May

Back in May Jack and I enjoyed an extended trip back home to North Carolina. It was a great time to hang out with family and friends, and it was nice to catch up since it had been almost a year and a half since we had stepped foot on our beloved home land :) We started off the trip with a little disc golf with Debbie and Brian at our old stomping grounds near NC State. It was fun but man my arm was sore after 18 holes (sad, I know). Then the four of us headed over to an NC State paraphernalia store to check out some new shirts so Jack and I could represent back in New Mexico. We made our purchases and it was off to find some dinner.

On Saturday morning Debbie, Brian and I headed to Umstead State Park for a little run. It was fun and yet I was surprised at how much the humidity and heat affected me! I guess living in this dry climate for over a year now has really made me a sissy when it comes to humidity! I couldn't believe how sweaty we got and how our clothes felt soaking wet. But it was fun and beautiful. It was nice to hang out with them in the morning. We ran home after that and got ready for the day. Hung out in Raleigh and then they hosted a fun dinner get together with friends and family. It was so nice to get to see my parents, sisters, Jack's parents and some great friends. We had these awesome things called Spiedies (or something like that, I don't know how it's spelled) that Brian grilled and it was delicious! Then there was some fun cornhole gaming and walks around the lake. It was relaxing, encouraging and fun!

Sunday we enjoyed fellowshiping with the body at Harvest Bible Chapel North Raleigh (now that's a mouthful) and then met up with my family again for one last lunch before my parents had to head back to Atlanta. It was sweet time together. Then Jack and I packed up and headed to Winston Salem to see J,J&K. While in W-S we had really great food cooked by Julie, got to spend time with our niece Kylee (who is a year and half) and good talks with Jon. They are gracious hosts and it was chill to hang out on their back porch watching Kylee play in her water feature and catching up. We also got in a good run together through the neighborhood and played some Dr. Mario tetris on the Wii. Good times! Unfortunately Jack was fighting off what we later found out was mold poisoning so he ended up sleeping for 13 of the 26 hrs we were there to visit in W-S but it was still a fun time all around.

Monday night Jack and I hopped back in the car to head down to Wilmington to hang out with his parents. It was beautiful there! We didn't make it in until after midnight but Jennie was still awake to welcome us in. We got up Tuesday and headed out to meet Gary for lunch. After that Jack, Jennie and I headed to the beach. I LOVE the Atlantic ocean and we had a great time hanging out. Jack and I ran out almost immediately and hopped right in, catching waves and body surfing. It was warm and we had a blast. Then we got out and the 3 of us went for a nice walk down the beach. After coming back Jack and I threw the frisbee around while Jennie soaked up the rays. Then we headed back to the house for showers and dinner and some Pinochle playing.

Wednesday the 4 of us got up and went jogging which was really fun. It was nice to be out exercising with everyone. Then we hung out and relaxed on the back porch for a while, reading books and talking then got ready later that day for a beautiful dinner at the Oceanic. It's one of my favorite restaurants in Wilmington because you get to sit right on the water, enjoy the view and eat seafood!! It was nice and we had a great time talking and catching up.

Thursday we woke up and played some cornhole then Jack and I packed up to head back to Raleigh. We spent the last 2 days in Raleigh with Debbie and Brian, played some disc golf, hung out with friends and just relaxed. It was nice. When we were flying back home on Saturday Jack and I kept reflecting on what an encouraging, relaxing and edifying trip it had been. There's always the old adage that says, "I need a vacation from my vacation" but thankfully after this vacation we both remarked that this vacation was everything we were hoping it would be and we felt refreshed and ready to be home, not tired out and needing a new vacation.

One word summary of our feelings from the trip to NC: thankful.

Update soon

Life has been whirl-wind-esque lately but have no fear...an update is coming soon! Between working 4-5 days per week and spending lots of time with the youth there is little time to put things on the blog but we've been up to some really neat things lately...blog worthy for sure :) Until then...please enjoy episode one of one our favorite youtube videos here lately.... ha!

it's Christmas time...there's no need to be afraid

that I will never get around to posting about Christmas, that is. Slowly but surely I'll catch this here blog up to the present! But until then...enjoy the reminiscing :) This is part 1. Part 2 to come soon about the Galloways visiting :)

In early December I had the opportunity to join some friends to find our perfect, NM Christmas tree. Unfortunately, Jack wasn't feeling great so he opted out in exchange for a nice long nap (much needed) so he was stuck with the Charlie Brown tree I found out in the woods. It was so much fun. We got a permit, drove to a remote(ish) part of the Jemez mountains (4-wheel drive only...there were 2 cars from another group that got stuck in all the snow so thankfully our friends were able to pull them out) and off we tromped, over hill and dale, through deep snow to find our tree. Then we had a fun little picnic just to enjoy the day and it started snowing on us! Fun times with fun friends! Then in late December, Jack and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary!! It was such a fun time to go on a date night, enjoy a nice dinner at Outback and do quite a bit of talking. Thankful for our 6 years together and looking forward to many more years to come!!

