Time Flies

Christmas has come and gone and we have welcomed 2009 with high hopes clouded by great uncertainties. For me, this past month has been full of activities and taking a much needed break from work to spend time doing things that I love with those that I care about most. I am finding that words are in short supply as I reflect on the end of 2008 so I will leave you instead with lots of pictures:

New Year's Eve feast at my place.

Gavin giving Mam-ma kisses on Christmas day

Gavin's first Christmas!

Sisters. Christmas Eve dinner.

Christmas Eve...he loves the telephone!

Skiing up north with my Dad.

Mom in her snowmobile gear after we went out on a beautiful snowy morning!

Out practicing our photography skills. Brandie shot this one of me.

Picture of the future photographer.

Happy boy playing in his basket.

November Adventures in Thankfulness

Hard to believe it is already the 1st of December. November flew by so quickly it left me unprepared for the cold of winter that is already upon us. Almost exactly one year ago I received my first real job offer and began the process of finding a place to live, purchasing furniture to fill the place, and packing up all of my childhood to move to Ohio. And now, here I am, almost a year later writing to you in my cute little condo nestled on the lake shore in Celina, OH. And I am reminded of all that I have to be thankful for in the past year:

-my job. I am thankful to have a job and an income and to be able to pay the bills that sneak in month after month. In a time when so many are laid off or jobless-even people in my own workplace, 60 of them, laid off indefinitely-I am beyond thankful to have the means to support myself. The means to put a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach. The necessities of life, really. And here I am 12 months and I've never gone naked, hungry, or homeless while people all over the world are all 3 of those most days of their lives.

-my family. I am thankful for the addition of Gavin to our family this past year and the joy he has brought to all of us. He makes everything brighter and more full of joy then you would ever think possible. He is the epitome of strength, the image of hope, and the sound of survival. He is reason for the rest of us to never stop believing in tomorow. And I'm not only thankful for him, I'm thankful for the rest of my family and the struggles that we all continue to face head on with the supportive insight of love that surrounds us, and the new-found innocence of a child that keeps pouring itself into our ives.

-my friends. Many old friends have crossed my path in the past year to brighten up my life with memories of the past and new adventures for the present while new friends have made their way into my life helping me to experience so many new and exciting things.

and now the little things:

-my camera and the way that photography has brought a new aspect of creativity to my life

-my newfound love of running

-the continued communication that I am lucky enough to have with the girls in Romania
-the passion for children in need around the world that continues to be reignited in my life
-people that make me smile everyday

-my own place. Sometimes it's quiet and lonely here these days but I am thankful for this time of growing in my own independence. I think I'll look back and really appreciate these days.

Really, I could go on forever about all of the things that I am thankful for but I'll stop there and leave you, instead, with some photos from the past month or so. I hope, though, that you will stop for a minute and make a list of your own of all that you have to be thankful for. Have shoes on your feet right now? Be thankful for those. Have a family that loves and supports you? Man, you're a lucky one. A job that pays the bills? Thats really something to be thankful for. Think of the little things and maybe you'll be surprised by all that you have to be thankful for in your life.

Okay, on with the pictures!!

Gavin trying to read one of my favorite books!

Computer time with Ben

My Mom picking out the chosen Christmas tree!

Fondue with friends in Dayton....DELICIOUS

One for One

One for One. Thats their motto. A pair of shoes. You buy one pair, they give one pair to a child in need. A child in Argentina. Or a child in Ethiopia. Or a child right here in the USA. Children who don't have shoes. Who play soccer in their bare feet while running around on damaging turf. Children who will suffer diseases ingested into their bodies by wounds on those bare feet. Some of them will die. For those who don't, they will face terrible sickness and crippling illnesses. All that because they don't have a pair of shoes. Will you help?

