NEWS, Part 2: New DIGS (:

Today started like this:

breathe it in!

^ I love ... winter at my parents' house.
I also love getting to see my little [well, not so little, I suppose] Maine Coon fuzzball Kobi (:

kobi cat!

There is a season for everything, as it's said:

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time forpeace.
-Ecc 3:1-8

This has definitely been a year of many, many different seasons. The underlying themes have been a balance of challenges to overcome, accompanied by the grief and admittedly the stress that comes with it, and countered by the pure joy in realizing God's timing is never a millisecond too soon or too late in His answers - which, by the way are likewise never in anything but my best interest.

Rewind this year to May, when I completed the first phase of my transition back into Cincinnati. Becky became a saving grace to me, as I found myself living with her for nearly a month in between finding a place of my own. I lived off a small collection of my things and had a split life between her apartment and a storage unit. When I found the house I have now, I counted it a profoundly-timed answer to months of prayer. Sydni and I found a soft place to land, finally, in June of this year.

settling in

I cried the first night Sydni and I both slept in our little house; the first half of the year had been a roller coaster of anxiety, nerves, prayer, supportive friends & job transitioning as well, and somehow I managed to get us back to Ohio and back into a track of stability. We had a "new" place of our own, a new job and new starts on many other levels.

We have thoroughly enjoyed living in this little community, specifically our little dead end street neighborhood; it's teaming with small families and relatives who knit together to ensure it stays safe and that each other are provided for. I've been welcomed by many of them and while we've not necessarily grown close, it's absolutely been a massive encouragement, nonetheless. My closest friends are within a short drive of us, and Rob has had no problems finding us to visit.

And we started planning. Rob had intentions of moving here in July of next year, but an unexpected riff in his job security brought his employment to a premature halt, which accelerated the need for revised plans. My little house quickly became perfectly adequate to something of a primary element of consideration in weighing out our next steps.

With time not necessarily on our side, I was faced with the need for a new car & apparently a new house as well, within a very limited span of what I deemed ample time. I have never idolized or hungered for excess money, but time has always been something I value in the highest regard. You can't take it away once you've given it, and those you earnestly give it to usually don't thwart or dismiss it. In this case, we were faced with needs outweighing our financial limitations... or so it seemed. Time was ticking away loudly in my head, day and night. I set a deadline of December 31 to finalize vehicle plans. Those materialized from start to finish in about four days after nearly five months of searching; that was yesterday's celebrated blessing.

TODAY, I received the paperwork signifying a three-way commitment between a new landlord, Rob & myself that will begin in February. 

we... can't wait (:

February 1 will be the official date that we convene again as a unit. We have accepted and managed the task of a long-distance relationship since April, which has proven to me that I have never felt so dedicated and synced with a significant other, ever. I for the first time have felt appreciated for what and who I am and what I can give, not the measure of my professional success, size of my bank account or notariety of my friends' names. I am recognized as a competent individual playing a partnership role, not an employee or muted voice in joint decisions. I am held accountable by realistic standards, and trusted with transparency. I've never had that before... and now, finally, I will have him, the man who has catalzyed my distanced mind and heart, at my side to support, encourage and love me the way I will him. Like I said, time is the most important thing we can give in this world; it's also the most important thing we'll ever receive. We, along with our dogs & of course my incredible Sydni, will finally settle for the first leg of our time here in Ohio, alllll together.

*Squeal!!

More updates on the new digs as I have them.
I'm blessed, beyond measure & beyond what I deserve.
Amen!

xo | cmd

First World Village Problems & Things That Are Nikki's Fault

And by Village, I mean the Village of Fairfax, where I live.
And by problems, I mean this:

renovation time!

^ Anyone recognize that? If not, well, it's the Skyline on Wooster in Fairfax. I don't know how I didn't notice this yesterday, but apparently the thing is now closed facing renovation.. until mid-October. This doesn't phase me in a major way; it is after all a chili joint and I don't eat there often enough for it to bother me... but I do feel for all of my little village neighbors who I see pulling their distinct vehicles into that place 3+ times/weekly.  Womp womp...

The good news? I found a new book trilogy on which I'm quickly becoming obsessed.

I blame Nikki...haha.

divergent!

We were discussing books a couple of weeks back and I mentioned the fact that it's difficult for me to latch on to any series; I have a very limited window of interest that is either tamed or bored within the first 20 pages of the first installment. For this reason, coupled with the fact that I'm not into many of the bigger sci-fi franchises [Harry Potter, Twilight, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.], I've been sticking to non-series reads. Knowing I'm a fan of The Hunger Games, she suggested I try this out. I caved and bought it today.. and I haven't put it down yet. As much as I'm enjoying it though, it begs the question of why I'm so fascinated by novels revolving around steel-willed teenagers in apocolyptic landscapes...haha. Oh well. I'll have this finished by tomorrow.

