Challenge II, D13: Weekend Wrap-up

Happy, happy Monday, friends :)

Before I go any further, I have to say this: Thank you God for Ad.v.il.

Oy.

Waking up with a headache did not give my Monday a very promising start, but I am happy to say that with a cup of coffee and some ibuprofen pulsing through my veins, I am beginning to feel like a human being again. Hallelujah! ♥ Onward & upward!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I was a lazy photographer this weekend, so I'll have to paint the pictures for you with words today :)

I did manage to get one photo though:



I did it! 20 whole miles :) Woohoo!

Heh. Actually, this was a rather dismal run for me. I made a bad decision, and tried a different kind of fuel than I am used to mid-run ... and had stomach cramps the rest of the way. Happily & surprisingly, overall my pace didn't take too big of a hit, and I am so proud that I got my mileage in. Also, I am so, so grateful for my friend Tracy, who walked with me and encouraged me the whole time. Tracy, if you are reading this, you are wonderful-- thank you again!

I spent my Saturday afternoon apple picking (MacIntosh! My favorites!) with my parents, which was awfully nice because I haven't seen them very much lately. It's incredible to me how quickly we can fill our 20 lb bags... I remember it felt like it took a long time when I was tiny ;) I feel like it's really fall now that I've been apple picking! (And you can bet you'll see some apples & "apple-y" desserts in the near future!.... I need to make a pie for my Spectacular September, remember?!)

Saturday night was date night :) Jon & I went out to dinner (always a treat!), and then(!) we finally made it over to the new frozen yogurt shop (Orange Leaf) near us! I have been wanting to go for quite a while, and it was a perfect post-20 mile treat. I wish I had pictures to show you, but (a) it was a self serve joint, and frankly, my cups are never particularly "photo worthy" ;) and (b) it was gone pretty quickly. I got a "strawberry cheesecake" creation with graham cracker crumbs, strawberries & chocolate chips, and Jon got a peanut butter/brownie batter mix with cookie dough, oreo and chocolate sauce on top. ... I'm pretty sure we'll be going back soon ... and often! We brought our ice cream home & snuggled on the couch to watch a movie -- a perfect end to a (practically) perfect day ♥

Sunday was spent worshiping, napping, watching some spectacular thunderstorms & walking (not in the rain, thank goodness!) And to cap off a good weekend, Jon & I had a "Special Sunday Dinner" of smothered pork chops (pork chops covered in a mix of brown sugar, apples & stuffing. ... One of my most favorite fall meals!) Also, yesterday held long moments of reflection & prayer; quiet thanksgiving for brave & faith-filled individuals who have done so much for our country and our freedom.



Today, I am thankful for new beginnings. I am thankful for sunshine & cooler temperatures. I am thankful for a patient & loving husband, and a big God who cares for me & seeks my heart. ...And I am most certainly thankful to be rid of that headache ;)

Your Turn: How was your weekend? What was a highlight for you? What are you thankful for on this Monday? ♥

Challenge II, D12: Good List Friday, volume vi

Ahh, Friday.... So good to see you again!

I love Fridays for so many reasons. First, it's got the obvious-- 'It's almost the weekend' thing going for it... but also, for me, it's S-bux pumpkin spice latte day, AND my day to sleep in!

And don't even get me started on the loveliness of Friday nights! Friday evening in our house means sweat pants, spaghetti & movies on the couch. ... Which I know may not sound like much (my 20 year old self would be sighing & shaking her head...) -- but it's perfect. A cozy & relaxing way to end a work week; a time of quiet renewal before another great weekend of memory making ♥

I hope your Friday is equally lovely! And I'll let you get back to it, after another installment of Good List Fridays:



Good List:

1. Jon. Sometimes I am completely awestruck that this man loves me, and has chosen me to spend the rest of his life with. I am so blessed.


2. Pumpkin Spice Lattes. "Come to Mama...."
3. Snuggling Gracie close, and feeling her little heart beating. Life is so precious ♥
4. Red Wine
5. Fall-scented candles in mason jars
6. Courage
7. Seriously, nothing beats a pair of worn-in, well loved jeans.
8. This morning when I awoke, our town was blanketed in thick white fog. This provided for a mystical (if slow) drive in to work ;)
9. Encouragement from friends. ...And the way it always comes at the perfect time ♥
10. "There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be." - George Sheehan

Happy weekending, friends!

