Lucky enough to have been married to this guy for 10 years.
A few days before we went to a concert by a southern rock band- Marcus King Band. They were great and we got the front and center spot right up by the stage. Their opening band was a fun crew, and after their set the guitarist gave me a setlist, which we gave to the adoring fan beside us. I was also fortunate enough to snag a guitar pick that Marcus King tossed out. But mostly, the music was really fun and of course my date was great.
On our actual anniversary, Kayla insisted on making dinner for us. With a little help and guidance from me she made a seafood lasagna (she interviewed us both and found that we liked seafood). The dinner rolls and salad, she made all herself.
She asked each of us some questions, and through them, found out that one of my favorite bouquets that I ever received from Chris when we were dating was one made up of red roses and irises. She wanted to buy some. When we went to the store, I was sure there would be no irises as they aren't in season and I've never seen them at our grocery store. But there was a package of them, and she was thrilled. I was too. :)
Kayla planned for me to make homemade mac and cheese that the kids love so they could eat earlier and then she'd be able to help serve our meal. Nick joined us.
The girls had all made the sweetest cards and pictures for us. It was really just the sweetest thing ever. And in just a short while, we'll be heading on a 10th Anniversary trip, just the two of us for nearly a week. Rest, warmth, and relaxation--here, we come!
Thank you, Chris, for being such an amazing guy.
Thank you, Kayla, for your thoughtfulness and hard work making our anniversary dinner so very special.
Thank you, Elise and Ava for the lovely pictures.
Thank you, Sophie and Kolbe for all your sweet kisses and hugs.
Months ago, Chris saw that Bela Fleck AND the Flecktones (they don't always tour with him) were coming to town. Not only that but the Chick Corea Elektric Band was also coming and it was a combined concert. The look in his eyes said it all. We had to find a way to get the tickets and find a sitter. Fortunately Chris' brothers were up for planning their trip around the concert so that we could see them, they could go hiking and backpacking in the mountains, AND Chris and I could go to the concert together. THANK YOU, Ethan and Nick (and Jordan too!), for watching the kiddos and having a great time with them and keeping them safe and getting them down to sleep. You are the best, and we appreciate it more than you could possibly know.
In the first 8 years of our marriage, we went out on dates only rarely. Some years once. Some years 2-3 times. It was usually simple. It was usually fairly short as we didn't want to inconvenience free sitters (we couldn't afford to pay a sitter on Chris' Catholic radio salary). But over the years, we've realized that getting out together is REALLY VITAL to our marriage. So we have worked and re-worked budgets to try to squeeze some money for babysitters sometimes. We have also asked (begged in many cases) family members to babysit when they come visit. It's a bit humbling. I hate asking for help, but I hate inconveniencing others even more, so it's pretty much my least favorite thing to have to do. But I want to nurture my marriage even more, so humiliate humble myself it is. If you haven't been getting out much, be creative. Find ways to move things around in your budget (you'll have to sacrifice something, but don't make it your marriage). Ask people for help. Do babysitting swapping. But leave your house and go on dates.
End of rant.
So we went to the concert.
We sat in line waiting because it was an outside open venue with no assigned seating, so the spots were first come, first serve. Our "waiting spot" was under a big and very old tree and it was lovely.
We chatted and sat and just people watched.
Then the line was moving and it was time to go claim seats for the concert.
silly selfies and the photobomber guy
We found pretty good seats and then got all settled with the cheese, crackers, grapes, and adult beverages we had brought with us. The guy next to us was a sweet older guy who was very chatty and had all sorts of mostly interesting information to share. He and his wife (she was there too, but she hardly talked at all) go to concerts at the Botanical Gardens fairly frequently apparently.
And then the music magic began.
These are some brief video clips. It doesn't do the concert real justice, but at least gives an idea of the music style and the talent.
Some Victor Wooten on bass, solo work.
And then Chick Corea's Elektric Band played.
