a quiet week

Well, here I am, day two of my "retirement" as Ryan is calling this little window of time between working and baby. So far so good but I can see why people start to get anxious towards the end. The house is clean, the diapers are lined up and books are being read for FUN at this point!

I think if I can force myself to just wait patiently, I might really enjoy this week or however long I have until we meet this little one. The weekend started it off on a great note after my last day at work. Ryan picked me up an hour early and whisked me off to an unknown destination. He had planned a date night out to Grand Haven, more specifically the Kirby Grill House, which has always been a treat in my mind as far as places to eat. We spent a few hours walking around, looking at the little boutique stores and shared a late dinner complete with a mile high brownie sundae. Yum. I felt so loved that he planned this little outing for us, knowing that this summer will be the start of a whole new chapter.

The rest of the weekend was enjoyable as well, with a good mix of resting and doing fun things like a bonfire with the neighbors, dinner out with my parents and a visit to the park with friends. I think the reality of being done with work for now is starting to set it and I have to admit, it was a bit weird being downtown Holland yesterday without being in the office. Almost like it was a Saturday even though it definitely wasn't. I think this season is going to be one where I am a bit lost on what day of the week it really is for a while.

I did the annual necessary Tulip Time visit yesterday with friends & their kiddos and we had a great time debating which stand to get food from. I can tell you that "fatballs" were not in the running for my top choice. What are those anyways?! In the end, I choose a simple pulled pork sandwich and hand dipped ice cream bar from Froggy's. Can't be beat! The tulips were lovely as always and we went early enough in the day that we didn't have to fight the crowds which was a plus because right now small spaces don't agree with me. Or maybe I don't agree with them. Beth took a pic of me in front of the tulips which she reminded me "wasn't just of me". Here I am in my 39th week and counting:



A few other things I am looking forward to this week:
a pedicure tomorrow morning with Shallon
finishing my latest fictional read and maybe squeezing another in
dinner tomorrow night with friends
a Whitecaps baseball game later this week if the weather cooperates
SITTING ON THE COUCH, watch hulu and napping in between shows with my pup

I think that is it for now but it is good for me to see a list in front of me and to take heed to the advice of friends who have gone before who are saying "rest now" before you are living in a state of sleep deprived happiness and hormones. Trying my best to take that one to heart!

spring in the air.

Not sure where the past week went but happy that it included increasing amounts of sunshine. The changing weather and the calendar made me realize that we are on the verge of springtime. The season in which we will have a baby seemed so far out when we heard the little heartbeat for the first time this fall and now here we are, on the edge of it. I got so excited realizing on Wednesday that our due date is only three months away. Which in my work life translates to one quarter and we know how fast 1Q 2010 is going.

Enough of the math, all I know is that amidst the many changes taking place, I am loving sharing this time with Ryan and dreaming about the next season. We have officially decided (or more like God decided for us), that he will be going to Calvin Seminary in the fall which is a big shift from our original thoughts and plans of him attending school in Holland. Somehow, within a matter of two months the plan has been re-routed and the fact that we have so much unity about it makes all of these unknowns bearable, even worth it. We are excited to see all of it play out and trying to focus on the next right thing rather than knowing where all of the pieces fall. Someone wise told Ryan last week that sometimes you have to throw all of the pieces up in the air and ask God to fit them together like a puzzle for whatever He has for you. I thought that was a good analogy and it has given me comfort and even excitement for this season which is VERY unlike me. In fact, I have had probably five people tell me how unlike me it is and I have to laugh because I thought I hid my control freak nature a little better than I had apparently.

So the next few months will include more nesting, more questions, upcoming showers which I am so excited about and watching where these puzzle pieces fall. One more thing that I love, which came at the perfect time, is sharing my creative friends & their ventures. Remember Maggie's cute little store in Nashville? Well we just got a new children's consignment boutique in our neck of the woods, owned by my friend Kristi & her sister. I met Kristi last spring on our Israel trip and this girl is as shining and sparkling on the inside as she is on the outside.


I have realized that life on a seminary budget may look a little different and love the option of second hand things that look like new. Their store is called Little Posh, cute, I know, and I am hoping to get out there in the next few weeks. Even dreaming about doing a little "girl's night out" shopping event there sometime this spring...more to come but for now, check them out here. Happy Friday and enjoy the sunshine!

settling into the season

So I have resolved that it is ok that I am not blogging consistently right now, in fact I have put my writing in general on hold for a little snippet of time. I can't say it is because I have been too busy, more like the opposite that I am simply settling into the season of fall and the rhythm of long walks after work and turning in earlier, mimicking the shorter days. I know it will come back but right now I am just enjoying the quiet evenings without the clicking of the keyboard and savoring the last of the warm nights. However, I should learn to add some pics here and there if I am not blogging regularly. hmm. I will have to work on that.

