mimi's endless mind

The Boys

2008-10-02T15:54:00.006-04:00

The boys are growing up so quickly! Luke will be 8 months on Saturday and Drake is almost 2 1/2! Here is what they are doing now... Luke is crawling everywhere! Nothing gets in his way as he tries to keep up with his big brother, chasing him through the house. He's also pulling up on everything! He loves to hold on to our fingers and walk through the house but doesn't have enough courage yet to stand on his own. I think he'll walk before he's a year - he's just too eager to get up and go. He eats a ton. I mean it, this boy can eat! He'll eat his veggies if we mix them with a sweet veggie or fruit. He loves fruit and yogurt- the sweet stuff is the best stuff! I mentioned it to Andrew's aunt and she just shrugged and said "he's a Spencer" :). He has his front bottom two teeth and gives the biggest, cutest grins. He claps his hands and gives 5 (repeatedly). Luke adores his big brother. Drake loves being the big brother. When the boys are in their carseats, he'll look over at Luke and laugh this special laugh, cracking Luke up! It makes me smile every time he does it. He plays well with Luke, too. He loves to read - just like always. We go to the library every week for storytime and he gets to check out books to bring home. He can read a book just two or three times and have a large part of it memorized. His most recent achievement was learning how to spell his name. We finger-painted at home one day and when we were done, I painted his name at the top of the paper. I hung it on the fridge at his eye level and for about two weeks, he would walk over to the paper and read the letters (he recognizes the entire alphabet, colors, numbers and shapes - a genius!). Then one day I asked him to spell it and he went and looked at the paper, then came back to me in the living room and recited D-R-A-K-E. Ever since then he's been spelling it constantly. What's funny is that he'll see another word now and just spell it as his name, no matter what it actually says! He's still a picky eater and would eat bread all day if he could. He loves sweets, too, just like his brother. And mommy...and daddy... The explanation for this photo...we were trying on costumes from the Halloween box and this was what Drake chose - an angel! Look at those big blue eyes!

Mitty Spence

2008-07-16T01:53:00.003-04:00

I know it's been entirely too long since I've posted and you are all hoping to see some more photos of my boys but..... I want to announce my new line of handmade items - Mitty Spence. I've just released my first collection and am extremely pleased with the result! Click on the link to find out more...

Five Weeks

2008-03-11T00:22:00.004-04:00

We are finally beginning to fall into a groove and reach a new stage of normal. Of course with a newborn, just when you think you've gotten somewhere, everything changes. Drake is increasingly sweet and cuddly with Luke - still gives a "poor baby" every time he cries. Luke is awake more now and smiling at us - so heart melting! He's lifting his head up off the ground a bit, too. He still doesn't sleep well at night. I've pulled out the old parenting books (read religiously with Drake) to brush up on my newborn knowledge and hopefully reminded myself of a few tricks. I'd love to get more than 2 consecutive hours of sleep someday soon. Caffeine stimulants will only get you so far during the day. :) Oh well. I love my sweet boys.

Nine Days

2008-03-08T11:02:00.003-05:00

I'm a bit behind in posting. Seems I spend most of my time nursing and changing diapers for two cute little boys. :) These are a couple of the photos I took of Luke (my attempt at a photo shoot!).

Luke

2008-02-07T20:52:00.000-05:00

It turns out my contractions on Saturday weren't such a tease after all. They were actually my early labor contractions and my active labor was just delayed by a day. More details on that later. Most importantly, Luke Duncan Spencer was born into the world on Monday, February 4 at 9:00 pm weighing 7 lb. 9 oz. and measuring 20 1/2 in. He's absolutely perfect! Luke with daddy What a sweetie! Luke with mommy Meeting Gram and big brother Sleeping soundly Luke with grandma Luke with ma and pa Look at those big hands and feet! Eyes wide open

About Contractions

2008-02-03T21:39:00.000-05:00

Such a tease. So I'm all geared up to go into labor yesterday. Nothing happens in the early part of the day and since Drake was with his grandparents, Andrew and I painted the kitchen. Then they started. About 2:30pm and coming every 10 minutes. Consistently. For two hours. We go to Lowe's to get a couple of things for the kitchen and they slow down. Not by much, 12-15 minutes apart. And back and forth they go for the rest of the evening. I'm seriously stumped and although I've done this before, I just can't decide if I think this is it or not. The contractions were extremely mild, but they were like that with Drake for 10 hours. My mom was trying to figure out whether or not to come and I didn't really know what to tell her. So she didn't come. Which is good. I guess the signs were there - when the contractions start slowing down it's clear that they aren't doing what they would in real labor - get stronger, longer and closer together. I think I was just wishing so much for it to be the real thing that I had convinced myself that it was. Or at least tried to. When I went to bed, they had stopped completely. Then I woke around 2:30am with a stronger contraction than I'd had all day. I got up to go to the bathroom, got back in bed and drifted off to sleep again. I had four contractions just like it over the next hour, each one waking me up. I was trying hard to go back to sleep thinking that, if it was the real thing, I wanted as much sleep as possible before they became unbearable. But then I woke up this morning about 9am feeling nothing but exhaustion and disappointment. So now I'm telling myself to be content to be a mother of one sweet little boy because these are the last few days that I'll ever be a mother to just one sweet little boy. Soon enough, there'll be two.

12 Days and Counting

2008-02-01T00:12:00.000-05:00

I've got twelve days left until my due date. That's entirely too long if you ask me. But I'm happy to report that my visit with the midwife today showed some progress - almost 3 cm dilated. I've been having a lot of contractions this week and actually thought labor was starting on Monday when I had regular contractions for an hour straight. No such luck. Tonight I had regular, stronger contractions for about 30 minutes. I know that's not much but at least I know it means I'm getting closer and my body is preparing itself. My prediction is this weekend - Saturday to be exact. I had strong feelings with Drake that he would be born on a certain day and I called it right! Let's hope I'm that lucky this time :). As for the actual labor, I'm planning to have a natural childbirth. I'm not exactly excited about the labor part as I remember how painful it is but I am excited to be in Texas near family, in a great hospital with an excellent midwife. I've got options such as laboring in a jacuzzi and using a birthing ball, plus Andrew will be by my side helping ease the pain with massage and anything else I ask him to do! I know that I can't control how things unfold during my labor and delivery but I feel so much more prepared this time and actually look forward to it without any fears or hesitations. Okay, any day now Luke.

