what january brings

It's been a while, (for posting in general, and especially for a gifts post) but I'm back around these parts hoping to be inspired. I haven't really even been reading blogs much these days - which is weird because it used to be an almost daily activity. This might sound weird (because I really do love all of the blogs I read), but the time away is almost... freeing.

I think there's something about blogging that can breed discontentment. Hmm, maybe it's all of the beautiful and fashionable women, the pristine homes, and productivity that's enviable? Yeah, that's it.

I am content. I like my sense of style (or lack there of), I LOVE my new home and the shape it's starting to take, and I actually have been quite productive these days. I suppose the missing link is my inability to sit down and write about it. I want to blog when I want to blog, and not because I feel like I "should".

That's why I'm just going to take a few minutes today to put some stuff out here. Here are some things that the new year brings:

1. I have resolved to read more fiction. I set up an account on GoodReads (friend me if you're on it!) to help me maintain a list of books to read, and I have a chart where I make sure that I read for at least 15 minutes a day. Not earth-shattering, but discipline starts small, people. Two weeks in - so far so good. About halfway done with 1984 - which is another book that I was shockingly never assigned to read in school.

2. I have also resolved to do some sort of exercising at least 2-3 days a week. Again, starting small to get out of my winter slump. So far, I've been doing heaps of yoga and am tip-toeing ever so cautiously into the world of CrossFit. My body was so sore after just two days (not even two consecutive days) so we'll see if that continues. I sure would like to be jacked though...

3. A new job. This is the time when retail hours take a big plunge, so I'm now barely working at Madewell - maybe 5 hours a week, if I'm lucky (which I'm mostly not). I've been there part-time since October, all the while looking for something to fill in the gap. But now I've found something that I hope will be fulfilling for me, as it's much more in my horizon of concern (shout out to those who know that lingo). I am now a manager at the Philadelphia Rock Gym and start training this week. I hope I enjoy it as much as I anticipate!

4. Either a new or off-shoot blog is in process. I know, I can barely keep up with this one so what's the point? Well because it's a joint venture, a brain child we've been mulling over for almost a year, and it will be different. It will be different because it's not about growth, it's not about followers, it's not about building an internet dynasty (like most bloggers hope to do). It won't have sponsorship, it won't have a multitude of links and pages, and there won't be any pressure to post. Our hopes are that it will be more personal, deeper, more creative, clean and simple. I'm unsure if I'll keep this blog running as my own individual musings, but be on the lookout for something coming soon.

So here are some gifts that I remind myself of during this long state of transition:

a magnificent holiday season, even if it went entirely undocumented. 

the ability for a clean slate whenever we want - not just every 12 months. 

inspiration - even when you have to go looking for it. 

musings on community

Not the TV show. Although while up in Mass, our dear friends introduced it to us and we love it.

[via]

But this is more about real community. Real life people in the flesh - not even Facebook community. Will and I have been "living" in PA now for almost four months and it's time we start analyzing what this community thing will look like in our lives. It's hard to believe we've been here so long because, well, we've barely been here. But I've been having conversations with various friends lately about the role community needs to play in our lives, and ultimately, a church family.

I'm struggling with the thought of embracing a new church family. Or even the idea of making new friends. Is that ridiculous? I've moved, and maybe I have to accept that, but in my mind - I already have my friends. I'm not really looking for more. I am so blessed to have one of these dearest friends living less than a half hour away now and another 40 minutes away, but that's it - and it's not close enough. And the rest are back up in Massachusetts.

One of the reasons this might be so tough for me is that I once lived in an intentional community with thirteen other people... three years ago! Whoa. Has it been that long, guys? We cooked meals together, grocery shopped together, read the Word together, turned our kitchen into a Starbucks and did homework together, sled down the stairs on mattresses together. It was quite literally, ideal.

