Three bits of good news...

This picture is from Squirrel Hill cafe, our local diner. We've actually not been there yet, but I love the entryway! Anyway, three bits of exciting news from this week...

1. Krisan started a blog! Hooray! I am very excited to hear hilarious jasper stories and to learn more about the first year of marriage in the Anderson house. Everyone head on over to www.krisananderson.blogspot.com and leave her a "hello!"

2. Yesterday I heard back from the University of Pittsburgh about a job! I'll be teaching English to international students part-time starting tomorrow at 10am! I am very excited - the people seem great, the campus is amazing, and it'll be very nice to be back in the classroom!

3. Finally, in other job-related news, I am so excited because Annie just offered for me to stay with her and to become part of her business. She wants to me to begin learning to use the professional photo software (Lightroom and Photoshop CS3) so I can start managing and editing photos after large jobs, and all along, she wants to be helping me develop as a beginning photographer. So, I am so thankful and excited. I really love working with Annie; she gets the coolest jobs in the most amazing places around the city. And, I am constantly amazed that this opportunity arose. What a gift from above to help me adjust to (and fall in love with) with this new place.

So, this week has been good. Brad is enjoying his job; he learns so much and is challenged every day. And, the dogs are loving life in Pittsburgh. I'll post some pictures soon of them lounging in their new back yard, a luxury they never had in Gainesville!

Vampire Bats and other weekend happenings...

So this weekend we went camping, and sitting out under the black sky and with a very straight face Brad asks me, "are there vampire bats out here you think?" I was looking up into the sky like, "huh?" And then he says, "because if a vampire-bat was in the U.S. It would make sense for it to come to a 'sylvania.' Like Pennsylvania."

Brad thinks that it's fun to live in the PA; now his quotes from the office make more sense!

Anyway, our first long weekend here was very fun. We went out to dinner with some new friends on Friday night, we had some others over to our place on Saturday night, and Sunday night we went camping in the 'sylvania' mountains!

When we were sitting out in the cool weather with the crickets chirping after such a nice weekend, I wondered if I would dread coming back into the city with the noise and the parking problems and the to-do lists, etc. But, yesterday as we pulled back onto our street, we both commented on how excited we were to be back; in such a short time, our little 2nd floor apartment has become the place that we love coming home to, our little haven in a new place.

Now, back to the real world...

Food.

So, I'm back asking for more food advice...

When Brad and I moved to Pittsburgh, we set some new goals related to our health, our marriage, our money, our time, etc. One of the goals related to our health and money is to plan out each week's menu in advance and to just take one grocery-story trip, therefore reducing the number of last-minute meals out (which we love) and/or last-minute trips to the grocery store (which we loathe)!

It's worked okay so far. I've been buying all our meat at costco weeks in advance, so when we make our menu, we really only have to buy side items and fresh produce/veggies. However, we still end up with too much food sometimes, as we usually have more leftovers than we expect or something else comes up which changes dinner plans. Just today I threw away some food that went bad because we didn't use it last week.

Also, Brad and I really enjoy cooking together (our dates usually consist of cooking a nice meal and then taking the dogs around the neighborhood to walk it off!), so we're also trying to incorporate at least one new, "fun" meal into each week's menu. It's great - I read bon appetite and watch cooking shows, pick one meal that looks interesting and new, and we look forward to it all week! (This week I'm particularly excited about Rachael Ray's Szechuan Chicken Salad. Even through all her cheeziness, she comes up with the best recipes. I was drooling as I watched her put this one together.) However, I hate buying new ingredients for our "fun" meals that end up going to waste. I need to figure out how to use specialty ingredients more effectively OR how to substitute normal things on my shelf.

So anyway, since this meal-planning is new for me, I'm wondering, do you all have any tips? Do you make certain things ahead and freeze them? Do you leave a few nights for leftovers? What is one of your family's favorite easy weeknight meals and/or "fun" meals? Do you have any favorite ingredient substitutions? I know some of you have written about this in your blogs (which has also encouraged me to stick to it!), but I'd love to have your feedback.

the wonder of costco

I have never lived in a city with a costco before, but I have always heard amazing things about it! Well, now we live 10 minutes from costco, and I am already singing its praises. If you live near a costco but have wondered whether you should pay the membership fee, let me tell you a few reasons why you should join...


Photos! Costco will ship photos to members for free. So, you never have to leave your house - just upload your files online, put in your member number, and voila! At your doorstep in a few days for the same cost of picking up in-store.

Meat! I can buy meat at half the cost of the normal grocery store. And what's best, we love eating fish but always worry about it going bad in the refrigerator, but at costco I can buy all my fish in individual frozen packages and just pull it out on the day I need it. It's fresh, delicious, and I don't have to worry about cleaning uneaten fish out of the refrigerator at the end of the week!

Bread! Oh my goodness... the artisan breads are amazing! I just bought two loaves of freshly-baked whole wheat bread and put one in the freezer. The two loaves of yummy baked bread were just cents more than one loaf of boring bread at the grocery store. Score.

Dog stuff! Costco has huge bags of dog food and treats, etc. at great prices. And, they have beds and other stuff that we always hate buying because of the price at places like wal-mart and target. I found a huge dog bed for 14.00! Amazing.

Gas! Gas is cheap and convenient (no lines!) for costco members. There's only one gas station near our house, and it's always busy and expensive! So for me, costco gas is precious!

Paper products! I have paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, etc. for the next year. Never again do we have to run to the grocery store at 10pm because the TP ran out.

Finally, costco has freshly-prepared food that you can just take home and eat or cook later - pasta salads, sandwiches, fruit, marinated steaks and seafood, etc. I got a pizza with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil to stick in a bake tonight. Oh man.


So, if you were wondering about joining costco, I hope I've started to convince you of its amazingness! And, when you first visit, go straight to the bakery! :)

Also, since I'm still figuring out this store, I'm curious to know how other people use costco - what deals have you found? What things aren't worth buying there?

We're off...

Well we are off to the Steelers game. It's a beautiful 68 degrees outside, and we're going three hours early to enjoy tailgating, walking around the stadium, pre-game, etc.

I need someone to come with me so we can chat while Brad watches the players stretch out!

