• warm, fresh from the oven peach pie, ice cream melting on top
• spending time with good friends after weeks away, oohing and aahing over their new items
• seeing the fruits of our labor
• ideal temps and cool breeze coming through the windows
• organic items from Trader Joe's
• Downy-smelling laundry on the clothes line outside
• the sky at dusk: a mixture of blue, pink, and orange - the perfect backdrop for an evening stroll with my love

"Stay-cation" in Syracuse

• seeing our soul friends again after 3 months of separation
• a tour of their new home
• 4 rounds of our favorite game, everyone a winner

• enjoying dinners out, using a Groupon certificate to cut our bill in half!
• adventures in Ithaca, making stops for wineries
• locally made food and drinks
• beautiful vineyard views
• $2 wine tastings
• following the trail to an overlook, water cascading down
• grapes bursting with flavor

• laughing through an old movie
• the combination of wine & fudge
• conversations of all kinds, from silly to sacred
• hiking to Tinker Falls
• panoramic mountain top views
• eating lunch under nature's overhang while water fell from above
• exploring, playing in the falls

• invitation to visit Axiom, a better understanding of its mission
• an amazing book transformed into a movie
• one last meal together, taking out the calendar to plan when we will meet again
• a dark and lengthy car ride home, perfect for discussions with my hubby

• mini cupcake delivery
• long lines of sympathy, hearts and prayers reaching out to a beloved family
• watching an artist at work, birch trees appearing on a grand canvas
• Gram's smile upon seeing her grandson again
• treated to lunch at Panera
• a yard transformed after my husband's hard work
• family dinner at Rosario's, our favorite
• packing our bags again, looking forward to a weekend with close friends ... more to come when we return!

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2011

• spending the day with my soon-to-be sister-in-law
• baking and frosting mini cupcakes
• A-dorable favors
• weather clearing up, time for a walk
• a successful shower, generous family and friends
• reversible name plate sign
• extra hands to help with presents and clean-up

• buffet breakfast reminding us of our honeymoon in Antigua
• water droplets making for pretty pictures
• getting settled at home again, enjoying just being together again even if it means completing separate tasks
• brother and soon to be sister stopping by their new home, giving us the chance to say hello
• cooking and eating a meal in our kitchen

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2011

• sitting in church next to my husband
• a fitting song
• an over-night getaway to Long Island, celebrating our 1st anniversary (better late than never!)
• successful Living Social deal
• Glen Cove Mansion - beautiful grounds and amenities, friendly and helpful wait staff
• delicious dinner for two, including free drinks and $25 off coupon
• a break in the rain, an opportunity to explore the beach
• turning off technology, enjoying time with just the two of us

My Hubby is Home!

I have done nothing but smile these past few days. I could not be happier to have my husband back. We have spent our days together, along with friends and family. Here are a few highlights:


Thursday, August 11, 2011

• waking up next to my hubby
• almost all of his immediate family in one place
• a picture slideshow of his Jordan photos
• watching him take back the kitchen with his culinary skills
• taking turns holding our niece, seeing her smile
• walking alongside the stroller on a beautiful day

Friday, August 12, 2011

• relaxing in lounge chairs on the dock
• finishing The Help, wishing it was longer
• a swim in the lake
• visiting with all of my grandparents
• three couples around a camp fire
• sleep over at Green Pond

Saturday, August 13, 2011

• delicious french toast breakfast
• kayak ride with my love
• surprise return guest, a walk down lake end road with 2 best friends
• welcome home dinner, complete with strawberry cake
• sitting in the passenger seat of the car - it's been a while!
• learning random words in Arabic

• picking up my love from the airport, hugs and kisses that we have waited 2 months for!

That's it, that's all I needed today.

Not quite done, but getting closer!

• making progress on our core values mural at school
• assembling parent information packets, crossing it off the list
• last day of work at Reiner for a while
• finding favors for an upcoming shower
• a favorite song playing on the radio at the perfect time
• a purse-size pink umbrella coming in handy
• spotting blue sky behind the rain clouds
• reuniting with family, particularly my absolutely adorable niece - seeing her eyes open and alert
• catching up with two good friends, wish they both lived closer
• that butterfly feeling inside when I think about seeing my love in less than 24 hours!