a happy and heavy heart

Over the past several years, Mitch and I have had the sheer pleasure of meeting some truly wonderful people. With high spirits, happy hearts, and adventurous minds, they have come into our lives and impacted our world, our thoughts, and of course our memories. We have shared lots of laughs, food (good and bad!), heartfelt conversations, and adventures together. Why the heavy heart, then? Because is seems that forces of this Earth are constantly pushing us apart. I have left them scattered across the world, and they have left me just as I thought we were settling down. As sad as I am to see the miles between us grow, Mitch and I often talk about how fortunate we are to have such wonderful people in our lives - people who love life and who love to learn more about themselves and the world around them. Thank goodness for Skype!!

hammer and nails

For part of our wedding registry, Mitch and I requested Home Depot gift cards because we wanted to build a deck on the back of our house. Not having any experience in building decks (or building anything really), we for some reason thought that this would be a cinch. Or maybe I thought it would be, and Mitch secretly dreaded the idea! Well, we began receiving the gift cards in around March, and we did not break the soil under the future deck until August! That's how long we have put it off! - partly because it's too stinking hot to even take a breath outside, but mostly because we had no idea how to make a deck plan.

We have commenced the deck-building journey, and I now have a new appreciation for construction workers. We're hoping to be finished at least by the end of the month so that we can fully enjoy it as the weather cools down!