Your Turn: What tops your "Good List" this week? What are your weekend plans? ...I'm running 20 miles & picking my favorite apples (McIntosh!)

Challenge II, D11: Wrangling {Goals}

It's been a week of transition. And it's obvious to me that (a) Mother Nature thinks so, too and (b) Mother Nature (like me!) is stubborn & does not always deal well with change. This week we have been blessed with cooler weather, but also a lot of gray and rainy skies.

Honestly? I don't mind too much. I love crisp gray fall days, when you can smell the chill in the air and the trees are vibrant against a dark sky. Also, this is perfect weather for hot tea, cozy blankets, pillar candles, kitty snuggling and sweatshirts.

Not bad at all, in my opinion :)

And now here we are, teetering on the cusp of another weekend. I love holiday weekends, and the way the following week seems to fly by afterwards (you know, which is only fair, as the week preceding a holiday always seems to creep by ;) It's been (as always) a good & busy week for us. ...One which I will attempt wrangle into submission via stories, pictures & memories.

{Wrangling}

(A weekly round up. Each week I am going to “wrangle” my life's happenings into a post filled with pictures, lists & general tidbits about the past 7 days.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~



Our CA trip is coming.... Soon!

Exactly 10 days from now I will be in Northern California with the love of my life, on a trip of a lifetime. And so tonight I celebrated with a glass of wine. (Duh.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just to keep it real here: I like to be as positive as I can be (in real life & on the blog), but I am most definitely a normal human being. Frustrating & annoying things happen to me all the time.

For example: Here's my Tuesday...

(I am pleased to report that I was not, in fact, harboring a stowaway mosquito...)

And then this morning I missed my mouth & poured piping hot coffee down my cleavage. (I couldn't make this stuff up.) Trying to figure out how to discretely stuff tissues in my shirt to mop it up was, in a word, tricky.

As part of my "woman of grace" initiative, I am working to bounce back quickly in these situations; to smile & move on....One day at a time...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Marathon Training Update:

It's been a rather mellow running week, apart from the race on Sunday. Which has been nice for two reasons :)

First off, I did just run a race on Sunday. An awesome, empowering, exhausting race. I needed some recovery miles after that, for sure.

And secondly, I *gulp* am running 20 miles on Saturday morning. ...Which, needless to say, will blast my weekly mileage well above what it's been before.

I am actually quite nervous about Saturday's 20. Realistically, I know that it's just 2 miles more than the last long run I did. ... But 20 miles sounds incredible long ;) Nerves or no... I know I can do it, and I'm looking forward to reporting back to you later.

As a further update, I was able to identify & set some marathon goals for myself this week, and I'd like to share them with you. I take no credit for the a,b,c tier system, but I think the idea is a fabulous one! Here are my goals for my very 1st marathon:

A: (My feel good, I can't believe I did this goal): Finish the race (upright) with a smile on my face.
B: (My "you go, girl... you surpassed your own expectations' goal) Finish the race in 5:25.
C: (My "Holy *bleep*, NO WAY, THAT'S AWESOME!!!" goal) Finish the race in 5:20.

(Please note: I would prefer to be smiling & upright in *ALL* scenarios!)

Stay tuned to see how it all unfolds :)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

... Speaking of goals, I was having a good time looking through my old posts the other day (tell me I'm not the only one who does this...) and I stumbled upon my "28 Things by Age 28" list. Just for fun, I decided to give a little update (I am about 1/2 way through my 5 year time frame, after all!)


Amy's 28 by 28 (original post here ):

