spontaneous vacation

Earlier this summer, KB and I went on vacation. It's true; we got out of town for the first time since our honeymoon.  We'd had a rough couple of months, and we had a small window of opportunity. It felt divine; we needed to get away to restore our marriage, and God made it possible.

So we did. It was spontaneous and wonderful. That's right, I went on a spontaneous vacation...words that I have never before uttered.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee was our destination, and we stayed in a cabin in the mountains. I would highly recommend the cabin. It was affordable and had everything we wanted. The only challenge was navigating the steep driveway and winding roads. Good old "Betty Ford" worked hard and got us through.

This was our first time in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. We spent most of our time in the Smoky Mountains National Park, hiking the trails and taking in the sights.

We even hiked eleven miles to take in the "best mountain views." Unfortunately, all we could see was fog.

There were signs all over warning us about black bears. While all of those around us seemed excited about the opportunity, I was slightly terrified. I had no desire to encounter a bear on the trails. We did actually see a bear in a valley, but luckily, it was from the comfort of our car.

There were plenty of other touristy activities to be done as well. Some of our favorites: becoming familiar with a variety of birds, playing mini-golf, and going to the Dixie Stampede.

I was not necessarily expecting to but I really enjoyed the Dixie Stampede. The food was excellent, the entertainment was fantastic, and there were horses. I'd go again, even if the North wins every time.

We came away realizing that we should make an effort to take vacations more regularly.   Duh!!

sunday splurge

When I was a kid, Sunday afternoons were ruled by ritual: go to church, eat dinner, lolly-gag as much as possible to avoid eating broccoli, take a nap, and then, enjoy 3 o'clock ice cream. There was something magical about the 3 o'clock hour. I was given license to grab a spoon and fill my bowl with the sweet and creamy flavor of the week, chocolate chips, and fudge sauce.

We splurged on Sundays.

Today, my splurge took the shape of berries and creamy vanilla. It was lick-the-spatula good.

My frozen blueberry stash from last summer is quickly dwindling. I kick myself for not buying a whole trunk load in August, back when ten pounds of fresh, plump berries were a dreamy seventeen dollars.


A few Sundays ago, our splurge was ringside tickets for the Spartan Stampede. My grandpa instilled in me a love of rodeo, and this annual MSU event was one of his favorites.

 I had such a great time hanging out with some of my relatives and watching the rodeo. We ran into a few of grandpa's rodeo buddies and reminisced. One of grandpa's old friends, Jim, passed away recently as well. We stood and clapped as Jim's wife, Les, accepted the Legacy Award on Jim's behalf.

I can just imagine grandpa and Jim sitting side-by-side on a fence and smiling down on us, enjoying the show. Or, who knows, maybe they're busy organizing their own rodeo with chutes of gold and lariats that always swing true.


What's your Sunday splurge?

blue betty vs winter

This winter marches on. More snow and More cold.

Yesterday, my mom suggested a trip to Target, and I turned her down. This is serious, people. The relentless winter has gotten to me.

You'll find me covered in layers of clothes and huddled under a quilt, reading this book or this one. Besides a few times when I did venture out this week, the results were disheartening. Wednesday, I did not get more than a mile away from home and my attempt to cruise down an unplowed road proved futile. Blue Betty, my good old ford focus, couldn't hack it.

Then, on Friday, I was rolling down a semi-clear highway when the serpentine belt flew right off. What's a serpentine belt, you ask? Well, I learned pretty quickly that it is an extremely vital piece of rubber.  Blue Betty died right there on the highway.

Believe it or not, there was an upside. When I was stuck in the snow, six guys pulled up in their trucks offering help. Even if they could not help me, apparently I was in too deep, they made sure that I was warm and that my car had fuel. After an hour and a half, three guys worked together and succeeded in breaking me free.

And after my serpentine belt bit the dust, my coworkers helped me get to work and made sure that I had a vehicle if I needed to go to appointments. Later in the day, my dad and his friend, Dan the Man, arrived to save the day. They worked out in the subzero temps until that pesky serpentine belt was replaced and Blue Betty was good as new.

I've learned that there is no shame in staying home, hiding from the world beneath my quilt.

