My schedule looks like this right now: work...work out...eat...sleep. I feel like a robot.

Literally. I work 830-4, work second job 4-7, work out 7-8, eat dinner 8-9, and hopefully end up in bed around 10.

Kyle's schedule is exactly the same, so for right now, this works for us. I didn't really mean to be working this second, part time job each day but it sort of turned into that, which while Kyle has his second, part time job of coaching, it's fine. I'm counting on this only being the case for the Fall (hopefully!). And we're not psycho about working out, but until Oct. 29th when we run the 10k, we have to be.

And speaking of training for the 10k, its going ok. I just really don't enjoy running. It's not my thing. And I'm okay with it. So, I'll keep training to have done this once, but I think I'll be done with running long distances after that. Not to mention, my knees HATE me right now. I'm hoping changing shoes might work because my-knees-going-thumb-after-mile-3 probably isn't a good thing. ;)

In other news, I'm waiting for some fabric to arrive so I can attempt my first upholstery project. More deets and pics soon!

Kyle and I are officially signed up to run a 10k at the end of October.

For me, this is a big deal for several reasons:

1. I have weak knees and shin splints.
2. I don’t really enjoy running in general.
3. I’ve never really trained for a particular fitness goal.


I’ve always known I’ve had bad knees. However, the problem has become worse over the years after my right knee has been knocked out of socket twice, once my senior year of college and then the other two days before getting married. I’ve really worked at strengthening them but they’ve never fully improved. And knees are sort of essential for running longer distances. :) Also, I get shin splints, especially when consistently running on pavement.

I’ve never really trained for any sort of physical fitness goal – I do keep active and attend the gym multiple times a week but not for any specific reason besides staying healthy. This is Kyle’s area of expertise so hopefully he’ll keep me in line and give me good tips. :) I’m interested to see how I react to having to stay disciplined and work through the pain. I actually really want to run a mini marathon someday but just don’t know if my knees/shins can take it – so doing a 10k first should be a good indicator.

And lastly, I just don’t enjoy running long distances. I get easily bored. I’d much rather attend a gym class or outdoor activity where I don’t notice the time flying by and get just as good a workout. However, I've been trying to be more intentional about small goals like this one. I can keep saying I'll do it "someday" or I can just do it now. Plus, I know it will only be harder the older I get and the longer I wait.

So, here's to new goals and commitments to accomplishing new things!

Vacation

Our road trip in pictures...



First stop, Chattanooga:










Next up, Durham:

And then the Outerbanks:

Dream Job

Every now and then I have a sudden revelation of what my dream job would be. These mostly involved totally unrealistc opportunities that only a select number of people probably ever do. But one of those things that I think, "Gosh, that must be awesome to be the person that does _____!"

So, here's my most recent inspiration: The other day I saw a live version of Adele's songs 'Someone Like You' and 'Don't You Remember.' And I thought to myself, who is that guy playing the piano? I watched several live versions and in each one, it's the same man. Did he have to audition to play for her? Does she know him personally? I would like his job please. Seriously, I have total respect for an artist who has such a beautiful voice with only piano as an accompaniment, especially in this age of completely auto tuned voices. Maybe I'm just biased towards the piano. :)

I think this job appeals to me for several reasons: I would never want the job of the 'star.' I could never handle the pressure or all the eyes. But the job of the person playing the star's music, yes please. How many people actually remember who played the piano for famous artists? Nobody. Ok, well maybe the people who are supposed to know, but not the majority of people. Perfect. Less pressure but gorgeous music and the chance to play for incredible people. Ahhhhh.

So Adele, if you ever read this (ha!), I'm your girl!






More realistic personal goal: purchase piano in the next 6 mths to brush up on my skills and then volunteer in the church worship band. I'll keep you updated on my progress...

2-7 and Easter

This last week was full of family. And I loved every minute. I haven’t had my parents present for my birthday in quite some time (at least 6 years). We didn’t have anything extra special planned during their visit but it turned out exactly as I could have hoped for. I was able to take a few days extra off work and just spend time talking, shopping, and being together. I feel so fortunate to have parents that put an emphasis on keeping close relationships, even though we live miles apart. I have always felt so incredibly supported by them and this visit was no different. I know the sadness I felt after they left simply points to our strong bond and for that I am so grateful.



Easter is an extra special holiday to me, not only because of its spiritual significance but because my name carries an Easter meaning,‘abounding in life.’ Only once that I remember has my birthday fallen on Easter Sunday but I always love when it’s at least somewhat close. I love that my very essence in so many ways is tied to Easter.

I have been overwhelmed this last week by incredible family and also in the knowledge of what my Savior has done for me. My heart is so full.

