Spring Break

Spring break was simply beautiful. That family time and breathing and relaxing and fun was exactly what we needed to recover from the busyness that consumes too many of our days.

This is one of the many beauties of break. Reading Jayber Crow, wrapped up in my quilt, in the big comfy recliner. Can't beat it.

Another beautiful thing, only made possible by break, was getting time for craftiness. After struggling to find Kindle covers online cheaper than around 30 dollars, I was pumped to make my own for less than 3 dollars. I'm just going to post the link to the tutorial I used rather than reexplain everything here:

http://whipstitchfabrics.com/blog/kindle-cover-tutorial/

I just love sewing projects with my Grandma. She's the best.

Also, it doesn't get much better than big, beautiful, colorful breakfasts with the fam. Yum.

And most importantly, I got to hang out with some of my favorite people in the world.

We listened to Jace serenade us with the Piano Man, played games, watched Psych, chatted, relaxed, Schwondered (our verb for playing 7 Wonders), and ate all kinds of delicious food. 

The only word that I feel sufficiently describes our spring break is wonderfulness.

Spring Break Part 2 with the Hohms coming soon! Just need to get some pictures from my father-in-law.

Sleepy Saturday

I got a package, I got a package...I got a package from Megs today hey hey!

Our little birdie must have some strong little legs after carrying this all that way! And, I am most definitely not looking forward to going into work tonight, so thank you for brightening my Saturday afternoon :)

And thank you Darlene, for having me over for a delicious lunch while my husband worked this afternoon!

..........

Though I am not looking forward to the closing shifts I have the next couple nights, there are some events coming up for which I am thoroughly excited:

- I start an independent study on FM History and Polity with Pastor Gerry on Thursday. (And no, this one is not sarcastic, I'm a nerd and I miss school :)

- We have dinner club next Saturday night with friends from church.

- Michael has a few more basketball games, which we're pumped to see.

- I think my family is coming to visit us in the next couple weeks sometime.

- And this is a ways out, but I think we get to fly to Texas in April to see my broski in Footloose! AND I CAN'T WAIT!

"I want to see mountains again. Mountains, Gandalf!"

"On what grounds did I fast from the daily bread of birdsong and starlight?"

                                                              -- Barbara Brown Taylor 

                                                                 Leaving Church

It has been far too long since I've been outside. And even far too longer since I've seen the world from my hammock. There's a lot I love about winter, but due to my ridiculous intolerance to the cold, I definitely start to feel cooped up before spring arrives. 

I suppose I should save up a little, invest in some good warm layers, and go back outside to explore. 

But, for this morning, while I'm wrapped up in a blanket with my coffee mug beside me, I suppose I'll just reminisce about the view of the mountains from my hammock in the Dominican. I have to go back someday. Until then, I am so thoroughly excited that next year in North Carolina we will reside much closer to awe-inspiring mountains. I'm convinced that there exists a particular sliver of Divine Presence which can only be experienced by climbing a mountain.

Date night in

Awesome date night tonight with my husband. 

We started by making a fairly healthy yet surprisingly delicious dinner.

Honey-lemon-pepper chicken wraps and a Willy-Wonka-purple-blackberry smoothie. Delish.

Then we finally got to decorate our tree!!!

This first picture is the bird's nest we found after bringing it home...

We got our lights up a couple days ago.

And tonight we added all the lovely ornaments we got from Jordan's family.

To end the evening we enjoyed some hot chocolate, popcorn and a couple episodes of Parenthood.

Hermanos...

I just saw a picture on facebook of one of my Dominican brothers looking waaaay too old.  And that moment of sentimentality inspired a blog post of gratitude for all my many siblings. 

First of all, my actual siblings are the best siblings in the whole entire world. Now that we live in three different cities, I miss them more frequently than I would have been willing to admit years ago when sis and I shared a room and we fought all the time. I wish I could see every basketball and soccer game and performance of my crazy talented sibs, but I'm so grateful for the ones I do get to experience.

             

 

I gained a third sibling fall of sophomore year. I pretty much just love her and her hilariousness and I can't wait to hang out with her again next time I'm in the 'ville.

The next fall I lived in Jarabacoa and got a new younger bro and older sis. Era muy divertido cantando canciones locas con Bebo y mirando Friends con Leonela y mucho más. Que bonita esa familia.

And. I gained another Dominican sister who was actually born in the states. That crazy, awesome, exhausting semester would have been less crazy, less awesome, and much more exhausting without her as my sister. It was so great to see her recently to catch up a little bit, laugh, and dream about another DR trip.

After sad goodbyes in town, we moved out to the country. Con mis hermanitos. Tan chiquitos, pero ahora tan grandes, tristemente. Jugabamos beisbol afuera y tirabamos cosas entre los dormitorios. Les extraño muchísimo.

This summer I gained two more awesome brothers. Sure, I'm their least favorite sister on days the Packers play, but every other day I'm their favorite sister, so I'll take it :)

Husband, my broski, and new brothers. Love this picture.

Sure do love all mis hermanos.

Lovely surprises

I JUST GOT A BIRTHDAY CARD ALL THE WAY FROM NORWAY!

That pretty much made my afternoon :) Thanks Rach!

Birthday Date

I've known this for a few years now, but my husband has excellent date planning skills. Now, topping last year's birthday date was, for all intents and purposes, impossible, because he got me a ring and got down on one knee, but this year's date was SUPER wonderful. 

Here's the events of our lovely progressive dinner and date:

1) Mini pretzels and queso appetizer at BWWs.

2) Grilled chicken caesar salad at Panera.

3) Small florentine pizza at Monical's.

4) Strawberry and lemon twist cone at Krekel's.

5) Freaks and Geeks.

6) StrengthsFinder retake {for those of you Greenville-ites who care, here's my new list:
                                      Empathy
                                      Intellection
                                      Achiever
                                      Learner
                                      Developer}            
                                                               
7) Reading, relaxing, loving hanging out with my husband. Simply WONDERFUL evening.