christmas...

I could start this blog by listing my favorite gifts this Christmas…I got the CUTEST red and white polka dotted teapot, fun new pajama pants, a penguin Christmas ornament, mugs galore, a grown up Christmas basket, origami earrings, a purse…the list goes on and on and on. I got so many material possessions this year and yet as I sat there opening gifts, it wasn’t the presents that intrigued me. It was the laughter and true friendship that exists within my family that warmed my heart and made Christmas feel special this year. It was Madeline rolling around on the floor playing with the paper and ribbons, Kevin and Dad talking excitedly about the workbench they would be building. Mom looking lovingly at the framed handprint and footprint of her granddaughter creatively made into a bee and flower, grandma trying on the slippers that mom got for Julie when Julie got another pair, even Aunt Sandy re-gifting and wrapping in sprouts re-usable and environmentally friendly grocery bags. Although my love language is gifts, the sweetest gift this season was quality time. I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness and my heart explodes with joy. God is SO good.

to all of those i love...

a very college christmas...

Last night megan and I spent our Wednesday as usual TOGETHER. However, since it is the holidays, we decided that we would add an appropriate amount of Christmas to our evening adventure and in light our greatest memories…we combined all our FAVORITE parts of Christmas as college students and crammed them into ONE NIGHT.
It started at Ralphs where we bought all the necessary ingredients to make puppy chow – the BEST chocolatey peanut buttery goodness one can make in only about 5 minutes – and pizza dip: erika’s college specialty – a lot of cheese, a little sauce, and some potato chips – it doesn’t get much better than that. We then stopped at In-N-Out to get dinner – some “REAL” food was gonna be a must to get us through the full night of fun that was ahead. When we finally made it to my house after braving the brisk weather complete with torrential downpours of rain, we changed into pj pants and college sweatshirts. We opened our Christmas gifts for each other by the candlelit fireplace – and both gifts were incredible I must say! We then headed to the kitchen to start “baking”. We made a total of four batches of puppy chow…two turned out spectacularly, two were a bit of a struggle, and I’m pretty sure that some of all four ended up first on the kitchen counters and then in our bellies! With the puppy chow creating complete and bagged/jarred (which was definitely the most difficult and MESSIEST part) and the dishes cleaned (megan is a GREAT dryer) we started in for our second “cooking” extravaganza…PIZZA DIP. Mix cream cheese with sour cream and oregano and garlic power (a LOT of garlic power if you’re lazy and can’t find the right measuring spoon) layer on some sauce, pepperoni, and cheese…MICROWAVE…and you’re done!!! Grab a BIG bag of ruffles with ridges and dip away – college happiness!! Our evening concluded over sparkling cider and grey’s anatomy season 2 – the Christmas episode: “Grandma got run over by a reindeer” – we probably didn’t need to actually watch it – I’m pretty sure we both had all the punch lines memorized… “No, you don’t get to say my name…” or “’cause it’s what Jesus would FREAKING do” or maybe “You stupid Shepherd, you broke my daddy’s brain” we have really probably watched it at least 10 times and yet still laugh and enjoy it EVERY TIME we get an opportunity to sit and enjoy it again.
It was an absolutely FABULOUS evening and a wonderful start (yet again) to Christmas…which is in EXACTLY one week! Whewwwww!!!! Its almost time for paid vacation people…just a couple more days!!!

a TRUE friend...

I have been in somewhat of a funk for the past few days (actually, its been a little over a week now…) – I’ve been thinking and feeling a lot of things – all of which are difficult for me to sort out – and most of which don’t have any particular answers but rather are things that “are” simply because they are. Anyways, all that to say that I haven’t been altogether focused on the amazing things in my life. I’ve been so caught up in my feelings of frustration and disappointment coupled with my uncertainty of what tomorrow is bringing and if any of my “dreams” will ever become reality that I haven’t stopped to truly evaluate life as it is. What I have been looking at is life muted and faded through dark and shady glasses rather than a real encapsulation of all the colors and beauty that surround me.
Today I was overwhelmed by the truth of my blessings as I enjoyed lunch with one of the dearest and sweetest friends I have ever had. Becka Burke and I met through a Bible Study in the fall of 2007 and became friends shortly after I started working at the church almost a year ago now. Since then, we have met for lunch almost every Wednesday afternoon. Most of the time we meet at a park and enjoy some fresh air while eating cheap (aka leftovers) and chatting about our lives. It has honestly become one of the most treasured parts of my week. I look forward to lunching with BB until the day finally arrives – and our lunch dates absolutely NEVER disappoint me. I enjoy our friendship SO much. Becka is such an encourager - she overflows with joy – and she is genuine. Our friendship is so real and honest – its transparent – we talk about what we really think and feel and where we stand and how we’re moving forward. I’m SO thankful that I have a friend to share the journey with who is going to ask me to answer the hard questions and is going to be there even if I choose the wrong path. She is a true friend – the kind that will be there when you don’t feel good – randomly and spontaneous sends little cards in the mail or bring a surprise by the office...eat way more junk food than should be allowed simply because it sounds good (especially if its cinnabon)…enjoy a starbucks at literally every opportunity…and make you feel beautiful and wanted always. Becka has undoubtedly helped me survive this interesting year of transition and has been SUCH a special part of my life.
SO BECKA…THANK YOU for being the kind of friend that sticks closer than a brother – and for leaving a part of yourself in my heart – I will CHERISH you always. ILOVEYOU Becks!!!

See can't you just tell we were meant to be friends! :)

a college christmas...

College was perhaps one of the most interesting and strange times in my life. However, as I reflect upon it – I cannot even attempt to hide the smiles and chuckles that bubble from deep within me. The Christmas season is now heavily upon us – and one of my very favorite Christmas memories took place my senior year of college. In the winter of 2006, there was a crazy wind storm which caused a branch from the tree located between my apartment and my closest friends: Kimie, Tessa, and Erika’s apartment (a space which we commonly referred to as the street making our apartments across the street from each other) to break off and land haphazardly on the ground in the middle of the street. Although this could have been viewed as an absolutely tragedy, we preferred to look at is as a gift from God – He personally delivered our Christmas branch. Although we spotted it in the morning and knew something special was to become of it – we all seemingly ignored it in hopes of maintaining some semblance of focus and concentration throughout our classes. However, in the afternoon, the Christmas branch came to life. We bundled up in our warmest winter attire (for me this included a down coat and a scarf – and yes, please do remember that this is California – so it really was NOT that cold…however, it did snow for about 4 minutes in Riverside that winter…so maybe it really WAS that cold after all!!! Haha!) and met outside my apartment to being making Christmas like no one has ever seen before. Megan and I started digging a hole for the branch to stand in while Tessa used rope to tie the branch to the railings of the upstairs apartment…we couldn’t have our beautiful Christmas branch falling over. We then hung little bows all over it and added gift tags with each of our names on them so that Santa would know he could bring the gifts for BOTH apartments to the one tree – we were good at sharing! The afternoon concluded with a photo session with our Christmas branch. It was a day of melodious laughter and memories that will undoubtedly last a lifetime! I loved college – but even more than that…I LOVED our Christmas branch! J

i'm in love...