Monday, October 15, 2012

My Split Apart

While at work this past Thursday I received a phone call from the front desk, I wasn’t able to answer, so the call was ignored.  A few minutes later, I receive an Instant message from Cody asking me if I had a call from the lobby, confused at how he knew this, I answered and he gently forced me to go down to the 1st floor to check it out. 
I’m so happy I did, because these beauties where there waiting for me!!
After showing them off I responded to Cody via IM:

My above reference to “Split Apart,” was due to the card attached which read,
“I just want you to know how much I love you Booba.  You truly are my Split Apart.” 
My eyes got a tad watery, I’ll admit it.  The first night Cody & I met we spoke on the phone for over 6 hours, so we covered a lot of ground.  One of the conversations we had was about relationships, soul mates, etc… and I told him about Plato’s “Split Aparts,” which is why I’m obsessed with belly buttons. 
I remember after explaining it, he was very quiet and sweetly said, “You don’t really believe this, do you?”  I laughed, because I knew it sounded crazy, I reassured him I did not, but I thought it was a romantic synopsis. 
We haven’t really spoken of it for at least 6 years, so that was a sweet surprise to see it on the card.

If you’re curious about split aparts, I’ll do my best to break down
Aristophanes’ Speech from Plato’s Symposium:
Humans were once round and half male & half female.  They had four arms, feet, & ears, with one head that had two faces {they looked in opposite directions}.  They could still walk upright like humans today, but they could also roll around using their multiple hands & feet to move faster.
After a while, the humans started trying to take over the Heavens, so the Gods grew scared.  They contemplated exterminating them, like they did the giants, but then there wouldn’t be anyone left to worship them, and what good is being a God if you’re not being worshiped?  So they had to think of a plan.
Zeus ultimately came up with the winning solution.  Zeus sliced the humans in half which made us weaker but it also increased our numbers so there were more worshipers,  but we looked really odd after being split into two, so Apollo healed our wounds and sculpted our bodies.  He then pulled what is like a purse’s draw string very tight, so our arms and legs fell into place, and tied a knot to secure it.  We still have evidence of this scar, our belly buttons. {Why I like belly buttons J}
Since there were more of us, they still had to worry about humans trying to take over, so the Gods casted one half of each of us to the ends of the earth so we’d spend our time searching for our other half, our split apart, instead of trying to take over the kingdom.

You can understand Cody’s concern now, but I still love this story, no matter how outlandish it is!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Home is Whenever I'm w/You

We randomly change, add, or update our home on what feels a monthly basis, and since the last time I shared photos of our home {Fall decorations} I decided to share a few more pics of the casa.  I normally don’t get to take many photos due to the chaos and mess that we live in {we’re both equally as messy, no matter what Cody says!}  but we recently had house guest

 so our house was pretty much 90% put together so I took advantage of this rare occasion & started snapping away. 
I would like to share before you scroll down, that I did NOT ask my dogs to be a part of any shot, this is how trained they are.  They hear my camera and literally pose, it cracks me up! 
If you see a few additions to our furniture collection, good eye!  I’m going to be posting a few DiY projects we have in the works but I’m conflicted with whether or not I should post them before I have the 100% completed photo… knowing me I’ll share them in their current stages and update them later, especially since it takes us about a month to fully finish.
*knock, knock, knock!*
“Who’s there? OH!  Hello, please do come in!”

When you open our front door, a table Cody made is to your left
This view is from the front door
This is our entry way hall with my wall of photos
I'm obsessed with it {pssssst, notice the new piece of furniture?}


Awe, our livingroom {I'm a firm believer that EVERY color goes together}

{pssssssst, notice that orange side table?  Another DiY project}


Our dining room



Our latest project was/is our Master Bedroom, so far, I'm loving it!

