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Saturday, July 30, 2011

What I did over my summer vacation OR Guat's up?

Eee Gads.  In case you haven't noticed, we've been gone.  Holiest of all Holy Cows.  We've been gone.
I wish I could tell you when we're going to be out of town, but land sakes, my record player is a hot commodity.

 Telling people when we're not home = Someone's going to steal it

I'm convinced.

All joking aside, Tim and I spent the week in Guatemala with a team from our church and a few others.

One word?

How about seven?  How about a million?

Amazing.  Inspiring.  Humbling.  So very much fun.

The list continues.

They are, as Jonathan Safran Foer would say, stories the mouths can't tell fast enough.

It's a beautiful country.  Really.

I came home and almost immediately set to work.  Writing.  Cleaning up This Space.  Cleaning OUT my Google Reader.

And then I was just stumped.

I got stuck.

So, here I am in my pink and white polka dotted p.j.'s with a belly full of take out and a clock that reads well past 1am.  Struggling to get It All down.

Tonight, I realized that I just keep waiting for lightning to strike.  Some wave of inspiration.  Some magic light bulb moment that will help me convey the whole rip, the whole story in just the perfect light.

And I don't think that lightning strike is ever going to happen.

This is what I know so far.

Tim and I are called to lead a simple life.  I'm not saying I don't want a new camera...a new ipod...the list goes on.

I'm just saying that I went to get a new cell phone (I was due for an upgrade and having technical issues with my old one) and the choices about knocked me down.

Us Americans? We love our toys. I ended up with A Little Guy, and I actually love it. He is not “smart.” There is not an app that will tell me how much plaque is on my teeth or when we need to buy bread.

But he keeps things simple, and right now, we're really into that.

This trip opened our eyes to things like simple living, further missions work, and international adoption.

In all honesty, no one should give 2 craps about what we wear. Pardon my language. But for realz, ya'll. I am guilty of this. I am guilty.of.this. There was a point in time this week where all I really wanted to do was go home and paint my toenails. OPI's Bogota Blackberry, to be exact. What this says about me, I'm not sure.

I'm kidding. Kind of.  

I'm not going to tell you that I came home and shut off our cable and quit wearing make up. I'm not. I'm not going to tell you that I threw my Favorite Coach Clutch out the window or that I donated my car to The Goodwill.

But I am going to tell you that as a society and as a community of believers, we are not doing enough to help people in poverty, and we need to do better.   

Isn't that just what you wanted to hear on your Saturday Night?  That you are not doing enough?  

Ha.  My apologies for the abruptness, but not for the message in general.  

I better get off this soapbox lest you see up my aforementioned pajamas.  

I saw Guatemala...you saw London, you saw France, you saw...well. Nevermind.  

Love and enough for now, 
H.  





The Story of Scarlett

     Three years ago today, Tim and I traveled to a gorgeous farm in Indiana to go look at two tiny puppies named Mitzie and Tonka.  I had seen their photos on Petfinder.com earlier in the week, and I'm sure the woman fostering them thought I was crazy.  I think I called at like, 8am.  Ha.  Desperate, much?  Well, dog ownership is a lot like finding The One.  When you know, you know.

     For some reason, I had it in my head that we needed a boy.  A husband, so to speak, for our Dear Noel.  Knowing what I know now, Noel would have had NONE of that business.  Noel, a wife?  Goodness no. She is much too independent and fabulous for such nonsense.

     We spent some time with Tonka, but he was pre-occupied.  The garage...the grass...other dogs.  I remember he ran.  A lot.

    And then it happened.

Tim crouched down and clapped excitedly, trying to entice The Boy to come have a chat.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a streak of white lightning.

It was Mitzie.  His sister.

Tim petted her gently and she nuzzled up close.

It was love.

After a few minutes together, we decided to name her Scarlett for her orange-y/ Red spots.

And then she proceeded to both pee and vomit on me on the way home in the car.

Still love.

