Monday, June 13, 2011

Beth.

Happy Monday, friends!


Yesterday was my dear friend Beth's birthday :) Sweet Beth turned twenty-four! If I had planned a bit better, I would have published this post on her actual birthday, but for now, we'll be celebrating today, the same day she (hopefully) got her birthday card from me--keeping the celebration going or just running late, you can choose :)
Celebrating Beth's 22nd birthday!

Beth is one of those friends that I treasure each moment with. I laugh constantly when I'm around her--whether it's with her or at her, that's another story ;) ....just playin' Beth!




Beth is thoughtful and a sensitive soul. She is by far one of my very best friends. Period. And, I am enormously thankful for her. I love our conversations more than anything in the world. Beth is real, supportive and encouraging. She accepts me for who I am and gives me the benefit of the doubt, even when I stumble. This is a true friend.



We met our freshman year at Gettysburg College and have been dear friends since then. I frequently went home with Beth over school breaks, and have enjoyed getting to know her family.


I had the pleasure of getting to spend some fun time with her while I was in Philadelphia for the wedding just over a week ago. It was such a sweet time.

I love you, Beth. So glad we're friends!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

love,





ps also, Beth and I often joke about how even if we're not having our best hair day, we take great pictures together--pretty sure it's safe to say, Beth and I take better pictures together than apart <3

Friday, June 10, 2011

two months later...

Hi Friends!

It has been a long two months since I've last written. And a new blog picture to go with it... what do you think?
(It's off to the right if you have not idea what I'm talking about ---> )

Please forgive me for my absence and the lack of updates. These last couple of months were busy to say the least!

There have been ups and downs and lots of figuring-outs along the way. Do you ever have seasons of life like that? God sure uses them to bless us, but in the midst of it, it's hard to rest in that truth. My birthday began much of the craziness, and was followed by a couple baseball games, two trips back east, some bad food poisoning, a gardening project, a trip to Gettysburg, and a very special wedding weekend. Over the next couple of weeks I'll try to fill you in, (without boring you) to the direction my life has taken. It's been a whirlwind, but it most definitely has been exciting.

Let's start with age 23. I said goodbye to 22 on April 16th and hello to 23. I have to admit, I loveeee birthdays. Whether it is mine or others, celebrating never feels quite as good when it's celebrating a birthday. This year, I celebrated with family and friends. It is always good to be surrounded by those who love you, but I definitely noticed the absence of those miles and miles away :)
To celebrate, Anne Marie, Teryll and I went out for margaritas and dessert. These two wonderful ladies are two of my oldest friends, dating back to early elementary school. It was great to celebrate with them!

Anne Marie, Teryll and I celebrating
another birthday a couple years ago (Teryll's 21!)
This year we didn't get a group picture. But they did snap a shot of me with the honorary birthday sombrero and my sweet dessert :)


Have I peaked your interest as to what I've been up to?! Here are a few pictures of what's to come...

a baseball game...
gardening project...

end of After School Program...

a fun trip to Gettysburg...

a picture perfect wedding....
I can't wait to share all these joy filled moments and days with you.  To be honest, there were many days in between these happy days that I let stress, worry and heartache dominate, but God's goodness continued to shine through and His perfect timing was once again revealed.

It is so good to be reconnected through the blogworld :) Please let me know how you are doing, friends.

Expect more soon!

love,

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

my sweet brother Matthew

Hi Friends!
It sure has been a while since I've posted--sorry about that! A lot has been going on in Seattle, and the weather is getting nicer, so I suppose I am also spending more time outside :) Blue sky, it is good to see you again, I have missed you! Soon there will be more updates, but for now, I want to write about my sweet brother Matthew.

Something special happened last week, Matthew turned 11! Matthew is my kind-hearted, silly and sensitive, reasonable yet creative, and almost too-responsible-for-his-own-good brother and boy do I LOVE him! Just writing about Matthew puts a big smile on my face. I love the conversations we have, the times we spend together, his sweet and goofy smile, his wonderful laugh, his pre-adolescent moodiness, ooh there is so much I love about him--I could go on and on and on!

For now, I'll show you some pictures over the years. This boy makes my heart melt.

