him + her

no. 31: brazil

2010-07-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

We have found it hard to tell people about our trip to Brazil. Words can seem too limited to describe a one-week experience in a different country. Summarizing the experience feels impossible. "It was great." or "It was powerful." or "It was eye-opening." These sentences feel like an oversimplification... the right adjective being hard to find. When trying to explain our trip, we find ourselves describing details and individual experiences--a shanty town, an encounter with an angry, intoxicated Brazilian man, the kids who lived in the slums.

Believe us when we write to you that we wish we could share it all with you... every photo, every memory, every person, every town, every prayer, every thought... all of it.
So for the time being, we'll stick to those moments that have impressed themselves in our minds, those individual experiences that add up to create the feeling of a place.
So, just for a moment, imagine that you're there... ready, set, go.

But first, an introduction. We went to Brazil with a group of twelve from our church. We spent about a week in Rio de Janeiro and partnered with a local Evangelical church to put on a vacation bible school in two of Rio's favelas (slums). We also had time to visit beaches and tour the city. Rio is a beautiful place. We would spend a day in a favela, surrounded by poverty, and then take a cable car up to a mountain top that provided a breath-taking view of the coast and surrounding mountains. Witnessing the contrasts was jarring: mansion-sized beach homes blocks away from shanty towns, streets littered with trash nestled between jutting mountains and beautiful beaches.

One experience that has stayed with us was walking through the City of God (Cidade de Deus in Portuguese), one of the oldest favelas in Rio. We had never witnessed the poverty that exists in the City of God. Houses, which are more like shanties, were made out of scrap wood and corrugated metal. The paths that led through the slum were littered with trash, the slum having been built on a dirt-covered trash heap. Kids came out of their homes to see who we were and follow us through the neighborhood. Many of them had bloated bellies and smelled of trash. But they were beautiful and would hold our hands as we walked.

We had to keep reminding ourselves that people actually lived in these shanties. It just felt like a movie or a series of photos from National Geographic. To imagine living day to day in this slum was impossible. People lived in these shanties, with no running water and heavy rain threatening to wash them down the hillside. Many favelas in Rio have been leveled by the recent rainy season. In some cases, whole neighborhoods have washed down the hillside, one instance killing 200 people. Most of the favelas are built on hills too steep for people with money to build their homes on, or on covered trash heaps that offer no solid foundation when the rains come.

Most of all, the faces that we know and love from our trip have left a permanent mark on our hearts. The smiling child shaking a plastic bottle full of coke tabs, their only toy made from the remains of trash piled near their home. The loneliness etched on a woman's face as she described her decision to move to the city alone in hopes of finding work and the sadness she felt as she left her children behind.

The deepest of love on a father's face as he holds his fourteen day old baby and asks us to pray for his wife who was suffering from the labor. These faces bring emotions that leave us wondering...

It is impossible to imagine living with so little or in such uncertainty. We think of our attic apartment as a very humble home. But it is filled to the brim with our stuff and stays put despite the weather. We are so blessed. We kept thinking, "What kept me from being born into this poverty? How do I deserve the comfortable life I have been given?" We don't deserve this life of wealth, comfort, and ease. And we don't think we'll ever be able to answer those questions.

So where do we go from here?

-Luke + natalie

no. 30: a long break

2010-06-29T19:47:00.001-07:00

where to begin?
we haven't written here in over a month so you will have to excuse our rustiness with words.

but honestly- we've experienced more in this month than we could ever imagine. we've had the attack of fleas in our home, painted our kitchen, participated in a garage sale, changed jobs, started work at a farm, been in a wedding, said goodbye to dear friends, & visited another country that changed us deeply.

this country is brazil.
it is the most amazing place we have ever been. it's full of flavor, dance, the best rice and beans, oceans, mountains, devastating poverty, landfills, slums, strong community, hope, & people who will treat you like family from the moment you meet.

& like i said- it has uprooted us {which is really good!} & made us think differently about so many things. we want to share this with you, all of it.

but it has been difficult to process all of it & sit down to write something that would even remotely describe our experience & express our feelings about it all. we've taken to writing with pencil & on paper to make sense of it all instead of writing here.
we hope you'll understand & know that we haven't forgotten about you.
it gives us such joy to write here & be a part of such a creative community.

so thank you for stickin' with us. we are so encouraged by all of you & cannot wait to share all of our photos & write to you about our trip to brazil.

we will be out of town until mid july! so, be expecting many new updates here & in our shop once we return!

until then...thank you for reading.

-Luke + natalie

no. 29: the things we do

2010-05-24T17:16:00.001-07:00

l: trying to start out the day in prayer and reading the Bible
n: finding quiet in the simplest of moments

l: interning on a vegetable farm
n: gathering materials for upcoming projects

l: working at a bakery
n: preparing & enjoying delicious meals

l: managing the family budget and checkbook
n: making buttons for a friend's wedding

l: helping people make their vegetable gardens
n: enjoying ice cream with {best friends}

l: tending to our own garden
n: lingering on every harvest & every bloom

----

also, fyi--
we are leaving the country on monday!
we are spending ten days in rio de janeiro, brazil for a mission trip.
we cannot wait to write & share in photographs the many parts of brazil that we take with us.
so, this will be our last time to blog for a couple of weeks :)
we will miss you!

-Luke + natalie

no. 28: home improvements

2010-05-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

We have been busy making little improvements to our home.
With a limited budget, it is difficult to find exactly what you want with little money, but we are so happy with what we have found.

Our little herb garden on our porch is perfect for when we are making meals. We simply walk outside & pick the herbs that we would like to use.

Right now we have cilantro, oregano & rosemary.
We would like to add basil & parsley.

We found this container from a garage sale last summer for 50 cents.
We added soil & flowers & now it sits at the end of our porch to brighten up the space.

This weekend we plan to start de-cluttering our home & painting the walls.

Do you have any summer projects?

-Luke + natalie

no. 27: featured.

2010-05-10T15:59:00.001-07:00

{photo above featured in the newspaper article.}

this weekend has been a little crazy, but it was worth it.
we drove to arkansas saturday afternoon to celebrate the graduation of a dear {friend} & to be with family for mother's day.
we had such an amazing time & our spirits were really lifted.
we built a beautiful garden complete with a couple of trellises, enjoyed food & had great conversation.
we left believing & hoping that we would end up there someday. sometime.
have you ever had that feeling? the feeling of this place, wherever it may be, should be "home?"
it is a wonderful feeling.

& to complete such a great weekend, we were featured artists in our local newspaper.
{here} is the link to the article.
it was such a great experience!

enjoy your week, friends.
we'll be back on sunday.

-Luke + natalie

no. 27: cultivating.

2010-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

This gardening experience has been quite the adventure. Natalie and I feel like we are exploring uncharted territory, even though gardening is something almost intrinsic to the human experience. Gardening might be as ancient as human language, but it feels new, fresh and almost radical to us. We grew up buying food from grocery stores and now we are growing it from the ground. It is empowering, thrilling and beautiful.

It sounds simple: putting a seed in the ground and letting it grow. But there is so much more. Most of our decisions and actions taken in the garden are based on common sense, good guesses and things we have seen other gardeners do. Books can only answer so many questions. But despite our newness and ignorance, things seem to be working. Plants are growing.

Tending to a garden has certainly brought out the tender spirit in me. Yesterday, we left our little tomato plants out in the cold frame overnight for the first time. As we were driving away, I kept asking Natalie, "do you think they will be okay?" I feared returning the next day to find dozens of dead tomato plants, killed by the cold. (They survived!) And on windy days, I catch myself wondering about our tender sugar snap peas, dangling on for dear life to their trellises. I believe that gardening is as much being a good care-taker as it is knowing what to do when.

