Randoms

This month has been a fun but busy one. Since I haven't had time to blog about it all very much, I thought I'd just blog some tidbits about what's been going on.

I was invited to a class to learn about essential oils. I had read about them a little bit on a couple of blogs, but I didn't really know all they could do. I ended up buying one that really helped with my pain when I used it during the class. I really want to learn more about all of the benefits and uses of essential oils, and I'm sure I'll be posting more about them as I do.


We went to a wedding for a couple that Josh and I both knew from our years working with the youth at our church (Josh has known the groom most of his life). The groom's mom also happens to be my massage therapist and one of my good friends. It was a really fun wedding.

The only pic we got together, besides the ones we took in the photo booth

Me and my girls from Bible study

I got to help surprise my sweet friend A.G. for her birthday. Her hubby set it all up and she had no idea! It was so fun to be able to spend that evening with her and some of my dearest friends.

I read the final book (Allegiant) in the Divergent series...and let me tell you, it's a major tear jerker. I'm still not sure that I can say that I "liked" it, but it was a great read and a good ending for the series. I am very excited for the Divergent movie coming out in March!


I have a new obsession. I bought a bag of the new peppermint white chocolate M&M's because I had a coupon for them...and it was love at first bite. Seriously. They are so good. I'm already on my second bag and I don't think it will be my last. Sometimes even us healthy eating girls have to splurge.


I went and saw Catching Fire with some of my favorite people on Friday night. I cried through the majority of the movie. I haven't re-read the book since I read it the first time so there were definitely some things I'd forgotten. But most of all, I thought they did such a better job on this movie compared to the first one. I'm just so sad that we have to wait another whole year for part one of Mockingjay.


We went out to sushi with some of the people on the worship team at church. It was so fun to watch the reactions of those who hadn't tried sushi before.

And finally, this weekend I threw a Murder Mystery Party for Josh's birthday. We went to one a few years ago for A.G. and we had such a great time. I wanted to do something fun with our friends to celebrate the hubby and this was definitely the perfect way to do it. We crammed 26 people into our tiny house, it was way too hot with that much body heat, and there was a whole lot of laughing...and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

 Three of my favorite girls! I wasn't a character, my sis-in-law was a principal, S.W. was a librarian, and my sister was a pastry chef

 The butcher, a news reporter, the police chief, and the mayor

 A beauty pageant director, a bull rider, three news reporters, and the CEO of a cereal company

 My brother-in-law was the obnoxious local celebrity 

 My sweet friend L.B. and her hubby were the professor and the tailor

 The two on the left were a hair stylist and a veterinarian

It's been such a great month and it's not even over yet! I am definitely looking forward to more fun celebrations this week.

Thanks

I know that Thanksgiving is the time of year that people are usually thankful. Or at least the time of year that people remember to be thankful.

I know that gratitude needs to be cultivated and it should be a constant state of being.

And as much as I try to be thankful and count my blessings throughout the year, I am still not very thankful most of the time.

Not saying I'm rude and don't use the words "thank you", but I often take for granted the little things (and the big things) in my life.

I don't deserve what I have. I don't deserve my house or my car or my husband or my friends or my job or warmth or any of it. And I certainly don't deserve to have my sins forgiven.

And yet, for some reason, I have this wonderful life with these wonderful people in it.

It's not perfect but it's a beautiful mess of love, pain, and joy.

And I wouldn't trade this mess for anything.

This year has taught me a lot about being thankful for what I have, for the beautiful people that I can call my family and friends, and for the hard times. Even when life brings you to your knees, there is still so much to be thankful for.

I may not express it daily, but I truly am thankful for this life that God has given me. I am thankful for the opportunities He's put in my path, and the trials I've learned and grown from.

Encouragement

I really love opening up my Bible and be encouraged by what I find.

A lot of times, when I'm reading my Bible (if I'm not using the app on my phone), I like to turn to the New Testament or to Psalm and Proverbs and just read whatever I turn to.

