Thursday Three

My weekly summary, in three.

Thursday Three

Samantha Gratton

This week has flown. All the things I wanted to do and all the things I needed to do managed to slip away from me. How does that happen? Oh well. I will say that I have enjoyed this month of blogging every day. It’s been a good habit to be in, although some days I’m not quite sure what to say and other days I completely surprise myself with what I do say. But here we go with the weekly three.

1. I have now seen all three Back to the Future movies. The hubby and a few friends were incredulous when they found this wasn’t the case previously. So they insisted on a mini-marathon and suddenly I found myself feeling like a guest a boys slumber party in my own house. Lessons learned: 1. By 2015 we’ll all be flying around on hover boards. 2. Movie marathons are no longer a one-night ordeal. Apparently grown-ups can’t do three movies in a row without one or more people dozing off.

2. Fall is my favorite season. I know, everyone says they love fall, but I really, really do. I loved it before I knew it meant fall fashion with boots and scarves and bonfires and pumpkin-flavored everything. But let’s be real, I love all of that, too. Pumpkin bars might be my latest weakness.

3. Last night we witnessed yet another one of music’s finest. We’ve been hitting up so many shows in the last month, I can’t help but talk about it. I promise I won’t always make it part of my three, but seriously, we keep seeing some downright amazing musicians come through town. The Wood Brothers were here and although the hubby is the one who actually knows their music, I couldn’t help but dance and sing along.

Thursday Three

Samantha Gratton

You can’t tell me you thought I’d quit the Thursday Three just because I’m blogging every day of the month, did you? Let’s break it down. It’s time for Thursday Three. Although, in all fairness these cannot be fully hashed out community/relationships/connections pieces because I intend to go into greater detail at a later date.

1. The weekend under-the-weather bug hit our home. Our at least, last  weekend we both had some sort of sickness whereas the week before the hubby was sick and this week I’ve been struggling. We’ve each been fighting a cold/virus of some sort and can’t quite seem to kick it. To top it off, I got sick in ways all too familiar for my little stomach. Bleh. But you know what? Being sick is just another reminder of how relationships can be contagious. Sounds corny but the impact you can have on each other can be so great and proximity always seems to help. Alright, so that’s not really where I was going with that but the blog about sickness and community is too long to explain in the three.

2. Weeknights should be celebrated. Sometimes I think we get in our routines or have obligations and chores and forget to live during the week. I’m totally guilty of this. But even though we had a very low-key weekend, I can’t even decide what I’d rather talk about because our week seemed so full and rich. We spent time with friends, shared a meal, went to yet another concert and still somehow managed to clean up the kitchen. Don’t wait to live life only on the weekends. I’m so grateful for all we did this week and it’s made a difference during the workday (although admittedly, we lacked a little more sleep).

3. Fun fact: Kids shoes are way cheaper. Also fun: Apparently I can fit in TOMS kids shoe size 4. It feels like I’ve discovered the secret to life. Or at least to shoe shopping. Tonight I snagged a new pair for half the price of a normal pair and was beyond excited. What really sweetened the deal though was making a new friend. The girl who rang me up is new to the area which led to me very bluntly ask, “Do you need friends?” Sometimes even I am shocked at my forward friending tactics. We’re hanging out next week. Yep, that’s happening.

Thursday Three (times two)

Samantha Gratton

Alas, last week I did not post a Thursday Three. I had dinner with a friend instead, so by the time I got home the night had slipped away. To keep consistency though, let’s just make this week’s a two-for-one and call it even.

1. We spent approximately 6 hours and half a paycheck at Ikea. Passed the ultimate relationship test. We’ve been before, but never with the intention of buying much more than a shelf or two. There are certainly no photos of such a hardship, but it was really fun…at least until around the time that we hit the frames section and our stamina began to fade. I think next time we might skip the showroom just to conserve energy so we can really optimize our time in the warehouse.

