L.A. Baby, D.C. Lady

2012-01-31T21:56:00.001-05:00

to give thanks for such balmy weather, mom and i took a trek to the c&o canal where we soaked up the sun and reveled in winter's delight.
glory be.

January: The Joy Dare.

2012-01-31T09:39:00.000-05:00

"Joy is always a function of gratitude--and gratitude is always a function of perspective. If we are going to change our lives, what we're going to have to change is the way we see."

-Ann Voskamp

{via Pinterest}

I've been counting the gifts all through January. Gifts of grace. Gifts of gratitude. Thought you might like to hear a couple (as I count my way to 1,000!)...

-for winter trees

-roasted cream of tomato soup

-a borrowed book from a friend

-Southern Caviar (oh, yes, Jamie--it's still a hit!)

-for mercy

-snow in the car's headlights

-a beautiful inheritance

-a friend's prayers from blustery St. Charles

-the backyard: deer-inhabited

-Old Bay on french fries

-clarifying conversation

-strangers' dogs

-a Middleburg afternoon with friends

-sleep protection

-a body that works

-God: always on His throne

Interested in this Joy Dare? It's never too late to join!

Here's a guide to inspire you for February.

Cville, circa 1979.

2012-01-30T13:37:00.000-05:00

Do you remember my little Charlottesville trip from a few Sundays ago? I stumbled across these photos over the weekend...of my parents in Charlottesville!

Pre-marriage.

Pre-millennium.

Pre-Google.

Pre-Apple.

Pre-kids.

Pre-pets.

Pre-parent teacher conferences.

Pre-carpooling.

Pre-family vacations...

...pre-A LOT OF STUFF.

Would you just look at these two?

These photos make me smile.

2012-01-27T22:06:00.000-05:00

this week i:
kicked off my first cooking concoction of the new year, red lentil coconut soup
held a four month old in a baby bjorn
said goodbye to tina fey reading me bossypants
and counted my body blessed after the 24hr flu.

sigh.

Winter travel.

2012-01-27T07:56:00.002-05:00

I know it's Friday...but I have to tell you about last Sunday. Because I spent the day in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia. And it was utterly charming...even in the rain/mist/sleet conditions. It was also my first time to visit the college town. This visit was a long time coming, let me tell ya. I think I squealed with delight for a good percentage of the afternoon! I thought of my Dad who went to school there, and my dear friend, Sarah, who called the lawn home while she studied there. And even Georgia O'Keeffe. Not that she's a dear friend. But she called Charlottesville home for a short stint, too.

Rugby Road.

Bagels on the Corner.

Walking the lawn.

A little old-fashioned basketball rivalry...

...it all made for such a fun Virginia day!

Happy Friday to you!

Verse for 2012.

2012-01-26T09:20:00.000-05:00

{via The Pin}

all that jazz

2012-01-23T13:02:00.003-05:00

after a weekend of flu fighting and a dreary monday morning, this video is bringing me love.

winter snow

2012-01-21T11:36:00.000-05:00

within the first few moments of a snowfall, i immediately transport myself to a colorado mountainside in winter.

this is where my sun addled brain goes after six winter free years in california.
no. i do not remember last years snowmageddon, what snow looks like after you drive on it or even really that huge blizzard of '94.

i only remember missing tiny cool snowflakes, eerie cold silence and closed snowy roads. i remember betting my unfinished math homework on a school cancellation. risky business, let me tell ya.
i remember unplanned hours in a day that were filled with hot chocolate and onesie snow suits and wrecked havoc on a three story house.

i remember waking up in the middle of the night to see if my sled tracks from the day before had been covered. betting more homework against the odds of another cancellation. and calculating a three mile hike to the village for starbucks.

thats what i remember about winter. and thats why the east coast, with all its stoic chill, brought me back where i belong.

Friday: a list.

2012-01-20T16:23:00.000-05:00

1. Last night we had a fashion show at small group.

2. I should clarify: this happened after small group. (We really are productive.)

3. Our very own Buki modeled a stunning coat she made (from scratch! with needles and thread! and, I assume, a sewing machine...I'm sorry, this is all so astoundingly impressive to Yours Truly who considers it a great feat to sew on a button.)

4. This picture is a little blurry, but I had to set the scene for you. And Bre's hair just looks so luscious.

5. There's cuter photos of the coat over here.

6. We are 20 days into the new year and I have read ONE BOOK. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

7. The Baby got his braces off this week.

8. It's big news around these parts.

9. I'm wearing my brother's high school basketball jersey in the above photo. Comfort is key, right? I'm all about the simple pleasures these days.

Happy weekending to YOU!

golden globes

2012-01-16T10:43:00.000-05:00

i just adore award season.
my cousin asked me if its because i am in awe of all that money.
and perhaps thats a part of it.
but i truly eagerly anticipate each leading lady waltzing down the red carpet in her captivating attire.

from diane lane's shimmering gold flecked gown to evan rachel wood's green peacock feathers. from jessica biel's soft lacy dress to emma stone's bold crimson drapes.

february cannot come soon enough.

high on the new, low on the resolution

2012-01-15T16:06:00.000-05:00

as i flew home yesterday, miranda and tina joined me for the ride.
four the record, miranda lambert's new album is quite long. i have the habit, as most of us with ipods do, to flip through songs before they finish. not with this one. i listened all the way.
the same with tina fey's new book bossypants. just as i crack the cover open, the new year ushers in the "must read" books for 2012 and i stray.
well, whatever happened to the classic reads? the funny reads? actually finishing a read before starting another one?

if you havent already had enough of us plugging the insanely talented and beautiful buki, bare with me once more.
her brother gave her advice for the new years to enjoy the simple. to not scramble to add lists and lists of new resolutions that by march have you churning with regret.
but instead seek to simpify that which is already in your life.

so for 2012 and in no specifc order i would like to:

steep loose tea in a glass teapot.

sigh when i finish a hilarious book.
count my blessings and not my woes.
always, always, always find the humor.

figure out cat eye makeup.
brave the kitchen with foodie experiments.
indulge in travel to see friends.

compliment more people, hold more babies, pet more dogs.
listen to the music i already have.
treat my body, complete with flaws, as beautiful.

and if but one of these happens in 2012, the year of difference, thats fine too.
i leave you with an excerpt from tina fey, prayer for my daughter:

first, lord: no tattoos. may neither chinese symbol for truth

nor winnie-the-pooh holding the fsu logo stain her tender haunches.

may she be beautiful but not damaged, for its the damage

that draws the creepy soccer coach's eye, not the beauty.

may she play the drums to the fiery rhythm of her own heart

with the sinewy strength of her own arms, so she need not lie with drummers.

and should she choose to be a mother one day, be my eyes, lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 a.m., all-at-once exhausted, bored,

and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“my mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “my mother did this for me.” and the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a mental note to call me. and she will forget. but i’ll know, because i peeped it with your God eyes.

amen.

2012-01-14T11:12:00.000-05:00

i finally made the trip back to california. though my only pit stop was san francisco's salty seas, it still did wonders for my heart.
more photos and new years resolutions coming soon.

Want to join me for real?

2012-01-13T09:24:00.000-05:00

Remember the Joy Dare I mentioned? I'm planning to count 1,000 gifts in the next 350ish days! Oh, and my friend Kristina is going for (are you ready...) 2,012 in 2012!!! I'm in awe. Truly.

My friend Alisa and I are reading through the Bible together this year. I figured if I could make it through 52 books in 2011, then 66 books in 2012 should be a breeze. Right? Right. We're using this ESV reading plan:

(Interested in doing the same? I'd be happy to send you a copy!)

"It’s habits that can imprison you and it’s habits that can free you and when thanks to God becomes a habit, so joy in God becomes your life." -Ann Voskamp

Also, my friend Sarah and I thought we'd go for the gold and run a marathon together this year! We are either completely bananas, or incredibly motivated. I haven't decided which yet...(you may remember Sarah ran the New York City marathon in November! I'm counting on her for insider training tips!) Here's the two of us before a 5K race in Virginia on New Year's Day:

Have you made any resolutions this year? I'd love to hear them! Thanks for reading such a hodge podge post. Goodness gracious. Happy Friday!!

P.S. Completely unrelated to all of the above. Just two of my favorite things on the interweb these days:

1. This blog.

2. And this Pin board.

2012 Inspiration: Celebracion!

2012-01-12T08:41:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!

These images from around the Pin are some of my favorites.

My pinspiration for 2012, if you will!

I don't know what season of life you're in this new year...

You might be working in the non-profit sector, or playing your harp in the South, or completing med school applications, or adjusting to life back on the East Coast, or wrapping up that master's degree, or deftly handling an IV bag as a newly minted nurse.

Your hands might be full with little ones. And your days might be spent tying shoe laces, and wiping noses, and waiting in the carpool lane...

Or maybe you finally found him. After all this time. And you're going to marry him and grow old with him.

Or you might still be dating him. And the hope of what's to come just keeps you bursting at the seams!

Or maybe you're still lunching with the ladies. And trust me, it's totally okay, too. Even if you can't quite forget that summer picnic in Idaho when you thought he might be the one...

Don't let comparison steal your joy is what my Mom always says. Sometimes it's just the reminder you need.

When my siblings and I were very young my Mom used to prepare picnics on the driveway during the summertime. Picnics for no special reason...just because. Barefeet. Lemonade. The smell of freshly cut grass in the air. And maybe a good sprint after the ice cream truck. Mom was celebrating the everyday. I love those memories.

