Happy Birthday, Benedict!

It has been an amazing year to be a fan of Benedict Cumberbatch (see Oscar Nomination), but for me this year has been especially amazing because my Birthday Wishes for him from the last several years have come true.  Benedict's 38th has all been about:

And then his biggest wish came true:

"Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter are delighted to announce the arrival of their beautiful son."

Congrats to Benedict, Sophie, and Baby Batch :) on a banner year!

Cheers to 39!

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Annnd this year, a wish of mine is actually coming true.

Recently, one of my closest friends won a pair of tickets to see Lyndsey Turner's Hamlet starring Benedict Cumberbatch!!!

She graciously invited me to come with her, I couldn't say no, we've booked a flat near Hampstead Heath for 4 nights, and, as of yesterday, I have a ticket to London.

Sooo... in just about 6 weeks, I'll be at the Barbican seeing him perform live. 

And I can. not. freaking. believe. it!

Can you say "trip of a lifetime"?

More anticipation and news forthcoming, but for today:

Happy Birthday, Benedict! And see you later :) 

Lately...

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Adaptation Week got delayed.  It will still be happening! I have (at least) 3 more installments for you.  But I've been busy living - which is wonderful, but not so conducive to consistent blogging.

A few random updates:

//  Life has been "everything, all at once" lately.  While it can be emotionally taxing, it simultaneously makes me feel more alive.  It's like a peony blooming.

//  In other news, I turned 24!  24 is one of those ages where you imagine "life" happening.  And, the funny thing is, life is happening.  It's a constant adventure - never certain, never satiating.

//  Last month I wrapped my first-ever Lent.  I thought I would mention it before now, but didn't know how to casually bring it up.  Like, "hey, I'm not doing [this] right now, but it's all good."  Now that it's concluded, it's easier to talk about.  I went to my first Ash Wednesday service and received the imposition of ashes.  I started a list on the first day, a list of specific things I was praying for in my life or the lives of people I love.  And it was incredible to watch things actually change or move while I was praying for them.  It was, not coincidentally, one of the most potent seasons I've had in long while.  I will certainly be participating in Lent in the future.

//  My younger sister posted a bunch of great pictures of our niece and nephews, including this one:

//  Speaking of my younger sister, we've decided sunny days are for picnics and silliness

//  I have been doing a lot of research and re-evaluation lately.  They've led me to some incredible authors and bloggers.  One of them, Sarah Bessey, did somewhat of a series of open letters to those leaving evangelicalism, to those who stay, and to pastors. I find peace and a piece of myself in each of these.

//  This is the most Seattle-esque proposal, and I can't stop watching it...

Zac & Kiri - The Proposal from Zac Schwiet on Vimeo.

Spring has sprung!

Hello :)

I hope you had a lovely Easter weekend - I know my family did!!

My brother and I visited Bethany's Good Friday service.  I've also begun to read the Catholic daily mass readings - and they're incredible!

Saturday was just the right combination of relax / get stuff done / spontaneous have-people-over time.

And then Easter Sunday with the fam was, of course, amazing.

We celebrated as only the Surfaces do, with both tofurkey and ham (and you better believe I had slices of both) all 11 rambunctious family members.  There was an Easter egg hunt for the little people, afternoon naps (my favorite), and lots of laughter.  We even scheduled our first, full family vacation in over 5 years!  But more than anything, it was just one of those days that filled my heart to the brim.

Here are a few fun moments from the day:

[On of her favorite things is to quote Frozen: "Hhhhhhmmm... Chooocolate!"]

[Long and blonde, short & brunette... but definitely sisters!]

[We seriously did not coordinate.  We just showed up to church and laughed.]

[Giggles!  This one comes courtesy of Melissa]

[candid moments of family fun. and Uncle Jo does his velociraptor impression]

By way of comparison... here are a few of us last year. 

What a difference a year can make!

Also, I may be obsessed with coral :)

So there's a snap-shot of my Easter.  I hope you had a good one :)

Also, be sure to check back in tomorrow for a special surprise as "Wait + Hope" hits a pretty big milestone!!

 

Sarah.

Guess who's graduating today...

[Starting a big year off together ;) ]

This girl!!!

Sarah, you are such a favorite!!

Mom or I or someone else may have told you this story countless times before,

but this is my blog, so I get to tell it again :P

When I was a little girl, I really wanted a baby sister.

Jerry was great and all, but... not quite the same ;)

So every day before naps and every night before bed, I would pray for a baby sister.

And then one morning I woke up, the precocious 5-year-old that I was,

and marched into my mom's room to tell her I had had a dream the night before

that Jesus told me she was going to have a baby girl.

