I Have A Soon-To-Be-Sister-In-Law!!!!

This is a special blog for my soon-to-be-sister-in-law Liz Cole. But I figured I'd share the excitement I'm having with everyone else too:)

GUESS WHAT?!?! Nate, the eldest Ricks child, proposed to his beautiful girlfriend this week on Valentine's Day. I have yet to gather all the good details, (being that I was informed mostly by Nate who is a man of few words and all), but what I have heard is awesome.

Oh yeah. She said yes.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our whole family is very excited to have this new person in our lives and soon to be in our family too.

I moved to Hawaii shortly after Nate and Liz started dating. Which I sort of hate, and sort of love too. Allow me to explain....

I hate it because I haven't had the opportunity to truly get to know her yet. That sorta sucks because I A) really really want to, B) have never had a "sister" before, and c) feel left out of all the excitement:(.

But mostly... I love the timing.

When I first started dating Richard again last year, I also started having one big prayer. I know it sounds silly for a sister to pray something of this sort, but I started praying that God would provide a woman for Nate, the right woman for him, and that he would get married before I do.

Why, you may wonder, would this even come into my head or heart??

A few reasons I think.

I think I was aware that I'd probably be moving away, and I knew Jordan (the younger, though largest Ricks child), would be headed off to college in the semi-near future. So I couldn't help but hope that Nate would have a relationship to build him up during that transition. (More so for Jordan really.. because they are best buddies and all). My brothers and I are best friends, so as we move apart I can't help but pray that God provides companionship along the way.

I also have watched some younger siblings get married before older ones, and I know my brother would be just fine if that was the case, but I sorta hoped it wouldn't be. He's the oldest and it just seems right. Maybe that's dumb, but I can't help it.

Last but not least, I really wanted Nate to have that kind of relationship because he is an incredible man. He is the kind of man who does what's right when it is hardest, looks out for those who can't look out for themselves, works hard at everything he does (except maybe during college:), and gives the right advice when you need it the most. He is a wonderful big brother. He is hilarious, generous, and practical to a fault.

There is another thing about Nate that makes this exciting.... he has ALWAYS wanted to care for just the right woman. He has wanted to take care of someone in a way that I don't think most guys his age really grasp, and for that I respect him immensely. So I suppose I sort of thought to myself, Nate is an incredible guy, in a world where there just aren't all that many incredible guys around, so someone should be blessed by that.

Then enters Liz.

Nate may look a little doped out in this shot... had strep throat at the time. I have limited pics!!! 

YAY!!

I must first express, in all sincerity, how much I like her just as a person. My time around her has been limited, but from what I gather she is very funny, easy-going, thoughtful, sincere, and strong. She is the kind of girl I would choose to hang out with just for the heck of it, and sorry if I'm a jerk for saying this... but that's pretty rare for me to say. I grew up around brothers and I have always been semi-challenged when it comes to interacting with females my own age. But Liz... she's a delight to be around. Lots of fun, very easy to talk to, and just a cool girl.

Putting aside how much I just like her, she is PERFECT for Nate. She let's him be himself, but doesn't let him get away with things. She is attentive and clearly enjoys his company, but gives him a hard time too... which is just what my brother needs. I mean... exactly what my brother needs.

In case all of that isn't enough to find this engagement/relationship a blessing... I forgot to mention how fortunate my family is to have her in our lives at this time in particular.

I'm 4000+ miles away from my parents and I'm the only girl in the family. So I can't tell you how many times I have thought thank you, thank you, THANK YOU God for providing another daughter-like figure to be around.

She is a gift to Nate and to our family.

I must also mention another reason we all are thrilled for this new engagement. Liz has a little girl who every Ricks family member instantly fell in love with. Her name is Lael, and she is awesome.

Obviously she already has Jordan wrapped around her little finger. Nate is even worse:) 

So with all the anticipation and joy over the new engagement I can't help but praise the Lord for His way of doing things, for Nate's heart to care for his girls, and for providing Liz and Lael in all our lives.

