In a Good Way

Andrew started classes this past week. It was a little sobering...Monday morning I kissed him goodbye, closed the door behind him, and took a deep breath. The beginning of the next four years. The phase of life where he'll be gone most of the time, and when he's home, he'll usually be in his office studying. Nights of putting Asher to bed and then watching a movie and cuddling together may not be extinct, but they're definitely an endangered species.

Reality has set in, but in a good way. Less time together is par for the course, and only temporary, after all. The knowlege that this is exactly where we need to be and what we need to be doing provides amazing peace and reassurance.

SO! I have decided to make good use of these hours alone. I will find solace in solitude. I will read more, write more, work more. I will learn new things, get more done and focus on becoming a better Christian, wife and mother. This temporary shift will be a great blessing.

With daddy gone most of the time, Asher and I are finding new things to do. We like to venture out at least once a day. We were so excited to discover a paved nature trail that winds through the woods, around a field, and connects with a secret path leading to duck ponds. JACK. POT.

We love to bring old bread and feed the "dutties," and listen to them "cack." The first time we went, there were 6 lovely ducks. The last time we went, there were at least 60 - all swarming around, eager to be fed. I guess word gets out.

Asher was exultant. Seeing your child dance around with giddy delight is one of life's greatest pleasures.

The only pictures I took were with my phone, so I'll post some of the ones Ali took last month. In a brief fifteen minutes, she was able to capture tons of great Asher/family pics. She is now practicing in the Chicago area, and I can't wait to see more of her work. Here are some of our favorite "pond session pics."

Isn't life beautiful?

The New World

Columbus discovered the Americas, and now we're discovering Columbus.

Ohio, anyway. We have been looking forward to living here with nervous anticipation since last December, and let me tell you - the place does not disappoint! This city is filled with friendly people and LOTS to do! I have been amazed by its shopping, restaurants, museums, festivals, athletic events, etc. I am staying home with Asher, so am most interested in the local parks, libraries, renown Columbus Zoo, and COSI science center. I see fun in our future.

We've been here 8 days, and have already met some wonderful people. Last Saturday, we took a trip to Lynd's Farm to pick apples with our friends the Bastians. They have an adorable little boy around Asher's age, and it is so cute to hear them talk and see them run around together.

If you've never gone apple picking, you should go! It was our first time, and this particular orchard lets you eat as many as you like while you're out picking. We loved walking liesurely through the grove, looking for the best apples and eating some along the way. You know, it's true - nothing beats fresh.

Our friend Noelle just happens to be a great photographer, and she snapped a few shots for us. Thank you! Try not to miss the blurry, low-resolution pics I usually post.

We love our new world!

P.S. Andrew just read this and wanted to make sure you knew Columbus didn't actually discover the Americas. Glad we cleared that up. :)

The Cradle of Our Love and Then Some

Bowling Green, Kentucky has a very special place in our hearts. It's there Andrew and I met at the WKU Student Center on August 24th, 2004. We smiled, shook hands and found each other highly attractive. Could it be love? Well, it didn't matter, because we wouldn't see each other again for 2 years.

Sounds dramatic, but it wasn't. He served as a missionary in Brazil and I dated other people. Then - when that pretty face popped back up in the fall of 2006, complete with culture, intellect, and a brand new Nissan Sentra, I naturally took notice. Like any woman with a hidden agenda, I studied my mark and got to scheming.

First, I developed a sudden fascination with Brazil and the Portuguese language. Second, ...well, no - actually, that first step was all it took for Andrew, who caught the scent and charged full speed ahead. Sucker. He handwrote pages of linguistic instruction for me, and suggested we meet as soon as possible to review them. I agreed this was indeed an urgent matter.

I'll never forget the blustery October night we met in front of Grise Hall midway between my dorm room and his apartment. It was cold, but we both ignored icy noses and numbing fingers to fan the flame of conversation. We stayed out for nearly two hours talking about absolutely everything. Everything but Portuguese.

