If you're lucky enough...

I've met lots of new people lately.

Okay, let's stop and be real.  I've met lots of new people in the past, oh, 6 years?

Back to the point.  I've been able to talk to a lot of people and hear their stories.  And one thing I am constantly reminded about is how thankful I am for my family.

Christmas 2002

I come from a family of 4 kids.  Katy is the oldest, I'm next, then Blaise, and Ansley finishes us up.

Christmas 2005

We are a passionate bunch.  Dare I even say, spicy?

None of this sulking for days for us...we let you know when we are angry.

But, we fix fights quickly too.  We hug and make up and try not to let the sun go down on our anger.

Ansley's birthday this year

Mom, Katy, and Baby Marley!

When I was little, my dad (or my mom, who knows?) instituted Braden family night.

Some BFN's were dedicated to board games.  We still do these.

Some were dedicated to lectures on the heart chambers (my dad is a pediatric cardiologist).  We have ceased these nights, thankfully, although they did help in high school biology.

There were even nights in which we did the limbo to Gloria Estafan.  If you were a friend in our house on those nights, I want to apologize now.

The beach, I think 1998

We still keep up the board game nights, although they are mostly dedicated to Settler's of Catan or Imagine If.  There was one eventful Settler's game that involved a thrown phone (see, spicy, I tell you!), but we have learned to play peacefully.

Easter, perhaps 2012?

The Braden's can entertain themselves completely.  We played dress up constantly as children (and poor Ansley was basically a prop!).  Ansley and Katy still like to dress up for Christmas every year.

We have our dorkier habits:  Jeff Foxworthy cd's on car trips, the Braden Family Brain, "Braden Family Business" (aka BFB), our obsession with all things Christmas...

Do you feel like this should be included in the dorkier habits list?  Because I do.

For sure this one should be!  

Summer 2008

We are each other's best friends.  You don't want to mess with one of us.  I remember a boy saying something rude to Katy in high school and I gave him a tongue lashing. 

Don't mess with a Braden.

Then there was the Christmas Bech and I were Africa and my family made cut outs of us for the table.  How sweet/creepy.

We are also all up in each other's business.  We constantly talk on the phone.  Our group texts are hilarious.

Ansley and Blaise, D.C., Spring 2011

We love each other fiercely.  If one of us is hurting, we rally and we love on that person.  We laugh and cry with each other.

Christmas 2006

And we have been taught love over and over by our parents.  

Why thank you, my parents are beautiful!

My dad read us Narnia each night.  My mom stayed up late making Easter dresses.  My parents loved (and continue to love) us fiercely.  

They introduced us to Christ and taught us what love is, and they continue to daily show us that love.

Charity ball 2010

The Braden's are not perfect--far from it.  But we are real, and we love each other.

And I wouldn't trade that for the world.

So what I'm trying to say is, if you're lucky enough to be a Braden...

You're lucky enough.

I feel like I should have a disclaimer that I don't believe in luck, because, well, I'm a Calvinist.  But you get the point!

Andrew Peterson

I mentioned on Friday that we were heading to an Andrew Peterson concert that night in the Lancaster area.  It was actually Andrew, Bebo Norman (on his last ever tour...he's retiring!), and Sarah Groves.

It was really good.  The three musicians took turns talking about songs and singing them.  It definitely made it feel like a house show (which I love).  And there were only 600 people there, which added to that feel.  

But it meant that I got to hear Andrew Peterson sing less, which was sad.

In case you are an Andrew fan, he sang "Day by Day," "Shine Your Light on Me,""You'll Find Your Way," "Dancing in the Minefields," and "Nothing to Say."  

See what I mean?  Not a lot of songs.

But they were all amazing.  I especially enjoyed the first three.  They are off of his new album, "Light for the Lost Boy," which I have had a harder time getting into.  But hearing him talk about each song and then sing them live really helped me connect. 

My new favorite may be "You'll Find Your Way."  It's to his son, and I love it.

"When I look at you, boy,

I can see the road that lies ahead. 

I can see the love and the sorrow.

Bright fields of joy,

Dark nights awake in a stormy bed.

I want to go with you, but I can't follow.

 Chorus:

So keep to the old roads,

Keep to the old roads

And you'll find your way.

Your first kiss, your first crush,

The first time you know you're not enough,

The first time there's no one there to hold you.

The first time you pack it all up

And drive alone across America,

Please remember the words that I told you.

Chorus

If love is what you're looking for

The old roads lead to an open door

And you'll find your way.

You'll find your way back home.

And I know you'll be scared when you take up that cross,

And I know it'll hurt, 'cause I know what it costs,

And I love you so much and it's so hard to watch,

But you're gonna grow up and you're gonna get lost.

Just go back, go back.

Go back, go back to the ancient paths.

Lash your heart to the ancient mast.

And hold on, boy, whatever you do

To the hope that's taken hold of you.

And you'll find your way.

You'll find your way."

The song is based on Jeremiah 6:16: "Thus says the LORD, 'Stand by the roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, and walk in them, and you will find rest for your souls.'"

You can check out the video and Andrew's explanation of the song here.

I know Jack is only a two year old, but these times are going to come.  He's going to grow up and he's going to have to go through hurts that I can't fix.  He's going to have to know that he's not enough.  And this song is my prayer too, that Bech and I would teach him to know those paths, and that Jack would follow them.

Anyway, I know I have praised Andrew's music before on my blog, but seriously, check him out.  His songs are medicine to my soul.  He's an amazing songwriter (and a fellow C. S. Lewis lover).

5 on Friday

I guess this is all my blogging has become lately, 5 on Friday.  But I love it...I can put down five random things if I so desire (which I always desire!).  Check out others here!

