Save it for a Rainy Day

It should come as no surprise that rainy days are my favorite. There is nothing like a cloudy, dreary day in the great state of Kansas. I feel like the earth itself smiles and heaves a sigh of relief as the trees get rinsed of their layers of dust. The dry, cracked ground soaks in as much rain as it can. It may not rain every day in Kansas, or every month for that matter, but when it rains it pours and its as if the Kansas earth beneath our feet is overjoyed when it does. For some odd reason the last couple days have been absolutely wonderfully dreary. The sky has been overcast, its been foggy and drizzly. Maybe it sounds miserable to you but these rare rainy days are what Kansas farmers wait months for. These rainy days have caused me to reflect on my favorite rainy day activities. There are just somethings that are better saved for rainy days…

1. Pull out that TEA CUP!

Ya, I always love a good strong cup of coffee, but some days its time to pull that teacup off the shelf and enjoy a good afternoon tea. There just simply isn't anything like holding a dainty teacup in your hands. As a girl who grew up rough housing with three brothers, I assure you I enjoy a good cup of coffee underneath the stars on a mountain top somewhere. However, as dad's little princess who watched mom host tea parties growing up, I also enjoy a good antique teacup full of tea. So pull out that Cinnamon, Chamomile, Raspberry, Green, or Earl Grey and get your C.S. Lewis on! Go, enjoy a cup of tea and good old book!

"You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." -C. S. Lewis

2. You know what has to come next…. BOOKS!

I mean seriously, C.S. Lewis said it himself, tea and books just go together. The thing about books is its quiet company. You don't have to talk or move, and yet you can carry on a grand adventure from the comfort of your favorite chair. You meet people, they become a part of your life and suddenly, in the midst of your own living room, with the rain beating on the window sill, you are transported to a whole new world. It's simply magical. Just like an old wardrobe…. ;)

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ― Charles William Eliot

3. Sleeping in :)
Let's face it, there is nothing like cuddling under all the covers and listening to the rain hit the rooftop in a melodious sound. I think raindrops is one of the most magical music there is. And obviously I am not the only one who thinks so…

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby." -Langston Hughes

Why else would they make an entire move based not the line "Singing in the Rain." or why are the words "raindrops on roses" some of the most quoted words from the Sound of Music? The point is, rainy days are meant to sit quietly and enjoy! How can you possibly enjoy it if you jump out of bed in a hurry and rush off to wherever you think you need to be. Forget it!! Rainy days are suppose to be days we sleep in. 

4. Worm Hunting! 
HAHAHA Ya, I know, this one doesn't seem to make any sense. But I promise you, it is one of the funnest things you will ever do!! I love the warm spring rains that hit Kansas. And it is during those times that finding earthworms is the easiest. Why on earth would you have a desire to find worms?! Well, there are two good reasons. The first is fish bait, the second is mom claims they help keep her gardens beautiful. So, when we're younger, my brothers and I would walk up and down the cup-de-sac looking for worms that had made their way to the curb. Sometimes rainy days make us feel like curling up in a comfy chair and do nothing, but other times it gets us all excited…especially if Kansas had been in a drought… and worm hunting is the perfect rainy day activity! 

So next time you find yourself in the midst of a wonderful dreary day and don't know what to do, TA-DA!!    

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I don't know about you but I'm feeling 22!!

It is officially Dec 7th, Pearl Harbor day and more importantly, HUNTER JOSIAH's 22nd BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Heaven's to Betsy! Where on earth has the time gone!! I can't believe we are in our twenties all ready little bro! Seems like yesterday we were sneaking out of your bedroom window, trying to avoid school and chores and going on grand adventures on 240 acres in Grenola KS. So, you're probably going to hate me for this but then again you're never on social media anyways…. Here is to your 22nd year of life! 

Hunter, thanks so much for being my brother!!! I couldn't have been given a better younger brother to grow up with….(don't tell Caleb and Garrett. lol) But seriously, we had the best childhood! I mean just look!!!

Just so you know, I am tickled pink you're my brother!!! Always was, always will be! :)

We had some great vacations and made amazing memories along the way! 