But I've also been the recipient of great kindness and generosity from strangers, coworkers, and family. And of that, I am so thankful.

they call it the snowpocalypse

We are knee deep in snow and on day two of hibernation around here.

Because of the subzero temps, I set up a cozy spot in the garage for my exclusively outdoor dogs. But when Bo started shivering, and I have never seen him shiver, I relented and brought the boys inside. Just don't tell the landlord.

I tell ya, these dogs are just like children. They play and fight, and if I don't give them something to do, they get themselves into trouble.

They follow me everywhere. If I have to go to the bathroom, I have an audience.

When they finally lay down for a nap, I take the opportunity to snooze as well.

They each got a bath and then ran around the house like naked toddlers.

Bo refuses to share his toys, and Spur is enamored with his reflection.

It feels like I haven't seen Kb in awhile. He has had to pick up extra shifts and has not been home since the blizzard started. The dogs are at least good company.

Tomorrow is up in the air or under a pile of snow. I'm not sure yet.

sunday rest

Don't forget to slow down and take a break.

These warm October days are treasures. I just want to soak them up and sit in them forever. But the chilly mornings and evenings are a reminder that winter is coming. I'm thankful that we get to ease into it this year.

Spur and I went hiking today. There's no denying that beagle blood runs through his veins. He had his nose to the ground the whole time. We'll also blame his beagle blood for pulling my flowers out of their pots and eating my pumpkins, while we're at it. We stood on our tip toes, but the prettiest trees were just out of reach across the bog.

We'll hit the trails again tomorrow, here this time. I'm even feeling ambitious enough to bring Bo along. Thanks to Christopher Columbus, I get the day off. Unfortunately, much of the day will be spent researching marketing strategies and (hopefully) making progress on a paper. I'm thoroughly enjoying grad school, but marketing?  Yuck.

Speaking of school, I was able to remain unaffected by the Government shutdown until late last week. The census website is down so I could not research or cite demographic data. I wonder if my professor will accept the Government shutdown as an excuse. Politics are hard. I don't want to talk about it.

It's a good thing God is still here and still working.

I can see it in the trees.

Sand in my shorts

We don't do vacations. It's simply not in our current financial plan (thanks, Dave!). But now and then, we need to get away. We need to breathe a little different air and tread some new roads. I crave adventure, plain and simple.

Yesterday, we took a day trip to the dunes. We ambitiously took on the longest hiking trail. It was a tough one. The cicada's cheered us on as we traversed the dunes from the beach to the woods and back again. Believe me, I did need some cheering at times.

In the open air and secluded trails, Kb and I were able to talk through a few thorny topics. It was just what we needed. We were only interrupted by the moments that I was digging deep and gasping for air.

We aren't exactly beach people, but after three hours of hiking through hilly sand, it felt wonderful to collapse on the beach and splash around in the cool water.

I soaked up every moment of sunshine, and achieved some closure to the summer. It's been a good season. I made new improvements in the horse show world, started grad school, and expended emotional energy toward peace and conflict resolution.

Now I'm ready. Bring on the chowder and football, rakes and hoodies. Bring on fall.

Maust Family Weekend 2013

I thought we had missed our opportunity to take in the pony races here in town. Thankfully, I was wrong. The pony races were the perfect start to our Maust Family Weekend on Friday night. Just like Grandpa would have done, we arrived early to get track side seats and ate pizza, watermelon, and popcorn off tailgates.

This tradition used to be referred to as the Maust Family Retreat. It was my grandparent's Christmas gift to all of us. But since my Grandpa became sick and passed away, the tradition is scaled down quite a bit. Nevertheless, the time spent with the family is wonderful.

Saturday began with a breakfast feast and some reminiscing. And it ended, like all good summer nights, with a campfire.  In between, the day was packed to the gills with sunshine and activities. The ladies hit the flea market, and the guys shot skeet, went fishing, and caused trouble at the gravel pit.

Later we joined together for activities. This was my arena, and it was about the time that I misplaced my camera. I devised a scavenger hunt and games to keep everyone moving. Cheeto head was probably the biggest hit. Although, my dad's "hillbilly horseshoes," played with toilet seats in lieu of horseshoes, was a close second.

