It's (Almost) the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I will start this off by saying, fortunately, my husband does not read my blog, so I can't get in trouble for what I am about to write. =)

I love Christmas...I mean, I L-O-V-E this holiday! Easily my favorite of the year and for so many reasons! I love giving gifts, I love the decorations, I love the time off from school now that I have that, it's wonderful! And, of course, there is the most important reason on all - without it, we as humans were screwed because no one would have come to save us!  I don't so much care for the music though. 


I must confess, I would really like to pull the tree out and decorate before we leave for New York. I mentioned the idea casually, last night. Husband said no. I don't know why...it's not like we are celebrating Thanksgiving this year, so technically, we aren't getting ahead of ourselves. Oh well.... 


Instead, I bought this last night in order to enjoy the anticipation of the upcoming holiday season. 

Isn't it adorable?!?! I love the movie, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (along with all those childhood classics - they are still my favorite to watch every year!), but I never pulled this quote out of it before...and soon as I saw it (thank you Pinterest!), I knew I had to have it. Plus, the meaning is so perfect! As much as I love to shop for others, nothing compares to the gift already given to us. Anyways, I think, in an attempt to pacify me and delay the decorating of our house, the husband said to buy and I did! Can't wait for it to get here...and I get wait until Friday, November 25 when the Christmas season officially begins!!

Another Step Toward Adulthood

At 28 years old, I typically feel nothing like an adult. I don't really know what I want to be when I grow up. I'm still a full time student. I don't do many domestic things. And I feel like I just run around trying to keep my head above water on most days. However, this week, I did something that made me feel just a little bit gown up! I paid off my car!!!! All by myself. I saved for the down payment. I made every single loan payment. I paid for the insurance, the registration, and all the maintenance. (Of course, since getting married, this automatically becomes a joint effort, but still - done without the help of parents.) And this week, it all paid off. The car is officially mine. I own it completely. What a truly wonderful feeling! Of course, all week, I have been so nervous that the car will now get totaled...but I am trying to stay positive and focus on our big accomplishment. Now, time to start saving that car payment money for the next one! 

 

Except mine has a moon roof!!

New York State of Mind

So, maybe I should just change this blog from "Adventures" to "Spontaneity!" Matt and I have done it again! Thursday, Matt and I received an email from Groupon Getaways about a deal on a New York City hotel. Just for fun, we though we would check out the cost of flights...lo and behold, we found some good deals! Better prices than I have seen on flights that didn't take you across the country. You could almost hear the wheels turning in both of our heads. We checked out the balance on our travel savings account (which we started over a year ago, but really hadn't had a chance to use yet), and all of a sudden, this random fantasy seemed very realistic. 5 days later, we booked the whole trip! Found AMAZING deals for flights, great prices on a mid-townhotel, parents offering to pay for special excursions as an early Christmas present, and were able to get tickets for the 9-11 memorial on Thanksgiving morning. Itinerary has been made. Costs calculated. Plans to gorge ourselves on pizza and pretzels from street vendors are in place. Now, we just have to wait...it will be a long six weeks. It is literally all I can think about every day. I CAN NOT WAIT. 

I have been to the Big Apple once before with two fantastic girls and we had such a great time! I am so excited to go back and this time with my best friend! We are in desperate need of a getaway right now. I can not think of a better way to spend our Thanksgiving break! Matt is so excited, he even went out and bought a pair of jeans!! (I got a scarf...it's beautiful!) 


I don't think we could ever plan trips to far in advance, the suspense is causing me anxiety and I don't think I could handle a longer wait!

Can't wait to do some shopping here: 

Going to see this play on Broadway:  

Oh! And did I mention?!?! We get to see the city in the Fall!! 

