Happy Summer

Today is one of my favorite days of the year- the beginning of SUMMER!  I think of summer and so many things come to mind-- but here are a few of my favorite things -- 

What's not to like about the ocean waves and sand...

...Spending summertime with your best friend...

...and eating ice cream, yogurt, or anything that even closely resembles these two things... 

Ahhhhhhh-- HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!

One Phone Call Can Change Your Life

This past week we have been living in the reality that just one phone call could really change your life-- something that we often forget. I know we've all been there at one time or another- in some cases it is a phone call we are expecting, while at other times it takes you completely off guard.  In the last week, we've had a few of these moments. It began with a phone call about the death of someone I knew- someone who just a few days prior, was full of life and living it to the fullest. A beautiful young mother of two teen girls who had now left behind a wonderful husband and her two daughters.  Just a few days before she had been working and life was as normal, but in only a few hours everything changed.  Her story shocked everyone who knew her and wonderful Christian friends and families rallied around her and her precious family lifting up their situation to the Divine healer, asking for a miracle.  She was healed, but not in the way we all would have wished.

Several days later, we learned that another acquaintance had lost her father in a tragic accident when he was hit by a drunk driver. The stories and photos shared on Facebook were beautiful reflecting the memories of a wonderful father to twelve children and a faithful husband who had supported his family and wife during her battle with cancer just several years prior. It was hard to understand how in just a few short days, two stories of tragedy and great loss had affected the lives of hundreds.  Truly- one phone call can change everything.

Then it was our turn.  Today, Nate and I received a phone call that at the moment it first happened, we weren't sure how to process it; yet we knew it was a call that could change our lives forever, potentially. There were feelings of surprise and shock, many thoughts flooding through our minds-- there are just some things that you can't quite process fully in the moment and this was one of those moments.

I can tell you now that this call turned out to be a false alarm and everything went back to life as normal-- well, sort of.  You see, when life faces us with moments like these, the truth is, we will never  fully go back to life as normal. We are forced to look away from the circumstances and look up to reflect on God's sovereignty, His will, and His divine timing and working in our lives. We must remember that our lives are unscripted and we must continue to let Him write our story, in whatever way He sees best at the time, even in the times that do not fully make sense to us.

A Stroll Through Eastern Market

I've always loved open air markets. We decided yesterday that for our anniversary, we'd just have a casual day in the city and decided our first stop would be Eastern Market in the Capitol Hill district. 

We've always enjoyed this market when we've visited and today was no exception. It was the perfect day for walking through the scores of vendors represented, both with local and global goods.

It's always changing and there is always something new to discover. 

If we lived in this neighborhood, we would certainly make this market a weekly stop as it is full of fresh, local vegetables.

Walking through this market reminds me of when I lived in Buenos Aires, as this was just the way that you purchased your fruits, vegetables, meat, and herbs. You always had fresh food and could just walk down the street to the corner market that sold your fruits and veggies and around another corner to buy your fresh pasta, meat, or bread. At no other time in my life have I had fresh fruit like I did when I lived there. (and it was so cheap- so that was a bonus, too!)

 One of my other favorite things about large cities are the markets and street vendors that sell fresh flowers... it's every wedding planner's dream. (ok- so I'm not a wedding planner, but if I were- I'm pretty sure I would rather purchase flowers this way than through an expensive florist)

For those who love to practice their culinary skills, outdoor markets have so many fresh ingredients

and herbs.

(one of my favorite things for cooking)

One of the things I love most about coming here is the fresh food and fruit sampling. I have to say I just may have visited several of the "peach vendors" a few too many times while I was there. (it's my job to make sure they are selling good fruit, right?) 

I just might have had the best peach ever-- Really. There were fresh peaches, strawberries, watermelon, tomatoes and cherries and a number of other types of fruits- along with different sauces and salsas. (though I skipped on those since I'm not a fan of double-dipping- and before you judge, I bet a lot of you reading this are the exact same way) 

 There are a number of amazing art, photography, pottery, clothing, textile, jewelry and other types of vendors and artists represented. There were lots of vendors with fresh blocks of handmade and organic soap in about every scent you could think of.  (and as hot as it was outside when we were walking around, I could have used some of that soap)

So many types of soap- check out the one with oatmeal towards the top

After walking through all of the vendors and the Market area that sells fresh pasta, cheeses, breads, and meat (sorry- there are no pictures of the meat- just let your imagination fill in the blanks), we headed through a few more vendors and then decided to walk through some of the neighborhoods and head towards a local coffee shop in the area.