Daniela, Nate and Ethan, friends from church who took me out to find our Christmas tree!!

There it is, good ol' Charlie Brown!

Don't know these people but they sure got a big tree. No idea where that thing is going!

The Galloway and Moody trees. All cut down and ready to be taken home and dressed :)

The whole gang having a picnic. What a fun day. The trees way back in the background is where we hiked to find our trees.

Fun family pic :) Thanks to the Rover for getting us in and out of there.

Here it is...good ol' Charlie Brown tree :) 

one of our favorite ornaments :) Love the Balloon Fiesta in NM.

No chimney to hang out stockings so we went with a more intellectual feel :) 

the inspiration for the colors on our tree and a good reminder during the Christmas season.

This start cracked us up, it would lean all sorts of directions. We'd straighten it out and then wake up the next morning to see where it ended up.

Who doesn't love a kayaking Santa? :)

One of our favorite places to visit.

an awesome national park...see a trend here with our ornaments? 

Jack and me at our anniversary dinner :) What a fun time.

Stay tuned for part 2 of our Christmas time adventures!! Coming soon....

Gulp...we turned 30!

So back in February, Debbie and I hit the big 3-0! We decided that we wanted to do something big, fun and active for our birthday. None of this we're getting old, ho-hum, so sad, cry me a river mumbo-jumbo...no way, man. Go big or go home! So big we went....on a snowboarding extravaganza to Colorado. Debbie, Brian, Dave and Mike flew out from North Carolina and Jack and I picked them up and it was off to the Lazy Bear Cabin in Pagosa Springs, CO.

The plan: 3-4 days of snowboarding, one day to hang out in town and maybe go sledding, laugh a lot, have some fun and look thirty in the face and say, "you ain't got nothin' on me!"

I think we accomplished all of that...and more! Unfortunately Jack accomplished crushing his tailbone on our sledding day but he handled it well and we all still had a great time.

30? You don't seem so bad...I think this decade has a lot in store and the fun is only just beginning!

The birthday girls! :) Not too shabby for 30, eh?

makes me think of a band cover shot or something..except for the cheesy grins. we needed emo solemn faces to fully pull it off.

bros for life...for real!

nothing makes a trip to CO right unless you stop at Bode's for a breakfast burrito!!

alberta lift and black diamonds...pshhh, we got you.

March 12, 2012

three-twelve-twelve...3.12.12.

to jack:

it's time to celebrate!

happy birthday my dear mate,

what a wonderful husband you sure do make.

today's your birthday and that sure is great!

i hope you enjoyed your chocolate bundt cake.

God brought you to earth some thirty-one years ago

and when he did, he put on a show.

see you came to this earth to bring him more glory

and each and every day he is making you more holy.

you walk with him closely and with much fervor and grace,

i know without a doubt with faith you will finish this race.

what an example you are to me of humility and love

the way you serve diligently and focus on the One above.

how i look forward to many more years together

growing strong in the Lord no matter what storms we must weather.

he gave me a wonderful leader in you

i love you so much, of this it is true!

Happy birthday, Jack!!! 31 years and pressing on! Looking forward to many more years of walking life with you, serving the Lord and growing in love. You.are.loved.

we sure do have fun together :)

:)

you are so much fun! you make me smile and laugh so much :) thanks!!

It's march!

And you know what that means...new desktop calendar from Geninne!!

http://blogdelanine.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-desktop-calendar.html

Also with March brings Jack's birthday month, March madness, spring (windy season here), and an exciting conference with D.A. Carson!! It's going to be a good month. 2012...you've been pretty cool so far. Keep it up.

Thankful...to finally be posting about Thanksgiving!

Way back in 2011...back in November, Jack and I were visited by my parents! It was their first time out to see where we were living in NM and we sure had a great time. It was fun picking them up from the airport, driving the scenic way back to Los Alamos (we had only been living up here about 2 weeks before they came...still a bit in transition but they were gracious with our ramshackled, unorganized place), stopping to see the Soda Dams along the way and spending time sight seeing around our new town. We enjoyed visiting Bandelier National Monument and touring the Bradbury Science Museum watching movies and reading all about the history of our fascinating home. Mom loved it, of course, and even snagged a few pictures for her students back home who thought it was amazing that she was getting to visit the place where the atomic bomb was created! We also took them to check out the views at Overlook Park in White Rock and one day drove up to the Santa Fe Ski hill to check things out. We were snowed on there and had a fun little trek in the snow and threw some snow balls. It was great!

