Hums in between lines

I've been told that I hum when my emotions are changing such as when I'm very happy, very sad, or very thoughtful. Today I hum because I feel immensely blessed. A close friend had her baby yesterday and I can't wait to snuggle that bundle of joy. And I'm excited for her little growing family. Yes its a start of all night in Messi days but babies are beautiful. And they are a gift.
Jesses dad will be in town this weekend to help us take on the task of retaining walls. Those obnoxious bricks will be out our driveway by Tuesday!!! And we will celebrate May birthdays with scrumpious pulled pork.
I feel blessed and loved as God shows me His love by surrounding me with those I love most.

Random thought:

Doing what I've always done. I'm just sitting here waiting for the next big adventure to come along....when I become in charge of creating my own big adventures?

This is my life

A hard realization for me lately. I allowed my state of graduation to take over my subconcious. 'I have my degree, we should be able to move anywhere, be anything.' When I know the real the real truth I need to believe is 'God you will use me to be what people need, anywhere.

New post

I've been wanting to put words down here the last week or so. Achingly wanted to put them down. But I wasn't sure where to start. I'm still not sure. Since my last day of classes it has been 1.5 months. I keep surprising myself with old habits and new habits. And it is hard to explain the feelings that come with this realization. My time is spent lost in my head....and time keeps spinning by so fast. This is my starting place for now.

Nearing the end

My heart grieves. My heart grieves for the end of practicum. I've found a place where I am surrounded by comrades and challenged to make a difference in my community; and it ends in less than three weeks. I can't put a price tag on the experience. I can hold tight to the experiences, the learning, and the love. And I'm in limbo figuring out my next job situation. I can stay at my current employment, but days that I leave there- I feel I've become a sellout. What I've accomplished in my college years does not feel like nearly enough. The problem with an Associates? Any position I want to work requires a Bachelors. Oh please, haven't I studied enough? Just let me be in my field.

Avoidance

I've been filled with a roller-coaster of emotions lately. So I've been avoiding the things and people....this is typical for me when I'm starting to get depressed, anxious, or both. And sleeping more. 
Just noticing these characteristics and actions is a good step toward dealing with what is going on in life for me. 

I recently realized I tend to take on other people's problems and carry those emotions, in an attempt to understand what he/she/they are going through and as sympathy. Also, at this moment, I am tired of listening to everyone talk about their lives. (this leads to the next realization: I need to increase my support system). Which puts up a mental brick wall! All the excuses I can think of come to mind.

Such as: I don't have time/ don't want to use the extra time I have to invest in more friendships right now. I don't have enough energy/ don't want to use the energy I do have to invest in other people right now. I have really hard time trusting people to be careful with my heart. I am working to accept myself, but that leaves me feeling vulnerable. And vulnerable is not a place of comfort where I find rest. 

So I'm working on turning to God during this time to increase my support system. 

I love my practicum site. LOVE my practicum site. Of all the areas of my life right now, this area has brought me much peace.
I have found an area in which I grow, learn, and help others.
Now, I am faced with the question of exploring a different agency for my last practicum, or extending my stay at this location. 
Let's be honest. I am waaaaay comfortable here. Staying here would increase my knowledge of community resources, and be a great source of enjoyment. 
But on the other hand, shouldn't this be the time I am taking myself out of my comfort zone?  I struggle to determine if my feelings of guilt for wanting to stay because this place is comfortable and enjoyable are the "right" reasons for me to stay. 

Marriage. Honestly, I am the one struggling right now. I struggle to be a consistently supportive wife. (Insert: feeling vulnerable and a lack of self-confidence hits the pavement harder on the home front). I choose to stay positive in my words, but my thoughts in the back of my are all negative. Silly little things make me upset; he didn't tell me I was pretty or beautiful today.  ( Yeah, I like my ego stroked....can you tell?) And on the flip side of that thought, I didn't tell him how handsome and dashing he is. So I struggle to even the playing field for our marriage. I struggle to be on the same team, because being independent/ pushing him away seems so much easier than pulling him closer.
I'm taking this one to God too. He's making me more aware of my selfishness, and the need to communicate and express myself towards my husband. He's also teaching me the art of respect, though I tend to struggle with this too. 

I will end on this note. I need to rid myself of the masks I keep trying (and failing) to hide who I am.

