We're Back!

Hi all!  For our few and faithful followers, we just wanted to say we are finally re-emerging from the fog of moving into a new house, starting a new job, and staying on top of everyday life!  We hope this nice fall weather finds all of you with refreshed spirits as that hot and humid air is hopefully behind us. 
We will be posting pictures soon and catching up on all the comings and goings in this home!  Stay tuned for more updates!

The Lost Summer

If you're good at math, or have looked at a calendar, you'll notice the glaring fact that we haven't posted since mid-June. I know how difficult these last two months have been, not getting your regular dose of Garrett news and views. But don't worry, we're back and we've got lots to talk about.
Today is a big day. Today is our last day as non-homeowners! We've spent the last month and a half house hunting and tomorrow we will close on our very first house! It has been such a crazy month and a half, and explains why we haven't posted in so long. It seems like we haven't had time to even think about anything besides "House, house, house" for the last six weeks. It's a strange feeling to know that by this time tomorrow we will be standing in a place we can truly call our own. No rent to pay, no annoying neighbors down the hall, no fire alarms at 1:30 in the morning, and hello mortgage payments, clogged gutters, and the endless "honey do" list. But although we'll be slaves to the bank for the next thirty years, but I guess that just goes with the territory. Regardless, it's exciting and scary at the same time. But Mir and I are happy to be starting this next chapter in our lives. Goodbye innocence of youth and hello crushing servitude of responsibility.
In other news, Mir has been hired by a local school district to be the new elementary music teacher! We're so thankful that she has been given this opportunity after so much time searching and wondering. She's looking forward to a class she can truly call her own and a place where she can begin building her experience. The good news is the school is not far from our new house, so it will be very convenient. But we're both happy with this new opportunity for her and anxious for the new school year to begin.
Sorry for the hiatus from blogging, but we'll make sure to keep you updated more often in the future. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers during this hectic time. You've all helped keep us sane and grounded with all these changes.

Just Dive Right In

This time last year, our wedding was 4 days away and I was SO excited!  Of course any bride-to-be has nerves, but the excitement overrides those nerves.  Last year I was also teaching C4K the week before our wedding, so it made the week just fly by.  Honestly, during that week leading up to our wedding, I don't remember eating, relaxing or anything along those lines.  It was a crazy week, but very special and we have so many wonderful memories stored away from that weekend :) This year, to celebrate our one-year anniversary, B and I are going on a quaint little trip to Galena.  There will be pictures and stories to come :)
Now, zoom forward a year later and we find it very hard to believe that it has gone that fast!

This year in the week leading up to our wedding anniversary, instead of running around getting all those last minute details together for our wedding, B and I are looking forward to a break from the "real world" and are so excited to just get to spend some quality time together without any distractions!
This past week for me has been an adventure.  Most of you should know of my frustration finding a teaching job.  I know that teaching is my calling--it's what I love to do, I love the students, it really is my passion.  However there are very few music teaching jobs for someone recently a college graduate (without experience) in our area.  In these past few months it has come to me that I need to go another job route for a while.  Especially since now we are well into summer and of course school is out--we have some big goals in mind, but to achieve them I need a job as well.  So, long story short, I have dove into the retail world and recently been hired as an associate with a local department store.  Let's just say hello panty-hose and dresses, goodbye shorts and t-shirts.  I've had training all week long and it is a bit overwhelming, but I like all the people I've worked with thus far as well as I've learned a lot!
So, while in the year that has passed since our wedding many things have changed, many have stayed the same.  As we've gone through this crazy week leading up once again to June 19th, B has been the ever supporting husband that he always is--even when I come home a bit cranky and frazzled---just like he was the ever supportive fiance listening to me hash out wedding details or vent about wedding stress :)

A Sunray a Day...

The Herb Project

Last summer we discovered that our western sun-filled window sills made for a perfect area to grow basil.  So, this summer we have decided to branch out a bit more and grow a few more herbs.  We started with Lemon Verbena and Oregano.  Since then, we've planted some parsley (which has really taken off) and also started some basil.  It just has added some of the outdoors into our apartment.  Plus, I'm hoping to try out some new recipes with them.  So far I've made some lemon verbena infused tea---which was very refreshing and I also have a great homemade pesto recipe that I can't wait to make again.  It's been exciting watching our plants take off and grow.  Every morning I check on the herbs and loudly exclaim to the hubby that "our babies are growing!"
Enjoy your Tuesday!

