my favorites

In lieu of another boring life update, I thought I'd post a list of some of my favorite blogs, especially since I can't figure out how to post the links on our blog template.

1. The Corner at NationalReview.com
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
This is a group blog on the electronic side of the political magazine National Review. They are all conservative politically, but what I appreciate is that they are thoughtful - not knee jerk. And it's a wide spectrum of people - a few athiest/agnostics, several Catholics, a few Jews and a handful of evangelical Christians. Some are employed by National Review, others with think tanks, the government, etc. One guy is a producer on the TV Show "According to Jim." And it's not all politics on this blog. Lots of interesting links. I have to admit - I check it at work at least once a day (don't tell anyone!) :)

2. Andrew Osenga - independent artist living in Nashville
http://www.andrewosenga.com/blog/
Andrew used to be the frontman for a band called The Normals - not your typical "Yeah God" Christian music. They have disbanded, and Andrew now plays with Caedmon's Call in addition to his solo shows and albums. He's also part of a community of independent Christian artists called the Square Peg Alliance, which also includes Andrew Peterson, a top favorite of both Pete and me. I'm going to Nasvhille for work next month and I'd love to check out a Square Peg show if I could (doubtful that would happen, but it's worth trying!)

3. My cousin Rachel
www.scottandrach.blogspot.com
It's a great way to keep up on my cousin Rachel's doings all the way over on the east side of the state. And congratulations again on your fantastic news! (Read her blog to find out what it is).

4. Following Austen - by Lori Smith
www.followingausten.blogspot.com
I stumbled upon this blog via AustenBlog and was hooked. Her posting has been spotty lately due to a battle with Lyme Disease, but she's a great writer and will have a book out soon about her summer following Jane Austen around England (my dream trip someday!)

There are others I randomly read, but those are the four I probably read the most. Follow the links and have some fun!

year two

I wrote this on September 5, but had problems posting it then. I'm actually posting it on September 26.

Two years of marriage under our belts...we've got this thing totally figured out. :) Okay, anything but, but it's been an amazing two years. I am so grateful for the gift God has given me in Pete and I pray I never take it for granted.

I think we'd both agree that the second year of marriage was more difficult than the first - not in a bad way, but I think we've reached a higher comfort level with each other, and more of our "stuff" comes to the surface. But we're able to work through it and, in the process, learn more about ourselves and each other. It's been very helpful to be married to someone who has worked in a theraputic setting for 6 years!

Anyway, we celebrated this weekend by heading to Detroit. Not the typical romantic destination and yet, it was perfectly wonderful.

We took in two Tiger games - one Saturday night (rainy, cold, Tigers lost) and one Sunday night (much nicer weather, Tigers lost). It's a blast to go to their games, even when they do lose. Comerica Park is beautiful, the game of baseball is fascinating and people are so excited to be there. It's especially fun to watch the kids (and the big kids who still get a kick out of going to a Major League game). We caught batting practice on Sunday night and sat near the bullpen so we could see the various pitchers warming up. Fun times.

Sunday, we drove around metro Detroit and visited the greatest store on earth (right up there with Target!), IKEA. Inexpensive furniture and any and everything you'd want for your home. It was packed with everyone in southeast Michigan, so it was tough to take everything in, but I got some great ideas. Pete tolerated it very well - I don't think he would consider IKEA the greatest store on earth (that might be Best Buy for him) but he faked it pretty well. We didn't buy anything major - just cheap batteries and Swedish sparkling juice for us, light bulbs for my parents. I wonder what their sales volume is in just a day - it's amazing.

But more than Tiger games and IKEA and everything else, it was special to simply spend precious time together.