Now is right on time.

In line with this new year we now have on our hands why not share some resolutions? I'll share, you can hold me accountable how 'bout it? I'm a year round goal setter myself, but while reflecting back on 2012 over the holidays I could feel my anticipation building for all that 2013 could potentially hold. So many blessings to count from this past year...

During 2012

We got more involved at our church, Grace, and now enjoy keeping our sweet, little 2 year olds every Sunday morning and being part of a wonderful community group. 

I have gotten all settled into my job at GHS and absolutely love being an outpatient RD and working at a gym just as much as I knew that I would. 

Mike also rounded off the year with great news on the job front - he was officially promoted to the Bobcat of Spartanburg branch manager after much hard work and patience and I'm just so proud and excited for him! 

One of my most favorite things from 2012 was watching my sister get married and absolutely beam with true happiness while starting a life with someone who loves her like she's always deserved. 2012 will always be special for this - the year Tyson got stuck with us forever :)

Although we haven't purchased our first home yet, we've learned so much through the experiences we've had so far in our search and are looking forward to finding the home for us! Hopefully sometime soon.

And the end of 2012 brought much excitement all at once...the arrival of our best friend's first baby - Amos Michael Martin! We adore him already and cannot wait to spend much more time with him and watch him grow throughout 2013. 

And as the perfect topical transition between 2012 and 2013...we have a brand new favorite thing and growing obsession - Crossfit! We joined a local box at the end of November, Upstate Crossfit, which we were drawn to by a LivingSocial deal and our community group leader, JB, who trains and competes there. Both Mike and I have thoroughly enjoyed absolutely everything about it and would highly recommend coming with us for a visit and a good killer WOD!  

For 2013

To spin off of our recent Crossfitting, our plan is to keep it up! We've managed to stay active in the past, but haven't consistently pushed ourselves hard like we should. It's easy to stick to the things you're good at when you're going at it alone, but at Crossfit I'm always trying new things - some I'm good at and some I suck at right now, but am pumped to get better and better at! Since I work at a gym it's a little tough to shell out the extra funds for another gym, but nothing more priceless than our health, am I right?! And we're truly feeling good. Really, really good. And energized, challenged and so motivated to put in the work towards our fitness goals in an environment we look forward to every day.

Thank the good Lord, our finances have been a sweet spot for us here lately. We've been pleased with how things shaped up for 2012 with us keeping each other accountable and sticking to a set budget and we mainly just want to continue to save in 2013. Certainly towards buying our first home, but also to enjoy some more traveling and to continue to be obediently generous when we pause long enough to recognize needs. We know we're blessed, especially fresh and evident right now with Mike's raise with his promotion, and we want to be intentional givers vs. needlessly overspending on ourselves. We're kicking off this goal with no eating out in January, both to make up for overspending during all of our running around in December and certainly on the healthier side of things, too. And I love to cook and have fun new kitchen gadgets to try out from Christmas.

Some other miscellaneous resolutions include more reading, getting cable turned back off after football ends next week, waking up earlier to enjoy breakfast with Mike, cleaning up our vocab when when we're mad ifyaknowwhatImean, me stepping up my game as Sully's running buddy to keep him happy and healthy and most importantly - pray more, especially during any decision making and spending more time reading our Bibles.  

We're looking forward to 2013 for oh, a million or so reasons and we hope you are, too! Here's to the end of one helluva year and the beginning of another :)

Simmer

Simmer, if you will, on the idea of contentment. Being good even in a moment that isn't all that good. I've been doing some self-eximination since this message from our Pastor, Matt Williams, this past Sunday. I wanted to share.

I appreciate a good spiritual challenge and truly, the things of this world hog my focus all too often. I find it refreshing to be reminded that money can't buy everything. Certainly not the things in which my heart should be forever geared. My 20 something self messes that up over and over again, particularly out here near the start of this rat race. And my heart knows better, I know that it does. I'm constantly inspired by a healthy dose of minimalism, by generosity in any form, by those that put into practice the laying down of life for things off the map and out of the box, by a truly purposeful life. And ultimately I'm responsible for what I know, right?! So I ponder what my life should look like because of it. Just like any good 20 something should do. 

