Cincinnati Adventure - Taste of Belgium

Taste of Belgium in Over the Rhine

Yesterday I had my "Cincinnati Adventure" - which means I have officially met my very first New Years Goal of the year!  The goal was to go somewhere I've never been, with someone else, trying something I've never tried.

My long time friend, Sandra, and I went to Taste of Belgium - a great place to eat in the historic neighborhood of Over the Rhine.  While this neighborhood used to be known as one of the sketchiest sections of Cincinnati, parts of it have recently been fixed up making it quite a conglomeration of folks.  One street might be the trendiest little place you've ever seen with urban shops, eateries, etc…and then 2 streets over you would think twice before parking your car on the side of the road.  I, for one, am quiet interested (and hopeful) to see how they merge these two worlds…I am hoping it's done well.

Taste of Belgium is quite the gem in Over the Rhine.  One of their specialties is the Chicken and Waffles dish.  I ordered those in addition to an amazing chocolate candied orange latte.  The meal was great, the latte was delish and the company was fantastic :)

Sandra sporting a sweet hat

Chocolate Candied Orange Latte

Chicken and Waffles

Taste of Belgium - right behind Sandra on the corner!

Cincinnati Adventure - Taste of Belgium and Chicken and Waffles!

New Years Goals 2014

It's nearly the middle of February, which means I'm LONG overdue to type up my New Years Goals for this year.  They're not exactly difficult goals (and some are carry-overs from last year)...and perhaps calling these goals a yearly "bucket list" might actually be a better description.  I am excited about them, and I'm looking forward to getting started!

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 2014 New Years Goals

1.  Read 10 books - 5 of these biographies, and some C.S. Lewis in there too
Completed…

Radical by David Platt 
Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
Uprising by Erwin McManus
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine D'Engle
The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkenson
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Journey by Alfred Lansing (Biography)
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Biography)
The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais
No Longer a Slumdog by K.P. Yohannan
Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist
Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis (Biography)
Love Does by Bob Goff
The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippetts (Biography)

2.  Sew a skirt or a dress with my sewing machine

3.  Be filled with the Fruits of the Spirit - no matter what life looks like - pray especially for joy and peace.

4.  Brew Kamboucha Done

5.  Go on 4 adventures - 1 International, 1 United States, 1 Ohio, and 1 Cincinnati.
Rules:  It must be somewhere I've never been to before.
I must go with at least one other person.
While there I must do or try something I've never tried before.
Completed - Cincinnati Adventure: Taste of Belgium and Chicken and Waffles with Sandra
Completed - International Adventure:  Inca Trail to Machu Piccu with Lindsey
Completed - U.S.A. Adventure: Creation Museum and Ziplining with Karen

6.  Get my piano tuned

7.  Run the Flying Pig half marathon in under 2 hours...it's going to stay on the list each year until it happens :) FAIL :)  Perhaps next year....

8.  Go to one international adoption meeting.  Nope - this idea is on pause.

9.  Write 3 original poems for 3 different people - and then read the poem to that person over the phone or in person

10.  Finish Jason's table...
So...I have a bedside table that Jason was in the process of making for me when he died.  It's been in the garage for 9 and a half years now - just sitting there collecting dust - unfinished.
This year, I'm going to finish it.  And hopefully not chop off a finger in the process.

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This is a pretty great list, huh?! This isn't exactly the entire list - but it's most of them.

ALSO - This year, I've decided to have a theme verse...
"She is clothed with strength and dignity.  She can laugh at the days to come."  Proverbs 31:25

I'm excited to live this out a bit better this year.  Because of Jesus, I am clothed with strength and dignity. ...and because of Him, I can laugh at the days to come...

And this year I will do just that.  

Something unexpected happened to me as the New Year rolled over.  And I seriously hate to say that it was "unexpected" because honestly it should be what I expect day in and day out in this walk of faith and grace...

...but regardless of my expectations or lack thereof, as this year as started, I have found that the Lord has washed his peace over me….he has reached down from on high and lifted me up.