The Park and My Camera

2008-01-27T15:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a beautiful, warm and sunny day so we went to the park to play. I decided to try using the manual settings on my camera for the first time and actually came up with some pretty good shots. The inspiration came from: (1) finding a photographer whose work I liked, (2) finding out her prices were incredibly reasonable and asking her to take maternity and newborn portraits for me, (3) her agreeing and then a few weeks later completely ignoring my attempts to get in touch with her, (4) trying to find another good but reasonably priced photographer without success. I'm not interested in the typical studio photography as I feel my own photographs are as good or better, not to mention that my sister is a great photographer - we just don't live in the same city. That's why I was looking for someone but I just can't see paying $200 for a session and then having to shell out another $300-$500 for prints. I enjoy having the photos on my computer, editing and printing myself, or sharing via email or blogging. So all of that to say that I'm going to attempt to figure out my own very nice camera and continue taking my own photographs and abusing my sister when we're together. I'll get off my soapbox now so you can enjoy our family trip to the park. Oh, and the walking didn't send me into labor just yet...

Big Brother, Little Brother

2007-12-18T20:47:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't heard yet, we are having another boy. His name is Luke Duncan Spencer. Drake is gearing up to be a big brother in February, but of course he doesn't really know what that means. He'll repeat "baby" when we say it while pointing to my tummy but he doesn't make the connection. He'll be 21 months old when Luke gets here so the transition will probably be a tough one. Any advice from mothers who have had two this close together is appreciated!

Drake & Santa

2007-12-18T20:43:00.000-05:00

We took Drake to meet Santa for the first time tonight. He seemed excited and interested while we waited in line but when we put him down in Santa's lap, he cried! I thought that might be his reaction. So we saved the moment and took a family photo with Santa instead.

Back in the Saddle Again

2007-08-26T21:38:00.001-04:00

Literally. Well, almost. (I'm sure I'll be on a horse in no time-right dad?). Life has gotten away from me since I last posted. Many changes. All good - or bittersweet. 1. Early May: My sister Amanda moved out of our apartment and back to Amarillo. We hated to see her go but we were glad she was able to experience New York with us. 2. Mid-May: My sister Heather came to New York to visit for a week. Fun times! 3. Mid-May: We took a family vacation to Niagara Falls. It was beautiful. Drake wanted to push the stroller everywhere and got mad every time we tried to take a photo with him. Oh well. 4. Late May: We went to Far Rockaway Beach in Queens. Drake loved the sand and even the icy cold water. It was the only beach trip we took that had nice weather. In June we went to Coney Island in Brooklyn and Jones Beach on Long Island and each time it was chilly and rainy. Strange. 5. Early June: We find out we're going to have another baby! (No photo of the complete shock on our faces - sorry!) 6. Mid-June: Andrew got a teaching job in Fort Worth. Big answer to prayer! 7. Late June: Drake and I have to say goodbye to Aurora after almost a year of having her in our home. Drake misses you Aurora and hasn't found a girlfriend to replace you :). 8. Late June: We move away from New York back to Texas. Incredibly bittersweet! Drake and I stayed with Ma & Pa in Oklahoma while Andrew drove our belongings across the country with his dad. Drake had fun riding the lawnmower with Pa (yes-the mower part was turned off). Andrew's parents were wonderful to put us up in their home for the month of July while we searched for a house to buy. Drake loved playing with Gram and Grandaddy everyday. 9. Mid-July: We found a house in Fort Worth! It's a beautiful and charming home built in 1922. The previous owner was a kind man who had taken great care of it and worked hard restoring parts of it. Thanks Buddy! 10. Mid-July: We visited the family in Amarillo (there's a lot of them now) for a few days. Of course Drake still loves the swimming pool at Grandma's house. We had a really nice visit with everyone (lots of thrift store shopping and garage sales - not to mention bargains!) I got to eat my beloved Taco Villa and Andrew was able to hang with a couple of friends he had in New York who, strangely enough, are from Amarillo. We stopped in Holliday on the way back to visit with Andrew's Grandmother. It's always a delight to spend time with her - she adores Drake! 11. Early August: We moved in to our house and have since been unpacking and decorating. Drake absolutely loves having a room big enough to play in. He pushes his toys (and the furniture) all over the hardwood floors. He also loves to go outside and play. We have a nice big front porch where we sit and drink coffee on the weekends. The back yard needs some work but we have plans to make it a great family space over the next couple of years. I'll post some photos of the inside of the home after we're a bit more settled :). I'm sure I've left some things out. I'll try not to get so behind again. I'd love to hear from you so leave me a comment after you read!

1st Birthday Party

2007-05-07T10:24:00.000-04:00

Drake's 1st Birthay Party was a week ago yesterday. We had a couple of our friends over to celebrate. Everyone brought gifts and Drake had fun opening them and then playing with the tissue paper! He got lots of books, some really cute clothes, and a baseball tee that plays music - which he absolutely loves! We stripped him of his clothes and then put two cupcakes in front of him, one chocolate and one carrot cake. He chose the carrot cake and made a huge mess eating it! Drake showed off by holding up his finger showing he is now one. He also walked, taking more steps than he has ever taken - he walked the length of the living room without anyone helping! The party was lots of fun and here are the photos to show it...

Look who's one!

2007-04-28T22:37:00.000-04:00

We now have a big, adorable one year old! Drake's birthday was Thursday. His birthday party is tomorrow (Sunday). He's looking forward to eating lots of cupcakes...

April days

2007-04-21T22:24:00.000-04:00

What a gorgeous day we had here in Brooklyn. We went to the park and played. We went into Manhattan to the farmer's market in Union Square to buy fresh herbs. We went to the little outdoor garden by our house - thats where we took the photos. And yes, I did cut Andrew's hair off :).

A Chair

2007-03-15T22:28:00.000-04:00

My latest project is a chair that I found on the street. We were walking home from church (which is about a 20 minute walk) and I made Andrew carry it all the way home -- I think it might even have been sprinkling. It sat in my kitchen for a couple of months while I deliberated what to do with it. I liked the wood color okay but thought it was a bit drab and boring so I painted it white. I recently stumbled upon the cutest, quaint little fabric store in Soho which has the most wonderful fabrics I've ever seen. I decided on a print that would echo the lines of the chair in a color scheme that would match just about any room in my house (since I don't have an exact place for it yet - it will probably be my desk chair in my bedroom). I couldn't be happier with the end result. One person's trash became another's treasure...

10 months and walking...