Vegetables need a lot of love.

- Luke

i do not know if this is true for you, but when i step outside after a long day, i almost always feel better. it could be a walk around the neighborhood, a bicycle ride to the park, a hike on a nearby trail or time spent in the garden.

but lately, it has been hard to find or even allow time to take a deep breath, quiet the mind, & simply enjoy the peace of being outside.
friends, i'll be honest. in the last few months, i've felt mentally, physically, & spiritually dry. i think it has something to do with the fast pace of life that i've created, the many responsibilities i've taken on, & the guilt of not doing my absolute best.
so when it comes time to really living life, i find that peaceful time to be unnecessary & instead- check off something from my to do list while feeling a false sense of, "i've got my stuff together! i'm feeling alright."

& i've noticed this in others around me. so i wonder, is life really about its accomplishments or truly, once we dig deeper, is life about cultivating? in the people, in the experiences, in the passions, in the creativity that makes up life?
it must be the latter.
so, i'm determined to make change in my life. & a small step in that right direction involves cultivating experience with my favorite person in our garden.

we are weaving trellises, sowing seeds, shoveling compost, molding beds, digging deep & getting dirty. we are reminding ourselves with each hour spent in the garden that this is what life was intended for.

because simply put-
this time of year, this season of growing truly is...

magic.

-natalie

no. 26: resting

2010-04-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

it is quiet over here this week. we are resting after a busy weekend of wedding fun, a graduation party & visitors to our home.

-Luke + natalie

no. 26: livin' it up!

2010-04-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks have been a birthday extravaganza! I'm not one to make a big deal out of birthdays, but Natalie's birthday is an exception. Her birthday is probably the day of the year she looks forward to with the most anticipation, so I've learned to make it a special day for her. And this year was the big 21. That means it was an even bigger deal.

We began her birthday with opening presents at the house. Then we rode our bikes to Natalie's favorite restaurant for brunch. Bleu, a local gourmet restaurant, has the best brunch menu in town. We made happy noises as we slowly savored our biscuits & gravy, eggs benedict, and cold salmon lox. And to top it off, Natalie ordered her first drink: a mimosa.

And no birthday is complete without ice cream or cake. We went with ice cream--from our favorite local ice cream shop, Sparky's. Natalie even got a free birthday scoop.

But the celebration didn't stop there.

I planned a party for the following Saturday so that we could celebrate with our friends. It was a blast. We held the party at a park nearby, complete with a grill and fire pit.

We grilled grass-fed beef hamburgers, ate delicious side dishes that others brought, and roasted marshmallows for s'mores.

We also enjoyed local beer with our burgers, a perfect drink for the warmer weather.

We were impressed by how many people came, and from so many different circles of our lives. We are blessed to have found such a loving community here.

Our weekend was near perfect with delicious food, good people & beautiful weather. Now we're finding it difficult to get back into the groove of everyday life.

Perhaps every day should be like this weekend?

-Luke + natalie

no. 25: a birthday celebration!

2010-04-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

This week we celebrated! More to come next week.

-Luke + natalie

no. 24: spring is here

2010-04-05T20:14:00.000-07:00

Spring is upon us. Today the air was thick with humidity and the smell of bosoms. It has been raining almost every other day, but when the clouds part the sun shows itself and provides warmth I haven't felt in months. The scenery around us is changing. We see greens that we forgot existed. Suddenly the landscape has been painted in color, starting with strokes of green on the ground and moving to dots of white, purple and pink in bushes and trees.

This spring has been different, though. It has been marked by the start of a garden--seed catalogues, planting calendars, trays of seedlings, freshly-tilled earth. Spring began for me with anticipation and impatience and the question of when to plant. When I saw the signs of new life in the world around me, it was both a reason to rejoice and a reason to worry. Am I behind? Should I have planted seeds in the ground last week? Am I too late? But those feelings inevitably turn into a contentment in my situation. I must submit to forces greater than I. Rain can always cause a delay.

But through our gardening endeavors I believe that I am more appreciative of the coming of spring. I am able to participate in this annual rebirth, the transition from dormancy to life. After the long, dead months of winter, I am reminded that the earth is a place of abundant life. Potentiality is unleashed and the impulse to grow-flourish-propagate runs free. As a gardener, I merely facilitate. I don't tell the seeds when to sprout, I just give them what they need. I only assist the potentiality in becoming what it was made to be.

-Luke

there are many things to love about spring. the bursts of color & the blooming of flowers, blue skies & afternoon rain showers, the beginning of new life & the taste of summer freedom. there are so many reasons to celebrate spring & several ways to take full advantage of this wonderful season.

for starts, get outside! a few days ago, i was feeling a bit under the weather. after a bit of browsing around the web for inspiration & eating an entire chocolate bar, i realized that i simply needed some fresh air & a good ol' fashioned walk. so, i walked. & it felt so incredibly perfect.

secondly, remember & capture this season. paint a blooming landscape, take a photo of spring flowers, sew a bright handbag with pastel-colored fabrics. spring always brings forth bursts of inspiration in my mind so take full advantage of this time & start creating!

& to end, plant something. start some seeds & watch them sprout, plant flowers in a few pots to brighten your space. instead of purchasing flowers this year, begin a flower garden. after a day of hard work, enjoy a picnic in the park with delicious foods.

happy spring, everyone!

-natalie

no. 23: let's go camping!

2010-03-30T17:09:00.000-07:00

on thursday afternoon, we packed our tent, a sleeping bag, some warm clothes, a few snacks & hit the road.

we made it to our camping site around sundown, greeted with warm words & big hugs from luke's family. it has become somewhat of a tradition to go camping during spring break & we are beginning to really love it. sure, the beach sounds wonderful, but there is just something about camping that rejuvenates the soul & clears the mind.

the next morning, we were greeted by frost on our tent & made a fire to fight off the cold. it was a very cold night but warmed up quickly during the day. after breakfast, we put on our hiking boots & headed toward the trails.

we saw bits of green starting to make their appearance amongst the neutral tones of gray & brown. buds were beginning to bloom & the sky was a clear blue.

after our hike, our bellies were empty & craving a delicious meal. luke's dad made "hobo pockets," a regular camping meal, by the fire.

of course, camping is not complete without some down time for reading. luke read the catcher in the rye & i enjoyed a bit of eating animals. we also exchanged good book titles & musical artists with his family.

one thing that was really special about our camping trip was the water. our site lies along the most beautiful river & fish hatchery. there, many women & men wake up in the wee hours of the morning to get an early start on trout fishing.

in some parts of the water, you can even see the fish swimming as the rays catch the water perfectly.

after we packed up & drove into town, we stopped at a local diner & enjoyed afternoon brunch.

we were greeted by the sweetest waitress & a handful of locals catching up on morning gossip & enjoying a cup of coffee.

we felt as if we had gone back into time to a more simpler day.

the diner had such character, filled with vintage vinyl seating, old-fashioned booths & retro appeal.

we savored every bite of our bacon & didn't regret eating every last bit of their homemade biscuits.

it was a truly wonderful weekend full of good food, family & lots of relaxation.
we wish every weekend could be just as good.