Also, I realized that I have nothing gold to wear - absolutely nothing. Orange and Blue I do have, of the Auburn and the Florida variety, but those won't do me any good here! ;) More updates to come later...

What a pair

Today I thought I'd just post an everyday around-the-house picture: Brad reading on our back porch (aka fire escape) while Turk keeps him company. What a pair...

Annie

Hello bloggy world. What are you all doing this weekend? We are doing a boring nothing and loving it. We spent the morning at a popular pancake restaurant we've been wanting to try and at our favorite coffee shop (you can barely see brad, above). And now we're doing the usual Saturday things - reading, laundry, cleaning...

Since I had a bit of a whiney post the other day, I thought I'd update with some happier news. As of yesterday, I started working with a photographer in the area. Annie is this great Pittsburgh photographer who does work all over the city for big events and companies as well as very fun weddings.

Basically, I just help her do whatever she needs - set up equipment, chat with subjects while she works, hopefully take pictures at bigger events where she needs another shooter. My favorite part of the job is learning from Annie! She is professional and incredibly good, and I already learned so much about lighting and equipment in one day.

My other favorite part of the job, though, is learning about the city and meeting amazing people. We went to different locations around the city yesterday for portraits of Pittsburg's model citizens from the Forbes Fund, and I got to visit such diverse and exciting places - downtown, the hill district, the North side, new Kensington, and Squirrel Hill. And, I got to meet people who lead really amazing organizations like the Pittsburgh Project, the Young Women's Christian Association downtown, the Jewish Family and Children's Services, and some others I can't remember.

So, I am excited about this job. Annie is so humble though I could tell how amazing she actually is - she's worked on projects all over the world, as well as with all sorts of famous people. Also, when she doesn't have work going on, she told me that she knows other great photographers in the area who I could work with. I really had to keep pinching myself throughout the day!

I'm still going to interview with University of Pittsburgh this week, as Annie is a freelance photographer, and therefore her work is sporadic. But, I am so excited about this new development. The PA is definitely looking up from a few days ago!

We have Softball

What's your favorite Olympic commercial been so far? Just today I saw this commercial and just loved it! I felt like I was taken back about 13 years, feeling the sun on my shoulders and tasting the clay in my mouth. I said to Brad, "that makes me want to have little girls!"

Don't you just love Nike commercials?

A Mixed Bag

Hey everyone! I am excited to announce that we now have internet in our house. So, I can now be a better blog reader and commenter and writer...

Anyway, the latest update in our world is that week two in the PA has proven to be a mixed bag - good in some ways and disappointing in some ways. I went to my first interview with a language school downtown and found that they probably won't have a position for me this coming term. The interview went well, but they won't know until Monday if they have need for extra instructors; and, they are losing students as they move from summer into fall, so it doesn't look very hopeful.

Along with that disappointing news, I have just this week hit my wall of feeling a little lonely. I don't have a job yet, and I'm mostly spending my time with the dogs in the house or walking around the city. Granted, they do provide some company, but I have just been needing some friends here - or for that matter - just some people to talk to!

But, the good news is, the Lord is taking care of us, and two different couples from City Reformed already called this week to invite us over to dinner. And, we also visited one community group, which was nice. I just have to take a deep breath and remember that developing true relationships takes time!

The other good news is, Brad's work is going really well. His boss has given him more responsibility even this week, and he is very excited about his future with the company. He comes home exhausted, as he is still getting used to having a greater work load, but he is very fulfilled and happy, and that makes me happy!

Okay, well, that's all for now. As far as my job search goes, I have an interview with University of Pittsburgh next week and a meeting with a photographer today! I've applied to work as an assistant to a few photographers around town, so I'll just have to see what happens. I do hope that one of those will be more promising than the first...

City Reformed

Well, this weekend was good - Brad and I (and the dogs) went hiking in Laurel Hill State Park, as seen in the picture above, and on Sunday we visited our first church - City Reformed Presbyterian.

I am excited to say that we think we have found our new church home. City Reformed was a breath of fresh air - wonderful worship, solid bible teaching, young people everywhere. And, the church is only three miles from home.

The vision of the church is exciting - they are located in the heart of the city in order to minister to the people. One of the pastors was telling us that church attendance in Pittsburgh is extremely low - only a few evangelical churches exist in the East End (where we live) and the the largest one only has about 300 regular attendees. So, City Reformed was planted about 5 years ago in order to minister to this very unchurched area. They have campus outreach at both Carnegie Mellon and Pitt, and they have various ministries all throughout the city. Also, they have these cool forums on art and film and theology that the church holds in the community.

Brad and I hung around and met lots of people; everyone was very warm and welcoming, and we met quite a few people who live very close to us, which is nice. Also, we were invited to a few different community groups, so we're going to start visiting and getting to know people this week.

This Sunday was a blessing for both of us. Uprooting and moving to such a different place has been unnerving at times, but meeting part of the body of Christ in Pittsburgh gave us a sense of normalcy that we've been missing. And, having a time of worship and teaching was therapeutic.

Well, that's all the good updates I have for now. Later I'll tell you about our latest struggles: the dog down the street that barks all night, and the first day of half-marathon training in the hills of Pennsylvania. Ugh.

Duds and Suds

Well here I sit in Duds and Suds laundromat. Another negative of our news place: not having a washer and dryer upstairs where I can use it anytime. Our washer is in the basement, and it's tiny. So, since I had two weeks worth of laundry, I decided to suck it up and visit the laundromat.

The bad news is, laundromats are yucky. There's some dude that keeps looking at me funny, and "Days of our lives" is blaring in the background. Ugh!!

The good news is, on my way here I got lost and found Whole Foods Market and Banana Republic. The other good news is, Panera Bread is next door, so I can have a cookie and use the internet while I clean my undies. There's always a silver lining to be found.

Well, I'm off to check my whites! :)

Updates...

There are a few things that are of first importance to me when in a new place:

1) finding a church and friends
2) locating the nearest coffee shop
3) finding the best running/walking route around the neighborhood
4) Target.

Well, we have been in Pittsburgh for five days, and we have successfully completed numbers 2-4. I rode my bike to a great new coffee shop this morning, and I found the nearest Target on day two. Also, Brad and I (and the dogs) took our first long walk as a family last night. Finding a church will be a longer process, but we already have a few in the area that we're excited about visiting!

