Christmas at Pismo

Yep...we spent our first Christmas on the beach, Pismo Beach to be exact. It was relaxing and fun, but it didn't feel like Christmas without family. We got to go home on the 27th of Dec. though so we had something to look forward to. We stayed in a little cottage inn right next to the ocean. It was real cute, had a great breakfast buffet, and there was a fireplace in our room too!
I love the beach and will def. miss it when we move to Louisville! In the meantime I'll take advantage of every time I talk Braden into taking me to the beach...any beach. : )

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Now that I'm a "grown-up" an "adult" or whatever you call us married people that don't have kids yet...I believe that the holiday we call "Christmas" is more like an evil game. Some people have mastered the art of re-gifting, some use their annual Christmas cards to brag about things like how well their business is doing or how one of the kids got all A's this year, and others have gone so far as to buy $30 gifts for a gift exchange that only had a limit of $3! Another thing, 4 words: Day After Thanksgiving Sale. It's madness and adults go over the edge every time. No wonder people get so stressed out during the Christmas season, it's because they are too worried whether this person will like their gift, or if they spent enough money on that person. It's all a show. Then there's that phrase that it's the time to give and not receive....well, have you ever been to a gift exchange where you play the game "Rob You Neighbor"? That game was invented for stingy people!

I guess I didn't notice all this drama when I was a kid. I was quite oblivious to how much time, energy, and MONEY that goes into this Holiday. But nonetheless I still love Christmas with all it's festivities and awkward moments.

My favorite part of the holidays has nothing to do with gifts...I love the carols, the cookies, the lights, and especially the PARTIES! Braden and I have already been to 3 this year. Here are some pictures:
Formal Christmas party with my work at the Pasadena Hilton. It was a lot of fun...and we danced the night away! The group at Kurt and Kellie's 2nd annual Christmas party! Great food, fun games!

Lake Arrowhead

Last weekend Braden and I went to our Kurt and Kellie's cabin (actually Kurt's family's cabin) in Crestline near Lake Arrowhead. Here's a picture of the cabin:Altogether there were 3 couples, Dan and Delaine, Kurt and Kellie, and Braden and I. The rest were Dawn, Melissa, and Jenna, and Mark. Here's a picture of all of us:
We left Friday night after dinner and all piled in our car and Kurt and Kellie's SUV. The ride there was a little scary...like the time my dad drove my family up Pike's Peak in Colorado on road that barely fit two cars...in our 15 passenger van...yeah anyway, so it was a very windy road up the mountain, but we made it safely. When we got there we took all our bags and things inside, had a tour of the cabin, and then it was time for the battle of the beds! There was one queen size bed upstairs, one downstairs, and two futons. To see who got to sleep on the beds we played a game called "four men on a couch". It's sort of a memory game...it was really fun, but it would take too long to explain how to play. Anyways, we got the futon, which is way better than the floor! haha! We all ended up watching (or fell asleep to) the animated movie called "Monster House". It sucked.
The next morning we all woke up and went to a little breakfast place called "The Loose Caboose". It was amazing! Dan got this omelet concoction that had everything you could imagine in it and it was as big as his plate....he ate the whole thing! Go Dan! Braden and I both got pancakes, eggs, bacon/sausage...it was so yummy! After that we took a walk around part of Lake Arrowhead. Kurt brought his frisbees and we played some disc golf, making trashcans and large trees the targets as we ventured around the lake. Here's some pictures:
We also did some shopping at a nearby outlet center. That nights we ordered pizzas for dinner and played a board game, cards, darts, etc. It was great fun and it was great getting to know everyone that came. When we got back Sunday afternoon Braden and I were dead tired. Back to reality though! haha!

Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for Thanksgiving! Here's why:

Getty Art Museum

Over the weekend Braden, Thomas, and I went to the Getty Art Museum. I'm not the type that would go to an art museum in my spare time...but this one seemed like it would be interesting. First of all, because you park in an underground parking garage and then take a tram up the side of a mountain that sits right next to the 405 and overlooks the city of Los Angeles. It looked pretty sweet and if nothing else I could get some cool pictures...turns out that it was pretty neat. The art with all the various paintings, photographs, sculptures, etc. were all very interesting and I actually read alot of the descriptions that went with each of them.

What interested me the most was the gardens...first the cactus garden that looks over a sweet view of LA:

And then my very favorite the Central Garden:

We spent about 3 hours at the art museum and then went to the Sherman Oaks Galleria for food. There was a huge Christmas tree and I made Braden take my picture...but I can't post it for some reason, believe me it was the most Christmasy Christmas tree ever!

The day was grand...wish you coulda joined us...

Flowers, Harleys, and Pasta

My husband is the greatest! I just thought that everyone should know! haha!