2007-03-05T16:02:00.000-05:00

Well, almost walking. Drake was ten months old a week ago today. That same day he walked for the first time! His favorite thing for some time now has been to walk around the house with us holding his fingers, stopping sometimes to let go and stand on his own. He had taken a few steps excitedly (accidentally) before but this time it was balanced and controlled. Yay! He's been practicing a lot this week and I'm sure will be walking full time in no time. He has seven teeth -- four on top and three on bottom. He's getting really attached to his daddy which is really cute! He cries for him when he leaves the room and is super excited to see him when he comes home from work in the evening. Here are some recent photos... Our family. He loves having aunt Amanda as a roommate. Look at all those teeth! (notice the caption on his shirt..."here comes trouble"...so true) He's wearing his daddy's pants from when he was a baby, rolled down at the waist because they are still a bit big... He's gettting so big... Playing at the park with daddy on a beautiful March day...

9 Months

2007-01-24T22:47:00.000-05:00

I know it's a bit early (2 days to be exact) but here is my super cute almost-9-month-old son. He now has four teeth, crawls with the speed of lightning, wants to hold big food in his hands and take bites from it, and is learning to go to sleep on his own. He is so much fun, still smiling and laughing all the time!

Christmas at our house

2006-12-20T21:21:00.000-05:00

Our little santa! Isn't he adorable? This is our Christmas tree. We have always had a small 4 ft. tree and this year I wanted to get a big 6 ft. one so we did. It's lovely and smells wonderful. I really didn't have enough ornaments to put on it (no one looks at the back anyway, right? - except that the back of the tree faces the window in our kitchen, oops!). Drake crawls over to it and looks at it with curiosity as he touches the branches and plays with the bows on the packages. Our home looks and smells like Christmas - we have cinnamon scented pinecones in every room, stockings hung on the...wall :), the occasional smell of cookies and wassail, friends come over to eat and drink with us, and don't forget the Christmas music. I love Christmas and all that it entails. The best part will be going home on Sunday to spend two weeks with our family and loved ones. Merry Christmas!

Christmas in New York

2006-12-20T20:44:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick look at New York City at Christmas time... Going across from left to right: 1. tree in Rockefeller center 2. giant ornaments on 5th Ave 3. Macy's 4. angels and tree in Rockefeller center 5. Radio City Music Hall 6. window display at Macy's 7. Michelle and I on 5th Ave 8. light tree on Macy's 9. Empire State Building

Thanksgiving

2006-12-05T10:28:00.000-05:00

My nephew Ethan is upside down - only feet visible. My nieces: Ruby is playing with rocks while Ava is happy to play with the big kids! My cousin Ale is spinning... Maddie and Drake. Sisters. Cousins - Anna, Drake and Ava - happily together at last!

Seven Months

2006-12-05T10:24:00.000-05:00

This is a couple of weeks late but here is my adorable - now seven month old - son!

Our family

2006-11-19T00:27:00.000-05:00

We were being silly on the floor the other day and took some photos - here's our favorite! Drake is getting so big - he started pulling up on things this week. He "talks" so much and should get his first tooth any day now (at least we hope - for his sake and ours :). We are all looking forward to spending some time with family next week for Thanksgiving. Texas, here we come!

Happy Halloween

2006-10-27T20:12:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went to a fall festival in Madison Square Park. We ate popcorn and went through a Halloween maze and at the end was a pumpkin patch. Drake carefully chose his favorite pumpkin and then decorated it with stickers giving it a sweet funny face. Tonight we went to a Halloween party. Yes - we went as a family of vampires - "Drakula" was our inspiration (thanks Michelle!). Here are some photos from the evening. The "flower" is the little girl I babysit and her name is Aurora.

Six Months

2006-10-27T20:03:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that Drake is six months already. He is sitting up on his own (mostly) and he eats all sorts of veggies and fruits along with oatmeal. He rolls constantly and gets up underneath chairs and goes for cabinet doors. In his crib he plays on his tummy and when he hears my voice he pulls the bumper pad down so that he can see me. He's just adorable, don't you think?

The Cutest Boy in the World

2006-10-21T20:43:00.000-04:00

Leaf Peepers

2006-10-16T22:20:00.000-04:00

Yes, we are now leaf peepers. We drove upstate New York and over into Massachusetts this weekend to see the changing autumn leaves. It was a beautiful sight. Drake went up his first mountain - Mount Greylock - the highest peak in Massachusetts. Even though it was bitter cold he had a blast! His little nose and eyes were watery and running but he didn't cry. He loves New England!

Connecticut

2006-10-13T22:53:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago we took our first road trip (in Vinnie the Volvo) to Connecticut. We stopped at a couple of vineyards, went shopping at an outlet mall and watched the sunset on the beach. We stayed in a hotel in East Haven and were so excited about the heated indoor pool - only it was more icy than steamy :). Oh well. The trip was a great escape and only a couple of hours from home. We visited Yale University for Drake's first college visit - no pressure - he's got plenty of time to choose! On the way back we stopped in Stamford at Bobby Valentine's Restaurant - the other location of the infamous restaurant where Andrew and I first met back in 1999. Sweet memories! D&D at Chamard Vineyard

5 Months

2006-09-30T01:04:00.000-04:00

Can you believe he is already 5 months old? Me either! I took these out at the park a week or so back - such a cutie. Oh, and old Vinnie is holding up just fine. In fact, I've been cleaning him up, re-taping the plexi-glass windows and everything! We are taking him to Connecticut this weekend - we are so excited to get out of the city in our very own car!

Meet Vinnie

2006-09-25T13:18:00.000-04:00

I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to the newest member of our family. His name is Vinnie and we rescued him from a life of vandalism and destruction in the south Bronx. He's no stranger to misery. He's Canadian by birth (kilometers and all) but moved to the States at a very young age. We've taken him in and will love him like he's our own. Meet Vinnie the Volvo-

Loving Brooklyn

2006-09-17T23:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we went to the Emire-Fulton Ferry State Park at the end of the Brooklyn Bridge for a free outdoor concert. The weather was fantastic, the music was great and the entire day just re-enforced why we love New York so much, especially Brooklyn. The sky was absolutely amazing, too, so we took lots of photos. Here are just a few...

He's so cute!

2006-09-08T02:57:00.000-04:00

Here are just some fun pictures from the last couple of weeks - enjoy! Drake is ready to party! Drake was all partied out :D Isn't he a cutie?

Four months

2006-08-26T19:24:00.000-04:00

Well, Drake is four months old today. He is getting so big. We have lots of pictures from our vacation so I'll try to get them on here soon. Today is a cool, rainy day here in Brooklyn and we have stayed in bed all day with our pajamas on, only getting up to eat. What a great way to spend the weekend before a busy week.