After being here a few days, I can honestly say that we're giddy with excitement about this city. It's just the right size for us - not huge like New York but very compact with a great city-like feel. The city is nestled within the hills of Pennsylvania, so the views are amazing, and the people seem very down-to-earth and normal. Brad is happy with his job, and he's already meeting possible couple friends for us there!

The bad things are, the hills are unbearable! I rode my bike yesterday and today, and both times, I thought I would actually die. I talked to someone outside our house as I left yesterday, and I was so embarrassed when he saw me come back 20 minutes later, huffing and puffing like I rode a marathon. Also, we are not used to living in the city, hearing the noise of the street all night. Houses here aren't air conditioned, and sleeping with the windows open is going to take getting used to!

Well, that's all the updates I have for now. Also, the picture above is from inside the Pirates stadium a few nights ago. What a view!

we're here!

We're here! I just wanted you to know that we arrived safely and are unpacking boxes and organizing. We love our new home, and the city is so cute (at least what we've seen of it so far!). I'll write more updates later, but for now, a picture from Mt. Washington, overlooking the city.

family photo.

Those of you with Animals and children, have you ever noticed how hard it is to get a picture with everyone looking?!

Well, this is our best attempt at our last family photo in Gainesville. Everything is packed, and the movers are coming tomorrow to load up our stuff. We had a wonderful last dinner with friends tonight, and now we are feeling ready to make the move.

Do keep us in your prayers as we drive up to Pittsburgh. It's a long way from here, but we are ready for the adventure!

Our Group

Last night was our last Thursday night with our wonderful community group. As usual, we had a great time of food and fellowship, and we're really going to miss it.

One of the main reasons we love Gainesville so much is because of these people. When we first moved here, we found this amazing group of 8 couples who were in the same stage of life and who were interested in similar things. With the people in this group we've had great meals, we've had great talks, we've had a few cries, we've been camping - twice, we've prayed for each other, we've trained for and run a half-marathon, we've canoed, we've been to springs, we've had lunches on campus, and through everything - the fun and the serious times, we've truly grown to love each other.

The group has dwindled to four couples as we've watched friends move away for different jobs and programs, but this summer with these eight people has been sweet, and we're going to miss them dearly. Lauren and Everald are moving to New York City on Monday; we are moving to Pittsburgh on Thursday; and Sarah and Danny and Kim and Steve will be here in Gainesville. So, we will be living far apart, but we know our paths will cross again, and we look forward to that day.

Repeat

This morning I woke up feeling a little melancholy. This week has begun our "lasts" in Gainesville, and it's been sad - we so love this place. I had my last day in the lab, we had our last dinner with some good friends last night, and tonight is our last community group meeting.

After making the dogs get in the bed and snuggle with me (that always helps!), I got up and put on some music while I started making breakfast, and I found such great encouragement in some words by Rita Springer. I've had her albums on repeat the past couple days!

As I leave you with a little Rita, I wonder, what music have you been playing on repeat lately?


"only the spirit knows
the deepest thoughts of man
only the spirit knows
the mind of God

Wisdom is for fools
and your foolishness is wise
so I'm coming like a child
to understand...

No eye has ever seen
No ear has ever heard
The things you're planning, Lord
The things you're doing for all who believe
No mind can comprehend this deepest mystery

but I hear you speak again,
I think I'll trust again
I believe"

You can only choose 5!

This weekend has been a boxing weekend in the Chappell house! Not the kind of boxing that involves blood and broken teeth, but the kind that involves lots of tape and heavy lifting.

As we prepare for the move, we're trying to pack two sets of things - one to store for later and the other to use in the coming year while we are living in our new place with the tiny kitchen and small closets!

Because of this, one of today's projects was choosing which books will come out and which will go to the basement. This project got me thinking about which books are my favorites and which I could do without. And, it got me wondering what your favorite books are...

...so, I have a question for you: if you could choose 5 books (fiction or non-fiction) to have with you this coming year, which books would you choose? I have been thinking about this as I have been packing, and I think these are the ones I would choose to have with me this particular year:

John Piper - Desiring God
F. Scott Fitzgerald - Tales of the Jazz Age
A.W. Tozer - The Pursuit of God
Annie Dillard - An American Childhood
Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook (hey, I've got to do something until I find a job!)

Of course, I decided to keep out lots more than five! But, I'm just interested to see what your favorites are...

Yum.

Last weekend mom and I had the privilege of taking a baking/cake decorating class with Lake County's finest caterer/wedding cake baker/cookie maker, etc, mamalee. This weekend, I got to practice my new handiwork on a batch of cupcakes and icing that I made for a night with friends. You should have seen my kitchen afterwards - it was a yellow and purple disaster! But, they tasted good.

And the best thing is, Mrs. Lee taught us to put home-maid fruit filling surprise inside! Mmm...

I think in my second life I'd like to start a small neighborhood bakery. Good thing I have lots of time to practice!

Turk's love tank.

I caught these two snuggling on the couch today and had to get a picture. Turk used to lie like this as a puppy (we would tickle his stomach and he'd fall asleep). And, we thought it was so sweet, so even when he kept getting bigger and bigger, we kept holding him like a 8-pound puppy!

So, even though he is now 65 pounds, he still has his love tank filled by lying upside down in a lap (or sometimes two laps!) and having his belly rubbed. It's quite a funny scene, and I thought you might enjoy seeing a picture!

Skies.

I have a confession to make. Today I overheard some ladies comparing Florida skies to northeastern skies, and I got so sad I almost couldn't stand it. If I remember right, the words "dark" and "cold" were associated with northeastern skies and the words "blue" and "open" and "sunny" were associated with Florida skies.

I grew up in the sunshine state, so those words describe only one thing for me: home.

Tonight after I got in the car, I rolled the window down and stared up at the big open clear sky, breathing the air in deep. And, I wondered if any other sky could ever be so beautiful, could ever smell so good or feel like home.

This residual state of 'sad' lingered with me into the night, and as I was lying in bed staring at the cealing, I realized how bizarre it is that my emotions can allow me to feel so excited about something one minute and so sad the next. Essentially, I realized how unpredictable emotions can be, not just in the midst of change, but any time.