Congrats Nate and Liz!! Wish I could be there to celebrate with you!

No Need for a Giant Teddy Bear When You Have Truffles

I've always been one of those people who kinda made fun of the Valentine's Day advocates. I mean, I always liked the day and all, but the majority of my joy had to do with making fun of the ridiculousness that accompanies the holiday.

I mean, really... who needs a giant stuffed heart pillow or a greeting card written by some Halmark employee??! No one.

Truthfully I did stand in Walmart last week considering whether I could keep a straight face and give Richard a giant (and I'm talking might not fit in the backseat kind of "giant"), teddy bear holding an "I love you!" stuffed pillow.

SOOOO tempting, but I passed.

Anyway, I find it all a little humorous, but I also happen to be in love with a handsome part asian man this year too.... so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited for to celebrate.

About two weeks ago I came up with the brilliant idea of making each other homemade valentine gifts. Takes the pressure off of the holiday and makes it sort of fun. I thought that it might be a challenge for Richard, but certainly not for me right?

Not right.

What the heck do you make a guy for Valentine's Day?? Baked goods right? Yeah, probably most guys. Richard, however, doesn't really have a sweet tooth, so it just wouldn't be that exciting. How about a homemade meal?? Hmmm... my lack of cooking abilities might result in something less than a "gift".

... Crap. I had no good ideas. So I decorated a box and put things in it that reminded me of him. Which FYI, isn't really homemade, nor exciting. Yes I cheated.

But my box was cute.

How does one find V Day comics?? Wait till the day of to make the gift, that's how.  

I felt this greeting card most accurately describes our relationship. 

Awwwww!!! My valentine is so cute! (you can gag at my comment if you want... it's still true.) 

"Hey Richard, make a Valentine's Day face."... hmmm... little creepy. 

My Favorite restaurant; located across the street from where I live!

I LOVE curry and naan. So good. 

Richard's homemade gift... TRUFFLES!! Yum. Yes, I'm spoiled. They are delicious, and I'm pretty sure I better freeze them soon to avoid gaining an extra ten pounds this month. 

Me excited about the truffles:) 

So I had a great holiday... but the most exciting part was finding out I have a new soon-to-be sister-in-law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish I could have been in St. Louis to celebrate my older brother's big news, but rest-assured I was thrilled all day long anyway!

Hope everyone else enjoyed the day as well:) 

Hawaii Farmer's Markets...

Friday night I can't wait to crawl into bed because I am thrilled at the idea of sleeping in the next morning.

.....

Saturday morning I wake up, WIDE awake, at 7 freaking 30 am.

You have GOT to be kidding me, right?!

Despite my frustration with my lack of ability to utilize the morning for sleep, I decide that I won't let it weigh me down. Can't steal my Saturday joy... no shot.

Out of bed and trying to choose what to do. Too early for the beach. Too poor for the mall. Too tired to enjoy a good book. Too ADD to sit still long enough to fall back asleep.

How about a trip to the Farmer's Market? Genius.

I always think about how I want to go again, but come Saturday morning it just doesn't compete with sleep. Except for today... being already awake and all.

So I jump in my car and drive over to the local Saturday market. Best decision ever. Not because I find any amazing deals or have some incredible conversations, but because it's a whole mass of people that don't know me, and lots of fresh food and flowers. I can wander around aimlessly, enjoying the views... and that's all that is expected of me and my time.

Which is good because it's early anyway, and I'm completely useless prior to 9 am.

The next hour of my day is sheer joy. Taking pictures of the little things I find beautiful--simply because they aren't even meant to be seen as anything spectacular.

But I find it spectacular. Bright colors. People's smiles. Fresh food. Love it, love it all. Not to mention  observing the "Hawaiian" things that I've come to understand a bit more in the last six months.

So went my trip to the Farmer's Market....

Love the smile. 