Just some phenomenal musicians in both these bands. We had so much fun listening. And hang out together. And hold hands. And eat chocolate (and all the other yummy stuff). :)
And then Bela Fleck and the Flecktones came back out and they all played together. What a night. The video just catches the very end but it was amazing talent all together. A fun date to experience with my own talented musician/husband. Thanks for taking me out for a fun night, babe! What a great time.
This time the move is just across town and we are so thrilled about it. For the second time in our marriage, we will be purchasing a home together. We were only able to enjoy the first home we scrimped and saved for for a year before God had other (good!) plans. It was all a blessing and we aren't upset with the path God chose for us, but we are thrilled that His plans for us in the present have led us to our second home buying experience.
I am always, always reminded of the Bible verse from Ruth (1:16) that says,
"Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God."
And this song, which has been one that has both crushed me at times and yet, has always been filled with such peace and promise.
We began to think about the possibility of buying when our lease-ending loomed in the not too distant future. Our lease in our lovely rental home is up at the end of May and we thought, "Hey why not look around to buy? Worst case scenario is that it doesn't work out and we stay here another year."
So we did some checking with our finances and talked to a loan guy and our realtor friend. The market in our area is CrAzY. Like not much inventory and tons of competition and lots of well above list offers, some of them cash. So we figured it was a pretty long shot, but weren't worried because we were really just ok with whatever God wanted. Either scenario would be fine.
And then, I freaked. I tried to take back control from God. I worried. I despaired. We'll never have a place of our own again. We'll never get in this market. And if we don't get in now, we'll never, ever get in. And if we never get in, we'll have to move again because we'll get priced out of the Denver area. And tears. Lots of them.
I'm so tired of moving. Especially big moves. Moves where we uproot and have to find new friends, new community, new support for our growing family. It's tough. Really tough.
So, lots of tears. And after some hugs from my amazing husband, and some time spent in prayer, giving it all back to God, peace was restored in my soul.
That was Wednesday night.
The following day, Thursday, we looked at two houses. From the online descriptions, we didn't think we'd like them, but though, "hey, let's just see." We were right. Not for us.
The next day, Friday, we saw two houses that we liked the look of from the online descriptions and pictures. And we did like them. So we put in offers on both of them that afternoon.
Saturday we saw three more houses. One that we liked the look of online. One that we figured we probably wouldn't love. And one that looked nice, but was further out than we really wanted to be. We put in a third offer for the house we had liked the look of.
And then we pretty much figured we would probably hear back negatives on all three and begin the search again the following weekend when more houses popped up on the market. Did I mention that there were 6 houses in our price range on the market that weekend? We saw 5 of them and put in offers on 3.
And on Saturday night, while we were watching The Return of the King for a movie night, we got a text from our realtor, "Guys! An offer was accepted." It was our favorite of the 3, the one we figured would be the longest of the already long shot houses. And it was a miracle. Truly. To God be all the glory here.
And it's been just over a week and we've been moving right along. Signing stuff, the inspections are done, appraisals ordered, and yes, the packing has begun. We don't know yet when we'll actually be moving. We just know it'll be before the end of June, but we're packing and we're excited.
Got out our boxes...
First box assembled and ready to pack....
One week into the house buying process and we've already got about 20 boxes packed. I guess there is something rather nice about moving 9 times already....we know exactly what to do and how to do it. Lots of work to be done, but we're started and moving slow and steady through, filled with the peace and joy of the Lord.
Our first house key framed was a little gift I gave Chris for Christmas this year...and we talked about our hopes for buying our next home together, thinking at the time that it would still be a few years out. But God opened all the doors, and moved all the mountains in the way, and now we're headed toward buying our second home together. We couldn't be more excited and humbled by God's blessings.
We are closer to all our friends here (except one wonderful family, but we are only 5 minutes further from them, which is still great). We're closer to church. Closer to Kayla's ballet. Closer to the library. And even a little closer to the mountains. :)
Joining up for 7 Quicktakes Friday with Kelly of This Ain't the Lyceum . Definitely check out the link-up--always so many interesting blogs and tidbits!
1. Pregnancy updates
I'm still pregnant (duh). I'm at 36 weeks.
