This is some good stuff....

I wanted to pass along this great recipe, now that the weather is getting cooler.  Our friends, The Bailes, have it posted below.  

White Chicken Chili:

http://thebailesfam.blogspot.com/2009/12/white-chili-recipe.html

Raborn Update

We've been having some fun the last couple of weeks seeing family and hanging out with friends...

The Carter Mountain Orchard with our friends Jen, Mike, and Owen....and our friends Jessie and Adam from Georgia.
http://www.cartermountainorchard.com/

Jessie is 8 months along!

The apple cider was great! 

The next weekend my dad came to visit from Pennsylvania and we took him out to the Chesterfield Berry Farm to pick out some pumpkins.  My Aunt Jeanette also visited from Raleigh, NC.  We took them both to picnic at Holiday Lake.

Fresh Apple Cider from the Mennonite Store in Farmville

Harper's fishing pole from Grandpa

Her Barbie Pole can really cast far!

Train ride at the pumpkin patch

There were so many good ones that we had a hard time picking one.

And now...
We are "enjoying" Harper walking and getting into EVERYTHING! 

A couple hours later from the first video....

Harper's First Steps

Last night before bed, Harper was playing with her farm animals from a train set and took 4 steps towards Rob and I!  We're so proud!  Yay Harper!  This is a video from this morning.

Harper 11 months 016.MP4

We just had our four year anniversary on August 4th!  Rob had to work, but we were able to get out for the evening, thanks to our friend, Dan for babysitting.  There was a beautiful scenic drive out to the restaurant named Maxine's Fine Dining.  Because it was a Wednesday night around 8pm, we were the only ones there after one couple left at the beginning.  It was great!  And then, a severe storm hit the area during dessert and we both thought we were going to get hit by lightning while getting to the car.  Of course I wore my highest black heels and tried my best to walk without falling in the rain....so ROMANTIC!  Dinner was such a treat and we can't wait to go back.  Especially during the Fall on the deck while the trees are changing colors. 

Yay for Monday

Harper and I went to Michigan for about a week and traveled back with my mom.  She was here for the last week and just left yesterday.  I'm trying to get over a cold from being worn down and get back to a routine after about a month.  When things started to settle down and I had a moment to pause, I felt like the Lord started to flood my thoughts with all the things I had been missing, not listening to, and too busy to recognize. 

Pheeewwww!  Now all I have to do is get over this sore throat and refocus and re-prioritize.  Do you have those wake up calls?  Especially when I get sick and everything has to stop.  When I have no chose but to be sick.  I'm reminded that I can't do anything if I'm not taking care of my health. 

Raborn B & B

When Rob and I moved to Kentucky and then to Virginia, it was important for us to find a place with a second bedroom and then third when Harper was born, for any guests that would stop by.   We definitely love having people visit us and getting to love on them by cookin' up some good food and showing them hospitality the best way we know how!  A little banana pancakes, bacon, and french-pressed coffee....

So, this summer is starting out very similar to last summer in Wilmore.  My brother (Paul) and sister-in-law (Annette) are visiting this weekend and then my sister (Margie) will be staying with us for the first week in July....followed by Rob's Ema and brother (Trevor) for a couple of days and our friends the Boyds for a night, then my mom is visiting the 3rd week of July for her birthday.  Phewww....then, we will have Rob's mom come in August.  Love, love, love the fam and friends...keep it coming! 

Holliday Lake State Park

We've been making day trips to the state parks near Farmville and today we ventured out to Holliday Lake that was pretty amazing!  They had a beach area, lots of picnic areas, and paddle boats.

Professional Mover!

Today we said goodbye to our friends, The Boyds, that left this morning for Winston Salem.  We met them about 5 months ago, shortly after we moved to Farmville.  They were our welcoming crew...you know those people that are just really good at making people feel like they made the right decision to move and a provide a big sigh of relief that the Lord has yet again provided people that you connect with!! He is so good and keeps providing those relationships for Rob and I.  And let me tell you, we don't take that for granted and really feel so blessed that the Lord cares about those small things He knows will make us so happy.

So to the Boyds, Strebecks, and Mostroms...we are praying for you and your transitions.  That the Lord will provide those people again to your family to be life-giving, encouraging, and community that helps you continue serving the Lord. 

This morning went by too quickly.  I needed to take it off from exercising because I felt like my hips were going to give out.  (Wow do I sound old!)  I just wanted to spend a little more time with Rob before he went to work....And so, Rob and I have been talking about going to the fish market and making some fish tacos from a seemingly yummy recipe I found.  We got there and had to wait too long and then Rob got called into a staff meeting earlier than planned.  Back up plan....go to Kroger and grabbed some groceries for dinner, etc. and get home.  I dropped my coupon binder in the parking lot from being flustered and in a hurry and then just thought..."Could I please just start the day over again?"  Of course all that was going on was wildly exaggerated in my head and the morning really wasn't that bad.  But, you know!, those times that if you could push the rewind button than maybe you would have more patience the second time around!!!  Anyway, I ended up with some free stuff at Kroger thanks to my coupons and made in home in time with only 15 minutes to spare for Rob to get back out of the door.  PHeewww! 

