Sunday notes

I am currently watching the USA v Canada hockey game and these guys are crazy insane... it is so exciting to watch. Today for lunch I made this yummy sandwich I saw on realsimple.com. I made a couple of changes, like using a honey mustard vinaigrette on top...mmmmm. This weekend I have been catching up a lot, cleaning house and trying to get a little organized. I downloaded the new Corinne Bailey Rae album and was rockin' out to it while I was working around the house. I have also been working on finishing up our thank you notes. I. Am. Almost. Done. We had another snowstorm at the end of the week and it has been snowing on and off all weekend. I am so ready for spring. I'm off to have the last mint skinny cow ice cream sandwich left in the freezer.

Cheers,

Mary

31 to-dos in 31 days: the March challenge

In no particular order, following are the 31 things I need to accomplish over the next 31 days:

1. Collect all of my important paperwork and place in my fire-proof safe

2. Finish as much name-change paperwork as I can (still fighting with the Florida DMV about having to appear in person to change my name on my Driver’s License)

3. Go through the rest of my clothes and organize my donations

4. Put together my blog entry for my faves for spring

5. Finish and send out marriage announcement

6. Super-secret-spring project

7. Get my kitchenware in order

8. Make a list of new foods i’d like to try and then plan to try them

9. Make a list of parties i’d like to throw and then throw one by the end of spring

10. Collect all of my tax documents and then file my taxes

11. Check my fire extinguisher, smoke detectors, and change the light bulbs in my apartment (i’m currently running on just 1 of 5 light bulbs in my dining room light)

12. Buy, “Nesting, It’s Chick Thing” and enjoy

13. Update my security clearance paperwork

14. Have a bed day- I can work, read, eat, do whatever I want, but I will stay in bed all day

15. Plan with Bryan how we want to decorate our new home together

16. Try a new soup recipe

17. Tackle my linen closet

18. Tackle my storage room

19. Update my Christmas card scrapbook

20. Purchase my new outfit to celebrate my fave colors for this spring

21. Enjoy the release of the Twilight:New Moon dvd release!

22. Super-secret-housewarming-project

23. Visit Sweetiepie in NYC

24. Try to bake my own chocolate croissants

25. Spend and evening at a bookstore

26. Spend a quiet night at home with no tv

27. Continue work on my quilt of my sorority t-shirts

28. Tackle the corner of my bedroom where I throw stuff and my desk

29. Go to the The Pop Shop, the diner in New Jersey that features over 30 variations of grilled cheese.. yum!

30. Stock up on Fresh ink cards and update my Celebrations book and plan correspondence

31. Visit Border Cafe in Cambridge, Mass- where the combination of mexican food and country music is blissful

Cheers,

Mary

Strong to the finish

So February became sort of a sit around and enjoy month for me... it certainly hasn’t been so for Bryan who has been tirelessly working towards the finish of his Master’s program. Compared to all the other work he has to do, it seems like the thesis is just a small part of his last semester. He is working literally all day on projects, labs, and exams. It blows my mind how much work he has and how much of his life it consumes. We will both be grateful when he graduates on March 25th!

March is going to be very task-ful, but I kind of like it that way. I keep myself busy with enough stuff that I can be distracted from the fact that I miss Bryan more and more everyday... thank goodness this is almost over. First thing first- Bryan defends his thesis on Thursday. Then on Friday he flies into Baltimore and I pick him up on our way to DC. We will be staying in the guest suite of the building we are thinking of moving into in the metro DC area. To celebrate Bryan and his accomplishments (so proud!) we are going to be staying Saturday night at the W hotel in downtown Washington, enjoying some dinner and dancing with great friends.

The following weekend, i’ll head to Boston with some lovely ladies from NYC to spend some quality time with Courtney before she moves to Kentucky this summer after defending her dissertation in Clinical Psychology. The girls and I haven’t been to Boston together since 2007 so this is sure to be a trip to remember. We will also get to spend some time with the Stepura family as well!

March of course will come to close in dramatic fashion as I head to Dayton for Bryan’s graduation. We will get to spend some wonderful time with his parents and our Dayton family before everyone goes their separate ways the first week of April.

Cheers,

Mary

The past couple of months have been very busy...

I have been really been slacking in the blog department.

December and January were filled with what felt like daily tasks in preparation for the holidays and our wedding. Baking, card-writing, gift-buying, wrapping, and shipping gave way to program making, favor assembly, and more shipping. I had a goal to get as much wedding stuff done in January so that February could just be about enjoying our wedding and our time with our dear friends and family. These two months also brought crazy snowstorms to both of us. The earthquake in Haiti provided me some outstanding opportunities at work to learn new aspects of my job including deploying the personnel who went to Haiti to run the airfield and to work in our fitness center as we received over 500 repatriated US citizens over 3 days.

Before we knew it, it was February and despite yet another snowstorm threatening the Northeast, we both made it to Florida to get married! The whole weekend was absolutely amazing and dream-like. Everything was perfect. Bryan and I were also able to join some friends for a weekend ski trip the week following the wedding. Bryan also turned in his thesis- so proud of him!

As I reflect upon the past three months I can hardly believe all that we accomplished. God has blessed us immensely!

Cheers,

Mary

Day 7: Earning Your Wings

For day 7, Collins talks about Angels and their significance in the Christmas story. They carry the message from God. Many people hold the belief that angels are always watching out for us.