1 Timothy - The Treasure Diagnostic

Playin' catch up

We've been in need of a good chat. I was reminded today of how good it is to catch up with a good friend on all things life over a hot cup of coffee on a drizzly, dreary cold day after way too long. It's the stuff the good stuff's made of. So, here I am needing to catch up in cyber space, too.

Deep breath.

1. I LOVE my new job! It's going great, I'm thoroughly enjoying my patients and my coworkers and all of my new opportunities. Sigh.
2. Mike is enjoying his promotion to branch manager, too.
3. We're officially house hunting for our first home. With one heart break down, we're currently regrouping to start the process over. We had a pouty weekend and now we're back to our normal selves, excited about finding one we love and can make our first little home. 
4. Two of our best friends are about to have their baby! Like I should call them right now to see if they're at the hospital. And.we.are.excited.about.it. Mike and I can't wait to meet sweet Baby M, to see Mc and Mike settle into parenthood and support them and love on them any way we can.
5. My big sister got married a couple of weeks ago. Let me just say - perfect groom, perfect ceremony, perfect weekend of celebrating with our family and friends. Shellee and Tyson are beaming with happiness and I just deeply beam for them, too!
6. We're settling into our new community group with Grace and are really enjoying every minute of it. I could go on and on, but you'd just have to meet them all. Life on life - more of the good stuff, folks.
7. We are also loving keeping our 2 year old little chipmunks in nursery every Sunday. They make me want one or two or three. One day. One of these days. Oh, calm down. And singing with Katie in big group is fun, too!
8. I've been on an antiquing rampage lately and my tiny little apartment is defiantly saying this.has.to.stop. Oh it's cute stuff, so if I end up on TLC Hoarders don't hesitate to show up at my yard sale, but hopefully we'll have a home to nest in here soon :)
9. And I don't know if you heard...we've got ourselves a new old President. I'm not one for political rants and I won't dare subject you to one now, but if you wanna know my plan - it's to keep striving for a faithful life, dependent on the only leader that matters, living within my means, looking out for opportunities to be generous, love and bless others as God continually does for me. And I'm proud to do all of that in America as an American, but also anywhere else God calls me towards.
10. Mike's little sister, Meryl is in Athens at UGA for vet school and we.miss.her! We're always thinking about her, sending her our good vibes to keep the fuzzy brain away :) 
11. And speaking of vet school, one of my very best friends and roommate from all of our Clemson years is about to graduate from vet school at Auburn and take her boards (THIS MONTH!) to solidify the deal, make it all real. Meghan, my very own  veterinarian and valedVIC from way back when ;) Luh her, I'm so proud!

Whelp, that about does it. Hopefully more excitement coming soon, and if not we'll enjoy the rest...or swap time with sweet Baby M so Mom and Dad can rest! I'm sure we'll think of something :)

The rumors are true.

So, its officially official. Mike and I are in the first baby steps of starting our very own organic blueberry farm! Lots of prayer, thought and daydreaming has gone into the pot and we've excitedly reached the decision to just go for it. Just dive right in. All the farmers we've talked to say that's the only way to figure it out. Just start dabblin'!

So far we've gotten the go ahead from Mike's parents to utilize their land for free. Biggest blessing of them all - no matter how good this endeavor turns out. Like with so much in life, we just don't what we would do without them! 

We began by getting our soil mapped and tested by the Oconee Ag extension which found our pH levels to be a bit high for blueberries (our specialty/fruit of choice) - we're at 6 and need to be at least down to 5.3-5.5. 

From there we did some calling around and turns out we were gifted 500# of sulfur from Tiger-Sul in Atmore, Alabama which we're using it to treat out soil in order to bring our pH level down. Mike's spent time on the tractor (don't pity him, he loves it!) and incorporated the sulfur into the one acre tract we picked out of the pasture in which to.get.down.to.biznus. 

After gobs of research, we've put in our plant order this week. 600 total. We've selected a variety to lengthen our harvesting season. Bee-tee-dubs, aren't you glad we don't use scientific names for everything, especially food?! Mmmmmm Vaccinium ashei :) Orrrrr rabbiteye blueberries: Climax, Premier, Brightwell, Tifblue and Powderblue. And then some southern highbush: O'neal and Legacy. So that'll carry us through early to late season with plenty of blue fingers and bug bites!