We dated for the next year and a half, and Bowling Green was always our backdrop. It's a little city, but it manages to hold nearly all the memories of our courtship. Those early days play out in my mind like a movie montage: the corn maze, walks on the square, studying at the library until it closed, going to see shows, love notes and wild violets, countless a capella performances, eating Subway five times a week, FHE's, snuggly clothes and movie nights. When we were together it always felt like home.

Our first Christmas together. Just a couple of crazy kids.

A couple of weeks ago, we  had the opportunity to make a trip to old BG to visit some close family and friends. Andrew and I got all starry-eyed and sentimental. But enough of this gooey sh...ow of emotion. (Anyone? Anyone?) Here's what we did:

First we went to Uncle Robert and Aunt Amy's to christen their new patio and pool. When we were in school, it was always nice to know we had family close. Their new additions are to die for! We grilled out, swam in their salt water pool, and Asher continued his love affair with the water. Since Florida, any time he catches sight of so much as an over sized towel, he shouts "Pooah!"  expectantly, as if I can produce one on the spot.

This picture is going to torture me in Columbus this winter. It's torturing me now.

After getting our fill of too-good food, and lustfully touring their too-nice house, we headed to Morgan and Eric Watson's for a long-awaited visit.

Here's more background: Morgan was my college roommate and is one of my closest friends. Back then, we were Morgan White and Sarah White, the non-sister friends who both wanted to be broadcast journalists. I start thinking about our time as undergrads and another montage begins to play: flashbacks of meeting as freshmen, dinners at DUC, soft serve and sprinkles, spring break road trips, heart-to-hearts, workouts at Preston, papers, parking spots, hospital visits, weekends in Lexington, boys, graduation, and weddings. It has been such a beautiful mix of tears and triumphs, and I just love her. I love her because when we're together, we laugh constantly. I love her because she's genuinely kind, compassionate, gracious and giving. I love her because she's the type of friend who knows all your faults and somehow loves you anyway.

Andrew and I married in June of 2008, and Morgan and Eric wed that October. They welcomed their son Eli the following August, and Asher was born 5 months later in January. Just like that, we were grown ups.

What a difference three years can make!

I am so incredibly grateful to know true friendship and love. Thank you Bowling Green for introducing me to some of the sweetest parts of my life! We'll always remember you and smile.

Roughin It

This year, the Annual Steele Family Camp Out was held at Susie and Clyde's near Ft. Knox, KY and everyone had a great time. I'll tell ya, I really think a good basic recipe for a close family calls for heaping amounts of love and humor, and these people have it going on! They are all so kind, loving, fun and hilarious that you secretly just want to hang out with them all the time. Here are some shots from the weekend:

Setting up for some rugged poolside camping. Don't tell Baer Grylls.

Aubrey and Asher learning the ways of the goatee

Babies everywhere!

Euphoria! Something with wheels to ride!

Gathering around for the big presentation

I may as well confess that I not only slept inside on a comfortable bed, but that I took a nice shower as well. I know there's no honor in that, but you just can't beat the great indoors after spending a hot humid day outside. Swimming. Eh, okay, so I'm pretty pitiful. But at least now you know the truth. Andrew and Joey nobly spent the night in a tent together and slept miserably...yet managed to remain happy campers. Here they are the next day with Asher and Kim, still lookin good.

Four of my very favorite people

Since the campout, we have made a trip to Shelbyville for Shepherd and Evie's blessings (Andrew's Cousin's children), as well as traveled to Columbus one final time to finish unpacking and working on our place before we're there full-time September 10th. You all, we love it so much. It's not a huge place, but it's perfect for us, and we've worked so hard on it that we've become slightly obsessed. I think we'll post a video sometime soon. Anyway, thanks for reading!   We'll be in touch.

Pack, Unpack, Repeat

And now to blog about something that won't embarrass my spouse. "General happenings" sounds innocuous enough. Here's a little update:

This summer we have traveled around like crazy people. Since coming to Central City in late April, we have driven to and from Louisville 5 times, usually to stay for the weekend. It's like we never left! We drove to Florida in June, and then really started trippin' in July. Yes, trippin.

