hi and hello.

We're back!

It was such a fantastic holiday! We had a great week and I have lots of pictures to share, but unfortunately my camera cord is m.i.a. tucked away in a box or bag somewhere. So I guess my show and tell will wait until it is found.

The day after we got back we painted the bathroom, put the kitchen trim up, etc, etc, etc. and last night? Our first 2 truckloads of our belongings. Little by little, our house is turning into a home.

Friday night will be our first night in the little blue house. Ah, God is good.

here are a few more updates...

-watched a documentary on Russian ballerinas and oh how I wish I was one.

-have been having the most insane dreams lately.

-school starts next week and I can hardly wait.

-tomatoes. yum.

-babies, babies, babies. have found myself doing a lot of holding them, feeding them, burping them, praising God for them, and waiting for them to make their arrival into this world. so excited to one day have one of my own.

-got over 25 spider bites while on vacay. they have just stopped itching are itching less but my legs look like I have case of the chicken pox.

-my hair is the longest is has possibly ever been.

-currently reading an article titled "Finding the Third Way: why we must fight for unity and common ground in the church, even while we disagree" Ah yes, a great passion of mine.

-feeling very fulfilled these days. even in the business of packing and moving, experiencing great peace. hope you are, too.

on holiday.

picture taken 2 summers ago during my first trip to NC

well, as of tonight at 8:40 we'll be on our way to the east coast.

on the menu is a lot of great family time, card games, good food, sunrises at the beach, church, meeting up with my dear friend Kaylyn, driving up to Virginia, meeting Danny's dad's side of the family, taking long walks, picture-taking, playing, laughing, and DC monuments, cupcakes, burgers, and coffee shops.

am so excited to just be.

I promise to come back with plenty of stories, pictures, & house updates.

until then, my friends...

love.

bye bye Jer.

This is Jeremy.

He's been my intern this summer...

We laughed a lot, played games, loved on students, led, scheduled, prepared, planned, prayed, and read together.

Now he is back to school.

& I miss him already.

Have I told you? At the end of this year we'll be looking to hire another youth staff person to work alongside me. Boy, am I excited! Nothing like having a great team-mate on staff.

trim.

(picture is irrelevant to the post, but evidence that we did indeed get fro-yo this summer.  see?  my list to the left is getting shorter!) 

The trim is done...

Huzzah!

While we're gone the owner of our house is going to re-do the bathroom with a new vanity, medicine cabinet, and flooring.  He's also going to sand the original hardwood floors and stain them.  Then comes the cleaning of the linoleum in the kitchen & laundry room.  Ah, it will be good.

When we get back we'll be doing little things like spraying the house down, sweeping out the garage, hanging curtain rods, and making sure the house is squeaky-clean before the move-in.

If time permits, we'll also paint the currently pink bathroom.  If not, we'll live with it for a week or two.  (no biggie, right??)

Am so excited.

Who's up for a little party to celebrate?

house update.

We worked all day Saturday...

finished the white trim on our guest room (thanks for the help Kevin & Nicole)

started the trim in the kitchen

moved the stove around

cleaned beneath it

swept the floors

watered the lawn

got locked in a bedroom

took a break to walk Denver

ate crackers, cheese, chicken, hummus, and pita bread

and sweat. a lot.

Because this house is so old, there are a lot of little oddities.

like, bathroom shelving that is incredibly awkwardly placed.

and squeaky hardwood floors.

and closets Danny has to duck to walk into.

and walls that have been painted over again and again and again...

(D & I joke that the rooms used to be a foot larger, but shrink with every coat. We're mostly serious.)

Danny & I are so tired.

Who knew this house would be so. much. work.

While Danny was on a Home Depot run, I sat with my paintbrush in hand and cried.

Honestly, it's all a little overwhelming.

And I am afraid this little blue house with the red door might not ever feel like home.

But it will.

I know it.

Tonight we're heading over to finish the kitchen.

