Received this handmade wonder in the mail today. =)

Isn't that amazing! My girl Melissa has quite the talented hands. Brought cheer (and a bit of wonder) to my Friday. Have a lovely weekend friends.

If I was to book any trip this Spring, there would be, hands down, no contest where'd I go. Did you know this year is the 100th anniversary of when Japan gave the US 3,000 cherry blossom trees? The event has turned into a big ado and they are already well into week two of the five week spectacular. I would love to walk under the cascading trees. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

I have never been to Washington D.C. but when I do go it'll be in the spring so I can see these amazing blossoms. I would also visit Abe, Michele (I hear she greets guests from time to time), and George's monument, view the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, put my hand on The Wall, and (as an ode to the blossoms) book the Hanakasumi Cherry Blossom Treatment at the Mandarin Oriental Spa. =)

"It is good to give praises to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening." Psalm 92: 1,2

Baby Update - Just about halfway here! Unbelievable. Permanent teeth buds are developing this week along with an outer layer of skin. Crazy isn't it? Thank you Lord for this little guy that is already a blessing to me and so many.

It was a remarkably unexpected weekend. Snapshots from some of it.

Sometimes all you need is a willing $20.

Met this precious one, just a few days old. I'm so lucky.

"In hindsight, it was totally worth it." - me. Yup, I said it.

A rainy Sunday afternoon.

And a reminder of the promise for tomorrow.

My Aunty Lori noted that I was one blessed girl. I totally am. Praises to Jesus for all good things!

Around these parts it's a bit gloomy today. But all week I've been excited for the coming peony. It's my favorite flower and only blooms for a short time during spring. Just the thought of them brings a smile to my face.

 

My mom called and declared she's coming to visit. =) I can't wait! Someone to play with, have a few good conversations, someone to walk with, read with, shop (of course), and eat all kinds of good things. So thankful.

All in a Day

I ventured out beyond my normal walk route and was delightfully assaulted with the fresh scent of citrus. The orange trees on a farm nearby were in full bloom. I stopped and breathed deeply. The smell was wonderful. 

 I was so tempted to just pick one off the tree, or take one from the ground, but didn't. 

Instead, I mustered up the courage to go in close to take a picture and feel the oranges. 

When I was little we lived in a house owned by the church. It was directly behind the church and next to an alley so it wasn't the most ideal place to live. We had bars on all the windows and during our time there had a few break-in's to the garage (One time I lost my beloved pink bike.).

But I didn't know any better when we were young and loved that house. There were two bedrooms + a tiny little space that barely managed a twin bed. That space was my bedroom and I would love opening my window during the summer to smell the fruit.

My run in with the orange trees took me back to those wonderful days.

Yesterday my friend Dawn lost her grandma. She was 95 year old! But of course it always hurts to lose someone you love, no matter the age. Fittingly our couples devotional last night talked about dealing with grief in marriage. It's a little scary thinking the two of us will experience a lot of grief together. But this is what the book said, "A Christian family will suffer as much grief as any other family. Loss will hurt them just as deeply. The difference is, a Christian's grief is always tempered by hope. The loved one is still gone, but we have the hope of meeting again in heaven and experiencing permanent joy."

While we walked.

Monday

I'm feeling all things Zara lately. 

This coat oolala!

And the sickest of all,

For kicks and giggles I added all this up. All I need is a measly $518.00. Peanuts people, peanuts. 

Boo is a Boy!

This was the announcement Blane posted on Facebook. 

That guy is over the moon excited they are having a boy. =) I have never seen him like this. Leah pointed out to me that my family dynamics are changing. The women, who once ran the household at 3:1, have lost their hold. Before the end of the year we'll be 3:4. Yikes!

Wedding Singing

Speaking of singing, I was recently asked to sing in a wedding. This is the by-product of singing on the worship team for years. I have sung at a handful of weddings. You would think it would be a compliment, being asked to participate in their special day, but alas, the moment I can sense the question coming from their lips my body breaks out in hives and I begin to sweat profusely. My physical response actually holds merit. I have two of the worst wedding singing stories you'll ever hear.

Number 1 - I was in college and an acquaintance from church was getting married. It would be my first solo wedding performance so I was ignorantly delighted. I failed to ask the all-important wedding singing questions. Where would it be held? What song? When will it be sung? And, in this case, would that be in English?

That's right, I said yes without asking the questions. A few weeks later I was told it was Ave Maria. AVE MARIA. There's a reason only Luciano Pavarotti and Celine Dion are the ones who sing this song. It is impossibly hard and not in English. To make matters worse, I had my wisdom teeth pulled the day before.

The day of the wedding, I woke up worried about my wisdom teeth thing. I couldn't open my mouth all the way and it was still a little numb feeling. By the time I got to the church the jitters had consumed me. The lady was marrying a Catholic guy so it was in a HUGE catholic church that echoed every whisper and the stage was massive - and empty. It was me and that priest standing up there. I was not hidden behind a pulpit or put in the corner. I freaked out. Needless to say, it was absolutely terrible. I liken it to an elementary school child learning to play an instrument for the first time. I was cringing. They were cringing. And it kept on going. Literally. I was slated to sing during communion but because most of the attendants were Christian no one got up. All eyes on me for 6 whole minutes. I was mortified.

