Currently

Reading: This summer the stack of books I was trying to work my way through, More Than Enough by Dave Ramsey, Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst, Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist, were all but discarded, for every time I would curl up on the couch with the intent of reading, a cute little boy would snuggle in next to me, reminding me that it was my turn to read Curious George or Richard Scary's Busy Busy World to him -- for the tenth time over.

My love for audio books has greatly increased as a mom; it's in those mundane rituals of laundry folding and toilet scrubbing and dinner making where the magic of "reading" happens now. I use the app Overdrive to borrow audio books from my library. I can download them onto my iPhone, listen to them, and returns happens automatically - no fines for books overdue!

This week I downloaded Small Great Things, by Jodi Picoult.

Picoult is known for tackling sticky issues, things that make most of us uncomfortable, this book is no exception -- it is about Ruth, a labor and delivery nurse, who was banned from caring for an infant because of her skin color. The father of the child is a white supremacist who doesn't want any Person of Color near his son.
In the course of events, the infant dies in the hospital, and even though there were others on staff as well, Ruth is the only nurse who was taken to court and tried for murder.
The author weaves three points of view through the book, that of Ruth, the African-American nurse, that of Kennedy, Ruth's lawyer, and of Turk, the skin-head father.
It's an eye opening book, and with everything that 2016 showed us about racism and how it's still so prevalent today, I encourage you to read it... I'm guessing it'll show you biases in your own life, and hopefully give you understanding into why this is such an important topic to work through individually and as a nation. I highly recommend this book.

*Book does contain explicit and offensive language


Loving: Leg day... or rather, the definition I've been noticing after months of "leg days", where I challenge myself with lots of squat and plié and barre workouts focused on my thighs + butt.

Since Brooklyn was born, I've gotten out for a few runs, but not the 3-5 runs per week that use to be my normal. It seems as though at least one, if not both of my kids, start complaining and crying when strapped in the stroller or I don't have enough time between naps and errands or, or, or... I make excuses and running suddenly isn't priority.
 I miss it.
However, I've been opting for short, intense workouts 3-5 days per week -- then, if I have the time or energy to get out for a walk or jog with the kids several times each week I do. Although, to be honest, I also count cleaning and chasing after Carson or going to get the mail as cardio too. :)

I love knowing that even just 15 minutes per day is completely worth the effort, and if done right, you will notice results. You don't have to be a gym rat to be fit or have muscle definition. I promise! Just add a bit of HIIT (high intensity interval training) into your routine.


Dreaming: The year I did my 23 before 24 challenge --where I created a list of 23 things to do before I turned 24-- was so much fun. I'm turning 25 next week, and I'm dream up a new list to work on this coming year; things like sew an outfit for Brooklyn, reach a new fitness goal (headstands? run 20 miles? try Crossfit?), take a writers workshop, memorize more scriptures with Carson, etc.

It's sort of daunting, coming up with 25 things to do... And I'm open to creative ideas. What should I add to this bucket list of sorts?


Wishing: Be warned, if you have a little girl to dress, Etsy is a black hole, which leaves me wishing for all the things. Like this and this and this.

You're welcome.


Thinking About: Dinner. Or rather, what's for dinner? I wish I had a better system in place for planning and preparing meals... It's one of my least favorite yet most important tasks each day, and I have zero creativity with it. Have you ever used Prep Dish or a similar menu planning service? Please, please comment with all your menu planning tips and tricks. I'm begging of you!
My husband would be most grateful.


Listening to: The belly laughter of Carson and the bear-like growls of Brooklyn as they are playing together post nap. I'm going to assume all is well... because with those two you never know.


What are you currently up to?

11. Write 52 Love Notes to One Man

Tucked somewhere deep in the attic of my parents home is a brown cardboard box, the corner labeled Love Letters. That box is filled to overflowing with cards and letters that were sent the many miles from Dryden, Ontario, Canada, to Fair Play, South Carolina, and back again. While my mom and dad were dating and later, engaged, they lived hours and hours apart. With limited phone calls and visits, hand written letters was a major part of how they got to know each other.

Even though I don't know the stories hidden away in the box, I've always thought it was a gem. The yellowed paper, brittle, valuable.