Spring Cleaning, err crafting

So, the weather was on a warming trend and then suddenly it has been overcast and cold again. But the warm weather did spark a motivation for some spring cleaning...and crafting...despite the fact that some of it will have to wait until the temperatures begin to rise again.

I am especially ready for the weather to be warm so we can get out and work in our yard. Its amusing to me the things that become fun once you are a home owner. Home Depot is suddenly a magical place. Yard care is suddenly something I'm googling often. I would rather save up for home decor items or new furniture than for clothes or accessories. . .

This year we are prioritizing getting our yard in order. The lady who previously lived in our house did about zero landscaping upkeep and it shows! So as Spring has begun to arrive, we've already been hard at work clearing dead brush, raking up random piles of leaves (how did those get there!?) and planning out how to make a back yard oasis. Can't wait for the growing season! I'm envisioning lots of backyard barbques, yard games, smores around a fire pit, sunbathing, etc. :) :)

And until I can get my hands dirty outside, I've been doing a little spring crafting inside. Thanks to inspiration and a tutorial from this blog, I made two new pillows for our front porch swing...



It was actually my first time sewing pillows. And they are made from two napkins from World Market. The material is so sturdy, they feel like canvas - perfect for outdoors! I even made them with a flap on the back so I can change them out at any time. And honestly, it was pretty easy. :)


Also, a new Spring wreath for the front door...




Come on back Spring! I miss you!

An update on him

Due to some recent answers to prayer, I thought I'd update you on Kyle's new adventures these days...

1. New job - Kyle begins his new job on Monday as a Marketing Coordinator for USA Funds. Hooray! We've learned a lot through the process of waiting for a new job - I think mostly that God's timing is always better than our own. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of struggles, frustrations, disappointments, etc along the way! Yet we had to humbly learn to trust and relinquish control to the One who holds every detail in His hands. We had to trust that opportunities we thought were perfect, He knew better. And that even in heartache and confusion, ultimate peace and fulfillment are found in our relationships with Him, not in the outcomes we wish to see happen. (Much easier said than done!) I also think our own relationship has grown in new ways as we together daily sought guidance, encouraged each other when we didn't understand, and surrendered our desires and control over to Him. In these times, I realize it's more about how we handle the process than what is the end result.

2. Freelance - Kyle has begun doing freelance work for a local businessman. He manages this man's website and is introducing him to the world of social media. It's a nice side gig that Kyle hopes to continue in the future with maybe more clients.

3. Podcast - Check out a feature arsenal.com did of Kyle and Joel's podcast while we were over in the UK: http://www.arsenal.com/usa/sh/usa/news/features/feature-arsenal-review-usa-in-london-.(I'm even in a few of the shots!) It's a great plug for their podcast and they since have had a large jump in followers! They also recently interviewed an ex-Arsenal player who is now a US scout for the club. And lastly, their podcast has picked up a sponser (soccerpro.com) which allows them to have giveaways and prizes on the show. I know both Kyle and Joel are excited about the future of the podcast as they continue to make contacts both locally and abroad!



We are so very thankful for the opportunities God has given us and look forward to what the future holds!

Our UK Vacation

Ps. 19:1
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

I never cease to be amazed by our God's handiwork - especially whenever traveling to a new place. This was certainly the case on our recent vacation to the UK.

I could probably write post after post about all my favorite parts of the trip and hundreds of pictures, but I'll keep it short. We spent half our time in London and the other half in Edinburgh, Scotland.

London: I was most fascinated by all the old architecture and buildings that seemed endless. Not to mention being able to tour locations that you grew up reading about in your history books. Obviously the United States is not that old of a city in comparison to many other parts of the world. It was truly amazing to walk through castles and other parts of the city that have been there for hundreds and hundreds of years! And to stand so close to so many famous icons took my breath away.
We also got to attend two Arsenal soccer games while we were in London. And I have to say, there is nothing like experiencing a live European soccer match. It was the most fun I have ever had at a sporting event. The crowds, chanting, and momentum of the game are nothing like the sporting events here in the US. So worth it! Kyle and Joel were also interviewed by arsenal.com while we were there for a special video feature about overseas fans. We also got to meet several of the podcast's UK listeners. We will post a link once the feature is up so you can see it!
London is truly a diverse city, as are many large cities of the world. The fashions, types of people, multiple languages you hear constantly, etc reminded me we were quite a distance from home. I joked with Kyle numerous times on the trip that he missed the male skinny jeans and pointy shoes memo. ;)
One thing that surprised me about London - the affordable all natural/organic take-out food. Our favorite place to stop was a place called Pret a Manger. Apparently they have a couple locations in Chicago and NYC, which I will for sure look up next time I'm there! The food was incredible and so much cheaper than anywhere else! Dear Pret a Manger, please come to Indy asap!
To wrap up, I would visit London over and over! And next time, I plan on going when the weather is warmer. :)






