We all need a Colby Scott

Oh hey.  Sorry it's been a hot minute since I last typed out my current stream of thoughts.  Since we last spoke I started graduate school and it is truly the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  I have full confidence that I would not have survived "trauma block"(the first/most intense month of PA school) without my husband.

There are some people in my class who are having to live separately from their spouses to come to school at Wake Forest.  Ya'll, I cannot even imagine.  And ya know what?  I couldn't do it.  

Since Colby and I moved away from our hometown, I have become solely dependent on him.  As it should be.  But right after we got married, dependency on both of our parents was still very much prevalent.  It wasn't bad by any means, but in our hearts we so desperately needed each other to depend on each other, solely.  

So in a sense, moving was one of the best things we could have done for our marriage.  

Simple example: One day, I was having car trouble and instead of immediately calling my dad, like I always have, I called Colby.  Colby said, "well babe, I don't know.  What did your dad say?"  When I told him I called him first, I could all but see the joy in his heart. 

I need him.  He needs me.  We both constantly need to feel that weight of dependency we get from one another.

Colby has made the first month of PA school bearable.  I knew it would be hard.  My parents knew it would be hard.  When Colby asked for my hand in marriage, my parents warned him that PA school was going something he would have to go through too if we got married when he suggested.   Obviously, I don't know the exact words that were said, but essentially Colby replied with, "bring. it. on." (Shew, somebody turn on the fan.  It is getting hot in here! ;) )

 
Today, I officially start my second month of PA school.  The trauma block is over and for that, let's all take a second to the praise the Lord.  Thank you, Jesus. 

I'm a wife first, student second.  And some of those sleep-lacking, stressful days, I fell short on that.   But I have a husband who carries out the gospel better than anyone I know.   His side of the yoke got heavier and he didn't think a thing of it.  He picked up the weight I couldn't carry and still asked what else he could do for me.

I am so overwhelmingly thankful I am on this man's team.  When I graduate from PA school, Team Scott will graduate.  Colby is investing just as much as I am in this journey.  But for real, he has played with my new medical equipment more than me.  He knows why I now shape my hamburger patties like red blood cells and at one point he learned all the bones of the hand so he could quiz me on them.  We all need a Colby Scott, y'all.

Anniversary pictures taken by Tyler and Ashley Lucas

Sue and Pandora

A couple of Sundays ago our sweet little neighbor, Sue, dropped by to share some of her freshly made pound cake.  She had just cut it hot and thought we could indulge in a southern classic.  We were blown away by her gesture and we are so thankful for a neighbor who has made us feel so welcomed in our new community.

As soon as Sue left, I became giddy at the idea of returning the cake tupperware.  I had to explain to my confused husband that my mama has preached southern hospitality since the day I got married.  Sue bringing her pound cake in a tupperware container meant I had to bake something in return!  My mama taught me that you never return tupperware back empty.  So chocolate cake here I come!

Before I even got out the eggs and oil, I habitually found my Pandora app on my phone and bluetoothed it to our Bose speaker.  I believe that Pandora is one of the greatest inventions on the planet earth.  I'm a music gal.  I love every type of music.  I am guaranteed to be the favorite child when it comes to music.  I absolutely love the oldies, 80's, classic rock, beach music, motown, and 90's country (any fellow Vince Gill groupies out there?).  My absolute favorite song is Bohemian Rhapsody from Queen.  A close second is My Girl by The Temptations.  My favorite artist is James Taylor.  My favorite bands include Mumford & Sons, The Goo Goo Dolls and Fleetwood Mac.  My go-to car solos include: How Will I Know (Whitney Houston) Higher Love (Steve Winwood).  And I am pro boy bands and one of the very few left who still loves Nickelback.  My musical tastes have no limits.  I legitimately love it all.  This is why I love Pandora.  It feeds my musical cravings and it allows me to explore new artists and songs.  

I have different Pandora stations for different activities, moods, and times of the day.  When I decided to make Sue a chocolate cake, I went for my cooking/baking station, which is always Frank Sinatra.  Its classic and lovely.  The way I want my food to taste and present.  Plus this station makes it so easy to dance from the pantry to the mixer to the oven to the kitchen island.  Fox trot, anyone?
 