2. We saw two fantastic shows within the same week. We went first to see Sigur Ros, the Icelandic band that plays Hoppipolla…the same song I walked down the aisle to. Seeing the band play it live with the pretty lights and the misty rain brought a few tears to my eyes.  It was beautiful. And then it started pouring. We were both pretty soaked by the end of the night but glad we got to go. Then a mere four days later we saw the band FUN. with some friends. We didn’t know all the music but they played a good show that we could all dance and sing along to. We’re so glad to live somewhere with so many amazing bands coming through on a regular basis.

3. Our weekend trip to Charlotte also meant a visit with friends. It’s funny how it all worked out really, but the hubby’s boss beat us down to North Carolina last year and ended up taking a job in Charlotte. Now we get to call them friends and stay with them when we’re in town. I wish I had a picture of their smiling faces because we were thrilled with the chance to see them and hope to return soon (and not even hit Ikea next time). I’m going to get all gushy and say what a blessing it is (and has been) to have them in our lives.

Okay, ready for this? Thursday Three all over again. Let’s review this week’s three.

1. Yesterday we celebrated three years of marriage. Three whole years. We took the night and reminisced through year three, month by month. We’ve changed jobs, moved (across town this time), traveled the coast, made life decisions and everything that goes with it. It’s hard sometimes, but I’m glad we get to be married to each other. It was great to walk across the street to the newly opened restaurant and enjoy the night together.

2. It’s fun having friends for neighbors and neighbors as friends. We spent most of the weekend just hanging out with them, running errands, throwing frisbees and sharing meals together.

3. It’s finally October. September was not easy. It was busy and stressful and full of misunderstandings and disappointments. August wasn’t much better. But October has always been a favorite month of mine, so I am grateful that it’s here and ready to welcome the crisp air (once it comes) and pumpkin flavored everything in the stores.

Thursday Three

Samantha Gratton

How the heck is it already Thursday!? I’ll admit that on Tuesday I felt it must be Thursday for sure. But since then the week has been quick. Maybe I just have too much to look forward to or maybe it’s that I have too much stuff I meant to do (and unpack? still? I know) and haven’t yet. Well, come on out weekend. Take it, three.

1. The beach was OFF THE CHAIN. Okay, so maybe I’ve seen too much Mel B in America’s Got Talent lately. But it was really amazing. I got to see some of my little loves (I wish there was a plural to niece and nephew that combined both words) and a lot of ocean. The waves were prime for boogie boarding, and we even managed to stop at a great little furniture shop and get some new pieces full of character. So what if we got locked out for several hours and when I finally did make it in, managed to shatter two glass pot lids? It’s always some sort of adventure. We also ended up eating the best crab, scallops and donuts in town. Yum.

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2. Date night should be mandatory. We used to be in a great habit of taking a date night every week. Then we moved and saw way too much of only each other and felt more of a need to have “find some friends” nights. With the craziness of the past month and a nearly expired groupon, it was long overdue. We had dinner at a new (to us) restaurant and really enjoyed our time together. Let me just say loud and clear that – I love my husband. Seriously. That man has had a heck of a month and he’s handled it with such strength. I really appreciate him and am rather proud of him. He’s a good guy, and I’m blessed to have him.

3. No, we are not unpacked yet. One of these days I will show you some pictures of the INSIDE of this little yellow house, but don’t hold your breath. With a busy month and a few out of town weekends, it’s been a little less of a priority. We will get there though. Tonight I had high hopes of accomplishing a lot but instead had an impromptu dinner with a family from church and am grateful for that time well spent.

This Week’s Three

Samantha Gratton

I missed Thursday and broke my streak of Thursday Threes. Next week I’ll hopefully return to my favorite night of blogging. This week has just been so inside out, upside down that I haven’t been able to keep up with anything it seems. It hasn’t exactly been the easiest week but grateful for the weekend. Here’s the three…

1. The hubby had a birthday. It was a great night of friends and food as we had people in our backyard for a “chill out, grill out”. I strung lights from the house to the tree and it was just the most adorable little thing. We had a great night soaking up time with friends and celebrating his years.

