Moving On...

I'm sitting in the midst of our cluttered - from vacation - apartment wondering where to start with packing boxes. I have to admit that I didn't think this day would come for another 2 years until after John had finished School. This house has come as such a blessed surprise to us and the reality has not set in. So as I sit on my couch wondering where to begin, I think of what this apartment has held for us and our first three years of marriage. I'll never forget the first time John swung the door open to reveal our new home filled with our boxes unloaded by my brother and sister in law and their kind friends. White walls, white floors...breath held as I walked in a daze (we had driven through the night) through the apartment - not too long of a walk. It was close to church and school, but not in a kind of location that I had ever lived in before. With some time and a scrub brush though I think we made it our own 'ghetto apartment' as we some times affectionately would call it. But wow... think of how much of our life has been formed in these four walls...we grew from newlyweds to comfortable husband and wife and best friends. We shared our first Christmas and our first Anniversary and our first family visits. And I suppose many of you are thinking, 'Sheesh, if she's this nostalgic over their first place I can't imagine what it's going to be like in the future'. Well... boo. I love filling my heart with memories and the emotions of each part of my life. I want to sit here and remember everything just as it is in our first home before I put it in a box to move on. I want to remember it when I'm old or when our son or daughter gets married and we visit them in their first home. It's been part of us. I have learned myself and I have learned and loved my husband more in this place. I believe that is worthy of a few nostalgic moments.

Wow...

I am amazed. I am amazed at God's hand in our lives and his direction. John and I just returned from our trip this morning and while I am brimming over with thoughts and stories, at the same time I find it hard to put the experience into words. So, it will have to wait. But not to fear, I do have another thing to share.

The Sunday night before we departed (we were departing Tuesday afternoon) I went for a walk with my friend who lives around the corner. John and I had been talking about looking for a home to purchase when we returned, but we held the idea pretty loosely considering everything we had looked at thus far was quite out of our price range. Sunday evening I walked past a little brick town home with a For Sale sign out front. I immediately loved the little rose bush that loomed out front and made a mental note to look it up online when I got home.

That evening at home I pulled up the realtor's site and was surprised to find this 'ready to move in' home right in our price range. John called a realtor and by Tuesday afernoon we had made an offer on the home, had it accepted, had an inspection, and signed loan papers and set up our closing date!!! This really is more than we could 'ask or think' from our Heavenly Father. The location and set up of the house is just what we were looking for. I feel so blessed. A trip to open our hearts to the Lord's goodness and blessing upon blessing. Every time I recount the story I am struck how His timing works.

I will say one thing about our trip - that after two weeks of walking where Jesus walked, following the Via Dolorosa, exploring the corridors of Jerusalem and standing where he was mocked and broken for me - I'm praying I never lose the wonder of it all.

Happy Birthday, John!!

Tomorrow is John's birthday. His birthday always comes as a capstone to our school year. One more year done and a few left to finish. Good job being so diligent, Sweetie! I'm so proud of you! Wishing you a special birthday!

I thought I'd include some recent pictures of us since I have just realized that for some reason since we got married, we haven't taken as many pictures! Easter, finishing the semester, DC and Klembash (we will dearly miss the Klems as they relocate this summer!)

Graduation was a different experience for me this year. This was the first year that we didn't have a family member graduating. This was the first year that I had close friends with husbands graduating. And that was sad. This was the first year that I have felt ownership of our seminary experience. That change started at the beginning of the year, but I really saw how deep it had taken hold of me at the completion of this semester. And... this is the first year we are past our mid point of our Seminary experience. This year's Graduation left me with much to think about.

Speaking of monumental experiences, we're preparing for our trip! I can't believe it's already just around the corner!

Training and lovin' it...

I love to workout. I like to run. And these ladies are a big part of my enjoyment when it comes to fitness. I participate in evening workouts on campus after a day in the office. We all come together from different offices, different backgrounds, but the same goal - to get through the next hour of workout. This group has allowed me to go further with fitness than I thought I could. We all work hard during workout, but a huge part of it is that we all really like one another and have a great time in workout and outside of it. We have Friday night dinners, encourage each other on with our families and husbands, laugh over happenings in the office... A few of them have husbands who are also students - so we share in the studies and discipline of student life. Their encouragement has enabled me in so many ways. They are a great part of my life - an amazing part of my life that I am thankful to the Lord for. And for real - we have so much fun!

Can I Just Be Real?

I have frustration with coupons. My sisters in law get all of these great deals by 'manipulating' the coupon system at different drug stores. I see posts on blogs about massive amounts (okay, maybe not massive - but a good amount) of money being saved by taking advantage of double coupons, triple coupons. This has not worked for me. I have had the Sunday paper delivered, clipped my coupons, and spent more money as a result of it. So, I confess. I don't use coupons. I don't like coupons. But...it works for some of you. I stood in line behind a man in Farm Fresh tonight who cut his bill in half with coupons. I watched his total go from $38 to $17 and I had great respect for him and I didn't mind standing in line while the clerk punched each coupon in to the register... and now I want in on the secret. What is it - time? scanning the fliers? I'd be curious to hear about your experience with coupons or if you don't use coupons what you do to stretch your dollar at the Grocery store.

A Day in Old Towne

I participated in my first 'yard sale' this past Saturday. What a great time with friends to spend the morning out in Old Towne with a cup of coffee and 70 degree weather! This whole idea started about 4 months ago. I am naturally a 'clutter free' person (I hate clutter). My husband accuses me of getting rid of perfectly good stuff just because I like space. Whether there's truth to that or not is not for me to say - but I will say, it felt great to unload a whole bunch of stuff in one day. It changed the way I arranged our house - I kid you not!



I know that yard sales are about making money and getting rid of your old stuff, but I really think I was the one to aquire the deals. I had extra time to spend with some friends from church as well as make some new friends and just mingle with my fellow mortals in the sun and the bliss of a Saturday morning. It was great - did I mention I enjoyed a large cup of coffee from the local coffee shop also - would have driven there just for that. Thanks to my sweet friend, Kerry, for the invite to join her neighbors in the sale!

Sham Rock On...

So, I've been waiting for pictures of the race to come before I posted on my Shamrock experience... unfortunately, the picture they sent to me was for the person with bib number 2022...mine was 2072. That part aside... I completed my first race a few weeks ago. It was an amazing experience - it was an early experience. I cannot tell you the anticipation that was inside of me the night before. I was so nervous about what to expect and going it alone since Laura (who had planned to run with me) had gotten sick that week and wasn't going to be able to run. It was almost a dread in my stomach.

I left our house a little after 6:00 am to meet up with some friends and drive down to the oceanfront where the race was being held. Once we got there, it was so much chillier than I had anticipated - which turned out to be a good thing once the race began. After waiting for awhile, we gathered at the START. I felt calm and so excited waiting for them to shoot the gun off to get started. 8:00 am arrived and the gun went off and the sea of people began to disperse and spread out. It was incredible. On the second half of my first mile I was struck with the realization that I was doing this...I'm doing this!

Running along the boardwalk was incredible - smelling the salt of the water and the sand, watching the sun climb higher over the water. I relished every part of it and completed in a time I was pleased with. I'll never forget running towards the King Neptune statue hearing my friend yelling my name from the crowd and me hollering back at her (like you would only do in an athletic/competition setting or camp, I guess) and busting across the Finish Line. Great experience...awesome feeling...and that was only an 8k... what do you think a half marathon would feel like?