a visit from friends

last week one of my oldest, dearest friends came to stay with her husband, little boy and pregnant belly;). it had been almost four years (their wedding) since i'd seen her in person, but it felt like no time at all had passed. i think that's always true of the friends you are most comfortable and at home with. it also helps that we text almost daily, so there isn't a period of "catching up" on what our respective lives are like right now. i love modern technology for that reason alone, because most of my closest friends are at least states away, not to mention time zones. there was actually one point when three of my closest friends all lived in different countries! i also think it's interesting that most of the friends i have kept closest to are the oldest ones. friends i made in infancy, almost. and now we are all flung around the world and country. but it can almost (almost) feel like we are together every day, when we are constantly texting stories and photos to each other. weird and wonderful. to me it's like having real sisters, and i cherish it so much.

but anyways, finally being able to sit across the table and drink a cup of coffee (and munch a donut, that's important!;) while we watch our littles roll over each other on the floor, was sooo good. there was a lot of kid refereeing, a lot of making/serving/cleaning up food (per usual), a lot of coffee drinking, a lot of talking. one day we took the kids outside in the yard, and evie promptly jumped into the (never-before-seen-to-her) garden, naturally. and naturally i took a bunch of pictures before taking her out (don't tell j;). the boys ran around and played with sticks and chalk and the dog, being regular kids. it was w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l. and i am so thankful that they made the trip to see us.

but i think what i value the most from this visit is a realization i had of how much i learn from my friends. have learned and am still learning. i think that from my parents i learned how to be. and from my friends, especially the friends i have now, i am learning how i want to be. is that strange to say? i am always impressed with them, so much. and i don't know if they realize it (probably not). this isn't to heap flattery on anyone or compliment anyone (don't go getting big heads guys!;). it's just a realization i had of how much i have to learn from these dear ones close to me.

what i mean to say is that i am so thankful to have companions whom i admire and love and look up to. i count myself so blessed. thank you friends for showing me how to love. how to accept. how to be gracious and kind. how to take care of people. how to be selfless and loving. i think it's fair to say that what i am seeing in you is actually God Himself, shining in you. so, thank you for showing me who i want to be. thank you for bringing God to me.

and now for the photos:)

got mail (and flowers!)

today i woke up and felt a little lost, a little adrift, or maybe weighed down. but i got up, put one foot in front of the other, looked for something to do, decided to take lars out, and there on my front doorstep, i found this:

...the most beautiful calla lilies. i cannot even begin to explain how much it cherished me, how loved and taken care of, how happy i felt (still feel). and then later, another friend called. and it somehow all boggles my mind to know this kind of care. for me. i'm humbled by and wrapped up in love right now. by the most wonderful, bestest of friends.

thank you and big x's and o's.




p.s. and now you know that if you send me flowers i will make a very public declaration of my love for you. you've been warned ;)

saturday on the town

some pics from another wonderful day

exploring austin. 

we introduced my brother and johnny to whole

foods breakfast tacos and jo's on congress, neither

of which he'd had before. unbelievable as that is.

it got a little chilly so i spent most of today, 

visiting old austin haunts like the flagship

whole foods on lamar, jo's on congress, 

home slice, quack's, drinking coffee and

having good conversations.

the wonderful men in my life: my little bro, merrill, and besthusbandever

matrimony

jm & a are married! 

it's too much to try to encapsulate the last 15 hours

into one succinct post. give me some time and i'm sure 

i'll be showing you tons of photos from the wedding 

today and the rehearsal dinner last night. 

we've had such a blast. but also, needing to sleep. 

so here is another little preview of our day, 

celebrating love and marriage 

between two of our dearest friends.

backyard feast

thanksgiving/rehearsal dinner

for JM & A

in dori's enchantingly decorated backyard, 

with a huge thanksgiving spread and 

many dear, much missed faces. 

wonderful. 

it's late and there's a wedding tomorrow, 

so here's just a few pictures for now: 

the feast.

the man of the hour (and wife-to-be).

the birthday that keeps coming!

 

 this is definitely one of the most thoughtful gifts ever, 

from my dear Chelsea, who read my post about bouquets

of black pilot pens, and got them as a birthday gift.

you are the sweetest and you made my day, Chelsea!

weekend in atl:

in which there was lots of alon's 

(i know, typical:), lars getting to meet

(and lick) lots of new people, a brief lunch in

Decatur, really good weather, lunch outside at

parq, which is almost exactly like the pizza

restaurant that used to be there (is it the same 

with a new name?), where we enjoyed yummy

food, and relaxing to the max. sometimes

that's the best thing to do when you're on 

vacation. i can't believe i have to go to 

japan to see her next ... i think i can 

handle that ;) 

love you, wimberly. 

thanks for visiting and hanging out

with us all weekend!

eat lots of yummy sushi for me in japan!

p.s. sad i have no final pictures of just the two of us...

come back so i can take some! :)

leon's full service in decatur

day out with kimberly.

of course we had breakfast at Alon's first,

but then we also got to try out this restaurant

in decatur that i've been wanting to visit. it

was so super cute. not enough vegetarian

options, sadly, but my salad was good,

and the company was the best and that's

what matters. 

:)

first week of fall quarter

please forgive me for not having a very 

interesting post or pictures to share tonight, 

it's been a long day - everyday this week has

been so full - but i am happy to say i had a really

great first week at Atlanta magazine,

where i'm doing an editorial internship this

fall.  i think i'm going to like it a lot there.

also, an old friend came in to town tonight from

japan, her new stomping grounds, so

i'm sure i'll be sharing lots of pictures with you

as we have a(nother) fabulous weekend here in the atl.

yes, i'm starting the weekend early. that's what you 

do when you have important out-of-town visitors :)

le bastille

happy bastille day!

when i lived in Paris, my roommates and i lived in the 11th arrondisement.

if you know it, then you know that is where the bastille is. 

i walked by it everyday on my way to class, marveling

at its grandiosity. its history. its existence.

that one was one of the best years of my life. 

i lived with the best bunch of girls, and i don't even care that we were

all american and so, teaching each other atrocious franglais, except

for Carly, she was already merveilleux:) 

Here we are in our "maison" circa 2003:

All 7 of us, including Nathalie and Heidi.

Me, Anna, Maggie, Lindsey and Carly at x-mas party.

The night before I left :(

Our table.

Carly, Maggie, Anna, Lindsey — I haven't seen any of you in ages, and

only rarely do I write (i'm sorry!), but I love you all SO much. You were 

the bestest friends a girl could ask for, and I will always remember our

times in Paris with the best, best memories. 

You will always be mes filles.

Vous me manquez, plus que vous savez.