Plymouth Massachusetts

We spent the past weekend with Jon’s family in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  We were out there for a wedding, but leave it to Jon to find an adventure.  Jon found a hollowed out tree trunk boat beached under a bridge.  After a lot of effort he sailed the boat down Eel River (he didn’t know how it got it’s name until later that day…)  Here is a clip from the day.

Background voices include Jon’s mom, sister, brother in law and myself.  This adventure was full of instructors, but only one of us was willing to actually get in the boat

Lessons I learned While Visiting the Amish

 

 

We spent last weekend in Lancaster, PA.    This is definitely the most unique area that I have ever been to visit.  The area is city on top of country.  Suburbs do not exist.  You can shop at the outlet mall and literally directly behind you will see a dairy farm.  It is absurd, but if I’m going to visit a city, this is the one that is most fitting for me. 

I am enchanted by the Amish lifestyle.  I enjoy reading about them and learning as much as possible about how they live and why they choose to live the way that they do.  We have a small Amish community in the area that we hope to buy a farm in, in the future.  While many people find them odd, I look to the Amish as role models. 

While I am obviously reliant on most modern conveniences, I look to the Amish to find ways to simplify my life.  A simple life is a happy life in my opinion.

Some of the most important Amish influences that I would like to adapt to my life include:

No Judgment:  Although I hate to admit it, I tend to judge people who live a certain lifestyle.  I often disagree with or don’t understand why people live the way they do or like the things they like, but really it is of no importance to me.  As long as I can engage myself in the activities that I enjoy and that make my life better, I should not be concerned with other people’s choices.

Family- the Amish are focused on caring for their family.  Their homes often include many generations and they rarely rely on social security or nursing homes to care for their elderly.  I think this is a good reminder for me to help out my own family.  The majority of my family lives nearby, while life may be busy there is always time to help out!

Recreation- I’ve heard so many times that you are never bored when you have a farm.  I’m not even sure we can consider ourselves to be a farm but I also know that we are never bored.  The Amish tend to rely on activities around the home for entertainment.  Alternatively they often spend their free time visiting people.  I think Jon and I tend to focus our entertainment in the same manner.  We are NEVER bored at home (and never watch TV, it isn’t even plugged in ).  We have so much to do and we love it.  When we do leave home it is often to visit friends and family (or to ski in the winter, one luxury we have no interest in giving up!).  I much prefer that to an evening at a movie theater.  Not only do these things make us happy, but we also save lots of money by limiting or time out and about!

I can honestly say that the more we have simplified our life and our activities the happier we have become.  I go to bed each night happy about what I have accomplished and looking forward to what needs to be done tomorrow.  While we do get overwhelmed at times (like when the garden produces 2 bushels of tomatoes in just a few days!) we always find a way to manage. 

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.” -Maya Angelou

To me success is being happy, eating well, and having everything I need and a little of what I want.  I do not define success as an expensive car, big house, flashy jewelry or lots of toys.  Material goods do not bring me happiness or success and I have nothing to prove.  A long day of hard work that leaves me happy and content will ALWAYS be my preference. 

 

What values are important in your life?  What is success to you?

Our Love Story

Yesterday, Stacey asked a great question that I couldn’t wait to blog about.  Not only am I happy to share the story of my relationship with Jon, I think it will be a great post to look back on in the future.  I’m typically awful at taking pictures and documenting everything so I love that aspect of blogging!

Jon and I were both employees at a convenience store/ gas station in our town called Stewarts. Stewarts is a locally owned company that is close to my heart.  All of the dairy and egg products for sale at Stewarts come from local farms here in NY!  I love their milk and their ice cream is out of this world, but back to Jon and I

We both worked at Stewarts for a while, but we worked opposite shifts.  I worked 6-2:30 and he worked 2:30- close.  We rarely worked together but he was always coming in as I headed out.  Fast forward like 6 months and I had quit working at Stewarts but I got a friend request from Jon on Facebook.  After a little chit-chat back and forth I invited him and a friend of his, who my friend knew pretty well, over for a bonfire.

Here is a picture from the first night we hung out together:

We hung out until the wee hours of the morning and from then on out we spent a lot of time together.  The bonfire was in October and by January, we were an “official” couple.

Jon has opened my eyes to so many new things.  I lived a rather sheltered life in my little town.  Jon introduced me to so many things that I never would have considered making part of my small town life.

Jon’s family is a skiing family.  My family on the other hand doesn’t have a single skier.  The first time Jon brought me to a ski mountain I was completely amazed with the flying ball things (the gondola).  I never anticipated that I would learn to ski and to be honest I never thought I could.  I am extremely afraid of heights, but Jon was always patient and encouraging and wanted to involve me in something that is a major part of his life.  Despite the MANY tears and frustrations, Jon was always supportive and stood by my side.  He was there to help me up when I fell (many times) and to cheer me on the first time I made it down a run without a single wipeout.  I would have given up without Jon’s support, but I’m so glad I didn’t Skiing is one of my favorite activities!

My first chair lift ride, with my eyes open (that fear of heights thing, ya know)

Jon took me to my first hockey game, had no idea what a Zamboni was prior to this night.  It was a shocker to see this big machine drive out on the ice!:

In November 2008 I took my first plane ride out to Kansas City, MO to celebrate Thanksgiving and Jon’s Grandmothers 90th birthday.  We had a great time and it was wonderful to meet Jon’s family.

T Rex Cafe in Kansas City:

I plan everything.  I make schedules and lists like its my job, Jon on the other hand is always ready for an adventure.  Jon’s internship took him to NJ for the summer of 2009.  As result we spent many weekends exploring the area.  I would come down with a list a places that I wanted to visit and their addresses, but even the best planning falls short on occasion.  One of those days when we were at a loss for things to do we decided to go for a drive.  We ended up on the Tappan Zee Bridge (another first for me!) and before I knew it we stumbled upon this place:

Lyndhurst is a beautiful place to visit and explore.  Had I been alone, I never would have known it was there, but with Jon’s encouragement to check things out a little more, I got to explore this amazing house!

Playing in the trees at Lyndhurst:

Many times my shy personality gets the best of me.  I avoid a lot of great experiences because I don’t know what to expect.  Jon always encourages me to try new things and meet new people and he is always by my side for support.

Meeting Easton Corbin after a great concert:

My final semester of grad school was brutal.  I was miserable and stressed out, but made it through.  As a congratulations, Jon planned a great weekend in NYC!  We drove 1/2 way and then took the train into the city.  It was a weekend full of subway rides and new sites to see.  We visited the top of the Empire State Building at night.  We were up there for a long time before Jon finally convinced me to look at the gorgeous view (heights, remember?).  I’m so glad that I looked, it was an amazing sight to see.

A visit to the Olympic Ski Jumps in Lake Placid:

It took  A LOT of convincing to get me to stand up on the 26 story ski jump.  I actually backed up to this point to take the picture.  No amount of encouragement could get me to turn around on the slippery and windy platform

Skiing from the top of Whiteface was a major goal of mine!  To be able to ski from the top of an olympic mountain is an amazing accomplishment for this girl.  I never would have made it to this point without Jon by my side!

I am happy to say that I have found a person who completes me.  I have become a stronger and more determined person.  Jon has enriched my life and inspired me in so many ways.  What more can I ask for?  I am truly blessed.