ex(PR)essed

This past week, Jeff’s parents treated us to a weekend away in colonial Williamsburg. We met them on Friday night (after surviving terrible I-95 traffic and pouring rain), and we spent all of Saturday and Sunday morning exploring the colonial shops, homes, museums, and churches of Williamsburg. The weather was dreary, but there were plenty of lovely sites to see.

A primitive kitchen, as it might have looked on a planatation.

Everyone was in their best colonial garb!

The palace gates…where the governor lived.

A church where the members of the House of Burgesses once attended service. I sat in Thomas Jefferson’s row!

Signs of Spring, even on a dreary day.

A random red window…what can I say? I’m a girl who loves red!

I’m also a girl who loves squirrels…people were feeding these little guys, and I was thrilled to take a dozen pictures while the critters enjoyed bits of ginger cake or oatmeal cookie!

And, who doesn’t love shorn sheep in the spring?

On Sunday, on our way home, we stopped in Richmond and spent a few hours catching up with our good friends Sarah and Shawn. It was such a relaxing, comfortable time…only to be followed by yet another crazy experience on I-95. This time we did it to ourselves though — to avoid some of the traffic around D.C., we opted for the HOV lane (where we saw cars moving much faster than us on Friday). However, the HOV lanes lasted much longer than we anticipated, and we missed our exit for the bypass around the city. Next thing we knew, the Washington Monument was looming on our left! We were in downtown D.C., following signs for Baltimore, and hoping for something familiar! Thankfully, we get our bearings and got headed in the right direction…it just made for a longer trip. Lesson learned though — avoid the HOV lane unless you know exactly what your exit options from it will be!

When I moved to Harrisburg in 2000, I knew no one. No exagerration.

But, I moved here for a job, and, after spending six months desperately scouring newspapers and websites, this begger could no longer be a chooser! Don’t get me wrong — the job was more than adequate. Though I had no idea what all my responsibilities would entail, I certainly wasn’t dreading the move or my entree into the professional world.

My first job out of college is memorable for many reasons, but the most positive, life-changing one is the friendship formed with these three girls.

Amy, Christina, Robin and I became fast friends…sharing our frustrations and celebrations as we took our daily walk around City Island and then ate lunch in the breakroom. Amy coached me in the details of my job, and provided an excellent sounding board for my many questions. Christina was curious about me and made me feel welcome by asking questions and encouraging me in my new adventure. Robin taught me the ropes of working a room, identifying prospects, and building professional relationships.

Together we traveled the state and witnessed many drunken men make fools of themselves. There are so many memorable stories and personalities that we could never begin to recount them all, but we still enjoy a laugh about “cheeseball guy” or “cream cheese guy.” And, ocassionally, I suspect, we each chuckle when we think about situations that make us want to put a butter knife in our eye.

Now, nine years later, three of us have moved on to new jobs at new places. We see each other about twice a year, and we’re never at a shortage for things to catch up on. Last night, we got together for the first time in 2009, and I’m certain that not more than 10 seconds of silence passed!

I was reminded again what a blessing these girls are in my life. How wonderful of God to provide three lovely, caring souls at a time when I was in need of friends. How great to meet Christian women in an enviroment that can be very selfish and corrupt. These girls, known affectionately as the “beacons,” were truly bright lights for me in a time that could have been deep with darkness. What a blessing to know the company of great friends when I didn’t even know where to bank, grocery shop, or take my dry cleaning.

Somtimes I need reminded that God provides. Most of the time I think I can do a better job (I can’t) or that he can’t be trusted (He can). Thankfully, he hasn’t given up on me yet. Instead, he has continued to provide — wonderful friends, a loving church family, a terrific husband.

It’s been splashed all over the headlines — this season’s “Bachelor” dumps girl #2 and proposes to girl #1 on the season finale of the show. Six weeks later, the Bachelor dumps girl #1 , on national television, and asks girl #2 to consider giving him a second chance. She agrees. Bachelor and girl #2 ride off into the sunset, both repeatedly explaining their despicable actions and questionable decisions by asserting, “We followed our hearts.”

I might be an unromantic cynic, but I think “follow your heart” is terrible advice. You know why? Because the heart is fickle. Well, at least my heart has proven to be fickle.

If I were to simply and only follow my heart, I could do any number of stupid things on any given day. I might decide that long-distance friendships are too hard and take up too much time and break fellowship with wonderful, lifelong friends. I might decide that marriage is too hard and that I don’t “get enough out of it” and walk away. I might think that working 8 hours a day is un-fun and unreasonable and quit my job so I can sleep in and lounge around the house instead.

If I were to “follow my heart,” I would probably be pretty lonely. Instead of just blindly following my blood-pumping vessel from one feel-good moment to the next, I weigh decisions and consequences and contemplate how my actions and attitudes affect other people. I think about things. I pray about things. I introduce a mental and spiritual component into my decision-making, so my fickle, sometimes-silly, and selfish heart doesn’t let me think that it’s all about me.

That doesn’t mean that my heart doesn’t ever influence the things I say or the way I say them. But, it does mean that I don’t let emotions run my life by solely informing my decisions.