Tonight, I came across some great verses in Romans that really spoke to my heart with where I am right now in life.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

(Romans 8:28)

It's always such a blessing to me to know that God's Word will help and encourage me in whatever situations I'm facing in life.

And tonight? I just needed to be reminded of a few of His promises.

Life Lately

I've been pretty proud of myself this year.

I didn't take a whole lot of pictures last year and I was really disappointed in myself. I'm usually always good about pulling out my iPhone or my real camera...and for some reason, I just didn't do a very good job with that last year.

This year, I was determined to do better.

So, here are a few pics from the last week.

 Josh and I on Halloween. We went over to a friend's house for dinner and trick or treating with the kiddos. 

 Our niece on Halloween. Precious Minnie Mouse.

 Two of my favorite girls

We got to celebrate my sweet friend L.Z. this weekend.  

 She and I have been friends for about four years now and I am so thankful for who she is in my life.

 L.Z. and L.B. Such incredible blessings.

All of us ladies

As hard as life can be sometimes (and trust me, this year has been a doozy), I am so thankful that I have such amazing people in my life that walk beside me. Having a support system that loves you and cares for you, and that you are able to love and care for as well? There's nothing else like it.

November starts a very busy month for us. I was looking at my calendar today and there are literally only 5 or 6 nights this month that we don't have something going on. I'm excited for Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthday celebrations. We also have a wedding and a baby shower this month, as well as lots of other fun stuff.

I've already started listening to Christmas music! I started on November 1st last year and decided I needed to start on the same day this year. It makes my heart so warm. And with good ol' Daylight Savings and the fact that it gets darker even earlier now...it really is starting to feel a lot more like Christmas is coming. 

And, that's a wrap!

I Love...Pictures! {Day 5}

Today is the last day of my series looking at some of the pictures that I love.

I'm focusing on group pics with my friends for this post.

The ladies in our Bible study (though one of them has moved away now). The top pic is from a friend's wedding this summer and the bottom pic is at a Bible study pool party. 

This is an old pic of a trip to Disneyland with friends and family. This was in 2004. 

3/4 of Dot 35 (my hubby's buddies from jr. high) and their wives. The top pic is from Christmas 2011. The bottom is from our friend's wedding this summer. 

Our friends that we used to do college group with. This was taken at a friend's wedding in 2010. 

Bridesmaids in E.K.'s wedding in 2007.

With the girls at ATF in 2012. 

At J.K.'s wedding in 2012. 

At a going away dinner for one of the ladies in my old Bible study in 2011. 

At R.J.'s bridal shower in 2009. 

Taken just a few weeks ago at a worship night. 

The one and only time we've gotten all the guys to go dancing with us. This was from this summer. 

 Our friends from CO. The top one was taken at M.E.'s wedding in 2012. The bottom one was taken the week before they moved back to CO in 2010.

Josh's oldest friend and his wife. Before we were married. The top pic is from our trip to Yosemite in 2006 and the bottom is from a trip to San Francisco with my sister in 2006. 

My sweet friend L.B. and her hubby. At a friend's wedding in 2009. 

With my friends L.Z. and L.B. after a fun day on the beach this summer. 

With L.Z. and H.W. at Women of Faith in 2011. 

 I have taken a lot of pics with these two. We have a lot of fun memories together. The top pic was taken at my brother-in-law's wedding in 2009 and the bottom pic was taken at M.E.'s bachelorette party in 2012.

 The top pic was taken at my sister's wedding in 2009. The bottom pic was taken on New Year's Eve 2010 (or rather, right after midnight 2011)

 The top pic was taken at a birthday celebration for M.E. in 2012 and the bottom pic was at M.E.'s bridal shower with all of her bridesmaids in 2011.

And the Dot 35 wives without the husbands. The top pic was taken at our friend's wedding this summer and the bottom pic was taken on the night that we celebrated both of their birthdays in January of this year. 

I hope you have enjoyed looking at all of these pictures. It was a lot of fun for me to pick some of my favorites and to reminisce about all of these fun memories. I love that I have all of these pictures (and many more) to look back on.

(Missed a post? You can find them here, here, here, and here)