"It always rains on tents." -Dave Berry

On the Merrimac Ferry

This past weekend, Andy and I celebrated acknowledged the anniversary of our engagement at Devil's Lake State Park.  (Andy says we only get to "celebrate" one anniversary so I wedding!)  We do this trip every year and it has become a tradition for us. The trip started when a friend of mine  decided to do the Devil's Triathlon.  The second year that Andy came along, he popped the question.  The two of us had gone hiking on the bluffs around the lake.  It was a beautiful, sunny day in September and I was completely caught by surprised. I remember every moment and love that he turned an ordinary day into an unforgettable memory. 

This year, we camped with old friends and a couple new friends.  It was nice to get some distance from our busy lives and be able to relax.  We even made the food simple so that it did not take away from enjoying the weekend.  Friday night we did a chili dump, which was perfect for the cool, crisp evening we had.  Saturday morning Andy and I had Campurritos which I prepped at home so all we had to do was warm them over the fire.  They were so easy and delicious.  Lunch consisted on items made in pudgy pie irons and included anything from Rubens to pizza to grilled cheese, delicious!

Our big meal was on Saturday night, which was our first attempt at a fish boil.  (I use the term "our" loosely since I just provided the rye bread)The guys decided to do a burn off instead of skimming the gunk off the top.  This involves pouring kerosene on the fire and allowing the gunk to boil over into the fire.  The flames shot up MUCH higher than I had anticipated!  I wish I had a picture or video but it turns out that I am iPhone impaired and I only managed to get before and after the flames. :(. We had never had a fish boil and it was delicious!  Even Andy liked it and he is a tough critic when it comes to eating boiled foods.

This year we visited Parfrey's Glenn instead of hiking the bluffs.  It was a very different hike from the bluffs and we were lucky that the water level was low so we could make it all the way to the small waterfall.  There is something about being surrounded by such amazing beauty and incredible natural formations that really makes you stand in awe of what God has created.  It was a great reminder to slow down and remember that God is capable of amazing things.  He has the control and we just need the trust.

Late Saturday evening it started raining and continued through the night.   We woke up to a giant mud/water puddle covering most of our campsite and two of our friends sleeping in their car because water had pooled in their tent.  We decided it was best to just pack up and grab breakfast on the way home.  We ended up eating at the Broadway Diner in Baraboo.  If you are ever out that way, I would highly recommend it!  The food was amazing and reasonably priced!  

Broadway Joe at The Broadway Diner

All in all, it was just what we needed and I was home, showered, and in my warm pjs in time to watch the second half of the Packer game.  

A Few Back to School Ramblings

Wow! It has been 3 weeks since school started and it has been a whirlwind! I am loving my class, my coworkers, and the fact that it is starting to feel like fall.  Though to be honest, school has definitely been sucking up the majority of my free time.  Luckily, I get to take a relaxing break this weekend and spend some time with my hubby and some friends.  Needless to say, I CAN 'T WAIT!!

A few  things I have realized over the past couple of weeks:

1) I don't mind getting up early again, but it is an adjustment after the last 2 months.  Especially because I have such a tough time getting up.  It's not that I am not a morning person, it's that I am a don't-want-to-get-out-of-bed person. Once I am up I'm fine.  It's getting up that's the problem.  It is always a little bit of a shock to my system to have to get up each morning and go to work. I know, I know, that is what most non-teachers do all the time so I shouldn't be complaining :) 

2) I might be ready for back to school clothes and shoes, but my feet are not!  After being barefoot or in flip flops for the past 2 months, my feet are not loving my high heels.  They are taking longer to adjust then I am!  Luckily, no one seems to notice my change to sandals mid-way through the day.  

3) Eating well and eating clean is A LOT tougher when you have less time.  It is a struggle to avoid convince food when you have worked all day and still have errands to run and a home to clean.  The extra time it takes to plan and read labels seems to be an eternity when you spend all day answering the repeated questioning of 7 year olds.  

Overall, it has been great and I am excited for the year ahead.  I am always worn out the first couple of weeks and I know I will get in the groove (and my feet will get used to my work shoes)!  