So until thennnn.... g'nite (:

xo | cmd

2013 is Halfway Over?!

Firssssssssssst....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HILARY!!!

♥ you hillsy!

This girl.... haha. I love her and I hope she has a fantastic birthday. Hills, you've earned nothing but the best for your birthday and I hope you and little Julian [okay, so maybe he's not so little anymore] had an amazing time today. Say hello to another girl I've known since middle school, fought with like sisters in high school, and made up after that to get back to being friends (:


ouch. ouch. ouch. :(

And now we're all grown up. Happy birthday, beautiful friend! I promise I'll make it back to Mt.V and see you, soon soon soon.

As for me, well, this has been another day of rest and relaxation, and a few chores... and a bajillion mosquito bites. If I've learned anything around here, it's that this is a safe haven for those little critters and in the process of line-drying my laundry, they pulled a sneak ambush and got the best of me.

Mosquitos - 1. My poor legs - Zilch.

So.... that was fun...

I spent the rest of today tidying up the house, installing the rest of the shelves to the units in the living room, arranging all of my arts/crafts stuff into a manageable, searchable system, and just reveling in the beauty of the day. There was even a little visitor on my mailbox that I paused to photograph, since I don't see many of him around these days... 

hi!

Yep. A paced and relaxing yet productive Sunday. I even managed to squeeze in a short jog before the weather reared its mane for a thunderstorm. I'm settling in now on the couch with every intention on not lifting a finger for what's left of today. It's going to be a short week with a hectic weekend, so I'm absorbing this downtime while I can (:

See you tomorrow for the week!

xo | cmd

MOVED!!!!

I wasn't really sure this day would EVER come. Hah... it's HERE!

I am officially moved into the new digs. Words can't express how thankful I am for the help of Becky & Mike in transferring all my things from Eastgate to Fairfax. I took off early this morning while they were still at Market to move the smaller things like smaller furniture, boxes, and..... more boxes. Six trips later I had moved everything my little car could fit, and took to the beginnings of unpacking until they were ready.

We moved. And moved. And moved some more. Becky took a slew of pictures from the day, mostly of me crammed into unimagineably-small spaces during the process, but I think this one was my favorite, and pretty much sums up the day..


home!!

I am. HOME. It's such a weird feeling, even after just a month, to have a place of my own again and feel settled. My run of transient existence has come to an end, and while I will certainly miss seeing Becky every day [who really says that has to stop?], and thoroughly appreciate everything she and her roommates did for me while I was there, there's nothing quite like having your own space.

*Sigh. HOME.

We're all spent. This is the last night I'll be spending at Becky's for a while. Is it weird that I have mixed emotions about that? Haha. I think I'm just over-emotional about the whole experience right now. Oh well. I'm settled, and that's what counts.

Now..... for the unpacking.
I've got my work cut out for me... Whoa. Haha.

G'Nite.

xo | cmd

HOME STRETCH & Eli's BBQ

Guessssssss who won't be in a state of semi-homelessness!

Hint: ME. It's me.

 

I went yesterday with Becky to scope out a little number in Fairfax; thanks to TJ for the suggestion to check out that area! It's pint-sized, and there is some fabulous wallpaper in the hallway [teehee..], but it's exactly what I need for now and I definitely can't complain. ;) I went through the viewing and application process, and got a prompt call back today from the gal that she'd love to extend the property to me. SCORE.

.... and for now, i shall call you home (:

pretty trish! my new neighbor ;)

OH, and here's the part where knowing some folks in this town gets funny. I have a lovely friend Trish who lives in Fairfax; prior to heading there to view the house, I'd asked her the distance from Fairfax to a few places I'd need to frequent. She said overall it's a great area, so I was excited to let her know today that I got the house. She asked me where it was in Fairfax, and I told her...

... well.... see that other house to the right of this one, with the green-trimmed window? Well, she certainly does live in Fairfax, in THAT house. I'm dumbfounded.. haha. Small world, right?! Soo.. I'll already know my new neighbor, and Sydni will have little Gianna to play with when she's there. Everybody wins! (:

The edge of anticipation is finally starting to wear off; it's not completely gone, but I expect it to be once I'm sitting on my couch, in the privacy of my own space, with Sydni next to me, and again finding that routine we were used to before things got a little chaotic. All I can say really,

God is Good, ALL the time, & ALL the time, God is Good!   

I was about as relieved as could be when I got back to Becky's, and the night got sweeter when we decided we were doing dinner at Eli's. If you're going to be in Cincinnati and you're not from here, I demand you visit this place ;) And if you're in Cincy, like I am now, well... call me and we'll go together. Haha. DELICIOUS.


eli's with becky & mike .. yummmm | cincinnati, oh

And yes, it was a packed house, as always, both inside and outside.
So yes, we pitched a tarp and sat on the ground... well, the stage... but still (:
And no, we didn't care.

nom nom nom!

