Reflections-Looking Back

I found this little thing that I typed back in March. 5 months later and it is still applicable. Life lessons now at age 35. Happy birthday to me.

March 5, 2012 - Reflections from the morning

You know when you get an idea in your head that you WILL be determined and disciplined to accomplish something? Well, I ponder on what stops me from succeeding. Why do I stop the good thing that I started? Is it genetics? Is it complacency? Is it fear of failure? I think its human nature to get distracted, to be tempted by the food that we shouldn’t eat, to say the things we shouldn’t say, to not say the things we should say. 

In conclusion: 

God has given me certain insight and gifts that need to be used accordingly. April: Don’t front and act like you know it all. Remember to be in his presence and you will see more clearly. You will see what he wants for you and your life. Your gifts will be made known to all as you spread joy and love. 

Summer lovin

Exciting happenings and yet-to-comes for Summer 2012:


1. So pumped to watch the Olympics!


2. Looking forward to a new tradition during our Labor Day beach weekend: a stay at a bed & breakfast prior to heading to OC MD.


3. Had an awesome time at Dutch Wonderland for the 1st and 2nd times ever in my life. Once in June with my brother & his family and just recently with Diane, Nicole, Matthew, Millie, Morgan, Rachel, Zach & Logan. 


4. Started working for my Grama Marcie as her caretaker/chauffeur to the JCC. What a remarkable elderly matriarch! I have learned so much about her childhood and my grandfather (My Mom's Dad) that unfortunately passed away long before I was born. 


5. Great times keeping nieces & nephews overnight.  Zach & Logan did VBS with me and we had sooooo much fun! Took Morgan & Rachel to Nixon Park to see reptiles and got to swim at Codorus Creek & Codorus pool. 


6. Learned some new recipes to create with our CSA harvest.  Yum...beet salad and maple kale!


7. Hosted our first Memorial Weekend camp out/bike trip on the rail trail with Marc, Diane & the girls. 


8. Tried 2 weeks gluten free. Recently tried 1 week vegan. Very hard but very beneficial.

Oh yeah, I have a blog

I was just looking back at my few posts on this blog and smiled remembering how each and every moment is a true blessing.  I think that this blog is in need of attention.  I vow to either shut it down or become more diligent with actually posting on it.

New job

I have been offered (and accepted) an internship position with HRG as a Geologic Technician. I will be performing remediation of soil, sediment and water at a Brownfields site in York. I am thankful for the opportunity and can't wait to start driving 10 minutes to work instead of 55!

More to come...

New Year Struggles

Eric had challenged me a while back to blog about my training for our half marathon. I thought it would be a great idea but kept forgetting to start the documentation. My first inclination on getting serious about this training (I mean, we are only 2 months away here folks-I got to get working on my distance goals) was to get some advice from some dear school friends. Olivia and Mandy are both runners and had great advice for a training plan that would work for me, a non-runner.

They both suggested to run outdoors at least once a week so I knew how my lungs would react to the cold air. They also suggested one longer distance run once a week so I could build resistance in order to be successful at this half marathon. Here is the recap of what has transpired since enacting their advice.

Monday January 17: Feeling great, ran 3 miles easy on the treadmill; Great cool down and stretch

Tuesday January 18: Wake up rested, not sore in the least (woo hoo, right?)

Mid day at work develop sore throat

End of day = full fledged cold symptoms

No run today

Friday January 21: Doctor visit, get an inhaler and cough syrup (thanks codeine)

No run since the 17th

This whole time I am thinking in my head: April, you have to get running because Eric is going to blow you away at this marathon. In addition, you have not peeled your big booty off the couch due to coughing and dripping. GET OFF OF THE COUCH, push yourself and that sinus cold right out of your face!

Ok, Fast forward to now. Monday January 31: No running but to the doctor today.

I have walking pneumonia.

Umm...Can I forgive myself now for not running the last 2 weeks? Can I allow myself some rest for my weary stuffed sinuses? The one doc said "This is going to set you back." Duh-ya think so? I feel horrible for putting this out there but I think that for now, I will just ignore the treadmills in the living room. I will concentrate on resting so that whenever it is that I'm able, I will resume training. And when I do resume training, may my muscles be forgiving.

Well, that's the post for now.

By the way, I'm headed back to school next month! More on the free education and certifications later. I'm going back to my favorite spot on the couch.

Wedding Renewal

We renewed our vows after 10 years of marriage at a drive-thru/walk-up window in Las Vegas. It was amazing. The video will follow shortly.

Drum roll please

I did it: I finally graduated.