Next step is more tractor time for Mike this weekend - forming our rows, adding soil amendments...have I lost you yet?! Then special mulch to kick our organic matter in high gear.

Our drip irrigation plans are already underway, our existing well adequate enough to handle our hydration needs. According to plans, that will be installed and our bushes planted in the fall! We'll work towards our organic certification and sweat it out on Saturday's at local farmer's markets :)

Right now we're brainstorming for a farm name...a fun one! We welcome your suggestions!

Want in on some blue fingers and bug bites? :) 

When did this happen?!

As of March 4th, 2012 I am, in fact, halfway. smack dab in the middle. betwixt and between. equidistant. over the hill (its all downhill from here) through my twenties. 

25. The end of childhood, the end of things as they once were. I am grateful to have had such a childhood that causes my heart to lag behind; parents and a sister and forever friends that have been there since the beginning or gathered along the way that help me to become and then to be. 

We used to be all.in.one.place. Scattered is more the way of it now. Conversation matter has changed too, from what did you do last night to what do you do? Yes, like for money? I can't help but want to dig my heels in the sand. Just a little longer. But life's got its pace and what else to do but to keep up? 

Even though I love what has been, I love what is now. I do. Husband, pup, independence, passion, dreams, imagination. Its all good in this hood. But really.


But no matter what stage you're at, new is always on the horizon.

If Only.......

I recently commented in a reminiscent chat with one of my dearest friends that I seriously wished the biggest decision to be made on any given day was still which spice girl to dress up as at this weekend's sleepover. C'mon...that was serious stuff! To tease your hair, stuff your bra, pink vs. leopard print, ruffles or faux leather or my good old standby: a pair of umbro shorts and a sports bra? 

Like you're surprised :) I'll proudly admit my love for sweatpants started early! Anyway, it should be noted that there are some homemade music videos out there somewhere collecting dust in one of our childhood homes and let's just say I'm glad I was one era before youtube :)


My reasoning behind wishing for such simpler times other than a reminiscent morning mood swing? Nothing groundbreaking, just the plain old grownup rush of things. I am beginning to realize the decision making never.stinkin.ends. 


And really what "real world" decisions are truly worth the weight we place on them? All the stress we let them create, the haste we feel to figure it all out. The bottom line is, it's all temporary anyway. The job you have - temporary. The town you live in - temporary. The house you buy, the salary you make, the social scene you build, the material possessions you accumulate, the pinterest creations you slave over to perfect your little home, the worldly dreams you put on your list to pour your effort, time and money into - all temporary. Not that it's wrong or displeasing to throw your back into those things and that may be what God has for you in this very moment until further notice. But I wrestle. Wrestle with how the scope I find myself operating within seems so far from the scope my Savior had in mind for me when He rose from the dead, for in that moment we were made alive in Christ. 


Ephesians 2:2-5
All of us (sinners) used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. 


A life in which our sinful nature and worldly desires remain alive, but much overshadowed by the true life-giving sacrifice made in that moment. 


I want to live with my focus on the God-given glimpse of eternity instilled in me. Yes, pour myself into where God has me in this moment and the next. Yes, into my responsibilities. But always acutely aware of the weight to place on the things of this world and the ultimate priority of sharing that eternity with others through walk and talk, talk and walk. Oh, you know what I mean :)

Well Hello 2012!

Its always exciting to start a brand new year! No telling what it holds, what's in store. Happy New Year, everyone!

As for resolutions per say, we're planning on the most typical things - healthy living, amping up our physical activity, saving more money, bettering our sweet marriage, spending our time wisely, cherishing family and friends, getting more plugged in at Grace Church, praying for God's will and recognizing opportunities to be generous to people in need. I believe our motto will be something along the lines of making our twenties the years to look back on forever most fondly! They are shaping up like that already, but we really want them to shine :)

Feel free to hold us accountable!

Spirit

I would definitely say that Mike and I are officially in the Christmas spirit!