• Visit Carlisle, PA with J. Completed June, 2010.
• Go to San Francisco with J. To be completed September, 2011.
• Go to Boston
• Go to an all-inclusive Sandals Resort with J (perhaps for our 5th Anniversary?)
• Run a marathon To be completed October 16, 2011.
• Write out a life plan and start making it happen. An ever evolving process. See below...
• I'd really like to attend a Healthy Living Summit one of these years :)
• Buy a house with J Completed April 1, 2010.
• Have a baby
• Help out with a Chrysalis Flight
• Host a holiday dinner for my family - I DID host the 4th of July celebration this year, but that wasn't really what I had in mind... I plan to check this one off the list in December, 2011.
• See my all-time favorite band (AC/DC) in concert.
• Do a TTD/ Fearless Bridal portrait session with Kelly.
• Go hiking in the Rocky Mountains
• Go back to Gatlinburg with J.
• Start playing guitar again.
• Get involved with a "young adult" bible study. A real one :) I will be participating in a 10 week study entitled "4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice"... starting next Monday!
• Run an 8 minute mile. Oy.
• Run a sub-2 hour half marathon.... Oy vey
• Visit the Napa and Sonoma Valleys-- Tour lots of wineries! To be completed September, 2011.
• Go to a Country Music Concert :) Completed August, 2010
• Go on a roadtrip with J. (This is something he's always wanted to do-- I think it would be fun to go with him!)
• Go to Europe.
• Keep a garden. Sigh. Currently, I feel like an 8 minute mile is more attainable... but I'd like to keep it on the list of goals!
• Learn to fold a fitted sheet Check & mark!
• Bake a cake from scratch Yup. I've made vanilla cupcakes & bohemian wedding cake (a la Jenna at Eat, Live, Run)-- can't wait to make the wedding cake again soon ... it's a pumpkin-y fall treat!
• Go see "The Nutcracker" downtown at Christmastime Maybe this Christmas? I'm actually (please don't kill me!) really looking forward to Christmas all ready. Going to do a lot of things differently this year ♥
• See a Broadway Show

As I was looking through the list, I was really awestruck by the phenomena of shifting priorities... As we grow into the people we were meant to be, it makes perfect sense that our priorities change. And that is in no way a sad thing. It is a good thing. Who am I to think that I can plan all the little details?! (And how painfully boring my life might be if I could!)

I am excited to look back on this list again when I turn 28. To see how much I have accomplished ... but also to reflect on all the things that have been accomplished that I never dreamed of when I developed the list. I created this list 2 years ago, and all ready, some of these items aren't as important to me.

It's a beautiful thing... this crazy life of ours ♥

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I love this day."

I've been seeing this phrase popping up everywhere this week, and I like to think perhaps the universe it trying to tell me something.

"I love this day, indeed."

Have a wonderful Thursday night, friends :) I'll see you back here tomorrow for another "Good Friday"!

Challenge II, D10: Finally home

(photo credit)

Be still and know that I am God

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know that I

Be still and know that

Be still and know

Be still

Be

::Psalm 46:10::

So I'm standing in the kitchen tonight, washing dishes from the day and unloading and reloading the dishwasher.

Gracie is chirping at me from her favorite perch on top of the refrigerator, and the oven is rhythmically clicking as our dinner bakes. The timer counts down 15:36, 15:35, 15:34 ...

I hear Jon moving upstairs.

I pause to look out the window in front of me, onto the softly twilit world. I hear crickets singing, and feel a soft, fragrant breeze waft across my face, kissing my eyelashes.

I breathe. In. Out.

And I realize, in this very moment, I am finally home. This is what my heart was aching for all those months when I was searching ... not even knowing what to ask for.

A Perfect peace.

Perfect comfort.

And my heart beats, Thank You, thank You, thank YOU... for this one complex, hard, uniquely wonderful & excruciatingly beautiful life ♥

Challenge II, D8: Good Friday & Inspiration

Happy September, friends! ...More importantly, Happy FRIDAY!
(Personally, I had several "false positives" this week-- you know, when you wake up thinking it's *Friday* and it's actually ... um, Wednesday? ...yup, this weekend has been a loong time coming...)

SO, when I last left you, I was really excited to write my Thursday challenge post about Inspiration...what inspires me, who inspires me, and what sets me on fire to write.


And then, last night when I sat down to actually expound on my ideas and 'abracadabra' them into words, I was feeling rather, erm, "uninspired". In fact, I had a major case of writer's block, which rather quickly turned into a very cranky Amy. Blah. Eventually, after 3 different blog posts starts, and 2 hours of staring at a blinking cursor on my computer screen; I decided I was just tired, and gave myself permission to go to bed and "try again tomorrow" :)

I have discovered that there is no way (for me at least) to force inspiration & creation. I'm sure that if I keep searching, I'll be able to find a couple magic ingredients that can jump-start my creative writing brain -- but for now, I am learning to be content with seizing the ideas as they come. It's rarely convenient, but it's a blessing all the same, and I'll work from where I am ♥


Anyhoo ... I hope you all had a wonderful yesterday! Did you do anything special to celebrate the 1st day of September? I must admit that while my heart celebrated the beginning of my favorite month with fervor, I didn't do anything out of the ordinary :) No PSL's for me, as I was typically running late on my way to work. ...I did manage to pin some "fall inspiration" on Pinterest, if that counts ;) However, I plan to welcome in the season full force this weekend, with a top-to-bottom house cleaning, and by bringing out the fall decorations on Monday (if I can wait that long!)

