I Dreamed a Dream

This is not the post I planned to write. I had been thinking of a post telling all about this great adventure I was preparing for and then doing a few recaps afterward. Instead, I’m writing this post to say my dream is on hold. I will not be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro next month.

The dream started my senior year of college. Three of us sat around at our favorite coffee shop and the topic of climbing to the roof of Africa came up. We decided then and there we would do it together one day. But then life happened. We graduated, got married, bought houses, had kids (well, they did) and realized that our evite planned trip for 2010 might not be in the cards.

This February I was training for a half marathon and preparing for a ski vacation when Ross found out two of our friends were climbing Kilimanjaro in May. My jealousy quickly changed to excitement as I made plans to join them.

After our vacation, I went on my last long run two weeks before the race and everything was fine. But as I walked to a friend’s house that night, my foot started to hurt. I tried to rest it for a day or two, but the pain was getting worse and not going away. By the time I got to the doctor, it was better and he confirmed it was tendonitis. I should skip the half marathon to heal in time for Kili.

Then last week, out of nowhere, for no apparent reason, I sprained my toe. I was just walking on flat ground in flats. I knew then my dream was on hold. I couldn’t trust my foot to be healed enough to climb a 19,000 foot mountain.  I was crushed. I went back and forth for a few days trying to decide if I should try to make it work. I knew the answer but just didn’t like it.

I realized too that this dream of mine is somewhat of a frivolous dream. Not reaching it means I won’t get to spend money to go on a difficult week long hike and see a some cool stuff along the way. I have so much to be grateful for and I shouldn’t throw myself a pity party.

Maybe one day, Ross and I will both be healthy and in a place where we can try to take this trip again. But maybe not, and that’s ok. For now, I’m excited to help my friends prepare for their once in a lifetime trip and eagerly anticipate hearing every detail when they return.

5 Years In DC

Last week marked five years since I moved to the city, which means I've been a bad at updating this blog for five years! :) I've been thinking about this milestone a lot lately, and it's hard to put into words how I feel. When I think back on my life in southern Indiana before the move, it doesn't feel like that long ago until I start thinking about how much life has changed.

"New" friends are people I've known four years. There have been celebrations for marriages and tears for divorces. Babies are showing up all over the place. I'm now an aunt to two precious little girls, and an honorary aunt to a handful of others. I've changed jobs within my organization, and take my lunch to work like a grown up.

And then there's the big ones: I met, married, and celebrated multiple anniversaries with Ross. And we've even bought a house in the city. Didn't see that one coming so fast when I moved here.

But isn't that the beauty in life? You can have a five year plan, but then there are twists and turns along the way that you just have to go with. I can't imagine the next five years being as transformative and life changing as the last, but we'll just have to wait and see.

How has your life changed in the last 5 years?

Unpacking the surprise friends put on my moving truck

One Day

Yesterday I participated in Hollywood Housewife's One Day Project (#OneDayHH). Or I at least tried to. I'm not able to Instagram at work, so there was silence during the day. Don't fret! I still took pictures.

Here's one day in my life. The regular, average, mundane and normally not photo worthy moments.

Wishing I could wear jeans to work.

When will I learn to prep lunches the night before?

Good morning D street!

Short cut around these jokers who don't know the stop light timing.

First thing I do at the office is make a cup of coffee. The day can now begin.

I never know who will be on the other end, but love my Dr. Dre ringtone. (Post it is censoring my number.)

It was two sweaters cold in the office.

Lunch-time yoga!

Random farm magnets I was given and old school Ross photos from his grandparents fridge.

My desk in all it's messy glory.

I found these wild animals in the hall. Perfect addition to afternoon tea time.

Reverse commute with a beautiful sunset and the Capitol building.

Friend wrote out her mom's lasagna recipe. I planned on making it but forgot the ricotta and cottage cheese.

Leftovers for dinner with a side of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia".

Laundry is drying so that's the end to my housework for the day.

Summer of Fun (Part 1)

Writing that last post just made me realize how far behind I've gotten in keeping up with our Weekly Family Photos. We had a busy and fun summer. Some of these pictures aren't the most flattering, but whatever. This is real life. Let's begin the run down of our summer.

Weekend roofers

Ross' dad was redoing part of their roof when we went to visit one weekend. I volunteered to drill all the screws for the plywood. This farm girl knows how to use a drill. On the down side, all that scooting on the plywood put two giant holes in the bum of my jeans. Good thing they were work jeans!

First BBQ

After years of living without any outdoor space, we were finally able to host a BBQ! It was an impromptu affair and we forgot to get a picture until after some friends had left, but it was so nice to be able to enjoy delicious burgers at home.

Celebrating the happy couple

Stephen grew up a mile down the street from Ross, so it's not a stretch to say they go way back.We spent the weekend in Philly for an engagement party for the couple. It was a lot of fun to meet Jenna's family and to begin the celebration for these two. I'm going to predict you will see them again in April 2014 because I can't imagine something making the weekly photo other than their wedding.

Skiing in the cold

We went to Indiana over Memorial Day weekend. Last year it was crazy hot, this year it was chilly. You can bet that didn't stop Ross from meeting up with my high school friends for a morning ski on the Lake. I chose to just watch from the boat with the heat on.

