Elusive Ink

Amidst lots of giggling last night, Nathan asked me if I would be his wife. :-) I said yes.


I knew he was upstairs talking to my parents, and then he came down and hugged me and I said:
"How did it go?"
"Good."
"Are we going to go back up?"
"Not yet."
"Wait,NOW?!"
"What?"
"Did you tell them you were going to ask now?!"
"Ask what?"
"I don't know...do you have something to ask me?"
"I don't know...should I get down on one knee?"
"It's up to you!"
"Okay, I think I should." so he then starts to get down on one knee, but apparently it was uncomfortable, so he ripped all of the contents of his pocket out and threw them across the floor of the room. SO FUNNY. I couldn't stop giggling, then he pulled out the ring and asked. And I said YES!

Then we ate celebratory LEGO cupcakes. Yum.

Currently Listening
Orange Sky
Alexi Murdoch



Alright, so you may have noticed the update to the blog look. It's only temporary - I know the flowers in the header are not my typical style but I thought I'd just share a bit of the beauty that is Washington D.C. in the Spring while all of my exciting life changes are unfolding. Just a few more days and the wait will be over. Less than a week and I can finally spill my guts and begin to write out the plethora of posts I've been dreaming about for months. (or years?)

As my life begins to take a turn for the spectacular, I've recaptured my love for painting. Nothing is more enveloping than holding a paintbrush in my hands (or, as Nathan likes to point out, in my teeth), with a blank canvas of opportunity on the floor in front of me.

The agency I had been tutoring through recently shut down, so I've decided to take this opportunity to reevaluate where my career path is going, and what I can continue to pursue while working from home. I know a lot of people will now point, jeer, and generally proclaim a triumphant "I told you so!" Enjoy.

I've decided to teach art lessons. Once I got to the root of my artistic insecurities, I realized why I'd avoided it for all this time: I don't like to put people in boxes. I felt constrained in art lessons when I was young, and I didn't like producing something only to be told it was wrong. This all falls vaguely in line with my eventual goal of opening an inn for the arts. My hope is to provide an alternative artistic method for young people, to solidify their foundation in the basics, and the rules, and then begin to give them the freedom and guidance to know how to break the rules and how to speak intelligently on why they do. Needless to say, I'm excited...and scared!



I was headed in the right direction...painting...photography...kids cooking classes...tutoring adults...and I let my insecurities get the best of me. Because it is a huge responsibility, anytime you're guiding another human being it's a monumental task. But one that, relying on Faith (and some wonderfully supportive friends and family) I feel confident will have an ultimately good outcome for myself and my family.

-Lindsey

At least, that's what I'm going to tell myself...until it sticks. It's been a bad week. I won't go into detail because I'm not a fan of airing my dirty laundry for all the internet to see, I've done that enough times in my life to know the consequences.

So, I'm choosing to be optimistic...here's some good things that have happened this week:

- After months of snow, we finally have sunshine, green grass, and daffodils.

- My dear friend Tiffany was not only accepted into the foreign exchange program (Japan!), but got a $5000 scholarship.

- After all of this time, I realized that my mother was right all along: I'm an oil painter. Oils work exactly like I've tried to force acrylic to for all these years.

- I finished the baby blanket I'd been knitting, and am anxious for new projects.

- I ran 2 miles last night, and 2.75 this morning.

- I haven't had more than one cup of coffee per day in at least 4 days.

So now, it is time for ibuprophen and sitting out in the beautiful sunshine, trying to be creative. It seems silly to be so discouraged when there's so much evidence of God's hand, and so much proof that in the end everything will be fine.

-Lindsey
(Yet...no matter how hard I try...and how much I distract myself...I'm still scared, and sad.)

...anticipation!!!

Just a few more days and lots of changes and updates will be coming!

Currently Listening
Just Can't Seem to Get it Right Today
Joe Purdy



Just a few random thoughts for the day, in a hyper weird format.

My two year old sister is undeniably, incomprehensibly beautiful.

Craigslist is awesome.

I am grateful to have sisters who love to giggle, and smile, and are all three quite beautiful. I have no doubt that they will all grow up to be wonderful young women. I am just beginning to appreciate how precious sisters are.

My parents are wonderful advisers, who have and continue to provide me with invaluable wisdom. This is something I am extremely grateful for.

My sweetheart is wonderful, loyal, and faithful, and it makes me smile to see Christ's Love reflected in our relationship.

New opportunities are exciting...and scary.

It's difficult to let go of the old. Despite that, sometimes it is necessary to start fresh and value the people that know, and appreciate, and love me for who I am right now.

It can be difficult to remember that people change, and it can be difficult to see those changes in people that you interact with regularly.

When I am being lead by Christ, he will give me the strength to make the right decisions. I shouldn't allow those who doubt to steal my joy. It's their loss if they choose not to enjoy my celebrations and victories with me.

It is going to be a good weekend. I'm super excited for my first knitting group meet, and my friend/workout partner is getting back from her cruise this weekend which means it will be time to hit the gym hard next week. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to continue to live with my parents, as it has allowed me to really infuse myself into my art the past few weeks, and I have been producing art for the first time in long time.

