Stupid Can Be A Reminder of Good.

Today was fair. It started off as most Saturdays do with the ever so famous Saturday Morning Breakfast (this week was especially glorious because Chad and Eli joined us!), oatmeal topped with so many delicious things along side eggs and yummy sausage...deeericious! The problem is this...my wonderful morning was tainted by my stupid computer and stupid Office Max and delayed mail and no communication with Kate and standing on J & 12th in the cold! I was bummed then my mom called and I cried for a minute about how ever since I acknowledged that I was sooo grateful my world has been hit over and over again with issues and all of those little issues decided to slam together at once which caused me to be super sad and discouraged. The good news is this: Refer to the photo above My Sacramento family makes me happy! At the end of the night after we all ate dinner and hung out I was reminded that I am blessed and no matter how many little things go wrong they will never make the love that is here dim. And now I am grateful again!

Thanks

I was walking through my house today, all by my lonesome gathering my things in preparation to a walk to Old Soul so that I could set up shop for a few hours of work when very suddenly I was hit with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. Just an hour before Carol, Amber, Courtney and I were just hanging out with the glow of our 10-11 foot amazing Christmas tree in the background. Mike stopped in to borrow cds, Carol was doing laundry and Amber was relaxing. I like that people are comfortable in my home. I like that people want to be here and I love that people call the tree"our tree" because it is our tree, we are a family. I am just really full right now and I want to make sure that I relish in that. I want to be sure to spread my gratitude around, I want to be sure not to be selfish with it. So right now I take a moment to say I am grateful for so many things:

• My Mom who calls me everyday, each call is a reminder of her love.
• My Dad who is an amazing example of dedication and consistency, I am excited for our weekly mini talks.
• My Uncle Dave for his example of strength.
• My Brother, because he is a model of generosity and unconditional love. He reminds me that boys aren't jerks.
• My roommates. Courtney for her enthusiasm and Sally for ability to just listen.
• Carol, Kevin, Josh, Amber, Mike, Andy and Jesse for receiving me so well and being great!
• Coffee because it brings people together.
• City Life Church
• Coffee with Ryan and Rachel a week or so ago because it reminded me of my passion for community and sparked ideas.

Caffeine Makes Me Ramble

The upcoming City Life Winter party means that I am way to busy to spend much time on my blog. Unfortunately other things are taking priority to communicating with those of you who are gracious enough to read what is up in my life...my apologies!

As I sit in a local (and amazing) coffee house I am really pleased with life, filled to the brim with good good feelings. My overall sense of peace is only momentarily interrupted when I get a call from my mom or dad or brother because it is then that I think of how great it would be to sit on the couch and catch up rather than stand on the sidewalk with a cell phone (that is not to say that I don't miss them terribly most of the day). I miss the personal connectedness that comes with face to face interaction. The good news is that God is gracious and He has provided me a really amazing support system here. The beautiful people that I am so lucky to know are even more proof to me that God is good and He as a plan for His children to be at peace and prosperous. I am rambling now, I have had way too much caffeine and not enough solid food so I will leave this blog for whatever it is be that annoying or mildly helpful.

♥

Just a few pictures that make my heart warm.

Our completed pumpkin family.

Kevin decided to wear Carol's jacket....he then needed help removing it.

Josh and Jesse playing a bit of air hockey at Fern's one grand night in Long Beach.

Our Family, loving the completed pumpkins. Notice the shape of the shadow please.

Just thinkin'

I returned from a week long trip to Long Beach feeling excited to be back in Sacramento where the weather and people are amazing yet sad because I will miss my family. In this moment I have a real sense of peace about my life and where it is headed, that is not to say that I have it all figured out because I don't! The truth is that I have been taking college courses since I graduated high school in '01 and I am not too much closer to having a degree and right now that doesn't bother me. Sure, I could probably gather all of my classes and focus my life for a year to get some random degree in something that I don't much care about but that would be a waste not only because I would be miserable doing it but because I would have zero passion to offer that endeavor. Right now what is important to me is this: my deepening relationship with Christ, my Family in Long Beach who have been an amazing support system as I learn to live so many miles away (they are my first loves), my amazing relationships with my Family here in Sacramento,

my beautiful roommates, my passion for people and my new found passion for life. I hope that in all of those things I am able to love purely without reservation and therefore without regret. I am happy with what is happening here and I hope to hold it close to my heart for as long as God allows it. Someday I will figure school out, I will have peace with a career but for now I am in no hurry because for now I am loving and being loved and that is truly enough.

So Many Things...

So I am in Long Beach hanging out, having a good time getting as many hugs as I can. It is interesting...the weird feelings of loving this place so much because it is home, it is the place that I will always return to but knowing that for right now home is in Sacramento. I received a phone call last night from the people I love that warmed my heart. Everyone was hanging out at Rubicon and I was missed so they took a moment to call and tell me that they love me and miss me and can't wait for my return. I am full to the brim with love and peace and gratitude for what is happening in my little town. I want to relish in it for as long as I possibly can...and that is a great feeling.

P.S. I have so much more to say and to share but right now I am sleepy and I have to get up early for a sure to be AMAZING morning in the park with the New City gang!! More to come, including pictures...being a 35mm nerd means that it takes a little longer to share the beauty that is the Sacramento Courtney-Sally-Shannon-Carol-Kevin-Joshua-Jesse-Mike Finn-Amber-Andy family. I assure you that it will come.

♥

Super Perfect Fall Weekends!

Honestly, I don't really have any words that would properly convey the feelings in my heart. I have been unbelievably lucky in the area of meeting really authentic and lovely people.

My weekend begins on Saturday, eating breakfast with (undoubtedly) the greatest people in all of Sacramento. People set alarms especially for this fabulous event, most of us arrive semi-sleepy because we hung out together way to late the previous night. I love being part of a circle of people who can't get enough of each other. Saturday morning breakfast has its own special space carved out in my heart! SO good. Many many many thanks to Carol for hosting it every week, really it is her baby and I am happy that she has nurtured it so well. My heart is truly full. Also, I love Fall in Sacramento...