2. It’s been a really long week.There were disappointments, stressors and misunderstandings. There was also grace, forgiveness and blessings. I’m grateful for what we have and incredibly eager to move forward.

3. The beach hat is officially on, and it is time to hit some waves! We are driving out to the ocean in T-minus 5 minutes (did I say that correctly?) to spend a day and a half with the hubby’s sister, kids and husband. Looking forward to it. Hoping it will prove to be relaxing.

Thursday Three

Samantha Gratton

Just three simple truths tonight.

1. Life is busy. It just is sometimes. This week and last week and the week before is that way. Our church is moving this week and life between home and church has way too many parallels right now. Boxes left and right, Ikea furniture on the brain and lots of miscellaneous details. But in the end, it will all somehow come together and is an exciting next step in our lives.

2. Friends are good. We’ve been blessed with some really good friends. Friends who listen and support us, close by and from farther away. A lot of times we have the same stories, struggles and jokes, but they still laugh and listen and care. Thanks, friends. You make an impact and also make the days better.

3. God is in control. About a year and a half ago when we were starting to seriously consider moving and had a few details on the table that we were trying to figure out, we were a total wreck. Neither of us were sleeping well and we were just little stressballs. On a day we knew a few big things were being decided, I put a little post-it up in the bathroom. My pen was weak and I ended up making a mess of it with a marker. It’s not the prettiest looking reminder,  but it was nothing but truth. I still have that note and it still applies in our life today. So although there are things I am stressing out about now, I know this to be true.

Whatever happens – it’s good. And from God. He has us taken care of.

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Thursday Three

Samantha Gratton

This week has been…eventful. We crossed the year mark, crossed the threshold and crossed off about a tenth of the things on our to-do list. It’s been a little nutty, but oh, so good. I’m really excited for this new chapter in our lives and also pretty excited to jump into September and put some of the stress of August behind us.

1. Moving = interesting mishaps + creative solutions. This last week/weekend was the big move. We had friends help and by the time they arrived, we were ready to just shove everything into any box, container, blanket or backpack you could find. The truck ended up being one shared with someone else moving on Saturday, and we had a few little mishaps that brought about some interesting solutions. For instance, the dryer ended up being a three-prong plug when it should have been a four. Unfortunately, the one we purchased to fix it was for an oven, not a dryer…a small detail that was only realized after it was completely hooked up. Whoops. A wheel from our bed frame broke and in effort to retain the bed frame and keep it from breaking, we substituted with a can of tuna. Yes, really. I half expected there to be some sort of hole in the tin can one morning and a stench to greet the neighbors. Thankfully, that has been amended as well. Finally, the day before we thought the lease was up on our apartment ended up actually being the last day on our lease, requiring quite the rapid clean-up in the end. Whew. This move has kept us on our toes and provided some sleepy eyes and tired feet.

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2. Our house is the cutest. I know I’m biased, but it just is. The inside isn’t exactly much to look at right now, so let’s just focus on the outside.

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See?? Also, have I mentioned that directly across the street there is a chocolate shop? Seriously. If I gain weight, we’ll know that the little yellow house is to blame. But really, we are incredibly glad to have moved here and to have friends nearby. At some point maybe we’ll get ourselves together enough to show some bits and pieces of the inside, but for now we’ll just live out of boxes and plan our trip to Ikea.

3. Timing is a big deal. There are certain things in our life that never would have worked if they had happened a few years ago or even a few months ago. There are still a lot of things that seem to be in the works right now, but it feels like the right timing for them. I promise to elaborate later, but all I know is the God’s timing is always better than mine. It really is.

3. (part B) I read this recently and was struck by it. I know I’ve read it before but it was good to have a reminder. Not to mention, it’s a really funny visual to hand a kid a snake…

9 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:9-10

Thursday Three

Samantha Gratton

It’s here! It’s finally here! That week of crazy we’ve all been waiting for!! Work has been nuts-o, school has started, we’re moving and why not throw a couple of curve balls in there? Bottom line, God is good.