I fear now that I have such a high standard for community in my life because these people changed mine forever. These people are my truest friends because we've gone through so much together: many break-ups, graduating, and now four weddings in the group - these friends are the only community I want. They've ruined me :)

The problem I have now is this: another one among us got married last weekend up in Massachusetts, and like I said in my last post, I knew that wedding was going to hold so much joy - obviously because of the two lives joining, but also because we were reunited with that community. And I was on cloud nine the entire weekend. A bunch of us got together on Saturday night and my throat was sore with laughter. We all talked about living together once again and fought about where we'd be located. Emily and I were, of course, making a strong case for Pennsylvania.

I was already having a tough time coming around to the idea of new community, but after being around them all again, I fear I have dug my heels in even deeper. What do you think God calls us to concerning community? Is it a "grow where you're planted" sort of thing, or can you take on the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude..?

I think that God has given us all gifts to share with one another, and that His plan would be that the church (the greater church - His people) gather together and share of themselves to help each other grow. So I know that means we obviously need to find a church down here (which we've started to research), but that probably also means more than just showing up on Sunday mornings. It probably means joining small groups and ministries and starting all over from scratch. Which to be honest, is a completely exhausting thought.

I already have at least 8-10 people who know everything about me. All of my dirt, my shame, my sins, my shortcomings, where I find joy. Is it wrong to just want to keep it at that - even states away? I was praying today that God would convict me if this attitude is selfish or short-sighted in His greater plan. But any thoughts that this community can share about new friends or how you've dealt with a move would be greatly appreciated.

It's been a while since I've done one of these, but I definitely have another gift to share:

The joy experienced in a true community and the 

blessing of such dear friends that stand the test of time and space.

oh, weekends.

Weekends, I just love it when you allow for lunches like this...

1 cup of quinoa boiled in 1 cup of water and 1 cup of vegetable stock &
spinach cooked in olive oil and seasoned with salt and garlic powder

and afternoons like this:

one of my favorite places on earth.
[photo by RWB]

we got engaged in almost exactly this spot!
[photo by RWB]

the lawn
[photo by RWB]

second floor apartment of the yacht club's carriage house 

I love unwinding in the yard to the smell of the salty sea.

relaxation.

Lord, thank you for the gift of where we live - at least for the next 36 days.
Thanks for a productive yet relaxing weekend to recover.

that elusive thing called time & the best Friday ever.

what breakfast can look like when 

you've been given the gift of time.

green tea, grilled english muffin with strawberry jam, kiwi, and
french vanilla yogurt with granola and chocolate chunks.

It's official - I'm now only moderately employed. While most people might be stressing their brains out, I couldn't be more pleased with the flexibility of my new schedule. Although my last day of full-time work was a week ago, I still feel like life has been pretty busy! I taught class on Monday and Wednesday, planned for class on Tuesday and studied for a ropes course certification exam I had Wednesday (which I passed!), had a meeting Wednesday night...

I guess that's how things typically roll. Whenever you feel like you've been blessed with free time, it gets filled with something else before you even have time to relish in your excitement about the time you thought you had. The nerve. When my life starts to spin out of control like that (which is almost always), I try to keep this quote in the forefront of my mind:

Isn't life always filled up? What an aggressive war we wage just to create space for God. Even chatting with my best friend last night, we realized that life can be filled with good things and still be so full. She's involved in tons of great things - a small group, helping with high school youth group, pre-marital counseling, wedding planning, she's in a play, her day job - right?? All good things! That's why keeping your life from being filled up can be so tough.

And that's also why I wrote this post a few weeks ago. I was really starting to feel convicted about how my time was spent. Now that I've been given tons more time, I want to be sure I use it wisely. 

You know that verse, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Luke 16:10? Yikes... let's just say I hope I can be trusted with this "much" that I've been given these days.

Step 1: Have a good quiet time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Right now I'm in a place where I feel like studying God's Word is a little chore-like. And I hate that. I had started an in-depth study of 1 Peter (a book I love) back in December, so I hope that picking that back up will help. 

Step 2: Train for a 5k to get your lazy butt back in action. I can't be trusted to exercise on my own right now. You know when you get so out of shape that the thought of the hard work to be fit again is a massive repellent? Welcome to my brain. That's why I'm using this chart from Fitness Magazine to help! Five days in and going strong :) This isn't my first 5k, but it sure feels like it.