In that quiet moment, the Lord was good. He helped me to take my thoughts captive and to dwell instead on truth: on His nature and on the ways He has been faithful in every tiny detail of our lives, on his promise to not leave me or forsake me in the midst of this detail. And, I share this here as I know a few of you have dealt with and have written about this very issue, and I have been blessed and encouraged by your candor. When dealing with the emotional ups and downs of life - of big things and small, it can be very hard to meditate on things that are true, things that are lovely, things that are excellent and are worthy of praise.

So, as I fall asleep tonight, my prayer is that the Lord would once again be teaching me in a very practical way to meditate on his truth and to simply and completely trust him. And, it is my hope that eventually, the gray skies of Pennsylvania will be able to feel like a new kind of home to me.

My home away from home...

How can anyone live in a place with a kitchen this small?

I'll soon find out because this will officially be our kitchen in three weeks! That's right - we have a place to live! As of August 9th, our address will officially be 205 N. Dallas Ave. Pittsburgh, PA.

Brad went up to Pittsburgh last weekend and found a wonderful place we can rent while our house is on the market - the second floor of older home in the city with all sorts of character: wood floors, pretty fireplace, a little yard, nice pink-tiled bathrooms. I'm so excited and relieved. I won't be visiting Pittsburgh until we move, but at least I'll have somewhere to call home when we get there!

Week-night Dinner

Tonight is Taco-night at the Chappell house. Oh the wonderfulness of salsa, chips, jalapenos, cheese, tomatoes, spicy beef, and toasted tortillas...

What's your family's favorite week-night dinner?

Change

It's been so long since I've written in my little blog! I miss you all! Brad and I have wonderfully busy spending time with family, and we've also been busy dealing with some changes that have come up unexpectedly and quickly - changes I want to finally tell you all about.

The change that has happened is, we are moving. We are leaving wonderful Florida and moving to the northeast.

To keep a short story short, just a few weeks ago, Brad was contacted by a company in Pittsburgh called Tetra Tech about a group that they are starting and would like him to lead. He flew up and met the team, and we had to make a decision - quickly! We were surprised and a little overwhelmed at first, but as we settled into the idea, we both felt a real peace about the decision.

So, we have decided to take this opportunity, and we're moving the second weekend in August. We have such mixed feelings - we're excited, but we're also sad and a little scared. We are sad because we love Gainesville so much. We love our church, our friends, our house, our family so close by, our neighborhood, our schedules, Florida's climate, and Gainesville's wonderful people. We are nervous because everything is unknown. Where will we live? Will we find good friends? How will our dogs survive in the city? How will we survive a snowy winter?

But, the Lord's timing was good, and he prepared our heart for this move long before Brad received the first phone call. Brad has long been wanting something different, and as I wrote my thesis this summer, spending long hours in a lab behind a computer screen, I started wanting something different, too. I started longing for something more fulfilling and fitting for my personality. So, we are excited because this is going to be an adventure for our little family, a chance to try something totally different and to step out of our comfort zone.

If you will, please do pray for us. We're trying to take care of all the practical things like selling our house and packing up while also trying to soak up and enjoy all the things that we love about this wonderful place. We're practicing resting in the fact that the Lord truly is in control while also anxiously anticipating all that is to come.

So, in the spirit of Pittsburgh, I leave you with a wonderful passage from one of my all-time favorite authors who also grew up there, Annie Dillard. Weirdly enough, this passage somehow also describes this moment for me...



"And leaving... we find ourselves on the receiving end of a tiny, final event, a piece of unexpected wind.

A ripple of wind comes down from the woods and across the clearing toward us. We see a wave of shadow and gloss where the short grass bends and the cottage eaves tremble. It hits us in the back. It is a single gust, a sport, a rogue breeze out of the north, as if some reckless, impatient wind has bumped the north door open on its hinges and let out this acre of scent familiar and forgotten, this cool scent of tundra, and of November. Fall! Who authorized this intrusion? Stop or I'll shoot. It is an entirely misplaced air - fall, that I have utterly forgotten, that could be here again, another fall, and here it is only July.

I thought I was younger, and would have more time. The gust crosses the river and blackens the water where it passes, like a finger closing slats"

Annie Dillard, Teaching a Stone to Talk

Married!

As you can see, my sweet sister is now a married woman! And, Brad and I have gained a wonderful new brother.

More later on Auburn and family bonding. For now, I'm off to bed after an exhausting day!

Lake Day

How Turk enjoys a day at the lake: by chasing a stick until he passes out.



How Tuco enjoys a day at the lake: by hiding on the dock, hoping no one will make him go near the water.



Haha... our dorks.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Auburn with Mom to spend a week with Krisan before the wedding. I will most definitely be 1) eating at big blue 2) reading at Cambridge Coffee, 3) visiting the Haley Center, and 4) taking pictures in front of Samford Hall.

If you would like to join me in Auburn to do any of those things, please give me a call! :)

to my invisible network...

Well, here it is. Finished. Ready to go. I'm presenting it to our faculty tomorrow and waiting for the final decision - done or not.

I know I've been talking about this thesis a lot lately, and I very much look forward to getting back to more interesting, life-outside-of-school things on this blog. But, this has been a long, hard project for me. And, I *literally* never thought I'd finish it by June 19th.

But here we are, and I feel happy and tired at the same time. I must admit that I've been struggling with burnout lately. At the end of every semester, I always feel a little burnt out and ready for a break, but right now I feel a more lasting, deep "what is the purpose of my life and why am I still doing this" burnout. I am looking down the nose of 4 more years buried in a lab with endless work, and I just wonder, "why? is this really me? Should I really keep going?"

So to you, my invisible support network out there, please pray for me as I continue to lay my schooling at the foot of the cross, as I continue to think about what best suits my personality our family's future. And, in the short term, remember me tomorrow at 1:00; please pray that I present my ideas clearly and answer all the questions appropriately. I hope I will be skipping away from that conference room with good news - freedom, at least for a little while.

joyride

Nothing says "summer is here" like a Saturday morning joyride.

Nothing says "Saturday afternoon" like a post-joyride nap.

frogger

Look who came to play tonight.

After the dogs scared him half to death, he sat nice and still while I took his picture.

I wonder why God made him so frown-y though?

my complaint

May I complain for just a second?

