Thankful for Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, we are I am starting the morning off nice and early with homemade cinnamon rolls while waiting for hubby to wake up. :)

This afternoon, we get to see J's bro and sis-in-law, Sam and Valinda, as well as J's awesome cousin Dr. Karl, and have turkey with the McGoverns! Super fun. Valinda is sick like me, so we will be buddies :).

[from last thanksgiving]

Tomorrow, we'll join my family for Thanksgiving, part two. Can't wait to see them and the transformation to Christmas that occurs in that home the day after Thanksgiving every year :).

[also last thanksgiving]

And this year, Bear has a new buddy to play with! [aka Baker - it's Baker's first Thanksgiving with us!]

[last year]

This year, there is so much to be thankful for.

At the top of my list, you will find:

my wonderful husband
  my adorable and entertaining puppies, Em and Bakes. and another thanksgiving with Casey and Sammy
    my sweet little bird, Luigi (this is his THIRD thanksgiving with us!)
      my amazingly funny and cute little sister
        my all star parents
          my so-thoughtful in-laws and fun extra family
            the best grandparents ever
              our warm, safe, and cozy home
                a job as a nurse and the sweetest patient and family
              J's providing for our family over the last few years
            laughter, encouragement, smiles, hugs, text messages, and love
          chapstick (this will always make it on the list, if you know me)
        a healthy family (for the most part)
      two cars that run
    fellowship with forever friends
  two Thanksgiving meals with our amazing families
the Lord's protection, provision, grace, patience, and everlasting love

What are you thankful for?

Feels like home

A few weeks ago (sorry I'm so late to post this!) my mom made me breakfast. 

It was beautiful. And so so yummy.

It took me back to the daily sliced strawberries and bananas she used to make me before school. Oh how I love them. I try to make them myself, but it's just not the same.

Same with the coffee. Mom fixes it just right. 

And she knows how I like my orange juice. She strained it just for me.

And our time is always good, always special, and always comfortable.

Just like home.

Dear Grandma,

Thanks for our Mimi's date this morning. I had a super duper time.

I love talking to you about life and the Lord. 

Thank you for your wisdom and perspective. 

And for being so darn cute. :)

I love you!

and I love our dates!

Love,

your eldest and wisest granddaughter :)

Jordanna

A corduroy kind of morning

Today I had the privilege of having breakfast with my grandma. She makes me smile with joy. I arrived to find her in the cutest blue corduroy overalls ever, a pretty pink shirt, and a fresh haircut. She's so cute. She even got complimented by another lady. I'm gonna wear overalls when I'm a grandma.

My grandma is of the most encouraging people I know. And she loves Jesus with her whole heart, and lives it with her life. It is so fun to chat with her, because it radiates from her. Our conversation is always hopeful and full of life, because she is hopeful and full of life.

People tell me I am kinda like her. I like that. It's humbling. If I am half of who she is, that would be such an honor.

These are the days of my life

Since I have clinical on Saturdays right now, Sundays are J and my only day together where we are both off. Since I did ACLS on Friday, I had a backload of homework to do on Sunday. In the midst of it though, there were some fun moments weaved into the weekend.

~ I saw my first birth in the hospital! What an amazing experience.
~ Good worship at church
~ Mexican food after no mexican for quite a few weeks - I forgot how much I love rolled tacos! And we found a new spot.
~ A visit from my favorite sister! Good thing my husband is a night owl and kept me up to see her.
~ Rain. Rain. And more rain.
~ A walk with Em and J
~ Breakfast at desk (the alternative to breakfast in bed when you're a student) ... thanks for the cinnamon toast honey.
~ Some productivity in the homework field
~ Grocery shopping with J
~ Homemade lattes
~ Fresh strawberries

Have I mentioned I love the rain?

Friday favorites

Today was a great day. I got to have coffee with Mom. On my top 10 favorites of things to do. I am seriously so lucky to have my mom. Funny - she was having tea with her mom after we hung out. Moms are the best.

I finished my paper! Thank you God! J was a good sport and let me scroll through it fast to show him my accomplishment, and he gave the "good job hun!" which I love. I'm seriously a little kid. "Honey look what I did!" Except a paper is not nearly as cute as a mess of paint on a piece of paper and coloring outside the lines. But J always looks, smiles and tells me good job. Thanks for that hun.