We All Have Them

Well, we all have them.  You know, those stacks of magazines in a pile or in a basket waiting for us to go through and read.  I do love reading magazines though..now don't get me wrong...it's just that they start to add up and the basket gets more and more packed.
Anyways, a couple of years ago I got my mom a subscription to Rachel Ray's cooking magazine.  I loved it probably more than she did, haha.  When she was done with them she passed them on to me and there they sat.  Until last week, that is.
Last week, I decided to attack my magazine stash and actually go through my cooking magazines and pull out the recipes I liked and recycle the rest.
So right now my hubby is being very patient as I try out all these new recipes on him.  Such a hard life...I somehow don't think he minds a whole bunch :)
Well, here is what's for dinner tonight...or actually last Monday.  Enjoy, it was delicious!


Chicken-Broccoli Couscous   prep: 20 minutes    cook: 20 minutes   serves: 4
Ingredients
1/4 c. olive oil
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast
3 c. chicken broth
1 10oz. box couscous
1 onion, finely chopped
1 head broccoli, broken into small florets
1/3 c. raisins
1/4 c. chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/3 c. sliced almonds or walnuts

1) In a large skillet, heat 2 tbs. olive oil over medium heat.  Season chicken with salt and pepper, add to the pan and cook, turning once, until cooked through, about 10 minutes.  Transfer to a work surface, let cool, then shred; reserve the skillet
2) Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring 2 cups chicken broth and 1 tbs. olive oil to a boil, season with salt and pepper.  Add the couscous, cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

3) In the reserved skillet, heat the remaining 1 tbs. olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add the broccoli and the remaining 1 c. chicken broth and simmer for 5 minutes.  Stir in the chicken, raisins, parsley and couscous; season with salt and pepper.  Toss with almonds before serving.

Early Morning Sun

It seems that for the past few days, around 5:00ish a.m., I sit upright in bed and think that B and I have slept in too long--past our alarms.  Thankfully, the sun is just that bright these days in the morning.  I do love having that sun shine bright and early.  This winter was a long and hard winter and I'm glad to be through it.

All of the sudden I have realized that we are halfway through May!  Crazy!  I don't really know where March and April went.  It seemed like they were here and now they are gone.  Well, to be truthful I do know where those months went.  I spent of lot of those weeks subbing and waiting to hear on a job verdict.  A lot of prayer, patience, worrying, frustration and waiting...you know how that job game goes.  Alas, it wasn't meant to be, so now I move on. 

As summer is approaching, the hubby and I are looking forward to a few trips this summer and seeing what other adventures are ahead for us.  While the hotness of our little apartment doesn't seem appealing, it's just one of those facts about living in Iowa in the summer.  We've already spent one hot summer here, so I think we can handle another. 

Our one year anniversary is quickly coming up and we can't believe it!  Hard to believe that one year is almost down in the books for us as a married couple!  It's been a great year and we have both learned a lot and our relationship has definitely deepened.

As for the job front, I have several applications out and I'm just waiting for some interviews.  I'm also looking in to options outside of the teaching realm.  I do love teaching and working with children, however I am getting frustrated that there haven't been many openings.  I just want my own classroom, is that too much to ask???  I've been subbing for almost 2 years now!  So, I'm doing some soul searching on figuring out where else I feel called to be.  I do have a long term sub. position lined up for next fall (which is encouraging), however it seems that in our area, music positions are not opening and that frustrates me to no end!  Thus, I've got to consider other options for the time being.  I know I will be put in the place I'm supposed to be, it's just hard waiting.

Well, I'm off to work this afternoon and need to get a few things in line before then.  Hope you all are having a great Wednesday!

Courage

Courage for your week:

Be happy for this moment.  This moment is your life. 

Trash to Treasure

It makes me so excited when I am able to find something that someone else didn't want anymore..aka they decided to give it to a second hand store and it soon becomes my new treasure.
Thus my story begins.  As you probably know, most of our money goes into savings for that house that will be ours someday in the future.  So I do like to decorate our apartment and on a budget, sometimes that is hard to pull off.  But you can be pretty creative if you aren't afraid to do a little searching and get a little dirty.
Yesterday was a slow morning here in this household.  B decided to sleep in and I had to run and do a few errands and one of those errands took me right past Goodwill.  Perfect. 
So, as I like to read blogs of other budget-minded creative DIY decorators, I get some good ideas.  Some have been great, some have been flops, and other ideas have gone in the folder in my mind titled: for our future house.
I'm going to try to post more of my projects, however right now our computer is acting slow, so more later :)

And idea I saw, it was a flop, but I never quite knew what to do with that wall.

I found these babies and knew exactly where they would go. 

This little one fooled me.  I saw it, walked away from it, and then it enticed me into coming back and finally buying it.  It was worth it.

And the final result turned out pretty well!

