2 years together, and still the beginning!

Since we spent our first anniversary with an ocean between us, we decided to make this one extra special! Just a few weeks ago, an online bed & breakfast deal appeared in my email inbox. A few clicks later, we had booked a reservation for the night of our anniversary at the Evergreen Inn in Spring Lake, NJ. The place was perfect for a short getaway! Our room was well-kept and quaint, and the innkeeper was extremely friendly and hospitable. She's known for her amazing breakfast buffet and she definitely lived up to her name! We ate so much at breakfast that we didn't need lunch!

When we arrived in Spring Lake, the skies were just beginning to clear after morning rain showers. It wasn't quite "beach weather" so we decided to borrow bikes (the inn had a shed full of choices!) and explore the town. We quickly found the beach and boardwalk, but also discovered lots of greenery! The small town has several small lakes surrounded by pathways and wooden bridges that are perfect for walking or bike riding. These pathways also led to the main streets of downtown Spring Lake, where we took a break from the bikes to get ice cream. What's an anniversary without dessert?!

That night, we splurged on an elegant dinner to celebrate our 2 years together. (Thanks so much to our parents for pitching in so that we could dine in style!) We took a recommendation from friends at church and enjoyed great food at Whispers restaurant, followed by a walk around the lake at sunset.

After a restful night's sleep at the Evergreen, we enjoyed day 2 on the beach! Though the day started out mostly overcast and windy (good thing we packed jackets!), the skies cleared in the afternoon. But cloudy or not, we didn't mind sitting on the shore with no distractions and reading for pleasure. The water was chilly (only my toes could tell you) but my brave husband made it in the ocean for a few minutes. I guess we will need to go back to enjoy the water together!

I could not think of a better way to celebrate our anniversary. I can't believe we have been married 2 years already! And we have so many years of being together to look forward to! I am so blessed to be married to an amazing husband. Words can't capture how much he means to me, so I won't even try. I pray that every year we spend together will make us love each other even more!

birthday girl!

A closer look at Melody turning one!

still a daddy's girl

I realize that today is a hard day for many people that I care about, as they remember fathers who are no longer with us. My heart goes out to so many of you - please know that my prayers are with you today! I'm grateful that we have the assurance of seeing your fathers in heaven one day.


Yet today also reminds me of how blessed I am to have a dad like mine. I couldn't ask for a better dad! Though I could list 50+ things I love about my dad, here are the top reasons I admire him:

1. His generosity toward others

2. The way he provides for his family

3. His love for family

4. His hugs

5. His leadership in ministry

6. His love for sports

7. His willingness to help

8. The way he tears up when he laughs really hard

9. He genuinely wants to know what's going on in our lives

10. He tells us we are always welcome

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I love you more than words can say.

congratulations!

more photos from my cousin's recent wedding!

whirlwind

Yes, I'm alive! So sorry for my lack of blogging lately. This last month has been so busy, where do I begin? Here are the highlights:


SURPRISE PARTY: Both of my parents turned 50 this year (one in March, one in May) so my brothers and I planned a surprise party to celebrate. We got them good! Mom was too worried about her skydiving experience that day to question anything. A&A took Mom and Dad out for a post-jumping-out-of-a-plane dinner, so the rest of us had about an hour to prepare my parents' house for the party. Thank goodness for help from close family friends!  Mom and Dad were stunned upon walking in the door when so many of their loved ones were there to greet them. I wish I could've captured their priceless facial expressions! We enjoyed drinks and dessert, and even squeezed 30+ people into my parents' family room to watch Mom's skydiving video! It was a fun night of celebrating!

FIELD DAY: Every year, our school enjoys a half day devoted to having fun and doing physical activities together. God provided perfect weather this year so that we could be outside the entire time. This year's field day was different than those in the past because high school students came to the elementary school to lead the games. They did a great job of being leaders! Kids of all ages had a blast at the many stations, including potato sack races, obstacle courses, face painting, and watching HS students get soaked in the dunk tank! It was a great day for everyone, filled with lots of smiles!

A NIGHT IN NYC: Our friends were working/vacationing in NYC for a week so it was a great excuse to spend a night in the city with them! We enjoyed going out for meals, a visit to the 9-11 memorial, beautiful weather for walking around downtown, and of course, the company of great friends!

