thanksgiving reflection

This Thanksgiving Luke and I reflected on the many things God has blessed us with this year. Our lives have changed significantly since last Thanksgiving. It's been a year of seeing Him provide for us and bring us through a difficult time. We are so thankful for a God who knows our needs and in whom we can trust for perfect timing.

Luke's job continues to be an incredible provision and we love where we are currently living. As we look forward to adding a baby to our family, we are excited to see where God leads us in the future. This year I had the opportunity to do some paying art projects and sold several pieces from my studio; it's been nice to make some money at what I truly enjoy doing and to realize that even though I don't have a lot of time to pursue art right now, God has given me this talent for a reason. These are just a few of the many things that I am thankful for this year.

We enjoyed being able to celebrate Thanksgiving with both of our families on various days. There's always lots of great food, love and laughter to go around.:) I love the holiday season (other than the fact that I work in retail:) and am so thankful for our loving families that enjoy spending time together and that are such a great encouragement and support.

a brief update

We're in the midst of what has turned into an extremely busy month and half. Thus the failure to blog.:) Among other things, there have been more social events than average, an all too brief, but fun visit to South Bend to see Stephanie and Jeremy and deliver some furniture, a painting project on a barn of the three sisters gardening technique (still not sure how I got roped into that one:), framing for new and old paintings, a couple of open studio nights and Luke working overtime as his company moves to a different building. I'm starting to feel like I'm running on fumes.:) Even though it's been a bit tough, it has been a good month. I had an unusually successful open studio night last friday sales-wise. I almost didn't go because I've been feeling a little under the weather and it wasn't a required one, but I was very glad that I made the decision to open up. Our kiddo appears to still be healthy and is becoming active.:) We find out the gender December 1st. Other than that, I'm just trying to get through these next couple busy weeks and I'm greatly looking forward to the holidays!

times are changing

As most of my small readership base has probably heard, Luke and I are expecting a kiddo mid-April. This weekend marks the end of my first trimester, which sounds pretty good to me.:) Aside from being extremely tired and obnoxiously hungry most of the time, I really can't complain too much about how I've been feeling. We're pretty pumped about this new phase of life and while right now I'm missing being able to take ibuprofen and my sleep supplement and being able to drink (let's face it, open-studio nights without wine and football without beer just aren't the same:) I know it's for the kid, so that makes it definitely worth it. Plus there have been a few perks like not having to lift boxes at work and being allowed to snack guilt free.:) Here's to the second trimester!:)

cats

Sometimes I think it would be a lot quieter around here if we only had one cat. Now I love both of my cats very much, but when I wake up at 6:30 a.m. (before my alarms goes off) to them tumbling around up and down the stairs and occasionally screeching at each other and generally making a ruckus, I get irritated. Overall they get along very well, but Clio really knows how to push Ceasar's buttons and doesn't know when to stop. And they definitely seem to be the most at each other at night or in the early hours of the morning. Not cool. They basically have polar opposite personalities, so that's probably why they know how to irritate each other.:) Clio is pretty high strung/crazy and energetic while Ceasar is about as mellow and laid back as they come. For the record, Ceasar is about twice Clio's size. I don't know why Clio thinks she can take him on.:)

here's the crazy one (although here she looks quite calm:)

and here's my calm one:

And now you can see that they actually do get along sometimes. Nothing brings them together like the open screen door and a rogue chipmunk taunting them from the patio.:) I love these guys.:)

check this out:)

The Cooks Next Door is doing another sweet giveaway!:) They are celebrating 1 year of their awesome blog. If you haven't checked it out, go and do so. You will thank me.:) They have tons of great recipes and cooking advice. Sign up for the giveaway here: http://thecooksnextdoor.com/2010/10/04/happy-1st-birthday-blog-%c2%a0giveaway/

getting alphabetized

Our move may have been 6 months ago, but somehow we're still getting organized.:) We've made quite a bit of progress and after the purchase of some Dvd/Cd shelves from Ikea, our living room is really starting to shape up. We have even gone so far as to alphabetize our dvds and cds as well as our record collection. Considering the ridiculous amount of media we seem to have, this was no small task.:) But it looks really good and we should be able to find things pretty easily now. Incidentally, if you need a good foreign film look no further.:) Hopefully I'll get pics posted eventually...

lunch break drive

Viewed on the sidewalk of 86th St. today: a slightly built man pushing a "portly" woman in a wheelchair who was in turn pushing a sleeping baby in a stroller.