Whew...What a weekend!

Well, this weekend was a busy one, but it was great!  It started Friday night when we met Amber, Jason and Miss Megan in Glendale for a quick, and I mean quick visit with Santa a little bounce in a house and off to dinner.  We hadn't planned on meeting them in Glendale, but everything just worked out for the best.  Jake had never seen downtown all lit up so it was great.  It was so great to catch up and have lots of laughs over dinner.  Saturday morning I took Jake's Mom Christmas shopping, it was a nice time and its always fun to spend time with her, yes I am talking about my mother in law, what can I say, I'm blessed:).  After a bit of rest Jake and I met Lisa, Wade and all of the Egglets at Zoolights.  Here is the walk way up to the zoo;

Wow, I bet your thinking gosh that's a lot of people, well your right!  We went with the Egglet family last year one weekend later and it wasn't as crazy as it was on Saturday.  I kept saying that it felt like being at Disneyland but not quite as organized.  We had a great time, here is Lees and I at the beginning of the night;
Its always so fun to hang out with them, Jake loves Noah, but shhhhh...don't tell his Mom.  We are already getting those not so subtle baby hints. :) And yep, a newer picture of me and my sweet husband.  
While at the zoo, Noah got a souvenir and so did Jake...this is Jake's new ride along in the work truck.
I told Jake his eyes were a bit freaky, but I guess they grow on you...well...maybe not.  And just as quickly as it started the night ended and Addie was still smiling, of course she was also ready to get down and give the monkeys are run for their money but Lisa managed to keep her out of the monkey cage.  She is just too cute!
Noah took a little time away from looking for airplanes to take a picture with Jake and I. We had a great time.  
As always it was a wonderful time to hang out and visit.  As you can see Jake got to use his new camera and these are just a few of the pictures he took, he was like a paparazzi, there were flashes everywhere.  As I'm writing we are watching Christmas Vacation, a Christmas classic.  Who doesn't experience some part of the Griswold holiday?  I can't believe Christmas is 11 days away.  I'm excited to do some holiday baking next weekend and I'm really looking forward to getting together with family and friends.  This year has already brought so many blessings I'm excited for what the future holds.  

Thanksgiving

Well, I'm only a few weeks late with this post but here goes.  We spent Thanksgiving with Jake's family and his brother came into town.  Here is Jake preparing to carve the turkey, I love the apron don't you :)

And here is a picture of Stephen trying to sneak a bite of the freshly carved turkey

I'd say that sneaking things isn't normally in Steve's nature, but that wouldn't be quite accurate.  We spent lots of time running around with his family and went to see the move  Four Christmases, I along with the rest of Jake's family found it hysterical.  We did find time over the weekend to finish the decorating at our house, here is Jake putting the star on the tree
Isn't he cute????  I think so.  I was pretty pleased how the tree turned out this year, I'll admit that I did most of the decorating when Jake was busy doing other stuff, but he was there to help. Here is a picture of the finished tree, looks pretty darn good:)
Jake was also around to put these special ornaments on our tree.  Most of you know that we love Disneyland and we got these as a wedding present...they look great...Thanks Deb!
So we are all ready for Christmas, our shopping is done and now we can just sit back and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the season.  We have a busy couple of weeks coming up, but its all good stuff.  Hope you all are enjoying your Christmas season!

Simple Christmas

In church over the last month we have been doing a series on "Simple Christmas".  It's been a great eye opener.  The 3 main points of our study was to focus on the "true" meaning of Christmas by keeping Christ at the center, spend less money and create an experience as a memory instead of focusing on material things and lastly give more.  Give to those who have less that you do.  Right now I'm sure that is the tough one, how are we going to give to our families let alone to others we don't even know.  During that last few weeks I've gone to church with an open mind and an open heart, and I think I can honestly say that at least for the last few years, I've tried very hard to stay focused on the reason for Christmas and that without Christ we wouldn't have this time of year.  And I have been blessed that for as long as I can remember Christmas day has been a day of creating memories.  I rarely remember what I get, but I remember the get together's, the yummy brunches and the days of shave gel on the living room ceiling.  I also remember surprise visits from Vince and seeing how happy he was for us to be together with great friends for what turned out to be our last Christmas together.  I remember laughing so hard I cried and crying because now there is a hole in my holiday.  But the point that convicted me the most was giving more.  Jake and I have already decided that we are going to go to the mall and give by picking an angel from the salvation army tree.  That was a program that put gifts under my tree more than once and I want to be sure to give back.  The point was making true sacrifice.  We are both still trying to figure out what that sacrifice will look like but with prayer we are asking God to lead us.  We have been blessed, immensely blessed, we know we are called to share that blessing with others.

So, I guess the point of this post is 2 fold, first go to www.ccvonline.com and download the podcast of the Simple Christmas message,  its powerful.  And secondly, ask yourself where will you sacrifice to spread the blessings you have been given?

If you hear the message I'd love to hear your thoughts.  I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!

Catching Up

So, I haven't posted in a while so let me catch you up on what's been going on.  We had a small Halloween party on the 25Th here are some pictures...

Unfortunately we didn't take as many pictures as we thought, these were some of the best ones. Jake did the decorating outside and was very proud of his dead pirate.  We had a great time and it was fun to catch up with our friends.  The next week was Halloween so we carved a pumpkin, well I should say Jake carved it, I just didn't have the patience for it...go figure.  This is where I was going to put the pictures, but my blog is being stupid and as I suggested earlier, my patience can't take much.

