Christmas and the end of 2010

We spent Christmas back "home" in Arizona.  We were very fortunate to have wonderful weather in Scottsdale.  In fact, on Christmas day it was a sunny 75 degrees!  What a change from cold, rainy Seattle gray skies.  We were busy pretty much every day: running errands (I don't even think I can count the number of times we went to Costco and Walmart :)), catching up with friends, and seeing family.  My Mom's birthday is the 26th, and I felt fortunate being able to celebrate alongside her for her big day, too.

Most of our gifts to each other (and from others) had to fit inside of a suitcase.  This can be a challenge, but overall we were successful.  As Jon tweeted, this ended up being a Blu-ray Christmas for us.  I got Jon a Blu-ray player this year, but of course I couldn't pack it to Phoenix and back.  Instead I got him the Avatar blu-ray, so he successfully inferred there was a new player waiting for him at home.  Jon surprised me with a new Coach purse I had been eyeing for some time at the Factory Store.  Some other gifts I received from family included the complete Les Miserables musical CD, a new bluetooth headset (hopefully it will cut down on the noisy freeways that are in Seattle), some new ASU apparel, 4 in 1 cake dome, aluminum water bottle, and a Mom-Daughter day where we got a massage and pedicure.  Fun!  The most outrageous gift was this awesome travel pillow!  I know it looks crazy, and when Jon blew it up on the plane I thought it looked pretty funny, but I actually fell asleep on a plane (an amazing feat) with it!  For that it is a definite keeper!

Jon also met our renters for the first time, and we are so thankful that these two are living in our home.  They seem to be doing a great job taking care of the house-everything looked squeaky clean and we both got good vibes from them.  It has been such a blessing to have one less thing to worry about, and we hope they will renew the lease at the end of May.  Finding *new* renters (let alone quality renters) from 1300 miles away is a burden for us and my parents, who end up showing the property.

It's so hard to believe that 2010 is over.  It seems like only yesterday I was reflecting on 2009 and looking towards the year ahead. Although this year was still very hard in its own way (failed fertility treatments jump to mind), we also had some great experiences as a couple visiting Portland, Victoria, the Olympic Games in Vancouver, and seeing family in three different states!  I can also safely say I finally felt more at home in Seattle, learning to appreciate the things living in the Pacific Northwest brings like seasons, snow capped mountain peaks in the distance, blue lakes (I drive across one each day!), and great friends through our church.

Also, this year we decided how we were going to resolve our infertility-through adoption in South Korea!  We can't wait to "meet" our child through pictures this year, and are already looking towards 2012 when we can finally hold him in our arms. I am doing most updates regarding our adoption on our blog, so be sure to check there if you want to stay on top of that.  Eventually we might close that down and put everything here.  Either way, one will become a protected blog.

I hope you all had a great New Year, and I look forward to seeing what this year brings!

Christmas 2009

**Update 01/04/2010-here are some pics from our time in Scottsdale.**

It is amazing how quickly the week in Scottsdale passed for me. Although we were busy each day I had so much fun soaking in the time with my family and just being around familiar sites, sounds, and smells. We left Seattle early on Saturday morning, and I only got 4 hours sleep. Even so, I was so excited I couldn't sleep on the plane at all. When we started our final descent I started crying as I saw the familiar terrain and knew I'd be home soon. Who knew I would be that emotional just seeing South Mountain?! Here is a picture of our first evening back home. (Notice the beautiful AZ sunset behind me and SHORT SLEEVES in December!)

A highlight of my time in AZ was spending time with family,

especially reconnecting with Garrison. He has changed so much in 7 months and is so verbal now. I can understand ev

erything he says, and he is so smart! He can already spell his name and has a large vocabulary which I think is

amazing for a 3 year old. While there Garrison rediscovered a large gorilla Troy and I had growing up. I would make the gorilla come to "life," and Garrison would talk to it for 20 minutes at a time! (The attention span at his age was amazing!).

The stuffed animal became such a good friend for Garrison he even prayed for Mr. Gorilla before going to bed! Other highlights included going to see Christmas lights at the Pavillions and around the neighborhood with Garrison and my parents, building a gingerbread house, and playing band with Garrison. He would give each of us our assigned instruments as we went around the house playing and singing Christmas songs. Too cute!

I was also able to get together with a friend from high school, see extended family on Christmas, shopping with my Mom on her birthday and see a movie, as well as meet up with our marriage mentors, the Marchants. And of course we had some delicious Mexican food and Grimaldi's pizza!

Being home has reminded both of us how much we both love Phoenix, and we have some big decisions to make in the next few months about whether or not we will stay in Seattle for the next 3 years or go back to Phoenix sometime this summer. Sometimes, like when we are at home, the decision seems very obvious (let's head home!), but Jon would be giving up a lot professionally to move back to the Phoenix area, and this is a big decision to make.

As I reflect back on this year I can't believe all the changes that have taken place. Last year at Christmas we were in our house and both in the same jobs we had been in for 4 and 6 years respectively. This year we were living out of my parent's guest bedroom and buying time to try and see everyone/do everything we wanted to do. What a difference a year makes!

It's Beginning to Feel Like Christmas!

In Arizona it's sometimes hard to remember that it's Christmas because the weather is so temperate. It doesn't look anything like the pictures of snow falling on rooftops as the lights shine off of the snowy ground. Although there is no snow in Seattle, it definitely is more typical of what I think of winter: short, dark days, bare tree branches, little sunlight.

