a home.

Where thou art- that- is Home.”
- Emily Dickinson

Joel & I signed a lease on our first home this weekend. It’s actually a studio apartment with a loft sleeping area. But it’s lovely. An old yellow victorian with a front porch and large, old trees all around. We have an antique cherry wood bar for our friends to sit at, and many built in bookcases. We are already envisioning late night parties with good food and laughter, and cozy nights with dark coffee and books.

It’s a huge blessing to have a place that will be a refuge. Our neighborhood is rough and loud, and so having a peaceful space to call Home is much appreciated.

shhh…..

….. his dad is a yankee’s fan. Muahahah. We will convert him as we have the other little cousins who once liked pin stripes but now dwell in Red Sox Nation.

to grandmother’s house we go.

A few more from July’s visit to Grandma’s farm on Lake Ontario.

I love my Grandma’s home. It is so welcoming. You pull in the drive way and it seems that all your troubles are suddenly gone. You are in a place where you are loved unconditionally, and where your inner child may roam free.

to-do’s before the i-do’s

Craigslist, oh Craigslist. Bane of my existence.

Official Getting Married To Do List:
√ Say yes
√ Set a date
√ Find a venue
√ Book a caterer
√ Ask bridesmaids
√ Make invitations
√ Buy a dress
√ Register
Book a photographer
√ Pick a honeymoon spot
Find a place to live after we’re actually married

That last one has been/is the hardest. We’re living in Boston. Boston is expensive. We both work for non-profits/ministries and probably always will. We’re poor. We want to live among the poor, so that we can more readily love them. But even living among the poor in Boston is difficult for us to afford on our salaries. We’re praying that God will put us right in the middle of the community that he wants us to be active in, with the neighbors he wants us to serve and love.

In the meanwhile, Craigslist, I’m quite sick of you. The endless pouring over your badly designed webpages is hurting my eyes and killing my soul.

Nesbitt’s 4th of July.

Circling up (about 1/4 shown) to pray and count off.

The annual egg toss – 13 and up division (tho we had a few youngsters drafted up).

Grandma. Yelling at me not to take her picture.

Uncle Steve, Uncle Andy, Uncle Someoneelsei’mrelatedto and Great Uncle Bob, talking about farming and laughing a lot.
Happy 90th Birthday to Great Uncle Bob (aka Daddy Robert).

Kaylee swimming in Nesbitt’s Pond.

writer’s block.

looking back at what i’ve written in the past year compared with what i’ve written the six years prior, is disheartening to me.

i like my writing so much better when i am cynical, sarcastic and disgruntled.

we’ll have to work on that.

she’s going to Boston in the fall.

Congratulations, Julia!

Can’t wait to have you going to college in Boston, and living oh so close to me. Many adventures to come.