When I need a little boost to get cleaning?  That's an easy one too: It's Raining Men Pandora station.  Nothing like a little Aretha and Diana to get that dust rag a dustin'!

When the sun seems to be making his way back towards the horizon, The Head and The Heart Pandora is guaranteed to be on.  I can thank my college friend, Rachel, for sharing this station with me years ago!

Need some good morning worship? Bethel station.  Love them old hymns like me?  Come Thou Fount station.  Times when you feel feminine like putting on your make up or painting your nails?  Noah Jones station or Amos Lee station.   Packing for the weekend?  Ben Rector station.  Want Colby's recommendation?  Van Morrison station.  Windows down music?  Some type of country music station.  Feeling nostalgic?  90's Pop or Nelly stations.  Need a station recommendation?  Contact me.. I'll find your fix.

Of course I change it up with every season, mood, new interest, current obsessions.  But for the most part, I definitely have my go-to's.   How about you?  I would love to hear your musical go-to's!!

Gabi | Senior Pictures

Last weekend, I had the chance to hang out with my brother's sweet girlfriend, Gabi.   I met up with Gabi and her mom on a cloudy Friday afternoon to snap those infamous senior portraits.  

Gabi has been in our family for over two years now.  She has a quiet demeanor.  She speaks no foul of anyone or anything and could honestly be a Greek goddess with her olive skin and dark brown hair.  Shes absolutely gorgeous from the inside out.  

Gabi's quietness has been something I've had to get used to.  I'm a talker.  I'm loud.  I'm honest.  So is my sister.  Between the two of us, there is no such thing as quiet.  So when my brother brought home this sweet, tender soul.. we didn't know how to handle it.   Honestly. 
 

 

However, what I have come to realize is that her gentle and quiet spirit is refreshing.  It encourages me to sit back, shut up and just listen.  It encourages me to get out of the spot light and let others tarry there.

I can't help but think of this scripture when I think of Gabi.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  1 Peter 3:3-4

A gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in my creator's eyes.  Therefore, it should be something we notice and adore about our sweet Gabi.  I'm not saying I am going to quit my life goal of making her a chatty Kathy like the rest of my family!  But it is her spirit, that quiet, tender, careful, delicate demeanor, in itself that makes Gabi the absolute beauty she is. 

Congrats, Gabi!  We are so thankful for you and are so excited to see you take Raleigh by storm!
 

Bunion Be Gone

In the past 10 days I have taken more pictures of my foot than I have in my entire life collectively.  I had a bunion surgically removed a little over a week ago.  Glamorous, I know!  I have really wide feet anyway, but the bunion on my right foot made it even more wide --  and let's be honest, it was pretty ugly.  It wasn't as bad as anything I saw on Google images.. but regardless ugly.  Even though it was ugly, that is not the reason I had it taken off.  It was physically restraining.  In any active activity, that baby would throb and cause a good amount of pain.  It started with high school basketball.  Before every game my coach would cut out two doughnut shaped pieces of styrofoam and tape them to both of my bunions (yes, one on each foot.. my left doesn't hurt near as much) before he would tape my ankles.  

Okay, wow.  I am telling you the history of my bunion agony!  Let's just skip to last week!  Bunion, gone.  Pain, ever so present.  I was waited on hand and foot by my husband and my mother pretty much all of last week.  It was incredible to have those two people love on me so well.   Colby was unbelievable.  He brought my coffee to bed, he would literally carry me to the bathroom in the middle of the night when walking on it was too painful, he would massage it at a moment's notice.  He was wonderful.  My mom worked from my dining room the next two days.  Bringing me anything I needed and cooked us supper (well breakfast & lunch too) every day and stocked my pantry, fridge (& freezer with homemade baked ziti and chicken casserole to fix the following week so I didn't have to go to the grocery store!)  World's Best Mama Award. 
















 

 

The day my mom couldn't be here, my precious mother-in-law came down to see me and relieve me of my cabin fever.  She got me out of the house and rolled the windows down.  It was fabulous.  My sisters-in-laws were also so incredible at loving me.  They brought me magazines, goodies, care packages and a beautiful spaghetti supper! 

