hold the phone

Martha comes today. To MY house. To see ME. I'm so excited! Then there's some intense girl time taking place Friday night with some of my favorite Tar Heel ladies. I'm telling you folks, this is much needed. And it's going to be amazing.

("Reunited and it feels so good..." just started playing in my head. Yikes.)

crazy

That's what this week has been, and it's only Wednesday. Andrew and I were just talking about how it's rare that we both have crazy lives at the same time. When we were both working, it seemed that we rotated busy weeks and whoever had the off week would pick up the slack. And when Andrew got laid off, he would just always pick up the slack :)

But this week? WOW. Every night we've collapsed into bed circa 8:30 or 9pm, because our brains were shutting down. The dish washer hasn't been unloaded in a while, because we've resorted to pancakes for dinner. We haven't opened the mail. The DVR is getting full. There are probably typos all over this thing. And, per usual, I'm weepy. I watched the Today Show this morning and teared up both at the the firemen that pulled a little boy out of a burning car and the March of Dimes commercial.

But, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy: the weekend is near. And while I have cleaning/errands to catch up on and Andrew has to study on Saturday, we've declared Sunday SUNDAY FUNDAY. And if we get REAL crazy, we might take a nap. Halleluljah.

for better or worse

I don't think either one of us anticipated having to face our vows - for better for worse, for richer for poorer - as quickly as we did. Eight months after we got married, Andrew lost his job, and here we are eight months later having dealt with it rather well. This evening, Andrew and I were unpacking from a weekend trip to Concord. I was in one room, he was another, and we were cracking up over something that I honestly can't even remember now. And this was the conversation that traveled down our little hallway:

Andrew: Page, you know what?

Page: What?

Andrew: We're so happy.

It's simple, but I think it catches us off guard sometimes. Given our circumstances, we should be stressed out. And our green marriage should be shaking. But it's not. I have to believe that the Lord has blessed us with grace during this time when we weren't even asking for it. I have to believe that the He has his hand on our marriage. Because despite everything going on around us - we are so, so happy.

the list maker

That's who I am. And that's what I do. My entire day involves making lists, because that's how I organize my thoughts. Right now, I'm waiting for some pictures to upload from my old computer to my new computer and I'm in the mood to make some lists. Enjoy.

THINGS I WANT TO BAKE

A red velvet cake

Another tiramisu (because the one I made for Andrew's birthday was freaking awesome)

Peanut butter cookies

Sourdough bread

PLACES I WANT TO GO

New York

Charleston

Italy

San Diego

Savannah

Australia

BOOKS I WANT TO READ

South of Broad

The Unlikely Disciple

A Prayer for Owen Meany

Little Women

Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance

THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

Christmas

The girls' getaway weekend

Next year's beach trip with the fam

Watching 24 on Friday

Sleeping in on Saturday

REASONS WHY I MAKE LISTS

I'm compulsive

I feel better about myself when I can check things off

I can visualize everything that's on my mind

It gives you something to read on this silly little blog (you're welcome)

happy birthday, love

I'm really glad you were born. I'm thankful for you every single day for so many different reasons. Because it's your birthday, I'm going to name some:

1. You have such a servant's heart. Whether it's unloading the dishwasher while I cook dinner or fixing me a glass of water before bed, you are always eager to help.
2. You make me laugh. Most often not when you're trying, and that's how I like it.
3. You're patient.
4. You love Jesus.
5. You eat anything I put in front of you and tell me that it's good.
6. You tell me 900 times a day that you love me.
7. You tell me 900 times a day that you think I'm pretty.
8. You're really smart and interested in interesting things.
9. You love my family as much as I do.
10. You're smart with money, which makes me confident about our financial future.
11. You humor me. ALL THE TIME.
12. You don't seem to mind that I veto El Rodeo every Friday night.
13. You didn't protest when I put my graduation cap and gown, along with some mardi gras beads, on your Michael Jordan cutout.
14. And of course, you're not bad to look at.

I love you!

happy...one year and four months anniversary?

Ok. So, you know how you're supposed to save the top layer of your wedding cake to freeze and eat on your one year anniversary? I didn't do that. The thought of having to keep up with that in my freezer for the year kind of stressed me out. And believe me, the sentimental side of me is SHOCKED. However, the bakery that made our wedding cake will make you a complimentary anniversary cake when it's time. And I forgot about that.

Until a week ago.

And who can pass up free cake? Certainly not the Castrodales. We enjoyed the first slice as a study break for Andrew on Sunday, and I'm taking the rest to the beach this week for my family to finish off. I must say, if the real thing was as good as this little thing, our guests were lucky! The only taste of the cake we got at the wedding was the little bit we shoved in each other's face.

The replica was cute...

But not as a cute as the original!