Gregory Alan Isakov and his "Suitcase Full of Sparks"

Apparently some of our favorite musicians favor the Sinclair: Pomplamoose, Brooke Fraser, and now Gregory Alan Isakov.

We first saw him play at Newport Folk Festival, and it was just the kind of music you want while sitting under a giant tent, rain tapping along and thunder rumbling with the base line. Although the Sinclair is a much different space, they didn't disappoint. Old suitcases, a glowing globe, and a cozy rug set the vibe. He introduced his band as his best friends, and you could feel their easy camaraderie. Imagine sitting around a campfire in the Rocky Mountains, cuddled under a blanket, with your favorite people in the circle around you, and you're almost at the show.



Our favorite is "Suitcase Full of Sparks," which Ian sang at Fox and Sara's wedding (Ian tweaked the lyrics slightly so the details reflected their relationship and the wedding). And it gets me. every. single. time.



(Also, "Stable Song" and "Amsterdam," because.)

I'd say more, but the Boston Globe says it better. Meanwhile, I'll be listening to "Suitcase Full of Sparks" on repeat...

Grandma Marilyn: queen for a day

Back in February, on flights that were thankfully between snowstorms, we headed back to Kansas for Grandma Marilyn's big 85th birthday celebration. Our early morning flight landed in Wichita just before lunch. We stopped briefly for tacos before driving our rental car halfway across the state to the land of Gunsmoke. The next two days were a flurry of food, family time, decorating (like her last big birthday bash, it involved a lot of purple), and celebration.

We had so much fun hearing more stories about Grandma Marilyn. Her younger sister Paula let everyone know that Marilyn still owed her a Fudgcicle, promised as a reward for not telling their parents that Marilyn left Paula alone at home to hang out with friends (the original Fudgcicle was eaten by one of said friends). One of Grandma's school friends told a story about a prank Marilyn pulled on another classmate, her identity betrayed by the fact that the package (which contained "flopper stoppers") was sealed with tape, an item only Marilyn's newspaper-printing dad could procure during WWII shortages. To this day, you can pick out Grandma Marilyn's cards in the mail just by the amount of Scotch tape used to seal the envelope.

Too soon, the festivities were over, but the adventure of getting everyone home was just beginning. Ren and Emily had flown in from Denver, but their puddle-jumper flight was cancelled due to impending weather. Instead, we drove them halfway home, where they were picked up by Emily's dad. I got a quick visit with my parents thanks to the drive (hi, Mom!), but the ride back that evening would have been terrifying if it wasn't for four-wheel drive and Dane's expert driving skills.

The storm was better by the next morning, so we ventured out to drive back to Wichita for our flight. Kansas snowstorms are much different than Boston ones. There's less snow, but that snow blows for miles so it doesn't take much to make travel difficult.

Ian got us safely all the way back to Wichita, only for us to get (barely) rear-ended by a high schooler just a mile from the airport. The snow packed on the bumper came in handy as damage protection.



Grandma Marilyn, thanks for letting us help you celebrate. We're already looking forward to seeing you again! #loveya

See (a few) more photos from the weekend on Flickr.

Brooke Fraser, Brutal Romantic

For Valentine's Day, Ian nabbed us tickets to see Brooke Fraser at the Sinclair. We've always been captivated by her incredible voice and songwriting, and love her latest album, Brutal Romantic. The week's snowstorm threatened to cancel our plans, but thankfully held off until the wee hours of the morning. (Giant flakes began to fall as we walked up to our front door around midnight.)



She was funny and down to earth. Her voice was pitch perfect. And we love the new techno vibe to her music, as she continues to evolve and explore her craft. In addition to songs from Brutal Romantic, she also played some of her old favorites, like "C. S. Lewis Song," remixed to her current style. She said, since the songs were now over a decade old, it was rather like teenagers getting tattoos and piercings. I like her similes.

The show was amazing, and the perfect Valentine's Day respite from the crazy snow. And the next time Brooke Fraser comes to Boston, we'll be there.

