The letter P

Super fun weekend. We went pickin peaches! This was one of my favorite things we've ever done because 1) it's a nice drive thru beautiful rural Ohio scenery 2) it's time to be with Jamey away from school and responsibility 3) it's outside 4) the deliciousness lasts FOREVER.

We had mentioned this to the Hiltons and they were the instigators to be on our way by 8 am. Their company made it all the more fun. We go to Apple Hill Orchard in Fredericktown, OH - about an hour's drive from Columbus. We found it on a whim last year and were so pleased. Yesterday was the first day they opened the part of the orchard with the peaches we love and so the pickings were pretty high yield. They weren't all ripe and soft and perfect as last year but we'll leave them out for a few days and enjoy them even longer. We left with an overflowing half bushel of peaches, a half peck of apples, and some fresh homemade apple donuts for the drive home. Happiness.

Then last night Jamey and I went up the Gambier, OH to volunteer at Pelotonia, the bike race he participated in last year. We staffed the First Aid station. Pelotonia is such a neat experience to be a part of. I know Jamey would've loved to ride again this year but I felt like we couldn't really hit up everyone we know for the fundraising again. Everyone was so generous to support Jamey last year and we were/are so grateful for all the donations. So instead, we volunteered to staff it. I love doing these things with Jamey. I am so grateful we can share so much about our lives - school, work, and socially - together. 

And I guess Jamey was feeling like livin on the edge because we were leaving Gambier and the gas light was on. When we checked the trip computer we weren't concerned, it's pretty accurate with the mileage. We found on our phones that there were some gas stations ahead with about 5 miles to spare. But we forgot that in small towns gas stations are not always 24 hours. We seriously coasted into the gas station before the highway with 1 mile to go and then 0. Huge sigh of relief. I was very anxious. Jamey was too but of the 2 of us he had to be the calm one and he was trying hard, I know he didn't want to get out and walk it.

Blessed are they that mourn...

...for they shall be comforted.

I started this post a long while back. But only now do I feel like I can share it. Two nights ago I was reading the Sermon on the Mount and going thru the Beatitudes. When I got to v.4 I had the calming, strengthening, peaceful realization that I have been blessed. I have been comforted. It has come from my Savior, my Heavenly Father, my husband, my family, my friends. I have felt it thru prayer, in silence, thru service, thru laughter. It has been continual. I have been blessed.

In February Jamey and I had our hearts broken. We were 16 weeks along with our baby boy when we found out at my routine checkup that his tiny heart no longer beat. We were completely blindsided - there had been zero signs of miscarriage. We were devastated. We didn't know how to wrap our minds around it. We still hadn't told many people we were expecting and really didn't know how to share what we had lost.

The love was instant. People sent cards, emails, and texts full of love and support. Daily phone calls and check-ins to say whatever we were feeling was just right. We received beautiful flowers and delicious meals. No one tried to make it better. No one tried to tell us how to make it thru. They were just there. We felt their prayers and their love. It was very humbling. Too often I shy away from service because it seems like my small offering is in no way enough to help. But now I know it does - it means the world. Of course nothing could make up for the loss of a wanted child, but it is incredible how strengthening it is to know we were not alone. Far from family but not from love.

I remember a time when my brother and I were little. It was early on a weekend morning. Mom and Dad were asleep and we were playing quietly in the front room. My mom used to make beautiful porcelain dolls and I was playing with one with long brown hair that sat in a rocking chair. I loved her and I was being so careful, but I got distracted and she broke. I was scared and sad. Thomas tried to help me put her back together, but she was cracked. When Mom got up (I think something triggered when the "playing quietly" turned to "utter silence") she came out and I cried and showed her. I knew she was upset and maybe a little mad, but she said "It's ok" to my tears and got the glue out and I watched as she carefully pieced her back together. I see myself a lot like that doll now. My heart was broken, it was in pieces. But love glued it back together and now it is whole. Just like you can still see the faint crack lines on the doll, I know I still have scars on my heart. They have healed but they will never disappear. But I am whole again.

I have been comforted.

Friends

Jamey is so much better at keeping in touch with his friends than I am with mine. I wish it weren't the case, I wish this was an area that I was awesome in. But I'm not. It's not that I don't love you all, I do. It's just...don't know. I'm bad at it.

But, since it is an area of strength for Jamey, we often benefit from visits and last weekend was just such the case. Jason and Nicole with their kiddos came to play! We went to the State Fair, rode rides, ate fair food (pics are of a deep fried snickers), ate late night wings and talked into the night (the boys stayed up way later than us girls). I love when friends visit! They just stayed for the one night but it was great while they were here!

Happy Birthday Jamey

Jamey turned 28 a couple weeks ago and we had a good time celebrating it! We spent the morning lounging around and he opened his presents. Everyone was so nice to think of him. Then, unfortunately, a full day of work for the 2 of us. But after. We partied. It's so much fun that his birthday typically falls during Columbus' Restaurant Week. We have great friends that agreed to try a new restaurant, The Olde Mohawk. Our waitress was fun, Jamey got up on a chair and danced, and we ate lots of cake.

Lake House

Lake House + 4th of July + Family = Happiness

FAMILY!! Jamey and I were lucky enough to schedule a couple of days off together for the holiday weekend and mini family reunion. Seeing family is bittersweet. It's the BEST EVER and when it's over I'm so sad and realize how much I need them and want to be around them. We saw Jamey's Mom, 2 sisters, Shelby and Melanie and their families, and Home Bear. Awesome. We played in the lake, played normal games, went to Nauvoo, set off many fireworks, saw a Cardinals game, ate ice cream, and had the best of times. Now I miss family in a big way. 

Cousins

I've been beyond blessed to see more family in the last 2 months than I have seen in the last 7. In June my cousin Rachelle and her family were in northern Ohio (Kirtland) on a church history trip. I was so excited when my preceptor let me rearrange my schedule so that I could drive up there and spend the night and a day with them (totally crashed her in-laws' family reunion - worth it). It was heaven. That sounds cheesy, but really I was so happy. I was so peaceful. I felt more at home and more loved than I had in awhile and wow did I need that. It's funny how I can fool myself into believing I'm Miss Independent and happy on my own and grown up and spread my wings yada yada yada. Then as soon as I spend any amount of time with my family I feel true strength restored - true joy, love, and completeness. What was most fun was I forgot how incredible hilarious and wonderful it is to try and cram as many people into a tiny motel room as possible. 2 double beds and 7 people. There were bodies everywhere!! I was giddy in the tight quarters. I love my family.

SHARKNADO

Well our Shark Week is not what it has been. We did not get to visit Shelby for her Extravabration, but you can still read about it all here. I WISH WE'D BEEN THERE! But, instead we went out tonight for our own celebration. The Gateway was showing Sharknado on the big screen. And when Jamey found that we could get free tickets with our purchase of the Spicy Pepperoni slice from Late Night Slice...well how could we say no? $3 for dinner and movie? I call that an awesome date night. We are glad we have good friends that are willing to put up with our whims and join us for the fun (and enjoy every bit of it). Thanks Hiltons!

Watching Sharknado in a tiny theater (it only sat 24) was the best ever. The group was hilarious and it took the show from laughable to pretty much the best ever.