My first Practicum...and first blog about said Practicum

Update: 7/23 7am Writing these words on my heart for Him. 
"Refiner's fire/ My heart's one desire
Is to be holy/ Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy/ Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will/ Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within/ And make me holy"

I find my expressions of recent to be real and raw. This is my message to my Love today:

I emailed my instructor this morning and told him that is why [insert: my paper will not be presented today--I have only read the treatment plan once], and it is a real reason. There is a lot of paperwork to reread through. I feel like the first of the quarter was so crazy busy that now six weeks into classes I'm getting a chance to fully read and comprehend. I put myself in this position. 
I feel like I have so much personal work to do on myself. I have a very low self esteem right now, and I feel very pulled in different directions, I feel like all these aspects are in my head arguing with each other... and I'm just trying to stay simple. I feel separated from everyone, and I miss having the energy to be around people. Its not the extra work that is exhausting its the feelings and emotions and processing that is exhausting. Its feast or famine with sleep. 
I want better (healthier) living habits. but in trying to stay simple, that is the least important. This list could go on. So i choose to stay focused on school, and realize there are other areas i am failing and just have to deal. but the hard part is dealing.

Life=marathon training. This is the dirty, sweaty, "my legs hurt", "I can't breathe", you can do it, pull yourself up, push yourself harder, lean on Jesus a little more, part of the training. 

I'll check back in when I can breathe again. 

Details, so many details.

I'm doing what I love right now: traveling.

And usually I like to tell myself that I don't get to travel much or enough. But this year, man, this year has been full of adventure.

This year has been full. We are nearing the end of June, and in the infrequent quiet moments I am realizing God has filled our year with wonderful, heartbreaking and heart-growing moments.

I am learning to turn sadness and an ache for a wonderful woman missing in my physical life into a more passionate love our Creator and in my marriage. I am learning each day requires more patience than I possess, and I still need to work on having more patience in my life. I am learning that even though I adapted and changed when life required it of me, I may not have dealt with those feelings. And now is the time to deal with those feelings and move forward. Look back, learn, embrace change lovingly, and move forward full of grace.

I am learning that the person I wanted to be, may not be the person I want to be now--as long as I let my Father direct my paths, I am the person He wants me  to be. 

Here we are.

Gram went to heaven on December 4th. I still miss her, terribly.

Though, God continues to show me blessings and give me strength to face each day.

The hardest part is not hearing her voice each day, and when I feel my mind slip as I notice I've forgotten she isn't physically here anymore. I went a week without visiting Grandpa at the nursing home because I thought I would be able to establish "normal" again, but truly normal does not anymore. And I felt embarrassed for thinking that it would.

My heart feels silent, with much emotion and few words.

I am blessed to be alive today. I am blessed to have married the love of my life. I am blessed to spend my days with him, my family, and my friends. I am blessed to have spent so much of my life with a loving grandmother. I am blessed to find forgiveness, grace, and mercy from my Heavenly Father. I am blessed and I am loved, I will stay here and rest.

I've come to the conclusion at the end of this quarter, that sometimes the areas of life our mind dismisses and refuses to embrace are sometimes the areas we should force ourselves to embrace. 

Though this process never easy and full of tumultuous emotions, the outcome can result in better well-being. 

And yes, the above statement is vague. This applies to so many parts of my life. 

One I am embracing right now as I think about members of my family and the recent communications we have had. 

All too often, Americans are raised to think within the boxes of life. Living outside of the box includes so much more effort. And I will be the first to say that I live inside the boxes way too often. 

I'm stopping there because I cannot be more direct without putting names to ideas. That would be unfair of me. 

This Thanksgiving I am 

-blessed to be loved, accepted, forgiven by the Maker of heaven and earth
-blessed to have my mother's parents alive with us
-blessed to have an understanding and encouraging husband
-blessed to have in-laws to care and share life with
-blessed to have friends, far away and close by
-blessed to live in a house.
-blessed to live with electricity, water, and plumbing.
-blessed to have a bed to sleep in
-blessed to have a car to drive
-blessed to work a job that rarely compromises my values and beliefs
-blessed to find enjoyment and passion my degree program
-blessed to attend school on daily, weekly, and monthly basis
-blessed to grow spiritually and mentally 
-blessed to have Frankie, Luna, Saph, and Cricket to call our kids
-blessed to never worry about whether we have food to feed ourselves or the pets
-blessed to listen to the music I enjoy
-blessed to be alive

Jesse is the BEST HUSBAND because:
-he took me out for Italian food!!
-he brought me home the prettiest flowers for our wedding anniversary
-he cleaned the kitchen (three times this month, at least!!)
-he went to the grocery store for me today!
-he makes the YUMMIEST cheesecakes (and I am excited to make one with him this week!!)

