California 2011

A week with my best friend and my heart is full to the brim.
This trip was nothing short of celebratory as Ryan finished his degree from Moody at the end of December and we find ourselves dreaming about all this new year will hold, like becoming parents to this ever growing bundle:


We had such a great time exploring the cities and coastlines, laughing and talking, eating amazing meals and seeing new sites. Ryan really made it special for me by planning lots of little surprises along the way and for the first time, this type A girl completely reveled in the unknown. Here are a few of my favorite adventures from the week as they unfolded.

Driving along the coastline of Highway 1:







Spending three three days in a place where we could start and end the days with walks on the beach; filling the moments in between with lazy cups of tea and conversation:



And the city. We have both always loved the city and neither of us had been to San Francisco before so we rode every mode of transportation possible (except maybe a segway). We walked up and down the historic streets, visited the modern parts of town, saw a show at Berkeley, jumped on and off the trolley & had the best bowl of clam chowder ever at Fisherman's Wharf:





We also learned that Alcatraz wasn't as completely desolate and dark as we thought. There is some inspiring conservation and sustainability work going on there that made our tour so much fuller:





It felt like the new year was on hold for a week being away and now the next little bit of life is starting to unfold with decisions to be made, a nursery to dream about and days to enjoy but I have a feeling that we will always be thankful for California!

the birthday month begins

I started writing yesterday on our drive home from St. Louis and here is how far I got:

It's my birthday and I'll drive if I want to. Here I am, 6 hours in a bucket seat. But you know, it's not a bad way to spend my workday part of my birthday. The past 3 days have been full of adventures and perspective.

Yup, I rang in 27 in a different city including 6 hours of it in a mini van. But it was worth it because I loved seeing a new place. The only thing that could have made it better was to have my hubby there. I thoroughly enjoyed the spacious digs that they put us up in at the Chase Park Plaza and the fact that all 4 of us from the office got our own rooms. Staying in a hotel never gets old to me, I still love getting ice, checking out the complimentary shampoo and reading USA today with a cup of coffee in the morning. The conference itself that we went for was great; I learned a ton of valuable information and met people that I have only ever talked to.

I won't bore you with the details of my learnings (although I think processes and technology are awesome...). But I will tell you that something about being in a city gives me life. I was thinking about it the first night we were there as the pavement pounded underneath my feet on a little run in the CWE (Central West End--the neighborhood we stayed in). I think it goes back to my original city love affair with Chicago. I can still remember being a little girl and looking up, way up, at the tall buildings when my Dad lived downtown. And there was something wonderful about feeling grown up in the coffee shops, lanes, shops and restaurants that is still really special to me. Ryan took me there the first summer we were dating, right before I left for my freshman year at TU & proposed there 4 years later. So that city has a strong heartbeat.

But I can find that beat in any city, looking up at the buildings and thinking about all of the diverse experiences, lifestyles and families that reside there. So St. Louis did not disappoint. Maybe there will be another trip there down the road with Ryan...for now, here are some pics of our time there:





I felt very loved on my birthday, starting with a 7 a.m. hazelnut latte from my friend Ryan that I work with & I also got some great texts & voice mails, including my Ryan & some other singing VERY off key.


When I got home, Ryan had the house all picked up and the dishwasher running- which was a gift in itself. He also had a great card & the promise of a date night on Friday in GR. can't wait!

PS.
I also thought a lot about writing while I was there but chose to soak up the nights by spending time with co-workers and watching TV on my pillow top king size bed. I have at least 2 more Israel posts I would like to share so bear with me as my processing spreads into the summertime. Sometimes life just happens faster than can it can be documented and I am learning the value of living each moment.

Israel bound

the only thing standing between me and Galilee is 24 hours. And I simply cannot put into worlds the readiness and excitement we have to get our adventure started. Thankful that we are embarking together, that we found everything on the packing list and that God is here and there all the same. I think that is what I am actually most thankful for, that no matter how much my mind is filled and expanded, that my God is still the same faithful God when I am in Michigan as I He is while I experience Him in a new way in Israel.

things I am looking forward to most:
-- dusty feet, it means you are walking close the the rabbi
-- 2 weeks of walking one foot in front of the other, the way life is supposed to be when we are following hard after God in our every day life
--being with Ryan for 2 weeks straight with no interruptions on either of our parts
--unplugging from EVERYTHING but the land, the people I am with and my Bible/journal

to follow our journey, you can check it out at walkingthetext

thanks for your prayers and support, we feel so blessed and truly in awe of this opportunity and cannot wait to share all we learn when we return.

a weekend away: to Indiana and back

Ahh. What a weekend. You know those friendships where you drive in on a Friday night after not seeing each other for 10 months and you just know that it is where you left it and you won’t want the weekend to end? That was what this past weekend was for me.

