this autumn

i want to remember

I am so excited for fall and scarves and everything pumpkin and chills in the air and hot chocolate and mittens and more walks. It is the first day of Autumn, but Summer 2012 I so enjoyed and I don't want to forget.

I want to remember what it felt like to put on shorts, a t-shirt, and water shoes and walk outside and feel the warm embrace of the sun.

 I want to remember all the goodbyes and hugs and tears.

I want to remember what it feels like to drive ten hours to your new home, everything crammed in your car.

I want to remember everything feeling new and fresh and light.

I want to remember what it feels like to move to a new city.

I want to remember making a pallet on the floor and falling asleep holding hands, talking about our new life.

I want to remember the amazing sunlight flooding through the windows every evening.

I want to remember barbequing with friends and grilling corn and watching the Olympics.

I want to remember all the rice and pb&j we ate.

I want to remember setting off the smoke alarm three times and the fireman coming.

I want to remember all the books I loved.

I want to remember eating lots of homemade popcorn.

I want to remember the crazy amount of time Andy and I got to spend together.

I want to remember Andy waking up and killing bugs.

I want to remember all the places we explored.

I want to remember our families coming and visiting.

I want to remember doing laundry together.

I want to remember meeting Mrs. Schreiner and feeling so welcomed and her saying she knew we would stay at Clifton.

I want to remember all the lazy, relaxing Sundays.

I want to remember the farmer's market.

I want to remember all the tears.

I want to remember the picnic in the park with our little sandwiches and lots of love, talking about what we've been learning and what our life might look like in 5-10 years.

I want to remember all the great smoothies we drank.

I want to remember being squished on our little couch.

I want to remember watching Psych every night for dinner.

I want to remember all the deep, uncontrollable laughter.

I want to remember this summer as the summer I loved summer.

*This post was inspired by a great writing prompt from Ali Edwards.

three months

Kentucky has been our home for three months. I decided from the start to intentionally make this home, to put down roots, be involved, make our apartment comfortable and warm, and get to know the city by exploring and eating and shopping local. The first month was hard. Everything was overwhelming, it felt like we were the only people that lived on campus, and I admit to having several, "why in the world did he bring me here?!" thoughts. Andy was only patient and understanding, always sweet. One of the first places we went when we got here was Target. We needed some things that would not fit on the trip up here and I was more than ready to shop. The moment I stepped inside I almost started crying. It was exactly like the Target at home-I really could pretend I was in FS in there. I spent several days going to Target that first month. It sounds silly, but it was the only place that felt familiar and also the only place I could remember how to get to. I also learned the past few months that I have a lot to learn about humility and contentment. I thought I was ready for all the change of scenery, jobs, budgets, apartments, everything. I was filled with pride, but the Lord has been so good to teach me and to even provide us jobs, scholarships, an apartment we love, a church, and close friends already here that have helped us and given great fellowship. After three months, I can now say they have been very sweet. So many things have encouraged us that this is where we are supposed to be right now. We are so thankful: thankful for such a unique city, a friendly and welcoming church, such wonderful friends, a beautiful place to live and learn, a lot of time to spend together (I feared there would be almost none), and family back home that love us and have encouraged and helped us. Three sweet months in our new home.

25 before 25

1. walk the city more, completely explore Frankfort, Bardstown, & Shelbyville
2. visit Bardstown, KY
3. visit the Smoky Mountains
4. visit Santa Claus, IN
5. journal
6. more kisses, dances, & random adventures
7. less stuff, more memories, cards, & homemade/meaningful gifts
8. create more family traditions
9. have more creative date nights
10. make a loaf of bread and homemade pizza
11. make three pumpkin recipes
12. have a vegan Thanksgiving
13. be sugar free
14. run a 5k in 25 minutes or less
15. read fifty books, at least five of them fiction
16. play more piano-just for fun
17. grow an herb
18. save 1/4 way for Disney World vacation we went to Disney World!
19. save money for real camera
20. visit sixteen new restaurants
21. do five craft projects
22. celebrate Andy's 25th
23. organize more, make a home management binder, & make our home more homey
24. go to Southern's Fall Festival
25. attend more campus conferences and events


I love having new goals each birthday. Most of these are easily attainable, a few are to stretch me. Here is to a wonderful new year (actually two) filled with much thankfulness, growing, and learning.

introduction

This blog is to document our new life here in Kentucky (for me, family, and friends), to share what I have been learning in seminary (and hopefully encourage and help others), to keep track of goals, and to share any practical sides of life like cooking and budgeting that I learn. When we first married I was overwhelmed by all the little things I thought would be easy: cooking, budgeting, etc. Then we made a decision to completely change the way eat and moved to a new city and I was overwhelmed again, except this time we had no garbage disposal, dishwasher, one tiny counter top, and a completely new and much smaller budget. So my goal is to encourage others by being honest and real; sharing new cheap, easy, vegan recipes; recording life and memories here because I forget easily; and writing what I am learning in SWI, church, and through books.