We wanted the trim finished before we went on holiday...

Then?

a 9 day break...

ah....

last night

we went to the sweetest little wedding, full of love, laughs, the most fully-stocked candy bar I've ever seen, a photo booth, friends, and great food.

congratulations Brandon & Amanda...what a joyous day!

i love love.

top left: (me) "cute faces!"

top right: (D) "grab my tie and pretend you're punching me"

(me) "...huh?!?!?!"

bottom left: (D) "scared face!"

bottom right: self explanatory.

too beautiful not to share.

"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long."

A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, quoted in Crazy Love

hiatus.

We got the keys to our new place this past weekend!

Even though we aren't moving in until Sep 1,

we get to paint/clean beforehand.

This alone is SUCH a blessing

because a 1920's house (as charming as it is)

is, well, old & in need of major lovin'...

So...

We've been a little busy.

(painting, cleaning, watering, scrubbing, washing, vacuuming)

I need to take a little blogging hiatus...

(you know, to take the paint out from under my fingernails and breathe fume-free air and maybe, just maybe, shave my legs)

Be back soon!

p.s. I am right handed but discovered I prefer to paint with my left. who knew?!

our day hiking.

our anniversary weekend.

Our anniversary weekend was lovely.

Friday...

-our new (refurbished) washer & dryer got delivered

they are shiny & white with silver handles

i was careful not to pick a front-loader

they are trendy but also smelly and i hate keeping the door open constantly to let it air out

owning a w&d was something I've never thought about

but I'm really grateful to have them

-then we went to ikea

for a kitchen cart

but only came home with a wall shelf with hooks, a new succulent, an ironing board cover that doesn't fit, and new art for the church's youth room

-then my father-in-law took us out to dinner

Danny & I talked about how parents reach a point where they can always order appetizers

(& drinks other than water & dessert...)

we were stuffed before our meals got there

*note to self, just say no to chips & salsa

Saturday...

-woke up and talked about how we felt waking up one year ago

Danny surprised me with a gift

I cried, because we weren't supposed to get each other anything and I felt bad

it was our favorite sonnet in a beautiful frame

so special

Danny had band practice that morning so he got ready to go

last minute I got ready, too

"because we can't be apart on our anniversary!"

so we went and came back to our pup

-we drove up to Mt. Baldy & did some hiking

it was hot and I was sweaty

Danny squeezed me the last of his sunscreen

we played by the creek

Denver slipped on a rock and accidently pushed me in

we left quickly after because my feet were wet and squishy

Danny got 1 ant bite- I got 2 spider bites

-we came home and napped (!)

then got ready

Danny wore his nice work shoes with dark jeans and a button up

I wore a white dress and yellow shoes

"like on our wedding day!"

he looked so handsome

he told me again and again that I was beautiful

-we went out for sushi

it was the best sushi as of yet

we talked about "the beginning"

and how we felt when we first saw each other as I walked down the aisle

our waitress was very pregnant and absent from our table

we thought she might have gone into a labor a few times

but no, she just forgot about us

-then went to see inception

sold out

Danny was sad

I was happy...I have recently discovered that theaters aren't really my thing

neither is paying $13 to see a movie

rented 2 movies for $2 instead

and got sour patch kids & milk duds

-we stayed up late laughing and talking

I told him I wanted roller skates

he said "anything for my love"

we cuddled & fell asleep smiling

Sunday...

-2 church services

Danny rocked out during the first

I finished my articles

we sat together during the second

squeezing each other's hands with every "bride" and "bridegroom" reference

-grocery shopping & lunch

Danny took Denver to play frisbee

it was too hot

so I stayed to clean the house

ended up sweating anyway

- we worked out together

made a great dinner

had a 24 marathon

kept working on our candy from the night before

Danny fell asleep before me

that has never happened before. ever.

-I just kept watching him

thinking of how great my love is for him

I whispered over and over "I can't believe you're mine" until I fell asleep

and that was our weekend.