One Weekend:Topped with Whip Cream

We have had very few weekends this summer (if any) that were not full of activities.  This weekend was no exception.  On Saturday night we went to the Hartland Street Dance to listen to The Boogie Men with some good friends.  Right as we were heading down it started raining and I thought our evening might come to a fast end.  But the rain subsided and we were able to enjoy the rest of our evening.  It was fun running into our friends and acquaintances.  And nothing beats being outside on, what turned out to be, a lovely summer evening.  

Andy and Izzy

On Sunday, Andy and I were able to go out for a relaxing breakfast at Tommy & Di's Rustic Inn.  As always, the food was DELICIOUS and it was a nice start to another beautiful day. We made sure to squeeze in some time with Andy's family to celebrate his uncle's 50th birthday. Great food was in abundance, conversations were plentiful, and there was chocolate cake to top it all off.  One thing I have learned in the last five years is that it is never boring when we are around Andy's family.  Yesterday was no exception.  The day wouldn't have been complete without some whip cream on Andy's head. Luckily Hunter and Marvin were around to help clean it up!

Hunter enjoying some whip cream!

I am trying not to think about the fact that August is just around the corner and that school will be starting in just a few weeks.  We still have a few jam packed weekends before I am officially back to work.  For right now, I am trying to just live in the moment, which for a planner like me, is no easy task! 

TGE

This past weekend I spent four hilarious, responsibility-free days with 4 of my favorite girls.  It was our annual Great Escape and I look forward to it every year.  Before I fill you in on our awesome weekend, let me give you a little background on The Great Escape.    

History of The Great Escape
We started The Great Escape (TGE) in 2011 after I read a magazine article about a group of women who promised to get together once a year no matter where they were in their lives.  When I read the article, I just KNEW it was something my college girlfriends and I needed to do.  We had been friends for years, lived together, partied together, helped each other through break-ups, stood up in each others' weddings, basically been through the good and the bad together.  Our lives had already started to take us in different directions.  I was back in Milwaukee, Kelli was in Iowa, but it was more than just physical proximity.  We were getting married, having babies, changing jobs, etc.  We were moving down life's path and I didn't want us to get separated.  I sent an email explaining my plan and they all agreed.  

TGE 2011 - Lodi, WI

How It Works

Here's how it works:  each year, one person in the group is designated as "The Planner", that responsibility rotates until everyone has had a turn, and then it starts over.  The entire group settles on a per person budget and a long, four day weekend that works for everyone.  Then "The Planner" is left to decide and arrange the rest - where we go, where we stay, what we do, and what we eat- which has to be completely covered by the budget.  The "Non-planners" stay in the dark until a few days before the trip and the secret location is revealed.  We have the planner send the location, directions, menu, and a CD of songs by mail to each of us. Also, we usually have a theme that leads to a small gift (flip-flops, sunglasses, etc.) that we receive on the trip.  This then becomes a yearly get together.  It works for everyone, no matter what stage of life you are in.  Married, pregnant, single, going to school, working, etc, we could all make this get together a priority to give us time to reconnect and strengthen our friendship with one another. 

TGE 2012 - New Lisbon, WI

TGE 2013

This year we rented a house in Galena, IL.  With-in 15 minutes of arriving, I was laughing so hard that tears were forming in the corner of my eyes.  I instantly remembered why we had all become friends in the first place and why we make time to do this each year.  The rest of the weekend was filled with laughter, food, wine, and relaxation.  After arriving on Thursday, we claimed bedrooms and then took our annual photo. Dinner was prepared, wine was opened, and the talking, dancing, and laughing was non-stop.

Friday was filled with some time by the pool and then shopping in downtown Galena.  There were so many cute shops, but we loved Poopsies and The Galena Canning Company.  We were pretty tired out after a long day of sun, so we had a low key evening watching Pitch Perfect (which surprisingly Sara and I had still not seen...acacuse me!) 

Saturday was more time by the pool and then some rowdy game playing.  I think that may be my favorite part of our girls weekends because it usually leads to some very funny stories.  On Sunday we packed up and headed home, which was, as always, bittersweet.  These girls are defiantly like family to me and it is always hard to leave when the weekend is over.  I am glad that we put aside this time for each other since it is usually the only time that ALL of us are together throughout the year.  If you don't do something like this with your girlfriends, I recommend you start!