I think that's all. I am beyond thrilled. My life makes me smile so huge.

21 days...yaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!! :D

There is a young woman with whom I am acquainted, I don't know her well. Despite this, ever since our first meeting have felt empathetic towards her, and her situation. I feel like she and I are kindred spirits in several facets, although we've only shared the briefest of conversations, and our situations in life are very different.

I have watched her struggle to define herself, her faith, and to make the wisest decisions she can over the past couple of years - with constant flack and judgement from many of those around her. I know that she is safe, taken care of, and God has put her in a place with a huge support system.

She is one of those women that you just think of and think, she is gorgeous, inside and out. God must look down at her and beam with pride, because she reflects him constantly, in the face of severe adversity, and putting myself in her place...I would be an emotional wreck;

I pray for her often, but have just begun to consider that there are people in the world in similar positions without the support system she has found. People who are at the verge of a spiritual breakthrough, that peace that comes with epiphany.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those people, tonight.

Blogs, and social networking sites can be quite a window into the lives of others, and an opportunity to remember not only who to connect with, reach out to, and pursue in friendship...but who to simply pray for.

It doesn't take much, and I honestly can't say I'm particularly good at formal prayer, but just a "God, I'm thinking of him/her, and I know that You know what's going on in his/her life right now, and I just pray that you give them your peace, guidance, and courage."

2 Chronicles 6:40 "Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."

Currently Listening
You and I Both
Jason Mraz



Just a few more weeks and I can spill all of my exciting news, and I cannot wait. So many new things unfolding in my life, and I feel like God is leading me towards this spectacular adventure. He's closed a lot of doors for me in the past few months, which is never easy - but has also opened my heart to begin to make new connections and form new relationships, as well as grow closer to the people in my life I adore.

I have recently connected with several local women who I am slowly beginning to build friendships with, which excites me because (as usual) God is bringing the right relationships into my life at the right times. Just as some of my prior friendships have dissolved, and my closest girlfriend is moving to Japan.

I'm going to my first knitting group meetup this weekend, and while "knitting group" immediately conjured up thoughts of 80+ women sitting around in rocking chairs knitting granny squares. I have been assured that this is not the case, they meet at a local hot-spot, and there's women of all ages. I'm super excited. It combines four of my favorite things: Wegman, Sushi, Coffee, and Knitting. :D

I also have two fantastic workout partners (one who prefers regular gym workouts, and one who was looking for someone to share sporadic hikes, bike-rides, and outdoor running) and am really enjoying connecting with both of them, and finding ways to fellowship as well as continue to build a healthier lifestyle.

My art is blossoming (slowly) and I am continuing to find my artistic voice, as well as to network and try to find more publicity, and decide what my "specialty" is going to be. That is the most impossible-seeming part, deciding what to "specialize" in, and which mediums to retire into hobby status. It's been a struggle to really dive back into it with abandon, and there's still something that I'm "missing." My work is still very predictable, and elicits that "oh, nice" reaction that I dread so vehemently. So, I'm branching out, trying to really find my own style.
Ultimately, I am an abstract painter. I don't think that I'm quite ready to admit that, yet, though. We'll see how it goes.

Well...before I sign off, I thought I'd post this recipe for anyone who reads this or would want to try it. It was quite a crowd-pleaser, and surprisingly simple to make. I think I used, two bowls, a wooden spoon, and a food processor.

No-Sugar Spiced Banana-Carrot Cake

Flour Mixture:
2 c. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. white *stevia powder
2 tsp. baking powder

Carrot Mixture:
2 c. shredded carrot (I pulverize mine in the food processor.)
1 c. crushed pineapple (I throw this in the food processor, as well.)
** 1/2 c. walnuts or pecans
1/2 c. almond meal
1 1/2 c. shredded coconut

Oil Mixture:
3 eggs
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. fruit juice (from the crushed pineapple can, if you're using canned)
1 very ripe, smashed banana
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce

Pour the carrot mixture into the egg mixture and mix well. Add flour mixture to the rest of the ingredients. Bake at 350º for 1 hour, in a springform or bundt pan.

Sugar-Bearing Cream Cheese Glaze

Obviously this part is optional, but it sure does add a lot to the recipe! I didn't have powdered sugar, so I ran some Turbinado I did have through the food processor, which worked okay, but next time I will make a point of getting powdered sugar.

Glaze

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine with electric mixer until smooth, spread on hot cake.

You could also sprinkle chopped nuts on the top after the glaze as as a garnish. Enjoy!

Notes on this recipe:

* This is optional, but it will make it notably sweeter. You can usually find stevia powder at health food stores, and I think they sell a stevia blend at target called "Truvia" but I can't vouch for it's similarity. You could also use agave nectar, I haven't tried it but I am fairly certain it would work similarly.

**Okay, so call me a pulverizing fool, but my 13 year old brother has braces, so I put the walnuts in the food processor, too, and made a walnut meal out of it. I would recommend going ahead and doing this, and adding extra chopped nuts if you want chunks of nuts in your cake.