But really, this season's packing something extra. We're always so excited to stop what we're doing and soak up quality time gathering with family and near and dear friends, but this year's spirit has a different quality to it that I can't quite put my finger on entirely. 

Really, 2011 has been such a different year for us. The fact that we changed gears is an understatement. Our big trip out West definitely stands front and center as our highlight and flanking to both sides are really piles and piles of transition. Nothing quite settled. Beforehand we were transitioning out of Mike's job, out of my internship, out of Greenville, back to home, off of the path we were on. Afterwards, we're transitioning back into a path, new jobs for the both of us, back in Greenville, but in a whole new way. Hard to explain, but I think after a year like that we've got an end-of-the-year spirit to go along with our Christmas warm-n-fuzzies. 

And in the mix of transition, we're still mulling over things - roots vs. flexibility, to be career oriented vs. missions oriented, renting vs. buying, Greenville vs. home, general materialism that finds its way in vs. intentional simplicity and generosity. After a year of freedom, these decisions have seemed to pile up as far as figuring out how we feel about them. Their creeping in has put us in a reflective, analytical kind of mode these last few weeks. 

So on top of all the special things about Christmas I am so looking forward to, I'm also looking forward to curling up with my husband and talking these things over more, praying together and settling with a direction in some of these areas. 

We are anxious to hear God's response, move forward into a new year and live inside His will and purpose. It could mean more piles of transition, it could mean waiting, it could mean working steadily, plowing the fields as Elisha (1 Kinds 19:19) until we are called into something else He is doing or could mean something drastic. The point is not to figure out what we want, and truthfully, that changes nearly everyday for us. Whims come and go whether we're feeling particularly bold or drawn towards comfort and security. But we know a God that can absolutely wreck lives as they've been carefully planned, based around perfectly pleasing dreams to accomplish what He's doing - Mary and Joseph, anyone? Virgin fiance gets pregnant, Joseph doesn't call things off, makes it look like he had something to hide, ruins his reputation, her's is most definitely shot, they make the decision to stay in a different city probably to escape all the gossip, have the responsibility of raising God's only son...I can't say that I would have been the first to raise my hand for that. But whatever it is, we just don't want to miss out on it by getting caught up in what we want. 

Anyway - a little life reflection never hurt anyone I suppose. And I'm so excited to celebrate Christmas - the birthday of a Savior who gave up his deity to live this life as I do, with all these other distractions, temptations and responsibilities, with a thirst for truth and to live out the purpose His Father intended.

Lots to celebrate. Lots to celebrate, indeed! Merry Christmas y'all!   

Can we just have two Fall seasons? Back-to-back, all smooshed together?!

I can hardly believe that my dearly beloved September has come and gone and we're already on the fringes of sweet, sweet October. For us, September still lingers with a few unpacked trinkets not yet decidedly placed into our new nest and the still sweet warm-and-fuzzies from another anniversary celebrated. We kept it simple this year, which was just perfect. A ride up in the mountains, digging around some antique stores...always a no brainer for us. Add a good, solid heart-to-heart about allthingslife. You know you have it good when you long for a simple life - when your essentials are.just.THAT.good. Anddddddd my soul sighs. 


Talk about big shoes to fill, but October never disappoints. Work has done its job (chuckle, chuckle)...which is take over life during the week, but our weekends have been so refreshing. We keep checking back up on our mountains, making sure the leaves don't peak without us and slim but quality time with family has kept gas in our tanks. And we carved out some time to run our first 5k which was a fun day with some of our best friends getting some exercise for a good cause. And back on the home-front, thanks to Pinterest the decorating may.never.end, amen ladies?! There's just so many ideas! Anyways, you'll have to give me a break cause I'm not quite ready to dish out a virtual tour of our new home yet, but I am willing to share some of the details...and some other October happenings :)

Sully Bink enjoys a good mountain ride about as much as us

Run for Hungry Children 5k at Furman University

And in honor of compromise, Michael agreed to refinish our bedroom furniture to make me happy :)

And Sully's always such a good helper :) 

The dresser, all finished! 

The weathered, crackled detailing that I just had to have

Some vintage National Park postcards I found near the Grand Tetons and put in an old barnwood frame from my Dad.

