Two years of love, laughter, and learning.

It was a little under two years ago, when my mom and sister packed me into a mini van and took off for the city of Pittsburgh.  I still can't believe that this was two years ago.

TWO YEARS AGO when...

I joined this program, PULSE

Met these women.

And found a city that I will be able to call home forever.

Today is my last day walking into the PULSE office for work. I can't believe that the last year went so quickly, but I'm so excited for the next chapter of my life. I gave my love to The Boy in Pittsburgh and for that reason alone this city, program, and people that we've met, will always have a place in my heart. 

So here's to today... the rainy Friday that it is, the last day in the office, but just another day I get to adore this city.

Thanks Pittsburgh and PULSE for giving me two years of love, laughter and a lot of learning.

Leave.

My Megan posted this on her blog this morning. 

I think she knew that I needed to read it. 

Thanks Megarah. :)

M.E.H

Country Roads.....

:) 

It's vacation time!  I'm thrilled to spend a few days in my mom's Laughing Place and more importantly excited to introduce one of my favorite places to my love. 

Around Easter, my sister bought us all the book, Take Me Home, Country Roads. It has lyrics to John Denver's song and illustrations to go with it.  I just read through it 3 times while I was packing.   

Country Roads... Here we come! 

Everybody's Got a Laughing Place

When I was little, my mom use to sing this song. (It's from the movie Song of the South, which isn't PC anymore and I don't think you can find it anywhere... but that song will get stuck in your head if you let it.)

Everybody's got a laughing place
A laughing place to go
Take a frown, turn it upside down
And you'll find yours we know
Honey and rainbows on our way
Where everyone is worth his weight
Boy are we in luck
We're visiting a laughing place
Everybody's got a laughing place
A laughing place to go

Mom always says that her laughing place is in West Virginia. Something about the mountains, bends in the road, and the smell. It also helps that our family is in WV.  Well, this coming week, we're going to that laughing place and I cannot wait. It's the one place that I wont get cellphone reception, where I can spend my day sitting on a front porch swing with a glass of sweet tea. 

Laughing place, here I come. 

"Love can be hard. Love requires you to be kind when you are angry, patient when you feel anxious, compassionate when you judge others, caring when you feel apathetic, trust when you've been wronged, let go when you want to hold on, know that the other person is you, take risks when you're scared, to always see the lesson and never look back once you've decided."

- Jackson Kiddard

Decisions

It's hard to make decisions... especially when there isn't a right or wrong answer. 

Sneak Peek to Summer

Today. I had my sneak peek of Summer.


Recently in Pittsburgh the weather has been a little bit crazy. It has gone from 80 degrees to low 50s very quickly. Today, I walked out of my house to that smell of West Virginia air. Anyone in my family knows what I'm talking about. It's a light, cool, mountain air. I love that smell. I would always yell through our screen door when I was little that, "IT SMELLS LIKE WEST VIRGINIA OUTSIDE, MOM". She would always nod her head and walk out to breathe it in.  That was our summers. The week long vacation at Aunt Marie's house. Camping outside with Lisa and Lori. Walking through Twin Falls, hoping that there would be water pouring off of the stones. I closed my eyes for a minute and smiled as I thought about those days.

As I was sitting next to Joel tonight coming home from the grocery store, I couldn't help but smile and stare out into the place I call home now. The sun was setting and the lights from all of the businesses on Penn Ave had that florescent glow. As we drove through the light I peered into the side mirror and watched the sun fade behind me. My arm resting outside of the car, reflecting in the mirror. It was in that moment when I caught my first glimpse of Summer in Pittsburgh. I don't know if it was the way the breeze was blowing, or the peaceful smirk that Joel had on his face, but I could picture Summer in that moment.

As much as I love Summer, the activities, the vacation, the people outside, I also love Spring. I am not wishing it away at all. The flowers, beautiful flowers, the image of growth and life. Who wouldn't love it??


So, for right now, I'll take my sneak peek to Summer and I'll smile every time I think of it. I'll store it away for a rainy day when I can bring it out to look forward too.

Here's to the West Virginia air and a glimpse of Summer.

ap