october 3: lights for lucas

Do you remember my friend Anna? I wrote about her here, while she was in South Africa.
In short, Anna is a dear friend who will always have a special place in my heart. Her son, Lucas, died as an orphan in Uganda. She is an incredible woman and faithful follower of Jesus. Last week, she officially launched The Lucas Legacy. A non-profit she started to raise funds and support for various orphan-related causes, in honor of Lucas. As I've stated before, Anna inspires me. I don't even have the words. I can't even begin to write how highly I think of her and her relentless heart for the orphans of Africa.

Lucas.

October 3rd marks the 3 year anniversary of sweet little Lucas' death. In honor of that, please join me, Anna and countless others in "Lights for Lucas." It's pretty simple: just light a candle on October 3rd and say a prayer for all the orphans around the world waiting for their family. It would be great if you could take a picture of your lit candle as well, and share it on facebook! (First like The Lucas Legacy then tag it in your picture.)

The Lucas Legacy's current project is to raise enough money to provide diapers for Sanyu Babies Home for one year. Sanyu is Uganda's oldest babies home and is also where Lucas spent part of his life. They provide a home for 50 children, 4 and under. Diapers are a basic need for them, a need that would be quite easy for us to meet.
I ask you to please consider donating to or buying something from The Lucas Legacy as a part of "Lights for Lucas" as well, to help provide clean diapers to all the little Lucas' they are caring for. Nothing is too little...even a couple of dollars would help.

diana pics

Here's some of my faves from my most recent roll of film from little Miss Diana F+ :)

[Ryan's] Mom and Dad in Baltimore

Waterfall from our camping trip

Oliver on the playground

Heehee. Oliver with static hair after going down the slide. One of my faves.

Oliver eating his snack on the turtle.

Hersheypark Ferriswheel by day

Hersheypark Ferriswheel by night.
(My first attempt with bulb setting: 3 second exposure)

Oh hiiiii VW Bus! I love you.
(I'm normally a fan of light leaks, but that darn 14 is really bugging me)

Aren't they just lovely? I think I need to do better with winding my film, because the frames always seem to be a little off, but oh well! It is what it is...which is why I love film!

me, myself and i [september]

Hey-o, time for another edition of Me, Myself and I. The timing couldn't be better because my mind is a complete blank when it comes to coming up with post ideas, as I'm just returning from yet another trip to Michigan for a wedding. Holy mother of pearl, I'm so happy to be done with weddings for a while. And driving home to Michigan. Not that I've ever claimed to be an awesome road-trip partner or anything, but the drive almost killed me this time. It wasn't even 2 hours before I was literally yelling, "I HATE THIS STUPID DRIVE!! I'M NEVER GOING TO MICHIGAN AGAIN!!"

So...moving on.

1. When you're feeling down, what do you do to pick yourself up?

Treat myself with a chocolate bar while doing something crafty. Trader Joe's easily has the best chocolate bars I've ever had. I'm in love with the dark chocolate truffle and the dark chocolate caramel with black sea salt ones.

Or I bake. A lot. Which could be trouble when Ryan leaves for Officer Development School for six weeks. I should probably warn him that he'll probably return to me 30 pounds heavier. I'm screwed if he ever gets deployed.

 

2. If you had to live in a different time period, which would you prefer?

Growing up, I really wanted to live in the 50s. Like really wanted to live in the 50s. Now I would probably say the 60s. Film photography (I could own the original Diana camera!) Beautiful Volkswagen vehicles. The Beatles. Twiggy. It's all great business. I would live in California and be friends with the "The Endless Summer" surfers. (Have you seen that movie? I always saw posters for it in friends' rooms in college, but had never seen the movie. It's a documentary from the 60s following 2 surfers who follow summer around the world, looking for some great surf. Ryan and I recently watched it and looooved it. The narrator is super funny too! And it got us both excited to learn to surf in California!)

3. What is the most creative Halloween costume you've ever worn?

Well my little sister and I were the Bananas in Pajamas in elementary school. Which is clearly awesome. But I would have to say the most creative would have to be one of the two group costumes I did with some of my college roommates for the annual campus ministries roller skating Halloween party. 

Our first year we went as Mario Kart characters because we were all obsessed with playing Mario Kart (and Doctor Mario...seriously, best game ever!) But we went all out. We seriously looked awesome. We even won 1st place for best costume. Which got us all a whopping $5 gift certificate to Meijer. Everyone else got like $20. Psh. Not like I'm still bitter about it 6 years later or anything.

