2012: Looking Back

John and I spent New Years Eve at home snuggled with blankets, a fire, candle, glasses of peach sparkling wine, and our pens and tablets reflecting on all that has happened this past year, discussing goals met and goals for this next year.

{What I really mean: I snuggled with blankets... J did not. I was disappointed to find the sparkling wine was not as good as I was anticipating -- yes Carly it was the one you told me about so many times!! Pens and tablets actually means respective laptops with a shared word doc we were editing together about our goals... but pens and tablets sounds so much cozier. :) It turns out I didn't actually set any written goals for this past year, so it was more of a looking back at goals for J and life events for both of us. And I'd prefer to call our goals for this year 'plans' ... and 'desires'. I'm a bit over the 'goal' thing. I wasn't a soccer player growing up... yes waterpolo, but that's beside the point.}

OK... now that we have gotten those clarifications out of the way... :)

2012 was a really full year. Mostly great and some hard times. But isn't that how every year goes?

So you have a recap through July. {But, since I forgot I already did that... I already typed all of the below... so much of this is overview. Sorry about that. I just can't delete it after I wrote it, ya know?}

So, another and continued recap:

J and I did quite the mini house remodel in January... through March. I already told you about this, but what did we do? Demolished tile, pulled a TON of wood off our fireplace and 15 foot ceiling, re-drywalled in many needed areas behind that wood (and the hole from when J fell through the ceiling... don't worry, he's fine and it was in the laundry room), re-painted... and then re-painted with a different color, re-tiled, installed 16 new light fixtures (which includes re-running all new wiring... which is a lot of work), re-carpeted the house, and re-baseboarded (is that a word? It went with all the other "re"s.) everything. So, this kept us quite busy during that time. We are beyond thankful to have that all behind us and now just have a few touch up items... like paint touch ups and getting a real live mantel! Don't worry... we are almost done. I learned (well, I knew this, but it was again true in this case) that house projects always take longer than you think. And I also learned that my husband is a rockstar and can do ANYTHING! He did everything all. by. himself. And it looks amazing.

We both made huge job changes. I am beyond blessed and excited to be doing what I believe the Lord has called me to and gifted me toward. And it is so special to be able to pray for children brand new to the world as I care for them and their families. John went back to work at Point Loma Nazarene University as the Network Engineer. He now has the further commute and I have the short one, which I of course am loving. We both count ourselves blessed to have work. I even went to my first professional conference with my friend and coworker this year!

My sister graduated college in May (GOOO SISSY!), so we went to celebrate her and stayed at a really fun and classy hotel {inn?} overnight also. It was so fun to celebrate her and have a little getaway with the family.

With that came Ava, the cutest little labrador puppy ever. She and Baker and Emma are becoming quite the little friends, although Baker still is jealous of her.

We visited Temecula (a bit north of us) for our friends' Chris and Katie's wedding, which was the start of a really special friendship. Since then, we started a bible study with them and our friend Paul, and have grown to be really great friends with all of them. Katie is a nurse also and she and I have similar interests, and these three guys couldn't be more similar. I think the similarities really bonded us all, compounded with our love for Jesus.

J's brother Sam and his wife Valinda moved from Northern California to West Virginia, where she is from, and Sam became a police officer. They came to visit this summer, which we loved. We miss them tons but are really excited for them and all the new adventures they get to have in their new cute home with their sweet {not-so} puppy Syd.

It is baby season in our friends' lives and this year we welcomed many little ones to families. Mark and Katie had baby Colton, Brandon and Sarah had baby Aubrey, Dwain and Jaclyn had baby Evie, and Joe and Ali had baby Joey just last week. What joys to watch special people who love Jesus get to see His love in a new way through these precious children.

Our big trip this year was back to Oregon to visit our most special friends, Mark and Katie, and their children Elle and Colton. We love the Ritter family. We loved every moment we got to spend with them and every moment of our time in Oregon. We also got to see my childhood friend Casey and her sweet husband Jake, who also recently moved to Oregon! It was so fun to catch up with them and hear about how much they love living there. We reallllllly like Oregon. Not now... but it's not ruled out in the long term :).

Needless to say, we have been so blessed this year. So much learned, so much still to learn. But I'm thankful for the family and friends I get to do life with, the man I get to walk life beside, and the Heavenly Father that never ever fails.

God is good! Happy new year!

A Thankful Heart: Grace

[grace: the active communication of divine blessings by the inworking of the Holy Spirit, out of the fullness of Jesus]

Most days, I remember to see glimpses of God's grace.

Some days, I forget. Or I choose to not remember those moments.

But there are those few days when the entire day is filled with an abundance of moments of grace.

Like today.

Today was my "weekend" {in the life of a nurse}.

I woke up to a wet ground and cloudy skies... remnants of rain.

My sister and I went for a pleasant walk around the lake with our puppies.

Then we picked up Christmas drinks.

I came home to a cozy and clean home, and my husband working happily from home.

I bundled up for a lunch date with our good friend at a yummy hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop.

I spent the afternoon sipping coffee and crafting to music.

Jesus and I had a sweet worship session and I read about David's heart in 1 Chronicles.

I listened to a happy husband's voice chat with his friend and watched our puppies play.

And I recognize that these are glimpses of the Lord's grace in my life.

I'm thankful for small pieces of Kingdom vision that allow me to identify grace.

I'm humbled by a God who cares so deeply for His people that he would bless us so abundantly.

Ultimately, I'm forever saved by the God who died for me and is alive today.

This is True Grace.

A Thankful Heart: Community

I have been a part of many different bible studies growing up. 

Each of which helped form and shape me into the woman I am today.

Each brought {primarily} women who loved Jesus and loved each other 

to teach me love and joy and grace.