I'm glad a had you to share life with :) 

We were always cooler than anyone else….hahaha

I am glad you were around to share with…mostly we shared germs but you know… part of life. lol 

Man did we have fun collecting things! From our honey bee collection to our snake farm to the turtle zoo to the numerous toads we caught, it was a blast!

Thanks for being silly with me. We laughed a lot growing up and thats the best. 

And I'm pretty sure its safe to say that we were the best older siblings these goofballs could have ever asked for! 

We had to endure many, many, MANY family pictures….

And lots of cold winters

And AWESOME youth activities…seriously, high school would not have been the same without you!!

Hey! Looky there, we clean up pretty nice! 

I'm so grateful we share the same passion and vision for Christ and Ministry. It's been fun to be able to watch God lead you and compare notes on the ministries he has led us to. :) 

Ok, so I'm sure I have thoroughly embarrassed you with all these pictures but I just wanted to say I'm so glad you're in my life! You have taught me more than you know. You're an awesome man of God and I can't wait to see where he is going to take you next! No matter how far apart we are, or how old we get just remember I love you bro!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER!!

A House Full

Growing up in a large family is interesting. I don't think a lot of people understand the complexity of the situation. There are things you must learn to survive the crazy life of a big family that others would have never thought about. As my parents always said, "home is the biggest training ground." Boy, is it ever! But for some reason, I wouldn't trade it for the world. The perfect description of this is found in Kung-Fu-Panda (the greatest movie out there as my Uncle Rick says). I love it when Po goes through training and he's horrible at it. He falls and fails time and time again and yet he keeps picking himself up and acting like he had the greatest time of his life! Ok, so it's not the best description. My point was that no matter how hard it is to live with family (and it's always hard because you live in close proximity to people, a lot of them, all with different ideas, expectations and plans) at the end of the day your so in awe and in love with those around you, you couldn't imagine being anywhere else. That is FAMILY. So, what is it really like to grow up in a large family? Well, here are a few things that those who have a lot of siblings will understand.

1. No. Personal. Space. (seriously. none.)
I have eluded to this in previous posts. It is one of the most challenging parts of living in a big family for me personally. Somehow you learn to live with it. As the oldest, I sometimes felt like I was a jungle gym. Somehow I got to be the fun cousin who was willing to play "dogs" with all the little cousins. Now, at any family gathering I can't sit quietly in the corner and listen to adults talk. No. I get drug here and there by little cousins determined to make me play "dogs" or "cowboys and indians" or be Noah's horse....Oh my knees and back....I'm getting to old for all this.

"When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their 

common life."― Antisthenes

How is it that in such a large house, I still can't escape? It's getting better now that we are growing up and some of us are moving out, but even in our large house it still seems you can't escape people. To this day, my brother will barge into my room, plop himself on my bed and start talking my ear off! The only way I can stand it is that he usually brings a cup of coffee with him. (Thank Goodness!!) So there are benefits to no personal space. Another good thing is that if keeps you accountable. Try sneaking into the cookie jar with that many siblings! Trust me, someone is going to know you did it and the only way to keep them quiet is if they are in it with you. You can fight all day but as soon as there is a possibility of you both getting in trouble there is a secret bond, code of honor, or truce that occurs between siblings. You can't rat them out unless they don't have anything on you...which is unlikely.

2. Getting called every name but your own
Sigh...whenever my mom tried calling me when I was younger it was always "Julie, Jeff....I mean Jacquelyn!" Yep. I got called my uncle's name! When we get in trouble and mom gets all riled up its funny to hear her yell at you and suddenly in the midst of her rant yell your siblings name. She pauses and then is like, "wait I mean Jacquelyn." and then burst out in laughter. My grandma also had this problem. But in her defense  my cousin's names all start with the same letter in one family. So it wasn't abnormal for me to stand there as my grandma sought to find my name. "Kendra, Kayla, Kelsey...Jacquelyn." Oh the struggle! I have such a unique name and somehow no one could remember it...

3.  Getting Mistaken for Another Family Member
Having three brothers right under me is a benefit. Not many people confused me with my brothers. However, as I got older, Anna and I have apparently confused people. I love how people will do a double take and be like, "Oh, I thought you were your sister." and when I would answer the phone, "Oh, you sound just like your mom." When we were younger our parents got us confused! I guess there was just too much going on and too many people running around but it wasn't uncommon for your parent to be yelling at you, turn around, look at you, and suddenly be like, "Your not Hunter!" No. No, I'm not. "Were did he go?" I don't know mom, he wasn't here when I got here.