I feel different.  Noticeably lighter.  I have a fresh covering of peace and joy.

Seriously, to be honest, I'm almost concerned about my lack of concern :)

I take it as a season of rest.  Beautiful rest.
It probably means crazy is coming….and well, I'm up for that too.  But for now I'll sit here with a renewed sense of God's peace, and I'll feel content.

So - 2014 is here, a new list of goals is in writing, and I'm ready to go.  Adventure is coming.

My Year of Mac

Before I lay out my goals for 2014…I'd like to highlight one New Year's Goal from last year that turned out to be stellar - getting mac-n-cheese every Monday at Keystone Grill.

I planned to eat Mac at Keystone Grill every Monday I was in town - aside from a few misses, I was pretty faithful.  I could not have predicted in January how much fun I would have doing it and how many great conversations would happen throughout the year.   I had loads of dinners with many friends.  I loved getting a "Hey - can I join you for mac some Monday night?!"  There were lots of special times with many dear friends.  My friends Meredith and Marina even became regular mac-n-cheese eaters with me - and it's still continuing.

I knew I had finally "arrived" as a regular when Jeremy who works at the bar answered my phone call with "Hey Dani - what do you want this evening?!"  I looked forward to seeing his smile and saying hello each time I went in to pick up a carry-out order.

And my students - oh man were they into this goal.  On Monday mornings during our Community Time, one of my boys would excitedly ask what I was going to get.  And he would follow up on Tuesday morning by asking what I got.  I would describe the type of Mac dish I had eaten, while they oooooohed and awwwwwwed over it.  They loved it.  And as the year came to a close they excitedly asked "What's your goal next year going to be?"  (As if Mac-n-Cheese was the whole of my ambition through the year!)  So fun :)

Favorites of the year:
Jimmy Buffet - Hamburger in the mac with french fries on top
Smoked cheese with turkey and bacon mac
Black Beans and Bacon
Chorizo macs
Green Day Mac - Sun dried tomatoes, spinach, etc.

Most of all, though, I'm thankful for the time with friends, and I have loads of good memories from these times.  There's only been 3 weeks in January so far…and 2 of those I've already eaten mac at Keystone even without the goal :)

I have talked over mac.
Listened over mac.
Cried over mac.
and Laughed over mac.

My year of Mac.  What a Great Goal.  It'll be hard to top in 2014.

Mac with Linda

Marina and Meredith - regular mac buddies - still going....

Awaited

Awaited

                                                 Click here to watch the Awaited Trailer

I had the priviledge of being the Awaited Show at Crossroads this Christmas season.  It ended up truly being one of the best experiences of my year!  We had 15 shows – and despite the fact that it became a bit like “Groundhog Day”…we had a total blast doing it!  From the beginning the focus of the program was made clear – this was a show to tell the story of Jesus and the rescue he brings to people who perhaps had never connected with God’s story before.  We were called “Go Awaited” – which is in line with all the other events where Crossroads “goes” and engages with others outside of their community - sharing the love and hope of Christ. 

We had table assignments where we ate dinners together and table facilitators who led discussion questions at the table if desired.  At my table, I had the privilege of having some older ladies as well as some younger gals – and in particular, the gal who was the “camel butt” in the show was at my table!  She was a stilt walker, a teacher, and knew how to juggle.  One night she juggled for all of us, which was so stinkin’ awesome!  Nearly every evening, folks from the prayer team came and offered to pray with anyone who wanted prayer.  All of this together led to a wonderful climate of joy.  JOY seemed to be the theme that covered the entire season.  Beautiful, fulfilling JOY. 

What beautiful people I was able to meet and also reconnect with.  What moving music I was surrounded by each evening.  While the rest of the world was out and about for the Christmas season – there was something so simple about being in one place, with the same people, celebrating a Savior through music, words, dance and family. 

  

Highlights…

*Dancing in the hallways with the stag-ish sort of creature at the beginning of the show before going down the aisle….double tap dance!