I have been busy continuing to hole myself up with books and more books, managing to read a 300-400 page book every 10 days or so since we got home from vacation. I think this is a phase but it makes me feel better that I am doing something somewhat productive when I am ignoring chores around the house. I picked up "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett tonight because it was on the library express shelf and I have been looking for it and finding it only on wait lists for month.

I also am finding myself back in the kitchen at times, which always seems to happen this time of year. Quite possibly because comfort food tastes much better when I know I don't have to be in my bathing suit anytime soon. Tonight I made a throw back meal, channeling my childhood and one of my all time favorite recipes that my Mom made for us, spinach quiche.

It's easy and gooey and oh so good. As follows:
-bake a store bought pie crust for 20 minutes until it gets brown
-mix 6 eggs, a little milk, salt, a few drops of Worcestershire sauce (secret key)
-layer a package of defrosted & drained chopped spinach with 6 or 7 slices of swiss cheese and pour egg mix over the top.
-Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until it sets & the top is brown

*here is the ticket- let it sit for 10 minutes or so and it will become a layered pie of cheesy goodness (including a little veggie serving or two for the day with the spinach in there).

I can happily say that Ryan LOVED it as well and between dinner tonight and our lunches tomorrow, we will have that whole pie finished off. Whoops. I may have just found a new staple in our house.

As far as Ryan goes, his fall has picked up which also may be contributing to my intense homebody tendencies, trying to balance out this full season for him and he is weeks away from finishing his degree. Which is amazing and so exciting to me since we first began this new season of student life back in the summer of 2009. I'm so proud of him, how hard he works to do good in his classes, be available to others and still have so much energy left to love me. I can't say I would be able to walk that road as well as he has and bless God that he is loving what he is learning in everyday life. He got to teach last night at our church and is blogging about it here.

so for now, that's all. a little update on my quiet corner of the world. And so you aren't complete worried about me becoming a house dweller, locking myself away for weeks and living on the pages of my books; I have also been to a hockey game, a handful of coffee dates, a new Mediterranean restaurant in Grand Rapids with friends, two showers and lots of youth group events in the past 3 weeks. Just choosing to reflect on the low key moments that I am loving.

the wonder of a week

Always amazed at the difference seven days can make in one's demeanor and outlook. It snuck up on me really, the reality of a gap between God and I. Once I sat down in church last Sunday, it became apparent in my spirit and the worship I was offering that I had forgotten, again. You see, I go through all of my normal days and weeks, offering prayers when I remember or think of it, reading when I want inspiration but I had once again missed the opportunity for the relationship part to be real.

If I have learned anything, it is that I can't go alone. Because I won't go anywhere. So I threw out an S.O.S. to Ryan in panicky words and tears, sharing my realization and asking for help. And as anti-climatic as it was, the reminders that he reverbiated back to me were more about confessions and moving forward and less about some major overhaul. It's when I live my faith by my emotions that I get all turned around and twisted but when I take one day at a time, I can breathe deeply and soak up the blessings around me. The week that followed felt a lot more livable, giving me space to recognize God again in my days instead of hurrying past Him.

And space to be thankful for the little things between the big ones. Such as:

-a dinner date with my grandparents tonight
-an upcoming cottage weekend with my love! (our favorite)
-the GIANT caramel & chocolate covered apple that Laura makes us every October as youth leaders. More than a few nights worth of night snacks for sure.
-Jodi's upcoming cooking demo where she is teaching us to make pasta & bread. There is hardly a thing I love more than pasta and bread.mmm.carbs. Michelle & I had so much fun at her first one back in February & I can't wait to learn some fun new kitchen tips!
-unexpected packages in the mail from sweet friends. I love mail!
-crazy warm October nights, which Toby can't seem to get enough of. Oh, and PS, I am just now realizing how many cell phone pictures we take of our dog now that we both have smart phones. I would say it is kind of embarrassing but I love it too much.

on being home

It's fall, my favorite time of year and like no other year before, my homebody tendencies have completely risen to the surface. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing this for 6 days in Hilton Head:

That is, when I didn't have my head in a book! I read these THREE within the week that we were there and remembered my life as a junior higher, always with my nose in a book.