4. The Early Bird gets the Good Cereal
I grew up with three brothers!!! THREE!!!! Do you know what it's like to try and find food in a house with THREE BOYS! If you didn't wake up earlier than them and sneak into the kitchen to find breakfast you were left with no milk and the cereal that no one wanted to eat...I eventually gave up. I loved the Christmas' that mom would have us do a cereal exchange. She would wrap up boxes of cereal and then we would draw cards to see who opened first. The next person could open a new one or steal and so on until we all had our own cereal. And if you were lucky, you got your favorite kind and were able to write your name on it and NO ONE was allowed to eat it without your permission! Pretty much the only time I got good cereal for breakfast.

"Sometimes siblings can get in each other's space." 

― Gisele Bündchen

5. Hand-me-downs
Now this is where having three brother's comes in handy. I didn't have to deal with all the hand-me-downs. But, I have seen it at work in our family. My brothers had to deal with it and later my sisters had to deal with it. I actually thought it was cool that my cousins Kendra and Kayla had matching dresses and then Kelsey would always get their hand-me-downs. She hated it but I would convince her that it was awesome and that she could have Kendra's hand-me-downs and I could have Kayla's and then we could have matching dresses to wear on Sundays. Now that my sisters are almost taller than me, I get the benefit of having another closet. It really isn't hand-me-downs and sometimes sharing with younger sisters is not my favorite thing to do but when you are looking for just the right shoes for an outfit and she has some, its pretty awesome.

So having a lot of siblings can challenging at times, but I wouldn't have wanted to grow up any other way. I am pretty sure I wouldn't survive without you guys! From building forts in the back yard, to playing 2-on-2 football, or fighting over the real rules of Monopoly, life just wouldn't be the same without you!! I'm pretty proud to be your older sister and you can barge into my room anytime you want...as long as you bring me coffee. :)

 "We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common  thread that bound us all together." ― Erma Bombeck

Life in the Waiting

 
 So I am in one of those times again. One of those moments in life when I am "in the waiting." Haha What on earth am I talking about? Well, I am sure you have been there and if you haven't trust me, you will one day. It's like a novel really. If you are an extensive reader or a writer, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Most of the time we only remember or think about the pivotal moments in a book; the cliff hanger, the moment of shock when crisis hits in the middle of the book, the happily ever after. Seldom do we remember all the moments in-between. All the small dialogue, and the descriptive wording gets lost amongst the heart-stopping, jaw-dropping drama of those pivotal moments. Those moments of descriptive wording or small dialogue are those "in the waiting" moments. They are seldom remembered after the fact and drudgingly hard to read through but they are imperative to the entire story. You have to have them. If you didn't, it wouldn't be a novel, it would just be a memorable quote.

"Patience is not simply the ability to wait - it's how we behave while we're waiting."-Joyce Meyer

Being in the waiting is terribly hard but super rewarding. It is in these times that we grow in ways we never expected and learn to lean not on our own understanding but on the understanding of one infinitely greater. It takes some pivotal moments to make us come crashing down to our knees, but it is in those times of waiting that James becomes a reality. We hear the word loud and clear during those pivotal moments but it is in the times of waiting that we learn how to be a doer of the word, one step at a time. It is excruciatingly painful but absolutely necessary. It is in these times we wish for time to fly as fast as possible, let us get to the next chapter, PLEASE! Haven't you ever read a book like that? That awkward moment in the book when you know what should happen but it hasn't yet and the characters of the book seem a little lost. You want to take them by the shoulders, give them a firm shake and say, "Don't you understand!! You are suppose to be with him!" or "That is the bad guy, right there!" Whatever it may be, you want it to be resolved. However, you have to go through several painful chapters while the characters figure it out. Yep, that accurately describes what it is like to be "in the waiting." You are the character who doesn't know what is going to happen. You know something is going to happen but what? and when? (Now, you can have more sympathy on the characters of your favorite novel) 