Happy "Gotcha Day" to Scarlett Clementine.

We love you lots and lots

and lots

and lots.

Love and do we know how to pick em' or what?
H.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

How many times do you think you have said good-bye in your entire lifetime?  Have you ever thought of that? 10,000 maybe?  A million?  Surely not.  How many good-byes do you think you have left?  Ee Gads.  Hopefully not that many.

I wanted to say, "I am terrible at good-byes."

But do you know anyone who says, "I am awesome at saying good-bye.  Good-byes are awesome."

Surely the answer is no.

For this particular good-bye, I cried. In fact, I was a borderline mess.  It was the kind of thing where you have said your good-byes and are now talking about last-minute everyday mundane things and yet your voice is still shaking.

As if I'm delivering The Worst News Ever instead of simply telling my mom how to water my houseplants.

I'll WaTer ThEm BeFore I LeaVeeeee......bUt ThEy MiGht....NeED....it...Agaiiiiiinnnnnnnn................

Friends.  I don't want to brag, but I used to be a traveling genius, especially before I got married.  Ok. Not a genius, but still...I was pretty good at it.

Taxis in Las Vegas.  The D.C. Metro.  LAX.  The back of a pick-up truck in Central America.

And I don't remember ever shedding a tear upon my departure.

You see.  It is easy.  It was easy.  It is easy when you have so little to lose.

But now, I am married.  There is a tiny baby niece and two of our own fur-babies.

Truthfully?  I wanted to apologize.  I was embarrassed.

However, I would rather cry because I have everything to lose than cry because I have nothing to lose.

Love and sometimes you just need a minute,
H.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Source: etsy.com via Holly on Pinterest

Just so you know, I have a little post-it on my Macbook that lists all the music I want to download eventually.  Who has that kind of time?  Yikes.  Really.  Soon.  Very soon.  I thought it might be fun to share.  Given that this is still "inspiring things from Pinterest week,"  I thought the post-it and the "button" were fitting.  What do you hope to download in the coming days?  Do tell.  
Love and a mighty fine list,
 H.  
P.S. I just noticed I put "Modest Mouth" instead of Modest Mouse. Ha.  

Monday, July 18, 2011

I spread my arms out wide, making the letter T with my body as if I was about to perform some kind of magic trick.  The water looked like glass before me as I stood in the dark, taking in my surroundings.  The turquoise sky, the stars, the moon.

Our longtime family friends recently purchased a fix-er-upper not too far from us.  The first thing they "fixer-ed up" was, of course, the gorgeous in ground pool.  What smart friends I have, I tell ya.'

So, on this night, I found myself surrounded by friends.  Some of whom I have known for 25 years.  Some for 20 and some for, "I don't remember life without them."  That's how long.

It was a somewhat spontaneous gathering.  Earlier in the evening, text messages were sent.  Voicemails left.  Calls made.  Several of us just seemed to land there.  One by one, we filed in.  We came to explore.  To be together.  To celebrate.  At this old-new-house.  Pizza was ordered.  Greetings exchanged.  Playlists were set.

It was a wonderful night, and I feel so lucky that so many of us have landed here- in this city, barely half an hours drive away from any one of us.  Most of us even less than that.

As we chatted about swimming, I decided that I have a new rule.

When the opportunity presents itself, S  W   I   M.

For the love of Pete, get in the pool.  None of this, "Do I want to get may hair wet?"  "I'll get in if you get in..."  "Do I want to drive home wet?"

Yes.  Yes you do.  God made leather car seats for a reason, now get.in.the.pool.

How many opportunities do you get to swim at night?  Especially in The Midwest.

From now on, the statement will not be, "I'll get in if you get in."

From now on, I will proclaim, "I'm getting in.  Who else is with me?"

Needless to say, a swimsuit was found.  A towel was borrowed which left me here.  Staring at the water, breathing in the faint scent of chlorine and feeling completely at peace.

