Catching Up

I haven't posted in over a month. I say posted, because in my mind, I have written a lot.

I think in blog throughout the day.

I take trips and think...hmm...I should blog that.

I have a WONDERFUL day at work and think...hmm...I should blog that.

I make a yummy dinner and think...hmm...I should blog that.

I decide on goals for the new year and think...you guessed it, I should blog that. :)

Well, clearly, I haven' t been blogging. I have tons to write about, but I haven't. Don't know.

But, get excited...or remove me from your reader...because I am about to post post post. Lots of back posts so that I can get my blog updated on what has been going on in my life this past month. And...I'm even going to try to post what's currently going on so I won't find myself in the constant process of back-blogging. :)

More California...

The crowning glory of the trip out west was definitely the National Championship game, but I decided when I booked my ticket that if I was going to make a trip out there...I was going to cross a few other things off my list as well.

My sweet friend April and her hubby Jordan have lived in California for as long as I've known them. I love visiting my friends, so it made perfect sense to make a visit to San Marcos. They were such gracious hosts! Thank you both again for bei

ng so welcoming.

The game was on Thursday, but I didn't fly home until Mon

day. That gave us plenty of time to relax and take in the sights. Kevin and I made our list of things we w

anted to do and just kept driving until it was all accomplish

ed.

First on the list was to see and put my feet in the Pacific Ocean. It was a bit chilly, but I did it. One more thing checked off the bucket list!

About mid-way through last year, I stumbled across Marla's blog. I love her. She's so real and one of my favorite bloggers. Well, last year, she and her f

amily decided to visit 52 zoos in 52 weeks. That's 52 zoos in a year. The stories behind the trips are incredible...and Marla does a great job of sharing how God totally worked to make it happen.

Well, one of the zoos they went to was the World Famo

us San Diego Zoo. I decided right after I read that post that I wanted to go to that zoo one day.

We spent almost 5 hours at the zoo...and could have spent much longer. There was so much to do and see. Thank goodness there was a double decker bus that you could ride! They also had a fun sky ride that gave you a great view...and the animals, oh the animals.

The zoo was HUGE and you could tell they had really worked to keep the animals in something as close to their natural habit at as possible.

All in all, the zoo was great...worth every penny...and so many things I loved, but there is one thing that I had never gotten to do before that I know I will never forget...

Remember the Rose Bowl

I called my Dad frantically on December 5. Alabama was beating Florida in the SEC Championship and it looked as if we would be headed to the Rose Bowl. I wasn't able to get to a computer, so I needed him to do me a favor and book my plane ticket to the west coast. It took a little convincing. Since it was only the 3rd quarter, he wasn't quite as confident as I was, but by the end of the game, I could proudly proclaim that I would be going to California. It would take a few more days to find out if I got tickets to actually go to the game...thankfully, I did. :)

The trip out there was definitely one for the books. I'm so happy that I was able to cross Rose Bowl off of my bucket list. I've been an Alabama fan my entire life and for the longest time, I was afraid I would never get the chance to see my team play there. Now that the BCS is part of college football, the SEC gets the chance...but only every 4 years. Those aren't great odds, but apparently, they were just good enough.

Once I got to California, I met up with my friend Kevin. It was great to have someone else in charge of getting me places! I just gave the address and he figured it out. Loved it! Our flights came in the day of the game, so we didn't have a ton of time to walk around before, but I was just happy that we were there before the kickoff.

We got a great parking place about 5 minutes from the stadium and began our walk. I don't think I've ever anticipated seeing something as much as I anticipated seeing the Rose Bowl. That's probably why when I turned the corner and saw this sign, I almost started hyperventilating. No, but really.

Cell phone service was real spotty...not good when you're trying to meet up with people. So thankful that my calls were able to be received by sweet Abby. It had been almost a month since I had seen her last, so I was uber excited to find her! Isn't she just the cutest little Alabama fan??

Once we got into the stadium, it was even better than I could have ever imagined. I know it's called the Rose BOWL..but now I know why. It really is like a big bowl. Not near as high up as most of the stadiums that I've been to, but incredibly deep.

There were a few moments when things got pretty intense, but for the most part, I found myself enjoying it all and soaking it all up. I mean, it's not everyday that you get to watch your team win a National Championship...though, I'm hoping that this is something that we will get to do a lot more!

Thanks to my wonderful grandfather, we had excellent seats. I loved being able to sit with my grandparents, uncle and cousin. The reason I love Alabama so much is because of my family. It was only fitting that we cheer our team on sitting together. ROLL TIDE!!

I don't ski...but I love youth

Who says you have to ski to chaperone a youth ski trip?!?!

Ever since a little episode with me, some skiis and a black diamond mountain a few years ago, I have done my very best to stay far far away from anything to do with skiis. But, when it comes to youth and chaperoning, let's just say I can't get enough of it. I love spending time with them. Finding out what's going on in their minds...well, I don't know if I was able to actually succeed in that.

Over the course of 4 days, we only had two that had to be taken to ski patrol...only one of those went to the emergency room. Considering 3/4 of the group that went had never skied before, I'd say that's pretty good.