But now that we are back it feels like the transition has been made into sweater-wearing, hot chocolate drinking, cuddle up on the couch all day weather. My closet hasn't quite made the transition so I am trying to figure out a few new fall staple looks, which usually defaults me back to boots and scarves and cardigans.

Other than that, I am still trying to figure out how to keep life quiet in this season while Ryan finishes his last big semester of undergrad and we seek out what God has for us next. I wouldn't quantify my emotion as bored, more as constant and thankful for a little less noise. Including spending less time online (trying to at least) and trying to balance life now that I am working full time again. I am also taking a 7 week class with some of our Grand Valley friends & a few others we know at the local seminary on the Hebrew culture & how it impacts the Old Testament as part of my desire to keep what we learned in Israel present in my mind and my heart. I'm anticipating these Thursday evening classes to become a favorite part of my week during this time and thankful for the chance to participate.

That's about it for now but I didn't want to stay away forever! If anyone has any fall fashion ideas for me, do share.

lullabies and line-dancing

Yes, something sweet and something Southern, all in one weekend and the combo made for a great Saturday from beginning to end. The first being Michelle's baby shower thrown by yours truly in honor of her little baby boy coming in October. I loved being able to share Michelle's joy with many of the friends she has met since moving to Holland 5 years ago. More pics to come of the day and the little bird/nesting theme that surrounded the celebration but for now, here is one of BrieAnna, Michelle & I.


And if that weren't enough excitement for a rainy September day, our Youth Group Fall Kick Off was planned long before we knew the weather and I was so happy with the way it turned out despite the rain. We held it at Post Family Farm and descended on the place with thirty-some high schoolers, chili and cider and our dancing shoes. It was originally set to be a square dance but some last minute changes turned it into a line dance. After the first one was "cupid shuffle"...I knew it would be more than alright. Here is a picture of me and my cowboy which Ryan affectionately titled "Gap Goes Cowboy" or something of the like:

Some other fun pictures from the night:




I still secretly think that half of the fun of doing youth group is being with the other leaders and sometimes we sneak off for a few minutes for our own little pow-wow. It's just nice to be part of a team where everyone loves to be together and I don't want to take that for granted. Here is my partner Jana & I working our moves on the barn floor...YeeHaw!

a few of my favorite things: fall edition

As we transition into fall, I can't help but be excited and distracted by the changing of colors in my very own front lawn. wow. brilliant and inspiring. Here are a few other things I am loving lately:

1.my new Mary Janes ala Target because even though I would hope to always keep my style more "classic" in nature, life is too short to not include a little flair: (sorry for the small pic)


2. Swirlberry! yum. They just opened a shop in downtown Saugatuck which is the perfect healthy alternative to my normal mile high ice cream cone. They offer a "make your own" frozen yogurt bar and Tuesday evening's combo included latte yogurt with chocolate chips, granola & a little coconut on top.

3. writing. off the blog and with introspection. I am pushing through thoughts that find their way into my mind regularly covering everything from transition to fighting for joy in everyday life, to forgiveness and friendship. I'm starting to get more attached to it, this little document that keeps growing and taking a life of its own. I'm not sure what more will come of it but I am starting to take more seriously the idea of sharing it with others in some fashion or another. If I am honest, I want to write a book. So I write and whether it shows up on a shelf somewhere or not, I am loving the process.

4. Also loving fall for students and the transition as it brings them back to local high school and college campus'. Monday night I roamed the lawn at GVSU, laughing and hugging some of my favorite students as our ice cream bars dripped in the heat. I love the uninhibited passion that returning to campus brings as some spent summers at camps, internships and working around home. Everyone had a story to tell, including my hilarious friend Carly who promised she would start blogging again and did she ever deliver. She shared her sentiments about how fast it all goes on the cusp of her senior year here on her blog and I loved reading her perspective.

5. And last, but certainly not least, how could I share my fall favorites without including these little gems:
They always remind me of fall at Taylor because every September I would go down to the front desk at Olson Hall to find a package waiting from my mom and inevitably these were included. I think one year I ate a whole bag in one sitting. what? their addicting!

What are some of your fall favorites?

we interrupt the Israel blogging for:

an update on normal life:

A wonderful Memorial Day weekend in Michigan kick-starting the summer of things I love around here like a Saturday morning in Holland with Christina & running into friends:

(Kate this picture is for you).

