Happy 4th of July

I love how Google changes their logo to match the holiday...so cute!

As I sit here...

I'm laying on a daybed in my apartment in this little alcove of a balcony...(think college dorm but cooler. And no, this is not my bedroom), overlooking the Sound in Tacoma. There are fireworks in the distance, I'm listening to a playlist with Rocco de Luca, Ray Lamontagne, and Shawn Mullins. It's 10:30pm, the sun went down about an hour ago but the lights are off, only a small candle is lighting the room. I feel extremly peaceful.

I'm sitting here and can't help but thank God for where He has put me at this very moment. A year ago I wouldn't have dreamed I'd be here, doing what I do and knowing the people I now know and love. I am overwhelmed by how God finely crafts our character over time. I am overwhelmed by how He plans our life before we were born, and although we "think" we "think big picture" -- we don't in comparison to God's plan.

I know the phrase "God is so good" is over used and ridiculously cliche --- but it's so true. God is so good. The other day I was having a discussion about faith and how we know if the decisions we make are from God, or from our own hearts/minds/desires. I truly believe that the influence of our faith is revealed in hindsight, and the way we know the right decision has been made is recognizing the blessings post-decision.

A year ago I wouldn't have considered being in the job and place I am today. Through a series of events, conversations, and a LOT of prayer God stopped me in my tracks and shifted my path. At the time I thought I was making a mistake, but I can now see how this was God's plan for my life. Isn't it funny how we always think we know what we're doing? But then God smacks us upside the head and puts us in such a vulnerable position that it forces us to look nowhere else but to Him...

I love where God has brought me. I love how He's stretching me in ways that drive me crazy. I love how He helps me understand that He's more interested in my character than my comfort, and through this challenging time in my life He is preparing me for something....not sure what it is....but it's something!

Padres vs. Mariners

I've been here in Tacoma for 2 weeks...thought it was time to hit up a game!

Safeco was such a beautiful stadium!

Nikki and I were the only 2 Padre fans there. Yes, we got boo'd a lot...even though our team lost :(

I love my co-workers :)

Good times!

Twitter FAIL

Natalie Dee

If you haven't checked out Natalie Dee comics, you should. They are hilarious. And you get to enjoy gems like this...so cute, so fun, and so random.

Breaking in Old Heels

I haven't worked in a cubicle for the past 7 months-ish. My job consists of being on my feet most of the day, which I love. I'm moving around, talking to people, and encouraging visitors to make a difference in the world by sponsoring a child through World Vision.

I didn't realize what a drastic transition this would be for me to move back (temporarily) into the world of cubicles. Granted, I'm only here for a few months, but I'm realizing I've fallen back into the old cube habits that I once had. Standard work schedule, pictures on my desk, laptop life, etc. It feels normal, it feels like I never left. But it makes me miss the other part of my job so much!

I've also realized how much I love heels. I know, this sounds super ridiculous, right? Well, think what you like, but I've dusted off my old cubey shoes and am breaking them in again. It's like I never left them; yet my feet don't remember the height, slant, and formation that wedges, pumps, and stiletto's create. There is some pain involved.

That's how I feel in life right now. I feel like I never left, but there is some pain in the transition stage. I can see the light ahead of me, getting there is going to be a bit painful. In the meantime, I'll revel in my cute heels :)

It only takes one person.

Yes, I know. The Winchester Mystery House is supposed to be fun and creepy and eerie and exciting...however, I think I'm the only person in our whole tour who was truly sad the entire tour through the 65,000 square foot mansion.

Sarah and William Winchester were married, and 20 years later Sarah lost her daughter and her husband. Although she was incredibly loaded with millions of dollars, she was so upset and distraught that she sought the advice of a Boston psychic. This psychic told Sarah the Winchester family was cursed, and the only way to avenge the deaths and break the curse was to build a house and never stop building. For 38 years Sarah was obsessed with building and building and building her house... The psychic told her that if she were to stop building, then she would die. So Sarah hired contractors to build the inside of the house, and she even redecorated some rooms over 600 times! The house eventually grew to 65,000 square feet; 7 stories (in the 1906 earthquake the top 3 levels collapsed), 47 fireplaces, 2 basements, 3 elevators, 160 rooms, etc etc etc (although there is only 1 shower in all 13 bathrooms...weird.)

There are several creepy things about this house: people say it's haunted, there are staircases and doors that lead to nowhere (literally! Some doors open to a wall, some staircases lead to the ceiling!), and Sarah was obsessed with the number 13. Everything in the house revolved around this number -- coat hooks, drain holes in sinks, ceiling tiles, number of stairs on staircases, numbers of candles in chandeliers, colored stones in windows, etc.

Now granted, the death of family members is devastating and could understandably drive people to the looney house. But it amazes me how one person -- one psychic -- drastically changed the life of Sarah. Because Sarah listened to this crazy lady, it has affected the lives of so many others. I have always disagreed with anyone ever visiting a psychic, fortune teller, tarot card reader...nothing good can come from it. And this once again, reinforces my theory. It only took one person to push Sarah over the edge, this is so tragic. We'll never know what her life could have been...but what could it have been if she didn't visit that psychic? We'll never know...so sad...

My job is so cool...

...because I get to do stuff like this when I travel...

...see the rooftop of the creepy Winchester Mystery House...

...marvel at the craziness of Sarah Winchester and her obsession with building stuff to nowhere, including a balcony inside her house -- sealed doors on both sides...

...find cupcake tupperware...

...walk the streets of Solvang...

...and witness gorgeous sunsets like this...

Mr. and Mrs. Fuentes

Congratulations Emily and Jerry! On my way out of town tonight I took a detour and celebrated Emily and Jerry -- such a cute wedding. I especially love that the reception consisted of the taco guy. Perfect!

I'm so happy for you both!!
And of course...so happy to have a little work reunion from Open Doors!

My Geekiness is Revealed

I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan. I love the books I love the movies and I love talking about the books and the movies. I could go on and on about the depth of this geekiness but I would prefer to keep a little dignity.

But not all of it.

While in Burbank last week Jen (co-worker) and I went to see a musical inspired by Fellowship of the Ring. It was so amazing! Elron walking around in a Snuggie...Merry talking about LOST (oh the sheer brilliance of that scene)...Bilbo and Frodo talking about Twilight...remote control boats on stage...Aragorn being ridiculously arrogant...the Belrog having his own dance scene...it was so clever. I cannot WAIT for a musical inspired by The Two Towers to come out!

PS -- it's playing until July 12th...I highly recommend checking it out!!