The weekend is coming for you. 

And it's a three day. 

This is going to be quite the week.  I'm fairly certain I had the flu this past weekend.  Lots of sleep, a few cancelled plans, 4 baby chicks and a 5k later.... I'm back at work and going to attempt to pump out 3 proposals in the next 3 days.  On top of that, some other side-exploratory-projects.  Aaaaaaaand Morgan, John and I are flying out to San Fran 6am on Thursday!!

I've been past "past" my capacity for a week or two now.  Borderline breakdown point.  And if I didn't have such an awesome guy who listens, and surprises me with flowers, and puts his evening plans on hold to just spend a Thursday evening sitting on my couch.... I probably would have had a melt down.  As it stands, it is Friday and I'm feeling optimistic.  Life feels like the challenge it should - the possible challenge that I can tackle.

A couple days ago I was telling Beau, "I think I just need a vacation.  A real, get away and relax vacation."  But I don't really have the time for that right now.  Starting a new job means trying to not take lavish get-aways.  I'm just a week away from 4 months at the new job and I have yet to take a day off.... even with a concussion in there.

Next week, however, I'll be taking Friday off!  I will get a 4 day weekend and I'm soooo excited!  And this weekend, we did our best to say our "thanks yous", "pleases" and most importantly, a few "nos"  -- well, we're trying.  We'll see how we really do in the end.

But it's Friday.  And for the first time in weeks, my tank doesn't feel empty!  Hell, I don't even need "full" any more, just give me a few gallons and watch me run! Of course, I prefer full.  It's sunny.  And I just put on the Keith Urban.  Life has hope.  And my heart somehow is in Nashville again.  It's residing in that peace I always find on the quieter side of the country - reading a book beside my sister, or driving down some almost familiar road.

I'll let my heart hide there for the day, but it's time to get the rest of my capabilities clambering on at my full work-list today.  Hope you all find a little peace and hope this beautiful Friday morning.

Love each of you.

         I’ve got a ticket in my pocket and it’s whispering my name.
         I've got a ticket for the train – hear it whistling miles away.
         Miles away, miles away, my mind’s caught it all the same. 

[image source]

(miss him ^)  

What you see on Instagram: 

What you don't see on Instagram: 

Despite my near-addictive behavior on Instagram... I like real life better.  

With piles of laundry and messy tables, no warm filters, and this guy .... 

My weekend looked a bit like this:  dinner with the entire amazing Rankin family Friday night (they had to kick us out at midnight - quite literally).  Saturday morning was filled with errands, a yard sale, Yakima fruit stand, and picking plums off the tree in my mom's yard.  Then I got to spend the rest of the day with Morgs, Erik and John.

 They are 10 sometimes.  ^  And I rather enjoy it.

Sunday we grabbed brunch and coffee together in the afternoon (the 10 year olds and I) at Irwin's.  We sipped Stumptown lattes from porcelain mugs.  And as we walked out John made some surprised note about me not Instagraming the leaves.  Of course, then I had to.  Sunday, it was fall.  We went from brunch to golf dates - me with my good friends Theresa & Kathryn and the fellas with one of John's college friends.  That's right - more golfing. :) 

 

It was a lovely weekend, until I got a text about one of my favorite baby girls being in the ER. We spent the rest of Sunday night (and a chunk of the morning) at the Rowles watching Fin. Please pray for sweet Sailor, she is in surgery right now.



Other notes:  I renewed my lease on the boyfriend for the fall.  I was really proud of my decision too when a short while later he managed to download an app that turns your phone into a Roku remote, then hacked into the Rowles Roku in essence by manually guessing IP addresses until he got it.  Their Roku remote went missing a few weeks ago.  Finleigh is currently the primary suspect.  With the Roku newly accessible, I was introduced to Downtown Abbey.  I know, I know, you've all been telling me to watch it - well, I finally did. :)  And I get it.  Three episodes in, and I'm pretty hooked. 

What a lovely weekend. I've kind of shied away from writing these sorts of posts as of late. Seems silly to detail out my weekends, especially when they repeat some of the same key ingredients each week (which believe me, I am not complaining). But, this weekend had some beautiful moments I happened to try to capture a shot or two of and I decided to share. Saturday morning I woke up early to beat the traffic I knew would be heading to Fremont just like me. I parked my car, picked up coffee at my favorite coffee shop and walked a few blocks to Johns. We spent the morning relaxing, avoiding the naked bikers in the Fremont Solstice Parade, and making breakfast.