Harper has been using her new high chair in attempt to get her interested in food.  We haven't been too successful so far.  She really doesn't want anything we've tried...baby rice cereal, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, banana, pear.  She is 7 months old now, but maybe she's not ready.  ???  Do you guys have any advice?

Rob and I have been trying to make the most out of our mornings since he works in the evenings, so we tried to fit in a workout together and head out to get some flowers.  We had about an hour before we had to get back to the house so our mission was to get a couple of pots and possibly a window basket.  Just a week or so ago we started our seeds in the kitchen window for tomatoes, basil, and marigolds.  They have finally sprouted and we can transfer them to pots soon.

One month later

Ok, so much for blogging more often....it's only been a month :) 

Goals:
I'm still working on my previous list of goals and trying to take small steps.  I've been trying to fit my workouts in during Harper's first morning nap and that has been so far a success.  I think it's been over a month now and it's been surprisingly easier now than I ever imagined.  Certain days I struggle when my energy is zapped or I'm feeling under the weather.  I increased my strength workout up to 10 lbs. and an extra set.  There is a 5Krace coming up in May that I would like to run with Rob, so we have to get our registration in soon!  It's part of the Heart of Virginia Fair in Farmville.

Harper:
I think our little wiggle worm is starting to teeth.  She is sleeping well still, but drooling and gnawing on everything!  She is also starting to get a lot stronger with her arms and legs, but has not started to crawl yet.  If you want a sneak peek, just check out my facebook page or Rob's. 

Today:
So, today as I was getting some tissue paper from upstairs, I was coming back down the stairs (in no hurry) and slipped.  After landing on my back and hitting my head, I proceeding to slide down skipping about 8 steps with my butt!  Man was that fun.  I'm ok, but still can't believe I slipped just carrying tissue paper and really with no other reason than I must be getting a bit clumsy. 

Check out this blog: www.southernsavers.com
This site has been so helpful with saving money before I go and buy the Sunday paper for the coupons (I mean I actually read the entire paper for the news). And although I'm not at obsessed with coupons yet, I did get one of those looks at the grocery store for carrying a binder. More to laugh at myself about.

Harper:
I'm still working on it.....a superwoman cape for Harper that is light pink and green with an H on the back...pictures will be posted soon. And she sat up from laying down on her own this morning! I cracked up, because I didn't expect to turn around and see her sitting up and laughing at me.

"Workin' on my fitness, he's my witness":
So, I felt like it was time to start on some type of routine to work out again. I've been getting more sleep and Harper is taking a nap every morning, so I thought I would start slow on something whether it was a walk, a dvd, or lift some light weights. Going on week 3, I have been alternating 30 minutes of cardio and 10 minutes of Yoga, with a basic upper/lower body routine and 10 minutes of pilates on every other day.

Pheww, I can't officially say that I'm actually doing pilates or yoga yet (by the look of things), but I'm trying. My core hasn't been worked out in over a year, so right now I'm huffing and buffing and getting slight headaches afterwards.

Goal list update:
I met with the director of the MBA program at Longwood University last week and went over the details and discussed what I could use the degree for and what program may be the way to go. It was very helpful, but some bad news...I have to wait 12 months to become a Virginia resident. That means if I were to start the 6 credit hour class this summer, it would be like $800 a credit hour...aka rip off!!!! Good news...it will give me time to study and take the GMAT.

Some Fresh Air

A blog can be a hard task to keep up with if you are an all-or-nothing kind of person like myself. Do I have time to write here and there?...Yes. Do I? No! Because I have the thought that if I don't have time to edit it and get all of my thoughts out perfectly, than I can't do it at all. I think of my friend Amberly when I get to thinking about this time thing, because she talked to me and others about community and investing ourselves with what time we do have (even if it's not perfect, convenient, and PLANNED ahead of time!). Yes....PLANNED ahead of time. Arggg.

I struggle with community being spontaneous, so of course I struggle with blogging and status updates in the same way. Could I just write something without it being perfect or feeling like it's going out being judged? Will I get over my insecurities long enough to actually write and become a better writer for doing it?!! Possibly sharing my thoughts that it might help someone else?

So now that I've gotten that out of the way, unto blogging about the good things going on in my life!

Yesterday I talked with an old friend and felt completely refreshed and energized after I got off the phone with her. Those kind of calls are the encouragement that I love and definitely reminds me why community and accountability are so important. That we do have people rooting for us and want to support us regardless of our imperfections or the season of life that we may currently be in. Thank you friend!! It really was a fresh breath of air for me!!

Here's to many more blogs!

Better late then never....right?

Top Things I want to do before I turn 31:

Go back to school (Take the GMAT first)
Be featured in Self magazine
Organize a 5k race for a local food pantry
To have a heart healthy lifestyle


Ok, so now that I have written it down...will I be able to do it?