Scotland: My Dad's side of the family is Scottish, so I was naturally very excited to visit Scotland. We took a train from London to Edinburgh half way through the week. The views from our train ride were spectacular and ranged from rolling hills and grazing sheep to sheer cliffs and ocean views. The city itself is built up on a hill and features old cobblestone streets and plenty of local shops and restaurants. We took one full day just to explore the city and the next day went out on an all day tour up into the highlands. The weather reminded me of Colorado summers - can be bright and clear one moment and within minutes a storm is blowing in.
I also learned more about our heritage. My maiden name 'Foster' comes from the Scottish clan 'Forrester.' The Forrester clan lived mainly in the city of Corstorphine, a suburb of Edinburgh. (Unfortunately, the old Corstorphine castle no longer exists.) Because there are so many small clans, most are found under a few core clans. Forrester comes under the main clan 'MacDonald.' Each clan has its own style of plaid, crest, etc and it was fun to walk through all the stores looking at your own clan's specific items. Needless to say, we had a blast exploring Edinburgh and I felt very proud to be from such a place!

I went down to Bloomington about a month ago for a 'girls weekend' with my closest friends from college.

While we were there, we became obsessed with yarn wreaths that we first found on etsy. Search for 'yarn wreaths' on etsy.com and you'll see what I mean. I've also seen others that have made them on various blogs I follow.

Kyle went out of town this past weekend for work, a prime opportunity for me to spend some time on various projects. So, I decided to attempt making my own yarn wreath.

I wanted something that had a winter-ish look but wasn't for Christmas. Here is what I came up with:



Here's a close up:



I'm pretty satisfied with my first try. I love how the yarn reminds me of a winter tree branch. I found a great and super easy tutorial here about how to make the felt flowers. Just a heads up: wrapping the yarn around the wreath form is VERY labor intensive and I would NOT suggest using an 18 inch wreath form like I did. Larger wreath form = more time spent wrapping yarn. However, the best part of all, total cost was $9. (They sell on etsy for $35+)

I would say my crafty weekend was successful!

First snow fall

Our first snow fall of the year occured this weekend. We ended up with about 3 inches or so.

Snow makes everything so serene and clean and magical. You can't help but smile and feel like you're in a dreamland of some kind.


And we had a little fun with Emma outside :)

Graduation

Emma graduated from her obediance class last night. She has been in a class for eight weeks here learning basic commands. We are overall very impressed with her skills. She no longer pulls my arm off when we walk around the block, she'll walk nicely beside me. If we tell her to "stay," she won't move a muscle, even if we have the front door wide open, drop treats next to her, bang objects together, etc. She sits and will lay down on command. Emma has always been very laid back and has a gentle personality, but its nice to have her be more responsive overall. We would highly recommend the training center that we used!

Here are some pics from her graduation night:









In other news - -

December 1st brought our first snow fall. And more to come this weekend. Hooray!

Happy pumpkins

Thoroughly enjoyed a first Halloween in our house!

It was a classic midwest Fall evening: almost too cold for kids to be out much past dark. We had friends over, made a big bowl of chili, and waited for the trick-o-treaters to arrive. They didn't come by the masses but we had plenty of cute characters show up. :) I personally think they wanted to see our happy pumpkin...




ps. Another blog I'm stalking, you should check it out - younghouselove.

Confession

I'm a huge bargain shopper. And I can get super excited over a good deal. For instance, I was with two close friends this weekend and we were shopping at Target. I had seen a super cute tote a couple weeks ago but didn't want to pay full price and had totally forgot about it. But as we were shopping, we saw the tote on clearance for $3. Needless to say, it is now in my possession. :) Woot!

And I am starting to realize more and more how much money I can save by making things, especially decorative items. I've become a frequent shopper of Joann Fabrics (ha!) and love browsing through all the material. Today I came home with a sample of fabric that happens to match pillows (which I almost got rid of) and framed artwork (that had been sitting around unused) I already have! Hooray!

I think the fabric might be used to cover a couple plain white lamp shades I have...and of course I'll follow the handy dandy tutorial of my friend Tara! I've been stumped on decorating our living room and now that I have some things that are starting to coordinate, I think it'll give me a jump start! Is it totally dorky that I wish I had a couple days off to just sit around and do crafty projects?!

Oh well, there you have it.

success!