Week at the farm

Of course we visited the family in Indiana! We stayed for a week, but didn't try to get a group picture until right before we left. I love the girls in the this picture. Miss S just got a new watch that day, and Miss N is just adorable with her Pebbles pony tail.

Natitude

A former co-worker of mine had Nationals tickets he couldn't use, so he gave them to us FOR FREE. We were pretty excited and then we saw how close they were and felt a little guilty. But he told us to enjoy them, and we sure did.

Wedding season starts

We traveled with our CG to Connecticut for our friends' wedding. We all rented a house at the beach and had a great time hanging out and celebrating the happy couple. On a less sentimental note, we got an EZ Pass for the trip and loved passing all the people in the toll lanes. It's the simple things.

Sister time

My sister came to town for the weekend.We did what we do best: go for a run, get pedicures, drink coffee, and relax at the pool. We took her for Ethiopian and had long meals at the house. She also got to see our new house and neighborhood since it will be awhile before she can visit again. She was here for 48 hours, but they were filled with great sister heart to heart time.

Birthday sillyness

The perk to having an almost holiday birthday is you know your friends don't have to work the next day. A few days before we decided to host a cookout. We had fun, but probably should have done more cooking in advance. We ended up forcing people to stay late to have our homemade ice cream. (Yes, it's that good.) My favorite part about this picture is Alex's face. Cracks me up every time.

Their first MLB game

Going to bed after my cookout, I said to Ross "I need to admit something. There had been a few strange things about you the last few days that I thought my parents would surprise me and be at the cookout." We laughed about it, but then the next day they do show up at my house! It was a great surprise and coming the day after my birthday really threw me off. Good work mom and dad! We went to the movies and out to eat on the 4th to enjoy some AC. The next day we braved the heat and went to the Nats game. We didn't watch baseball growing up, so it was fun to take them to their first MLB game. And according to my mom, "They are a lot better than you girls ever were at softball. This is fun."

Seneca Rocks: Then and Now

Then:

December 2009

My first trip to West Virginia was the winter '09-'10. We were going to spend the weekend skiing with his parents and some friends. Ross wanted to drive a little bit out of our way to see Seneca Rocks. Now, I had never heard of the place, but he explained it is a popular (and challenging) place to go rock climbing.

I distinctly remember keeping a lookout for the rocks as we got close to the point in the GPS. And then all of a sudden there it was. "What?!? You're telling me people actually try to climb those things? They've got to be crazy."

Now:

July 2013

That's right, I'm now almost one of those crazy people. I say almost because I actually didn't climb what you see in the picture above. I did a route to the side and was pretty proud of myself for my first outside climb.

This post is actually late and has been sitting in draft form for quite awhile. We went out to Seneca at the end of July with some friends. We hiked, camped, climbed, and eventually started a fire with wet wood.

Can you spot Ross?

And since I was a newbie and the least enthused to climb, this is how I spent most of the days. Sitting at the bottom reading a book. (Highly recommend And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini.)

Defining Community in DC

It's been almost 5 years since I moved to the city. And within a few months, I had joined a community group (CG) with my church. I remember there were multiple groups in my neighborhood and I picked the one meeting on Tuesdays so it wouldn't interfere with watching Lost. What a great decision that was.

Last night was the last time the group met as I currently know it. We've grown to the point that we will now be two groups, but the fact is that it's already a new group. DC is such a transient city that when we started discussing this, there were only three people who were here when I joined. And that doesn't even count the others who have already come and gone.

Your CG are the people who:

 ...you meet up with during a snowstorm.

...pray for you weekly.

...rejoice with you when those prayers are answered.

...are quick to respond to parties with free food.

... all pitch in to get you a sweet wedding gift.

 ...help you move.

...watch and discuss The Bachelor/ette with you.

...send you blog posts - both silly and spiritual.

... you rent a house with for a retreat along with wine tastings.

...tell you about Peregrine.

...are the hands and feet of Christ.

...want to know your life story.

... you spend the holidays with when you don't go home.

...join you for runs or walks about the neighborhood.

...you constantly have to "break the ice".

...encourage you to meet your neighbors.

... travel hours in traffic to celebrate a wedding of a couple who live less than 5 minutes away.

...make sure you go to Good Stuff on a regular basis.

...celebrate engagements with champagne toasts.

...educate you about differences in Northern and Southern culture.

... have a hard time taking a serious picture.

...help you clean up your flooded basement.

...walk beside you through trying times.

...challenge you to love God and love others.

... promised to be the first ones on the dance floor at your wedding.

Anniversary Vow

Three years ago, I stood before God, our family and friends and made a vow. This past year has had joy and sorrow, new beginnings and losses, laughter and tears but we've made it through. The words I promised have been pushed up against and I'm sure they will continue to be, but I made them with full confidence in The One who can help me keep them. Plus I have a pretty cool husband which makes it easier.

I Kari, take you Ross

To be my lawfully wedded husband

To have and to hold

For better or for worse

For richer for poorer

In sickness, in health,

To love and to cherish

From this day forward

Until death do us part