#9

So I'm not putting my Top 10 Favorite Things From 2013 in any specific order.  Because if I was, this would def be in my top 3.  But I really wanted to blog about it now, so I am!

I'm so thankful for our friends...Chad, Amie, & Tins. 

Chad & Steve were college BFF's & roomies.  Amie & I worked in ministry together at our church.  We've been in each others weddings, thrown showers for each other, traveled...and now we get to be families together.  Our girls adore each other, and I'm so thankful for that.  Their friendship is funny...just over 2 years apart, they don't always know how to "be" together.  But the love & friendship are there.  We've all got "it" for each other.  And it just works. It's awesome.  And I feel so blessed.

 I love that my BFF & sisters love each other.

 This is just one pic Claire took of T during their photoshoot together.

 

 Super awkward...but we do this a lot.  And I love it.

2013 was a good year for our friendship.  I am SO excited about some of the things we have planned for 2014 together...hopefully one of those things is finally going on a trip!! We love you BeMents!

this week...

...I'm really thankful for my hard working husband.  Since we've moved, he's been everyone's muscles and tech support, and he hasn't complained one bit.  He's stayed up super late, and woken up really early to help me get Claire read for preschool.  Finally on Monday, he had a day to himself to set-up his garage space and finish the surround sound in the family room, but he put it off to spend the day with Claire and me...and still never complained.

I love his "hard-worker" ethic and mentality.  I love that he wants everything to be done perfectly, so instead of getting to his projects he takes his time with everyone elses.  I love that he loves serving people.  I love that he finds joy in helping others.  I love that he's not a complainer.  I love that he puts others before himself.  I love that he's intentional in the way he spends time with Claire and me.  I love that he's smart enough to set up the internet and Apple TV.  I love that he's out in the jacuzzi right now finally taking some time for himself!

I love my man.  And I'm thankful for him.

this week I'm thankful...

I always have so much to be thankful for and I love writing it down....makes it more impactful...like makes me more aware of what I'm truly thankful for and why.

This week I am REALLY thankful for health.  It seems like every week I find out about someone else who has cancer or is sick with a severe illness.  So very thankful that I'm healthy.  And Steve's healthy.  And so is Claire.

I'm also thankful for a new home to move into.  We're staying here in San Diego, but the home we're renting sold so we had to look for a new place.  Welp, we found one...after what seemed like months of looking...and we're all excited about it.

I'm thankful for my parents...for the example they've set as to what it means to be godly parents...for the way they live their lives serving the Lord...even when it's most difficult...for the way they love Claire and love spending time with her...for the way they faithfully pray for their kids and grandkid.

I'm thankful for my husband...and how hard he works.  I'm thankful for his passion for guns and ammo, for all things Apple, for Rush Limbaugh and all he's learned from him, and mostly for his passion for staging and lighting.

I'm so thankful for friends...especially the ones I've known for years.  I'm not one who has a lot of friends...and it takes time for me to make really good friends.  So I'm thankful for the really good friends I have...the ones where we've put in the years of good and bad, ups and downs.  I wish I could see these friends more often, but I'm glad I get to see 4 of them within 5 days...2 of them I get to have dinner with tonight...so excited...and so thankful.

This week I'm so thankful I live in San Diego...no snow, no weather below 40 degrees during the day, beautiful beaches just 15 minutes away....oh I love this city!

linking up with Carina 

{thanks-living}

I cannot even believe it's now November.  Looking back over October...it's kinda a blur...but I know I have SO much to be thankful for.

First of all, I am so thankful for my Dad.  He has truly taught me the importance of being missions minded and has always had a HUGE heart for the lost.  He's been in Ethiopia for all of October...he comes home next Saturday.  While he's been there, he's been traveling to villages telling people about the GOOD NEWS of Jesus.  Here's part of an email he sent after the first week of being gone:

I'm lying here in bed at 3:00 in the morning...can't sleep because I'm
so pickin' excited about what's happened this last week.  You have no
idea what a difficult area this is to minister in because people's
hearts are so cold, hard and resistant to the gospel.  We've NEVER in 5 years of
working here been able to go personally
into peoples homes and share the gospel with them...until NOW!  The
eyeglass clinics are good, helpful
and give us favor with the government and local people, but the
chickens are like the goose that laid the
golden egg...or should I say chicken!  We've exclusively gone into
poor widows and divorcees homes and
the response has been overwhelming!  My heart is so full.

Yes...you read it right...chickens...they are giving people chickens in hopes of the door being open to share the gospel.  People use the chickens for eggs and to eat, to provide food for their families.  What an awesome and tangible way to share the love of Jesus!!  I'm thankful that my Dad (and Mom) have such a heart to love people...because of their hearts for Jesus.  

I am thankful for new friends.  I met Stacy through an instagram pen pal/gift exchange and she is truly an amazing lady.  Her love for Jesus shines so brightly...she has amazing sewing skills and is also an awesome wife and momma to two adorable kiddos.  It has been so fun getting to know her through her blog, instagram, and twitter.  And she sent an amazing batch of gifts to me!  I love how God brings people into our lives...so thankful to know Stacy!