Fast forward quite a few years and I'm dating Herm. But our relationship was completely different than that of my parents. Instead of long distance, we saw each other daily. We were coworkers who attended the same church and for the most part had the same group of friends. Instead of years of getting to know each other better before committing to forever, we dated for three months and were engaged for four. We had known each other for only 13 months before we said I do.

Sure, we left each other notes once in a while, but for the most part those notes were sent via text or written on a scrap of paper or neon sticky note -- nothing nearly as extensive as that box hidden so deep in the attic.

My goal for the 52 love notes was simple; I would write one per week for the entire year. I'm not a hopeless romantic...  so please, when I say I wrote love notes, don't imagine sheets of unlined paper and perfectly penned beautiful never-ending words. The reality looked more like this: I love you, scribbled onto a napkin tucked into his lunchbox, or Today I am thankful for you! <3, scratched on a sheet of notebook paper.  It was nothing fancy. And, unfortunately, while I only have about two more weeks before my deadline for the list is here, I still have a good 10 - 15 more notes to write.

But last night happened, and I have this feeling last night could have counted for at least a half dozen of those unwritten notes...

We had dinner plans with friends, Carson was going to Papa's house. (My dad is his  hero, and he is always so excited when he gets to go see his grandpa.) It was beautiful outside, remarkably warm for this time of year, and I wanted to finish up some painting before I got ready to leave for the night. As I was brushing a coat of white over the door propped on sawhorses out by the garage, Herm came out to let me know he was going to go for a quick hunt on our property before we left. He still had about two hours. I didn't say anything, but seriously, wouldn't that ruin our plans if he did get a deer? Wouldn't we have to stay home and gut the thing instead of enjoying a delicious meal with friends?

Herm came in just as it was getting dark. He didn't say a word, so I asked. Well, did you see anything? Yeah, three deer. Did you shoot? Yeah. Did you hit it? Yeah. You killed a deer?! Act excited about it, Babe! That's meat in the freezer. He just smiled mischievously and said, I wanted to see if you would ask. 

This didn't cancel our dinner plans. We still went out and had a lovely evening. But after dinner was over and we were heading home, I went to pick up Carson while Herm came back to our house to start searching for the doe.

He hadn't found the doe by the time I came back home, so after I tucked Carson into bed I pulled on an old pair of yoga pants, slipped into hiking boots three sizes too big for me, and stomped off to the dark woods, like a real outdoors women, in search of a blood trail.

By the light of our iPhones and a headlamp that seemed to grow dimmer with each passing minute, we hunted, the trail growing faint at times, next to impossible to see. Briers and burrs tore at my skin and got caught in my hair,  but still we pressed on. (I know I am making this seem like a real adventure, right? Don't ask me how close we were to our house. That detail makes the story seem less extreme.)

About 20-30 minutes after I joined Herm, I kept noticing a bush with thick undergrowth. It looked like mangled roots, but my light wasn't bright enough to see exactly what it was... My gaze kept going back that direction, and that's when I saw it — the faint, dark outline of a hoof. Babe, I found it. You mean you found her?! He asked. No, "it", I thought. Her sounds too gruesome and heartless.

I got a kiss for my help in tracking the doe, and then I got to watch, help even, as Herm butted and gutted "her".

And I'll just tell you outright, as there's a high chance you may have never had the pleasure of experiencing this first hand, butting and gutting is awful. Not only is there blood everywhere, but the smell —oh the smell!— and in my pregnant state, where scents are ten times more intense than normal, this was bad, real bad. The calamari and tortellini I had so enjoyed just a few hours prior was churning. I somehow managed to hold myself together, and as the hour hand on the clock neared 11pm, I checked for ticks, showered, and fell in to bed exhausted and humored. My love for that handsome hunter obviously runs deep, because you certainly wouldn't have found me in the woods late at night, butting and gutting, unless it was with someone I truly loved.

Yes, this surely was worth more than six love notes written on little neon squares.

21. Take Dancing Lessons with my Man

Photo by Penn Clark

Dancing. It's something that most Mennonites are less than good at.

I'll be completely upfront and honest and tell you this, I don't have the moves like Jagger.

But dancing is something that I want to learn. It looks like a lot of fun, and it certainly would come in handy to know at least a few dances (other than the chicken dance) for wedding receptions and other formal occasions... So, dancing was added to the list.

