Have it Your Way

In Lights

Or on Broadway

New York, New York, What a Wonderful Town . . . ;)

Here is a cluster (or, more like a CLUMP) of pictures from our first day trip to Manhattan.

We started out with a ferry ride from Staten Island into the city - we saw the lovely Lady Liberty from the boat and the spectacular city in the distance.

We landed in Battery Park - featuring Statue of Liberty mimes

Oh yes, and a Thanksgiving turkey strutting his stuff.

Lamps at dusk

This was a statue of an eagle, dedicated to all those who had died at sea

I think that I remember this was an art museum - bordering the park

This mission was crammed next to a high skyscraper and it just made us smile -

Times Square -

we passed by where they shoot "Goodmorning America" :)

This store CAUGHT my EYE - GREAT AMERICAN CHOCOLATE COMPANY?! YUM!!!

We walked by this little church that seemed the only serene spot in the bustling city - it also had this weird 'root' sculpture that didn't seem to go with the rest of the architecture. . .hmmm

Umm . . . roots can't grow in cement. . .

Here we are on Wall Street - Haven is posing with Washington ;) I personally think my husband is better looking ;)

I loved this particular scene of Washington praying. The fact that it was such a central part of the Wall Street square really stood out to me -

And we wandered by Carnegie Hall - awww, shucks, didn't have golden tickets to get in though ;)

And, speaking on golden things, well, and diamonds . . .

Gotta take the dog for a run - more to come . . . stay tuned ;)

Sandy Hook, NJ

On our second day, we explored our surroundings, beginning with Sandy Hook, on the coast of New Jersey.

In Navesink

It was a beautiful day for exploring, and the sites were awesome.

After we drove around the coast for a while, we headed to Staten Island and met the Manhattan ferry. . .

stay tuned, more to come!

New Jersey

Haven took me here for our anniversary weekend-

it was a peaceful and quiet rambling victorian, 3 blocks from the Atlantic. It was about 2 hours from PA, and about an hour from New York city. Coming on an 'off season' time, we had the place pretty much all to ourselves :) My only regret was not taking enough pictures - the website is pretty neat though.

Bed

Sitting Room / Parlour

and, of course, Breakfast! :)

(he was laughing at me for taking pictures of our food - hey, can I help it? It was LOVELY!)

More to come . . .

Gotta get back to my baby . . .

Boy, I'm a zombie right now, gotta go to bed!

See ya'll next week - I will be back Tuesday!

Sweet Memories

Our Second Wedding Anniversary is coming up, but, as we will be on the east coast that day, I have to do a little posting ahead :)

~ *~

October 8th, 2005 was a precious day for us. I married my Haven, and I thank God for these 2 years He has given us together & I cannot wait for many many more!

Lord, can you send me a rainbow?

As I sit here, waiting for a rainstorm to pass by, I pray for a rainbow. A day full of sorrow should only end in a rainbow.

A rainbow is the symbol of a promise, a covenant that God made with Noah and his family after they endured 40 days and nights, tucked safely inside an ark. Even though they were safe from the rain and devastation going on all around them, I am sure that they wanted to get out of that wooden box many times. Imagine how it probably reeked with all the animals and the lack of privacy and plumbing probably drove one to the brink of insanity. And yes, it was probably really crowded. I can imagine how one would want to come up for fresh air any chance they could get. I am sure there was some grumbling. At least from the bears.

I guess that is how I am feeling right now. Trapped in an ark, dying for some fresh air. I don't want to sound like I am completely miserable either. Those who were on the boat knew that there was a greater good going on. Something that they could not see. And I feel like I have no idea what is going on, and yet, I know that God is working something greater than what I can see.

But I want that same phenomenally simple trust in God that Noah and his family had. To trust God to build an ark while the world mocked you. To trust God while you hoarded 2 of each kind of animal, then shoved your own family aboard. To trust God to direct a huge boat to where He wanted it. To trust Him to lead you to a better place, a place where He knew you would grow the best.
To trust Him that everything going on has a purpose, and a plan. To trust my life to His control. To trust Him when I take on something that is completely out of my comfort zone, to trust Him when He calls me to be patient, joyful, and enduring. To trust Him that He'll move me from the ark to dry land when He so deems.