My Boy

2006-07-17T20:49:00.000-04:00

I love these pictures of my boy.

Look at my son!

2006-06-22T12:55:00.000-04:00

Eight weeks old Wednesday and still just the cutest, sweetest thing! We went to daddy's work and Drake showed off by flirting with all the ladies - smiling and laughing and enjoying their attention. Just look at his heart-breaking smile!

Mommy and Drake

2006-06-16T00:23:00.000-04:00

My sweet baby is growing up so fast. Seven weeks sure has gone by quickly. He is in the sweetest stage right now...loving to lay still and cuddle on mommy's chest...all day! It is most definitely my favorite thing to do these days. (I even let him fall asleep laying on my chest last night and he slept the whole night with me...seven hours!) I love to watch people's faces when I walk down the street carrying him in my sling. No matter what they are doing or who they are talking to they always get a huge smile on their face and make one of those "aawww" noises. My baby is an attention-graber already. Looks like he might take after you grandma :)

Spencer Party of 3

2006-06-05T15:13:00.000-04:00

I've gotten behind in posting pictures. Motherhood is joyfull bliss...but doesn't leave much time for extras! Heather and Ruby came to visit us for a week. We had a great time together. Drake loves his aunt Heather and had lots of fun playing with his cousin Ruby (her American girl doll is the same size as Drake so you can imagine what fun!) Drake has grown 3 inches in the short six weeks he's been on Earth (he's now 24 inches long). According to the internet, that puts him in the 95th percentile for his height/age. Move over Dirk Nowitski...Drake is in the house! Daddy's dreams of an NBA star just might be realized. If you are reading this and you are family and you have not come to see us and meet our bundle of joy.....GET HERE NOW...Drake just can't wait to meet you and give you lots of hugs and kisses because he is the sweetest, most cudly little guy ever. Look at this expression...don't you just want to eat him up?!

Almost Three

2006-05-15T15:24:00.000-04:00

Almost three...weeks that is! I can't believe he is already growing up so quickly. I was able to celebrate my first Mother's Day this year. Drake is so thoughtful...he bought me a gift certificate to a spa! He is so sweet and cuddly. He loves to lay on mommy's chest and snuggle after meals (and loves to sleep there, too). I think he is spoiling me! This is my sweet sleeping boy! This is his most adorable "I'm burping" face! Daddy's waking him up... The only time we've captured a smile...you'll see lots more of this soon I hope. He has the most adorable dimples! This is the ever-so-serious "I'm pooping" face!

Blue Eyes

2006-05-05T22:54:00.000-04:00

My sweet boy...what a joy! I've taken so many pictures that it is hard to choose which ones to display. He's such a cutie! I know Drake can't wait for all of his grandparents and aunts and uncles to meet him...come see us soon!

One Week Old!

2006-05-03T22:05:00.000-04:00

He's growing up already...one week old today. Here are some more pictures. Enjoy.

Drake Has Arrived!

2006-04-29T17:56:00.000-04:00

Our beloved son arrived this week on Wednesday morning. He was quite a surprise to us and the doctor weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz! The delivery was difficult but we both survived it...and now we have the most beautiful baby boy! Drake Andrew Spencer is the delight and joy of our world. We are incredibly blessed and thank the Lord for such a wonderful gift! This picture was taken soon after we were moved to our own room. Drake was a little bit red in the cheeks still and mommy was definitley tired! This picture was taken the next day and right as I was about to take it Drake started crying and Andrew looked up...his expression is priceless! This was after we got home. Isn't he just the sweetest thing?

Drake's Nursery

2006-04-08T15:00:00.000-04:00

I am finally posting the pictures of Drake's nursery. It is completely decorated and his drawers are full of clothes and diapers and we are just sitting around waiting for him to come. There are three weeks until my due date but I am seriously hoping and praying that he decides to join us in this world some time in the next week or so. Here is my rocking chair and side table where we keep all of his books and toys for now. The pictures we hung on the wall are photographs taken by my sister Heather. Can you see the cat hiding under the crib? I love the chocolate brown bedding and was lucky enough to find a rug to match it perfectly! Here is his swing...there's not much room for it in here but there isn't really much room for it anywhere else either. I'm sure it will get moved around the house alot anyway. Here's the changing table and dressers.

Big Belly

2006-03-22T21:04:00.000-05:00

Pregnant Belly 1
Originally uploaded by Mimi's Endless Mind.

Pregnant Belly 2
Originally uploaded by Mimi's Endless Mind.

I thought it would be fun to repost the older picture of my belly with the new one. It's funny how big I thought I was in the first one...which was before Christmas. Now here I am 8 months pregnant (to the day) and looking quite a bit different. We are in the home stretch now and anxiously awaiting Drake's arrival. I am hoping he comes at least a little early because it is getting pretty uncomfortable...not to mention that I am still walking everywhere and riding the subway (the stairs are getting to be a nightmare) where someone offers me their seat only 50% of the time. I can't carry much anymore so Andrew goes to the grocery store with me or for me and does the same with laundry. Both the grocery store and laundry mat now seem so very far away! But it won't be much longer until I forget about all of this and just marvel at the precious sight of my baby boy.

My Living Room

2006-02-26T19:20:00.000-05:00

I am finally getting around to posting more of my apartment. I wanted to get these pix up so that I could post ones of my nursery soon. We are almost finished decorating it. Our living room space is a bit small but cozy for just the two of us (but soon to be three!). The wall color is my favorite in the house.

Blizzard

2006-02-14T21:26:00.000-05:00

Yes...we really had 26 inches of snow fall this weekend! It was beautiful on Sunday. But the streets were cleared quickly and they did not cancel school on Monday. I couldn't believe it! The largest recorded snow fall in New York history and they didn't even delay school. I guess that's New York City for you. This is a Sunday night look out of our bedroom window. The rest are from Monday morning looking out of our kitchen window....our planters became giant snow cones.

Ice Cream

2006-02-03T12:34:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I've mentioned my beloved "Mary's Dairy" ice cream, but Andrew and I went to our old neigbhorhood a couple of weeks ago to enjoy the best Thai food ever. Of course I had to have dessert afterwards and Mary's was just across the street, so I indulged in a creamy cup of dulce de leche. I am sure heaven will be filled to the brim with this stuff! I am not sure exactly why Andrew got out our camera and took pics of me eating it, but I thought I would share them with you.

Party

2006-01-20T16:06:00.000-05:00

I know this is a bit delayed but here are some pics from our "Cheese and Wine" party back in December.

