California Family Vacation - Day 2

Today was really a lot of fun! And it was such a BEAUTIFUL day!

We 'kids' went on a day adventure to San Francisco (we're staying in Fremont) and we had a blast! We just explored and actually accomplished quite a bit in the few hours we had. We started the day off in Chinatown, and had the BEST Chinese food in this little rinky dink shop that cost us $4 for our dish of food! So good...

Then we went to this place that was recommended to us by a friend of a friend called 'Bi-Rite Creamery'... Such amazing ice cream! And awesome root beer... mmmmm. We took it to the park nearby (Delores Park) and just hung out for awhile. Those are usually my favorite ways to explore... go somewhere local and then just sit and people watch. I LOVE doing that.

There was a guy playing guitar along the sidewalk selling jewelry... and I bought an awesome ring! I love to buy handmade jewelry... everything is just so neat and one of a kind. Perfect.

After the park we went off to Fisherman's Wharf and hung out there for awhile. Such a pretty way to end the day... watching the sunset over the bay was so pretty! We had supper at the Hard Rock and then headed back to the house :)

I'm pretty pleased I've been doing so well keeping up with this... so I think I can do it every night! Yay me! More tomorrow! Goodnight!

California Family Vacation - Day 1

So we had a full day today! We went to church this morning and it was a great time!

We went back to Aunt Karen & Uncle Steve's and had an AMAZING lunch. It was so nice outside we were able to eat outside! And that's awesome for a Minnesotan in January ;)

Then most of the clan went off to hike up some big mountain thing, and Joel surprised me with an adventure date!

He found an awesome Mini-Golf place that had stuff just like the movies! I was so excited!

Then we went inside and played in the arcade. I played pinball and made the second highest score on the machine! So proud!

Joelie played the strong man game, and HE scored the highest score on that machine!

Then we went back and hung out with the family. Ally and I went hot tubbing!

We later went inside and played games with everyone. The boys (and Jen) played poker...

And the rest of us played Scrabble. I LOVE this photo of my mom :) Taken by Joel!

It was such a great day. And I am so excited for tomorrow! Every day is such an adventure... and I like it when I get to have adventure in a place different than where I live :) Have a great night!!!

California Family Vacation - Road Trip Out

Hey Everyone!

So... its a new year... maybe I'll blog a little more of what's going on in my life? We'll see! Haha.

This year has started off with a family road trip out to California. I've decided that I will add a post every night, that way I actually get all my pictures done and edited everyday. So here are the photos I took on the drive out!

We left late in the evening on Thursday night, so by the time I could really take pictures we were in Wyoming :)

We stopped at a little tourist stop called 'Little America'. It was really neat! They had a playground, gift shop, museum, and $.50 ice cream cones!

When we were driving through the mountains of Utah we came across a 'Viewing Site' located next to a little mountain :) The entire ride Dillon really wanted to climb to the top of a mountain, so we decided to climb up the one we were next to. It was so much fun! I love the spontaneity of this trip. We were not 'destinationing' we were 'roadtripping'. :)

At the (almost) top Joelie drew our initials on the rock... such a sweet man.

The view of the street shows how high we were. That little black van is ours... and my mom is standing by it. You can't even see her!

Here was the view from up there towards the mountains! So beautiful!!!

Friday evening we saw some of the most beautiful things...

We then stopped for lunch on Saturday at an In-N-Out. YUM!!! It was Joel and Jake's first experience there. And from what I understand, they both love it now as well :)

When we stopped at a couple rest areas I explored a little bit and found some really neat little things. This moss is SO brightly colored and on so many trees in California! And then I love the range of sizes of the pine cones.

Thats all for now! More tomorrow :) I'm just so happy to be here. Later guys!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is considered the 'Day of Love'. Some people love it! And some hate it. But honestly, everyone should know that regardless of whether you are with a boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife today there are people who care about you and love you and are so thankful you're in their lives. Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, family, friends. People love you. So whether you have that special someone to go on a date with or not tonight. Tell the people you care about that you love them.

One of my favorite Valentine's Days as a single young lady was when a dear guy friend of mine text me and asked if I'd be his Valentine. I knew in no way did he mean it anymore than just friends. So we went out and had a great time chatting and laughing over a late dinner. Another year a whole bunch of us single kids from Rhema (the college I attended) went out to celebrate our friendship. We dressed up and went out to Ihop. :) It was a blast. Just because you're single today doesn't mean you have to be alone. :)

I, however, have not been single for a few Valentine's Days now. :) Joel and I celebrated our 4th Valentine's Day together this year. And it has been even better than all the others so far. This morning, Joel came into our bedroom with a bouquet of beautiful roses and a note... which was a clue. :) He sent me on a little scavenger hunt for my presents. Here's the notes:

The first note took me to our refrigerator... because that is where the food we make breakfast comes from every morning. The second clue took me to our board games, because I don't like it when he puts in no effort. Haha. The third clue took me to our Blu-ray player, because we love watching movies. And the fourth was a smooch from my hubby. Haha. It was adorable. Here were the gifts I received:

These roses are GORGEOUS. They've been made to where they grow with two different shades of red. So pretty.