I even got an un-wrinkled diploma in the mail. I was hoping that it wouldn't be wrinkled. Good ol' HACC sent a copy of the commencement bulletin, of which I did not attend. I was proud to see my name and 2 little "High honors" stars next to it. High honors?!? It's not like I'm in the military or anything! I think if I had squeaked a B in O-chem I would've been done better. C'est la vie, right? I shed a little tear at the sight of the paper, a diploma of all things. I have been in school for the last 3 years, and now what?

No major job offers are pouring in. I feel like I've updated my resume a hundred times and sent it out about a million. I am hoping that a company takes a chance on me, although I only have an Associates degree.

So, if anyone has any sage advice: Keep it to yourself. Ha Ha! No, seriously I am optimistic of a great future. I know that regardless of my choices, I have Eric as my biggest supporter. He continually encourages me to follow whatever it is that makes me happy.

And that folks, makes me happy.

Thanks for the positive words, hugs, tissues to cry in, and whatever else any of you have contributed to my continuing education.

Here's to the next 3 years!

My friends Suzy and Jonah

Suzy, I just had to share this video with Eric. It's too dang cute...

New pictures

A view from the Rail Trail one dog walking morning

Hot dog plays with sock

One of the many bird nests in the yard

Paw paw tree made a comeback!

Cherry trees and squash plant

Squash at an angle

Can't wait to eat these

Four baby bluebirds in our box!

Aww, it's a closeup

Back side of garden compost area. (Notice the tree and surrounding area is weed-free!)

Yippee! Garden goodness

My reinforced fence with a taller, stronger wire gate to prevent bunny intrusion

Robin nest

Come on boy

Get your bone from Wyoming!

Zucchini

Proud display of antlers around the pepper plants

Long day outdoors makes for sleepy puppy

Back on the saddle again

I had a mishap with Gordie and my bicycle the other day, fell and bruised my body pretty badly. Eric asked if I would get back on the saddle. Yes I did and will stay on this time!

Another summer apart from Eric makes me pensive about our times spent together and how much I take for granted. I busy myself with yard work, there is endless yard work here and weeds galore. I graduate from my Associates program in July and have no job prospects as of yet. I will begin my last course, (an online Hazmat class) tomorrow.

Gordie is an amazing friend. He has learned to stay by my side on our rail trail walks, selects the correct toy at my prompts, and is currently working on ending those annoyed "woofs" to outdoor stimuli.

The house is clean, dishes are done. No laundry or chores indoors. I read for pleasure now, a nice break from the semester of organic chemistry and environmental law.

I look forward to garden harvests this summer and good laughs with friends and family. I also look ahead to my August birthday when I get to fly out west to reunite with Eric.

That is all for now. Take care and enjoy the benefits of springtime!

April

Did you see the finished kitchen?

Here are photos of the finished kitchen

Sledding 2010 and more photos

The neighbor girls dug tunnels into our snow bank

Rail Trail beauty

It's a Marshmallow world in the winter!

Our drying rack - The Bow Flex

My Mom tipped over at the bottom of the hill

Aunt April, Zach & Logan

Snow snow and more snow to come

View of the icicles from our kitchen window

Lots of snow in the bed of the truck

Clearing off the Nissan

Um, where did the cars go?

Eric as Mr. Plow

Well, we received a record 21 inches of snow Friday into Saturday. It was beautiful as it fell and nice to see that most folks in the neighborhood just stayed home. We went out yesterday to take Zach and Logan (and my Mom) sledding. Most major roads are pretty clear, but the secondary roads are slushy and mostly covered. I'm glad that Blue (the Toyota pick up) is still in commission!

Gordie has fun digging his nose into the white stuff and jumps through the big footprints left. Eric has been a champ with shoveling and clearing out local driveways. What a sweet guy!

I heard a weather report today that another storm is coming tomorrow. This one plans on dumping 9 inches or more to our already white homes. With a current temp of 9, the snow we have now won't melt enough to make room for the next amount! We'll see what unfolds...stay tuned for more pictures.

Gordie has cabin fever

Christmas is near!

I'd like to take a moment and reflect on the major events of 2009:

We took another trip over the summer, and we did it together. This summer took us to Wyoming and Grand Teton National Park. I had hoped that working in a national park would be the fulfillment of what I had been working toward. This was supposed to be the big payoff dream job. The park was beautiful, the people I worked with were fantastic, but working at the park was not what I thought it would be. I am fortunate to have had this experience and now realize my desire to help clean up our messy Earth. I feel hopeful that occupations in environmental remediation are readily available after my studies are complete.

This summer we were also able to spend a week on the Salmon River in Idaho. This was a chance that was offered in prior years, but never came to fruition. It was a nerve-wracking experience for me because I do not have strong swimming skills and feared being dumped into the "River of no Return." In the end, I am glad that I conquered my fears and did the trip. The canyons offered absolutely breathtaking views. Spirits remained high, even in the rain. It was spooky at times with looming storms, but good friends and good food made all the difference.