[via]

So I pray that you're encouraged. Take hold of your schedule and let God know that He's a priority. Whether you have 30 free hours this week or 2, I pray that especially this weekend, you are able to delight in all who God is. 

Today is Good Friday. Didn't seem very good at the time, huh? Christ was being beaten, bruised, jeered at, spit on, harassed, and ultimately was crucified. But like all things, with time and faith, it became good. God the Father knew that He was working out the ugly and the cruel into something marvelous and beautiful. Something that would save us all. 

Rest in the knowledge that what happened on this day, while horrific in thought, was wonderful in the end. Be disciplined this weekend to dwell on who Christ is, what he did, and create space for Him to act in your life.

How can you show God your love for Him with your time?

these days.

one thousand gifts by ann voskamp: convicting // in a sunburned country by bill bryson: hilarious.

the favorite // the addiction // the library rental... ehh.

the courage to do things that intimidate me, 

and the vulnerability to be honest about that.

Teaching this course as the head honcho is something I'm letting intimidate me more than it should. I'm definitely scared, but it'll be a good growing experience and a chance for me to challenge myself - time to practice what I'll be preaching to the students! First class is in an hour!

back in action.

people who know me oh so well.

Well, the days of Australian love and merriment are behind us, and we had a fabulous time with our family when they visited. They were here for one week and some of the highlights included:

- Meeting our God-daughter (that's right, we're parents kind of!) 

Quinn for the first time and falling totally in love with her.

- Watching home movies from when the boys were silly little tikes.

- Eating our body weight in seafood; you know, to get the full experience of New England.

- Going to Fire & Ice, an awesome restaurant in the city with my in-laws.

- Having an incredible dinner at Alchemy in Gloucester as a double date.

- Taking two vacation days from work, heck yes.

- Having plenty of relaxing time to reconnect as friends.

- The boys getting tattoos together; don't worry, they aren't matching ones.

But one of the dearest memories of the week for me was a very early surprise birthday party!

If you are a deep, deep addict like myself, you're aware of a certain plot line in FRIENDS from "The One Where Rachel Smokes". 

Phoebe and Monica decide to throw a surprise party for Rachel over a month before her birthday so that she's really surprised. And the planning evolves as follows:

Monica: All right, that's a little sketch of the cake, umm some sample menus, umm y'know what I thought we would start out with Tuscan style finger food, and for music, here's an alphabetized list of all my CDs! I've highlighted the ones that would go really good with the food.

Phoebe: What happened to the intimate dinner party?

Monica: Oh, we're not doing that. Okay…

Phoebe: So wow, it looks like you took care of everything. Thanks a lot, co-host.

Monica: What?! I didn't take care of everything, there's-there's plenty of things for you to do!

Phoebe: Like what?

Monica: (Thinks) Cups.

Phoebe: Cups? You're giving me cups?

Monica: And ice!

Phoebe: Cups and ice? Ooh, I get to be in charge of cups and ice? (Thinks of something) All right. Fine, okay, I will be in charge of cups and ice!

Monica: Wait a minute, I can get ice at the restaurant…

Phoebe: I got it! Mine!

(later)

Phoebe: (entering, carrying two garbage bags) Hey!

Ross and Chandler: Hi!

Phoebe: Is it okay if I leave this stuff here 'til Rachel's birthday party?

Chandler: Ah sure. What's in 'em?

Phoebe: Umm, cups.

Chandler: Oh good, because uh we got Rachel 800 gallons of water.

Ross: Seriously that's a lot of cups.

Phoebe: Yeah well, that's 'cause Monica put me in charge of cups and ice, and Monica is gonna rue the day that she put me in charge of cups and ice.

I love Pheebs. So that's when the party looked like this:

{via}

Phoebe: (To Chandler) Check it out! Cup hat! (Points to her hat.) Cup banner! Cup chandelier! And the thing that started it all, the cup! (Holds up one.)

Chandler: Great job with the cups, Pheebs!

Monica: (overhearing that) Why don't you just go out with her!

(Chandler starts to follow her into the kitchen.)

