Taryn Said It Best

I was reading my friend Taryn's blog earlier today. Her post was phenomenal. She put my thoughts into words. Exactly. Instead of trying to sum it up, I'll just post my favorite parts here {Hi, Taryn. Hope you don't mind? Oh, and I "bolded" my very favorite parts for emphasis}:

"Far too often I find myself getting sucked into the comparison game.

I look at friends, family, complete strangers; and think 'They've got it all. Their lives are perfect.'

I come to this conclusion because of their blog posts, or their cute Instagram collages posted on Facebook, or the view of perfection I see at church or the store.

But you know what? No one is perfect.
No one has the perfect kids, the perfect marriage, the perfect life; myself included.
Yes, I love my children, think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread, and will continue to post abundant amounts of pictures of the adorable things they do.
Yes, I love my husband and am proud of his hard work in school and his impending graduation, and am so grateful for the way he treats and loves me each and every day.
Yes, we get to do wonderful things like go on cruises (in 3 days!!!), visit our families often, and share exciting adventures with friends.
But there is lots of hard stuff, too. In my life, in your life, and in that perfect blogger who's home, clothes, and circumstances we all covet.

I hope that when people visit my blog or look at my life they don't think that I have it all, know it all, or am trying to portray something that is not.

Because what I write down and take pictures of and want to remember is the truth.
And the truth isn't that my life is perfect, but that it is happy.
I am happy.
I have a beautiful life and feel so blessed.
I feel this way when the good things happen and try my best to still do so when the bad does.
It seems life has been giving us a lot of both lately. The good, the bad, the hard, the wonderful, the stressful, and the enjoyable...'

'...Some people that I love very much have had to face some hard things lately.
Like really, really hard and tragic things.
My heart aches for them and I wish I was better at helping them through such a difficult time.
Sometimes I think I feel too much.
I can sympathize and empathize so much with people, but it can be so hard when there is nothing that can be done to fix things.
I have been sending up a lot of prayers for them, because in the end I know it is not me who will bring the comfort."

-"The Happy Life" {for full post, click here}

Amen, sister. Amen. *Etsy

Pretend like this painting is Jason and me kissing in the snow/rain because we are happy.
We are happy. And it did rain today {a lot}. So, you don't have to pretend too hard...
But he did make me cry today. But in his defense, I'm a bit of an emotional mess these days.
See? We're not perfect.
Not that I'm implying you thought we were...
OK. I'm going to be done now.

Point is, Taryn said it best.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Source

Don't you love this picture? I want to go there, wherever "there" is.
If you come here, though, it will look pretty similar (but with less sunshine). It's been raining/snowing/sleeting non-stop for the past two days. I am trying not to be depressed about it and instead find the romanticism in it all--like I do most things in life. But for real: I'm ready for some sunshine.

Because of the weather, we haven't really been up to much. Here's what I came up with:

Jason + March Madness = True Love. I miss him.

Little man (as in the babe) has become quite the acrobat. I think he was trying to breach for breath the other night while we were watching TV. It's so crazy-weird to watch those tiny elbows and/or knees roll across your abdomen. I was warned, but it's always different when it actually happens to you. I am being kneaded from the inside out.

Speaking of baby boy, his room is finally coming together piece by piece. What will I do when it's all done?! Oh, I know. I'll have a baby...

Great news, everybody. Justin Bieber is releasing his next single on my 26th birthday! 26 on the 26th this year for me! The name of said single? "Boyfriend." Coincidence? I think not. Get pumped. I know Jason is.

I quit my job when we moved to Sandpoint. I have not regretted it for one second. Not one. Not yet, anyway. I am enjoying the break. Very much so.

Pinterest still rocks (runs) my world, I have been dabbling in some photography again, and I discovered I can eat a whole bag of Pirate's Booty in one sitting. By myself.

That's all I got for now...I'll be back, though. I always come back.

World's Weirdest Weekend

It started out with the crib on Friday. Living in a small town like Sandpoint means we do a lot of online shopping to get what we need and want. So, when our baby's bed arrived on our doorstep Friday afternoon, I was giddy with excitement. Jason and I...correction...I spent many a hour pouring over pictures and reviews and "pins" deciding which style, color, make, brand, and price we were going to go with. This is harder than it sounds, especially when a computer screen is as close a look as you can get. When the review on our particular crib read: "SO easy to assemble. It took my husband only 20 minutes to put together..." it was a done deal. We struggle with basic instructions in life.