Today, the cheapest gas I could find in Gainesville was 4.08 per gallon. So, I just spent a ridiculous amount of money filling up a car that I usually drive places I'd rather not go anyway, like to the grocery store or to campus.

I need to trade in the Escape for a scooter, or I need to move somewhere with good public transportation.

p.s. have you seen the movie Helvetica? I see it everywhere now (even at gas stations)!

Updates...

Good morning! I thought I'd get your mouths watering with this picture I took at the village market, our second home. Oh how we love that sweet little place.

And now you see why I wrote this post.

How are all of you doing? As I seem to repeat quite often on here, things here have been busy but good. Brad and I have been working, writing, playing with the dogs, playing with friends, and trying to stay cool somehow.

Here are some (totally random) updates from us, in no particular order...


- It's been a hot summer in florida. Really hot. So hot, in fact, that I decided to break down and buy a clearance-rack 42.00 Wal-Mart bike to get me around campus. Look at this bad boy.

- On its second ride, the bad boy's back tire bent and the brake broke. So much for 42.00 bikes. I'm taking this one back and going to Target.

- Speaking of cheap stuff, after church this sunday, some friends took me and Brad to Wards Grocery Store for the first time. It's a typical little Gainesville place on the back side of nowhere that sells amazing produce and plants as well as really cool stuff like fresh dried herbs (is that an oxymoron?) and oatmeal, granola, and wheat by the pound. The corn was the best we've had all year, and the snacks were great too. I'm so happy to have found this place; I think I see a new Sunday tradition in our future...

- The countdown is officially at 9 days until my thesis defense. I turned in the most important chapter yesterday, and I only have one chapter to go. I am so tired of writing. I am so tired of having no time. I am ready to be DONE!

- Speaking of done, I just made the website for my Introduction to Linguistics class that I'm teaching later this summer. I am really looking forward to this class; even making the website reminded me of why I love linguistics. Sometimes I need to be reminded of why I'm doing this, especially when I've been buried in a linguistics hole, cursing the day I decided to go to school.

- On a happier note, as I'm sure you realized from my other post, Turk turned 1 year old this week! Brad and I also celebrated Tuco's 6th birthday since we don't know when he was born, so they both got new toys and some treats. And, they both got to sleep in our bed. What more could a dog want on his birthday?


Well, that's all from me! I'm off to the village market to get one of the above-pictured treats and a cup of coffee. Post a blog entry about what you're doing today. I'd love to hear about it.

Some things never change...

Happy First Birthday Turk!

Fred.

Think of what you could do if your eyes were suspended on long fingers like this guy... I would read two books at once, one with my right eye, one with my left.

We saw him on a little peninsula near St. Augustine this past week. Does he look like a Fred to you?

Bessie Mae

Does this picture make you laugh? I laugh right out loud every time I see it, and Brad says it's not all that funny.

He doesn't get my love of cows, though.

I once asked dad to buy me one so I could walk it on a leash, but we got a dog instead.

I haven't driven the back roads of Alabama in a while before this wedding weekend, and I had fun stopping and taking pictures of some things along the way. This cow was one of them.

What's your favorite animal? (cats and dogs not included...)

summer

Hey everyone!

I hope you're all doing well! I'm really behind on reading blog posts and leaving comments. I can't wait to catch up.

We've had a good start to the summer, lots of good time with family and friends. We went to Eustis for an open house for Krisan and Casey, where we saw lots of old friends. Then, this past week, Brad's sister Kathryn and her friend Samantha have been in town, so we've been playing in the springs, eating good food, hanging out at the pool, and watching some movies we missed during the school year. The picture above is from the Chaz river where we canoed with manatees and alligators and went swimming in a salt-water spring.

I love this picture; we were laughing because we had been treading water for so long, trying to stay afloat while taking pictures with everyone's camera. Isn't it funny how when you go somewhere with girls, every picture has to be taken with 5 cameras?

Anyway, this time with family has been great, and at the end of this week, I'm headed to spend time with the girls at Elizabeth Ann's wedding! I can't wait...

What are you all doing right now? Please post pictures of all your summer happenings...

Refueling

Today I am indulging in a little luxury. Brad is working at a coffee shop, the dogs are sleeping on the back porch, and I am enjoying a quiet morning at home.

A quiet morning at home. Mmmm...

Brad and I have been going-going-going ever since summer began, and whenever we've been home I've been rushing off to the nearest writing-place, trying to meet deadlines in the hours between seeing friends and spending time with family.

So today, I have my computer on, and Microsoft Word is open in the background. But for a few hours, I decided to indulge in a long walk with Turk, prayer, oatmeal and raspberries, clean laundry, a hot pot of tea, emails, Simon and Garfunkel, cheeze-its in a cup, a made bed, and a clean closet.

And that's what I need to refuel.


What do you need to refuel?

Last Summer's Shorts

So, I bought a scale this week.

I said I'd never own a scale, and so far, I've managed to live without one. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and when last summer's shorts didn't fit, I decided to break down.

After our race last January, I stopped running long distances but kept eating like I was training! And, I discovered home bread baking, which was also a problem. I quickly learned that man should not live on 3 loaves of bread a day.

Never fear, though, I've devised a plan.

I'm calling it Milla's "I'd like to fit into last summer's shorts" weight loss plan. Here are my ideas, and I'm open to others:


- instead of pasta and potatoes, strawberry salads

- The summer is the perfect time for swimming, yoga, biking, kayaking, and tennis...

- Drive home a different way, so as to not pass Moe's on the way. See no evil, eat no evil.

- Spend less time baking breads and desserts and more time on the trails.

- Never go to the grocery story hungry.

- Never go to the Village Market hungry. Or at least walk there hungry instead of driving there hungry.

- Take the stairs to my fourth-floor office

- Stock the fridge with lots of fresh veggies, fresh fruits, and whole grains.

- Break out the running shoes: Mickey will say "GO!" again in seven months.

- Positive self-talk: "I do not need dessert with every meal. I do not need dessert with every meal"

- Smart-Pop Popcorn. The best snack ever.



How about you? Do you have any favorite slim-down tricks?

