Why Marc is the most wonderful

Marc mowed the lawn, went food shopping with me yesterday, and just finished vacuuming the entire house. He doesn't necessarily love doing any of these things (with the exception of mowing the lawn) so I appreciate him and all of his wonderfulness. I'm a lucky girl :)

On top of all of this I'm going to go ask him if he can help me figure out the boundaries at Harvest Fields for our massive game of Manhunt we're playing at HSM tonight. He really can do it all!

Back from la República Dominicana

I entered my house at 11:30pm on Monday night. After a loooooooong day of travel I was home from the DR. It's been a lot harder readjusting this year. This could be because last year Marc got stung by a bee the day after we returned so my mind was on keeping him alive. This year Marc was safe and sound the day after I returned so it's been a long week of reflection - the laughter as I relive memories, a sad heart as I miss the boys yelling my name, holding my hand as we walk, and passing out hugs like they were going out of style.

It's a little easier to wrap my head around because I know I can go back. Too bad I don't have unlimited time off and money so I could visit multiple times a year.

All the pictures are posted on Facebook if you want to pop over and take a look. I'm working to post the videos - I'm so thankful I took videos (and the boys took some of the videos themselves) so now I can hear their voices and laugh throughout the year if I miss them!

I realized on Saturday morning of the trip as I was painting that my heart was literally overflowing. If you know me you know my two love languages are acts of service and quality time, followed closely by physical touch. I was able to get/give these in abundance for seven days straight and my heart was smiling in a huge way.

I left a little piece of my heart down there - but that's a good thing - loving those boys is so easy to do and if loving them is what God needs me to do then sign me up!

Breakfast for Dinner

The Pensyls desperately need to go food shopping. So "making dinner" each night this week has been an adventure. Tonight we have breakfast for dinner - it's easy and we actually had all necessary elements  - score! We had heart shaped pancakes. I love loving Marc.

Five Arm

You maybe had to be there...

Last night Marc went to put his arm around me, but it landed on my neck. I gasped for air and asked him to move his arm because it was too heavy. Then he says, "My forearms are so big they're fivearms."

I laughed for the next five minutes.

Headed back to the DR

I'm leaving tonight to lead our high school seniors to work and play at The Rose of Sharon Orphanage in San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic. This will be my second year going. I was hesitant last year to go (things outside of my comfort zone don't make my list of favorite things), but my heart was changed last year. What an incredible experience! I love that when you're serving someone else you're almost guaranteed to get more in return!!

We fly out of Newark Monday morning June 14 and will get back to State College late on Monday June 21. If you could pray for our team that would be great - not only for safety, but since that is kind of a whimpy prayer let's pray to be bold and to live dangerously for Jesus. We want to be his hands and feet!

We'll be painting the classrooms on the compound and finishing the cement block wall around the girls orphanage across the street. We'll sweat and get dirty, but we're going to have lots of fun and laugh a ton with the boys and I really can't think of any other way to spend my week!

Anniversary Part II

After our anniversary canoe trip and tree planting we went to the Alehouse for my absolute favorite food - the Ale Burger (see the list of my favorite things to the right -->). Once we were home again we still had lots of anniversary fun to cram into the few short hours of May 22 that were left!

We re-read our vows to each other

Then we danced to our First Dance song (When I Say I Do by Matthew West - SOOOOOO good!)

Then we had our wedding cake. Year old wedding cake. Hmmm. We were hesitant, but had heard positive things from recently married friends.

Note the look of concentration...and the Swiss Army Knife...

Finally got all the foil and Saran wrap off!

Then we cut the cake. Yes that is milk in our wine glasses. We're classy like that (and milk goes with cake!)

I'm in love with this guy.

(I just noticed that Bart is in the background...so both of my husbands are actually in this picture...)

Abigail comes for a visit!

Our niece Abigail came for a visit the last week of May. Dang she's cute. I had lots of fun playing, splashing in the water, walking around, and making her laugh! She's going to become a big sister in FIVE WEEKS! Here are some pictures we took while she was here:

Abadabadoo

Sara and Erin (dang we look alike)

And some short videos!

Gifts

Marc and I aren't big gift people. We tend to show our love with quality time and acts of service. Nonetheless we were set to exchange gifts for our first anniversary. Last summer after we were married Marc suggested we get a Marriage Tree and plant it - we both loved this idea...and then never got a tree. So instead we got an Anniversary Tree! Marc surprised me with it on our...you guessed it...anniversary!

He took some of the leaves and pressed them in a frame. At the bottom is says "Easter Redbud, May 22, 2010" We hung it on the living room wall! Then we headed out into the yard to plant our tree! After scoping out several spots we finally picked one in the back right of the yard. Tucker and Lily wagged tails to let us know they approved.

Marking the spot (or was he "marcing" the spot? bahahaha)

Demonstrating how heavy the tree was

Dig, dig, dig

It's in the ground!

Oh! Hey Tucker!

Safely in the ground! Please note Lily as she waits for the tree to provide her with shade...

A close up of Lil waiting for the tree to shade her

Marc and Sara in front of the Anniversary tree!

We put it in this particular spot so we can see it when we sit on the porch with the dogs. It is an amazing gift we can enjoy together forever :)

Anniversary

So we've been married for 1 year and 18 days. This also allows you to know that this blog post is at least 17 days overdue. I apologize. Marc has been sure to let me know that I need to catch up you up on the events of the Pensyl household.

Right now Marc has his headphones on practicing his bass, but I'm still talking to him anyway. I always secretly suspect he can actually hear me and is just ignoring me. My older brother used to do this to me and now I'm paranoid and just assume anyone wearing headphones is fake ignoring me. Bluetooth devices have done nothing to squelch my paranoia.

But I digress, our anniversary was SO GREAT! I participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk in the morning and then rushed home. I rushed because the forecast said it was supposed to pour all day long and we had planned to take a canoe trip and have a picnic...those two things don't mix.

We headed to Bald Eagle State Park and put the canoe in the water - we paddled out across the lake

My sweet husband then made cooked up my favorite meal (GSMT - girl scout mozzarella things)

Marc prepared us for any situation that might arise

It was a beautiful trip and...right when we loaded the canoe back onto the Jeep and pulled out of the parking it started to rain :) Perfect timing!