result!

So I thought you'd like to know that I've made my decision on where in the world I'm going this summer:

Hawaii!

While perusing the internet (mostly Bing) and some newly checked-out library books, I've come upon a few places and articles to obsess over. You're welcome to obsess too, my fellow sojourners:

The beautiful photo above is...

http://dolomitemountains.com/en/home.htm

Waterfall Kayaking record-

An article that instills pride within my American veins:

http://matadornetwork.com/trips/photo-essay-20-overlooked-national-landmarks-in-the-u-s

(plus I love this website- I just found it tonight!)

Plus I'm still thinking about the film I Netflixed a few days ago, Bright Star:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810784/

And as a supplement, I'm now reading the works of John Keats. Love love!

Happy 20 days 'til Christmas!

the valley of your heart,

God gave us families so that we wouldn’t be born on our own. So that our hearts could be connected to other hearts from the moment we became a part of earth. So that despite whichever path our life directs, family remains the undercurrent of our beings.

As I scroll through old family photos and my favorite travel pictures, I acknowledge God’s placement here in the Eubanks household. I was born in a family of strength. My grandparents on both sides have worked hard to achieve beautiful lives. Not to neglect God’s direction in their journeys, of course. When I think of my Grandma and Pa, my mother’s parents, I think of working with my hands. My Pa is a great cook. I wish I could have inherited that from him, but unfortunately I did not. Fortunately, I think I did gain a small speck of my Grandma’s heart. Her heart shines for God’s will in her community, in her people. I recognize that my friendliness comes from her whenever I visit their small farm. Even though I’m afraid of growing older (a sort of Peter Pan syndrome), I can see that my grandparents live their lives fully, mostly by loving fully. They love through food, through sweet words, through coming to my singing performances, through remaining the same reliable grandparents I’ve loved for sixteen years.

I am so blessed to have another set of grandparents, especially one that lives so close by. I get to see my grandparents almost every Sunday at church. They take us out to lunch and my grandmother constantly calls asking if she can take me out to a play or shopping. I know so many young people whose grandparents can’t visit them constantly or don’t care to invest time in their grandchildren, but mine do! Wow. What inspires me greatly about Meme and Papa is what they’ve given and taken from the world. My dad’s parents have visited every continent, including Antarctica, and haven’t stopped trekking yet. All their travels are displayed in their home on a large (slightly outdated) world map. Different colored pins mark so many of their memories together, and I look forward to the time when I’ll get to see God’s bounty with the one I love.

Simply enough, my sisters are strong. Sammi and Caroline have already led impressive lives, from moving to beautiful university locations to backpacking across the world. First off, Caroline is so bold. She surprises me more and more. Right now, she’s in the midst of (hopefully!) getting a job with Busabout, a British tour group for young people. I brag about that all the time, saying that my sister was in London last weekend and that she’s going to Australia for a few weeks in the spring. How many people can say that? Caroline knows what she wants—a bite from every corner of the world—and I believe she’ll be satisfied when looking back upon her life. Right now, she works several jobs in addition to cultivating a witty travel blog. I have no doubt that she’ll be one of those writers whose work you adore and whose life you envy even more. And Sammi. I miss Sammi. She’s in North Carolina studying at a beautiful school in the mountains. She hikes, climbs, swims, kick boxes, runs, and does pretty much every physical activity I wish I could do. She has a small frame, a loud mouth, and a big heart, which is why everybody loves her. Her independence and devotion to Christ has led me to a life with Jesus, too. She’s my main spiritual leader, even if I rarely get to talk about God with her. I’m so excited for Sammi’s life. She’ll probably end up helping people in a way that encompasses all her passions. She’ll see God’s green earth, delineate her eloquent thoughts on it, and return home to tell her tales. But no matter what Sammi plans to do, I know she’ll ultimately follow the footsteps God has set for her. I admire that.

All this to say that I have great parents. My dad is the hardest working man you’ll ever meet who happens to have an equal dose of humility. He loves his family more than anything and doesn’t hesitate to say so. He was born and raised in my hometown, loves his mama, and is proud of where he is from. I love his heart, his love, his intimidating eyebrows, his mad fishing skills. In fact, he placed 6^th in a state bass fishing tournament today. Go Joe! My mama and I are way too alike, which is a good thing. We both are emotional roller coasters who love children. She’s a kindergarten teacher; so needless to say, she’s got patience and kindness, only a few of the fruits of the spirit she claims. She loves opening worlds of possibilities to her children, never allowing constraints of “the real world” smother us. Her mantra to her daughters has always been, “you can do whatever you want.” Thanks Mom.

So that’s a little taste of my family. This is the product of a heart-filled rant, so I’d love it if you got a better picture of who the Eubanks clan is from other sources, such as Sammi’s blog, http://samsmountaintopmusings.blogspot.com/, or Caroline’s, http://www.carolineinthecityblog.com/. But anyway, I pray you take pride in your family and show it in love, something I’m praying for the ability to do. Please take a snapshot of your family, and "always remember there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name."

Life List,

I'm doing something kind of bold here. This post may not seem so out of the ordinary for bloggers, but it is for me. I'm about to tell you a part of me! Things that matter in my heart! Aren't you lucky? But really, the following post is my life list. My own "Buried Life" that I not only hope to achieve but will accomplish in full. So here she goes:

*Some items have been omitted and more are to come.