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." -C.S. Lewis 

Oh C.S. Lewis, how you have accurately described life. We can't fly ahead to the next chapter in life, we can't make time move faster any more than we can keep a wave up on the shore. So, we wake up one day at a time, get up and put one foot in front of the other. It sounds like drudgery, but then again isn't it a beautiful picture of utter dependence upon God? The difference my dear friend, is perspective. I've said it before and I'll say it once again. This morning I read Matthew 14, where you find the popular story of Jesus walking on the water. Peter, oh how I love that man. I feel like we would be kindred spirits! So often I read scriptures about Peter and I can't help but shake my head and think, "Oh my. I would have done that too." Here he is so stubborn and strong in his faith, at least enough to ask to climb out of the boat. Why do you think he asked to get out of the boat? If it were me its because I saw the amazing work of Jesus! Isn't that what propels us out of our "boat" to step out in faith in life? He saw Jesus walking on water!!! When God is working, it is natural for us to want to be a part of it. At least it is for me. He jumped out of his comfort zone, decided to be a part of God's amazing work, and suddenly reality hit. It says, "he saw the wind...." What on earth does it mean to "see wind?" I mean we are clearly taught in school that you can't see wind. Even us homeschoolers were taught that! Maybe I'm off on this application but sometimes in my life I sure feel like I see the wind. My life looks pretty good on the outside, it's still going, I'm still serving but boy are there some winds! Wind is hard to explain to others. Sometimes the best you can muster is a "God is working, please pray." 

"We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength." -Charles Stanley

 Ok, let me get back to my original point: PERSPECTIVE. (You know how I love to rabbit trail!) In Matthew 14 it doesn't say that Peter felt the wind or heard the wind it says he SAW the wind. I am pretty sure if you are walking on water in the middle of a huge storm you are going to feel and hear the wind. But you can feel and hear something without focusing on it. I have 5 younger siblings...FIVE! and we were all homeschooled. Let me tell you, I learned quickly to tune out noise. If I didn't I would go crazy! I also had to learn to live in a very small, fitted bubble. I mean there isn't very much "space" on road trips with that big of a family. It's even worse when you have a brother like Garrett, (bless his heart). He is a touchy person, I am NOT. But, he's my baby brother... I remember one time when he was really little, he was scared to sleep by himself or something and poked his head into my room to ask if he could sleep with me. In my loving, older sister way I told him, "Sure, if you sleep at the foot of my bed like a dog." HAHA! Next thing I know I wake up to his little feet in my face! The price of growing up in a big family... When we would go on vacation I often would rather sleep on the floor than be stuck in-between my two sisters. I mean I love them but, I would probably end up falling off the bed anyways, or suffocated by them. Like I said, very small personal space in a big family. What was the point of this rambling....

Oh yes, focus. I have learned to focus in the midst of a crazy and chaotic life...ok I'm getting better at focusing in a crazy and chaotic life. (apparently I need to learn how to stay focused when writing a blog lol) We can't stop the wind. It's going to be there. The noise of it will rush around us and the cold salty water will blow into our face but when we SEE it, that's when we are in trouble. It was at the moment that Peter began to focus on the wind rather than his savior, that he began to sink. We read it and think, "Really, Peter? Jesus was standing right there! For crying out loud, you were walking on water!" But, we so often do the same thing. We jump out of boat with so much expectancy and strong faith but then reality hits. Yes, God is working, we walk on water, as long as we keep focusing on our savior. But, it's awful hard with all the distractions of life that make you feel like your going to sink.

I haven't figured it all out yet but I do know one thing. I have a choice. A choice every day to focus on the struggles and problems and walk through my life like is a drudgery. I can make it through one day just to get through the next. Or, I can focus on God and remember that in the midst of all this craziness he is at work. Maybe realize that I am walking on water! That the fact that I am here and thriving in a storm is the work of God in my life. So, the moment I wake up and begin to put one foot in front of the other, what will my perspective be? How will I choose to live my life in the waiting?

"If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life."-Oscar Wilde

Chinese Chunk

Today I am reminiscing...I remember strange things. The little details that most people forget, seem to stick with me. Of course if you asked me where my glasses where or what I did yesterday I wouldn't be able to tell you. It's a strange phenomenon. Anyways, a few unique stories seem to be playing through my mind and so I would like to share them.