We were fortunate enough to be able to spend some time with Eric's family as well. Cousin Brandon graduated from Salmon High School and Jennifer was in town for the occasion. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Terry and Veralyn throughout our years in Idaho, and even Terry in Jackson this summer. It has been a joy to see Brandon and Jennifer grow up into these beautiful young adults.

We have many friends to be thankful for in Lemhi County. My Idaho "Moms" (Cindy Frazee and Diane Schuldt) were able to give us some love once again, for which I am truly appreciative of. Diane, Pete, and Shea were gracious enough to take us in for a few spontaneous weekends. I feel so "at home" in their company. I have loved every moment acting goofy with Shea, running around with the dogs and cats, laughing at each other's antics, and taking the boat out on the river. We never lack good food, conversation, and laughter in their company. I am proud to say that I consider some Salmon folks as family now, and I love them all dearly.

Upon return from the wild wild west, I started my Fall semester again at Harrisburg Area Community College. (GO HACC!!!) I completed courses in Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Quantitative Field Methods. These courses have solidified my goals toward a job in the environmental industry. I know that I still do want to teach EE at some point, I just want to now focus on what I feel I'm being called to do. I also have a strong desire to go abroad to do some missions work. We'll see where that leads...

Some new friends we made over the summer stopped to visit on their travels back east. In a matter of three weeks, we had three visits from some great people. Our last visit was with our dear friend Ban from L.A. We met Ban back in 1999 when we shared an apartment in Westwood while Eric had an internship. After all these years, it felt so great being able to share our PA life with him. I would like to welcome all of our friends, near and far to come visit and to do it often!

We have so many gifts to be thankful for in this life. I hope that this Christmastime you reflect on the true meaning of the season. This is a time for hope, peace, and love. I have loved my moments with all of you and that is why I am sharing this little highlight with you now. I pray for nothing but happiness this Christmas season and for a new year filled with joy!

Blessings to you in the coming year and with lots of love,

April

Gordie's first moments in the Ferree house

I know we just met you, but we want to take you home now. (By the way, he was more than ready to go for a ride in our car)

We just spend a bundle at PetSmart and bought you this nice new fluffy bed.

Happy puppy in car ride to his new home.

Welcome home Gordie!!

First treat in your new home.

First bath in your new home. He did NOT like this but tolerated it.

Clean doggie makes himself at home.

This exciting day left Gordie sleepy and ready for bed in no time.

It's been a while

I feel sad for not keeping up with my blog but I have been keeping rather busy. Now that I am finished with another semester I want to catch up on the happenings here in the Ferree home.

Well, Gordie has been with us now for a while and adjusting rather well. He has a quirky personality and loves to play. I have the morning shift with walks and Eric takes him for a run at night. It is nice to have the Rail Trail behind the house for our exercise. Just last week I had Gordie running along me while I rode my bicycle. We finished with just about 2 miles and he wanted to go further! I have really enjoyed having him around to play with while Eric is at work.

I will finally attach pictures of the little guy after this post.

Most recently, Eric has been working on renovating the kitchen. My idea was to transform the wooden paneled walls into Southwestern-inspired colors. The trim work is not complete, but it's coming together nicely so far. Eric wallpapered and painted, then did the big time work-cabinets! He selected oak cabinetry to replace our 1970s "boxes on the wall" look. In addition to a new refrigerator, he purchased a dishwasher! (I haven't had a dishwasher since our very first apartment in 1997)

He performed all of the electrical and plumbing work himself, to which I am very proud of. It looked like a complicated mess of pipes under the sink, but is now in beautiful working order. The countertop is granite-esque, shiny, and fabulous. My favorite part of the new kitchen is the corner cupboard that has TWO lazy susans. I feel beyond blessed to have such a gracious and hardworking husband. I am thankful daily for the convenience and storage.

Please enjoy the series of pictures of our home renovations.

We have accomplished the following renovations to date: New roof, siding, windows, front door, wood laminate flooring, painted living room and bathroom, and now new kitchen.

Stay tuned for the final kitchen masterpiece!

Update

We met Gordie last night and after a 15 minute visit we decided to take him home. Real hard sell, right? I'll post pictures tomorrow or Monday.

Ban's Visit

Ban cranks the wheel for a penny from Gettysburg

Roburritos art

My Momma with Momma Ban (ha ha!)

Roburritos!!!

Chilling by the chiminea, eating apple crisp and drinking mead

Manhattan Short Film Fest

Ban in Gettysburg

Devil's Den-Gettysburg, PA

Walkin through a corn maze in Lancaster

Ban plays teacher in the Amish schoolhouse

Mmm...shoofly pie

Haines Shoe House-Hellam/Hallam, PA

You made it here Ban! We were so happy to see you and share our home. Come back soon!