A Sad Goodbye

I have been wanting to share with you my latest moment of sorrow.

It's a difficult thing to express the deep attachment that I've had for a dear friend of mine.  We go way back.  Almost 10 years back.

We've been through a lot of good times.  We've also been through a lot of rainy, muddy, dirty seasons.

But it was time for me to let go.  To move on.  

My dear, sweet, perfectly-molded-to-my-feet tennis shoes were begging to be set free.  Or put out of their misery.  Whichever way you prefer to see it.

 I guess I have attachment issues.

After much deliberation, I did preform a holy and proper burial for my running, mowing, painting, bootcamping companions.  Aka, I threw them in the trash after letting them sit on my window sill and bask in the glory of their former days for a while.

Now, I have these:

Has anyone else had crazy attachment issues with inanimate objects too??  I would love to feel affirmed in my psychotic tendencies.

Keep Posted,

the rave

From Concrete To Country

Whew!  Lots has happened since my last post.

Let me update you.

Dustin and I took a little jaunt to Lancaster County this past weekend.  Being on the cusp of autumn, the tips of trees tinged with color, the air crisp and cool and fresh, it made for a glorious weekend.  I really do believe if I could choose what heaven looked like, it would closely resemble Amish country.

Making our escape.

On our way there, once we had entered into Lancaster County, I kept bursting out into song, "America the Beautiful".  I was SO distracted.  I was supposed to be paying attention to the directions, due to my lack of concentration, we had to turn around once or twice to get back on the correct route.  Oops.

Tell me this isn't the most beautiful sunset.

Our Bed & Breakfast...for the first time ever!

An old mansion, built in 1735.  The basement held the town's first jail...only two cells.

One of 6 or 7 rooms...it had gorgeous sky lights in the ceiling.

Hand painted flowers decorated the entire room...it was so beautiful.

Outside, they had gorgeous landscaping and a great fire pit with wooden benches all around.

Great view of the surrounding area.  The barn on the right is an antique store.  They had some really cool things.

Typical.  He's laughing, but this is not a friendly environment at the moment.

An Episcopal church across the street from the inn.  Built in 1722.  General George Washington attended here twice during his encampment at Valley Forge.

A beautiful, historic structure.

The church's cemetery.  President Abraham Lincoln's grandparents are buried here. His grandfather was also named Abraham Lincoln.

Secondly, after returning from my slice of heaven, bootcamp was back in action.  I can't say enough about how much I love these workouts.  Yes, I hate them while I am in the midst of it, but I feel SO GREAT after every time.  I mean, my muscles feel so solid.  Yes, they are still hidden under these stubborn layers of flab, but they are rocks!  That's relative, you know.

Compared to they way I felt, the way my body felt, 5 weeks ago, I feel like SuperWoman.

Feeling strong is a great, empowering thing.  When I flex, intentionally or naturally, I feel this rush of energy.  Like I could jump through the roof of my house if I wanted.  Or do a walking lunge to Timbuktu.  Or really, just run up and down the stairs in my house 5 million times.

Gosh it feels good.

5:30AM...who cares.

Muscle soreness...bring it.

Extra warmup laps for being early....fine, I'll do it.

I feel like a champ.  That's champion.

However, my Groupon deal ends soon.  In about a week and a half or less.  I can keep going for $75/month.  Ouch.

Bubble has officially burst.

I can't exercise on my own.  I am so un-motivated.  I won't get up at 5:30, three days a week, by myself.  I don't operate like that.

I'm sure ya'll understand.

What do you guys think??  It feels so great to have this exercise routine, but I can't afford $75 a month.  I can't justify it, even though I feel like a rockstar after every workout.

What's a girl to do??

Moving along.  I got a job this week.  I will be the Office Manager at a chiropractor's office not too far from here.  It's part time, which is super.  I will work 3 days a week and I will get paid enough to finally get health insurance for myself and to keep up the sewing and Etsy stuff on the side.  Perfect.  Really, it's so perfect.

I will be wearing scrubs on a daily basis.  Never saw myself doing that.  But I can dig it.

Oh, I officially start Nov. 2.  Only a few more weeks of no work.  I am getting my sew on while I can.

I am actually working on a blouse for myself.  Here's a preview.

I still need to add the sleeves and hem the bottom.

I am in the process of attaching the collar...I have to slip stitch it on.  It's a little time consuming.

This is back.  I am proud of my professional looking placket(?).  I still need to add a couple of eye hooks to close it up.  I think that's what they are called.

The final product should look like the yellow top in the middle.

I don't do ballon/ruffle sleeves.  Not my taste.

Lastly, the weekend after this one, I will be heading to the Big Apple with two friends to go to a Derrick Webb/Sandra McCracken concert.  We will be there the whole weekend!!  I'm really excited.

I will be listing a few more items in my Etsy store soon.  I will let you know when that happens!

