Happy Birthday Ross!

Ross,

You turned 30 today and you've been so mellow about it. So mellow, in fact, that you planned a surprise party for my birthday when I thought we were going to dinner for your birthday! Stinker. But I still got to hang out with you, so I consider that a good night. You beat me to this milestone birthday, so I can't give you advice-- but these ten tidbits seem pretty solid. To celebrate you, here are 30 things I love about you (in no particular order).

30 Things I Love About You at 30 Years Old

I love that you're pursuing God.

I love that you're a kid at heart.

I love that you are really settling into the role of provider and protector in our family.

I love that you already call our son "handsome" and that you can't wait to meet him.

I love that you came back to fight for our marriage.

I love that you're taking risks and being a more adventurous eater, even though it's out of your comfort zone.

I love traveling with you and seeing different parts of the world through your eyes.

I also love sitting on the couch with you eating takeout. I'm so thankful you're my best friend after all.

I love that you're finishing your Master's degree even though it's been a long ride.

I love that you find irony in the fact that you're doing medical architecture for a career... the one branch you thought you'd never go into!

I love that you can laugh at yourself.

I love that you can make me laugh.

I love that you can just hug me tight when I'm crying, without trying to make it better.

I love that you don't mind driving everywhere.

I love that you quote Friends with me from time to time.

I love the gusto with which you're attacking this home renovation, and I'm endlessly thankful that it's fun for you.

I love that you can put up with my emotional rants (pregnant or not).

I love that you're so enthusiastic about my gluten-free baked goods.

I love that you're supportive of my own creative endeavors, even though they're different from yours.

I love that you're so excited about getting white t-shirts for your birthday.

I love that you're adjusting to the large family you've become a part of.

I love that you're an optimist, even though you're learning that rose-colored glasses don't actually fix things.

I love that you do love to fix things and help others.

I love that you think dogs are great fun... but you're okay with not owning one!

I love that you love country music, even thought the radio stations here are slim pickings.

I love your smile. And your eyelashes. Okay, I think you're pretty good looking overall!

I love your spontaneity.

I love hearing what's on your heart.

I love getting to know you more as we learn how to communicate better.

I love that you're you! I wouldn't change a thing.

I'm honored, humbled, and excited to be by your side as you enter your next decade. Happy birthday!

I Tip my Hat

Ross,

Four years ago today, we spun around the dance floor to Tracy Byrd's "Keeper of the Stars." We had a trial dance-off to half a dozen songs in my apartment while we were engaged, and this song was the lucky winner.

I loved the first verse:

It was no accident, me finding you
Someone had a hand in it
Long before we ever knew
Now I just can't believe you're in my life
Heaven's smilin' down on me
As I look at you tonight

We were pulled together so magnetically and so perfectly 5 1/2 years ago that I knew we were never not meant to be. I took great comfort in this evidence of a God who knew my story before I did. We were engaged 5 months after meeting each other and married 10 months after that. Surely God was writing a "happily ever after" masterpiece.

In the last year and a half, I've had serious reasons to reconsider that fairytale. But through the transforming grace of God, I've seen your heart change and I've seen my heart change and I can see that God intended for this to happen all along. These four years have not been for the faint of heart, and I wouldn't wish heartache on any marriage. 

But without the storm, I wouldn't have seen the rainbow. I wouldn't be in a marriage that's so different and that's growing into something so much better than I thought possible. I would not have faced the darkness in my own heart or learned to begin to forgive the darkness in another's.

Today I can stand back and laugh at the days to come and shake my head in awe of this wonderful God we serve. Indeed:

I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts

Our marriage has been the best thing that ever happened to me, and the worst thing that ever happened to me in my 27 short years on earth. We almost didn't make it to this four year milestone, but I'm grateful we did. Even after everything we've been through, it's easy to start focusing on my messy piles of paper, your inability to leave the toilet seat in the proper position, our disagreements on what makes an acceptable dinner or date night or vacation. We sometimes think that lack of intensity and lack of agreement means lack of love.