My new (actually old) earring hanger! PS. I spy earrings that aren't mine, I'll return ASAP :)

My antique medicine cabinet from one of my favorite antique stores, Warther's Originals in Walhalla. Their store was actually my very first job :)

Our foyer filled with goodies - my antique igloo metal cooler, some old banisters from my Dad's stash of junk and an old hearty pine bench, also from Warther's. 

Its coming along. Maybe by the end of October...

But we won't be tackling any interiors this weekend - we've got a wedding with so many of our closest friends from home Saturday night, and it'll be extra special because the venue is at Table Rock where we got married 2 years ago :) And we'll be looking for another Tiger win against GT to add to the Shock the World Tour! And then, and then, and then...perfect icing on the cake is an offroad trip up to Bear Mountain and Jumping Off Rock at Jocassee with the old small group crew on Sunday! Ahhhhhh - and my heart singssssss :)

My plate as of late :)

Hmmm...to fit it all into one adjective. You could still describe our life as busy. Yep, I would say it still fits into that category. But we are settling in, settling down and establishing a new routine. 


Currently our typical week includes Mike's Bible study on Monday nights, my Bible study on Tuesday nights, keeping Sully entertained and active after we get home from work everyday, getting back into cooking a balanced dinner spread each night (after living with our in-laws who so graciously took care of the dinner portion of life), helping our dear friends, the Martins, renovate their new house, stepping up our workouts and running regimen, checking out different gyms to see what fits us best, gearing up for our very first 5K in a couple of weeks, always keeping up with family and friends, and work. Can't forget work. And new opportunities at work, which is stimulating and exciting.


So settling down with that plate full does feel good. But part of me inside still clings to an aversion towards the "rat race," uninspiring, typical pursuit of the American Dream, although there's another side of me that is really happy where I am at, even at the start of a budding career. 


Really and truly, at the root of it all, I just want to live in balance. I want to live freely, not ruled by the weight of my progression down a path culture pushes me towards. I find myself tailoring my decisions and effort around that progression, and I want to instead tailor myself around purpose. Like the true purpose. His purpose. His purpose that always stays the same but can look so differently from day-to-day. I want to live intentionally, be missional, operate on an awareness that life is just a blip and the inconsistencies don't matter, only the constant does. 


This is my season now. And I don't want to get lost in it, but I want to live it out the best I can. 

Finally!

So I just want you to know...I just now at 9:47pm put my feet up to unwind from my work day. Deep breaths all around. I am spent! Needless to say, we're back into the swing of things in full force, contributing to society by way of employment. No longer enjoying funemployment in which I woke up when I pleased and had no regard to what day of the week that it actually was. Monday was the same as Friday as the same as hump day as the same as Saturday. You get the picture. And if you're having trouble visualizing it, it doesn't really matter because my life no longer looks like that anyways! :)


So, jobs are keeping us busy, but we love 'em and are glad to have 'em. Andddd - we're finally moved back to Greenville! In a cute little upstairs unit of an old house in the North Main area of downtown. I'm still unpacking and decorating, but I'll get some pictures soon to share. Sully is adjusting well as the lucky stay-at-home component of our little family. He gets taken for a run just about every day since we no longer reside on the edge of the ghetto, so he's loving that. And we're getting plugged back into our church and Bible studies and our amazingly awesome group of friends and each other. That calls for a lot of happiness. 


And we ARE really happy! You know, life speeds up into a whole other gear sometimes and things are always changing. I read a quote just recently that says, stop in your tracks and love where you are. How profound! In hindsight of our traveling sabbatical, I believe my pause from my little strategic, uninspired path in life helped me discover a healthy balance of remaining aware of where it is I believe I am headed at any certain time but also taking the notion to enjoy where each moment has me. Which may be being new at my job, unsettled in a new house, busier than I've been in a long time, with less money in the bank, not yet buying or building or renovating a house like many of our friends, back a little farther away from my dear family. Its a balance I've really struggled with before, but is no longer such an overwhelming theme in my life. Gloriousness that is. 


