...and many more.

Happy Birthday to me! Yes, today's my birthday, and it's been wonderful so far. 80F degrees here today, and bright and sunny. And Fall has even given us some color on the trees- to my great delight! Joseph awoke me this morning with a sweet, and lovely birthday card. He gave me a birthday gift then at lunch- a new purse that I'd been eyeing! Love it! And tonight, we're going to Rockfish, one of my favorite local restaurants (it's a seafood grill). After dinner, we're going to Starbucks to get a Maple Macchiato-yummy, and we're finishing the evening at home watching my favorite movie, Out of Africa.

This past Friday night we got together with our local friends for a scavenger hunt, after which Joseph surprised me with a great ice cream cake he'd had decorated. It was a lot of fun. The picture on the cake is a picture of me when I was a baby, and one of Joseph's favorites.

Also this weekend, we went to some costume parties, where I was dressed as a Pin-Up Girl, and Joseph was dressed as an Aircraft Carrier.

It's been a great weekend and birthday, and I'm so very blessed by those in my life. Thank you all!

The Christmas Song

Yes, that's right. Today was the day I began listening to Christmas music in 2006. I think it was the high winds roaring during the night last night, and the new red wool slippers I got for my birthday that I'm wearing this morning that got me in the mood. But it's official, Nat's on the stereo singing... (chestnuts roasting on an open fire) and it's so sweet to my ears. I love this music! and I love the season of Fall, and the anticipation of Christmas. Happy listening, everyone!

Ruidoso!

Joseph and I escaped to Ruidoso last weekend for a night and a day- and how wonderful! We had such a good time together. We left Friday afternoon and started the drive West. I'm still amazed by the landscape here. We drove through these incredibly small towns surrounded for miles by cotton fields. Got to see them harvesting the cotton, and then compressing it into bales in the hopper. I've never seen a cotton bale before- it's weird, not like a hay bale, it's giant! more like 4 foot high, and 6.5 feet long.

Once we passed into New Mexico, it continues to stay very flat. I was told before I came down here, that people moving out of West Texas to hillier landscaped areas, often describe a claustrophobic feeling, because they can't see for miles in any direction anymore. I'm starting to understand that a little more. I noticed both Joseph and I looking as far as we could while driving, just because you could see such long distances away. Then, we came through the caprock, and dropped into this completely barren valley, where the only thing civilized nearby was the road in front of you. It's the classic scene from movies depicting the "cross-country road trip". And there directly in front of us- way in the distance- was a giant mountain rising up out of nowhere. It was cool. Kinda exciting to think I live here now, and there's such a wide variety of landscapes, as opposed to the eastern landscapes I'm accustomed to. We eventually reached that mountain, and the range it was a part of, which is what landed us in Ruidoso. And it was worth the drive. Snow-capped mountains. It's thrilling every time. It reminded me of the excitement I had when going to the Sierra Nevadas with my family and cousins in Washington.


Joseph and I spent the night at the Swiss Chalet Inn (caught it just before the 1.6 million dollar renovation- a real treat), and then had breakfast in the morning at the Lincoln County Grill, next to an old-time stove, heating the dining room. It felt so warm and cozy compared to the chill in the air outside. We spent the morning poking around some great little shops, and then had lunch at Le Bistro, which was quite good. I think it's funny that there's a French bistro in the middle of Ruidoso, which is otherwise cowboy and western. We had a delicious french onion soup, and salad with herb vinaigrette. In the afternoon, we hiked up to a ridge recommended by one of the locals, and got some great views of that snow-capped mountain. It was my first experience with high-altitude "thin air" like they describe in the Backpacking magazine. I was amazed at how winded I was after just short distances. The trail itself was not any harder than those I'm accustomed to back East, but I just couldn't keep my breath. Weird. We came back down the mountain for some dinner at K-Bob's Steakhouse, and then headed back to Lubbock.

My favorite part of the weekend was laughing with my best friend, and enjoying his company. I love discovering new things with him, and the way he looks at me when he knows I'm enjoying the moment. I'm so fortunate to be with someone who truly loves seeing me happy. You're the best Joseph! I love you so much.

Soundtrack of Memories

Last week I left on Thursday morning at 6:30 for Amarillo to train a client on our software. I stopped to fill-up at the gas station, and then swung into Starbucks to get a coffee for the road. (By the way, while I was there I noticed that they have a Maple Macchiato, which I can tell you right now is going to be in my hands on October 30th as my own little "Happy Birthday" to me!) I set off with low expectations of the day, but put in my new Chris Rice CD "Short Term Memories" to pass the time. I was quite pleasantly surprised.