I wasn't exactly sure how or where this would happen.

Our local town grange offered free square dancing lessons during the month of September, but Herm was working several evenings per week in order to get ready for our trip to Portugal, which resulted in a conflict of schedules those three Wednesday nights.

I'm entering 'crunch time' with this list, and it looked like perhaps number 21. Take Dancing Lessons with my Man would not get crossed off.

But then I heard about the Autumn Barn Party my church was hosting just after we returned from our trip, and how we would have a caller there for square dancing! Hallelujah!

The only thing left to do was work on convincing my man that he would enjoy it too. :)

Thankfully I have two great pals, Kate and Lyndsi, who took care of this for me. I later found out they both text Herm and Lyndsi bribed him into it with a coffee and donut delivery if he took his wife to the dance.

So there we were, at the barn after church on Sunday night, sipping on cider and nibbling bits of apple pastries, as we were waiting for the dancing to be begin.

We started the night off with the Virginia Reel (see what it is here). The caller lined us up in two rows, gentlemen on one side, ladies on the other, and began to call out the moves as the music played and people clapped.  This is a high energy, lively dance. It was fairly easy to catch on, and so much fun.

We stayed for one more dance, before Carson started asking if he could go to bed. The little man will do all he can to fight nap time, but every evening, like clockwork, he will request to go to bed around 8:30-8:45. I would have loved to stay for the rest of the night, but I wasn't going to deny a little boy his bedtime.

I had fun, even with just two dances. And I was happy, this was finally crossed off.

P.S. Herm really enjoyed the night too, and next time, even though I'm sure he'd still accept a bribe of donuts and coffee, it wouldn't be necessary in order to get him there.

Portugal

When I created the list almost a year ago, I didn't actually believe that I would be able to cross 8. Visit a New State (or Province or Country) off of it.  I've already been to 31 of the 50 states, so in order to visit a new one, I'd have to travel pretty far west. I do get to Ontario, Canada, fairly often, but again, to visit another Province it would be a long drive for me. And a new country? With our stage of life it seemed impossible.

But then we were invited on a trip to Portugal with a few of our friends. We weighed the pros and cons -- Pro: Carson flies free until age two. Con: Flying to Europe isn't cheap. Pro: We had enough of credit card rewards to cover one of our tickets entirely and at least half of the other ticket, so we wouldn't be paying a lot out-of-pocket. -- and decided this was the year, we would go!

Our church is associated with a church in Sintra, Portugal. The main point of the trip was to spend time with the people there, to encourage one another and build relationships, but we also helped out with a few work projects in the sanctuary that is being remodeled, and of course we did a bit of sight-seeing as well.

Portugal has a vast amount of history, along with beautiful castles and palaces and coastlines to go with those stories. And the food... don't even get me started. Let me simply say this: I've never had such good bread or so many pastries served at every meal before. Carb overload.

We spent 10 lovely days in Portugal, and as much as we did love it, we were excited to head home again. Herm and I both share a love of travel, and we both tend to be homebodies as well. (How does that even work?) Trips like this are such a joy, but the saying is true, there is no place like home.

On our way home we had a 11 hour layover in Brussels, Belgium. We got a hotel for the night, then early the next morning took a train in to the city for a quick breakfast, before heading back to the airport for the final leg of our journey home. It was pretty dark out and we didn't have much time, but I feel like I can now at least say that I've been to Brussels. =)

We had such a wonderful time there. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to travel with my two favorite men. My hope is that year after year we will still be able to travel and visit new places, even as our family grows. This world is such an amazing place, and I feel like I've barely experienced it.

44 Miles and a Cheese Ball

Crunch time is on. November will be here before I know it, and I am determined to have the list completed. So with that in mind, last week I took time to cross two items off.

Wednesday was for cheese making. And really I don't have a lot to say about that process, expect that the fresh mozzarella I usually pick up at Wegmans or Aldis  is about 100% better. Mine turned out a bit rubbery and flavorless. Perhaps I should try again to perfect it, but I am no perfectionist... Next time I'll save myself the hassle and let someone more experienced be the maker. 