Positive in the Midst of Disappointment

Lately, things have not been going as B and I had thought they would turn out.  Unfortunately and fortunately while we think we know how everything is supposed to go, God sure knows what He is doing.  And while I am disappointed, now, I just have to wait for another door or window to open to see where God wants me.
In the midst of some disappointment though, I've really been trying to focus on all of the good that we have going on right now.  B just celebrated his 25th birthday (25 years, wow!)  He has a great, steady job, normal hours, with (very important) health insurance!  While I might not have the job I want, I still have my lessons every week to teach and I can contribute that way.  Plus, we recently discovered a show that we both love, Modern Family!  Our apartment is not big by any stretch of the imagination, but at least it is clean and close to B's work, and it's not that bad being in such tight quarters...we are still newlyweds after all ;)

Courage

Courage for your week:
 

    The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will 

never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Deuteronomy 31:8

Prayers

Hi all- we're calling the team into action!  Life has suddenly started moving fast here and there are some exciting and new possibilities for us in the near future.  Please pray for these new opportunities and for us to have faith and trust during this time.

it was just one of those mornings...

B's first day of his new hours!

No more 2:20

 I have put off writing about one very important happening that came our way a few weeks ago, but I believe now is a good time to mention it. I recently applied for a new position at work, a commercial production job that I had applied for once already last fall. Another opportunity came around and I took another shot. After days of waiting, I finally got the call that I had been chosen for the job!!! Suffice it to say I was thrilled. I have been on cloud nine ever since I got the news, so excited to be moving into a position that I feel appeals to my interests more. I have been training for my new job over the last few days and I will finally begin full time early next week. I am so excited to get started and to have normal hours. It will be great to be able to spend my evenings at home again instead of having to scurry to bed early. Of course, the extra sleep is welcome too!

Welcome Spring!

The Missouri Tooth Fairy

Lately, it has just been plain busy around here.  I really would like to post more than we have been, but I'm still working on balance.  I'm sitting here drinking my mint tea and finally taking in the chance to sit down and not have to think about where my students need to be next, what my lesson plans are, etc. 
I learned today, that the Missouri tooth fairy pays the best in the world of tooth fairies.  Did you know that?  I didn't, but apparently one kindergartner seemed to believe firmly in that fact!  I used to think the Iowa tooth fairy paid pretty well...
I've been subbing a lot (4 out of 5 days this week) and I am tired.  Then, 2 out of the 4 days, I either teach lessons at our apartment after school or go and teach in the studio.  So they can easily be considered long days.  I think because I'm not entirely familiar with the teacher's schedules, I'm always on "high alert" and at the end of the day when my brain has had to be 3 steps ahead, I'm a little tired.  (I'm not asking for pity here, but saying what I think)  I want to make sure I'm following all the lesson plans and making sure we are mostly on time, so during a day of subbing I really focus.  In the midst of all my complaining though, there is some good.  I mainly have been getting calls for one school consistently and now after being there many times, the students recognize me and I have built some repore with the teachers around me and the students, so that is encouraging.  It doesn't just seem like I'm another "substitute teacher"...which sometimes one can feel like.  But I still really, really, really want my own classroom...I'm still trying to be patient.

Anyways, tomorrow is Friday and B and I are heading out to spend some time with family.  TGIF!   There is a lot more to catch you all up on, but for now, I've got a lunch to pack for tomorrow and some menu planning to do for next week, so I'll sign off here :)

Birthdays Galore!

Off to The Vine for supper tonight.

That is all.

P.S. Happy birthday, Dave!

And yesterday would have been Grandpa Bob's 93rd birthday. Miss you Gramps.

I WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR TODAY

Just as the title says, if there is anything Braedan and I are learning recently, it's that we need to be grateful for today and the gift we have been given.  It's so easy to get worried about the future, about all the grown up things that can bog us down, about things that need to get done....but that is so minimal.  We've been given a gift and that's plan and simple.