It's A Boy

2005-12-12T21:29:00.000-05:00

It's a boy! He started kicking hard enough this week for me to feel it...what an amazing and somewhat strange feeling! He weighs about one pound right now. Here are some pictures of our precious liitle baby boy. Here is his profile...looks like he has my nose! Undeniable boy parts! The arrow is pointing to his foot...praying he doesn't have the Q-tip toes (right Leslie?)! Now he is sucking his thumb...how cute! I know you are all wondering if we have a name yet, and the answer is no. We've been waiting until today to start seriously looking. We'll let you all know when we decide on something...it's such a big task!

2005-12-11T22:41:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from the Spencers!

Me

2005-12-09T20:40:00.000-05:00

Finally, a picture of my pregnant belly.

Christmas Tree

2005-12-09T20:33:00.000-05:00

Macy's Parade

2005-12-09T20:09:00.000-05:00

I just realized that I never posted our pictures from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We went for about an hour in the freezing cold, then had to hope a train to Jersey and a plane to Tennessee. It was fun to be there in person, although, you couldn't see much unless you brought a ladder. That's right, a ladder. The balloons were ever larger than I thought they would be face to face. Hope you enjoy the pics. Humpty Dumpty Andrew and Barney Sponge Bob Caterpillar Charlie Brown Dora the Explorer

Mix It Up

2005-11-12T12:14:00.000-05:00

It has been awhile since I last posted, so this is going to be a mixture of all the things that have been going on lately. The first pic is of Andrew's little brother Nathan at his wedding to his beautiful bride Tessa (my new sister-in-law!). The next picture is of Maren...she is getting so big already! Then we have Ethan and his new little sister Ava. He just has the cutest face of any little boy I know (kool-aid stained and all!) I am sure Ava loves having a big brother and a big sister to love on her all the time. The last pic is of the changing leaves in Tompkins Square Park, which is near our old apartment in the East Village. I promise to have some pictures of me and my pregnant belly on here soon!

Ava

2005-10-04T13:51:00.000-04:00

Here is my beautiful new niece, Ava. What a doll! I can't wait to meet her next week!

My Bathroom

2005-09-28T22:35:00.000-04:00

Okay. Here is room #2. It isn't very big so it was hard to get decent pictures...but aren't the striped walls lovely?

My Kitchen

2005-09-19T15:03:00.000-04:00

I am still in the process of decorating so I am going to reveal one room at a time in our new apartment. This kitchen is quite a change from our Manhattan apartment. If you've forgotten what our other one looked like, check the archive. I am getting closer to finishing this room. I may still hang more things on the walls, and I have to finish my china cabinet. We bought this amazing piece at a flea market in Chelsea for $55! It was quite ugly, with this green 70's-ish finish. We started painting it, and then got busy painting the apartment. It still needs another coat of white, and then I will sand it to give it an antique finish. I love it though...and would love to find more steals like it for other furniture we need in our house. The pictures of the outside are looking out our kitchen window. We have a backyard with no access to it :(, but it is great to look at. I do miss the view from our old apartment, which made it difficult to forget where we were, but this one is a nice change, and much more serene. We can actually hear birds chirping outside (that is...when they are not working on the luxury loft apartments a few hundred feet from our place). I told Andrew I would cook more when I had the space to again, so I am working on keeping that promise. I haven't done much as of late, but Andrew has taken up a little cooking, so our kitchen is getting some good use. That keeps our pocket book a little happier!

It's a baby!

2005-09-13T10:39:00.000-04:00

I am sure most of you know by now, but Andrew and I are expecting! I am due April 29. I just had my first doctor's visit today. All is well. We could see the heartbeating on the sonogram monitor, but we didn't get to listen to it. Maybe next time. It is so amazing knowing that another human is growing inside of me. I cannot comprehend the majesty of it. What a creative Creator, and a merciful God.....to allow me to be the vessel for Him to create life. I am in awe.

Andrew's Birthday

2005-08-16T00:12:00.001-04:00

Andrew just had a birthday and is now enjoying his last year to be in his 20's. We just moved to Brooklyn and now have an aparment big enough to entertain, so we had him a little party. You can see our apartment somewhat in these pictures, but I will take more and post them later.... The party was a hit and everyone had a good time. The random pictures of the girl somewhat flying through the air are of my friend Jamie as she was demonstrating some Russian dance moves. The picture with everyone sitting on the couch was taken when everyone was watching Andrew demonstrate some of his own dance moves, but I am a kind enough wife not to put those pictures on the internet for the world to see. Sorry Jamie, I am not that good of a friend.

The Family

2005-08-15T23:53:00.000-04:00

My family was here in July and I am finally getting around to posting some pictures from their visit. We did the typical tourist-y stuff, but they also got to see where and how I spend my days in the city. East village, Broadway shows, street fairs and flea markets, great restaurants (can you say 'China Star' mom?), H&M......the list goes on. We also drove out to Ocean Grove on the Jersey shore and spent two days on the beach. We had such a great time. Thanks for coming to visit....hope you can come back soon!

Maren

2005-07-08T15:14:00.000-04:00

This is our beautiful new niece, Maren Flowers Spencer. Say hello!

Fireworks

2005-07-08T08:02:00.000-04:00

The fireworks over the East River were magnificent. I have never seen them like this before, so close up that the sound actually rattles you. Apparantly Andrew and I can create a few sparks of our own!

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The Beach

2005-06-30T11:34:00.000-04:00

Last weekend Andrew and I escaped the hustle and bustle of the city to a place I thought only existed in story books. It's called Ocean Grove and it's on the New Jersey shore. The entire town was late 18th century victorian homes.....breathtakingly beautiful. We stayed in one of the largest homes there, a bed and breakfast called the "Lillagaard". We both got some much needed peace and quiet, and not so needed sunburns.

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Dorian

2005-06-30T11:05:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of Dorian's trip.....finally. The last picture Dorian is enjoying New York's BEST cheesecake......from Veniero's, of course! We had a great time......looking forward to seeing him again soon.....

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Collection

2005-05-30T14:28:00.000-04:00

Okay. So I haven't posted in a while. We have been busy with company. All of these pictures are from when Megan was here, which, I am sad to say, was over a week ago. I miss you..... Dorian was here this past weekend....pics coming soon. Now we are hosting an intern for a few days until his apartment in Brooklyn is ready on the 1st. So, like I said, we have been busy. Now about the pics....this one was in Central Park a little over a week ago. Notice Andrew's straight hair. His hair is long enough for me to straighten, which I do every now and then. Doesn't he look great?!

