Kelly Wedding

1. The bridesmaids and I at Amber and Cliff's rehearsal. I had a blast with these lovely women this weekend, such a blessing to share my sister with them. She has amazing friends and is marrying into a family of incredible women. 2. It poured warm spring rain for about an hour that night, and tiny Weston Kelly was enamored. My sister would never miss a chance to play in the rain with this boy. 3. What a wonderful weekend spent with family. My heart is full after good time with my parents. I love this picture of my dad and I the afternoon we were helping set up. 4. A quiet moment--I love these two together. The way they listen to each other, work together, and celebrate. They just fit together you know? I'm excited to see their future unfold.  

April Staycation

1. New York! There is more magic each time we visit this city. Always something new, always one more thing we must experience. Mikey (see wedding pictures, he's the tallest) gave us a new tour through Central Park, and we walked from there to Union Square. Given that I have to take twice the steps to keep up with him, you can say my legs were a little sore. 2. The Strand Bookstore, in Union Square, is a perfect haven of great books--I'm enthralled, can you tell? 3. This week Boston has me gaping at the spring blossoms and lime green leaves on trees. 4. Our dear friend Zach visited from San Antonio last week for April vacation. We adore him and it was such a joy to have him stay with us, to reconnect, and we had a blast. Breweries were visited, he saw almost every state in New England, experienced everything Boston, and we ate all the good food. They even made it to the Patriot's Day Red Sox game. 5. James and Pepper Lane--isn't she beautiful? Of all the amazing things we visit in New York when we go, she's our favorite.

Change in the Air

1. I went to Pittsburgh last weekend to celebrate my sister's wedding and throw her a shower. It was lovely to spend time with her, her friends, and her future family. 2. The shower favors I made with help from my friend Cristina, who lives in Pittsburgh. It was such a blessing to my heart to pop down to her house for a few hours and catch up in person. 3. My running shoes--I've actually used them a few times a week for about three weeks now. Doing a 5K next Sunday! 4. James and I drove out to the coast to get some sunshine and air. We're currently in the midst of transition and wondering what the future holds.

A Little More Spring

1. I've rediscovered leeks in my cooking this week. They are everything bright and lovely. 2. Little signs of spring are popping up in the garden at James' school and the sun feels warm when I walk to the train. 3. Mung beans, they're great! Tiny and green they made the filling for 4. Goyza dumplings I made this week to celebrate that in five months I'll be on my way to JAPAN to visit Laurel. How lovely it is to think and talk about all the adventures we'll have together when I'm there. 

Two weeks with my bestie and her most beautiful daughters. I am the most happy. 

Spring is a Magical Season

1. New cell phone that connects me to the world and my best of friends. 2. New nephew on the quilt I made for him, he is so small here even now, just a month later. 3. Planning my sister's bridal shower, which is coming up this next week. Love her to pieces and can hardly wait to celebrate her.

4. This just in--we bought a car! On a rainy day we drove out to test drive this 2009 Subaru Outback (read heated leather seats, turbo engine, new tires, brand new engine, moon roof, and a pretty face) and before the test drive was over we knew we wanted it. We signed papers, named him Nigel, and have been jumping for joy ever since. I'm incredibly thankful for a husband who does all the research, asks all the questions, knows all the details, and looks at every option. This car has been a long time of saving, budgeting, and searching. Our family feels more complete.

But that Judah though, can we talk about how sweet he is?!

California Land Of My Heart

It was hard to come back. 

When The Mr. Is Away

This week James is on a service trip to the Dominican Republic (read awesome weather, sunshine, and adventure) and I'm home, at work most of the time (read having fun with my friends and loving my job) and keeping myself busy with cleaning, projects, and books. I've been working on a few side editing projects and soul searching about what is next on that front. I've been turning this idea of freelance, and building myself an editing/consulting business where I work from awesome coffee shops all day. What do you think? 

A Week With the Boys-- and Snow!

We had our first real New England snowstorm (here, big is 1-2 feet, this Sierra Nevada girl rolls her eyes). James and I house-sat/kid-sat for the Hudson's this week--Tuesday and Wednesday were both snow days for everyone. For big storms in Boston they shut down the schools, public transportation, and put driving bans in effect so everyone is forced to stay home.

I'm not complaining.

We had two restful and fun days at home--made good food, sat by the fire, played in the snow a bit, watched movies, played card games, and even had a few games of hide and seek in the house. It was definitely a blast and at the same time I was thankful to get back to real life on Wednesday.

A week living with three boys has been--interesting. At times I have felt completely outnumbered and I have no idea what they are even talking about, and at other times they are all so helpful I feel blessed to spend time with them. Tickle fights, competitions, video games, noises--you get it. Sometimes I just shake my head and walk away.