Favorite Taylor Swift lyrics

Taylor Swift is back in the spotlight again for her new cd, RED. I'm posting up my favorite lyrics because they keep bouncing around in my head (and I keep singing them out loud) I just told Jesse all I want for Christmas is her "unreleased songs" album...that was a China Special Edition...so that might not happen but her song "Sweet Tea and God's Graces" is a new favorite of mine.
 
Alrighty, I'm out but ENJOY!

Picture to Burn: 
Official Music Video 
State the obvious, I didn't get my perfect fantasy/
I realize you love yourself more than you could ever love me/
So go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy/
That's fine I'll tell mine that you're gay!

Stay Beautiful:
You're beautiful
Every little piece love, don't you know
You're really gonna be someone, ask anyone
When you find everything you looked for
I hope your life leads you back to my door
Oh but if it don't, stay beautiful

Our Song:  music video
I was riding shotgun
With my hair undone
In the front seat of his car
He's got a one-hand feel
On the steering wheel
The other on my heart
{...}
I was walking up/ The front porch steps/ After everything that day
Had gone all wrong/ And been trampled on/ And lost and thrown away
Got to the hallway, / Well on my way/ To my lovin' bed
I almost didn't notice/ All the roses/ And the note that said...


I'm Only Me When I'm with You:
SUCH A FUN SONG!
Official Video

Just a small town boy and girl/ livin' in a crazy world.
Tryin' to figure out what is and isn't true.
And I don't try to hide my tears./ The secrets or my deepest fears.
Through it all nobody gets me like you do./And you know everything about me.
You say that you can't live without me.

THE BEST DAY:  (official video above)

All the lyrics. But my absolute favorite are:

There is a video/ I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen/ And you're talking to me

It's the age of princesses and pirate ships
And the seven dwarfs
Daddy's smart/ And you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

Now I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side/ Even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes/ Staying back and watching me shine

And I didn't know if you knew/ So I'm taking this chance to say
That I had the best day/ With you today   

Jump then Fall:
I like the way you sound in the morning
We're on the phone and without a warning
I realize your laugh is the best sound
I have ever heard

I like the way I can't keep my focus
I watch you talk, you didn't notice
I hear the words but all I can think is
We should be together

Fifteen:

'cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen
Feeling like there nothing to figure out
Well count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen
 
Mine:
Music video

You said, "I remember how we felt sitting by the water
And every time I look at you, it’s like the first time
I fell in love with a careless man’s careful daughter
She is the best thing that’s ever been mine."

Hold on, make it last
Hold on, never turn back

You made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter
You are the best thing that’s ever been mine.
(Hold on) Do you believe it?
(Hold on) Gonna make it now.
(Hold on) I can see it,
(Yes, yes) I can see it now. 


Ours:

Elevator buttons and morning air
Strangers' silence makes me want to take the stairs
If you were here we'd laugh about their vacant stares
But right now my time is theirs

Seems like there's always someone who disapproves
They'll judge it like they know about me and you
And the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do
The jury's out, my choice is you

So don't you worry your pretty little mind
People throw rocks at things that shine
And life makes love look hard
The stakes are high, the water's rough
But this love is ours

Today was a Fairytale:

You were the prince
I used to be a damsel in distress
You took me by the hand and you picked me up at six
{...}
Time slows down
Whenever you're around

Can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale

Ronan:

I remember the last day when I kissed your face
I whispered in your ear

Come on baby with me we're gonna fly away from here
Out of this curtain room and this hospital grey, we'll just disappear
Come on baby with me we're gonna fly away from here
You were my best four years

What if I'm standing in your closet trying to talk to you?
What if I kept the hand-me-downs you won't grow into?
And what if I really thought some miracle would see us through?
What if the miracle was even getting one moment with you?
 
I remember your bare feet down the hallway
I love you to the moon and back

Crazier:

You lift my feet off the ground
You spin me around
You make me crazier, crazier
Feels like I'm falling and I am lost in your eyes
You make me crazier, crazier, crazier

I've watched from a distance as you made life your own
Every sky was your own kind of blue
And I wanted to know how that would feel
And you made it so real
You showed me something that I couldn't see
You opened my eyes
And you made me believe

Sweet Tea & God's Graces

You can get high on a first kiss
You can get by with sweet tea and God's graces
You can love like a sinner and lose like a winner
Nothing's shatterproof
You can crash and burn and come back someone new
And that's what I learned from you

Autumn rain, window pane, looking how the leaves change
Just like the two of us
Still got your laugh, your ghost, your jacket
Guess I loved you way too much
But I'm a little smarter, my heart's a little harder
But it's still soft enough to cry
Cause I remember those times

I'd Lie:

He stands there then walks away
My god if I could only say
I’m holding every breath for you...

