wha?

What's this I see on Tuesday's forecast? Floridian that I am, I'm not sure how to interpret this... Argh! It's only October!

pathetic.

On these recent cold mornings, Brad and I have been waking up, taking showers, brushing our teeth, and wandering back into the bedroom to find something like this in our place. They can't wait for the alarm to go off so they can hop up and take our warm spots.

Pathetic they are.

GP

This weekend we all got together in Eustis to be with our sweet Grandma Pat (affectionately known as GP). I love Krisan's post here, and I don't think I could say anything more.

But, to GP, our technologically-advanced grandma who actually reads our blogs and sends us emails, we truly are so proud of you. You are a very brave, strong woman, and we are in this fight with you in spirit. I love you, and I'm so glad we all could be together this weekend.

happy boys

A day off + fall colors + a walk to the dog park = happy boys (and girl).

here it comes...

Here it comes... fall, in all it's glory.

Is it fall yet where you are?

Two months.

As of yesterday, it's officially been two months since we moved from Gainesville to Pittsburgh. It's been two months since we packed up everything familiar, put it in a big orange van, drove it 15 hours north, and unpacked it in a strange and new place. It's been two months since we first told the dogs "you'll be staying here now, boys!"

I was just thinking about this as I cleaned up the house this afternoon, amazed at how fast two months has flown by and thankful that we all survived!

When I look back on our move, I realize that there are three things that have gotten us through. These three things have made all the difference for us here, and what's amazing is, we can trace the steps back and see that these good things were not our doing - if you've heard our stories, you know how the Lord truly provided these things for us in amazing ways.


- Our house. We continue to be amazed at how perfect our little second-floor apartment is for us and our dogs. In the long list of 293485 craigs-list apartment listings, sitting behind my computer long-distance, and looking at a map of a totally unfamiliar city, we found this great house where we and our dogs are so happy and content, and where we can afford to save money while still trying to sell our house. And, not only is the place itself great, but it's close to everything - work, friends, and the dog park. What a blessing.

- Our church and friends. How can I explain this place? I never would have imagined that in a new city we would so quickly find a group of people who we could so easily identify with and form relationships with. On our first day visiting, we met people who have in a very short time become very dear friends. I am truly thankful for City Reformed, and I hope we can serve in this church for a very long time.

- Our jobs. Brad and I spend long hours at our jobs, and I am so thankful that both of our jobs are so fitting for us. We indeed come home exhausted every day, but we come home full, happy, and thankful for such great work environments and such wonderful employers.


So anyway, two months down, how many to go? Who knows! But, I do feel confident that we will be happy no matter how long... Well actually, to be honest, I still do have one major concern: WINTER. I'll check back with you in February and let you know how many more months I'd like to stay! :)

our cozy kitchen

For graduation this summer, Krisan and Casey got me a gift card to one of my favorites. And, I have been looking and looking for the perfect thing to get for our new place.

I first got a bright red coat rack (since we will now wear coats), but it fell apart. So, I took it back and got something even better - canvases to spruce up our little kitchen!!

I used to think the size of this kitchen was going to be a killer to get used to, but now I've decided less room = less mess = less food to eat = less weight gained. So, I am starting to love this little cozy kitchen, especially with great photography to hang on the walls!

Thanks Krisan and Casey!

canine patience

This was intended to be a lesson in canine patience and self-control.

As you can see, this particular lesson yielded a) lots of drool and b) a crunched cheeze-it.

(and lots of laughs)

Pitt

Hey everyone! How are things in your parts of the world? All is well tonight in Pittsburgh; it's 65 degrees out, the windows are open, the Steelers are winning, the dogs are sleeping, and we are full and happy.

I finally went and took some pictures on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, and I wanted to post some here. The one above is the building where I teach, the Cathedral of Learning. Despite it's ridiculous name, the building is breathtaking, and best of all, there is a starbucks and a chick-fil-a in the basement. What more could a girl want?

What are yall up to this Monday night?

The tongue.

Have you been following the Desiring God conference that's been going on with John Piper, Sinclair Ferguson, Mark Driscoll, Daniel Taylor, etc.? The videos are online here, and I think they will absolutely bless you if you take the time to watch a few. The first talk by Sinclair Ferguson about the tongue is potentially life changing.

Anyway, these videos were a blessing to me tonight, as the past month or so, I have been thinking about the role of my tongue (my speech, my conversation) during these very politically-charged months. My personal opinion about political issues varies - on some issues I more agree with the conservative agenda, and on some issues I more agree with the liberal agenda. Therefore, I am really wrestling with the "weight" of each issue in the upcoming election, and I have been grappling with the Christian response to 1) to the issues and 2) to people during these election months.

Many people I love dearly are very emotionally and intellectually tied to different sides on this thing. Many people whose values and position I greatly respect and admire are planning to vote for Obama and for McCain for very valid reasons that I can understand and agree with somewhat but not totally.

