Cars & Money.

So, one of the things that Jason has mentioned he would like to change once we actually get married is my car. Now, I love this car. I have been the proud owner for almost 9 years. The best feature is that it's paid off. LOVE THAT! (For those of you interested, I FULLY subscribe to Dave Ramsey's idea on paying for cars you can check it out here.) Best of all my car is a convertible and, in so cal where it rains so little, makes for a great getting around town car. Especially when the air is so nice out. (for those of you who know the smell that comes with a convertible when it rains - that is my LEAST favorite part of this car)

Well, on Saturday, my little VW just decided to stop working as I crossed the intersection to our church. BUMMER. I was able to pull over to the side and call for help. While I was sitting there waiting for the tow-truck, I opened the glove compartment and it broke!!! HUGE Bummer. I think when one thing goes wrong on a car it just amplifies all the other little things. So there I am sitting and almost in tears because I feel like it is falling apart when I look down and notice a tear in my seat fabric. SERIOUSLY UGH, because not working wasn't enough. I used to think Jason was crazy for wanting to get rid of my little car, but I think I would have sold it to the first reasonable offer on Saturday. So, now I am patiently waiting to hear what is wrong, how much it will cost to fix and taking some time to "just look" at the cars available.

The Puppy.

Everyone meet Rosco The Puppy. This is Jason's doggie. He's actually turning 3 in the next week or so. For his birthday Jason bought a "Pupcake" from this gourmet doggie treat shop in Newport Beach and he loved it last night. I have never seen him drool so much. He really is a great dog! And for those of you who know me well, probably know that I am not an animal "LOVER". I like animals, but usually from a distance (with the exception of horses. I love horses). Well, in just 5 short months me and rosco are going to be roommates. I actually can't wait because I love this dog. He is so much fun and so filled with energy and that face!!! It kills me. More to come from him in the future I am sure.

Me, The Reverend, and Mono.

So, There have been some really exciting things happening in my life. One is The Reverend (or as he likes to be called, Jason) This past Saturday he popped the questions. We had such a great day!! We went down to Newport Beach for the day and enjoyed Sprinkles cupcakes, hot dogs and a walk around Fashion Island. We did find a gourmet pet treat shop and of course got Rosco something to bring home! Then from there we headed down to Balboa Island for some Starbucks and a trip on the ferry over to the pier. It was great. I was a little suspicious that Jason wanted to spend a day out because he has been down sick for two weeks and plus he kept his bag with him the entire day! :) a little clue, but I thought he might be trying to trick me and actually had no idea that he actually had the ring in hand. He had schemed the entire day and it was perfect! Once we got to the pier, we settled down on the beach and watched the sunset. It was the perfect time to ask, but about an hour and half went by and so I concluded that he wasn't going to ask me. But I was wrong! As soon as the sun set he turned to me and told me that was the spot on a date over a year ago that he knew he was going to marry me. So he asked, and I of course said yes!! So after a few pictures and packing up we headed out to dinner in Huntington Beach over looking the ocean. It was the perfect day!!!

The next day Jason seemed to be feeling even worse than the day before. And so, after being coaxed by my friend Nurse Lana to take him to urgent care, we were off. This was the 3rd time in 3 weeks that I have taken him to the urgent care and I was really hoping they would send us home with more information than the last two visits. Well, sure enough after MANY blood draws and after being sent home, Jason was called and told he has Mononucleosis. Just our luck! One day after getting engaged he is diagnosed with the kissing disease. And little did I know, I probably gave it to him!!!!!!! I had mono years ago but one thing I didn't know is that even if I don't have the symptoms I am a carrier of the virus and can become contagious on occasion. So, for all of you reading this DONT share my drinks :)

All in all it was an eventful and memorable weekend!! Here are some photos of us out on our date.

A New Season

Well for those of you who even follow this.. you might notice some changes. One would be that I deleted a lot of the older post; mostly it felt refreshing to start over. My sister (whom I affectionately call kissy or pookers) has mentioned that I needed to update something. So, in an attempt to keep those of you who are physically distant, but not far from my heart...These updates are for you. 

You might notice that I chose to leave the information regarding my grandmothers funeral and well, I just couldn't bring myself to delete that. That was the beginning of a dark season in my life. We all go through them and well it seemed like years of changes were slammed into a quick 11 months. That event marked that season and I can honestly say that my life is different and MUCH better. I am a little scared and at the same time made new. I finally have a deep understanding of God's grace in my life. An understanding I challenge anyone to find. You will be overwhelmed. 

Many things have changed and life is just getting started. It feels good, really good actually.  So here is to a new blogging start.  I will leave you with some photos of a trip from 2003 to France and Belgium with some of my favorite people. 

  

Home.

Today, there is something that feels different. 3 months ago we buried my grandmother – actually to the day. I have experienced more emotions related to grief this past week than I’ve had in a while. The sadness can be so exhausting and crippling. At this point there is not a day that goes by where I wouldn’t do anything to see my grandmother again. I can almost feel her hand touch mine, as she did so often in the last few years of her illness.

But still there is something about coming home. My parents live only an hour from my house and on a good day it only takes about 45 minutes. But the drive is my favorite part. I usually leave at night and drive alone, something that I have grown accustom to. The roads are quite and there is the final 15 minutes where I finally enter the valley. Looking out into the distance I can begin to point out each one of the lights in front of me. I can show you where the different “cities” in the mountains are just by the cluster of lights and their placement in the black sky. I am sure that if you didn’t know the mountains were a large part of the valley – well in the night you would have no idea that they are there. But I know. And I know where things end and begin so much so that everything feels like home. From the crystal clear sky, to the mountains, to the rows and rows of orange groves… it all tells me that I am home. A place so familiar, I feel like myself even in the midst of my absence from it.