Sara comes to Boston

It has finally been proven.
If you nag your friends enough they finally come to visit you!
I would say it was worth it. I'm just sad the visit wasn't that long.

My friend finally came out to visit me and the little family. We definitely showed her a good time. She even got to experience different seasons in those few days. Since this weather is so bipolar! It was a jam packed weekend. But we had a blast! Braving through the crazy snow storm when she arrived. A little shopping and breakfast. Then I took her to The Orchard House. We love Little Women. Then went down to Boston where it was crazy windy and cold and we wandered around the city looking for some food. Luckily we found it! I think Sara was more excited to ride the train.
Stay tuned for part 2: Sara comes to New York!

BOSTON

 Visiting the Orchard House in Concord. We're big Little Woman fans.

 

 

 Icy Cold Charles River

Boston Common

 

We found a really good burrito place called Maria's Taqueria. YUM!

{Family Day} Boston Childrens Museum

Ok.. I'm fired! Sometimes it takes me FOR-EVVER to upload pictures off of the camera (or phone for that matter) These weren't the best photos ever so that's probably why I didn't jump at the chance as soon as we came home.

Anyway, we had a spur of the moment family day back in March. I was tired of staying in from the ginormous amounts of snow {blizzard} we had been getting. I had cabin fever like you wouldn't believe! Who wouldn't with several feet of snow making you feel buried alive.  Most of it was finally melting so I told the family we were heading to Boston.
We ventured out and headed to the children's museum since we hadn't been yet. It was jam packed with so many other kids. I guess everyone else had the same idea. They had tons of stuff, bubble making, medical stuff, etc. I can't even remember all the stuff there was to look at. But Riley sure had a blast. I guess it pays off to be spontaneous!

Puppet Show!

Sorting food for the animals

Add caption

Going Camping

Riley flying the plane

This thing was displayed in the bathroom. If you were ever curious about animal poop. hmmmm

Out to eat afterwards

Riley lounging on daddy while watching sports

{Tonight is the night dreams come true}

Tonight is the night dreams come true. Well maybe not exactly, but I am getting my feet wet. Tonight I am doing my first ever open mic night. I can't believe how quickly this whole thing even happened. I got introduced to some people and they put together this open mic night. We found a cover to do and practiced twice! ....And now here we are, the day has finally come!

I would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't nervous. But the husband says a little nerves is good, it keeps you humble! It's not my first time singing in public. I've been doing this for years! But years in between too. The last time I actually sung with a band was about 8 whole years ago {pictures below} I was 18 and wrote a song with these guys called "Craving Addiction" they invited me to play this show with them back in California. 

 

So if you know me at all you know my routine. 

Listen to song about 80 million times in a row. 

Drink twice that many cups of tea

Don't talk

As showtime gets closer listen to fast, upbeat songs to get pumped up

If I have time watch some Selena to get in the performing mood

and last but not least, pray to God I don't screw up, or mess up the words.

I am hoping to get some video and lots of pictures tonight to share with all of you!

And If you are in the area come see me, support me, cheer me on at 

Ryles Jazz Club

Cambridge Ma

{Chaos} Boston Lockdown

I'm postponing Fashion Friday til later.
It feels out of place with all this chaos around me. I want to respect the situation, and the people.

Woke up really early this morning{7:00 am} to Evan telling me they had on suspect and the other one was on the run.
We've been obsessing about this whole thing since Monday. I felt very discouraged at all the footage, that they were using to find the bombers. No one looked out of place to me. No one looked suspicious. Paranoia has been every which way and it seemed like it would never happen. Evan pulled up photos that were released to try and get a better look. They looked normal. Didn't everyone there have bags with them? Didn't most people wear hats, it was a nice sunny day.
But here we are about 12 hours in to Boston and surrounding cities being put on lockdown. {UPDATE: One suspect killed, second one is still on the run, it's only a matter of though before he's caught}

I've never been so close to something like this. I came kind of close a couple times to minor things.

Once in my fave burger place back home. We were having a mommy-daughter. My sister, my mom and I and while we were eating the place got robbed. I only realized after the fact when someone started yelling about the guy running outside. I looked up from tasty burger and was really confused. A couple of guys came in behind a girl ordering and robbed the place at gun point. Didn't shoot anyone but hit the girl with his gun. We were stuck there for hours while the cops came and questioned everyone, dusted for fingerprints.

Another time I was a teenager and we were living in a different house that was closer to the mall ...and a couple of banks. One guy robbed the bank and took off behind the houses {including ours} my mom was the only one there and thankfully she didn't get hurt.


I'm really in awe of how every time that this country goes through tragedy everyone comes together. Can't we always be like this? Supporting, giving to one another, loving, praying together, and fighting for justice.


I heard this song this morning and I thought it was very fitting!

Through it all, we've been thrown in the fire
We've been lost in the flame - But we will rise from the ashes again
All our hearts have been broken, burned by the flame
But we will rise from the ashes again

You can listen here!

{Prayers for Boston} Too close to home

I'm not even really sure how I want to start this. I attempted yesterday, but the words didn't come out right. Monday {Patriots Day} was a really scary day. A very surreal day that felt like it should be in the movies. Senseless acts of evil seem to be creeping up around us more frequently lately. Bigger and extreme and shoved in our faces.

I usually don't watch the news too much. In fact I try very hard to avoid it at all costs. Not because I don't want to know what's going on in the world. Because I can't bare to have the the horrible things in my head, and my heart. I'm very empathetic, and when I hear, or  read. Or when I'm around such things as this I'm consumed by it all. I go into a dark hole of depression and sadness that can last for days. So I try to keep a safe distance.

This time it was placed right at my front door.

It was a normal work day and the husband had to get up super early because he and another soldier {co-worker} from their recruiting office were helping in the Boston Marathon. I get on Facebook and noticed that my husband's cousin posted about her brother running in the marathon.
I thought {and posted} "Oh cool, Evan's there today too". She later posts that he finished and all was good. I hadn't heard from Evan yet besides a few random texts. I assumed he was there for the whole thing. I later see another friend post on Facebook about an explosion at the marathon. Of course it doesn't click in my head and I assume fireworks for some reason, or something very minimal.

Then Evan calls! They were driving OUT of Boston after dropping someone off.

"Hey, I guess there was explosions at the race. Turn on the news."

I turned it on and saw the horror that was unfolding. You just don't realize how big things are until you are seeing it with your own eyes. I called our cousin to make sure her brother was okay and he was. I was glued to the television, like I'm sure everyone else was.

Thank GOD Evan got home later that night and we hugged for a long time. It was just too close! I'm so thankful GOD pulled him out of there when he did. Like he always does. I expect these types of things to happen when he deploys, but we are supposed to be safer here right?

I think everyone was effected from this tragedy in many different ways. We've been praying non stop for these families, for comfort, for healing.

Last night Riley prayed all by herself:

"I pray that the good guys catch the bad guys. And pray for Boston, and the people"

We may not understand why this happened. Or understand any of it, but we can trust that God will comfort us, and heal us and show us the way. 

Prov. 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (NIV).



Follow my blog with Bloglovin