Resurrection of the blog.

Kiiiiinda hard to believe I haven't written in this thing since last year! Apparently, people still read this? I'm shocked. Thanks. :) Not making any promises... But I'll try to be better about updating!

So, life! I guess I should give a brief rundown... starting with where I left off?

Bachman January Birthdays! First came mine and my Dad's - Jan. 8! Jack and I went out to dinner at this place called Boogaloo, where we sat on actual SWINGS at the bar. I'm serious. SO awesome. Then Jack was like, "So heeey, let's go to McGurks now!" (McGurks is one of my favorite places in STL! A wooonderful Irish pub in Soulard.) Naturally, I was all about this. And a little bit oblivious. When we walked in the front door of McGurks, I looked up to see my roommate's mom. Weird coincidence, right? And then, there was my little brother, James. And then... my whole family? And like ALL of my/Jack's St. Louis friends?? Surprise party at an Irish Pub! Best Birthday ever!

Then, the following weekend, my dear Taylor/Ireland friends met up in STL for a little reunion. All sorts of fun. :) It's a blessing to have friends in so many different parts of the country who still love each other and keep in touch. LOVE these girls.

And now? Sheesh, it's ALREADY mid-February! Time flies when you're having fun, huh?

A Farewell note.

Dear 2009,

What a year you've been! Perhaps, the fullest year of my life... ever. Up's and down's, but I expected nothing less!

Off-the-cuff recap.

January: Dad diagnosed with lymphoma. Spent my last J-term in the arctic tundra that is Upland, Indiana.
February: Can't remember anything significant. Nooope... not one thing.
March: Spring Break in Ireland.
April: Passed my Senior portfolio! Aaaand Dad is cancer-free!
May: Graduate college! Move back to STL.
June: Weddings, working at a kid's day camp, Job-hunting, grad-school-applying and acceptance, general confusion about the direction of my life.
July: Fam vacation. Ditched the grad-school idea, and within a week, started my first real-life job with a salary and benefits and other such grown-up things.
August: Met Jack. Haaaay.
September: Fulfilled lifelong dream of seeing U2 in concert. Dad got laid-off.
October: Moved into new house and started dating "officially." (All in the same weekend, haaaay.) Also, TU Homecoming.
November: Peeper Denver weekend trip.
December: Christmas festivities. General month of merriment.

2009 was good to me. Clearly, I love being back in STL and am OH so thankful that when I had no clue what I was doing this summer (like ZERO), God did. Such a sweet lesson in trust. God is good. I have much to be thankful for.

2010, lookin forward to ya!

Love,
B

Aaand now it's Christmastime!

So, Thanksgiving came and went! Already! I meannn... Obviously, I love Turkey Day, but it doesn't even compare to Christmas. No way. I literally get giddy with excitement when I think of all that December holds. This time of year is absolutely the BEST! Don't get me started!

At church this morning, we sang O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Our worship leader challenged us to really think through the words as we sang them. I didn't get much past the word "Emmanuel." I remembered from some vague, distant memory - probably from an old Sunday School lesson or song lyric - that the word means "God with us." We throw that thought around a lot, but as I was focusing on it this morning, it really hit me. Emmanuel... God with me... present... here for me... always. How revolutionary and encouraging and comforting is that?! You're probably thinking, yeahhh, oook, Blake... That's like the most basic truth. And it is. But you can't help when things hit you in a new way!

Praise God he's with us always. Seriously. And praise God for Christmastime!

Colorado in Pics!

Thumbs up for the mountains! Love them!

Unexpected beauty.

Lonely Pine.

Jules.

Dace.

Secret Confession.

100.3 FM is playing all Christmas music right now.

There once was a time when I had strong convictions. No Christmas music until the night of Thanksgiving. (Respect the Turkey Day, right??)

Alas.

I was halfway to work this morning when I broke down. My convictions and I were having a fight. In a moment of weakness, I flipped on 100.3. They were playing Sleigh Ride. And that was all it took...

Mi Casa!

So, I promised some pictures of my new humble abode... Heeere they are!

The lovely outside.

The Dining Room.

The Living Room.

My very own bedroom (first time ever in my life!).

And finally, the girls that live there! Love them!

Quick Update.

Oh heyyy, blog world! It's been awhile! My bad...

Well. It's fall! I don't know about where you guys are, but in STL, it doesn't really feel like it. This cold, rainy weather is not very conducive to bonfires or anything else fall-ish, for that matter. I hope it shapes up soon. It makes me miss Taylor falls, because they always seemed so perfect and wonderful. Thank goodness I'll be heading up there in 3 DAYS!! What up, Homecoming?! Really looking forward to that, OBViously.

So... a lot of updates... not sure where to begin!

1. I moved into a house with some friends in Maplewood. The house is wonderful (I'll post pics later, for sure!) and so are the girls. I absolutely LOVE it. It was nice being home (at my parents' house) for the summer, but I had really been missing the space and freedom and the living with friends thing. This just worked out so perfectly... and the move felt so seamless and natural. Like BOOM! Instant home. It's only 12 minutes from my parents' house and 8 minutes from work! And like 15 from the city!
2. I maaaaay be dating. (And by that, I mean... I am!) It's still new-ish, but going really well. So yeah! But I'm not going to blog about it... haha. Just felt it was update-worthy.
3. I went to Farm Aid and saw some great performances by Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds, Wilco, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, and lots more. And I also saw Ben Folds at the Pageant, which was like a dream come true. I love good music!
4. The Cardinals choked. I'm still getting over this reality. It will probably take awhile longer, to be honest. I mean... it is what it is. It just feels wrong that we let go of it so soon.
5. I bought a plane ticket to Denver to visit two dear 1NE friends the first weekend in November. Excited beyond belief. Absolutely stoked. I love having the freedom to go... to buy my own ticket and take off work and just go!

Well... I'm sure there is more to update you on. But that's good enough for now. I've missed blogging. I've just been busy. Hopefully I'll be better as I get more into the groove of... life? Haha...