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Times Square....after eating ice cream at Cold Stone....only because Ben and Jerry's was closed already!

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This is at a great Indian restaurant in our neighborhood. There were lights hanging everywhere and....well, if you want to know more, you will have to come and see it for yourself.

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Another pic from the restaurant....

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On the Staten Island Ferry.....tons of fun, right Meg???

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Slash

2005-05-20T04:18:00.000-04:00

Slash
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Okay, I know this is really cheese-y but I thought that someone out there might enjoy this. I saw Slash (of Guns 'N Roses--for those of you who don't know) yesterday at one of mine and Andrew's favorite places to hang out, just a few blocks from our apartment. Don't hate me because I see famous people. No. Really.

Sushi

2005-05-20T03:53:00.000-04:00

I really dislike sushi, but, being the good sport that I am, we went to eat it the other day. Megan and Andrew both love it, and I was willing to try it again, mainly to satisfy Andrew's request that we eat it. It only took a few bites and the expression on my face was one that proved once and for all that anything wrapped up in seaweed is not likely to be eaten by me again.

megan eating sushi
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I'm Back

2005-05-16T10:49:00.000-04:00

I am sure you all have been wondering where I've been, but not to worry...I'm back! And I have a ton of pictures and updates on the Spencer's world. First, I cut my hair...again. It's quite a bit shorter than I would have preferred, but there's no better time to chop off the hair than at the start of summer. I will have more pictures soon, because I will be making some color changes.

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These next few pictures are from our weekend trip to Philadelphia. You take a bus out of Chinatown for $10 each way. The trip takes less than 2 hours. Great deal. Our friends, Brad and Noelle, were getting married there. We had a great time, enjoyed the city, and were able to see some old friends from Texas!

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Megan is here visiting this week (YEAH!!!) and we took a walk over to the East River. Sweet pics.

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What a beautiful sunset we had last night. Breathtaking.

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Mary's Dairy. Handmade ice cream that is out of this world. Conveniently located across the street from my apartment!

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Andrew concentrating intently on a game of pacman.

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New Do

2005-04-26T14:50:00.000-04:00

I know some of you have been waiting for these pictures....so finally, here's my new haircut. Andrew cut it for me. Yes, Andrew cut it! Do you love it? The other ones are from our walk this evening along the East River. We went on a date tonight and ate some great Thai food....my first! I even ate my entire dish with chop sticks! Of course, we just ended our date with American Idol and Venieros desserts! The weather has been somewhat cooler lately than I would like, but at least it is not hot yet. We don't have an air conditioner and I am afraid that we are going to be quite sweaty this summer....(sorry to those of you who are coming to stay with us in the summer...maybe we will get one before then).

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IBS

2005-04-21T00:21:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I went to IBS New York. This is the largest and longest running beauty show in the world. I attended one day last year, and was able to go for two days this year. They have workshops that you can attend, lecture style or hands-on training. There is an exhibit hall with literally hundreds of distributors selling products. Some of these booths also had small stages set up where they demonstrated cuts, color, hair extensions, even massage. The last picture is from the Rusk small stage. Then they also have a Main Stage. This is where only the big names in the industry get to demonstrate their spring line. The first two pictures are from the John Paul Mitchell Main Stage. It is very similar to a fashion show. The entire beauty show is very high energy and lots of fun to attend. I always leave with a fresh attitude and some new ideas. Anyone need a new look?

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Wes

2005-04-19T06:04:00.000-04:00

wes
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This is Wes Hutchinson. The pic is from a show he played in the Village last night. He is our worship leader, but also a singer/songwriter. He is very talented. Check out his website to hear some of his music.

Brush with Celebrity

2005-04-16T11:59:00.000-04:00

So I really wanted to see a celebrity here in New York, and on Monday I finally got my chance. 20th Century Fox posted signs up all around my neighborhood that they were going to be filming a movie. I decided that there had to be somebody famous in it, so I went to check it out. I watched the filming for a while and thought I didn't recognize anyone. Then she turned around. It was Lindsey Lohan. I stayed for a bit but I got cold and as I was walking home to get my coat, I realized that it was her personal trailer that was parked across the street from our apartment. Now, I know how big of a fan my little sister Maddie is, so I decided to take some pictures. I debated for a long time whether or not to put these on here, but I decided that it would be okay. Besides, they really aren't very clear. I would make a terrible paparazzi!

Lindsey's Trailor
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Lindsey
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Lindsey, again
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Lindsey filming
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Film set
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Life

2005-04-15T11:13:00.000-04:00

I feel like I have been a bit out of it lately. I just looked at my last post and realized that I put two pictures of trees and only one of Heather and then wrote about my weekend. Random! The pictures of the trees were taken by Heather. They were just beautiful in bloom, and I walk by them on my way to the subway, so I asked her to photograph them. Spring is so wonderful! Each day I see new blossoms on trees. It is like the city is coming to life. It's quite amazing to walk down the streets here and marvel at the creativity of our Creator. I am going to post pictures of the stages of the trees looking out my window. You have already seen them bare and with snow. Now you will seem them spring forth to life.

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The Weekend

2005-04-11T21:53:00.000-04:00

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Here are some pictures from our weekend with Heather. We had a good time, even though we all got really tired from the walking....and crossing the streets, right Heather?

Spring

2005-04-06T22:37:00.000-04:00

I think I had forgotten what spring felt like. I am used to warm, hot, and hotter. But now I have seen extreme cold, and put away the mittens. We are into beautiful cool weather and sunshiny days. Andrew and I walked around in the spectacular 70 degree weather we had today and found a great little sidewalk cafe to eat dinner at (Yaffa Cafe). Then, like we do every Wednesday night these days, we went to our favorite pastry shop to get dessert. Oh the sweetness of sweet. And...oh the sweetness of spring.

It's Friday

2005-03-31T23:37:00.000-05:00

I am so glad that it is Friday. That means when Andrew gets home at 4:30, he is home for the next two and a half days! I have been getting a lot busier with work. Time seems to be slipping away from me...and there is so much left to do before the church launches. I am enjoying what I am doing, though! I can't wait until one of our mission teams gets here so that I can see the fruit of my labor. Changing the subject, it has been really rainy here lately and we are expecting rain again tonight that won't let up until Sunday. It won't matter much though, because I can assure you we will be staying home tomorrow to watch the Final Four! This is Andrew's favorite time of year! Well, I will leave you with a few pictures. Enjoy.

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This is a really neat building about a block and half from my apartment. I walk by it on my way to the subway.