So, Tara came over this weekend to help me with my first sewing project. Its been a long time since I've used a sewing machine. I do vaguely remember a sewing class I went to when I was younger...but it really has been awhile. And that "gem" that Mom VB is letting me borrow turned out to be a wee bit finicky! We just couldn't figure it out! I lovingly nicknamed the sewing machine 'Grandma Singer' mostly due to her age, crotchetiness, and lovely smell. ;)

Anyway, we spent most of the afternoon trying to unjam the bobbin. And then finally later that evening, after reading the ENTIRE manual online multiple times, I got her working correctly. She just needed a little love. :) Ahhh, sweet success! (pics to follow after the project is complete!)


Sunday afternoon we spent watching the World Cup Final and were disappointed that the referee made some terrible calls and the Netherlands did not win. I even showcased one of Kyle's orange Netherlands jersey to the pub where we watched the game! Sad end to the world cup, although I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the games over the past month! Woot for soccer! :)

A small treasure

Look at this gem I brought home from Michigan...



It's a (super) old sewing machine that Mom VB is letting me borrow. One day I will purchase a sleeker looking one (and one that doesn't weigh 50 lbs!), but for now this does the job. :) I was even able to download the original manual online. Who knew?

I can now start on some long awaited sewing projects. More updates on that at a later date!

Kyle's sister Erin got married this weekend. Although a whirlwind of events (as most weddings are), it was a great time. I spent a lot of time with Kyle's Aunts getting last minute details done. Both are from Colorado and we rarely get to spend more than one meal or a few hours a year with them. It was great to have several days working side by side on projects and just talking about life and family. Kyle's younger cousins, Ethan and Caleb LOVED Emma. They would wrestle in the basement for hours with her while we attended luncheons, the rehearsal dinner, etc. We also got to see Kyle's great Aunts, Marion and Jeannie, who live in Ft. Lauderdale. They have so much energy and even drove the 21 hrs to Michigan! Bravo!




The wedding was outdoors and there is something about it being outside that always stirs me. I never thought I would get married outdoors until my own brother's wedding. God's presence at their wedding felt so tangible to me. There was a holiness and a sense of something so sacred that it even persuaded me that I wanted our own wedding to be outdoors. I had the same feeling on our wedding day. And then again this weekend, I felt that same sacredness. It moves me to tears everytime. I can't accurately describe it but I truly believe when relationships are committed to the Lord, He chooses to show up in extra special ways, and His presence is truly felt at such events to bless those unions.


[Erin & Tyler with siblings/ushers]






[Emma loves road trips!]

Summa time!

This summer has begun just as I had pictured it would in our first house:

We grill out nearly every evening. Kyle is quite the chef on the grill! Do most men have a natural instinct for this?!

I have begun frequenting our local Farmer's Market every Saturday morning and am learning new recipes for the fresh fruits and veges I get every week. I might be obsessed. :)

On the less humid evenings, Kyle and I take Emma for walks through our neighborhood and the adjacent one, eating popsicles as we go!

Our next project is to re-screen the back porch (from when Emma busted through it twice) so we can sit out there on evenings, minus the bugs! And I've recruited Tara to help me make shades to keep out the rain that has a tendency to blow in and make large puddles (resulting in a muddy doggy).

I heart summer time.

Naughty Emma

I think we've been shocked about how well behaved Emma has been so far. She's still a puppy and we figured would be getting into more mischief. But besides being playful and full of energy, she's fairly obedient and cuddly.

However, she must not have been happy the other night that we left her on the back porch because we came home to two large rips in the screen:



The good news is that we were planning on replacing the screen anyway. However, despite Emma's usual good behavior, we are reminded she can still be "naughty emma" at times. The joys have having a puppy!

4.26.06

How appropriate that I would be able to spend the evening at Taylor with close friends on the anniversary of the accident.

I cannot believe its been four years. I remember every detail as if it were yesterday. Such a life changing event.

If you've never read this book, you need to.

Moving in...

We are happy, happy homeowners who love our new house!! :)

We are not yet completely moved, in fact our entire living room is full of boxes with very little furniture. Alas, hopefully that will change in the upcoming week.

You can picture our neighborhood as one large square-ish circle, with a pond and fountain in the center. Last night, we took a walk around the neighborhood. I love Spring nights that still feel so crisp and cool. I was amazed at how quiet and peaceful the neighborhood was. We came back and sat on the porch swing for awhile and I hope we enjoy many more spring and summer evenings this way!

Our yard is also starting to come to life with beautiful blossoms everywhere! I've been dreaming up all the landscaping items we could do...can't wait!





My newest project has been painting our front porch lights from an ugly, tarnished, gold color to an updated, brownish copper. See below for what I have accomplished so far. I'm pretty excited about the outcome.