That freakin' crib took us an hour and ten minutes to put together. We. Are. Invalids. There was a whole lot of confusion up in that room--a lot of scratching of heads and comparing picture to reality to picture in the instruction booklet. We got it, though...after much perseverance, a minor meltdown on my part, threatening to ship it back, and starting over at least twice. We had ONE slat flipped out the wrong way. One. And the whole dang thing might as well been turned upside down on us. I hope our baby gets some life skills from his blood relatives 'cause heaven knows he won't be getting any from his parents. Also, who let us have a baby? Weird.

Weird Thing No. 2: For the first time in our marriage, Jason and I have more than one bedroom. I found a bed frame on Craigslist for our would-be guest room (You know, for when all of you visit!). I emailed the guy about it. He didn't get back to me for a few days, so I figured he'd sold it. Just when I'd given up hope, I got an email from him saying he'd take my proposed $50 bucks (that's right, I talked him down $20 thank you very much), and that if I'd like to, I could come by and look at it in Priest River on Saturday. FYI: Priest River is the tiniest little town located about 20 minutes south of us. So, Jason patiently piled in the car with his sometimes-delusion-wife, and he and I made the drive down to have a look-see.
Let me tell you about this fellow selling said bed frame:
1. He lives "off the grid." I am not kidding you. His nearest neighbor is 2 miles from him, and he comes into Priest River once or twice a week to use the phone and/or internet. But really, how legit are you if you live off the grid and still use Craigslist?
2. His name is Errol. And he has a ponytail.
3. He makes African drums, teaches Life Skills classes (hey, maybe he'll give us a break on a class for our kid?), and he belongs to a fire-twirling troop.
4. He plans to sell his property and buy a sailboat so he can travel the world with his dog, Artemis.
5. He drives a blue Chi-Mo van (a Child Molester van).
6. We bought the bed.
7. Jason was real glad he didn't send me by myself.

Weird Thing No. 3: That same afternoon, Jase and I ended up in Coeur d'Alene to do some big-town shopping. As we pulled in the driveway from our day-long adventure, there was a bright yellow package sitting on our doorstep. Yes! One advantage to online shopping--it's like Christmas every few days. I bolted in the house and scooped up the package completely convinced that the baby mobile I ordered for aforementioned crib had arrived. And then I ripped through the packing paper and let out a little:
"What THE..."

This creepiness was staring back at me:

At first I thought it was a joke. And then I thought it was the devil in doll form. Jason came in to see what all the commotion was about. I wish you could have seen the look on his face. It was the perfect combination of complete horror and disgust followed by bewilderment as he looked at me, wide-eyed, like, "What did you do this time?!" All I could do was say, "I did NOT order this!" over and over and over again.

And then we started laughing until we peed ourselves (literally for me these days). And the laughing turned to hysteria and tears when we read the box:

Living Dead Dolls.
Pure Evil.
Sin: This little devil has a pitchfork she uses, She gives you a poke instead of little bruises.
Followed by, "I sleep with the worms..."

Jason has this theory about me and my family. He thinks we attract weird things/people/experiences. I used to deny it. And now I just embrace it. Because he is completely right.

Needless to say, we're sending the doll back. I can't stand to look at the thing. It's basically Satan in a box and, ironically, couldn't be MORE opposite of something as innocent and sweet as a baby mobile. Am I right?! Again, I think it was somebody's idea of a sick joke. Who did this? Was it you?! All I know is that somebody on 82 W. 3rd St. in New York, NY is going to be real disappointed when a baby mobile shows up instead of their Daughter of the Devil Doll...Oh. Man.

I'm going to be taking a break from online shopping for awhile. Good idea? Great idea.
World's Weirdest Weekend.

As per my cousin Ashley and my mom-in-law, Judy's request. And sorry about the quality of picture--we were late for church and a snapshot with the phone had to suffice.

10 Things I Didn't Know About Sandpoint and Life in General

1) It snows almost everyday here in the winter. It makes sense seeing as one of the biggest and nicest ski resorts in the Northwest is just up the road, but it's not something I really thought about until now. Ski resorts = snow. Everyday. In fact, there is a blizzard outside our window this very minute, and I am feeling like I should sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." It's a bit deceiving. But very pretty, like we're in a perma-snowglobe but without all the shaking.

2) The demographics of our little town can be classified as follows (unofficial, of course):3) May I recommend you visit the local Goodwill if you need a pair of gently used skis and/or ski boots? They had about 11,000 pairs in stock yesterday. Thanks again to the proximity of Schweitzer.

4) The best pizza I've had in a long time: Powder House Pizza. I'll take you there someday if you want me to. We went last night with some friends (NEW friends--we love new friends) after watching the Yoke's Olympic ski jumping team put on a show at the resort. And it was great.

5) I'm a little hesitant to get my Idaho driver's license for the following reasons:

• It will be the first time since I could drive that I will NOT be classified nor registered as a Washingtonian driver. Weird.
  