Feb 2011--perhaps my favorite picture of Matt 

Summer of 2010
December 2006 

play date--summer of 2007

we're silly together :)
Flat Matt came to Gettysburg to visit
silly Matt
oh so happy to take this picture Matt  

cute and cheesin'
summer of 2009 (Matt is on the right)
on the right, with brother Sean and cousin Jeremy--summer 2007
he's growing up, isn't he?
I sure do love Matthew, and I can't wait to see him this weekend :)

Sunday, April 3, 2011

when my world is shaking, heaven stands

[via]


Hi friends!
Sometimes song lyrics articulate the sentiments of my heart in way my words never could. I especially find that true with church hymns. Though the song I am sharing today is not a hymn, it sure is beautiful and speaks to my heart. Here are the lyrics to a beautiful song by JJ Heller called "Your Hands." Enjoy :)







I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world 
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands 


Sunday, March 27, 2011

last weekend and bridal shower shenanigans :)

Last weekend was a wonderful [long] weekend. Period. No if, ands or buts, it was just plain wonderful.
Wednesday night I left Seattle and Thursday morning, I arrived bright and early into JFK. I met my love in the city for a quick breakfast before he headed off to work. The bustle of Thursday morning was a foreshadow for the weekend to come. We were busy, but happy as could be.

After being in the city Thursday, spending the lunch hour with John and the post-lunch hours with his good friend, Nick, we headed back to John's place for a relaxing night in. It was wonderful to spend time  with John's family. I was a bit delirious [and some may say grumpy] by then due to the little sleep I got on my red-eye flight, but I had a great time.

Friday, I headed into the city with John, had an exciting morning and then met up with John's sister for lunch. John got off work a bit early and we headed to Philadelphia. The ride down was lovely, it was so nice to have some one on one time to really talk and just enjoy each other's company. The long distance relationship definitely makes me treasure each of these little moments. 


After missing our exit, we arrived a bit late to Megan's parent's house. It was SOOOOO great to see Megan, Andrew and their families. Megan is one of my very best friends, and I had not seen her since last August--the longest we've gone not seeing each other. She is happily engaged and knee-deep (perhaps even waist-deep) in wedding planning. She is engaged to her college sweetheart and John's college roommate and a good friend of both of ours.  I love Andrew and Megan together, and couldn't be happier for them! I am especially honored that Megan asked me to be her Maid of Honor and that I get to be a part of their special day in June.

Friday night, we spent eating pizza and catching up. I was so excited to be there I barely had an appetite (and if you know me, that is saying something!). We ended the night with Wii dance, where we all laughed so hard we cried.

So, truth be told, the real reason for my trip east wasn't to just visit John, or catch up with Megan, it was for Megan's bridal shower! I would have written about it earlier since I had been planning it for a while, but... I didn't want to give anything away to Megan if she happened to read my blog. So post-shower, you all get the fun details (and pictures!).
Last Saturday (March 19th) we had a Wine and Cheese themed shower with extravagant cheese and wine pairings, delicious food, hysterical games, and about 20 guests. Megan's Aunt Becca, Aunt Bonnie, Grammie, cousin and bridesmaid Sammie and I planned and hosted this shower. It was so fun to work with such energetic ladies. I so appreciated their on-the-ground support, as I planned from 2,000 + miles away.
Here are some pictures that tell the story of how the shower went.
Wine and Cheese tasting station
another tasting station

beautiful bride to be, Megan 
another tasting station with sweets
party favors :) 
MOB and her friends enjoying
After a questionnaire we gave Megan about how well she knew her hubby-to-be we did a silly game--create a beautiful wedding dress using one roll of toilet paper in less than 10 minutes. It was great!
Mary was my model!

After this game, the guests answered questions about Megan, seeing who knew the bride best! Next, Megan opened presents :)
During present opening, I took notes. No, not on what Megan was given or who gave it to her, I took notes on Megan's comments. Becca, Megan's aunt then read the comments, under the pretense of a "Honeymoon preview" It was HILARIOUS! (and everyone was blushing!)

Bec reading the comments
 The next surprise we had for Megan was my favorite. We blindfolded Megan and told her a "special guest" was coming. We tried to allude to the fact that it might be a stripper. When she was thoroughly thrown off guard, these handsome men came in. Blind-folded Megan felt each of their calves to determine which one was Andrew.
great picture of my love :)
this is my favorite picture of the event--we were all laughing so hard!
Megan's dad was such a good sport!
After not being able to determine which calf was Andrew's (she knew it wasn't John's--"too hairy" she said!) she went to feeling biceps. The whole thing made me laugh so hard, I was crying!

beautiful lovebirds :)
Megan and the MOB with the rehearsal bouquet  

so happy to be reunited! 

After church and lunch all together on Sunday, John and I headed back to New York. I left early Monday morning, arriving in Seattle a couple hours late for work. Needless to say, Monday night, I fell asleep early and slept soundly.

It was a wonderful weekend. I can't wait to be back in New York/ Philadelphia (and even a quick stop in to Gettysburg) end of May/ early June for Megan and Andrew's wedding--less than 70 days til the big day!