The Blessing of Friendship

We have lived in Everett, MA now for over 3 years. The first 2 1/2 years of it, I had a pretty bad attitude. We moved from one of the beautifulest places in USA (southern o.c. in California). I never really appreciated it, and I always wanted to leave. Also, I was born and raised there. So imagine my surprise after settling to our new home (which is very cute; our landlords take great care of their home) that I discover our city it a bit, shall I say, on the rough side. I wasn't used to broken, cracked sidewalks, or trash or broken glass or kids that all dressed like gangsters. So I tried hard for the first couple of years, to visit friends in other cities. And found myself making excuses for our little city. And then a year ago, Mike got a job in the suburbs. There was no way he could take public transportation there, and it was an hour commute. So overnight, we were now severely limited to our city or a few neighboring places. It was an adjustment, to say the least. I wish I could say that I had a good attitude about it. No. It was a hear adjustment.

So, that is a long introduction. Let's just say that God really worked on my heart. I read a few really inspiring books. And I finally took the step and actually reached out to some ladies I saw frequently at the story time at the library. It was one of the best things I've ever done. This summer was GREAT. We met up for pool dates. We played at the park and did arts and crafts through the rec. center. We had the music lady and the turtle lady and story time at the library. (Which now all the librarians know us by name and greet us as soon as we walk in!) I rarely had to wait for the bus or the train. I could just walk and meet-up with people. And now....

I can honestly say that I enjoy my city! I don't notice the cracks or trash (maybe there really is less of it this year) and the broken glass. Instead I see the memories we've made and the people we've met and the lessons I've learned. It's been a huge humbly experience. So, Thank-you to my friends in Everett and Malden. Thanks for being willing to hang out with us, and at times listen to my moans and groans. If we ever do move away, I think that I really will grieve.

And the icing on the cake was yesterday when 5 of us met up for some fun at the Frog Pond in the Boston Common:
Riad and Abigail hold hands every where they go! (here they are on the subway) He is a sweet boy and has a little sister, Mimi.







More hand-holding. I think we were playing the ants go marching on. Here is Abigail with Sophia, Alex, Riad in the back and the other Abby in the distance.






Sharing a blanket at lunch time..with Sophia, Abby & Lonnie








A cute pose with the Hill brothers, Lonnie and the 2 Abigail's.

New friends & the Beach

Abigail and I are part of a Mom's group through meetup.com. Last week we had a beach meet-up and met some new friends, Avery and Kieran, from Canada. After lunch, she warmed up to them and by the end, they couldn't even walk alone! Oh, the joys of youth!

Abigail & her ABC's

Now that she can sing her ABC's all by herself, we hear multiple renditions every day. Which leads me to another resolution:

4. I shall sometimes look back at the freshness of vision I had in childhood.

List of Resolutions

Many years ago, people wrote resolutions...Jonathan Edwards is famous for them and I think George Washington had some too. Awhile back, I read a more modern list and I would like to share a couple with you:

1. I shall not fall into the falsehood that this day or any day is merely another ambiguous + plodding 24 hours, but a unique event, filled, if I so wish with worthy potentialities. I shall not be fool enough to suppose that trouble and pain are wholly evil parentheses in my existence, but just as likely ladders to be climbed toward moral and spiritual (wo)manhood.

2. I shall not demean my own uniqueness by envy of others...mostly I shall simply forget about myself and do my work.

3.I shall not allow the onrush of this century to usurp all my energies, but fulfill the moment as the moment. I shall try to live well just now because the only time that exists is now.

In Desiring God, John Piper

Good-bye Rocas

Today our friends & care group leader--Dan, Megan & Isabel (shown here with Abigail) left for 10 months to go to the Pastor's College in Maryland. Oh, partings are bittersweet. Once again, I am reminded how sentimental I am. I was a wreck yesterday at the "send-off". Today I am a little better...but we will still miss you!!!

Thanks for everything!

Design Star clarifications

In my last post on Design Star, I got some interesting comments. So I wanted to clarify. I was kinda being fascias about my 'addiction' to Design Star. Actually, I don't really think if of as an addiction. Mike and I truly enjoy watching hgtv (which is the home & garden network). We like watching people take drab and boring rooms and transform them with paint and creative furnishings. I think Mike enjoys more when the carpenters take raw pieces of wood and make them into beautiful custom made shelves. We don't watch everyday. We might watch more than we should. But I was just wanting you to all know a different side of me. One that I am only recently discovering. I find delight in decorating and designing. I've even thought of taking interior decorator classes. Of course, like everything, I need to be careful that I don't make it into an idol. Or that I neglect other areas of my life (like feeding my family and doing laundry, etc.. )

So, here is a few of my recent projects. Nothing too extraordinary. I would love to paint the walls and put up awesome designs on them. But for now, I am learning to be content with renting and just doing what I can to make our home a more comfortable and inviting place to be. Hope you enjoy!

Our bedroom before. The pillow coverings didn't match and there was a lot of bare wall, plus the awkward corner.


















Our bedroom after- With some pretty fabric, I actually sewed pillowcases (all I can sew is straight lines) and made the extra fabric into "art" on the walls. Abigail and I painted the frames and matting on the pics to match. And we got the canopy on sale. Now I truly enjoy going into the room. (it is also our office and storage room, so it wasn't that relaxing of a place before)
















Up close on my hand-made pillow coverings








Abigail showing off her "name". We also painted these together. I've also made a new pillowcase for her and tie-backs for her curtains. (it has been raining a lot the past 2 weeks)



























Well, I can only take half credit for this one. She is so cute that I don't really need to do anything :)

6 year anniversary

Mike and I celebrated our anniversary by going to a really nice French restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Boston. We don't get to go out much, so when we do, we splurge! We love it here...especially when we walk into the lobby and they come up to us , greet us, ask us our names and instantly say "Happy Anniversary"!