Friday, September 30, 2011

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My friend Sarah asked her friends to join a best photo of the week challenge and I decided to do it. 

She has a cute little baby girl (who is not really a baby anymore) so I am excited to see all the outstanding pictures from her, and from everyone else. I posted two pictures opps, but in my defense I was standing in the exact same spot and took a picture of the street and then one of what I saw above me. Fall weather is nowhere near close to San Diego but as I was standing in the middle of Little Italy waiting for my friends I noticed it sure looked like fall was here. So in my eagerness to see fall come I have chosen these pictures. I guess the top one would be my top pick.

I used hipstamatic to take my pictures

Thursday, September 29, 2011

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Since I turned 29 our pastors invited K and I to dinner, and took us to one of my favorite places; Benihana.  I love Teppanyaki restaurants and Benihana reminds me of my dad, so +++. 

We really love our pastors. They are just great people who truly have amazing hearts, and we are so grateful they consider us friends. We talked, laughed and they tried sushi they actually liked (which is a big deal if you know them). Thank you Ben & Katie, I had a lovely time.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

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 Do you love fruit? We do too and our friends the Lewis' (Jonah's parents) are the most generous people and left a crate of fresh fruits at our door. It was the best surprise to come home to. Thank you guys so much, we have enjoyed our fruit!

If you are interested in getting fresh fruit visit www.californiafruit.com

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

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With the exception of 5 days, my husband and I have been together every day for the last 27 months. It feels like so much longer, and yet it feels like it’s been just a few weeks since we got married. There is still so much to learn, so much to see, so much to enjoy. But as much as we are still rookies in this marriage business, he has managed to learn a few things about me, and I have learned a lot from him and about him. 

PhotobucketA few weeks ago I was sitting in the living room of our house staring into the void and mouthing words so softly he couldn’t hear what was being said. He now knows that means I am going over scenarios that are either too overwhelming or too insane for me to share with him. He also knows now he needs to stop me so I don’t go crazy with all the thinking. So he asked me what I was pondering about with a smirk on his face. 
-You know how people say life is a roller coaster? – I said 
- Hmm what do you mean exactly 
- Well, they say it has ups and downs and we have to go through both. If we are on an ‘up’ then we must be ready for a 'down'. If we are on a 'down' we must be encouraged knowing an 'up' is coming. 
- Ok 
- Well, I am concerned about that. I have been on an up for the last 3+ years and I love my life. Does that mean we are up for a 'down'? Are we overdue for a 'down'? 
- {laughter, laughter, laughter} Honey, from the outside our life surely doesn’t look like an 'up'. We have a very limited income, you have been having migraine headaches, we live in a tiny little place built a hundred years ago, I am allergic to something but we don’t know what it is, we have no insurance, you were supposed to be 6 months pregnant, my computer is breaking, shall I keep going?... We just choose to enjoy where we are. In reality we probably are on our way to an upper 'up'. 
Isn't my husband just the most encouraging man ever? He is absolutely right, our life surely doesn't look like an 'up' but I feel like I have the best life in the world, I really do. 

See when the apostle Paul said rejoice in the Lord always in Philippians 4:4 he surely didn’t mean all things would be fun and exciting, and 'ups' that everyone rejoices in. He meant our outlook in life had to be one that regardless of the situation we would choose joy because we knew our Father is good. I can’t say my joy comes from me being awesome, that would be ridiculous. The only reason I feel like I am at the top of the roller coaster is because of God’s grace. 

I can’t choose joy by myself; the circumstances surrounding my life could surely overwhelm me and fill me with sadness. Some days I do think about my baby, and those days I cry, sometimes I lay in bed with headaches and those days I cry. But then the Holy Spirit whispers in my ear ‘For I know the plans I have for you plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ And He reminds me who my Father is. 

In Philippians 4 we find where joy really comes from 
  • Philippians 4:1 – …stand firm in the Lord 
  • Philippians 4:2 – …agree in the lord 
  • Philippians 4:4 - …rejoice in the Lord
Joy comes from the Lord, and whatever your circumstance I believe you can live a life full of 'ups' and joy. Today I pray for all of those out there that are in a 'down', I pray the Lord will help them change their perspective. I pray they will get the revelation of who God is, and they will comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth of the Love of Christ for them.
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Erin and I were able to face time, she is doing such an amazing job in San Felipe. To read her updates go to erinmissions.blogspot.com

We miss you Erin!!

Monday, September 26, 2011

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Last week K and I went to the mall to get me some pants for my birthday, and we decided to get a burger. I found terrible pants (above), fun pants, huge pants, loooooooong pants, and then flare pants, and I had to try them on and now I keep thinking about it... flare pants on a 5'2'' human, I don't know, but they sure were cute.


Saturday, September 24, 2011

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We love love love love love First Sunday. And in case you have never read about it here, First Sunday is an outreach ministry of Urban Church which aims to meet the basic needs of those in our community and has been hugely successful in doing so. The pictures above are pictures of our last First Sunday on September 11th (we know that was the second Sunday, it just made more sense not to have it on labor day weekend, don't judge us). It was such an amazing time, so many people came and shared a meal with us, there were many new families that had an opportunity to browse through the racks of clothes and tables of goods. It's by far one of my favorite ministries.

And that being said, First Sunday has been nominated for San Diego's best charity event on San Diego City Beat Best of SD 2011. Pretty huge honor. San Diego resident or not, please CLICK HERE & vote for it!

Friday, September 23, 2011

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We love The Millers, we just love them all. We love hanging out with them, chatting with them, asking for advice from them, playing with the kids, everything. We were really excited to bring dinner to them one night and spend some time with them and with Brandon's coworker Brent and his family. 

K played tennis with Brandon, Brent and Meradith, Brent's wife. Mel and I hung out with the kids. We had a wonderful time, and even though I did not like the meal I brought (ugh so frustrating), we still enjoyed our time together and laughed, played and ate.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

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Our friend Julia and her husband Brandon took a trip to Europe in the spring, and after coming back Julia started trying new recipes and wanted to share a bit of her experience with all of her friends for her birthday party.

So the Vegas hosted a lovely tea party with a plethora of amazing goodies to eat and delicious teas.

Happy Birthday Julia!! Thank you for having us over.

Ps. Yes I wear white after labor day, as do most of people in San Diego where the weather is lovely all year long.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

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So all of you already know San Diego had a blackout. K and I were at the movies taking a break from work and suddenly the lights went out. We were watching The Debt and we were still at the beginning so we were ok with missing the movie. After waiting for a few minutes inside the theater we heard the entire mall was out of power, then we heard Chula Vista was out of power, then we heard Point Loma and La Jolla, and TJ were all out of power. And then I got that notification from the picture. Scary!

Thankfully the notification had nothing to do with the blackout, so yay. It was a very relaxing and romantic evening with all the candles, and I want to have a mandatory black out at my house once a month, it's just so nice and so relaxing to just talk, play games and enjoy people's company without the distraction of everything around us.

Monday, September 19, 2011

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For the last 3 years Urban Church has brought donuts and coffee to all the teachers, parents and students at Washington Elementary, and this last year we did it for Birney Elementary as well.

We needed 500-600 donuts this year, and we thought of asking our new wonderful friends Josh and Jess if they wanted to make them and they said yes. Obviously we volunteered to help them, so we woke up at 330am, picked up Tranica and headed over to their place to make donuts. 

It was a wonderful morning, we had such a great time making all the donuts and chatting. I kind of want to make them again sometime soon, even if I have to wake up at an unlawful time. 

Thanks Josh and Jess!!