summer of '07

well, I was away from my blog for so long that I'm not even sure where to start! So, maybe I'll just do a brief summary of my summer and just go from there...

First, Washington DC was amazing! The weather was perfect and I was able to see so many things that I really feel as though I had the best first-time visit to DC anyone could ever have. My favorite sight? Arlington Cemetery. The hardest sight? Holocaust Museum. The funniest story? I visited the National Art Gallery twice without even realizing it til partway through the second visit...it's that big! ;)

Then I went to Alaska. Another amazing trip, but for different reasons. I figured I would be busy all week helping my cousin and the family prepare for the wedding, but we were able to do a bit of sightseeing. A glacier cruise and walking on trails were part of my week. It was also lots of fun to get to know my aunt Joy a lot better and spend some valuable girl time with her! However, my cousin Annie's wedding was the highlight of the week. She was a beautiful bride and the entire wedding went smoothly.

On August 10 I had another cousin get married. Yes, my grandparents have had a very busy summer! :) She, too, was a beautiful bride and the entire evening was a great time.

Jason & I then did an overnight trip to South Manitou Island. We have had our boat tickets for a year (we had to postpone last year's trip), so I didn't want to let them go to waste. The weather was perfect and I learned two things about my future husband: he gets seasick (like me!) and he doesn't like sand in his sleeping bag... ;)

Then, the culmination of summer fun was the best Labor Day celebration ever: a party at Douglas Walker Park with all of our family & friends--with a minister thrown in! ;) Jason & I were pronounced husband & wife by my uncle (from Alaska!) and officially became Mr. & Mrs. Jason & Rachel VanDenBrink. It was definitely a great party to end a great summer!

just in case...

just in case anyone still occasionally checks my blog after this significant absence of mine...I thought I'd give an update. ;) In short: my summer was one of the busiest, funnest, and whirlwind-like summers I think I will ever (hope to!) have. I went from DC to Alaska to South Manitou Island to Douglas Walker Park. I attended three weddings--becoming Mrs. Rachel VanDenBrink at the last one. that one will take some getting used to... ;)

I now am part owner of two houses (Jason calls the one in Holland our "lake" house) and a one large American Bulldog. This fall I am still working as the nurse (and manager of clinic) at Ottawa Hills High School, am taking a graduate course, and am still involved in church choir. My brother currently resides in the upstairs bedroom of our GR house and will be moving out within the month to live and teach english in Korea for a year.

I LOVE my life right now--it is busy, but fun. I wouldn't trade a moment of it!

trip north

I leave for my northern "vacation" today. This is the trip I've been so excited about...and now that it's here, I can hardly stand it! ;) I probably will not do as much sight-seeing as I did the last time I was there--but I'm very excited to be there for my cousin in any way possible as she prepares for her wedding day (friday).

I can't wait to say "hi!" to the moose! ;)

our nation's capital

how cool to be in Washington DC! After a rough time getting here (two cancelled flights and several delays...) I arrived to the hotel at 2am yesterday. So, after a day or so to get acclimated and over my jet lag (so to speak), I've decided that this is really one of the coolest cities I have ever been to. The hotel is beautiful, the city is historical and powerful, and the best part? All the sights are free! this is good for my dutch ego... ;)

okay, I'm off for a tour of the nightlife in DC--I'll update soon!

busy

No, I promise I didn't fall off the face of the planet...it's amazing to me how I can have the entire summer "off" from my regular job, yet find so many things to fill my time. Such as, plan a wedding!! ;) Check on this link to my new wedding website. I honestly can't believe I'm doing one, but I have so many family and friends who are computer savvy, so I figured, hey why not? I have the basic details that have been decided upon for the wedding so far--but if you find a moment boredom, you can always check back for updates. :)

But, my life is not just wedding stuff...I head to Washington DC next week for a work related conference (thanks again to Dave for giving me a tour guide listing--it's awesome!) Then, not too far after that is my big trip to Alaska!! And, to throw into the mix, I am still taking a grad class this summer--how fun is that?!?

No, I'm not crazy...just keeping busy! :)

announcement!

We’re engaged! After watching a gorgeous Lake Michigan sunset at Hoffmaster State Park, Jason asked me to marry him. And quite literally with tears of joy did I answer yes. There was no other place in the world I would’ve have rather been at that very moment—and now I have the privilege of walking through the rest of life’s journeys with my very best friend.

Stay tuned for wedding details!

pictures

So, I have yet to enter the "digital" age as it relates to photography. I wish I did have a digital camera--particularly for this blog. It would be fun to be able to post something and have a picture with which to put with it. But, until that day comes where Dave Ramsey says that I can afford such an investment, I'll have to stick to my 35mm and scanning pictures into the computer after they are developed.

I just added some pictures to a couple of posts...I'll add the label "pic" for any post that has a picture