The Toast

Thought I'd share my toast from Friday night!  What a blast we had at Kurt and Natty's nuptials!

Kurt and Natalie...

Thank you for asking me to be part of your special day!   Natalie, it’s an honor to stand beside you on your wedding day.  I am so incredibly happy for you and Kurt.  You are a perfect, complement to one another.    

As I thought about what I would share with you today, I kept thinking back to a conversation that Karin and I had with Kurt a few months back.  As part of Natalie’s bridal shower, we filmed Kurt answering some questions about Natalie and their relationship.  When we asked Kurt, what is your favorite characteristic about Natalie?  You smiled at the camera and said, “her utter goofiness.”  He continued, “Nat has this special way of turning a bad day or situation into a good one.  I really love that about her. ” 

I couldn’t agree with Kurt more. 

See - more than 20 years ago, our parents got smart, and shipped Natalie and I off to Camp Toakanee for an entire week.   Seeing that we were only 8 years old, I don’t remember much – but I do remember that we laughed a lot.  And, thankfully, that has never, ever stopped.  Like Kurt, I know that when I have plans to spend time with Natalie --- good times are coming!      

When Natalie enters a room, it lights up.  She walks in --- typically with hands stretched out for a big hug, with a big smile, shortly followed with a big, Natty laugh.  You can’t help but smile with her.  It’s contagious.        

As I think back on all of the years that Natalie and I have been friends, it’s the joy that I remember the most.  A day spent with Natalie meant many, many laughs.   Whether we were at the beach, attending a concert, or twirling flags --- we were having fun!   

Kurt and Natalie, I hope that you’ll look back on this day, more than 20 years from now, and still sense all of the joy that do today.  Make time for each other every day, laughing and enjoying the “utter goofiness!”   

My toast for your marriage is many more years of blessings, love, and of course - joy!       

Besties (August, 2011)

Three Years...Tomorrow

Three years tomorrow.  Three years is over 1,000 days, over 25,000 hours, and more than one and a half million seconds.  It's been that long since I've spoken to my Dad.  I guess we should really count the times I am running and have about a half mile or so left and need to "push it" and say and think things like, "Come on, Dad...help me through this!"   Three years seems like "just yesterday" at times and "an eternity ago" at other times. 

In any case, I miss him.  I miss him everyday.  I think about him everyday.  I cry.  I laugh.  I smile.  I often think about calling him to just say, "hi" like I used to and then realize that I can't.  Nine times out of ten if it were in the middle of the day, after his gym visit or golf outing, he'd be home waiting for the kids to get out of school so he could move on with his day and start to visit them.  What an awesome Dad I had.  He touched so many lives in his short almost 58 years on this earth. 

Dad & Nat on My Wedding Day (November, 2007)

Tomorrow will be another milestone day as I continue to celebrate my Dad's life.  Lucky for me, I get to share it my best friend at her wedding rehearsal.  Friends since second grade, Natty and I have too much in common to share, but unbeknownst to us --- losing our Daddy's would be one of them.  I am going to try and stay my strongest, as I stand next to her as her Matron of Honor, when she walks down the aisle without her Dad by her side.  Although, I know that he and my Dad will be looking down on us --- proud as ever.    

 

Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.

My husband and I settled in for a movie night this past Sunday to watch "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium."  We had actually started watching the flick back in 2009 on our two year wedding anniversary trip in our Finger Lakes bed and breakfast room, but we needed to head out to make our dinner reservations that night.  It had always stuck with us as one of "those movies" that we'll rent when we have a night to do so.  So, two years later, we did.  (And you should too.  Completely worth the 1 hour, 40 minutes of your time.)

Dustin Hoffman plays a wonderful character in this movie.  He has lots of memorable quotes, but one I especially enjoyed was, "Your life is an occassion.  Rise to it."  I liked it so much I even took the time to jot it down on a scrap paper while finishing up the movie.  I've never (ever) done that! 

I am not sure what it was about that quote that stuck with me, but I definitely need that reminder more frequently than not lately.

Cheers!

JP & I rising to the occassion at a friend's wedding in 2010!  