 

366

Today marks 366 days since I left my first career as a corporate event planner. A crazy 366 days it has been too! I do not for one second regret leaving ESRI. I had an incredible experience and learned A LOT!! How many 22 year old, fresh out of college girls get the chance to plan a 14,000 person international event?!?! How many young women get to plan a company's largest events, work with vendors across the country, and travel to the opposite coast annually for a big event that they planned that includes speakers from the white house?!?! I don't think many. I truly learned so much doing it too. Of course it had its rough moments, days, weeks, months...but it was an experience worth having and I realize that although I spent so much time wondering why I was there, I'm glad I was. And if nothing else, I made some truly great friends that I think I will have for a long time. It's hard to travel and spend a week or more with someone and not bond with them! We made some good memories, and I am grateful I can continue to be a part of their lives. As mentioned, I do not regret leaving ESRI. It was the right move to make for many reasons. Plus, I had the passion to pursue a career in education and I am loving that experience. However, I must say that something inside me misses it. Not the company. Not the drama. Not the being unappreciated. But the actual event planning process. I used a different part of my brain and talents when working on events. A part of my brain that actually functions really well. And to be honest, I feel a little rusty and lost without it. I wish that there was some way that I could have my cake and eat it too. Keep being a teacher and working with my beloved students, but still find the time to work on an event here or there on the side. I know it sounds crazy and like I am asking to be in over my head, but I miss it. I really do. Events are something that come naturally to me. I can walk into any given space and see how it should be set up, what kind of lighting would look good, and what color scheme I would want to work with. I even like to speculate in my head how many tables would fit and what shape table would work best. Silly, I know, but I can't turn it off. Every time I go to an event of any kind, all I can think about is what went into putting it together. I criticize the signage, wonder how many hours one person spent answering emails about the most minute details, and  try to guess how many arguments were had over the centerpieces. I know, it's ridiculous, but I love that stuff. My hope and prayer is that someday, one way or another, God will unite my two passions of working with students and planning events. I know that marriage will probably look unlike anything I can imagine, but that's OK with me, since I have come to learn His plans are SO much better than my own. This has been proved to me time and time again and I don't question it for an instance. So here I sit, 366 days later....not even in the place to reflect on my first year as a teacher yet, but finally ready to reflect on my first career. I write this more so that one day, I can look back on this and see what God has done. I know he will bring my two passions together one way or another and I want to have this to look back on say, "Look! I came from this place of longing and THIS is what GOD did for me!" Of course, I am impatient and will struggle through the waiting process, but at least I have the promise of a God who loves me and will use me and the desires of my heart for His own good. So thank you God, for where I have come from, and thank you God, for where you are taking me. Could we just get there a little faster? =)

Spontaneity at its Finest

     There are many different adjectives I could use to describe my relationship with Matt. (All positive of course!) One of the adjectives that I love about us the most is spontaneous. You would think that someone who's career use to be all about "planning" and the OCD we both live with would prevent impromptu and spontaneous adventures with each other, but that is not the case. Since we started dating, I have loved that while we may plan for one thing, we almost always end up doing something else. For instance, on our way to Disneyland one night, we instead ended up in Hollywood searching for stars on the Walk of Fame and seeing just how far Sunset Blvd. really goes. Today, we booked a little Summer getaway for ourselves. We have been saving up for some time in order to do something fun this Summer. We knew it wouldn't be anything big or elaborate because we have our sights set on Italy in the next year or two, but still wanted to be able to getaway, just for a few days. Well, we found a perfectly affordable trip that will take us to San Francisco and Monterey for a few days each. And....we leave 1 week from today! All of a sudden, I have work to get done this week! I am so excited! Thanks to Hotwire we got FANTASTIC hotel deals and have found of plenty of things to check out for little to no cost in both cities! We will splurge a little by taking in a Giants game, going to Alcatraz (I have never been) and the Aquarium in Monterey! We will road trip too to save the cost of flights (believe it or not, driving is still cheaper than flying), and should have fun since we have never driven more than 4 hours before together! (I foresee some CD burning taking place this week to prep for the long drive). I love that while we some plans, our time is still open to a change and checking out new discoveries a long the way. But what I love the most is that almost 5 years into our relationship, we are still being spontaneous and open to new (and last minute) adventures! I hope we never loose this. 

