The Game Changer Email

Inevitably, there's always a game changer, isn't there?

Let me back up. Remember a few weeks back I mentioned a job interview? Well, what began as certain confidence of getting the position slowly waned with each passing day without hearing back. I went back to my merry ways as the stay at home mom, with no kids.

This Monday I got the email asking if I'd like the job. It was a moment when I realized everything was changing. It was the game-changer email. I kept it to myself for a while. I made dinner, we ate, I cleaned up, and eventually I mentioned it to Josh. He congratulated me. I got a kiss and a hug. We watched reruns of the Big Bang Theory. Then we went running.

Tuesday I told all the necessary people. With each phone call, it became more and more real. You may be thinking, "It's just a new job, what's the fuss"? But I haven't worked in a year so this is a big deal.

I'm excited, scared, expectant, and nervous. Will I remember how to work? Will they like me? Will someone help me? I liken it to a child beginning their first day of school. I'm even buying a new outfit. What can I say? I'm not above it all peeps!

"Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." Psalm 146:1-2

P.S. I'll be working here, on their serving team in missions and leadership development. wootwoot!

"Roommates and not Teammates"

Not to do back-to-back videos but...

These guys do date nights! They put the kids to sleep and then do an all out meal for the two of them. Their intentionality inspires me. Watch their short homemade video:

Not Without Salt

The gal in the video also wrote this inspiring post about being "roommates and not teammates". Really makes me think about how intentional I am in cultivating my relationship with Josh.

And up tomorrow, something new that's in the works.

Have a beautiful Wednesday!

The Best Welcoming Committee

Did you watch Parenthood last week? They had the best moment. I found it for you:



Of course I was balling my eyes out (no shocker there). What an amazing welcoming committee!

Reminds me what happened when I put Jesus in my heart. :)

What a sweet deal.

Berkley...And A Few Others

*yawn, good morning. Why is it so hard to get moving on Monday's? 

Josh and I had a good weekend. We went to Walnut Creek, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, and then yesterday after church we drove up the 880 to Berkley. Just call us the bay explorers.

Berkeley was fun. It's very hip there. Lots of bikes, activists, recycling bins, and neighborhood homes dedicated to this cause or that program. But it's also laid back with plenty of unique eateries. I overheard a conversation at lunch. The people next to us were comparing LA to Berkley and one girl was saying how she enjoyed it up here more because "everyone's not always running to the gym".  ha

January is to coming to a close this week. Did the year begin like you had thought? Whatever was thrown at you, God is faithful. Yes He is. 

Friday Favorites

The little cupcake is growing fast. He is holding his head up, sucking his thumb, sleeping with his legs in between the crib, and taking it all in. He watches you and responds now and is just joy. Really, he is joy all wrapped up in this little chubby ball. One more weekend till I get to kiss his big ole head a million times *kisses for days!

// World Wide Web //

The only thing that caught my eye this week: the prettiest bathing suit.

Have a wonderful weekend friends, see you on Monday. Stay dry!

The Rug Dilemna

I kinda lied when I said I didn't have any resolutions for this year. January 1st I looked at Josh and said (in my most determined voice) "We are buying a rug and a coffee table this year."

In May we'll have lived in our apartment for almost 2 years and when I come home I still find the living room wanting. 

I have two problems with buying a rug: 1. They are ridiculously expensive 2. committing to a rug is like deciding on which college to go to, you're stuck with it for a long time and it affects all your other decisions. 

Maybe you can help us. This is our couch. And this is our side table (find of a century btw!). I lean towards graphic prints, warm modern, and want the place to feel refreshing and homey. 

And these are the rugs that I have been eyeing:

Rug 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7

Update: Josh has vetoed #3. :)

Let me lend your eyes! Which do you like?

Small, dainty, and gold suit my fancy. Love these...and love the grand finale the most. :)

here, here (and a cheaper version here), here, here, and here

Hope you nail it today. :p

I Agree, The Best New York Real Estate Story Ever

Sometimes in my wanderings I come across the wildest stories. This is one of them.

Story found here, and pictures of the interior here.

Believe it or not, this building in New York City is a single family home. Bought in 1966 by a photographer, and now occupied by him, his wife, and his teenage daughter. It's 30,000 square feet and has 72 rooms and here's the kicker, he paid $102,000.

Five years ago it was valued between $35 - $70 million.

Wild.

If this was yours, would you sell? 

more photos here

It is extraordinary that the leadership of the civil rights movement fought for change through peace. Refusing to give in to violence in the face of frightful injustice must have bordered the impossible. The world today doesn't seem to have the guts to fight for something with only the voracity of will, a strength in numbers, and the power of words. 