Marathon Monday 2015

Marathon Monday snuck up on us this year. Probably because of all the snow. But a record-breaking winter and a cold, rainy race day can't stop Boston. I still feel so many emotions when I think about the marathon, but joy and pride definitely win out. Marathon Monday is Boston at it's best. And whether Ian and I are watching in person or tracking our friends online from the office, we're always cheering. We run together. #BostonStrong

Congratulations to everyone who has already crossed the finish line, and good luck to everyone still on the course. (Go Erin! Go Lynne! Go Stevie!)

See posts and photos from our past Marathon Mondays. 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 (and reflections on Marathon Monday 2013 one day later and one year later)

Anna + Ian in the DR 2015

It is hard to believe that Ian and I are preparing for our fifth week-long service trip to the Dominican Republic! Since 2007 our church, REUNION, has partnered with Pastor Luis Vargas and his family, and each summer sends a team to work alongside them. We are so happy to be a part of this partnership and to lead the 2015 trip taking place July 28-August 4. The Vargas family's joy and hope is infectious, and it draws us back year after year.

Luis Vargas, photo by Erin Glabets

Luis and his family serve in La Mosca, a squatter community next to a trash dump. Many families survive on less than two dollars a day, and for many, picking trash is their main source of income. The community is plagued by disease, addiction, crime, illiteracy, and malnutrition.

Because of REUNION's partnership, Luis is able to serve food to 100+ hungry kids six days a week, provide medical care, and seek out and meet the needs of those in his community. Every summer, the REUNION trip provides extra hands and encouragement to continue that mission.



In 2014, we painted houses in La Mosca, tangibly showing the community that the church wants to meet their needs. Our team ran the annual medical clinic, and saw the health of the community continue it's slow and steady improvement. We hosted a field day, playing games under the hot Dominican sun in a muddy field littered with trash, attempting to control the chaos and provide love to the kids who so desperately need to feel safe and valued. It is exhilarating, exhausting, heartbreaking, and joyful work.



We are excited to return this summer to serve and spend time with Luis and the community we have grown to love over the past four years. But we can't do this trip alone. We would love to have your support as we head back to the DR.

• You can sponsor us financially — together we need $4,000 by June 8 to cover airfare, room and board, transportation, and supplies for the medical clinic and construction work. Online giving is fast and easy. If you prefer to give via check or your bank's online bill pay, visit www.reunioninthedr.com for more details. Either way, your donation is tax-deductible! Once our trip cost is funded (hey, we can dream big!), additional donations will go toward other trip costs and to support the Vargas family's ongoing work in La Mosca.
• You can donate medical supplies. Let us know before procuring the supplies, so we can coordinate with the medical clinic leader. We also are happy to accept toys and/or warm weather clothes (as much as we can squeeze into our luggage after medical supplies are packed). 

For more information about the trip and our partnership, along with the latest updates from the Vargas family, please visit www.reunioninthedr.com. You can also check out stories, photos, and videos from our past trips here on the blog.

Dios te bendiga!

the Patriots Superbowl Parade

When the Patriots won the Super Bowl, I knew I wanted to go to the parade. Not because I'm particularly a fan, but because we'd already been to parades for the Bruins in 2011 and the Sox in 2013 (I also was motivated by the Fingerwarmer photo opportunity). It felt like a badge of honor to claim perfect attendance at the parades for the three Boston championships won since we moved to Boston.

But a parade in February is very different from a parade in June or November. Especially this February, with a foot of snow every Sunday/Monday like clockwork. I layered up, pulled on my trusty L.L. Bean gear, grabbed some hand warmers, and took the Green Line to Copley.

Despite the frigid temperatures and mountains of snow, a good crowd stood waiting for the team to pass. Two hours later, duck boats full of players and staff, trucks with confetti cannons, and all four Super Bowl trophies slowly made their way down Boylston. Even with cold appendages, it was a fun morning basking in Boston pride. (Fingerwarmers loved the parade, too.)



See all of our parade photos on Flickr.

