Sisters - June 26 2013

We have planned it well this year!! Cassie was able to make a trip out to visit me this month, and I couldn't be more excited.  I only had to wait a few short weeks from seeing her in D.C. before her visit.  We had lots of plans, but mostly  just soaked up every moment we could be together.

Friday we hosted a jewelry party for my friends!

We had so much fun trying it all on and enjoying each other's company.  Our plan was to leave directly after the party and drive to the beach, since Cassie hasn't seen the East Coast.  It took us a while to clean up and get ready to go, and didn't end up leaving until around 4pm.  We drove about an hour into Raleigh and stopped for dinner, and it started to pour down rain! Cassie was so excited, as only an AZ native can truly appreciate.  We ended up chasing the storm all the way in to the coast, it was crazy!

Our hotel

The water was ice cold!

Out the window on our way back home

Sadly we had to drive back home on Saturday, a short trip but so much fun.  Getting back home it felt like our remaining time left was way too short, but we made the most of it.

Cassie was put to work on Sunday mowing the lawn!

Jan helped us catch fireflies..

Our first annual 2nd of July party, and the first time Chris and I bought fireworks to set off at home

Washington D.C. - June 14-15

Cassie and Tom planned an anniversary vacation to see Washington D.C.  Again, we are close enough to drive there!! I asked if they wouldn't mind us crashing their vacation, and they said yes.  We drove up on Friday after Chris got off work, and it only took about 5 hours.  Not bad! We just had Saturday to do some sight-seeing, but it was well worth the short trip. So happy to be able to see Tom and Cassie and spend some time with them.

Lincoln Memorial

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Roosevelt Memorial

John Deere

Our first piece of real farm equipment! We finally, after a year of borrowing the Woodland's, have got our very own riding lawn mower.  Our first test drive.

After mowing all of the property, the next day we relaxed after church and watched some TV.  We heard our neighbor across the street fire up their mower, and Chris turned to me.  "We don't have to ever feel guilty again when we hear that noise!" he said.

Road Trip - June 2013

One really exciting aspect of moving to the East Coast is that we are closer to Chris' family in Indianapolis.  This year our one and only niece is graduation high school, and we are so happy to be close enough to drive there.  We had a fantastic time, it being quite a few years since all four of Chris and his siblings were together.  On the way back, we went through Ohio and stopped to see Ciara and Blaine in Marysville.  It was a really great trip, and we hope to make more!

Mother's Day 2013

I certainly didn't plan it that way, but mom happened to be with me on Mother's Day! I felt terrible she was working so hard taking care of us because of my finger, so I tried to give her a memorable day to let her know how much I loved her.  I made her breakfast in bed, and then we went to church.  It was so encouraging to see her worshiping God, almost like I remember from when we were kids! Afterward we met up with Jan and Rocky for a Mother's Day brunch at a tea house in Greensboro.  Jan has proclaimed herself my Southern Mamma, so I couldn't leave her out of this holiday.  We had a wonderful time, and I will cherish these memories with both my real mom and my new mom.

Help

My finger was causing a ton of problems for me at home. Not only could I not do dishes, but the antibiotics I had to take caused some other problems that were at times worse than my finger itself.  My mom came out to help me, and I am so grateful for her I can't even fully express.  She was amazing - cleaning my house, taking care of me and cooking for us.  So humbled by her servant's heart, and so grateful to just be able to not have to think about all of it, to let someone take over for a little bit. While she was here we tried to get in some adventures, as much as I was able.

Courage

God gifted me a quiet moment. A beautiful retreat, this prefect little bench I stumbled upon, perched on a hill with a spectacular view. Gods comforting hand on my shoulder, His quiet whisper in my ear: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Just me and God today and I am better for it.

April 17 2013 will haunt me

We all have done stupid things, things we know are not wise and yet continue.  While cooking dinner on this very night, I of all things, was using a knife on some frozen butter.  The butter container broke apart and slipped from my hand, and the knife sliced right through my left ring finger.  I immediately grabbed the finger tight to staunch the bleeding, but felt it might be a pretty serious cut.  Chris came running as I yelled for his help.  Since I was holding so tight to my finger, it wasn't bleeding.  It was scary to have to let go of it long enough to get it wrapped in a towel and put ice on it.  Then it started bleeding.  Chris was a little flustered and for a moment was overly concerned about the butter on the floor.  I wasn't thinking too clearly either till I finally told him not to worry about it, I think we need to to get to the urgent care very soon.  The next thing I know he is flying out the door saying "I gotta go get Jan!" I am left standing alone in the kitchen, holding my finger in the towel.  When he doesn't come back right away, I finally elbow my way out the door to find him in the yard talking animatedly with Jan and Rocky.  He is trying to get directions!!  I tell him I do know how to get there, and after Chris goes back, in several times to get my purse and phone we are finally on the road.  While at first my finger burned and stung terribly, now it is just sort of aching, but not much.  We think maybe it isn't too bad after all.  A few stitches and I should be good. When we finally get the rag off my finger (the blood had coagulated so that it was all stuck together) my nail was sitting crooked on top of my finger.  The doctors kept asking if I had on fake nails.. nope, that was my  nail! I burst into tears when I saw it for the first time.  This was way worse than we thought.  I had to have an x-ray to see if I had chipped the bone - which I did.  They said that the only thing they could do was just take it all off.  I had sliced through the nail bed, and they say it is special tissue and doesn't re-grow and can't be stitched. I got a numbing shot and then they just took it all off and told me to come follow up with them again on Friday.  I decided to follow up with my GP instead, and he ended up giving me a referral for a hand surgeon.  He was worried about the bone being exposed and weather or not it would close in over or not.  The first few weeks of seeing the therapy center were tough. It hurt terribly bad, they had to clean it and re-dress it. Not fun at all.

Spring comes late - March April 2013

Moving into April, the weather this year has still been very cold.  We are learning all sorts ways our property needs to be taken care of, and tree trimming seems to be one of the more dangerous ones.  We are so grateful for our beautiful neighbor's who have helped us so much.  Rocky lent Chris his pole saw and Hendel from across the street came over to take down one of our dead trees.

We finally start to see some color popping out around the house, and it is such a joy to see God's creation in bloom!

14th Anniversary - March 2013

Celebrating 14 years together! I found a small B&B with a french restaurant, where we enjoyed possibly one of the best meals I've had in a long time.  Very romantic and sweet.

My anniversary gift, we found at an antique store

First Snow Jan 2013

Anyone we talked to about the winter weather in NC was always in debate; some years it snowed others it did not.  I was so hoping for snow on Christmas, but alas, it did not come until January! It was beautiful, and such a blast to see the dogs more in their element than they have ever been. 

The first snow started at night, and I was afraid it would be gone by morning so I tried getting some pictures in the dark