There's just something about food that has absolutely no graceful way to be eaten. It's a barbeque thing, and I love it.

*Yawn. Not. A. Bad. Day (:

xo | cmd

Smile. Life is Good.

Life is Good.

I feel like I haven't actually made that declaration lately, even though I absolutely know that it is. It's been stressful, but I can see the light at the end of the flux tunnel, and I'm bent on getting there.

 

I'm back now in a city that should feel more like home than it actually does [granted, I've only been back for a week now]. I'm away from a staff that was more of a family than a job, friends I love, and a boyfriend who is also my best friend and now my greatest source of long-distance moral support. Illinois is a chapter that is closed for now, and I'm back in Ohio where I will hopefully feel more at home very soon. All of that being said, I look at what I have - both here and there - and realize that my life is good. No no. It's GREAT.

 

My baby girl, my little mini-me, the pint-sized whirlwind that defines my every move: She is healthy, happy, loved by both myself and her dad, even separately. She's smart, kind and discovering her way in this world. I'm back here for her, for the moments like these that I will hold onto forever. I'm here because I'm a mother and there is nothing in this world stronger than the bond between a mother and her child. Nothing. You know that smile - the one that starts in your gut, tingles up your spine, gives you goosebumps and makes your ears tingle before it lights up your entire face? That's the one I get from her, even thinking about the time I'll now have again with my daughter, my carbon copy, my pride and joy. I found these from a mini-shoot we did snuggled in bed one morning a few months back....

♥ this little girl... the best thing that's ever happened to me. ever.

I've been doing better, too, about not falling apart over the people I left back in Illinois, specifically my close friends and of course, Rob. I've said it before but I'll say it one more time for the sake of repetition: I really haven't ever been so in-sync with someone. I'm comfortable with him on a level that I never had, with anyone. I trust him, not only where fidelity could be questioned, but I honestly trust him... with my emotions, with my time, and with my deepest thoughts, goals and fears. We were friends - just friends - long before anything more than that, and I know that no matter what happens now that I'm here and he's there - our friendship wasn't skin-deep, and it won't ever go away. There's no real way to accurately show him how much I appreciate him, but I'll try until he gets it ;)

simple things that make me smile ♥

I wouldn't be sane, grounded or lifted if it weren't for some of my friends, either. Yes, there's a handful of other people [family, other friends] who deserve accolades where support is concerned, but today, I'm specifically grateful for four very different but truly incredible women, who have been there for me when I needed it the most and probably wanted it the least. ;) Through everything that has transpired in the last two years, I never doubted - not even once - that these women would be there at the drop of a dime for anything from a weekend refuge to just a shoulder or an ear. They didn't question or judge, but made sure I knew I had a soft place to land when chaos set in. I am indebted to each of them, in different but equal ways. Thank you. You don't know how grateful I am for you. From Arizona [Kalyn] to Illinois [Ali] and back here in Cincinnati [Becky & Catie], I love you, friends and I appreciate you!!

kalyn. becky. ali. catie.
every girl deserves to have friends like these.

And on a continous note, the housing search continued this evening, with a trip out to Mariemont/Fairfax with Becky to scout out a property [CList, Zillow & Realtor.com have gotten a workout these past few weeks!]. I'm very happy to report that I feel hopeful about this. Whether or not this materializes into the one, I think I like it and it went well with the landlord, so I was left feeling refreshed, after the last few weeks of dry leads. If I do end up moving, I'll show you a picture then ;)

After the viewing, it was off to Eastgate, where I picked up a steal I'd found on the ever-reliable Craigslist = new tent! My philosophy is that you can't really ever have too many tents, especially when it's a 4-person and you paid $30 for it. WINNING (: 

iiiiit's camping time! (:

Since we were already in the Eastgate area, I took Becky for her first visit at the Main Street Cafe in Newtown. Three words: Sweet Potato Fries. Oh, and two more accompanying words: Calypso Sauce. You know exactly what I mean if you've ever been there. Newtown itself is a cute little area, which reminded me that somewhere nestled in it, is a local retailer that sells spoon rings and other various knick knacks. I made a note to myself to find it again and make a visit. In due time.....

Meanwhile, outside Mainstreet Cafe there was a very worn entrance into a wooded area, which we couldn't help but explore. I'd gone straight from work to run all of these errands, so I was still fully disguised as the business-casual version of myself as we embarked on a mini-hike through some foliage. We found everything from a run-down metal storage shed alone in a clearing to a 4-hours cul-de-sac on the other side of the trails. Nothing spectacular, but fun for some curious people like us.

yep!

From there, we finally made our way back to Northside and settled in for the night. We started looking into some ideas for camping this weekend; it's a long weekend and supposedly going to be beautiful. I'm pretty excited, so we'll see what turns up. For now... it's past my bedtime (:

xo | cmd