Things were exactly where we left off with the exception that last time I saw Bethany she was 6 months pregnant and now her little boy is more than half a year old. But that only added to our conversation and connection together because it gave me so much joy to see her in her daily life as a mom. And her little guy Hunter is SUCH a cutie! We enjoyed lots of laughter, conversation, a movie on the couch, a walk around the neighborhood and best of all, a visit to our alma mater, Taylor University. It was such a welcome break to the intensity level in my life lately.

Good ole TU hasn’t changed TOO much in the past 5 years in some ways and in others it felt like the campus had moved on from us. I know, hard to believe. Very nostalgic in a familiar way that I can see Bethany, Emily, Kelli and I bounding up those stairs after our 5:00 dinner every day and running up and down those halls screaming about pick a dates and inside jokes and Crazy Tuesday (99 cent breadsticks and diet cokes). Here are a few pics but jump over to B’s blog for more.

What visit would be complete with a trip to Ivanhoes?! The grasshopper sundae (mint chip with fudge) tasted just as good as it did the million other times I had it during my years at Taylor.

starting anew

We are headed on a few little journeys in the next 7 days and I am ever so excited about getting away with my hubby while he is on the last leg of his "Christmas break" from school. Later today we head to Atlanta for Passion and will be on a bus...overnight...with 40 college students. Feeling old in the sense that I am really hoping we get some sleep. I think it will be a great time to get away and enjoy some worship, good teaching, and just hanging out. There are some places in my walk and in my own life that I am glad for the time to reflect on and part of that is going to be leaving my computer behind for a few days. No facebook, no blogging, not even email while we are there, in hopes that I will pick up my pen and my journal to reflect.

We come back LATE Tuesday night and I am going to try and work a few days in there before we head out Thursday again for time with just the 2 of us. Even while Ryan was working a lot, we have always been good at getting away for the weekend because we realized early on in our marriage what a difference it makes. And as much as I am looking forward to Atlanta, I am looking forward to 3 days in Traverse City with just Ryan even more. Usually our weekends away consist of finding new little places to eat, window shopping, watching lots of TV in bed in our hotel room. Here's to hoping there is a Law & Order marathon on sometime next weekend!

part of my heart is in Florida this week

Last year at this time, I was waking up at 7 am, packing a cooler (multiple coolers) for the day and loading 30 kids into big white vans for service projects, double checking for sunscreen and bug spray and inhalers. Giving hugs and braiding hair, breaking up conflicts over who gets to be in charge of the radio and patroling for immodest clothing. And this week, each morning I think about that week in Jacksonville with the youth group and my heart mourns a bit that I am here and not there as they returned for a missions trip this week.

I love those kids and want them so badly to know that Jesus loves them too. Taking a year off from formal youth ministry has been a time for me to refresh, to get my cup refilled, all of those things. But when I think about weeks like Jacksonville and Bilouxi 2 summers ago, those weeks gave me more life and joy than many other weeks in my life have. They filled my cup to the brim with laughter and joy and somehow forced me to be my best self, knowing that how I live makes a difference to these kids. So thanks God for the fullness of loving these kids and give me wisdom to know when it's time to jump back in.

whirlwind weekend

sometimes life seems to be stuck on a permanent fast forward button. Almost always when summertime comes, there are weekends of zipping through one celebration to the next. Stuck in there are memories and moments of laughter and this past weekend was no different. This is how it went:
Friday night, birthday party for my favorite 3 year old which of course, was "Cars" themed. The simple summertime life of blowing bubbles, eating outside and hanging out on picnic tables.

his momma made the cake herself and it turned out great!