*Stretching Olympics

*The loud “AHH AHHH” part in the Mary and Joseph song….

*The scrim dropping with joyful dancing and singing

* Fearing for my life in the manger scene

*Walking down the aisle in the quiet of the “Silent Night Shhh” part and hearing children singing

*Walking past that cute little gal crouched down at the front of the aisle ready to go on stage

*Hearing Tiffany’s lovely voice behind me

*Table discussion with my table gals

*Catching up with old friends from former years of Awaited

*That great graham coffee

*The stink bug walking up the scrim during the show

*Melissa’s veil getting stuck on the manger

                                             Love this picture…a Baby Doll raised in the air.

                                 

Best Christmas Gift

As I teacher, I have received some unique gifts over the years….but this is perhaps one of my absolute favorites from many many years ago!

It's an ornament.  Don't try to wrap logic around this.  Just soak it in.

MADD Walk

I love the MADD Walk.  I do.  This might sound weird being that it's a day where many people who have lost loved ones in a tragic way gather…but the reality is that this day is quite the mix of hope, family, friends, purpose, and sorrow.  No one denies the reality of the losses so many at the event have faced and live with…but the overall feel of the day is one of hope and community.

For the Presley/McKinney/and friends clan - it's the only day of the year when loads of family and friends all gather in honor and memory of Jason.  The day is a celebration of him, his life, and the blessing of community that we have together.

And the fact that we're able to raise funds to prevent this from happening to others is satisfying as well.  Over the past 9 years, The Jason Presley Team has raised somewhere around 50,000 bucks to promote MADD's mission.  This past year, we raised 9,952 dollars thanks to the support of MANY.  This is satisfying…and it matters.  It promotes justice, freedom, peace.

After the walk, there is a lunch at my house - lots of soup eating.  Lots of laughter.  Lots of catching up with friends and family.  Lots of love.  I am reminded every year of how much I have and how blessed I am - in family, in friends, in community.

So here are some pictures from this year!

Nathalie and Eloise

Scott (aka "smack talker"), Roger, and Jim warming up with the Ben-gals.

Brad, Heather, Larry, and Tucker

Dad stretching - Eloise and Karah running

Tucker James

Dad and Wakefield during the opening ceremonies

Nellie, Natalie, and Audrey

Summer - Part 2

So it's now December, which means I should probably wrap up my posting about summer :)

In a commitment to looking at the beautiful parts of this past summer and seeing God's goodness and grace...here is Summer Part 2:


*Saw my niece Eloise jump off the diving board for the first time.

According to Eloise, the goggles were necessary.

Here she goes!

*Picked Rasperries at Mom and Dad's house.  And fed fish at the pond.

Dad loves feeding the fish!

*Camden Park with the family.  Think West Virginia....and roller coasters that are operated by wooden levers.  You can practically take infants on the rides with you.  Not safe.  I feared for my life on several occasions...which we decided is part of what makes it so fun.  You might die on any of these rides at any time...literally.  The fear is so real.  It is thrilling.

Barrett, Jill and I getting ready to get on the wooden coaster!

Notice the WOODEN levers running the coaster!

*Went to Hawaii with Mom, Kristie, and Lauren!  
Beauty UNLEASHED.  I thought to myself several times while there ...If Heaven is anything like this place....then we're in for a real treat.

While there we...
- Drove the Northwest coast
- Snorkeled in Hanalai Bay -  that you get to by literally hiking through some man's property...this is sort of thing that makes Hawaii what it is.
- Lauren and I climbed up and then cliff jumped off the black rock at Kenapali Beach
- Experienced a black sand beach on the Road to Hana
- Went on a stupid sugar plantation tour
- Body Boarded for literally hours at Napali Bay with Lauren.  Oh gosh I WISH I could put words to this…wave after wave after wave….This is perhaps one of the very most fun things I have ever done in my life.
-Drove the Road to Hana (even the one lane part) and we were even still speaking to each other when we returned (like 12 hours later).  Anyone who've driven this road will understand this.