Celebrate the everyday. I think that's what 2012 should be about. That, and counting your blessings every day. Ann Voskamp's writing encouraged me in that direction.

Celebrate the everyday. The carpool line, the wedding planning, the schoolwork, the internship, the living.

And let's be honest, after the New Year's festivities, couldn't we all use a little more sparkle?

I don't think you can ever have too much sparkle.

Want to join me for real? Ann Voskamp started a Joy Dare for 2012. Count 1,000 gifts in the next 360ish days.

"It’s habits that can imprison you and it’s habits that can free you and when thanks to God becomes a habit, so joy in God becomes your life." -A. Voskamp

Happy 2012...here's to celebrating, and living...joyfully!

{images via the Pin}

2012-01-05T20:15:00.001-05:00

nothing say birthday like a starry view, handmade jewelry and a lit cannoli.

January girl.

2012-01-05T09:09:00.000-05:00

{via the Pin}

Happy birthday to the Sis! That darling adventurer. And dreamer. And doer.

I can't wait to see all that your Year of Difference-Making will hold! You add such sparkle to so many lives...mine included. I am wildly thankful to have you for a sister and a friend!

P.S. A bit of Tina Fey snark for your birthday enjoyment.

52 in 52: The Skinny.

2012-01-03T08:25:00.002-05:00

What a year! I'll be honest. I'm more than a little relieved to be finished with this 52 in 52 challenge. Thanks for your interest, your sweet comments, and your book suggestions throughout the year!

Here's a roundup of (gulp) all 52 books...

{image via the Pin}

The 52:
1. The 3 Wise Women: A Christmas Reflection by Christin Ditchfield
2. The Murder Room by Michael Capuzzo
3. The Ezekiel Option by Joel C. Rosenberg
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett
6. Long Journey Home by Os Guinness
7. Between Two Worlds, Escape from Tyranny: Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam by Zainab Salbi
8. C.S. Lewis: Letters to Children edited by Lyle W. Dorsett and Marjorie Lamp Mead
9. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
10. Staying True by Jenny Sanford
11. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
12. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
13. Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story by Ree Drummond
14. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
15. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
16. Midwives: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian
17. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
18. Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard
19. The Copper Scroll by Joel C. Rosenberg
20. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
21. Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
22. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
23. Dead Heat by Joel C. Rosenberg
24. Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard A. Swenson, M.D.
25. The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
26. Quiet Time by InterVarsity Press Connect
27. Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald
28. Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices by Mosab Hassan Yousef (with Ron Brackin)
29. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
30. In the Evening of No Warning by Kevin Clark
31. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
32. The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde
33. The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery by David G. Benner
34. Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life by John McCain (with Mark Salter)
35. Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart
36. You Are Special by Max Lucado
37. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
38. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt
39. Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity by Lauren F. Winner
40. Let’s Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell
41. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
42. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
43. Boundaries in Dating: Making Dating Work by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
44. Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren F. Winner
45. Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis (with Beth Clark)
46. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
47. One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
48. The 23rd Psalm for the 21st Century: A Jewish Shepherd’s Story by Lon Solomon
49. Boundaries: When to say yes, how to say no to take control of your life by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
50. Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer
51. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
52. Generous Justice by Timothy Keller

And some other numbers:
11 autobiographies
4 young adult novels
3 books by Suzanne Collins
3 books by Joel Rosenberg
2 Pulitzer Prize winners and
1 Newberry Medal winner

Speaking of 52 in 52, my friend Bre is planning to cook 52 new recipes in 2012! Our small group has enjoyed Bre's delicious cooking on numerous occasions...I can't wait to see what she'll have up her sleeve in this new year!

52 in 52!

2011-12-31T08:44:00.000-05:00

Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes Us Just by Timothy Keller

The only way to reweave and strengthen the fabric [of society] is by weaving yourself into it. Human beings are like those threads thrown together onto a table. If we keep our money, time, and power to ourselves, for ourselves, instead of sending them out into our neighbors' lives, then we may be literally on top of one another, but we are not interwoven socially, relationally, financially, and emotionally. Reweaving shalom means to sacrificially thread, lace, and press your time, goods, power, and resources into the lives and needs of others.

Coming soon...52 in 52: a recap of the whole shebang!

Happy New Year to YOU!

2011: A year in photos.

2011-12-30T08:49:00.001-05:00

January

IAD to LAX for a long weekend. La Mirada. Laguna. Brea. Balboa Island. Biola reunion with sweet friends! Walking around campus with Emily. Coffee, talking, and car riding with Sister. Yogurtland. Meeting Betsy! Newport Beach bike rides. Stunning weather. Dinner with the De Partee's!

February

Babysitting the youngest brothers. Snowy D.C. weather. Baking Ina Garten's Coconut Cupcakes. Housebound. Spring fever. Band of Brothers marathon. I mean, seriously, is it spring yet? Reading.

March

Signs of spring. Bridal showers for Jenna! Spring cleaning. More reading. Exploring the C&O Canal. Soaking up the warming weather. And the sunshine.

April

Pensacola, Florida for Easter. A weekend with the boys, and Brother. Gulf shore swimming. Palm trees. Humidity. And big hair. Decker, the Corgi. Sonic runs. The Royal Wedding! Sister's surprise visit home for Palm Sunday! Bachelorette parties, pre-wedding dinners, and a WEDDING for Jenna and Adam! The Spring, at last.

May

Kristina's weekend in D.C.! A birthday and a Kennedy Center girl's date. Mother's Day brunch in Virginia. Stephen's 21st birthday. Sister home from Thailand. The Baby's broken arm. The Strawberry Festival. Pieter's visit from Australia! Jason Aldean and Eric Church in concert.

June

Escaping the D.C. heat with a night out for family bowling! Father's Day. Throwing the first pitch at a baseball game. A Virginia Beach weekend with friends. Sister moves back East...for good. Emily and Betsy visit for a long weekend! Annapolis exploring and birthday festivities.

July

Camp-of-the-Woods with friends! Bonfires. Early morning mist. Hiking. Jet skis on the lake. Tubing: Walton Style (Lord have mercy). Rest. Relaxation in the beautiful Adirondacks. A road trip with college girlfriends. Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho in five days. The 4th of July in Coeur d' Alene!

August

A belated birthday party! A roundup of cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings. August heat. Back-to-school beckons. Nats baseball game with friends. A weekend of friends, family, and a little football!

September

Mom and the Baby celebrate birthdays! Annapolis weekends. Navy football. Changing seasons. A dinner with Dad. A long weekend in Wintergreen with the C.S. Lewis Institute. Jenna's East Coast visit!

October

Baltimore with Mom and Sis to hear Beth speak! Fell's Point exploring. Meeting Leo the Lion...and falling in love. Hikes to the C&O Canal. Dad's birthday! Nate's birthday! October beauty. Pumpkin picking. The Baby's first homecoming dance. Mom and Dad's 31st. A West Virginia weekend with the small group gals! A Lancaster weekend with Becks.

November

A New York weekend to see Sarah girl become a marathon finisher! Central Park walks. Morning tea with Mrs. B! Ten dollar manicures. Heaven, sheer heaven. A Maryland Thanksgiving. A full home. Family together. Full hearts. Butler's Orchard to find a Christmas Tree. Stockings above the fire. White Christmas. Bing and Nat King Cole. Advent. A coming King.

December

The C.S. Lewis Institute Christmas Tea. Capitol Hill Baptist Ladies Christmas Tea! Army Navy at FedEx field. Cousin love at the game. The Grove Christmas Party. New York with Mom, Dad, and Sis for the weekend! Rockefeller. Radio City. Union Square. Gramercy. City magic. The Homestead. Family all together in beautiful Virginia. Post-dinner games. Christmas anticipation. Christmas Eve in Falls Church. Silent Night by candlelight. Food poisoning at dinner...what on earth??!!

But merriment in our hearts.

And thankfulness for one another.

Thankfulness always.

For what He gives.

And what He takes away.

For 2011...from January to December.

A year is a gift.

Life is a gift.

And it's worth celebrating!

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R !

NYE.

2011-12-29T08:49:00.001-05:00

I'm playing hostess for a New Year's Eve party Saturday night, and these images from the Pin are providing all sorts of inspiration! (Don't you love the fancy milk and cookies?! And the S'mores bar??!!!) I need all the help I can get when it comes to party planning! I mean, we couldn't alllllll be as talented as Miss Julie Daniel. ;)

51 of 52.

2011-12-28T09:04:00.012-05:00

This is my Dad's favorite Christmas story (aside from the Luke 2 account...of course). My friend, Alisa, mentioned it last week, too. It was a seasonal must to include this one.

Coming soon...52 of 52!!!! Can you believe it?! Don't worry, neither can I...

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:06:00.014-05:00

Infinite, and an infant, eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman's breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms. King of Angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter's despised son.

-Charles Spurgeon

Christ, by highest Heav'n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord;Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb.Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th'incarnate Deity.Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

{Instagram photo by Sis}

2011-12-24T09:04:00.002-05:00

we are back from the homestead and eagerly anticipating the celebration of a family christmas eve brunch, an evening church service and an entire day of un-wrapping presents together.

o come, o come, emmanuel,
and ransom captive israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the son of god appear.

rejoice! rejoice!
emmanuel shall come to thee, o israel.