Welcome to the Katie Ricks definition of "heaven on earth". 

Reminded me of my dad and myself:) So sweet! 

I can get a good deal on these hair clips. I know a guy...  

Just when you think the Chinese New Year celebration has ended... (Welcome to Hawaii).

Most amazing Hawaiian coffee... $2.25.
Wild Ginger flowers... $5.75
Enjoying a morning of bright colored flowers and fruits... priceless.

I suppose it was worth waking up early after all. Maybe I can start learning to just enjoy life as it comes at me, rather than planning it out ahead of time. Sticking to my plans so tightly makes me miss out on things like the Saturday morning Farmer's Market. That's no way to go through life.  

... Living in Hawaii = Learning to go-with-the-flow: 101. (A much needed lesson for Katie Ricks). Maybe I'll pass the beginner's course in a few more months. One can only hope!

I sPy WiTh My liTtLe EyE....

Things that make my day, everyday.

Everyone has those little things in their lives that can make them smile on a daily basis. I'm becoming more and more aware that it is the little things in life that make it exciting.

These are a few of mine...

The photo at the top is the front of a card that my friend sent me the first week I arrived in Hawaii. It makes me smile for more reasons than I have time to explain in this entry... so let's just say it's sweet and means a lot. The photo itself if worth a smile though; one kid sitting on the toilet looking incredibly frustrated, and the other kid trying to encourage the other... with the phrase "Have Patience". Haha... so awesome. Makes me want to start a card company, (what? you think that's my secret dream, right next to being a weather woman and the First Lady... yeah, you're right). 

The bottle of wine brings me joy because it reminds me of my friend Sarah who picked it out with me the first week I lived in Hawaii. Just thinking of how blessed I was to have her company during that time is amazing. Oh.. the candle also reminds me of her. She sent it in a package that arrived the day before Thanksgiving... my first Thanksgiving away from my family, that is. 

Yep. My friends are better than yours. Sorry. 

The tall/awkward/too purple flower vase sits on the dresser in my room. Why does this bring me joy? $3.99, Target, it's purple. I have yet to actually have flowers to put in it, but hey... one step at a time. 

The picture was sent to me from my mother (I bet everyone misses me whining about that package taking forever to arrive.... ha). It matches my room and reads "Sometimes you must leap, she said gently. And grow wings. On the way down". Yes, my mother sends me secret messages via decorations. This should surprise no one. I like to think of this picture as a description of my life right now... big leap, lots of learning, sometimes the hard way. There is also a very very very tiny bottle of perfume that came as a stocking stuffer this year... smells so good that I'm trying to use it slowly:) 

And of course there is the pretty artificial lei. 

Crap I forgot why that's important. 

Hmmmm. Leis, Hawaii, ... drawing a blank. 

:) 

Ha... not. That would be from my sweet boyfriend who gave it to me while I was visiting his office one day. It reminds me of him, and that's enough to make me smile. Probably too much... 

Last but not least we have the background of this great game of eye spy... a floral skirt. 

No big deal. Cool clothes are everywhere. 

No, not in Hawaii they aren't. At least not at an affordable price and all. 

This item was purchased today, after I interviewed with another family for nannying. In my excitement over finding some more work, I wandered over to the Nordstrom Rack store for the first time. $300 purse or $9 floral skirt?? The skirt, no question. Even if I had the money... it would still be the skirt because it's awesome, it's $9, and I actually found it on this island. 

So those are the silly things that I find amusing, uplifting, and exciting. They are all awesome because they are small and seemingly insignificant. And that's the way I roll... I love the things that bring me joy when they seem unimportant to everyone else. 

I suppose I like appreciating what is so often overlooked. There is something special about that, and I hope I always think that way:) 

I HAVE However... (Still G rated)

I felt that it was only appropriate to include some seemingly odd things that I have done to counter the other list of "have nots",

(What? You think I have too much free time??... )

I Have, However...

