Jeena and Tahli

These two. 

They fill our church with laughter and dresses to spin in. They are the kind of friends that share together and laugh together. Jeena's family, the Kopecheks, was the first to invite us over and get to know us when we moved to Boston. Her brother, John David, and James share the same birthday. We are always blessed by their company and felt so welcomed by them last summer. 

It's their turn to head out, and though we will miss them dearly, we have cherished moments with them and are so excited for their move to Pittsburgh. 

I wanted to snap a few pictures of them together today, because these days I'm convinced friendship endures through time and space. Every time they see each other again they'll have changed a little, grown up some more, but this moment captures the beginning of a special friendship. 

This Week in Photos

I carried my camera this week and these photos reflect the essence of it. I've been spending extra time at work--going in early, staying late. We're slowly seeing the extra work pay off. Hitting big numbers earlier, ordering extra product to fill needs.

Late shifts mean I have lots of time at home in the morning. I finished up the last of my Magazine Overview class for the semester, and have done a fair bit of spring cleaning and decorating. I drink lots of coffee. On Sunday James indulged a Craigslist find and we went to pick up a lovely, perfect little sewing table. It's the kind that folds out, and with a little work my sewing machine will fit inside of it.

The garden at church is bursting with life lately, I was able to go cut back winter grasses and pull weeds Friday morning. To work in the garden, in the sunshine, there is nothing like it. James and I are still coping with opposite work schedules. Many days this week I saw him for an hour in the morning, and an hour at night. We try to make the best of it, but some days are hard. I'm thankful for a husband that takes care of me so well.

Moments

On Monday afternoon I listened to bells ringing at 2:50, throughout the city, announcing the end of the national moment of silence for the events in Boston last week. The sound filtered through my window and connected me with of the community in remembrance of the victims at the Marathon. I have lost little compared to so many others. 

 It seems that people are more friendly in the streets, on the T, and in my store the last few days. More kind to everyone they interact with--but it might actually be that I am taking the time to notice. 

At Home

We stayed home with most of our neighbors on Friday, after we awoke to our neighboring city under lockdown. But rest is good, and though in the end I was pretty antsy, everything seems to have worked out. This afternoon a coworker showed me a video she took on her phone Friday night. Everyone in her neighborhood was out in the streets cheering and celebrating the end of a horrible week.

I started this painting that day.

It isn't not done.

Thoughts for Boston

"Write something about it,"

I was told this by one of my regulars, Harvard Business professor Nancy Kohen. I attended her class this evening, in anticipation of hearing the CEO of my company speak. In light of the events at the Boston Marathon yesterday, he was unable to attend.

Instead I heard her lecture on leadership in outer turmoil, with inner strength.

Often in the immediate aftermath we don't see clearly. The beginning stage of knowledge is understanding, and often in this stage we are only just coming to terms with the facts. Yesterday afternoon my phone received over twenty messages, loved ones checking in with me to make sure we were okay. It wasn't until a few hours later I began to fully understand what had happened just ten miles away.

How we chose to respond is important. We can't do anything about the circumstances, but how we respond is where we have agency. We can either chose to drown in the river of media, fear, and isolation--or we can get a ladder, climb up, and rise above the fear and darkness. It is only this way that we can overcome and redeem. We are not called to live in a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound minds.

In all circumstances do not focus on all the wrong. Chose one good thing, do it, tell someone about it, and then do the next good thing. The struggle does not end, but the struggle is not without joy and satisfaction. We need a strong and joyful attitude in the light of calamity. I admit, last night this was hard for me, but this morning was a new day.

Year One

 This day was full of joy, beauty, family, love, laughter, excitement, fulfillment, fun, and kisses. I loved every moment and I would relive it in a heartbeat. 

 The year was full. 

 We moved, got new jobs, started new schools, joined a new church, made new friends, learned to live together, learned to cook together, cared for each other, traveled, learned about finances, prayed together, dug snow, had our first Christmas, celebrated birthdays, and entertained guests. 

We laugh together, often. You can find us dancing around our apartment, playing hide and go seek, chasing each other, or playing indoor tennis with a raquetball and two pingpong paddles. Life with James is fun. 

 We've learned a tun about life together.

He is my best friend. I'm proud to be his wife and love him more every day. I'm thankful for his joy and encouragement, his faith, dedication, and hard work inspire me everyday.

I cannot imagine the rest of my life without this guy. 

First Anniversary, Portsmouth.

 In celebration of our first anniversary James and I went and stayed at a little B&B

 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire this weekend. It was cozy, quiet, and full. 

Signs of Life

There is an elementary school at the end of our block. I've noticed this week the kids walking down the hill every morning around now, siblings, groups of families, or girls walking in pairs. They walk back home around three, full of laughter and energy.

The kids don't walk to school when its cold out, but they've started again.

Cropping up here and there are little moments that tell me warmth is on its way. Yesterday the sun was out and shining, giving us an afternoon of warmth. Our kitchen windows have been open for a few days now, hinting we're probably done with the heater for a while. Bulbs planted at the end of fall are pushing up through the dirt in the Boston Common and in our church's garden. Gerard Manley Hopkins writes,

What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth's sweet being
in the beginning in Eden garden.

I don't think I've ever appreciated Spring so much as I do this year.

In Providence For Breakfast

I've found myself feeling a little lonely lately. Mine and James' work schedules are almost opposite the last few days, we've missed dinners together most of the week. Sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself on Wednesday I decided to see what Amanda was doing. She's an Oxford friend, those are a unique and wonderful kind. She's doing grad work in CT and we've found the drive is worth it. In the end we decided on breakfast, in Providence, RI.

So with Boston in my rearview mirror, I drove an hour south to find this little treasure of a breakfast nook. The entire place is no larger than my own kitchen and the owner is combo cook, server, host, coffee brewer, friendly neighbor, and cashier. Five little booths seat guests and the chalkboard on the wall serves as a menu, though I'm sure most people who eat here arrive with their order in mind.

I guess breakfast with endless cups of coffee and conversation was just what I needed. I left encouraged, inspired, and ready to take on the rest of my day.

Good Morning!

Spring is on its way. 

I spy on the walk to the train buds forming on branches and bulbs pushing up through the long-frozen soil. Spring means walking more, us exploring Boston more, and lunch breaks outside in the park. Right now I have the tendency to just sit down in our back room and twiddle my thumbs during breaks. I'm going to make more of an effort to go outside now. Its beautiful out!

James and I are coming up on our one year anniversary next week. Eeep! It definitely feels like it has been that long, we've had a full year of transition, moving, change, building community, school, new jobs, our first Christmas together, traveling, snowstorms and hurricanes, car trouble, and date nights. Sometimes its tough, but I have loved every moment of it. There are less than perfect days, but I love the person I have by my side to struggle through them with. 

We've planned a little B&B getaway next weekend, I can hardly wait. Until then I'm doing my best to enjoy the sunshine and temperatures in the 50s.