-Luke + natalie

no. 22: neighborhood brunch

2010-03-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

last sunday we slept in, woke up later than usual, walked over to our neighbors' home & made the most fantastic brunch.

fresh ingredients.

preparing for omelets... green pepper, mushroom, green onion, garlic & spinach.

the food was so delicious, we deemed our sunday brunch the "mouth party."

but of course, sunday brunch is not complete without freshly squeezed orange juice

and furry friends begging for scraps

and beautiful babies.

so delicious.

-Luke + natalie

no. 21: the start of a garden

2010-03-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend marked the start of a garden. The growing season has begun after what felt like a long winter. This will be the first garden that Natalie and I will see through from start to finish. We're excited, a little nervous and ready to learn. But we are certainly throwing ourselves headlong into this gardening experience, trying to figure out if it is something we could build our lives around.

I stayed up until 3 am on Friday night making the plans. I read about each seed, when to plant, germination conditions, when to transplant, days until harvest. I had to figure out what we needed to plant and what needed to wait for warmer weather. But there is still so much more to know.

On Saturday, we spent the better part of the day planting seeds indoors in trays. We planted over fifteen different kinds of vegetables, flowers and herbs that we'll transplant outdoors when it gets a little warmer. I'm so ready to get outside to prepare the beds, but the rain has limited our work to planting seeds in the sun room.

All of this is only because of the generosity of a family that lives close to Natalie and me. They are proving the space and helping to cover the cost. They had the bed space but didn't have the time. We desperately wanted a garden, but didn't have the space. It was perfect. The family has been so accommodating, allowing us to set up shop in their sun room and trudge into their house to get water. We are really looking forward to the relationship and partnership we are forming with them. It will be a great season.

- Luke

i've found that gardening is such a powerful tool in fighting off the stress & day-to-day grind of everyday life. it is the calm that comes with being fully in your thoughts as you sow each seed, water, & set the mood perfectly for growth.

i'm so thankful for this opportunity that luke & i have to be apart of this garden & in general, the cycle of this earth & its Creator. it was such a wonder to plant each seed & imagine that soon, within a few months, the tiny seed would turn into a plant & bear food for us to enjoy.

also, seeing this little guy as we take our daily trips over to water & tend to the garden is a joy in itself. {he liked to peek at us out the window as we were planting on saturday}. it will be so exciting to have saturdays off during the summer & enjoy picnics beside our garden as we eat the fresh food we've worked so hard to grow.

i'm looking forward to the many challenges, failures, successes & delicious meals as we learn about & cultivate the ground.

-natalie

no. 20: the love list

2010-03-07T20:48:00.000-08:00

french-pressed coffee.

him.

the light.

-natalie

my wedding present.

our neighborhood.

houses covered in ivy.

- Luke

no. 19: true/false

2010-02-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

one of our favorite weekends in columbia, what we like to call the {true/false film festival} weekend, has been a favorite since moving here almost three years ago. it seems, though, that every time the weekend rolls around, something comes up & we cannot fully enjoy the many festivities & incredible documentaries. i just knew, however that this year would be different. we would make it to the t/f parade, see the documentaries we really wanted to see, meet some of the directors, listen to some good bands, & have an overall good time with our close friends. of course, something had to go wrong. problem: pneumonia. how long, you ask? four days! yeah, four days of sleeping, medicating, & drinking gallons of fluids.

luckily & thankfully {yes, there is an upside to this story}, my mom came into town to surprise me & nurse me back to health. she knew exactly what to do {as most moms do! although luke was doing an exceptionally good job} & i felt a tad bit better by saturday evening. we managed to catch one documentary, {colony}, an excellent piece about beekeeping & the phenomenon of the {colony collapse disorder}. so very good!

we also heard some good tunes & ate a delicious thai meal.

this weekend did not turn out how i would have planned, but we were in good company. our city came to life as even the smallest of stories were shared through film.

-natalie

This has only been my second time to take part in the True/False Film Festival, but it is such a wonderful event to experience. (Just to give you some background, T/F is a documentary film festival that takes place in downtown Columbia at the end of February. This is its seventh year and it has certainly been building momentum.) It really takes over the city for those four days. Directors, musicians, and cool people from all over the place are brought to the middle of Missouri to watch and talk about documentary films (or just play music). People are lining up all over the place to get in to see documentaries. Everywhere there are conversations about what movies people are going to see or the issues that the docs address.

This year, I spent most of my weekend behind the counter at Uprise Bakery, serving moviegoers coffee, pastries and sandwiches. This is busiest time of year for the bakery--imagine lines that don't let up for hours. It was exhausting, but fun.

Natalie's pneumonia also prevented us from getting out as much as we would have liked. But her being sick did bring her mom up from Arkansas: a positive side effect of Natalie's illness. By Saturday afternoon, after some mom time, Natalie was feeling much better and we were able to make it to see a movie.

The movie we saw was called Colony and it was about honeybees. I loved it. The cinematography was absolutely beautiful--close-up shots of bees in the hive coupled with breathtaking images of the California landscape in bloom. And it did a good job of presenting the issue of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), the phenomenon of bees abandoning their hives after pollination. I learned a lot. CCD might be caused by an unknown number of culprits: new insecticides, monoculture, diet, the lack of genetic diversity, and industrial agriculture are a few. But no matter the cause, our honeybee population is rapidly decreasing, which has serious ramifications when it comes to the yields of certain crops (like almonds) that rely on honeybee pollination. I find it all very fascinating. It really makes me want to keep bees.

After the film, Natalie's mom took us out to a great Thai restaurant and then to get ice cream at Sparky's (the best ice cream place in town). We had a blast, the three of us. Natalie's mom seemed to really be enjoying herself and said she wanted to be sure to come back next year to catch the whole festival. Though we only made it out for that one night, I felt satisfied. I thought we experienced a sliver of what the film festival means for Columbia.

- Luke

no. 18: special sundays

2010-02-24T13:32:00.000-08:00

Sundays have come to be a Sabbath for Natalie and me. We recently started attending the evening gathering at our church, which opened up our Sunday mornings to breakfast dates and morning walks. It has been wonderful having Sunday mornings together. It is really the only day of the week that affords us a whole morning--nothing planned, no where we have to be. And the past few weeks, we've been talking advantage of our newfound morning time.

Last Sunday we took it pretty easy. We slept in until after 8, took our time getting ready, then walked a short walk over to one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Berlin. On the way we poked our heads in our neighbor's greenhouse to check on their chickens. Cafe Berlin is the place to be for Sunday brunch. We end up seeing so many people we know--an advantage of living in a small town like Columbia. We had the most delicious brunch of breakfast tostadas and pancakes. After stuffing ourselves with food and coffee we walked back home, hushed by the rain and the cold.

We spent the rest the day together, hanging out at the bakery, going grocery shopping and visiting the library to get some music and books. It was one of those isolated days where other responsibilities and obligations are momentarily forgotten. We were lost in the moment, thoroughly enjoying being around each other and taking a break from the feeling of things waiting to get done. It was relaxing. I don't get very many of those days.

-Luke

hi, readers. i can't believe it is already thursday! we are four days behind on this entry. sometimes life just likes to get messy & you have to deal with it. i've been sick for the past few days & my reality has been in bed, sleeping & drinking lots of fluids. luckily, i have a doctor's appointment today so things will be looking up soon!
but really, it is nice to be back in this space... even if we are a bit late.
it's nice to reflect & look back on some of our better days/weeks/moments.

& luke is right. it is so nice to have sunday mornings together. it allows for us to spend time together, doing the things we love. i always find luke, on sunday mornings, working on gardening plans. right now, we're picking out seed!

i like to spend my time working on the meal plan for the upcoming week. this week, we enjoyed a big pot of potato soup & asparagus frittata. on saturday, it's always really special... pizza night! feta, olives, & red onion. delicious!

my favorite part of sunday, however, is spending time with him. he makes any day special.

what do you enjoy doing on your sundays?