 

 

 Ya'll this is like the most minor surgery EVER!  And I had all these people loving on me like it was something super serious.  Golly, I am so blessed.  I am officially full weight bearing and I get my bandages taken off and my post-op boot changed next week.  Recovery is going great and I am so thankful for the continued support!

HAPPY HEALING!

Our Snow Day | Video

Earlier this week I spent hours cleaning off thousands and thousands of pictures off my computer.  In the process I came across a video that I made for Colby for Valentine's Day a couple of years ago.  It was a silly video with a several pictures and a lot of slow-motion video clips from years past.  Colby and I watched it on Wednesday of this week and we were reminded how much we love that video.  So I suggested that we make a video for our "snow day" the following day!  He agreed and I prayed specifically the next morning that Colby would show me grace as I kept a camera in his face for the rest of the day.  I AM NOT GOOD AT MAKING THESE, but it seemed like a fun project/challenge that documented our day in a different way than just still frames.  

Yesterday was a dream, ya'll.  We got up and read Bibles and books.  Colby did some work from home, while I lit candles, turned on Pandora and did some wifely duties.  Then we played in the snow and saw our nephews and fixed perfect winter lunches.  We built an Olympic snowman and built fires and indulged in fresh pumpkin bread and coffee.  Seriously, it was a dream.

So while Colby continued to stoke the fire, I threw this baby together last night...

Click to watch our snow day HERE.

PS.  Colby & I celebrated Valentine's Day last night considering we thought he was going on a hunting trip this weekend (which got postponed.. go figure!).  Colby bought us Country Mega Tickets for the rest of this year's celebrations and holidays (not including anniversary!)  -- #tightbudgetprobs #myhusbandisunbelievable. 

Valentine's Day is suppose to be about romance and telling people not just that you love them but WHY you love them.  So we ate supper in front of the fire place, put a little Boyz II Men Pandora on and we wrote on index cards that I made.  Each card had a different line on it.. for example, "I love it when you...", "I feel loved when you...", "You look best in...", ETC.  We both wrote on our set of cards and then exchanged.  SUPER CHEAP & effective I'd say.   Simple, nothing crazy.  Yes, we should say these things more often.  But sometimes a written note about what your husband loves about you or what you do for him is a super tangible reminder of why you should keep doing those things... BECAUSE HE LOVES IT.  I wrote the date on the back of the index cards and I hope that this is a tradition we continue to do for Valentine's Days to come!

Happy Valentine's Day!  Now go tell someone WHY you love them!!

August & Madison | Engagement

It is amazing what you can gather from just spending a hour with someone.  I met up with Madison & August one evening in Mount Airy to snap a couple of engagement pictures.  Even though I have known Madison for quite sometime, I had never met August before, but I can already see the dynamics of their sweet relationship.  August is a gentle but strong leader.  August adores Madison, from her mind-of-its-own hair to her wrinkled nose to her genuine love for people and for him.. you can just tell it in his eyes and his constant smile.  Madison is a loving, supportive free-spirit.  When Madison hugs, she hugs with every fiber of her being, soul & heart.  She loves people.

I smiled the whole way home after our time together at White Sulfur Springs.  Jesus is doing something crazy good in them and it is so easily reflected in these pictures!

Here's a sneak peek for the future Short's!

Happy engagement season, August & Madison!

Bread & Wine

I have always appreciated that my mom creates home-cooked meals for our family.  Every now and again she would stop in on her way home to grab a pizza or some seafood, but for the most part everything is picked from a garden or produce stand, sauteed in some type of old school pan sauce and marinaded in a tried and true recipe.   Our family always jokes about how she can never leave the kitchen without flour, oil or grease splatters all over her clothes.  But what I am realizing more and more.. is that that is a translation of the gospel.  Stirring, kneading, creating something beautiful in the mess around us.  Fulfilling a need.  Feeding our hunger.

