Thankful for marriage

Dear J,

Thank you for coming home in such a great mood on Sunday and taking me to the Brig to celebrate a rainy date night, and for introducing me to clam chowder and fish tacos. I never knew how fun seafood could be! This is becoming quite the routine ;)

Thank you for offering to go to the grocery store for me yesterday... and then picking me up on the way when I found out you were going to Target and begged you to take me with you. And for waiting patiently while I took a picture in the middle of the parking lot of the sunset... and later you let me choose coffee which took me forEVER. And then buying me pink shorts to support my ambitions. And smelling candles with me. And making eight circles looking for dish drainers... Target trips with you are seriously the best. [I swear that store markets directly to me!!!!]

Thank you for encouraging me when I had my little breakdown about work and life... your hugs and encouragement makes anything seem possible.

Thank you for being so stinking talented and worshipping with me last night. You are the best guitar player in the world (in my humble not-biased-at-all opinion) and I love watching and listening to you do your thing. Just one of the [more shallow but amazing] reasons I fell in love with five years ago. I love even more putting you and me together for Jesus. Definitely way better than the Bachelor. [and we have DVR...]

Thank you for feeding the puppies every single morning without fail so I don't have to wake up so early.

Thank you for coming to Bible study with me and being excited about it. I'm so thankful you have found such great friends to fellowship with.

Thank you for your daily text messages to say you miss me. I like that you miss me on a daily basis when we're not together... because I miss you too. Good thing we're married!

Thank you for your hugs, your laugh, your encouragement, your quesadillas, your friendship and your love.

Your heart blesses me, your faith inspires me, your perspective refreshes me, and your love overwhelms me.

I love you to the moon and back.

Love,

your crazy adoring wife :)

One day off

On my one day off, wanna know what I accomplished?

puppies fed and walked

morning coffee trip with j

dogs bathed and brushed

showered

three loads of laundry

bathrooms cleaned

vacuumed

ironed

luigi's cage cleaned

lunch

trash out

desk cleaned

grocery store trip

dinner for j

visit to mom - welcome home sissy!!

mahea's housewarming (so cute, M!)

carpool with jennifer to ymc ladies' night

Not exactly restful :) I'm exhausted! But I was productive, and I got to spend time with those I love.

Now, tomorrow morning begins my four-day ten-hour work week. Then a quick break for Thanksgiving, and then back at it. Not complaining though. I'm thankful for a job. But man, what an exhausting transition this is.

"You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; 

the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. 

Praise be to God!"

[Psalm 68:35]

Here we go!

Baker's routine

Baker has this thing where he keeps his bone close to him.

Chews on his other toys, a little. 

But mostly, just keeps his bone close, and watches Emma.

Sad but content puppy.

Simple thoughts on this lazy Saturday

Some would say my life is boring. I go to school, and I come home. John goes to work, and comes home. We eat. We hang out. We take Emma for a walk. And we go to bed. And I mean, I get tired early, like, by 9pm. I usually can hold out until 11 (J's such a late nighter ;). And I feel like I'm living. Some people are just getting started at 11pm.

But I love our simple life. I love our modest home and our psychotic puppy and my sweet, mellow husband. I don't mind going to school (I mean, J and I would definitely prefer just not to work or go to school at all, but this works). I don't mind that my excitement for the day may be getting Starbucks with J, taking Emma for a walk, and giving her a bath. That's how today started. J and I leashed our little Bigs up and took her to the park. But first, J ran into the little coffee shop down the street and got us a couple frappuccinos. (ps...they raised their prices. ahhhh). And Emma waited for him patiently.
Then we went to the park. And Emma actually played with the other dogs. We were so proud. She's usually more interested in the ball she found within the first 10 seconds of us being there.
It didn't last long though. She took her ball and staked out a tree and she was happy.
When we got home, we filled the bath, plopped her in, and scrubbed her up. She's definitely getting better at that. She stands still in the tub. And she is so happy when she's clean.
We went to dinner. Olive Garden salad and appetizer. Some might say Olive Garden is boring. Not me. I am always content with Olive Garden. I am thankful we are able to do things like go out to dinner. Yah yah, it's not the "healthiest" thing in the world. It's so good though.
And then we went to Guitar Center. This is common for us, to go walk around a store after Olive Garden. I have become quite the Grossmont Center We usually go to Target and walk around and come up with something we need, like shaving cream or highlighters. Today we went to Guitar Center and J played the pianos. And found his favorite set-up. One day we will have a keyboard by our iMac between our two big yellow speakers, and J will record some beautiful music. Because truly, he is one of the most gifted people. He taught himself how to play piano. That is amazing to me. For now, we have the guitars and that is great. But one day we will have a piano again. For now, we will visit Guitar Center. :)
I really love my family and my home and my life. I am so blessed. We end most evenings with House episodes. And Emma on my or J's lap. And then we get ready for bed. Some say it is boring. I say, it is the best.