O   N   E

I am, perhaps, a little too excited about Herbal Essences new/old releases.  They rereleased two of their old shampoo and conditioner sets, and they're even using the old bottles.

Actually, I just realized there is no perhaps.   I am definitely too excited.  

Please tell me someone else actually cares about this too?

 T   W   O

This one is actually exciting.  Tonight I get to go to hear Andrew Peterson in concert!  

I absolutely adore Andrew's music.  I'm not much of a concert goer (can we say old lady?), but I knew that if he came close to me, I wanted to go!

And he is!  He will be in the Lancaster area (so about two hours away) tonight, and we are going with some new friends!

T   H   R   E   E

I don't know if I've really talked about this on my blog, but we have already been so thankful and excited for all of our new friends here.  I honestly don't think that the social aspect of moving has ever been easier, unless it was in Malawi.

We have made some sweet church friends who we already love spending time with.  The ceramics department and graduate students have been incredible as well.  

And I'm even making friends in grocery stores.

Who said Yankees were unfriendly?

F   O   U   R

Sadly, I didn't get the job I interviewed for last week.  

I was sad, but not completely disappointed.  It was for a Penn State admissions counselor.  I was pretty pumped to have even gotten to the final interviews.  I was also pretty sure that if someone actually had a Penn State connection, they would get it over me.

I had another interview yesterday.  It went well, but I'm not sure that I want it to work out.  It would involve some aspects I'm not so sure about (I know that sounded super weird.  But when I do or don't get it, I'll elaborate!).

So it's back to the grind...I just want a job!  I had NO idea it would be this hard!

F   I   V   E

Check out my little bud in his Sunday best!  Fall weather means breaking out his cute fall clothes.

Actually it's been rather warm this week...I think it will be 81 tomorrow.  But next week should be in the 60's!

Bech was firing a kiln all Sunday, so Jack and I brought him a picnic dinner to eat outside of the art building.  

I don't even want to think about the age where Jack stops wearing smocked longalls.  He just melts my heart in this outfit.

Alright, that was cathartic/fun.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

5 on Friday

It's time for a little 5 on Friday!  Check out others here.

O   N   E

My mom has been in town for the past 5 days.  She left this morning :(

We had a wonderful time exploring my new town.  Jack had lots of fun cuddling his Bella all week.  We played at the park, shopped, ate some yummy food, and laughed a lot.

While I am ready to get a job, I was thankful to have this week to spend with my mom!

(a pic of my sweet boy playing at the park with Bella)

T   W   O

Speaking of jobs, I had an interview today!  I felt like it went well, but I have no idea who I'm up against.

But at least I looked cute.  My mom and I went shopping and I got this blue and black blazer from the Loft.  I'm not much of a blazer or suit girl, but I enjoyed looking professional.

T   H   R   E   E

While my mom was here, I may or may not have gotten her obsessed with Sheetz.

Oops!

Seriously, if you have never been to a Sheetz, you are missing out.  It's a gas station that has made to order food, made to order coffee drinks, fountain drinks (my love language), and a fix your own coffee bar.

I realize that my description makes Sheetz sound boring, perhaps even gross.  That's how I felt at first too.

Just wait.

F   O   U   R

Y'all know I love fall.  And I love me some butternut squash.

So when I found this salad, I knew I had to make it soon.

It's spinach with pumpkin seeds, cherries (but I used cranberries), roasted butternut squash, and gorgonzola cheese.  It did not disappoint...amazing!  Plus, it was low fat!

F   I   V   E

I am so excited about fall tv shows starting back up!  We don't have cable, but I'll be watching my shows online.

On the lineup:  

Parks and Rec (my favorite!)

Grey's Anatomy (I know, I know, but I can't stop!)

Bones

Any amazing shows that I'm missing out on?

Amish Country

This past Saturday, we hit the road bright and early to meet up with my sister and new brother-in-law in Lancaster, PA, the heart of Amish country.

We had a fun day, full of apple picking, Amish stalking, lunch eating, and lots of laughs.  It is so good to have family this close!

We had heard about this little town, Intercoursre, PA.  We were only a mile away and we had to get a picture.  I mean, seriously?

We did some apple picking at an orchard.  We got tons of apples and I was hoping to make an apple crumble this week.  But I looked in the box last night, and we've already eaten half of them.  They are just so yummy fresh!

Jack wasn't so interested in picking apples.  Instead, this wild man wanted to pick up dirt and throw it.  

Also, he totally looks like a little hipster baby in this picture.  Not intentional...

The main reason we went is because Bech had a piece of pottery in a juried show, Strictly Functional.  So we stopped by the gallery hosting the show and saw his piece (It's the bowl right in front).  

It was pretty amazing to see a piece of Bech's work mixed in with all this other pottery!

Also, he was totally embarrassed that I made him take this picture in front of the gallery owner.  Too bad...

There is a Sonic in Harrisburg, which is on the way home.  Um, yes please!

Y'all, seriously, it was so amazing to have a Sonic drink.  I am going to have to find more and more reasons to go to Harrisburg!

My sweet sister made us an anniversary cake, but we didn't eat it until the next day.  

Jack is kind of into the cake.  Can you tell?  I think he forgot yesterday that we still have some...otherwise he would still be asking for it!

We had a great little day trip and I definitely want to go back to Amish country again soon!

And this weekend, Jack and I are going to head to DC to spend the weekend with Katy and Dave.  This way Bech can have a guilt free weekend of lots of studio time.  And Jack and I can see some sights and eat yummy food!  

And then on my way home, I'll swing by the Philadelphia airport and pick up my mom!!!