To cap it off, one lady got up during the reception and started singing Ave Maria at the top of her lungs. People cheered and I peed in my pants. To this day, I still avert my eyes when I see them.

Number 2 - My best friend's sister's wedding. How could I say no to her? I asked all the questions and loved the song, Twila Paris "How Beautiful". I was prepared, aptly hidden behind the piano, and slated to begin as they took communion. Perfect. What I didn't prep myself for was the emotional attachment that overcame me.

Shelley and Ray are a great couple. While I was singing my mind kept thinking how this couple was exactly what God had in mind for marriage.. My voice got a little wobbly but I was managing until I hit the third verse.

How Beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes
How Beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure love so that others may live
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ


It was so fitting and I completely lost it and started crying. But I kept trying to sing. and cry. and sing. and cry. I had lost all control. To close it out I pulled the mic close to my lips and whispered the last line, "theee......bbbbbooooooooodddy........offf......Chhhhhrrriiiiisttt." When it was over I shrunk down to the piano bench, looked at my friend on the piano with a look of terror you have no idea. Needless to say I didn't leave that piano bench until the entire church had emptied.

It didn't help that right as I was going down (and taking the song and the moment with me) I looked up and made eye contact with the groom. He has these HUGE eyes and they were so wide eyed and moving from the right to left so fast as if he was screaming, "you are ruining my wedding!!!!" It was unrecoverable.

Later my mom said she almost started singing from the congregation to help me out but Aimee stopped her. Can you imagine?

So those are my worst. Now do you understand why I have a hard time sleeping at night? These things haunt me. The verdict's still out on whether I'll sing at this one.  I'm still waiting on the questions to be answered. :)

If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them

Made chocolate scones last night. They were soft and dense and yummy. Along with a piping cup of coffee, it was the perfect breakfast on this cold and rainy morning.

I realized something a few days ago. I am turning into my mother. Two Sunday's ago Josh and I walked into church and the worship team was playing a familiar tune. In that moment I was excited to praise the Lord and give him thanks so I hungrily joined in singing. The music continued and I was in my own world rejoicing our King when I noticed a lady a few rows up turn around a give me a quick look. A few moments later, a guy to my left glanced over. And another at my one o'clock. I was perplexed but just kept right on singing.

As we were leaving church, fully fulfilled and walking in His love, it dawned on me. I was singing so loud I disrupted everyone around me! They were turning and looking to see the crazy woman singing at the top of her lungs. EMBARRASSING!

My mom does this every time she sings. She sings like she's on a mission to make sure Jesus hears what she's saying. People in church don't turn around and stare anymore. They've grown accustomed to it - as I have. When I was younger it used to embarrass me. When I got older I saw the beauty in the freedom to worship however your heart desires. And now, I'm her - just younger. :p

"I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul! For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom." Isaiah 61:10-11

Had a great time just hanging out this weekend. Randomly Josh and I saw each person in our bridal party. =) Here's a snapshot of the last few days.

This morning I poured Wheat Thins into my cereal bowl. :/

Pinterest

Then and Now

It's been a year since Japan was devastated by a tsunami and The Huffington Post put together a then and now.

These are just some of the photos. More here. 

A Day Spent in Berkeley

Over the weekend Josh and I had a wonderful day exploring Berkeley. Besides being home to the oldest in the UC in the system, there are a lot of things I've heard about like The Berkeley Bowl (a giganto market and foodie lovers wonderland), great public parks and hiking trails, and the real reason I trekked us up here, the Crate and Barrel outlet. Not to be confused with the rising CB2 store (their answer for mod lovers), the outlet has past goods and most importantly, an ever revolving discounted furniture selection.

Besides perusing the discounts (and buying nothing) the day was splendidly summer-like as we walked through the trendy streets filled with people, petitioners and animals.

Josh got a real kick out of finally being able to use Google wallet at a coffee shop we walked into. A win-win Saturday for the both of us. =)

The fog around my understanding of Northern California is just now clearing. Exciting!

Look, customizable US state sticker sheets. i <3 these! Wouldn't they be a perfect addition to a "we've moved" card? 

 And in other news...Boo's weekly update: Baby is moving all limbs and can sense light. =) Glorious.

Josh and I are off to Berkeley to peruse the Crate and Barrel outlet (yes, one really exists!). Maybe while we're there we'll pick up some women's pride and environmental safety tips. 


Have a wonderful Saturday, free of deadlines and timelines!

"The Best Chocolate ____ You'll Ever Have"

Yesterday I promised to tell you about "The Best Chocolate Ice Cream You'll Ever Have". It's claim to fame is that you don't need an ice cream maker to pull it off. So after allowing it to hibernate overnight, I pulled it out to see if it really lived up to it's name. I mean, it is gooood. It is rich, cold, creamy, and so so chocolat-ee. 

But I think if I could rename it, I would call it, "The Best Chocolate Pudding You'll Ever Have". Not quite ice cream if you know what I mean. Good...but not quite ice cream. Of course, this didn't stop me from licking the lip to get every last morsel. :/ It was in a mug afterall. :p