I am for the first time ever NOT positive for Group Strep B, which means I do NOT have to get antibiotics at the hospital before delivery (which by the way, I never get, because--fast deliveries (or haven't you read some of my birth stories?). Normally we have to stay at the hospital longer and baby has to get checked out a bunch because I've always been group strep b + and I almost never get the antibiotics dosage before baby comes barreling out. This is GREAT news for me. I don't know what made a difference. The changes in my life this pregnancy were that I went gluten free for my thyroid, lowered processed sugar significantly, and I take probiotics regularly. Or it could be totally random that I am negative this time, but whatever the reason, I'll take it!!!
2. Hatchprints SALE!
One of my favorite shops in the world (I LOVE her prints) is having an awesome SALE! From her FB page: "SALE - Buy one, get one! Buy any single print and get any other print of the same size FREE. Sale excludes The Seasonal package and cards. No coupon code needed; please write what print you would like in the notes section at checkout. For example, if you buy five 8x10 prints, write the names of the five extra 8x10 prints you want. Sale ends Saturday, August 13th at 11:59PM Pacific or until supplies run out. Great time to stock up on gifts!"
This print in the frame is one of hers that I have by the kitchen sink "God walks amid the pots and pans" - St. Teresa of Avila
3. Hormones
I have been a hot mess this week. The flowers in the picture above are from Chris because I was just on an emotional roller coaster this week. Up and down and up and down.
A dear friend and mentor from my old mom's group also sent me a beautiful card with lovely words of encouragement because she knew that I was having a bit of a rough time recently.
And another wonderful friend here, Megan, brought lovely sunflowers another day when her family came for dinner. It was such a breath of fresh air in my emotional week to hang out with another amazing family and to get a beautiful bunch of sunshine-y flowers. She's having surgery today, by the way, so keep her in your prayers.
4. Baby's arrival guesses
This week we put our official arrival day guesses up on the calendar.
Chris: Sept. 7
Me: Sept. 5
Kayla: Sept. 9 (the due date--she wants baby to be a due date baby like she was)
Elise: Sept. 16
Ava: Sept. 3
Sophie: Sept. 13
And then we just randomly put everyone's names on other surrounding dates to fill the calendar up for the week and a half before and after the due date. Whoever's name is one the actual arrival day gets a prize. Chocolate for Chris and I and if it's one of the kids, they get the first turn holding baby at the hospital.
5. Last Summer Concert in the Park
A park near us has summer concerts and last week was the final one. It was a Frank Sinatra-style cover band and it was really fun to listen to.
concert selfie--minus Chris
6. Fly Me to the Moon
It really was such a nice, relaxing, enjoyable concert. Take a listen.
7. Tumbling Camp
Kayla, Elise, and Ava all attended a little 2-hour tumbling camp together and loved it. There's Elise on the rings.
They all wanted to go again next summer. Or tomorrow. Whichever comes first. ;)
I hate thinking about the actual move, partly because I hate the work and stress that goes along with packing your things and moving and partly because it makes me sad to think of all the dear friends you leave behind when you move (out of the area). I did say a few preliminary good-byes back in this post to my Mom's group and to some of my Blessed Is She park meet-up gals. But overall, we just packed up feverishly, said some fond, but brief farewells, and were gone.
Stuffing all the emotions of it isn't a great idea, so I'm airing out some of my thoughts on moving away from Southern California.
I miss the ocean.
These pictures are from our last visit to the ocean before we left SoCal. We visited our favorite sunset spot down in Laguna and the girls ran around in the sand, soaking up every last ray of sunshine that day before it sank down into the ocean (or so it always looks...)
I cried a little watching them, knowing that our carefree days of visiting the ocean some evenings or for a quick trip on the weekends were over for a long while. And I'm tearing up now looking back at the pictures that I've carefully kept in a folder marked "April 2016" on the computer not ready to browse through them to reflect upon our final good-byes.
We said good-bye to our fish. These are the angelfish we used to have. Chris found them a good home with a man in SoCal, and I packed up the fish tank (what a horrible, tough job that is by the way) again. I know it seems a little silly to miss fish, but they were there, part of our SoCal life for the last year when we finally had a townhome big enough to unpack the tank again. And it took awhile to get some new fish here, and I found it dreadfully hard those first few weeks to walk past the empty tank with none of our angelfish looking at back at me.
