Birthday, Biltmore, Besties, Switchfoot, and Selfies

This year, I will be working on the day of and around my birthday, thus I organized a pre-birthday day of best friends and fun things.

The first fun thing of the day was a trip to the Biltmore House with my lovely friend Amanda. 

This house is incredible. It is overwhelming to think of how it was built in the time it was built. It is overwhelming to think that so much of it was frivolous. It is overwhelming to think that things like this even exist. 

None the less, I was amazed at the detail and the beauty and the secret passage ways and the grounds and the landscape. 

After a lovely day at the Biltmore, I followed it up with an evening with my fabulous friends Ashley and Lara. 

When I saw that Switchfoot would be playing close by and close to my birthday, it seemed like the best choice for my birthday celebrations to begin. And who better to take than my two best friends? (Even if they don't know much of their music.)

Before the show we went to a trendy little food court/marketplace in Charlotte. I had found a living social coupon for a good deal for a little pizza place called Pure Pizza. 

The Living Social deal was nothing close to the best part of the day. 

We ordered, Lara and Ashley, meandered around, and I turned to look around and low and behold, there was Jon Foreman, the front man and lead singer of Swithfoot! Immediately I became a 14 year old girl inside. 

I did what every respectful fan would do sat and considered and thought about what to say and then went up to him and forgot about anything i had thought about  saying and said 'hey, I don't want to bother you, but you've been my fave since the 8th grade...blah blah blah. ' somewhere in the short convo, we snapped a picture and he told me that your 30s are much better than your 20s. And I went back and ate my pizza in a daze. 

Then I checked the photos, and there was a selfie of the guy who took the picture, who looked familiar, but I just assumed was another run of the mill person like me. 

Fast forward to this afternoon, I was piddling on the Internet and saw a picture and thought, 'wait a minute....' Got out my phone and compared pictures.  And apparently the guy that I handed my phone off to was none other than John Mark McMillan. Also a well know among the Christian music realm. Fun guy, that John Mark McMillan. 

Rewind back to the night before and back to the show. As usual, the boys didn't disappoint. 

Acoustic Hello Hurricane, Jon climbing into the balcony, and encouraging words and songs. I'm so thankful that I have had this band for half my life. 

A good start to the birthday celebrations with more celebrating to come as I ring out my 20s and ring in my 30s. 

And to top off a great day yesterday, things just keep getting better because today I got my tickets for the game that I am going to at Fenway in May in the mail!

Let the birthday week continue!

30 Blogs in 30 Days (or lack there of)

I guess that was a lofty goal.

30 blogs in the 30 days before I turn 30. A blog every day. I could have done it, but I guess life happened a little bit too much the past few weeks.

I went to OH for a few days and had a fantastic time with family.

Have had some interesting opportunities present themselves.

Have been baking and cooking a bit. (Pictured: Blueberry Lemon Cookies, yum!)

Just haven't been in a writing mood.

I think I will make my goal for 3 blogs this week, the week before I turn 30.

The 30 by 30 list has had much editing, but there will be 30 things completed that I had not done a year ago.

Spring has begun to spring up all over around here. The smelly Bradford Pear trees are blooming. In the park in Downtown Greenville the first greens of spring are starting to peek out of their slumber. We have had a series of days that are just to lovely to be spent inside.

This week, the week before I turn 30, I will be venturing to the Biltmore Estate, to which I have never been, with my wonderful friend Amanda. Then later that evening I will be following a presumably lovely day with a fun evening in Charlotte with 2 other wonderful friends at a Switchfoot concert (to which I have been a few times, and my friends have not).

A few more lofty goals are on the list for the coming week and the weeks to come, but I need to wait a little longer before rolling them out on the blog.

Until them, hopefully I can pump out the rest of the England blogs and some other musings that have been rolling around in my head.

Couldn't resist buying this beautiful tulip this week.

Day #2 (a day late)

Oops. 

Didn't make it to the computer yesterday at all. 

But that happened because I had a wonderfully full day of good things. Following a previous wonderful afternoon and evening of wonderful things. 

Saturday I drove to Charleston, SC to see an old friend and to see our collective favorite band, Switchfoot. 

It was fantastic. Always a good show.  Jon came and sang from the balcony right in front of us! Even shaking my hand as he came by. I felt like I was in 8th grade again. 

And yesterday I went for a run at sunrise on the beach. It was glorious. Then spent the morning catching up with another old friend and enjoying a wonderful porch on Sullivan's Island. 

