Napa Valley, Here We Come

This afternoon, My Honey is taking me to San Francisco and Napa Valley to celebrate our One Year Anniversary. I am so excited - I have never stayed in a Bed and Breakfast before!

Don't miss me too much...when I return, I will be writing more on this blog. I am coming to realize that this blog is the perfect place to stay in better touch, to exercise my writing voice, and to communicate what He puts in my heart. While I am gone, if you have been to San Fran or Napa, leave me a comment in the comments section telling me what we need to be sure not to miss while we are there!

xoxo,
Katherine

PS - Don't forget to make the election a matter of heartfelt prayer. Pray for the hearts of your friends and family and the whole nation. It is our hearts He is after.

Smoking Guns and The Election

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." {2 Timothy 2:23}

It sounds like Apostle Paul is talking to me. During Election Season.

I have had a hard time this year. I have come face-to-face with my passionate personality, a critically-thinking mind, an affinity for debate, and a natural bent towards politics of any kind. Add to these an intense election process in our country for the White House for the next four years, and I feel like an explosive being introduced to a lit match.

Let me admit, I have fed the flame.

I have faithfully listened to political coverage on satellite radio all the way to work. Once in my desk, I have hopped online to screen numerous political and news sites for latest polls, predictions, and wild stories. Then I open my email, and I usually receive around 10 new political commentaries, articles, jokes or new conspiracies a day. On my lunch break, if I am in my car, I have the chance to tune in again, and on the way home, I catch up on what I missed. (What could I possibly have missed?) Over dinner, my husband will brief me on political news or conversations from his day, and for dessert, we find ourselves checking in with the talking heads on satellite tv.

I know this year's election is hot, and many of us are feeling the pressure building inside as we head toward election day. But how to not combust and take those around us out in flames is the question.

On this month's retreat with my best friends from college, I feel I combusted during our political conversation. This is one incident with gun-powder that has caused me to evaluate my methods, my motives, my thoughts, my heart.

Then I found the rest of this passage:

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth..."{2 Timothy 2:23-25, NIV}

Be kind! Don't argue. Do not quarrel. (But Lord, have you been following the 2008 election?)

If someone opposes you, gently instruct them. Gently instruct??

Oh, the restraint required.

Oh, the freedom and life this could breathe into my relationships. And perhaps the discussions could be just that...a healthy discussion. A chance to dialogue over ideas and our future without the heat and the smoke.

Girls in San Antonio, I am sorry for heat I let off during our debate. Thank you for bearing with me when my political passions got the best of me...I am learning by grace how to feel strongly but speak gently.

Praying with you for the ability to talk, share our concerns and views, walk alongside, and share life with those across the aisle...

gently...

without setting off smoke alarms.

Hang in there, only one more week til Nov. 4th!

Katherine

Boston

Last weekend, Dean and I headed up to Boston, Massachusetts. It was a first for me. Dean had been there a handful of times, but by the look on his face as we toured around, it struck him with its beauty all over again.

There are dark, beautiful, historic buildings everywhere, with long-established educational institutions on every corner (Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Boston University, Berklee College of Music, and many more). Our hotel was directly beside the campus of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Think Kevin Spacey & the brilliant card-counting students in the recent movie "21".)

But best of all, the city is on the water!

(Credit for this image.)

We took a run one morning over one of these scenic bridges over Charles River that connects Cambridge to downtown Boston. Beautiful!

However, the purpose of this trip was not primarily to see the city. We had come for the memorial service of Dean's 'stepdad'. (He was married to Dean's mom for most of his childhood, and will always be remembered for raising her children like they were his own. )

This is a relative's authentic Bostonian home, where we gathered to prepare for the service.

This is Josh, Dean's brother. Dean's stepdad was his 'real' dad, and he looks so much like him. We had the opportunity to go through old pictures and reminisce together.

An interesting note: Stepdad was a gifted singer, recording with his own album reminiscent of Frank Sinatra. We discovered that when Stepdad performed in Vegas during his youth, he opened for Jimmy Durante!

This is Josh's wife, Jacquie...my sweet sis-in-law. She was a Rock of support to Josh and all of the family.

Dean getting a haircut from our cousin Denise.

The service went well, and both Dean and Josh shared from the heart about the blessing of their Dad. Afterwards, we went out with the whole family...everyone was new to me but felt like instantaneous blood...I like that about Dean's family...

Denise, Jason (He is Josh's nephew, can you imagine?), and Jacquie.

Everyone! A whole lot of love...Stepdad brought everyone together one last time at his death.

On our night downtown, Dean, Josh, Jacquie, and I discovered Boston's Little Italy...

Uh Oh....

A street lined with beautiful Italian restaurants, espresso cafes, gelato, and...

Hundreds of Italian pastries!!!!!


I decided on tiramisu AND a canoli...my husband rightly predicted I would make myself feel sick...

He told me he was so HAPPY in this pastry shop!! We all were...
Vist Mike's Pastry's website: there is a glossary of all the Italian pastries!!

Look them up on Hanover Street when in Boston! We liked this Little Italy (Italian neighborhood) better than its counterparts in New York and Chicago!

Everyone enjoyed each other so, we know it won't be the last time we pack a bag and head to Boston.

For the Love of the House

Hi, Friends! I haven't kept you as up to date as I would like...I have been busy adding more 'feminine touches' to our home (formerly his home). I am having so much fun decorating our house! I am not quite ready to show you the Before-the-Wife and After-the-Wife House Tour pictures, but we are getting close :) In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of the projects that I (we) have been working on.

The first good news is that I have finally been able to introduce my husband to the joys of yard sales!! He thought I was crazy before, but after running across two great sales this weekend, he is starting to be hooked. I can't say what he bought though...he may be planning to give it to one of you for Christmas! Ha! Here are my treasures...

These pretty fleur de lis sconces will be the latest addition to the animal print master bathroom.

These finials make me so happy...just knowing that I will discover the perfect home for them somewhere in our house.

Oops, this image is sideways. These are a few of the black and white plates that will be hanging in the black/white guest room along with the collage of old family pictures! (Dean's Dad, if you read this, we would love to have a few old pictures of your family to add to the collage. Pics of Dean's grandparents or even great-grandparents, if you have any!)

Then for $4, I found this plate hangar at a yard sale! Perfect, after a coat of black spray paint.

These were a few dollars a piece at this awesome Ballard Designs furniture warehouse I discovered!! I love the square hand towel holder. So unique.

They are meant to look antique...

Which will be perfect for the guest bathroom since we're using the old black/white pictures theme.

This next project: I found this small baker's rack at Ross Dress for Less, no less!

And spray painted it black. It's amazing what a can of black spray paint can do!

It is now waiting to greet you at the top of the stairs when you come by to visit us...

Lastly, here is a peek into the master bathroom. Over the garden tub we put our favorite pictures of us with our wedding party.

Animal print-ish frames, of course...and when I found this lamp, you know I fell in love!!

I love to turn off the bright overhead lights and switch this one on in the evenings. (It gives a soft light, which is hard to tell from this picture.) It is peaceful and calming after a long day.

We are having a great time redressing our home...stay tuned for the before and after tour. It is coming, I promise. In the meantime, how are you? Do you have any home projects you are working on?

P.S.- I am on the lookout for another yard sale partner. My current one (husband) will only hit yard sales after 10 AM...way too late for the good stuff! All early-rising, coffee-drinking, Craigs List-scouting, Mapquest-following, bargain-hunting and thrifty females should apply!