We even made weapons, just didn't have them for this pic. You know the
usual mushroom, lightning bolt, bananas and the ever-coveted triple turtle shell.

The second year we went as Goldilocks and the 3 bears. Which was more creative than the first, but didn't get as much recognition unfortunately. But we had a great time. One of the girls and I got together one night to make all the bear stuff, and locked ourselves in the garage while painting everything with brown spray paint. Terrific idea. Another terrific idea: painting masks that would be over our faces all night. Made breathing a very difficult task.

4. Five weird things about you we wouldn't know without being told? 

1. I almost caused my little sister to drown when we were little. I threw a toy in the deep end of our pool but was too afraid to go get it, so I undid the rope that divided the shallow end from the deep end and told my sister to go get it. And she did. And then started to drown.
My dad was working on building the deck at the time, so he was in sight but was talking at the time. I calmly tried to get his attention. "Dad, Julie's drowning...Dad, Julie's drowning..." I had to say it several times before he actually heard me and jumped in the pool and saved her. Sorry Jules!

2. I really wished I liked tomatoes. No matter how hard I try I can't eat them. I just end up gagging.

3. I thoroughly enjoy being alone. I thrive in my alone time. And I get so worked up before anything social, my stomach ends up in knots. Social anxiety, much? You'd never know it though, I hide it well (I think.)
4. Every time I see a Honda Fit I say, "The Fit is go."

5. I hate eating Asian food (well Americanized Asian food.) Especially in restaurants. Mostly because I can't stand the sight of most men eating it. It's borderline barbaric and it disgusts me.

"Oh here, let me slurp all these saucy noodles into my
mouth and appear super attractive and civilized."
Am I right, or am I right?

5. What would you tell your 16-year-old self?

I really loved high school, I was living life and was super happy at that time. I didn't make any dumb mistakes...I stayed away from drugs and alcohol, I saved a lot of money, I go home before curfew. I had a mentor who changed my life, and I still look up to her today. I was a good kid, and I wouldn't change anything about that.

Little ol' me at my high school job.

But I was a brat to my parents (as I suspect most teenagers are.) So I would tell myself to appreciate my parents more. Listen to them, respect them, learn from them, thank them often, fight less with them :)
Guess it's never too late to thank your parents though...so thanks Mom and Dad!! I've come to really understand how INCREDIBLY lucky I am (and my sisters are) to have been raised by you two. You both showed us all extreme and unconditional love, disciplined us appropriately and out of love, blessed us with much but still were sure to teach us the value of a dollar and the importance of generosity, and set forth a great example of a godly marriage for all of us to follow! Thank you for being so supportive and sticking with me through my bratty years :)

Currently playing on the record player: The Doobie Brothers "Minute By Minute"

makin' me smile

I like to make lists. Especially when I have lots of things I want to write about and a list is the only way I can logically group them together. Because they are all completely unrelated. So here's a list of things that have been making me smile lately.

Please note that this list DOES NOT include snobby mothers who pay me to watch their children for TWELVE HOURS STRAIGHT while they sit (nap?) in their room all day. And cause me to have awkward interactions with their housekeeper while they avoid everyone. I've been having a really fantastic time with this whole "temporary nanny" thing, if you can't tell.

1. The Ragu Commercials.
Because seriously, these commercials rock. These two are my favorite.

And while we're at it...I laugh out loud at this commercial every time:

2. Little Bunnies in Sweaters.
No explanation needed. Obviously.

3. Knitting.
Ryan's Nana sent me a package full of knitting goods, and I'm currently working on a baby blanket for a friend who is having a baby boy really soon :) I'm loving it. Painting and knitting are now tied for my favorite crafting activity. It's got me really thinking about opening up that Etsy shop.

4. Asian Tourists.

I love Asian tourists. I've been kind of stalking them ever since I got my Diana camera. Kind of like Lilo in "Lilo and Stitch." She's got a rockin' tourist photo collection.

"Aren't they beautiful?"

 And Lomography recently posted an article about some people who found a briefcase full of undeveloped film near a dumpster. So they developed it and it was photos from a group of Asian tourists!! Seriously, my dream come true. I WOULD DIE. Okay, probably not, but I would at least cry. They made a documentary about finding these people, but it's in a different language. And then sub-titled in another different language. It's no use to me. BUT THESE PICTURES ARE INCREDIBLE!! If I was the one who found that briefcase, I would totally frame them. And make everyone who came to visit look at them. "This is a picture of an Asian man in a field of flowers." Our visitors would love me.