Celebrating an incredible movement!

Martin Luther King's Speech - I Have A Dream

Friday Favorites

Curious George

// From the World Wide Web //

I want this rug!

Remind me again, why would anyone want to be President?

I bought the blue one (and a pink one), drat, just couldn't help myself.

For those mom's who want the look, but not the headache, a new kid's party company.

If their story doesn't move you, I don't know what will.

Ashley's "two favorites on Third Street". Someone check it out and let me know?

$39 flight to Vegas and $79 to stay. Do it.  /*/ YOLO /*/


**Have a great weekend**

"You Got This" and some Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Well, Josh is officially down for the count. Full on flu, poor guy. I can count on one hand the number of times he's called in sick and that's including these last three days. Big bummer!

Trying to figure out the best way to take care of him is a little daunting. Last time he was ill we were at his mom's, so it wasn't no thing. I had a safety net who knew just what to do. Is it weird that I'm kinda wishing we could just run over to his mom's house?

Me to me: "Grow up J! You got this!"

Anyways... when I first started getting into blogs Abbey Goes Design Scouting was my first visit each day. Just the other day she posted about secret passage bookcases! Perfect for feeding my fantasies and bringing my favorite childhood novels to life. (Also I think, "hey, you're getting robbed, perfect place to stash the kids!")

If I were to build a house from the ground up, I would definitely consider putting one in. Would you?

photos from here

Pat and Tduk's Hometown Wedding

Pat and Tduk's (pronounced d-oo-k) love story is stronger than most. They met in Thailand while Pat was on a short term missions trip. Tduk was working for the organization the team went to serve and unbelievably, those ten short days lead to three years of skyping, phone calls, texting, and an occasional visit from Pat to Thailand. 

Eventually Tduk was approved for a passport and she was finally able to make her way to the states. Last Saturday these two finally tied the knot. Isn't that a remarkable story? I think it takes extraordinary people to have such a love story.

The ceremony was at Venice, Pat's home church, and the reception at Maggianos at the Grove. Here are pictures I've pieced together, sorry for the bad quality!

Vows

The beaming groom and the bride with her new family. 

The reception was where it was at. Maggianos is really a great place to have a reception. There was sooo much food and because it was family style, you were allowed to asked for seconds! Our table got extra calamari and bruschetta :)  The room was small but well appointed. Huge chandeliers hung in the room and rich wood paneling lined the walls. It was intimate but felt fancy. 

Here are the girls at my table. We were sitting at a primo table because Pat's sister, Grace, was at our table (second from left). I think I've told her too much, but seriously, girl looked stunning. Streamlined and simple but beautiful and mature from head to toe. I can't get over it!

Some of the guys attempting their "sexy" pose. 

But my all time favorite photo was this one. There really is nothing like older people in the photobooth. And can I just say, my mom never ceases to rock it (center blonde with blue electric guitar glasses).

I find there's usually one part of a wedding that stands out. For Aimee and Blane's it was the ceremony, and for Pat and Tduk's, it was the reception. Blane did a really great speech, he was funny but also heartfelt, Grace's Auntie was hilarious, Kiki's video was touching, the food was great, the dessert even better, the raffle really fun, and the MC was spot on perfect. But the icing on the cake was an impromptu speech by Pat's younger brother, Ricardo.

Being the oldest sibling in a family who immigrated from the Philippines, Pat worked hard from a very young age. And through the years he eventually gave up school so that he could help put his brother and sister through school.

Knowing that, maybe you can imagine what Ricardo's speech was like. There was not a dry eye in the room. And I think, looking at Pat as a whole, this wedding really spoke to the man he is - gentle, loving, devoted, supportive, tenacious, caring of others, hard working, and loved by many.

They're in hawaii right now and I hope so much for the two of them - because they're the couple you root for, ya know?

Holding Hands

Josh is sick. Getting him to admit that is quite the feat but I knew he had caved when he decided not to workout last night. I'm hoping Chazuke, blankets, emergency, episodes of West Wing, and an early bedtime did the trick. We'll see how he is tonight after work.

On Saturday Josh and I got to babysit during Pat and Tduk's wedding. We arrived right when the wedding party was walking in so we had to wait in the hallway till they were inside. That's when I took this. Look closely, they're holding hands. *heart melting

That was my view, and this was Josh's. 

Joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart..

More on the wedding soon!