I spend several evenings a week with teenage girls in my church’s youth group, and I worry that they see too many examples of people explaining away their hurtful, selfish actions by asserting that they valiantly “followed their heart.” I want my girls to know there’s nothing acceptable about mistreating people. There’s nothing romantic about breaking someone’s heart. Hearts are important, life-giving, emotion-producing vessels that God planted in our chests so that we might love Him and others deeply. But, He also gave us brains so that we might intellectually pursue Him (and others), and a spirit so that our whole selves might be nurtured in the wonder of Him.

Look at this magnificent crafting room! When the “At Home” supplment tumbled out of my newspaper this morning, I almost carelessly tossed it aside. But then I caught sight of a Stampin’ Up stamp pad holder-thingy, and my heart soared! Featured on the front cover was a beautiful craft room — complete with counterspace that can double as a dry erase surface and stamping and crafting goodies as far as the eye can see. I am so smitten with this space!

The owner of this craft room is local. I have entered to win a free class at her house, so that I can witness the creative splendor for myself. Fingers crossed please!

My parents live in northwestern Pennsylvania. They’ve had 100+ inches of snow so far this year, and they’re rooting for Erie to get another seven inches so that they can break a record (149 inches!) and all the cold and mess of the winter can feel like it actually means something instead of just being a significant pain in the rear.

It’s no wonder then, given the weather, that cute Dave and Linda couldn’t wait to make a break for it and head to sunnier, warmer climates. They left on Feb. 27 for a two-week stay in Indian Shores, Florida, and they invited us to join them for a few days of sun and surf. Of course, we said yes and booked our airfare immediately. You don’t have to ask us twice to leave behind the frigid temperatures and put our toes in the warm-ish Gulf. Can you see why we couldn’t wait to get out of here?

My parents had rented a condo with a beachview, so we enjoyed this type of stunning finale each and every day we were there. And, yes, we all stopped what we were doing each evening to gather on the balcony for the sunset. That’s what you do on vacation. Perhaps when Floridians travel to Pennsylvania on vacation (why?), they gather around the window to watch the snow plows go by. (Or, in the case of central Pennsylvania, they gather around to watch the snow fall without a plow in sight.)

Anyhow, there were many wonderful, beachy sights to see.

Lest you think we just stumbled upon this pile of gators, allow me to clarify. Jeff and I played miniature golf on Sunday, and the course’s claim to fame was gators aplenty! I counted 18 within a rather small area. It was a hot day, so many were catching a few rays while waiting for a tourist to pay $3 to dangle a chicken liver over the rail. We just observed them and moved on, minus the chicken thing. (For more about the golf game, check out Jeff’s blog.)

In addition to seeing lots of sea critters, we also enjoyed eating lots of seafood! We scoped out some fun, delicious restaurants. At Bubba Gump’s I ate scrumptious cocunut shrimp. No grease; perfectly crispy. Delicious! At Crabby Bill’s I enjoyed a crabcake sandwich, and on our last day, at Conch Republic, I had Baja Shrimp Tacos. Yum! Each place was very beachy and all, but I was especially fond of the “attitude” at Crabby Bill’s!

Jeff has written a funny and thorough account of our trip on his blog. It’s worth checking out, although, perhaps without being there, you won’t find some of his memories as funny as I found them.

Jeff and I love going on vacation together — we discovered what good traveling partners we are when we ventured to Maine on our honeymoon. Since then, we always look forward to an adventure away. We’re fortunate that my parents also enjoy an adventure together and invite us to join them! (Read about the Bertram-Lorow vacation adventures last year here.)

All in all, our Florida trip was great. Plenty of time for sleeping and relaxing, miniature golf and swimming, eating and well, eating! We were far from ready to come back home. Who wants to leave behind 80-degree weather and my cute parents? No one? Exactly.

My fondness and appreciation for U2 is one of the only good things that came from a failed, long-term relationship. Like everyone else in the free world, I owned “The Joshua Tree” and considered myself a U2 fan…until I met this former significant other in my life. He was a hardcore U2 fan. And, it didn’t take many listens of their other albums for me to also become a true fan. Together, we saw them in concert in 2001 (is that possible?! maybe it was `02) in Pittsburgh when they toured for “All That You Can’t Leave Behind.” It was certainly one of the most incredible concerts I’ve ever been to. The heck with the Grateful Dead…I was ready to buy a bus and stalk U2 all around the globe!

So, today the latest U2 masterpiece, “No Line on the Horizon,” was released. I’m enjoying my first free listen on Rhapsody, and I’m certain this album won’t disappoint us U2 fans.

As I’m listening to this CD, I can’t help but think about the band’s last album, “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.” I listened to it incessantly. Seriously. Jeff and I had just started dating, and he was wondering (aloud) whether I would ever listen to another CD again. Even now, nearly five years later, I put that CD in every month or two to get my fix.

“How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” despite it’s totally un-romantic title, brings back happy “when-I-started-dating-Jeff-memories.” We both had purchased the album, and, like I said, it received no shortage of air time in our cars. Who knew then that track five, “City of Blinding Lights,” would eventually serve as the song that played when we entered our wedding reception?! Or that we would donate our extra copy of the CD to the missionary who stayed with us the March after we got married? Writer’s note: Apparently we gave our extra “Much Afraid” by Jars of Clay to the missionary. Whatever.

So, while I’m totally stoked about a new U2 album release today, I’m also a bit nostalgic thinking about having Jeff in my life for the past five years. We certainly share a mutual fondness for U2, but thankfully there’s much, much more…some of which we’re just starting to discover together. Life is good.