For the first time in a long time, I truly believed that everything- everywhere is eventually going to be o.k.
Source: tumblr.com via Andie on Pinterest




Love and more night swimming,
H.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

The upcoming week is jam packed, and I know I won't have the opportunity to blog.  I debated about what to put up here (as I desperately wanted a "theme").  Call me crazy.

A quote I found on Pinterest has just stayed with me.  I couldn't sleep the other night, and it just came to me.

This week, I am going to post The Best Advice Ever.

Well, not necessarily advice, but just things I've been finding inspiring these days.

This one I am hearting so much.  I almost want a tattoo.  A tattoo, I say.

Source: etsy.com via Holly on Pinterest


     This has been a tough summer.  Not necessarily tough.  Just busy.  It has been hard to relax.  If you have ever lived with an extended period of time not-working, you know time fills up fast, oddly enough.  There are trips to take and family-members to visit.  Closets to clean.  I'm not going to tell you about all my August Anxieties or my excuses or my List o' chores.

     I'm just going to tell you that I'm grateful.  I have time off.  I have time off, and I plan to hug & kiss Lucy Jess more than she has ever been hugged and kissed in her whole life.  I want to stay up late and write and write and do more writing and turn up the music and bake a pie and sew something new and watch movies and eat outside and go to the dog park and take walks.

I have some time off.

I'm grateful.

Love and what I have is enough,
H.

If you are the praying kind, please pray for us this week.  All good things, but we're still going to need it.

Love & I'll tell you later.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Happy Anniversary

Source: None via Holly on Pinterest


I want to wish the happiest of all happy anniversaries to My Guy.  Three Years.  Wow.  I can't even put into words how much I love This Kid and being His Wife so I'm not even going to try.  

I am so very glad I married you.  Forever and Ever Amen.  

Here's to 3 more years times infinity to the 10th power squared.  

Love Always, 
Holls  

Monday, July 11, 2011

Dream Wagging

You Guys.  This is a quick video I took on my Macbook of Scarlett dream-wagging.  She is wagging her tail in her sleep.  Is that not the cutest thing ever?!?!  Seriously. So cute.  What do you think she is dreaming of?  I think in her little doggie brain, she is dreaming, "I LOVE EVERYONE!!!!!!'  A little part of me melted inside.  I'm not even kidding.  

On my screen, it is showing up as two videos.  Not sure the reason, but why mess with a good thing?  
Love and thanks for watching 21 seconds of my adorable dog,
H.   


Thursday, July 7, 2011

Our Future Kiddos Chapter 81

Dear Small, Creative Genius (es),

   I was thinking about you tonight.  Right now, your Father and I are in our Early Days.  I know we will look back at these days, or nights, rather and think things like, "Gosh, we were so young."  Even if it doesn't seem like it right now (Eee Gads, your father is now in his 30's!).

Tonight, I sewed my first skirt. While it looks like something Courtney Love would wear to the Grammy's it is an attempt, nonetheless.  In case you aren't up on your mid-90's Rock Stars (why would you be, really?)  Here is a picture.
While I was showing your father my (ahem) masterpiece, he said, "Here. Have a listen to the song I'm writing."

And it was a good song.  A great song. Even if part of the lyrics included phrases like, ".....and I don't know what goes heeerrrrre......" and "....pre-chorus...I haven't written yeetttt....."

I loved it.  I loved it because it was US being most like ourselves.  Creating.  Persevering. These are simple joys, but they are good.  No matter how they turn out.

And while I want you to grow into your own little being, I hope you'll also want to create along with us.

Love and in desperate need of a seam-ripper,
Mom


Linking up with Casey 

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Can't.

Stop.

Looking.

At.

Pinterest.


Seriously can't stop.

Let's pin together.  (Holly Bierly-Young)

And then we'll both have ridiculously messy kitchens. :)

Love and hamsters eating cheez its on pinterest = really poor time management,
H.

Who can resist?  Really?