I found this necklace on Etsy a month ago and told Joel I absolutely loved it. :) Perfect for the photographer in me!

And CHOCOLATES! Mmmmmmm.... I like chocolates sooooo much!

And that has been my Valentine's Day so far! A wonderful day.

And remember to think of the love that God has for you today. He sent His ONLY son to die on the cross so that He could bridge the gap between man and God. We can walk freely into His throne room because of the love He has for us. Even though we do nothing to deserve it, He makes us whole and clean when we come to Him. So give God some thanks today too. And let Him know how much you love Him. :)

Goal: Books to Read This Year

I know that reading is so good for you. And I admit... I've definitely not done enough of it. So I've made up a list of books that I want to read by the end of the year. These are not necessarily in the order I plan on reading them... but somewhere around there :)

If you click on the title of the book it will take you to the description/ordering page of each book. Just so you can check it out if you want to.

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller

To Own a Dragon - Reflections On Growing Up Without A Father by Donald Miller

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi by David Crowder

Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die by David Crowder

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

Sex God by Rob Bell

Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell

Genuine Christianity by Larry F. Low

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan

Wild at Heart: Discovering The Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge

Turn: Remembering Our Foundations by Max Lucado

The Barbarian Way by Erwin Raphael McManus

Authentic Beauty: The Shaping of a Set-Apart Young Woman by Leslie Ludy

This Beautiful Mess by Rick Mckinley

One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven by Mark Cahill

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers by Shane Claiborne

Follow Me to Freedom by John Perkins & Shane Claiborne

Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne

Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith by Shane Hipps

The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture by Shane Hipps

Redefining Beautiful: What God Sees When God Sees You by Jenna Lucado

Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

Thats all of 'em! I want to read 28 books in the year of 2011. If not more! I'm already almost done with 'Blue Like Jazz' so that'll be one down! 

I love reading. I love seeing different views on subjects that I've never really given thought to. Or just hearing what someone has to say and going 'Wow! I never heard it put THAT way?!' Maybe I'll do a book review after each book. :) We'll see.

Why am I telling all of you every single book I plan on reading this year? A couple reasons...

Reason #1: I feel that I'll do a better job of doing this if I tell the whole internet world my plans.

Reason #2: Maybe you've been wondering what books to pick up and read... here are some ideas!

Reason #3: I know that my friend Danielle H. reads this blog and her status on Facebook the other day really motivated me to get moving on this. So thank you Danielle.

Anyways, I'll let you go now. I encourage you to get out and read something! It keeps you thinking!!!

The Most Important Meal of the Day

I LOVE breakfast!

And for more reasons than one!

It is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast helps you have energy throughout the rest of the day. It gets your metabolism going! Eating breakfast has been proven to help you lose weight.

But THIS is the other reason I love breakfast. Because most every morning, I get to get up with the most amazing man in the world (pictured here with his guitar spatula... which he loves) and we make breakfast together. He makes the eggs, bacon and toast. And I make the coffee and (usually) use our juicer to take fresh fruit and make amazing concoctions of juice!

I have so much fun every morning with this man. My husband is just a blast and usually on any given morning we're dancing around singing some song in the worst possible way...  laughing hysterically. I love Joel. And my mornings that don't start out with us spending time together before he goes to work are usually a little harder for me. (With exceptions of Mondays & Thursdays... when we go to my grandparents for rolls and coffee) :) 

I'm blessed to get to spend as much time as I do with my hubster. I cherish every single moment we have together. I always appreciate every morning and night we have together. And I love when he has a day off. 

I know that God places people in our lives for a reason. And a spouse has a BIG reason for being there. Joel is the love of my life. And he is a strong man of God who treats me like the child of God that I am. We walk beside each other in this path of life. And I so look forward to the many more places God is going to take us.

After breakfast of course ;)

My Inspiration:

I have the most amazing parents... and they have such an amazing love. Which is my inspiration :)

We just celebrated their 25th Anniversary on February 1st! We threw them a Surprise Open House on Saturday and it was so much fun! They actually had NO idea!!! Here are some photos from the party.

My Aunt Wendy made the cake... she is so talented! There is no way I could do this!! I definitely don't have the patience for it. :)

25 years... still so crazy and weird to think. I mean really! Think of how rare this is now...

My grandma made the sheet cakes. This was just all so good! And cute!!

My parents are amazing. They have a love for each other that is so beautiful. I have so many memories of Mom cooking in the kitchen and Dad walking in and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. :) They still do it and it just makes me smile. Their relationship is based on God. They've always taught us that a relationship without God is empty. But a relationship with God is full! And I've seen this first-hand. I thank God for my parents... for the influence they've had on my life and the example they've set.

My family :)

My family + the boys! :)

My sister painted this for my parents. It is a couple on a hill by the tree. And the really cool thing is that you can have it upside down or right side up and its a gorgeous photo either way! :)

Thank you to everyone that came and helped us celebrate! And thank you Mom and Dad for being so amazing and being such examples to us all! Congratulations again!