We spent Saturday between benches & shops, sipping JP's...tulip time blend of course while we caught up on life, thankful for great friendships like these. I did have to pick up a bag of Good Life granola at the Farmer's market of course!

We are usually on a wine tour on this front bookend of summertime; last year we were these two cats:


Due to just having traveled, we decided to keep it local this Memorial Day. We spent a lot of time around the house, had a bonfire with the neighbors and spent Sunday night & all day yesterday at the cottage.

The weekend also included my first attempt at schnitzel, something we ate in Israel and fun to share with my Dad & Evon. I continue to process deeply and realize that something in my paradigm was reshaped by our time in Israel. Thank for for your encouragement to keep writing...a few more posts left including these working themes:

hospitality & hope
Galilee: a few little fishing boys
traveling & teachings
mountaintops & making disciples
the shining city: Jerusalem

The beginning of June also marks the beginning of my birthday month--which my sister in law reminded me this morning via facebook. Haha. love that my family engages in this silliness.

For some good reading today, head over to Molly's new blog for her "coffee for thought" today. I met Molly two years ago through working at William Edwards; were both different girls in different jobs and our friendship has continued to be a blessing through the ebb and flow of the past two years. To know Molly is to love Molly & I am so glad she has started to share her writing with the world at large.

decorating by numbers

Before I count my way through my Spring decor, let me direct your attention to all of the awesome local recommendations that everyone is sharing here in order to get one step closer to a bag of Good Life Granola...no, really, read them. I promise you will get some great ideas of places near and far to visit! Feel free to add your recommendations until tomorrow night at midnight...I will post a winner Saturday morning!

Ok, on to the counting:
step 1: hang wreath

step 2: haul basket of goodies up from the basement including items obtained in the swap.


step 3 clean all surfaces--dust. no need for evidence here.

step 4 remember that you have hot rollers in...take them out and do your best Shirley Temple impression


step 5: incorporate items from the swap into current decor and create a different look from last year's Easter decor.



step 6: try Ikea table as a coffee table.



decide it is too small for the center of the room, so move it here.

and the finale, put spring duckies fondly referred to as Arnold & Cynthia out, truly marking the changing of seasons.

spring is in the air

Since it feels like spring is in the air, I thought I would spruce things up a little bit around here. The quote in the picture is the same one that is on the picture in our bedroom that I love. yes, I continue to love birds.

I spent some good time in the kitchen in the past 24 hours and thought I would share a little baking trick that I used again last night as well as a crock pot recipe that came together earlier this week.

First the tip:
If you over bake your cookies, which for some reason I tend to do, I think because they don't brown as quickly on my Pampered Chef stoneware, you can store them in a air-tight container with a piece of fresh bread and the moisture from the bread will transfer to the cookies. I didn't have any bread and used a flour tortilla with the same success. MAGIC.

And for the EASY meal...
1 lb chicken, preferably tenders
1 onion chopped
1 packet taco seasoning
1/3 cup water

Set it and forget it! Put it in your crockpot all day and come home to chicken so tender you can pull it apart. You can use it in soft taco shells, on a bed of lettuce, alone served over rice/black beans...and since there are only 2 of us, I am guessing we will use more than one of those options before it is gone.

Suggested bonus items: fresh avocado, refried beans, salsa, tomato-- the sky is the limit on this one!

lighter things

Torn about what I can write about because I continue to struggle with the privacy I want with my family struggles right now but feeling like in the midst of them, I still have my "normal" life of going out to New Holland with friends until 10:30 on a week night (Wednesday) and having adventures with my hubby and coffee with friends. I feel a bit split in half but allow me to with that said, share some of the lighter things that are in my mind.

Like the early edition release of the Passion 2010 album that you can listen to online for free. Better believe that is on repeat on both my and Ryan's computers. Specifically #5, Christy Nockel's song Healing is in Your Hands.

And the success of 4 pairs of jeans for under $60 that were scored this weekend between Ryan and I. Let me just say that I love the ANA (a new approach) brand at JcPenney. And that 3 of the pairs belong to my husband but that he NEEDED some new pairs. I have started to become very thrilled about finding good deals and even flirting with the idea of becoming a coupon clipper. It feels a bit like revenge on the retail world and I am scared and delighted at the possibility.

My friend Jenn Webber told me about her sister-in-law who teaches people how to use coupons and I know that sounds silly but after reading the girl who teaches heart for helping families and even her global perspective, I am encouraged. To see what I mean, read her perspective. I don't what has kept me from using coupons to this point, maybe partly pride but mostly laziness.

