Summer is coming...

and I can't wait! Once the wind and rain decide to go away I will be able to enjoy the simple act of sitting outside on my covered porch on a sunny day.

That is one of my favorite features of this hundred-year-old house. Hardly anyone builds new houses with covered front porches anymore. After living here I am determined to have one, and no, it doesn't have to be a wrap-around like everyone seems to want. I also look forward to having a yard and patio one day. We don't have much of that going on here, and I wouldn't mind enjoying summer a little more discretely. Though being out front makes me feel more connected to my neighbors.

Everyone talks about old town as the "questionable" part of town. And yes, I believe some shady things happen round these parts. But we haven't ever had anything bad happen while living here (knock on wood.) And we have some neighbors who have been very friendly. One generously plows our walkway in the winter, one lets us borrow his lawn mower, one brought us all their food before heading to Arizona for the winter, and the one family with kids always waves hello whenever we are simultaneously hopping in the car.

The only intruder we have encountered while living here was 10 lb mini-doberman who took an obsession with our dog; and insisted on trying to scratch his way through the front door at 1, 3, and 5 AM one winters eve.

In reality the sketchiest place we ever lived was in the hood in Reno. Fo realz. Steven and I lived in four different places in two of our married years there. Mention Montello Street to anyone form Reno and they will know what you are talking about. They might not know where it is, but they could tell you the stories. We lived just a few rows down because by golly, it was cheap! Oh and also because while we were on summer vacation (as newlyweds) we bought a puppy with which we could not return to our then current home with. So we took what we could get before school started!

Twas the first time I was ever a minority in life. Were the only white people in the hood...just sayin. Fortunately we were surrounded by many good families then too. Some, not so good which really made me aware that God was protecting us. Occasionally we got some questioning looks. I never walked around in fear, but I also never walked around at night...ever.

Most surrounding homes housed several generations of family. Many who seemed to rely on one sole provider. I saw (and overheard) many of their struggles. Looking back I'd say living there made me feel approachable, tolerant, and humble.

Every so often I was overwhelmed by the love that God had for them. I was touched through small glimpses of this other life that I knew existed but didn't fully understand while growing up on the other side of town.

Watched the cute black grandma tenderly care for her small patch of lawn like it was her most prized posession. Watering it by hand every possible day (in Reno you have designated watering days) she then gathered her family on long summer nights circling plastic lawn chairs in front of a house that was too small for catching up.

Wished they could feel it too. Somehow I felt that just by being there helped prove that we were no better than them, and exemplified the love of Christ to each of us. I'm no perfect saint though. After enduring more than a full year in the hood...nights full of chopper searchlights, and sirens (and oh ya, outbursts of a schizophrenic mother living above us) I finally opted for a different experience. Off we went, back over to the other side of town.

There's probably something to be said about that. Part of me is disappointed while the voice of reason understands.

Celebrating Love 2010

Oh how time flies. We have now officially completed four years of marriage. To celebrate we went out to dinner after Steven got home from class. After much deliberation and conflicting suggestions about which restaurant to try we went to the Sandpiper. It was nice, but in the end I'd say one trip there was enough for me. Senang still has my vote for best fine dining in Pocatello, but we went there last year so we thought we should try something new. We had a nice low key evening. A Cold Stone ice-cream cake awaited us at home, yum!

Do you people know that I have a gift for eating Ice-cream? I pound it like it's nobody's business. Two nights later we found ourselves at Cold Stone with come friends who wanted to go. (Funny because I haven't been at all since we moved here until this week.) I was one of the last ones to get my ice-cream. (Cake batter with graham cracker, please!) By the time we found our way to a table I was about two bites away from finishing the entire thing. Once I gorged my last bite I looked around...everyone...still had ice-cream...far above the brim of their cups. I eat like a fat person, I confessed to my husband in the car. (Or rather, I should be fat based on the way I eat.) It's kind of embarrassing. He didn't try to suede me otherwise, but pointed out my metabolism must be amazing. Thanks mom and dad.

We had planned to get away a couple of nights and head to Sun Valley for the weekend. But after booking the hotel I realized that buying a Wii would be simpler and even cost effective! So Steven complied :) I have never in my entire life owned a game console, or even wanted one. But for whatever reason the Wii has won me over. Our living room is laughable, possibly the worst set up imaginable for a Wii. I can practically touch the (ancient, block of a) TV while sitting on our couch. Bowling will be great fun.

I take great pride in this moment. This Wii going to change my life. Especially if we temporarily re-locate to Rexburg this summer, this thing may become my companion. I might even burn off a few of those ice-cream calories, cuz turns out I'm a pretty sweet Wii boxer.

Next time you're wondering what to make for dinner...

Try This. I am always looking for super easy recipes with as few ingredients and labor as possible. Because frankly I don't like cooking very well. But I came across this recipe on All Recipes and it was pretty yummy! And easy as well. I skipped the Vodka (fresh out) and crushed red pepper flakes and it still turned out good.

Tomato Vodka Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (28 ounce) can canned peeled and diced tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup vodka
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt better with oil; add onion and saute for 8 minutes or until transparent.
2. Add tomatoes and cook for 25 minutes or until almost no liquid remains in skillet; stir frequently.
3. Increase heat and add cream, vodka and red pepper flakes; boil for 2 minutes or until thickened to sauce consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and transfer to a large bowl.
5. Bring sauce to a simmer and pour over pasta; toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese; serve.

Inspiration

My friend Alyse set this to me because she knows I love surfing. I have heard the story of Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who's arm got bitten off by a shark. But I haven't heard this version, the story of her faith in God and how she feels like God's mission for her included this tragedy in order become a greater mouthpiece for God and Jesus Christ.

Her strength and faith are truly inspirational as well as her talent for surfing. There are three parts to the video, about 30 minutes in all. If you get a chance, watch them, your day will be better for it. Then take a moment to think about what kinds of greater things God might have in store for you if you let him.

Dear Elder

Elder Davis,

It's your first Christmas away from home. This year will feel strange without you. We gave a lesson in church today about building up the new Zion in Independence, Missouri and it made me think of you. There. Serving a mission.

I miss you.

Brianne

Merry Christmas

This is us wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are so grateful for the wonderful family and friends we have. You all are wonderful, especially if you know we even have a blog!

A little off the rocker

I thought I show the finished result of this project we started quite a while ago when we still lived in Reno. Steven has fixed up a few rocking chairs in his day. He let me help pick out the fabric and paint for this one. We finally finished it this summer! (Thanks to the special help of a talented seamstress.) Now if we only had somewhere to put it, other than our basement...

Notice our other long term project there in the background...
a headboard for our bed that we made out of an old door
(and have never attached.)

Close up of the fabric.

A few weeks ago we found the perfect rocker for our next one. We already have the fabric picked for this one. (We got it the same day we bought the bee fabric at an eclectic fabric store in Ashland, OR.) This one has fabric on top and bottom. I can't wait to pick out colors and piece it all together!