"To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle."
-- WALT WHITMAN

Alarm

Braedan and I were jolted out of bed this morning at 1:19 a.m. (I looked at the clock) and it wasn't fun.  As we both came out of the fog of deep sleep, we realized the fire alarms in our apartment were blaring!  My first thought was that we had left a candle burning and in my daze I grabbed my pillow and immediately started fanning the alarm in case there was smoke.  However, we soon both realized that there was no smoke in our bedroom, but not only were the alarms going off in our apartment but in the entire building
After quickly pulling on clothes, we stumbled into the hallway and only saw one couple just as confused as we were about why the alarms going off.  We live in a very quiet apartment, I have only seen a handful of our neighbors a handful of times.  So what a way to meet the neighbors right?!
Well, we went outside, and couldn't see any fire or smoke in our building.  We decided to go back in the building (bad idea?) because we were so confused when we couldn't smell smoke or see any fire.  On our way back into the building, we heard pounding on doors on our floor and there was a guy saying there was really a fire in an apartment and we needed to get out.  Then, if the adrenaline hadn't kicked in already, it did then.  We ran back to our apartment and then we could really smell the smoke in the hallway.  All these thoughts ran through our heads as to what to grab.  B said he thought we needed to grab our financial stuff (what a good husband) and all I thought to grab was my oboe, purse, and car keys.
Well, long story short, we made it out obviously and while there was a small fire, it wasn't big, thank goodness!  We did stand outside with all our neighbors for about 40 minutes while the fire trucks came, police, management, the works.  I was so glad it wasn't freezing outside, that was a plus.  While that is not the way I wanted to meet neighbors, at least I kind of know who we live with.  I felt like I had gone back to my college days with the fire alarm going off so early.  While I finally was able to go back to sleep, B unfortunately wasn't able to get any more sleep.  Just pray that tonight we can finally have a full night of sleep and that we or any of you will never have to go through a real fire situation.  It was scary enough being in that one last night, I can't even begin to imagine losing your loved ones or home to a fire.  Sends shivers through me as I type.
Have a good night all!

Death Is Nothing At All

On January 29th, our family lost a very important family member and it has been tough on all of us.  Even though I love to write and keep a journal often, I've been struggling with words about Gramps because there are so many and I've had a hard time consolidating my thoughts.  I love quotes and poems, so I found this poem by Henry Scott Holland, (who ironically died in 1918--the year Grandpa Bob was born) and I thought it made up for my lack of words at the moment.

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.

All is well.

It's beginning to look a lot like...spring?!

 Happy Valentine's day everyone, though you wouldn't think it is by looking out the window. Temperatures in the 40's have melted what was a week and a half ago mountains of snow. Not that we're complaining. It's nice not having to crank up the heat, or wading through snow just to get to our cars. You can definitely tell that spring is on its way and Miriam and I are both very excited to see more and more green as the days go by.
 Miriam is still subbing and she's getting quite a lot of calls from one school in particular. I think she really likes that school and hopes that something permanent will open up soon. On my end, another opening for a commercial production producer has come around and I had an interview for that today. Now comes the unenviable task of waiting and waiting to hear back. As is often the case, I'm a little nervous as to how things will work out. But Miriam is always there to remind me of all the positives we've got going for us now, and that if it doesn't work out this time, there's something better waiting around the corner.
 We hope you're having a wonderful Valentine's holiday with your loved one. We sure are!

Sunday Morning

This morning B and I were planning on continuing our church search in the area.  We are still trying to find the right church...it's a process.  However, much to my surprise, I woke up to a sick hubby.  So our church search has to be postponed again.  Tis the season of flu and colds..boo.  I could have gone to church on my own, but I think this is something we need to do together, so we're going to wait until Braedan is healthy and go together.
So, with the change of plans and Braedan sleeping, I had a quiet morning to myself.  I cleaned up some, ate a slow breakfast, uploaded way over-due pictures and then dragged myself to go work-out.  I thought that with our weekend full of family, festivities, and food, it was necessary.
But probably to much amazement...I have a few pictures from our wonderful holidays to share with you.  There are many more pictures on our shutterfly share account, leave us a message if you need the address for the page.   Hope you are all staying healthy!

Our first Christmas as a married couple :)

Our family Christmas at our apartment

yummy Christmas cookies

Thanksgiving in Aurora with Mimi

Braedan and his siblings

Let it Snow x3

It's been a bit of a wacky day here in the Garrett household. Miriam was all set to put on her sombrero, crank up the mariachi music, and be a Spanish sub today. Despite not being in a Spanish class for quite some time, she felt pretty confident going in. We woke up to a steady snow which progressively got worse as the day wore on. Miriam, having to travel on the interstate through downtown C.R. was a little skeptical on having to make the trip. Luckily, the principal informed her that with the school's early dismissal, she would not have to teach today. But Miriam, while going online to cancel her class, discovered they needed a sub for the SAME class tomorrow! So she's not quite out of the woods with Spanish class yet.
 We've been considering rearranging our living room, giving our apartment a new look for the new year. I'm sure pictures are to follow, so keep checking in!

Welcome New Year!

Well, for this household, 2011 started out with a bang and sickness came to our little nest!  So we can't say that this year started off too promising...but I think it will turn around pretty quickly.  Since last week was pretty much a lost week, we've spent this week cleaning, purging, condensing, merging, and organizing and welcoming in 2011.  I will put some updated holiday pictures up and maybe even some updated apartment pictures as well!
We know God has a lot of plans for this family and we are ready to face whatever adventures He places in our path in 2011.  Whether that means a full-time teaching job in the future for me (please!!) will be shown in due time.  Sometimes it's hard to wait and be patient though.

B and I just want to wish you all a Happy 2011!

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”

--William Arthur Ward