Nate has always wanted to visit Ebenezer's CoffeeHouse...

ONE. because Nate loves coffee (which might be putting it mildly) 

AND

TWO. they sell coffee that goes towards church outreach

Ebenezers was started by Mark Batterson of National Community Church, which has planted several churches in the DC area. All of the profits from their coffeehouse go towards community outreach projects for their church campuses. Since Nate loves coffee, he's always been fascinated by what this ministry has chosen to do with a coffeehouse.  It's a pretty ingenious concept.

The upper part of the coffee shop houses a seating area

as well as serves a variety of hot and cold drinks and small snacks.

while the lower area is used for various community events and small concerts.  Originally when it first opened, they held Sunday services in the lower part of the shop.

They sell Fair Trade Coffee from One Village Coffee and Nate and I decided to spend a little while in the cool AC as it was quite hot walking around today. It was a really cute urban coffeehouse, with a lot of exposed brick, so it was the perfect place to just sit back and relax.  (Sorry Starbucks, but this coffeehouse might have you beat)

Ebenezers motto is "Coffee With a Cause" and each of their coffee cup sleeves has the verse I Samuel 7:12- "Thus far the Lord has helped us". While Nate somehow was able to drink a hot drink, I opted for an iced one. I'm not a coffee drinker, so being married to one has always been intriguing to me as I just don't understand how you can drink a hot drink on a hot day. He tells me if I drank coffee I would understand. 

It was a full down of walking around DC, strolling the streets, looking at homes we could never afford in neighborhoods we'll never live in. (real estate in DC has always amazed me) We ended our evening at a great Italian restaurant for an anniversary dinner and topped it off with an amazing piece of cheesecake and then headed home.

I'm am one blessed wife and thankful to have had some down time to spend with him. What a wonderful end to an anniversary weekend.

Anniversary Reflections- Five Years

I woke up today to a sunny and beautiful day. Today we are celebrating our five year anniversary. Looking out of the hotel window this morning, reminded me of our wedding day 5 years ago- a clear day with the most perfect blue sunny skies.  It is truly hard to believe that Nate and I have been married five years. Sometimes I feel like I've known him all of my life.

• I'm blessed in more ways than I can express. 
• Nate completes me and is an incredible husband and man of God. 
• He constantly amazes me time and time again in little ways as well as in big. 
• We are blessed to be able to do life together.

As we were leaving the hotel to head towards DC, we realized that there was a wedding take place today on the hotel lawn around the same time as our wedding had taken place on this very day 5 years ago. It was an Indian wedding and the hotel was buzzing with guests and in some ways I would have loved to have hung around to see a traditional Indian wedding take place. (Yes, I was inviting myself to this wedding-afterall, we share the same wedding date, so that would make it ok, right?) 

The women who were in the sitting areas of the lobby were all dressed in their beautiful saris- if I thought I could have actually gotten away with a few pictures I would have tried, but I think it would have been a bit too obvious and Nate might have killed me, really. 

We were a little tired this morning because last night after dinner in Georgetown, we went into the city and walked through the FDR Memorial, which is one of the most beautiful memorials in DC- particularly at night when all of the waterfalls are lit up. (it is one of my favorite places to go for several reasons- none of which are political)

 We walked from the FDR Memorial to the path that circles the Potomac River, which is beautiful right at sunset.

This is literally the perfect time to see the city change dramatically.

 There is just something so beautiful about the monuments lit up at night.

 What is generally buzzing with tourists during the day slowly starts to become a place of peacefulness. It was nice after a long day yesterday, to just find a park bench along the waterfront and just sit and reflect on life, our upcoming anniversary, and enjoy the peace and quiet. (of course I got in trouble for taking too many pictures and not just enjoying the moment- haha)

Today, since it's our anniversary, we have a full day planned which I just might have to share more on that tomorrow. I can tell you that we saw several brides today while milling around the city, which was a fun flash back to this very day for us. We passed several of the photo spots where we took post-wedding photos. Here are some of our favorite shots from our wedding and DC post-wedding shoot 5 years ago today- Enjoy!