-natalie

no 17: a day of love

2010-02-15T17:41:00.000-08:00

This Valentine's Day has been the best by far. I've noticed that since Natalie and I got together, holidays have been more of a big deal for me. Most of that is because Natalie is a sucker for holidays (especially her birthday). But I have also come to appreciate the fact that a holiday can make you take advantage of the moment--and do something for someone you otherwise wouldn't think to do.

Last Sunday was the perfect example. What other day would I be inspired to cut a big heart out of red poster board and make heart-shaped sugar cookies? But Valentine's Day makes permissible the excessive use of hearts--and the overindulgence of sugar cookies.

I wanted to do something special for Natalie on Valentine's Day, even though we had talked about just sticking with hand-made cards. The day before, she presented me with a framed picture of herself and a thoughtful card she made in the fiber-arts studio. I decided on making her breakfast in bed. On Sunday morning, I woke up early, allowing Natalie to sleep in, and went to work in the kitchen. I made blueberry pancakes topped with mixed berries and whipped cream (a special treat for us) and fried eggs (over-medium, just like Natalie likes). I woke Natalie up with kisses, delivered coffee, brought in a bouquet of flowers and the card I made, then carried in the tray of food.

We had such a fun time sitting in bed, eating breakfast together. Natalie was so appreciative of my effort, it made me feel like bringing her breakfast in bed every week. The rest of the day was delightful as well. We just took it easy, hanging around the house, talking and making sugar cookies. It was one of the best Sundays I've had in a while. It reminded me of how fun it can be to be married.

-Luke

sometimes i wonder how i got so lucky. i remember, around the time we got married, thinking, "is this really happening? am i really marrying this amazing guy?" but i did. & we are living life together. & he gives so so much.
luke & i have already experienced some trials & tough times in our mere six months of marriage. to be honest, i've caught myself wondering, in a few dark moments, if this is what is intended for my life... to marry at 20 & to be committed to a person for the rest of my life.
and days like this past sunday remind me that absolutely without a doubt i am to do just that.
the sweet moments become much sweeter when you reflect on the harder days & realize that you've gotten through it & you will continue to.

luke, i love you. thank you for being my partner & always giving of yourself. the breakfast was delicious & i'll accept that offer for breakfast every week ;)

-natalie

----
also, thank you to the wonderful {shari} who featured us on {this joy+ride}. go take a look if you haven't already!
also, if you're new to this blog, please leave us a comment & let us know who you are! we love to hear from readers.

no. 16: succotash + etsy

2010-02-07T09:47:00.001-08:00

We have two places to share with you today: Succotash, a funky breakfast joint in Kansas City, Missouri, & the newest little addition to our lives, our {etsy} shop!

To begin...
We've found that for every place we travel to, our favorite part is the food we eat & the restaurants we visit. I suppose it could be seen as "food snobbery," but we believe that a satisfied palate is an easy way of judging a city's funk & flavor.
Last weekend, Natalie and I took a trip to Kansas City. Our intent was to celebrate six months of marriage and just get out of town for a few days. We stayed with Natalie's cousin, who lives in a cute townhouse in downtown KC with her husband and four-year-old son.

On Sunday morning, after coffee with the family, Natalie and I visited a quirky little restaurant called Succotash. The moment we walked up to the door, we knew we had found the perfect place to have brunch. The restaurant was packed--and for good reason. Succotash is so full of character, from the decorations to the artwork on the walls to the waitstaff. Even the bathrooms were a sight to see. And our food was delicious. Natalie had the standard: biscuits and gravy with two fried eggs over medium. I ate the most delectable wrap that has ever entered my mouth: smoked salmon, spinach, goat cheese and caramelized red onion. I savored every bite. Succotash goes down as one of the best restaurants we have been to.
--------
& To finish...
We've opened up our him + her designs etsy shop & we're so excited to {share} it with you! We now have a new-found respect for those who sell their items on etsy or any online shop. It has taken us many hours to photograph, edit, price, & list each item. Regardless, it is worth it in the end. Sharing our work with you is such a privilege! We are so thankful & humbled by your support. Thanks so much! You are all awesome!

{Please click on the words "etsy" & "share" above to visit the direct link to our shop.}

-Luke & natalie

no. 15: him + her on etsy

2010-01-31T19:32:00.000-08:00

{custom stamp made by luke for our new etsy shop!}

we have some very exciting news! him + her is taking on a new adventure... we are opening an etsy shop of handmade jewelry & film photography! we plan to open the shop on sunday, february seventh. so, next weekend we will update here with a link so you can visit & take a look around. we cannot wait to show you some of the stuff we have been working on! thank you so much for your support & visiting this place each week. we're so happy to share our lives with you!

-natalie & Luke

no. 14: family retreat

2010-01-24T15:08:00.000-08:00

we haven't forgotten about you, we promise. in many ways, this past week was sort of a blur. we started classes & it has been a bit of a struggle to get used to our new schedules. i know we will adapt, though. we always do. but before classes & luckily for us, we spent our last two days of break nestled in a cabin with luke's family... a sort of family tradition & my first time to attend...

it is such a joy to be a part of luke's family. their traditions are so special & i hope we adopt some of the same traditions into our own family. during our two days, we played games, we discussed the past year, we set a few goals for 2010, & we simply enjoyed eachother's company.

we also made a friend, "sandy" whom david proudly named.

most of all, we were reminded to be thankful for days like those that remind us of the truth & beauty in living.

-natalie

The Freeman family retreat has been an annual tradition for quite a while now. It serves as a time for my family to take the time to talk about what has happened in the past year and set goals for the coming. I remember how it felt like torture having to sit still in a room with my siblings and talk about our goals for the new year. I couldn't wait until we'd take a break and play games together. But I've learned to really appreciate that time of intentional reflection and goal-setting.

This year was Natalie's first year to be a part of the Freeman family retreat. I think it's been my favorite year yet. We stayed in a roomy cabin outside Lebanon, Mo. with a warm fireplace and a view of a foggy river. Natalie and I woke up early one morning to explore the land around the cabin and take photos. It was beautiful. When we woke, the land was shrouded in a thick fog. And as the sun rose, it illuminated the morning fog, turning the landscape golden.

We played board games with my family, watched Food Inc. followed by a breakfast discussion, played capture the flag until it got too dark to see, took personality inventories, shared memories of the past year, talked about what is coming up in 2010, and ate great food. We had a blast. It was so good to be with my family again.

I remember last years' family retreat and how I told my family that I was planning on proposing to Natalie. We even went shopping for engagement rings in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It's incredible that she's a part of the family now--and it feels so natural. My parents and siblings have done a great job of opening their arms to Natalie.

Being intentional about reflection and goal-setting is definitely something I want to carry on in the family Natalie and I are creating. It is so easy for the years to run together, for life to go on without it feeling like it is going anywhere. But by taking the time to talk about the past year and share memories, I realized how much happened and how many goals we actually accomplished in the past year. It helps to divide life into smaller, more digestible chunks, each with their own memories and aspirations.

- Luke

no. 13: winter projects

2010-01-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

This winter break has served as a great opportunity for me to catch up on some projects I've been meaning to get to. Natalie and I have really tried to take advantage of the time off from school to work on things around the house and spend time on personal projects. Breaks from school are a treasured time--an opportunity we can't let pass us by.