As you all know its now November and we have a new President.  I have to say I've never been so glad for something to be over with in my life.  I hate politics and I hate elections.  It has been interesting for me to watch and hear the reactions of people now that a new leader as been elected.  Some are worried, others hopeful and yet others indifferent.  I have to say I'm in the indifferent category.  The things that would normally worry me about our new leader I try to put into perspective, most everything we have read or heard about him has been skewed by others, this was true of all election coverage.  Which I might add is why I hate it all so much.  But when perspective doesn't work I give it to God, because ultimately He knows how this is all going to work out and since I trust Him, my worry isn't going to really do much good.

  

And now we move on to the holidays.  I can't wait, as I'm writing this post I'm in long jammies and covered with a blanket, the windows are open and its chilly....FINALLY!  It really is my favorite time of year.  I can hardly wait to decorate and for Jake and I to have are true first Christmas together.  Its going to be great!  I'll keep everyone posted on the holiday happenings!

6 Months!!!

Well, some of you know that today is our 6 month anniversary.  I really can't believe that its been 6 months already.  Time flies when you are happy and in love I guess.  We've been through a lot in the past 6 months and I'm not ashamed to say that most of it has been good stuff, a few challenges here and there, but for the most part good, good stuff.  Standing in church this morning worshipping my God that has done so much the realization at just how much my life has changed in the past 2 years washed over me.  Tears came to my eyes, my life is so different than it was not too long ago and I'm now experiencing so many of the things that I only dreamed of.  God is good!

We've been up to a lot this month as well, here is a picture of Jake and I at Rawhide, Jake likes haunted houses and all the spooky stuff associated with Halloween so as my wifely duty I went with him to a haunted house.  Needless to say I didn't see much but the ground since I refused to look up and let go of Jake...oh well, I gave it a try right?

The picture was taken post haunted house hence my calm appearance.  It was a great night, the weather was really cool that night, no really it was in the 60's we loved it.  

The past 6 months have been wonderful, again, not without challenges and learning curves, but wonderful nonetheless.  I really can't wait to see what the next 6 months has in store. 

A tug that sometimes feels like a PULL

Well, I'm writing this post after yet another week that has called my purpose into question.  After talking this through with a few people I've come to realize that I do believe that God is yet again preparing me for transition.  I sent a cryptic email to a friend during the day Tuesday that basically stated that it was days like this Tuesday that made me wonder if my priorities have shifted so much that I have lost the purpose for what I am currently doing.  And the answer is yes and no.  I still believe that God gave me this gift to use to help save these women and girls I work with, and I also believe that God has answered the desire of my heart to be a wife and eventually be a Mom.  Although I have seen many women that I work with do both, I'm not sure I'm made that way.  Do I still want to make a difference in people's lives, YES, but at this point I'm not sure what that is going to look like in the future.  All I know is when I got home Tuesday night I declared to Jake that I didn't care what we had to do, I'd even give up cable if it meant I could stay home after we have kids. (I know, giving up TV...Yes it was that bad of a day)  The truth of the matter is we are doing everything we can to make that a reality.  

In the past my heart was with my work, I was excited to get there and kick some eating disorder butt, now my heart and admittedly my mind is elsewhere.  God knows this, but since we aren't using my clock, I'm waiting on his timing.  You'd think I'd be an expert at this...but I'm not.  I am not wanting to rush things either, but I know my heart at work grows weary, I turn to God, because honestly, by Wednesday morning I wanted to throw in the white flag and accept defeat, but God knows best and its now Thursday evening and I have survived yet again.  I will end this week with praise from my team, a couple of new pay increases (Whoo Hoo) and 2 full days of freedom.  I will also be one week closer to the next surprise that God has waiting for me.  Its hard, I want to be done, but I know I need to be there, I look around and while this week my abilities were called into question, there is evidence all around me that I am still making a difference, I am good at what I do and God is still using me.  But I feel Him also tugging me or should I say pulling me into another direction, but I wait on Him.  Not giving into my own urgency and inpatience. 

What a week!

Well, this week has kicked my butt.  This is the first week since I switched centers that I wanted to just call it a day and go into retail.  I have one patient in particular that has been having a difficult time and then just when I felt that I was able to get her into a good spot another patient goes off the deep end.  And to add insult to injury this was my first week on call.  So needless to say it was a long, long week and an equally long weekend.  I think Jake took the worst of it though.  This was his first real experience with seeing me completely emotionally drained from work.   I felt so bad for him.  Wednesday night I was a shell, I came home and had nothing left and he had been waiting all day to see me and spend time together and all I wanted to do was lay on the couch and not say a word.  As usual he was so patient with me and did everything he could to try to help, but it was useless, I was done for.  I know that what I do is a gift from God, because there are times that I'm not sure how I get through what I do, but there are other times, like this week when I struggle with my Gift.  When I see the impact it has on my sweet husband and how it prevents me from being available for him, I want to give it back.  But we can't do that.  I know I'm called to do both.  Save the lives of others while being a wife to my husband.   I'm learning as I'm sure most of you have learned as well that serving God takes sacrifice.  I know that I am serving God through the job I do and while this week I felt like I was making sacrifice after sacrifice I can trust that I will be rewarded and blessed beyond imagination for being a good and faithful servant.