1. Hike the Appalachian Trail
2. Go to Yosemite National Park and climb halfdome
3. Complete a marathon--no make that a triathlon
4. Learn to climb, propel, and belay (that last one's kind of necessary for the other two)
5. Go spelunking (October 7, 2010: Raccoon Mtn., TN)
6. Learn to spin pottery
7. Write a book
8. Live in New York for at least a year
9. Learn to play an instrument
10. Have a kid
11. Road trip across the States (in part, my family has done so up the east coast to Maine)
12. Write a song
13. Fall in love
14. Write a blog (my own, I mean)
15. Explore the jungle, ride an elephant, zip line through a canopy of trees
16. Go on an archaeological adventure
17. Star in a play
18. Watch the classics (i.e. Casablanca and Gone With the Wind)
19. Bask in a field of sunflowers
20. Live my own year in Provence
21. Ride on the back of a Vespa with a European boy
22. Swim in a public fountain
23. Volunteer at a hospital
24. Go to the Pacific Northwest
25. Hike Machu Picchu
26. Learn to sew
27. Plant a garden (preferably an urban garden)
28. Go the Pearl Harbor Memorial
29. Scuba Dive
30. By Mom a beach house
31. Have a lousy waitressing job
32. Make Meme (my grandmother) a published book of all her and my grandfather's travels
33. Find a cure for Alzheimer's
34. Own a bookstore
35. Learn to shoot a gun (once is scary enough!)
36. Smoke a pipe (or cigar)
37. Learn to tango
38. Give away my possessions
39. Backpack all over the world
40. Get married (notice how this is late on the list)
41. Roller derby!
42. Get a tattoo
43. Sing at the Grande Ole Opry
44. Open up a bakery and coffee shop
45. Go to culinary school for fun
46. Go to Turkey (and just about everywhere else I can think of...)
47. Go hunting
48. See the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
49. Farm my own food
50. Learn sign language
51. Go to Bonnaroo!
52. Be in a band (a girl band would be cause for bonus points)
53. Spend the night in Ikea

any suggestions?

If I ride the wings of the morning,

I can’t remember the last time I’ve blogged about anything. Or anything significant, at least. But I’m feeling a little odd so I thought at least the Mac would be supportive of that. So this entire week, school was out for fall break, which is sweet because I finally began feeling the overwhelming affect of Junior Year Stress (JYS, if you will). I was ready to have an emotional breakdown (no wait, I did that), so a week without school couldn’t have come at a better time. My plans were to do a little college searching (as if I haven’t done that enough already) and hopefully chill with friends. But I know what I really needed from these few days was a renewal. I know that amidst my massive baggage of school, stress, social life, family, ambition, future plans, and (most importantly) spirituality, the last was just that: my last priority. Most of the time I just read my Bible, shout out a few requests to God, sing some sweet (but often empty) words to Him and expect Him to make me and my time here on earth perfect. As if that were enough. I know that I don’t really know God for the raw complexity of who he is, but I want to. But who in this world can put him first? Who has their life together? How? I don’t want to go to the self-help section of Borders in a confused state, wondering why my life lacks simplicity. I want to have it all together in this neat little box entitled, “Rachel’s Life.” So if I was made in God’s image, why am I imperfect? Why aren’t we all just slightly less perfect beings than God, just basking in his glory because He is ultimate perfection? So here we are, walking, breathing, fighting—useless beings with no idea how to run our lives. But that’s why I’m so thankful for Him. When I’ve sunk down to the lowest version of me, a selfish brat of a mess whose myopic view of living must cause God to shake His head in disappointment, He still loves me. I don’t know how or why, but He does. Even when I reject his love and plead for selfish worldly love, he places his hand of blessing up on my head and tells me that I am strong. I read today that God hates the wicked (as is repeated throughout the Bible, of course) but loves his righteous and humble servants. He promises that if I follow him and aim to do his will, that he will give me the desires of my heart. He will be there when I stumble (as I so often do), but will never let me fall. Weebles always wobble but they don’t fall down. But really, aren’t you glad we’re Weebles? If we have Him with us, we always have that core, that “anchor of our souls” that keeps us from falling from his grace that we so undeservingly receive. So I pray tomorrow will be a true day of rest for me and for all of us, really. That this Sunday in particular will refresh our souls because of our encounters with Him and that he will prepare us well for the weeks ahead. I pray for endurance to keep going and wisdom beyond my years to understand his perfect hope for me.

In hope of our commitment to Him,

R.E.

Oh and hey, here's a checklist of what I've been up to lately:

• Visited UGA, Samford University, Ole Miss, Rhodes College, Belmont College, College of the South, and Vanderbilt
• Turned 16, got my license, got my first car (an Xterra, thanks Dad!)
• Done research for my 16th Birthday trip (Costa Rica, here I come??)
• Gone apple picking in anticipation for fall!
• Got inducted into the National Honor Society

cute, trendy, girl pirates

So today I embarked upon some new fashion fantasies. I guess that’s what a morning ritual of watching The Rachel Zoe Project will do to you. Thanks to my simplistic searching skills in which I type in “clothes” to the search option in the App Store, I downloaded hundreds of thousands of outfit and accessory options for me to buy at the flick of a finger. Did I mention this fantastic App is free? Oh yeah, baby. I’m quite the cheapskate. Well, it’s called ShopStyle, and it allows me to choose who I’m shopping for, what type of item, which designers or stores I adore, how much I’m willing to spend, what size I am (or pretend to be), what’s on sale, and which colors set me in a frenzy, all of which aid me in sorting through the magnitude that is online shopping. Needless to say, this little technological beauty located on my iPod has already been a joy to have in my App family. ShopStyle is simple, chic, aesthetically pleasing, and exciting. That’s right, America, take a whiff of my freshly made materialism. Ain’t it sweet? And as a result of SS, I’ve uncovered online shopping gold: ASOS. This place is a treasure chest for pirates of my kind—you know, the cute, trendy girl pirates who like floral dresses and nifty bargains. Anywho, this online British store lets you pay with all major credit cards (and even paypal) and has free shipping in the U.K. (dontcha wish that last letter was an “S”?). And let’s face it, anything British is pretty much B.A. from the start, even without the cute-but-well-priced outfits and unique accessories. So here I am, staying up later than I should, wasting my time with online shopping. Isn’t it great?! Oh yes. And no worries, you’ll understand when I show up to school looking like Lilly Allen on Monday. Jealous yet?