I've been spending time counting seeds and planning for a student farm that I'll take part in this growing season. This has meant sitting at my desk with a scale and a box full of seed packages. I catalogued thousands of seeds: peas, radishes, beets, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, watermelon. It was amazing looking at all the tiny seeds and imagining that each one of them held the potential to become a food-producing plant. A handful of radish seeds could become hundreds of individual radishes, each unique, beautiful and delicious.

For the student farm, I've also been reading some gardening books and looking through seed catalogues. This has gotten me really excited about the approaching spring and working the earth to grow vegetables. The winter provides the opportunity to get out the paper and start planning. Crop rotations, row spacing, companion planting, cultivation--there is so much to keep in mind when planning a garden. But I have thoroughly enjoyed all the reading I've been doing and all the knowledge I've gleaned through this planning process. Still, there is a lot of work ahead of us.

For those of you interested in starting a garden of your own this spring, now is the time to prepare. Think of an easily-accessible plot of ground close to home that could be transformed into a personal garden. Think of what you want to grow, starting with the cool-season spring crops. Think of how much seed you'll need, get a seed catalogue and go ahead and put in an order.

Here are some resources to help:

Books: Four-Season Harvest, The New Organic Grower, How to Grow More Vegetables

Seed Catalogues: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Seeds of Change, Baker Creek

Happy planning!
-Luke

sometimes you've just gotta say, "no." i realize that this is probably a weird way of starting an entry, but just bare with me. but really, sometimes you have to give yourself time. the time to relax, the time to sink into your own thoughts, the time to create.

as a little girl, i could not stand the word, "no." i never understood why my mother always wanted to relax on the weekends & stay in. now, and more than ever, i am beginning to understand. time is precious. sometimes i look at the calendar & i do not get how that week has passed me by or how it is already a new year. but time, oh... it continues to move. it continues to plunge ahead & leave us wondering "how" and "why" and "when did that happen?"

but this break has helped me to understand a little bit more about myself. i just need to say "no" a little more often. i need to say "no" to those couple of extra hours at work. i need to say "no" to cramming in that lunch date in between that meeting & that commitment. i need to say "no" to going to bed to relieve the stress & say quite a bit more "yes" to spending time working with my hands. "yes" to creating something new. "yes" to digging deep into my talents. "yes" to dusting off that sewing machine i said i'd start using two years ago. "yes" to those crocheting needles that have yet to create a blanket or pair of gloves or socks.

so, lets all say "yes" to a little more time creating.
"yes" to opening up a gardening book & watching something grow.
"yes" to spending time with your spouse or partner or significant other in a garden or in a dark room or at the park or watching your favorite movie.
"yes" to a little time off & a little less money in your pocket.
"yes" to knowing yourself a little deeper & gaining so much happiness along the journey.

thank you so much for reading.
-natalie

no. 12: new year's resolutions

2010-01-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

hello, 2010! you are full of such great possibilities, new beginnings, & adventures.

2010, i have a good feeling about you. your friend, 2009, treated us so well- falling in love & getting married, participating in our first successful art sale, rooting ourselves deep into the local food movement here, & dusting off my camera to find that i truly love photography.

but 2010, you're full of endless possibilities, too! & i have a few requests for you- some resolutions, perhaps.

+i'd like eat healthier & feel healthier. more veggies, more fruit. exercise. lots & lots of water.

+an etsy shop! i've dreamt of opening up an etsy shop for a couple of months now & i'm finally realizing that people might possibly have an interest in our photography & my earrings. {be looking out for him + her designs in february or march!}
+travel to brazil! we have been given the opportunity to serve in brazil & hope to raise enough funds to get us there. it would be such a growing experience to connect with other communities & cultures. i want to learn from life unknown to me & the struggles of other individuals in the world.
+i'd like to continue to preserve our food & am in the works of preparing a class on preserving this summer.
+we hope to read a novel together, too.

there are so many unknowns that you will show us, 2010, & i am excited!

-natalie

Looking back, I am reminded of how good the previous year was. I changed direction in school, switching from photojournalism to sustainable agriculture--a decision I am still happy with. I got a job at my favorite bakery in town, the one place where I wanted to work the most. And I got married to the woman who is continually my encouragement, inspiration, comfort and friend. Yes, 2009 was a good year.

And as I look forward, I am excited to think about what is ahead: a mission trip to Brazil, leadership in the university's student farm, more art sales and an etsy shop in the making, and growing relationships with other young couples.

The other night, Natalie and I sat down over dinner and wrote down goals for the new year. Here are some of mine:

- foster more meaningful relationships with other men

- be disciplined about regularly spending time in prayer and reflection

- raise the $3,400 needed for us to go on a mission trip to Brazil

- learn how to use the sewing machine

- get to know my neighbors better

- go camping with friends

-Luke

ps. thank you, dear friends, for continuing to read him + her & supporting us! we were so happy to read your wishes & resolutions for the new year & we wish you all the best! peace to you in 2010!

no. 11: our first christmas

2009-12-28T09:51:00.001-08:00

it is somewhat difficult to explain our christmas celebration in an entry read by family, friends, & perhaps, strangers. on christmas eve we survived a two-feet deep flood on an arkansas highway, luke came down with strep throat, & i had to miss two days of work because the drive back to missouri is far too long for only me to drive.

but before said events occured, we experienced the most peaceful of moments tucked away in our tiny attic apartment with the lights low, the tree glistening, the candles lit, the stockings stuffed, the presents wrapped, & a bottle of wine opened & enjoyed.

we exchanged gifts slowly, enjoying every second of the quiet hum of christmas music in the background. we thanked one another for the gifts made by hand & our appreciation for the many hours spent creating.

luke loved the metal cups i found at the local thrift shop & the bundle of cinnamon sticks to be used in our next pot of apple cider.

he was so excited about his new scarf & how warm he will be on his next bicycle ride out into the freezing temperatures of missouri.

i was so surprised at his thoughtfulness & noticing of my love for chamomile & lavender. he made chamomile tea, a pillow pouch, and bath scents for me from fresh herbs.

he also spent many hours in the kitchen melting down wax, applying wicks, & mixing lavender oils with candle wax to make the most beautiful candles.

most of all, we were so thankful for the quiet evening spent with eachother. the best gift of all: quality time.

thank you all for reading!

-natalie & Luke

ps. next sunday, we plan to review our new year's resolutions from this year & make new ones for the year ahead. but- we'd like to include you! even if this is your first time to read our blog, or if you have been reading for awhile but haven't commented, we'd still love to hear from you!
please just comment with your name, your location, & your new year's resolution!
we look forward to hearing from you.

no. 10: 'tis the season

2009-12-20T20:55:00.001-08:00

it is so nice to sit here, sip on my coffee, & write to you all. luke & i have been busily working on christmas gifts all afternoon & into the night. we decided to use our creative talents this season & make handmade gifts for all of our friends & families. we wanted our gifts to be meaningful, not just last-minute gifts without use to the person. so, we baked, we preserved many jams & butters, we made photographs, & we collected pinecones & recipe cards to adorn our baskets & packages of goodies.
some of our handmade presents include:

a scarf from me, to luke.

a basket full of homemade apple butter, collected pinecones, a hand-knitted scarf, & a homemade card with photographs for our dear friends

we were also so happy & thankful to receive handmade gifts from our friends, too. i was really looking forward to the brunings' christmas cd because last year's cd was absolutely beautiful. they're two of my favorites along with sufjan's.

our lovely friends, the goebels, surprised us with a cinnamon oatmeal pancake mix. i look forward to a saturday when both luke & i are off work & able to enjoy a quiet morning of pancakes, orange juice, & conversation!
thank you so much, friends!

but most of all- i am so thankful for the love that is shared during this time of year. there is nothing quite like this season- the celebration of His birth, the relationships we are able to cultivate because of His love, & the new year to come!

