Back to the Future

Let's get in the DeLorean and go back to November 2013. Some highlights!

1) Thanksgiving 2013 was spent with D's side in Orange County. After filling ourselves to the brim on Thursday with our sweet family, Kelli, D and I had our annual day-after-Thanksgiving trip to Disneyland to walk it all off (well, not really, since Dole Whip, gumbo and churros were involved.) To be honest, I almost didn't want to go--it was raining in the morning--but I'm so glad I got over my disinclination because it was such a fun day. Even with no fireworks show, Disneyland at Christmas is perfect.

2) Christmas break meant nearly two full weeks off. Praise the Lord, I love my job perks. We went home to Turlock and celebrated with my family and made Kopfwurst and spent time with friends. Break ended on a sweet note with my dear friend Katie's wedding in Orange County and a quiet NYE celebration at home with a champagne and a homemade steak and lobster dinner.

NYE 2014

3) We celebrated D's birthday together on January 5th--I made lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes in the morning, then Ben and Pippa surprised D by coming up to watch the Packers/49ers playoff game (that sadly ended in heartbreak for all of us.) We had dinner at Enterprise Fish Co. and ended the day with the realization that D really is getting old, as we found ourselves in our pajamas on the couch, watching the season premiere of Downton Abbey. 

4) We made the trip out to Arizona to celebrate my sweet friend Jenny's wedding. It was so fun to help behind the scenes and help make her day go smoothly, and to see her marry the love of her life. We also got to visit my Grandma on the way home, which was a huge bonus and something I don't get to do nearly often enough!

Jenny's beautiful backyard wedding

5) D landed a new job with McBeard Media and started the day after his birthday! He loves working on movie campaigns and best of all, gets to work from home. No commute + jeans erryday + working from our cozy couch = recipe for success.

6) Valentine's Day was sweet; we had dinner at a little French cafe around the corner from us. We had a low-key date since I was packing and taking off for San Francisco the next morning for my sweet friend Emma's bachelorette party. It was a super special weekend celebrating in the city. Emma is my oldest and dearest friend (we met when we were 3 years old at our moms' Jazzercise class) and I was so honored to get to stand by her side last weekend at her wedding (!!! Photos to come in a separate post !!!)

For all the highlights we have had so far, we have also experienced some setbacks and disappointments, too. As Dr. Emmett Brown says, "Once this baby hits 88 mph, you're gonna see some serious sh*t." Marriage is kind of like that. You can't do life together and not see some serious stuff or hit some bumps in the road. As D & I navigate these together, our relationship has become stronger and more life-giving. So I'm grateful for those tough times, even though I kind of also simultaneously kind of also hate them. 2014 has already brought so much growth in both of us--personally, spiritually, relationally--and we can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds.

xo,
S

Anticipation

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope" - Psalm 130:5

Growing up in the Lutheran church, our family always very closely observed the liturgical calendar. In particular, the Advent and Lenten seasons led to spiritual reflection, serving as rhythms and patterns throughout the year to focus the church on different moods and themes focusing on the life of Jesus. Perhaps it's because of this upbringing that anticipation of an event has always felt just as exciting and meaningful to me as the event itself. Anticipation provides time for reflection, richly coloring an event's significance.

This past spring, I was greatly anticipating Easter. Not only was it an opportunity to go home and spend time with my family at our annual barbeque on the home ranch, but because this year, more than ever, I have truly experienced pure joy because of forgiveness in Christ.

Earlier this year, I had been really struggling and was trying to handle everything myself. I was angry and I was miserable. I had thoughts along the lines of "What if I never feel happy again? What if I struggle with this forever?" And so what I finally did was what I should have been doing all along--I had a big, long talk with God. I asked Him for grace and peace. I asked Him to make me more forgiving, of myself and of others. I asked him to help me let go of things I couldn't control and choose love. And after I poured out my anxieties and fear and frustrations, I paused. I listened.

What happened felt nothing short of miraculous. My heart was almost immediately softened. A burden was lifted. I was filled with gratitude. I felt happier, lighter, joyful. As I went about the rest of my evening, I found myself being more kind, graceful and patient towards Daniel, my family, my friends.

That was all the work of God. I have no doubt.

And so, as I continued through the season of Lent, preparing my heart for the celebration of Jesus conquering death, I found myself truly understanding the purpose of the season. The pause for reflection. Even though we already know the end of the story--Jesus rising from the dead and conquering death--the anticipation of that moment provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on what that means for us: a covering of grace, a release of our personal struggles and peace in our hearts because of assurance we have of what is to come.

It makes it not so much some event that happened; but instead a beautiful love story that is happening. I am thankful for this season for reflection, as we anticipate the heavenly glory that is to come.