contentment in consistency,

I’ve decided that I like school. I enjoy homework. The constancy of my daily schedule is relieving in a way. Every day, I go to school, attend my 7 classes, see the same people, hang out in the parking lot (as all upperclassmen do), and bum a ride home. It makes me feel somewhat settled to know that I‘ll always come home, do my homework, clean up, and go to sleep. No confusion (except in math), no crazy surprises, nothing so out of the ordinary. And that feels good to me; it feels right. We are creatures of habit, no? I’m sure I’ll get bored soon, but at the moment I couldn’t be happier for stability.

16 things,

16 Things to do before I turn 16:

1) Go camping with friends (it's in the works)

2) Set off fireworks (it's been done plenty, but not as hardcore as this time will be)

3) Parallel park (successfully)

4) Sing karaoke (in public, of course)

5) Dance on the side of the road

6) Play iPod karaoke (never played? shame on you!)

7) Complete a food challenge (Woman vs. Food, much?)

8) Ride with the windows down while it’s raining

9) Play on the playground in a dress

10) Have a Ferris Bueller’s day off (play hooky!)

11) Have a house party (ahh yeahh!)

12) Bake a pie (blueberry, of course)

13) Go to a braves game with friends

14) Have a photo shoot

15) Cook or eat something really weird (kangaroo, anybody?)

16) Have the best night of my life!

Note: This is a working list. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, especially since many of these qualify as lame. Also, I got this idea from my dearest sister Caroline. Stories to come!

cherry bomb,

So I just watched The Runaways. Earlier I saw a commercial for it saying that it was now on demand. I'd been wanting to see it and considering that my 5-hour nap today is preventing me from going to sleep at a normal hour, I went for it. First of all, I used to be an anti-Dakota Fanning kind of gal. She seemed to be an annoying little blonde girl who was given every opportunity I used to want when I acted. But I have to give her props. She was really B.A. in this movie. Yeah, she's young (she's actually about my age), but she knows how to play both an innocent little girl in danger of being killed and an exploited sweet sixteener kicking it in stripper heels and screaming into a microphone. Dakota has versatility to say the least. And something else I noticed in the film was the fantastic wardrobe her character wore. Everything from a maxi dress with a sheer 70's diva print to a hot red greaser jumpsuit to a simple San Francisco t-shirt with the words shaped like the Golden Gate Bridge intrigued me. Her character's style was always fearless and sexy, which is pretty extreme for how old she was. But I started to fear her a little bit because she radiated this attitude that self-doubt didn't even exist in her world. I wanted it, I craved that. And that edge just made me want to mix it up and maybe have a rebellious streak. Well, maybe not. Next on the list, Kristen Stewart. She bugged me before I saw this just like Dakota Fanning did. But these girls made an unstoppable duo that you can't even describe, yet watch and wonder in amazement of just how they're pulling this off. Stewart was basically the character she tries to be in real life: unique, indie, avant garde even. But this time I respected her a little more because she really did give me an impression of who Joan Jett was back then. So I leave you with advice to go watch The Runaways while I go do some research on 70's American rock. Later dudes.

P.S.-- Check this sweet interview out. Oh and this article, too.

waiting on you,

So here I am, sitting in an oasis of being downstairs all by my lonesome. Oh, how I wish I didn't live in a house with other people. It's just so much easier to get along without them. But nevertheless, I love my family, especially my mother right now since I'm typing on the new MacBook Pro she bought. Love. My. Life. It's silver with black keys and is as beautiful as a baby grand piano. Contrasting colors, sleekness, newness, beauty. My materialism is really escaping right now but hey, I'm only human. So I kind of feel all over the place right now. Just praying for balance since coming home from camp newly refreshed in my spirituality and excited for what's ahead. I always come home from Camp Longridge (a student Christian camp in Ridgeway, SC) feeling good about God. And the same holds true right now, at least so far as I can keep that up. But anyways, back to my craziness. Well, I'm just now realizing that I haven't written in FOREVER and that the last time I uploaded pictures from my camera was in May. Now that's a little ridiculous. But aside from that, I still have to write all my papers for summer reading and do a pain-in-the-rear work packet for math. Fun fun! I'm having to cope with a household of 4 people again (it's been about 3 years since) and praying to God that this upcomign year won't kill me. Junior year. My mind starts racing at the mention of it. AP classes, the SAT and ACT, browsing for colleges, heavy workload, driving test, and basically the most difficult aspects of high school all piled up in one year. But I am relieved to know that I have hundreds of classmates going through the same thing as I am. Whew. I'm also fretting over all the crap I eat and my severe lack of physical activity. But that's nothing new. And of course my mind constantly reverts back to my group of friends and who is changing (for the worse, unfortunately) and what this upcoming year will do to us. I have so many wants right now that it's simply crazy! I want to: make music, hike, sing, shop, research, make money, get things done, exercise, look good, fellowship, and basically balance everything in the world and be perfect. That's impossible, you say? Oh bummer. I guess I'll have to rely on God then. And I'm very glad for that because it's quit obvious of my inability to succeed in any of my aspirations. It's not that I have a low self-esteem, just an increasing amount of faith. So I believe that's enough brain spillage for now. Ta-ta!

