Saturday smatterings....

1. “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand."

The wisdom of Henri Nouwen....

In my job, marriage, friendships and family this is what I am working on. Mr. Nouwen always inspires me in his words and writings.

2. Jonathan made me a homemade birthday cake from a box last night and it is still making me happy, as I had it for breakfast and a little more for lunch. It even has sprinkles and is iced perfectly.

3. Funny story about why its good for me work with kids from the week: Woke up with a lovely blemish on my nose, red and inflamed. All day various kids and teens asked me, " What is wrong with your nose, Ms. Heather." The greatest response when I said, "Oh it just a zit that I had when I woke up this morning," kind of reponse, one girl said, "Oh I thought you got your nose pierced!" Ahhh kids, reminders not to take yourself so seriously and to laugh at things that really aren't funny (like facial bumps).

4. Watching food network right now and Giada is making a champagne sangria! Doesn't that sound nice? I have never heard of one but would like to try. Thanks tiny lil' Giada woman.

5. I am starting to plan a real vacation for Jonathan and I. Thinking Costa Rica. Any suggestions? Warm, sunny, tropical and a kinda remote, rustic place to stay is what we are looking for and not too pricey. Help.

Happy Saturday.

Winter Wonderland.

I am okay with winter when it means beautiful snow. I can't help but get really happy and tickled as I am driving around and flakes are falling. Growing up, I saw and played in snow on vacations, but to live day to day life when it snows is still a new adventure. Plus, this is not Michigan or Chicago, where snow is a nightmare. In DC its really not a bother and is more like dancing little flecks spreading joy to people in the world. Or just me. Wish it would stay or dance for me some more tomorrow.

Ice is in the forecast instead. Not as cheery?!

P.S.- The pictures are from our street, the brick building is where we live. "Cute", right? Snow on bare tree branches is my favorite.

Living in the District for Inauguration 2009.

Our 44th President

Freezing and waiting

It was crowded. We were far away but on the mall for this historic event!

The crowds in the city

What a fun weekend to be in DC. While some locals left town, as others "took over the city", I was thrilled to be here and live in the excitement and energy that the crowds brought. Just walking to the gym, like a normal Saturday, Jonathan and I were stopped by an impressive motorcade complete with 12+ cars, vans with secret service officers poking out of the window with large weapons, trucks with spinning satellite dishes on top, and helicopters chopping above. Being in DC, you get used to armored motorcades going by, but this weekend they really stepped them up! Throughout the night, I was awakened by sirens, planes and helicopters ahead. My paranoid self kept saying little prayers, like "This is it" as I heard some large jet noise above me and thinking maybe were were about to get terrorist attacked or something. Well, we survived! No terrorist attack or casualties, made it through the freezing cold and even from being trampled by a crowd, which was actually a possibility trying to leave the national mall after the new President was sworn in.

One of the highlights was the "We are One" Inaugural Celebration Concert which was on Sunday by the Lincoln Memorial. It was a celebrity studded event with musicians (Beyonce, U2, Garth Brooks, John Mellancamp, Usher, Shakira and more) and actors (Tom Hanks, Jack Black, Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, and lots more) who gave moving speeches chronicling the history of our country with quotes from previous presidents and leaders. It was emotional and patriotic. Obama and Biden were there with their families and gave speeched. They broad casted it on HBO and I recommend it, but I'm sure being in the crowd was something hard to capture on television.

We experienced Inauguration Day 20009 with the masses. Our goal was to be on the national mall with a view of the Capital. Done. We were content even though we didn't have tickets or seats, or an actual view of the people on the platform, we did have jumbo trons broadcasting the sound and sights. Plus when you watched the news showing all those "specks" of thousands of people on the mall, we were among them!

Now among the optimism and energy in the crowd, I was angered by every one's reaction as President GW Bush was introduced. Booing, yelling and overall negativity seemed to contradict the "We are One" feeling of anti partisanship and coming together! I get that people don't like Bush, but he was on the way out and deserved the respect of being the President of the United States. Then as his helicopter flew away from the mall, taking him off after the Inauguration was over, everyone was singing, "na na na na hey hey oh goodbye!". I was thinking, "I hope Pres. Bush is opening a nice cold beer as he flew over thinking, "Peace out people!" Although I am excited about a fresh start, I am thankful for the service of any president.

So, if you ever can go to an Inauguration, go! It's a great experience of our freedom to be able to witness the peaceful transfer of power.

Let's pray for the new President and our country during these next years.

Goodbye 2008....

Memories...
Annapolis, MD. Summer 2008.

World Series Game. Philadelphia. October, 2008.

Hiking in Shenandoah with friends.

Our neighborhood.

Capitol. Wow. We really live here.

Lively and Hendricks fam visit us in DC!

Out with Friends in Adams Morgan.

NYC visit for Heather's bday, January, 2008.

Girl's Weekend in the FL panhandle, May 2008. Best friends from High school!

DC Cherry Blossoms.

Our nieces, Ruth Anne and Hannah Kate. Visit to Belle Glade, December 2008.

Dinner with good friends, Atlanta, November 2008.

Las Vegas Anniversary Celebration, September 2008.

Ashley moved to DC! At a Phillies baseball game in the summer.