50 (!) of 52.

2011-12-21T14:52:00.000-05:00

Our whole family is in Hot Springs, Virginia for a few days this week at the beautiful Homestead resort. We're maxing out our indoor activities today while the rain pours outside. I don't mind a little coziness in this charming place!

Hot Springs morning

December 2010

Here's number 50! By Jon Krakauer. You might know him as the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air. He's one of my favorites. This book was one of my favorites, too. I regaled the family with a 10 minute synopsis of it last night at dinner. I don't think their eyes glazed over too severely...

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer

Although it wasn’t Tillman’s intention, when he left the Cardinals to join the Army he was transformed overnight into an icon of post-9/11 patriotism. Seizing the opportunity to capitalize on his celebrity, the Bush administration endeavored to use his name and image to promote what it had christened the Global War on Terror. Tillman abhorred this role. As soon as he decided to enlist, he stopped talking to the press altogether, although his silence did nothing to squelch America’s fascination with the football star who traded the bright lights and riches of the NFL for boot camp and a bad haircut. Following his death on the battlefield, the public’s interest in Tillman shot through the roof. The posthumous media frenzy shed little light on who he really was, however. The intricate mosaic of personal history that defined his existence was obscured by the blizzard of hype.

Christmas in the Concrete Jungle.

2011-12-19T09:31:00.000-05:00

A weekend in the city:

Hot chocolate (a must). Starbucks on tap. Celeb sightings (a certain Australian couple with an Oscar and several CMT awards to their name...)!! Double layered mittens. Taxis. Trains. Cabs. The subway. Stumbling into an Occupy Wall Street protest. Chinatown bargaining. Hotel drinks. Walks through Times Square. The Radio City Rockettes. Dylan's Candy Bar. Bouchon Bakery. Gramercy Tavern. Union Square browsing. Rock Center. Sweet memories of childhood. Punchy conversations. Quality time. An Amtrak trip home to Maryland and those rascally brothers.

I'm soaking up the sweetness of such a full, blessed holiday weekend!

Here's a photo roundup...via Instagram...and Mom...who let me commandeer her iPhone for the entire weekend. I got a tad carried away:

Manhattan to Maryland.

2011-12-18T22:28:00.000-05:00

We're home from a wonderful weekend in New York.

It was chilly.

It was festive.

It was action packed.

It was funny.

It was adventurous.

It was memorable.

More photos coming soon!

For now, I'll leave you with this little gem of our traveling foursome...

And we're off!

2011-12-16T08:55:00.002-05:00

...to New York!

Sis and I are heading up to the city with our parents for the weekend!

Actually, scratch that.

Sis and the parents are en route to the city...and (after Christmas party hopping tonight) I'm joining them early tomorrow for merriment and sight-seeing! I can't wait to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the city...Christmas New York-style! What a treat!

Happy weekending!

{Photos via Pinterest}

49 of 52.

2011-12-15T08:15:00.001-05:00

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

Individuals with mature boundaries aren't frantic, in a hurry, or out of control. They have a direction in their lives, a steady moving toward their personal goals. They plan ahead...But does life interrupt the process of the person with mature boundaries? Won't there be trials, complications, and people wanting me on their track and not God's? Absolutely...But the person with mature limits understands that, makes room for that, allows for that. And he or she knows that, should it be needed, a no is waiting inside the heart--ready to use. Not for an attack. Not to punish another. But to protect and develop the time, talents, and treasures that God has allocated to us during our three-score and ten years on this planet (Ps. 90:10).

5 things bringing me joy.

2011-12-14T14:42:00.000-05:00

1. Photos from the C.S. Lewis Institute Christmas Tea two weeks ago taken by my sweet friend, Buki (below in the printed skirt!). She has the most creative eye for design! (Take a peek at more of her creations over here on her blog...)

2. Those little 7.5 ounce Coke cans. Do you know the ones I'm talking about? They're super tiny and they have polar bears on the side. And they're perfect for a mid-afternoon office break.

3. Excel spreadsheets. I had to make one...for Christmas gifts. I know, I know. It might be a touch OCD. But, with seven immediate family members, and an office party gift exchange, and a Christmas Eve gift exchange, and a small group gift exchange...it was getting way too hard to remember people and places and things. And my own name. So I made a (color coded) doc of all the gifts. It makes me happy to no small end.

4. The anticipation of these two coming home. Oh man, I can't wait to see them.

5. Christmas things from around the web: The Message translation of Luke 2; my friend, Katie's, precious story that no, Jesus is not from Jersey; and Buddy discovers New York.

I hope your week is joy-filled, too!

America's game.

2011-12-13T09:37:00.000-05:00

Our weekend was chock full of holiday goodness. But, the best part might have been Saturday's Army Navy game. And Navy's win against Army. For the tenth consecutive year in a row.

Army, Army, call the docccccctor...

(Sorry. I think I've mentioned before that I get a little riled up at these games...)

The game was in D.C. this year, at FedEx field. It was a great venue, but I'm somewhat partial to that Philly stadium. Playing football in the city of brotherly love just feels so dadgum patriotic.

Here's a little photo round up from the day. We have a cousin who's currently attending West Point, and it was so fun to see him post-game. Family before football. That's our motto.

...well, for some of us anyway.

(heh heh heh)

that time of year.

2011-12-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

from late night mistletoe parties to christmas classics on tv, its been an all around wonderful holiday weekend.
we ended the festivities with sis' all time favorite, meet me in st. louis.

we might be partial to the two sisters. who are redheads. who absolutely adore falling in love.
but most importantly, we are partial to families, who despite all the seasonal chaos, manage to be together.

esther smith: but the main thing is, tootie, that we're all going to be together, just like we've always been. that's what really counts. we could be happy anywhere as long as we're together.

48 of 52.

2011-12-07T12:17:00.001-05:00

The 23rd Psalm for the 21st Century: A Jewish Shepherd's Story by Lon Solomon

My purpose in unpacking this psalm for you is very simple. I want to see God bring all of the assurance that he's put in this psalm to bear on your life. I hope when you've finished, you'll be able to reflect back and say: "My, isn't it wonderful how deeply God cares for me? Isn't it amazing that the Almighty God of the universe has committed himself to be my personal shepherd? With him as my shepherd and with the promises he's made to me in this psalm, I can face anything life brings my way and still have hope."

46 and 47 of 52.

2011-12-05T11:12:00.030-05:00

Oh man, it's crunch time y'all.

This 52 in 52 challenge is rapidly drawing to a close. [Did we ever decide if comic books count?]

Here's two I finished last week...

1.) I've wanted to read The Woman in White since college. My American Gothic Lit professor used to rave about this book. And I wanted to grow up and be my American Gothic Lit professor...ergo, I read the book. Finally. It was funny, witty, memorable, and suspenseful. [On a sidenote, when Sis visited Scotland a few years ago she bought an older edition of this book from a darling Scottish bookstore, and surprised me with it...knowing I'd get around to reading it...one day. Isn't that the best? I think it's one of the loveliest things on my bookshelf.]

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

My hour for tea is half-past five, and my buttered toast waits for nobody.

2.) Ann Voskamp's book is just poetic. I don't know how else to describe it. It is lovely, challenging, and delightful, too. I finished it days ago, but its message of enjoying and appreciating all of God's gifts is still echoing in my head.

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

I know there is poor and hideous suffering, and I've seen the hungry and the guns that go to war. I have lived pain, and my life can tell: I only deepen the wound of the world when I neglect to give thanks for early light dappled through leaves and the heavy perfume of wild roses in early July and the song of crickets on humid nights and the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and all the good things that a good God gives. Why would the world need more anger, more outrage? How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us? Rejecting joy to stand in solidarity with the suffering doesn't rescue the suffering. The converse does.

happy birthday.

2011-12-04T11:17:00.001-05:00

i have known these two since the beginning of high school.

despite being gone for six years, we have celebrated birthdays during the winter, travels during the summer and enjoyed shenanigans in between.

we hosted a mad men birthday extravaganza last night for anj's 24th birthday.

katherine cooked the entire vegan menu from scratch. including the flourless chocolate cake.

in this season, it is reassuring to realize that no matter how far away life takes us,

whenever we are together, we are home.

merry and bright.

2011-12-01T11:17:00.017-05:00

one of my favorite bloggers, emily of cupcakesandcashmere, put out her holiday wish list today.

in similar suit, i found twelve christmas gifts under $25, that delight me to no end.

1. maryland print. $25
2. woodwick candle. $15
3. glass milk carton. $13
4. fringe necklace. $15
5. scalloped lace skirt. $23
6. heavy metal knocker. $20
7. fireside holiday coffee. $9
8. leather clutch. $22
9. salty oat cookie (6 pack). $12
10. knee socks. $10
11. hey there sailor card. $3.50
12. gloves and cap. $10 each

Open up your lives.

2011-11-30T08:23:00.004-05:00

People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

2 Corinthians 6:10-13, The Message

Blessed.

2011-11-28T09:02:00.000-05:00

We celebrated a beautiful Thanksgiving weekend.

All I can think about in the office this morning is our hearty list of things-to-be-thankful-for:

Brothers. A sister. Parents. Extended family members. Cousins. Homes for hosting. A double oven (PTL). An assortment of food. A perfectly cooked turkey. A baster. Butter. Traditions. Football outside. An evening meal. Health. Words of appreciation. A crackling fire. A good night's sleep. Rest. Christmas decorations. A Fraser Fir. Steaming cups of coffee. Breakfast burritos. Acting like kids together. Christmas music. Christmas movies. The gift of friendship. A sermon's reminder of practicing thankfulness. Dreams of future holidays. The gift of presence. The gift of grace. Honesty. Life, in all its beauty.

