Deserted

Restating the obvious is a trait I inherited from my dear mother.  In case you haven't noticed, this blog has been deserted for quite some time now.  I never intended to stop, but for one reason or another posting never made it to the top of the list.  

A lot has happened during my blogging break but here are a few of the highlights:

• watching my sister & her husband tie the knot
• marrying Brent and learning how to do life together
• surviving an intensive school accreditation process
• resigning from teaching
• moving to a new apartment in a new city
• seeing my brother marry his beloved bride 
• celebrating our marriage with a month long visit to see family and friends in the US
• beginning a year-long counseling certification program
• taking a new job
• visits from friends
•   . . . and starting some special volunteer work

Please forgive me for once again pointing out the aparent:  Although this space may have been deserted, our lives have felt delightfully full with dear friends, wonderful occasions, and a lot of incredible memories.  One of my hopes for the new year is to share a few more of those moments here.

Happy 2014!

♥, Molly  

Done.

Wanted to stop in and share some exciting news: I RESIGNED!
Done and done.

An old photo from January 2012 when we were celebrating Jill's resignation!

My last day of work will be July 4th--a true day of independence!

I'd be a liar if I didn't admit to being a little nervous about resigning.  However, the very day I turned in my paperwork a dear friend gave this verse to me:  "One handful of peaceful repose/Is better than two fistfuls of worried work . . ." (The Message, Ecclesiastes 4.6).  So very fitting.

Not quite sure what's coming next, but I've got a few dreams in the works.  We shall see what happens.  I think I'll be happy as long as it involves having a life again. Yay!
♥, Molly 

Check Yes ✔

For my friends and family who haven't yet heard, I think a little introduction is necessary.    Over the past few months I've been spending a fair amount of time with this guy . . .

ha!  he's going to be so pleased that i posted these... ☺

Kind?  ✔
Honest and open?  ✔
Supportive?   ✔
Keeps me laughing?  ✔
Thoughtful?  ✔
Encouraging?  ✔
Willing to talk about things? ✔
Patient?  ✔
Makes me feel respected, cared for, and appreciated?  ✔
Fun to be around?  ✔   
United in faith and purpose? ✔ ✔✔

It was the classic scenario:  Girl likes guy.  Guy doesn't even know girl exists.
For like 3+ years.

And good thing.  Over the course of all those years, guy and girl were both in confusing on again/off again relationships with other people.  Guy and girl both needed to do some growing and changing.  

Then, this fall, the timing was finally right.  Something changed.  Guy finally noticed girl!  Guy asked girl out.  Girl decided to check yes. ✔  

Best decision ever? ✔
Happy? ✔✔
Thankful? ✔✔✔

♥, Molly

P.S.  Excited for you to meet him in Washington this April? ✔

to you. from me.

sometimes people have to go through some pretty rotten yucky things. i have one dear friend in particular who could use a big huge hug right about now.

 xo!

♥, molly

found here

Positive Thinking Only!

My adorably sweet friend, Hannah, left me a gift and a kind note the other day. Here are her instructions for my summer---


Molly McGraw!
This summer I want you to abide by 3 simple rules.
1. SEE NO EVIL
2. HEAR NO EVIL
3. SAY NO EVIL

Positive thinking only!

Thanks for the t-shirt! And yes, your instructions sound like a pretty good plan to me. ;-)
♥,
Molly

P.S. I'm on a kick to try as many new hair styles as I can before my hair [possibly] falls out. Although I've still got some work to do to perfect this one, my messy side ponytail was inspired by this tutorial.

Monday Round-Up

Some quick tidbits to share . . .

1.

7/4/08--Sparklers at Grandma and Grandpa McGraw's house
7/4/07--Pretending to be fireworks with Mary at Zuanich Park
7/4/09--Enjoying Leavenworth with the Millers
7/4/06--Rafting the Skykomish with Youth Dynamic Adventures

2. I'm feeling epically better today. Yay!
I'm thanking new nausea meds. And prayers. My doctor also says that in the course of things, days 5 and 6 are usually good days for people. Regardless of the reason, I'm grateful to be doing better.

3. And for your Monday Music:
The host and hostess of tonight's Fourth of July BBQ have asked each guest to bring their favorite 'summer jam'. I'm going to contribute the ever cheery 5 Years Time//Noah & the Whale. Have a listen--it's definitely worth making the jump!

-m.

Half-Way Point . . .

Here are a few of my favorite memories from the first half of 2011:

♥ Greeting my girls each morning at school; (It's all about handshakes, twirls, fist pumps, high-fives, and hugs.)
♥ A really fun birthday party
♥ Three special encounters in Beijing; It was pretty neat to randomly meet Elaine (a friend of a friend from Hawaii), Elijah (a passionate Chinese Christian), and Maui (a fellow traveler from Abu Dhabi)!
♥ Seeing the dolphins swimming along the fjords of Musandam
♥ Feeling loved and cared for by my "Hump Day" Family & by my Bible Study gals
♥ Learning new things about the world--sometimes by traveling there; sometimes by reading books; (I especially enjoyed this book.)
♥ Visiting The Great Wall of China; hot pot with locals; relaxing at the Summer Palace; novelty snacking on hawthorns; traveling with my dear friend, Jen
♥ Being with people I love from back home; video chats on Skype when I'm away
♥ Having a great co-worker & car pool buddy who never fails to make me laugh and who somehow accepts me just as I am (Believe me, she deserves a lot of credit for this--like when I insist on leaving at 5:15 each morning or when I'm beyond exhausted and freaking out because I still haven't finished my report cards or when I'm making mountains out of molehills.)
♥ Spending time with the children at Shepherd's Field; They were perfect.
♥ Hiking Lost Lake Overlook and being overwhelmed by God's goodness; I'm pretty sure my heart grew a couple of sizes. The experience was overwhelming.
♥ Being hired by a proper International Baccalaureate school (Updates coming on this one!)