Bruins in 2011 | Red Sox in 2013 | Patriots in 2015 | Revolution... soon? | Celtics... someday

Christmas on the Cape

In October, Ian's parents moved to the Cape. From Kansas. We'd joked about it for so long that when they actually moved, it felt surreal. Dane got a job, they found a great deal on a charming Cape Cod style house not too far from a beach, and Grandma Judy moved in. They have been working hard the past few months to make it feel like home. After being halfway across the country from our families for the past five years, being less than two hours away by bus or car is a revelation. And with a busy and sometimes overwhelming fall, it was huge to have a quiet retreat from the fast-paced city.

Their move did, however, mean we needed to get a bit creative for Christmas. Since they stuck around New England over the holidays, we decided to celebrate a small family Christmas in late January.

Ren and Emily flew up late on a Thursday night. We spend Friday morning exploring Boston — we picked up treats at Mike's Pastry (we were early enough to beat any crowds), contemplated the New England Holocaust Memorial, strolled part of the Freedom Trail, warmed up at David's Tea and Thinking Cup, and enjoyed a classic New England lunch at Yankee Lobster before heading east.



It felt both strange and perfect, celebrating the holidays in a new place, in a new home, cuddled up on a gigantic sofa with our two favorite cats in front of a crackling fire. (After getting the car stuck on the beach near the Kennedy compound and waiting for a tow truck... )

The next morning, we woke up early, bundled up, and headed across the street to meet up with a new neighbor and fast friend, who had promised to take us oystering. We loaded up the gear and headed to the beach. Oysters were everywhere! We gathered a big pile on a large rock, then sorted out the ones that were too small to harvest, not stopping until we had a full basket (the maximum per week per license). Those with waders took the rakes and headed into the water to dig for clams, until we had a basket of those as well.



Happy, freezing, soaked, exhausted, and proud, we piled back into the cars and headed home to warm up and dry out by the fire. We're so thankful for Karla waking up early to spend her morning on the beach with us: an unforgettable experience that we hope to repeat (perhaps in warmer weather).

We spent the rest of the day alternately napping and sightseeing around the Cape, before a big Christmas dinner that involved lots of lobster. The long weekend came to an end faster than we would like, but we're already looking forward to spending more holidays there as a family.



See the rest of our New England Christmas photos on Flickr. (Thanksgiving, too!)

thankful list | March 2015

01. Super Cluckin' Sunday with our dear friend A. Wolf.
02. a Frozen snowman built to greet everyone walking out the doors of a downtown building.
03. a bon voyage party for Nate and Danielle as they set out on a yearlong world adventure.
04. a baptism celebration at REUNION (and the baptism of a new friend!).
05. Sweet Cheeks with friends (biscuits + a deep discussion about life and faith = win).
06. a final farewell to our adventuring friends.
07. Orinoco with friends as we vision for community group.
08. adorable squishy baby cheeks and tiny toothy smiles.
09. a birthday party for a dear friend.
10. lunch with three lovely ladies.
11. a mani/pedi by Grey.
12. an entertaining PowerPoint karaoke happy hour at the office.
13. a second birthday party (because why not), involving mac and cheese and hard cider.
14. tagging along Ian's tour of Christian Science for the K-State student group.
15. turkeys wandering the streets of Brookline.
16. seeing the same turkeys two days in a row.
17. discovering said turkeys stick around because a neighbor feeds them cabbage.
18. knocking out our taxes (even though we had to pay, at least they're done).
19. a clean bill of health at my annual skin screening.
20. a delicious catering tasting at the office.
21. babysitting for an adorable toddler.
22. a couple hours of HGTV.
23. an interesting office presentation/conversation about food sustainability.
24. making zuppa toscana while chatting with Micki and Grandma Judy.
25. visiting the REUNION Somerville location.
26. lunch with friends we don't see as often as we'd like.
27. KO meat pies.
28. celebrating lots of big answered prayers at community group.
29. the magic of FaceTime, so Nate and Danielle could video chat us from Chile.
30. catching up with Catherine, in town for a conference.
31. Micki and Grandma Judy coming up to the city to hang out with Catherine too.
32. Taza chocolate.
33. Roxy's Grilled Cheese.
34. a quiet Sunday.
35. chicken piccata to celebrate a friend landing a TFA position in her hometown.
36. community group dinner at Dorado.