Thanksgiving is worth practicing year round.

Thanks to Mom for the photos!

draw me nearer

2011-11-26T23:19:00.001-05:00

the day before thanksgiving, josh and i seized the opportunity to take a blustery visit to the c&o canal.

we took part in a foot race to the overlook, windswept photos and the austere beauty of fall.

there is so much to be thankful for every day of the year. but this weekend, my thankfulness has seemed especially clear.

thankful for friends, family and food.
its harder to remember a thankful heart in the days to come, when life's questions and hardship abound.

but as sis and i like to remind each other, the lord is always present and the lord is always good.

there are depths of love that i cannot know

till i cross the narrow sea;
there are heights of joy that i may not reach
till i rest in peace with thee.

draw me nearer, nearer blessed lord,

to the cross where thou hast died;
draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed lord,

to thy precious, bleeding side.

fanny crosby. 1926.

The last Thursday of November.

2011-11-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

- President Abraham Lincoln
October 3rd, 1863, Washington, D.C.

The Difference Between Boys & Girls.

2011-11-22T16:07:00.003-05:00

My friend, Kristina, shared the sweetest story with me last night.

And I have to share it here.

Because it's still making me giggle.

Kristina is working in a 3rd grade classroom this year while she completes her Master's in Elementary Education.

She's told me before that one little boy, Jason, has developed the sweetest affection for her. He'll hug her goodbye at the end of a school day, stick by her side on the playground at recess, and sometimes draw pictures for her.

Yesterday Jason gave Kristina this drawing:

Now, lest you be confused, those orange things at the top are seagull feet (not to be confused with, say, human feet or anything of that nature). I have laughed about this for most of the day. The last picture Jason gave Kristina was of a black mamba--the world's deadliest snake. It's hearts and flowers from the girls...but the boys will stick to dragons, snakes and seagull-eating-sharks, thank you very much.

Kristina told me her third graders make her smile so much.

They make me smile, too.

45 of 52: Giveaway!

2011-11-21T09:05:00.000-05:00

I first heard about Katie Davis when I stumbled across her blog a few months ago. And I kept coming back because of the sheer nerve of her story: a twenty-year old American girl from Brentwood, Tennessee who moved to Uganda and adopted 13 girls. Thirteen daughters, some just a few years younger than she was. It was just so...radical.

A few weeks ago Katie released her first book, Kisses from Katie, filled with stories, lessons, and encouragement from the last three years she has spent in Uganda. It is an amazing story. SO worth reading!

In fact, I'd love for you to read this story! If you're interested just leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail: emily.j.odell [at] gmail.com and I'll put a copy in the mail to you right away!

(Here's the catch though...since I only have one copy it's first come, first served around here!)

I realize that since I have chosen an unusual path it is easier for outsiders to look at my life and come to the conclusion that it is something extraordinary. That I am courageous. That I am strong. That I am special. But I am just a plain girl from Tennessee. Broken in many ways, sinful, and inadequate. Common and simple with nothing special about me. Nothing special except I choose to say "yes." "Yes" to the things God asks of me and "yes" to the people He places in front of me. You can too. I am just an ordinary person. An ordinary person serving an extraordinary God.

44 of 52.

2011-11-20T19:57:00.000-05:00

Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren F. Winner

It is now going on seven years since I converted from Judaism to Christianity, and I am still in that blissed-out newlywed stage in which you can't believe your good fortune and you know that this person (in this case Jesus) who you have chosen (or, in this case, who has chosen you) is the best person on the whole planet and you wouldn't take all the tea in China or a winning Lotto ticket or even a nice country estate in exchange. Still, I miss Jewish ways. I miss the rhythms and routines that drew the sacred down into the everyday. I miss Sabbaths on which I actually rested. I have even found that I miss the drudgery of keeping kosher. I miss the work these practices effected between me and God. This is a book about those things I miss.

Cats and Canals.

2011-11-18T10:45:00.003-05:00

This post is LONG overdue. But, I'm missing the sight of leaves on the trees....so that's why I'm sharing it today. (That's my disclaimer anyway.)

A few weekends ago I spent some time with Leo "the Lion," arguably northern Virginia's most ferocious feline. See for yourself. Terrifying, right?

Maybe on Opposite Day.

Youngest brother is a really big cat person. After church he came with me to check on Leo. He's never had any younger siblings to be responsible for, but he's made up for it in pets. The other night we realized the Baby has taken care of: a lizard, a turtle, two hamsters, a cat and a dog. He's still hoping Mom and Dad will buy him a kitten for Christmas.

We also hiked to the C&O Canal this same weekend. There's a perfect trail that begins in our neighborhood and winds its way through the woods to the back door of the canal.

(The leaves on the trees! See, worth the wait, right?)

These two. What are we going to do with them?

In fact, what are we going to do with all of them?

I believe this was around the point in our hike that Sis was catching me up to speed on The Real Housewives of Orange County. (Peggy is leaving! Did you know this? I didn't. In fact, I couldn't quite visualize Peggy. The mesh of blond hair and perfectly plump lips was running together in my mind. It's hard enough for me to keep up with Beverly Hills.)

The girls talked; the boys fought. We're still not sure who won this battle.

At last we returned home...to celebrate Dad!

We grilled out. And had some chocolate pie (Dad's request, instead of birthday cake). And we finished the weekend gathered around an open fire, quite reminiscent of those Adirondack evenings.

It was a glorious weekend. I miss those summer-fall days. Is it too soon to talk about winter's approach? Should I save it for another post?

Okay, I will. Today is for summer reminiscing and autumnal basking!

Happy Friday!

43 of 52.

2011-11-17T14:20:00.000-05:00

Boundaries in Dating: Making Dating Work by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

The great thing about reading 52 books in 52 weeks is that you finally get around to reading those books you've always meant to read. This is one of those books. I underlined and highlighted and just plain enjoyed this book. Here are some of my favorite thoughts from Cloud and Townsend:

The whole life is a full life. And the by-product of fullness is that the fulfilled person is also a very attractive one.
You are initially attracted to a person's outsides, but over time you will experience his insides. His character is what you will experience long-term and be in relationship with over time.
Become deeply involved in your friendships, and value the good things you're getting out of them; this can fulfill you inside and help resolve the tendency to romanticize platonic relationships.
Don't fall for an introvert simply because you're an extrovert. Fall for someone who calls you into love, growth, and God. And then appreciate his unique differences.
Your best chance always depends on your being healthy to attract and be attracted to a good, safe, healthy person. And that has a lot to do with your own commitment to growth and being involved in life. If you are doing that, and involved with God, we think you have great reason for hope in dating.

hear ye hear ye

2011-11-16T11:55:00.001-05:00

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.
and as usual with our family, email chains, kitchen schedules and holiday shopping can get quite out of hand.
here are a few of our hit-reply-all-to-this-email, hot topics.

my thought for the annual family christmas card.

what might actually happen.

the family see's thanksgiving dinner.

i see a turkey's last words.

how the football game will start.

how it will inevitably end.

regardless, we will be together.

and isnt that what matters most this time of year?

Mane Event.

2011-11-15T08:41:00.002-05:00

Sister's hair:

My hair:

Please help.

{Images via Pinterest!}

The Weekend Roundup:

2011-11-14T14:09:00.006-05:00

I slept.
I stayed in town for the first time in three weekends.
I slept some more.
It was blissful.
I stumbled upon Sis and Steve watching Happy Gilmore Saturday afternoon.
Then I stumbled upon them watching Men in Black II.
Then I stumbled no more.
I chatted with a friend in California.
I chatted with a friend in Georgia.
God bless Verizon.
I shared lunch with sweet friends after church.
Do you think there are Panera bread bowls in Heaven?
I started reading One Thousand Gifts. (Oh my, it's SO good.)
I made Pioneer Woman's Comfort Meatballs. And served them with Smashed Potatoes and broccoli. (The youngest brother informed me this was his favorite meal...EVER.)
I watched a DVRed Glee episode...started it half-heartedly. Then I saw the part where the Warblers cover Billy Joel's Uptown Girl. It was nothing short of A M A Z I N G.

Happy Monday to YOU!

42 of 52.

2011-11-09T08:35:00.000-05:00

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

The complaint was the answer. To have heard myself making it was to be answered. Lightly men talk of saying what they mean…When the time comes to you at which you will be forced at last to utter the speech which has lain at the center of your soul for years, which you have, all that time, idiot-like, been saying over and over, you’ll not talk about joy of words. I saw well why the gods do not speak openly, nor let us answer. Till that need can be dug out of us, why should they hear the babble that we think we mean? How can they meet us face to face till we have faces?

P.S. Catching up on this 52 in 52 challenge?
It all started here!

26.2

2011-11-08T13:42:00.000-05:00

I took a quick trip to New York this weekend to cheer on my friend Sarah in her longest race to date...the ING New York City Marathon! Our cheering section (compromised of parents, girlfriends, and one adoring boyfriend) had so much fun trekking all over Brooklyn and Manhattan to follow our favorite runner. The weather was stunning; the crowds inspiring. Marathon Sunday is just so magical!