And Saturday, that was for biking around a lake. On the list I had mentioned Seneca Lake, however, over the course of the last 10 months I came to my senses, realizing that 77.7 miles is FAR. Sure I relay raced around that lake three consecutive years, but my feet had a rest in between each run. I don't own a good road bike, and the seat on my bike isn't exactly, um, comfortable, so with a bit of convincing I was able to talk myself out of that idea and decided that Canandaigua lake, with it beautifully doable 44 mile route would be the choice.

Late July or early August I pulled out my bike and Carson and I started going for morning bike rides to begin training. That lasted for about 1.5 weeks, until one morning I walked out to the garage to discover that my bike had been attacked! Our puppy, Mia, had gone to town on the bike seat, shredding what little cushioning there was and leaving a bare metal seat. I could have kill that dog that morning, but somehow to this day she still remains alive and well, with teeth that shred anything left in her way.

That put a stop to our training. I should have picked up another seat somewhere, but didn't get around to it.

So when Saturday morning came around, I borrowed a bike seat from my dad's bike, and off we went, Carson, myself, and my sister Kate. 

What I forgot to mention is that I kept checking the weather before we left, and there was a good chance of rain around 11 am. Instead of driving to Canandaigua, which is about 25 minutes away, we changed around plans and biked around Keuka Lake instead. It's the same milage as Canandaigua, but rather than driving we could simply leave on our bikes from my house to get started. Plus, we know a lot of people who live around Keuka Lake, and with the chance of rain, I knew I might need someone to bail me out and pick up Carson.

The first three miles, which are all down hill, were torturous! I couldn't catch my breath for anything, and bike wouldn't coast. I had to work to go down hill! It sounded like something was rubbing, but every time I stopped to try to figure out what was going on I didn't see any issues. I was imagining the rest of the ride, wondering how I was ever going to make it. I'm a fairly strong and fit person, my lack of training was embarrassing.

Finally I stopped once more and gave the entire bike a good go-over. And that's when I noticed that Carson's bike seat had slipped from its normal position and was actually resting on the back tire, basically working as a brake. A few minutes later that problem was fixed, and my legs which were already beginning to feel like jelly were peddling with ease.  The rest of the ride was sure to be a breeze.

The first section of the route is a narrow winding road with a lot of rolling hills. Carson did really good for about the first 10 miles, then he started complaining about his lot in life. When we finally pulled in to Hammondsport, which was mile 17, he was so excited to get out of that bike seat and stretch his legs. I bought him an ice cream cone to munch on while Kate and I enjoyed coffee and a Bikers Bar, a homemade cakey granola bar, from a coffee shop next door. 

That break was all he needed. Carson was excited to get back in the seat as we headed off, ready to complete the ride. 

There was an official bike race happening around Keuka that morning, but all of the races were going around it the opposite way we were. That kept Carson entertained for quite a while. He would way and say hi again and again as we passed groups of racers.

At mile 33 my mom, bless her, came and rescued Carson. He was still doing really well, but he looked sleepy, and I knew he wouldn't be able to sleep well in that seat. 

We still had 11 miles to go, and they were definitely the most grueling. Not because the terrain was rough, not at all. I have tired, and hungry, and my lack of trained and non road bike were all catching up to me.

But we made it!

Almost 5 hours later, as we were pushing our bikes up my drive, I thanked Kate for joining me and made a pledge to never again go for another bike ride. 

23. Go Paddle Boarding

 

 

 

 

Paddle boarding has been on my hit list for a good long time. I first discovered it in a Life in the Finger Lakes magazine, and ever since then I couldn't forget about it. I love anything to do with the outdoors, and usually what I would choose would be a bit more high energy and intense, but this looked leisurely, something that we could do as a family. 

So paddle boarding was added to the list. 

But summer came and life was busy and it just didn't happen... until yesterday. Herm took part of the day off for Labor Day, so we headed up to Rochester first thing in the morning. We stopped at Pour Coffee Parlor, a favorite spot of ours, for a breakfast of Lumber Jacks and Lumber Long Johns and Panamanian pour-overs. From there we to Bay Creek Paddling Center, where the fun began. 

Carson was so excited to go on a 'boat'. He could hardly stand the wait as we filled out paper work and signed a few legal forms. Finally, all was set and we were off. 