Peace be with you. Lots of love to you all!

-natalie

This has been a very special Christmas season for Natalie and me. This is the first Christmas we will celebrate as a married couple. With that has come many other firsts for us: picking out a Christmas tree together, hanging ornaments, talking about traditions to establish, lighting advent candles, sending out Christmas cards, picking out presents and working out holiday travels. It has all been delightful.

Natalie makes me excited about decorating the house for Christmas--she has a way of making me excited about things I wouldn't otherwise be. We made an afternoon out of it: dressing up in our ugly holiday sweaters, going to the store to pick out our first Christmas tree, putting on Sufjan Steven's "Songs for Christmas," and hanging up ornaments. It was special hanging my old childhood ornaments on our tree. It made me think about future Christmas holidays to come, future ornaments, future children, collected memories.

But Natalie and I have also talked about staying true to Christmas, not getting distracted by all the gift-giving, consumerism and myth that goes along with the American Christmas. We've tried to remind ourselves of why we celebrate Christmas. We've tried to keep the birth of our Messiah on our minds and hearts--but it is hard. I find myself easily overwhelmed by all the things "to do," all the gifts to be given. I have to remind myself of the true "gift" we celebrate this time each year: God appearing to us as a humble babe, our means of salvation.

Merry Christmas!

-Luke

ps. Friends, we will be unable to make an entry next Sunday because we will be in the midst of holiday traveling. Instead, we will be back in this place on Monday! We look forward to hearing about your holiday adventures! Stay safe & happy travels!

no. 9: winter's presence

2009-12-13T15:22:00.000-08:00

Winter is here! Last week, we had one night where the temperature dropped into the single digits. We've been piling blankets on the bed, wearing our shoes and sweaters inside the house and resorting to using our space heater. But despite its inconveniences, I welcome winter.

Winter has brought with it little flurries of snow that gave us a little surprise one morning. There was a thin layer of snow over everything, crunching beneath my feet and turning the landscape white and pristine. There is a beauty to the bare branches, the traces of snow, the frost left on windows, the way your breath appears before your face when you exhale. I enjoy bundling up before going outside, like I am gearing up for an arctic exploration. All the layers make me feel safe and comforted as I go out to face the harsh winds and freezing temperatures that seem to be at war with life itself.

The other morning, I couldn't start the car because the ignition wouldn't turn--it was so cold the ignition was frozen. I just had to ride my bike to work that morning. It was a reminder how I am, at every moment, at the mercy of this world. How any feelings I have of control over my life are an illusion.

But the beautiful thing about humanity is that we learn to adapt. I've been thinking about people who live their lives in temperatures below zero, through winters with just a few hours of light a day. Isn't it incredible? It makes me a little more willing to put on another layer before going to bed. Winter's not so long.

- Luke

oh, it has been chilly here, but we've found warmth. the beat of bob dylan's {black crow blues} are singing us through the lowest of temperatures & a variety of lemongrass + honey teas are warming our souls.

in all honesty though, i was not ready for the cold. when the snow fell, i was dreaming of warm summer evenings. when i put the extra flannel blanket on our bed, i was romanticizing the idea of bare legs & summer dresses. so, waking up to freezing temperatures... i was a little less than excited.

but as i walk to & fro, staring up at the sky to see the limbs of trees bare, forming patterns in the sky, i am reminded of the bits of joy during this time of year...

the joys of family, the comfort of a warm home, & the little bits of beauty in the darkness of winter fill my mind. oh, the many blessings for which to be thankful.

-natalie

no. 8: arkansas travels

2009-12-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

We spent the week of Thanksgiving traveling down to Arkansas to visit family. Though Natalie and I met in the middle of Missouri, we both grew up in Arkansas. And yet it can seem like we were raised in different worlds. While I grew up in a college town in Northwest Arkansas, Natalie was raised in the much more rural and country Central Arkansas. While staying with her family, we were able to spend a day in Little Rock visiting the thrift stores and shops that Natalie and her friends would go to on the weekends. For me, it was a window into the life that Natalie led before I met her.

In downtown Little Rock, we stopped at an old drug store to take pictures. Walking into that place was like waking fifty years into the past. It still had many of the original signs and displays that must have been made in the 50s or 60s. After that, we had coffee at the Starving Artist Cafe and looked at the displays of local Arkansas artists like Little Bird Baskets. We drove around some of the more artsy and affluent neighborhoods and had a delicious pizza at Damgoode Pies. The whole time we were with Natalie's best friend, Tori. She is always a great person to hang out with and it is wonderful to see how much she and Natalie understand each other. She and Natalie have the kind of friendship a person only finds once in a lifetime.

During Thanksgiving break, we were also able to spend quality time with both sides of our family. Natalie and I are truly blessed to have such loving and supportive parents. We are always greeted by a welcoming party when we arrive at my parent's house in Fayetteville, my three younger siblings lining up to give us hugs. If there is one thing to be most thankful for, it is family--the family we were both brought up by and the family Natalie and I are creating together.

- Luke & natalie

no. 7: planting for spring

2009-11-30T13:51:00.001-08:00

hello, dear friends!
we got in from a week of traveling yesterday & only wanted to unpack, read a few more pages of {the history of love} together, & hit the hay. we hope you had a lovely thanksgiving! ours was filled with lots of company, family & friends, good food, lots of love, & many naps.

before the holidays, we managed to fit in a bit of planting. we spent the earlier part of the week with luke's brother, joel, who helped us dig up the earth, & plant a bit of new life... a variety of daffodiles & blue bells.

we'd like to give you a little tutorial on how to plant & take care of bulbs. we hope you'll enjoy!

1. gather all your tools
you will need...
+bulbs (you can find these at most gardening stores or farmers markets)
+hand-shovel or regular shovel
+ nutrient-rich soil (compost) to mix in with the dirt already present
+gardening gloves (unless you're the type who likes to get their hands dirty!)

2. you're probably wondering about this nutrient-rich soil...
unless you have a compost nearby like we do, you can buy a truck-load of compost from most cities or a bag of nutrient-rich soil/gardening soil from most gardening centers. it is important to fertilize the present soil with new, rich soil in order to better feed your bulbs & also provide drainage. if you don't have a compost pile, i'd recommend you trying it out! you can learn about composting {here}. if you do not have an outside area for composting, try {this} method... unless you're not into worms.

3. alternative places to plant
if you do not have a place to plant your bulbs, you can also plant them in pots! they'll do just fine! make sure to only plant one or two bulbs per pot. although terra cotta pots are pretty, they can sometimes crack in cold weather. we have never had this happen, but others recommend against them. if you do decide to go the pot route, do not bring your pot inside. just like outside bulbs, potted bulbs need the chill in order to bloom in the spring.

3. dig, baby, dig!
once you have spotted out the place where you'd like to plant, dig a hole that is twice the size of your bulbs. place the bulb facing up.

4. bury the bulb
once you have placed the bulb facing up, mix half compost/half soil & cover the bulb. make sure it is not compacted.

5. water your new friends!
make sure to thoroughly water your bulbs until the mound of water is soaked.

important tips
once we finished, we covered our planted bulbs with dried leaves. hay is also a good cover to use.
it is important to plant soon so that your bulbs have enough time to sit before spring!
so get outside & enjoy the warmer temperatures while they last!