And, of course, it was the biggest treat to be back in the city. Here's a photo round-up from the mobile route:

trees.

2011-11-04T17:11:00.000-04:00

when we were younger, my brother stephen and i use to spend every after school minute in our backyard.
our imaginations usually had us living like the box-car children and reenacting what we had read.
we explored until it was dinner; stumbling in the darkness and covered in hives.

let it be noted that we had the most wonderful backyard for adventure. the creek that runs through it yielded wagon wheels and interesting rocks like an old relative sharing parts of his past.

and the trees always gave what we needed; shelter, anchoring, kindling.

i still have this mystical fascination with trees.
and in some way, its reassuring to see the giants from my childhood, still changing with the seasons.

as if we never ceased playing by the creek, under the watchful eye of those powerful trees, who held all our spoken dreams and wishes in their safe keeping.

41 of 52.

2011-11-04T08:58:00.002-04:00

Oh my, I love this book. I've read it before, but it was years ago. I had a little Aha! moment while reading it this time around. Do you remember that quote about there being no pit so deep that God is not deeper still? I had always thought Corrie said that. Actually, it was her sister Betsie! And the words were some of her last ones. She spoke them while dying in the Ravensbruck concentration camp as encouragement to Corrie. Somehow that made the quote resonate with me even more.

This book is a gem. There is so much in here about forgiveness, about loving our enemies, about moments of deep suffering...I need to be reminded of these truths.

I can't wait to meet this Corrie girl one day in Heaven!

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.

"...must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here."

P.S. Catching up on this 52 in 52 challenge?
It all started here!

Le Pinterest.

2011-11-02T08:21:00.002-04:00

I have a problem. It's called pinning. I really like it. A lot. Maybe you've noticed.

I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite images from around the Pin with you. Maybe it will help with this addiction thing...

____________________________

1.) Isn't this a pretty bathroom? If I lived here I'd never get out of that tub. I'd live with the affects of pruny skin forever, yes. But what a room! (I'm only slightly disturbed by that white claw foot in the foreground. What is its purpose exactly?)

2.) and 3.) These photos remind me of summer. And Maryland. And the Eastern Shore. And my brothers. Old Bay seasoning might be one of the favorite scents of my childhood.

3.) Be still my heart. THIS PUPPY. I melt. How sweet is he? Basset Hounds remind me of The Pioneer Woman. I bet Ree would like this photo, too.

4.) and 5.) I had to throw in a few floral options. The flowers on Pinterest are stunning. I especially love that darling green plant in the teacup (okay, okay, and I'm slightly partial to it because my name is on the tag...). Wouldn't it make a lovely favor for a bridal shower?

6.) This map image is from a Martha Stewart magazine. I love it. I saved the maps from my summer roadtrip through the West, and started to retrace the route Jen and Becky and I drove. I might frame the maps post-sewing. And send them off to Colorado and Pennsylvania. I'm totally thinking about Christmas gifts in November...

7.) Greece was not on my list of Places I Want To Travel To...UNTIL I saw this photo. Oh you better believe it's on the list now. In the words of Anne Shirley, there is so much scope for the imagination in this photo.

Are you pinning? Let's Pin together! I'd love to be inspired by your images.

The Weekend.

2011-11-01T10:54:00.023-04:00

I spent the weekend in Lancaster, PA with my friend, Becky. It snowed. In October. We cried. Then we watched 14 movies back-to-back. (Okay. It was actually more like two.) In spite of the snow we managed to swing by Central Market, eat lunch at an Amish farm, share dessert at Prince Street Cafe, and slide our way down icy sidewalks to church on Sunday.

Becky works for a not-for-profit called HOPE International, whose mission it is to "invest in the dreams of the poor in the world's undeserved communities so that they might be released from physical and spiritual poverty." When I visited Becky a couple years ago in Lancaster I had the opportunity to travel through HOPE's Pathways Out of Poverty exhibit. It was an extraordinary exhibit, and I couldn't help feeling some awe at the presentation, and thinking, I've never seen any exhibit, anywhere, quite like this one.

We hung out with a lot of HOPE folks this weekend. I felt so blessed by being with them. What a neat group of people! I'm so encouraged by the work they're doing to change poverty, one individual at a time. It's a good challenge for me, too. What am I doing to make a difference in the life of the poor? How does this knowledge begin to shape my life?

Snowy weekends are great for contemplating.
And dreaming.
With dear friends.

Harpy Halloween.

2011-10-31T11:40:00.000-04:00

My friend, Alisa, is Principal Harpist with The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. She sent me this photo last night. It made me smile. Can you guess which pumpkin might be hers?

a halloween rap

2011-10-30T10:53:00.002-04:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

should anybody run into the youngest brother, please refrain from mentioning his appearance as a lady in this video.
it wouldnt bode well for his plans to take over the world.

Out of Office.

2011-10-28T09:23:00.001-04:00

I'm off to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for the weekend! My college friend, Becky, moved into a new place with some girlfriends a few months ago, and I've been itching to spend a few nights on West Orange Street.

There's been talk of visiting a real live Amish farm for lunch on Saturday. Oh heavens...it sounds like an adventure to me!

Happy weekending to you!

Becky and I in Bozeman, Montana
July 2011

40 of 52.

2011-10-28T07:54:00.000-04:00

Let's Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize

I have a photograph from one of those summers at Chocorua, framing the backs of my dog and Caroline's, Clementine and Lucille, who are silhouetted in the window seat and looking outside. It is the classic dog photo, capturing vigilance and loyalty: two tails resting side by side, two animals glued to their post. What I didn't realize for years is that in the middle distance of the picture, through the window and out to the fields beyond, you can make out the smallest of figures — an outline of Caroline and me walking down the hill. We must have been on our way to the lake, and the dogs, by now familiar with our routine, had assumed their positions. Caroline's boyfriend Morelli, a photographer, had seen the beauty of the shot and grabbed his camera

Nate B and The Big D.

2011-10-27T08:01:00.006-04:00

Stop the presses. I have an important announcement for you.

My friend, Hannah, is making her second appearance on The Nate Berkus Show this afternoon! Let's pretend I remembered to update you about the first appearance...

Hannah and I were roommates in New York, and lived together in a space that was beautified by Hannah's design aesthetic. I've loved seeing all the updates made to the apartment over the last few years. Here's a quick glimpse into the Upper West Side digs I once called home:

Set those DVRs! You won't want to miss this Dallas original working her magic!
Find your station here.

Photography by Susanna Blavarg

Amen.

2011-10-26T13:54:00.000-04:00

Image via my friend Kristina
{Take a look at her blog to see more lovely designs!}

Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.

2011-10-25T07:45:00.028-04:00

1.) Our small group took a roadtrip to West Virginia this weekend. Bre's grandparents have a cabin in the woods of West Virginia, only accessible by four-wheelers. This was our favorite hangout for the majority of the weekend:

2.) And this was our view:

3.) Bre's incredible mom provided meals for us during our cabin weekend. Here's the whole group, right before a dinner of brisket, potatoes and pear endive salad.

It was a restful, secluded, intimate, hilarious weekend. I'm so thankful for these women!
4.) And also thankful for our amazing group leader!
She built a fire. From scratch.
No lighter fluid, folks!
We got a kick out of this photo because it reminded us of some Camp-of-the-Woods memories from summers past.

Chris: It would appear you are not the only pyrotechnic in the Walton family.

This photo does not do the roaring fire justice. That's my disclaimer.

39 of 52.

2011-10-24T08:03:00.005-04:00

Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity by Lauren F. Winner

I first read this book while I was a student at Biola University. And I loved it. Then my friend Emily borrowed it. She read it. She loved it. Then she gave it back to me. And I reread it. An' I still love it, man.

(Emily left a sticky note on page 147 that said, "This is my favorite part" and when I saw it, I almost jumped on the first plane to LAX. I miss her!)

I would highly recommend this book. Maybe you've read other things by Winner (she also wrote Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath). Her writing is engaging and honest. Aside from Paige Benton Brown's article, this book is the best thing I've ever read on dating, sex and singleness. Here's an excerpt:

Sex has consequences. Sex is dangerous and delightful and tempestuous and elemental, and it matters. What we do with our bodies, what we do sexually, shapes our persons. If we believe that sex forms us, then it goes without saying that it is public business, because how we build the persons we are--persons who are social and communal and political and economic beings--is itself a matter of social concern.

there you are.

2011-10-23T22:14:00.002-04:00

i have been waiting for fall.

its as if i expected it to come as a royal's sweeping cape into the backyard, transforming once lush green leaves to squash yellow and apple red.
but it wasnt until yesterday that i realized fall had truly arrived. cold air penetrated through my sweater. and where warm humidity had once enveloped, my ghostly breath now hung in the air.

and almost overnight, you need an extra blanket on your bed.

Once Upon a Time...

2011-10-21T10:07:00.010-04:00

...there were four gals.
Who lived together in New York City.
In a pre-war Upper West Side apartment.
One fall weekend they left the Big Apple and traveled to Maryland.

It was a beautiful weekend.

I wrote about it here.

I was thinking about that weekend, and about these gals, this morning. We're no longer all in an Upper West Side apartment (well, some of us are), but each of them will always hold a special place in my heart!

Manhattan Meets Maryland
October 2008

38 of 52.