Oh!! P.S.--I was stopped in the mall the other day and asked if I could be featured on a Fashion Blog. (: (: (: So as soon as the post goes up, I'll send you the link.

God bless, folks!

decide what you want to be and go be it,

So this week, my daily routine has consisted of a variety of things. I wake up around lunchtime, except when interrupted by hammering in the unfinished (though nearly finished by now, thanks to Papa Joe) basement or the sound of ripping up carpet for some new duds in the den. But despite shorter spans of sleepy time, I’ve been energized by God only knows what, and so my days have begun to reflect that. I love my routine now that there are actually groceries in the house (a luxury I lived without for two weeks when just me and my dad were home). So waking up, eating cherries and jam on bread is such a lovely way to start a morning. I love food. I come from a family that has always loved food, as is displayed in our family recipes and sometimes our growing bellies. But you know what? I’d rather eat food I love and enjoy the blessings of God’s bounty than reject what many people in this world don’t have. I’m not going to starve myself or keep myself from eating what I want. No, I’m not going to KFC every day and eating fried chicken (ew.), but I am whipping up little meals of delicious things that will satisfy me without killing me. And I hope this mentality will restore the toxic mindset that I’ve become accustomed to due to where I live. In East Cobb, you have to look good no matter what. Even if you’re running to the grocery store, you’ve got to look great just in case you see someone you know. My mom, sisters, and I always say, “I hope I don’t see anyone I know.” And it sucks that we feel that way, but the vanity aspect of living here can be vicious at times. I mean, every day (more like every moment of every day) I feel dissatisfied with the way I look. I think I’m too big. Which, in reality, might not be true, but in comparison to the beautiful women I see on TV and the skinny b-words that live here, I’m just not good enough. Don’t worry, I have no eating disorder and I don’t plan to. So obviously my self-doubt never comes between the dinner table and me. But the usual girl frustrations always get on my back (just as they do every other woman) and keep me from enjoying what I have. But anyway, now that I’ve talked my way through that tangent, I’ll go back to how my week has been. So with my newly replenished refrigerator, I’ve nabbed at the chance to try out some recipes I’ve found online. Screw cookbooks. They’re expensive and I don’t have any good ones. Well, Caroline does, but they’re somewhere in storage ever since she’s moved back home. Booooo. So I’ve found a new love of food blogs and I can’t get enough. Food bloggers are just so cute. I told my mom that and she laughed, but whatever. They sound so passionate and in love with their precious little lives cooking for their newlywed husband or little kids. I especially applaud the foodie pioneers who write about living on their small farm and cooking everything they want from what they grow. That’s awesome. And I hope to someday do the same. Oh, permaculture (kind of). So what I’ve tried so far is a light salad consisting of raw thin asparagus, one red onion, olive oil, and some pecorino cheese. Lemme tell ya, this cheese is fantastic. I’m no cook, so I had never heard of it (and the 10 dollar price sticker made me question why it existed at all). But this cheese is freaking fantastic. It’s sharp, not too rich, light, and delicious. Perfect for summer. I just wish I could afford it (thanks mom!). But the salad was pretty good. Light and summery and a snap to make. Love it. And with that, my mom added some burgers on cheddar rolls which were super fantastic and I’m still smelling my fingers to get a whiff of those things. Woah, that sounded creepy. That reminds me of Charlie’s Angels (2, I think) when the creepy rat-looking guy with a big nose and black hair smelled Drew Barrymore’s hair after he pulled it out. Ew. Okay so I also tried out a recipe for homemade pop tarts. Sounded fantastic. And it actually worked out well considering my tendency to mess up any dessert that doesn’t come from a Betty Crocker box. The dough was easy enough to make, the recipe required very little ingredients, and they taste great. I decided to go with a Nutella filling. I know, I know, a rockstar move at that. Who doesn’t love Nutella? Okay, well my dad doesn’t, but he sucks with that kind of stuff. So if anybody wants to sample one of my deliciosities, come on over. Pictures of all my creations to come. Let’s see…what else have I done this week? Well I’ve watched tons of episodes of My Boys (on TBS) and gushed when Brandon and PJ kissed. Ahhhhh. I love him; he’s so super attractive. That messy dark hair and 5 o’clock shadow always kill me. And I’ve been looking some more at colleges (thanks to College Prowler). I definitely got an early start on the college front. I’ve wanted to leave for college since the 6^th grade, so being an upperclassman couldn’t come any sooner. Oh, except for the fact that I’m having a nervy b (nervous breakdown, for those of you who haven’t seen Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging) about if it’s a mistake to only take one AP class this year or if I’ll get into the National Honor Society and what my GPA is and whether or not I’ll be able to get into this one college I now have my eye on. This is unnerving, and I don’t wanna hear squat from any parents (including mine) about this entire process. It’s completely different now to be in high school than what it used to be, so shut your trap. But enough venting and onto the excitement. I just researched a little bit about Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. Me and my dad are planning to hit it when we go visit Ole Miss in Oxford, MS. This college is apparently stunning academically with highly esteemed professors and great facilites. It’s a small school with brilliant Gothic architecture (reminiscent of Rory going to Yale, anybody?) and (so I hear) some pretty attractive students. It also has a Christian affiliation, is in close proximity—actually, it’s in—a big city, is in the South (only on my checklist because of the friendly people), and is a music town. The only problem is probably the lack of sports teams (which really isn’t a problem since I’m the opposite of athletic) and the HUGE price tag. It’s about 32 grand without room and board. What the hell? That’s ridiculous. I mean, I’m sure I can snag some scholarships, but still. It’s tough. But I think this school is still a good prospect. So far I’ve visited at least 15 schools without feeling a connection to any of them. And to say that I’ve fallen in love iwht one just by looking at it online is a pretty good sign. But I don’t even know if I could get in (even if I’m not a shabby student) or if we’d ever have the money to pay for it.. But I’ll leave all this up to God. There’s no way I could figure all this out myself. So that, doing some yoga, and researching my 16^th trip is pretty much what I’ve been up to. And you?