He’d never tell you but he can play guitar
I think he can see through everything
But my heart
First thought when I wake up is
My god he’s beautiful
So I put on my make up
And pray for a miracle

Yes I could tell you his favorite color's green
He loves to argue oh and it kills me
His sisters beautiful he has his father’s eyes
And if you asked me if I love him
If you asked me if I love him
I’d lie 

Pumpkin carving, pumpkin patches, & pumpkin frozen yogurt

My favorite time of year is here!! As witnessed by me during pumpkin carving last weekend, pumpkin frozen yogurt last night, and the pumpkin patch visit coming up next weekend!!! 

Has anyone seen this?
Timothy Kurek - The Cross in the Closet

Or heard this song? Pastor Clark taught a very deep message followed by this song & video
The Arrows-In the Words (of Satan) 


Jesse & I have had a lot to talk about lately (I should add, in a good way) with the ways we see God working in our lives & those around us, presidential debates, election day around the corner, and practicum site visits, how we "think" the next year could possibly look for us....and on...
 

Life is full of educational obligations for both of us, at least until next August! 

Jesse is awesome because:

-He always cares to know where I'm at and how I am doing
-He eats my crock-pot meals without complaint, even when it's crock pot meal #4 of the week. Though that night, he say something sweet like..Let's go out to eat  :)
-He cleans out half of the garage for my car every winter
-He supports me--life, school, work, travel dreams...you name it, he thinks I can do it (even if I am unsure!)
-He hates doing laundry just as much as I do! (two peas in a pod)

My goal has been to blog once a month, but I missed August and now it's almost the end of September! 

This is possibly my busiest quarter of classes. While I thought that I was ready for them, I seem to question myself every other day now. My emotions and feelings are a roller coaster. Some of that can be attributed to family happenings, but the rest is my mind attempting to organize the plethera of papers, agency visits, applications, references, and interviews that are to come in the following days. 

I was reminded today (on the edge of an anxiety breakdown) that God has directed us to only worry about today, tomorrow will take care of itself. 

So tonight I will count my blessings.

Jesse is amazing because:

-he makes us peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for midnight snacks!

-he finishes a class in which the instructor is a royal pain

-he always drives me around....(think driving miss daisy ;])

-he will drop everything to provide help when an emergency happens (to just about anyone!!!)

Divison 4 Champions? Heck YES!

 At some point, life begins playing to the pace of a top speed merry-go-round. June whirled by full of work and a little play. My dear friend married her best friend June 2:

  Kally, Ford, Jesse, Seth, and I ran/walked at Warrior Dash on June 10th with our sweet self-made tie dye shirts: 

Less than two weeks later, Jesse and I were in Chicago with Mac Daddy All Stars, Jesse's nationally competing paintball team.

My soul overflows with enthusiasm because they played hard to win the title and bragging rights of Division 4 Chicago PSP National Champions! 

As I watched them play victoriously through preliminaries into quarter-finals, semi-finals, and then finals, my heart raced one billion miles a minute. Though many people not involved with paintball would think that it is not a competitive sport, paintball is not for the faint of heart.  I watched paintballers dive over huge ruts on the paint covered field and crash their elbows and knees into pads of rough concrete, only to get back up and play more intensely-for the love of the game. 

I used to think that I could be that tough, you know the kind of tough girl that would put on the knee pads, elbow pads, paintball pants, cleats, and mask....but after just standing out in 100 degree weather with sweat pouring off me, I know my place is cheering on the sidelines:) 

2012 is half over. I am working steadily on my Associate's in Human Services and will be graduating August next year. Jesse will be graduating around the same time with his Bachelor's from University of Phoenix. 

We know right now is the easiest time for us to get distracted from our goals, and thankfully that has helped us work that much harder to balance our time together, with family, and with friends. 

God has been faithful. My newest and most favorite worship song is sung by Matt Redman titled "Never Once", and I have written these words on my heart as I press on in this blessed life we live. The lyrics are posted below with a video. 