I drove back, stopping to see some lovelies in Columbia, SC and then get back in time for community group. 

So although I failed to write a blog on day 2 of attempting 30 days straight, I think those are all good reasons to have done so. 

More to come soon!

30 days from 30

In 30 days I turn 30. 

A new decade. 

Hopefully some new attitudes and adventures as well. 

I'm going to attempt to write 30 consecutive blogs to catch up on what I have been meaning to write about. 

England, recipes tried, books read, travels, volunteering, house keeping, etc. 

30 blogs in 30 days. 

This is #1. 

Blog Post #100

This is my 100th posted blog.
It shall be a list.
Because I love lists and would be mildly dysfunctional without them.
A list of 100 things I am thankful for.
(as they come to my mind, not in any particular order)

1. the Internet.
2. A car I got a good deal on and that has lasted over 7 years. Only 300 more miles to 200,000!
3. Music.
4. The ability and desire to paint.
5. A mom that taught me to sew.
6. My sewing machine.
7. A friend that taught me to crochet and now making money from it.
8. Jesus. (yikes, it took me 8 things to get to Jesus, like I said, no particular order)
9. Family.
10. Friends that are like family.
11. Friends that will come and go like the wind and maybe never be seen again.
12. People who teach me things.
13. Baking.
14. Chocolate.
15. Running water in my house.
16. A warm and comfortable place to sleep and live.
17. A dad that taught me to drive a stick shift.
18. Sisters.
19. Creating things.
20. Volunteer opportunities.
21. Vegetables.
22. Fruit.
23. Warm beverages on a cold day.
24. Skirts that twirl.
25. Traveling!
26. Planes, trains, and automobiles.
27. My big comfy second hand reading chair.
28. Greenville, SC in general.
29. Fun colors of nail polish.
30. Grace Church.
31. Contra dancing. Dancing in general.
32. Grandparents.
33. Cousins.
34. Running. (I never would have said that this time last year)
35. Aunts and uncles.
36. Fire.
37. Scarves and gloves and hats.
38. Sunshine.
39. Books.
40. Used book stores.
41. Used books that have a note to the previous owner.
42. Art.
43. Sunrise.
44. Sunset.
45. Rain.
46. Snow. (This cold winter in SC without any snow is just plain silly)
47. A washer and dryer in my house.
48. Shoes.
49. Water bottles.
50. Being an aunt.
51. Gilmore Girls.
52. People who stand up for what they believe in.
53. People who sacrifice for others.
54. People who make me laugh.
55. People willing to go to the ends of the earth to show people the joy that they possess.
56. Cameras.
57. Blurry pictures of a good memory.
58. Switchfoot.
59. Multitudes of entertainment options.
60. Hiking.
61. Kindred spirits.
62. Birthdays.
63. Having a job.
64. Mentors.
65. Interstate highways.
66. Shelves.
67. Taste buds that like to try new things.
68. Paying off all my debt and staying debt free (so far).
69. Monday night dinners with the framilies.
70. Napping.
71. The first green of spring.
72. State parks.
73. Waterfalls.
74. Mountain lakes and streams.
75. Back roads that wind around.
76. The view of the mountains.
77. Good health.
78. Kelly's comfy orange couch that has been in my possession for the past 3 years.
79. My computer.
80. Not wanting for any basic needs.
81. The various small groups I have had the opportunity to be a part of.
82. Atlases and maps.
83. Car radios.
84. The ability to read and write and the freedom to do so.
85. New opportunities.
86. Old routines.
87. The opportunity to encourage.
88. Being encouraged.
89. The gifts and talents I have been given.
90. Free stuff.
91. Backpacks.
92. Bare feet in soft grass.
93. Easily accessible grocery stores.
94. Constructive criticism.
95. People who know me well and still like me.
96. Rain coats.
97. Slowly learning how to be an adult.
98. Developing disciplines.
99. Creativity.
100. That this is number 100. (oh, and lists)

There are plenty more things I am thankful for, but these were close in proximity or mind and easily written.

100 blogs posted, here's to 100 more. (which will take me another 8 years at my current rate)

A Brief Update

Not having consistent Internet in my house really does slow down the blogging.

Also, not having much free time in which I feel motivated to accomplish things slows a lot of things down. And traveling for another two weeks straight didn’t really help much either.

I have a few more blogs on the trip to England that I would like to write, but for now I will give a brief life update.