(pic taken by a cousin?)

Planning family activities is not as easy as I thought it might be! Thankfully, most family members, (including Grandma!) are good sports.

Fourth Fun

It was a long weekend, full of wonderful things. From barbeque to pie, baseball to horse showing, this Independence Day was celebrated in all of the best ways.

We kicked it off with a family fish fry for my dad's birthday. He fried up the walleye from the latest Michigan fishing trip. After feasting on fresh walleye, no other fish seems very tasty. The company was equally lovely. We oohed and ahhed over my mom's flower patches and container garden.

I tell ya, she is brilliant. This is a garden that I might even be able to manage.

Next, we packed up the camper and horse trailer and headed to Kendallville for the Mid-states Team Tournament. I like this event because it turns horse showing into a team sport. I also like it because our team did very well!

The team in the grand entry!

We rounded off the weekend with a quick trip to Fort Wayne to meet up with dear friends for lunch and a Tin Caps game.

The great thing about baseball? The games are long and provide lots of time to chit chat. And that is just what these long distance friends needed.

Just in case you're wondering

towels don't float. They sink quickly. Like a rock. Don't bother diving in after it.

But a towel is a small price to pay for a sunny afternoon floating around the lake. There was also some time spent being jerked around the lake at high speeds on a large inner tube. It was exhilarating. And exhausting.

Our days are jam-packed, but we have to leave a little room for adventure to seep in.

There are dirty dishes in the sink and weeds overtaking the hostas. But we saw an opportunity, and we escaped to the lake where time slows down and to-do lists don't seem as significant.

We jumped in and held on tight!

Summer Adventure List 2013

No sense sleeping in this morning. The Amish neighbors around the corner are hosting church and the dogs must certainly bark at each buggy and bike that dare to traverse our stretch of road. In lieu of sleep, I'll dream of summer fun.

Summer took a step back this week. She threatened frost and raised the anxiety levels of every farmer in the area. But I'm confident she'll bounce back. I've got big ideas for the summer. In between horse shows that fill every weekend through August and graduate classes that begin in July, summer needs to have a drop of adventure and a dash of adrenaline.

I am quite slow to catch on to trends, but I've noticed here and there that paddleboarding is the new thing. I've got to try it, and the Lake House at Winona Lake offers paddleboard rentals. It's a tad expensive so I'll save up some fun money, but I think it will be worth it. I also plan on studying tips and techniques prior to renting the paddleboard so I can get the most out of the rental time.

The South Bend East Race offers white water rafting. Please stifle the laughter; Northern Indiana is not exactly a mecca for outdoor adventures, but we do what we can. A short, man-made stretch of rushing water is entertaining around here. I have never experienced white water rafting of any kind, but I hope to this summer. I'll think of it as preparation for future adventures in, say, Colorado.

One thing that Northern Indiana can boast is the dunes. On the shores of Lake Michigan, the dunes are giant hills of sand, formed by glaciers lots of years ago. The dunes are a perfect tool for soccer coaches to use to physically exhaust, and all but kill, their players.  As a result, the dunes used to invoke much dread within me. But I think I'm over that, and I'm ready to enjoy the beach, hiking trails, and nature that the dunes offers.

While growing up, I raced around the Deep River Waterpark almost every summer. From the stomach-in-throat feeling of the speed slides to the utter relaxation of the lazy river, I absolutely love it. It may be beyond our budget this year, but I'm hoping we can make it happen.

It's not a long list, but it's a good one. And I reckon it's going to be a great summer.

Lettuce and Failure

Lately, I've seen blog upon blog boast of how they can regrow romaine lettuce. We eat lots of the green stuff, and it seemed easy enough so I gave it a shot.

The green stub seemed to be off to a good start. A few new shoots quickly emerged from the middle of the heart. But weeks later, it's seemed to have stalled.

Yes, I do change the icky brown water every other day. Still, it doesn't seem to be growing. Plus, the outsides of the stem becomes brown and slimy. It gives me the willies each time I trim it off. I think I may be chucking the green stem out and chalking it up as a failure.

