Friday the 13th...

Gooood old Friday the 13th.

Well, there was nothing specifically eerie or out of the ordinary about today, unless you want to count a 10:20pm game of soccer at Soccer City. No? Ok, well good, because I didn't think that was weird, either.

So there was work: The typical Friday shakedown of wrap up and preparation for next week.
Then there was me, at home alone with a few free hours and Netflix at my disposal. I scanned through and landed on The Family, which I watched in its entirety I think mainly because I'm fascinated with Dianna Agron. I... I don't know.

the family 

Rob eventually made it home for a late dinner, and finally our drive out to Soccer City for the late 10:20 game. We walked away with a 1 point loss :(, but I'm confident we'll track back next time.

TOMORROW... we're off to Indy for Supercross!

It's gonna be a great weekend... here we go! :)

xo | cmd 

Stop For A Minute... And Just.. Look.

Because when you stop and look around,
this life is pretty amazing. 

- Anon.

Today I am grateful for the eyes that saw this sunrise this morning. 

I am thankful for the ears that heard not only the sounds of the city, but the sound of the breeze. 

I am thankful for the nose that smelled the morning lifting off the ground when I walked outside. 

I am thankful for the sensation in my body - the chill of
morning air and the warmth of sun on my face.

I am thankful for a heart dedicated to God, who created this beautiful picture for us all to see. 

I am thankful. I am whole.

Happy Thursday ♥

xo | cmd 

Wednesday Is Gear Day...

The best part about ordering things online is undoubtedly the day that you get them. It's even better when what you ordered is exactly what you wanted, the shippers got the order right, and even when you've guesstimated {<really? No autocorrect? Guesstimated is a word?..Huh...} the sizing of something, it turns out to be just right.

Today was a day of receiving many of the things I've recently ordered; things I've needed for a while now, but have pushed off until there was really a need to get them. That need of course: Panama.

timex :) 

So my WATCH is here! I was iffy about getting a white one, since I've traditionally always gone with black, or gray... or.... black or gray.. for those types of things.

I rendezvoused at REI [& didn't buy everything I saw!] with Becky after work for a quick browse through some of the smaller stuff I was going to need: a bowl, plastic ware and miscellaneous small things.

$15 say what? have we gone mad? 

^ Oh, and just a sidenote, NO.. I did not buy that bowl. I'm going into a mountain for like, 4 days. I don't need a $15 bowl. I found and purchased 2 non-flexy plastic bowls and two plastic sporks for under $7. There is no reason to buy one of these for what I need now. Just.. sayin'. Just because it's at REI does not mean you should pay REI prices, folks. REI, I still love you, but c'mon.... :)

We tested out  a two-person tent..

^ We vote sleeping pads if you're planning to sleep on the floor of a store.. haha :)

We finished there and headed out to the cars, where Becky surprised me with THIS!

sawyer!!

^YIIIEEE! Those little guys are lifesavers in filtration. Small & compact, easy to use and super effective when done correctly. It of course was on the list of things to get for not just Panama, but for other ventures into the woods that are starting to dot my Summer calendar already. THANK YOU, BECKY!!

After REI, we met up with Rob for dinner at El Rancho, and then parted ways before the winter storm that's been looming over us started to settle.

haha, love her.

At home, the socks I'd ordered were waiting. They're among the pricier things I've done so far, and honestly I probably didn't need to binge on them, but again, I was trying to think big picture and not have to do this later. Kinda solid logic, right? :/

I'm checking things off this Panama list like mad here lately. It's all coming together, and although my bank account is raising its eyebrow at me, I'm preparing for long-term things, too. I still need a new hammock and tent, but those are things that aren't necessary for Panama, so I suppose they'll wait. :)

I'm overwhelmed by the amount of support I [and we, my team!] have received over the last several months for this trip; Please, please, please continue to be in prayer for us! We're within a couple weeks of departure, and would greatly appreciate it!

xo | cmd

In My Sleeeeeeeeping... Bag!

GUYS. IT'S HERE.

yiiiieeee!!! :D

I desperately needed a new compression mummy bag, and today it arrived. I had planned on purchasing this on my own, but Lord knows they're a pretty penny. With this trip fast approaching, I knew I needed to revamp my gear, and this was one of the bigger ticket items on the list.

ROB, thank you to the moon & back for surprising me with this. It's amazing, and I hope you know how much I appreciate this gift! ♥

we're about to be pretty good friends..... 

I am one step closer to Panama... and might just sleep inside this thing tonight.. haha ;)

xo | cmd

Glass Is BACK!

