don't dream it's over

Life has been full, and as much as I want to gush about everything individually, here is a random, "this is what's been happening" post. : )

A depressingly moody and gray few weeks finally succumbed to full-blown summer. I finally feel knee-deep in the season.

It seems like summer finally just started, but the stores have their back-to-school sales spewed all over and people are talking about making the most of the end of their freedom. What!? HELLO, if summer is only three months long, having a whole month left means it's not almost over. Sheesh.

There are still so many juice bags to be sucked down, blackberries to be picked (heck, they're not even ripe yet), and watermelons to be ravaged.

Say no to summer coming to a close.

Say yes to blissful denial.

 random things:

• We all camped at my grandparents' old property (where my brother and his wife now live). The sun was beautiful, the conversations were good, the hammock was terrifying, and the babies were adorable.

• I guest-posted over at Abby's blog... awhile ago... ; )

• I'm officially in love with Pinterest. 

• I finally bought the "read my palm" nail polish at Sephora, after visiting it in the mall three or four times. It makes me very, very happy.

•  I've been hanging out with these awesome people... and taking lots pictures of them, because they're beautiful and I love them.

• I've been on a huge Adele kick. I think pretty much everyone has heard "Rolling in the Deep", but my favorite are this one and this one. "I heard that your dreams came true..." So, so beautiful.

• Summer = crammed on the front steps of church in the blazing heat with a glorious, noisy rabble of young people. 

• I went downtown with a bunch of cool people. I got the worst blisters I have ever gotten on the tops of my feet from my beautiful fancy new Converse flip flops, which made walking/wearing shoes pretty much impossible for days. Also, we watched "Cowboys and Aliens" which was all kinds of crazy, entertaining, and ridiculous. Anybody seen it? All I have to say is: Daniel Craig = born to be a cowboy.

•  So my computer is technically alive again, but is having very traumatic issues which make blogging on it completely impossible (as in, it has a seizure and then dies if I try to upload anything). I'm planning on buying a new laptop, and possibly switching to a Mac. Do any of you have experience with Macs? Do you think I should go for it? They're pretty expensive so I don't want to get one unless it's going to be seriously awesome.

• I've been on a blueberry-picking rampage. Our bushes are going crazy, and for some reason picking them is rather relaxing. I listen to Mark Driscoll sermons and get sunburnt.

  {beware: scary iphone photos. ;) }

• Bucket list item number 41 = checked off. See Les Miserables performed live. When I put that on my list, I actually thought that it might be one of the very unlikely ones. MY DREAMS CAME TRUE on Thursday night. 

We took Hadley and I sat between her and Bethany and we clutched each other and tried not to shriek and fell in love with the whole thing in a totally new way. Watching the musical live (instead of the concert movie) is totally different. The story is complete, and ten times more beautiful, the orchestra is glorious, everything is so loud, and it's very, very emotional. I'm pretty sure I like most of the voices in the 10th and 25th anniversary versions better than the ones there, but everyone did a good job and it was absolutely amazing.

My sister Bethany is in Idaho, which means I'm destitute and alone (and/or partying it up with my mom). This next week promises to be very, very good, aside from missing her like the dickens. 

By the way...I'm irrationally emotional right now and I just want to let you all know that you're awesome and I love you. : ) I hope your summer is continuing to be busy and relaxing and beautiful.

"don't dream it's over"