Tuesday, August 20, 2013

A few Feelings in this Moment

exhausted after a few nights of work
full after yummy quesadillas J made us
inspired after a few pinterest photos and my latest craft projects
surprised my nails are actually a little bit long
amused by a bold funny interaction this morning
hopeful for where we are headed on this journey
relieved i am off tonight
happy i am home with my best friend
excited to see my friend for lunch tomorrow
blessed by God's faithfulness
ready to snuggle up in bed and read my new books
thankful for my sweet family
satisfied in Jesus



Saturday, August 10, 2013

{Birthday} Little Letters {of thanks}

Dear J,
     You're spoken birthday card was the best birthday gift ever. And that's saying a lot, since you (among other things) also took me to a romantic Italian dinner and got me an iPad mini. Which I'm typing this on! I love doing life with you day after day. I can't wait to build house projects and create pictures from my books with you :). I love love love you.

Dear Ali,
     Thank you for my birthday phone call and song. I wish we could have birthday cheesecake together. One day we will live in the same city again. You mean the world to me.

Dear Lindsey,
     Your friendship is seriously the best. I love our daily texts about anything and everything. Thanks for being my favorite NICU nurse and friend, for always getting food with me, for being my sick buddy, for making me laugh all the time, and for your sweet (and later amusing) birthday text. My life is better with you in it.

Dear Katie C,
     My day-before-birthday Starbucks hot chocolate and birthday cake pops was such a sweet treat! I love having you in the NICU! And the fact that you and Chris closed on your Santee condo on my birthday was another present!

Dear Carly,
     I will always be able to count on you to make me smile. Every time I wear one of my adorable hair flowers I will think of you. And my coral necklace. You have amazing taste and you're the best sister in the world. I can't wait to be the old ladies on the front of the card you gave me. :) Thanks for being my Coronado buddy and always being ready with the next line of "Sista Sista" :)

Dear Katie R,
     I love that your daughter and I share a birthday month. Maybe that's part of why I adore her so much. Thanks for the laugh from the photos of Elle's artwork with my nail polish in your bathroom. You are the best!

Dear Mom,
     Thanks for taking my birthday off year after year. You never fail to make each one the most special yet. I loved our manis and pedis, Coronado lunch and shopping for fun new outfits. Thanks for always smiling for a picture with me. It means so much. Thank you for the most amazing brunch ever, also.

Dear Jessi,
     Even if our schedules are opposite and we can barely figure out a time to have lunch, know that I adore you and can't wait to see you next week. Your encouragement and friendship is so sweet.

Dear John and Kris,
     You were my first birthday call! Thanks for thinking of me so early before work and for singing to me on the machine. I love my cute peach stethoscope - the babies will be so excited to see it! Love you guys!

Dear Adrian,
     Your little voice on the other end of the phone singing me happy birthday was my sweetest call of the day. Your life is such a gift to me and I don't know if you realize how much the Lord used you to lead me to the NICU. I love you, little sweetheart.

Dear family, friends, texts, and facebook messages,
    Each of you made me feel loved in one way or another this birthday. Thank you for being so special and thoughtful.

Dear Jesus,
     You are Awesome. You have blessed me so immensely. I forget sometimes how Good You Are. Thank you for being patient with me and for loving me the most of all. You knew me way before my first birthday 27 years ago, and for that I am so thankful.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Rekindling Moments: July

July seriously flew by!! But many blessings came from these 31 days.

1 - bible study reunion dinner and laughter over Miguels white sauce
2 - a little pool time with C
3 - a good day's sleep
4 - fireworks from the bed of J's truck with blankets and pillows, Carly, J, and our four pups
5 - morning walk through Coronado with my sister
6 - encouragement from my Ali over Panera
7 - Coronado with our first married friends and favorite family, the Ritters
8 - Panera with Lindsey at work
9 - Target with Carly after a 14 hour night shift/meeting and buying a tanktop I already have... oops :)
10 - Mom's birthday! Cinnabons and Claim Jumper :) {and I got to sneak a visit to the Ritters in there too... Elle's first carousel ride... priceless!}
11 - chicken salad sandwiches with and made by my lovely sister, Chef Carly
12 - grace for the work night
13 - Get-healthy day: gym memberships, laying out, and J's first official homemade green smoothie (we think we may need to start a bit sweeter before going all-out-green!)
14 - Pat and Oscar's O's American Kitchen and frozen yogurt, and pictures in the living room with J
15 - back to the gym... thankful for the ability to exercise... and the strawberry banana smoothie I made afterward!
16 - new blooms outside
17 - helping one of our mommies hold her tiny twins together for the first time
18 - Chik Fil A and creme brulee while playing with Evie and chatting with Dwain and Jaclyn
19 - kicking off an ENTIRE weekend off with J with dinner and meaningful conversation with Jessi and Jeremiah
20 - great conversation with J about the sermon at church tonight after quesadillas with Chris and Katie {three nights in a row with friends - holla!}
21 - late night of mexican food with Sam, Valinda, Daryl and Valerie - they're here for a visit!
22 - photo shoots and crafting fun with Lindz
23 - giving Katie a hug as she started her first day of work on my unit... excited to work with her!
24 - starting and finishing a book.... can't remember the last time I did that in one day. Let alone, at all.
25 - walking through Balboa Park with my sweet sister in law, brother in law, and her fam, and then barbequin' it up at the McGovern's
26 - breakfast of champions and matching nail polish
27 - the peach valencia orange refresher I was craving that J brought me at 2200 to work!
28 - meeting my sweet preceptee
29 - laughing through report
30 - walking with Jaclyn around the beautiful Santee lakes and reaching 10,000 steps on my fitbit
31 - Panera and a good chat with Lindsey after sharing 'Letters from Juliette' at our First Touch meeting

Bits of the Beauty of Holiness

July 29th's devotion from Jesus Calling really spoke to me.

"Worship Me in the beauty of holiness. I created beauty to declare the existence of My holy being. A magnificent rose, a hauntingly glorious sunset, oceanic splendor - all these things were meant to proclaim My Presence in the world. Most people rush past these proclamations without giving them a second thought. Some people use beauty, especially feminine loveliness, to sell their products. 

How precious are My children who are awed by nature's beauty; this opens them up to My holy Presence. Even before you knew Me personally, you responded to my creation with wonder. This is a gift, and it carries responsibility with it. Declare My glorious Being to the world. The whole earth is full of My radiant beauty - My Glory!"

'Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.' Psalm 29:2

'And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."' Isaiah 6:3

Last night, the pups and I were out for our walk we take twice a day everyday.
I realized how many things I see each day that I don't think twice about.
So tonight I decided to bring the big camera and capture a few simple moments in our walk.
Because fresh perspectives are refreshing.
And moments through a lens help me remember.


so not every photo is created by God, but there is beauty in these things even still





this happens to be my favorite house ever - is that not the cutest roof and garage door?!