2011-10-20T08:15:00.000-04:00

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream by David Platt

You and I have an average of about seventy or eighty years on this earth. During these years we are bombarded with the temporary. Make money. Get stuff. Be comfortable. Live well. Have fun. In the middle of it all, we get blinded to the eternal. But it's there. You and I stand on the porch of eternity. Both of us will soon stand before God to give an account for our stewardship of the time, the resources, the gifts, and ultimately the gospel he has entrusted to us. When that day comes, I am convinced we will not wish we had given more of ourselves to living the American dream. We will not wish we had made more money, acquired more stuff, lived more comfortably, taken more vacations, watched more television, pursued greater retirement, or been more successful in the eyes of this world. Instead we will wish we had given more of ourselves to living for the day when every nation, tribe, people, and language will bow around the throne and sing the praises of the Savior who delights in radical obedience and the God who deserves eternal worship.

31 years.

2011-10-18T08:26:00.016-04:00

Thirty-one years ago tonight, on a rainy Saturday evening, an Oklahoma boy married a Maryland girl.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Yea there ain't nothing not affected
When two hearts get connected

-Brad Paisley

Footloose and Fall.

2011-10-17T10:02:00.000-04:00

Is it autumn where you are?

It's autumn in Maryland.

Windy days.

Leaves that crunch.

Blue skies and sunshine.

And chilly evenings.

We had a glorious weekend.

The Baby went to his first Homecoming dance.

I think he was ever-so-slightly nervous.

But mostly excited.

He came home a little before 11pm. He said he had fun.

He said there wasn't a lot of food at Homecoming.

He wondered what the $10 entrance fee covered.

He said a girl came up to him and asked him if he would dance with her sister.

He said he told the girl no [because he didn't know how to dance].

Calling Kevin Bacon.

I have faith in him. After all, he's only a freshman.

He's got a few more years to work on his moves.

2011-10-13T14:27:00.002-04:00

(what i feel like on the metro. via the pin, of course!)

after almost two weeks under my working girl belt, here are a few work place idiosyncrasies i've noticed.

those who speed walk, do so for no apparent reason. i say, slow it down, people. are you really going to reach that crosswalk with the flashing red hand faster than me? and what may i ask happens when i pull up alongside you and give you the evil eye out of my peripheral vision?

when the metro or bus pulls up to your stop, good luck trying to figure out where you are. i am contemplating phonics as a second language to decipher the conductor. and no, sir, you may not shut that double door when my arm and bag are still on the platform. please. wait for my whole body to enter the car.

i'll be the first to say i am a starbucks addict. anywhere. any place. however, is it necessary to purchase a venti triple shot soy latte hold the whip, every day? and if so, is it necessary to parade it in front of me while we are in a speed walk-off?

i spend more time interacting with the printer and copier than i do with an actual person. as a result i have become very dependent on the work ethic of these machines. in our office relationship, you could say im a little needy. and if you shoot out a paper with messy ink spots and sounds from the devil, then, printer, i may be forced to smack you.

and while most people on the workforce, long for that evasive friday, not me.
i mean, after all, how will the office get on without me?

36 and 37 of 52.

2011-10-13T08:21:00.006-04:00

You Are Special by Max Lucado

You've probably read Lucado's story about the Wemmicks. But, if you haven't I would recommend it! This book is one of my favorites. It's even better when read out loud to an eager audience. (The illustrations by Sergio Martinez are wonderful, too.)

____________________________

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

From the book's dedication:

For Jenny
who asked for a puzzle mystery

Raskin's book won the Newberry Medal in 1979. Somehow I missed reading it during my middle school years. It's a quick read--adventurous, humorous, and indeed puzzling. I always appreciate a story where the ending is obscured. This is an ending you won't be able to predict.

P.S. Catching up on this 52 in 52 challenge?
It all started here!

Two Things.

2011-10-12T10:13:00.000-04:00

Nate and his buddy Cole
Camp-of-the-Woods
July 2011

1) It's his birthday today.
2) There's a reason we call him Nate the Great.

Bachelorette and Birthday Parties.

2011-10-11T08:42:00.016-04:00

The Weekend:

1. My friend Christine is getting married in January! On Saturday a bunch of us drove out to Pearmund Cellars in Virginia wine country to celebrate her bachelorette party. We had so much fun wine-tasting together. Later that evening we grabbed a bite to eat at Musashi Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar in Gainesville, Virginia. It was my first Japanese Steakhouse experience...have you ever been? It's quite something!

2. I cat sat for some friends this weekend. I've always considered myself more of a dog person, but Leo "the Lion" is pretty irresistible. He's quite a rascal, too. We only had one time out this weekend. Just kidddddding! I sent this photo to his parents Saturday night. Leo is their newest addition, and I knew they were probably missing him from afar.

3. The siblings (minus Brother in Corpus) hiked to the C&O Canal Sunday afternoon. It was such a stunning fall day. I took one too many photos. Maybe I'll get around to sharing them later this week. Or later this year. Late Sunday we celebrated Dad's birthday! He turned the big 6-0 this year. We took advantage of the beautiful weather and loaded up the grill with hotdogs and hamburgers.

Oh, Autumn! Isn't it such a lovely season?

If months were dateable, I'd have my eye on October.

Dad's day.

2011-10-10T09:11:00.000-04:00

Me and Dad!
The Homestead
Hot Springs, Virginia

Dear Dad,

I know things change. But some things don't.

...like how you begin your e-mails with Dearest Em or Hello dear one and how you always sign them Love you PTH.

...like the way you pass the five kernels of corn around the Thanksgiving table to remind us of the early Pilgrims.

...like the way you tear up while singing the Navy Blue and Gold in Annapolis.

...like the way you work through all the details of boy scouting with your sons.

...like the way you come alive when you're back on the farm in Oklahoma.

...like the way you love Mom and the ocean and iced tea.

...like the way you can keep at a crossword puzzle "until the cow's come home."

...like the way you get caught up in a good book.

...like the way you listen to others.

...like the way you give advice.

...like the way you give: generously and anonymously.

You are so good to us. I'm so thankful for you.

And I love you...past the heavens!

Emily

end of the work week.

2011-10-07T15:55:00.002-04:00

what a week it has been.
if the rest of you didnt know, summer is officially over. i received the message loud and clear when i started work monday.
have you heard of this thing called work? its ungodly i tell you. who decided people must work 8 hrs a day in a tiny office space, staring at a computer? and where may i ask are the nap rooms?
so in pure blogger form, let me review the 5 highlights of my working week.

(1) 24oz tervis that i finally admitted i needed. no more coffee car spills/near accidents for me.
(2) blocks i walk from my metro stop to the office. i have counted 3 starbucks on my route. goodbye, tervis.
(3) chapters i have read in frankenstein. i'm amazed by what a freaky lady mary shelley is. i like her immensely.
(4) new indian dishes that i tried. hurray for friends who enjoy cooking. and dont mind me eating.
(5) daily bathroom trips due to poor circulation in my lower half. that and all the coffee i drank at 9.

this weekend i will be appying salve to my blistered feet, raiding staples for office supplies and starting all sentences with, "well, during my work day..."
happy long weekend to us all.

35 of 52.

2011-10-07T08:15:00.000-04:00

My sweet friend Jen sent me this book after we'd traversed Colorado and Wyoming (...and Montana...and Idaho) together this summer.

From the back cover: As a young widow with a small child, Elinore Pruitt left Denver in 1909 and set out for Wyoming, where she hoped to buy a ranch. Determined to prove that a lone woman could survive the hardships of homesteading, she initially worked as a housekeeper and hired hand for a neighbor--a kind but taciturn Scottish bachelor whom she eventually married.

I loved this book. It was such a fascinating portrayal of a country, a lifestyle, and a person. I was surprised how down-to-earth Elinore seemed. And how funny she was. I put this book in the mail the day after I finished it and sent it to our Oklahoma friend Anna. She reminds me of Elinore. Can't wait to hear what she thinks about it!

Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Stewart

To me, homesteading is the solution of all poverty's problems, but I realize that temperament has much to do with success in any undertaking, and persons afraid of coyotes and work and loneliness had better let ranching along. At the same time, any woman who can stand her own company, can see the beauty of the sunset, loves growing things, and is willing to put in as much time at careful labor as she does over the washtub, will certainly succeed; will have independence, plenty to eat all the time, and a home of her own in the end.

Jen and I in Wyoming!
Yellowstone National Park
July 2011

Fells Point.

2011-10-05T09:23:00.000-04:00

Mom and Sis and I spent the weekend in Baltimore, Maryland for a Living Proof Live event. Besides hearing a word from Beth, we also had the chance to explore some darling Baltimore neighborhoods. The Fells Point Festival was happening this past weekend, and we trekked over Saturday to check things out.

Fells Point is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Baltimore. Founded in 1730! Oh, and of course, one of it's more notable residents is Michael Phelps. We kept an eye out for the swimming champ, but no luck...this time.

Sis is smitten by all things that begin with a G and end with reat Dane.

This brick home. I melt!

What a silly rabbit.

Hotel bathroom shot. I know, I know. Too cheesy. I need to especially draw your attention to that sassy Sister on the bottom right.

Temps were chilly all weekend! PTL for a Starbucks one city block from our hotel. We were on a first name basis with the baristas by Saturday morning.

Love these two! And loved spending a weekend with them in Baltimore.

Your Monday Quiz.