Whew. Can I tell you how grateful I am that this is a holiday weekend coming up?! I know that I don't have too much longer now before the 'Big Vacation'... but my soul is craving a day off to just be still and "catch up with life".

It's funny because as excited as I am about having a day off, I can all ready tell that I am going to have to actively remind myself to slow down. There's a lot I want to do this weekend, but more than the doing, I really want to be present & enjoy every moment. My plan is to have 1 working day (I'm thinking Saturday, after a good night's sleep & leisurely breakfast with Jon -- pumpkin pancakes, perhaps?), and then have 2 days to just 'go with the flow'.

I'm looking forward to telling you all about it, as it unfolds :)

For now, I am thrilled to present you with another installment of 'Good List Fridays'



Good List:

1. Jon ♥ Gosh, I love that man.
2. Coffeeeeeeeee. It has very much been a 2 cup-a-day week :)
3. Having the luxury of being about to take a step back and look at the big picture: how far I've come :)
4. New magazines
5. Holiday Weekends
6. Cleaning the clutter from my house & my mind
7. "California Dreaming..."
8. Morning runs with the ladies!
9. I know in a couple months I will be lamenting the short length of the days and the scarcity of daylight ... but right now I am enjoying the gentle forward creep of the sunsets. I love the sweet warmth & scent of early September nights, and I love the way the lengthening shadows beckon us to come in, come together, and relax at the end of a long day.
10."Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic."
- Tim Noakes


And now, just for fun, another list for you! Fitness blogger Gina (over at fitnessista.com) has put together a to-do list at the beginning of each month of tasks that will make the following 30-days especially great. I love this idea, and am creating my own list for September:

"Make September Spectacular":

- Go apple picking
- Bake an apple pie from scratch ♥
- Plant vibrant-colored mums
- Burn "Fall-Scented" candles
- Sleep with the windows open (once it get a bit more temperate... we're getting in to the mid-90's today, yikes.)
- Clean out my closet - put away summer clothes to make room for cozy sweaters & scarves & boots
- Begin strength training (for real this time.) Do push-ups/ sit-ups etc. 2 days a week.
- Start walking with Jon on week days after work.
- Make Pumpkin Chili
- Host a dinner party!

Your Turn: What are your weekend plans? What is one thing you plan to do to make this September the best one yet?

Challenge II, D7: {Wrangling August}

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Can you believe that we are all ready at the end of August? I (self-proclaimed "Fall-lover" that I am) am not complaining-- merely shaking my head in wonder that the past four weeks flew by quite as fast as they did-- it's a blur I tell you! ...Such is life, I suppose.

...But a glorious blur it has been ;)

I also cannot believe that I am (as of the moment I press "publish") 1/3 of the way through the 21 day challenge! It's been a delight so far, and I cannot wait to see what words will pour out in the later 2/3 of the journey.

As I am sitting down to write tonight, it occurs to me that this may be the first challenge post that I haven't had completely planned out. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't have any ideas: I've had all sorts of ideas rattling around in my brain all day ;)

And so tonight I'm bringing out an old favorite: a Wednesday Wrangling Post, which I feel lends itself quite nicely to the beautiful chaos that has been my week so far.

Let's dive on in!

(A weekly round up. Each week I am going to “wrangle” my life's happenings into a post filled with pictures, lists & general tidbits about the past 7 days.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although it's been (surprisingly) busy (read: a project that we thought would take 1 day has now taken 3 ... and counting) week... it's been a really good one! Somehow, after an 18 miler & a "non-over-abundance" (did you get that?) of sleep this past weekend, I hit the ground running on Monday morning ... and I haven't stopped since. I feel like I am giving 110%, and going to bed exhausted, but completely at peace. ... And that's a great feeling.