It's the little things

It's John bringing home pizza, breadsticks, and diet coke for dinner.
It's ice cream for dessert.
(yes, I admit ... not-so-good-for-me food makes two very-happy-Js. and it's Tuesday.)
It's Emma waiting for us for bed.
It's the simple things.

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart." Proverbs 15:30a

Wake up

Emma wakes me up every morning. Unless I have to wake up before 6. I set my alarm, you know, just in case. But she is faithful. She wakes up anywhere between 6 and 7. This morning, it was 7. That is a good day. Every morning she crawls up on the bed next to me, lays down and rolls over on her back with her paws in the air and nose reaching back toward me. And I scratch her tummy. This morning she stayed in that position for 10 minutes. The thing about Emma is that she's pretty fidgety. Like, she can't hold still for more than 5, 10 seconds max. But today, it was 10 minutes. Then I let her out. Then if we have time, we come back and cuddle some more. That's when she attacks J with kisses and wakes him up. And he always says, "awww good morning Emma." This morning I realized how lucky I am. I get to wake up with my puppy and my husband every morning. These are the moments I love. Thank you Lord for mornings with my family.

The morning routine

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Most definitely. I love to slice up some strawberries and bananas just like my mom used to do for me. I love to pour a bowl of vanilla cheerios (the greatest invention since pancakes) and brew some coffee. Then "help" my coffee become much more fun to drink... enter french vanilla creamer and cool whip. Yes. Cool whip. Again, thanks Mom.

Then I get Luigi out of his cage and get him some cheerios of his own on his paper towel right next to me. I flip open my bible and enjoy my breakfast while reading God's word, listening to Luigi chomp away and feeling Emma lying under my feet, her eyes watching me with her pitiful "if you loved me you would share" look, hoping for her own cheerio.


I usually move to the couch to finish reading and Emma sits with me.


Then, Emma and I discuss what to do. Sometimes we go to the park. Most of the time we go for a walk. But today, she picked the beach. Well, I picked. Again. And boy was she excited. She bounded through those waves like there was no tomorrow.


By the time we were done, she was exhausted...


... and soooooo sandy and salty, so as soon as we got home she went into the tub. And then, she was clean, frizzy and happy.

mornings ... breakfast ... coffee ... the Bible ... Emma ... the beach ... being clean ...

these are a few of my favorite things.

The beauty of Monday

~ Emma at the beach
~ Coupons
~ J home early after going in really early
~ A full refrigerator
~ A successful homemade dinner (lemon pepper steak with bell peppers, corn-on-the-cob, and mozzarella sticks)
~ Yogurt Mill leftovers
~ House reruns
~ Emma in the bathtub
~ J lying on the floor petting Emma after her bath
~ Emma sound asleep on the floor next to me as I type
~ J next to me
~ This truth...

"For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Colossians 1:16-17

Lazy days

Sunday moments of Joy...

~ Fun phone calls from my best friend in the middle of the night
~ Nap time with J
~ Emma prancing around the house with her bone
~ Pancakes for breakfast
~ Fans in the summer (and a barely surviving a/c)
~ Anna is in San Diego
~ The book Grandma got for me (Face to Face with God)
~ Realizing the unity of the church in the book of Acts
~ Yogurt Mill after pancakes :)
~ Watching House
~ Looking at pictures
~ Kissing my puppy

Saturday night blessings

Sometimes I am reminded of how blessed I am. Like tonight. Driving in the car with my J into a beautiful San Diego sunset. Great friends. Olive Garden's never ending pasta bowl. Laughing hysterically... until 10pm. Honesty. Authenticity.

Then I get to drive home with my wonderful husband. To OUR home. And Emma greets us from her spot on the couch, where she sleeps when we are gone, and perks her head up when she hears us. Luigi greets us from the front of his cage on his food bowl. I let her outside and then lie down on my bed with J, and we check our email. Emma jumps up next to us. And I know life is good. I am truly blessed.