-Luke + natalie

no. 6: a time of thanksgiving.

2009-11-22T12:46:00.000-08:00

this time of year is one of our favorites. it really reminds us of the many blessings in our lives- our family, our friends, and the good conversation & food we are able to share with them. in honor of thanksgiving, we would like to share with you some of our favorite recipes that are both in season & good for this time of year:

+apple bundt cake
+ pan-roasted carrots
+ roasted potatoes {without the red pepper flakes}
+sweet potato pie {mav posted about this pie on friday & it looks so delicious! let us know if you make it.}

-----
& here's a recipe for an autumn soup... originally from {simply in season}- one of our favorite cookbooks

Autumn Vegetable Soup
(This has become my favorite soup for the season. It has a lot of great fall vegetables that you could find at your farmers' market and it is quite filling. You can try using different combinations of fall vegetables or adjusting proportions to your liking. I like using twice as much barley and pasta to make the soup more hearty. -Luke)

1/2 c onion (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
In soup pot saute onion in 1 Tbl olive oil over medium heat until soft. Add garlic and saute 1 min.

1/2 c each: kale, cabbage, carrots, red sweet pepper (chopped)
1/2 tsp each: salt, dried basil, dried oregano
1/8 tsp pepper
Add and saute a little, then turn heat down to low, cover pan, and let cook about 5 min, stirring ocasionally.

2 c bean cooking liquid or vegetable broth*
1 c tomato juice
3/4 c cooked beans
1/2 c corn
2 tsp dried instant barley
2 tsp orzo pasta
1 1/2 Tbs red cooking wine (optional)
Add and bring to a gentle boil and simmer about 15 min.

1/2 c tomatoes (chopped)
1 Tbs fresh parsley (chopped)
Add tomatoes and parsley, simmer another few minutes.

Eat. Enjoy.

*Make your own vegetable stock: Save vegetable scraps in a bag in the freezer. When you have a good amount, boil them in water with some crushed garlic, salt and pepper. Use about the same amount of water as vegetables. Bring to a boil, then simmer for a few hours. It's that easy.

-----

so, get in the kitchen with the ones you love & make something delicious... enjoy!

-natalie & luke

one week hiatus

2009-11-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

we're on a one week hiatus.
see you next sunday!

-natalie + luke

no. 5: our bicycles

2009-11-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

growing up in the south, we relied heavily on automobiles. it is a way of life down there. i learned to drive a car around the age of 12 if not earlier. i remember driving around the deer camp in my mom's station wagon and cruising down the country roads when i was barely able to reach the gas pedal.

those memories are definitely happy ones & i sometimes miss the sweet days of rolling down the windows, feeling the wind in my hair & putting my arm out the window to make a wave-like motion. but now- i cannot imagine my life with my car as my main form transportation. my bike has replaced those memories with new ones: holding hands with luke while bicycling, riding to the park with a load of picnic foods in my backpack, and feeling the chill on my face while i ride my bicycle to the bakery in the early morning hours.

i imagine the life that we will lead in ten years or so when we have a bigger family of a few babes & we travel by bicycle with our baby seats attached. there is so much beauty to be seen in relying on ourselves & our bodies to get from here to there, from work to class, from the store to home. also, it keeps our earth much happier.
so- make yourself happy & get on your bicycle! the weather's beautiful so give it a try!

-natalie

I love my bike. I love gliding down the street on two wheels, feeling the wind on my face and in my hair. I love the feeling of getting somewhere through my own efforts and energy. Driving a car is too passive. I want to work hard to get somewhere. I want to feel the accomplishment of struggling up a big hill or trying hard to keep up with the speed of traffic.

Riding a bike feels so natural. Sometimes my bike feels just like an extension of my legs, like my body was built with two wheels. I'll start to miss riding if I'm not able to be on my bike for a while. After these past weeks of non-stop rain, I couldn't wait to be back on my bike. I would even say that I'm better at riding my bike than driving a car. I've had fewer near accidents while riding my bike. A car can just be too fast for me and my brain isn't good at making quick decisions. A bike rides at just the right speed. It's faster than walking, but doesn't leave my brain behind.

Columbia is really a great city for cyclists. There are bike racks in front of nearly every business downtown, usually packed with bikes. And some of our major roads now have bike lanes. I see so many people who commute to work or school by bike. It just makes sense if you live close enough. Why use your money to burn gas when the energy in your body can get you places? Plus, it's just a great way to start your day--being active and enjoying the weather.

- Luke

no. 4: a walk around the neighborhood

2009-11-01T07:09:00.001-08:00

Natalie and I live in a wonderful neighborhood called the Benton Stephens Community, an old residential area between Stephens College and Benton Elementary. We love where we live. And one of our favorite things to do on a beautiful day is to take a walk around the neighborhood. It slows us down and connects us. Plus, there are so many great pictures to be made around the neighborhood.

We love looking at all the different houses we pass by. We'll point out our favorites and talk about ideas for our future homes. There are so many great homes in Benton Stephens. Each one has its own character.

We're also bound to see people we know on a walk around the block. We have a lot of friends who live in the neighborhood--many are people I've met from working at the bakery. But there are also families with children and older folks who live in the neighborhood. It's really beautiful to see the diversity in age. It serves as a great contrast to the lack of diversity on campus. And even if we pass by someone we don't know, we'll still wave--it's that kind of neighborhood.

Though there are little things about our attic apartment that can bother us, when I think about the neighborhood we live in I'm reminded of how blessed we really are.

- Luke

our walks around our neighborhood are something to be cherished. our neighborhood is a treasure- a place where children can be heard playing among the piles of dried leaves, where lazy cats spend their afternoons lounging on the porches of historic homes, and neighbors come together to harvest and tend to the flourishing community garden just right outside our door step.

and along these walks, we always see something different, notice something new, and appreciate the little changes.

especially during the winter months, i am always tempted to fall into a deep sadness, a sadness that makes me stay inside, cooped up, without any fresh air or warmth of the sun. so now, whenever i feel sad, perhaps depressed, i make myself go outside & walk. i am able to be a part of something greater, even if it is only for time spent walking around the block.

so, i hope you'll take a walk... & let us know how it goes!

-natalie

no. 3: autumn is here!

2009-10-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

It seems like I blinked and autumn was upon us. Suddenly the trees were exploding with color, a chill bite was in the air and leaves scattered the sidewalks. I remember riding my bike home one afternoon, looking up at a bright blue sky with puffy clouds and the tops of trees that looked like they were dipped in paint. The wind was blowing leaves across my path and almost blowing me off my bike. I remember thinking that afternoon, "wow, this is fall!"

Autumn is probably my favorite season. It is a season of change, a transition from summer to winter. It is a time of bountiful harvest and also a time of death. It is the bright fizzle before the candle light goes out. Leaves turn the color of burning flames, then trees let them go, preparing themselves for the long, cold winter. I love the sound that my feet make as they shuffle through the piles of leaves on the sidewalks. I love the smell of crisp, cool air. I love bundling up in scarfs and and sweaters and jackets. I love any excuse to layer on clothes.

But this fall has come in spurts. Most of the time it has felt more like winter, with cloudy skies, dreary rain and bitter cold mornings. Natalie and I have tried to soak up all the bits of autumn we could find. I am afraid autumn is halfway out the door. It has come and gone so fast. But that is the nature of the season, isn't it? It is just a segue into winter, defined by the seasons it is placed between, so fleeting. But we will savor autumn while it's here.

