Oh Happy Day

Growing up I have such incredibly fond memories of children's choir, caroling, live nativity, and pageants.  Singing all of those amazing hymns about egg shells and wee babies.  Such wonderful memories.  Times are definitely different now and finding that simple space to just let kids sing about baby Jesus is harder.  Our church this year offered a Christmas choir for my girls and we signed them up.

They only sang one song and it was a rendition of Oh Happy Day! (Why can I only think of Sister Act II?).  They practiced every Monday for the past 6 weeks and it was hard to fit it in.  With Lily's swim going until 5:30, we had a few Monday's of tears over it, but we committed and I am so glad we did.

I went all out this Sunday.  Thank you Amazon for a quick return on Christmas dresses!  My husband may have questioned my sanity banging pots and pans at 5:45 in the morning.  All of us were fed, curled, clean, make uped and dressed up by 7:30.  I had to take my camera to the church so that we could snap the pics not while we were racing out the door but we all showed up!

What a sweet time of life it is for us.  Yes, I am healing and not completely well, but we are deeply and richly blessed.  My heart is truly full and our family is celebrating this season for we have received the greatest gift of all....Jesus.

Their moment on stage touched my heart more than I can truly put into words.  There is something so life changing and moving about watching the two halves of your heart dwell in the presence of the Most Holy and sing in his praise.  Come....like a child.......for their place is first.

Oh what a Happy Day it is Jesus.  For you came, as a babe, and taught us how to love and live and give of ourselves.  Thank you for the gifts that are mine and the joy of sharing life with them.  Thank you deeply for my own wee babes and for this chance to watch them in awe.

Just 5 More Minutes!

So, we have some pretty amazing friends.  Rebekah and I have birthdays just mere days apart and for the past two years Ashley has bought us an Escape Room experience. The 6 of us have a blast trying to navigate out of an escape room and we work really well together.

This year was more challenging with cancer and chemo and brain surgery and mono trying to derail us, but by golly, we picked a day and we made it happen.  Our room was Quest for the Throne and it was surprisingly challenging. We got set back a few minutes at the beginning when we had the right idea, but the wrong execution of a clue.  That set us behind and even though we all came together to solve each piece we needed 5 more minute at the end.

Honestly we were all stoked that they gave us the opportunity to solve the puzzle and we just had a blast....again.  What a great experience and gift.  And YES, we eventually did escape.

After we escaped our room we went for a walk in Downtown Mesa.  It really is beautiful this time of year and so jolly.  We found ourselves at a Cider House and played games while drinking.  Gosh adulting is awesome.

Late, rowdy nights are not in anyones vocabulary right now so we enjoyed our walk back to the car, hugged each other and finished out the evening.

Relishing in another year to spend with these people and the beauty of finding joy even amidst the storms!

Unexpected

Well.....I have Mono. super did not expect to hear that this year. funny how life works. The audacity to believe you have any control over your life is truly and illusion.  After coming off the year of dealing with my foot I felt like I was bouncing.  I was back to running, feeling strong......and then this happened.

It all started about three months ago when I got terribly sick. I ended up with a double ear infection and full blown sinus infection and couldn't hardly eat or smell anything for weeks. It was weird how sick I got.  It took me 10 days of heavy antibiotics to get over that one, and I feel like I still have congestion every now and then.  I made it through and have been working to get back on top of my game.

Since then, our life has certainly not been without its stresses.  It seems like every Fall I make the paltry attempt at having a low key season only to find myself flailing under the amount of things we have to do.  Fall is a busy season and navigating the idea of balance through it is a challenge.  I suppose I have just taxed my overall body too much between emotional stress and physical stress. 

Last month I got really ill again.  I ran a fever for 12 days, had body aches, was exhausted and  felt miserable.  It took all of my energy just to get out of bed every morning and not want to return to bed after getting the kids to school. I hardly worked and found the idea of taking photos completely overwhelming.  I was not well.  We thought it might be shingles after 5 days of fevers I went to Urgent Care and they confirmed it wasn't shingles and that I was negative for flu and strep.  I was sent home with the  whole "its probably a virus that has to run its course. Treat the symptoms and wait it out."

So wait I did. Another week went by and I still felt terrible so I found a Primary Care Physician and made the appointment.  Unfortunately they couldn't get me in before my trip to CA so I did what they told me to and just treated the symptoms.  We had a lovely time in CA, but I definitely was not firing on all cylinders.

I got back and made it into my PCP.  After describing my 2.5 weeks of symptoms her immediate response was, "I suspect Mono."  She ordered blood work and ultrasounds.  Bloodwork confirmed, "Positive for Mono" and ultrasounds further confirmed elevated Liver enzymes and an enlarged spleen.  Classic Mono.