I'm thankful for old friends.  My sweet friends, Amy, and her adorable family were visiting from Maui and I got to get in a short, but perfect visit for a couple of hours.  While I was there, our other friend, Tylene, stopped by with her adorable family!  I love these girls like sisters.  We went to college together, and although we've all grown and changed a lot since then (Thank You Jesus!!), our hearts are still so connected.  They're the kind of friends I know I'll have for life...I love that.

I am so thankful for time off work!  I was able to take a 5 day stay-cation last week and it seriously was a mental health break for me.  I was able to spend time with some friends, catch up on projects, watch my new favorite show, spend LOTS of fun time with Claire, and just feel refreshed!  I think this should be a mandatory thing for every momma out there!

I am thankful for our church...and thankful that I get to be a big part of the ministry that happens with kids and families there.  On Halloween, we hosted Royal Nite...a free carnival, open to the public.  Although it was a super long work day, it was such a fun night of ministry.  I'm thankful for all the ministry opportunities I get to be a part of...a lot of times it doesn't even feel like work!

My sister brought Claire...I didn't take any pics of her...oh my...but I did get a video of her doing her favorite thing...going on the bouncies.

My heart is so full looking back and remembering all I have to be thankful for! 

{thankful} for sisters

Today I'm super especially thankful for my sisters.  Some of you know that one of my sisters is also my sister-in-law...yep...we married brothers.  But I will always be able to say she copied me.  So glad she did.  Anyway...we all live within 20 minutes of each other, but our work schedules are so opposite of each other that we don't spend a lot of time together "just the 3 of us."  We're trying to change that and really make it a priority...because when we do hang out, we have SO.MUCH.FUN.  So a few weeks ago we went paddle boarding together.  We bought a Groupon and made a plan.  We met for coffee and drove together to Carlsbad Lagoon...the day couldn't have been any prettier...clear skies, perfect temp, water was warm.

this is me before I fell in...yep...i did...the instructor said he's had like 1 person fall...now he's had 2.

I'm so thankful God gave me these 2 as my little sisters.  And I'm SO THANKFUL we like to be with each other.  I will probably always boss them around as their big sis, and we will probably always argue over dumb stuff, and call each other names...but we know we will always be there for each other.  For anything.  At anytime.  I love that.  And seriously...I'm ready to be an auntie.

{thankful} for my man

This week, I'm extra super thankful for my husband...for several reasons.  A lot of you know that we have been trying for baby #2 for over 3 years now.  Well, we FINALLY found out that the problem might not be completely with me, but with both of us.  Several years ago, Steve had a back injury and now has several herniated disks in his back and neck.  He gets several shots every 4 weeks of steroids to help with the pain so he doesn't have to take any painkillers.  THANK the LORD for an alternative!!  Anyway, our doctor and the main management doc wanted him to try not getting the shots to see if that helps our infertility issues.  Which means Steve is in A LOT of pain.  Like pain I can't even understand...all.the.time.pain.  I am so thankful that he loves our family enough to do this...and not complain.  Seriously, the only time he says anything about it is at night...after a long day of working with no relief...when his head hits the pillow, he lets out a long sigh of relief...still not even complaining.  I am so thankful for that kind of love and sacrifice.

I am also thankful for my husband's smartness.  When it comes to technology...any kind of technology...he just gets it.  This weekend at church, we are having a band come and lead our 3 weekend services for the kids, and I'm in charge (I'm the elementary director for children's ministry at our church).  Sounds so great...I can get a hotel room, meals planned, schedule worked out for a band for the weekend...but I have NO IDEA what kind of needs they have to actually perform.  That's where my awesome husband steps in.  He's been contacting the band for me and getting it all sorted out...so I can go back to getting a hotel room, meal planning, and schedule planning for the band to come.  I seriously had no idea how much my husband would be able to help me with this...and again...no complaining....just jumping in to serve however he can.

My man also loves helping me with my crazy projects.  He doesn't have a lot of time to do them...but he does...without complaining.  I always say, "we should do this or that," and what I really mean is, "you,"...so he does...and I love him for it.

This week I am extra thankful for my amazing husband who is not a complainer, but such a servant...I want to be more like him in that area...always giving to others, never expecting anything in return....always willing to help wherever needed.  I am blessed.

Thanks{living}

so much to be thankful for from this last month....

*for a fun date afternoon/night with steve in LA to see Mary Poppins
*for a good result from my doctor...my leg is only bruised, no fracture!  and finally, most of the pain is going away.
*for a great first month of preschool for Claire.  the other day we were talking about her teacher and she said, "i like her now."  thank you Lord...i mean, i knew she eventually would...it was just that i didn't think anyone could ever measure up to miss jennifer.

*for a ministry like compassion international that has given our family the opportunity to sponsor a little girl in ethiopia...happy birthday sidise!
*for the things the Lord has been doing in my heart this last month.  i have so much peace.  i didn't get to this place alone...truly it was the Lord...and i'm thankful i recognize that and am continuing to seek after it.
*for my job...a place to minister to kids and families...a place to lead a Bible study for 5th grade girls on a weekly basis...definitely a highlight each week.

*for my amazing family...mom, dad, sisters, brothers, in-laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins...i could go on and on...i am SO incredibly grateful that the Lord chose me to be apart of this family...i love everyone so much.  and one of the things i love most is that we love to be together...amazing.