Moving

So, according to the (detailed) quiz I took at www.findyourspot.com we ought to be living in Seattle. Ha, fancy that. :) Our other top locations included; Denver, Hartford, Long Island and Providence...hmmm....I think this is a good sign, since these were all places we had thought of!!

Family, family, family

It has been forever since I've been able to spend time with my family. August to be exact---it's February, let me do the math for you, that's 7 months!!! This Thursday Adam and I will make the 22 hour drive (straight through mind you) to see them!!! Next weekend marks both Valentine's Day and Ryan's 20th birthday. I still can't believe he's officially in his 20s come the 14th, but I'm excited to be there to celebrate it with him!!! My time has recently been devoted to 'important' pre-trip things like, 1)making packing spreadsheets, 2)buying yummy goodies for the road, 3)visiting the library for good books on tape and comedian cds, 4)making killer playlists for the ipod, and 5)sending requests to my mother for different meals every few days....Like I said, the important stuff. For me, the most exciting part of this trip, aside from just seeing my family, is that we're spending a weekend in NYC!!! One of my heroes (and friends) growing up, an LSB dancer, is now in West Side Story as Tito---and I am going to get to see that!!!! For someone as in love with the arts a me, it does not get much better then that! :) Only 3 more days....I can make it!!!! T-H-R-E-E-M-O-R-E-D-A-Y-S!!!

Celebrity Twin

So, this week on facebook people are posting pictures of their celeb twin. Adam has always said I remind him of Rebecca Romijn Stemos (yea, I don't see it either) but there is a website that uploads a picture of you and compares your face to celebrities. My top two matches were Lauren Graham and Christie Brinkley. *shrug* What do you think?

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy

Worship, and God---for Me

So at church on Sunday I shared what worship and God mean to me, and I how experience that. It took me awhile to figure out just what I wanted to put, and how to word what I meant, and I still wasn't sure if I would be understood, or sound crazy. I was amazed afterwards when I was told by several people "I really could worship with it, after hearing you speak", or "I feel like I understand a whole new aspect of you now." It was incredibly encouraging, since I seldom share on this subject (unless prompted, like Sunday) because it isn't always well received. Here is what I shared:


When I’m listening to certain music, epic & pressing in some way after a few moments a feeling creeps into me that I can’t quite name. My chest tightens, I feel the urge to close my eyes, and I need to move. I can picture the movements, the perfect movements for that piece of music.

Sometimes it’s just the urge to dance that comes over me, without any music at all, a particular move my body wants to make, always accompjavascript:void(0)anied with the tightness in my chest & the urge to close my eyes. Watching performances with the specific type of music or dance has the same affect for me, often with tears.

For me, dancing has always been a very private and guarded thing. I either want to be alone, or somewhere “safe”, “removed” and “expected”, like rehearsal or a performance. Dancing I’m no longer myself, but this puppeted creature, moved about by the music and something that isn’t of this world. It’s how I was created to feel and express, to worship and be.

This clip may not strike you as particularly “epic” or “intense” but I love it because she possesses amazing grace and skill. She moves with the music in her rehearsal clothes in an empty auditorium, feeling everything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz2Gp7a38DM

Dutchess v Gatorade

For your Thursday viewing pleasure, here is a video Adam and I took of Dutchess v. a Gatorade bottle we took not too long ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gakAJsDwlbo

A Renewed Aunt & Uncle-hood

On Tuesday, January 12th at 10:45am the newest member of our family was born!!! Daniel Ryan Owens came into this world healthy and happy at 19" 7lb4oz. :) And it was amazing to be a part of it! Daniel is the son of Adam's oldest brother, Jacob, and his fiancée, Leticia. They had asked us to come up and be a part of the day, which really felt like a gift since we are still getting to know Leticia, and it's such an important day! But, as they took him to the Nurses' room to take his information (footprints, etc) we all gathered at the glass windows and watched. Even more special was seeing Jacob leaning down, talking to his little, tiny son.

What was particularly funny, was that since Leticia's family is Hispanic, as we were seeing the baby you heard the Owens side saying "my goodness, look how dark his hair is!!" at almost the same time the Aguilar side was resounding in "he's so white!!". It made us all laugh, he's the perfect, beautiful blend of both of them. We were so excited to see him, to hold him, to see Leticia and how she was doing...I couldn't believe how quickly the day escaped while we were there!

Leticia was doing really well, especially for having just had a c-section. She did get sick while we were there, but I was amazed every time the nurses came in for her "pain level" and she would calmly reply "no pain, but I am nauseous..." She's so much tougher than I would be!!! She did admit, smiling, that right before they wheeled her into the surgery room this morning she looked at Jacob and said "I changed my mind, I can't do this!!".

Here are Adam and I, proud Aunt & Uncle we are!

The baby fever I had been severely suffering from back in the early fall, had seemed to bury itself. I had read a lot, everything I could, about preparing for parenthood, parenthood, pregnancy, birthing choices...the works! I was also able to have amazing discussions with a few spectacular women about their choices and how they felt about them. Babies, obviously, are an immense responsibility and not to be taken lightly...which is why we're waiting and reading in the mean time. So we can be set up in the best way for a baby, when we welcome one into our own little family. But I digress...all the logic and conversation had seemed to bury these feelings, and they'd poke out there heads occasionally at the sight of sweet child, or conversation with one of our friends who are parents. When we got to the hospital though, in the "baby" wing...it was all over. It was as if my entire body was going "This could be us you know! We should be the ones in here!!". As offsetting to baby fever as you might think a recovering c-section mother and newborn might be, it was quite the opposite. It excited me..."I want this! I can do this!!". I kept this all to myself, but knew Adam was picking up on my baby frequency as he leaned over, gave me a knowing look and a kiss. So this week, it is back to reading. Reading and research, and focusing on baby Daniel for now, knowing one day we'll have our own little bundle.

New Year, New Traditions

This New Years was also a little different for us. Normally my family is aflutter with candy making, the kitchen is full and constantly sending out wonderful food of one kind or another, Christmas music is still playing, and we can't stop talking. Things are generally a little different at the Owens' house...except for this year. This year, they hosted a New Years dinner, which included all of us, and some of our friends. Homesick, I made my mom's 3 signature Christmas time dishes, Carrot Casserole, Spinach Soufflé, and Mushroom Stuffing! This was huge since...I don't cook. But, I have to say, it turned out pretty well, and made me want to try cooking more often! (you'll have to ask Adam whether that is a good thing or not...) We played some games, and even made it to midnight!!! (I crashed at about 1:30am...)

We also spent a lot of time hanging out with Mitchell, Jessica, Cydney & Brandon, playing Wii (I so, so want one!), Balderdash, and hanging out in the hot tub!!
Being with them always makes me laugh, and reminds me how lucky Adam and I am to have friends who are so awesome!!!

3-2-1 Happy 2010!!! Here's to the next year!!!