Branson: Day 2

So today started out on an interesting note. I woke up, got dressed, was slightly embarrassed by my mane of a hairdo, and went on to our complimentary “Continental Breakfast.” The food was fine but I noticed two guys sitting at a table in close proximity to ours. I didn’t really pay attention to them. After all, they weren’t that attractive or interesting. So I started eating and they headed out the door when a lady who worked at the hotel came up to me. She said, “Don’t think this is strange or anything, but a boy who was sitting in here before wanted me to give you his number and was too shy to ask for yours.” Oh please. No no. You don’t ask for a girl’s number through a hotel employee while standing at the glass door waving at my grandmother sitting beside me. You suck. Honestly? Go watch some movies and see how they do it. Because you’re weird and that’s just not okay with me. So anyways, I declined that fantastic offer (excuse me while I wipe off the sarcasm dripping from my lips) and told the woman no, that’s weird. I also didn’t even care to look back at the boys when they were waving. Oh, the life of a heartbreaker. I love it. So we went on towards the outside of Branson to the College of the Ozarks. I had heard raves about some restaurant at the college so we decided to make a trip there. But this isn’t a normal school like all the others I’ve toured before. This is a small Christian school with strict rules and a tough-as-nails working policy. Its nickname is “Hard Work U,” as is stated on plaques and banners all around campus. You see, the students here don’t pay tuition and don’t work up massive debts during their four years here. Instead, they pay off their tuition by working at one of the 50 or so student-run institutions on campus. Everything here is student led, which I found very cool. The waiters, waitresses, managers, bookkeepers, helpers, farmers, gardeners, and even firemen are all students at the college. Interested in learning more about this unique system, I grabbed two of every brochure I could find in the Keeter Center, a log cabin looking lodge, restaurant, and gift shop. It was beautiful and looked rather new, but we decided to come back for lunch. So Meme and I walked onwards towards campus, where we made our way into the library, chapel, museum, lookout point, lake, and other spots of interest. But we barely made a dent in the campus lined with paw prints, a symbol of the school pride here. Walking by everything made me feel peaceful and impressed with the vibe here. The lake was beautiful, the grass and trees perfectly green, and all the buildings seemed warm and welcoming. And students did all of the work going into creating this feeling. Young people just a few years older than I am. It made me proud and excited for college as an experience centered around the empowerment of youth. Oh and the guys working on campus were hella-attractive. My kind of place! On the left side of the school is a beautiful river and a picturesque view of the Ozarks (how fitting). It felt like this place could be a really great home, and an awesome opportunity to those who have a hard time paying such high tuition costs. So after walking back up the hill to the Keeter Center (a hellish task in 94 degree weather), it was time for what I had been waiting for—lunch. I had read reviews and heard about this place so much that I was ready for the best meal of my life. You walk into the restaurant, called the Dobyns Dining Room, and see windows making way for a porch overlooking the beauty of Branson. The restaurant itself has carved wooden chairs, brass embellished ceilings, and a cozy-yet-upscale feeling to it. We took our seats after relocating to a better-ventilated area (by suggestion of our adorable Hungarian waitress) and awaited a delicious time. Out came our drinks, which were raspberry teas. I gulped that down like it was water—I just couldn’t get enough and I don’t think the heat from outside was even a factor in that. Then came the bread, consisting of rolls and scones with little cast iron griddles with butter and apple butter for our delight. The apple butter was fantastic, and I mopped it up with the unbelievably perfect cranberry scones. I kept reassuring myself, “food is not a felony” and before we finished half a roll, our food was already out on silver platters. My Italian sandwich was good and the fresh fruit complimented both our meals perfectly. But we both tried to contain ourselves in preparation for desert. I’ll say it over and over again—the dessert was orgasmic. (Keep in mind how much I loathe that word.) I ordered the crème brulee trio, which was paired with a shortcake cookie and strawberry. The three flavors (chocolate, berry, and original) were served in little cappuccino cups (picture to come). They were mild in taste, but actually tasted great. But nothing could have lived up to what Meme ordered: Chocolate Cobbler. Chocolate cake, syrup, powdered sugar, and homemade vanilla ice cream all encompassed in a iron cast skillet. I love those southern touches. I could have died and gone to heaven (sorry for the cliché) after eating that thing. The cold ice cream and warm chocolate made an amazing combination that we couldn’t pass up. My smile couldn’t have slipped if someone slapped me in the face. It was just that good. No explanation of it will do it justice, so that’s about it for lunch. Except for the fact that all the waiters were cute and the waitresses were pretty. How does that happen? Good job C of O for only having attractive students. That’s a successful selection process. But in all seriousness, the working staff there was pleasant and excited to be there (or so it seemed). They were happy to fulfill every request and you could tell they loved their school, not only from their smiles but also from their stories. P.S. I bought a jar of the apple butter. (: Our only other event for the day was called Island Fire. I was, again, apprehensive about this one. I thought it’d be alright. The description consisted of Polynesian dancers and flamethrowers entertaining you and speaking a bit about their culture. The dances, costumes and songs came from Hawaii, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and other islands beyond by spelling capabilities. At first, I thought the show was pretty good. It seemed a little unprofessional to me, kind of sloppy. But as the show progressed, it got better and better. There were about 9 cast members who actually originated from the islands discussed. There were four men and five women, all of whom displayed smiling faces the whole show. The men were muscular, sexy, and beautiful. And the women, of course, were perfect from their heads to toes. Dark skin, long black hair, and amazing ability? Sign me up! I wish I was from wherever they are. But anyways, my favorite was the main guy. I can’t pronounce or spell his name worth anything, but I know that he was attractive. He had the perfect body, face, hair, and a killer tattoo. I believe it was what the traditional men of his island have and it was so cool. His personality was brilliant as well. He was funny, strong, a good dancer, and pretty much everything a woman wants. So if you’re Samoan, hit me up! The show just kept getting better and better, and it finally peaked at the fire dancing. Two men (mainly the guy I’m in love with, though) twirled around flaming sticks while performing tricks that we in the audience ate right up. He lit his tongue on fire, did acrobatic tricks with the fire, danced with it, and came into the audience to give us a taste. I was frightened. But it was so interesting and exciting and fierce, and you could tell that the cast members were proud of their show. After it was over, we met them and spoke to the men and women. They were kind and friendly, which I really appreciated. So things here in Branson keep looking up! More to come, including some great pictures.

