Sometimes, when I have those moments....

when I wonder...

what the heck we're doing with our lives

where we're going

and why we're living here... in charleston

I see this on my way to work...

and I breathe easy....

"For in Him we live and move and have our being." 

{Acts 17:28}

the end

of Christmas break...

Right now I am savoring my last few precious hours of vacation.  Come tomorrow morning, I will no longer be able to sleep in, relax, and take it easy like I have the last 2 weeks...nope, I'll be back in my windowless office- working.  Oh boy. 

Like a mean joke, the last few days have been spent nursing a killer cold.  My first one of the new year.  Joy.  And my nurse has had to work all weekend.  Jerk.  Justing kidding, i love you.

  

Friday B and I embarked on a journey....a journey to make bread from scratch.  We purchased yeast {figured that was crucial} and picked a recipe-Rustic Italian {sounds easy enough}.  And went to work.

Several hours, and a big mess later, the delicious smell of fresh baked bread wafted through the air, and two big buns popped out of the oven.  And you know what?  It wasn't that hard.  I think I uncovered a new passion- I apparently really like baking bread.  And that smell, it takes me straight back to our kitchen in Ethiopia, sitting on the counter waiting for Genet's homemade bread to come out of the oven.  Oh the anticipation of that first buttery bite... that first bite was always the best.  

The Proof

So I think one of my New Year "ideas" is to make a batch of soup and a new kind of bread on Sundays.  That way Sunday evening, we can sit back and savor the evening before the craziness of the week takes over.  Yeah, I think I like that idea.  

{Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.}

Proverbs 30:7-9

good bye two thousand and eight.

Out with the old and in with the new.

Tonight over dinner we were reminiscing about the best {and worst} of 2008.

This year we...

• got MARRIED
• quit a job {her}, got two more {him & her}
• moved into our first home together
• honeymooned:)
• planned a black tie gala {her}
• hosted friends and family
• celebrated birthdays
• traveled to Boone, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Mexico, Raleigh, Shackleford, and DC
• ate oysters
• camped on an uninhabited island
• celebrated two Christmases
• cooked delicious meals {him}
• watched our best friends get married

In Japan they have Bonekai parties, or "forget-the-year parties", but i think 2008 is one that I would like to remember.

We rang in the new year with an oyster roast at the Smith's in Edisto.

Nothing like fresh oysters, good beer, and a chilly ocean breeze to welcome the new year

Janie and Ben attacking the slimy little suckers

mmm.mmm.good

Watching the ball drop, huddled by the heater at the Marina

Happy New Year!

{2009}

Today Ben and I didn't have to go into work- so we celebrated by sleeping in and taking it easy. This included:
A chilly walk on the beach

if you look closely you can see my new bangs:)

Coffee and Scrabble at Starbucks
A trip to pick up some dinner inspiration from William Sonoma
And a d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s new years day dinner created by B

Steak with a red wine reduction and mushrooms, grilled potatoes, a spinach salad, and a good Chilean wine {courtesy of Mama and Papa Harding}

and of course we used our lucky, trunk-pointing-up elephant napkin rings to inspire good luck throughout '09

and right now B is cleaning up the kitchen as I sit here and write this- looks like it's turning out to be a lucky year for me already:)

Happy New Year!

tuesday picnic on the porch, complete with orangina and 75 degree weather

{perfect}

p.s:  I now have New Years bangs thanks to Janie :)

Rabies and Tetnus and Yellow Fever, Oh My

We're back in Charleston with 3 sore arms and 1 step closer to our trip to Ethiopia!

This morning we got pumped with every disease imaginable and unimaginable.  {And by "we" I mostly mean Ben:( }.  One of the many perks of your maiden voyage to Africa.   He got both his arms poked- several times, but I lucked out with only having to get Tetnus.  

And now we're back Home...nursing our wounds, eating doro watt and getting just a little bit excited about our upcoming trip:)

Christmas at the Hardings

We chugged along the highway in torrents of rain as we made our way to Charlotte for Christmas with the Hardings. We snuck into the house at 12:30 to find the tree aglow and the packages nestled beneath it.

In the morning Ben and I woke Kristen up and we went downstairs to begin the festivities.

And, in true tradition, Dad read the Christmas story

Presents were exchanged....

Looking over the wedding album Ben and I made for Mom and Dad

Kristen got Ben and me matching Patagonia pullovers and a beautiful framed black and white picture from the wedding with her prayer for us, that she shared at the reception, written beautifully on the matting.

We got her a wooden recipe box with filled with copies of three generations of famous Harding recipes. And of course, a Real Simple subscription.

I also got a stellar embosser and my favorite scent in the world- Ahava lotions among other goodies.

The family (+ a temporary addition)

So we didn't get a puppy for Christmas, but we got to take care of one before she was given. And maybe we pretended like she was ours...just for a little bit:) Kyle got this "little" St. Bernard for Margaret for Christmas. She made our Christmas morning even more exciting.

Then Pawpaw and Betty came over for Christmas Brunch.

Then we relaxed, went on a walk, and headed to meet up with the rest of the Harding gang for Christmas dinner.


Parting shots...

I want one.....

Merry Christmas from the Taylor home...

to yours...

Christmas at the Taylor's is coming to an end, and late tonight, after dinner and the Christmas Eve service, we'll jump into the car and head to Charlotte to continue the celebration.

 

Merry Christmas!

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means "God with us"

Matthew 1:23

Coquito

So, maybe I'm sitting at my desk drinking Coquito from our Puerto Rican Librarian, and maybe it's very, very spiked with delicious Puerto Rican rum.

Ok, so maybe it's only 9:30am on a weekday.

And maybe I feel like this is completely acceptable behavior.

Sometimes I don't mind my job at all.

Cheers!

'twas the week before christmas...

Merry Christmas!

Even though it's a week away, we celebrated a wee bit early by opening our stockings...we just couldn't wait. (And by "we", I definitely mean Ben)  Have I mentioned that I am married to the Christmas Spirit himself? Yup.  It's true.

Our presents are made and wrapped and ready to go, and I have ONE more day of work before a glorious 2 week break!

 We head up to Raleigh on Saturday for the Taylor family festivities.  And the to Charlotte on Christmas Eve to join the Harding clan.  

Our very first christmas together..... 

Hope you have a very, very merry one!

Stockings

Today we got our Christmas stockings in the mail from PB!

the fireplace is now complete.

May the stuffing begin:)