I'm a 'bound book' kind of girl

Hi Everyone! I got a new toy that I'm absolutely smitten with! The Polaroid 300 camera. It's virtually the same as the fujifilm instax camera except different colors. They also use the same film. I take it with me everywhere!

Nate and I went on a little walking date to Small World Cafe in Downtown Napa, Look at Nate's face! He's such a doll!

Aren't these so fun! I love the ones of my students. My chapel leadership kids were playing Mafia as a bonding game. Let's just make perfectly clear, I'm awful at being the mafia!They love each other so much, it does my heart so much good to be such sweet people to one another. Being a teacher is the best!

I count these last few weeks (only ten left) as fleeting blessing. This senior class means so much to me, I always say that is this is the class that taught me how to teach. I'm not emotionally prepared to see them move on. Oh no! I'm getting all proud and mushy, I have to stop. Have a fantastic weekend! I'm going wedding dress shopping with my brother's new fiance! I love adding girls to our family! Yay!

Before you go though... I am all about this song right now! This is Mount Zion by Cageless Birds. The end... Jesus is so awesome! See you soon!

Countless Second Chances We've Been Given

Hello there everyone!! It's been way way way too long since I've updated my blog, I realize this. It's also been a very crazy time of transition life change. I kinda kept my blog up over the summer, so it's not really news that Nate and I are no longer in the Sacramento area. We now live in Napa CA. We moved in June, so we experienced the earthquake. If you saw the news on the quake you saw a lot of damage. Nate and I were spared...big time. We didn't have to move, we didn't lose anything expensive or special, and most importantly we were completely safe. It was scary, but we survived.

With the new year already in full swing, I actually have thought of a few goals I'd like to accomplish to this year! Here they are:


1. Write more songs. In my former life I was a singer/songwriter and did a significant amount traveling/performing. I'd like to do more of that. Nate suprised me by getting me the ukulele of my dreams for Christmas. I had bought a cheap one online so I could learn to play, but the one Nate got me is so beautiful and sounds so much better. They're also a lot easier to travel with than a Piano; which is my primary instrument. I've been playing for about a month now... I'm okay. I'd really like to get super good. As you can see, Oscar is way impressed with my rendition of "Rainbow Connection".

Nate an I did some recording this year. This has been an awesome addition to our married life. Being creative together has helped us learn stuff about each other we didn't know before. It's been really fun, and challenging writing and playing together. I've never wanted to punch someone I loved in the face before :)

2. Take more pictures!
I found an old Polaroid land camera in my Grandma's stuff after she passed away this past year in November. I also found this little green camera at an antique store. I wasn't sure if it worked or not, so I did a research and bought some film for it. Turns out this little camera is broken, but it sparked a new interest/hobby in vintage cameras and film photography. Don't expect any "Parrish the Thought Photography" instagram account or anything, but I do need to get better at taking pictures of stuff that matters,

3. Get a hair cut. A real one.

This is a screenshot of my iPad. It has taken me 5 years to grow my hair to this length from a close-cut pixie cut. I've endured the shaggy Justin Beiber phase (featured here). I venteured away from my very trusted hairstylist and received one of the WORST haircuts ever, and recovered. 

Sometimes my long hair looks awesome, like this:

but usually it's really dirty and gross and looks like this:

The truth is, I really just don't have the time necessary to have long hair. Not to mention that my hair just isn't healthy, and it needs to start over. I'm thinking bob with baby bangs.  It would be easy and still way stylish. I dont know. But my goal is to get a significant cut. I like this one... we'll see...maybe not so short. See, there I go.

4. Blog more. This has been my goal for a long time. I love Parrish The Thought. I know it doesn't really seem like it. But I do. I don't have a lap top or the internet, so finding time and resources is hard. But I think if I were to have a lap top it might be easier to get this kind of thing done.

Anyways, lots of new things on the horizon. New music, new hair, new... everything! I have spiritual goals as well, but that is post all it's own. See you soon!

I'll Lock My Heart In My Tower

Hello Everyone! I’m blogging on a Sunday! Is that allowed? Heck yeah it is. I guess if you’re really stiff, I shouldn’t tell you that I’m also watching Harry Potter! AND since my wubby is so sick, I’m also not going to church this morning! Oh my goodness. Just kidding. While I sincerely love the Lord, and love going to church, I don’t believe that Harry Potter is evil in the slightest! In fact I love Harry Potter, and I cried in Part 2 of the Deathly Hollows, and raised a fist of victory when Neville triumphed over evil. I have a special place in my heart for Neville. I don’t know why, I’m such a person my mystery. Ha.

ANYWAYS! I wasn’t sure if Nathan was up to going to church, and since I wake up much earlier than him anyways, I got ready for church just in case. If we had gone, this is what you would have seen me in. I’ve had this dress for years. Its probably the most flattering dress I own. Obviously this is a summer dress, because if I were to wear this in the winter, It would be the same color as my skin!! I have to have a little bit of a summer glow in order to wear it.

 I really love how long the bow is in the back. And on a funny note, look at my eagle claw hand clenching onto that pole... what the heck was I doing?

When I first bought this dress, I was buying it for a photo shoot for when I was a full-time musician. What a little baby I was!! Cute little 21 year old Rachel. Look at that hair! Where have those past 5 years gone? Crazy. I think I was going for a Pride and Prejudice look… when am I not? Anyways, I don’t like wearing the dress with the tie in the front anymore because I feel like it looks a little bridesmaids-y. If you're curious as to what my music sounded like, you can go to my old myspace page: www.myspace.com/rachelbishop. Wow, these pictures seem ancient.

both photos: Caleb Kuhl

PS: How funny is this: the guy who did my photos was a contestant for the Bachelorette Season 5!!! How crazy is that?! I had no idea. He truly is a great guy. Obviously he did not win. But he is a very very talented and driven photographer. Yay! I kinda feel like I know a celeb (even though I clearly do not). haha.

Well everyone, that’s about it for me today. It’s my Grandma’s birthday today, so my parents are taking her to the State Fair. If it weren’t so expensive to go, me and Nathan would so be there! As it is, we’re gonna meet up with them later for dinner. Hooray! Well everyone enjoy this beautiful Sunday afternoon. See you soon!!