Branson: Day 1

So this whole Southern thing is getting pretty twisted. It’s my first day in Branson, MO, and it’s been quite an adventure already. Keep in mind that I’m with my Meme, my wonderful grandmother who’s decided to spoil me this week by spontaneously taking me to the city of her choosing. I guess she felt bad that my sisters and mom were off on crazy, awesome adventures while I was stuck in Marietta. But to tell you the truth, I was having fun back home. My friends have been invading my house and pool pretty often, which is just the way I like it. And I’ve come to acquire the habit of sleeping ‘til noon after Netflixing it up all night using my sister’s beautiful Mac. Needless to say, I was apprehensive in coming here. I had done my research (as all us Eubanks girls do oh so well) and came to the conclusion that Branson would be a bit like Gatlinburg. Dirty, touristy, kitschy (not in the good way), and everything I try to avoid while traveling. But hey Branson, you’re starting to prove me wrong. After hopping on a quick flight here (probably an hour and a half long at most), Meme and I took a taxi to the hotel, which is just fine. It’s a Best Western on “the Strip.” Well I wouldn’t really compare this to Vegas since there’s no gambling or prostitutes (so far), but I discovered (as of about half an hour ago) that the city does light up at night in a way reminiscent to Sin City. You go, Missouri. But anyways, we arrived at this tiny airport (a pigmy in comparison to Hartsfield-Jackson) that looked rustic and welcoming from the outside. Oh, and by the way, I spotted a superbly hot guy on my flight. Just one of the many reasons why I love to travel. He was blonde and had dimples and could definitely pass for a Hollister model. Yummy. Oh and we checked each other out (well, in my mind we did). Check itttt. So we stepped into the airport, and here we were. It was one big room with a Famous Daves, mini Bass Pro Shops, and it had a mountain lodge feel complete with hunting décor. Cool, a theme airport. So after figuring out that Branson was NOT like Atlanta in that cabs are constantly waiting outside anticipating your arrival, we found a desk to call us a cab. This man with a nice scruffy moustache and a weathered face took us into town. But on the way there, I was pleasantly surprised. The landscape was hilly and winding with carved rocks that reminded me of Nevada. You could see the beautifully green Ozark Mountains from every inch of the highway, and all I really wanted to do was watch what was around me. But of course we had an itinerary to make, lunch to search for, and our room to check into. So we stopped by the front desk, were (in my opinion) brushed off when asking for recommendations, and decided to go (literally) next door for a bite. So far we’ve had really good luck with meals. This steakhouse, Montana Mike’s, served us some mean alfredo. And since I am Caroline Eubanks’ sister, that means I am a tough critic concerning this specific dish. But seriously, it was good. And the sweet tea was just the right amount of sweet—a difficult feat when trying to impress a Georgia girl. So onwards we went to try to pack in everything we wanted to accomplish here. Here we struck gold. The woman at the gift shop here, Kathleen, is a saint. She’s a pro at multi-tasking, sorting out schedules, and encouraging the delightful opportunities available in her city. After 30 minutes of planning and $380 worth of ticket reservations, we were set. So hat’s off to Kathleen for making everything simply perfect. We couldn’t have done this without you. So onwards to our first event, Noah the Musical. It sounded okay to me. And that’s really how it turned out. The building, actually more like the acropolis, that was home to the show was unbelievable. Seriously. I would go there just to walk around and marvel at who the heck could have paid such a large bill for this thing. And the inside is even better. And inside the inside is even better. The stage is magnificent. Coming from an ex-theatre performer, that means something. The theater (more like a coliseum, sorry for the ancient Rome references) holds 3,000 people and even opens up on its sides to reveal an unbelievable set that takes you inside Noah’s ark. Simply mind-blowing. Now the show itself is just eh. The music was cheesy and mostly unnecessary. The acting was way overdone on the females’ part. The costumes were beautiful but quite unrealistic. But the set was orgasmic. Let me just tell you, I hate the word orgasmic. But that’s about the only way I can think of describing it. Please please please Google (or Bing, my preference) Noah the Musical right now. Look at the pictures. You see that stage? Great, well it’s even better than that. Not to mention the fact that the aroma of sugar-roasted nuts encompasses the entire lobby and makes me melt with selfish foodie desires. So yeah, I’d say it’s worth going. Especially if you’re not paying. That’s always a plus. Next, we went to lunch at some barbeque joint. I had a steak and toast and a salad and fries and it was delicious. I loved it. I even gave a shout-out to the cooks in the kitchen. I was feeling iffy about eating there because I hadn’t researched it or gotten personal recommendations about it or any of the stupid crap I usually go through to ensure a good meal. But really, go to Odee’s Restaurant and Barbeque and you’re tummy will be happy. Oh, btw, these two (handsome) brothers who have a show in town came in during dinner telling us to come to their show. I found it funny because I had looked at their website online and everything and then they just came in with their classy western wear on carrying pamphlets and coupons and sexy smiles. Woah, they must be desperate for people to come to their show. I would but I really don’t care enough to hear two guys who think they’re hot stuff singing covers of songs that are on the black list already for being classics that have been wayyyyy overdone. So no thanks, hot 30-something brothers. I think I’ll pass. The last event for the night was going a few miles out to Shepherd of the Hills outdoor theater drama show extravaganza. Never in my life have I met more embarrassing people. Where do they come from? Why do they yell and eat obscene amounts of food, just packing onto their already obese bellies? Why do they have tons of children just adding to the world’s population of unattractive? Ew, kill me. They were gross and smelly and sweaty and not funny. They made me embarrassed to be southern, which is one thing you never want to do. But anyways, the show was surprisingly good. Meme and I were thoroughly concerned as to what we were getting ourselves into when we showed up and saw these characters. But I decided to be upbeat and give it a chance, which (as it usually does) turned out well. The actors weren’t half bad and, with the exception of about two or three main characters, I enjoyed their abilities. The special affects were pretty cool with all the gunshots and fire and multitude of live animals. Hey PETA, why aren’t you busting the butts of the makers of these shows? Anywho, the show kept my attention, was in the middle of nature, had semi-attractive guys around my age riding horses, and actually kept a decent plot line. Bravo! That’s all I really wanted. And you succeeded. So go, Branson! Empress me! Exceed my devastatingly low standards for what your city can be! It’ll be a trip alright. You just wait and see.