Still, I am looking forward to the mellow respite that the a long 3-day weekend promises. While I do have some plans (i.e.: 1/2 marathon in Sunday morning, family Labor Day celebration on Sunday night; both of which I am sure you'll hear more about later!) I am actively trying to leave the rest of the weekend open. It's going to be a good one though ... that much I know is true.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Um yeah. So not to toot my own horn (*toot, toot!*) but this peach butter tastes awesome. I cannot recommend Julie's recipe enough.

Try it, you'll love it. (Also, it will make your house smell warm & spicy & fall-y while it is cooking down... Yummmmmm.)

...and if you're like me, you'll be eating it out of the crock pot jar with a spoon....

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(photo credit)

The leaves are changing colors ...

Our morning runs are crisp & dark once again ...

Pumpkin spice lattes are back at Starbucks ...

.... I'm in heaven.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Last but not least, I was nominated by my sweet friend Hannah (check out her blog, Culture Connoisseur!) for the 'Versatile Blogger Award'.



Thank you so much, Hannah :) I am flattered, and so happy that the blog world introduced me to you! ♥

In order to accept the award, I have to tell you 7 things about myself, and then pass on the award to other deserving bloggers!

7 things about me:

1. I am an engineer. This does not in any way equip me to deal with real life engineering problems like packing the car or loading the dishwasher ;)

2. I hate doing laundry. Loathe it, in fact. I wait until I am down to my last pair of socks before I force myself to tackle the mountain of clothes in my clothes basket.

3. I am a mac.

4. I have been to a metallica concert.

5. ...I actually love the heels of bread. They make the best toast!

6. I sleep best when there's a warm kitty at my feet ♥

7. I think technology is fantastic, but nothing beats a good old fashioned, hand written letter. I keep a box of special letters by my bed, and read them on nights when I need a little lift.


And now, I am honored to pass this award on to some other wonderful bloggers. Like Hannah, I'll pick 5:

Heidi's Big Adventure

Running My Life

Daisy Girl

Amelia Grazia

A Change of Pace

These ladies are absolutely lovely, and they inspire me! To me, each of them is a perfect example of a versatile blogger :)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And now if you'll excuse me, I need to go snuggle Gracie, who has been patiently sleeping on my foot waiting with me while I blog. I'll be back tomorrow with a post about inspiration...

Have a fantastic Wednesday night -- Happy 'Last of August'!

Challenge II, D7: 'All American'

I admit that I have never been much of a sports fan.

Don't get me wrong. I rock a good tailgate party with the best of 'em, and I'll happily tag along to any sporting event that you'd like to take me to -- but if left to my own devices, I'll rarely watch a game (I average about 1 game a year - the Superbowl ;).

Honestly, (and please don't think less of me for saying this!) I don't *really* even understand the rules of football, other than, as explained to me during a casual game in college "get the ball & run like hell to the other side of the field-- without getting tagged or tackled."



So I guess what I mean to say is that while I may not be a "pure sports fan" (for the sake of the sport itself) I have always appreciated & loved the social aspect :)

... And baseball games have always held a special place in my heart.



I'm not sure exactly what it is, but baseball games have always had a certain romance to them.

They evoke memories of sweet summer days, and the characteristic scent of peanuts + fried food + cotton candy bring back memories of hot August nights in my childhood.

When I set foot in a ballpark and something in my heart just sighs -- heavy with the sweet nostalgia of homecoming; set aflame to the beat of simpler times and classic Americana.

Last night Jon & I got the chance to go to a Columbus Clippers (Central Ohio's Minor League Baseball team) game with my company. And while we had a great time laughing with my co-workers (& Jon had a good time discussing video games with a pint-sized acquaintance --oh, I SO want boys someday ;) ... more than as a social event -- this was a fantastic date.



Sometimes the best part of being out in a crowd is 'being alone together', if you know what I mean. We munched hot dogs (dime-a-dog night) & sipped some of (I'm sure) the last 'Summer Shandy' of the year; we held hands and whispered & laughed together. We cheered & boo-ed and joked with the people I spend 25% of my week with--but don't often get to kick back with :)

And the weather couldn't have been better for us. When the game ended at 10, it was a crisp, clear night in the mid-60's. Perfection.

