Two years

Two is a funny year.

No one congratulates you like they did on your first year. Some even say, "Two? Oh, that's nothing, we're seven, or eighteen or twenty-one!" Many have said, "Just two? You two seem like you've been together so much longer."

For Husband and me, it's been a year of both big and little change. We moved across the country together knowing that it wasn't going to be easy leaving our friends and family on the west coast but it was going to be wonderful for our marriage. And it has been. Husband and I have spent nine months living in a very different place than where we came. We've met new friends. We've found a new place to eat Pho. We've started new jobs. We've learned where our new Target is located. We've watched all the trees turn glorious colors. We've watched all the leaves fall off trees and then magically pop back overnight just when we thought it would never happen. We've shopped, and re-shopped for a new church. We've bought giant winter coats (and worn them!). We've created our new "brunch spot" for Saturday mornings. We've learned how to scrape our car windows. We've met a new bartender who knows what we want when we walk in the door. We've planted poppies in Spring. We've tried to start saying "shore" instead of "beach". We've lived without good ol' fashioned Mexican food. We've turned our clocks back and forth and wondered what time it is at "home" before we call. We've eaten Whoopie Pies. We've driven behind horse drawn buggies. We've discovered who we are away from everything we know.

Two has been a big year.

Its had its ups and downs and a few days of normal scattered in between. Thank goodness I had Husband next to me every day. I'd do it all again just to be with him.

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Husband.

XOXO.

Two years ago today.
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Anniversary Picnic

Our 2nd wedding anniversary is tomorrow. Husband planned a fun picnic to celebrate this weekend!
He took me on a drive to see some of the cool covered bridges around Lancaster County - they're kinda big deal in Amish Country. He had it all mapped out. 4 maps to be exact. He also had an entire picnic basket packed and ready to go full of cheeses, pate, grapes, apples and a little vino. It was a very lovely afternoon and so thoughtful. We sat on the grass and just hung out for an hour or so. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my anniversary weekend with Husband. Thanks, Love. XO

Here's what it looked like.

Covered Bridge #2

View from Covered Bridge #2

View from our Picnic Spot

Picnic Yumminess!

Husband and Me . . . again!

A Place for My Tings

When I went home 10 days ago, Miss E was very prepared for my arrival. She had all sorts for goodies for me wrapped up in pink tissue paper. One of her gifts was a box. It's a silver gift box with a label sticker on it that she had written on in pink and purple (of course!).

The sticker said: "Put your tings in the Box. Love Ellie".

First thing I did when I got home was put this box on my nightstand and start putting my "tings" in it. I mean, the box says, "Put your tings in the Box" so, I of course am just following the rules of the box. It would be rude not to. It's actually a very handy little box to have besides being the darn near cutest box EVER! I know it took Miss E a bit of time to make it so I'll be sure to be careful with it.

Isn't it fabulous that such joy can be had from a little silver gift box given to me by a 5 year old? Thanks for making me so happy every day, Miss E.

XOXO

Friday Funny

Last night, I was chatting with Herself. She always makes me laugh, but last night she may have had my favorite line to date.

Herself had just seen a wedding picture of Husband and me. She was "oooing and aweing" over the photo (like any sweet nun would do) and then she said to me:

"You are one of the most beautiful women in this world and I'm not even drunk".

FUNNIEST LINE EVER.

Even funnier because a nun said it.

April 30, 2011
 San Miguel de Allende, MX

Flower Grannies

My good friend, C sent me this photo. A bride and groom decided to have each of their grandmothers as the Flower Girls for their wedding.

"Flower Grannies!"

I love this idea. I think it's so fun and different and I'm sure it meant the world to the couple to have their grandmothers as part of their celebration. Plus, it's just darn cute!

F I N A L L Y!

Spring has sprung in Pennsylvania! FINALLY!!  It's absolutely gorgeous here. Husband and I spent a large part of our weekend outside on our patio simply enjoying the fact that we were not wearing coats.

Also on my patio, my Spring pots are in full bloom. This is the first time I have ever planted poppies and rhinoculous. Every day there is a new bloom to see when I wake up. They are gorgeous.

Dear Spring,

You are most welcome on our patio and you can stay as long as you want. Next year, come earlier.

XOXO.

41 Years

These two crazy kids are celebrating their 41st Wedding Anniversary today! 

41 years!

As I near my 2nd wedding anniversary, 41 seems absolutely surreal! I guess if you drink beer and wear glittery masks, you can get through anything! 

Really, these two can get through anything. They've shown that over and over again to me through my 34 years. In fact, they were just given one more challenge to add to their list, as Mom was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. They'll beat it. I know they will. They can do anything, these two. They are more powerful than:

Sonny & Cher

Micky & Minnie

Abott & Costello

Bill & Hillary

Tom & Jerry

Brad & Angelina

Kermit & Piggy

Ozzie & Harriet

Dick & Jane

Simon & Garfunkel

Bugs & Daffy

Dolce & Gabana

Fred & Ginger

Batman & Robin

Scarlett & Ret

Superman & Lois Lane

Jack & Jill

Adam & Eve

Bonnie & Clyde

Olive Oil & Popeye

Romeo & Juliet

Gumby & Pokie

Barbie & Ken

and of course,

Bert & Ernie!

