My soul delights!

Sometimes, there are certain events in my life that make me feel like this...

 

...one of those events is whenever I get to talk to my very best friend, MamaSteph.  I love when the stars and planets align and we have the opportunity to talk...on the phone....and hear each others voices.  Oh I love her dearly.  I know I'm blessed by my Heavenly Father just because of certain people that he's placed in my life.  She is one of those tender mercies in my life.  I crave our phone calls because for a moment, the many miles between us disappear and it seems like no time at all has come between us.  In a couple months, it'll mark 8 years since we last saw each other, in person.  What I would give just to have an hour in person and laugh like we always do. 

I wish I could put my finger on the one thing that makes her friendship so beautiful and priceless.  She has a heart of gold and I never feel judged by the many things I have told her over the years.  She listens to me ramble and occasionally throw in a joke or two.  I know I am blessed to have her in my life.

If there's anything I could take away from our friendship, it is the hope that I can be a friend to others as she has been to me. 

Mama Stephy!

Tonight, I got to talk to one of my most dearest friends.  Oh how I love Mama Stephy!  It's not often when we get to talk on the phone because she has three youngins and there's about a 3 hour difference between us.  

However, when we do get to talk it's just so spectacular! I love laughing with her. I love the wit and wisdom she brings to our friendship.  Tonight's conversation turned to children and babies.  It was such a beautiful conversation about what delivery is like and the love that floods a delivery room.   It makes me so excited for motherhood, someday.  I definitely need to write this conversation in my journal tonight.
Although we haven't seen each other in more than 7 years, it doesn't feel like our friendship has changed or drifted apart.  I'm so grateful to still have her in my life. I couldn't be more thankful for a loving Heavenly Father to bring her into my life over 13 years ago.  

#mancrushmonday.

I love this man, more than life itself.  Every day, I become more grateful than the last that I am the lucky one married to him.  I could spout out a million reasons why I'm grateful for him...but this weekend, I'm thankful for him because he was willing to get out of bed to help me scoop out my fish since I get a lil nervous possibly touching him. Plus, I'm thankful that he understands that one weekend out of the month will be a little more emotional than normal. He's my best friend, my ever truest confidant and the one that makes my life the most happiest that its ever been.
With school starting tonight, it makes me a little bummed that I won't get to have him in the evenings, until June.  I have truly loved getting off of work and coming home to him.  I feel like I've been spoiled during this winter break.  Being married to him, is like having a sleepover every single night with your best friend and knowing that the fun will continue tomorrow, the next day and every day after that.

"I have not only been blessed, I have been divinely favored"

The 1:16am Post

Technically, it's Monday morning...
Since I haven't fallen asleep, it's still Sunday, to me.

In a week's time, I will be a married lady!
MARRIED!!
Dude, I can't even wrap my head around it!

At times, I trip out. I will have a HUSBAND!!
I think I'm tripping out riiiiight now.

I wrote my vows last night.  Kinda surreal.  We read each other's vows today.  His vows were so sweet and tender (like him).  Mine....um, well, didn't quite sound like vows.  How in the world do you express your innermost feelings without sounding like a goon?!  In regards to my vows, my biggest accomplishment will be me being able to get through them without sobbing and getting choked up.  

In a week's time I will be surrounded by my most treasured loved ones.  I'm so happy for those we were able to invite.  I know not everyone we invited will be there, but it's totally understandable and we hold no ill will at all.  We're so blessed by the warm thoughts that have been sent our way.  We're so lucky!

I spoke to my childhood best friend tonight.  It's been a while since Liz & I spoke.  Sometimes life gets too busy.  I hate the distance that can happen in friendships.  I know I haven't focused on a lot of the friendships that I should, in which I feel terrible.  Anywhoo...back to Liz.  Man, I'm so thankful for those friends of mine that have been around since forever.  Friends who know me.  Those are the best types of friends.

Back to wedding freak-out stuff.  So I bought some Spanx.  Uh... I'm not super excited to be wearing it for the wedding.  Dang my stupid gym membership that I got like 3 months ago and didn't quite use.  Ugh....  Spanx, my last resort.

Oh yeah, we went by my parents' place yesterday.  We brought donuts to smooth things over and walked in to find that my Mom made teriyaki beef ribs, sausage, corn and beans. SOOOOOOOO DELISH!! Especially since we were starving....which is why we went overboard in buying a dozen donuts.  Anyways, it was such good familiar family comfort food.  I loved it.  I think I felt much like the Prodigal Son.  Since my last phone call with her ended so poorly, it was nice to be well received and smooth things over before the wedding.  As always, it was nice to see my Dad.  He looked 10x better than when we last saw him, on Father's Day.  I'm glad I'll be so blessed to see my parents, sister & kids in a week's time.  SO SOOOOOOO lucky to have all of them, in one place.

Man....what else.....  I need to start thinking about what to set aside and pack for our trip.  I'm the worst packer in the world, but I have to have everything packed a couple days prior.  Good luck to me.

Ok, I need to get some sleep.... I already know that this week is going to fly by!

Hodad's, Petco Park & Some Bee Pollen!

What a great weekend!
Friday night, we went to "Mormon Night with the Padres".  They were playing the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It was Levi's first baseball game at Petco Park and I wanted him to have a really good time!

We bought some tickets with my ward (congregation), so we ended up in the nosebleed section.  The awesome thing about Petco Park is that there are no bad seats! Every section is pretty awesome!
Since we were there right after work, we ate at Hodad's.  Oh my goooodness!! It was so dang tasty!!