I was 4 almost 5 years old and my small little family was traveling down a dirt road (not uncommon for Kansas) in our little tan Maxima. I was smashed in the back seat between my brothers Hunter and Caleb in their car seats. Dad and mom in the front seat were discussing the baby that mom was going to have. I know today almost everyone finds out if they are having a boy or girl and announces it in a cute way on facebook but that wasn't the case here. (besides facebook didn't exist back then...man I feel old.) Mom was saying that if it was little girl her name would be Brooke (adorable) and if it was a little boy his name would be Garrett.

"Carrot!?!" 

Laughter burst from the back seat! Hunter thought it would be hysterical for our little brother to be named Carrot. I laughed too. When Hunter laughs, I laugh. It's infectious, ok! The next couple of months passed quickly as we awaited the arrival of our new sibling. During that time, my prayer life became really strong! I was constantly going before the Lord. I prayed and prayed and prayed...for a little sister! I loved my brothers but I already had two. So, I prayed for a little sister. Someone I could play dolls with and dress up with share pretty dresses with like Kendra, Kayla, and Kelsey got to do. 

Finally,  the morning arrived. My dad came into my little pink room and shook my shoulder. I woke up and saw my dad with a smile on his face and Caleb riding his john deer tractor down the hallway. (I told you, random memories!) I got up and followed my dad into the master bedroom. There in mom's arms was a little chubby, red-faced bundle. At that moment I fell head of heels! The moment I first met my little brother, Garrett Joseph. 

That morning I wore my favorite floral dress as family and friends came to meet the new member of the Davis household. I bounced from one person to the next following my baby brother has he was held in the arms of grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends. You can bet anytime someone was done holding him he found his way back into my arms. He was MY BABY BROTHER. 

The years passed quickly, too quickly. I did get a little sister a few years later, and we moved out to Grenola, KS. There I was 10 years old and Garrett was a chubby, squinty eyed 5 year old. (which earned him the nickname Chinese Chunk via Landon Lucas) One of the things we loved to play was orphans. We all had our special names and before we started playing we always agree on our names and ages. We were all gathered around an old pine tree out in the yard about to play orphans. "My name is going to Maria. Garrett you are going to be Rachel." You see, even though I had a sister, she was a baby and she couldn't play with us so for years Garrett had been Rachel. Since I didn't want to be the only girl...I know, I know, I am a horrible older sister! But, he played along until that fateful day when he stomped his foot on the ground and replied. "NO. I don't want to be a little girl anymore! I want to be a little boy and I want my name to be Johnny!" I was DEVASTATED!! But, there was nothing I could do. That little Chinese Chunk was growing up. So, from that day on he was no longer Rachel when we played but Johnny. 

He wasn't all grown up though. It was plain to see when one day while mom was taking a shower she heard someone knocking on the door and a little voice calling her name. My mom always said the same thing when we disrupted her shower time. "Garrett, the house better be on fire or you better be bleeding. Otherwise don't bother me." A painful little voice answered her, "But I am bleeding!" Well that got mom's attention. She quickly jumped out of the shower to attend to her little boy and as the older sister I was summoned in to help. Apparently, he had sliced his finger open with a knife cutting an "apple." The wound was pretty good so mom wanted to know what kind of knife he used to cut his finger. I was sent into the kitchen to find the weapon. However, when I entered the kitchen there was no apple anywhere to be seen. Instead there was a huge piece of chocolate that mom had made for valentines day. Well, as a brilliant older sister I knew exactly what happened. So, I admit I went to mom with a smug face, and said, "I didn't see any apple." That is when he confessed to trying to cut the chocolate. HAHAHA! Silly boy. He ended up getting a cast on his finger. It wouldn't be his last cast either. Garrett has broken bones for all of us. 