Keep Posted,

the rave

New Etsy Items

This will be brief.  Dustin and  I are leaving this afternoon to spend the weekend in the countryside with the Amish.  It doesn't get much better than that.

I have listed some new items in my Etsy store.

I bought most of them at the yard sale my church had a few weekends back.

These are mostly dishes.  Some collectible, some just really pretty.

1.  Myott Stratfordshire, England - Fruit/Dessert Bowls - set of 8 $24 (set of 4 - $16)

 2.  Mustard Yellow Epiag Saucers - Czechoslovakia - plate hangers included - set of 2 - $10

3. Norman Rockwell "The Music Maker" Collector's Plate - plate hanger included - $12

4. Norman Rockwell "Mother's Pride" Collector's Plate - plate hanger included - Certificate of Authenticity - $15

5. Paragon Dessert Plate - Honiton Pattern - $10

I will be listing a few other things soon.  Retro floral sheet & pillowcase, Retro floral tablecloth, and possibly some vintage aluminum canisters like these.  I am having a hard time letting them go, but I need to.  Sigh.


Keep Posted,


the rave

Lucky Girl

FOUR YEARS!!  Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!

(This is the year to give linens. I know you care.)

Sometimes I can't believe it's been so long.

Sometimes I doesn't seem likes it's been long enough.

Sometimes I need to say these things....

...things I love about my husband:

*He has an intensity about life and people that pushes me to look at and love things differently than I would on my own.

*He loves his family. Especially his brother.

*He loves my family.

*He can pick me up and twirl me around even when I feel like I weigh 1000 pounds.

*He loves math.  This means, I don't have to.

*He's neat and clean.  It may sound simple, but the good Lord knew I needed a man like this.

*His ability to grow a beard like nobody's business.  His ancestors were probably Vikings. or pirates. or lumberjacks. or grizzly bears.

*His laugh.  I LOVE his laugh.

*The diligence and determination he has for little things, like helping me fold clothes, or cook dinner, or using the sewing machine to sew a himself a new guitar strap.

*The joy he expresses over my cooking. Food in general, really.  He's like a kid in a candy shop. Every time.

*His love and appreciation for diversity....in people, music, food, etc.

* He's a great friend...you people know who you are.  He's touched a lot of lives in his few years of living.  He doesn't make friends to increase his facebook count (something that he doesn't even have).  If you want his friendship, you've got.  No holding back.  Just get ready.  He doesn't do "surface level".  It's not in his vocabulary.

*He's a geek.  "You wanna talk about our dish-washing schedule?  Let me make you a powerpoint."  "You wanna lock all the doors and windows?  I already did that.  And checked them, twice.  And I locked our friends in our car, and didn't even know it."

*He can stay up until the wee hours of the morning with anyone who's willing to dialogue about anything.

*He loves me to the core.  Do you know what that's like??  It's pretty upsetting when I really think about it.  Devastating, actually.  There's no love like the love of our Father, but Dustin does an overwhelming job of letting the Father's love spill out of him onto me.  My heart swells to almost bursting when I realize it.  How could I not love him back?  How could I do anything other than shower him with the same affection, exuberance of life, peace, patience, compassion, conviction, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control?

I could go on and on.  And on and on.  I know a lot of you could do the same about your spouse.

I'm a very lucky girl.  A very undeserving, lucky girl.

It's our four year anniversary today.  And I want to celebrate and let the whole world know...and remind myself....let's get real, I need the reminder....what a special, one-of-a-kind love that I have.

God has been so good.  So, so good.

Before we even spoke to one another, let alone, thought of each other in form...we weren't even friends. Circa 2004

One of the very first dates...don't we look so young?!  Circa 2005 

Christmas time.  Look at that baby face!  Circa 2005

Dating still....at a youth conference.  Circa 2006

Around the holidays...Circa 2006

Playing tennis with some buddies.  About to get hitched!  Circa 2007

Pretty sure we are engaged...but I can't remember.  Murder Mystery game at the Penlands.  So fun...Circa 2007??

October 13, 2007

The Island of Curaco...Honeymoon.  Circa 2007

San Jose, Costa Rica....Study Abroad trip.  Circa 2008

Philadelphia Blizzard.  Circa 2009

Philly Historic Adventure. Circa 2010

Burlington, Vermont.  Circa 2011

Baltimore, MD.  Circa 2011

Instead of letting my mind race with all of the reasons I don't deserve this love or life, I choose to celebrate it.  I have been given a good gift!  I can't erase all of the mistakes I've made, the things I've said wrong, the things I should have done but didn't or shouldn't have done but did.

But I can celebrate the good.  I can live in the present.  I can take advantage of what is happening...right now!

Four Years!!  And I am so in love.

Here's a snippet of a video that I forgot I had.  It's from last year's snowy winter....forgive me, it's a bit grainy.

I love you Dustin.

the rave