Saturday morning up early to drive to other side of the state for a gorgeous (PINK) wedding in Troy. I really have never seen so much pink in one place at one time. "Barbie-esque" as my husband called it. No one escaped without a little bit of sparkle on them. I wish I had pictures but just imagine pink lemonade or pepto vision for everything you see and you can transport yourself there. Ryan's grandma was here as well for the wedding and we usually only see her one time a year, on the 4th of July so that was an extra treat.

Despite our calm smiles, we almost didn't make it to the wedding after realizing that it was 30 miles away from the place we were getting ready & found ourselves sitting in HEAVY traffic at 2:50 when the wedding started at 3:00. always an adventure. We made it and caught the vows, the rings, and when the pastor introduced the couple as Mr. & Mrs. Johnson (the bride's maiden name). Worst part was he didn't realize his error.

Sunday brought adventures at Sandy Pines, where Ryan's parents have a summer home and Rochelle and I laid by the pool and took a golf cart ride to the ice cream store, if that isn't the heart of summer, I don't know what is. We ended the weekend grilling out with our best friends from church whose little girl just turned 2 months old. I love watching our friends become parents and we enjoyed hanging out and taking a LONG walk that is part of their daily routine. What a weekend! Thankful for times away but always thankful to be home.

back to the homestead

ahh. back from the sunny south. with the tan lines to prove it.


Feeling so rejuvinated after 3 days away with my dear friends who know me. Pics later, for now I want to make sure and enjoy the Sunday night with my hubby before the week begins.

Don't forget to put in your vote for my little giveway that ends tomorrow night at 9 pm. Help me help you.

N. as in "Gnome"

I had a giggle fest 2 nights ago silly enough to match any laughter I have had in the past year. It seems like in traveling, you start to see people and things and can make your own little "what not to do" list in your head. Not talking about the "what not to wear" portion of travel, when you see couples in matching wind suits and a family of 10 in matching shirts; although those situations provide humor too.

I'm talking about the customer service aspect of travel. Let me tell you my story and it will make more sense. Tuesday night I was booking long-term parking for Ryan as he is flying out of O'Hare this morning and the young man I was working with just couldn't quite seem to get it together. My first clue should have been when he repeated my credit card number back to me more than 3 times with errors. But here is the kicker. When it came time to validate the email address I was providing for a confirmation, I wanted to clarify a letter for him so I said something like, as in "d" for dog.

Well, this young phone operator decided that in that moment, he would go above and beyond the call of duty and repeat back the email address to me with a word to clarify each letter. g for girl, d for dog, e for elephant. and then we got to the letter "N". And out of his mouth came "N for GNOME!" GNOME! That starts with a "g" bud! I lost it and had to hold the phone away from my mouth for the rest of our conversation. He proceeded through the alphabet and after hanging up, Ryan entertained with things the rest of the night like "your nomenclature makes it difficult to understand you or "I don't gnome what to do next". Maybe this guy should get a job with Travelocity since they use a gnome in their advertising!

a memorable memorial day

just a little preview of our weekend up north in beautiful Traverse City. It was SO good to just get away from the day to day with good friends and my hubby who I seem to keep falling for more and more.didn't know that was possible after 4 years.

more pics and good stories later..gotta finish getting the rest of my junk marked for the garage sale this week. seriously, how did I accumulate so much STUFF? speaking of stuff...check out the car on the way up- its a wonder that Em and I even fit in that back seat.



the first tasting of the day at Black Star Farms.

just when I thought I wouldn't be vacationing

Remember my stay-cation post a few days ago? Well it wasn't more than 24 hours after typing that when I recieved an email from one of my TU girls about our annual reunion! Our first year out of college, we went to Bethany and Peter's condo when they lived in Muncie. The next year, we invaded Emily's city life in Chicago. Year 3 it was my house! And officially, 4 years post graduation we are Florida bound to soak up a LONG weekend of sunshine, conversation, good food I am sure and just time with the girls. Can't wait!!

spring breaking Midwest style

This may be the 2nd or 3rd reference to Spring Break and/or vacation this week, but I promise I am not bitter. Because yesterday Christina and I got a little taste of it ourselves, right here in Michigan. This was a like an anniversary trip of sorts as we lived on 2nd East together my freshmen (her sophomore year) at TU but it wasn't until we ran into each other 3 times in a few short months last Spring that we got the hint. And since those fateful run-ins, we have been meeting faithfully every other week on Monday, now Tuesday nights for a whole year.
She picked me up at 10 o'clock on the dot to begin our day on the open road. We started out Zeeland style with big scrambler breakfasts & coffee at the diner over a conversation of laughter and story-telling. Then on to our destination for the day, South Haven. Ahh. A beach town that I am not super familiar with but we found all kinds of adventure in the form of bead stores, bookstores, and browsing. We had an awesome time together and never seem to run out of conversation or situations to analyze.