1. Writing allows me to work it all out. Saturday I got the chance to go to a half-day more or less writing seminar. It was good to get a little nudge to keep doing what I love and maybe even dream about using my voice beyond the Thursday Three and my 15 faithful readers (you are the best though, of course). An author from Nashville gave some pointers and had some good things to say, but mostly it was just good to have a little time to think and dream. I was surrounded by others who had a passion and a voice and somewhere in there, I have that too.

2. Station wagons continue to be my dream car. Okay, practicality aside, I’ve always oddly loved Jaguars. Not really sure why, maybe it’s that tiny little leaping figurine at the hood of the car, but regardless, it ain’t in the cards. Hence, the station wagon. As long as I can remember I’ve thought it to be the best of both worlds and the car for me. This week, dreams really do come true, as we have borrowed someone else’s to move boxes across town to our new little abode. All of our dishes seem to be in one place while all of our clothes are in the other. Good luck guessing which is which. Slowly, we’re chipping away and trying to ready ourselves for this weekend which I lovingly call, “major haul” during which the remainder will be toted over. 

3. Everywhere I turn, it’s back to school! Granted, yes, I work at a school. But still. The hubby starts his class this week, my sister started at her new university, my sister-in-law started teaching at her local college this week and a few friends are going back for various programs, classes and degrees. If all goes well, I might be joining in next week with one night class on nonprofit management. I figured I might as well get a graduate level course under my belt, and I’ve gone back and forth between excitement and apprehension. It’s only been a few years but after seeing the syllabus and realizing the homework I’ll have to add to my routine I wasn’t sure what to think. I’m hoping though to learn a little and gain some understanding and just take it one step at a time.  Who knows what life will bring.

Thursday Three

Samantha Gratton

Despite leaving my school days behind with a toss of my hair and seldom a look back, I’ve found myself plopped down in the middle of a university surrounded by students. August is often a crazy month in our lives, so it seems, and this year has followed suit. Between work and home and just plain life we are struggling to keep up. Do I always sound exhausted by Thursdays? I hope not. But this week (and quite possibly, this month) is a big and busy one for us. Here’s the three for the week…

1. My sister made it all the way to NC. We got to show her around Raleigh and love on her little dogs. Not to mention, a few other pets which were here as well but locked up in their respective cages. My puppy fever persists however. So much cuteness in a four-legged creature! I’ve dropped plenty of “hints” so we’ll see how many months years it takes to get one of our own.

2. We are both worker bees this month. As I mentioned, for me, working at a university has really ramped up. I keep being told this is the craziest week of the year and I’m not arguing. There’s some definite stress and it’s not much quieter for the hubby. He’s working hard on a building move for our church and prepping all sorts of equipment. By the end of the day we are just wiped. But we don’t have too much time to sit still because…

3. We are moving to downtown Raleigh! On Monday, the place is ours and we’ll load up our stuff once more. We are renting a tiny little house near friends and inside the city we’ve come to love. Once we get all settled in, I’m sure there will be photos and stories to follow!

Thursday Three

Samantha Gratton

This might not be too wordy, but it’s here nonetheless. It’s been a long week between coming back from vacation, a pile of files waiting for me at work and looking out into the next month of things to do. I’m a bit tired and this month’s just getting started. Pray that I make it through. Here’s some of the tops from the past week.

1. My mom did indeed get married last weekend. Here’s a snapshot of the pre-wedding prayer with her friends.

2. The first thing we did upon landing in Raleigh was eat at La Farm Bakery. Best French bakery ever. And even better when we were celebrating the new engagement of friends who had just returned from their trip to Hawaii. The fact remains, this is home. White chocolate baguettes just happen to sweeten the deal.

3. We had a finance talk this week. I know, this isn’t really something to blog home about, but it’s a really great thing (even if not always a fun one). We feel about ready to put a little money away for when we’re old and grey (I have no plans to dye my hair as of yet), and it’s good to get that going now. It was a new year’s resolution of ours to get something saved away this year, and I feel it’s a bit of a milestone to be putting that in motion. May I look back in 50 years and appreciate my young self.