Wonderful Wellie Wevolution

There is a wonderful Wellie revolution happening; all across the country people are putting on these wonderfully colorful knee-high boots to brave the cold and wet that winter brings. A creative writer in Iowa has dazzling red Wellies- it's her Midwest version of Dorothy's red slippers. A lawyer in Chicago just got the robin's egg blue Wellies, which just so happens to be the color of her alma mater. And a few more ladies are contemplating what color to get; after all, there are so many colors to choose from!

Oh these Wellies, they are terrific! It's not very often a lady finds a boot that does the job of keeping your feet protected from winter elements all while delivering head-turning style. If I seem obsessed, I AM! And I love my new Wellie Warmers that just came in the mail- they are doing a good job of keeping my feet extra warm and comfy.

If you have been inspired to get your own pair of Wellies due to my constant mentioning of them on this blog, please do send me a picture of them once they arrive and I will post it for all to see and admire.

Here are the ruby red "slippers" of Iowa where the wearer reports that they are turning heads indeed!

http://www.hunterboots.com/

Business Update 3

Yippee! I got my cards into two more stores, so that makes a total of 7 out of my goal of 10! I feel pretty confident that I will get those last three stores before the snow is completely melted away and the buds are pushing their way up through the saturated ground. I cannot express enough how exciting this is to me. Several months ago this was all a dream and a crazy idea, but slowly things are becoming a reality and I have to say, real life is far more exciting that dream life!

I also have a few weddings coming up that I'll be doing invitations for and there may be some new clients in the future through recommendations from past clients. All in all, I am staying busy with the business and am looking for ways to get even busier.

Keeping it Boring

Okay, talk about keeping it boring- Jason and I, on a youthful Friday night, are doing laundry, running the dishwasher, and picking up the house for tomorrow's company (new clients coming over). I can remember when a Friday night with Jason was going out for dinner, seeing a concert, and stealing kisses. While I am a home-body by nature, I truly don't mind what we are doing tonight, as long as I still get to steal a kiss or two.

But seriously, you know you are a bit boring when a 70-something-year-old woman comes trapsing through the lobby in all her fur and lipstick glory while I am holding a laundry basket in sweats. Oh well, at least we are having dinner tomorrow night with friends- I won't wear fur, but I am certainly not going to wear sweats!

Safe and Sound

Jason and I just returned (only got off the plane 4 hours ago) from a few sunny days in San Diego and this post is to let our families know that we are safe and sound and tucked away in our little nest.

To our San Diego family: It's really not that cold here, but it sure as heck ain't 80!

To our Chicago/Wisconsin family: Um, should we all start discussing migrating out west for the winters?

This post is also to let those of you who have sent me e-mail since last Friday know that I will respond to your e-mails shortly and that I have not been ignoring you.

And of course, to all of you love birds out there, consider this your Happy Valentine's Day greeting!

Shelter

I’ve been thinking about shelter. Having it. Giving it. Knowing it.

The other night, as the wind and sleet whipped against our windows, I was thankful for the shelter of our home. I could picture several faces of people that I “know” that likely did not have shelter that night. These are the men and women I see at the end of the Irving Park ramp coming off of 94 or that are stationed outside of Walgreen’s on Halsted. I don’t know where they were that night - I can only hope that they had shelter.

We know a couple that made room for a young man to stay in their one bedroom apartment with them for a month. When I heard this, I seriously had to think about if we would open our home to someone for that long- I still don’t know if we would or not. Either way, I thought it was really great that they gave someone shelter.

I feel very blessed by the shelter of the community that Jason and I have found in our church. We have found friendships with some wonderful people. There are two couples that we take turns with in hosting dinner or planning something fun every other month or so and that has been such a fun way for Jason and I to share in the friendship of others at the same time. There are friends that knew Jason before they knew me and then when I moved back home, they welcomed me into their circle. There are friends that have come out of serving in our children’s ministry together. Shelter sometimes comes in just seeing familiar faces. We have found shelter in these people.

But the shelter that I most prefer and live under is the shelter that the Lord gives me. The shelter of His infinite and unfailing love. The shelter of His sustaining comfort and wisdom. The shelter of His powerful might and perfect will. Oh, how I love His shelter.

The shelter of the Cross, the place where Christ died as a ransom for us all, this is life-giving shelter. His blood that was shed is my covering. His blood that was shed is your covering. I know this. I know this shelter. At times, it is the only shelter I find comfort in.

Under the Weather

Yuck....I have had a cold for the past four days and just can't seem to shake it. Jason asked me where I "got" if from, so now I am playing Sherlock Holmes. Where did I get my cold?

Did I maybe pick up a cold from one of the sweet babies in church when I was in the nursery on Sunday? There were some runny noses in the crowd.

Perhaps I forgot to wash my hands after I came home from running errands on Monday and then when I quickly gobbled up an orange someone's cold germs made it into my mouth.....ew, yuck!

Hannah, do you think you gave me your cold when we went for our walk this past Tuesday? If so, next time I'll take a rain check!

Well wherever I got it from, it came on Wednesday and as of tonight, it is still hanging out. But, I have a few things that have been helping me get back on the road to wellness.

Aren't these just lovely? Oh my, beautiful calla lillies in February- what a treat! These were given to me by Christina to help me feel better.....they're working! I take them to whatever room I am in while I am home- they are traveling flowers. Thank you, Christina!

And this is my tray of goodies: cough drops and vitamin C drops in the front; tissues in the back; Ibuprofen; and the miracle worker, my Aveda oil- I put some on my nose to prevent it from chapping from those harsh tissues. Oh, and in the background do you see Jason's picture? That is especially nice to have when I am bed-ridden and cannot see him while he is working in the den!

Special thanks to Jason for making me fresh-squeezed o.j. the last two days. And thanks again to Christina for the tea and citrus fruit.....those have come in handy!

Happy Anniversary to Us

Three years ago, on a perfect winter day, I married the love of my life. We had a beautiful ceremony in our church, filled with family and friends, new and old. One of my favorite parts was when my dear friend, Erica, sang the “Lord’s Prayer” a-capella from the balcony of the sanctuary after we recited our own vows. She has a beautiful and powerful voice and it filled the space and my heart.

We held a small reception at the church with everyone who attended the ceremony, and then later in the evening our family and closest friends joined us at a restaurant in Lincoln Park for dinner and dancing. It was all perfect.

Marriage is an amazing and curious thing. It is the best feeling to live life with your best friend and just when you think you know everything there is to know about them, you learn something new. I don’t love being married just because; I love being married because I get to be married to Jason.

So, Happy Anniversary to us!

P.S. Today is also my Uncle Pierre's 21st birthday....so, Happy Birthday to him!