While they were in town we also got to celebrate Thanksgiving with them and some friends from church. It was a fun time of cooking, talking, laughing and game playing and also remembering things for which we were thankful. It was relaxing and enjoyable and we were so thankful they took the time to come out visit us. We were sad they had to leave so soon but we sure were happy to have the time we had with them.

Checking out the Soda Dams

Mom and Dad

Bandelier

Dad headed up to check things out.

Dad enjoyed reading all the historical stuff.

aww aren't they cute?

The fam having fun at the national monument :)

Watch out DAD! At the ski hill :)

Enjoying the snow.

Raspberry pie I made

Ready to eat!

Buddy and Amelia helped with clean up. That was great!

Mike and Jacqueline. What a fun thanksgiving together!

Who's up for coming out to visit us next?! :)

With age brings...

more blog post updating! There will be a few posts coming soon. They are in the works. Things dating back to Thanksgiving, Christmas and even my birthday! 30 now! That's exciting. A whole new decade in which to do exciting things!

30 things that struck me as I turned 30 (in no particular order and with no particular cohesiveness/theme):

1. I'm thankful I've taken up a new sport (snowboarding) in my "older" age. What an exhilarating new thing to enjoy!
2. I always thought 30 year olds were so grown-up and mature and had their life all planned out and figured out...and had like 2.5 kids already or something. :)
3. I'm thankful for my 20s and the things I walked through and learned from and I'm also thankful to look forward to what the 30s have in store and to move forward.
4. I'm happy that at 30 I can still work out extremely with Insanity and that I've been relatively health issue/injury free throughout my life (poor Jack, can't say the same for him...)
5. I'm looking forward to growing even more in my faith as I mature and gleaning more and more truth from God's word.
6. I still haven't mastered the art of controlling my tongue...gosh darn it...but I'm working on memorizing scripture in order to bridle the angry words that like to spew forth at times.
7. I'm so, so very thankful for the loving husband I have and for the 6 years of marriage we've celebrated together. Striving to be an even more godly wife throughout my thirties.
8. I love that we are living in Los Alamos, NM...what a cool place to visit! We've had more visitors here (it seems) in the year and a half we've been here than in all the years we were living in Cincinnati and Knoxville combined!
9. It's fun being a nurse...working in the ICU. But at times, I truly do long to be a mom!
10. No grey hair yet!!
11. Starting to get some wrinkles but thankfully I notice they are from where I smile so much...not too shabby I think. But I have started using "age-defying" cream at night...for kicks and giggles.
12. In my thirty years on earth God has allowed me to visit some really cool places...looking forward to seeing more new and neat places in this next decade!
13. Friends! SO thankful for the friends the Lord has brought into my life over these 30 years, some have come and gone but the ones that He has kept in my life so truly are amazing and I'm thankful to have them!
14. It's fun to have a twin sister to age with :) and to spend time with and to grow with as we age. Say, when's our next 1/2 marathon?!
15. I remember being younger and thinking tapes and cds were the coolest things ever...now I'm amazed as where technology has brought us and it's been kind of cool to get to grow up with that. It's interesting working with youth who have never known the world without the internet or smartphones or Wikipedia...
16. As I age I look forward to aging...is that weird? To growing a family, to being wiser, to being a role model.
17. I enjoy yoga...and I'm pretty good at it. Goal: to keep doing yoga as I get older to maintain shape and balance.
18. Jack does way more of the cooking in our household..maybe that will change in my 30s...as life changes. We shall see!
19. I love with getting older the self-confidence increases. Remember how you'd get so embarrassed by what your parents would do/wear/say and you thought how could they ever do that? Yeah...I do, too. Haha...and now...that's where I'm heading. You just don't care as much!
20. I WILL figure out a way to get rid of fruit flies...grr
21. I like a good cold coke. Yes, I know it's not good for me, but everything in moderation, right?
22. Thankful that I've learned Spanish, thankful that I still get to use it and practice it because we live in New Mexico.
23. Thankful for all the wise women who have poured into my life over these years and thankful for the girls in my life that the Lord has allowed me to pour into as well! Praying for wisdom with that!
24. I really need to go see an eye doctor...with age comes tired eyes that don't see so far away anymore! :)
25. Proud to say I can still hold a handstand with the best of them, throw a back hand spring and even do flips off a cliff into a lake below :)
26. Wonder where the Lord is going to lead Jack and me in this next decade.
27. I struggle with pride...but hopefully this next decade will be a step in conquering that sin :)
28. I wonder if/hope I will continue my trend of running a 1/2 marathon every year...and maybe, just maybe doing that full marathon one day!
29. Being 29 one day and 30 the next really didn't faze me that much. Shew!
30. Jesus started his ministry when he was 30...Lord use me in a grand way in my 30's!! Desiring the be a blessing to those around me!!