These verses are helping me become closer to Him and closer to the person He wants me to be:

Romans 8:39:
   ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

&

1 Corinthians 13

   ¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

   ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

   ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

   ⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

   ⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

   ⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

   ⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

   ⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

=++= =++= =++= =++= =++= =++= =++= =++= =++= =++= =++= 

Never Once

Standing on this mountaintop 

Looking just how far we've come 

Knowing that for every step 

You were with us 

Verse 2

Kneeling on this battle ground 

Seeing just how much You've done 

Knowing every victory 

Is Your power in us 

Pre-Chorus

Scars and struggles on the way 

But with joy our hearts can say 

Yes, our hearts can say 

Chorus 1

Never once did we ever walk alone 

Never once did You leave us on our own 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

Never once did we ever walk alone 

Never once did You leave us on our own 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

Every step we are breathing in Your grace 

Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

My Husband is Awesome List {updated}

So recently I came to the conclusion that my prayers are very random and I have become accustomed to praying when I'm in need of (fill in the blank). My goal for my relationship with my Creator is to spend more time praying for my husband, our families, our friends, and the people our lives connect with. 

And Jesse is awesome this week because:

-He spent a whole day doing yard work with me 

-He gave both the dogs a bath (after they played in the muddy pond @ my aunt's) 

- He wore a purple t-shirt and had a great attitude about us getting our first "family" pictures!

-He lets me drive the CRV alllll the time, and pays the bill for it. 

-He eats the food I cook for him (even if it turns out scary, he'll try it!)

Looking over this list, I could go on and on about how great Jesse is in all these situations. God has given me a truly amazing partner. I want to cherish and enjoy the moments we have together, the goals we reach together, and the circle of people we spend time with together. 

There are 3.5 days left of the Spring class quarter. I am pushing hard to get the grades I want & need. Jesse has my back when it comes to school, and its in a completely different way than anyone else has. My respect for him has grown as I have watched him set and achieve his own personal goals. This life we live, we were made to live together. 

April 27th was our 5 year dating anniversary, and this November will be our 2 year wedding anniversary. Time flies when you meet your better half :)

Alrighty

I'm supposed to be working on finals. But this is my quick break before I dive in, over my head.

Jesse officially received an offer last night for a part time position doing web work.....!!!!! WOOT

This came after the news earlier this week that we would have to pay for next quarter's classes out of pocket. This news came less than 2 weeks before those classes start. 

SO! My Husband is Awesome List will continue.

Jesse:

+takes on extra projects/jobs to afford us sushi happy hour & my college classes.

+has the BEST hugging/holding arms EVER

+listens to me rant & rave about work ....& doesn't tell me to shut up or that "it doesn't matter"

+locks up the house, turns out all the lights, & brings the dogs to bed when I have to get up early for work

+believes in me & challenges me to finish my classes & finish my degree

+listens to country music with me

+does not always agree with me but does not put me down

Yep, I love him alot alot alot.

So this year's theme seems to be husband's (at least of for those who are married). 

And lately, even though I tell him, I can still feel and hear all the little details I love about Jesse rolling around in my head. 

So I'm going to brag on him for a bit. 

He:

has the most soothing tone when he sings....Sunday worship mornings are my favorite with him.

re-organizes (logically!) routinely 

is reading more books and enjoying them (LOVE LOVE LOVE this about him)

cleaned out my side of the garage so that I wouldn't have to clean snow off the CRV

made amazingly yummy meals the last three nights while I studied

can do stunning amounts of math in his head, no paper and pencil needed

woke up early to drive me to work on his Saturday off

has a great amount of support and encouragement to give me when I run out of motivation

has an amazing capacity for creativity

manages the time in his days with little effort

That's my list for now...I'll keep adding to this as the year goes on....I'm excited to have this challenge for myself!

Late night posting

February. You brought snow....I'm a little disappointed and a little bit happy. 

Tonight I am working on my Human Relations group project. Boy has this one been a lot more work. I can say that I have learned more about interacting and communication with others from having to work together online to compile information. 

Life has been stable and consistent lately. Money has been tight with school, the holdays, and random extra expenses. We live kind of on a budget, but the last two months have had to be on a strict "survival" budget. Being on a survival budget is not bad. At first I complained in my head often, several times each hour. But the days and weeks go by, and I learn to live with less.  

Learning to live with less means that I don't get soft serve ice cream every other day, sushi every weekend, and Fox Hollow Coffee when I wake up late for work. 

Learning to live with less means that I make a list of what I need BEFORE entering the store, and STICKING to the list the whole time I'm in the store. 