- Spent six months working on my 5K time... on a treadmill... sheerly for my own enjoyment. 

- Read Shakespeare for fun. 

- Gotten in trouble for laughing during the Good Friday church service, (not at the content of the service, but inappropriate timing all the same). 

- Lost my keys almost every single day at least once, if not more. 

- Backed my car into a pole in an empty parking lot... completely sober.
- Never liked a guy who was not athletic. 

- Gotten kicked out of a lacrosse game for drawing blood on a member of the opposing team. (She was a wimp about it though). 

- Been pulled over by a police officer for driving with my lights off at night... twice.  

- Taken Geology and Business Calc as electives in college, (reason #1 to not change your major). 

- Told my little brother I would time him to see how fast he could clean my room, (worked when he was about five years old:).
- Regretted being in a sorority for a year.
- Moved to the middle of the Pacific Ocean for a man.
- Won the rope climbing contest in third grade, (still considered my greatest accomplishment).
- Done VERY drastic things to my hair in response to stress four times. Regretted it every time.

... That's about all that come to mind right now. Thrilling life I lead, I know:) 

Never have I Ever (G rated version)...

Every now and again I have this same thought pop into my head, "Wow, I've never (fill in blank with random activity). I wonder if that's weird?". 


Call me crazy, but these epiphanies entertain me, so I figured I'd compile a list.


Never have I ever...
- Wanted to see a horror film.
- Enjoyed watching a musical that isn't animated.
- Purchased french fries or ice cream just for the heck of it.
- Asked a guy out.
- Possessed any musical talent.
- Gone to see a movie or to eat dinner at a restaurant by myself.
- Been good at spelling or being concise with my writing.
- Cried about the death of a dog or cat.
- Wanted to knit or sow. 
- Beaten someone at a video game.
- Preferred to be taller or shorter than I am. 
- Broken a body part. 
- Wished I wasn't SO focused.
- Thought the average Caucasian male was very attractive. 
- Felt like cooking was easy.
- Considered cheerleading a sport.
- Enjoyed an episode of The Family Guy. 
- Traveled on a cruise ship. 
- Had respect for anyone on The Bachelor TV show. 
- Been content with my basketball skills. 
- Wished I had a sister growing up.  
- Enjoyed the game of checkers. 
- Wanted to date a golfer. 
- Considered myself extremely patient. 
- Over accessorized. 
- Gotten a speeding ticket (knock on wood). 


... I'm sure there are many more I haven't even thought of yet!! 

I blogged Sarah Moye. Lay off. : )

You know you have a friend who loves you when she A) likes to read your blog of rambling, and B) sends you frequent messages reminding you that you haven't blogged in awhile and need to do it. (Usually including the amount of time it's been since my last entry... added for dramatic effect, I'm sure).

So Sarah Moye, this blog is for you. And of course anyone else who wants an update:)

I really wanted to write an entry about my flight back to St. Louis before Christmas because it was truly hilarious.

Brief summery of the highlights:

- I sat behind a middle aged, newly wed couple with loud/annoying/constant laughs on my first flight. Yeah I know, I'm a jerk... some would say that's sweet. It would be sweet if it wasn't an overnight flight, they didn't find EVERYTHING funny, and the PDA had been kept to an even semi age/location-appropriate level.

- On the same flight there was a guy sitting a few rows in front of me, somewhere between the age of 18 and 30 (I mean really, who can tell sometimes), who would turn around every five minutes or so and make awkward eye contact. Very strange and very annoying because no matter how hard I tried, I was always looking back for a brief second.

Before you jump to conclusions that I was checking this guy out (I promise Richard!), please imagine sitting in a relatively silent and motionless environment (not counting the love birds in front of me of course),  where everyone's head is pointing in the same direction, except the weird dude that keeps obviously turning around. Combine that with having ADD and you can see how it drew my attention each time. Which yes, added to my discomfort and my annoyance.

At the end of the flight the guy didn't exit his row as any normal human being would, but stood there until I passed and proceeded to follow me off. Not saying a word. Just being odd.

