This and That

 Fall has finally come and after the summer that we had, I'm happy to see fall come.  As I was writing the monthly blog about Amy (on our other blog), I was reading through my journal and it was filled with frustration and exhaustion.  It's been a long month but I pulled out all the fall decorations and have decided that I'm going to embrace the new season.

Leo started preschool at a traditional program.  I've been nervous about whether or not we picked the right class but he has been so happy there.  We have a new confident, independent guy.

I've been working on the torch a bit lately.  There have been some big breakthroughs this summer in my work and I am finally beginning to see my voice come out in glass.  I've made some of my finest work this summer and feel like I have really progressed.  I feel like I'm finally ready to open up an Etsy shop and have been taking the steps to get it together.  It will probably be a few months to get things ready but I'm excited. 

 

 

Last Saturday, I spent the morning at the Workhouse participating in an event for Beads of Courage, a program that helps children with serious illnesses to cope.  I felt a comradery with my fellow artists as we created kid friendly beads.  I made sheep.   

Heber finally finished up his big project at work that had him working all the evenings and weekends.  It's been nice to have him home earlier.  Like I said, it's been a long month. 

I listened to a great talk this week about living intentionally.  You can find it here.  Here is one quote that I thought was exceptionally good.  I want to know the why and to become who I want to be. 

"Living with real intent means understanding the “why” and being aware of the motives behind your actions. Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Ponder how you spend your time, and ask yourself regularly, “Why?” This will help you develop the ability to see beyond the moment. It’s far better to look ahead and ask yourself, “Why would I do that?” than to look back and say, “Why, oh, why did I do that?”"

 The whole last week I have been sick.  I thought that the sick season wasn't supposed to start for a few more weeks but I caught a bad cold.  I just hate being sick, I like having plans and getting out and doing things but I had to hold back and rest all week.  To celebrate me finally getting better, we went out to the Colonial Market at Mount Vernon.  It was fun to see the period costumes and wares.  I enjoyed chatting with the people who were selling at the market.  I wonder what life would be like to travel all over and set up shop for a day or two.  My favorite part was the live music.  There were several wandering musicians.  I even heard a tune from my Irish dancing days that made me want to break out leaping, but I held back. 

We passed a booth that was cutting silhouettes.  I've always wanted to get one done and had Amy sit right up and have her profile cut.  It was a neat little memory that I will hang up in her room.  It reminded me of when my family and I sat for one in Disney World. 

In the silhouette booth

Amy and Leo liked wandering around.  I swear that Amy would be content with a pile of rocks.  She collects them in her hands and pockets everywhere we go.  Leo talked Heber into buying two wood pistols and has been "pteew, ptewing" all day.

What life really looks like, Leo not wanting to have a picture taken.

Leo took this one. 

So, that's some of the latest around here.  I hope there's still some readers out there.  I've been few and far between in posts.  The thing about it though, I like to blog, it helps me think and to remember our life. 

Celebrating Ten Years

Heber and I celebrated our tenth anniversary last week.  Ten just seems like such a big number.  People who've been married for ten years are old, right?  And yet, here we are.

I remember back to getting engaged.  We were so young but knew we were right for each other.    Who you marry determines the rest of your life, pretty much.  What your house is like, what your kids are like, where you live, even how happy you are.  Yes, I said it.  If you are unhappy in your most important relationship it's a rough road. 

In the weeks leading up to the date, there have been a series of big things that have reminded me even more of why we are together (because it is a choice to be happy together).  So, you all heard about the car accident a few weeks back.  For several days after the wreck, I was just so thankful that he was alive and ok.  So many things could have gone wrong and it made me think of what I would do without him, and I'm not sure I could do it.

A month ago my hard drive crashed.  It was pretty sad.  Heber spent three weeks putting the pieces back together.  He asked around for some software and worked on my computer night after night.  Together we watched the numbers of recovered data slowly (so agonizingly slow) climb.  He tried even after I lost hope it ever recovering anything until everything was recovered.  Three weeks to the day of the crash, all of the data was recovered.  He spent every free moment trying to bring things back together for me and that is just the type of person that he is.

We celebrated the day by planning a trip.  Ten seems momentus enough to get out on a vacation.  Especially after we spent our fifth anniversary in Istanbul.
 
So, we are heading out to the beach in October.  We thought and thought about where we'd like to go and the only place I really wanted to be was at the beach.  I wanted to listen to the water and just be for a few days.  I love a good busy, sightseeing vacation but at this moment in my life, I know that I need a true relaxing vacation.  My mom is heading over to watch the kids and I get the double bonus of having a few days to hang out with my mom, it's going to be great!

To mark the day, we went out to dinner at Trummers on Main in Clifton.  The restaurant was completely empty for half of our meal and felt like we'd rented the whole thing for us.  I guess most people don't go out to eat at 5:00 on Saturdays. 

 

 

I can't believe that we are here at 10 years and yet, it seems like I've known him forever.  Happy 10 years!