No doubt about it - Hawaii is amazing.  Stunning.  What a great trip!

At the airport

Hanalai Bay - snorkeling

Mom and I at the Luau

Black Sand Beach on the Road to Hana

                                         

Just to give you a clue of how crazy these waves were - Lauren got up from one
wave "ride" and her swimsuit top was on….but turned completely inside out!
How did that happen?!  We did this for hours.  Truly the best waves I've EVER experienced! 

At a park

Seriously?!  Rainbows nearly every day...

West Coast Drive!  My favorite part of the island.

*Got invaded by beetles.  Have learned to make peace with them.
Please God make the larvae inside the walls of my house (that no one can get to…) die this winter!


* I got to see my friends from Venezuela because they were in the states visiting!  I spent a month living in Caracas with Zandra back in 2000….love that I got to catch up with them and see their beautiful children!

*Went to Nada with various friends 3 times in 3 weeks.  LOVE that place. 
One of these was a birthday dinner complete with birds swooping at my friends' heads.  Thanks for staying outside despite the birds….you know how being inside on nice days makes me feel like I'm in jail.

Chicken and Corn Enchilada, Guacamole and Dear Friends….Blessed.
37 years young…Bring it.

*The McKinneys and Presleys got together to celebrate Jason's life near the 9 year anniversary of his going home to be with Jesus.
I love that our families love each other.  I miss him.

The Presley's Backyard - July 6, 2013

*Experienced the Aquarium with Denise, Claudette, Samantha, and Jason.
What an amazing place!  Seriously.  I love it.  We had a grilled cheese sandwich at Tom and Chee afterwards.  And more importantly, I married in to an absolutely beautiful family, and I love spending time with them!
My life is better because of them.


*Kings Island with Heather and Cat.

* Went to the Rodeo with Dave, Karen, and Mike to see some bull riding.  
Did you know there are DOGS that actually chase these big bulls back into the pen?  It's crazy.  These little bitty things run around like they own the place and the bulls seem to actually believe them.  I hear this is a rodeo for posers.  I think it's totally the real deal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNI8YS1gKWE
(The ride starts around the 1 minute mark.  Notice "Thunder" playing in the background.  Seriously, does that look like a "poser" rodeo to you!?)


* Hiked with Tucker….Love my dog!  
Had a terrifying scare with Tucker this summer, and I really believe God saved my dog.  And I am grateful.  Not kidding.
Seriously, if you don't have a dog…go get one.  Like right now.

* Audrey's Birthday Party! 
What a big gal she is now!  She's so grown up.  Silly, beautiful, sweet girl.  Love her tons.  And little Natalie…well, that picture just says it all :)

*College gals came to visit!  (minus Kelly - we missed you!)
The summer after our Freshman year of college we met in Cincinnati for a reunion because we missed each other so much (1995)….and this makes something like our 19th year getting together since our first year.  OH how I love these girls.  They've known me since I was 18….and there's something really special about that.

Downtown Swings by the Ohio River

Duck Boat Tour

The one and only Findlay Market

*Painted a cool picture with girlfriends at Cheers to Art!  

*Labor Day Firefighters' Pancake Breakfast in Cedarville with Claudette, Wakefield, Samantha, and Grandad!  
This is an annual tradition, and I adore it!  My niece, Samantha, drove me all over on the golf cart!

*Mud Stash Obstacle Course with Lindsay, Kevin, and Chris. 
Nasty Nasty Nasty.  But now that I've had some time to get over it…I'll totally do it again.

So…as I reconsider the summer of 2013 and post these pictures, I almost hesitate, because I know how blogs and Facebook and all that tends to make a person's life look all rosy and posy.

And the honest reality is that for a variety of reasons my summer was emotionally very hard…

BUT

despite any sorrows, any waiting, any difficulties…. despite the ways that life just doesn't make sense to me…

I look at these pictures and know some things for sure.

I am blessed.  And I am thankful.  

AND There you have it - The Summer (and early Autumn) of 2013.