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day! This morning I was thinking about mothers - about my sweet mom and grandmas, and about all of the other moms who I love and appreciate today. I certainly have been surrounded by wonderful mothers, and I want to tell you all how much I love you.

First of all, thank you mom for being you. I can't think of anyone I admire more - your widom, your hard work, your tenderness, your ability to be such a great sounding board! I love you dearly.

To my other mom, Mrs. Chappell, thanks so much for truly being such a sweet mom to me. I am very blessed to have been so warmly accepted into your sweet family, and I am very thankful for everything I have learned from you.

To my many grandmothers - GP, meme, Jeanne, Irene, Memama, MawMaw - I love you all dearly. Thank you for being such wonderful women and loving me so unconditionally.

To the other mothers in my family - Marie, Jenny, Celeste, Melissa, Aunt Jenna, Aunt Terry, Aunt Edie - I so admire each of you and only hope I can one day be as genuine and sweet a mom as you all are. What a blessing each of you are to your children and to me!

To my sweet friends who are new mommies - Melissa, Laura Beth, Shannon - I so admire your sweet spirits during this time of new motherhood. It has been such a blessing to me to see the Lord working as you figure out the little things like feeding and teething and sleeping... I hope you have a blessed day with your families and little ones.

To all of you out there whose blogs I read and enjoy learning from - Lyndsey, Emily, Jane, Amber, Lindsey. I love reading about motherhood through your eyes, and I admire each of you! Have a wonderful day.


I am not a mom today, but I am very thankful that I have such sweet pictures of motherhood all around me. Thank you all for loving your children so sweetly and for living your lives so honestly before the rest of us. I hope the Lord truly blesses you today.

Back Online!

Hey everyone! It certainly has been a long time since I've written an update! We've been on vacation the past few weeks, and it's been wonderful! Here are the highlights:

Parties!! The semester ended well, and we celebrated with two parties at my advisor's new house in the historic district of Gainesville. One was for the whole department and one was just for the Brain and Language lab people. It was a wonderful end to a very long semester - I feel very thankful to be part of such a great group of people.

Birmingham!! Brad and I and the dogs had four days in Birmingham with family and friends. We had a shower for Elizabeth Ann and I got some good girly time; we spent a day out at the barn with the whole Chappell clan eating hamburgers, home maid ice cream and pie; I got some quality time with Melissa and sweet little Ella; and most importantly, we had a lot of relaxing time around the house with family. It was really a wonderful trip.

Projects!! Brad and I finished a few house projects that have been on-going. We tore down wallpaper and backing, mom and dad helped us paint the kitchen, and we finally hung a chandelier over our table. We are so happy with the results!

Ichetucknee!! We spent a wonderful long day on the river and in the springs today. Some of our best friends here in Gainesville are headed off to New York, so we went out to enjoy some good Florida fun before they leave.

Relaxation!! Brad and I have had some down-time around here which has been nice after such a crazy semester. We've had some nice long walks with the dogs; we've caught up on a few movies - namely No Country for Old Men (Anyone seen this movie, by the way? we are stumped and disagree about the plot); we've cleaned a little; and we've thoroughly enjoyed the break.


Well, that's all from us! I'm now going to do some catching upon reading your blogs! I look forward to hearing what everyone has been up to this past week...

done.

I love the feeling of sending off that last seminar paper. You all know what I'm talking about.. you finally write the conclusion. you check every citation. twice. you read through it one last time. Then, you type a "thank you" to the professor, hold your breath, and hit SEND.

And sometimes tears well up in your eyes because of sheer relief, because the months of work are over, but also because it hurts to hand it over. Now it's in the hands of someone else, someone who holds your blood, sweat, and tears lightly... someone with the background and knowledge to say how original and thoughtful your research actually is...

But still, it's done... done.

And that feels good.

the Daily Dozen

I woke up this morning to a very fun surprise. My magnolia picture has been chosen as one of the National Geographic Daily Dozen!

2 photos each month are chosen for publication in National Geographic by popular vote and editors choice, so please go vote if you have a chance. I say that realizing how boring a seed pod is compared to cool people and places. So, the little white flower will definitely need all the help it can get!

You can see the daily dozen at the "daily dozen" link below. And, in order to vote, click on the "voting machine" tab (or the link below); then you only have one chance to vote on the set of 12 pictures.

National Geographic Daily Dozen for April 25th
Vote here: Voting Machine

3191

Recently I found two little gems: photo blogs by two friends who live 3191 miles apart but document their lives with pictures of the little things. Basically, they post one "everyday" picture every day for a year.

What a neat concept, taking pictures of the daily routines, the dirty tables, the early morning sun.

I tried such a photo this morning, but it was really hard. Everything I saw around me seemed boring: empty oatmeal bowls, sleepy dogs, an unmade bed, emails, tea, dirty clothes...

But, then I thought, isn't that the point?

If you have a chance, I'd love to see a "boring" picture of your mornings or evenings.

A Year of Mornings (now a book)
A Year of Evenings (still a blog)

random facts...

I've been tagged once again by Amanda, and in order to waste a few minutes, I gladly took the challenge! :)


Ten years ago I was...

Sixteen years old, just learning to drive, probably flying down Washington Ave. on my way to some practice for which I was 5 minutes late.


5 things on my to-do list...

1. finish 2 papers and 1 exam
2. bake 2 desserts for 2 department parties
3. run participants
4. try to be kind and calm instead of annoyed and grumpy
5. somewhere between numbers 1-4, lie in the sun, clean the house, exercise, snuggle with the dogs, spend time with Brad, and see friends


Snacks I enjoy...

1. Popcorn
2. Fruit
3. Sour Patch Kids
4. Chips and salsa
5. Triscits and cheese


5 things I would do if I were a billionaire...

1. Support full-time missionaries and go work with them as often as possible
2. Travel
3. If I didn't work, I'd breed dogs of all shapes and sizes
4. Adopt internationally and help others do the same
5. Buy a condo in Boston or La Jolla (or both, for that matter)


5 bad habits...

