GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Derek and I have always lived in very transient wards--Arizona was full of students, Michigan had quite a few move outs all at once, and now our wonderful San Diego ward is filled with military and law students galore. I love that there are always a slew of new people coming in, but at the same time, it's sad to see ward members leave. This month, per request of members, we held activities all about getting to know one another. We served pies and cobblers--Lela & Brittany stole my taste buds with their Apple Crisp & Pumpkin Pie-- and had great conversation about everyone's loves and talents. It was  a great evening where we all learned fun facts about each other & shared some of our own. 

FEELING NOSTALGIC

The past few days I have had that feeling of nostalgia everywhere I go. One morning it was the sun creeping over the hills by our house and that smell of wet dirt outside. That smell, man. It was the smell of early morning drives to school in Arizona where that sun was finally cool enough to enjoy. Pumping gas the other day, and looked across the lot and saw a Residence Inn. I had a flashback to last November in San Francisco when Derek and I called our little room 405 home. Where we would wake up to a free breakfast and falling leaves. Lug laundry down to the laundromat, and walk across the street to the cleaners. At work, one of my co-workers mentioned that a part had to be specially ordered from the Ford plant in Detroit. I automatically jumped to thinking about our weekend trips to Greenfield Village & the Henry Ford Museum. How we could drive 10 blocks South and be in the heart of the city, or 10 blocks North and be in farm land with farms and orchards for picking. Saturday, it was an afternoon on Coronado Island bike riding with Derek. I looked over to see that San Diego skyline and remembered just a few months ago, realizing that residency would bring us back to a city we both love so much. I am not sure why these feelings of nostalgia have been flowing lately, but I can't complain. I have had a blessed life that has lead me to so many places, people, and things I love. Fall always gets me feeling really deep and grateful. Just another reason to love this time of year. 

THE SEASONS CHANGE

(last October in Denver)

Last week I woke up to that first smell of "Fall". The way I define it is that wet smell in the air that just lingers long enough to leave a memory. It was the smell I would walk to the bus stop in elementary school with. It was the smell my sister and I would brave those early, dark mornings on our way to seminary. It was the smell those crisp mornings in Rexburg when my nose would turn pink from the wind. The other morning, it was the smell of having a quick bowl of oatmeal on the patio while these city streets were still quiet. I love the way smells bring back and create memories. It's almost like this magic scrapbook we always have on hand; one that can take us back to a different place and time instantly. 

HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST

Something I love to do is play hostess. Luckily, our ward is filled with many talented women who enjoy doing the same thing, and a lot who wanted to learn more tips and tricks when doing so. We decided this would be a great activity to learn from the many talented women in our ward and make a party out of it. We invited all to participate in an hors d'oeuvre contest, and view examples of hosting ranging from centerpieces to fruit displays. Lela, as always, pulled out all the stops with our beautiful display table, which made it almost impossible to think we were in the seminary room. It was a great activity filled with fun, friends, and too many yummy foods to choose from. The winner (and one of my favorites) was Stephanie's mini chicken & waffles, which I'm still craving to this day. 

THOUGHTS ON TURNING 25

Twenty Five. 20 + 5. Twenty + Five. 25.

This is one of those ages in high school/early college you just think about. You wonder where will you be. What you will be doing. Who you will be with. Why did you end up there. Now that I'm at "that" number, I can say that my journey to the quarter of a century has been a great one. In my early twenties I graduated college, met, dated, & married, held my first teaching job, moved across the country, and so much more. To celebrate, I have come up with 10 small and simple things I want to accomplish the next year. Just things to make me look back on during a future birthday and think, "Hey, that time in life was pretty great." So cheers to the big 25....I have a feeling it's going to be pretty fantastic.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• send a hand written note to someone once a week
• participate & journal a 3-5 day juice fast/cleanse
• take an overnight trip somewhere in Southern California
• read the Book of Mormon 3 times 
• eat & journal a list of favorite local San Diego restaurants 
• host a dinner party once a month
• complete & journal 5 exercise "challenges" 
• practice new photography/Photoshop techniques
• bake a pie from scratch 
• attend the temple once a month

A WEEKEND FOR THE BOOKS

This past weekend was the perfect mix of busy & relaxing, which is just the way I like them. Starting out with some Friday Night Lights & a major bum kicking by my brother's high school football team, to a Sunday evening dinner party with friends, we spent a lot of time with family, friends, and food (my 3 favorite "f's"). Saturday was one of those days where staying inside would've just been a crime. I woke up early and took a long bike ride around Coronado Island with Crystal picking out or favorite bungalows and chatting. For lunch we ventured to Liberty Station for the best dang sandwich in town (Con Pane) and a walk around the old navy barracks. Derek and I ended the night with my family before we send Rachel back to school for the year. We surprised her with a favorite treat--mini bunt cakes--and they were quite the hit. Sunday night was the perfect night to sit on the patio with friends for dinner. A perfect weekend, I would dare to say. Practically perfect.