Phoebe: (following him) And did you notice the ice? (Gestures to 3 huge buckets of ice on the table.) Look! We have it all! We have crushed! Cubed! And dry! Watch! (Pours some water onto the dry ice, causing it to evaporate/smoke.) Ahhh! Mystical!

Chandler: Awesome!

Monica: Chandler! Everyone--no one's eating my Tuscan finger food 'cause they're all filling up on Phoebe's snow cones!

Aaaah, I just love it. That's classic Phoebe. So when I left work early on Friday to go home sick, I was really looking forward to just crawling into bed for a nap. Will, trying to coerce me into staying awake asks, "Would you sit with us out in the living room if we were watching FRIENDS?" Why yes, yes I would, always.

When I walk into the house, with my sweatpants and FRIENDS in mind, I walk into this:

A birthday banner, cup decorations, "The One Where Rachel Smokes" playing in the living room, a Funfetti cake in the oven, and everyone yelling "surprise"! About a week and a half before my birthday.

This wonderful, extremely surprising event was all the doing of my cousin's wife/more-like-a-sister-in-law, Dayna, who knows me oh so well.

And that's the most special feeling.

:)

Hope you all had a good week!

FRIENDS screenplay found here.

proof of much-needed exercise.

pink, swollen, chalk-covered hands.

These hands are proof that physical activity did indeed occur. And that it had been way too long.

We hadn't been climbing in a while (rappelling in January, but not climbing) - maybe since the early fall?

So after our climbing session last Wednesday night, even my armpit muscles were aching the next day.

Yep. More climbing is on the agenda and I'm thankful for the workout.

Oh, and happy Valentine's Day to my hub :)
These are for you:

Happy Valentine's Day to you all as well!

xoxo

{photos from Eastern Mountain Sport's Facebook}

a new "series" of sorts

There's a book out right now that I bandwagon-ed a little late on, so forgive me if I'm like 10 years behind the eight ball.

The book is called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Ever heard of it?

image from the author's site

After this book was handed down to me from my mom-in-law, and recommended by two or three friends, I finally decided two months later that I'd start reading it. I think if a book is recommended that I know nothing about, I'm kind of like "yeah, whatever." But as soon as I heard more about this one, my ears perked up.

It was November, nearing Thanksgiving and I was feeling a little jaded. When I learned this book was about learning how to be thankful for all of the truly beautiful moments in life, I knew I needed it.

The concept of the book revolves around the term eucharisteo, which when translated from the Greek is a deep thanksgiving consisting of both grace and joy. It's the kind of thanks that Christ gave at the table for the Last Supper. Voskamp calls it the central symbol of Christianity. Eucharisteo is a type of thanks that we should give whenever we can, for everything. Voskamp encourages readers to try and foster this spirit of thanksgiving throughout all of the seemingly insignificant and mundane things in life, to experience a true and lasting joy that only Christ can bring.

She does this by accepting a challenge to keep a record
of 1,000 gifts - the small and the simple things that bring her joy.

Overall, I think I'm liking it so far. I'm only a few chapters in, but I've already been able to delight in 363 gifts she's shared, like "hot oatmeal tasting like home" (55). There are some things that are annoying - like the inordinate amount of sentence fragments. I understand adding the dramatic effect from time to time, but it can be over the top.

Aside from that though, her writing can also be so vivid and raw. She'll come out with things like, "Yellow marbleizes into indigo dark" to describe nightfall - and I do appreciate illustrations like that (69).

So as I continue reading, I've decided that I'm going to start documenting my own "thankfulnesses" to help me further connect with her goal in experiencing eucharisteo. No matter how outwardly trivial these small joys may feel, she encourages readers to live more fully in the moment by taking the time to experience the joy in everything. What a valuable lesson in slowing life down. I'll be tagging my little joys as "gifts".

So even though my dear Patriots royally blew it last night, there are still many reasons to give thanks.
Absolutely no promises that I'll make it to one thousand, but here goes:

warm towels out of the shower.

They remind me that I'm blessed to have clean textiles
and the running water that millions don't have access to.


Happy Monday, friends. Give thanks on this day.
And remember, pitchers and catchers report for spring training soon.
Go Red Sox!