First, he bit all the way through his tongue while sliding on the kitchen floor. (that might have been my fault...) Then, he broke his arm jumping out of the jeep. (freak accident) He broke his arm again trying to be cool swinging from this swing we made but jumping from a higher spot. (Trying to be cool is not always smart.) One year he broke his arm in basketball and it made him sit out the rest of the season. Soon as he got out of his cast it was time for baseball and the first game he slid into home and broke his collar bone...there went baseball season. I'm just glad it's him and not me. He is a whole lot tougher than I am. He may be rash, running into things to quickly and getting hurt or in trouble but somehow he always finds a way out. He has always been a brown noser. He could be in deep trouble and then give mom the puppy dog look with his chubby little face and it was hopeless. Whenever we need to do fundraisers for sports we always relied on Garrett. He could sell ice to an eskimo. He just has a way about him. Instead of being mad at him you end up laughing. And boy does he make me laugh. I have had way to many awkward and strange conversations with that boy!

Years passed by and I had graduated high school and moved to TN. I remember coming home for a visit and when I met my family at the airport something strange had happened. Garrett was suddenly taller than me! During that vacation I realized my little Chinese Chunk was not only not chubby anymore, he wasn't little either! We were messing around at grandma's and I challenged him. There was a day when I could take all three of my brothers with one had tied behind my back! But that afternoon, in one quick motion he used one arm to swing we up over his shoulder and slam me down on the couch. All I could do was sit there stunned. Well, I guess it is official...my brother is all grown up and doesn't need me anymore. 

I know it's true but it is hard for me to remember sometimes. Garrett, I will always remember the first day I met you. I will remember taking care of you, babysitting you, carrying you around and pushing you in a stroller. I will remember playing orphans with you and the boys and I will remember caring for your many wounds. You will always be my little brother. But your all grown up now and I am so proud of the man you have become. Thank you for making me smile and singing me silly songs. Thank you for bringing me coffee in the mornings and talking my ear off and always being willing to take selfies with me. Thank you for being my little brother.

I am so thankful that God answered my prayer with a no and that he gave me you! I love you bunches broski!! 

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY CHINESE CHUNK!!!!

Kansas 101

I was thinking today about my home state. About how amazing it is and that there are so many people who know so little about it. So, today I wanted to write a post about my beloved Kansas and all the things you probably don't know about it. HEAVEN'S TO BETSY I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!! AREN'T YOU?!?!

So, I'm From this State...

The name Kansas comes from an indian tribe, the Kansa. A person from Kansas is a Kansan. We were granted statehood January 29th 1861, we were the 34th state to be granted statehood. Our motto is Per Aspera ad Astra which means, To the Stars through Difficulty. Our state flower is a Sunflower. Our state animal is a Buffalo. Our state bird is a Meadowlark. Our seal depicts the indians chasing buffalo, a steam-boat making its way up the river, a log cabin, and a farmer plowing a field. Oh, and our capital is Topeka NOT Kansas City.

Did You Know?

1. Did you know Kansas was the geographical center of the contiguous United States? Our first stop, Lebanon, KS.

Monument in Lebanon, KS

2. You have heard Chicago called the Windy City. But did you know that it is actually Dodge City that is the windiest city in the United States? It's average wind speed is 13.9mph. Dodge City, KS,  is one of the most famous Wild West towns. Bat Masterson, Matt Dillon, Wyatt Earp, and others walked the streets of this frontier town. The old western show "Gunsmoke" was all about life in Dodge City with Marshal Dillon.

Dodge City

3. Have you ever heard of Monument Rock? Ya, there are Rock formations towering the Kansan sky line! They are gorgeous and proof that all of Kansas isn't flat.

Monument Rocks

4. We are home to the biggest ball of twine! Yep, Cawker City is proud to be the home of the largest ball of twine, weighing over 19,000 pounds! The people of Cawker City are continually adding to it so that it may continue to be the largest ball of twine.

Biggest Ball of Twine

5. We don't have alligators, monkeys, elks, or bears but we are home to some interesting animals. Including Buffalo, Grouse or the Prairie Chicken, White-Tail Deer, and the Prairie Dog. Just remember that it illegal to hunt a rabbits from a motor boat or a duck from the back of a mule. Also, it's illegal to ride any animal down the road in my home town Derby, KS. Oh, and if you want to hunt Whales, you can't do it here...its illegal.

Kansas Buffalo

6. Have you ever eaten at Pizza Hut? Well, Pizza Hut began in Wichita, KS. The first store opened in 1958 by Frank and Dan Carney.