I've been following these shoes for months now and finally ordered my first pair. I ordered them a few days ago and have checked my email 95,000 times anxiously awaiting that glorious email that tells me they are headed my way. And lets not forget the tracking number so I can check that another 95,000 times to know exactly where my shoes stop on their long journey to my doorstep. That package filled with my brand new shoes isn't only a Christmas present to myself, it's a Christmas present to a child. I think of the children I saw at orphanages in Romania who didn't have properly fitting shoes on their feet because all they had access to were hand-me-downs that were well warn and full of holes. I'm giving a pair of shoes for those children. I think of children I met at a particular gypsy village (picture yourself in the middle of a Feed the Children commercial you see on TV) who didn't even have clothes let alone a pair of shoes. They walk around their village of dirt huts nearly naked and entirely barefoot. All of them. Babies. Toddlers. Children. Adults. The whole village. I'm giving a pair of shoes for those children. And I'm giving because an orphan child with nearly nothing of her own gave me a pair of shoes for my 20th birthday in Romania. A pair of green tennis shoes that are slightly too small and have a few tiny holes in them. One pair of shoes that changed me forever.

And now I get to give back by participating with Toms Shoes.

One for One.

Just Another week

Some exciting things from the past week or so:
1. I got to talk to a bunch of the teens I worked with in Romania last week. It was good to hear their voices and realize that I still have a presence in their lives 2.5 years later.
2. My new computer came with photo software :-)
3. On a trip home last weekend I ran into my old swim coach / teacher / mentor / all around amazing person who I wanted to grow up to be just like. I don't think I'm quite there but who said I was grown up yet?!
4. I have a HUGE family and last weekend that was made clear when I got to see tons of different cousins totally unplanned!
5. My grandma cooked biscuits and gravy Saturday. It's all made from scratch and absolutely delicious.
6. Thanks to my mom, I officially own a Christmas tree and can not wait to put it up in my own place.
7. To go along with the Christmas tree I purchased my first gift and listened to my favorite Christmas song already
8. I've gotten a few new CD's and am totally addicted to the new Jason Mraz, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, and the Juliana Theory. I love music and the new stuff is definitely a good addition to my music library.
9. Last week I finished the book Long Way Gone...A phenomenal story about a boy who lost his entire family to war in Sierra Leone, Africa and ended up becoming a child soldier capable of killing TONS of people. The book is his story; memories of his childhood, documentation of how war first took his family and then how he took the families of others, and a testament to his recovery and eventual forgiveness of himself when he is given a second chance at a normal life. If you're up for the heartwrenching read, it comes highly recommended :-)
10. Also, thanks to my mom, I have a new shirt with a GREAT quote on it that I'd like to share with you here:

"Love this life... is about celebrating the moment
and that we're not guaranteed or owed another day
and how cool it is that what we hide can actually be
the fuel towards our glory
and that it's not so bad to be proven wrong

LovethisLife...is about welcoming the blind turn
and the possibility that there's no such thing as coincidence
and that empathy is incredibly sexy
and that it's never too late to pick up a guitar or paintbrush
or to make an amend
or to make a new friend

LovethisLife...could be about rekindling a past flame
or igniting a new one
or shapeshifting from a dreamer into a doer
or savoring the caress of a love long gone

LovethisLife...means whatever it is you want it to mean because

LovethisLife...is a celebration of you and your path

LovethisLife'cuz it could go at any second

you rock."

I think it is one of my new favorites actually. It's filled with great truths and a challenge to get out and live. That is something I aspire to; something I search after with all that is in me. I want to be a doer and a thinker and a feeler. I want to do all that I can, experience all that is out there, be challenged to grow and to change, while getting the chance to feel all of the happiness that this world has to offer. Yep, its a great quote!

