More of the Rairicks

Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl

Doug Wilson's son, N.D. Wilson, wrote a book called "Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl." Patrick bought it a few weeks ago but hasn't been able to start on it because of school. So I picked it up. I've never read any of his work before but this is really good. His way of writing is so clever and interesting. This is what I just read.

"It's cold tonight, and my mind is to small to grasp the world, tired from trying. I could walk back outside and stare at the stars, those tiny, twinkling, huge, spherical firestorms, but more clouds have rolled in behind the blizzarding herd that only just left.
Tomorrow, according to the weather prophet, these clouds will crystallize and turn into six-pointed haiku, kaiku like you've never seen, each subtly different, each capturing a different mood, a different beauty. Each priceless, a divine word.
If I were infinite, I could read and love each one. I could remember the dance of each flake since the world was born.
But I'm not infinite. And so I keep a shovel for when the haiku falls, a bag of salt to fend off the whispering storm."

Doesn't that such sound like you'd want to read the rest of the book? Well it makes me want to!

The Rairicks

Weekend Musings

hahaha Patrick hates the use of "musings"... this will be a test to see if he really reads my blog:)

It's finally starting to be somewhat nice weather around here. The leaves are beautiful!! I want it to stay fall YEAR ROUND!
Anna had homecoming this weekend. She's a senior this year which means I am going to be annoying her by sharing in all these moments that I think are really fun. Look at how gorgeous she is!!

We also carved some pumpkins this weekend. I did a tree and Patrick did a not so intentional tim burton-esque pumpkin of the louisville sky line.

Lizzie round 2

We took pictures of this cute little one a few months ago and I had the privilege to take some more a second time around. Here are a few

A Whole Heck of A Lot of Catching Up

Here are a few pics from our 1st anniversary trip to Erie, PA.
We are in the process of buying our first home!!! Exciting, I know. We have been praying for the Lord to completely frustrate all of our plans if this is not his will. But He has been so kind and everything is going amazingly smooth. We are having inspections and all that fun stuff done this week. Here are a few pictures of the house.

Kirby is a big boy! We got him neutered this week. I think his puppiness is keeping him going, it hasn't seemed to even phase him.
I also got to visit with most of my siblings and all of their adorable kiddos.

Our work is having a pumpkins painting contest. Here's my pumpkin (more to come later of everyones).

Entries from a diary

I've been doing some special reading today. Patrick's diary from the few months before we met. This thing is AMAZING. He mostly journaled his prayers and events from his time in PNG. Reading this warms my heart and encourages my soul to strive to know our God better. This is why I wanted to marry this man!

6-21-06
7:55 am
Itutang

Lord-
Do not let my spiritual senses go dull. Do not let me become hard of hearing. Help me to receive truth with joyfulness. Teach me how to feed myself even more through the word. I thank you for this opportunity to be in PNG and I pray that I would not dwell on the past or the future but just make the most of my time here. Again I ask for a joyful spirit to help me with whatever I encounter. I pray that my lips would pour forth praise all the day as I look and behold your power and glory.

I prayed this myself today. We are in the process of possibly buying our first home, I'm being moved around all over the place at work, but I pray that I would not dwell on past or future but be content and make the most of my time right now. That my lips would pour forth praise all day long. That I would dwell and meditate on the Lord and His glory.

Thank you Lord for Patrick!

Smashed Pumpkins

Whoever looked at a pumpkin sitting on someone else's doorstep and said " I'm going to smash this sucker!" irritates me.

This morning Patrick came in from taking Kirby out and said some people had smashed two of my pumpkins. This makes me upset for many reasons...
1. They aren't their pumpkins to smash...they are my pumpkins.
2. They cost $5 each. SO thats $10 they just wasted for 2 secs of laughing and 5 min of me being frustrated.
3. Now we have a big mess out in the walk way of our apartments. I think this is not only rude to me, but also to all our other neighbors
4. If they don't clean it up, I'll have to.
5. I know who did it and I want to be mean even though I know I shouldn't.

So here's what I think I'm going to do: clean up the mess and make them some PUMPKIN cookies:) and ask them not to do that EVER AGAIN!

(of course these cookies wouldn't be made from the actual smashed pumpkins on my side walk...Patrick threw those away)

Adventures of Stereo Land

Patrick loves listening to good music. Having the option to hook up his ipod to the car stereo is of highest priority to him. My car doesn't have or should I say didn't have this option. Just plain old compact discs for me. Well with a 7-8 hour drive there and a 7-8 hour drive back, Patrick wanted this to change. I talked to my brother (who is pure genius with a whole lot of stuff but cars are his specialty) and thought I had figured out a way to rig my stereo so that it would hook up to a cd. Here's how this adventure unfolded.

Take out stereo at work- doesn't work

Take out stereo at Schreiner's home- wrong cord

Head to Best Buy to get right cord- Best Buy guy says a cord wont fix the problem

Buy a new stero w/ cord hook up (all for an IPOD)

Go out to try and install in parking lot by ourselves- find out we need wire cutter and electrical tape to splice wires (genius brother says LEAVE IT ALONE)

Drive to Columbus, stay the night, wake up and try to find Best Buy to install stereo- yeah sure that'll cost $55.

WHAT? - We'll do it ourselves!!

Call family members to help us locate a Walmart right off the interstate- DO A U-TURN

Find Walmart

Wire Cutters: $1.47

Electrial Tape: $1.58

Good music coming through that ipod cord into my stereo and out my speakers: PRICELESS!

It's been ONE YEAR!

October 4th (that's today) is our wedding anniversary. Yup, today Oct 4, 2009 Patrick and I are celebrating our first anniversary. And guess where we are? Erie, PA. Patrick surprised me with a weekend trip. I've known we were heading somewhere and that the place was seven hours away, but didn't know exactly where that place was. Surprises like this are so much fun! I didn't have to worry about anything. Just packed my bag with lots of options for hot, cold, and mild weather.

We left friday after work and headed to Columbus to stay the night. We really liked this hotel and kind of wish we would have saved 8 hours and stayed here the whole time.

Saturday we woke up and headed to PA. And here we are. It's rainy and cold we are staying in and playing it low key. Its been nice not really having a schedule to keep to and just relaxing with each other.

Last night I gave Patrick his presents. Ever since he gave me my sewing machine, he has asked when I was going to make him a t-shirt. Well I finally did it. I didn't have a pattern, just traced one of his. It turned out ok... it resembles a shirt. But he definitely wont want to wear this out in public. I had the hardest time with the neck... haha I'll post a picture to show its crookedness. I think he liked it though. I also gave him a wallet. He lost a similar one about a year ago and mentioned if I ever found one like it I should get it. So I did.

The Lord has been very kind to us this last year. It's been fun to reflect on all this year has brought. We have also been evaluating our relationship and trying to see how we can better serve each other and in turn bring God more glory.

Thank you Lord for Patrick and this amazing year you have so graciously given to us.