And with these people I desire to engage intellectually and lovingly while also not taking issues lightly that I think should not be taken lightly. So, I often struggle with the question of whether to dodge conversation about the issues at hand, issues so deeply emotional to some people that they are connected to their view of the world and and of God and of human nature. Or, whether to work to engage and to move more in the direction of being staunchly pro-someone with the possibility of alienating people and seeming flippant about issues that I actually care deeply about.

Have any of you had this problem as well? If so, my point in mentioning all of this is that the desiring god videos were a blessing tonight, as Dr. Piper talked about in one of the panel discussions the topic of the tongue in controversial situations - should we engage in controversial topics and situations or run away from them? And he gives five guidelines that I was able to personally apply to my own life and to this particular situation:

1) First, pray for guidance on when to speak up and when to shut up.
2) Think about the seriousness of the issue - will it hurt people or dishonor God?
3) Don't become controversial about things you don't know enough about! Think, am I suited for this particular debate, or should I let it go?
4) Is this issue BURNING in me. Do I deeply care about this issue?
5) Is it closely affecting someone in my life?

Granted, Piper was talking about issues in the church, but this message very much helps me think about praying for wisdom and discerning my behavior when discussing hot topics. It very much helps me think about the possible helpful or devastating role of the tongue in conversation about issues that are very important to people.

So anyway, I am praying for wisdom in this area, and I am very thankful (once again) for the wisdom of these great men. If you have a chance, go watch these videos. Even if it has nothing to do with politics for you, I promise it will be a blessing and will really help you think about the way you use your tongue!

a face

I made a friend on the bus this afternoon. Or I should say he made a friend of me. I probably would never have spoken, but as I sit in a fog of 'to dos' and 'going theres' I shouldn't forget that every person has a story. Every person has something to teach me. And I certainly learned something great today.

"An eye can threaten like a loaded and leveled gun, or it can insult like hissing or kicking; or, in its altered mood, by beams of kindness, it can make the heart dance for joy.... One of the most wonderful things in nature is a glance of the eye; it transcends speech; it is the bodily symbol of identity."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Linkles

So I was listening to a recorded exercise completed by one of my students today, and I left chuckling at how a simple pronunciation error can sound so funny.

When describing a famous person from his country, one guy said "he has linkles and dark eyes." I thought I misunderstood, so I looked at the student's own written transcription of his speech. Sure enough, he wrote "he has linkles and dark eyes"

Hmmm.... what is linkles, linkles, linkles... shingles? lingers? blinkers?

WRINKLES!! Of course!! So funny.

I totally understand these types of problems, though, because when I was studying in France, someone asked me how I felt, and it was just after some meal so I patted my tummy and said (what I thought meant) "I am full". Turns out I was telling him "I am pregnant." Everyone said "ooooooh!!"

International students do say the darndest things! (including me!)

Light!

Have you ever taken pictures of buildings or landscapes and wondered why they look dull and lifeless? I know I have! Well, this week I was reading a photography magazine that explained what I've been missing:

"the most important lesson I have learned is that I should not photograph buildings or landscapes. I should photograph light!" - Yannis Larios

The morning after reading this, I was working with Annie on Carnegie Mellon's campus, and I noticed she was following the early morning light, only taking pictures of buildings or subjects illuminated somehow by that wonderful orang-y glow. So cool!

So, this weekend I tried doing that very thing. I waited until the sun began to set, and I went down the street to Homewood Cemetery. The magazine tip really worked, and I got a few pictures that I like. Since I found this tip so helpful, I thought I'd pass it along. Wait until the two "happy hours" as Annie puts it, an hour after sunup or an hour before sunset to photograph your favorite buildings and landscapes.

The goings ons.

How is everyone doing?! I do apologize for the lack of posts lately. Life has been busy for our family lately. I sometimes find myself complaining about our crazy schedules, but I need to remember, busy is good! Only three weeks ago I was complaining of boredom! The grass is always greener isn't it?

Anyway, I don't have anything really interesting to tell you about except just the day-to-day updates from our world. So, in no particular order, here they are:

- It has been getting cooler here, and Brad and I are about to have a very serious discussion about how to handle the temperature in our house. This past week it got down into the 40s at night, and I woke up freeeeezing every morning because my sweet hubby likes to sleep with the windows open NO MATTER WHAT the temperature is forecasted to be. Every morning I shiver my way to a hot shower, cursing the day I agreed to move to this place. By noon, however, when the sun is shining and the air is crisp, I always change my mind and decide to stick around at least through fall.

- Anyway, on to more important things: Brad is still really enjoying his job. He has been staying long days in order to keep up with all the projects going on, but the work is fulfilling and stimulating. Also, the people have been great - his boss, the people working on his team, etc. We are both just so thankful.

- My jobs are still going well, too. Working with Annie is great. I am constantly learning so much, and in fact, she asked if I wanted to practice taking pictures at a few weddings this fall! I was so excited when she asked me; I am sure she thought I was a grinning dummy saying "yes please yes please!"