Frank and Dan Carney

7. For all of you who hear "Kansas" and can only thing Dorothy Gale and Oz, you should visit Liberal, KS. There you can visit the home of Dorothy and take a trip to Oz yourself. Max and Katie Zimmerman had this vision after meeting a waiter in San Fransisco who said he would expect to see Dorothy's house in Kansas. In 1981, their vision became a reality and today you can walk down a yellow brick road in Liberal, KS.

Liberal, KS

8. The first woman pilot, Amelia Earhart, was from Atchison KS. I love her story! It's mysterious and exciting. I think it's pretty awesome that she came from my home state.

Amelia Earhart

9. Superman not only grew up in Kansas but he was Jayhawk! I have proof! :D

10. There are so many awesome things about my state, this is just a few. However, my favorite piece of Kansas is found in the middle of nowhere on 240 acres... Ahhh the Land, the Land... Grenola, KS.

Thanks for bearing through my outburst of state loyalty. But as Dorothy Gale so eloquently put, 

"There is no place like HOME." 

A List of Happiness

Today it feels like fall, I slept in, drank some coffee and had a very interesting (and by interesting I mean kinda awkward and totally hysterical) conversation with my brother. It's been a pretty fabulous day and it just made me think of all the things that make me happy and so I wanted to share some of them with you! So, with no further ado, here is

Jack's happiness list:

1. FALL DAYS! Seriously, how can they not make me happy? It's snuggly, fire, coffee drinking weather! It involves sweaters, jeans, boots, leg warmers and scarves, my favorite pieces of clothing. HELLO!!! I LOVE FALL!! Especially when there are heaters and fires.... 

2. GIVE ME FLANNEL! Flannel sheets, flannel shirts....I just like flannel. It's cozy. I guess I could change this list to my comfy list. My favorite is my brother's flannel plaid shirt he accidentally left with me in TN a couple years ago....I never returned it. (SHHHH...) It's comfy and it smells like him...well not so much anymore but sometimes when your away from home its nice to have things like that. 

3. COFEE, COFFEE, and more COFFEE! I can't really add anything to this. The smell in the morning, the warm mug in your hand, the strong, slightly bitter taste...its just great. 

4. BOOKS...for days... LITERALLY. Yes, I can read books for days. Set me inside an old book store and I may never come out. As someone great said, "I have lived a thousand lives..." people who don't read need help. And books are always better than movies. Take Maleficent for instance, only a movie would ruin the perfectly classic tale of Sleeping Beauty by taking out Prince Phillip's true love's kiss! SERIOUSLY!!!! ok, sorry for that little rant but really...read books people.

5. CLASSIC MOVIES. Yes, I love once upon a time and Captain America, but there is nothing like Anne of Green Gables, Les Misrable, Singing in the Rain, The Sound of Music, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Shop Around the Corner, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Wives and Daughters...the list goes on and on. Man, I need to go watch some movies! Janzen's come home!!! I need my library back!

6. QUILTS! It's like old houses or family Bibles. Quilts hold a piece of history, a story with every scrap of fabric, every stitch. It's like a family museum wrapped up in a cuddly way. They just make me smile.  :D

7. THAT SONG. You all know what I am talking about. It changes with time but its always there. That song that just leaps through the radio and grabs your heart. Every time you hear you smile and think, "how on earth did they know?" 'Cause they totally pegged your life at this moment. Yep, those songs.

8. JOURNALS! I seriously have a problem. I have notebooks for days. But, I believe you always need a notebook around. As Jack London said, "Keep a notebook. Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it. Slap into it every stray thought that flutters up into your brain." and if you keep that advice, then you can be like Oscar Wilde who said, "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train." Yep, I may have a lot of journals but I always have something to write on and something to read.

9. DISHES!! Guys, I don't even have a kitchen!! Why is it that teacups call me from every antique shop window? Why is it that the moment I enter Target I'm drawn to the dish section like a magnet? Maybe that is why my favorite disney princess is Belle, because we both understand the importance and beauty of dishes...