1. biting my nails
2. "looking around" in Target - this is disastrous
3. snacking all the time
4. bringing up big conversations after Brad and I get in bed (he's not a fan)
5. saying I'll do something and then not not writing it down somewhere


5 places I've lived

1. Family + lakes + growing up = Eustis, FL
2. College + girls + fun + a little class = Auburn, AL
3. Trains + class + homecooked French meals = Angers, France
4. Cheap houses + newly married = Opelika, Al
5. Sunny skies + diversity + strip malls = Gainesville, Fl


5 jobs I've had

1. Pooper scooper extraordinaire at my parents' clinic
2. Publix cashier (yes, I wore the green vest)
3. Kitchie and counselor at Kanakuk
4. Village Market girl
5. In the words of Tom Collins from RENT, "you teach? yeah I teach, computer age philosophy, but my students would rather watch TV. America. America!"
(Of course, I don't teach computer age philosophy, but I do teach, and I do feel like this sometimes!)



I will tag...

My Melissas because I always love to hear from them, Scott Moore because his posts are always very entertaining, and Shannon because she's been neglecting her blog! And, I'll follow in LB's footsteps and tag Krisan so maybe she'll feel inspired and start a blog!

Little Things

The past week I have been covered over in bla-ness: sound files, numbers, spectrograms, p values, etc. There is little creativity, little inspiration, little fun going on...

My blogger buddies have interesting topics: home renovations, great books, vacations, adorable children. But, when I open my "create post" box, I literally sit in front of a blank screen; I can't think of anything worth writing about!

So, in lieu of real updates, here's one little thing that happened each day this week:

- My sweet dad came to see us for dinner on Monday!
- I ran 2 participants for my thesis experiment on Tuesday.
- Brad made me brinner (breakfast for dinner) on Wednesday, and it was amazing.
- Turk was violated by a complete doggy stranger in the field today (and I saw this squirrel with a full mouth!).
- I don't have to go to campus tomorrow!

How about you? What's one little thing that happened this week?

A Quick Fix

My quick-fix for exam week woes = the village market, a very large chocolate waffle ice cream cone, and a cup of afternoon coffee.

Amazing.

What's your favorite "quick-fix?"

Day of Reckoning

Have yourselves a little laugh. The more times I watch it, the funnier it becomes...

Things worth checking out...

Because I have nothing to say today, I'll just link to some interesting things other people have said that I think you all might enjoy!

Let the randomness begin...


Bill Walsh's ongoing series, 9 reasons I'm a photographer.

A hilarious article about race in America

Some thoughts on being discerning about music

A quick story about and interview with Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, from Once.

Starbucks is in the process of making some changes...

Information about Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken's Ampersand EP


What's something interesting you read today? Post it in your blog or leave a comment!

The big 2-6

Thanks everyone for the sweet birthday calls, cards, facebook messages, and comments! I am very blessed to have you all.

Sweet LB asked for a birthday update, and though at first thought, 26 seems very boring - somewhere in the nowhere-land between "still cool and young" and "grown-up and 30", this birthday has actually been a very good one.

It's been good because of events and things - a friend surprised me with a delicious cake at community group on Thursday night, Brad took me to our favorite restaurant this weekend, my parents are coming for breakfast on Wednesday, and I am using birthday moolas to buy some new photo editing software that I've been researching and wanting for some time.

But, besides the events and things, this birthday has mostly been good because looking back and looking ahead, there is much to be thankful for.

For me, this past year has been one of acclimating to a new place and of finally feeling at home, and this coming year will be one filled with good things - with weddings, with friends, with travel, with family, with sun, with dogs, with anniversaries, with new goals and ideas, with deepening community, and certainly with trials and lessons that will help me grow up in personality and in faith.

And so, this year, instead of thinking of the big 2-6 as a little boring and somewhere in between "young" and "grown-up", I'm thinking of it as a good place where much has happened but where there's still much room to grow. And, I'm very excited about all that's to come before the big 2-7.

Joy and Peace

Happy Sunday everyone... I hope your day has been filled with worship and relaxation. This day has been full of little blessings for me - communion at church, a cranberry scone and afternoon coffee at the Village Market, and a workout with Brad.

Now as Monday approaches, I pray for joy and peace in the everyday.

What's coming up this week for all of you?

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in HOPE." Romans 15:13

My 100

(Hit refresh if the page is messy, and it should clear up. I'm working on this...)

I'm excited! I have been tagged by Amanda and LB to make a 100-things-about-me list. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading LB's, Scott's, and Amanda's, and I have loved learning little things about good friends that I never knew before!

So, here it goes...