P.S. Did I mention how much I LOVE having Summers off?!?!

Next week's journey takes to the following: 

 

Summer Time and the Living's Easy

Well, I am officially on summer break! I completed my very first year of teaching, am half way through my credential program...and more importantly, I survived!! I learned a TON and believe that I have fully earned the next 10 weeks off! The last week with my students ended well and we truly enjoyed our last few days together. Now for my big summer plans....projects around the house, gym, reading, pool time, more gym, visiting with friends, prepping for next year, and well, doing absolutely nothing when I feel like it! I have been stockpiling some books for this blessed occasion and have a "To-Do" list that is too long to ever accomplish, but I am so content. For the next two months, I do not have to cram homework, errands, cleaning, family, grading, and lesson plans into a day and a half....I have all the time in the world on my hands! This is a whole new experience for me....time I haven't had to myself since I graduated from college...and am really looking forward to the change of the pace! 

Betrayl

As I sit here and right this, I am finishing up the last of the paperwork for my credential. I am half way through. Last observation done. Last module done. At least until August! And what should be a moment of celebrating and excitement is anything but. I have experienced a terrible pain this past week. I have been betrayed. I don't know if I have ever honestly been betrayed in such a fashion before. I have definitely been hurt in the past and felt like people have turned their back on me, but not like this. Not used for someone else's agenda. Not thrown into the fire because it's easier to make me, the one who is supposed to be "untouchable" the scapegoat rather than them take responsibility for their own actions. I hurt. I feel USED. What a disgusting word. Used. Used so that someone could meet their own agenda. Someone took my words and used them for their benefit. Never mind what it does to me...oh I'll be fine. Never mind the relationships that they are ruining because of their actions. I'll be just fine. Never mind the unnecessary drama, pain, tears, physical sickness I have had to and will continue to endure, because I'll be fine. As long as they get what they want in the end, who cares what I went through. I'll be fine. This is a whole new kind of pain. One, that for whatever reason, God has deemed me worthy to endure. Thanks God! This makes two springs in a row of difficult situations and I did not see this one coming. I thought people could be trusted. I thought that I was looked out for and cared for. I thought that no one would betray me. I trusted few. I thought I chose wisely. I thought I was safe. I was wrong. Very wrong. I am alone in this situation. I feel completely isolated and alone. I can trust no one in this setting. No one. These people stab you in the back, set you up, and let you take the blame, as long as they get what they want in the end. I am sad. Sad and hurt. And in all of this, it makes me think about what Jesus went through. Betrayed by one of his closest. And He saw it coming. Ouch. I wasn't betrayed by one of my 12 closest and this still hurts. I wasn't betrayed for death and I still grieve. Wow. This brings a whole new understanding to the pain of having someone sabotage you. I don't know that I have ever focused that much on this portion of the Easter story before. It makes me appreciate even more the emotional pain that Jesus had to endure for me.

It's That Time of Year!

It's that season that comes around every year....weather is warming up, school year is winding down....it's the moment my husband has been waiting for....it's baseball time!! My husband is a die hard fan of this sport and has literally been counting down since at least December! We had a good opening day this year....his team won, my team won, and no one could claim bragging rights on day one. More importantly than that, it is also time for softball again! And I am not sure if it's softball or MLB which makes Matt happier! Playing softball is a great way for Matt to be on a team, release his competitive streak and do something he loves with his buddies. I really enjoy sitting out there too and cheering him! Last season his team took the championship and hopefully this year will yield the same results. Here's to another winning season.....GO SOUL TRAIN!!!

                                              

Birthday Suprise!