And speaking of time flying by - our TWO year anniversary is coming up in 5 little old days. Happiness and loving where you are and enjoying where each moment has me - all of that applies. I ADORE being married to my husband, I just love him to pieces! What a blessing to have such a true constant! He's just the best there ever was and I'm so looking forward to celebrating together this weekend! 


Actually, I do believe I am feeling quite unwound and will promptly go snuggle up with said husband right now. :)

So, remember when I said...

So about those stars aligning. The wonderful joke of a commute Mike had mapped out from that cute little house with the cute little yard we found shan't be a-happenin'. We made an appointment to look at the inside of the house today after work and what looked like gleaming perfection through slits between the blinds turned out to not meet our expectations. Not for the price. We may have had the cart before the horse a bit. So back to the drawing board we go. But I've got a good approach going though. That worry-free, faithful, patient, skip-the-frenzy attitude. So the correction's been made, poor form blogging too soon. So here's to a somewhat lame Friday night perusing rental properties online.  

And the whirlwind continues!

I'm tellin' ya, an absolute whirlwind! And for all the real deal grown-ups out there you know just what I'm talking about! I am officially up to my ears in responsibility, thus my previous idle hours of accounting for my incredibly freedom filled life on this here blog have come to a screeching halt. Screeeeeeeeecccchhhhh. 


So official its scary. Rewind back, so I got that job right?! A week after we got back from our amazing trip, right?! And I've been cross-eyed busy ever since, right?! Right. Things have built up to their sure and steady pace for me and I'm still in the treading water phase, but getting more comfortable, gaining more confidence every day. So while I'm bouncing around from facility to facility each day fulfilling their every nutritional need, I would have to say its quite fulfilling to scribble my little ole Kayla Anderson, RD, LD/LDN at the end of my recommendations, knowing I'm the expert they're entrusting with the care of their patients. Not patients, residents - there are no nursing home patients! Day 1 people. Anywho, so I'm still learning, but I kinda love my job. Adjustment - yes. Full throttle - yes. More demanding than my previously nomadic life - yes, yes, yes. But hey, that's what I've got on my new big girl panties for :) 


Now, other big news. Drumrolllllllll...Mike pretty much got HIS dream job a few weeks ago, in Greenville, 9 measly minutes from our soon-to-be new house! That's a lot at once, I know. He's learning the ropes at the Bobcat Dealership of Greenville, grooming up to be their jack-of-all-trades, go-to man until he can figure out which path he wants to take - sales or management. And after much searching in the midst of our new schedules, we found a cute little rental house with a yard in a wonderful, residential area of downtown close to all of our friends and our church which are our very favorite aspects of Greenville. We are stretching our budget a bit, but we're so excited to fix the things we didn't enjoy about our last go-around in Greenville that we stuck to our guns with our criteria and found what we think will be our best option. And I'll be so glad to have Sully Bean back with us, I can hardly stand not coming home to him everyday! So while, as always, a good hefty chunk of our hearts are so sad to leave an inch away from home and being close to our family and friends there, stars are aligning the best they possibly could. 


We're so deeply grateful for how things fall into place. We've had so many blessings just through this time of transition alone - at the top of the list is OD and Cat and all of their sweet, hospitality. Their open arms have been so special to us. And my new boss is a real peach, so fun to get to know and great to work with. And Mike is so much happier with his hours and general workload - its nothing like the soul-signing he did before. So we're full-fledged baby adults and through all of these little life phases, I think if I could just learn to skip the frantic, worried, unfaithful frenzy when things are uncertain I would say a whole lot more for my ever-faithful Father. Must do better. 


So lots on our plate, lots going on, but it'll be so nice to get moved into a new house near our jobs, get more comfortable with our new responsibilities and settle into the swing of things. A little different from the swing of my hammock, but I'll be sure to make time for that too.


And what fun to nest into a new house with all of these creative juices flowing with new ideas from Pinterest. 


Some things off my list to create...

I know, with what free time right? :)

What a whirlwind!

So we're back! Back home! After such a trip it feels amazing to be back in familiarity with no use for maps or our GPS or campgrounds or trail mix. Forreal. And to be back with our family and friends that make home home - that's what they'd call icing on the cake. Delish! 