Failure is a sore spot for me. I imagine it is for most. Sure the lettuce may be a wash, but being cut from the high school basketball team? Now that reality still makes me shudder and quickly change the subject.  That pain is sticky and doesn't wash off easily.

This aversion to failure is why I have not divulged something that I have been up to for the last six months. Because if I don't talk about it and put myself out there, then only a few people will know if I fail.

Late last year, I began an annoyingly difficult application process for a Masters of Social Work program. In January, I drove to the unfamiliar campus and somehow successfully found the Social Work Department. I deposited my thick application with a smile and departed the building slowly, taking in the familiar sight of sleepy students pouring over books and typing away on laptops. I realized that I really wanted this. The nerd within me got all sorts of excited. 

But when you really want something, somehow failure seems even more evident, especially when all that is left to do is wait.

Before long, the letter came. Admittedly, it did sit in the mailbox for a few days. But on a Sunday morning, I read the letter hastily and picked up on one word: ACCEPTED. I was so excited, but my pursuit was not complete.

Working for the state does have a few benefits, including a program that will pay for employees to achieve an MSW. Now that I had been accepted into the MSW program, I completed an additional application process for the state funding that consisted of more essay writing and a strange interview at the government center in Indy. Only 20 employees are granted the funding each year so I tried not to get my hopes up. But given our current budget situation, I knew I needed to get the funding if I wanted to start classes this year or at all.

After waiting for too long, I received a short email. I had been granted 100% funding. A contract would be to follow.

I had achieved admission into the program and a full ride scholarship! But instead of excitement, I felt a strong wave of relief. I was relieved that I did not fail. The mysterious panel of professionals believed that I was capable and competent. And my self-worth was all wrapped up in their opinion.

It is quite apparent that this issue of failure is one that needs some meditation and exploration.

Nonetheless, classes start on July 1st, and I am full of the excitement and anxiety that accompany the start of something new!

Cheap Thrills

We're living thrifty these days. Every extra penny is being swallowed up by the black hole known as Sallie Mae. The entertainment column receives little, if any, attention on the budget spreadsheet.

Even the dogs are feeling the pinch. They don't get fancy chew toys or stuffed animals with squeakers. They don't seem to mind though. Spur loves his sticks, especially the ones that are twice his size.

And Bo? Bo is enthralled with what ever animal happens to be inhabiting the trees.

Unfortunately, Bo felt the need to let us know about every move that a particular squirrel made last night. Bo barks quite loudly, and when Bo barks, Spur thinks there's a reason to bark as well. Needless to say, Kb and I did not get much sleep. Not to worry, Bo, Kb, and Kb's .22 took care of that little problem this afternoon. Cheers to a better night's sleep and squirrel meat!

Just kidding, I have no intention of cooking the squirrel. Although...that would help with the grocery budget...


Last week, we got our taxes done at one of those big chain tax places. Never doing that again. First of all, I had some sticker shock. I wrongly assumed that a big chain would automatically be affordable. Silly me. But also, the lady who was entering our tax forms continually insisted that we should not pay off so much debt in one year, and she repeatedly informed us that it is to our advantage to pay off our student loans over time.

Now I could have used this as an opportunity to share about how the debtor is slave to the lender and we want to be able to give more and use our money to glorify God. But I didn't. Instead, I stared at my shoes, allowing the lady's criticism of our sacrifices to sink right in and make me feel stupid.

I understand that not everyone agrees with our perspective on money and debt. This was just the first time that someone was so vocal about it.

When I hopped in my car to leave the tax place, I tuned the radio to the Dave Ramsey show. I needed a little salve for my wounds and some encouragement to press on.

And press on, we do.  We have date night with a nice dinner at Applebee's (with a gift card). Then, we get ice cream at Culver's (with a coupon). We take a walk and simply enjoy each other's company.

And it really doesn't feel like a sacrifice.



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Ditching the Doldrums: How We Survived February

We made it! Hallelujah.

I had my doubts, but we overcame. It got real rough when, mid-month, my parents bailed. They traded the snow for the sand and flew off to Florida.

So what was our secret? We discovered a few...

Voracious games of ping-pong (in the creepy basement).