- Luke

we've lacked the little bits of inspiration in our lives this week. the days have past us quickly, taking with them every quiet moment & pause, leaving us worn & frazzled. the only times of relief have been together outside, soaking up the very few hours of sunlight & dancing in the leaves- listening to crunch beneath our feet.

& that is why i cherish autumn. the crisp air in the morning, the blue skies & puffy clouds in the afternoon, & the darkness creeping upon us faster than the lazy days of summer. autumn brings with her change & a renewal of life. she brings with her cozy, flannel blankets & apple cider, brightly-lit jack o' lanterns, & the falling of leaves.
most of all, autumn gives me an excuse to cuddle up next to my love, completely content, & watch as the day fades.

-natalie

no. 2: our home

2009-10-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

{welcome to our home...}

when we found our apartment in the top of a little blue house beside a community garden, we were instantly charmed by its quirkiness & "vintage" feel. i suppose, by vintage, i mean it's a little worn. the paint on the walls is cracked & chipping, our hardwood floors have more stains & scruffs than can be counted, and our pet raccoon, randy, likes to run around inside the roof. but- this place, our first home, is filled with love so the little imperfections just make a better story.

some of my favorite parts about our home lie within the sheets of our bed- wrapped in a soft quilt & staring out the window, seeing all of the artwork- given to us by close friends + family- hung lovingly on our walls, & the rows of preserves + spices + grains lining the cabinets & shelves of our kitchen. we will always have a kettle of hot water ready for tea & fresh bread from the bakery for munching... won't you join us?
-natalie

Walk up the creaky outdoor staircase to our attic apartment. The door might even be left open. You'll be greeted with hugs and the aroma of dinner still cooking on the stove. Come in, sit down, have hot tea or coffee, make yourself comfortable. But first, let us show you around.

As you walk through the door, you enter the kitchen. Our pantry shelves are lined with spices, grains and beans in various jars. Wooden bowls sit on tabletops, filled with fresh fruit or vegetables. Drying herbs hang from the walls. Small bouquets of flowers are placed on the table, set for company--flowers Natalie picked from the community garden next door.

Our desks sit against the far wall, in a nook with a window. My desk faces the window, which means I get to keep an eye on the neighborhood while doing schoolwork. We try to keep this area neat and uncluttered, but it's hard with notebooks and textbooks that pile up so easily. Little succulent plants in terra cotta pots make the space a little greener and keep us company.

The living room is filled with vintage greens, mustard yellows and browns. The floor is covered with a worn Persian rug Natalie found at a yard sale. A bookshelf is stuffed with old paperbacks from yard sales or used book stores. The walls are covered with artwork given by friends or found second-hand. The windows let in a soft evening light filtered through green curtains.

Then, to our bedroom, which is just big enough for a bed and chest of drawers. But it is cozy and lovely. The bed is made and layered with blankets to keep us warm through the night. Photos from the wedding are hung on the wall. Natalie's wedding bouquet is drying in a vase on her bedside table, my boutonnière lays on my bedside table. This might be my favorite room of the whole house.

Welcome to our home, we're glad you came.

- Luke

no. 1: about him + her

2009-10-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

Meet Natalie, a truly beautiful person both inside and out. When I think of Natalie, I think of bright colors, laughing, laying down on a picnic blanket in the sun, and her unbridled spirit. This girl has changed my life. From the moment we met, I could tell that Natalie was different. Her vivacious spirit left such an impression on me. Let me tell you about her.

Beauty exudes from everything Natalie does. Living with this person is such a pleasure. On every surface in our home, there is some arrangement of pretty little things--flowers, mason jars, pumpkins, pine cones, picture frames, candles. Natalie has the wonderful habit of surrounding herself with beautiful things. And she can see beauty in the most simple of things. For example, we have a set of broken old windows hanging on the walls of our home. Natalie saw the potential even as they were sitting in the dumpster. The definition of "aesthetic" is "concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty." This is Natalie.

Natalie cans. Jellies, jams, preserves. Fruit or vegetable--she cans them all. For a while I would have the most delicious apple butter on toast for breakfast, complements of Natalie. And all of our wedding guests have raved about how delicious Natalie's strawberry jam was that we gave away as wedding favors. Natalie has told me that she wants to have a certified kitchen after school so that she would be able to can for a living. I love that about her, that she doesn't have to be anything sophisticated, she doesn't have to make a lot of money to feel good about her place in the world. She just has to do what she loves. And she loves to can.

Food is one of those pleasures in life that Natalie does not take for granted. We share the most delicious meals together and share the joy of preparing our own food. One day I came home from class to find plates filled and a table set. Natalie had spent her time at home making lunch for the both of us. We had a delicious meal of tomato and black bean salad with avocado, fruit and a bowl of soup. It made me feel so special to have a meal prepared for me on my coming home. Natalie is so thoughtful.

Natalie's existence is devoted to enjoying and rejoicing in the simple pleasures of life. The other day, we had dinner with a friend down the street. (We love having dinner with friends.) Natalie baked sweet potatoes and picked an arrangement of flowers from the community garden to take with us. Every time we visit someone it seems like she has something to bring. Natalie is great at investing in friendships and keeping up relationships. She can see the unique beauty in anyone she meets. This perspective on relationships is contagious. Natalie makes me treasure the relationships I have even more and value other people for who they are.

I couldn't ask for a better wife, life-long partner, and friend. I love you, Natalie.

- Luke

as i lie here, tucked inside the many layer of blankets from the chilly night before, i watch luke as he lifts his arms up in the air & back down, stretching, all the while listening to npr. he is wearing his long underwear, wool socks, and cardigan most likely previously owned by a 70 year old man.
luke is very much a routine-kind-of-man. when he wakes up & before starting his day, he always brushes his teeth, turns on npr, straightens things up around the home, & then stretches. always- like clockwork. & i really like that about him.

but- he very much has a "wild" side about him. our first time together was spent floating across the dance floor to the smoothest jazz you've ever heard, & he had on those shoes. those shoes bring out the rebel in him. no, really, they do. on one of our first dates, he dressed-up in his three-piece suit & wore the shoes. my heart was swooning. we rode our bikes around downtown, watched an indie flick at the local theater, & ate two entree full of the most delicious indian food. & we felt like a million bucks.

but not only did i choose him because of his slick moves & those shoes, i decided he needed to stay a long time because of his food. oh, my mouth watered the first time a spoon of his delicious food entered my mouth. he has a way of adding the perfect amount of seasoning & fresh herbs to his potato soup & leaving the dough in the oven for just the right amount of time to bring out the most taste-bud pleasing pizza from the oven, both crispy & full of delicious taste. his patience & ability to be consistent do him so well in the kitchen & sometimes i catch myself just watching him.

if you met luke, & i really wish you could, you would find that he is one of the most thoughtful people you will ever know. the first summer that he went home, we decided to write letters to one another. each time i'd find his letter in the mailbox, my heart would melt. i'd open the envelope so slowly & savor each word. he has a way of writing that brings out the best in a person. he spends time forming the right sentences, the best thoughts, & the most comforting words. he also keeps a journal where he captures the most beautiful of moments, talks to God & writes of his most intimate needs. when i hold his journals, & flip through the worn pages, i am overwhelmed with the beauty that exists within him.

& i am so happy to know that i can live with his beauty each & every day. it is sometimes something that i cannot comprehend. i am so blessed to experience life with him- the ups + downs, the struggles that we will face, & all of the adventure to come. i love you, luke.

- natalie