Now I swore I'd sleep a whole week when we returned, but if our trip taught me a single thing it is that things hardly go as planned. And oh so rarely is that little life truth proven wrong. 


So to catch you up...our way home was supposed to be filled with visiting a bunch of friends right?! And a big final bash in DC right?! Welllll, about that. So to start off, we spent some great quality time with my cousin Laura and her man, Bob in Columbia, MO where we were treated to dinner and loads of unbelievable hospitality. Laura and I stayed up late chatting and catching up, giggling over old family photo albums and what everyone in the family is up to now. We just appreciate them so much, they're always up for a visit for the books! From there it was off to another staple stop for us, to see Shawty in St. Louis. And bless her, she and her great boyfriend, Nick were quite the host and hostess with the mostest for three whole days! She filled our days with a perfect blend of fun and relaxation - some 24 marathons, homemade dinners, bookstores, downtown strolls and a oh-so-fun trip to St. Louis' awesome city museum! Seriously, in you're ever in the area, ya just gotta go! Its like a huge, creative, recycled playground!

And the fun continues for 10 stories, all the way up to the roof! So after a bittersweet goodbye to Shaw, who I wouldn't mind hanging with everyday, we headed to another set of camp friends that I would love to live closer to - Julie and Jeremy. The hospitality just kept right on going. We kicked off with a homemade spaghetti dinner and a perfect, lazy night on the couch. Did I mention I missed some good couch time while we were gone? The next day the workers had to work while the bums had to bum (tis our duty) and that we did. But most importantly, I did spend time on the phone with Katie and Harper to get plans situated for DC. After some back and forth and rearranging, and wonderfully appreciated flexibility on their part, we settled on a plan. Mike and I were siked to see them! We ran to the grocery store to get stuff to barbecue ribs and bake sweet potato fries for dinner for the Julie and Jeremy, earn our keep you know. Repay our sweet friends for being so dear to us. Dinner was well on its way when they got home and we kept adding delicious goodness to our menu and wound up with a feast. It was oh so good! All seems according to plan so far right?! Well we go to check on Sully outside on the back patio shortly after dinner and dun. dun. dun. Sully had thrown up everywhere and we instantly figured out he'd gotten skunked. As in sprayed by a skunk. My poor, pitiful, sweeter than sweet boy! We washed him twice with every tomato juice product Julie had in her kitchen. It knocked the edge off to odor, but not enough. We set up a fan and had Sully sleep his stink off in the garage, and went to bed assuming it would be gone in the morning. Or a the very least bearable. What was that thing about life not going as planned again?! Yeah, in the morning it was worse! We could hardly stand to ride in the car with poor Sully, much less take him to people's homes while we visit in DC. Soooo we made the decision to head on home, although disappointed not to get to follow through with our plans with Katie and Harper in DC! Bummer, but what could we really do at that point? Thankfully, they understood our situation and it'll just make our eventual visit that much sweeter! 


So, a bit on the unplanned side but, nonetheless, we made the trip home on July 14th. And after a month and a half away, we hit the ground running. First on the agenda. Jobs. C'mon, have you seen our bank account?! It looks like we've been traveling for a month and a half. Imagine that. We splurged and had ourselves a weekend filled with catching up with family and friends (like my best guy friend that moved to Michigan that I miss so very much, and my BFF that insists on becoming a vet so has to spend her time in Auburn learning and junk) and going up to our high school hangout spot at Wilhite's mountain cabin on Crystal Lake. Such a great time catching up with friends from high school. Yes, please. And later we visited another old tried and true hangout - TTT's in downtown dear old Clemson for Meg's (that soon-to-be vet I was telling you about) 24th birthday. 