5. Oliver (the little boy who I regularly nanny and absolutely adore, it's gonna be a situation when I have to leave that kid) Bringing Me Home a Present from Their Recent Beach Vacation
I arrived to their house and his Dad says, "Do you want to give Nancy her present?" They returned from the kitchen and Oliver says "She-shell!!" while handing me my present that he picked out while on the beach. He's such a great kid, I'm so lucky I got hooked up with his family and I get PAID to hang out with him. He has me smiling every time I watch him.

Currently playing on the record player: Led Zepplin. I have no idea what album though.

philly bucket list: phillies game!

I was so hesitant about going to a Phillies game. When we first moved here, all we saw were Phillies jerseys. The city is like a freaking sea of red t-shirts and hats. I was adamant that I would never attend a Phillies game nor don their colors in support of the team. I would not be "one of them."

They're ruthless, I tell ya.

[Did you read those hyperlinked articles? I am not at all surprised that Philadelphia holds the #1 AND #2 spots for meanest sports fans in America.]

But darn it, those Phils grew on me.
And well, it's highly unlikely that they'll ever play my beloved Tigers (miss you Magglio! But only a little bit, because let's be honest, I was hardly your biggest fan. I'm kind of a fair-weather sports fan) so I figured, it's not the worst thing to go to one measly little game. Right? So I reluctantly added it to our Philly Bucket List.

On Friday, after hitting up Wal-mart and buying some clearance Phillies gear, we headed out to the game. Joining the sea of red on the subway ride down to the stadium.

It was a perfect evening for a baseball game. We couldn't have asked for better weather.
And well, I say I did a pretty good job at picking out our seats. Score. Plus the tickets were only $9.50 a piece. Double score.

A little high, but we didn't miss any of the action. And check out that city view!

I HAD A BLAST! This has been one of my favorite Philly Bucket List items to check off to date. It was a really good game, and I got so into it. I was getting really frustrated at the end when it was looking like my Phils could lose. My Phils, psh, I talk about them like I've supported them for years. Little do they know it's been a whole 4 days. Speaking of my Phils, I decided to pick a Phillie, like people have "a Tiger." "Whose your Tiger?!" (Ordonez. Always was Mags.) My Phillie is most definitely Chase Utley, which is unfortunate because errrbody and their mama likes Chase Utley. But he played a good game (all 3 outs 1 inning!) and I like his little smirk in his scoreboard pic.

Well, I was gonna put Chase Utley's official picture here, but I stumbled upon that.
And well, I clearly picked the right Phillie :)

I think Ryan had a lot of fun too. Although he was not nearly as into the game as I was. Case in point: his favorite part was when the Phillie Phanatic (their super lame mascot) came onto the field on a four-wheeler. I heard an audible gasp and turned my head to see Ryan frantically pointing at the field, "LOOK!!!!" he says. Hahaha, oh Ryan :) Plus, he kept cheering on a player on the other team. Because he liked his beard. This guy (Jayson Werth from the Nationals, who USED to play for the Phillies) is their best hitter AND has publicly said he hates the Phillies and their fans. So Phillies' fans HATE this guy. I was truly scared that Ryan was going to get us beat up.

Isn't he just the cutest Phillies' Fan you've ever seen?

I also decided that the players must pick their own pump-up music for when they are walking up the plate. So they probably all have a list of like 10 or so songs for the announcers to choose from, right? Ryan and I had fun discussing what our playlists would be. Take a little listen, what do you think? [Mine's awesome? Yeah, that's what I thought too.]

Nancy's Pump Up Jams

 

Ryan's Pump Up Jams

We had so much fun! I might have to continue to peruse stubhub for super cheap tickets to future games. I mean, we already have the gear. Might as well, right?

Currently playing on the record player: Nothing, got the dang tv on

ten years in photos

10 years ago, Ryan and I met while in marching band at high school. We went to the band camp dance together, and slowed danced a whole foot and a half apart; Ryan was barely touching me with just the tips of fingers. Ryan was nervous, and shy. He actually wasn't even going to ask me, but our friends made him. We were all sitting at the picnic table together, in between practices, when they made him ask. We were opposite ends of the table, and I don't even think he made eye contact with me. Hahaha. We've been best friends ever since.
Join me for a trip down memory lane and look at some of pictures from our last ten years together!

Phew, I tried to scale back, but then I ended up just picking out so many that I loved or that had good memories behind them. And I didn't even bother with wedding or honeymoon pictures. Ya'll would be here forever!