We had pancakes for dinner. Oh how I love breakfast.

Emma played "bury my bone." One of her favorite games. Sure wish we could get that girl some dirt.

And we took pictures.

Seriously, could they be any cuter?

Confessions of a mini traveler

On Monday, J and I headed up on our much anticipated little getaway to Santa Barbara for a couple of days. I was so excited to go to a new place, see the sights, and stay at a cute little bed and breakfast. Definitely one of my new favorite getaway places!

We made the trek in my handy dandy explorer, so J took footage of the ride up. We drove through the very center of downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood.
We saw the capital records building.
And we sat in a lot of traffic!
And then, we were suddenly driving along both the mountains and the ocean. Never have I seen that before. Amazing!
We finally made it to our much anticipated destination after 4.5 hours on the road. It was so worth it.
Seriously the cutest room ever! I was so glad I searched individual rooms for the perfect place. This was perfect. We headed out for dinner at this yummy Italian restaurant and walked around to see the sights. We were only three blocks from downtown Santa Barbara and the little shopping strip, which of course I planned. :)
I love to look at life through my husband's eyes. He finds the most random things and takes pictures of them. And then I think, huh that was kinda cute. Like this newspaper stand.
And the city lights. This wasn't quite as random. But I love how he sees it.The next morning we awoke to breakfast at our front door.
Apple pancakes, fruit, and orange juice. Adorable and tasty.

After breakfast, we headed down State Street to do some shopping in the cute stores as we strolled down to the beach. I love that J said, did you wanna go in there? at nearly every little nic-nac shop. I love my Vacation J, as he calls himself.
I resisted buying most things, but did manage to snag a few of these adorable little journals in both green and pink. I have been wanting one to make lists in and keep in my purse. I got 4!
We got to walk though this cool tunnel.
15 blocks later, we made it to the beach.
I must say, our San Diego beaches are just as pretty. That made me thankful for my little city down south. And for the opportunity to travel, so that I can see other beauties and still appreciate what I have.

We headed back up the street a bit to a fun and hip little lunch cafe where we chilled for a bit while eating sandwiches. I felt like we were ditching work or something, being out and about on a Tuesday afternoon. And I loved it.
On our way back, we stopped for some yogurt. That was my idea. Which was obvious when my yogurt was about 3x as big as J's was.
We went back home and I watched a movie while J read. Then we went to dinner at a nice Mexican restaurant. Followed by Starbucks and goal setting in my new little notebooks.
I love that we think so alike on so many things. We share each others' dreams and goals, and I love talking about those. We always do this around the new year, and I love this tradition.

We woke up to another beautiful breakfast served to our room. Complete with a little salt and pepper.
We had so much fun together. I love trips with John. He is my best friend and my travel buddy. We took one more photo before heading home to see our little bear, whom we missed big time. Thankfully, Auntie Carly took care of her and sent us a picture of her. We looked at it, oh, quite often. :) On the way home, we thought smart and took the 405 instead of the 5. Best decision ever.

Emma was so excited to see us when we got home. Especially her daddy.
I love that my husband and I get to take trips together. I love even more that we get to come home together.

Happy Thanksgiving

Since my sister went to Northern California with her roommate for Thanksgiving, we had our meal with my parents early. So on Thanksgiving day, we had breakfast with my parents instead of dinner. And boy was it yummy! We even had no pulp orange juice, which is one of my very favorites.
Strawberries and bananas may be my favorite fruit combination ever. My mom used to slice them for me most mornings with breakfast during high school. Two special friends, Ali and Anna, joined us for breakfast. It was so fun to have good friends there to celebrate with.
Of course I must talk about Emma a bit. She hid in the bushes, and did a good job of it!
Family photos :)
After a nice workout.

We went home for a quick lounge time before heading over to John's parents for a Thanksgiving feast.
The grandmas in position as always :) These are the sweetest ladies.
The fam.
Dinner was great! And it was so fun to have Sam and Valinda there. And cousin, almost Dr., Karl.

I love our families. Thank you Lord for food to eat and family to eat it with.