Celebrations

I just read an incredible book on the topic of celebration, called Cold Tangerines, by Shauna Niequist. It is about celebrating the every day. We've been given such gifts in this life that we - at least I - fail to notice. Shauna wrote about worrying about crumbs on her kitchen counter and celebrating friendship, jealousy and being broken. The book consists of little glimpses into her life, but how at every turn there are moments to celebrate, if we choose to do so.

"To choose to celebrate in the world we live in right now might seem irresponsible. It might seem frivolous, like cotton candy and charm bracelets. But I believe it is a serious undertaking, and one that has the potential to return us back to our best selves, to deliver us back to the men and women that God created us to be, people who choose to see the best, believe the best, and through that longing are changed and inspired and ennolbed, able to see the fingerprints of a Holy God where another person just sees the same old tired streets and sidewalks."

Love it. And I'm really going to try and start celebrating the every day more. What do I have to lose? I will choose to look past the busyness and stress of this life and celebrate the good God has so graciously given me.

We had our own little celebration this weekend. Second anniversary!

Here is what we were doing June 11, 2005:

Here is us on June 11, 2006:

And June 11, 2007:

We had a wonderful weekend leading up to our anniversary this year in Chicago. We did some shopping for Josh - he needed to bulk up his professional wardrobe - which was super fun. We also threw in a trip to IKEA and some of our favorite food joints in town. And on Sunday, we saw Wicked, which was oh so fun. Josh liked it too! This one is definitely a new favorite of mine.

Then we went out to The Melting Pot for the second year in a row, which was wonderful. We loved our weekend of celebrating, and plan to continue the celebration throughout the next year of marriage!

Another weekend in TC

Cute path we found, then Josh and I in the "stocks" at Pirate's Cove (mini-golf)

Lunch in Fish Town, and the view from the condo balcony. Nana and Poppa love to watch the ducks and swans go by on the river!

Mom and Nana at the Marina on the big lake, and Nana playing mini-golf.

We spent a long weekend in Traverse City with Josh's parents and grandparents. Nana and Poppa Brown rent a condo downtown each summer, and we always like to go up and visit! We packed our weekend full of games, walks around town, golf (for the boys), shopping, and good food! Nana, Mom Brown, and I found a CUTE little path on the way home from the Grand Traverse Pie Company - full of wildflowers that were all different shades of purple. During golf we girls walked all around town - to the marina, the farmer's market, and in and out of the little TC shops on Front street. Then we met the guys up in Leeland for lunch, then shopped around Fish Town. That was my first time there and it was so cute! I love eating outside, especially when Lake Michigan is in view! We went mini-golfing with the whole gang - see Josh and I in the "stocks" and Nana about to hit a ball into the water! Mini-golf is an activity that we do with my in-laws whenever possible. Josh and I always try to beat them, but I think we're about even over the past 20 or so games.

A great weekend with the Browns!

And here is me with Dad Brown - we got him an Indiana t-shirt and we kind of matched when he wore it :)