TGE 2013 - Galena, IL

  

Happily Ever After...

Last Week A and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary.  I spent some time reflecting on our marriage, and though it may not be a fairy tale ending, in many ways it is even better.  We are growing as a couple and learning how to make our life together.  Through this, I have already learned a few important marriage lessons and can only imagine what wisdom I will obtain over the years to come.  For now, I thought I would share the few reflections I have learned this last year.

Never give up on each other: I have a terrible tendency to want to run away from a fight.  When things get too intense, too personal, my instinct is "flight" not fight.  I want to get away from the "danger".  There have been times that I have "left" A, walked outside to get some air, gone to run an errand, tried to find some space in the midst of an argument   In all of those times, he has never given up on me.  He is always waiting when I return.  He seems to understand that I need some space from the fight, not from us, and he never gives up on me.

Choose what is truly important:  A and I have different visions of our life.  We see things differently, we like different things, and we prioritize differently.  In just the last few months, I have come to realize that we can disagree.  That there are some things worth the extra discussion, and some things that just aren't.  I am learning when to fight about  discuss things and when it will be okay if we are not on the same page.  I am also learning that I don't need to always be right (hopefully he doesn't read this!)

Don't take things too personally: This has probably been the toughest lesson for me.  When A says he doesn't like dinner or that the apartment is messy, I immediately get defensive.  I hear that he doesn't like the dinner I made, or that I am not cleaning good enough.  I am learning to let it go and that it is not about me.  He is entitled to have his opinion, just as I am entitled to mine.

Communication: This is an ongoing struggle for us.  At times we take each other for granted, forgetting to tell each other things that at the time don't seem important.   I think it's the small things that help keep us connected to the other person.  I am sure that at times A may not want to share something with me because I am so very opinionated,  but I am working on that too.  Together, we will work on finding a balance that works for us.

I am so blessed to be married to someone who loves and supports me through everything.  I am thankful everyday for A and can't wait to see what the next year brings!

What a Difference a Date Makes

A and I see each other every day.  We even talk every day.  Sometimes though, we forget to be with each other.  As I am sure it is with many relationships, we get so caught up in the goings-on of life that we forget to just enjoy our time.  A and I have been having a lot of money discussions and that usually leds to some tension.  Throw in a busy week for A and a nonstop weekend for me, and you have some stress that sneaks in.

On Sunday, we had a date.  It was nothing big.  We just went to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner with a gift card from A's mom.  It was nice wonderful.  I had forgotten what is was like to just enjoy time with my husband.  I feel like our date restored balance to our marriage by releasing some of the tension that builds up as the demands of life pile on. 

A Man Worth Celebrating

Today is A's birthday!  If you ask me, this is a pretty important day to celebrate.  If you ask him, he will probably tell you that it is no big deal.  But how can this be no big deal?  A is one the most generous and selfless people that I know.  He is constantly putting others before him and has literally given the shirt off his back for others.  He loves to make people laugh.  He is amazing with our nieces and nephews, all kids really, and will one day be an amazing father.  He is a hard working, easy going, big hearted man.  The birth of someone this amazing must be, and will be celebrated!   

So Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!  May this year be your best yet and may you know how much you are loved and appreciated by those around you! 

Oh What A Year!

I maybe should have started with this post instead of my previous one.  I don't want you to get the wrong idea and think that our finances are blinding us from all the good that happened this past year.   So here are some of the GREAT things that happened in 2011. 

In May I turned the big 3-0- and celebrated with family and friends. My sweet husband threw a surprise party and it was wonderful.  I was even blessed with out of town visitors, which made it even more memorable. 

This summer, our first real attempt at gardening was a huge success, though I probably owe some of that to my mom.  We live in an apartment which makes gardening a bit of a challenge.  My mom agreed to let us build a raised bed at her house if we paid for the materials.  We built our garden, added some seaweed mulch (again, a big thanks to mom), and watched our garden thrive.  I even learned to make freezer salsa and tomato sauce.

In July I took my 6th trip to the Appalachian region to lead a group of high school students in mission work.  As always, I was reminded of just how lucky I am and how much God has blessed me.  It is an enlightening and faith building experience for me, even after 6 years.  