Recovery for this thing is long and it just won't quit.  I have attempted to deny the fact that I am exhausted, but the reality is there.  Doctor gave me strict instructions for the next 3 months (yep you read that right).  No gym, limited yoga, only minimal short distance running with no intensity, no alcohol, and as much rest as I can get.  I have Mono, and like I told my Crossfit gym...

I'm benched......again.

I won't lie that I feel a great frustration over the whole thing. I have never felt so un-trusting of my body.  Wish I knew why my body can't get its act together. 

So I enter another Christmas season embracing stillness and rest, finding joy in the fact that I can still ski with my girls, and run gently with my dog.  Grateful for family and the chance to invest time and energy into them. Grateful for another opportunity to handle the unexpected with grace and grateful for yet more time to consider what's important. 

Life is full of things we least expect, but God is still good, His mercies are still new every morning, and He is still faithful.  I will trust in his goodness and rest in the hope of healing.

Memories in Monterrey!

Last year the guys had to attend a yearly conference out in Monterrey Bay, CA.  They went and played golf and had a blast.  This year we girls got to tag along and I am reminded how much we love to travel and live big with these guys.  We truly are blessed to say that we get to work with some of our best friends!

Monterrey Bay is a tiny little part of the US that is absolutely HUGE in attraction.  It, of course, hosts some of the most famous golf courses out there, but also is one of the most spectacular beach and ocean areas around.  The Bay is this really fascinating geological area just teeming with life due to the fact that it is DEEP right off the coast.  I mean less than a mile from shore the bottom plummets to over 10,000 feet.  Amazing. 

Our house for the weekend was literally right up the hill from the ocean and the views from the living room were spectacular!  Just amazing and so peaceful.

We got off the plane and quickly got checked in and changed for the "business" event at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.  The conference literally takes over the whole place and everywhere you go there is food, alcohol, and dessert.  So much fun!

We had such a great time  seeing all of the aquatic life and enjoying a fancy night at the aquarium.  This octopus was by far my favorite.  I have never seen one so active.  This guy was the inspiration for Hank in the Finding Dory movie and he was amazing to watch.

I know that octopus' have spectacular camouflage, but to see this guy go from Red to near grey white when he decided to settle was mesmerizing.  It was like a switch was flipped and he instantly took on the color of the rock.  Very neat experience.

The four of us had some wine, a few beers, and lots of laughs.  What can I say, we work hard and play hard.

Following a night of excess and fun I woke up in the morning and enjoyed a 3 mile run right on the beach.  There is a gorgeous trail that runs the length of the beach and it was so much fun to explore.

We found ourselves at the Paris Bakery for some homemade quiches and tarts.  There were so many things I wanted to eat....and so little time.

The guys golfed and Tara and I spent our morning at the Pebble Beach Spa. OMG.  I had one of those spa experiences that I will never forget.  The room my service was held in looked like a giant shower with a long pole that ran the length of the table with 7 shower heads on it.  My whole self was sea salt scrubbed, massaged, wrapped, soaped, washed, and throughly moisturized.  I had a blast and it was so much fun.  Following my treatment I sat in the sanctuary, an outdoor heated hut with comfy chairs, warm blankets, and a fire pit.  Ooooof, amazing.

We finished got dressed and met our men for an entire evening at the Spanish Bay Links.  We got there at about 3 and didn't leave till about 7.  We saw the Bagpiper close out the course, and ate, and drank, and ate, and drank, and talked, and laughed.  It was awesome.

We came home to our gorgeous abode, all curled up on the couch and watched Stranger Things. 

Our next morning was slow, but we got up, stopped at the crepe shop, and found our way to the Blue Ocean Headquarters for our Whale watch!  

While we were waiting for our boat we watched these big guys sunbathe.  The ocean was literally just teaming with life here.

Our whale watch was amazing and we saw many whales.  It was especially cool to come across a huge pod of whales and sea lions feeding together and the whales were lunge feeding.  They would go under and then come up out of the water with their mouths wide open.  Amazing!

The 3 hour trip was worth every second even to see Matt actually rest for 3 seconds! 

Following our trip we stopped and had some lunch where I couldn't help but capture the enormous succulents, and then we headed back to the house for naps.  I wasn't feeling great (more on that later) so a nap was amazing.

We spent our evening shopping and enjoying the fabulous salad bar and seafood at the Chart House.

For our last morning, the guys snuck onto Spanish Bay for one more round of golf, and while Tara slept, I went for a nice long 6 mile run. Even feeling less than my best it was a wonderful run. I listed to my favorite podcast sermons and reveled in the experience. I love running.

Before our flight we made it over to Pebble Beach for a photo op near the 18th green.  Pebble Beach is spectacular and something you just have to see to understand.  Such a gorgeous piece of the world.

Im so grateful for weekends like this one and for the friends we get to share it with.