Yes, I am aware, that my birthday is still a FULL 2 months away...but I am already so excited for it! (For those of you who don't know, Matt's birthday and mine are 4 days apart, and our anniversary is 10 days after my birthday....these 3 events don't all get their own celebration!) Because of the timing of all our April/May events, Matt and I actually haven't really done anything for our birthdays since we were dating...since then we have always been saving money for something that is coming up. This year, I didn't expect any different. However, the other day, my husband came home from work, we started talking about our day and what to have for dinner and then he started to act very suspicious. I figured either he was going to ask if we could go out to eat or he had something up his sleeve. God bless him, that guy can not keep a secret! He lasted about 7 hours on this one! Turns out, that on my actual birthday John Mayer (a Matt and Andrea favorite), and Keith Urban (who has been gaining favor with me from all the award shows he has been playing at), will be preforming together in Vegas...and my husband got us tickets!!!! (Even better deal - being a John Mayer fan got us early bird discounted tickets!!) I am so excited....I simply can not wait for April to be here! AND the icing on the cake....my credential program will have broke for the summer by then, so there will be no homework stress as we go away for the weekend!!! I feel like a kid again with so much anticipation for my birthday, and I am totally OK with that!

Can't wait to see these guys jam!

Life's LIttle Blessings

As I headed into this week (and the following 5 weeks after this one), I knew I was in for a tough ride. My credential program is getting harder and these 6 weeks looked to be the worse, with formal observations, progress reports, and my anemia getting worse to top it all off. At least I was heading into it with my eyes wide open. God always blesses me though and sent me many things to help me through this week including:

- Klondike Oreo Cookie Sandwiches - YUM YUM YUM!!!! (Helping me lose weight? NO. Tonight, do I care? NO.)

- Google Images - I used this to fill a PowerPoint presentation for my class with images from earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides, and my professor LOVED it! She mentioned several times how great my photos were - thanks Google! (Now that I don't work at ESRI, I can say that as much as I want!!)

- Corresponding with the point above - Keynote - This apple alternative to PowerPoint is so easy to use and you can literally click on a Google image, drag it across your screen to Keynote, and drop the photo in....no saving and uploading required - I LOVE YOU APPLE!!!!

- The ability to "kill 2 birds with one stone" by using a homework assignment for a formal observation - never thought that would happen!

- Listening to my students talk and figure things out. This week, we were able to learn and meet the California State Standards all through their own discussion and discovery - no textbook required! There were tough moments, but all in all, a good experience!

- And of course, my husband. Sappy? Maybe. But, true none the less. This week did not start out well for me....at all...but through the tears, frustrations, and feelings of failure, my husband encourages and loves me, and well, buys me Klondike Oreo Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches to make me feel better. He's really quite the catch.

Whatcha Whining About Now?!?!

The other day, I just had one of "those" days....I was in a mood to say the least. No real reason why, just irritable. When I got home from work, I was frustrated and annoyed and decided to go for a walk. Boy, was I hustling on that one! I was ranting in my head about everything and anything that came to mind. One of those things being how I had not had a pedicure in about a year and how I keep saying I am going to get one and then, there is never money for it. This of course, because of the mood I was in, was all my husband's fault. (Of course that's not really true, but I was on a roll with my whining and moaning, and there was really no reasoning with me). I eventually walked it all off and was feeling a little better by the time Matt got home. I decided not to share my evil thoughts with him since I knew better than to cause an unnecessary fight. Anyways, I few days later, on date night, Matt said he had a surprise for me. I of course, love surprises and just thought we were going somewhere fun. Turns out, he had planned for me to get a pedicure AND get my nails done (something I had not done since our wedding!) Of course, the nails benefit him too since he likes the way they feel when I scratch his back! Needless to say, this was a humbling moment, and I had to confess my previous bad attitude! All that to say, that I love my husband and how he takes care of me....even when I am mean! And I love how God reminds us that we are blessed beyond belief even in our bad attitudes!