a blessed space

Tim and I feel so blessed with our new apartment.  We moved in having the minimum financially as well as having minimum materialistically.  (We did not even have forks and spoons, no pots and pans to cook with, not even a trash can!)  Within a week of moving multiple people from our church had contacted us wanting to bless us.  Some heard we could use a handful of necessities, and some were cleaning out their kitchen and we came to their mind.  Tim and I were also able to scrape up enough for and IKEA run.  Within two weeks we've moved up in the world a little.  We had a working kitchen and some things hung up on the wall. Our apartment is starting to feel like a home. 

A few days later I saw a posting for a free queen size mattress and box spring (we've been sleeping on a twin mattress for the last six months!).  We took the offer and within 24 hours we had a almost new (and spacious!) bed to sleep on.  The night before our trip to Louisville, a friend texted me asking if we could still use a futon.  We definitely needed it (our furniture consisted of one lounging chair and a small side table, a book shelf and a dresser) and she ended up getting the futon for us and storing it until the morning after arriving back in Brooklyn.  We still don't have any chairs to go with our dining room table and desks (also all given to us), but we know they will come in time.  It's been a wonderful lesson in simplicity, patience and faith.  Though we do look forward to the day when we have the means to go pick out the 'couch of our dreams' for us...or even for someone else, we are feeling mighty rich and mighty taken care of these days.  It's very freeing to not be in a 'poverty mindset', which I've learned personally can hit even when we're very well off. Tim and I were given these things so freely.  It makes us want to just keep the flow of giving going.

Cherry Blossom Girl

 Tim and I now live a short walk away from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.  We were very excited upon finding this out!  We went to see their Cherry Blossoms last Sunday:

They have many exhibits.  I was so happy to see such a large garden and herb garden!

 

This exhibit was sad, but interesting.  They took much of the debris from the damage that took place on the grounds from Hurricane Sandy and made a fort of sorts:

Tim and I will be frequenting this place often.  It was a breath of fresh air from all the concrete and the bustle of the city.

Sharing spaces...

...no more!  After being married 2 years and 3 months, Tim and I finally have our very own living space!  We were thankful for the two years of living with others while being married.  We even recommend it to newlyweds.  We saved a lot of money and it made more time for one another, as well as giving us the time and resources to pursue our passions.  But two years is a good amount of time living with others and now, well, it's like we're newlyweds all over again!  Just sayin'.

 Before moving into our new place, we spent two weeks in Chelsea, dog sitting for a wonderful family I work for.  We took full advantage of their deck, spending a lot of our time enjoying the great spring weather we're having.  Check out their great view!

Back to Brooklyn (which we missed)!  We moved into our spacious studio that we are VERY thankful for.

 We have a GREAT view.  Here to the right, in the distance is downtown Brooklyn and lower Manhattan:

 ...When you look out straight ahead you view beautiful Prospect Park:

 ...And looking out to the left, the Bay Bridge is in the distance (much clearer in person).

 We have very minimal furniture right now, so this is our one small section that is noteworthy:

We have been very thankful for other New Yorker's generosity.  All our furniture has either been given to us or found at a great price at a stoop sale....or free from the street!  We feel very blessed just being in our new living space.

Giovanni Brooklyn Eats

Our first swanky dinner date in Brooklyn: Giovanni Brooklyn Eats!

Was this worth saving for?  YES!
And that made it all the more sweeter.

C+N. 3.26.13

March 26th was a big day!

Tim and I took a bus to Boston to celebrate the wedding of Christopher and his love, Nicole!  It was a beautiful, sweet and intimate wedding.  There were also a lot of 'wedding festivities' such as swimming in the hotel pool with little nieces and going to the Boston Aquarium with family.

 Tim swimming with our nieces.

pet the sting rays!

Gettin' Out.

 Spring is here! With the warmer weather, Tim and I have been out exploring the city more.  We've enjoyed the 'pay what you wish' nights at the Guggenheim Museum, and First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum.

...And then there's Coney Island.  Last Saturday Tim had the great idea to go check out Coney Island.  So we hopped on the F train and rode it till it stopped.

 The Wonder Wheel, Tim knocking down all the krazy kans to win me a stuffed dog, air brushed heart tattoo, flying swings, ski ball, Nathan's Hot dogs and toes going into really cold sand...

one of the best days in New York thus far!

'Adoption for the people by the people'

So it's been a while since Tim and I have dropped in.  The last month has been packed...with lots of last minute jobs popping up for me (Steph), friends visiting for Coffee Fest, my sister hanging out for a day, starting our apartment search, and spending at least two hours a day on the subway...

So we decided to show some love to some very dear friends who have been in the process of adopting for the four out of six years I've known them.  Help them bring Glory home!

The Wallace Family - Adoption Story from William H. Wallace II on Vimeo.

They have been featured in the Give1 Save1 Africa. 

Here's how it works:

• WATCH their video.
• GIVE $1. (See Donate button to the right.)
• SHARE their video on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, email, etc.
• ENTER to win one free item from their shop. (see their BLOG)
• REPEAT each day for one week.

The first $500 donated will be matched by a generous grant from the Orphan Care Alliance!