Chris & Kate

Blog transition...

NEW BLOG

Well, it's just going to be a continuation of this blog. But, it's a new web address. This one is an older format and has some quirks. So...if you follow us, please put this new address in your feeder so you can keep up with us:

www.chrisandkateborders.blogspot.com

Still an odd combination of funny, goofy, serious, random...but that's us :)

Come check us out!

...and in everything give thanks...

We had a delightful long weekend. Celebrated Thanksgiving at my mom's, then on Friday had a shower for Jess - it was so nice to have time with friends and family. Came home yesterday so we have today to relax and gear up for the week.

But...I left my camera at my mom's, so don't have any pictures to show you. Also left my crocheting there...I was a little disoriented last night when we sat down to watch TV...couldn't blog, couldn't crochet - no project to work on, aahhh! Thankfully I realized it's not too early to start on Christmas cards, so that's what I'll be doing until I get my crocheting back, maybe it's good that I left it at my mom's :)

So until I have pictures to share, you can check out my sister-in-law's blog (that I'm guessing will have pictures soon), and I'll leave you with the verses that were talked about at church this morning. It was wonderfully challenging and encouraging....

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I very much desire to live in light of that - joyful and prayerful, regardless of circumstances, because of Christ.

Comic Relief...

Got to see my dear friends Sandy and Rachel this past weekend. Sandy was here from Chicago with her beautiful daughter Kiah and Rachel from New York. It was so wonderful to have time with them. BUT...my computer is having major issues so I can't post pictures :( And, it's sad that they are gone (and that my computer is having issues) so, I don't really feel like elaborating - I'll just stick with being so thankful for their friendship and so thankful that we had time together.

Very excited about time with the fam for Thanksgiving...hopefully by next week I'll be able to post pictures and feel like writing details.

For now..the comic relief.

Do you know why most men from Italy are named Tony?
On the boat over to America they put a sticker on them that said TO NY

You know you're Italian when . . . .
You can bench press 325 pounds, shave twice a day and still cry when your mother yells at you.
You carry your lunch in a produce bag because you can't fit two cappicola sandwiches, 4 oranges, 2 bananas and pizzelles into a regularlunch bag.
Your 20 mechanic, plumber, electrician, accountant, travel agent and lawyers are all your cousins.
You have at least 5 cousins living in the same town or on the same block. All five of those cousins are named after your grandfather or grandmother.
You are on a first name basis with at least 8 banquet hall owners.
You only get one good shave from a disposable razor.
If someone in your family grows beyond 5' 9", it is presumed his Mother had an affair.
There were more than 28 people in your bridal party.
You netted more than $50,000 on your first communion.

And you REALLY, REALLY know you're Italian when . . . .
Your grandfather had a fig tree.
You eat Sunday dinner at 2:00.
Christmas Eve . . . only fish.
Your mom's meatballs are the best.
You've been hit with a wooden spoon or had a shoe thrown at you.
Clear plastic covers on all the furniture.
You know how to pronounce "manicotti" and "mozzarella."
You fight over whether it's called "sauce" or "gravy."
You've heard someone called a "mamaluke."
And you understand "bada bing."

Rejoicing and Mourning...

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. - Romans 12:15

That's all that we can do. I am so struck by the fact that there are wonderful things and terrible things all happening at the same time...

Rejoicing over new life and mourning over sickness and death

Celebrating life and the delightful good things...birthdays, promotions, coffee with a friend, a yummy meal, new babies, getting ready for the holidays...

Mourning and grieving over sin and brokenness...abuse and injustice, lost jobs, broken relationships, cancer, those who don't have family...

Praise the Lord for mercy. It's only by His grace that we can handle the reality that there is good and bad, rejoicing and mourning, celebrating and grieving. Praise Him for His presence...

Today...

Today...is Veteran's Day. I have to be honest, there have been years when the day has gone by and I didn't really think about it. And to continue being honest, I would not consider myself particularly patriotic. I am so very thankful for the freedom and safety we have as American's - but I also really struggle with the fact that we have SO much when most others have SO little.

Today, however, I've been thinking about it more. Both of my grandfather's fought in past wars. My grandmother asked me to go with her to the borough hall in the next town where there was a flag flying in my grandfather's honor. Being there, watching her look through the flags to find the one with his name on it, looking at all the flags and thinking of the people who have fought and are fighting RIGHT now....wow.

So as I think about it, here is my conclusion: regardless of your political affiliation or your opinion about the current war we are fighting...we HAVE to be thankful.

Two years ago in Kazakhstan, huge portions of the country did not have heat for the winter. Newborn babies were freezing to death in maternity wards because hospitals did not have heat. Well, hospitals in the poorer parts of the country - the electricity was going to the homes, businesses and restaurants in the wealthier parts of the country so the people who could afford it were nice and toasty. I thought of that almost every night last winter and I'm thinking of it again as the weather turns chilly.

Yes there are people in America who struggle. Very sadly there are people here who sleep outside during the winter. And yes, as a country we make plenty of mistakes. But as a country, we experience freedom and comfort in abundance. So again - whether or not we agree with our government, we have to be so very thankful because by default we enjoy the fruit of the sacrifice of many individuals and families.

