What a Difference a Day Makes!

We got out for our Christmas trip to TX on time... a few hours after the last flake of a 14 inch snowstorm. Take a good at the difference a day makes!

This is pre-trip to the airport. We couldn't wait for the man who removes snow from our driveway to come by... we had to get to the airport as our plane was saying "on time." So, we both got to shoveling. I'm a terrible shoveler. You wouldn't have been able to predict that our plane would be running on time by the road conditions...no mam.

That night our friend Lara was gracious enough to pick us up and house us so Jeremy's folks didn't have to come to Houston that night only to be back early the next morning for their day full of not-so-much fun at MD Anderson. Here is my great buddy Lara and I eating OUTSIDE (in December!) at a super cute cafe the next morning before meeting up with Jeremy's folks. My Boston skin was soaking up that Vitamin D!

Our Neighborhood Visitor

Here are some pictures of our neighborhood visitor from this past weekend. He was maybe 10 feet outside of our dining room window for a couple hours on Saturday.



This guy was intently watching but wisely decided not to get any closer to that hawk!

Baltimore

Two weekends ago we took a super quick trip down to Baltimore to see Jeremy's parents before his dad's surgery (by super quick, we mean drive Friday night overnight, spend all day Saturday in Baltimore, drive back Sunday... Baltimore is 6 1/2 hrs away). Here are some pictures from the trip:

We stayed in the Fells Point neighborhood of Baltimore, which is right by the water. Apparently, this was the 2nd largest immigration point after Ellis Island back in its day (I listened on the ghost tour)... so quite the history. It was beautiful. We stayed in the Admiral Fell Inn, which is apparently one of the most haunted hotels in America (and stunningly beautiful I might add...made affordable by the Johns Hopkins Medical Rate). Nice. Of course on the ghost tour which went through the Inn, they stopped outside our room to tell of a ghost in our room. I didn't see her.
This is what happens when you sit down after staying up all night the night before:

We did some touring in Fells Point (2 different ghost tours, and some walking), but took the water taxi to other areas of Baltimore that we wanted to see. We toured the only surviving Coast Guard ship from Pearl Harbor, and a WWII submarine. Jeremy and his dad had a great time looking at the engines of both which were open for viewing.


In the background of this next one, you can see the coolest B&N ever... the architecture inside was crazy:

Jeremy, his dad, and his mom outside the submarine. Keep his parents in your prayers!

The torpedo area of the sub:

And finally, a picture as to where you end up when you follow the road sign for the "detour" to avoid "major traffic" through NYC. Do detours to avoid major traffic exist in NYC? I'm pretty sure they don't... It was a good sightseeing venture though.

We took a video as well, but our old computer is having trouble with the movie files from Jeremy's new camera.

Girls Weekend in TX

A couple weeks ago, I few down to DFW for my friend Elissa's wedding and also spent some time with my college girlfriends (or as Jeremy says, "the hens").

Here we are... Don't we look all grown up? Notice everyone but me is wearing long sleeves. I think it was a "chilly" morning...just shy of 70 degrees.

So, my friend Elissa got married at the chapel on TCU campus with the reception in Sundance Square in downtown Ft. Worth. Beautiful wedding, her new husband, Larry, seems perfect for her. Congratulations Elissa and Larry! This is the best picture that I got of them...

And the beautiful cakes made by Larry's sister. If you need a cake decorator in Ft. Worth I recommend her!


And my friend Kristen who I hadn't seen since before my wedding. We are really smiley in this picture because her husband, Mike, is really funny...similar personality to Jeremy.

And finally Elissa and I! KXA Big and Little!

Fall Foliage Around Brighton/Brookline

We didn't get up to NH or VT this year to do any leaf peeping...honestly, Jeremy didn't want to go, he felt that the roads would be too crowded given that the foliage was supposed to be "very good" this year. Alas, we did take some pictures around our area of town. Many of these were taken on Halloween, so the foliage is considered a bit "past peak," but still beautiful! Here goes:



This house is on the road on which we frequently walk the dogs (just up the street from where we live) it is my favorite...

Walking through leaf piles...

Look at the size of these leaves!


The next two photos are from just a couple streets away from our own (again on the dog walking route). Breaks between houses and trees produce views of Harvard and the Cambridge area.


A posting of our Halloween costumes to come soon.

Franconia Notch

Jeremy and his buddy Nick went hiking last weekend in Franconia Notch in NH. From what I've been told, it was a nine mile hike... many parts which included hiking and climbing over boulders. So, we are sharing these as it is humerous, shocking, and sad to note the temperature difference from the beginning of the hike to the summit. And the pictures are beautiful as well! Enjoy.
Notice the clothing at the outset of the hike...

And then, the layering began...

This is the best that Jeremy could do to document the wind.