Love you Rye, looking forward to the next 10 years with you!

Currently playing on the record player: "Best of the Doobie Brothers" (Another big thanks, Em! You picked out some good records!)

philly bucket list: hershey, pa

Ryan and I were fortunate enough to find a church shortly after we moved to Philly.
We only had one bad experience while church-hunting. An experience that maaaay have included a 3 and a half hour long sermon and hundreds of Asians. Not that Asians are bad or I'm a racist or anything. It's just a little awkward when you are one of the only two white people in a purely Asian church. I felt like everyone was looking at us thinking, "Heehee, someone didn't get the memo."
After that we got a postcard in the mail for Epic Church, went there the next week, and never left :)
We love our church.
We love our pastor and the people there.
We love their vision.

So after service one sunday, we were just hanging out, chatting with the pastor and a few friends. And out of nowhere, he's like, "So..we were at the beach this past weekend and I thought, 'Ryan and Nancy would like something like this!' so we want to send you guys on a little weekend getaway!"
And I was all, "REALLY?! YIPPEEEEEE!!!"
And Ryan just stood there. Boys.

After some planning and swapping of ideas, we decided to shoot for an amusement park. Which was perfect, since Hershey was on our Philly bucket list!!

 We had SO MUCH FUN! Hersheypark is a great amusement park. Sure, the rides aren't as huge as at Cedar point, which is the amusement park we grew up going to, but they're really good! And there is a lot of other stuff to do there besides ride roller-coasters.

Hersheypark offers a "preview night", so if you have a ticket for the next day you can enter the park at 7:30pm the night before! We were hoping to get lots of our roller-coaster riding in the night before while the lines were shorter. We went on a wooden roller-coaster first and it was so jerky and jostling. We both got off and felt...not right. And then I thought, "Oh shoot. I can't be old enough to say, 'I'm too old for this' yet!" That can't come until my 30 birthday. Which I am determined to make as miserable as possible. (I have a complex about turning 30. I'm not saying that everyone out there who is over 30 is old.) So we charged on, both determined that we were most definitely still young enough to ride roller-coasters.

Turns out that wooden roller-coaster was the worst ride in the park.
We spent the next day riding almost all of the roller-coasters there. And loving every minute of it.
Definitely still young enough. (Phew! I've still got a good 6 years left in me!)

This was one of my favorites, even though I really FREAKED out on it.
It's called Fahrenheit, because of the high degree of the first hill. I'm not even kidding, it is STRAIGHT up and then on the way down, you even go under the track a bit. It was crazy.

I wasn't kidding.

 On the way up, I was ...well, like I said, freaking out.
"I'mfreakingout. I'mfreakingout. I'mfreakingout. I'mfreakingout. I'mfreakingout. I'mfreakingout."
That was me.
And then at the end, I was like "WHOOOOOO!! That was AWESOME!"
Pretty sure everyone on the ride loved me.

But to be honest, I freaked out at the beginning of every ride. And then loved them at the end.
Storm runner was also a really good one, you get up to 70-something miles per hour and it just SHOOTS you off in the beginning. You're just sitting there waiting. And waiting. And waiting. And then all of a sudden, "Get Ready. Herewego." WHOOOOOOSH! You're off. It was awesome. And SO. FAST.
And we liked the racing wooden roller coaster a lot. Mostly because the 2 racers were "Thunder" and "Lightning." And I liked going on Thunder so we could sing "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC.
Everyone on that ride probably loved me too.

But enough about roller coasters.
We also got to go to CHOCOLATE WORLD! Hello! Can you see why I had so much on this mini-vacation?

A little hot, and a little tired at this point

We went on this really stupid "ride" that takes you in a loop and shows you how they make chocolate. Complete with singing animated cows. It was bad. But then you get some free chocolate at the end.
So naturally, we went on it again. (Ryan's idea, I swear)
I think the lady passing out the chocolate felt bad for us, because the next time through she gave us 3 samples each. How sweet of her, right? Saving us the misery of going through that dang ride over and over again.

I really wanted to do the factory tour where you make your own candy bar, but the tickets for that were sold out. So we did a tasting "class" instead. It wasn't the greatest thing we've ever done, but it was fun. And I got to eat chocolate. So...no complaining here.

 

Overall, Hershey was a great addition to our Philly Bucket List!

Currently playing on the record player: "Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits"
(Thanks, Em! LOVING this record!)