good things

-checking Yotality off the ice cream list with Beka
-soccer game with hubby, sis-in-law, and niece

-spending a whole afternoon with Deanna
-dinner, games, and hot tubbin' with Brooke and Sam (not that I'm a huge swimsuit fan, but sadly this was my first time in one all summer...and it's almost August.  Grown up summers stink!)
-dog-sitting these two cuties for a whole week

New York, New York!

We got away for a long weekend and went with my parents to visit my brother, Zack, in NYC!  The weekend was full of good food, cute tucked-away shops, and lots of walking.  We were fortunate to have my brother as our own personal tour guide, and enjoyed the not-so-touristy part of the City.  It was great getting to experience it the way we did.  We traveled by train and even stayed in an apartment in the East Village instead of a hotel!  It was so much fun getting to see my brother who I haven't seen since Christmas and spending the whole weekend with him, my parents, and Col.

Day 1:

Traveled by train, taxi, subway, bus, and ferry.  Only missing a plane ride to make our travels complete.

Browsed a local bookstore.  Zack was sure to show me that I could self-publish a book there.  I better get writing!

Had a fancy dinner out to celebrate Mom's birthday at a "secret" restaurant (I had told my brother that I wanted to go to little coffee shops, local bookstores, and a secret "no-one-but-the-locals-know-about" restaurant on our visit.  This one sure was tucked away with no signs indicating where it was.).  Everything was delicious!  I tried lamb for the first time.

Got a spectacular view of the NYC skyline from where Zack lives.  And I get to color in a new state on my map, New Jersey!

Day 2:

Walked and shopped along Broadway.

Visited the 9/11 Memorial Site.

Ate the healthiest lunch I've ever had (an all organic, free-range, cage-free, etc. cafe).

Explored our area, the East Village.

Day 3:

Enjoyed a breakfast of pastries and iced hot chocolate at a local coffee shop.

Browsed the entire M&M's store and visited FAO Schwarz.

Had a picnic in Central Park.

Went to the Central Park Zoo.

Ate flat-crust pizza (NYC style).

Day 4:

Ate homemade granola for breakfast at a local coffee shop that Zack had suggested.

Boarded the train for the ride home.

Got delayed over 3 hours on the train.

Finally made it home after 2am.  The weekend was completely worth working a 12+ hour day on Tuesday after only sleeping 4 hours.  Huge thank you to Mumsie and Popsicle who made it all possible :)

tears, prayers, and God's faithfulness

I'm not really sure how to start this post.  At first there was a lot that I wanted to write, then a lot that I wasn't sure I wanted to say.  So I took a little emotional break even though oftentimes writing is the activity I crave when I'm going through something.  This won't be as eloquent as what I first came up with in my head at the time, especially because a week has passed, but bear with me.

Last weekend was hard.  It was one of those emotional times when you want to curl up under the covers and stay in bed for a few days.  Certain emotions had been building up for me but were being dealt with when another blow came.   They always do once you think you've got yourself under control, you know?  I don't want to dwell on that, though.  You know why?  Because the weekend was also sprinkled with a picnic with friends, games, and a TON of family time.  And the best part of making it through another ride on the roller coaster of life?  Answered prayers; lots of them!

See, Friday we laughed, then we cried.  A lot.  Saturday we smiled and played, and then watched a movie which caused us to cry, laugh, deal with anger and frustration, and cry some more (curious?  It's called "Courageous."  It's powerful and moving and hard yet happy and chock full of specific applications to being a Godly family).  Both nights, Col and I collapsed into bed and prayed.  A lot.  And guess what?  MULTIPLE prayers of ours were answered.  Sunday we awoke to a new day full of God's promises and were not disappointed.  One after another we were astounded by how specifically and obviously (thanks God, I need those obvious ones!) He showed His love.  He was even able to work through me, through my own personal pain and disheartenment to show His love to more than one person, and I didn't even know it until it was pointed out to me later.  We bonded with others more than I've felt in a while, being able to talk honestly and in love.  We talked about the tough stuff and we talked about the exciting plans we have for our futures.  Sunday was a great day.  I was so blown away by everything; simply in awe of our Heavenly Father.  Although it was a tough weekend, it also brought Col and I even closer as we prayed and cried and witnessed God's love.  It reminded us of how generously we are blessed with the families that God has given us.  Because of all that, we were able to finish the weekend off on a much higher note than how we began it.  It was one of the most tangible times that I could list off exactly how our prayers were answered.  Oftentimes God answers our prayers differently than we'd like or expect, so we don't recognize that He has indeed heard us.  However, I'm grateful that this time he showed us plainly and perfectly.  It was awesome.