1st Hospital Day!

Today is the first (of what will be many by time school is over) day that Chris will be at a hospital and have his own patient! He'll do the patient's history and basic exams (eyes, ears, nose, throat; basic cardiac, muscular, nerve; etc.) He's nervous but very excited!

For those of you who know Chris you know that he has a great smile when he's really smiling...but that he hates posing for pictures :) So...here's what I got:

Doesn't he look so professional!

I tried to make him laugh so he'd really smile :)

Tough guy headed out the door!

He's working so hard and I'm so super proud of him. He's very much looking forward to the nice long break that he'll get for Christmas...that starts in 5 weeks!

Tomorrow I'm off to upstate New York with mom and Bub for the weekend to spend time with Jon and Jess and go to Jess's baby shower - I can't wait!

New Jersey Moments...

Chris surprised me and got us tickets to Seton Hall's first pre-season game this past Friday night. Being that I grew up watching them play...it was a fantastic surprise.

Definitely getting back into the college basketball scene now that Chris is in school there.

Go Pirates!!

The fall weather continues to amaze me. Even the rainy days are just beautiful. Walking through the fallen leaves from different trees is like walking through a rainbow...

We had a church dinner last night. We love our church family in Tennessee and miss them terribly. But...we are very thankful that we are making friends and getting connected at the Rutherford Bible Chapel. And I have to say...the cuisine at a church dinner in New Jersey further proves the cultural differences between the north and the south. There were no green beans, no casseroles, no mac and cheese. There was chili and pulled pork, good American staples. Then there was a delicious variety of Indian food, and of course the chicken parm and baked ziti - wouldn't be Jersey without the Italian food. Chris and I had to laugh at how different it was...

We really like the ethnic and cultural diversity around here (and we love that that's reflected in our church). I'm doing some ESL tutoring and enjoying it. The hardest part is not getting to spend more time with the girls. They are in middle school and I can't imagine how hard it is to be new in middle school...and not speak the language. I could get really excited about spending a lot of time in immigrant communities...

For those of you who care what the garage looks like these days...Chris treasures his study breaks.

Happy November!

Flying days...

I love the fall. We walked to church yesterday - it was cool and crisp, the sun was shining, the leaves were brilliant. It was beautiful. This morning as I walked Shadow, it was chilly and quiet and the leaves rustling beneath my feet were soothing. Fall is a time that makes me want to take a deep breath and absorb the peaceful moments.

While I am very much enjoying the season...I'm feeling a little torn. In some ways I want the days to go slowly so I don't miss anything. But in other ways, I have to admit I like that they are flying by. I like that the end of Chris's semester and seeing his family is in sight.

I'm also feeling torn about about my perspective. In some ways I like the idea of this season of life (Chris being in school) being a quiet one for me. I can enjoy being at home, working and helping Chris...not taking on much else. But then the other part of me is really enjoying the friends we are making and things I'm getting involved in. I don't want to run around crazy, but I like days that are full - productive time at the computer for work and then time spent investing in people.

So...I've decided to be okay with the fact that I have moments of just wanting to watch from a distance, but more moments excited about diving into the new friendship that the Lord has for us here in New Jersey. Enjoying the quiet moments and the crazy ones, thankful that the time is going quickly, but at the same time soaking up as much as I can as it goes...

Back to the routine...

I am so, so thankful that Chris was able to join me for the last few days of my trip to Maryville. I really don't have words for how much I love the sight and sound of Chris and his friends working and laughing in the garage...

In our friends' house, where we spent most of our time for the few days we were in Maryville together, the living room shares a wall with the garage. So as the girls and I sat there and talked we would occasionally hear uproars of laughter from Chris and the guys in the garage. Music to my ears.

Not only is time in the garage a good mental break from school for Chris, but the garage is where they connect, where they have fun and have real conversations about what's really going on. I am eternally grateful to the men in Maryville (you know who you are even though you're not all in these pictures...) who are real community, the church, to Chris.

Honestly, I don't have many more pictures :) Never remembered to use my camera when I was hanging out with the girls and had no time to use the camera for all the work stuff that went on!

Because I don't have the energy to go into all the work details...it suffices to say that my time in Marville was a very productive for work and wonderfully refreshing for me personally.

And now it's back to the routine. At the computer working, sitting in class, cooking with Bub, studying, looking for ways to get connected in Rutherford.

While we really miss everyone in Maryville and it was hard to say goodbye again, the trip was a good opportunity to see that we can stay connected with people from a distance and that's it is possible to stay connected with Maryville people as we connect with people here in Rutherford.

Praying that whether close or far away, that you know real community...

Surprise!!!!!!!!!

This picture is Chris and Curt, in the Newvines garage....in Maryville TN....about 20 minutes ago!!!! Chris came to Maryville! He had off today and tomorrow for fall break. When we talked about it before we didn't think it would work, but Chris made it work! Of course I'm soooo excited to see him, makes it even MORE fun for me to be here. But...mostly I'm excited that he gets guy time!!!!