Cherry blossoms everywhere!

 

This is the park by my house. Since DC is a whopping 20 degrees hotter than average this week, the cherry blossoms finally decided to bloom! O! the whole city looks like it's covered in pink popcorn!

What to do on a dreary Easter

 

It was a rather dreary day on Capitol Hill for Easter. I had been holding out hope that the weather on Easter Sunday would be similar to the gorgeous, sunny day we had on Saturday. Oh my gosh, Saturday afternoon was to die for. Alas, Sunday did not deliver proper weather for enjoying the Great Outdoors. Instead, food seemed to be the underlying theme of the day. The best part was Skyping in the evening with my family in Wyoming.  I got to watch my brother hunt for eggs-- a competition I historically dominate, see my sister's new Easter "basket"-- a pretty handbag for summer!, and chat with my mom-- always too much to catch up on.  I also watched "Trouble with the Curve". Have you seen it? I loved it. Hope you had a very happy Easter, too. 

Love always, E.

Easter Eggs?

Look longingly outside at least once every hour to see if it's sunny and warm yet.

I successfully made Dutch Babies!

journal entry, mostly

When I was in Germany, I often felt as though I'd lost my footing.  It was like walking on a gravel path in thin shoes-- I could feel every small shift and bump along the way.  There were days that I didn't want to open the shades on my window, put on the thin shoes, and continue on down that path.  There were also the exquisite days where I seemed to be floating. I'd look around and think, "How did I get here?! Here I am, learning, living, and progressing in another country."  Visiting vineyards with friends and putting my face toward the sun, or watching the sunlight beat on my glass of wine, sitting around a table in an impossibly adorable town square.  Commuting over the Rhine River each day as the sun came up.  Stumbling upon adventures and new friends over the course of the year.

Since returning to America, I've often felt like I'm in recovery mode. It took me longer to find my rhythm than I anticipated.  I don't enjoy feeling disheveled or having to search for my confidence that once ran through me so deeply.  I can see all of the areas of my life I'd like to continue to improve, or to bring back up to standard, and while I'm at least now settled back into DC, I somehow haven't kept in touch with some of the people and things that mean the most to me.

I took myself out to coffee on Saturday afternoon along with a notebook and a pen. I sat down to write about my goals, my values, and the steps I can take to ensure that I am always moving in a positive direction and hopefully using what God has blessed me with to do good in this world.  And then on Saturday night, Jenny and I went to a birthday party, and I found myself listening to country music, having good conversation, and smiling from genuine happiness. I never thought I'd say it, but country music sets me right.  Something just clicked in my head, and today suddenly I am awake.  Part of what I'd lost in myself has been restored, and I remembered that it's not all about me. It's about caring about people, appreciating everyone for the weirdos we all are. 

So to my family, to my dear friends, to the people I will cross paths with: I will do better to treat you as part of myself, to focus on you, to do the best I can for you. 

Love always.

Eric Church: Hell On The Heart from Adam Hall on Vimeo.

My Mutti-lein

Today is my mom's birthday!

Kaffee und Kuchen :)  We can pretend we're back on the Rhine!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

She is an angel here on Earth. She can make any place home, just simply by being there. She can probably beat you in cribbage, and if she's lucky she can beat me in cribbage. She can make the most delightful buttered noodles you'll ever eat. She is the world's best at snail mail, and her cards always seem to find you exactly when you need them. She has a beautiful spirit and unmatched patience. She had a life before having us kids (what?!), and her stories are worth listening to. She has a sense of adventure and a genuine interest in people. She has talked in her sleep at least one time, and it was so funny I thought my gut would burst. 
She is generous. She is creative. She is loving. She is loved.