When I say that "we" relaxed and made breakfast, I guess I mean I relaxed and John made breakfast.  I helped with the shopping, but that was about it.  I just feel I should give credit where credit is due.  And I'm not due much of it for the deliciousness in the photo below. I cut up one tomato.  Which turned out to be an extra tomato.

When we figured it was safe (I really didn't care for a 60 year-old, painted blue man to be the first naked man I'd ever seen in person), we walked outside and watched a bit of the parade. There were a couple cool things, and parades are always fun, but I'll admit I was pretty hung up about all the cute little kids who'd watched some pretty interesting things that morning.

I love Fremont, but I don't love all that that parade champions. It sparked a lot of thoughts in me about what kids should and should not see - when do we stop protecting our children?
Where is the line between letting them make mistakes, and keeping them safe and pure. I know ignorance does not equal innocence, and dangerously we can equate them in the Christian world. But, I'm not sure. There is something about protecting a child's eyes and minds. I know my 4 year-old will not be watching that parade. Beyond that, I have a lot of unknowns and questions. I don't want to over-protect my children, but I definitely don't want to not protect them either. If there is the fear of the Lord in me for one thing, it is for our responsibility to protect the innocent, and especially to protect children. How much more the ones in our own care. (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42)

Breakfast was incredible, and after a project or two (okay, just one though there was ambitiously a few planned) it was time to go celebrate with Elsa! We are under 2 weeks and the festivities are in full swing. :) I love all the women this wedding has provided extra time with. And I love getting to watch two of my dearest friends prepare for the beginning of their marriage.

I didn't get photos of the rest of the weekend, but they were equally fantastic. Sunday we saw a performance of Rackmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 by the Seattle Symphony.  I would know nothing of the piece (except for Rackmaninoff's weird condition, marfan syndrome, thanks to Toni), but John rented Shine for us to watch on Friday in anticipation.  If you didn't know, it is a BEAUTIFUL piece, and also considered one of the hardest pieces to learn on piano, due to Rackmaninoff's unbelievable 12 key span. Absolutely one of my favorites so far.    Then, the rest of Sunday was spent at home with the fam and a few friends, celebrating of course my amazing Dad. :)  While everyone was posting pictures of their dads all day on Sunday, I showed mine I love him by not posting pictures of him.  See that, Dad?  True love.  The kind that lays down their camera for another.

You want to see how beautiful the past few weeks have been?

Erik's Birthday weekend... 

Meg's Hole in One! (I love that smile!)

Behaving like the mature adults we are...

EASTER WEEKEND

I do a lot of this.... 

Mom's new game board in the back yard. ;) 

He's part of the family - and you know how he loves to get dressed up for holidays!

THURSDAY 

Grass in the city!? I laid in it... Esther found me lost in my own world. 

Door.  Need I comment? 

Esther introduced me to one of the loveliest places on Capitol Hill... and its owner. 

Esther getting really uncomfortable and embarrassed... turns out I'm really good at doing that to her. 

Esther past embarrassed - me highly entertained and enjoying it. 

 FRIDAY
Meeting one of my dad's oldest friends for the first time was an incredible experience.  Hearing new stories about old times from a man who met my father in the service, and spent hours and hours with my parents as newly weds.  I laughed and laughed.  I walked away loving who my parents are even more.  And so grateful to have been able to meet a man who is my father's friend.  A man who knew my father in ways I never will - in times I never could. 

 SATURDAY
Saturday was full of a number of firsts, plus cookies and laughter and hours of great conversation - my first time to the symphony, on a moped, to gasworks, hanging out with someone who built their own computer... inside an original nintendo.  I walked away newly aware of how kind, caring and generous a person can be when they actually seek to follow Christ and love people. 

I told you I do this a lot.  Most great weekends begin like this. 

"It's an entire computer inside! I built it. The power switch even works."

 SUNDAY 
I enjoyed breakfast on Capitol Hill at one of my favorite places, and a field trip to the Seattle Asian Art Museum with a good friend before some quiet time alone reading in the sunshine in one of my favorite places in the world.  How the grass that grows at my alma mater feeds my heart and tickles my toes and fancy, I can't really tell you.  But it does.

Sunday just grew greater and greater, but to document such things would violate certain bilaws.  I will say I attended probably the best male-hosted dinner party I have ever witnessed.  The company was glorious - the conversation, creative.  The food and drinks delicious and ambitious.