it's cold.

It is 61 degrees today, yet it feels a lot colder...probably because it's windy. This weather is fine with me, but I am not sure I want it to get any colder. All of my winter clothes are still in Atlanta (minus the FEW sweaters I have purchased since I've been here), so I am anxious to get everything back so I can feel warm again!!!

I want to find my warm, snuggly clothes...I think they are packed in a tub somewhere in a closet in Atlanta. That will be a great day. The day I can wake up, put my warm, snuggly clothes on, get a hot cup of tea, and park it on the couch with my Schmoo and my new puppy and watch Saturday morning tv. (I won't get the pup until January, so it will be nice and cold by then...probably snowy, too.) Love it!

Did I mention I am getting a new puppy? Yippee! Pelly is pregnant and expected to pop those babies out around mid-November. SO, that means I can get my new pup (I have several names in mind, but won't share until I decide for sure...don't need the nicknames starting before then) around Christmastime. I CAN'T WAIT! Midi will be so excited! She is a different dog with Pelham around, so I think it will be good for her to have a puppy to befriend like she eventually did Pellers. Plus, the dog is going to be ridiculously cute!!!!

I mean...seriously?


Snuggle, snuggle.

my weekend & my life

I had the BEST weekend! It might have had to do with the fact that it was ridiculously warm and sunny here all weekend. Or, that Stephen and I spent all day Saturday at the Inner Harbor/Fells Point walking around and just generally seeing the sights (see flaming fire juggler guy pic below). Or that I went pumpkin picking and hay-riding with Matt, Jenn, Mark Allen, Matt and Dana today and then had some yummy dinner after. Probably, it was all of it combined together...the trifecta of a great weekend.

I would like for there to be more weekends like this...although I'm not sure the weather will cooperate. I am fairly certain that I am 15% starting to adapt to life in Maryland. Haha...sounds like a really strong statement, huh? I think that number will jump considerably higher once I move into my new place in November. As much as I don't want to be attached to the "things" of this world, it will be refreshing to have my stuff around me...to set up my home. I have some really cool stuff and pictures from Kenya, Uganda, and Zanzibar that I am excited to decorate with!

Anyway, I was thinking tonight that this is the first place I have moved that I didn't have this overwhelming desire to move to before I decided to move. Hmmm...does that make sense? For instance, Nashville - wanted to move there (all 3 times!) VERY MUCH before I actually moved there. Same with Atlanta. But Maryland...never said, "I REALLY want to live in Maryland!", either before I was born (ha ha) or this past year. Here's the kicker, though: As much as I want to balk at being here sometimes, I've honestly never felt like I'm supposed to be somewhere in a time more than I do now. Obviously (because I say it a lot), I still have a hard time not being in Atlanta or Nashville (more so because I miss my friends), but I know this is part of the journey God has been taking me on. So, here I am in Maryland. Eventually I'll just get over it and stop talking about it. I'm thinking maybe December 12th-ish.

But what a great weekend!!! :O)

the hurricane

This whole Hurricane Gustav thing is stressing me out!!!!! Knowing that something like that is approaching and not being able to do anything but leave your home has to be one of the most frustrating, scary, disheartening things you can do. I hope that people are being wise and learning from the past...and leaving the area. I can't imagine the Gulf coast experiencing the same type of devastation that it did after Hurricane Katrina. Property can be replaced...but lives can't.

My cousin is living in New Orleans right now. He moved down there last year to work with a non-profit to help rebuild after Katrina. My prayer is that he will be safe and be energized to continue the good work once all is said and done.

But, geez...I hate watching it happen from across the country. If I had a hurricane-stopping plane, I'd be on it right now.