One on One

I recently joined a professional networking group called, BNI (Business Network International), in Lancaster County.  A friend of a friend invited me to come in for a visit and join as the "Non-Profit" representative of the group.  (How did I get so lucky?)  I had plans to meet another member for lunch today (dance cards, as they call it) to better understand what the members of the group have to offer when you offer referrals for them in the community.  Unfortunately, I was stood up.  However, I ended up with a one on one anyway. 

I parked my car at the Panera Bread on Fruitville Pike and stood outside in the 97 degree heat for about five minutes.  As I was waiting, a man in his 80's (I would soon find out) approached me and began to chat.  I immediately noticed that he had some sort of disability.  As we were chatting, a woman (properly dressed out to lunch with a friend...looking very much the "Country Club" type) passed us and said hello to the man and called him by name.  I was pleasantly surprised.  She then proceeded to tell the woman in front of her, with whom she was with, that "that man is so nice, he's our Lancaster County bum, but he has a lot of money.  He's harmless."  While I could have been offended by her calling him a bum I wasn't because over the next hour (as I sat outside and ate my lunch and he sat beside me chatting), she was the only person that was nice to him or even addressed his presence at all.  It was so Blind Side. 

I was amazed at the people's reactions to his half joining me for my meal.  There was definitely too much pointing, head nodding, and whispering in my direction.  As a professional fundraiser for an organization that serves children with disabilities, I couldn't help but think back to those men and women, who about 80 years ago, worked with this gentleman to gain his independence.  Kudos to them! 

Furthermore, coming right off of a sermon regarding "hospitality" yesterday, I was energized by God's presence at my lunch table.  I am reminded of Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." 



   

The Garden

At a neighborhood homeowners association meeting last year a neighbor asked if he could plant a garden on the "common ground."  The vote was a "no."  He dug one anyway.  While that neighbor does not live in the neighborhood anymore, we are reaping the benefits of his hard work.  Justin and I, as well as our two next door neighbors have been busy planting our garden since early Spring.  We had enough lettuce for an army about two weeks ago (about 25 heads worth...), while we also enjoyed a fresh beet salad one evening.  Now, we are looking forward to fresh red, ripe tomatoes, carrots, scallions, potatoes, a multitude of peppers, and beans.  Every night is a new adventure as we walk down to the garden and see what was harvested since our last visit.  Tonight, we are looking forward to preparing and tasting fresh butternut squash fries.  Mmmmm.  

It's really more than a garden.  It's been a gathering place to meet new neighbors, work the land, and watch our vegetables grow and flourish.  I certainly have a new respect for those who have planted gardens year in and year out.    

Friends are Friends Forever

Considering I have a bunch of "looking forward to" events this summer, I thought I'd take the time to write about how important FRIENDS are to me.  Fresh off a bridal shower this past weekend and a bachelorette party a few weekends back, I continue to feel blessed that my friends are such a vital part of my life.  All too often I hear, "Wow, you are so busy!   You are always traveling to go and visit friends!" 

I blame my parents.  Enclosed in Christmas cards each year, my Mom would include an invitation to "The Holidays are Over" party to be held at Dad and Mom's house in February.  It was a time for their friends to get together, once they had time to wind down themselves, and catch up from the following year.  As a teenager, I made excuses for why I wouldn't be there to help, but as I grew older --- I, too, even looked forward to seeing their friends and being part of the event.  I was amazed at how many people we squeezed into our house, and now, realized that it was full because their lives were full of friends.  Friends from high school, college, past jobs, curent jobs, neighbors.  You name it.  Although I am sure they didn't consider it a "life lesson," my parents encouragement of friends as part of your life is one of those things that I'll be forever grateful that they shared with me. 

"Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget."

Annual Beach Trip

Ocean City, Maryland 

First Things First

Here goes nothing!  Or everything. 

I've wanted to start a blog for some time now, but with no topic too specific to focus on, I was torn.  I've decided to put "which topic would be most interesting" aside --- and just share.  Uh oh.   Although, it must be noted that I was given suggestions including, but not limited to: event planning, celebrating 30, and all things "bridal and baby" as I seem to be blessed with those events in my life as of now. 

Why "Tablet of Heart?"  Proverbs 7:1-3: My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  I googled father - daughter verses and read this.  It stuck.  Honoring Dad.  It feels good. 

Buckle up, this promises to be a terrific ride!