We can't quite kick it like we used to. :) Anyways, the following Monday I contacted a lady, such a sweet lady, that owns a RD consulting company out of Greenville and went for my interview just yesterday. It went really, really well. Like I'm in, but may have to do with more part-time work until she has more for me to do. That part's a bummer because we can't really pick up and move from our graciously free basement dwelling to our own place in Greenville with one part-time job between the both of us. Not that home isn't our first choice, but we gotta go where the work is. And we'd like a place (a house with a yard for Sully) that we can plant ourselves for a while, and the certainty that Mike can find a job there that he enjoys. He actually impromptu interviewed with an equipment dealership the same day I did. Lloyd was amazing and brought him a set of nice clothes all the way from home so he didn't have to take advantage of the employers free time in the shorts and sandals he initially rode to Greenville wearing. Bless him! Although no effort was in vain, the opportunity they proposed doesn't feel like what we're looking for. Mike was just too overqualified. We'll just keep pumping out his resume and sifting through the nibbles. So, really, even when you get downright serious about planning things they don't quite always go as planned. 


But as Mark Twain says, "Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is." Highly applicable to life at the moment. Which is beautifully uncertain. And we thought the adventure was over! :)

Homeward Bound!!!

Sittin' here on the eve of our eastward trek back to HOME.SWEET.HOME, Mike and I have done some reflecting. Oh how we've missed our families and friends and the sweet, comfortable, easy kind of summer that goes along with living life in our neck of the woods. But we've certainly had ourselves the adventure we set out to have. From Great Sands to the Tetons there's been ups and downs, we'll make no bones about that, but we've lived. Lived a smidge of the dream we dreamt. Amen and Amen!


Fortunately the dream's not over just yet. We're stretching our homeward bound to accommodate 8 glorious days of visiting with precious friends and family! The lineup - Columbia, Missouri to visit and catch up with my cousin Laura, St. Louis to have such a sweet reunion with my dear camp friend Shaw, Kentucky to potentially crash on the lake with my BFF Meg and her boyfriend Dan, Nashville to stay and play in the brand spankin' new home of more dear camp friends, Julie and Jeremy Spencer, then finally up to Washington DC to reunite with my long lost Hokie, Katie freakin' Horner and to pay a solid visit my cousin, Harper, whom me and South Carolina miss so much! I CANNOT WAIT!!! No lie, we've seen some beautiful places, but seeing people is my absolute favorite and I'm so thankful to cap off our trip with such a special lineup. 


But with the entirety of Kansas as our foe tomorrow, I truly need to get to sleep. Seriously, Kansas could burn. Am I right Megan and Mike Martin, Chris Ward, am I right?! But in honor of reflection I'll collect some of my favorite memories of our trip, although I know with such special people to visit there will be many more to collect.

Feeling so small on top of the dunes at Great Sands

Catching it just right for a night on the town in Ouray during a local food festival

Hiking with my two favorite boys

Being joined by Ben and changing up some scenery to the red rocks of Utah

Getting to photograph some of America's most photographed places for myself

Climbing my first 14er and getting to wish my Dad a Happy Father's Day from the top of a mountain

Not that I liked the truck breaking down, but we did learn to roll with the punches

Auto-touring through Rocky Mountain NP

Besides the 5 star meal at Chico Hot Springs (thank you Bonnie!) and our post-14er meal at Outback (thank you Shellee!) the Mountain Buzz was our best meal of the trip

Our lazy day on the South Platte River near Denver

Exploring the winter wonderland that was the Beartooth Highway

Staying busy or not so busy at Chico

Seeing the double rainbow in the West Thumb of Yellowstone

Mike getting to fly fish in the premier Gibbon River

Getting to see all the wildlife, but especially the Mama Grizzly and her cubs (from a safe distance!)

Having Sully Bink with us every step of the way

Hiking with the family in the Tetons

Getting to play around and try out some bouldering at Enclosure in Jackson Hole - very cool! 

Watching the sunset over the Tetons from Shadow Valley Road on the 4th of July per recommendation of a local

Sharing this adventure with the love of my life!

Hiking to Leigh Lake in Teton NP - hands down the place I would take home with me if I could!

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to make them come true."

The new mix!

Things have livened up here on the road trip, as the Anderson clan has finally joined us! We're so excited to have them here with us and are so blessed to call such a special bunch family! We've been catching up and jumping right into vacation mode - so far all along the wintery Beartooth Highway and while relaxing at Chico Hot Springs. And lots and lots and lots of laughing has commenced, in true Anderson form. Michael and I are just so very thankful to kick off the tail end of our trip with them!


Photo dump:

Don't you worry South Carolina, we are coming back to you!