Whoa! Frost. 6" or so on this bush.

Beauty!




Enjoying a snack!

The Beard

In case you didn't notice from the newer picture that is now headlining our blog, Jeremy has been sporting a beard since spring of this year. Here is one from the Roger's wedding in July:

Delayed Post-July 3&4, 2009

Well, we finally got the summer's worth of pictures uploaded onto our computer... sadly slow, I realize. So, I'll try to catch up the masses on what is worth seeing pictorially (is that a word?)

Folks, this year Neil Diamond was in town. Great if you are my folks coming to town, which they were in town as well as an aunt, uncle, and cousins from my dad's side of the family. It was good to catch up with extended family whom I haven't seen since the wedding and haven't spent real time with since 2004. And they got to know Jeremy and he them as well, so that was nice. A great time had by all. And, did I mention Neil was in town? Oh, my, I've never seen my mom act in such a manner. If you remember from past July 3/4 blogs, we go on the 3rd to hear the dress rehearsal for the performer... it is free and a bit less crowded than the 4th (by a bit less... there are 10,000 or so there compared with 1/2 million or more as is the case on the 4th). Here was our seating on the 3rd in the Hatchshell:

And here is one so that you can gain an understanding of the position in which my mom was found when Neil was on stage (with binoculars stuck to face singing):

And then here are some from the 4th. Here is a view from our seating on the Memorial Dr. side of the river... we were east of the main MIT building, but still in front of MIT campus...

And then one of the crew...

And then as the sun is setting.

Another view... this one back towards the financial district... if you look closely you can see Beacon Hill and the State House. We could watch people on their rooftop balconies from Jeremy's binoculars.

P.S. The fireworks were amazing this year. Best we've seen since being here!

The End of the Season and then some...

Well, we survived the month-o-visitors and have spent a couple weeks in hibernation/enjoying each other/enjoying what is left of a Boston summer.

Our softball team has finished its season... 0-# of games played. But, we had lots of fun. To recap, Jeremy and I (along with TJ, Nick, and Kelly) joined a softball team from Trisha's workplace. As most of the team works in a medical lab doing medical research, our name was the Biohazards. Jeremy reports that I've improved at throwing... but that is about the only area of improvement. He, of course, was outstanding. Anyhow, the group apparently enjoys playing enough that they have joined an Ultimate Frisbee league for the Fall... Jeremy is playing and I'm sitting this one out (his co-worker, Paul, is playing in my stead). Given the amount of running involved in ultimate (and the fact that Jeremy reports my running style to be similar to that of a dinosaur... and not a fast one), I feel better suited as the one bringing snacks and gatorade to the players. Here is a picture of the softball team:


My job continues to go well. The hurt and tragedy that I deal with on a daily basis is unimaginable to most... but if you know me well, you know that for some reason, I feel drawn to work in the midst of these types of settings. Until the opportunity presented itself, I hadn't really seen myself where I am... with crisis/acute trauma work becoming a skill which I hone into and become specialized in, but alas... I'm on the road. If you want to know more, you'll have to call, email, or otherwise ask directly as sometimes it is easier to not talk about what I do as I'm not sure who is open to hearing about the issues/situations with which I work.

God has been so good in his provision! His provision is for my good regardless, however, we really find that we are overtaken by his goodness to us right now. I mean, why us? Why should he provide so perfectly for us? We are so excited about the weeks and months and years to come as his plan for us here in the city and in ministry continue to unfold.

Lately I've been thinking a bit about bringing a renewed sense of discipline into my life. Almost as if I'm being called to a new level of discipline in new areas. This has all been brought on by Daniel 10:10-12, where, after receiving a terribly frightening vision, an angel appears to Daniel, and thus verse 12 comes into play... I've thought a good bit about the lifetime of discipline and steadfastness in a counter-culture (Babylon for Daniel... here for me... somewhere else for you). Just thinking about the continual action of Daniel setting his heart... the ongoing discipline required. Isn't it interesting how action follows the tune of our hearts? Some mornings I unintentionally set my heart on myself (which by lack of intention, make it intentionally, unintentional)... so prideful...but see it takes setting our hearts...

You see I've thought about this before, but more in the context of the verse in Colossians 3 and "setting my heart on things above"... but something about the context under which Daniel did this, and the example of Daniel's life has made this principle a fresh pursuit for me. Just thought I'd share.

I'll try to update more often and/or get pictures up of our current diggs, the summer, my mom with binoculars watching Neil Diamond, etc.

Masterfully

Yes, way behind here, but thought we'd share a picture from my graduation. And, yes, it was cold enough on May 18 for the winter coat. Jeremy checked the temp during graduation and it was 46 degrees. Not cold for Boston, but very cold for mid-May. And, the ceremony was outdoors. :O)