"New Finds"

So, a new coffee shop called Bean There Cafe went in across the street from work. It has been so much fun to have a little home grown coffee shop so close. I have become a little more and more weary of the Starbucks bitter coffee and the hiking up of the prices...again...did you hear about the $.09 increase July 31?? Don't get me wrong- I'll still make my contributions and enjoy an afternoon there with a friend every now and then but yea for some diversity- not to mention competition in the neighborhood.
Anyhow- I have missed my home coffee shop Perc Place in Hartford and it has been a refreshing taste to have a new coffee shop so close. I haven't gotten to take John yet, but my friend Katie and I have enjoyed a couple of hours of fellowship in their cozy atmosphere. So, here's to the small buiness- I hope they do well and make it!! If you come visit- I'll take you for a cup- this is paticularly directed towards my sisters- they have good tea too, Jenn!!!

Summertime...

We have really been enjoying getting to know some people better. A couple of weekends ago we went to our first Tides Game with TJ and Shannon Logsdon and had a great time. John and TJ kept on talking about the Funnel Cakes- I'm still not sure what all the excitement was about- but they waited until the bottom of the 3rd Inning and then went and found the Funnel Cake stand to fulfill their craving. Shannon and I were not as enchanted with the cakes as the guys were (which is unusual for me not to be enchanted with cake). And to make the night even better the Tides even won!!
I don't have pictures of our 4th of July festivities other than our morning of. John and I had been wanting to get Monopoly for a while so I suprised him with chocolate chip pancakes and Monopoly for our 4th of July morning breakfast. It was so nice to have the morning together. We just hung out at home until about 4:30ish when we drove to Portsmouth to meet up with some couples from our Sunday School Class to enjoy a picnic. Some of us migrated to fireworks in Portsmouth afterwards. Fireworks traffic is pretty intense so we decided to put all the guys in one car and all the girls in another so we could drive 2 cars (since there was 5 couples it worked out great). We got down there and found parking spots fairly quick, but unfortunately for me (I was driving the girls car) while I was getting lined up to execute a stellar parallel park job someone cut me off and took my spot!!!! Well, I took the advice that my brother in law Dan gave me when John and I first moved to Virginia Beach and used my horn- a few times- just to let them know I was there... just in case they hadn't figured it out....Either way we found another parking spot. It was a good night and we enjoyed our time getting to know some of the couples from church.
On Friday night Amanda and Kristen and I decided to take a spur of the moment trip to the beach. It was a hot day and a picnic and some water was the perfect cure. We had a great time floating around on the boogie (sp??) boards in the water. Kristen and I caught some waves and hats off to Amanda for her endeavor with her 7 months pregnant belly- I'm sure Baby Gretta loved it! I have loved getting to know Kristen and Amanda better. I really feel so blessed to have found some friends who I can form a bond with and share Christian struggles and life experiences- that night was such an encouragement to me!!
Anyhow- more pics to come and more to blog-- this was the preliminary. I must admit though I like it better when I can blog on a whim and not give a narrative of what's going on lately- but it's for the moms-- Love you!!!

Hello, Old Friend

The cold I had picked up at Tim and Kristen's wedding has all but left except for some coughing and congestion that Sudafed keeps under control. But one thing that cold has affected is the taste of coffee- that treacherous cold. (pls note the tone of disdain)
So, tonight I took another effort at it. Pulled out my best Gevalia- used extra rounded scoops and valiantly pushed the "ON" button on the coffee pot. I poured my cup- took a sniff- and (inhale) Hello, Old Friend- the cold is letting go.
I'm making out like a bandit with Tim and Kristen moving out of their old places into their new apartment. So far I've gotten a smashing silverware tray, some old silverware to use for work, a new food chopper (electric!!), a lazy susan tray, three Chicago Cutlery knives (just call me Rachael Ray), a really neat chair to go with my desk, and since they don't have wireless we've inherited Kristen's computer for a little bit- (can you tell with all the extra blogging?)
It's been like a free rummage sale...which is so much better than a regular rummage sale.