{PSSSSSSST, see those designs on the wall?  Cody is currently painting that on that wall entirely... HAND painting it!}

*Again, I did NOT ask them to do this, they're just picture whores*
We recently updated our Master Bathroom, I like it so far, we have a little ways to go


Guest Bathroom


Guest Bedroom




We have 2 more rooms in addition to these, my closet room & another guest room we converted into an office but those weren't fully in order so I thought it best to keep those doors shut!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Joan

I’ve had grandparents pass, but I wasn’t very close to them, so my sorrow was more for my parents than myself; I’ve lost pets, which if you know me, feels like losing a best friend, but I do realize a person is different, especially now. 
A few weeks ago, I lost the first person that actually affected me in my adult life.
Monday, September 10th God summoned my Aunt Joan home.  She passed away from a heart attack, her husband by her side.  She was, is, a very special person.  She taught me how to draw, she got me into photography, & when I was younger, we would lie and tell people I was her daughter {she has two boys so my Mom shared me with her}.  She had the best laugh
Was one of the sweetes people I knew; I don’t have one negative memory of her or one bad thing to say.  She was my mom’s best friend, her person, her soul mate,


My heart broke when I learned of her passing.  She was 61 years young and still rocking high heels, skinny jeans, silver nail polish, chunky costume jewelry, & colored eye shadows.
She was there for birthdays


Holidays
Weddings, showers, everything...

Oh, and boy did she LOOOOOOOOVE Elvis.
One of my favorite stories about her and my uncle Mike, is of them growing up.  Joan wasn’t allowed to date just one boy {there was a fear of her getting too serious}, but Mike wouldn’t have it any other way.  He would have boys pick Joan up at her house and he’d be waiting at the end of the street for her {very sly}!  They were/are very much in love.
Her service that celebrated her life was beautiful & moving.  The Priest that preceded it did an amazing job; just when you were on the brink of tears, he’d say something funny that would lighten up the mood.  For example, he started the service by talking about Mike & Joan’s wedding day, and how beautiful she looked, and then he added, “In Dickey’s words, ha-cha cha!”  It made the room fill with laughter.  It was a charming, intimate service, & a good way to say goodbye to her Earth form.

A few days after Joan’s passing my mom sent me this poem; I think it’s worth sharing:
When I Come Home To Heaven
 When I come home to Heaven
How joyful it will be!
For on that day at last
My risen Lord I'll see.

No greater happiness than
To see Him face to face,
To see the love in His eyes
And feel His warm embrace.

I've done nothing to deserve
That perfect home above,
It was given freely through
The grace of Jesus' love.

Then why should earthly cares
Weigh down upon me so?
They'll be a distant memory
When home at last I go.
“This poem brought me peace thinking of Joan in Jesus’ arms” ~Cindi Zindler aka My mom.
Whenever a friend, co-worker, or loved one loses someone, I send/say these following passages from the Bible, I find them very comforting:

“For the saved, death ushers us into the presence of Christ. "To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23).

“So real is the promise of the believer's resurrection, that the physical death of a Christian is called "sleep" (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 5:10).

“We look forward to that time when "there shall be no more death" (Revelation 21:4).  

I interpret this as we are never truly “dead,”  just dreaming an endless “sleep.” 
Sweet dreams Aunt Joan.  We love you, and I’m very lucky to have you as an angel watching over me & our family.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Cody's Last 20 something Birthday

CODY'S BiRTHDAY PART I:
I LOOOOOOOOOVE birthdays, I think they’re fantastic, probably because I enjoy hosting!  Because of my obsession, Cody’s birthdays are more of an event rather than a day.  Normally we have an elaborate themed party with tons of people & lots of details, but since he’s turning 30 next year {and yes, I’m already planning & making purchases for it, this is the logo I created for it}:
{Can you guess the theme we're going with?}

we decided to be more low key for this year’s, his last birthday in his 20s.
We’re very blessed to work with a great group of people that we consider friends, not just co-workers
And even though the Quad was short a Shilpa, Melinda {Matt’s wife} is one of my favorite people!
Chris & Kara were able to make an appearance before having to head home {Thanks guys!}
Later on that weekend we teamed up with the family to keep the celebration going...

 My mom made her AMAZING cheesecake {from scratch}!

And I had a pizza flown in from his fravorite pizzaria in Chicago



 HAPPY BiRTHDAY BUBELEH! 
We’ve celebrated your past 8 birthdays together & I intend on celebrating your next 60+ {with or w/out you, but I think they’ll be more fun if you’re there!}
2004:
Cody Turns 21
2005:
{This guy had no idea what was going on!}
 
2006:
2007:

2008:

2009:

2010:
2011:

2012: