Anniversary

This week I celebrate 6 years of marriage to Brett. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and such a great marriage. It's true that we have disagreements, we sometimes bicker and there are times when we have to make it work (as Tim Gunn would say). But I wouldn't change a thing.

My husband is my best friend, my supporter, my sounding board...he keeps me calm when I need it, he hugs me when I cry, he pushes me to be my best and makes me laugh when I'm cranky. He is generous, kind, funny and smart. He loves me more than I could ever explain and I love him that much too.

This is the song he played when we got engaged, and it was our first dance:

Thankful Thursday #18

This week has been a lovely week - the weather has been beautiful and now we find ourselves at the beginning of September. Fall is my favorite time of year! Today I feel very thankful and here are a few reasons why:

1) The wondrous ways that God works - and sometimes it's only after the fact that we see how God moved through years of a situation.

2) Creating - our ability to make amazing things out of parts.

3) Loving and supportive people surrounding me.

1 Chronicles 16:8-36 (selection): Give thanks to the Lord, sing praises to Him, remember His wonderful deeds, tell His glory among the nations, O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

15 years...

In honor of Richard Andrew New:

Fifteen years ago today, I came home to a scene out of anyone's worst nightmare. The pastor was there, my aunt and uncle were there, we walked in and my mom was sobbing. I was 16 and although I didn't think so then, I was just a kid.

Fifteen years is a terribly long time....it's also not so very long really. Sometimes it seems so recent, and then there are times when I have trouble remembering, and other times when it seems surreal....

A few years ago I read A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, this quote struck me as truth - tragic and beautiful: "When someone you love dies, and you're not expecting it, you don't lose [him] all at once; you lose [him] in pieces over a long time--the way the mail stops coming, and [his] scent fades from the pillows and even from the clothes in [his] closet and drawers. Gradually, you accumulate the parts of [him] that are gone. Just when the day comes--when there's a particular missing part that overwhelms you with the feeling that [he's] gone, forever--there comes another day, and another specifically missing part."

There are still days, and moments when I miss my Dad terribly. It's at those times I try to remember that when someone has helped shape who you are, they live on in you. Part of me comes from my Dad, and I'm proud to be his daughter.

Here is a picture of me and my Dad, when I was 2:

Thankful Thursday #17

Today I am thankful for:

1) Sunshine and Vitamin D.

2) My wonderful and amazing husband.

3) A job that is mostly not "work" but rather using the skills God has given me.

4) The beauty of music - how it can move your soul.

"For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be thrown away or refused if it is received with thanksgiving." 1 Timothy 4:4

Travel Log: San Francisco

I love to travel. In January, I had the opporunity to fly out to California and spend a few days with Brett in San Francisco. What an amazing time!! We hit all the major San Francisco tourist spots as well as a few lessor known gems. Here's a brief look at our trip:

The city view(from Alcatraz):


The Golden Gate bridge, large and beautiful:

Alcatraz Island:

"Be sure to wear flowers in your hair":

A trolly car ride:


Lombard Street:

We also got to see the Cable Car Museum, Pier 39, the Jelly Belly Factory, the Mission Dolores (where San Fran started), the museum of Art, Twin Peaks, Fort Point, Mt. Diablo state park and so much more! San Francisco is truly a beautiful place, I would love to live there.

Monumental: New Babies

Moments in life that are monumental:

7) Getting a new nephew

A month ago now my sister had her second child, a boy, Alexander James. What a miracle children are! It seems so surreal when they are born, it's impossible to describe the awe and love that I have within the first seconds of knowing them. It was the same way with my niece. I feel blessed to have a wonderful healthy new nephew to love.

Crab Shumai

This past week I went out with a few girlfriends and we went to this great sushi place in Fishers called Wild Ginger (go there!). We had some amazing crab Shumai as a starter - it was truly delightful. On the way home I got to thinking, most of what I eat is mediocre. I mean I like it well enough, but really my food is mostly for sustaining my life.

Most people have between 8,000 and 10,000 taste buds and I'm just pretty sure that we do not use nearly enough of them. There are very few times a year that I have something truly spectacular. I've never really put a lot of thought into it before now, but now I wonder why I am wasting my life eating foods that I just like "well enough" when there are foods out there that make me swoon.

You're probably thinking I'm being a bit dramatic but as far as simple pleasures go, not much can beat a truly fantastic taste of something delightful.

PS. I have only been three or four times to a Sushi place and I want to thank those two for introducing me to a new thing. You know who you are.