August was a busy month. An opportunity arose for me to take a teaching job at a Catholic school, which has always been my dream.  The hitch was that it was not a full-time position.  I felt I couldn't pass it up and have been so happy with my decision.  Also that month, some of my best friends and I participated in our first annual Great Escape.  It was so wonderful to spend an entire weekend just hanging out, eating, and drinking.  It was like being back in college and I can't wait for the next one!! 

October brought our 1 year wedding anniversary.  I thank God everyday for blessing me with A.  I am so lucky to have found such a caring and generous person to spend my life with.  Our plan was to go out for a nice dinner, but the Brewers were in the playoff's.  We scratched dinner plans and curled up to watch the game, complete with baked potatoes, peanuts, and beer.  I wouldn't have changed a thing (except maybe a Brewers win).  We had an event filled first year and I look forward to creating more memories.

In November, A's mom was told that there was no longer evidence of disease.  She fought hard and won her battle with lung cancer.  We pray for continued good health.

December was filled with all of the wonderful activities of the season.  We enjoyed a lot of time with family and friends and ate more then we probably should.  It was a wonderful ending to the year. 

Even with the trials we encountered in 2011, we had many blessings as well.  I look forward to what 2012 has in store for us. 

The Imperfect Friendship

Friends play a pivotal role in our lives.  Some of us have many and some of us have one or two key players.  I find that I am somewhere in the middle.  I have friends who play different roles, but all are very important.

Recently I have been reflecting on the growing pains that come with any friendship.  Like any relationship, friendship is never perfect.  There are periods were things are wonderful and you can not imagine your life without them.  And then there are times when there is distance, or periods of absence, where the friendship is left to grow in the wild, untended.  And then we go back to it, pull up the weeds, trim away the undergrowth, and it is new again.

Many of those absences have been caused either by physical distance, or by the fact that we struggle with what happens in our own lives.  At times, it is hard to except the things that have happened to us.  There have been times of struggle, times of bad choices, times of things said that shouldn't have been.  We accept these mistakes in our friends.  I personally struggle with accepting them in myself.  I focus on when I embarrassed myself, or when I wasn't able to be by their side, or even when I haven't called in awhile.  I think, who would want to be friends with someone who acts like that.

It is just recently that I have been able to accept that my friends love me for who I am.  That even though I am far from a perfect friend, they will be there, and that is the joy of friendship.  Accepting the imperfectness of each other and facing life, knowing you have those who support you no matter what mistakes you may make.

Friends are what make the rough roads passable and the blessings even joyous.  

A Rough Road...

At more then one point in the last six months I hated my job.  This was not the normal dislike most of us have experienced at some point in our lives.  This was full on loathing. 

I would lay in bed in the morning convincing myself that I had to get up and go to work.  Positive thoughts ran through my head: "It's not so bad".  "We need the money".  I've worked hard to get here".  "Maybe today won't be so bad".

I am enough of a realist to know that everyone has days that they would rather stay curled up in bed then face another day at work.  I also know that I shouldn't feel that way the 99% of the time.  In fact, the feeling of dread was so common, I couldn't remember the last time I didn't need a pep talk.  

So over the last few months, internal battles were waged and I was left emotionally drained.   "Would I really be happier doing something else?  Do I just not like working?  Other people have to do things they don't like, why should I be different?  What's wrong with me?  We need the money, I need to just suck it up for a few more years.  I can't let A down."

I decided it was time to move on.  This was a decision that was easier said then done.  I applied for jobs...I applied for a lot of jobs.  And I had a handful of interviews that didn't pan out.  And then months later, it happened.

I had an interview for a part-time teaching position.   I interviewed.  Got a second interview.  And was hired.  I was thrilled!  I was going to do what I truly wanted to do! I felt liberated!

A did not. 

He, understandably, was concerned with the financial aspect of my decision.  The negative thing about going form a well-paying full time job to part-time job is a substantial cut in income.  This led to a few weeks of tension in our household. 

However, the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful opportunity to not only teach, but to teach in a community in which I can share my faith.  It is an opportunity that I can not pass up even though it will mean some sacrifice in the coming year.  I strongly believe that I need to be doing something that allows me to use the talents God has given me.  Besides, in my gut, this decision just felt feels right.