But if we're graced with many decades together, I pray that we never forget what God has taught us through marriage. We aren't entitled to the gift of marriage or even someday, God-willing, children. But through God's mercy, we are called to living the life we're given with grace, and I'm grateful that Grace has given me you.

Love,
your wife 




p.s. thanks again to Erica for taking such treasured photos this summer!

Ross' Truffle Shuffle 5k

I had high hopes for the race. Ross and I were going to run it together and beat last year's times of 32 minutes. But that was before I made the very bad decision to spread hay on a field for 15 hours of my week. Friday found me in the midst of an asthma attack at work. Fortunately, my doctor's office was right down the hall and I got a prescription of Prednisone and a stern reprimand to NOT run a 5k the next day. To be honest, I still wanted to but couldn't even lay down on my back without coughing. I may be stubborn, but I'm not stupid.

To make matters worse, Ross didn't get home from work until 11pm. I told him I wasn't able to run and asked if he wanted to. He said, "we'll see." So we went to bed without an alarm but woke up by 7:30 (the race was at 8:30). I asked if he wanted to run and he said, "I guess." We hurried through breakfast and headed out to JCCC.

Ross registered, I parked, he had about 5 minutes to "warm up," and they were off.

Did I mention is was 26 degrees and "felt like" 16?!

The poor girl in the tutu was cute, but she looked colder than I was!

The race looped away from campus, but I didn't remember that about last year, so I cut through campus after the start hoping to find Ross around mile 1.5 or 2. No such luck, of course. Fortunately, I busted it back to the start/finish line and headed out on the course in time to meet Ross a little before mile 3. Still going strong!

So proud of him! After I saw him on this hill, I cut across the grass and barely met him at the finish line.

Done! In 28 minutes and 30 seconds... 4 minutes faster than last year! I'm so proud of him, especially considering the late breakfast (and thus throwing up mid-run) and the lack of warm-up in freezing weather. What a way to start the weekend.

I love you, Ross!

P.S. Apparently he wore my shoe tag, so his official results are under my name (we both registered, so we picked up both bags because hey, we paid for them). "I" got 9th place in my age group. (The first place girl ran a SUB-20 5k. Crazy.) Thanks, Ross!

Spring Semester 2011

Ross is back in school this week. He's working 30 hours a week and taking 6 hours of grad classes this semester. It actually sounds like a good balance for him. He loves work (he calls it his "big kid job," which is true, but decidedly not the adult way of saying he's employed). Anyway, he certainly has fun looking the part:

New clothes and new shoes

His classes just started Tuesday but he's already in school mode:

computer programming

electronic mumbo jumbo

And what does he do on his first day off? Drive to Lawrence and build a new desk frame since apparently the one he built a few months ago is too tall. (Yes, he's getting rid of the original frame he got into the front door, couldn't get into the office, then couldn't get out the front door to take back to the shop. So he sawed it down, drove back to Lawrence, and eventually made it into a desk. Which lasted all of a month before he decided he didn't like it.) 

new greasy metal framework

I miss him on my days off now that he has a job with normal hours, but I'm proud of him! And speaking of days off, any ideas how I can spend mine now that studying isn't hanging over my head? 

(I'm serious: any and all ideas are welcome!)

Snowball Donuts

When my brothers and I were little, we always looked forward to the first snow of the season. Even if it wasn't enough snow to cancel school, it still meant our mom would make snowball donuts! Mmm little bites of heaven. I'm pretty sure we ate them just as fast as she pulled them out of the fryer and powdered them. I introduced Ross to the concept of snowball donuts when we moved here last year, and he's hooked.  Starting in November, I made sure to have the necessary ingredients on had so we'd be able to celebrate whenever the first snow came.

Thankfully, it's been a mild winter and we only had our first real snow last week. But it accumulated, and that's enough to justify donuts!

Snowball Donuts

Ingredients:

1 can buttermilk biscuits (not the 'Grands' rolls, just plain buttermilk ones)
1-2 cups Crisco
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar


Directions:

1. Scoop Crisco into a sauce pan and turn burner to medium-high.

 
2. While Crisco is melting, cut biscuits into quarters and mix the two sugars together in a bowl.

 
3. When Crisco is fully liquid, drop 1-2 dough balls into the hot oil at a time, turning quickly. If they brown almost instantly, turn the heat down to medium.

