thankful in the midst of big changes

one loving husband who takes such good care of me
two amazing families who agree to crazy schedules in order to help us move
three incredible brothers — I wish I had more time with you
six months Britni and Joe let us store our things in their new house
twelve angry jurors — we didn't miss Caleb's final fall play
twenty-four hours in a Penske truck with Ian — we love road trips together, and plan to see Niagara Falls together (a first for both of us)
thirty points Bethel scored to win their final game of the season
countless friends — the ones here we can look forward to seeing in the next few days and whenever we come "home," the ones in Boston waiting for us, and the rest, scattered across the globe, whom we think of often.
infinite God, who guides our every step and in whom we can trust with everything and worry about nothing

items found in old room

Below are samplings of items I found while cleaning out my old room, so my mom can turn it into a nice guest room that isn't banana yellow and purple with yellow stars. I can't imagine why she thinks it needs an update...

• notes written from Britni and other friends while in class (in high school)
• recruiting info and applications from ivy league universities (had to keep those to brag, right?)
• Mickey and Minnie Mouse coloring book pages
• my sticker collection
• pumpkin carol lyrics
• turkey carol lyrics
• Britni and I's duets from forensics
• N'Sync fan fiction Britni and I wrote in middle school
• ACT results
• my gumwrapper chain that was a last measure 109 feet and 10 inches long
• hello kitty items from family in the Philippines
• a sweet quilted red with tiny white hearts mik mik billfold
• my postcard collection
• scraps from all of my sewing projects
• an unfinished quilt from Grandma made by my great-grandma (leaving in Oakley so maybe my family can take it to the person who quilts here, to finish it)
• Lord of the Rings collectibles
• the rough draft of a poem I wrote in 6th grade that made the "Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans" — I was such a great poet. (see below. and I also discovered Caleb has a poem in the 2006 edition — runs in the family!)

Footprint
*note, this is typed up from my rough draft copy and not the anthology book...
I walk along, and as I go,
I see a pool, a hole.
I wonder, I ponder, I stop to think.

What was it?
Was it a giant T-Rex chasing it's prey?
Or a giant dinosaur just walking this way?
A flying dinosaur, starting to land?
Or a tiny one, that would fit in your hand?

What happened?
Was it a giant flood, that made them drown,
a climate change that turned the world around?
Did a meteor hit the earth so hard?
Did a great freeze kill them off?

Where did they go?
Did they simply disappear, into thin air?
Or are they still alive somewhere?
Were they funneled into another land some way?
Are they under the ground we walk on today?

I walk along, and as I go,
I wonder, I ponder — how much we do not know.

Thing 1, RIP

Thing 1, a mystery snail, came home from PetCo with Ian and Anna in June 2009. Thing lived in the aquarium with Butter and Jelly, where he worked hard vacuuming the tank and enjoying algae and food debris until his passing in November 2009. Thing is preceded in death by Thing 2 and Thing 3, who passed in July 2009. Thing is survived by tankmates Butter and Jelly, friend Pfluff, and owners Ian and Anna.

Thing was a good, friendly, and ambitious snail and janitor and will be missed.

Tankside services were held November 9, 2009 at 4 p.m. in the round room with Ian officiating. Burial was in the upstairs bathroom toilet.

Memorials may be made in Thing's name to the Ian and Anna Moving Fund.

how to move to Boston

In 40 easy steps. We've completed items in bold, and will continue to update as we accomplish items.

1. Wait 2.5 months after family vacation for phone call with good job offer.
2. Walk around for a week with a huge smile on face.
3. Commence apartment hunting.
4. Get frustrated at realtors who don't call back.
5. Trust third realtor, who is very helpful in finding you a place to live.
6. Have friend in Boston look at apartments with trusted realtor.
7. Thank friend in Boston.
8. Sign for chosen apartment.
9. Change address via the post office form and fill out address changes for all subscriptions, financial institutions, etc.
10. Plan complicated moving schedule, i.e. coordinate hectic schedules of two families to get scattered belongings to one centralized location: Britni and Joe's house.
11. Realize you can't squeeze in everything before leaving.
12. Feel sad about the things you are missing (bachelorette party, final football game, etc.).
13. Pay bills so they don't become late because you lose them during the big move.
14. Buy plane tickets to come back for holidays plus wedding.
15. Watch bible study video sessions you will miss because of the move.
16. Pack up belongings at house of family number one.
17. Travel to house of family number two and sort/pack belongings there.
18. With family number two, meet family number one for dinner to make up for missing Thanksgiving due to the move.
19. Watch brother, a senior, in the high school fall play while staying with family number two.
20. Travel to Britni and Joe's.
21. See as many friends as humanly possible.
22. Recruit some of previously mentioned friends to help load moving truck. Bribe with doughnuts if necessary.
23. Buy new and interesting Jones Soda to make tasting review videos.
24. Leave for Boston in rented moving truck.
25. See new places.
26. Document states via state sign photos.
27. Try not to get a flat tire overnight while staying in Terre Haute, Indiana.
28. Eat lots of junk fast food.
29. Avoid creepy hotels.
30. Get keys to apartment you have seen only on the internet.
31. Unpack.
32. Obtain needed furniture.
33. Find a new bank.
34. Get new Massachusetts driver's licenses.
35. Laugh at how goofy new driver's license photos are.
36. Register to vote.
37. Contact State Farm to switch over renter's insurance to Massachusetts from Kansas.
38. Go to first day of work/start looking for work.
39. Obtain and load two Charlie cards, one of which is taken care of by employer.
40. Design new blog look to go with new location.

making quiche

Ian and I are home alone this week — Dane took Micki to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for her birthday getaway trip. We've got some assignments, are taking care of Pfluff and preparing more for our move. We're also experimenting with dinner. Tonight, we decided to knock off one of my concrete aspiration goals for this year and make quiche. I thought this goal would take lots of practice, but it turned out great with just one try!

We modified a recipe from foodnetwork.com to make our quiche. The following recipe is with our changes.

ingredients
6 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups half and half (it was cheaper than heavy cream and turned out fine)
salt and pepper
1 medium onion, chopped and sauteed with garlic (optional) and olive oil
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese — we used cheddar and asiago we found in the fridge
1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crust, fitted to a 9-inch pie plate (Or, even better, if you have time make your own pie crust: it's tastier and cheaper. Plus you can be proud it's homemade. For the record, I can make pie crust and prefer homemade, but we had pie crust in the fridge.)

directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender.
Layer the onions, bacon, and cheese in the bottom of the pie crust, then pour the egg mixture on top.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until the egg mixture is set. Cut into 8 wedges.
Serve with salad for a bistro-quality meal!