluctantly tried a bleach cleaner, but nothing's really changed so far:

We're anxiously waiting the arrival of our tea tree oil in the mail, which is supposed to be a super-effective natural treatment.

But we passed regardless!

And now that it's all cleaned up, come over! There's room on our two vintage couches for everyone, and enough musical instruments to go around.

I've officially reentered the World.

I worked my first job since Cornerstone today. I'm officially back to real life in the World.

I've come down from the mountain.

Now about this veil over my face... weird. I'm feeling Moses right now. Anyone else?


My job was for Alyce Designs. Another prom dress job. Prom dress & wedding dress jobs have probably comprised a good half of my total work as a model. This job was basically a repeat of the job I had two weeks ago today (the Monday of Cornerstone week). It's been a big multi-week shoot of all of their designs for next year. I was so thankful to be asked back for a second day (a.k.a. another month's bills paid!). That's always a good sign--when a client likes you enough to request you again. And that's where steady income comes from--repeat clients.

Sadly, I got done about the same time my train pulled out of Union Station. So I wasn't on it. And the next train to Macomb is tomorrow morning. It's not really a big deal, except that tomorrow is our third anniversary. But it's okay; I'll be home tomorrow in time for Keith's lunch break. Last year I worked all day on our anniversary (another prom dress job--ha! it's still online!). Keith drove up for the day with me and after it was over we went to Thai Bowl (one of our favorite restaurants while we were dating/engaged & I was living at/near UIC). It was fun. :) Tomorrow, I don't know what we'll do. We're tight on funds right now, so we may be forced to be creative--which will probably be super-fun!

And it's turned out to be a great evening here in Chicago, as I had a wonderful sushi dinner with Marcus and a great cup of tea at the Bourgeois Pig with Meredith; and great conversation with both of them.

mewithoutYou.

I haven't blogged much yet about my new favorite band.

I've realized I'm the type of person who is really into one musical artist at a time. Then after I've gone through my initial exclusive obsession with them, I add them to my little garden of favorite music and wait to see what further fruit they'll bear.

My current fixation is mewithoutYou. Wow.

I saw them again this year at Cornerstone, and had the added pleasure of being at Aaron's (the lead singer) talk at the Jesus Village tent. It's hard to describe how God's used him to encourage me.

This is a video of an interview with him I found on YouTube.

Three ways to kill mold naturally.

If anyone else is having mold problems in their home, here is a great article about natural treatments for it:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/three-ways-to-kill-mold-naturally.html

Inspection failed.

On Tuesday two grad school-aged building managers with name badges and clipboards came by our apartment for our annual health and safety inspection. I was home alone at the time and welcomed them in.

We failed.

I was very embarrassed. After they left, I cried. Then I went to go meet Keith as he was walking home from work and cried to him. Just silly feelings, but they hurt nonetheless.

Too much clutter. Dirty dishes. Mold in our ceiling (which has been there since we moved in & I see more as the university's responsibility). I told them (which was meant as a compliment) that I had only seen one bug the whole time we've lived here. They questioned me to find out what kind it was, deduced without evidence that it was a cockroach, and wrote it down on our evaluation as another category that we failed.

I knew that none of that really mattered, but it just really hurt my feelings.

Especially since much of the clutter was simply stuff we had brought into the apartment from the car after our many recent travels, and we just hadn't had the time to go through it all yet.

We've been wanting and planning to get the place back in order so we can joyfully show hospitality more easily again...

It's just now we will be doing it with a deadline and the added motivation of avoiding eviction.

They'll be back in a week.

I am humbled.


Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Going bananas. How appropriate.

So, I just got a precious little forward from my friend Brandon. His Grandma sent it to him.

The subject was "Going Bananas". How appropriate. I just posted about that very thing.

The forward, though, unlike my state of mind, is about literal bananas. And I think you're less likely to go bananas while reflecting on actual bananas, than while reflecting on God and life. But God created bananas, so maybe they can invoke this same wonder.

Reflect on this:

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around

So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth.

Amazing fruit!!!

Ahhhh!

I have so much passion and thought and wonder brewing inside of me...

What do I do with it?

Let's dream together!