CELEBRATING MELODY: She's 1 already! Hard to believe our niece was born this time last year. We went down to Virginia for a long weekend to celebrate. This one year old had quite the party! Good thing there were a lot of hands on deck to help prepare for the big bash. Though my favorite parts of the weekend were when it was just family - relaxing and watching Melody take steps, make music, and laugh. She is too cute for words.

WEDDED BLISS: Only a couple weeks later, we headed west to Saginaw, Michigan for another celebration - my cousin's wedding. Our family has celebrated 6 weddings in the last 5 years so we know how to party! This wedding was no exception. The ceremony was beautiful (as well as all those who were in it!) and the dancing at the reception left us exhausted by the end of the night! I love how the number of cousins in my family has expanded through the addition of spouses. It is so much fun when we are all together! 

WRAPPING IT UP: In the midst of all of these exciting events, I've been extremely busy wrapping up another school year. Come Memorial Day, I always think, "It's all downhill from here!" But that has been far from the truth! June brought longer working days than most other months. There were assessments to give and grade, report cards to mark, projects to complete, sub plans to write, training sessions to attend, and excited 2nd grade students to (do my best to) manage. Not to mention that every single item in my classroom had to be boxed and labeled for our upcoming move. Can you say "hectic?" But all of it is now finished! The home stretch was stressful at times, but ultimately led to the end of another school year and the start of summer. Though 2011-2012 was a great school year, I am eager to get some much-needed rest and relaxation. (Though I can't seem to sleep in! Going to take some adjusting!) 

the mom I want to be

When people tell me they see my mom in me, I consider it a huge compliment. There is no one else I would rather be like! I admire my mom for so many reasons, but here are just a few:

1. She is beautiful - on the inside and out.


2. Her heart for others. My mom is always looking for ways to reach out to those in need, whether it means baking a banana bread or delivering a meal. I admire her willingness to volunteer - she doesn't hesitate to give of her time and resources to support others.

3. Her leadership in ministry. Over the years, my mom has served the church in various ways - from leading small groups, to singing on the praise team, and even giving messages! I have always looked up to her for the way she uses her gifts in God's Kingdom.


4. Her bravery! How many people can say that their mom has bungee jumped or sky dived!? Yes, I want to be like my mom, but you won't catch me doing that! Once she even let me serve her ice cream upside down at youth group. Isn't she awesome?!

5. She works hard to stay healthy. I wish I had the ability to say no to desserts the way my mom does! I admire her for eating right and committing to daily exercise.


6. Her hospitality. My mom is an incredible hostess! Not only is she an amazing cook, but she has a gift for making people feel at home. She is quick to extend an invitation - we are grateful for this because it means weekly family dinners even after we moved out!

7. Her friendship. I can honestly say that my mom is one of my best friends. I can go to her with just about anything and know she will listen and give encouragement. I look forward to our times together and her "I miss you" messages when we go just a few days without seeing each other.


8. Her sacrifice for those she loves. My mom loves her family more than anything else in the world. I can't think of anything she wouldn't do for her children or her spouse. She spoils us rotten! We are so blessed by her acts of service toward us, which are all done out of her amazing love for family.

I love you Mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

This post is part of the 1000 Moms Project. By honoring my mom here, a Haitain mom will receive the help she needs to support her family. Get more info by clicking on the link below! 

a cord of 3 strands

So grateful for a "snow day" today! I guess it did pay off not to have any snow when we expected it since it led to an unexpected day off in spring time when we can actually enjoy being outside! 

This unplanned day-off also allowed for a spontaneous trip to visit E! It was a beautiful weekend to enjoy the outdoors so we spent Saturday exploring the coastal town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and then ventured to Kittery, Maine for some outlet shopping. On Sunday, we made sure to save some time for a "business meeting" while eating breakfast at an adorable local cafe/bakery. Though my most favorite moments of the weekend were simply squeezing three of us on one couch, enjoying wine, cheese, and desserts, while talking and laughing about life. It was fun to catch up, reminisce on shared memories, and plan (dream!) for the future of our business and our friendship!

"By yourself you're unprotected.

With a friend you can face the worst.

Can you round up a third?

A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped."

- Ecclesiastes 4:12 (MSG)