One other thing that happened before the weekend got a bit heavy was the fact that I went to a hiking and outdoor gear store, on Friday and got fitted for some boots for Israel. I don't think I haven't written about our trip on here but Ryan and I will be going on a 2 week study/hiking tour for the first 15 days of May. As it gets closer, there is much work to be done in light of preparing ourselves physically for the time like climbing stairs a couple times a week for the next 8 weeks in our new boots. There are several organizations in West Michigan that put together trips to Israel, Turkey & Greece. So crazy as it sounds, we know more than handfuls of others that have been to Israel either as high school students or adults. Which means we have several resources to learn from as we prepare and the thing we have been told by every single person is that you cannot prepare enough physically. Last spring Stacie & I spent many a Tuesday morning climbing stairs and there was something sacred about driving to the lake when the sun was still coming up and pushing ourselves. I am looking forward to having that drive and a reason to challenge myself and even more than that, having something to focus forward on right now.

celebration

just a pic from last night, a celebration of 2 families coming together. And even though I was dateless (hubby was at a retreat this weekend up North), I huddled around tall tables champagne in hand and compared cupcakes and discussed wine and laughed about how old we are since we didn't know ANY of the songs that all of the high schoolers rocked out to. You better believe we were out there when YMCA and Love Shack came on.

me and my W2(s)

boy oh boy. Nothing like multiple tax forms to remind me of the events of the past year in my professional life. I had my job @ the non-profit consulting firm that I loved and lost within 3 short months due to economic strain, got this job the same day I lost that one, was rehired at the company that I quit 8 months earlier, starting selling Uppercase Living & accepted the position as the High School Youth Group assistant at our church. Which is where we land now; with me working a total of 5 days between 3 part-time jobs.

Let me do some calculations. 5 jobs in one year. No wonder if felt a bit rocky at times. If I were a CPA, I would hate me. Maybe even judge me due to my heavy paperwork as someone who is a chronic floater, discontent or a restless employee. I don't feel like that girl anymore, although I can definitely say that this is not what I had in mind for the trail on my resume. I guess some things cannot be easy judged by the trail left behind but have to be understood through experiencing them. I also know through this time I have had some incredibly patient friends who continued to push me to look for answers, to sort through discontentment rather than stuff it and to ultimately look for and realize my worth outside my work.

And the good thing is that I still really LIKE working. I have a healthy appetite to learn new things in the roles that I am in and continue to find that what I put in, I get out. So here's to a year of less tax forms and keeping things constant. sounds like a plan to me.

counting through the day

Cups of hot chocolate: two
Handfuls of marshmallows for those cups: I lost count
Times I left the house today: once
Hours of Christmas music as background noise: 4
Christmas cards completed and stamped: 68, woo hoo! they are on their way!
Chance of additional snow to contribute to this blizzard: 100%
Current Temp: 14 but it feels like -2 degrees F. I am not making this up.

Times I checked weather.com today: atleast 15. I think I have a weather addiction because I lost count

hope you are enjoying these wintery days by staying cozy and warm!

corner's offering

Every month our church does something called our Corners Offering which is our response to God's call to care for the poor as they did in the times of the Old Testament by leaving the corners of their fields unharvested for the poor to harvest. Every Sunday, each person is asked to place just a $1 in the corner boxes & this Sunday a view was shown to convey the mission of December's corner offering, The Advent Conspiracy.

I was reminded of and challenged by the thought that so much of this season turns into stress, debt, busyness and how easy it is to reduce those things and bring back to the center worship & truly giving of our time and our resources. Check out this video to learn more about what his group is doing and the difference a little bit can make in getting water to people all over the world.

instead of blogging...

I have been camped out with this guy, doing crafts all over my living room floor for multiple nights in a row.

and trimming our tree, setting up my Nativity in a new location and adding a little Christmas flair to every corner



and who could forget the late night bundled up walks with these guys down Christmas card lane to see all of the lights and decorations going up around the neighborhood?

are you ready for this?!

from pumpkin spice, which my bestie so lovingly posted about here, to the next season. Welcome Peppermint Mocha.