From top to bottom: Happy Graduation H.B.!; Jen & Asa at Shepherd's Field; Shakira concert with my wonderful co-teacher; my benati; Great Wall; Skyping with Dad, Wyatt, and Dandy; dolphins; my UAE family

Looking forward to what God is going to do in the next six months. I have a feeling it's going to be one of my biggest and most challenging adventures yet.

Love,
-m.

P.S. I'm piggybacking off of this clever post.

6,360 minutes in washington

washington was good. so very good.






i loved all 6,360 minutes of it.
-m.

Good news, not-so-good news, and WONDERFUL news!

The good news:
I'm doing okay and you shouldn't worry.

The not-so-good news:
There's been a small bump in the road.

The WONDERFUL news!
I've been granted one week of leave!! During my 7 days away from school I'll make a quick (and I mean quick) trip to Washington. The timing is right and thanks to my sister's university graduation and my cousin's wedding, I should be able to see everyone in my immediate family along with most of my extended family. Yay!

In addition to seeing people I love, I'm also hoping to see some . . .

and a lot of other wonderful Washington gems. I most certainly plan on enjoying myself while I'm in the land of soy chai tea lattes, sane driving, ginger blasts, fashion freedom, Old Town Cafe, sunsets over the bay, bacon, and mountain vistas. Aaah! Please pinch me and tell me this is really happening!!

Be back soon!
xo!
-m.

Mafi Mahram

screen shot taken from CNN website
caption: "Women outside an election center in Jeddah* on April 23 making a symbolic plea to register."

A friend sent me an interesting article a few weeks ago about the "Saudi Women Revolution". As we speak, a few daring women in the Kingdom are pushing to end chauvinistic laws--such as ending male guardianship. This male guardian, or 'mahram', is a husband, father, brother, or son. His permission is required to travel, get health care, enroll in school, apply for a job, etc., etc., etc. (!!!!!) In addition to mafi mahram, they want to reverse discrimination in voting, driving, divorce, and marriage.

I admit to being a bit skeptical that they will actually override Saudi's deep-rooted culture and staunch conservatism, however--I find it extremely encouraging to see local women making a stand. What started as a Facebook page has become a core group of women brave enough to sign their names to petitions, brave enough to show up at voting centers asking for the right to vote, and brave enough to "go to the king himself."

I respect them for the risks they're taking as they fight for the basic rights and freedoms that I so completely take for granted. I also wish them every success and heaps of perseverance. I have a feeling they'll need it as "We will never stop fighting for our rights because it's time for change. "

Exciting times!
-m.

*In just a few months, Jeddah will be home!

P.S. You can follow along by reading more from Kuwaiti journalist & blogger, Mona Kareem. I suggest starting with this post.

The Bells Are Ringing . . .

Some exciting things are happening in the wedding world out there!

Someone JUST got engaged . . .


YAY! So very happy for Kiely, my best friend from high school. (She's the cute red-head in the middle!) Congrats!! ♥

And someone else is getting married soon! (In less than 2 weeks! EEEP!)

Robin is seriously one of the coolest gals I know. I truly, deeply admire her.

Aaaannnd . . .
My grandparents are celebrating their 61st Wedding Anniversary today. Diamond Status + 1 for Grandma & Pop!

Here's the happy couple on their wedding day, May 16th, 1950. Don't they look just dashing?

Happy, happy. ♥
-m.

friday mornings

this is why i love friday mornings...








skype--you're my hero.
-m.

And we're back!

the only negative thing about getting my computer back (well, aside from the fact that it's still not fixed) is that it lead to a serious google reader binge. i definitely missed a lot of 'going-ons' in the blog world.

here are a few things i discovered while i was catching up:
garlic is growing now that it's spring in chicago


friends are taking fun trips to sri lanka


baby ladybugs!!


jordan ferney might just be the most creative and coolest person ever. (but we already knew that.)


it looks like monet made a visit to seattle


my step mom has a new blog!


and there are several new 'makers' projects up. have a look!

hoping to get back in the swing of things soon.
xo,
-m.

Big News, Baby

It's me. And yes, I've been away for a bit. Sorry about that.

However, I have news to share--I've been saving up some biggies!

1. I just spent the last week in China!
We just got back yesterday. I went with my good friend, Jen. I think I can speak for both of us when I say that it was a wonderful trip.

2. I'm officially DEBT FREE!!!! No more student loans!!!
Yay! Yay!! And . . .

And last but not least---

3. I've accepted a new job for the 2011-2012 school year!
Although it was only about 8 months ago when I swore up and down that I would NEVER EVER move to this country, I'm excited to announce that come September, I will be moving to the . . .


Yup!
-m.

weekend wear

trying to work on report cards this weekend and i'm pretty sure i'd get a lot more done

. . . if i was wearing these. by garnet hill

think they come in big people sizes?
-m.

more homestead

i couldn't resist posting a little more about the Homestead.

by jill

it is definitely worth mentioning that this charming house came with a trampoline and chickens; a garden and a firepit; raccoons and deer; hollyhocks and sweet peas; wood floors and warm colors; windows overlooking the bay; and a great, big, wrap-around porch.

various photos by Jill, Molly, Kurtis, & Kevin

it was a wonderful house and we had some wonderful times.

by us


by Jill


by us

yes, indeed.
-m.

p.s. jill's blogged about the Homestead numerous times. a few of my favorites are here, here, and here.