Since getting married it continually amazes me how even the simplest of things hold so much joy and meaning. They did before, but it seems I realize it more easily now that I share my life, 24/7 with someone else. Now that I love someone like I love Matt. Every moment together is precious.

I’m talking about simple things like enjoying our lunch on a bench outside, soaking up the sun while the wind plays in the water fountain by us. Talking, laughing, kissing and just enjoying the moment. It cost nothing. But it held so much meaning – memories that I will hold in my heart forever.

My Prince Charming – oh, so handsome and wonderful – made my Thursday.

As did the Robin Hood outfit I put on today without thinking about it. I got in the car and realized, I look like Robin Hood. Darn. I should have worn a feather in my hair.

Early, early Friday morning we put our two suitcases into the trunk, pulled out of the garage and headed for the airport.

We have a lot of memories at that airport. It’s where we met for the very first time.  It’s where I realized “there’s something different about Matt”…and that I really didn’t want him to fly back to Seattle. It’s where I waited impatiently for my flights to visit him. It’s where I picked him up the weekend he asked, “So, how long do you think two people should date before they get engaged…?” It’s the airport we flew out of for our wedding in Florida and where we flew back into after our honeymoon.

Lots of memories.

We grabbed a cup of Java Dave’s (sorry, but it’s no Starbucks) and waited for our flight to start boarding. I love airports (after I get through security) and I especially love them when my husband is sitting next to me and we are embarking on another adventure. Together.

We landed in Denver, got our rental car and headed for Eldora Ski Resort. Yes, we stopped for Starbucks on the way. And, yes, it made everything that much better.

Friday was beautiful, crisp and overcast in Colorado. Perfect for being outdoors because there wasn’t a lot of sun glare. The boys went downhill skiing and us girls went cross country skiing. Although I have to say there was a lot more “downhilling” on our cross country course than I thought necessary. I got going just fast enough in those tracks to make it slightly terrifying. I probably would have fallen less if I had downhill skied instead

And if I wasn’t hurling downhill at breakneck speeds, I was pulling  myself uphill with all the strength I could muster (it’s a good thing I’ve been doing the Shred). Haha. The three of us laughed so hard we cried on several occasions. Like the time Lydia slowed down in the track and I couldn’t stop in time. I ran into her and then Mom ran into me and the three of us were stuck together in the track. Yes, that’s us. Pros all the way.

But – on those rare occasions when we were on level ground – I had a chance to really take in the quietness of the woods, the deep, thick whiteness of the snow, the “only in the mountains” freshness of the air…and I was in Heaven. Really, I was in Heaven the whole time – it’s just a little harder to see it when you’re flying into snow banks

We took a break at lunch and got a table in the lodge bar. We decided to make the break permanent while the guys finished up the afternoon of skiing. The three of us haven’t spent alone time together in a while so we just talked. And talked some more. It was so nice. And I feel so blessed to count my mom and sister among my very best friends.

That night was dinner at our favorite restaurant – Poppy’s – in Estes Park. Two large pizzas to share and a lot more talking and laughing…followed by desert back at the house and an episode of Downton Abbey. That equals almost 22 hours of awake time and a full and wonderful day.

And this is what mornings looked like for us on our weekend escape. Family time at the table, plenty of coffee and plenty of amazing food courtesy of Mom. It was lovely. Like a little slice of paradise – to be all together, to be warm and cozy, to be relaxed and rested.

I wish it could have gone on forever. There is nothing I would have changed. I just kept thinking, I’m so glad we were able to do this.

After a hearty breakfast we put all our gear on and headed for the Rocky Mountain National Park. Saturday was a gorgeous day – crystal blue skies, cloudless, bright and sunny. It was still cold and super windy in parts, but so fresh and exhilarating.

We snowshoed a 4 mile trail past Nymph Lake and Dream Lake, both frozen solid, up to Emerald Lake. It was also frozen solid and windswept. It was like we were standing in a giant sugar bowl. The wind would  spray the snow into the air, making it dance like a thousand tiny diamonds in the sun.

I have to admit: I was cold. Everyone who knows me is shocked right now Sitting by Emerald Lake, eating some snacks we brought, re-hydrating, Matt put an extra coat over me and I huddled down underneath. So glad one of my life goals isn’t to climb Mt. Everest. Snowshoeing to Emerald Lake was good enough for me

That night “Mountaintinis,” (my name for the drinks Mom made) relaxing and Mom’s Guinness Beef Stew were on the menu. We were tired but that made the cozy evening and the good food that much better. There was lots of visiting and story telling around the dinner table. My uncle came with his fiance and we had a wonderful time catching up.