1. I was born in Eustis, Florida - in Lake County
2. I am one of two girls
3. My sister Krisan is younger than me
4. Mom and dad decided to give her the smarts and the eyebrows
5. and they decided to give me the love of all things furry and the bad ankles
6. We both love our parents very much though.
7. My dad wanted me to be a boy, and he wanted to name me Scott. I think his wish paid off, as I was a bit of a tomboy growing up.
8. I got in trouble in middle school for chasing the new preacher's daughter around with a snake. The principle called my mom about it.
9. I am still a bit of a tomboy, but I don't chase people with snakes.
10. but when I started dating my husband, he had a snake, and I fed it big white rats with red eyes.
11. Enough about snakes. Let's talk about dogs. I love dogs.
12. My family dogs growing up were Happy and Reba
13. Happy was the grumpiest dog ever. Amanda can attest to this.
14. My dad didn't have any boys, but he loved camping, so he forced his girls to go
15. and we loved it. Those are some of my best memories growing up
16. I went to Eustis High School, where I spent most of my time goofing off, making mediocre grades, and playing sports
17. My highschool was very diverse
18. In fact, I was one of three whiteys (so we were called) on my highschool basketball team,
19. Thus the beginning of my interest in different cultures
20. during my quest to find myself (aka growing up), I went through some awkward stages
21. I went through a "surfer-girl" stage, where I wore board-shorts (remember those?) and carried a roxy backpack
22. then I went through a "country" stage, where I listened to Garth Brooks and wore wranglers
23. then I went through a rapper stage where I listened to Master P on big speakers in my car
24. Now, those are two genres of music that I just can't appreciate. at all.
25. I can't play musical instruments or sing, but I love good music. Some of my favorite movies are also musicals or use music in creative ways. Some that immediately come to mind are Mystic River, Rent, Moulin Rouge, Once, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
26. Lake County has approximately 1400 lakes, and we grew up on Lake Joanna
27. My most embarrassing moment was when I skiied into a dock showing off for a boy
28. My mom cried. she thought I was dead or at least badly maimed.
29. My mom probably also cried when I got four (yes, four) speeding tickets on the same road in Eustis.
30. My parents took away my car.
31. My friend Jimmy picked me up every day for school
32. and I made him an egg sandwich every morning to pay him back
33. In college, my sister stole the road sign from that road
34. it's now in her closet, and that makes me smile.
35. My favorite foods are Thai and Korean
36. as are some of my favorite people.
37. Just this weekend, though, I had to pick some purple octopus tentacles out of my Korean dinner.
38. So sometimes I just stick with a good ole' steak
39. I used to have an unusual fear of spiders
40. but Brad likes to catch them and plant them on our front porch, where they build huge webs and we feed them baby lizards and moths for entertainment
41. and we name them and bury them when they die
42. so now I'm getting over my fear of spiders.
43. Brad has an unusual sense of humor
44. he likes to play food jokes
45. one time he put corned beef in my vanilla yogurt
46. I haven't been able to eat corned beef or vanilla yogurt ever since
47. I met Brad at Auburn
48. this summer is our five-year anniversary!
49. We have no children
50. but we have two dogs and one cat - Tuco, Turk, and Sport
51. Tuco is named after "the ugly" character from the movie the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
52. Turk is named after Chris Turk from Scrubs. My friend Caroline calls him Brown Bear.
53. Brad wanted to name sport "roach" because she is black but I put my foot down and we went with gender-neutral "sport"
54. I've had many faux-pas with hair dyings, piercings, etc. Many of you remember my purple hair and our night at the tattoo parlor.
55. I've always wanted a Soli Deo Gloria tattoo or a small star tattoo and still plan to get one one day.
56. Don't worry parents, it will be inconspicuous
57. I love Auburn University
58. My favorite year was my freshman year, when I lived in the dorm and took part in many shenanigans
59. We enjoyed Sani Freeze, we sang ghetto-cowboy, we took pictures in front of the Sanford Christmas Tree
60. and Amanda almost punched me out
61. Brad and I left Auburn 2 years ago, and now we live in Gainesville, FL
62. People wear very short shorts here.
63. I'm studying linguistics and working in UF's Brain and Language Lab.
64. I work with really great people (who wear normal-length shorts) and we study how the brain processes language.
65. I had my brain scanned as part of a study last semester.
66. I learned that I get very very sleepy in MRI machines. I was worried that I might have fallen asleep and actually ruined the study.
67. I grow a mustache when I go in the sun (not a real one, people, a sunspot one).
68. So now I always have to wear hats at the beach.
69. I found out it also happens to pregnant people. But I'm not pregnant.
70. In fact, I don't ever want to be pregnant or to have a baby,
71. but I want a big family,
72. so that's a problem.
73. I have a big extended family, including 7 little cousins or nephews - Jonah, Baylen, Macy, Madie, Collin, Brooklyn, and Noah
74. I really love creative kid names, and I think of new ones all the time. In fact, I have a list on my computer right now that I've been keeping for a long time.
75. Brad thinks that's weird, considering I have no kids
76. Brad and I disagree about things like that, though
77. We also disagree about silly things like whether modern country music singers actually have any talent at all, but that's another story entirely
78. we agree on the fact that Florida is an excellent place to live from October-June but it's the worst place on earth during the month of August. The other months are still up for debate.
79. Brad truly is my best friend. We have many hobbies we enjoy doing together - we cook, we work out, we run, we puddle chase, we search for good films, we have breakfast together...
80. and we realized early in our marriage the power of praying together. That's one "hobby" we try to keep up on a nightly basis.
81. I just finished taking tennis lessons with a friend.
82. I asked her to play with me because I hate playing tennis with Brad. He likes to hit and spin the ball in obnoxious ways that keep the volley from continuing.
83. I always tell him that I want to play tennis together but only after he grows up.
84. The women in Brad's family are all under the height of 5.4. Our first meeting was very scary, because Brad told me that his grandmother would be watching my manners, and then, while standing in the kitchen with the beautiful, small, petite Chappell women, I was asked if I played basketball in highschool. My worst nightmare came to pass - I was the giant in the room.
85. After that scary meeting, I learned that I absolutely adore the Chappell women, and that they adore tall people.
86. Because I often feel tall in groups of people, I will hunch down in pictures to fit in. When the picture comes out, though, I'm often sticking out my rear. It's awful.
87. I love taking pictures, and I'm trying to get better so I can take pictures of my kids and animals, and I'd like to take pictures of other peoples' kids and animals eventually
88. I'd like to one day have a place with a big yard so I could have, like, 6 dogs.
89. This summer I cat-sat and dog-sat for people in Haile Plantation, the area where we live.
90. We live in this great little community in West Gainesville with 10 miles of running trails, adorable shops, and great restaurants. It's very dog-friendly, and so we take our dogs with us everywhere - to walk, to eat, to shop.
91. I worked in a bakery and restaurant in downtown Haile this summer, and I loved it. I rode my bike to work.
92. I think that's when I got into cooking and baking more seriously.
93. I make killer cinnamon-raisin bread and vegan banana bread. It's a favorite at department get-togethers!
94. My mom makes a killer german chocolate cake. I'd like to learn that one next.
95. My personality is lion-otter. This means I get energy from people but I also like to boss them around.
96. This drives my husband crazy. (He's a beaver-lion.)
97. But it works out well for teaching. And, I'm very excited because this summer I'm teaching my first "non-core" class for linguistics majors at UF.
98. My favorite clothing store is Urban Outfitters. My favorite everything store is Target.
99. I struggle with managing my time wisely, and I have a massive planner with everything I need to do written down and highlighted 14 times. My mom used to say I'd lose my head if it wasn't tied down.
100. I used to be a night owl, but now I'm a morning person. So, folks, it's time for bed!


Okay, now I get to do the tagging!! I tag Shannon, a friend from Creekside who has a blog about adopting her sweet son Asher. I also tag both of my Melissas- my sweet ADPi friend and my sister-in-law! Finally, I just made a new blog friend, Ashley Gentry, so I'll tag her so I can learn more about her.

Turkleton.

Exciting news... Turk was featured as "the daily click" on Shutter Sisters last week!

He was so proud.