None of us had gone paddle boarding before, but it is quite simple, and we were off without much hassle.  Carson started out on my board. He sat near the front and as we began to move along he got more and more brave. First reaching his hand into the water, then dangling one foot, and finally both. Just as I was about to warn him that he was going to fall in if he got any closer to the edge, he slipped off the board and went for a little swim. 

I jumped in after him, and once we were both back on the board, he sat in the very center, hardly moving for at least five minutes. But eventually he ventured out again, this time dragging only a foot or a hand in the water, and hanging on just a bit tighter. 

Irondeqoit Bay is the perfect place to go, because there are waterways through the marsh, and you can also head out towards Lake Ontario for more open space. 

We rented the boards for an hour, and the time went by far too fast. Carson wasn't ready to say good-bye, and neither was I. 

From there we made a few more stops, included Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery for some delicious ice cream and milkshakes, before we headed back home again.

It was such a perfect family outing, and I will eagerly tell you that if paddle boarding looks like something you would enjoy, get out there and make it happen!

Now... on to our naps!

Nineteen + Twenty

I've taken the liberty of editing the list a bit. After all, I am the one wrote it, so I should be allowed to change it throughout the year as I see fit, right?

The changes aren't big; instead of exploring downtown Rochester (because really, where is downtown Rochester?) I decided to explore Ithaca, with its quaint West Coast vibe and organic/vegan option for everything. I love that hippie town, and folks that write it off just because it's different than any other town in the North East are, in my opinion, missing out on a lot of charm and beauty.

 

 

I also decided that, yes, thrift shopping is my kind of hunting. I really have no desire to kill a cute and cuddly animal. And with its 42 second-hand shops, and a beautifully detailed map of where each one is located and what they sell, Ithaca is a thrifter's paradise.

Which brings us to this past Saturday...

Kate and I decided to go explore the Farmer's Market, and visit a few thrift shops as well.

I had never been to the market, but had heard from multiple sources that it is one of the best in the area. And let me tell you, it's a beauty! This is pretty early in the growing season; considering that, I felt like there was a nice variety of fruits and vegetables, along with fresh flowers, herbs, pastries, beautiful handcrafted products and so much more. If you ever get the chance, please visit. Farm fresh eggs were selling for $3 for half a dozen, so if you raise chickens, you might consider becoming a vendor. (Mom, just thought I'd throw that out there.)

After walking through the market, we stopped at Gimme! Coffee before headed over to Mama Goose, my favorite kids clothing consignment. I found a jacket, some shorts, and, get this, BABY Birkenstocks! there for Carson, and with the store credit I had from selling some newborn clothes a while ago, I was able to get those items for about $2.

Next was Salvation Army, where I scored an $8 Radio Flyer trike for Carson. I had been searching for a riding toy of some sort for months. I wanted something for Carson to play with on the deck. But everything I had found up until that point was either cheap plastic or bright pink. He was thrilled about the trike, and rode it through the entire store, ringing the bell as he went along.

We stopped at several more places. I think Kate found a few items, but I didn't.

I know I've mentioned it before, but I really don't enjoy shopping, mainly because I'm frugal stingy and hate spending money. But if I know what I am purchasing is something that's been on my shopping list (yes, I create a list even when thrifting, and usually stick with it), and if I know it's good quality for a good price, I actually enjoy it.

I also feel like I killed two birds with one stone, since I was able to cross two items off the list today. (And killing two birds would also count as hunting, right Herm?)

I still can't get over those baby Birkenstocks! They are quite possibly my best thrifting score to-date. So tell me, what has been your best thrifting find?

7. Take Up Gardening

The summer after Herm and I got married I wanted to plant a garden. But up until that point I had managed to kill every house plant and potted plant I owned. So instead I erred on the side of caution, opting to help my mom out with her canning and freezing in exchange for some of the produce.

My mom was generous and I was working full time, which meant I got the better end of the deal. She did most of the work, and we still enjoyed the fruits, or rather, the vegetables of her labor.

My hopes were up again for last summer, I still wanted to try gardening, specifically with raised beds. Spring was a busy season and the beds were never built. I planted a few tomatoes in pots and grew peppers and herbs in among the flowers in my flowerbed... and for that busy season of life, it worked.

As winter was fading into spring this year, I placed my request again for two 4' x 8' boxes. Gardening was on the list so I was determined, this year more than ever before, to make it happen.