And now, 3 cool pictures from my weekend in New Boston:

Sporting my Dad's Crown Royal hatBathtime with Gavin
Gavin loves his Grandpa!

a better version of your old self

An old friend got in touch with me this week. One of my very best friends in High School and Middle School. Somewhere over the past few years we sort of lost track of each other. It has been over a year since I have even seen her. In her message she was asking me what I was up to and where I was these days and all of that good stuff. I quickly responded"not much is new" but then I realized EVERYTHING was new! In the past year since I have seen her I have graduated college, moved to my own place in Ohio, and started my first real job. I have travelled to new places, embraced new challenges, and have made new friends. I have run a half marathon, become and aunt, and started working on a graduate degree. And that is probably just the big things. It is amazing how quickly things change even when it seems like they haven't at all yet it only takes a quick "hello" from an old friend to remind you how much has changed and how much hasn't.

Change isn't so bad. It isn't always easy, but in changing anything you learn more about yourself and who you want to be while staring in the mirror at exactly who you are. When you look past the exterior and into your heart of hearts you begin seeing pieces of yourself; pieces that you don't like and pieces that you do. Some of those pieces you may not want anymore. They may be old, they may be bad, or they may be pieces that are far from the person you have become. Those pieces you slowly throw out and replace with something new and better. A new accomplishment, a new experience, or facing a new challenge. At the same time, you see all of the things that you like, the things that are at the core of your being, and the things you hope you never lose. You tuck those pieces away for safe keeping as the world spins on around you and the changes continue. We are never complete, really, and instead, are always staring back into that mirror re-evaluating where we are, who we are, and who we want to become.

It was nice to hear from my friend this week. It's always tough to lose track of someone you care about, but when your paths cross again it is a nice refresher on friendship and change; a subtle reminder of all the ways you have grown to be a newer, better version of your old self.

From Indy to Dayton: Another Fun Weekend

I love fall. I love the crispness of the cool air as it gently runs its fingers through your hair. I love the smell of fresh grass, the colors of falling leaves, and the undeniable changes that this season brings. It's that sound that leaves make as you step on them and lightly crush them together. It's the taste of fresh cider that you haven't had in months. It's that coolness in the air that makes you want to snuggle up just to stay warm. It's hooded sweatshirts and long pants....It's everything! Fall is such a beautiful time of year that is so full of exciting things to do and experience. Like most things, it is better enjoyed in the company of others.

This past weekend I had the chance to get out and enjoy fall. It started with a trip to Indianapolis to visit one of my roommates from Romania. She is leaving this week to go back for 6 months in an effort to brighten the lives of orphan children in Bucharest. In the years since Romania we have had many opportunities to hang out and I wanted to make sure I got to say goodbye and hear all about her plans when she gets there. Plus, Indy is a really cool city and it was nice to get out and enjoy it! My visit started trip to the arts district in Broadripple from some Vintage shopping and a great lunch at an Egyptian cafe. This part of town was soo neat even though it was a pretty cold and cloudy day. I took some pictures and got to enjoy some local music as well as make a few good vintage purchases. It was lots of fun and I promise to post more pictures of it soon! After that we got dressed up and went to downtown Indianapolis for a nice dinner and some conversation. I was anxious to hear all about her trip-her expectations, the children, where she would be living etc...so this was the perfect opportunity. Plus, dinner was awesome and they had delicious sangria plus sweet potato fries (which I have loved and not had since Corning last summer!). We went out for a bit after dinner before heading home for the night. Sunday we went for breakfast at this awesome little cafe in Amanda's hometown for Crepes and returned home for some great conversation with her family before I headed out for some more Fall Fun. It was a quick trip, but I couldn't be more excited for Amanda's return to Romania!

On the way back home from Indianapolis I stopped in Dayton for a little adventure to Young's Dairy in Yellowsprings, OH. This place is a dairy farm with TONS of activities. There are animals to pet, slides to ride, corn mazes to get lost in, many ice cream flavors to try, putt putt golf to play, wagons to ride, pictures to take, and fun times to be had by all! I'm pretty sure we did everything on that list actually, so it was a full day of activities but so much fun! After the dairy farm we picked up pumpkins for a little carving fun before I headed back to Celina. I am soo glad that I drove through and was able to take part in this adventure...There couldn't have been a better way to enjoy a fall day!