my pocket full of sunshine,

So I'm turning sixteen soon. Exciting, right? For me, it's a relief. I can finally drive, get out of the house, away from my parents, with my friends, basically fulfilling all the East Cobb teenage necessities. But this milestone birthday means more than a "Super Sweet" party and those beloved car keys. It means I get to choose anywhere in the world to go on a trip. Thanks to this wonderful woman, my Meme (my grandmother on my father's side), me and all my cousins are rewarded this fantastic opportunity just for being birthed 16 years ago. I know what you're thinking. "Spoiled brat." Nuh-uh. My grandmother is just so passionate about traveling and experiencing the world that God has put at our feet, so she wants her grandchildren to have the opportunity to do just what she loves. She and my Papa have been on every continent in the world including Antarctica. They have this huge map in their basement (which is actually outdated, including countries that don't exist and names that are passe) with pins of every place they've been. And my sister Caroline has started a board just like this of her own, so maybe some day I'll do the same. But anyways, back to my trip. I get to choose anywhere in the world to go for about a week, give or take. So I've done a little bit of research on what location might be fitting to my personality, and I've come up with a few places. But I'd love feedback from any readers who want to pitch in their two cents. This trip is once in a lifetime. Not that I won't travel in the future, but this time it's on Meme's dime. (: So I've come up with Santorini, Greece (inspired by Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), Morroco, South Africa, Costa Rica, Russia (I only know of two cities to explore so far), New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, India, and basically anywhere else that seems exotic and exciting. These places vary in customs, religions, traditions, topography (as my Aunt Robin would say), and many other things. But I want someplace that fits me like a glove yet pushes my limits and challenges me to live boldly. So here's what I want: Someplace beautiful with outdoor opportunities (zip lining, hiking, swimming, etc.), friendly people, pretty easy to get to, reasonably affordable, new, exciting, fun, full of music and dancing, will stretch my dollar, has good shopping, and can help me accomplish what's on my bucket list. It's a lot to ask for, but I'm a woman of little compromise. So I need your help. Research. Suggestions. Experiences. Dreams. Whatever. Lemme tell you where I've been so we can rule those out, too. Italy- Florence, Rome, Tuscany, Pisa, and Venice. France- Paris, Nice, the coast. Monaco. Mexico. And all over the U.S. I'd like to keep it out of the U.S. because this is an opportunity to "milk it." So there's your challenge. Your reward? Many fantastic pictures and posts of my adventure to come. Thank you, friends. (:

To Days of Inspiration

It seems to me that everything right now revolves around the future. A reoccurring thought in my head from last night was “nothing ever lasts.” This week I did a show for my chorus called Cabaret. It comes around this time every year and is the most fun we have in the class, and last night was our last show. For some people, it was their last show ever. Last night’s show was also special because of the Rose Ceremony, which is for all the graduating seniors of chorus who are leaving us. I’m sure they’re excited, and I’m excited for them too, but I keep wondering why it isn’t my turn yet. Yesterday was also the day that all high school seniors sport the t-shirt of their future college. I saw plenty of great places—University of Georgia, Mississippi State, James Madison University, Furman University, and so many places that I could only dream of going. Not that I couldn’t get in, but just that I want to be there now. It’s always been difficult for me to live in the present. Because I’ve been raised by two older sisters, I’m used to acting older (sometimes). But seriously, I can’t think of something or someone in my life that isn’t focused on their future right now. Sammi is focusing on her amazing summer in Montana and graduating early from App State . Caroline has her eyes on graduation next week (can you believe it?!) and her copious plans for the summer. Oh and the fact that she’ll be in the “real world” very soon. But me. I’m a 15-year-old girl who has yet the ability to drive, is living at home with her parents, and has barely any plans for the summer. Sounds fun. I have the usual plans, which include Vacation Bible School, Camp Longridge , and traveling with the family (Boston this year!). But I keep asking God what my plans are, what I should be excited about, what my future looks like. Where the heck am I going to college? What should I do with my life? These seem like daunting questions for someone my age, but here, where we’re forced to always think about grades and our future and how much money we’ll make and basically meaningless crap like that, I’m compelled to wonder. Even watching some Netflix last night brought up questions like these in my head. I was watching the season two finale of BBC America’s “Skins.” That show is brilliant, by the way. All the characters (which are eight drunken, junkie, crazy, carpe diem, do-whatever-you-want-even-if-it-screws-you-over young people) were finally graduating from school. After seamlessly reviewing where everybody might end up after getting their last grades, it was done. One guy died. One girl ran away to New York City. One guy brought his partner along to London. One couple decided that leaving each other was inevitable. But as my own schooling is wrapping up this year, I can’t get my mind off this theme. My sophomore year is about to end and then I’ll be an upperclassman. Half of my high school career will be over. I hate to say I’m relieved, but I’m so excited to know what’s in my future. For now, I have no bloody idea what I’ll be doing in five years. Probably going to be at some small school that I love, doing the same thing I am right now. Wondering. Waiting. Wishing. (Maybe Jack Johnson should switch his song title for me.) So aren’t we all focused on our futures? I think so.