We ended our day with a late lunch in Douglas, another beach town a little north of SH at Respite, an adorable little cafe tucked between shops and then across the bridge to Saugatuck for the first Kilwin's cone of the year (Saugatuck Mud- thank you very much). Who needs Florida when you have got good friends right around home?

st-ay-ca-tion: noun. the act of vacationing in one's hometown

On a visit to the bank Tuesday afternoon, the teller I usually work with (Darlene-she does have an identity more than my teller) said something that made me smile. Being that it is Spring Break and half of my office is somewhere sunny & warm, we were talking about vacation. And Darlene asked me if I had any trips planned this year and I couldn't think of anything at all. She said she was surprised because in the first year she met me (2008) it seemed like I was always going somewhere. And then I remembered, we are going to Wisconsin this summer! We laughed at the enthusiasm I said it with I think, at least that is why I was laughing.

It got me to thinking about how this year in fact will have a lot more "stay-cationing" taking place than any other year. A day here, a long weekend there, but nothing that includes getting on a plane, what I consider an sign of true vacation. As I think back, it may very different from the almost 4 first years of our marriage. To put it into perspective, these are the places we have lugged our suitcase since tying the knot:

2005
Pigeon Forge, TN (together) Honeymoon!
Biloxi, MS (Ryan) Hurricane Katrina relief trip
2006
St. Joseph, MI (together) 1st annual wine tour
Traverse City, MI (together) 1st anniversary weekend up north
2007
Kenya (Ryan) 3 week mission trip
Orlando (Rebekah) long weekend with Emily
St. Joseph, MI (together) 2nd annual wine tour
Boston, MA (together) 2 year anniversary
Biloxi, MS (Rebekah) youth group service trip
2008
India (Rebekah) 2 week business outreach mission trip
Arizona (together) Spring Break long weekend with Em
Union Pier, MI (together) 3rd annual wine tour with Justin & Jamie
Traverse City, MI (together) celebrating 3 years
Jacksonville, FL (Rebekah) youth group service trip

Makes me happy just thinking about it. Being as that I don't have anything on the calendar for 2009, let me live vicariously through you-- any travels near or far for 2009?! I can take it! My joy for you outweighs the green eyed monster that lurks so travel away!

weekend update

We headed down this weekend to Chicago for a quick trip (no more than 24 hours total) that I have been looking forward to! We spent a wee bit of time with the Wheelers but tried to stretch it out by staying up late, getting up early and as Dennis put it "tweet tweet tweet"--chatting it up. Em & I spent Saturday morning running last minute errands including Trader Joe's and I just don't understand why the owners think people in West Michigan don't deserve one!

It was a blessing to be able to be part of Mandii's 1st shower in the afternoon after getting to know her better over the past year or so. It was so fun to see people she loves come around her and bless her. And let me tell you, this girl is loved~ she had friends in from Philadelphia, Tennessee, Michigan, Chicago. Part of the shower was sharing one thing about Mandii & mine was that we have been told numerous times that we look like sisters. I hope that is true because doesn't she look gorgeous?! I think she looks like she is straight off of the cover of some city boho momma magazine.

It was one of those sunshiny spring days where you just want to be outside and soak it all up. I think there are more of these to come and something about a day like this in the city makes it all right in the world.

I even won a game at the shower and earned myself a great candle from , a non-profit organization that provides training, mentoring & job placement for at-risk young women.
Here's Em & I soaking up the sun and enjoying the weekend together in our coincidentally coordinating outfits.

...while we were doing all that...the boys were doing this:

Not literally pouring the green in, but adventuring the festivities of St. Patty's Day downtown. We met up after the shower for a quick bite & brew at Cleo's and we were on our way back home. Speaking of all things green, St. Patty's day marks 3 years in our house; a story I will share later this week!