JANUARY 31, 2010

message left on my iPhone, 9:45pm

“hey linds. it’s me. why didn’t you pick up? i just wanted to let you know that theo asked me to …marry him! and i said yes. guess i shouldn’t have left this message, oh well. call me back. bye!”

JANUARY 30, 2010

we ventured out on this sunny cold saturday morning to help a friend move. thank goodness it was only across town and not far far away.

thank you mr. obama for the incentive to make us all home owners.

JANUARY 29, 2010

today, i am thankful for my home.

the creaky floors and drafty vents.

our neighborhood.

the coziness that is beginning to settle in.

and for the hopes and dreams i have for this place, my family and our lives.

JANUARY 28, 2010

last summer i drove by this park as we were house hunting. it was full of mammas and babies. i remember thinking – i want this to be my kid’s park. my sister and i had a park – the across the street park. we spent countless hours swinging, digging, creating and living. it was our park.

today, andreas and i took one more step towards making that that our kid’s park. and sometimes i need to be reminded of the goodness and possibility of this one step. so this evening - though it was dark, chilly and my camera battery dying - i walked to the park. sat on the bench and just for a minute let thoughts wander. it was such a good thing for my soul.

JANUARY 21, 2010

it’s official. we are missouri residents.

not that is matters but it kinda does.

for the first time andreas and i live somewhere that is foreign to both of us.

it is pronounced mizz-oor-ruh

home to mark twain

the american royal

great bbq

and now us!

JANUARY 18, 2010

this fog has been looming over kc for days. tonight it drew me in. i sat outside for minutes allowing it’s beautiful to fall on me. the city seemed calmer because of it. not a sound was heard just heaviness. it was eerie…but in a reverent way. hey fog…i don’t mind if you stay a while.

JANUARY 16, 2010

restoring the old to become new.

i call it a labor of love. similar to other labors, you truly don’t know the work it will take or when it will end. there are moments of dobut, even questions of insanity. but i will carry on knowing the result will be more than i can image.

JANUARY 14, 2010

the sun is back.

and there is a warmth in the air

want to play? i do

JANUARY 13, 2010

i asked for one particular gift this year, a cuckoo clock. but not just any cuckoo clock, one from geneva, one with a bird that pops out, one from my dad.

he lead me to believe that santa would not be delivering such an item.

once he arrived he had a box for me. i squealed with delight. i have a few special gifts from my dad: a cartouche with my name from egypt and a hummel he bought when i was born. my cuckoo clock is another.

everyday i walk by and think of him, the times we had in geneva, and my heart warms.

thanks, dad.

JANUARY 12, 2010

there is something magical about the plaza lights. a warmth, a festiveness, an excitement that brings joy to my soul.