31 days to go

No, I'm not a teacher. They live for their summers, and frankly, I am always really envious of their tans, trips and time doing whatever they want for most of June and July every year. This summer has been officially declared the summer of Hannah. I have taken almost the entire month of June off with really big plans to do absolutely nothing productive. This all started with the desperate need for a true break. For a time of rest. I've been selling real estate now in the City Of Atlanta for six years with very little time off, working a normal seven day week, and it has been brutal.

So...when I started regularly putting the coffee pot in the refrigerator after pouring myself a cup, and yes, the cold creamer up in a cabinet, had two minor wrecks within two weeks, both my fault, and started having chest pains from stress, I decided that it had to be all or none.

I am so thankful for a great Spring where I am able to take this time off. It has been an incredible month so far but having something to show for it is another story. Here are some things that I have done so far:

1. Worn my hair curly every day! This is a huge change for me as I have straightened it since middle school which takes 30 minutes a day and is not a relaxing activity.

2. Watched almost all of LOST from start to finish. I am on season five and just couldn't watch the finale without going back and watching the whole show.

3. Awakened without an alarm, probably five days a week. (Go to West Egg for breakfast early once a week to meet dear friends)

4. Attend church without thinking about the business that I will be doing afterward that day. This is revolutionary! I am enjoying my Sundays so much more and am beginning to think about those I would want to invite, and where I'd like to serve.

I honestly can't think of anything else that I have done at this point. I am reading some good books such as The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, thanks to my sister in law Nicole, who passed it along for several beach trips. She and my brother are moving to Durham, England in the Fall and just rented their home! I'm so excited for them and can't wait to go over and visit!

I am becoming more settled with the idea that I won't have done much that is productive in this time off. I can only attribute that to God's amazing work in my heart to help me become more trusting in HIS opinion of me, regardless of what I do or don't do. He values me for me, not for what I bring to him or others. How many times a day do I have to say this to myself? Thousands. Mary chose the better thing, to sit at Jesus' feet and learn from him, and that would not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42

What is this blog all about?

I have been wrestling with my purpose for having a blog, and also have struggled to find a theme for it. I have come to realize that it is all over the place, because so am I! I have no idea what I want it to be about. I can't commit to one topic, area of interest, or category of thought. I had an incredible weekend with seven other women from my church up in Highlands, N.C. to participate in something called a Story Retreat. More here. When I woke up at home on Monday morning I felt like I had been in a fantastic dream all weekend. It was an incredible time of feasting on stories from all of our lives, but more importantly going back to The Story, The Bible, starting in Genesis, to be reminded of who we are and what we were created for originally when the world began. As a result of this weekend I have found peace with the reality of not having a neat and tidy blog, or really a neat and tidy life, for that matter. I am beginning to truly want rest in the midst of chaos and uncertainty and to find it regardless of the barrage of messages all around telling me that life has to work a certain way. It IS working a certain way and that way is God's story of grace, written in me.

A scrap of paper

I am having one of those clean off the desk days. Even though I try to keep organized and put everything into one notebook, I still find really good nuggets written on a torn off piece of paper, the hot sleeve around a coffee cup from Starbucks, the flap off of a cardboard box, etc. saving these things for months. Here is one that I wrote down:

"Fear of man corresponds to our lack of trust in God. It is one, or the other. Using others for approval is an unhealthy desire. Trusting in God gives us a healthy love for others and pushes us out. "

Then I wrote this:

I Cor 1- In Him, Christ, it was always "Yes!" All of the promises of God. Not sure what I meant there, but I'm going to read Corinthians tonight and then I'll let you know.

white isn't so nice

I am regularly showing homes that have white, laminate countertops. The granite solution will cost you around $3-4K depending on the color and style. This is a pretty neat idea for a do it yourselfer project that a friend and seller client turned me on to. Thanks Alexis!

BEFORE:

AND AFTER:

If you go the Lowe's or Home Depot route, the kit is $250.

Here's the list of materials where the total do it yourself cost is $35! Not bad.


Kelli's DIY Countertop


Can of Spray Paint, $3

Can of Rust-Oleum Stone Effects Spray Paint $8

High Gloss Floor Finish for Stone $13

Drop Cloth $2

Painters Tape $2

Sandpaper $3

Foam Roller $4

Step by step instructions here.
Compliments of Kelli Brewer. Nice way to start off the week.

leaving town

It's always a crazy rush to get out of town for the weekend. I don't know why, but I still love this crazy city. We are about to descend upon Pennsylvania Avenue in Winston Salem for a weekend that, I'm sure, will be unforgettable. I just love good friends and love them even more when they move away and you begin to really feel the loss of their presence and the depth of your relationship, and then you see them again. Yay! It's like a gorgeous sunny day after a Winter of rain!

sisterhood

I'm so proud of the accomplishments of so many of my Alpha Chi friends from University Of Georiga! One in particular, who was also in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences (side note- a recent client asked me if that was the UGA version of every school's MRS degree?) has a fantastic NYC design firm AND a fantastic Southern accent. Lindsey Harper, I'm so excited for you and am giving you props on my blog for the rest of the month with a picture of your Manhattan bathroom. Love the python table and can't wait to hire you one day.


