Monday, April 27, 2009

old well white

Our week has been fairly eventful, with a weekend of events at Lindsay's work and Brian starting a new evening job working as an umpire. So that means he gets to hang out on a softball fields, wear a hat to "work," and yell "yooooouuurreeee OUT of there!!" with a serious arm pump. I mean, how much more fun can you have in a night?

Lindsay got to meet Sandy, the wife of the couple that is letting us stay at their house in Chicago. It was so great to spend some time with her and share what a blessing their generosity has been. We can't wait to get up there and hope they will have a safe and wonderful month of travels!

The best part of the week was ending Sunday evening with a dinner at Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill. This restaurant has such awesome memories for us, from some of our first dates, to Lindsay's "getting into UNC grad school" party, to Katelyn's 21st birthday, to our celebration dinner when we bought our first house. We got to show some new friends around Chapel Hill and enjoy a beautiful evening out on the patio.

There ain't no doubt it no ones mind
That loves the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe the sky's on fire,
I'm dyin' ain't I
Gone to Carolina in my mind
~James Taylor

Monday, April 20, 2009

there's no place like home

God amazes me sometimes. Just when I think I can't even imagine how all these details are going to work out, they do!

We have been a little concerned about where we were going to stay when we go to Chicago in June. Mainly because we had no place to stay. And as much as I love the range of recline on my car seat, my curly hair will just not deal without a plug for the diffuser. It kind of ends up revolting on me.

And who wouldn't want those cool kids to stay at their house for 3 weeks? Okay, so actually the side ponytail is a nod to the 80's birthday party we went to this week for our friend Casey, but you get the drift.

Anyhoo, we had created a flyer to send around to different churches in the Chicago area hoping that someone might need a housesitter during that time if they were on summer vacation. And then, we got the most awesome email! Our flyer ended up being emailed out on the parents' listserv at a Christian school in Chicago. And one of the moms at the school happens to have parents who live in Greensboro, NC. Who happen to have a condo in Chicago they keep to visit their grandkids. Which happens to be open. And they happen to want to let complete strangers stay there! AMAZING!

So we now have a place to stay and will no longer be roaming the streets of Chicago looking for Aussie Sprunch Spray and open outlets for our hair dryer. We are also excited that Lindsay gets to meet Al and Sandy (the amazingly generous couple) this week since they live so close to us.

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
~Henry Van Dyke

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

bunny muffins

We love holidays at our house. They are such an awesome time to celebrate the blessings in your life. And Easter is one of our favorites. Clearly we love celebrating Jesus dying for our sins. And awesome music in church. And cute dresses for little girls. But it also means...Easter baskets and bunny muffins!

Bunny Muffins: Bake blueberry muffins. Cut out adorable bunny ears with pink construction paper. Insert into the top of muffins. Serve next to an Easter basket full of candy, regardless of what age your children are (you never get too old for chocolate bunnies and Peeps).

And this year was even better because my sister and her husband Peter were visiting from Florida. We love having our whole family together because no one else appreciates a random punch in the arm and a good Wedding Crashers reference like these kids...

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail. Hippity hoppity. Happy Easter Day!