99 Balloons

I rarely watch Oprah, but two days off in a row and I decided to have some tube time while the flute's out. The show was about "miracle children" and she showed this video put together by an incredible couple who were blessed by their precious son, Eliot.

Tears still in my eyes, my face still blotchy...




This really is one of the most beautiful and touching and inspiring videos I've ever seen. It was probably a re-run, but I had to get this up as soon as possible (meaning several hours after show since I can't figure out how to "embed" a video into a post without dear hubby to help).

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress;
my God in whom I trust."
Psalm 91:1-2

God is good.

In Good Company

Ok, get ready to hold your ears-

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Ok, you can go back to normal now, I'm done. No really, it's alright. I just had to get that out.

Oh, you're wondering what that was all about? Well, I'll tell you-

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!!!!!

Oh sorry, should've warned you again. I'm done for real now. Really, I promise. But I am just oh so excited!

May 18, 2009 marked my last official day out to Stony Brook for my first year back to school. I've got quite a few projects that I'll be working on this summer so I'm not completely off the hook, but I will not be making that commute until I absolutely have to again at the end of August. Yippee!

My last recital of the first year, on 5/11, was a fun one with lots of chamber pieces, consisting of works from the "classical" era. I know, you're probably thinking, "isn't it all classical music?" Well, technically, yes, but within that specific genre lies about four (well five) traditional periods of classical music, according to time frame. The Baroque era (think Bach, Vivaldi, Handel) took place in the mid 1600s through mid 1700s; the Classical era (Mozart, Haydn) from the mid 1700s through early 1800s; the Romantic era (Chopin, Brahms, Schumann) for most of the 1800s; the 20th Century era (Stravinsky, Debussy, Ives), uh, self-explanatory; up until now with New/Contemporary music that is being composed today. How's that for a little music history lesson? But I digress...

It was one of those easy-to-the-ears recitals and ended up being a blast playing with the awesome people I was in company with. Here's a little slideshow of the day:

The day after my "official last day," some sweet friends of ours, Sarah and Eric (adorable couple below) who lived in NYC a couple years back, visited their old stomping grounds and stayed with us for a few nights.


We had a great time catching up and even visited two very tasty restaurants we'd never tried before - John's Pizzeria in Times Square (yes, Times Square- it may be every New Yorker's nightmare, but they have some darn good pizza and it's housed in an old church! So it was super cool!), and Acqua. I was also able to get free tix for all of us for a concert at Lincoln Center which was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Three of my favorite "20th Century composers" were featured (see, now you know what I mean) - Debussy, Bartok, and then my favoritest piece ever by Stravinksy- the Rite of Spring. Oh yeah, it was awesome.

After they left, some good friends of ours from San Diego, Ron, Megan and Little Luke,

Sweetest, little face!!!

visited the NY/NJ/CT area so we go to hang out with them a bit. More yummy food and fun times! We even got to spend the evening on Memorial Day taking in another great free concert by the NY Phil broadcast out onto a neighboring park where we enjoyed a picnic dinner.

(check out those Popeye-forearms- HA!!! love that angle...)

We had more yummy pizza at Grimaldi's just past the Brooklyn Bridge so we enjoyed some scenic views even on a not-so-scenic day.

Just two days after the last of our company left, I went down to Alexandria, VA to visit with my folks. It was a great time of relaxing and just hanging out. Mommy and me got our nails done and did some shopping and then my Too-dad, Mary Catherine, and her daughter, Susan, came down on Saturday and we went to DC to go on this cool "Duck" tour!

Yes, I'll explain- back in WWI (or WWII...man, I stink at history...) these vehicles that ride both on land and in water were used so we enjoyed an hour taking in DC sights and the Potomac River!

All of us outside of the "Duck" with our guide flexing his muscles inside!

Strolling along the streets of DC with views of the Capitol Building


And now, strolling along the Potomac River!

My Sweet Too-dad and his beautiful, sweet Mary Catherine

I even got to try my hand behind the wheel once we were in the river! Very fun.

My Too-daddy and his girls inside Union Station in DC

We enjoyed a yummy dinner that evening over looking the Potomac River on the Alexandria water front

and even saw a wedding happening on the paddlewheeler where Steve and I were married so that was a real treat.

"The Cherry Blossom" - ah, what fond memories :)

Man, I love Alexandria (look at this cute, little town!)

and I am so glad my parents now call it their home! It was an awesome visit.

Now I'm back home and getting back into the swing of things - working at Lincoln Center, PRACTICING (yeah!!! how i've, ironically, missed my flute), and spending time with my hubby- the best company of all!!! I'm sooo looking forward to this summer... ;)

Thirty and Thankful

Brace yourself- as is fitting with the title and point of this post, there are 30 pictures below. Yes, 30. So once again, I'll try and keep my words brief and let the pics speak (write?) for themselves.