I'm still trying to figure out what my style is exactly. I had this discussion with someone today who is on the edge of purchasing their first home. She was snapping photos of light fixtures and door knobs and vintage bar stools. It was an especially cute home and then we looked on the kitchen counter and saw that it was featured in a 2004 issue of Country Living. Of course it was.

opening my eyes

A sister church to Atlanta Westside, City Church Eastside hosted a recent weekend "Dignity Conference" in early February. It was an incredible evening of photgraphy from International Justice Mission capturing the stories of women and children set free from sex & human trafficking. An amazing work is being done all over the world by IJM to restore dignity and hope in the lives of the poor and innocent. Secondly, Greg Helvey, debutante filmmaker spoke and showed a short 19 minute documentary  produced to raise awareness over  issues of modern day slavery, specifically in India. The film entitled, "Kavi", has been nominated for an Academy Award and can be viewed here. If purchased, over 30% of the films proceeds will be donated directly to anit-slavery non-profit organizations.

a look back

here are a few highlights from 2009

january. sold my highlander so abruptly i was left standing in a parking lot and had to call my dad for a ride, was carless for a month, first meeting for the south aftrica trip, roommate jen starts moving out of whittier house, LOST gatherings, snow day

february. worst yet most affordable hair cut of my life, most expensive attempt to repair bad hair cut-cut, wedding showers, jenn's wedding, alvin ailey dancers, cleaned out my #2 brother's car for his birthday present...gag

march. natalie's birthday, weekly ritual of jason's deli with meredith, visit from the levys, lots of buyers out lookin', spring forward, westside friends' birthdays

april. three hour lecture on the history of fondue, disturbing grown up bibs, the W hotel's amazing city view at night, engagement party, two surprise birthday parties, south africa prom dress fund raiser,emily's renovation & the tile store on miami circle

may. natalie's graduation from nursing school & a totally inappropriate cake, four baby showers, one wedding shower, KW home make over day at Miss Justina's, sister in law's birthday, amazing week trip to orlando to see my dear friends sandy & kelly

june. luncheons, weddings, engagement party for sarah and adam, axo dinner girls, shower for rachel and jesse, cathy ray comes to town

july. the beach, the lake, rachel's bachelorette weekend in savannah, moving out of whittier place to storage and my other brother's birthday

                                                                                                                                                                                       

august. rachel's wedding, sarah's shower, annual parker family beach trip, first visit to winston salem, raleigh for sarah and adams wedding, michael jackson's funeral, mom, sister and hannah's birthdays celebrated together, moved out of whittier, homeless for a month but thank you wendy, teacheys, huies

september. moved, dad's birthday, first family dinner, football season, learned how to use a blower for the yard, only flew my ga flag once in ga tech country

october. date with dad to the high museum, night out with emily, st. simons trip canceled, diabetes walk that i missed, our first dinner party, lucy pittman starts her proton treatment, hanging out with jack pittman, U2, halloween, ga/florida, silent retreat weekend, youngest brother's birthday

november. nathan and nicole's annual fall party, first neighborhood association meeting, thanksgiving with the lyons clan, ga wins over ga tech woo hoo! tree up the day after thanksgiving

december. summerhill gift wishes project with kw, online shopping, two christmases, cookie parties, client parties, visits with uncle mac & family, sandy comes to town

bringing the world of people and food together

There are two thoughts that I was reminded of the other day that I really want to take into the new year. One:  Preach the gospel to myself everyday. I know that I have gospel amnesia. I wake up and act like I've never heard it before. It's so true. Two: The love of Christ compells us (me). It is not that my love for Christ compells me, but the love of Christ itself. There is a huge difference and I know it takes a life time to understand.

A great start to the new year was had by all at Your Dekalb Farmer's Market on the 1st of January. SO much better than Whole Foods in Buckhead. What could be better than an excited crowd of people from all over the world in a large 60 degree warehouse, lots of draped fabrics, turbans (Caroline Pittman) and the scent of old fish, but yet a good welcome home old-fish sort of smell. Or is that only what people say who have lived abroad in non-Westernized countries and come to love them?

Among my purchases: some Dutch cow's milk cheese, Spanish wine and of course, Kenyan coffee.

let's start at the very beginning

I've been told that I should write for over a decade. It's not that throngs of people have suggested it, just two. But, they are two very significant people who also know me well. I'm turning over a new leaf in 2010 and am already behind by one day. Just setting up a blog is in itself a time consuming task. I'm really glad that's over.