friends

A Weekend of Celebration

13 October, 2015

We’re home from a weekend of travel and running around, this time in Birmingham, Alabama. Our dear friend (who I met through Livejournal 11 years ago!) got married to a wonderful woman and David stood at his side while it happened. I shouldn’t be surprised that it was the most cheerful, most beautiful and moving wedding I’ve ever been to. We are so happy for our friends.

Because David was in the wedding I ended up with a lot of free time alone and explored a bit on my own. This has been a more regular occurrence the past year in particular and I’m proud of myself. Fear has kept me from doing so much and I’ve felt guilty and burdensome at times for needing David to be my guide through untold scenarios. But I seem to be breaking free of that, and whether it’s a true desire for growth and change or simply that I feel there’s no other option anymore, I’m okay with it. In three weeks I’ll be heading to Cincinnati to visit my sister so I’ll get another chance to loosen my grip on my reliances. I’ve visited before, so the long drive alone doesn’t terrify me anymore, but it will be the first time I’ve taken a bus and navigated a bus station by myself. First time activities or new places, no matter how insignificant, are my nightmare. I’m glad to have a husband who encourages me to take these small steps toward self-sufficiency.

I was not my best self on this trip and gave in to the sin of irritation often. Social anxiety coupled with the sinus infection I developed made me a grumpy, complaining mess. Truthfully, though, I chose to respond negatively when I could have been gentle and kind. David loved me and showed me grace (but of course he wasn’t perfect either) and I’m thankful those moments of tension didn’t completely overshadow the joy of celebrating.

I liked Birmingham because it reminded so much of Augusta–a place that’s growing and finding itself. I wish we’d had more time to get to know the city but I know there will be more of that in the future. I didn’t take too many pictures and have doubted lately whether things are worth posting at all, but I enjoy doing it and will keep it up for that reason alone. Here are a mix of iPhone and SLR snaps.

Life

The Little Things

24 November, 2014

Since we’re headed into a very busy time for us (unfortunately owning a retail business means it can be hard to slow down and reflect) it was nice to have a quiet weekend and enjoy a few small but meaningful pick-me-ups. I’m not sure why, but the first few days of the week felt long and draining. Before it ended I stopped by my alma mater to check out the student/faculty pottery sale they have every semester (the deals are so good). Sometimes I have moments of panic thinking I’ve missed the sale–that’s how much I look forward to it. The thought of finding the perfect treasure unique from what I already have is thrilling. Strolling around campus, particularly the historic parts, is something I miss, so I like having a good reason to go.

We went out with friends Friday night and I felt a carefree joy I haven’t felt in a long time. It made me grateful for friendships old and new, people I am free to be myself with.

I was able to set aside some time before tackling my to-do list over the weekend to linger in bed, drinking tea and reading (more on that soon), which I’m very thankful for. I baked cookies (twice in one week, oops) and delivered them to my husband at the store. It’s so rewarding to be able to brighten his day with something like that, those little things. Sometimes you don’t realize how important they are. I look forward to the moments I can show David he is on my mind and cared for.

It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is a few days away. This will be the first year we’ve done a blended celebration with our families. I’m making the best chocolate cake and a sweet potato casserole that’s practically a dessert by itself. I certainly won’t mind ditching all my food rules for the day (who am I kidding, I do that all the time). I have really fond memories of Thanksgiving from childhood, especially of my mom’s cooking. I feel like it’s one of those things that only gets better with time. Nostalgia is a powerful thing.

I’m hoping we’ll have time and energy to find a Christmas tree over the weekend. Our living room is tiny and we always have to shuffle things around, but it’s completely worth it. I’m so looking forward to Advent. The past year has been especially difficult as we’ve struggled in different ways to recover from tremendous loss and betrayal. I’ve nursed a spirit of sorrow, distrust, and anger, which I know is not only a reflection of circumstances but also a reflection of my unbelief–my unwillingness to trust that God’s promises, his love, grace, and mercy, are sufficient and extend to me too. Of course there have been times when I’ve wished for a less painful way to grow in likeness to Christ, but what better way to rejoice, even in our suffering, than to prepare our hearts with gladness and thanksgiving for the coming of our King, without whom we have no hope.

Life

From the Weekend

5 August, 2014

After our plan to go to the drive-in on Saturday got ruined by impending rain, I was happy we could keep our date to listen to jazz at the Common with friends on Sunday (which I sadly have no pictures of). The weather was perfect and the light breeze made me so excited for fall temperatures and festivals. People like to complain about this city, but it has so much to offer. We drank wine, ate dessert (there really is nothing better than cobbler made with southern peaches), talked and had a wonderful time. I’m so glad to have such fine folks in our lives. We’ll definitely have to make it back for the last few Sundays of Candlelight Jazz.

Life

Weekend Update

21 July, 2014

David and my sister have tried convincing me to start a blog for years, and now that I’ve built up the courage to get one, all I can think of posting is “here is a list of things I did recently.” I’m hesitant to share what I’m thinking, things I’m struggling with, ideas I’m mulling over, or things I’m moved and inspired by. All that requires giving something of myself, and that’s a very vulnerable position to willingly put myself in. I guess it all comes with time, and I should give myself grace. I’m not sure what my vision is for this blog, but I’m still very interested in documenting my life for the sake of reflection, understanding, and appreciation. Sometimes it takes a second look to realize what you’ve got is worthwhile.

We spent very little time at home this past weekend and I loved every minute of it. On Friday I had drinks at a favorite local restaurant with my friend Stephanie. It’s unfortunate how little I get to see her so I was thankful for the opportunity to catch up. Saturday David and I spent our day with the most generous and kind friends, enjoying the boat races on the beautiful Savannah River. I feel so blessed to know them. I always leave their parties happy and feeling like part of the family. Sunday we had coffee together before church, and afterwards picked some figs from a tree nearby (I see plenty of fig and goat cheese salad in our future) and took a trip to the antique store. We cleaned the house, I went for a run and baked our favorite cake (I omit the stevia and use maple syrup instead), and in the evening our friend came over to watch Spirited Away, which we haven’t seen in far too long. Side note: Hopefully in a few weeks I’ll be able to audit his Philosophy of Religion class at the local university and I couldn’t be more excited. I desperately miss that kind of learning environment.

I’m very glad David and I have been socializing more, getting out of our isolated bubble, but it does have a tendency to leave me feeling drained if I’m not careful. I enjoy being social very much–need it, even–but as an introvert I require so much time to recharge. I’m looking forward to the quiet week ahead.

Here are a few photos from the weekend. One day I’ll use my real cameras, I swear. It’s hard to resist the convenience of the iPhone.