My leaves are raked, I bought milk that doesn't expire until December. I am ready for you to bring me in to the next season.

it's beginning to look alot like...

autumn still. But in efforts to get ahead of the game and in reaction to an unexpected night at home...yours truly is pre-Christmas prepping. Like ordering Christmas cards from Shutterfly with some of the new family pictures that we got taken a few weekends ago (promise to post them soon). I am also making a Christmas gift that might take a few creative sessions to complete...is it for you?

weekend run down

that's right twitter style again. I know you are wondering why I don't just get an account and give you a play by play daily. In a moment of weakness I tried to do just that but since I closed my account over 6 months ago, I am locked out. Or maybe I lucked out because I fear I may struggle with boundaries there. Here it is, for nothing more than my own personal joy:

Friday night:
-@redbox and happy I reserved The Proposal online first
-forget the frozen pizza, hubby says we are going to pick up Wolfies and somehow Starbucks Java chip ended up coming home with us too.
-in bed by 10:30 and happy to be there!

Saturday:
-up by 7 to get a start on the day and do my Explore the Story reading on the treadmill at the local gym
-rushed to coffee with my girlfriends from @FBHS, why do I struggle to be on time so much?! Left there to run to Meijer & then back home before the couple's baby shower
-hubby took one for the team by eating jars of baby food while blindfolded; was on standby with a big bucket while he tasted peas, squash, ham & gravy. yikes
-jam session on the way to David Crowder Band and grabbed Quizno's on the drive. Not holding to the restaurant budget too well this weekend, but at least we used coupons!
-Got to the concert early to get good seats, only to find that they are assigned...and we were in the 3rd row! Decided that when the Lord returns, I want to be at a David Crowder show singing "You are my Joy" or something of the like.

Sunday:
-EARLY morning to set up breakfast for the high school session that Ryan taught this morning from 8:30-noon. Was so proud of his passion for who God is and the way he is loving on high schoolers.
-took a FULL out nap in my church clothes and then realized that I had dog hair all over my new black sweater dress...but it is from Meijer so I machine washed it this afternoon
-bummed around and watched the latest episode of GLEE on Hulu.
-ended the night with youth group, hanging out with 50 of our favorite high schoolers, including a leader's skit involving a sword, a cat, a vegan, a human table & a waiter.
- a late night walk around Zeeland with the hubs and our pup, realized 1/2 mile in that my boots were not the most practical option but earned me some fall fashion points.

fall adventures

I had been looking forward to our day away with Justin and Jamie ever since we planned it back in early September. Both Jamie and I are such planners that we usually have our respective vacations planned down to where we will eat dinner, visit, stay etc. But this day was reserved with conscious effort to go with the flow and that we did. We started with our local fave, @ The Diner in Zeeland for breakfast. Good local fare, everyone is always happy with their selection and since Ryan and dined at IHOP the night before on a whim for pumpkin pancakes, I started with staples, coffee and oatmeal.

From there, we headed south, using the Garmin and road signs as our guides. First stop, Crane's Orchard for some U-Pick Honeycrisps and the search for the perfect pumpkins. Ryan so spoke my love language when suggesting the perfect pumpkin/gourd combo to go on our front porch. (And I have my Welcome up so I will take a pic soon!) We hung out there for a bit, wandering up and down the rows, taking pics and apples.


My dear friend Jamie, who was one of my first friends at Evergreen when we started attending 5 years ago. We have been in various small groups together Ryan and I were engaged and began our married life, prayed with them as they anticipated the birth of their little cutie, Alexis, this spring and continue to value their friendship so much. If God does call us somewhere else in the next few years for Ryan's seminary years or even ministry in another place, I know they are "lifer" friends.

After Cranes, we spent the rest of the day adventuring Southwest Michigan and hit the following wineries:
Fenn Valley, Round Barn, Hickory Creek, Free Run, Karma Vista... I think that is all of them. Gorgeous views and lots of pit stops along the way where we saw God's creation in the trees and winding roads.

At one point in the day, we stumbled upon the Chocolate Garden with the creamiest, most delectable...and expensive truffles we have ever had. Ryan and I shared a 2-pack of dark chocolate coffee truffles. Oh my. Check them out if you are a chocolate lover and travel 94 between St. Joe & Chicago, you won't be disappointed.

We ended the day with a trip to the Stray Dog in New Buffalo for dinner and HAD TO partake in our tradition of ordering a stray dog as an appetizer. Let me break it down: a cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped, deep friend hot dog with caramelized onions and fries. Which without splitting 4 ways would nearly put you into cardiac arrest.

What a gift this day was, between Ryan's 21 hours, my balancing 3 part time jobs (sounds worse than it is), and striving to life in each day for what it has. It totally energized me for a new week and each time I pull into the driveway and see my new little pu'nkins, I will smile for sure.