We forgot to pick these up over the weekend, so on a short break today I ran down to Brazee Street Studios and picked up THESE!

I love them! I'm not entirely sure what purpose mine is going to serve, but it's still pretty, and I think it's pretty cool how this is done. Regardless of where these little projects end up, I am sure that we'll have plenty of future arts & crafts expeditions!

In other notes, I found this on my TimeHop today, and really, it was just too good not to share. I can't believe it's already been 1 year! Mare, I miss & love you, friend.. and I'll see you SOON! 

Have a beautiful week, blogbots!

xo | cmd

El Domingo Perfecto

Today was in fact.. perfect.

The morning started out with church - more specifically, the chance for my Panama team and I to finally get our group photo. I picked a great day to wear no makeup [woops], but c'mon.. I won't be wearing it while I'm in Panama, so I suppose it's fitting.

Oh, oh, oh - before I get into that, I have to thank Sydni's Mamaw Carolyn [aka, Rob's mom] for the getup she sported out for the morning:

love this girly

Folks, here are the four incredible folks with whom I'll be travelling in just a few short weeks when we embark south to Panama City, then into the Ngobe villages.

chris. cori. quinn. marissa. aaron

These four are truly incredible people, and I'm excited to partner with each of them into the mountains of Panama. I'm asking that you please, please continue praying for us as we prepare to go - this is going to be a challenge for us in all capacities, but we are willing to go where we are lead. Amen? Amen!

Inside SonRise, we tackled the next chapter of our Transformed series, and Sydni - across the building, created another masterpiece for her wall of creative fame here at the house: 

adult services | kid services! 

Love, love, love. 

After church, we took a quick stop for Rob to get his hair cut. Syd took advantage of the empty driver's seat while he was inside, on the condition that she would grow up to be a Subie girl like her mama ;) 

subie syd .. in the making ;) 

It was a toss up after some errands on lunch plans, but after we dropped by the house and changed, it was easy to get a unanimous vote of somewhere with access to the gorgeous day ahead of us. 

Welp, Eli's it was! 

beautiful day for eli's! 

in love. 

gosh... these two! xoxo

We caught a small glimpse of the damage that's been done as a result of all our snow melting. We've been lucky to be spared from most of the flash flooding here in Cincinnati, but the rivers and any low-lying areas aren't so lucky..

yes, that's an outhouse. just the top .. of an outhouse... 

As we think should be the case, our Sunday was as laid back for us as they come: Rob took to the garage to engage himself in the dis-assembly of the Harley [womp womp], I tracked down and ordered a few of the last minute things I'll need for Panama, and Sydni? Well...

she's just... amazing. 

And there was also this:

this girl.... 

We finished it up with some pizza, because it's Sunday and the rest of the week will be dedicated to working out and eating clean again [so don't judge.. haha].

What a beautiful day it was, indeed. I'm one happy mama!

xo | cmd

Sweet, Sweet Saturday

There's nothing better to me than waking up surrounded by my favorite creatures - human and furry ;). Saturdays are usually a prime time for that to happen, and today was as perfect example: 

reading to her animals ♥

Sydni woke up early, as the sun was beaming through the blinds. I was still somehow asleep, even after she'd toted in half her stuffed animal collection and a few books. I came to and heard her little teacher's voice, "reading" to her stuffed animals that were sandwiched between all of us in the bed. I immediately remembered my mom telling me how I used to memorize books. Be still my heart.. this little girl ♥.

The dogs had a rough morning, also....

sasha.. fading into bliss ♥

these two. haha..

we call this... sashavasana.. ommmm
#namaste #savasana

Once the day finally started moving, it didn't stop until there wasn't any daylight left in sight.

We took the Subie down to the shop to give her a full body makeover. Naturally, Sydni had first go at the mission when we got there...

Weekends around here can certainly get crazy. It's days like today that I'm especially thankful for the fact that we can hustle around and get things done, yet at the end of that breath can reconvene in our home to refocus on what's most important: family.

I am in love with my two humans: Rob & Sydni. It's been a long time since I've had to dismiss that creeping sensation of loneliness on a beautiful Saturday. Between Sydni making our plans, or our ability in her weekends away to find the joy in spontaneity, I have a very imperfect but beautiful, beautiful thing going. I wonder often what I did to deserve this kind of blessing from the universe, but it renews my belief every day that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me in spite of my inadequacies. These two in my life remind me constantly that I am loved, and that I have love to give. It sounds crazy, but I've been in that dark place where I wasn't sure if I was lovable or capable of loving again. It turns out that I'm both... and I have these two to thank for that.

Sweet, Sweet, SWEET Saturday. 

xo | cmd