"The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and what could be again."
- James Earl Jones in Field of Dreams (1989)

Challenge II, D6: "The art of weekending"

I'm not sure if you have noticed or not, but there are two very distinctive weekend personalities. There are the people who watch the minute hand click to closing time on Friday and take off... ready to party the night away and spend every second of the weekend doing -- flitting effortlessly (& with endless energy) from one activity to the next. Then there are those who, at the close of the work week, leisurely head home, change into their comfiest clothes, and settle into the couch to spend the weekend not doing... just because they can ;)

Me? I like to think that I dabble a little bit in both worlds. I enjoy a Sunday afternoon nap just as much as the next person, and love spending a Saturday afternoon reading... but I'm on the go quite a bit, too. What is important to me is to soak up every moment of the weekend, but to be able to sit in bed on Sunday night completely at peace and renewed.

It is an art I am working on perfecting.

But this weekend? It was pretty perfect :)

You all ready know about my yesterday --truly, 18 miles was pretty much all I did... Ah! With the exception of making this for dinner... yummy! Post-run carbo-loading, anyone? (Um, and really, peeling a butternut squash is a workout in it's own right... Hah!)

So now without further ado I'll catch you up on today!

Today I:

* used & washed my frying pan 3 times.

* went to church & participated in heart moving worship

* hugged my sister ♥

* chopped about a million peaches

* swooned at the warm scent of 'fall' emanating through the house as the batch of peach butter cooked.

* roasted my first chicken on a bed of potatoes and carrots

* set the table for a lovely Sunday dinner for two. (When I was growing up, Sunday dinners were always a special meal during the week, enjoyed at the dining room table. I hope to keep that tradition for my own family. ♥)

* snuggled Baron and Gracie often

* enjoyed a glass of white wine with Jon to toast to another good week

* lingered in each moment as long as I could

* snuggled on the couch with Jon & the last of the haagen daas (!) after dinner

* ended the weekend deeply peaceful, and deeply thankful for the opportunity to do it all again starting tomorrow.

Your turn: How was your weekend, friends? Do you have any special "Sunday traditions" to start your week on the right foot?

Challenge II, D5: Run with me!

18 mile club

Hey, hey friends! I hope your Saturday has been a wonderful one for you -- equal parts exciting & relaxing :)

This post is coming at you a little late tonight because I have been having a hard time keeping my eyes open for more than 30 minutes at a time. Seriously. So. Tired.

Tonight's post is going to be picture heavy... but sometimes it's more fun to get the story through the pictures.

Today I woke at 5:15 am.

...And kept company by my favorite little friend, I began what has become my Saturday morning ritual. Dress, Eat, Coffee, Fill water bottles, pack 'snacks' for the trail, pull hair into ponytail & head out the door. It's a beautiful thing, and after 13 weeks of training, it's a routine that is becoming second nature to me.

At 6:30 am I met up with my MiT group, and we headed out to the trail.

Each run has a beauty & a challenge all it's own. This week's run was incredibly hard for me mentally, but it also included moments of breathtaking beauty, like this picture I snapped of the sunshine on the water at Antrim Park.

3+ hours later, we were done; ready to write another successful training run into our archives. Even when it hurts, or when I am frustrated & mentally 'not in the game', or when I feel like I have nothing let to give; it's such a blessing to me. I am humbled and awed at what my body can do, and that I've been given a chance to pursue this dream of mine.

♥ 10.16.2011. ♥

Challenge II, D4: Good Friday Happenings

And Happy Friday to you, friends!


I don't know about you, but for me it feels like this week has just flown by. It's both exhilarating and calming to be on the cusp of another weekend. Now, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but this is looking like its going to be a really great one.

In the plans:

* Peach butter!! (via Savvy Julie!)
* I have some great dinners to cook up, too -- Yay, meal planning! (Roasting my 1st cornish hen this weekend! Squee!!)
* Sonoma / San Francisco Planning (Our trip is almost upon us, and I am getting more excited by the day!)
* 18 miles tomorrow morning with MiT (which I am disgustingly excited about, hehe...)
*... and on a not-unrelated note, a blog post coming at you tomorrow that I am also crazy excited about :)
* Possible apple picking tomorrow (Gala)
* Church on Sunday morning ♥ I haven't gone to worship in a couple weeks, and returning after any length of absence always feels like coming home...

So, bring on the weekending! But before we get there, it is a good Friday, after all... and you know what that means:



Good List:
1. Jon. I'm excited to get to spend time with my best friend after a busy week!
2. Inspiration...



3. Trader Joe's salsa. Yum, yum, yum.
4. Favorite books that you read over, and over and over again. ... And that you fall a little more in love with each time.