We watched “Rio Grande” that night – my favorite John Wayne movie by far. I love the cast, the cinematography (can’t beat Monument Valley) and all the one liners: “Get ‘er done, Johnny Reb.”

Fell asleep fast and deep.

Sunday morning we made multiple cups of coffee and ate another wonderful breakfast by Mom. We listened to a sermon by Tullian Tchividjian. We headed downtown to have lunch at our favorite spot: Penelope’s. And we bought some candy at Laura’s. Then we went back to the house and relaxed on the couch. Three of us ended up falling asleep and it was lovely.

We didn’t want to leave, but we had to. It was one of those weekends you just don’t want to end (isn’t that every weekend though?). It’s the kind of weekend I used to dream about having “someday” – spending time with a wonderful husband, with family, making memories, telling stories and reminiscing, talking and fellowshiping, just enjoying each other. Now the dream has come true. And he’s not just any wonderful husband – he’s my wonderful husband.

We drove the hour and a half to DIA, returned our car (I almost forgot my wallet in the console, but God helped me remember it), checked into our flight and found a place at the Timberland Grille. We talked, we laughed, we reviewed the pictures from the trip…and we said, We’re so glad we were able to do this. Memories were made to last a lifetime. And those are the best kind.

Adventure is always my cup of tea. It’s always a “yes.” And when it is coupled with family time and making memories and holding the hand of my very best friend in all the world, it is also an “Amen.” It will never be turned down or regretted. It will always be embraced and celebrated.

Here’s to the next adventure – wherever, whenever.

Crepes.

I seem to be favoring breakfast recipes right now. This one was delicious and super easy to make. The biggest trick is getting the pan temperature just right so the crepes get just the slightest bit crispy.

It’s been forever since I had crepes, but I remember them from when I was growing up. Mom used to set out a sifter with powdered sugar. I would put way too much on mine…kind of like last Saturday morning when I made this recipe

Yes, I was slow to acquire it, but now I wonder what I ever did without it

Food from our week:

(L to R):

- Creamy Spinach Penne with Grilled Chicken
- Cupcakes for a friend’s birthday
- Brats, grilled onions and sauerkraut (Matt’s favorite)
- Lunch at Someplace Else
- Chicken Pasta Pita Sandwiches
- Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
- Quick Chik-Fil-A snack in the mall (love spontaneous mini-dates)
- Butter Dips like my mom used to make (and her mom)
- Homegrown rib-eye steak from Matt’s boss and steamed cauliflower
- Our Valentine’s Day dinner: PeiWei’s Thai Basil Chicken. A-mazing.
- Braum’s Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae for dessert. It’s been years since I had one. Too long.
- Sonic Rootbeer Float (another spontaneous mini-date)

Happenings from our week:

(L to R)

- Hanging out with Mom at our mini Super Bowl Party

- Quick Story: this is Matt getting ready to help load a kayak into the back of his friend’s truck. When the Navy moved Matt’s stuff from Seattle, the movers accidentally grabbed his roommate’s kayak. We’ve had it in our garage all these months, trying to figure out how to get it back to him. Then one of Matt’s friends ended up coming through OK on his way back to Seattle and he offered to take it back for us. Hurray! *End of Story*

- Remembering Seattle…and the beautiful memories we made there

- Our office received almost 400 roses commemorating the pro-life movement on Rose Day

- So thankful to be able to spend my lunch hour with my wonderful husband

- Rain!

- Visiting the new Anthropolgie store

- Thrift store shopping with a good friend. I found two shirts and three skirts for about $30 total.

- Our next adventure: Germany. *so excited*

- Our dusting of snow. Not enough for a snow day. Boo.

- Fog on our morning commute

- Next holiday to plan for: St. Patrick’s Day. And I’m stoked.

V-Day Special:

It is safe to say that this man of mine steals my heart all over again each and every day. This was, of course, no less true on Valentine’s Day. It was the perfect first Valentine’s Day – so special and sweet.