Okay, and here are some pictures from the weekend (more to come):

This is my super cool pumpkin

All of us on the wagon on the way back from the corn maze. Hidden throughout the maze are mailboxes with stamps...if you find all of the stamps you get $4.00 off putt-putt golf so we were sure to find them! Here we are proudly displaying our accomplishment on the wagon ride :-)

Feeding some goats!

John, Ben and I in the corn maze!

All four of our pumpkins! I obviously took the easy route...but they did such a good job on their much more difficult pumpkins!

Me, John, and Brittany going down the slide at Young's Dairy. Never too old for this!

All four of us on a happy face bale of hay...love it!

And me with my glass of sangria in Downtown Indianapolis!

It definitely wasn't Miami, but since I couldn't be there I decided to make the most of the weekend anyways!

Fall pictures and the big run!

So sorry it has been so long for an update! The past two months have slipped away as the days got shorter and my life got crazier. Lets see....so much has happened but here is the snapshot: I took part in a 5k walk for cancer research in Dayton, I started classes for my MBA, took a weekend trip to Cedar Point, spent some time home hanging out with my family, a weekend trip to Northern Michigan, and just this past weekend I ran the Detroit Half Marathon! Here are a few pictures from up north and some pictures of the race in Detroit!

This one is for my sister: A happy boy ready for his wagon ride!

Going for his first wagon ride with Grandpa
Gavin looks like such a big boy playing with his toys!

A sleepy boy in his wagon. Precious!

Thats me all ready for the big race!
About to cross the finish line 13.1 miles later! Thats me, being silly me even though I'm totally exhausted!

Half Marathon re-cap: I can't believe it was just 7 months ago that I really began running for the first time in my life and can now say that I have finished a half marathon! I spent months training only to get sick the week before the race. It didn't help my cause much, but I was determined to cross the finish line in some way, shape or form! I trained for and ran the whole thing by myself and while it proved to be more difficult than I had expected, it also proved to be more rewarding. I guess when you run with 18,000 other people you are never really alone. I was a lot more nervous than I had expected lining up at the start line and having no one to laugh with just to ease the tension. But after a really cold start I was on my way! Right after mile 3 we crossed the Ambassador bridge into Canada and the sun was just rising over the river. It was something beautiful-running along the bridge surrounded by thousands of strangers, seeing the colors of autumn and the hazy pinks and oranges of the sunrise thinking to myself "man, this is cool." From there it was 5 miles of Canada running, along the boardwalk and through some neighborhoods then under the tunnel back to America. Thats right, folks, I have officially run underwater for one whole mile! Following the tunnel I was pretty tired...that kind of tired when your body doesn't want to move anymore...but I knew it was just a few miles more to the finish so I trekked along at a slow pace just hoping to be alive at the end. Around the last corner, sooo close to the finish line I see my Dad yelling from the side trying to jog along side and get a picture (the one you see above where I'm giving a thumbs up)....it was pretty funny and I definitely enjoyed the laugh before crossing the big finish line. And not only was there a medal awaiting me (along with some much needed food and water!) but just past the finish line my mom, sister, and nephew were there cheering me on. It was a great feeling to be surrounded by family at such a cool moment for myself (probably not exactly what I was thinking in my exhaustion and severe need of food at the finish line, however). So, there it is. The half-marathon re-cap for you to enjoy. Was it hard? You betcha. Am I still sore? Oh yeah. Add in those parts where I woke up entirely too early to stand in the freezing cold then run for over two hours with 18,000 other people and you're probably wondering "was it worth it?" My answer to you, then: Absolutely. After all, I got to run in two countries, see the sunrise while atop the Ambassador bridge, enjoy a perfectly clear fall morning, and fill myself with this unbelievable feeling of personal accomplishment. All that for only two hours of my life. Of course it was worth it!