Congratulations on a very successful 41 years of marriage to the most magnificent duo:

Mom & Dad!

XOXO.

Friends Make It Better

I was emailing with a good college friend this week and I was telling her how much I missed seeing my old friends. I had just gotten off the phone with one who had made me laugh so hard, that my stomach ached afterwards. It felt so good.

My friend wrote back something that stuck with me, "I've never believed in the power of friendship more than I have in the past 2 months".

Both of us would honestly admit that if there was a rewind button on the last few months, we'd hit it! But, we would also admit that without friends, these months would have been unmanageable.

So, this is to all my friends far away who read this blog (and even those who don't!): Thank you for all your kind words and good laughs. You make everything better.

Via Pinterest

Pink!

Today I'm off to Baltimore to see an old college friend. I've got my pink pants on! I bet you can guess who I'm seeing!

Planning My Day

I read a blog called, Note To Self. She posts great quotes once a week. This one popped up a week or so ago and it just made me laugh. Enjoy.

Broken

On Easter Sunday, Husband and I invited ourselves to a service at our good friend's church.

Our friend, is also my
sister-in-law's sister
or 
my brother's wife's sister
or 
Miss E's & Mr. P's other aunt.

I know, I know, hard to follow. I need to draw a tree. That's why we call her our friend and really, that is who she is, a dear friend. E is a priest at an Anglican Church in Arlington, VA called Restoration.

Husband and I walked into E's tiny church about 30 minutes early and the seats were filling quickly. We were offered two seats next to a sweet couple and the four of us squeezed into one tiny pew. It was cozy from the beginning. The music started to play, and the beat was loud and strong. I knew the words and just started singing. I watched the very young congregation file in, looking smart in their Sunday attire and holding their young children close. The place filled and everyone "scootched" a few times to make space for more. All the small children ended up on laps, I'm not even sure if they were their parent's laps but no one seemed to mind. Lots of hugs and hand shakes were happening - it was a bit like a party. . . at church!

Husband and I are both Catholic so we knew that this Easter service would be a bit different than what we are used to. I don't think we knew how different nor how good that different would feel.

During the fabulous sermon, the Rector had many different reflection points to mull over and digest. But towards the end of his sermon he reflected on his church as a place where broken people could come and find peace. He didn't say to be healed. He just said to find peace.

That struck me Sunday and even more so yesterday.

It seems like life is full of  broken people and situations. Lots of struggles are happening, both physically and mentally. Lots of things outside of our control are going array. We're doing our best, chugging along and every day is full of unexpected "life things" that easily break you and your loved ones. Some are little and just cause a slight tear. Others are big and life altering. Those create gaping holes in your heart right away.

Last night I was reading a book that my alma mater, LMU distributed last year called Contemplativus. Barbara Busse, Assistant to the President and former professor of mine talked about what she has learned working in a Jesuit school. She reflects with this:

Examen: Quieting the noise, I listen to my life.

The inventory begins . . . the joys and griefs, the hopes and fears and (yes!) the Love floods in.

The complex mosaic of what this one life really is emerges.

God, give me the wisdom to make sense of the "what next" in my life.

I wait, sometimes less patiently and less gratefully than would be ideal.

Then, if I let go of fears and failings, the Spirit moves.

I can see God smiling at this perfect mess of life.

This gives me courage and grace to move forward. And I smile.

That is enough for me.


Life is messy. Sometimes it's messier than other times. Sometimes you break. Sometimes others break around you. Sometimes you wait impatiently. Sometimes you are ungrateful.

Church on Sunday and the above reflection reminded me that peace and courage and grace are an option when you're broken. You may have to sit in a very tight pew to help you find it. But it's there. And that perfect mess of life is God's plan. He's smiling and so should you.

The Blossoming Tree

Husband and I spent the weekend in Washington DC. We were excited because it was the Cherry Blossom Festival. It was supposed to be the blooms peak weekend  . . . BUT . . . then we got that spring snow storm 2 weeks ago.

(sigh)

Really, we just saw this:

(insert sad face here)

As we were leaving the tidal basin, we saw one tree that looked like this:

THE PINK FLOWERS!!!

Yes, they were small and the tree wasn't in full bloom, but it was trying. It was trying to bloom for all those people who showed up to see the pink floral array and get that glimpse of Spring and hope and new life on Easter Weekend.

It was a reminder that you really cannot control life. You can plan. You can organize. You can show up prepared. But you better have your lipstick on, because you never know what's going to happen when you get there.