Musical Inspiration: Everybody Knows by Ryan Adams, from the album Easy Tiger
Spiritual Inspiration: Philippians 1:21 (the Message version is especially great for this one)

More to come on this subject.

Much love,

R.E.

hello world!

My name is Rachel Elizabeth Eubanks. I am a sophomore, 15 years old, and I’ve grown up with both my parents and two older sisters. I love my family, my dog, the mountains, and God. I don’t like the beach, when people pop their gum, or submitting to what society expects of me. I don’t like to exercise, but I love to eat (just as any good southern girl should). I love nature, but I’m not athletic (I wish I was, though). I’m a student environmental activist and missionary in the making. I love to write, sing, and travel. My family and my life are beautiful, but my God is beautiful among all things. He keeps me and loves me and I try to follow Him in all I do. I love sunrises (and sunsets), tall grasses, blue mountain peaks, and the cool wind sweeping past my cheek. I’m no normal girl, as you might be able to tell. I hate the sound of my alarm. I love my bed. I love God’s word and His people. I love love love music. I have a new obsession for Pawn Stars (and the History Channel in general). I like British films and TV shows, and I’m newly free from Facebook and all other social networking sites. I have many aspirations, all of which are accumulated in several journals hidden in my messy room. I like clothes and shopping, probably more than I should. I delight in trips to Yogli Mogli for some fro-yo. I secretly love abbrevs (the abbreviation for the word “abbreviation”), but I don’t always like to admit it. I like school, but mostly for the social aspect of it. I have no idea what I’m going to do with my life, but I’m eager to see what happens!

open up the sky,

It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions this past week. Last Sunday was beautiful, but most every day following…not so much. A week ago at church I spoke a little bit about my trip to Mexico (go to carolineinthecityblog.com to read up on it) and I felt euphoric. God completely spoke through me, so much so that I didn’t even quite know what I was saying. Not in that embarrassing, I-can’t-stop-talking-and-I’m-just-digging-myself-into-a-hole kind of way, but in a way that I knew that those words coming out of my mouth were God’s and not my own. I just felt so high on God like I had been in Mexico and I loved it. But Monday rolled around and I was back to rock bottom. Basically, I was back to normal and it sucked. I had to go to school and push through seven hours of stuff I don’t care about. So for the first few days this week, I did not want to get out of bed. It’d be so much easier to sleep all day or to just stay at home and talk to God instead of having to deal with people pulling me down from that high I wanted to keep so badly. So my thoughts followed this trend, and all I could think was, “God--dude, this is harder than I thought.” And honestly, it is. It’s difficult to wake up every morning and have to put yourself aside to submit to something else. Even if what I give myself to is the creator of the universe and of me, my selfish nature is putting up a real fight here. I could just wake up, dress to impress so that I can grab a guy, and do whatever the heck I want. But that’s just not who I’m called to be. I’m called to be an amazing daughter of God. A girl full of love and compassion and, ultimately, someone with a heart of worship and devotion to God. But every day that I choose to wake up to myself instead of Jesus, I feel weak and unable to fulfill God’s plan for me. I feel disappointing, like I’m not giving myself fully to the greater story that God has for me (and all of his children). But Isaiah 40 and 41 has rocked my world in times like these. "Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God...He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless (40:28-29)." So keep us folks who are home from mission trips in your thoughts and prayers. We’ve got to keep on going and we’re doing the best we can!

More to come,

Rachel

Trois Soeurs

Three sisters. Three states. Three unique voices. That's what this blog is about. If you've read my sisters' guest posts on my blog, Caroline in the City, you know that we all have very distinct perspectives.

We all started out in the suburbs of Atlanta. I am the oldest, followed two years after by Sammi and another four years by Rachel. We fought a lot when we were younger and still do. But I think we are closer now than ever.

I was the first to sprout my wings and leave for college in Charleston. This place has changed me significantly. I was naive and quirky and completely lost. I may not have it all together now, but I have discovered what I truly love: family, friends, good food, good books, traveling and this gorgeous city of mine.

Next was Sammi, who chose the polar opposite location: the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. She developed friendships and has really found a home there. From her favorite house on Howard's Knob to the delicious burritos of Black Cat, she knows Boone like the back of her hand.

And Rachel is still coming into her own in our hometown of Marietta, Georgia. She is only fifteen and has traveled through most of Europe. I know big things are coming her way. She is a great writer, actress, singer, stylist and missionary. There's no telling where she will end up, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's at the top.

So this blog is as much of a way for us to talk to each other as it is to talk to readers. I hope you enjoy.