Lively Fam Beach week. New Symrna Beach, Florida. July, 2008.

Our Lovely Home. Celebrating my dear friend, Amanda's (center), wedding at her bachelorette beach weekend in June.

Mahurin Fam NYC trip to celebrate Ashley's graduation. May 2008.


I don't normally give much attention to New Year's and markings of time such as birthdays and years changing. When I woke up on January 1, 2009, it really didn't feel that different than December 31, 2008, so I don't think I should try to "force" myself to make it seem monumental.

Recognizing the big picture and seeing life more globally is diffifult for me, so I tried to think today about this past year and what is has held.

2008:

-12 months living in DC. A full year of making this area our home and neighborhood.

-Making our condo feel like home with a few renovations and some fresh furniture.

-Turning off the navigation in my car because I know where I am going and drive around a lot.

-A year at my job, meeting and working with probably 30+ kids and families. Growing professionally and my heart being stretched in ways I didn't know possible.

-My social awareness has increased and my political ideals challenged.

-A solid year of marriage, celebrating 2 years in September. Easier than the first year in ways of knowing our "groove", weathering holidays with the other "side", and knowing what to expect in the day to day. Better that you have a foundation and even if something might try to "rock" you, the stability of your partner keeps you safe. Harder in the ways that this is "forever" and that every day together might not be paradise and that one's spouse can be annoying (I think the hardest lesson for me has been the realization that I am actually annoying to him! What, how could my cool self ever be annoying?! I am still in disbelief. Ha.)

-Welcoming my sister to DC in the summer and enjoying time with her as a neighbor and friend. Sharing life as "grown ups" together.

-Vacations skiing in Colorado with my family, Beach time with the Lively fam in the summer, Vegas get away for Jonathan and I in September, a few trips around the Northeast to NYC and Philly and the VA mountains for long weekends, and entertaining friends and family coming to see us in DC.

-New friends and relationships here. Every Tuesday night with ladies for spiritual growth and encouragement, occasional Thursday nights with work friends for "Self Soothing" and fun, meeting some married couple friends to support us in this stage of life, plus keeping in touch with so many good, old friends who are so dear, even though far away.

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It has been a good year. As mentioned before, I have never been so "stable" before in my life with no major change (that I know about) lurking in the near future. While I used to find this to be entrapping and suffocating, I am learning to embrace being present in the here and now. For the first time ever in my life, I don't have an "exit strategy" for my current life, whether that be a move, change in job, relationship, etc, and I am happy about it. Seeing relatives and friends in Florida over the holidays, I could honestly say, I love DC and our life there and don't see us leaving anytime soon (or ever). Of course, I don't control all that happens in life and we will accept whatever God has for us, and I know life can bring surprises, in tragedies and joys, so I pray for continued grace to embrace all that could be.

Now for 2009, some challenges and hopes....

-Growth in my career. I am currently taking grad classes that I need to pursue licensure and hope 2009 holds the key to becoming a licensed professional counselor in Washington, DC. This will lead to great job opportunities and growth. For me, as I grow professionally, this stretches all parts of my personality, since I work with people and systems. The more I know and experience in the field, the more it influence my whole person, in and out of work. I don't compartmentalize myself well.

-Maturity in my marriage. Learning how to be less selfish, more thoughtful, more intentional with our time together and all that God has given us with our finances, resources and time.

-Mentoring project in DC. I have thoughts and desires for creating a mentoring program for kiddos in DC. Basically, I see a lot of kids who need mentors to invest in their lives (waiting lists for 1+ years) and I know a lot of great adults who I think would love to share some of their lives with a child. Now I just have to figure out the logistics of pairing these people together! Anyone with experiences/resources/contacts for non-profit development and mentoring, please let me know. I am prayerful as I explore this conviction and leading in my life to begin such a venture. This will also allow me to continue to invest in my community here in DC.

-Learning how to better hold onto old traditions and then also make new traditions. I had a hard time this past holiday season going through the motions of old family practices which are beginning to feel more foreign and dead. I want to have new traditions with my husband and in our own life. But I hate to hurt feelings or disappoint our loved ones and families. Not sure how to reconcile my wants and needs and all those of everyone else. With the holidays almost a year away, I already feel anxiety thinking about it and I don't think that is what the holidays should be about...Maybe another year will give me some answers.

-Church. I am prayerful that this year will give us direction in our involvement in a church. We both have issues with most churches (not the body of Christ, but the meetings of the institutional church) and not sure what to do, what to think, where to go, if to go, etc.

-Continuing to learn how to be free in Christ but also disciplined and intentional in seeking God and His plan for my life. Learning how to sanctified but not under the law. Being real in my shortcomings and vulnerable with others to reflect my need for God and His greatness in meeting my need.

I have had glimpses of things already ahead in 2009, and have been delightfully reminded of God's faithfulness. I am so easy to doubt and then always surprised (when I shouldn't be) when God is ahead of the game and knows myself and my desires more than me.....May you also be delighted and surprised at all that is ahead for you in 2009, to have joy admist sadness and perspective to be thankful admist the celebrations, that there is a season for everything and our place to be content whatever season life might bring.....and to know that one would not be as good, or bad, without the other to compare it to, and that life's richness comes from a variety of experiences and perspectives. Cheers to 2009!