I was amazed at how the music lifted my spirit, and allowed me to enjoy my time on the road. With each song, was a new memory of time spent with friends enjoying the music. Making apple pie at Peggy Kretz's house for the first Fall Break. Driving to Louisville on a school night for a Chris Rice concert. Sitting in Erin's dining room working on some "craft" at Girls Weekend. Of course, all of those memories bring to mind other times where CR wasn't the soundtrack at the moment, but fun was had nonetheless. I started really appreciating the history that's shared with good friends, and being able to look back and see how they stood by you in hard times, and in celebrations, and just the everyday- like when Barry Manilow comes on the radio on the way to work in the morning. :)

Then, as if I wasn't already enjoying the moments, I began thinking about all the other people in my life that I care about, and miss seeing as often. I began daydreaming about what we'd do if we could see each other next weekend, or next summer, and what music we'd listen to, and drinking coffee together, or tea (for Melanie).

One of the songs on this CD is "Smile", which is about the songwriter's longing to be in heaven, and with his Lord. I can relate to that longing, and each time I listen to the song, I get a swell in my throat thinking about my true home in heaven, and what perfection that will be. It's easy to forget in the everyday of life, that we are foreigners passing through this place. This song reminds me of the relief that will be when we don't have to worry about the everyday, or the ways in which we've been hurt in this life. I've experienced some things that leave that deep bruise on your memory of how painful the moment was. And each time that memory bumps against something related, it smarts. I truly get weary of feeling that bruise, and wish that it could just always be avoided, though that's not a possibility in this life. One day, when He comes back for us, I will be overwhelmed with His glory and goodness, and will no longer remember the pain of those bruises, or the cares of this world. We'll go to a better place... what a future!

This makes me think about the present a little though, and how we handle pain here. I'm learning that even though there can be deep hurts committed against you, that you think will never pass, they are softened as you experience joy in other things. As the joy increases, the pain, and memory of it, decrease. What a small glimpse of what He must have in store for us. Can't wait!

Of course, the words of this song also made me think of these good friends and the desire to see them again.

"Smile"

How far are You?How close am I?
I know Your words are true when I don’t feel them inside
Still I believe You’ll never leave
So where are You now?

You’re all I haveYou’re all I’ve known
Your breath is breathing in my soul
Still I am gasping, aching, asking,
Where are you now?

‘Cause I just want to be with You
I just want this waiting to be over
And it helps to know the Day is getting closer
And it helps to know the day is getting closer
But every minute takes an hour
Every inch feels like a mile
Till I won’t have to imagine
And I finally get to see You smile!

I dream about Your promise to return
And I wake up hangin’ on Your every word
I just want to be with You
For now my feet are planted here on earth

My journey’s here, but my heart is There
So I dream and wait, and keep the faith,
while You prepare our destiny,
till You come back for me
Oh, please make it soon!

‘Cause I just want to be with You
I just want this waiting to be over
And it helps to know the Day is getting closer
And it helps to know the day is getting closer
But every minute takes an hour
Every inch feels like a mile
Till I won’t have to imagine
And I finally get to see You smile!

Copyright 2002 Clumsy Fly Music (ASCAP)

The Doorbell

Well, it continues... that is my terrible annoying sleep habits. I have a habit of talking in my sleep, and nightmares. Last night, my "nightmare" was that I was pulled over on Valley Rd back in Wayne county for going 80 in a 55mph zone on the big curve in front of Shreve swamp. The worst part was that it was $816! It's strange to me that I can remember the amount of the ticket, and even weirder, that it was a hand-written amount. (Generally my "eyes" don't focus on such details during my dreams.) What's funnier is that was my "nightmare". Seriously, it was scary to me, and I awoke in a sweat to tell Joe. Not long after that, I woke him up again to tell him that the doorbell had rung- twice. As you can imagine, he doesn't give my comments much credibility when they occur between 1am and 5am, and I kinda don't blame him. So, he told me to go back to sleep, and that no one had rung the doorbell. Whatever.