4. Remove from fryer when balls are browned on both sides. Place on plate lined with paper towels.

5. Every so often, dump all the "snowballs" from the plate into the bowl with sugars and roll around to coat. Repeat until all the donuts look like snowballs.

Pretty unscientific, I know, but so fun and easy to make!

Almond Butter Banana Muffins

Fall Spice Almond Butter:
1 1/2 cup almonds
1 Tbs. maple syrup + 1/2 Tbs. maple syrup
1 Tbs. molasses
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of fine grain sea salt
1 tsp. canola oil

Dump almonds onto greased baking sheet and coat with 1 Tbs. maple syrup and 1 Tbs. molasses. Roast at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Then allow to cool on pan for 30 minutes.

Dump almonds into food processor and grind for 5-10 minutes, scraping sides down occasionally, until smooth (past the stage where it makes a large ball of "dough".) If it's not smooth yet, keep going. Every food processor is different.

Then add the remaining 1/2 Tbs. maple syrup, spice, vanilla, salt, and oil. Process again until you reach desired consistency. Makes about 3/4 cup of almond butter. Keep refrigerated and use on sandwiches, in oatmeal, etc. Or, use it to make these delicious muffins. (The almond butter recipe is my own. The muffin recipe is not.)

Almond Butter Banana Muffins:
1/2 cup almond butter (store bought is great, but it's fun to make your own)
3 Tbs. canola oil
2 large ripe bananas
1/4 cup (not packed) brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 Tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin tins with paper liners (or spray two large loaf pans with nonstick baking spray.)  Place the bananas in the work bowl of a food processor and puree until smooth.

In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the almond butter with the oil at medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.  Beat the mixture at medium speed for 2 minutes, and then beat in the brown sugar, honey, and the vanilla extract.

With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the banana puree, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Do not over-mix. 

Divide the batter almond the muffin cups, filling just over halfway. (This recipe made 18 muffins for me). Bake until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean, 15-16 minutes.  Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

I kept these out for a day or two, and put the rest in the freezer. They warm up nicely and make a great snack!

P.S. While I've been making a mess in the kitchen, Ross has been making a mess in the woodshop at school. Between work and homework, he somehow found time to make a desk for our office!

Moving Meltdown

We're currently in the middle of moving to a new apartment. 

Me + Moving:

(Credit for this montage goes to this hilarious blogger)

In Ft. Worth, we lived in apartment #1335.

We then moved to Kansas City into apartment #1433.

I was really hoping that when the time came, we'd move out of that apartment into a cute little house with the number #1531.

But with me on day shift and Ross with a full class load, our one-bedroom apartment got too tiny really fast. (I can count on two hands the number of times we've actually eaten at the table in our apartment in the last year since it doubles as Ross' desk and Therese + food + computer = a disaster waiting to happen). Since it just doesn't make sense/isn't financially possible for us to buy a house right now, we're moving to a new apartment in the same complex.

We upgraded to a one-bedroom with an office and pretty much bullied the apartment manager into lowering the rent on the new place since the air conditioner in our old place was broken from July through October. No joke. We're still paying more, but hopefully the extra space (and a table we can eat at) will be worth it.

If I've learned anything today, it's that I'm whiny and wimpy. And I need lots of snack breaks.

Ross is the exact opposite. He just wants to POWER THROUGH. I didn't get to go on a run today-- Ross has done most of the work as it is, without me leaving for 2 hours. But since we're moving from 3rd floor to 3rd floor (again), my legs sure hate me anyway! Good thing Ross is such a champ. I'm sure when it's said and done, he will have done 80% of the actual moving. And here I am whining again...

Dear Ross, I AM SO SORRY! Next time I will work as much overtime as I need to, and save up to pay for movers. 

