Home.

Home sweet home. Words you will find embroidered hanging upon a wall or uttered quickly after a long day (followed by a collapse on the couch.) But it seems when you truly go home - to where all your childhood memories were created and - more importantly - where the people you made those memories with belong - that's a feeling that cannot be put into an embroidered quote. It's a sigh of relief. It's warm embraces that can last as long as needed. And for me, it's also the smell of pine scented candles and the feeling of my mothers warm oven creating my favorite treats!

The reason for escaping the big apple this past weekend: the celebration of one of my oldest and dearest friends uniting in love with her Polish sweetie, Adam Kocinski. The lady of the hour - my beautiful cousin, Dayna Lee. 

I mustn't fail to mention - if you haven't had the pleasure of meeting this fair...no longer maiden, but matron! She is the kindest soul, considerate and caring, crafter extraordinaire and self admitted cat lady. (she also speaks French, mais oui!) The purple streak in her hair reminds you that this small town girl has a spirit for adventure, but knows just where to look for it. Taking a lesson from Dorothy and her slippers - some of our biggest adventures await us right at home. And in this case, literally in Kansas. So a big shout out and congratulations to some beautiful people starting a beautiful life in one of the most (dare I use this adjective again?) beautiful places I know! Home.

Married in a movie theater with attendees sipping on soda and munching on popcorn this wedding was not lacking in creativity or fun! Here we are with the happy couple! And who might that be to my right? ...ahhh yes. The dj of the night. My hubs. Who can answer any problem with a quick and effective fix as well as teach the electric slide with the best of them (it's harder than it looks!) and of course...the man just knows how to command a room :) ....guess I'm a fan of his work. What can I say?

P.s. The cake and home brewed punch: perfection. Sorry if ya missed it. 

Amidst the wedding fun my boy and I got to pack in some down time with the fam as well - and how it was well appreciated coming from the business of NYC life. Phew! Hill City, Kansas lacks the sounds of cars honking, cranes turning, people yelling - and a layer of smog and soot that seem to enter my lungs daily. Fresh air and family appreciated. 

Home looked a lot like Hallmark movie marathons with my mom, with frequent breaks, of course, to gorge myself on the home cooking my taste buds have been longing for. Recliners and real couches. Gluten free check mix made especially for me! Warm fuzzy blankets and a black fur ball that longs to find a lap to fall asleep and snore on for hours. Speaking of my childhood pup - Alan and I might of had a little too much fun dressing him up in a crop top hoodie and giggling at the poor fella's uncomfortable state.. But look!

You can't judge me for thinking this was worth a hardy gig.

Home looked like a church family that has loved me since I was a child and staring up at my father from second row, piano side like I've done for so many years as he speaks life and wisdom with a passion inside that you can't deny is real. 

And finally it looked like my ladies. And yes coco, although you're technically a man you still count because you're a poodle, and really all poodles should be girls. But then if that were the case... there wouldn't be any poodles at all....

I digress. 

These women (plus my beautiful sister Jodi who is not pictured) have molded and created me into who I am today far more than they know. Being there for every teary-eyed phone call and listening to my verbal processing for hours on end. Their patience, their wisdom, their beautifully strong spirits, and their dedicated hearts to The Lord have taught - and continue to teach me what kind of woman I want to be.

So as we arrived back in Harlem to clanging pipes, sirens, and that constant smell of rotting trash I remind myself a new definition of home is continuing to be made. So although home sweet home couldn't have been sweeter, home sweet Harlem calls us in for another chapter in our life adventure.

Talk to ya next time. Back at home. In NYC.

Settling in.

Job hunt: complete. I am currently an employed citizen of New York City! Pay check on the way and with it the dawn of my "real adult life." For memories sake I shall regail you of the last month and how NYC is slowing becoming our new home. 

First step for the makings of a home - putting down mattress. It may be filled with air but we find it sleepable. Attempts were made to add comfort by stacking air mattress upon air mattress...but those suckers are slippery and can topple so although creative, Alan and I had to stop our low budget remake of the princess and the pea. And roll her up and out. 

Step two - the homemade meal. And what you may ask is on the menu? Something exotic!? Something tantalizing to the taste buds and bound to make your mouth water with jealousy!? Or perhaps....

This stuff. Rice and beans. Rice and beans for lunch. Rice and beans for dinner. Eat, sleep, repeat. For 3 weeks my friends. It may leave you gassy but those 99 cent cans of beans are filling and price effective! Not to mention gluten and dairy free! 

Step three - exploring your habitat. Fortunately for us we had a visit from our Minnesota home! The one and only Larry Bach came to visit and with him brought a breath of fresh air and encouragement to find  peace and rest within the busy city. We visited the beautiful St.Thomas cathedral that quickly transported me back to all the moments spent in Europe last year. Such intricate stained glass, incredible architecture and ceilings that seem to extend higher than any ladder could ever reach. But more than all of this is - the beauty of silence. Living with 4 other people, two dogs and thin walls my ears are filled which honks, sirens and voices all day long. But when we stepped inside the cathedral all you could hear was footsteps on a marble floor. It sounds like...serenity. Calm. What an oasis from the grind of life. A church. God's house. Much more than a building or pretty architecture. The Presence of the Prince of Peace. A reminder in a tangible way that through the sirens and honks the Prince of Peace is still there. With me. 

So we've done it! Officially had all our firsts and seconds of home making and it's starting to feel real. But the jobs!! Yes! The jobs. I have the pleasure of spending half my week with some cool people helping the passerbys find treasures that range from antique to last weeks hottest NY fashion. All the while donating the proceeds to juvenile diabetes research. Here's the store front. Creepy Keith the mannequin didn't make this picture, but we're slowly becoming friends.

And the other half of my week? Well hopefully it will be spent with a couple beautiful girls ages 3 and 6 as their nanny. Adventuring, pretending, and eating rice cakes! 

I'll keep ya posted. Alan's recent chalk art decorating our room sums it all up for us this past month. 

It's loud, it's rice and beans, it's early mornings spent with the Prince of Peace, it's our home. And there's no place like it. 

So it begins...

January. A fresh start. New beginnings. Freezing glaciers cold outside. Perfect time to pick up and move your life across country to the biggest city in the United States? We thought so too.

This will be a chronicle of a small town Kansas girl following her husband's dreams wherever they may take us. And in this chapter of life it just happened to be New York City.

We arrived yesterday. Driving across the George Washington bridge on the most dreary day of the year. A 13 dollar toll greets you at the entrance of the city usually, at least, with a glimmer of hope that a skyline view is to come. For us, the hopes were soon dashed by a mixture of fog and steam rising up from the Hudson River. But the awe that we felt merely just looking at the bridges structure! So large. So unbelievably bigger than us. We both start to giggle with nervousness at the thought that we aren't just entering any city. This will be our city.

 There she is. Our first look. It may be dirty, but it's ours! We spent the rest of the day moving our carful load up 4 flights of stairs to a quaint little apartment in South Harlem (pics to come!) With a heart so thankful that we made it safely and have the best of friends to show us around and help with whatever we need (Thanks Aj!) we are settled. What's next? Job hunting!

But first I must introduce you to my boy with dreams. The cutest and kindest man I've ever known (besides my Dad) with the patience of Job towards me and a heart for God. Here he is:

Isn't he just the absolute best? Oh! Almost forgot to mention we have 3 roommates, 2 dogs, (this little man's name is Harlem) and 1 bathroom! A lot lies ahead so stay tuned!