More Snow

I guess this says something about the magnitude of the current snow storm that I am actually posting twice in one week. We are currently experiencing blizzard number 2 of the week, which has successfully made this the most intense winter in DC history. Our neighbor informed us that the only record they have of a comparable winter was from journal entries of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson!! I don't think that should count.

Partly because many of you have been asking and partly because I am starting to lose my mind, I have brainstormed up an ongoing list of our favorite things to do while barricaded at home. W are more than open to suggestions.

1. Sleep until we are no longer tired

2. Enjoy coffee and a book by the kitchen window

3. Scour redfin for dream homes

4. Begin and actually finish books just because I want to

5. Make delicious homemade Leek Pea and Sauerkraut Soup (recipe is courtesy of the Wednesday Chef)

6. Shovel the driveway multiple times in a day to feel like we are somehow making progress

7. Watch countless movies on netflix (Recommendations: Food Inc., The Visitor, 30 Rock)

9. Play in the snow until we have so much snow up our shirts and down our shoes that we can't bear the cold anymore.

8. Read through my favorite foodie blogs (Wednesday Chef, Smitten Kitchen, In Praise of Leftovers, etc.) and think of all of the delicious things i could make if only I could make it to the market.

9. Plan out our garden for this coming spring.

10. Research how to get a license for chickens in the state of maryland.

11. Bundle up and take walks around the neighborhood, enjoying the quite of a world with no cars.

All in all, we are thankful for the snow, the quite, each other, and the chance to be still.

Party Hats and Snow Boots

I am so thankful to finally have a morning to sit with my mug of coffee and give you an update on the past couple of weeks. School continues to dominate the majority of our hours, but with 3 exams out of the way and 2 ft of snow barring me indoors, I have no excuse but to chill out.

Two weekends ago we made a trip down to Charlottesville to celebrate Patrick and Anna's engagement and Anna's safe return from Haiti. Though it was last minute, the rest of my family (minus Susie Q) also made the 8 hour drive up to partake in the festivities. We spent much of the weekend sitting around Anna's kitchen table, snacking on granola, talking and pouring over pictures from Haiti. On Saturday we hopped across the street (literally) for a big engagement bash with what seemed like the rest of the C-Ville community. There are a lot of people that love those two!

Now to bring this back to the present....I think I may have mentioned that DC was hit last night with 2 ft of snow!!!! and it is still piling on. They are saying it is the biggest snow in 100 years and perhaps will be the biggest snow ever. Whoever said that moving from Montana to DC was going to be a big adjustment? So far, with three big snows this winter, I can say that my favorite part about it is the fact that it has given us a chance to meet many of our neighbors. Whenever it snows, everyone finds their way outside whether it is to sled down the oliver st. alleyway or to shovel their driveway. We even had a neighbor glide by on her cross country skis.

This morning, after downing some banana spice muffins and trader joe's coffee, Adam and I bundled up and headed out to join in the fun.

It has been a heavy couple of days. News of the earthquake outside of Port Au Prince was especially disturbing considering that my brother had returned from doing medical work in that city just two days before it hit and Anna, his girl:), was still stationed at the clinic. We all felt helpless as we made a multitude of desparate attempts to track Anna's whereabouts. After 7 anxious hours, Pat finally got through to her cell phone for just a couple of seconds but long enough to know that she had made it through. Although we rejoice with Anna's safe return, it is hard to form a proper response to the terror and despair that has filled Port Au Prince.

Partners in Health

World Health Organization

Doctors Without Borders

Here's to 2010 and Semester 2

Tomorrow morning at 5:45 am I will wake up to my second semester of graduate school. I continue to be thankful for the program that I am a part of, the information I am learning, the friends I am making, etc. Though I lose sight of this truth more often than I care to admit, I am richly blessed by a Lord that continues to provide for me in ways that I don't deserve.

May 2010 be a year that brings new mercies to each of you.

Holiday 2009

The past two weeks have flown by but this holiday season has been a blast. it seems like time with family becomes that much more precious as each year passes. We spent the first week with my wonderfully enormous family down in sarasota, fl and are now finishing up our last couple of days relaxing in dallas with the richards.

The make shift santa setup.

Pre-run warmup on siesta key. Enjoyed several of these family runs.

Lunch at La Americana

Spent an afternoon at the Sarasota Succulent Garden

Mom and Dad dancing up a storm to "Goodbye Eddie".

Love these girls. Becca and Ryan (two of my fabulous cousins)

My 103 year old great grandmother made a surprise appearance at our Christmas dinner.

Annual poker game.

4 crazy kids, very happy to be reunited.

Afternoon at the Selby Botanical Gardens.

think before you speak...

It is hard to believe, but tomorrow morning will mark the end of my first semester as a PT student. The semester has been very challenging, but it has absolutely flown by. Last week held the much anticipated Standard Patient Interaction (SPI) that serves as a cumulative practical for all that we have learned this semester. I had the chance to perform an initial evaluation on a very sweet man who was quite patient with me as I fumbled through the encounter. The highlight of the interview, was when I asked what he did for a living.

Patient replied, "I manage an Apple store in Georgetown."

I enthusiastically responded, "That's fantastic! I love apples. They are so delicious!"

His response was to give me a look of bewilderment.

In that brief awkward moment, I relieved that this was not the manager of the quaint, country orchard I had somehow been picturing. This was the manager of the world's most popular brand of electronics.

"Oh, you work for the Apple computer store. I love those too!"

Then he just chuckled and we went on with the exam.

It is the simple joys that keep me going.

Turkey Day 2009

We had yet another wonderful Thanksgiving in Salt Lake City this year. In addition to spending time with dear family, we were thankful to have some precious time in the west again. We love our new home in DC, but the beauty of the snow peaked mountains is hard not to miss.

One of the highlights of the trip was our Turkey Day hike up to the radio towers, two giant sheets of metal that sit atop a neighboring mountain/large hillside, providing a good destination for motivated hikers. A highlight of the hike, was seeing our ironwoman friend who is probably in her mid 60's and finds it enjoyable to run up the mountainside, leaving us in her dust every year. Who knows how often she takes this route, but for us, she is someone we look forward to seeing each year.

Making our way back down to a delicious feast.

The yummy place settings we had, compliments of Annie! Needless-to-say they did not last very long.