In the past 7 Christmases living away from home I have always had a job that gives us a Christmas break.  So, as usual, I was able to go home for the full week around Christmas and enjoy the usual family traditions. Things like cookie baking and decorating, driving around to see the lights, family gatherings, watching movies, playing games, eating, getting on each others nerves, etc.

For New Years this year I ventured to the small and adorable mountain town of Highlands, where I had never been, with a collection of people of which I hadn’t really spent that much time. And it was a blast! We played games, all sorts and just enjoyed the company of friends that we do not get to see as often as we would like.

Since then I have been trying to get my life back into some sort of routine and order. So far, I haven’t done very well at this.

I have been without running water at my house since Saturday (with the exception of a few hours on Monday) Living in a double wide with exposed pipes in freezing temperatures that shares a water line with another trailer that sprung a leak has led to a preemptive water turn off strike in hopes that my double wide does not spring a leak. But no worries, I have a plethora of water bottles and a large jug that I can refill and at least 50 showers to choose from around camp if I see that as a need and a new appreciation for the wonderful person who thought piping water into a home was a good idea.

This Saturday I run my first official half marathon. I have not sufficiently trained for this, but I am told adrenaline gets you through a good part of it, so here’s hoping for a finish! (By no means do I hope to finish in a timely manner, just to finish.)

The 30 by 30 list is going to look a lot different in completion than it did at creation, but I’m ok with that. This week I came up with the brilliant idea to read juvenile biographies in order to reach my book reading goal, because I must have forgotten how to read the months of Oct-Dec and put myself about 8 books off track. So far I have much enjoyed the biographies. I may start reading juvenile non-fiction regularly.

I think that is all I have to update on for now. Hopefully back to the England blogs soon!

How is it that you know this person?

When telling people about my upcoming trip across the pond, I received many a confused inquiry as to how I knew my travel companion.

I could almost say that Jessi and I were perfect strangers.

But that wouldn't be all that true.

She and I are so similar that it is almost like we knew each other without knowing each other at all.

So, let me back track a little.

A trip to England has been in the making for the past 3 years that Rachael has lived there. First, the problem was money. Then once I had the money, I used it to go to Israel. Ooops. Then once I had it again, I had no one to travel with. In August I mostly randomly emailed Jessi, a mild acquaintance at the time, to see if she would like to join me on a trip. She also works for a camp and has a squirrely schedule and seemed to me to be up for adventures.

97% of me expected a 'no, but thanks for asking'. But instead I got a 'yeah, let me check my schedule, I was wanting to take a trip that time of year too', Yikes, it was becoming real.

After checking some things, we committed to an international trip together. With having only met in person a few times and otherwise only having a relationship via facebook stalking and a mutual friend that would tell us how similar we were it seemed the trip could go splendidly or terribly. I think both leaned toward splendidly.

So how did I know this person I committed to travel across an ocean with?

Back when I was AmeriCorps in Raleigh, we would get to learn about the new crew that was coming in after us as they were being interviewed and hired. When I was finishing my second term, I was told there would be a 'new' Hannah to follow my leaving in the fall.

This girl also went to a small Christian college, was from the Midwest, loves baseball and also majored in camp management. Small world. As it turned out we were as similar if not more as she got to know the Habitat staff and worked through her year. It took her about 6 months to earn her own name as the staff and others that new me stuck to calling her 'new Hannah'.

Other than the sporadic trip to Maine and staying with her over night, we had spent maybe a total of one hour together pre-trip.

Thus, the making a great travel buddy :)

Apparently this is something that so called normal people wouldn't do, but it turns out we aren't all that normal.

I really couldn't have picked a better almost stranger to travel with.

Neither of us were late night out on the town types. We both liked a little peace and quiet from time to time. We were both ok to just see the sites rather than spending an exorbitant amount of time and money on things that we could later read about if we so desired.

One evening we had the hostel room all to ourselves and we couldn't have been happier to have that small piece of personal space and to just hang out in the poorly lit aquarium themed room.

That same evening, after a few hours of corporate solitude, we decided to go see a film rather than hit up any pubs.

All plans and suggestions were well received by each other. It was sort of like traveling with myself.

And most importantly, she fit in just fine with my dear friends. And an added bonus baby Ava took to her very quickly.

So as for traveling with almost strangers, I would say that I recommend it.  It could be disastrous, but that would lead to good stories. It could be fantastic and lead to a new friend!