2011-10-03T11:13:00.000-04:00

Mom and Sis and I spent the weekend in Baltimore, Maryland. We were in Baltimore to:

A) Hear Beth Moore speak.
B) Hear Travis Cottrell sing.
C) Eat crab tacos.
D) Explore Fells Point.
E) Meet Michael Phelps.
F) All of the above.
G) All of the above. Except E.

Baltimore, MD
Thanks to Mom for the photo!

Did you pick G? You would be correct. Alas, no Michael Phelps sightings. But, we did have an incredible weekend attending the Living Proof Live event with 5,000 other women from 18 (!) different states.

Mom and Sis and I are Beth fans. Big fans. Huge! And fans not so much in the oh-my-word-it's-BETH-MOORE! sense (though that's a factor), but in the I-just-got-a-WORD sense.

Can I share a bit about our journey with Beth?

In 2009 I was living in New York and working through Beth's study on the Book of Esther with a fantastic group of New York City women. I recommended it to Mom. She and our pastor's wife were looking for a study for their group of northern Virginia young moms, so they co-led Esther. After Esther our Manhattan group studied Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Study of David. And Mom's group ended up studying that one, too. Then in March 2010, Sis was in California reading So Long, Insecurity when she had a moment with a complete stranger in a coffee shop. Almost a year later, in April of this past year, Sis and her dear friend Katy went to hear Beth speak in Fresno, California. And it was incredible.

Are ya still with me? We've been all over with Beth...Maryland, New York, Virginia, California. And this past weekend the three of us got to experience our favorite Houston gal for the first time together. It was so incredibly special.

There were tears involved.
There was hugging.
Some snoring.
And lots of coffee.

What a weekend! I feel so thankful.

{P.S. We also explored Fells Point. And ate crab tacos. I took some photos. Meant to share them today. Maybe later this week!}

Favorite Fall Movies.

2011-09-30T09:51:00.005-04:00

I love movies. I love them so much. I think it might be one of the quirks of my personality that I love to quote movie lines. Over and over. And over again.

With autumn just around the corner, I thought I'd share a few seasonal favorites. For your viewing pleasure. And your Friday.

1) When Harry Met Sally

I SWOON. What is not to love about this darling romantic comedy?! Every time I see it I feel nostalgic and sentimental (mostly for New York). I think Meg Ryan is at the top of her game here. Nora Ephron's script is witty and delightful...the characters are complicated...and the backdrop of the Big Apple in autumn and winter is beautiful.

(PW/ Ree Drummond also wrote a little something about this movie! You can read her thoughts over here.)

Harry Burns: There are two kinds of women: high maintenance and low maintenance.

Sally Albright: Which one am I?

Harry Burns: You're the worst kind; you're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance.

2) Runaway Bride

I remember seeing this movie in theaters with Mom and Sis circa 1999. (Think I was still wearing headgear. And Scrunchies.) I adore this movie:

-because Garry Marshall is at the helm

-because Richard and Julia are back together (post-Pretty Woman!)

-because it was filmed in Maryland

-because the soundtrack is perfection

-because of that New York scene, Ike Graham's cat named Italilcs, Maggie's proposal, and the worn out running shoes. I bawl.

-and because of that final scene with the brilliant fall foliage, Julia in a wedding dress, and all the cheering friends. I bawl.

Maggie Carpenter: I love Eggs Benedict, I hate every other kind. I hate big weddings with everybody staring. I'd like to get married on a weekday while everybody's at work. And when I ride off into the sunset, I want my own horse.

3) Remember the Titans

Fall. Denzel. Friday night football. Denzel. T.C. Williams High School. DENZEL.

Did I mention Denzel?

I could watch this movie over and over again. (I could also watch The Pelican Brief over and over again. Not that it's necessarily an autumn movie...but it does include Julia and Denzel which is such a fantastic pairing I can barely see straight.)

Coach Boone: Tonight we've got Hayfield. Like all the other schools in this conference, they're all white. They don't have to worry about race. We do. let me tell you something: you don't let anyone come between us. Nothing tears us apart. In Greek mythology, the Titans were greater even than the gods. They ruled their universe with absolute power. Well that football field out there, that's our universe. Let's rule it like Titans.

4) Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

Sis and I watched this movie a few weekends ago during a Harry Potter marathon on Sunday afternoon. The Prisoner of Azkaban feels like one of the last light-hearted movies of the series.
Azkaban includes what we all love about Harry Potter: the Weasley home, the funny professors at Hogwarts, the seasons of school, the Hogwarts Express train ride, the welcome address from that infamous Headmaster, the Gryffindor common room, and the wonderful adventures between our three favorite friends.

It's definitely worth watching. For the 1st or 87th time.

Harry: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.

5) Sleepy Hollow

I stayed awake by myself on a high school retreat to finish watching this movie. Oh my, it was so good. And so suspenseful! It gave me goosebumps. And then I hid under the covers until the morning.

This is a Tim Burton masterpiece. Dark, romantic, Gothic, mysterious. It feels like the perfect movie for those chilly autumn evenings. Johnny Depp is brilliantly cast, and Christina Ricci is mesmerizing.

And there is a New York City scene in this one, too. (I'm beginning to see a pattern here.)

You'll enjoy this, I promise. And you won't see the ending coming. Or maybe you will. I was blindsided. But, then again, I was only 17.

Ichabod Crane: Villainy wears many masks, none of which is so dangerous as virtue.

34 of 52.

2011-09-28T08:24:00.000-04:00

I've had this thing for John McCain since the 2008 presidential elections. I just like the guy. I like that he speaks his mind, in particular that he's rarely politically correct (in the general sense... after all, he is a senator). I like his personal history, and I like his values. I think he's interesting. And, I like his words, too. I pulled this off my Dad's bookshelf. Would certainly recommend it.

Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life by John McCain

We have to value our freedom. We have to love it, not for the ease or material riches it provides, not just for the autonomy it guarantees us, but for the goodness it makes possible. And we have to love it so much that we will not let it be constrained by fear. It's love, then, that makes courage necessary. And it's love that makes courage possible for all of us to possess. We must love freedom for the right reasons. And, on occasion, our love will need courage to survive, to insist on freedom. We'll need courage to be happy.

2011-09-27T13:47:00.002-04:00

while sis may have taken the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge, i have decided to set a much smaller goal for myself. since i am fully aware of my procrastination tendencies, i instead have chosen to read 12 classics in 12 months.

after re-watching jane eyre last night, i remember the magic of reading the first lively interactions between the brooding mr. rochester and virtuous jane eyre.
and while i did read quite a few classics in high school, i might have perused cliff notes more than the text.

im excited to re-visit chilly green moors, settle into fashionable society and listen in on the complexities of relationships.
ah the sweet torture.

Dinner [Friday night], Edition II.

2011-09-26T10:12:00.000-04:00

There's a new restaurant in town. Well, new to us anyway. Seasons 52 has been getting a lot of buzz around here. We ventured out Friday night to see what all the fuss was about.

Sis made reservations for a 7:30 dinner. But, things looked busy when we arrived. So busy, in fact, that the restaurant wasn't able to seat us until 7:50.

We were hungry, but honestly it was no real sweat.

Once we were seated the restaurant's General Manager came flying over to our table and profusely apologized for the wait. He had taken the liberty to order some complimentary appetizers for our group. Just when he thought he'd probably outdone himself, Mom tapped him on the arm and said, "How 'bout a free bottle of wine to go with that?"

So we got a free bottle of Chardonnay, too.

We feasted on delicious flatbread, shrimp stuffed mushrooms, chicken salad with roasted butternut squash, penne pasta, and caramelized sea scallops. Maybe the best part of this fun restaurant is that no dish is over 475 calories! Healthy, delicious, and portion appropriate.

At the end of the meal our waiter brought us complimentary desserts. What on earth?!

Think it's easy to admit we'll definitely be back again!

Here's our group: moments before being rolled out of the restaurant from an overabundance of food.

And this is neither here nor there, but here's a photo of Saturday's spectacular sunset over the Potomac River. Virginia is on the left. Maryland is on the right.

Geographically speaking, of course.

If we're talking politically I might need to amend that statement.

Happy Monday!

Summer reflections.

2011-09-16T10:21:00.000-04:00

Summer isn't officially over, but I'm always in a different mindset post-Labor Day.

It was a glorious summer. It was a blessed summer. It was a summer filled to the brim with adventure, travel, ice cream, baseball, family, festivals, and precious friends.

I'm learning more and more about cultivating an attitude of gratefulness for the little things. The big things too, of course. But I find those are easier to be grateful for. There is something wildly attractive about a person who is content and grateful for this day, this moment, this season.

Some of my favorite things from this summer:

celebrating Stephen's 21st

a weekend in Virginia Beach with longtime friends
a roadtrip with college friends through the beautiful West

a day trip to Annapolis with the California girls

a week in the Adirondacks

a picnic in Idaho

a concert in Virginia

Isaac's surprise visit home

a roadtrip with Courtney and Stephen

Pieter's visit from Australia!

a Navy football scrimmage

I hope your summer was memorable in all the best ways. Here's to autumn adventures!

32 and 33 of 52.

2011-09-15T07:58:00.002-04:00

One of these is a children's book. One is not.
Just needed to share that disclaimer with you.

32) The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde (Illustrations by Lisbeth Zwerger.....were outstanding.)

Sister recommended this next book. It was powerful. Think I'll return to it again soon...when I'm not in a time crunch to read 52 books in 52 weeks.