Country Mouse, City Mouse

I had an RNC study course in Chicago this weekend and since it fell over Ross' fall break, he came too. I can't believe neither of us has been here! I read There Are No Children Here in high school and thought the entire city sounded terrifying: loud, dirty, and dangerous. But a tourist can be selective (and naive). The parts of Chicago we saw were indeed loud and crowded, but they seemed busy with a purpose and crowded as an art.

Cairo and St. Louis are my only "big city" experiences, and even then I relied on others to know where we were going and how to get there. I don't love public transportation. My lungs rebel from the high pollution levels. But Ross? Ross was in heaven the minute we set foot in the O'Hare airport. He loved the El. He loved the rumble of the trains, the exposed steel rails, the endless skyscrapers. He loved being lost in a big city. I needed a map and orientation at all times. And lots of hand sanitizer.

When I was little, I pretended I was Laura Ingalls Wilder and loved running through tall grass in my "Laura" bonnet and blue muslin dress. When Ross was little, he loved Bot Wars and building skyscrapers out of Legos.

I was so excited to find a garden in the middle of the city.

Ross walked ahead and pretended not to know me when I did anything touristy.

Friday night, we were sitting in the shuttle after about an hour of traveling from downtown to our hotel (a trek that involved taking the Blue Line train through a dozen stops and then getting out to wait for the shuttle to pick us up) and I was staring at the cars out the window. Ross turned to me and said, "If we lived here, I don't think I'd even want a car!" I replied, "That's funny. I was just thinking how much I missed my car." I may hate driving in traffic, but I do love the fact that millions of people haven't sat where I'm sitting when I'm in the driver's seat.

It's shocking how opposite we are sometimes. Millenium Park and the surrounding public spaces made a good compromise. I loved the open space. Ross loved the accessible skyline.

Fortunately, Ross had lots of time to play city slicker while I sat in a conference room every morning. When we met up in the afternoons, it was so fun to watch him talk animatedly about the skyscraper tours he took that day. Oh yes, that's plural. He didn't even scratch the surface of available tours. I love my little city mouse!

2 Years and Counting...

Two years ago, I was sipping a latte and getting my hair and makeup done at this time.

After that, I rushed home, packed (so belatedly) for a Canadian honeymoon, hurried to the church, and got dressed in the best dress I've ever worn.

I tried not to break down when my mom had a breakdown.

I took pictures with my best friends in the beautiful September sunshine outside my childhood church.

My dad walked me down the aisle.

And Ross and I said "I do."

His family

joined my family,

and two became one.



Today, I'm celebrating like I seem to celebrate every "holiday"-- by working. We're also babysitting for family friends this week so Ross is at their house and I'm post-dating this entry to publish while I'm with "my" babies at work.

Last year, our fancy dinner plans fell apart and we ended up eating pizza on a beach. We actually served pizza at our wedding as well, so we decided to start a tradition and have pizza on our anniversary every year. We ended up ordering it last night because the kids we're watching had friends over and it made sense to just feed them all something easy. Sadly, we didn't have any cake to eat on our first or second anniversary, but one year we will go back to that bakery and have them make a mini cake for us to celebrate with.

Since Ross and I aren't going to see much of each other today, I'm doubly glad we took our first-anniversary/pre-move-to-one-income vacation to Florida last year! And today, I guess it's okay that we're spending the day with kids. We kind of like them.

Happy anniversary, Ross! I cannot believe we've been married two years already... and we still like each other most days ;-)

Someone Called Me Fast!

Ross and I ran 5 miles this morning.  I felt good and the weather was, for the most part, cloudy and about 65 degrees. I beat last week's 5-mile time by 2 minutes! You know how they say that if an experiment is "repeatable," it's more valid? That's how I feel about my longer distances right now. If I can do it 2 weeks in a row, it's not a fluke!

The BEST part of the run, though, was when we passed a mom with a little girl in a stroller after turning around at the halfway point. The little girl pointed at us and said "fast!"

I'm learning to love hills. At least on out-and-back runs. After all, what goes up must come down. And I found a route that ends on a downhill! I heard this quote in high school and fell in love:

Can I butcher it and say, "I am not afraid of hills, for I am learning to run my race"?! Two weeks until my 10k!