These are all really hard for me to do. But even now as I dream about what I will do with my portion of our tax return, most of that moolah is going to be saved for those little extras I like to indulge in when I'm running late out the door, running low on energy, or needing a little something to feel good about. 

Living+Learning=awesome.life.experiences.

Learning

Just stopping by to say that God has really been teaching and growing me a lot these last couple weeks. Amazingly great things that I am still processing. 

Also kinda crazy how we had a bunch of weddings the year before we got married, then the year we got married only had two weddings, and now this year have FOUR out of town weddings. 

I am learning that my perspective is often skewed and that I need to be more aware of different perspectives with others. 

Now back to studying....aka more learning!

a year behind and a year ahead!

It was just about the perfect day on earth. 

A fire blazing in the fireplace, two pups curled up near my toes, and laundry running in the background.  If you know me...this much is true--I procrastinate on laundry like none other. Today was an exception. 

This year:

The laundry will get done! 

The carpets will stay vacuumed!

And the dishes will stay washed! 

(check with me in May to see if I'm surviving my ridiculous goals!)

Below I have shared our Christmas letter with anyone who did not receive the traditional letter via postal. 

Greetings Family and Friends!

We hope our letter finds you well and that your year has been one full of memories you will cherish for the rest of your life. Our year went by quickly. What a year 2011 was!

Jesse continues to work for Crew Training International as a Computer Programmer and run his own business, TheseHands. Work has been steady with periods of chaos. An exciting professional development for Jesse this year was when TheseHands teamed with Moodle. Moodle is an open sourced learning management company based in New York.

Jesse stays busy with his hobbies of beer brewing and running a competitive paintball team. This year in beer competitions Jesse received a first place for an English Pale Ale, along with a second and third place. The Mac Daddy All-Stars team competed in several local tournaments; their best local tournament winning first place at the event and second place in the series! The team also competed nationally this June in Chicago. Chicago went splendid and Jesse is proud to tell you that the team took fourth place out of fifty teams!! Bring on 2012!!

We are both making progress on our academic goals. Morganna has less than five quarters left of her Associate’s in Human Services.  Jesse has one year left of his Bachelor’s in Software Engineering.

We had the chance to spend much needed time with family and friends. In February, Morganna went to an Arabian horse show in Scottsdale, Arizona with Gram and Grandpa Robinson, Aunt Julie, Cousins Jill and Michaela. Mid-April, Morganna, Kally, and Molly traveled to St. Paul to visit Tiffany, Harrison, and Dave; we were able to spend time with Dave because of his family’s recent (and exciting) move to New Ulm.   May 20^th we signed the papers for our first house, and made the joyful move from Omaha to Bellevue.  Gram and Grandpa Robinson, Darcia, Julie, Michaela, Dave and Alexa, Kally and Ford, Molly and David, our friends Danita and Travis, Neil, and Seth helped us move, making our transition so incredibly smooth!! Thank you again for all your help, each of you made our day in one way or another.

Memorial Day weekend was an afternoon full of grilled foods with family (especially out-of-town family!!) During the summer an exciting event happened, Tiffany and Harrison moved to Bellevue.  Morganna is also proud to share that her grandparents celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary this June! Labor Day weekend we enjoyed great adventures at Smith Falls State Park near Valentine, Nebraska. Our group of spent memorable times around the campfire, fishing, and kayaking. Dave, Alexa, Kade, Ryan, Chris, Shane, and Jen brought many laughs!

We joined Melissa and Travis for their wedding the weekend after Labor Day. The wedding was beautiful and fun!  Morganna made Thanksgiving dinner for her side of the family at our new house.  The memories are priceless, and her first turkeys were very yummy!  That weekend we celebrated our friends Michael and Takijah’s wedding and Harrison’s first birthday (another great time with out-of-town family!!).

As we watch the dust settle from our move seven months ago, life has been full. Full of the family and friends we cherish so close to our hearts. Bellevue was where we needed to be and has greatly added to our relationships. We live within mere minutes of many family and friends. We look forward to the impact this will have on 2012!

As a couple, we hope to become more involved in our community in the upcoming year. We also hope to deepen our relationships and focus more on the time we have when together. We are praying that God continues to help us grow in loving each other and those we are connected with. We want to travel, with hopes to fit in a backpacking trip or two also!

On a trip over our first wedding anniversary, we found the perfect picture to hang over our fireplace. The saying reads “The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot protect you.”  As we approach the Christmas and New Year’s days, we hope this for you and your family.  

All our love,

Jesse & Morganna, Frankie & Luna