- I am also enjoying teaching at Pitt. I am still determined to write a post of "international students say the darndest things" - I add entries to my mental list every day! I also want to take pictures of the building where I work and upload them. It's called the cathedral of learning (cheesy? yes.) and it's so incredibly beautiful. I feel inspired every time I walk in the door. I only wish the inspiration would last through the day... :)

- In other exciting news, the Cathedral has a CHICK-FIL-A in the bottom floor! Who knew?! I have only found one other chick-fil-a in pittsburgh, and it's outside the city. So, I am so excited. I came up to our office after lunch and announced, "there's a chick-fil-a downstairs!!!!" Everyone was like, "yeah, so?" Clearly they don't get it.

- Finally, my sweet friend Naoko just got engaged! She has been dating her fiance Ito-tan for so long, and they are finally going to get married on March 15th in Tokyo, Japan. I am so excited for her, and I am desperately trying to figure out how to get there... I couldn't bear to miss it. Maybe I can start selling all my pairs of flip-flops on ebay. It turns out I don't need them here so much...

Well folks, that's all for now. Stay tuned for more information about our plot to kill the barking dog, 90 degree yoga, and the wonders of frick park. There's never a dull moment!

The Golden Bone

I am very, very thankful for the above picture. For 6 months, I have had a beach trip planned with my mom, and as of last week, I thought Ike was going to mess everything up. I was trying to be a big girl, but watching storm after storm head straight for Florida was a little scary, and a little depressing.

But, Ike has moved off and has weakened, and so tomorrow morning I am headed to the sunshine state for some scrapbooking, seafood, motherly bonding, sleep, and warm weather. I am so excited I almost can't stand it.

Brad is also leaving tonight to fly to Baltimore with the Tetra Tech managers for a weekend of planning and socializing. I am so excited for him to get to know everyone better, and I pray that the weekend will be productive.

Finally, the funniest part is that Tuco and Turk are going to have their first stay at the Golden Bone. The Golden Bone, oh my goodness. It's been recommended by our neighbor and friends as the best boarding facility around, but I still can't get over the hilarious name - I just picture our two idiots sitting all proper in rooms with posh doggy-beds and golden bones adorning the walls. HA.

I hope everyone else has a nice weekend, and I'll be back with beach-y pictures and updates after the weekend.

The Steel City

After my first day of work yesterday, I have a new blog post series that I'd like to begin. It will be called "International students say the darndest things!"

But, I will leave that for another day. Today, there is another little series of posts that I want to start. Amanda actually had the idea, as she suggested that I start a series of posts on Pittsburgh - the history, the present, fun facts, etc. And, I think it's a great idea! After living here for about a month, I've realized that Pittsburgh is very misunderstood city. When most people hear "pittsburgh" they think of industry and steel mills (and I did, too, when Brad suggested that we might be moving there!), but it's actually a very up-and-coming city with vibrant neighborhoods, beautiful cobblestone streets, tons of cool spots, and I especially love the eclectic mix of people!

So, here we go.

Pittsburgh is often referred to as either the Steel City or the City of Bridges. I'll talk about both of these today...

The city is called the Steel City because of the Steel industry that used to exist here. Pittsburgh once had more than 1000 factories and steel mills and was one of the industrial centers of the Northeastern US. When the Steel Mills existed in the city, the smog in the area was terrible. In fact, the second picture above was taken in 1948 at 12:00 noon! Following WW2, however, the city started cleaning up the smog and pollution, and in the 1980s, the Steel Mill industry failed mainly because of foreign competition.

Today, no steel mills exist in Pittsburgh; in fact, many of the old industrial areas in the city have now been made into new, urban areas with shopping and restaurants. But, the old smoke stacks can still be seen around the city, which is a cool reminder of the history of the steel city.

Pittsburgh is also called the city of bridges because 446 bridges exist within the city limits. The city center is situated where the Monongahala and Allegheny rivers meet to form the Ohio River, and because of this and also because the city is so hilly, the bridges are numerous and are breathtaking! I always hear people say that the only city in the world with more bridges is Venice (I'm not sure if that's actually true...).

So anyway, that's your cliffnotes version of why Pittsburgh is called the "Steel City" and the "City of Bridges." Next time we'll talk about (and see pictures of) what the smog has done to the buildings here and the latest efforts to renovate the miles and miles of waterfront around the city.

His Quiet Power

My mom sent me this word of wisdom from Elisabeth Elliot this morning, and it was so wonderful I wanted to share it here.

"Today is moving day. There will be plenty of reason for fretting and stewing, impatience, and turbulence. I am one who seems to feel that unless I do things or unless they are done my way, they will not be done right, and the day will disintegrate. But I have been watching the sea--very turbulent this morning because of a tropical storm hundreds of miles away--and I remember Him whose word was enough to calm it.

Speak that word to me today, dear Lord: peace. Let your calm spirit, through the many potentially rough minutes of this day, in every task, say to my soul, Be still. Even this day's chaos, with all its clutter and exertion, will be ordered by your quiet power if my heart is subject to your word of peace. Thank You, Lord."
- Elisabeth Elliot

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...)