"Perhaps one of the best modern and easy-to-understand examples of angelic behavior can be found in the Hollywood classic, It's a Wonderful Life. Though not a financial success when originally released in 1947, over time this Jimmy Stewart film has become a most beloved treasure of the Christmas season. The world's adoration for this movie is in large part because of its theme that each of us has the power to change the world. The movie shows that by just being here and taking part in our day-to-day lives, we make the world a very different place than it would have been if we had never been born."

"In It's a Wonderful Life, the angelic figure is somewhat of a misfit. On the surface he seems nothing like the graceful, wise, and beautiful creatures described in Scripture. Yet perhaps director Frank Capra portrayed Clarence this way to give us a clear look at the sotry's real angelic role model."

"When a bumbling Clarence reviews George's life, showing him how different the world would have been without him, we discover that George is a man who reached out to help the least of those in his world. George's faith and sacrifices blessed others. Even though he didn't recognize it, that was why his life was so wonderful. In a real sense, George reflected the tru meaning of Matthew 25:40: "Whatever you did for the least of these... you did for me.""

"Discover the real joy in serving others. Volunteer with your family to spend a few hours at a soup kitchen or at a clothing or food drive... Show your appreciation to those who provide a service to you and others all year long. Everyone needs to feel appreciated. Take a snack to a group of workers. Many stores are so crowded during the holidays that employees barely have time for a break. Your thoughtfulness in providing a batch of holiday treats spreads the joy of the season."

"As Christmas draws near; begin now to become the messenger who trumpets this season to everyone around you. You can be that special person who brings the spirit of the holidays to life. You can live out Matthew 25:40. Not only will your holidays become brighter, but you may decide to continue this positive attitude in the New Year. Those who have known the true joy of giving find that they too have been blessed with a wonderful life. And isn't that really what we all want for Christmas and beyond?"

The tip for today is to take the time to focus on one section of Scripture during this busy season. Collins suggests to keep a bible out and open to Matthew 25:34-40 as a reminder of the important mission we have, during the holday season and throughout the entire year.

Merry Christmas!!

Day 6: Trimming the Tree

Usually, when people think about Christmas, the first thing they think of is the tree. It is the most visible symbol of the holiday. What i didn't realize before today, is how the evergreen tree became a symbol of Christmas.

"Long ago evergreens were held in awe by Viking warriors. These powerful men knew winters that were long and harsh, in which many living things did not survive. During these bleak days, almost all plant life ceased to exist, and many animals starved to death. Stranded outdoors, a man could freeze to death. Yet in these horrid conditions, the evergreen not only survived; it thrived. Its vitality was so great, it seemed nothing could harm it. Beacause of that unique strength, the tree was seen as a source of mystery and power. Vikings prayed to their gods that they could be as strong and resilient as the fir tree."

"When early Christian missionaries began explaining faith to these feared arriors, they used the evergreen as an example of God's undying love. They told the Vikings that even in their bleakest and darkest days, Christ would be with them. Their faith, like the evergreen, would survive every test. By putting this Christian lesson into a visible context, the missionaries helped thousands understand the love of God and the sacrifice of his Son."

"Even if you don't feel like embracing the evergreen as the early Christians did, the Christmas tree is still much more than just a decoration. Think of it as a tie to the past. Each year, millions of us retrieve old decorations that have been carefully stored in boxes. Often, using these ornaments generates vivid memories of past Christmases. Thus, like few other things, the tree brings to life the love and wonder of former holiday seasons. Sudeenly loved ones who have passed away are with youa gain. You feel their spirit and remember their warmth and love. In this way, the Christmas tree reunites us with our own family tree."

"The tree is the gathering place in your home, the first thing that catches the eye, so let it truly reflect your family and your faith. Make this facet of your Christmas as bright as the star atop the tree, and you will bask in the glow of a season filled with faith and love."

Collins' tip for today is to find boxes of animal crackers with the string handle and hang them on the tree!

I don't have a tree set up at my house, but Bryan and I will be spending Christmas with my Aunt and Uncle and cousin in Boston. Last year, they had an amazing 12 foot Christmas tree in their living room and I am pretty sure they got one just as big for this year. It was truly majestic.

Day 5: Escaping the Inner Scrooge

In today's reading, Collins discusses how may people easliy fall into a "Bah, humbug!" spirit. "Far too often, a majority of people caught up in the hurried nature of the season, carrying long lists of things to do and places to be and items to buy, reflect the mood of Scrooge. They say, 'Merry Christmas' as they gripe their way through the whole month of December. Rather than enjoy the holiday season, that can't wait for it to be over."

"Our mood is deeply affected by our environment, and at times we don't have the power to control what's going on around us. But we do have control over how we respond to a situation. If we embrace the joy of the Christmas season, we defeat the Scrooge mood."

"A change of attitude can do wonders. This isn't a time to rush; it's a time to savor. Enjoy the time you are forced to wait in line, (or in traffic). Take a deep breath. Look around and study the faces of those around you. Focus on people who are relishing every moment of the season. Be like Christ. Reach out to those in need. Take time to offer a word of encouragement. And smile. Smile at those who seem to be at their wit's end."

The tip for today is to spend some time walking, which gives us an opportunity to move slower than we normally do and look around deliberately and see the things we miss speeding by in a car.