Some of you might know all this about me... that I come up with ridiculuous stories during the night, and start talking as if it was all real. Most of the time, it takes me a sentence or two to realize I'm talking in my sleep. I have no idea why I'm like this, or why my dreams are so very vivid to me. So... I started looking into the science of sleep today, since I clearly need help, and apparently am not normal in this area. What I found is that REM sleep is the deepest, and it's where the majority of dreams occur. We have a better, vivid memory of dreams that occurred in that state, than what is dreamed in Stages 1-3. I take all that to mean, that I must sleep in the REM state most often, which I kind of find hard to believe, because these nutty dreams of mine do not leave me feeling rested. They say that these dreams are ways that my psyche helps me cope/process the events in my life. Which of course leads me to question why the heck am I getting speeding tickets in a town I don't live in, and why are they so freaking expensive?!

Part of me also thinks that this pysche coping stuff is crap because I have also awakened Joe in the middle of the night to tell him there was a sweet little baby bunny sleeping between our pillows, and I swear to you, I could see it as if it were really there. I just don't see anything to be learned from that dream, or great revelations in baby bunnies. But put yourself in Joe's shoes, or sheets in this instance, he's gotta be convinced I'm completely nuts, and thankfully I keep the crazy behavior limited to the early morning hours when he's the only audience.

Well, that's all for now... I've gotta go answer the door. Somewhere.

It's October!!

Ok- so I realize I'm a few days behind in that announcement, but it still bears saying. October is my absolute favorite month! And here's a few reasons why...

• The leaves begin to change to bright, invigorating colors.
• The weather is cool enough to wear hooded sweatshirts with no coat... and since one of my favorite outfits is jeans and a hooded sweatshirt- then, well, it's just awesome.
• Sweetest Day is in October. This is a real holiday, and I celebrate it, regardless of what others think. Click here for the history.
• It is appropriate to start using pumpkin in the menu on a regular basis.
• Starbuck's brings back the Gingerbread Latte- who doesn't love that?!
• I don't have to worry about my pale skin not being the sought-after bronze color so popular during the summer months. (Let's be honest, it's never the sought-after bronze color. I pretty much just put up with shorts weather, while waiting for fall when I can put pants on again.)
• My birthday is in October. (30 this year! Agh!)
• October begins the hayride and corn maze season.
• Big yellow harvest moons.
• I can begin listening to Christmas music occasionally while my husband is out of the house. Bring it on, Nat King Cole!
• Time to get out the cozy fall decorations.
• Great cool weather for camping, and camp fires.
• Time to start using the fireplace.
• I can start cooking all my favorite fall recipes, like stews, and soup, and pecan and pumpkin pie.

Well, that's not exhaustive, but then I want you to come back and read other posts in the future, instead of being convinced I'm a total whacko. Erin, I'm sure you could add a few there too.

Oh, and one more... it's even closer to my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. (can you tell I like to cook and eat?!)

Tree Hugger...

This weekend was full and happy. We had some new friends over on Friday night for Peggy Kretz's Stuffed Shells- quite tasty! That's a recipe that never disappoints. Spent the evening eating, talking, laughing, and sharing stories. Great times.

Then, on Saturday, we went with Paul and Suzanne to Lowe's for some great end-of-season sales on trees! They bought some and so did we. The great part was that we all pitched in to help with the planting, which improved both of our landscapes. Later that night, we got together for a movie, and more good times.

Joseph and I spent Sunday working on getting the last tree planted, and a few other shrubs placed in the front beds. It's really starting to look more established around here, and not like we moved in yesterday. I continued working on my re-upholstery project. I'm making progress, and nearly have all the old covering removed. Soon will come the hard part of stapling the new pieces in place. I'm a little nervous about that.

I learned more about being married this weekend too. More communication about what our roles will be in this marriage. It's natural to bring with you an expectation of what your role will be in household activities based on what roles your parents played in their marriage. The tricky thing is deciding together how it will be in your own marriage. Well, no it's not really tricky, it just needs adequate attention. As long as it's discussed openly then there's no problem. Problem enters when you begin the activity with your own separate expectations of what the other is responsible for. The real attractive part about marriage is after discussing it, you reach a mutual agreement about what you want it to be like for your relationship. It's like deciding how you want to develop your own partnership. Walter Wangerin, Jr. describes this in his book, "As for Me and My House". He describes it as almost a third person in your marriage... you, your spouse, and "the relationship". The two of you then choose to nuture "the relationship", and can easily lay aside your own preferences for the betterment of the relationship. It removes the he wants/she wants struggle, and focuses the attention on what the relationship needs.

All that said, I'm happy with my life, and my marriage, and ready to start the new week.