And to trust Him to bring a rainbow.

Forecast - these grey clouds are gonna clear, baby

Its a drizzly day here. I just finished one last sip of a cranberry/sprite concoction flooded with crushed ice. Nothing hits the spot like a chilled and refreshingly juicy drink.

I can't really say that I have had a productive morning. Then again, I have not been lazy either. I had to get up before the sun to go to a leader's meeting and fellowship for BSF. . . it was a big mistake not to make coffee before I left the house. For 3 1/2 hours, I struggled to stay awake through singing, praying, training, and sharing time. I have a tendency to overestimate my energy levels, apparently. I think that I also forget that I am NOT in college anymore, and late-nite studying is not an option for me anymore.

You live and learn, I guess.


Anyway, I am giddy . . .

My hubby is flying me out to see him next weekend and I am so excited. He has a way of always surprising me even if I know what the plan is. :) I know we are going to have a day to spend in New York, and we'll probably be staying in New Jersey. Other than that, I am kind of clueless. What a fun way to spend our anniversary! Together!!!

A little Night Music

Screechy cicadas and throaty frogs, swooping owl wings, and my dog's heavy, excited breathing.

Nothing like an evening walk on a hot indian summer night.

With a pearl white moon illumating the way, I prod a 'gotta-take-a-pit-stop-every-ten-steps' pup along a broken weedy sidewalk. I try to help him ignore the scuffle of dogs behind backyard fences and the blindingly bright headlights of cars passing by. Kinda to no avail - I guess its kind of exciting being a dog in this neighborhood.

As we were walking, I was trying to work through a period of silence, kind of similar to a hard swallow. . . trying to think of ways to be a more encouraging wife, trying to overcome over 1,000 miles of distance.

I wish that I could get to my husband like I can get across 15 blocks south and 2 blocks east 30 minutes later. I wish I had a way to forward time like I can skip commercials with DVR. I wish I had a more patient spirit that would even pour out onto my hurried dog-walking.

Even my little dog is teaching me a lesson. The art of slowing down and actually enjoying the moment. In his case, that means never losing wonder in chasing hopping frogs. . .

Maybe I am not connecting the dots when it comes to getting to my husband. But it does come back to being patient, for that is surely required these days.

God is ever benevolent in making the days go by faster, all that He is requiring is to face each with hope and joy. There are only 24 hours each day, and only 7 days in each week. A week more will bring us to 3 more days and then a three or four hour plane trip to visit him. Oh yeah, and a heck of a celebration of 2 years of marriage.

But as for tonight, I am going to enjoy every hour of this 6 hour rest.

Goodnight.

Balance, part 2

I thought I'd share something that came up today. It reminded me, once again, how God is so powerfully at work in His children's lives, to protect them from even themselves.

I spent a lovely afternoon with my mother this afternoon, seeing 'Becoming Jane' and enjoying some girl time.

On our conversation on the drive home, mom brought up a time of life when I was 15, very weak, and very naive. I had a major crush on a guy who shared the same passion I had for horses and he had the whole 'bad boy' appeal.
But God really bubble-wrapped my heart and protected me from myself. Mom was telling me today how thankful she was that I didn't run off with him. I gave a hearty amen to that. Even though that probably would have never happened, it made me think. I don't know where I'd be if I did.

If I chose 'my' best over God's best for me, I probably wouldn't have gone to college. If I didn't go to college, I wouldn't have met my wonderful husband. And if I didn't meet my wonderful husband, I'd be in pretty bad shape right now. It sort of all has a domino effect.

Who knows where I'd be if I went with 'My' way.

I wouldn't give up this life, as confusing as it is sometimes, for ANYTHING.
God truly know what is best for us. Don't settle.

His blessings are far beyond what we could ask or think!

Balance

The teetering pole.

Often it seems like a teeter totter, that very fine line of staying on the straight and narrow and wandering off road.