But luckily for me I will be spending Christmastime in the climate I have grown accustomed to. Tomorrow we leave for home, sweet, home, and I'm SO EXCITED. This is the first time we have been back since Memorial Day weekend. I have checked the weather, and it is supposed to be in the 70's during the first few days, dropping down to the mid 60's. Burrrr!....Yeah, right! After experiencing a week of temps in the 20's I can now say that people in AZ are officially wimps when it comes to cold weather (Yes, Phoenicians have everyone beat regarding living through hot summers!).

So, what's on the agenda? LOTS of family time. Jon and I are looking forward to spending time with Garrison and building a gingerbread house with him, playing with him, and just seeing how much he has grown and learned in seven months. Christmas Eve and Christmas will be held at my parents like usual. On the 25th all of the extended family will be coming over as well. We are also going to be celebrating my Mom's birthday when we are in Scottsdale, too. We have definitely missed eating Arizona's delicious Mexican food, so we'd like to take a trip to Jalepenos or Arribas. (There is no such thing as 99 cent margaritas in Seattle!) And, of course, we have been craving Grimaldi's pesto and mushroom New York style pizza for months!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday with their family and friends, and that we can each spend a little time to reflect on Jesus' birth and love for us during this holiday, too.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Jon and I will be staying in town and hanging with my family this holiday. Then Jon's dad and stepmom will be coming out for New Years next week. We are excited to see them since it's been almost two years since the last time we have been able to get together.

I have the "typical" things planned to do my first week: change the oil in both cars, get a haircut, try go get through a book (Twilight is on my list this year), and hopefully relax a bit with a massage and hanging out with friends and family. This two weeks off will undoubtedly go faster than two weeks would while in school.

Grad school will start up for me again the week I go back, but I'll be finished in May with this masters degree. Yea! Jon will be done less than a year from now, too. Woo hoo!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas with their family and friends this year!

A needed break-time for parties!

I finished grad school for the semester last Wednesday, and Jon officially finished with his last final Tuesday. It feels so good. We are so busy sometimes I don't even think we realize it until we get a breather. On a WORK NIGHT we actually went out to Kierland Commons and just strolled around after getting a hot chai tea at Starbucks and looking at the cute, over priced clothes at White House/Black Market and expensive gadgets at Restoration Hardware.

(On a totally side note, if I was independently wealthy I'm pretty sure a good chunk of my wardrobe would come from White House/Black Market. Way cute!).

Tomorrow night is Go Daddy's big company party at Chase Field for Jon's work, and I'm so excited. For one it's formal so I get to dress up like prom and get treated to hors d'oeuvres and free drinks. I also get to walk onto the field, and every employee is leaving with a bag of goodies (think Oscar-we can hope!) They also are having a Grammy award winning band artist, or so the invitation says. All in all, I think it will be fun because Go Daddy parties are always one of a kind.

Speaking of parties, my school party is next week, too. Although it isn't exactly the same caliber as a billion dollar company, it's fun for us teachers. Also, we have a Christmas party with the young couples group at church on Sunday night.

Fun, fun!

No Meetings

This is the first time since I started school that I had no meetings before school, after school, or during lunch all week long! Nothing except teaching!? I had forgotten how it felt to have extra time.

Now I can:
1. Try to upgrade my dancing "skills" on DDR
2. Spend researching Christmas gifts for Jon
3. Decorate for the holidays

But don't feel too good for me just yet. Next week is a short week (only two days since we are talking off Wednesday to go to Milwaukee), and I have THREE meetings.

The following week I have five meetings.

Ok, so I am still busy. When is Christmas break?

Merry Christmas

Here is a picture of Garrison, my cutie nephew, as he celebrates his first Christmas. I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday and a wonderful new year!

The Holidays are Here

...and you know what that means! Time to reflect and relax! What, pray tell, should we reflect on? Well, I think the name says it all: CHRISTmas. Unfortunately, all too often we forget about the true meaning of the holiday and focus on presents, sending out gazillions of Christmas cards, baking the *perfect* meal, or Santa. (Or as Jon likes to say, "Satan.") Now before people start commenting about how wonderful Santa is...don't. I realize that Santa is a beloved childhood icon. However, he is not the true meaning of Christmas.

On or about this day on or about 2000 years ago God himself sent his only son to be born in a dirty, smelly, manager. There was nothing princely about it, yet he was a prince indeed. God always dealt with the "dirty" parts of our lives, and His birth started no differently.

It's funny cause I was just watching a show the other night about the miracle of Christmas. Then at church the sermon highlighted similiar information. I think both made some good points. So good in fact I'm listing them on my blog. Why? Because I can!

1. Some say the virgin birth is impossible. I ask you this. Why would a group of individuals struggling to start a new religion make up some crazy story? It does sound impossible. In fact, too impossible to make up. The fact is that it was prophisized that the Christ would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) hundreds of years before His birth.

2. I learned this Sunday that shepherds were considered very unscrupulous and so untrustworthy their testimony wasn't even accepted in court. Yet God trusted shepherds to be one of the first people to learn of Jesus' birth. Again, the writers of the Bible would not make this up because it wasn't seen as a positive thing that shepherds were even remotely involved.

3. The more archeological evidence is found the more it proves what the Bible says. We know that censuses were issued during Jesus' lifetime that forced people to return to their homeland. That is why Jesus' parents had to make the long treck to Bethlehem, thus fulfilling more prophecy from Micah 5:2.

4. The Bible says Mary and Joseph had to flee the area because King Herod, known for his brutality, issued a decree that every male under two years of age was to be killed. It makes sense the couple would have traveled to Egypt because there was a huge Jewish population there two thousand years ago and they would be safe.

There are so many facts I could continue to list, but others things are a callin'.

Bottom line, let's remember why we celebrate Christmas this year.