5. My lunchtime treat today was to take myself to my favorite Uptown Westerville Coffee Shop for what is quite possibly the best fall drink out there. ... And I don't say that lightly. Pumpkin Chai ... I think you are a missing piece of my soul.
6. Laurie passed her nursing boards! Wahoo!! Laurie, RN has such a nice ring to it :)
7. "Superwoman days". You know those days when you get everything checked off your to-do list? They are a rare and precious commodity... and so worth the wait.



8. Good hair days (heh... which, for me, are also rare & precious commodities.)
9. Girlfriends
10. "Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. Unshakable faith is faith that has been shaken." ~ Unknown



Your turn: Any good weekend plans? Spill 'em... Did the past 7 days fly by for you, too? What was the highlight of your week?

Challenge II, D3: Scenes from the Kitchen

Today has been a really good day :)

And it culminated this evening when I marched home from work, put on my proverbial apron (note to self: buy apron) and got busy in the kitchen :)

About once a week, I like to treat myself and cook a really involved dinner -- the more peeling & chopping the better! This week was all ready destined to be a good week for me because I finally disciplined myself to sit down on Sunday afternoon and sketch out a meal plan for the next 7 days-- and the plan contains not one, but 3(!!) such meals (full disclosure: I am terrible at meal planning. This may be the first time when I have actually been successful with it. It's something I am working on ;)

Tonight's creation was "Mama Pea's Green & Red Lentil Enchiladas" from from her wonderful new cook book!


It's no secret that cooking is one of my love languages. It's a way I can give back to those I love, that, at the same time, brings me incredible peace.

I love the whispery swish of a sharp knife cutting through onion ; the characteristic click of the oven as it heats ; the satisfying sizzle of chopped vegetables hitting melted butter in the skillet. (Don't even get me started on the scent of caramelizing onions in butter. Mercy.) (Also, note to self: add cast iron skillet to Christmas list... along with donut pan and aforementioned apron :)

I love the vibrance of chopped fresh vegetables (I've always thought jalapenos and tomatoes were especially beautiful). And I love the warmth that emanates from the kitchen when dinner is on the way, both literally and figuratively.


I love that when Jon keeps me company in the kitchen when I cook we always circle back around to conversations about family. (It just makes sense.)

I never dreamed I would enjoy this classic aspect of being a "grown up" so much. And I am honored that somehow this has become my sacred initiative: to feed my family, body & soul.


You can have your spa-like bathrooms and romantically lit patios (and the thought of both makes my heart thump!)...

But as for me, my refuge will always be my kitchen.

Challenge II, D2: A Change of Plans

The main problem with being a classic "Type A" (which, if you haven't figured out by now, I most definitely AM) is that life rarely follows a formula. And it's even more of a rarity that life will follow your plans 100% of the time. ...And if there's one thing we "Type A's" don't do well, it's budgeting in some breathing room for those inevitable curves in the road.

However, I would contend that some of the best things in my life came about because of a change in plans :) And the "Type A" in me will just have to put that thought on her list; learn it, own it, and love it.

Today has been a perfect example of the universe reminding me that I cannot plan everything out; and of God reminding me He's still in charge, and it's all good.

The day just started out with a delightful change of plans for me. It began at 4:45 am with a spectacular thunderstorm, and, consequently the delay of our group's planned 5 mile run. This meant that I was able to crawl back into bed and snuggle with Jon & the kitties for another 2 hours. Heaven.

And this evening my plans to cook a multi-step vegetarian feast took a detour when my friend Heather invited me to join her to make up for our missed morning miles. 5 hot, sweaty, exhausting miles later, (I promise to never sugar-coat running for you. It is wonderful, but some days are really hard) the last thing I wanted to do was crawl home and spend a couple hours in the kitchen. So, instead, I crawled home & ate a popsicle, took a nice long shower to wash off the 2 tons of sweat that had accumulated on my body (blech), and now I'm munching on a couple pieces of BBQ chicken pizza that Jon saved for me and spending some quality time with my favorite blogging buddy, Gracie. And this is just lovely. I am so proud that Heather and I persevered this evening in less-than-ideal running conditions. And while preparing an elaborate meal lifts my heart and brings me peace, tonight I think my soul was craving some time to just sit and be quiet.

And so I will oblige it.