• We have to take a written test. Why. It's $3 to take. And I'll probably fail it like I did the Washington one when I was 16. I still suffer some PTSD from that particular day in March.
• It's been a loooong while since I've done the vision check thing. I'm thinking I'll fail that one, too.
  

6) We see bald eagles a lot more that we ever anticipated we would. Jason particularly gets excited about this. "It's our nation's bird, Rachel!"

7) There are lots of trains that pass through here. You know how I feel about trains (they rock my world).

That's only seven things I didn't know and/or am learning about in our place of residence. I'll keep you posted as they keep on a comin'...

Happy {Snowy} Saturday.

Life in the Point

I apologize if it seems that I take an uncanny amount of pictures of myself with Jason's laptop. Truth be told, I don't--or at least I want you to think that I don't ;) But I DO hate a post without a picture. I figured you didn't want to see another picture of the meeses (*Side note: They were back again today, and I nearly peed my pants when I walked by our front window and thought I was staring into the face of a real, live Sasquatch. False alarm). Another picture of me, on the other hand? Sure! Also, I promise I will do everything in my power to avoid resorting to "Me" photos from here on out. Deal? Deal. They are pretty tacky...Go Broncos.

I am currently laid up in our bed because I have an injury. I think. Well, a pregnancy-related injury. My right hip/pelvis/bum cheek has been KILLING me this last week. I look like a gimp, especially when I waddle along to the bathroom at 2:30 in the AM. I have a sinking feeling that this baby+these hormones+those stretching ligaments have done something very painful to my backside. Has it come to this already? If so, it's OK. Because I love this here babe inside my belly a lot--even if he does beat me up from the inside out.

As you can see from my self-portrait, I am wearing glasses from my sophomore year of high school. It seems that my eyesight has taken a turn for the worst these last few months. And as per Jason's request (I have him worried), I have been donning my once-optional-but-ever-so-fashionable specs for the past week (and by ever-so-fashionable I mean they were ever-so-fashionable in 2002 when I got them and was SO excited so that I could wear them with an up-do and a sweatshirt and look like a college girl. Geez). Don't worry. I'm going to get them checked.

Jason is going to the BYU vs. Gonzaga basketball game tomorrow night. OH. SNAP. Watch for him on the tube. He's pretty jazzed. From what he was told, he'll be sitting real close to the BYU bench--not like on it, more like behind it. But he probably won't be wearing his "Go Zags" headband just so that he won't get beat up...

Remember how obsessive I used to be (and can be) about most things in life? Well, move over blogging and {any other hobbies/interests I've ever had} cause there's a new kid in town!

And his name? Nesting.

I can't even describe it. Nor have I experienced anything like it. It's ALL I think about. It. Has. Literally. Taken. Over. My. Life. If I'm not cleaning, then I'm organizing. If I'm not organizing, then I'm throwing something away. If I'm not throwing something away, I'm taking it to Goodwill or spray painting it a different color (all the while hoping our kid doesn't come out with eleven fingers). And if I'm not doing any of the aforementioned, I'm calculating my next move to start the process all over again. It's an unquenchable drive to have everything--and I do mean everything--in its place before Mr. Junebug gets here this summer. That's not that far away, you guys! And this is where I remind myself to take my deep breaths.

When we're not working {Jason}, and nesting {Rachel}, we're settling into our routine up here in the Sandpoint. And so far, we really like it. The small town vibe has taken some adjustment, especially on my end. But as I was driving home today, I looked up at the mountains and then down at the lake and couldn't believe how lucky we are to live in such a pretty part of the world.

And here's one of Jason for good measure. He's my better half, anyway:

Chocolate Moose

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Most people expect a box of chocolates on this 14th day of February. We got something even better (well, kind of). As I was tying my shoes this morning so I could take Jason to work I heard him gasp: "Uh. There's two moose outside!" I didn't believe him. And then I did.

OK. Where are we? Did we accidentally end up in Alaska and not know it?
In honor of this day of love, I named our new neighbors Romeo and Juliet. I realized later on that this was somewhat incestuous seeing as they were brother and sister and/or brother and brother. They meandered up and down the street until finally settling in our front yard where they hung out for at least an hour. And I spent just as long gawking at them through our front window. It was like I was a tourist at the zoo, only I was the one in the cage. Mama Moose showed up eventually. She was ginormous. And awesome. And she scared me a little...

Do you guys want to come visit? We'll go moose hunting (but without the killing part).

P.S. I texted this picture to Jason at work. His reply? "I'm going to need you to bring in the garbage can." I'll let you pick it out in the picture. Now, if that kind of request isn't true love, I don't know what is.