It's been a while since I've been able to indulge myself with some precious few moments dedicated to blogging and a lot has been going on as this first year of school winds down... but I'll save the details of that for another post altogether sometime this summer. This post will focus then on my "big 3-0" and some very happy and memorable moments of hitting that milestone.

March 27, 2009 began with some yummy pancakes made by my sweet hubby.

When I got home from school, this sweet hubby of mine really outdid himself with 30 roses and 30 little red envelopes taped and hidden all over the apartment.

Each envelope contained a different verse from the Bible about love and beauty with a thought from Steve underneath that related. Most of them were in places that were quite "appropriate" to their meaning - this one under the clock read

"So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few daysbecause of the love he had for her." Gen 29:20

Underneath he wrote "I would toil in darkest dungeons to earn your hand." Aww...

He even had one in the shower- "Many waters cannot quench love...," one in our spoon and spatula container- "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works...," and one on a picture of mine and my mom's painted toes- "How beautiful are your feet in sandals..."

He was pretty clever and oh so sweet. Every birthday of mine he has hidden various items throughout our apt for me to find- the first year it was my favorite kind of See's chocolates, one year he wrote haikus, but this year definitely takes the cake. I thank God for him every day.

The last red envelope was attached to this big box of Godiva chocolates. Paired with the chocolate-covered oreos that my parents had sent, and the two Buttercup pieces of cake (in my favorite inter-racial flavors pictured below), little did I know that I would gain about 30 lbs on my birthday making it truly the B I G 3-0...

Once Steve got home, he made a DELICIOUS dinner of scallops with a yummy onion sauce on top, asparagus spears with a twist of leak wrapped around, and mashed yukon potatoes. Quite a meal...

After our dinner, I read another sweet gift that he had prepared for me - he had gone through the Bible and found all of the Chapters 3's, verse 27's and found a way to compare them with God's love. Some of them proved quite difficult -

"And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother." II Samuel 3:27.

Wow.

He still somehow managed to turn that into a statement of God's love and grace and that "justice is God's-not ours," ending with "I pray that you will be free from such brutality for all your days." Thanks, my love! So do I... :)

Some of them were definitely easier than others and then there was the fitting last 3:27 in the Bible from Galatians-

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Gal 3:27

And he reminded me of that simple truth that through my baptism, I have died to sin and been "raised again with Christ, becoming part of His inheritance and His family."

I was quite speechless after all of these thoughtful gifts that he took a lot of time out of his day to do for me. I don't know why I have been blessed with such an incredible man who loves me more than I could ever deserve when I can be so entirely un-loveable at so many times, but I am so very thankful for him. Thank you, my love, for making my day so special!!!

Ending on a very sweet note!

The next morning we spent a lovely breakfast with some dear friends at Alice's Tea Cup and I enjoyed watching Steve and Pete drink out of their dainty, little, tea cups. :)

Those scones are to. die. for. Such yummy goodness! A chocolate one and a pumpkin one and another couple of lbs...

Pete and Heather with their little Jack in the back, Todd and Jessa in the front. I'm so thankful for my friends!

The next weekend we went home to Alexandria to see my parents and Daniel one last time before his trip to Japan where he'll be for at least a year and 1/2. It was a very bittersweet visit but an amazing time and we had so much fun reminiscing with just the four of us. I am sooo thankful for my family!!!

We even got to take in the GORGEOUS Cherry Blossom Festival in DC - smiling proudly next to my big brother. I'm so excited for him!

Then, 30 days after the Big 3-0 birthday, I got to celebrate NYC style

with about 50 or so friends from church, work, and school in Central Park.

My parents, my Too-dad and Mary Catherine, Mary Catherine's daughter, Susan, and even Gracie (my folk's sweet, black pug) made the trip!

CenterCharge friends- Jill, Malec, Ariel, and Barbara

My dear, sweet Jackie

Sweet Steve

My incredible mommy cutting the cake

The man who can do no wrong, my Too-daddy

Some sweet gals from Apostles- Treeny, Joy, Danise, and Katy

Some old small group friends- Will and Megan, and Rebekah and Tom

Current small group friends- David and Radhika, Steve and Nikki (we'll miss you guys!), and Lauren and Nate

My amazing Sarah who pretty much made the party happen.

Sidenote- Steve had a conference in the Poconos that he was leaving from that morning and my parents were driving up that morning as well. Both got stuck in horrendous traffic, and while the plan was for Steve and my fam to be at my apartment by 1pm or so to help take everything down to the park and set up, by 2:30 (party at 3pm) and after dozens of frantic calls, we realized it was up to Sarah and I to get the party started! So we loaded up the balloons, a table, and several bags into a cab and made the best out of it we could! Not exactly how I had hoped things would go, but Sarah was an incredible help and Steve had even called a couple people to help us once we got there so everything turned out fine :).

My Stony Brook fluter pal, Enrico

Judson, enjoying the balloon

Hot, but a beautiful day

I love you guys!