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This building is near 2nd Ave. on E. 83rd St. I thought it was lovely...maybe I will live there someday.

Macy's

2005-03-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

It's my and my sweet husband in Macy's department store. Notice the flowers that are everywhere...they had the entire first floor of the store covered in flowers for some sort of "Spring Bloom" presentation. They even had a large fish made entirely of flowers suspended from the air and spouting water into a pond. Everything was so beautiful and it smelled like we were walking through a garden....a smell I don't experience here in New York....ever. Except in Central Park, maybe, when flowers and trees start blooming. I'll have to wait a while for that though.

andrew and misty
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Delivery

2005-03-24T18:24:00.000-05:00

Everyone in New York gets their food delivered to their apartment. And I am not just talking about pizza. You can get anything delivered. In fact, I heard that McDonald's delivers. That's insane if you ask me. We have always wanted to get out of the apartment to go and eat dinner. Wednesday nights are our desinated "eat out" nights, but yesterday (on the 23rd of MARCH!!) it was raining and snowing. Well, we just couldn't break tradition, but didn't want to get out in the yuck...so we did it. We ordered Chinese delivery. And boy were we glad we did. They delivered a massive amount of food in about 10 or 15 minutes for $12 (the delivery was free). Delivery just might become our new best friend.

Heather in New York

2005-03-24T10:11:00.000-05:00

ethan, heather & ruby
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I am slowly but surely getting my sisters up here to visit me. I have four, if you didn't know. Amanda was first to come and should be coming back in the summer for a real visit. Next time I won't make her haul large, heavy boxes up three flights of stairs! Now Heather is coming in two weeks. She isn't going to bring the kids, but aren't they just the cutest kids you've ever seen? I know Madelyn will be here in July, so that just leaves Morgan...when are you coming? I used to have this "evil" plan to get all my family to move to the DFW area in Texas, and I succeeded with Heather...then I left her there. Sorry Heather. I guess now you will just have to come to NYC twice a year to visit. That goes for the rest of my sisters, too. I miss you all.

Andrew's Work

2005-03-23T03:36:00.000-05:00

These pictures are from Andrew's classroom at school. Notice the writing on the board Arthur...that's for you!

clock
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writing
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teaching
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Rock 'N Roll

2005-03-16T15:26:00.000-05:00

Andrew
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Misty
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Andrew
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Misty
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Caracas

2005-03-16T15:12:00.000-05:00

Caracas
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I am loving all of this great food here. Tonight we had Venezuelan food. It was an arepa bar, serving empanadas and arepas. We had one of each and some Venezuelan style guacamole called "guasacaca" which was out of this world! There is also this great patisserie a block away from our apartment that smells like what I hope heaven smells like....pure sugar! We went there for dessert and cappuccinos. Nothing beats true New York Style Cheesecake made right here in New York.

Caracas
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Weekend Adventures

2005-03-14T13:09:00.000-05:00

I have been very busy lately, it seems. We had our first guests this weekend...almost. Some friends came to visit and upon seeing the size of our apartment, decided to get a hotel room. We ended up staying one night there with them, in a very nice hotel right in Times Square. For those of you who haven't experienced the magic of Times Square, you are truly missing out. We had some really good (and expensive, of course!) Brazilian food on Saturday evening. Then on Sunday we went shopping in Chinatown. I am very proud to announce that I bought a Prada bag for $20! It is quite an adventure...that is...the "underground shopping organization". You see, they approach you on the street and ask you if you want to buy these brand name bags. If you say yes, they get on their walkie talkie and take you through the streets, trade you off to another person who then leads you into a building and up several flights of stairs, and then into a secret room where they lock you in until you buy something. Not that I would know by my own personal experience, though. I've just....heard. On that note, here are some pictures I took in January around our anniversary.

on the subway
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lights
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queensboro bridge
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downtown skyline
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graffiti
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upper east side
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Snow

2005-03-09T03:18:00.000-05:00

So apparantly it snows here a lot more than I thought it did. We have had snow at least once or twice a week since I got here. What's different about it, though, is that we will get 5 or 6 inches and when you get up the next day, the only evidence of it is on the cars because the streets and sidewalks have been cleaned off. It's nice though, since you have to walk everywhere, although the puddles of melted snow stick around for a few days. My snow boots have definitely come in handy, but it makes me wonder why people back home ever bought them. Fashion accessory I suppose.

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Flavour of the Month

2005-03-04T03:24:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are interested in keeping up with my ever-changing haircolor....here is the flavour of the month.

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Manhattan Christian Church

2005-03-03T15:52:00.000-05:00

Logo
Originally uploaded by jrvassar.

Click Here for more information about our church.

Work

2005-03-03T15:41:00.000-05:00

I started working this week. My job title is Mission/Ministry Teams Coordinator for Manhattan Christian Church. We are set to launch in September, but we will begin having monthly services in May. I attended a meeting today and was encouraged to be sitting in a room and listening to pastors and church planters and laymen talk about New York City from a mission standpoint. The underlying theme was basically to hit the city with love through service. If you are to do anything for a New Yorker, their first question is: what is the catch? But to offer them something for nothing in return is a new concept, opening the doors for discussion and hopefully softening their hearts towards the truth...which is relative here to most. As for me, this job is a new adventure for me, something I have not done before and so I ask for your prayers that I may be effective and purposeful in my work.

The Gates

2005-03-01T17:45:00.000-05:00

This is a very expensive, temporary art exhibit in Central Park that we went to last week called "The Gates". You might have heard about it in the news.

the gates
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Home Sweet Home

2005-02-26T15:16:00.000-05:00

Finally! Here are some pics of our apartment in the East Village in Manhattan. Enjoy!

This is our view from our living room window.
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Same view...but actually out of the window.
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One side of our living room.
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Our kitchenette.
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Our bathroom.
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Our bedroom.
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This is, of course, not our entire apartment. If you want to see more of it...come and visit us!

New Things

2005-02-20T20:24:00.000-05:00

Last night Andrew and I went to eat dinner with our friends Brad and Noelle and I had my first taste of Indian food. It was surprisingly good. We ordered this bread called "naan" and it was out of this world! The place was called Gandhi and it was just a few blocks away (just like everything is!) Then, after dinner, we went to a place called The Organic Grill to have coffee and dessert. And yes, everything was organic, and vegan at that! We had chocolate cake that was entirely dairy free. I love how diverse everything here is. We have practically boycotted eating anywhere that we could eat back in Texas...just for the experience of new things. To top off the evening...we went to see a movie and our theater was on the seventh floor. It was stellar! (That's for you Lacy!)