Before the snow flew, we hauled the ping pong table from the garage to the basement. It was real difficult until we realized that the table came apart...



Puppy kisses.

While it may not always be welcome, these guys can't bear to leave a cheek un-slobbered.


Sweets.

 It's no secret; I am a sucker for sweets. So when this bag of happiness appears in my front seat, I don't ask questions. Plus, the pretty pastels are a clear indication that spring, Easter, and sunny skies are on the way.


An adventure.

I need at least one adventure a month to retain sanity. This month, Kb and I took off to Culver Military Academy to take in a polo match. In all of my years of living in the horse world, I have never watched a polo match. Primarily, because it is out of my league. Even at this small event, European accents were overheard and ladies wore lavish fur coats. Nonetheless, the match inspired me to hop on a polo pony and hit that white ball with a mallet. After all, I love riding horses and playing soccer, and this is the perfect combination!


And we are on to March!

Dream a lil February Dream

January has back-flipped in to February, and I woke up this morning to a fresh layer of snow on the ground. Here in Indiana, February is the month that could push you over the edge and make you want to bury your head in the snow. Winter has simply gone on altogether too long.

All of this time hibernating lends itself well to dreaming. Dreaming of green grass and bare feet, horse shows and tan lines.

Kb and I are at this time in our lives where we don't have much holding us back. (Well, except for my work contract that ends in May.) Within reason, we could go anywhere and do anything. It's fun to let ourselves dream about our future together.

We've got some big dreams. They look a little like a big farm house in Tennessee or Oregon. We'd like to live in a place with a more temperate climate; a place where we could go kayaking, hiking in the mountains (or at least large hills), and go on other outdoor adventures more easily. This place would also have more opportunities for Kb to have a recreation occupation. And I'd have pastures full of horses.

Moving away from this area would be difficult; it's the only home that Kb and I have known. Well, I did do a short stint in the Southwest. After high school, I tore off to the wide open spaces of Texas, and I didn't look back... for a couple of months. Before long, I came limping home.

Striking out into the great unknown didn't work so well six years ago, but the dream didn't die. The next several years will be exciting. Who knows where we'll end up!

What do you dream of?

Spur

So, we got a dog and named him Spur. Blame it on my mom; she found him in the classifieds.

"8 month old, male blue heeler, neutered, free to good home."

We weren't exactly planning on getting a new dog on the coldest day in January, but I'd been keeping my eyes open for one. Bo is getting older, and I wanted our new dog to be able to learn a thing or two from him.

I almost turned back when I heard his beagle-like bark coming from the back of the house. But I couldn't just leave him there; he was cute and cuddly.

Kb says he is my Valentine's Day present.

Here begins another adventure!

The Nature Preserve Quest

I had another one of those days off yesterday. Three cheers for state employment! By the afternoon, I was ready for an adventure. I was searching for hiking trails in the county and I came across the Acres Land Trust Nature Preserves. I had no idea that such an organization existed, but lo and behold, there is a nature preserve a few miles from where I live!

In two minutes, Bo and I were on our way. I love that dog; he is always up for an adventure. We hiked the trails and stalked the fat squirrels. This particular nature preserve contains a circum-neutral bog. What ever that is, it's one of only fifteen in Indiana. I think I could tell when I was nearing the bog because I started sinking, and I felt the need to walk a little more quickly.

And I saw several papa cardinals.

When I was young, I remember anxiously looking out the kitchen window at Bertha's house staring at the bird feeders. All of the kids wanted to be the first to see the vibrant red of a male cardinal. When one was spotted, we'd yell, "Papa cardinal, papa cardinal!" And we'd tiptoe up to the window, daring to get closer and closer, hoping the beautiful bird would not get spooked and fly away.

 See him? Squint a little harder. Yep, that's the best I've got...

Still, whenever I see a male cardinal, I say in my head (or outloud!), "Papa cardinal, papa cardinal!"

There are 56 of these nature preserves. I have decided that I am going to visit each one. Along the way, I want to go back to my biology days and brush up on tree identification. It'd be fun to be able to identify birds as well, beyond the obvious breeds. For some reason, I feel as though that is good knowledge to have.

55 more to go!