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed.

They were glad when it grew calm,

and he guided them to their desired haven.

Psalm 107:28-30

maybe a little obsessed

Ok, so I've become obsessed with blogs!  Seriously.  I used to read a few of my friends' and enjoy them, but when I was really hankering to write my own it was for simply that, to write.  I didn't think about others reading it so much as having an outlet to write and if people followed, great (a writer always secretly wants at least someone to read what she's written.  Well, most of the time...).  However, what a world that blogging has opened up to me!  I've come across s.o. m.a.n.y. wonderful blogs, mostly written by people who I don't know!  And you know what the best part is?  A lot of the posts that I've read have truly inspired me and felt like God was sticking a sign in front of my face and saying, "Read this.  You'll love it.  And by the way, I'm speaking to you through it."

[For more clarification, whenever I'm confused or trying to make a decision or just want some answers to the never-ending question of, "Why?," I always say how I wish God would just drop a sign down from the sky in front of my face with the answer/reason/explanation.  I'm pretty simple; I just need it in black and white and possibly hitting me in the head.]

Not to mention the women who write these blogs are SO stinkin' cool!  I seriously feel like such an amateur and think, "She's the coolest person ever!  I love how she did this/makes that/writes like this!"  Pure awe.  And awe-some-ness.

So, to all the women (and men) out there who blog, and who blog about certain specific issues that are so near and dear to my heart which I can't wait to someday write about, thank you.  Thank you for sharing your lives, stories, and writing styles.  And thank you for giving me something to do on those days when I have a certain length of time that I'm trying to fill... :)

date night at Highland Bowl - Hugo!

good things

After posting the last "good things" post, I thought it would be a great continual one to do.  I hate to admit it, but sometimes I'm prone to negativity.  Eek, I know, it's not very becoming. :/ So, this would be a great way for me to continually remember all that God has blessed me with!  They might be little things a lot of the time, but the little things make up life, don't they? :)

-spending time with two hometown friends, one whom I haven't seen in years!
-an evening of cheeseburgers, milkshakes, carousel rides, and a 2 1/2 year old

Col's "piggy back" ride, haha!

-time spent relaxing around the house with Col
-trying out a new diner near the beach with family for Sunday breakfast after church
-taking a 2 hour walk with Col to, from, and around Corn Hill Fest
-meeting friends for ice cream
-non-stressful days at work

4th of July

Happy 4th!  What a wonderful day it was to spend with friends and family!  This fabulous, hot-weather day consisted of:

-sleeping in!
-enjoying the parade w/ family
-going to a cookout at our newly married friend's house
-ROCKIN' at ladder ball! (if you know me, you know I'm not very athletic at all, however, I sometimes can surprise myself and Col at my lawn games skills)
-family time spent outside
-seeing Col finally enjoy a slip 'n' slide (I guess it's been a life-long dream of his to have one...I know, how did I not get a picture of this?!)
-fireworks on a blanket in a field, side-by-side w/ family and the best niece one could ever ask for

I miss the traditions that my family had when I was a kid, mostly going over to my grandparents' house for a cookout where grandma would have everything decked out in red, white, and blue.  It was a good day to remember all that she did for us growing up.  I do love our new traditions too though.  I guess that's a step in the right direction for an uber traditional fanatic like myself.  I'm learning to enjoy the change as I get older and life changes :)

Hope everyone enjoyed the freedom we have to enjoy these things today and every day!

closer to the end!

Tonight is Col's last grad school class E.V.E.R.!  I can't tell you what a big deal this is to us.  It reminds us of the huge blessing of being able to fully pay for his grad school on our own (with God's help of course!), means that now we will have evenings together that we haven't had since he started grad school right after we got married, and just makes me so stinkin' proud of my hubby for getting his graduate degree!  Four weeks of clinic (during the day while I'm at work, hooray), and then he's done! :)

July!

Where is summer going?!  It's already July!  Remember when you were a kid and you used to laugh at your parents whenever they said how fast time went by for them (because you just couldn't believe it)?  They were right!  Time flies, and I can't believe it's July already!

We got to spend our first day of July at church, breakfast w/ Col's fam, and then all afternoon/evening with wonderful friends, John and Teenie!  The boys golfed while we had some girl time and then enjoyed dinner, dessert, and games together as a treat from dog sitting for them in June.  

It was the perfect sunroof-and-all-windows-open-drive kind of day!