My mom lent a few books to me,  and shared some sage advice on what dirt mixture to use and a few other techniques on how to have  beautiful, weed-free, moist soil.

Following her advice I stopped at a local nursery for peat moss and vermiculite, and then worked out a deal: I would muck out my brother's horse barn in exchange for free manure. He didn't argue with me.  Equal parts of those items are what make up the soil in the beds.

Some time, maybe next year, I would like to start a lot of the plants from seed, but this year I picked up all of the plants at local greenhouses. So far I have two kinds of tomatoes, onions, basil, two kinds of peppers, spinach, sage, lavender, and three kinds of lettuce planted.  I would like to plant one more variety of peppers and a few cucumbers in the remaining space. 

My grandma is always generous with green beans and peas and potatoes, so I figured I will get those from her. And squash and zucchini multiply like rabbit families, which means every roadside stand I pass will be selling them for next to nothing. 

I will keep a list of everything I plant this year, and make notes for next year, as I figure out what we want more or less of. 

And in the mean time? Well, let's just say I might be out watching my garden grow. :)

Break My Long Distance Run Record

Bucket lists were never really my thing, but at 18 I did have a few goals, one being that I would run a full marathon, all 26.2 grueling miles, before I turned 21.

I was living in Jamaica at the time, and started training for a half marathon that I was planning to run a few weeks after I moved back to the States. It wasn't safe to run the roads in the community I was living in, so instead I ran laps on the drive. From the top of the drive down to the gate and back up again was 1/5 of a mile. I was following a training schedule, and one of my last late-night runs, after the kids were all in bed, was eight miles. Looking back now, I don't know how I was mentally able to run 40 laps on the driveway.

But then I accidentally double booked that race weekend. Instead of canceling my registration, I gave my spot to my friend, Amanda. It was her first half marathon, and considering how little time she had to train, she did great! Since then she has ran in race after race, and qualified for Boston, which she is training for right now!

My goal of a full marathon by 21 never happened. In that span from 18 - 21, I met a man, fell in love, got married, got pregnant, and a few weeks after my 22nd birthday had a baby. I certainly don't feel like I got the bad end of the deal, and I know that someday I will complete that marathon goal, even if it means that it doesn't happen until I'm 31. But in the mean time, I will keep running, and keep breaking my personal records.

Which is exactly what happened today!

I met up with Amanda, and she pushed me through it. It's really nice to have a friend to run with, especially for distances that far. After I completed my 16 miles, she went on for a couple more. I would have loved to keep going, but felt like I couldn't. After I took my sneakers off and saw this blister, I knew why I needed to stop. Ouch.

I feel tired and sore, but it's a good kind of tired and a good kind of soreness. (Well, the blister that I got from where my old pair of sneakers isn't exactly good...) There is something so rewarding about pushing yourself hard and crossing the finish line.

Here is to 16 miles, a new record for me!

Happy weekend, folks!

14. Hand Write a Note to Someone Who Inspires You

There are so many women who have spoken into my life in one way or another, shaping me into who I am and chiseling me into who I am becoming.

We are fluid beings, always changing, influenced, more than we realize, by those who we surround ourselves with.

I feel so blessed by the crowd that surrounds me -- the grandmothers and mothers and aunts and sisters and friends --  those who are open and honest with me, who encourage and inspire me, who make me think about who I am, what my purpose in life is, and how I am fulfilling it. They are the ones I will laugh with in seasons of joy, and they are also the ones who I will turn to when life is hard and joy seems hard to find.

These dear ladies are precious to me, but all too often I don't take the time to thank them and let them know just how they have influenced me.

I should buy a box of note cards and each week write a thank you to someone who impacted me, and maybe I will. (That would be a good thing to add to the next list, the 24 before 25 list.) But in order to cross number 14 off of the list, I just wrote one.

If you, too, have friends in your life who are shaping you into a better version of yourself, why don't you let them know? Maybe buy some truffles, the coco-dusted kind from Ghirardelli, and package the goodies in a pretty box with a ribbon. Gift that, along with a card that explains just why you so appreciate the friendship, to the person(s) who impacted you for the better.

Life is too short to leave important words unsaid. Seize the moment and say thank you.