At dinner afterwards with TD, MC, Susan, Steve, and my ma and pa.

(T00-dad with his silly expression :)

I am so thankful for Steve, my friends, and my family and it has been a great 30 years, largely because of the support and love they have given me. I am floored by God's grace and goodness in my life- it is something I do not boast in (which is not at all the point of this post and I pray it doesn't come across that way!), but something that I am in such humble awe over. I don't know what the next 30 years will hold, or 30 beyond that, but I know there will be trials and tribulations along with the blessings and I just pray that I will always remember to be thankful through it all!

Weekend Tourists- Challenge Completed!

What a weekend we had! We were quite the tourists and the "Thirty by 30 Challenge" has been completed (with one item, No. 9 becoming a thirty while 30...). And boy, was it completed with a bang!

On Saturday, we had a blast with No. 7:

Hit all 5 boroughs in one day and sample cuisine from each

And on Sunday, we took advantage of No. 3:

Bike ride and paddle boat in Central Park

(Although, they don't have paddle boats, not sure what I was thinking on that, they're row boats, but fun none-the-less!!!)

Once again, I'll try and limit the words in this post cause that could go on forever so the story of the weekend will be told in pictures below.

Saturday, 3/21/09

9:50 am- begin in our hometown borough (had to fix my terrible spelling of "burrow" in original challenge post) of Manhattan by walking down to 57th and 2nd to start the day with some very tasty bagels, served by one of the nicest bagel servers we've ever had the pleasure of chatting with.

There's just something about a fresh, NY whole wheat bagel
with a schmeer of veggie cream cheese- yum!

10:25 am- leave "Hot Jumbo Bagels" and take the 5 train to Staten Island Ferry for the next borough.

Enjoy gorgeous views of the City and Lady Liberty on our 25 min ferry ride.

11:25am- exit Ferry and arrive 15 min later at this adorable "Everything Goes Book Cafe."

We enjoyed excellent organic tea (mine had chocolate and mint-mmm)
with a chocolate biscotti and shortbread cookies.

This was the cutest little place with very sweet, artsy owners and tons of used books, records, etc for sale. We even picked up a nifty "how-to" kitchen book where we learned that you can bake muffins filled in a coffee mug in the microwave!!!

12:30pm- Back on the ferry and back to the City!

1:00pm- Arrive back in Manhattan and head back to the 5 train to the Brooklyn Bridge stop

1:15pm- Walk across Brooklyn Bridge into borough #3!

2pm Enjoy some of the best ice cream at the "Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory"!
From their five flavor selection, Steve got peach and I (of course) got
chocolate with chocolate chunks.

Taking in more beautiful views of the bridge.

2:30pm- Venture to next borough via the A-G-7-N trains: whew!

3:45pm- After getting to know NYC transit a little better than we really care to,
we arrive in Queens. Quite hungry, we enjoy a delicious lunch at this very popular
Greek restaurant in Astoria.

Salad with feta cheese- mmm...

Fried cheese- I know... :)

Broiled cod with lemon potatoes- delish!!!

Cheesing it up in front of the interesting artwork at "Taverna Kyclades"

4:50pm- Stuffed and exhausted, we decide to stop back home via the N-7-6 trains
before heading to the fifth, and final, borough.

6:30pm- Take the M101 bus to 4-D trains, then Bx 36 bus to final destination for dinner with some friends.

7:45pm- Arrive in Little Italy in the Bronx!

8:30pm- Finally seated at Enzo's - well worth the wait!

Simple, light tri-colored salad

Penne with vodka sauce- yummo!!!

Such delicious food and an amazing atmosphere! The owners and staff loved our "borough" idea and that their restaurant was the final stop. They had us all cracking up, especially when the camera came out for cheesey smiles...

There I go winking again... Let's try one more time!

And then this happens. (This pic is for you, Summer!:)

Steve and I, Lauren and Nate, and Jessa and Todd

(Todd swears he had the best food he's ever tasted that night at dinner :)

10:05pm- Leave Enzo's and take Bx 36 Bus to D-4-6 trains back to Manhattan.

11:35pm- Rides on eight different trains, two buses, a ferry, and with about $85 less in our pockets (which really ain't all that bad for all that food!!!) we arrive home and crash...

What a day!!! We had a blast and I have to say, each place had the friendliest people! All of the food was quite good and it was definitely a worthwile experience, to say the least. I think we slept quite well that night.

Now onto Sunday...

As this was the day I "took a day off of work for no reason" (No. 30), it was a great opportunity to take advantage of bike riding and row boating in Central Park. So after a yummy brunch with the Sholes after church, we conquered the final item, No. 3 on the "list."

Fun times, indeed! And definitely experiences worth repeating. The park is completely different on those bikes- it was great.

At some point, I'll write more about what was learned on this great "Thirty by 30" Challenge of mine and things that have stuck and will continue, but this is long enough as is.

It's been a wonderful year - challenge completed!