When it was all said and done, I was incredibly sleep deprived, but overflowing with love for my Savior and those kids. What a blessing it was to do life with them for a few days!

Christmas 2009

Christmas Christmas Christmas. It's one of my favorite times of the year. This year, I was able to spend lots of time at home. I almost felt like I was a student again! Just another perk of my job. :)

There are lots of little traditions that we have, but some of my occur on Christmas Eve. My church has a Christmas Eve service...I LOVE candlelight services...and afterwards, my family always invites a group of people over for dinner . There's nothing super fancy about it. Just people, food, laughter--lots of laughter, and if you're lucky a good game or two.

When I found out that I was going to be an aunt, I started making a list of things that I wanted to do with my niece or nephew. One of those things was accomplished this Christmas...making a gingerbread house. Emma Kate and I had a great time putting our little house together. We liked it so much that we made a manger too. Things were going great until she wanted to put Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the manger. Yes, I know, I should have thought about that before, but I hadn't. We had to do a little improvising with the candy we had leftover. Mary and Joseph were a little rough, but I was pretty impressed with our Baby Jesus...that's the most important anyway, right? :)

After Christmas Eve comes Christmas Day. You're just going to have to trust me that we followed with tradition and took a picture sitting on the stairs. They are way too bad to post for the public to see!

Children at Christmas...there's really nothing like it! EK got lots of fun gifts. Her favorite was the baby that does all kinds of things. Way to go, Santa!

I didn't have much to want this year...but since I haven't been buying clothes, I was quite thankful that Mom and Dad came through with lots of them. It was especially nice when I was packing a few days later and had some new things to wear! Then, when I thought all the unwrapping was done, Mom and Dad surprised me with something that I can use to wash and dry all my new clothes!! I had planned on purchasing a washer and dryer, but was so excited to not have to do that. They are both SUPER nice!! Woohoo for clothes..and being able to keep them clean and dry!

The next few days were spent lounging around the house, watching football games, getting work stuff organized and preparing myself to chaperone a youth ski trip to North Carolina. It's a hard life, but someone has to do it. :)

Coffee Shop Thoughts

I love coffee shops. Just typing that statement makes me giggle inside because if you told me two years ago that I would one day love them, I would have laughed in your face.

Coffee is not something essential to my day. Yes, it is true that I have it a few times a week, but I much prefer tea---of the green variety to be exact.

But the coffee shop. It is so much more than coffee.

It is people. It is comfort. To take a line from Starbucks...it is my third place.

Tonight, I find myself sitting at a coffee shop. Green tea in hand. Bells ringing as customers enter and exit. Some ordering their usual. Some looking at the menu of options for what seems an eternity before deciding on the house coffee.

iTunes is pulled up. Praise and Worship Genius mix is making it's way from the computer to my ears. My journal is open and my pen is moving. Well, not really moving now...now, I'm blogging...but, you get the picture.

Lots of reflecting is going on right about now. This time last year I was finishing up my time at Chick-fil-A. The job that had been my stability from the moment I graduated college was drawing to a close. I had no clue what life beyond July would have in store. When I think about where I am now, I still can't believe the way God has orchestrated the details. Life is 100 times better than I could have ever imagined.

The job. Whoa. It is me in a job description.

The families. Goodness gracious. Love them. They treat me as if I'm their own daughter.

The teenagers. Blessing after blessing. I know I'm supposed to be leading them, but I have yet to leave a meeting that they haven't taught me something.

God is so good. I am so thankful. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am right in the middle of His plan for my life and it feels so good. I am reminded of that as I sit here in this coffee shop. I pray that I will never forget it.

Birthday Blessings

It’s practically the end of the day. In fact, it’s way past the end of my day. I prefer to be in bed by 9:30…but I just can’t let the day finish without taking the time to wish someone a very happy birthday.

Today is my older sister’s birthday. On this day, 29 years ago, my Mom was 24 years old. My Dad was 28. Up until that day, they had lived lives of singleness and coupleness, but when 9:00AM rolled around, my sister gave them the opportunity to live the life of parents. Obviously, I wasn’t there that day, but I can imagine it was a day of much happiness and celebration.

My sister changed the world for my parents that December day, and she has continued to change the world throughout the past 29 years.

With each passing day, I am more and more thankful for her.

She has weathered a lot in her 29 years. She has gone through things that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Yet, through each and every storm, she has taught me so much. She's shown me what it looks like to walk the narrow road. She's demonstrated the importance of truly forgiving. She's modeled the concepts of God's unconditional love and His overwhelming grace better than any I know.

Confidential to the Birthday Girl: Happy Happy Birthday to you, my dear sister. Sure, I may have complained once or twice about being the middle sister...but I take it all back if it means that I wouldn't have you for an older sister. I'm so thankful for the road that you paved and continue to pave for me. With each passing year, I find people associate me with different people and things, but I am so thankful that one of those associations is one that I have had for my entire life...Cile's younger sister. I don’t know what God has in store for you this next year, but I know that no matter the circumstance one thing will be certain. You will use the year to continue to inspire and encourage those around you. I love you so so much!