What she hadn't told us was that she was expecting

and that baby, which she would come to find out was a little girl, was you!

Now, I can't imagine life without you

And I'm so grateful that Jesus answered that prayer :)

 

As I've mentioned, you are one of the funniest people I know!

 

[Stunning]

And even though we're 6 years and one brother apart, I have so enjoyed the past several years as you've become one of my dearest friends.

[We were babies :P ]

 Shortly after you came on the scene, I came to the realization that, one day,

this charming little girl was going to pass me up.

And I don't just mean in height (that's no great feat).

But I mean, I've just always known you would be a stunner!

Seriously - those big blue eyes and sleek blonde hair?

Ridiculously hot babe material!

And then that day came a while back where there was no more denying it.

And I don't mean this in some competition sort of way,

just more of Lord-help-the-Mister-who-comes-between-me-and-my-sister way ;)

 

[Seriously though... you've keep getting MORE stunning!!]

And on top of all that, you are wonderfully talented and creative.

You have the patience to make all sorts of things beautiful and personalized.

[Via]

Graduating just marks the beginning of a new adventure.

And I think you're going to have SO much fun!

[Love us!]

Love you tons!  I'm so proud of you and can't wait to celebrate :)

Loves,

Samara

Oh, Brothers.

[Josiah as Moriarty, Me as Irene, and Jeremiah as Sherlock]

 So... I just really like these gents a lot.

And, last night, we got to cosplay as some of my favorite characters.

It was **such** a blast!

Birth-order wise, I'm sandwiched between these two and I feel pretty lucky.

Some girls with brothers talk about how they toughened them up

or wrestled a lot or whatever.

Well, I stayed out of their wrestling.

[Instead, we spent a lot more time playing playmobile -

I always got to be the princess to their knight, soldier, pirate, etc.]

But we did grow up arguing discussing a lot

and I felt like I got toughened up mentally because of them.

And though they made me fight the hardest,

they also made me laugh the longest.

Now that we're all adults, pursuing different dreams and paths...

it makes me really grateful for all those heated debates, N64 games,

playmobile-filled Saturday mornings, nerdy jokes, 

YouTube marathons of HISHE and good music,

and lots and lots of laughter.

Plus, I think they are smashingly dapper!

Thank God for brothers.

Thanksgiving Highlights

[Wrote this up last week but never finished.]

Hello and Merry Christmas!!  It's December - it's past Thanksgiving - and that means the Christmas music I've been listening to for weeks is finally sanctioned. :)

But before we get to Christmas... a few high-points from our fall feast weekend!

//  My Thanksgiving break actually began Wednesday with a trip to the Doctor's, followed by a 4 and 1/2 hour nap.  I had been sick for a week leading up to that - mostly in bed - but trying to work, but my body was "improving" at a pathetic rate.  Thanks to modern medicine, I am on my way to rejoining the land of the living.

// The feast-day came and I headed over to my parents - first time "going home for the holidays."  I always lived at home - even through college.  So even though it takes less than 1 song to drive to my parents, it was exciting!  Here's me, setting off on my trek:

// Going home meant seeing my brother, Josiah, who goes to school over in Eastern Washington (and is about to graduate with his Master's in one week).  My aunt, uncle, and cousin also came over and thus commenced our 3rd or 4th annual Thanksgiving with them.  My aunt is a fellow English major and we can talk for days hours (I think our record is 9 hours straight).  Plus, she provides the turkey for the meat-eaters in my family.  "Recovering Vegetarian" means I still can't be expected to master certain meat dishes.  So, for the past few years, that means I get to load up on turkey, tofurkey, 2 types of stuffing, and of gravy.  Why do I still pile on the vegetarian fare?  Because it tastes like home.  It may not be the greatest (though, I love making a vegetarian, classic stuffing and my mom preps one killer tofurkey) but certain things are good just because they're familiar - yummy-by-association.  

// Amazing how so many hours of preparation can go into a meal that's over so quickly.  But I love it!  Compared to many previous civilizations, America has an alarmingly few "feast days."  We seem to find plenty of reasons to (over)eat - the Superbowl to 4th of July to a Saturday night "just because" - but days that are focused partly on a feast?  We don't have too many of those.  And I love the way God works: He tells his people to feast out of gratitude and faith, so we get blessed even in thanking Him.  [Random thoughts...]

// I was anti-Black Friday this year.  Did order a few things online, but didn't go anywhere!  I did, however, grab this fur collar later in the weekend.  Love it :)

// Apple cup with friends was awesome - go Dawgs!