Lifesong

What would be your theme song?

Last night in church I really enjoyed our song service. I always enjoy learning new songs that have such strong words- Complete in Thee, Be Unto Your Name, O Great God...

And so I started thinking about it- what would be my life theme song? I think it changes. When we moved to Virginia it was Mark Schultz's He Will Carry Me. When I was a Junior in college I loved the song I Touched the Heart of God. Being a Senior in college and facing an uncertain future I clung to Be Still My Soul and really identified with A Place in This World -as I'm sure many seniors do. After one year into school and marriage with John and being away from the familiar home and family the song that comes to mind the most is Complete in Thee and Follow Love. It's funny how different songs take you through different phases of life.

So, I pose the question to you- what would be your 'life song'?

The Wedding Weekend

Just a quick post- will write more later about the wonderful weekend and the beautiful wedding. We came, we saw, they got married-- yea!!! Great trip and great time with family and it was so exciting to see Tim and Kristen finally joined together!

Looks Like We've Made It!

Just to catch you up on some of the things going on in the Varner home...
John and I have taken up tennis and are really enjoying it. It's nice to get out and get some exercise without realizing that you are getting good execise! John is a good teacher. I love having a husband who can pick up a sport and do fairly well after he tells me he's not very good (I used to believe this- after bowling with him the other night and he scored over 130 I don't believe him anymore!)

We also enjoyed our Labor Day weekend with Tim and Kristen at the mall helping them pick out their comforter and playing arcade basketball- a new experience for me!

Our first anniversary was last week. We really enjoyed our evening together. I made a duplicate of our wedding cake top and we celebrated with sparkling cider and strawberries and cake. John suprised me with a big bouquet of flowers that were from our wedding (lilies, peach and ivory roses, and hydranga (sp?)). Such a suprise and it was so beautiful it really made me cry. After all my tears about not getting flowers at work my husband spoiled me with a bouquet better than I could have imagined!! And he had flowers in the refrigerator at the seminary the whole time-- spoiled? Quite possibly.

The next morning we took off and went to Williamsburg and got our year passes. We enjoyed a few sites before the heat pushed us over to the outlet mall to enjoy an afternoon of shopping. We ended up at home later on after some good Mexican food and enjoyed the rest of the evening with a movie. These anniversaries are just like birthdays- count us in for many more!!!

We've Only Just Begun...

Pictures are coming...John and I have embarked on some more firsts for us over the past few weeks. Tennis, our first Memorial Day, our first year Anniversary- that has to be the biggest first!!

Lately I had been thinking a lot about what life was like a year ago- thinking back through our wedding week and the end of things last year. The last day of my job, packing boxes, wrapping presents for thank you's, picking my fiance' up from the airport, the last night in my childhood room, the last morning at home- that's never home like it was when your name was Gordon. Now it's Mom and Dad's house- somewhere I hope to go back and visit. Even though Virginia doesn't feel completely like home, I can never go Wisconsin home again- once choosing to enter into that new covenant with the man I love - so much has to change. And think of the marvelous things that have brought about change...I see John everyday- he has become more of my best friend than he was when we were dating and he has become such a solid support for myself.
I have learned that a new environment will show you what you are made of. Characteristics I did not realize possessed- a sobering realization when they are not all Christ-like...You disconver the good and bad- the fact that you are stronger and weaker than you thought, more persistent yet easily wearied, convinced of God's working- but often questioning His plans and purpose for you when He feels far away. And I think , "When will it be normal and Virginia will be home?" Maybe that is not in my good and righteous God's plan- I can only look at this as His way of pursuing me through more than I can comprehend.
I used to listen to 'Home' and think of John and place him as my home- and he is my home- if nothing else seems 'normal' there is the constancy of my husband and the relationship that we share...and even with all of that it's not enough without the pursuit of Christ between both of us- really, with Christ we should be content wherever we are with the knowledge of His love and the opportunity to glorify Him- in the end this world is not where we belong anyways- we have a heavenly country and a heavenly Bridegroom. Even so come, Lord Jesus...