Were it not for God's grace holding me upright, I'd be over the edge, off-roading myself into ditches.

Were it not.

Thanks be to God for balance. For placing temptations in our way to strengthen our resolve against sin. For giving us the power to deny them, the cleansing grace to wash away the stain they leave on the exit. For His faithfulness to the unfaithful.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Icky Allergies

This has been the worst two-day episode ever. I hate the fact that I am being licked by tiny little pollen clusters.

Nature's got my number.

Ragweed is of the devil.

Get some 'Hairapy'

Need a little 'pick-me-up'? This site is so much fun & too hilarious - It absorbed me for an hour! Go get a makeover

Roses dried

I always find dried roses to be a prettier decoration than the fresh ones - more effort goes into the drying, and it's only the really special ones that are dried.

My sister Michelle was right - dried roses are beautiful, in such a quiet and serene way. When roses are alive and in water, their petals slowly open, the color grows very vibrant and then, one day, the color starts to fade, the corners tinge dark brown and curl, and each petal falls off, one by one. . .

Such is the story of a lovely bouquet. It always begins so beautiful, but beauty fades.

But I threw out the roses tonight. I have roses from bouquets past. Bouquets of all sorts - from courtship, from engagement, from my wedding, and from the past two years (shy a few weeks) of marriage.


I washed a cookie rack, shaking off the crumbs from cookies made by my hubby, cleaned some other dishes and felt satisfied about this day.

Emotions, mute homeless man, a kind vendor I shunned with horrible rudeness, shame and frustration, conviction and repentance, rain, the love of my husband 1500 miles away, the thought of being alone for the next couple of weeks, my sisters . . .

All these things random speak of the ways that the Lord continually reminds me that He is faithful . . .

You are probably wondering, what the heck is she talking about???

Just life after a really good day.

All these things random come together to make a day sweeter, deeper, richer.

I cannot ever make sense of this life. It is altogether too wonderful and too exciting.

Psalm 139:17

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

Yesterday was filled with sorrow and tears. Today God filled an empty cup overflowing.

I've got roses on my table

There's a heavy haze settled over the city - with the sun sitting on top of it, its a warm and rosy glow. I am sipping coffee and appreciating the healthy hum of my computer, working obediently with the internet, to make this blogging experience possible.

Actually, I'll let the credit go to my repair man.

Yes, the man is home. Stronger, tanner, and more addicting than ever. I don't think I am going to let him leave again tomorrow.

Yes I am selfish.

To anyone who has ever said that marriage just gets better over time - I am beginning to realize this more and more. Through the hard times that we have faced, God has grown us closer together. I can't wait to go through more, with the hope and prayer that we'll be more in love than we are today because of where He has brought us.

I'm glad I took the day off. Today is my holiday.

Today is my 'husband appreciation day'.

Long time, no blog . . .

Its 'Amy outages' this week ;)

My internet router went kaputt - I got a new one, only to discover that it was not compatible with our DSL service. . . crudd.

Life is a little on hold until we get the new router. So, I am hit and miss here.


Oh yeah, my car brakes went kaputt on Saturday as well - thankfully, we got that problem fixed. Now, if everything can just wait until my hubby comes home . . .


5 more days . . .

My sky is grey, I miss you, Blue Eyes

Okay. . .

Only 8 more days to go . . .

I miss my hubby :(

What I've been up to lately . . .

Well, I finally got my camera back, and I had fresh batteries too. . . These are some pics of the house, in a new coat of color, some parts still have yet to be finished, but, you get the picture ;)
*(Some of these pics are a little bit blurry)

~Living room~

(I still need to hang my wrought iron candle sconce back above the fireplace);)

~Bedroom~

~Master Bath~

(for the 'Befores' go here)

California, calling me

The sand beneath my toes, the shriek of seagulls, salty misty air, seaweed stalks littering the beach, bonfire smoke, eucalyptus trees, the chilly pacific ocean.

Sigh - you can take a girl out of California, but you can't take California out of a girl . . .