33) The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery by David G. Benner

The mystery of the Christian gospel is that our deepest, truest self is not what we think of as our own self but "the self that is one with the Risen and Deathless Christ in whom all are fulfilled." In Christian spiritual transformation, the self that embarks on the journey is not the self that arrives. The self that begins the spiritual journey is the self of our own creation, the self we thought ourselves to be. This is the self that dies on the journey. The self that arrives is the self that was loved into existence by Divine Love. This is the person we were destined from eternity to become.

Continue to make your prayer the prayer of St. Augustine: "Novem to, novem me" (May I know you, may I know myself).

That old September feeling.

2011-09-14T07:14:00.001-04:00

{Via Pinterest!}

For several weeks now I have had the sense of something about to come to an end--that old September feeling, left over from school days, of summer passing, vacation nearly done, obligations gathering, books and football in the air...Another fall, another turned page: there was something of jubilee in that annual autumnal beginning, as if last year's mistakes and failures had been wiped clean by summer.

-Wallace Stegner, The Angle of Repose

2011-09-13T20:19:00.000-04:00

today i went shoe shopping in hopes of finding a nice pair of flats for work.

instead i walked out with a pair of three inch badgley mischka heels.

and the only reason i left with such beauties was due to my throw-down with a saleslady.

i lie.

the real reason was the 80% discounted price.

so thank you, shoe store. thank you for helping my 5'10 frame reach heights of 6'1. thank you for reminding me that though flats may heal my heels, height truly makes my heart happy.

Mountain Air.

2011-09-12T09:29:00.000-04:00

I spent the weekend holed up in a condo in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain country of central Virginia. I traveled down from D.C. with a group of Fellows from the C.S. Lewis Institute (which is a program of such fabulousness I think I would recommend it to anyone...including our Saint Bernard.)

We stayed at the charming Wintergreen Resort (which is a place of such spectacular Southern hospitality I think I would recommend it to anyone...including...well, you know...). Our group spent the weekend talking, eating, hiking, and brewing copious amounts of coffee.

It was refreshing and rejuvenating.

This was the view from our condo.

I'd like to go back now, please and thank you.

A Letter to My Girl Rhonda.

2011-09-09T06:38:00.004-04:00

Dear Rhonda,

Tomorrow he turns 15.

I remember the day he was born!

Here he is in 2002.

(I know he looks like a Yale undergrad- don't be confused.

He was in preschool.)

How can he be 15?!

I won't allow it!!!

Rhonda, I'm reaching out here.

Can we do something about this?

HELP ME, RHONDA!

Yours Truly,

His Oldest (and Very Concerned) Sister

P.S. He'll be able to drive next year.
And I simply won't allow that either.

2011-09-08T11:02:00.000-04:00

while the fashion of kate spade is a little too east coast prepster for my casual wear liking, their quotes are to die for.
and this morning i happened to find a little one of kate spade's jewelry wonders under my door. courtesy of sis, who does happen to adore all things feminine and frills. and little gifts of encouragement.

and inside, right next to the to the delicate piece, on a little white card, read:
off we go! she announced, jumping into the fountain feet first, her opal eyes shining in the rain.

words of encouragement.

or as jesus might say:
i have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. in this world you will have trouble. but take heart! i have overcome the world.

Labor Day Weekend.

2011-09-07T07:30:00.012-04:00

Let me start off by saying we did no labor on Labor Day weekend.

I thought that might be important to clarify.

We kicked up our heels and relaxed.

To the max.

We went to Annapolis for Navy's first home game of the season. Welcome to Maryland, Delaware fans! Hope you're ready for a beat down!! Hope you're ready for some real football!!!Hope you're ready for us to wipe up the stadium with your sorry...

Pardon me, sometimes I get carried away with my trash talk.

I'm trying to prepare for December's Army vs. Navy game. I might need to be muzzled.

It was Sister's first Navy game in a loooonnnnnnng time. She's been in California for the last six autumns. She couldn't believe the game was THREE AND A HALF HOURS LONG.

After the game we dragged her all over kingdom come for a little tailgate-party-hoppin. She sobbed.

This is Sister telling me I've got a little something in my teeth.

And a crazy curl flapping around on top of my head.

Sisters are great for things like that.

Navy touchdown!

(What NOW, Delaware??!!!)

This is how the Navy boys celebrate after a well-earned touchdown:

See the midshipmen in their white uniforms? After every touchdown they run on to the field and do push-ups.

Great workout for them. But no thank you for me.

Sunday we celebrated the Mom's birthday. Here she is with her youngest (and sassiest) child.

Of course, Desmond Jack couldn't wait to participate in the festivities, too!

Why, Master? I'm trying to keep up an image here. Could you please remove this ridiculous paper hat off my head? My fans are going to be so confused.

The Mom. On her birthday. She turned this card upside down and said, "WOW!"

She is so clever. And so lovely.

LET THEM EAT CAKE!

Even the Delaware fans.

We went out to Potomac Pizza for a summer farewell dinner on Monday night. Labor Day Weekend's end. School started on Tuesday. September is here. Things are a changin', folks!

But some things don't change.

Like fall.

And football.

And Army's inability to win a bowl game.

It's good to know there's a few constants in life!

Happy Birthday!

2011-09-06T07:30:00.001-04:00

...to Mom!

We celebrated her yesterday, and the day before yesterday, too. It was a weekend of festivities.

More photos coming soon!

May 2011

{Photo by cousin Kiersten!}

Dinner [last night], Edition I.

2011-09-01T10:49:00.016-04:00

My Dad and I went out for a bite to eat last night at the Copper Canyon Grill. Oh my, the food was delicious. I think I should have been a food critic in another life.

Not that I believe in other lives. It's just a euphemism. Of course. You knew that.

We each ordered a salad. Dad had the Wood Grilled Tenderloin Beef Tip Salad with mixed greens, croutons, red onion, grape tomatoes, pear, smoked Gouda and Honey-sesame vinaigrette. And I inhaled the Southwest Salad Rotisserie Chicken featuring iceberg lettuce, black beans, tomatoes, jicama, corn, Monterrey jack, chipotle-bleu dressing, avocado and BBQ sauce.

We also enjoyed a side of homemade cornbread. And a little crab dip appetizer. I had to try the Copper Sangria, the restaurant's twist on the classic Red Sangria. My curiosity was simply getting the best of me. Here's what came in the drink:

The fun stuff:
pineapple juice
fresh oranges
blueberries
and Asian pear

The extra fun stuff:
Chardonnay
Apricot Brandy
Peach Schnapps
Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

Amongst other things I gave Dad a little BlackBerry tutorial. I was feeling quite free to share all kinds of technological advice. I blame it on the rum.

We talked about the end of August and the approach of September. Dad told me his parent's anniversary was today. They've both passed away, but they celebrated 50 years of marriage together. Dad said Granddaddy used to remember his anniversary because it coincided with the first day of dove hunting season in Oklahoma. A true southern boy.

Just like his son, who ordered an unsweetened iced tea at dinner last night.

Pass the rum, please.

2011-08-31T22:54:00.003-04:00

for the past five years, i have spent september first on the sunny shores of california, windows down and glasses on.

tomorrow will be the first time that i spend it here.
on the east coast.
living at home.
without a definite game plan.

clearly this season didnt look like i planned.
and in that uncertainty, comes great amounts of time to finally indulge in tasks i have long put off.
organize my closet.
wander around the backyard.
eat a box of sprinkles cupcakes.
finish a dozen half read books.

and drive with the windows down, letting in cooler evening air; letting in change.

31 of 52.

2011-08-31T07:55:00.000-04:00

My friend Becky recommended this book during our Western roadtrip. She said it was set in Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho, so it seemed only appropriate to pick it up after we'd traversed those same areas ourselves. I'm so glad I did. It's been my favorite novel so far this year, which really is no small surprise considering it won the Pulitzer in 1972.

Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner

There was a time up there in Idaho when everything was wrong; your husbands' career, your marriage, your sense of yourself, your confidence, all came unglued together. Did you come down out of that into some restful 30 degree angle and live happily ever after? When you died at ninety-one, the New York Times obituary spoke of you as a Western woman, a Western writer and artist. Would you have accepted the label?...We shared this house all the years of my childhood, and a good many summers afterward. Was the quiet I always felt in you really repose? I wish I thought so. It is one of the questions I want the papers to answer.

Wanderlust.

2011-08-30T07:23:00.001-04:00

an insatiable urge to travel the world
{via the ever darling Kate Spade}

Autumn is around the bend.
The air smells different.
The humidity is at bay (PTL).

The shifting seasons make me want to travel...

To Nairobi, Kenya,
Or London, England,
Or Kennebunkport, Maine.

To Vienna, Austria,
Or Hangzhou, China,
Or Austin, Texas.

Sis says that even though I am a very settled person,
sometimes I get restless.
She is right.
I get the travel-bug-itch thing.
Maybe I should start with a jog around the neighborhood.

2011-08-26T09:23:00.007-04:00

seriously. what is happening to the east coast?
not only is dc just now recovering from the extensive earthquake damage

(via anna handzlik)

but hurricane irene is set to lay waste to our shores in approximately t-24 hours. (via pinterest)

all seriousness aside, im a huge fan of weather patterns. i greatly missed them on the west coast. and seeing how this is just the summer fun, i am anxiously anticipating the hot winter mess.