(packing the fish tank- I'm kind of a pro now. And I still hate it.)
(these are pictures that Jacinta took, and I'm so glad she did)
(and Alena took all these)
Because of Easter at the end of March, packing and craziness, and our move date in mid-April, we knew we wouldn't have time to get together with everyone we wanted to, especially one-on-one, so we planned a big potluck at the park. Some of our dear friends (shown in these pictures, but minus Crystal and Jonny who were there but not pictured except in the prayer picture) came and we were able to say some good-byes just a few days before we left.
Can I just say that I hate good byes?
Also that I am one who appears to have it all handled and doesn't break down with people. I focus all my attention on enjoying the last precious bit of time I have with friends, but my emotions always pour out later after I leave. That being said, it wasn't hard to have a fun time, laughing and enjoying the time with these dear friends that day at the park. But later, when we were on the road and after we moved, I had some very tough emotional battles missing the wonderful community of friends who had become in many ways like family to us.
It has also taken me a good two months to look back at these pictures because I miss you all very much and....I'm totally crying.
This gathering was the big one, but we did sneak in dinner with the Deritos whom we had been trying to schedule dinner with for about a month before we found out about the move. It was such a fun evening. The Kerlagons were also moving (local move) just before we did, so they were busy packing and unpacking themselves during our last couple weeks, but we were able to get over to their new place to get a glimpse before leaving and be told some special news. The Kolodziejs came over with dinner and to help with some packing one evening, so we got to hang out with their sweet family for a brief bit for final good-byes (and pizza and cookies and a big green salad so that it was at least somewhat healthy). Crystal and Jonny came over and the guys drank some of the beers that needed to be emptied from the fridge and we all packed up stuff and chatted and laughed and planned future trips to Colorado because obviously they MUST come visit. Everyone must. I miss you all far too much.
And then moving day was upon us
The boxes were packed (sometimes I'm still not sure how it all actually got done. So much work!!), the movers came, and suddenly the place was empty. OUR HOME (rented of course) was empty. There is nothing quite so depressing as those last hours you spend at a place, cleaning and scrubbing it, recalling all the memories you made there, and wondering-just wondering- what the future holds in a new place.
We stayed our last night before we left for Colorado ourselves with my godfather and his wife.
I don't even have words looking at these pictures. In SoCal, we didn't live near family (parents and siblings). 'Uncle' Paul is my mom's cousin and my godfather and he and 'Auntie' Agnes are now Sophie's godparents. They were our family in SoCal. They were the ones we could go to for babysitting when we went to Sophie's 20 week ultrasound and for a date now and again. They were our early morning phone call when I was in labor with Sophie who prayed for me in labor and watched the other gals at home. They were the family we had for birthdays or dinners every month, sometimes more. When people would ask (as they always do when you have small children) if you have family nearby, they were the ones we could name as our family nearby--just 8 minutes away.
That was a really hard good-bye to say. and it still is.
We don't have any relatives in Colorado at all. And I miss our 'Uncle' Paul and 'Auntie' Agnes dreadfully and the amazing love and support they gave us during our time in Southern California.
Anyway, our trip was blessed (only one real incident that involved Elise throwing up and a really disgusting pitstop for clean-up) and we got safely to our new home and are settling in well. But today, I just wanted to let myself have a good cry because moving is tough. Leaving dear friends and family is tough.
In the weeks leading up to our move, the choir at church played this song every single week for the last 3 weeks on Sundays. And I prayed the words in my heart with everything I had because I knew God had a plan for us here in CO, but I couldn't sing them. I tried, so many times, but the tears would start within seconds.
When we arrived here, I found that there is a K-LOVE station here so I put it on in the car, and this song comes on just when I need it here too. Except that now that we are here, it doesn't make me cry. It encourages me because I know God does have a plan for us here, and I find the words encouraging as I recommit (through the prayer of this song) to follow wherever He leads us.