I think often of the woman I want to be... and if I could sum it up in one word, it would be this: grace. I want to be the woman who exudes calm & comfort. The woman who is capable and un-flappable. A woman you just want to be with. And I know that in order to become this woman I need to let go. I need to dream and plan, but then step back and say, "I've given this my best, what will be will be."... And mean it. I need to step out from the shadow of my own expectations, so that I can rejoice in the beauty of reality.

I need to let go. Unclench my iron grip on lists and plans, and hold open my hands for the blessings to come.


I've always loved this quote, and it seems only appropriate that I share it with you tonight:

"Every­thing hap­pens for a rea­son, peo­ple change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so you can appre­ci­ate them when they’re right, and some­times good things fall apart so bet­ter things can come together."
- Mar­i­lyn Monroe

Your Turn: What is something in your life that hasn't turned out exactly how you might have expected it... but in it's own right, much better than you could have dreamed?

Challenge II, D1: Comfort

(Pardon the dusty keyboard. Yikes.)

Happy Tuesday, friends! Welcome to day 1 of my new challenge series! In lots of ways, this has been a good day: great run with my girls this morning, time for devotions (it's been hard to sit down to devotions in the morning with the early runs. When it comes down to shower vs. devotions, my spirit would prefer the latter, but my colleagues, the former. You're welcome, Mr.boss-man.) and a good breakfast (oatmeal... loving this cooler weather!) But as the day progressed other "not so good" things started piling up, one on top of the other, and by the end of the day I was just tired...

(I must say that I am feeling very blessed to not have been more affected by this crazy earthquake that the east coast dealt with today.... I felt it, but that was the extent. My heart is with all those dealing with the outcome of that event tonight...)

And so I did what any girl one would do: I came home & called a girlfriend, poured myself a big glass of milk, and busted out the jojos. ;)

And now here I am cookies in hand, wrapped in a blanket, kitties close by, playing some of my favorite relaxing music and writing. And I feel worlds better. I think I'm beginning to master this art of 'comfort'.... ♥

As I've gotten older, one of the concepts I have been most thrilled & fascinated to learn is that of 'comfort'. I love the fact that comfort is such a personal phenomena, and I love even more that it's a fluid concept that shifts and changes form for each person as time goes on.

For most of us, out first definition of comfort was probably falling asleep in our mothers' arms. As we grew up and our knowledge of the universe expanded, our definition grew to include things like "worn-in jeans, downy blankets, and hot cocoa" (among other things).

And while I hold all these things to be truth, as far as what comfort is-- I have come to know something else, as well: that above and beyond any tangible thing, comfort is what make a house a home.

I love that my life is a healthy mix of social nights out & quiet nights in. I love to go out and be loud with my girlfriends, on the nights when the stories and the wine and giggles flow freely. And that's one kind of comfort, for sure: a comfort found in being absolutely free to be yourself. But I also (equally fiercely!) love the quiet nights in , filled with bottomless cups of hot tea, plates of homemade cookies, sleepy kitties & snuggling on the couch with my man.

It is here, at home, that I am most at peace; it is here where I can finally allow the weight of the world and the stress of the work day roll off my shoulders.

During the second half of my "college life", I was moving every 3 months as a co-op student. Moving was a great experience for me not only because it took me to new places, but because it forced me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. And while some people might argue that moving every 3 months is detrimental to ones sense of comfort & self because 'you never have enough time to put down any roots' ... I would argue that moving every 3 months allowed me to branch out, and, perhaps more importantly, that my roots were firmly planted to begin with. Also, undeniably, moving every 3 months gave me a better sense of what "home" really was for me.

Since Jon & I moved into this house at the end of last March, this is the house that I've lived in the longest (outside of my parents home, where I spent 18+ years!) Our house is not the biggest on the street, and our flower beds are far from perfect, but it is cozy and perfect & ours. I remember lying awake on our air mattress the first night we had the house, listening to the cats explore their vast new domain & and Jon's soft, regular breathing. I didn't sleep well that night -- I couldn't. My brain was positively racing with the promise & possibilities of this new house. This is the house we will learn how to be married in. This is the house we will bring our babies home from the hospital to. This is the house we will live in as we chase our dreams, each day getting closer and closer to making them a reality. This is our home.

It is my personal promise that I will strive to bring this feeling of welcome & comfort to anyone who steps through our door.

I am a homebody, and I am not ashamed of it.

Rather, I am proud.