// Saturday, my flatmate and I picked up our Christmas tree and other decor.  It's lovely to have a little place to decorate!

I hope your Christmas season is off to a fun and festive start :)

Jack Valiant

Yesterday we celebrated the birthday of my youngest nephew, Jack.  He is such a precious guy!

I have to say, I love my niece and both of my nephews... but Jack and I have a special connection.  I think it's because we're both "thirds."  I didn't really appreciate how significant being a "third" was until I read Ender's Game.  And it's hard to articulate, but it's something special.  On top of being "thirds," I'm pretty sure Jack will end up as one of, if not the, middle child.  (I'm here for you, Jack!).  So, yes, because of birth order and probably several other reasons yet unknown,  this little man and I have an extra something.  It's not exclusive... it's just special.

Here's a look back at Jack's first year.  [All pictures were taken from iPhone or Melissa's blog.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 1 year, Jack Valiant :)

Do you ever get overwhelmed with the reality of existence?  The weightiness of life?  Like you can glimpse some bit of eternity or something.

I've only heard a bit about the turmoil in Egypt.  I read about accidental deaths or murders on a daily basis.  I see hatred in the world. 

I also see love.  I see people do beautiful things.  Even simple acts sometimes make me want to cry.  I see contagious vulnerability and it makes me want to live transparently, generously, humbly. 

Sometimes it seems to be too much.  There is so much of every extreme in this world.  We've found a million ways to divide humanity and only a handful to unite.  That handful of reasons are strong though.  I'm realizing more and more that God doesn't view us through our divisions.  He didn't see the woman at the well as "a Samaritan."  He doesn't see Egyptians or Americans.  He doesn't see race the way we do.  He sees His family - both those who are lost and those who have been found by Him.  We can be so harsh, so critical.  What if I was born in Syria rather than the US?  What if I was a druggie-baby in foster care?  What if I lived in poverty with little educational encouragement?  I am immensely grateful for where and when God placed me.  But how can I take pride in something I had no control over?  So who am I to judge?

The Lord has been speaking to me about seeing the sameness rather than seeing the differences.  I want to love all his people.  This leads some people to think I'm over-sensitive.  But when you truly empathize with another human being - how could I not be sensitive when people say such harsh things about them or, even worse, when they completely ignore them?   I'm not perfect at this.  More than not, I probably do incredibly insensitive things.  I know I don't empathize enough.  If I did, I'm pretty sure my priorities would look completely different.  But I am listening to Father, and I'm allowing Him to change my priorities - if ever so slowly.  But even when it's painful - I'm grateful.  Because when it comes down to it, there is not much of a difference between me and the overlooked, unloved people so far away. 

Today, this is my glimpse of life.  It is a weight on my soul.  But it is also a gift.

There is no great difference between us.  In the words of GK Chesterton:  “We are all in the same boat, in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.”

Fireworks: Purple

Oh, hello!

So I had a lovely little adventure the other weekend:  I journeyed to Napa for my cousin's wedding.  And - oh. my. word! - it was so beautiful! 

You might have read about my preparation for the trip here, but that was a bit sardonic.  Now I'll tell you the fun bits of the actual destination. :)

So, we stayed the weekend at Mont La Salle - mission and vineyard.  It was built in the 1930's and there are still "brother's" (basically monks) in residence.  Everything there was so lush and peaceful! 



[Entrance to Mont la Salle]



[Main courtyard - set up here for the reception]

[Beautiful statue of Mary in one of the gardens, the bell-tower (which they did ring for the wedding), and the chapel itself]



[The called my bedroom the "closet room" - but it was actually quite darling!  And looked out over the courtyard and bell-tower]



Saturday was the wedding itself and, as I've said before, I loooove dressing up.  I had decided to go vintage for the occasion and even bought a tilt hat!

 



[A shot of the updo.  I hadn't dne this one before... but I'm pretty sure I could duplicate and perfect it for future events :]





[The finished product]



[My mom and I waiting for the wedding to start]

[Mom + Dad - he picked his tie to match her outfit.  They're cute like that!]

[My cousin Karen and her husband Hunter - lovely couple!]

[The reception... under twinkling lights]

[Dance floor]



[Sparklers to end the night]

It was a fabulous weekend to spend with family and celebrate marriage.  In the words of Captain Jack:  "Weddings!  I love weddings!!"  Seriously, though, it's a joy to be a part of covenant-making and new names.  The celebration reminded me what a significance God places on covenant.  It's a thing almost too beautiful and powerful to handle.  But how worth it to walk through life rooted so deeply in covenant with other people.  That is worth celebrating!