We ate dinner up at the bar at Pei Wei – never a bad meal there. Good conversation and just a fun time watching the chefs. Then I talked Matt into getting me a Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae from Braum’s on the way home Delicious. I had a card for Matt and he had written a love note for me. The day before he had taken me shopping at two of my favorite stores. It was just a special, relaxed, wonderful Valentine’s Day.

The best part is – that one day simply serves to highlight the love we share every day, how God has blessed us and how amazing it is that we are able to live this life together.

We’re off!

Tomorrow is a free day. A fly-away day.

Which means that today felt like my Friday. And (unlike every other Thursday) it was actually the truth.

It’s time for a mini adventure.

Long weekend, here we come!

Our next “mark-it-on-the-calendar” adventure begins the third week in June.

We are free. Those three words are glorious to type out. There is nothing quite like them. We probably won’t ever be this free again, so we are capitalizing on the moment. We are seizing the opportunity to dream big, to live to the fullest, to walk the edge between the known and the unknown…and decide the unknown is worth getting to know.

The next few months will be filled with packing, selling, arranging, planning and anticipating. We are moving to Germany. It may be for two months. It may be for two years. We’re really not quite sure. But God is. So far the doors are swinging open and we are excited to walk through them.

We are free.

Free to go.
Free to live our dreams.
Free to take two checked bags and leave the rest behind.
Free to set off on an adventure. Just us.
Free to see what’s beyond the horizon.
Free to not know.
Free to find out.

Free.

Cheers to our next adventure!

Darling,

This is my first Valentine’s Day with anyone. And even though I don’t put much stock in this commercialized holiday (although aren’t they all??), I am still thankful for the opportunity to celebrate our love.

I am still thankful for the opportunity to say that I thank God for you every day. That I love you madly. That you have my heart. Forever.

We haven’t even known each other for a year yet, but I feel like I’ve known you all my life. I’ve never felt more loved, more accepted, more wanted by anyone else, ever. You are my dream come true. You are proof that good men do still exist. You are everything I could have ever asked for – the best part of me that I had almost given up hope I would find.

You are my Valentine. Now. For always.

I love you, Matthew McKay.

Your loving wife,

Hannah

A couple of years ago when Lydia and I were both going through rough, stressful times in life (note: having a sister to share those times with saved my life), we came up with the “10 Things” idea.

Or Lydia came up with it. I can’t really remember, but I’ll give her credit anyway

“10 Things” worked like this: once a week or sometimes multiple times a week (depending on the level of “rough and stressful), we would email each other 10 things we were thankful for that day.

Let me tell you, sometimes (read: most times) it was work. But work in a good way.

It stretched us.
It refocused us.
It encouraged us.
It blessed us.

And it got us through those rough, stressful times.

I remembered the “10 Things” on my drive to work this morning. It brought a smile to my face. It wasn’t just a good idea for that time in our lives. It’s a good idea for anytime in life. The fact is, I always have 10 things to be thankful for. Actually 10,000 would be more like it.

But since it would take a really long time to list 10,000, I thought I would list the top 10:

1. The weekend is here
2. The sun came out today
3. Lunch (& Anthropology) with a friend
4. One week until COLORADO
5. Rain last night
6. My wonderful husband
7. Isaiah 33:21
8. A good night’s sleep
9. Adventure on the horizon
10. Pinterest for menu planning (Best thing EVER.)

What are your 10 things?

Hallelujah.

That’s what my soul breathed as I settled back into work this afternoon.

This week has been forever long. And tiring. And I needed a break. My soul needed a break.

Lunch together – alone, away, just us – was exactly what I needed. It gave me the courage to tackle the rest of this Thursday. With a smile on my face

To eat better.

To exercise more.

To read more.

To write more.

To be more.

It never, ever stops. And it’s never, ever enough. No one creates arbitrary standards for me to meet. I create them for myself and then beat myself up when I don’t meet them.

I’ve got to get a grip on reality and let go. 

Of course I want to eat better, exercise more, read more, write more and be more. And there’s nothing wrong with those things. They’re good things…just not good enough to deserve my heart & soul devotion.

Spending time with Jesus.

Loving Matt.

Reaching out to others.

These are the things that matter most. Truly. They started out at the top of my list this year and I need to keep them there. The rest will follow. Never fear.

The quest never, ever stops. But thankfully I can. I can stop, refocus, recharge and remember… What’s at the top of my list? What really matters?

And the One who really matters is much kinder to me than I am to myself. No arbitrary standards there. Thank you, Jesus.