Isn't it Ironic

2005-02-19T00:15:00.000-05:00

Isn't it ironic that in life you have so many changes and yet one thing always stays the same...friends? I mean that in several ways. First of all, we all have those people in our lives who we know we will always know and love and no matter what happens, you will always be the best of friends. Inevitably though, change always occurs and you find yourself in a different place and time and surrounded by new people who, likewise, become your friends. I like friends. They are a constant in an ever-changing world, even as they themselves may change. For instance, I am miles away from what I consider home and from my friends and yet the past few days I have met and gone out with new people and have had a good time. I know I will see these people on a regular basis and they, too, will become my friends. I guess people will always be in need of a friend. Here's a piece of old-fashioned but good advice..."in order to have a good friend, be a good friend." Oh, and Michelle, you know you can never be replaced!

Michelle

2005-02-18T16:05:00.000-05:00

Me and Michelle
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This is my best friend, Michelle. Actually, she is more than that. She has been my roommate, my confidante, and my partner in crime! We have sang together, danced together, lived together, laughed together, cried together. We have seen each other through loosing wallets (and ID's...and keys)...loosing "loves" and gaining new ones...moving across the country...buying houses (she just bought ours in Texas!) and too many other things to mention here. Michelle, you truly have a heart of gold. You and I have built a friendship that has stood the test of time and distance. No matter where we are in our lives, physically or emotionally or geographically, we always seem to know each other best. Thank you for always being available, for knowing how to have a good time, and for not giving up on our friendship even when times were tough. I love you very much and can't wait until you come up to New York so we can hang out again! I am dedicating a song to you..."Older Chests" by Damien Rice. Think of me when you listen to it with the album on repeat (like I do and I know you do, too!) Take care of you.

Yesterday

2005-02-17T07:11:00.000-05:00

Here is a not-so-famous quote written by me on February 9, 2005: "I have revealed my heart--and sometimes you can't do anything else. You can't turn back time, but you can live today with the passion that you saved from yesterday. And that's my heart."

Here

2005-02-16T00:30:00.000-05:00

I am here now in my small but quaint New York City apartment. Swimming in a sea of boxes. Finding more things to put away than I have room for. Redecorating! I am finally home. It doesn't feel like it yet. It just feels like I traveled to a foreign country and brought all of my stuff with me, only to stay for a long time. I hear the sounds of the street below, 3 stories down. The smell of the subway lingers from my most recent trip home. I am home. And home is Here.

Tennessee

2005-02-11T01:38:00.000-05:00

The first half of my trip is over. I am spending the night here in Tennessee with my brother-in-law Daniel and his wife Leslie. It was a really long day. I want to extend a very special thank you to everyone who came to help me load up my moving truck Wednesday. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. And Michelle, your post is coming just as soon as I get settled in New York. Lights out.

Setting In

2005-02-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

This is the time. It is starting to happen. And it is finally setting in. I am leaving the life that I have known for so many years and starting over in a brand new place. Although I am very excited, I am definitely sad, too. So many memories. So many loved and familiar faces. I can't help fighting back tears. They seem to come so easily all of a sudden. And why? Why do we do this crazy and unfamiliar thing? Because He called us. Because we are not our own. And THAT is finally setting in.

Friends

2005-01-31T02:48:00.000-05:00

This is Mark and Julie, our pastor and his wife (in Texas). They have been apart of our lives for a long time. They knew Andrew and I before we really knew each other! They have been constant encouragers, always challenging us to grow deeper in our love for the Lord and become more like him. But they also taught us to do that without changing who we are, only allowing Christ to perfect the personalities and desires HE created within our hearts. Thank you for your friendship, your love, and your desire to send us out as we answer God's call on our lives. We love you dearly.
Cassidy, Cherie, Me, Lacy and Megan....at our going away party. I will miss you girls, but I know that you will come to visit me soon! I can teach each of you how to shop New York style!! Cassidy, keep up the dedication with your school work and it will pay off big time. Don't ever hide that sweet smile of yours. Cherie, dream big girl...you can do anything you set your mind to. Keep using all of the talents God has given you for his glory. Lacy, you are always so encouraging and you challenge me to take the message of the cross to those who haven't heard it. You are a shining example of God's mercy and grace...I will miss you. You can send me text messages anytime. And Megan, I have faith that your interview this week will serve to get you where you want to be. I really love your approach to life and I pray that God uses you in a way you would never expect. Your always my fashion idol! You better come and stay with us this summer...we will have so much fun. Thanks for all of the good times....I will never forget them.

The Big Trip

2005-01-28T02:08:00.000-05:00

This is me and one of my little sisters, Amanda. We have just finalized our plans to join forces and drive all my stuff across the country to the big apple in a couple of weeks. Don't worry mom, we'll be fine.

It's All In a Days Work

2005-01-25T23:26:00.000-05:00

If I actually had one list with everything I had to do on it, I think it would be as long as a scroll from ancient times! That is why I have about 12 different lists with things to do...because when I finish everything on one list I can throw it away and feel like I really accomplished something (not mentioning the fact that I add 1-2 lists everyday). But there is a light at the end of the tunnel which gives me hope and helps me to get up each day and return to my stack and work diligently at accomplishing as much as I can. That light is: Andrew coming home this weekend and a closing date set for a little over two weeks away. For now though I will continue to press on towards the goal (or stack) because...it's all in a day's work.

Drew

2005-01-22T22:37:00.000-05:00

This is my beautiful, wonderful husband Andrew...in the subway. I love you baby!

Sunrise

2005-01-22T21:33:00.000-05:00

Sunrise in New York...Amanda, this is for you! I took this picture in October. And no, I am not normally up at sunrise, but I just happened to be that day. Isn't the Lord's handiwork marvelous? "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26

Me and Lady Liberty

2005-01-20T02:45:00.000-05:00

Me and Lady Liberty are about to become neighbors! Who would have thought that saying 'yes' would mean so much. There are so many emotions and so many things to do that sometimes it is hard to think straight. But God's timing is perfect...as always. Maybe someday that will truly sink in and I will stop needlessly trying to make things happen the way I want them to. We signed a contract on our house in Texas today, and also the lease on our apartment in New York City. I bet you didn't know we could be in two places at one time, huh? Remember...nothing is impossible with God! Interesting fact: it was about 70 degrees here in Texas today and about 15 degrees and snowing in New York City. And...I can't wait to be there!! I miss you Andrew...more than you could know. But February is just around the corner......