Not So Very Long Ago

August 31, 2011 by Aliesha

A couple weeks ago, my parents helped my brother move in at Liberty University, where he is starting as a transfer student this fall. I am so excited for him, since I had an incredible experience at Liberty and found it to be a very formative time in my life!

Phillip is the tall, handsome one in the center 🙂

It was not so very long ago that I started as a freshman at Liberty. It was just over six years ago, but I remember everything vividly… meeting roommates and hall-mates, making new friends, figuring out where classes were, etc.

Kristy, me, and Ashlee

One of my roommates, Kristy (far left) is actually coming to visit me this weekend! I can’t wait!

Good-bye, Dear Friends

August 17, 2011 by Aliesha

As many of you know from reading my blog in the last few weeks, our senior pastor at our church recently resigned. It is a very sad time for our family, since we are very close to Travis and Andrea! They moved out of town today, and it suddenly all feels so glaringly real.

Travis and Tad hit it off right away when they began working together over two years ago. Tad learned lots from Travis, and I know Travis appreciated their friendship too. They got along great and complemented each other in a way I think few senior pastors and youth pastors do.

Travis is an excellent preacher who has always been faithful to the Word. He spent much of his time discipling others and pouring himself out in ministry. Travis was our first pastor as a married couple, and Vera’s first pastor ever. I know Travis and Andrea had vision to be at our church for a long time, but, and only the Lord knows why, that could not happen. There are still people at our church who will miss Travis deeply, and our family is definitely in that number.

Andrea reached out to me as a friend immediately, even before Tad was officially hired (four months before we were married). We emailed back and forth all summer, and she graciously volunteered to photograph our wedding. She has photographed every important milestone in our family: our engagement, our wedding, random mini shoots, my pregnancy with Vera, Vera’s birth, one of our first family photos, and many photo ops throughout Vera’s first year of life (like this one, this one, this one, and this one). Did I mention she photographed Vera’s birth? It definitely brought us closer together when she was with me during my labor and delivery!

Our kids have often played together. Their youngest son, Owen, is exactly five months older than Vera, and I guess I always thought they would grow up together. I remember when Vera was just a few months old, Andrea and I were sitting in church a pew apart while our babies smiled and coo-ed at one another during the service.

Andrea is one of the most generous people I have ever met, not just with her possessions, but also with her talents. She has a heart for ministry, and she is the reason we started a community women’s Bible study. I know the Lord is going to continue to bless her for the many ways she has blessed others.

As Travis and Andrea leave, we know that God has good plans for them. We will miss them terribly, but we are trusting that 1) God will continue to be glorified through their family and their ministry, and 2) we will still keep in touch and remain friends.

Travis and Andrea, we love you guys and your family and we pray God’s blessings on you as you leave!

Guest Post: Kristin from Kristin’s Veranda!

August 12, 2011 by Aliesha

Today I have a special treat for you… a guest post by my friend Kristin of Kristin’s Veranda! I am excited to have her “chatting” with us today, and I am even more excited about a Blog Warming Party she is hosting on her blog(Vignettes) all next week! Without further ado, here is Kristin!

I was so tickled when Aliesha said she’d be a part of my “blog-warming” team! I’ve known her for many, many years, but we both entered the blog world unbeknownst to the other. Once my blog was up and running, several mutual friends said to me, “Your blog reminds me so much of Feathers in our Nest!” So through their comments, I found and reconnected with Aliesha!

Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Kristin, and I am a blogger of various and sundry interests (don’t you love that old phrase “various and sundry”?). Besides old phrases, I enjoy all things domestic, and have a special love for the art form of dance. I adore my husband, and am very passionate about friendships too. I am generally a very healthy eater, but could out eat any of you when it comes to Sloppy Joes or BBQ Sandwiches! So surmise of me what you will from those few choice facts, and let’s be friends, k?!

Today I’m here to share with you first and foremost about a little shindig going on at my place next week: A Blog-Warming Party! I hope you’ll come join in the fun…and invite your friends too! There will be some guest posters that I know you’ll love, prizes/giveaways EVERYDAY, and some fabulous announcements for the upcoming fall season. The celebration begins officially on Monday, but come on over early and introduce yourselves…I’d love to get to know you!

I did want to share one of my very favorite simple ideas with you today before I go: Infused Water, and since we’re in the dog days of summertime, an idea for jazzing up your lemonade too. Hope you enjoy!
Oh girls…if you’ve never tried this, you must! Fair warning: you may very well never go back to old fashioned lemonade again. Just make your batch of lemonade however you normally do, and before you cover the pitcher, throw in 4 or 5 thick orange slices and let them swim around and do their magical thing for several hours before you serve it. Oh taste of heavenly deliciousness!!! Pardon me – I need to go get some right now…

Now onto a healthier and more necessary beverage: water!

How many of you drink as much water as you should (5-8 glasses per day)? I know unless I’m exercising/working/playing hard, I don’t! I do enjoy water and drink it with my meals, but because it’s relatively uninteresting, I never crave it. – Enter: brilliant idea from Martha Stewart – “Infused Water”. I can’t tell you how much more enjoyable and refreshing and craveable this makes consuming your required amount each day! It’s also very high style if you’re hosting a brunch or spa party or something. All you do is decide which essence you’d like, put a few pieces in a glass pitcher, and fill with water. You can let it sit overnight in the fridge if you want it nice and strong by morning. – I love to just keep my pitcher out on the counter all day w/ ice in it on a trivet w/ a glass nearby, and I know that by the end of the day, my pitcher needs to be empty (which translates to 5-8 glasses consumed). You could do this at your work too – just keep it on your desk and know that by quitting time, you must be able to see the dry bottom of the barrel!

Here are some of my favorite infusions:

Pineapple: just keep the core after you’ve cut one up, and soak the whole core in your pitcher (as pictured to the left – no, it’s not a stick of butter! I know that’s what you were thinking)! You can also wash the rind really well, and soak a few pieces of that.
Lemon slices and mint
Lime slices and lemon balm
Cucumbers: yes, I know it sounds strange, but try it!
Berries: sliced to release the flavor
Oranges slices
Lemon slices and berries mixed
Mint leaves

This is such a simple, delicious idea, and I’ve been doing it for years. – I hope you give it a try!
Do you have a favorite infusion to share?