The most recent bible study I have the privilege of being a part of 

is made up of J and me, and just a few special friends.

I must say, it has been such a blessing to do community with others in a raw way.

I love growing with others in the Lord and in friendship.

Tonight was another night of fellowship with friends.

And I'm reminded how thankful I am for community.

A Thankful Heart: New Life & Coffee Dates in Red Cups

Today, I had the blessing of making house visits and visiting special people in my life.

First, I spent the morning with my special friend at home on bedrest.

We celebrated her birthday with peppermint lattes and lots of girl talk on her comfy couches.

Sipping coffee, doing her dishes, sharing in her nursery room joy,

and talking about the future of children and the treasure of new life.

Laughing thinking back over the journey of life we have walked through together 

and how we ended up where we are now.

I loved every minute of our time together.

The Lord is molding her heart for the little one still growing inside her 

and I am so excited for her to get to experience being a mom. 

She's going to be amazing at it.

 [from her baby shower last week]

Then I visited my little buddy Adrian and his mommy Nicole.

I used to have the privilege of watching him grow up every day.

Now I get to jump in for snippets every once in awhile.

It was so fun to watch this little 2 1/2 year old jump around, dance, laugh, ask for tickles, and tell me all the words he knows. And it was so special to catch up with his mommy and hear about the family and wedding plans and silly kid stories and yummy dinner ideas.

All over white peppermint mocha frappuccinos.

There's something about sharing coffee with friends that creates a bond.

Especially on day one of red cups.

It is so exciting to think about the future, to share dreams with each other, to laugh,

to plan and then say - Lord take my plan.

Today, I am thankful for new life. 

And getting to see and share in it over red coffee cups.

NANN 2012

This week, I attended my first {partial} professional conference!

I am so blessed to work in a hospital, in a specialty unit, doing what I love.

I love being an RN. I love being a NICU nurse. I love where I work.

I am so so thankful!

I got to go to the conference with my amazing friend, preceptor, and coworker. 

I seriously adore Lindsey.

She teaches me, laughs with me, shares with me, encourages me, and supports me.

I love love love Lindsey, and I am so very thankful that I get to work alongside her.

Mini Moments

hot dogs and ice cream cones at the ballpark

heartfelt conversation with a good friend

blackout curtains installed {hello sleep-by-day-work-by-night lifestyle!}

spontaneous email from my Greek bestie

looking through old pictures

freshly painted nails

laying my eyes on my coffee bean giftcard

baker's facial expressions after puppy summer cuts part two

air conditioning in 95 degree weather

cheery yellow flowers in a vase on my counter

Luigi's sweet little chirp

a glimpse of Ali's baby bump

full glass of iced mango lemonade

running through sprinklers with J, em and bakes

my toes in our soft new carpet

J's kiss and "you're beautiful" before leaving for work

Ava's excited love-my-auntie licks

$54 shoes on sale for $11 + 15% off + $10 coupon = free shoes

spontaneous evening dinner and hangout with my family

remembering fall is coming soon {cool mornings, pumpkin cupcakes, and color changes}

family time on the bed

A thankful heart: Vacation!

I meant to post yesterday before we left,
But J and I are vacationing in Oregon the rest of this week!

A few things I'm excited for:
Lots of fun and tasty eats
Exploring new towns
Meeting new friends and touring a hospital
Seeing old friends and playing with baby Elle
Laughing and memory making with my best friend and hubby

I'm so thankful for vacation!!

Have a great week -- see ya on the flip side!

A thankful heart: Birthday Celebrations

Tonight, J and I met Ali and Joe for a birthday celebration dinner and pazookie

to celebrate Ali's 26th {on 11-1-11}.

The night was filled with lots of stories,

lots of laughs,

lots of yummy pizza and salad,

a few presents,

and an a-mazing gluten free chocolate chip pazookie.

I love celebrating birthdays,

especially when they belong to special people.

It's so fun to take moments to thank the Lord for individual people.

Today, I'm thankful for birthday celebrations.

Happy birthday, A!

Photography: The Sansom Family

Back in June, J and I took a few casual family photos for Ali and her family. Her parents just recently moved a few hours north from Ohio, and Ali's grandma was in town from Michigan, as well as Ali's brother from Missouri. I adore them all and have visited them a few times, so it was so fun to see them all again together in California and capture a bit of their family love and laughs!

Joe and Ali

 Anna, Fred, Sheri, Grandma Sharla, AJ, and Ali

 the girls

 mom, dad, and the kids

 drama queens

So ... yeah {12 random summer happenings}

Since I've been a bit of a poor blogger this summer, there are many events that happened that didn't end up getting a blog post. So, I thought I would just lump it into one and share some random happenings from this summer.

These are in no order whatsoever and are simply the things I took pictures of... I wasn't a great picture-taker this summer, so its a bit random...

1. Date night with my baby to have fish tacos, laugh at the comedy theatre, and eat yummy gelato!

 2. A walk on the lake with a dear friend {and lots of walks with my mom!}

3. Dinner with great friends and some treasures they brought back for us from their trip to Ecuador.

4. Pool time at Grandma's and visiting my mom's cousin from St Louis

5. Labor Day feast with J

6. Coffee with Aristoula

 7. Random shopping trips with J

8. The Queen Bee Market with mom and sis {and some surprise friends!}

 ashley and david

 rhonda, aly, and marghee

 9. A few successful meals

10. A few Padres games

11. Dinner with my family

12. Jaclyn and Nick's wedding {Jaclyn is Carly's friend and was one of my girls when I led a girls bible study their freshman year of high school... I love this girl... her day was so special}

so happy for her - she was the sweetest bride ever.

 met up with my friend Cara there too :)

These are a few of the randomest things...

things that brought me joy this summer :)