For my birthday this year, my sister-in-law got me a cookbook.  She wrote me a note saying that a review of this book "screamed" my name.  A review that ultimately said cooking a love song, an ode to the people you love.  That in cooking there is healing power in food that was prepared with love and joy and creativity.  I love that Sidney acknowledged that.  Because that is what I want. Not for people to acknowledge the things I like, but to know that I believe there is power in your knives and wooden spoons.  Probably something I picked up from watching my mama manhandle the kitchen for my 20 plus years of life.

I just finished an unbelievable book called Bread & Wine.  A book that I plan on giving as housewarming or newlywed gifts from here on out.   It is a book that is heart warming from page one.  The kind of book that you read when candles are lit and you are curled up in a knit throw.  It's the kind of book that truly inspires you to get in the kitchen and invite people into your messy homes.  To nourish their stomachs as well as their hearts.  To share your life with the people you love with nothing but a table between you.

"When you eat, I want you to think of God, of the holiness of hands that feed us, of the provision we are given every time we eat.  When you eat bread and drink wine, I want you to think about the body and the blood every time, not just when the bread and wine show up in church, but when they show up anywhere - on a picnic table, or a hardwood floor or a beach."  - Shauna Niequist

 Last week, I decided to make baked spaghetti for supper.  It was about 5 o'clock and I knew Colby would be headed home soon, so I started making my mama's famous spaghetti sauce  that takes both time to cook and practice to perfect.  Then my wheels started really turning.  What if Colby came home to Italy?  While I was stirring sauce and boiling noodles, I tossed a salad and threw a baguette into the oven to get nice and crusty.  I laid out an absurd amount of candles in the dining room so we could have a candle-lit dinner.  I set the table and poured tall glasses of water and small glasses of wine.  I drew a menu to sit on our plates and laid out a small bowl of blackberries for us to munch on until supper was ready.  I found an Italian Pandora Station, Bluetoothed it out the Bose speaker and cranked it up.  But Colby came home like 30 minutes earlier than I had expected.  I locked the back door, so he couldn't get in and ran frantically around the house to find a box of matches to light all those candles.  Then the timer was going off, telling me it was time to lay a hefty layer of cheese on the top of the spaghetti and I had planned on changing into a dress.  Instead, as Colby was walking in the door, half of the candles were lit,  I was burning my hands getting the spaghetti out of the oven and I was wearing a wrinkled flannel shirt, skinny jeans and cowboy boots.

In Bread & Wine, Shauna (aka my new BFF) says it perfectly... "I'm not talking about cooking as performance or entertaining as complicated choreography of competition and showing off.  I'm talking about feeding someone with honesty and intimacy and love.  About making your home a place where people are fiercely protected, even if its just a few hours, from the crush and cruelty of the day."

Colby couldn't care less what I was wearing or that every thing wasn't perfectly in place by the time he walked through the door.  He appreciated the fact that I was being creative in how I was loving him.  He praised me for my efforts for the rest of the night and kept saying sweet things like, "Man, Italy was great.  We should go again next week."

And then Shauna says it perfectly again, "What people are craving isn't perfection.  People aren't longing to be impressed; they're longing to feel like they're home.  If you create a space full of love and character and creativity and soul, they'll take off their shoes and curl up with gratitude and rest, no matter how small, no matter how undone, no matter how old."

I believe feeding and being fed is life-giving.  Both physically and metaphorically.  After reading Bread & Wine, I have the greatest desire to invite more people to my table.  To create conversation between mouthfuls of bread.  I'm not talking about super fancy dinner parties (which I hope to conquer one day, but today is not that day).. but just inviting our college roommates to catch up over for some take out Chinese or pizza.  Or inviting our siblings over and all of us taking part in the menu.  One on sides, one on the grill, one setting the table.  Or inviting our parents over for dessert and coffee and board games.  Or inviting new friends, that you know nothing about and learning their middle names over salads and steaks.   Ultimately, inviting people into our homes, into our lives.  Showing their place around our table and exchanging the hard and good and sour and delightful things in each of our lives.  To feed and be fed.

(PS.  This is a blueberry crisp.  A recipe that Shauna so graciously reveals in her book.  It is delicious!!)