Friday night when I got home from a long day at work he had dinner made (my favorite pasta!), flowers, and a funny/cute poem he wrote. He's pretty much the best husband ever...he is taking 18 units at college, does homework 'til all hours of the night at times, wakes up at 4:30 in the morning three days a week to go to work, AND still has time to treat me like a princess! He's the best for me!

Living with Seniors (Senior Citizens that is)

Last night was the Thanksgiving potluck dinner at the Canyon Club Senior Apartments where Braden and I currently live. It was interesting, to say the least. But, I must admit that it was kinda fun too. We met some friends there (Kurt and Kellie) when it started. Kurt and Kellie were the only other young people there besides us and a little girl about 10 or so who was probably someone's great great granddaughter....just kidding!
Anyways, so I'm sure you're dying to hear how the rest of the night went right? Well, let me tell you...we get there and drop off our yummy green bean casserole (which Braden made, I might add) and are told to help ourselves to drinks...soda, bottled water, wine. I go over to the soda and start pouring drinks for Braden and I. Kurt then walks over and warns us to check the date on the bottle...yeah the orange soda we were about to drink was from 2002. Yuck! You see, Kurt has the awesome priveledge to work for the apartment complex as a maintenance guy a few hours a week....so he knows these old people. I'm so glad he was there to stop us from a potential disaster. haha!
Not long after that we found seats and a drawing began for a fleece blanket, stuffed animal, coffee maker, etc.....we didn't know about it so after they drew the first person's name Kurt got up and made them stop the drawing so he could add all of our names to the hat. Normally, that would probably be an inappropriate thing to do, but it's Kurt, so it's okay.
So then they drew the next person's name....Daniel's name was drawn. Daniel is a cute little old man that I have actually seen walking around the complex before. But after they announced his name, Kurt started cheering for him big time and chanted "Daniel! Daniel! Daniel!"...I think maybe the old people like Kurt because they can actually hear what he is saying because he is so loud....but I'm not sure.
Finally dinner came...let me pause a minute to give you a helpful hint for potluck dinners: Generally, only eat food that you and your friends brought...otherwise you are on your own for the unknowns.
Pumpkin pie that was clearly store bought concluded the evening and all were happy.
The end.

Panera rocks!

I love free wireless internet!
And I love free muffins!

ahhh sunny California...

I'm sick of Target....I never thought I'd ever say that
The speed limit on most roads out here is 50 mph....I like that.
Everything is bigger....I haven't decided if I like it better or not.
I found out what a "day laborer" is...
I LOVE the beach!!! I wish I could go every single day!
Palm trees are everywhere!
I am trying to make a habit of making the bed everyday....ha!

(sigh)

all done...catch my breath for a few days and its off again to a new place, a new life...

Beautiful Disaster

"...He's soft to the touch
But frayed at the end he breaks
He's never enough
And still he's more than I can take
Oh 'cause I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
And if I could hold on
Through the tears and the laughter
Would it be beautiful?
Or just a beautiful disaster?
He's beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster"

One falls down
And another.
Faster, swifter they come.
Cold shiver...
My body goes numb,
As each one passes.
I let it all go,
My everything.
As if they were a piece of me
Being ripped away
And torn to shreds.
But, to you,
They are nothing,
Lifeless beings,
Worthless.

THANK YOU!

Over the past three months I have been writing many, many thank you notes. What I have written in those notes are just a small reflection of how grateful Braden and I are for all the gifts and money we have received for our wedding. We have been so blessed with such supportive and caring people surrounding us.....our faimily, friends, and church family.
Prayers, words of encouragement, and the gifts we have received have overwhelmed me with gratitude. It amazes me that these people, some of whom I haven't even met before, even care. They could just say something like, "oh, when we first got married we had hardly anything, they should fend for themselves like we did", or whatever; but they don't!!! I never want to take these people for granted.
I pray that someday, I also may bless others around me as we have been blessed.....a newly married couple like us, a college student, or whoever........regardeless if I am close with them or not. I am to show the love of Christ to eveyone around me...it is what we, as Christians, are called to do. We should always be looking for ways to show love towards each other, everyday!

Romans 12
9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Waiting

One week of work left.
Two weeks til the wedding. Not nervous at all...this is what I want to do.
There's still alot to do, but we'll get it done. Mostly all that is left are things we can't do until the week of the wedding anyways...that's why I won't be working. I'm exctied.
My personal shower/bachlorette party is tomorrow. That should be fun! : )

We still need an apartment...at this point all we can do about that is pray that an opening will pop up...we've done all we can up to this point.

CLOSE WEEK

It is close week at work.
I have a little over 2 weeks left here.
I wanna be anywhere but here.
Work sucks...life will go on.