A Last Minute Resolution

Is it too late to add in a resolution? It does seem like cheating to join the game 14 days in, doesn't it? :p

Initially I didn't do the whole resolutions thing because, well I just didn't. But last week we paid our last medical bill of 2012, and I've got to say, it felt good! 2012 was a tough year for us financially and as I happily wrote that last check, my resolutions came to me - no major health setbacks and to have a financially stabilizing year. Outrageous, right? :p

I'm not too sure I have control over all that, but in all seriousness, I did lay it down at the Big Guy's feet right there in that moment.

P.S. If you're new around town, you're about to learn I'm paparazzi at the red carpet. :) Here are my favorites from last night's Globes.

All of these and more, here.

Hello chilly Monday, I will best you with my down jacket, long socks, ear warmers, and a steaming hot cup of Starbucks hot cocoa. Bring it!

Friday Favorites

Skyping with two of my favorites

// Web Favorites //

Reno cheats by Joel Bray

Minted's new (and really great) save-the-date magnets

Grey's 3 favorite elopements of 2012 (and mine too after seeing those pictures!)

And Land of Nod's Spring Preview (Crate and Barrel's Pottery Barn Kids equivalent)

A super sale at Zara Home right now, hard to resist..

Giuliana Rancic's nursery, if you're interested in that sort of thing

And lastly, 6:14 of Sheldon Cooper, bazinga!

A Rooftop Shout

*The following is something I typed late one night about Josh. Although I try to quell my intensity for him, today is a day I am allowed to shout it from the rooftops! Here's a peak into my late night thoughts as a celebration of my husband on his 27th birthday.

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Today someone jokingly asked me what Josh brought to our marriage. I laughed in response, knowing the gentle spirit in which the joke was intended. But the more I thought on it, the more I decided what I should have said.

I should have said that Josh is much more than he appears to be. Attentive to a fault and full of compassion. Even when he appears to not be listening, he usually is, especially when it comes to me. He has studied and logged my every move. Put in his language, his algorithm of me is pretty perfect. He often understands why I'm responding that way or what I'm feeling before I even know what I'm feeling.

He's that guy who always puts my needs above his own. Like he'll turn down the air in the car when he thinks it's getting too cold for me even if he's still hot. He is also full of brilliant ideas and I get to be the one to hear them. He never throws his intelligence in my face or in anyone elses for that matter, although I am often tempted to do it for him. He is comprised of many words that aren't popular in today's game such as, thorough, trustworthy, committed, steady, practical, honest, hard working. But these attributes are the qualities I revere in him. He comes off as aloof, but in fact, he is anything but. 

He has somehow built a safety net around us. I know I can do anything silly, lame, or dumb, and he'll still love me. It's like I am swaddled so tightly in a blanket of acceptance, I know I'll never fall out. He is the first to say sorry and never demanding of an apology in return. He allows me to get there on my own. And although I can boil myself over when salivating over an impending fight, his approach always releases my steam before the first word is even said. 

He is the type of friend everyone wants but few know about because he is loyal, low maintenance, and never expects anything in return. The few he opens up to don't know how lucky they are to see the makings of him. And that one ex-girlfriend who broke up with him long ago didn't understand what she had. Lucky for me she missed the gold mine of husband material because Josh works to give you everything you ever dreamed of. And to top it off, he even pays the bills and handles the finances!

If, in return, there's a bit too much talk about technology and usc football, and if I know the rest of my life he will be slow to get ready and will be forever directionally challenged, then so be it. Sweet tradeoff, I say.

In many ways he is everything I am not. And even those who know him have no idea the depth and breath of this man. Because the sum of his parts are greater than the sum of mine.

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Happy Birthday love, (I know I tell you all the time but I don't care) you are so sweetly beautiful. Each and every inch of you dreamed of and created by God. I am praying for a year of dreams imagined and prayers answered. 

The 2nd Annual Christmas Card Awards

Without further ado, welcome to the 'Best Christmas Cards' of 2012 post! There was no reason, just fun really. Hope you enjoy these as much as we do, each and every day.

Best Cutesy Card 

Best 'Brought Back Fond Memories' Card

Best First Baby Card

Best Shocker Card

Best 'holy moly has this changed from last year!' Card

Best 'got the longest awww' Card

Best Handmade Card (and most touching message on the back)

And the winner of the Best Christmas Card of 2012 goes to...Karl and Kathy! Can't you just feel their joy? And I love the text, "Blessed", one word and it says so much.

Till next year peeps.

Last years awards, if you're curious.