Whatever no big deal. I was away now. I get off the plane, wander around for a snack, and then find a place to set up a computer. Oh wait, its not over...

Creepy staring guy shows up about 20 minutes later and sits two seats away, gets out his computer, and just breathes loudly. I mean HELLO?! Not okay. There wasn't even room for him to set up comfortably. He had to squeeze next to a big pillar and behind a trash can.

Just when I'm thinking how ridiculous this is at six in the morning when I'm clearly trying to send signals that I'm uncomfortable, his parents walk over. They ask why he chose to sit here and suggest moving to another place where there are actually enough seats for all of them to sit. He explains he is good there, because he's already set up and all. "Set up"... seriously?

So bad.

.... That was my flight to St. Louis.

Two weeks in St. Louis:
- Was odd to be back and feel like it's not really my residence any more. I didn't realize how use to living there I had become before I moved. To be the only family member without work and other obligations to tend to was strange. Vacation at my own house ha. Oh don't worry though, I didn't have a melt down in the first few hours or anything... :). The realization that I live very far hit me throughout my time home. For better or worse.

- I loved getting to know my brother's girlfriend. I haven't really had any time with her yet, and just getting to know her a little was wonderful! So nice not to be the only girl around all the time, and she is totally awesome and great for my brother. I loved seeing him care for her the way he does. Very sweet. (Insert "AWWWW":). It's true though, I loved it.

- Oh Nate gave us all bad colds that were supposed to turn into strep at some point. Thank you Lord for antibiotics.

- I GOT TO SEE LAURA!!!!! Only for a day, but if you know how much I love this friend of mine, then you know how much it meant to be to get to see her!!

- Richard joined the trip for the second week. That was fun. We played in the snow, worked out with my mom (who is an elliptical master already), and relaxed a lot. I was VERY excited to give Richard his Christmas gifts that I had wrapped oh so carefully. (Crap, I'm that girl now). He was lots of fun to have there and I was thankful my family could have just a bit of time with him.

I could do an entire entry of Richard's first "real" snow experience, but I'll spare everyone..  This is our snowant. Richard decided that since men don't have three distinct body segments, it should really be an ant. Apparently the "ant" scared a little girl visiting our house, so my loving older brother hit is with a car the next day to relieve the fear. ha.. love my family.

Two weeks pass, and back to Hawaii:

Okay enough of the bullet points.

I have been pleasantly surprised in how I felt coming back. After a long few months of transitioning, Christmas break was just what the doctor ordered. A little R & R with the family refreshed my spirit, and reminded me that the sky is not falling just because I moved away. Phew.

(What, I'm not the center of the universe??? Weird).

Yes the warm weather and friendly faces help make this place amazing. But from an emotional and mental standpoint, this is the first time I have really felt like I am in the "right' place. I am surprised how much I missed those I've gotten to know here, my overly color-coordinated apartment, and everything else.

Life is always going to bring changes and challenges... moving is probably the very tip of the mountain. Saying that, it's nice to not have to constantly try so hard to be okay here, but to just be okay here. For the first time in a long time I feel like myself again--and it's good, really good.

I do have a tendency to always be trying to work on something, to fix something about myself or my circumstances. It's exhausting for me and those around me. My mom has always said her prayer for me is just to be content.  This is no new topic, its' been a challenge all my life.  But I'm confident that no matter what the circumstances are (the good, the bad, and the ugly), I must always seek to rest in the Lord. Not because I need to be perfect, but because it's not my natural reaction to rest, and I can't help but think that it's not glorifying to God when I am ALWAYS striving, and never just being. The state of my heart almost always has more to do with my relationship with Him than it does anything else. So in this seemingly less stressful stage, I hope to do just that... rest in the Lord.

So that's that.

Move to Hawaii, check.

I guess it's time to finally go get my Hawaii driver's license.

Eh, maybe next week ; )