10. HUGS... I know some people will read this and be like, "Ya, right. JP does not like hugs." But sometimes in the perfect moment, a hug is exactly what I need. They are important. Like hugging Caleb just because he LOVES hugs. (haha) The moment you're wrapped in your dad's arms and you feel like his little girl again. The time your brother gives you a side hug as you smile for a photo can make you feel like the luckiest sister ever. I love it when grandpa pulls me into a hug and begins singing. Hugs are just great. They make you feel safe, and loved and they make me look forward to one day when I stand before the throne of grace and the moment I see HIM face to face. I know exactly what I am going to do in that moment. I'm going to run right into his arms. That will be the best hug ever. 

So, there you have a few things that put a smile on my face. Oh, there is one more, one word that can instantly put a smile on my face. What is is?

KANSAS!!

New York, New York!!

I can officially say I have been to New York!!! Ok, ok, so I flew OVER New York.... That is the way to sight see,  let me tell you. I love flying! You can smell the adventure and excitement. The whole world is at your hand in a matter of minutes. I love the way you feel as the plane leaps from the ground to the air, and the way masses of people rush here and there. It's like everything goes into fast motion as you stand there taking it all in. Flying makes you feel like you own the world one second and then that your tiny and insignificant the next. The sights you see are incredible! I have always said that one of my favorite views of Kansas is from an airplane. It looks like a beautiful giant patchwork quilt.Views like that remind you how great our God is. How can anyone fly past a crescent moon in the midst of a black sky and not think about awesome our God is!? YEP, I. LOVE. FLYING.

"I might have been born in a hovel but I am determined to travel with the wind and the stars." -Jacqueline Cochran

So, this past week I once again hopped onto a small little airplane, flying out of Wilmington, NC. (That airport was smaller than Wichita! Which is saying something.... Michael Lincoln, poor man, almost had a heart-attack when he saw how small it was...City Boy. :p) Smaller airports just mean smaller security lines. I have it down to a science by now.

Pull out ID and ticket. Hand them to first guard. Pull off shoes. Grab two boxes. Put in shoes, ID and ticket. Grab out liquids, conveniently placed in carry-on, and throw it in box. Pull out Ipad and throw it in box. Throw first carryon on conveyor belt. Put suitcase on conveyor belt. Pull out laptop and place in the second box. Walk through the scanner. Retrieve my items. Success.

Like I said, down to a science. :)  Then its time to find your gate and hopefully start boarding. Once on the plane I find my seat, put my suitcase in the overhead and my bag underneath my seat, just like they tell you. I usually have a window seat. :) Open up the shade, grab some gum and wait for the best part of the flight! TAKEOFF!

This airplane happen to be a very, very small airplane. In fact, I had to check one of my bags because they didn't have very much overhead space. My seat was by the window (thank goodness!) but, it was the last seat in the plane. There was no one sitting next to me, so I could just look out the window and stare at the place they call New York.

 "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." 

-L. Frank Baum

The moment we reached New York and began our decent I was glued to the window my jaw on the floor. Every single square inch of property had a building on it!!! And the buildings were ginormous! The only place I could actually see the ground was when we flew over a cemetery. Let me tell you, that is a lot different than flying over Kansas. I have never been terrified to land in my life...until that day. Maybe it was the fact that 9/11 is still etched in my mind.... There is always that thought "what is something goes wrong." I have often thought through the possibilities in my travels. Flying over Kansas my thought was, we just land in an empty field...which is everywhere. As I looked down at the city below me my thoughts were....if something happens we either hit a building or land in the ocean. (I didn't like those options) We circled the city and began to descend, getting closer and closer to the ground. I sat in my seat intensely staring out the window, my stomach in knots. All I could think is, "there are buildings, there are still buildings. Please don't let us hit a building!" I looked and looked but didn't see a runway. Next thing you know I didn't need to worry about buildings cause we began to fly over water! At which point my thoughts changed to, "Oh there is water, and still water. Please don't let hit the water!"

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang

It turns out the runway was jutting out into the water and we landed just fine. I guess the pilot is use to landing in big cities with lots of tall buildings. This Kansan however was almost at her wits end. It took us a while to pull into the hanger and I was able to watch as plane after plane after plane landed. They just kept coming! Apparently a lot of people want to visit New York. All I could think was "how on earth does someone live this way...with no land." I'll take good old flat, boring, not so populated Kansas, any day of the week! :)