On July 1st, we took a trip to Columbus where we spent 3 days cleaning and painting our new condo. With a lot of help from some wonderful family members, we were able to paint the kitchen, dining and living areas, basement, upstairs bathroom, all three bedrooms, STAIRCASE and TRIM (those were big, big jobs), leaving only the downstairs bathroom to complete. It was a lot of work, but when we were done, it felt so good! Sometimes I think our cushy lives cheat us of satisfaction and character building by not offering enough hard work...but that's neither here nor there. Our new place looks so much better and we can't wait to live there. Pictures to come.

A few days later, we drove to Louisville from whence I departed for Oklahoma with my sister Susanna who was moving there. We rented a van, loaded all her things and started out on the 12-hour drive. We left Thursday morning and I returned Saturday night, so I spent Friday seeing my mother, grandparents, aunt and uncle. We celebrated my birthday in Enid, then I took a trip (trip within a trip, Inception style) to my grandparent's farm in Omega.

Pulling into their driveway and looking out into the pasture where we always played as kids brought back a flood of memories. That's the special thing about a grandparent's house - they change so little, the sights and smells can snap you right back to childhood as if you'd never left. At any rate, I had a hard time saying goodbye that night, but needed to get home to my own little family in Kentucky.

Another 12-hour drive and I was back to Louisville Saturday night. SO good to see my guys! The three of us drove home to Central City Sunday evening, where we started the unpack, do laundry, re-pack routine.   Thursday morning we set off for Atlanta with Andrew's entire family. We had planned this trip months prior in order to attend the temple there (where Andrew's family was sealed), see some sights, shop and spend time together. It was a lot of fun!

The women and children ended up at the mall a couple times while the men went to eat HUGE meals at the Vortex (as seen on Man vs. Food) and a really good Brazilian Churascaria ($20 for an all-you-can-eat lunch of meat, meat, and more meat). Being on my own with crazy Asher made me resort to gimmicks like 75-cent mechanical toy rides and renting a stroller shaped like a car.

Asher and Aubrey riding the ice cream truck

What a little stinker

Fun at the pool

Spl-Asher

We were home Sunday night, and while performing the unpack, laundry, re-pack routine, had a few days to simmer in a bubbling pot of anxiety before our big move to Columbus last weekend. Yes, we (and by we, I really mean me; Andrew acted like a total pro) were nervous about how everything would work out, but in the end, the weekend went very smoothly. This, of course, was thanks to the help of others and the grace of God. We had so many wonderful men turn out on very hot days to help us load and unload, and my in-laws came and worked like dogs to help unpack and set up. In the end, it was unbelievable how much progress we made on the place! Here are a few before and after pics from our main floor:

Before:

After:

The tiny kitchen before:

And after:

We'll post more when we have time. Right now, I need to go start packing for our next excursion: the 3rd Annual Steele Family Campout. Tomorrow we'll be meeting Andrew's extended family up in the Ft. Knox area for a weekend of rugged outdoor fun. Just kidding, this year there's a pool and an indoor sleeping option, so it won't be as hardcore. At any rate, we're really looking forward to seeing everyone!

I'll level with you, though. As much fun as this summer has been, we're getting tired of trippin. Being settled will feel like heaven! We'll be living and working in Kentucky until Andrew starts school in September, and when we finally get to Columbus for good, by golly, we're not going anywhere.

:)

Male Model

So our beloved Andrew has become a model.

 Not really, but sort of. He is working for a company specializing in outdoor gear, and they've had him help out by modeling their products. I love that I can go to Amazon, search Rutwear and then boom - there is Andrew, decked out in camo, looking uncomfortable. The whole affair isn't so much a source of pride, as a source of comedy. His pictures have given us a lot of laughs!

 Here's a sampling of his work...you'll see what I mean.

Blue Steel

Pretending to lure water fowl...

Makes me want that jacket.

Just missing the rebel flag and a Git 'R Done sticker



Who doesn't love a man in waders?

Don't answer that.

Happy

         

Sad

After the gun, a hunter's fanny pack is his most important tool.

  

Then there's this...

And this...

Okay, so that's not really him, but I wish it was.

And finally, from his early work - the famous poncho shot.

OH SNAP!! Bahahahaha....
If Andrew ever runs for public office, let's hope these don't surface.