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The lack of posting here comes from the desire to re-do, revamp, change, move, redesign, my blog. Feeling the need for something a little more grown up now that I've graduated. (!!) Though I'm also torn because I've been writing here for years and I've never regretted keeping everything in the same place. It is a treasure to wander back to my Oxford entries still--and I'm always finding out about new people who have continued to read my entries that I had no idea actually still read them.

Thanks for sticking with me--and know that I already have a few more in the works.

What I've Learned: The Combined Roles of Wife, Student, Coworker, and Friend

A month after our wedding James and I moved to Boston so I could begin a grad-school program. Soon after we arrived we both had jobs and settled into our community. I started two classes that August. Quickly I began to feel myself pulled in four directions--how does one hold the roles of new wife, grad-student, good friend, and work almost full time, all at the same time? How do you fulfill each one well?

One word, prioritize.
And, make lists.
Also, do not overcommit yourself.

I've learned that as much as I love where I work, work needs to almost always take a backseat. (Unless I find my store manager-less, then I step into that role, yikes.) Other than that, I generally work less than I want to, or have less responsibility during the school year than I'd like. But one of my partners recently said, at the end of life I don't think we'll wish we worked more. The key is to show up present and enjoy time at work, even use it to rest from school--though I found doing homework on my breaks helps.

On being a good friend--this one is the hardest and I honestly feel that I fail at it the most. We have friends all over the country and my best is currently 14 hours ahead in Japan. When life gets full it feels friendships suffer and I think the enduring relationships allow for these pauses, are okay with missed calls for the sweet voicemails, the missed letters for an uplifting text message. Long distance friendships are hard--but essential is effort from both sides.

I've found that in order to successfully contribute to a local community that overcommitment is a disaster. Don't overcommit--to anything. No matter what. Ultimately you can't do the thing you've committed to in the way it should be done, and in the end it only puts stress on every other area of your life. When you have to say no, you can't feel bad. Better to do less well, than do more poorly.

As a new wife I can't pretend I have this one figured out entirely, though I have had some incredible examples in my life. My role here is functionally meal planning, grocery shopping, cleaning, scrabble opponent, breakfast maker, supporter, reader, organizer, fellow adventurer, the double on dates, cozy-home-maker, baker, dance party instigator, cohost, and encourager (among other things). This is my most important role. This is who I am and then I stay up late to do homework. This is what I get up early to do and then go to work so I can sit and write a paper before I clock in. This takes priority because it effects my family. There have been many evenings while I read books, prepare projects, or edit papers that James would have rather gone out or played a game together, but he sat with me and for that I am deeply thankful.

As a student for almost my entire life, I feel like I can give expert advise. First, get As. Next--it's okay to get bad grades every once in a while or miss an assignment for good reason. This took me longer to learn than the getting As part. Second, you will get out of school what you put into school. In the end we are each responsible for our own education. I am deeply satisfied with my education, not because of the facts I have learned (lets be honest I don't remember much from Algebra 2 or Government) but for the way I've learned to think critically, research, and form an opinion.

But hey, I'm done with grad-school next week.
(This is where you clap, yell woohoo!, or dance--you choose.)

Soon there will be more time for double dates, for baking, for arts and craft making. Time to skype, write letters, and go out for coffee. I'm thrilled at the prospect of reading for pleasure again, my "To Read" list has waited a long time.

Celebrating Family: Crab Feast Wecker Style

Some of my best Maryland memories involve my hands covered in old bay seasoning, ripping apart legs, and cracking shells. Bushels of crabs is a common measurement, and this family usually needs that many--they have a gift for sharing their lives with everyone around them. 

 Each Wecker has their own teaching style, and they tend to divide and conquer. Let's be honest, to sit down with a pile of whole crabs on the table can intimidate anyone new to the process. Each family member sits at a different table, and gives a short lesson on the art of picking a crab. Patti encourages, and her love of the process and tradition help others overcome any uncertainty.

 Steve tends to weave a good story into his lessons, and makes sure everyone is comfortable with the process and has a glass of wine before he finishes.

  Ryan tends to give good techniques, passed down to her from her parents and grandparents. 

Joy makes the experience fun--she's hilarious. It sets people at ease and helps them to feel like naturals. 

 Pretty soon people begin to feel more adventurous. I watch it happen, as Weckers teach and invite people in to one of their favorite meals, people begin to embrace the experience, even if they had no intention of doing it when they sat down. 

 Stephen is a little more technical with his teaching style, like when he talks about beer and wine. He also weaves in history and answers questions well. 

 It gets a little messy. 

 This night was special, because we were celebrating Faith and Josh, and their families together around these tables. 

 Ryleigh, the newest Wecker. Look at that face--she fits right in. 

This family--who just puts up a huge tent in the backyard and invites everyone they know to the party? They do. They host with their whole lives, love each other passionately, and are some of the most hilarious people I've ever met. I'm thankful for the Weckers.