Can you see the awesomeness of his burger?!?! Wowzers! We weren't expecting that!! It was so dang delicious!! Oh man.....I would buy a $5 ticket to the park, just to eat at that Hodad's again.  Plus, it was nice being back at Hodad's, where we had our second date:

I don't remember the food being that delicious on our 2nd date, probably because I was so nervous that night, 20 months ago.  And the Frings (onion rings & fries basket) was AWESOME, Friday night!!!  Man, just thinking about it makes my mouth water!

Anywhooo, the game was pretty good but the Padres lost.  It was nice to go to a baseball game and be with Levi at his first Petco Park game.  I had such a good time with him.  He's so much fun!

On Saturday, we had lunch with my ol' friend Bugs & her husband.  I haven't seen her for about a year and a half so it was nice to finally be able to catch up with her and introduce them to Levi.  We went to the buffet at one of the local casinos and had a grand time! Seriously, it's as if time never came between us. We caught up like dear friends do and it was nice to know that her husband and Levi had a few things in common.  We talked, we laughed, we cracked some crab legs and laughed some more. Such a terrific afternoon! 

On the way home, we all stopped at the local farmers stand to buy some fresh mangoes & avocados.  The man at the stand gave us a few samples of cherries, various honeys and bee pollen.  As we drove away, we wished he would have given us the honey after the bee pollen because the pollen left a funny aftertaste.  A couple minutes down the road, my bottom lip started to tingle, along with the back of my tongue.  I texted Bugs to see if she was having the same reaction.  I started to worry when it was just me.  Levi continued driving and didn't make a big deal about it.  As we got closer to town, I started to lose my voice and I sounded very raspy.  I don't know how this was happening so quickly.  Part of me thought it was the pollen and the other part of me thought it was all the smoke in the casino and the cold night air, the night before.  I didn't want to freak, but it was weird how quickly I was losing my voice and how I couldn't clear my throat/chest.  We stopped at 7/11 and got Slurpees which helped my throat a little.  We drove over to Wal Mart and immediately went over to the medicine aisle.  I was freaking out a little more because I started to lose more of my voice and it was a strain to even speak over a whisper.  Levi is very good at staying calm when I start to lose my cool; this was one of those moments.  I ripped open the box of Benadryl, popped a pill and chugged my Slurpee.  Within 10 minutes, my voice started to return slightly.  We went home, put away our groceries and a half hour later I was out cold!  When I woke up around 9, I was still groggy and very sleepy.  What's in that stuff?!?!  Crazy Benadryl!  I felt a lot better and my voice returned to normal.  I don't know what happened, if it was the pollen or not, but I don't think I'll be doing any pollen sampling anytime soon!  I felt like I was Hitch! (love that movie!)

Wow.....what a weekend!! I always enjoy my time off with my sweetheart.  It makes me ever so grateful to be getting married to this man, so so soon!

Good Friday!

This morning, as I approached the elevators, one of the elevator doors opened up before I had to push the button.  I've noticed this every morning for the past week.  I love that! I like how the building attendants greet me in the morning and then call the elevators before I even reach them.  It made me smile as I rode up to the 9th floor.  Then I was greeted with a hearty "Mornin!" by Will, one of our front receptionists.  It made me happy, especially since it was Friday!

During my morning break, I went outside for some fresh air.  On the way back in, I waited for the elevators with another woman.  She mumbled something about being sorry about her squeaky wet shoes, from the rain outside.  We both walked into the same elevator, then I looked up and realized that it was an old co-worker.  It made me so happy to see a familiar face!  I really enjoyed working at that old job, so many great times with such fun people!

As much as I really enjoy my job, I just wish I had a familiar face or a good acquaintance there.  It gets a little lonely being the new girl.  Almost every day for the last 3.5 weeks, I'd eat my lunch outside and then call Levi.  At my last few jobs, I always knew a person or two beforehand, so I already had a friend to begin with.  For lunch, I went over to WhichWich and came across the new temp in the office.  As I left the office earlier, I wanted to ask if she was going to WhichWich again since I had seen her frequent the eatery for the last week.  When I picked up my lunch from the counter, I saw her and I stopped by her table.  I ended up joining her, we talked while we ate and had some good laughs.  Ahh....I was making a friend at work.  It was just nice to be able to get to know someone who was new to the office as well, someone I could relate to.  It was very pleasant. 

I loved the surprise that awaited me at home.  It was unlike any welcome home I ever had.  Oh how I love my Levi.  Plus an Italian dinner....mmm mmm lasagna!  I also got to talk to my nephew Bub tonight.  Man how I love that kid.  I just love my nephews so much because they're like younger brothers and good friends, wrapped up in one.  It was a good talk full of laughter.  I love laughing with that guy!  I miss him so much.  Oh how I wish I could have my nephews and niece all under one roof again.  

I'm so grateful for the big and small blessings of today.  I'm grateful for safety of traveling to and from work in the crazy rain today.  I'm so thankful for the job I have, it's just so great. I'm thankful for the good news my best friend received in regards to her unborn baby boy.  I wanted to cry with such happy grateful tears.  

Good Friday? Yes indeed!

A lil gem I spotted at the stoplight, on the way home tonight.  Not everyday I see my name on a license plate. 

#incredibooth

I love this photo of us. 

More than anything else, I love making him laugh & smile.

He truly is my bestest of best friends. 

I love him so much.

Happy 14, Sweetheart.

{it's probably my most favoritest app in the history of ever!}