Spoiled

So prepare yourself for a kind of "braggy" post--but I must since it's about my husband. I've officially given in to the resolution that the man spoils me. A couple of weeks ago, he told me to save Friday night May 25th because we were going on a "date". When he said this, I was so excited because although we go out to dinner here and there, it usually is a spontaneous thing due to lack of food in our kitchen or because I work late and don't feel like cooking. So I loved that he planned a night where we were going out just like the old days... :) So on Friday night it turns out he made reservations at a really nice restaurant called The Wild Rabbit in Newport Beach, and we had so much fun! The food was amazing---great steak and shrimp (for Jon--I didn't feel like getting puffy or using my Epipen). We just sat back, had an amazing meal, a glass of wine and even had a little time to reflect on how blessed we are. We talked about our house, our little crazy dog, our families, our jobs...all the things we are thankful for and so many unexpected blessings God has given us in the past year and months. We can't believe that in a week we'd be in Hawaii, and how we couldn't believe we are finally talking about this trip as reality. Jon is a Kauai expert having been there with his family multiple times before, so we got to talk about different spots he wanted to take me to, things to do, places to eat, etc. It was SO fun and made us even more excited for it all! We kind of laughed that we are taking a trip in a week and we never even really sat down previous to this and planned what we are going to do there! But, you know me, I like it that way! And really, do you need a plan in Kauai? I don't think so either.
Sorry, I told you it'd be braggy. I'm done now.

One Week and Counting

In exactly one week from now, Jon and I will be in HAWAII! For 8 days and 7 nights we will be vacationing in Kauai, and let me tell you, we can't WAIT! This trip actually snuck up on us a bit. We planned it a while ago and after an extremely busy few months of work and traveling, we can hardly believe it's here! We are so ready to go to the beach, surf, go snorkeling, explore Kauai's beautiful nature, and just relax! I've already stocked up on a book I'm excited to read, a fresh stock of Sodoku and lots of sun tan lotion...I'm set! Ok so I also snuck in a few new tanks tops and summer clothes that somehow made it home with me after a trip to the mall this morning. I am even more excited to spend some consecutive time with Jon. That kind of sounds like weird phrasing, but as I'm sure most wives can attest to, sometimes it feels like I see Jon for a few hours a night (if that) and for a few hours each weekend since I work, and I miss getting to spend DAYS together. So I can't wait for these eight days of spending time together in a place that we've dreamed about going to since forever ago!
Sidenote: Does this ever happen to anyone else: The week or so before you go on vacation, everything seems to start getting super busy at work and even has a tendency to start falling apart...JUST as you are trying to make your exit and wrap things up. I have a feeling this week is going to be no exception, because it already started happening this last week. So my motto this week is "Just walk away". Because I have a feeling I am going to want to spend late nights at work this week, overworking to make sure everything gets done, when I really should put in my 8 hours a day and be content with what I do within that time. Because believe it or not, work still gets done when I'm not there. Ministry still happens. Life goes on. So just walk away Jen, just walk away. (sorry for talking in the 3rd person--its just important that I start now so I can have a sane week.). :)
ALOHA!

Happy Birthday Best Friend!

Today is a very special day--Kristen DACEY's Birthday! (Wow, I think that is the first time I've written that out! I LOVE IT!) Although we can't celebrate like many years past, and I wasn't able to bring her java chip ice cream at midnight on the first minute of her birthday, I am still celebrating this special day from across a few state lines. This year has been a huge one for Kristen. So many happy, life changing memories, leaps of faith, happy endings and new beginnings. Its been a privilege for me to be able to walk beside her especially this past year and see the incredible, uniquely perfect road the Lord has taken her on. I'm bummed that road involved the state of Washington, but at the same time I know she is exactly where God wants her and am excited to see what this new year will bring as she settles into her dream life with the man she loves. Kristen is the type of friend that makes you laugh harder than you thought possible, gives you the perspective and encouragement that you need when life brings you to tears, and is one of the only people I know that would drop everything to pick up your call or even come see you when you need it most (or even when you just want to have a fun night in!). Kris, I'm so sad and sorry we aren't able to sit across from each other at dinner and field you with questions that reminisce about this truly wonderful and momentous year (there would for SURE be no Macaroni Grill experience this year, huh?!). Is it horrible that I am just pretending that you, me and B have a dinner date this weekend to celebrate? I am definitely still in denial of our distance. Know that I miss you more than words can say and that I am truly grateful for you and the friend you are to me. You are so loving, encouraging, full of wisdom...and you just get me! I know you have an amazing husband spoiling you today, so that is the only reason I'm not on a plane right now! So, Happy Birthday Kristen! Enjoy celebrating your first MARRIED Birthday! I wish I was there to celebrate in person. I love you!

Whats Goin' On...

I write today because as I mentioned a few posts ago, I have friends that remind me that I don't do it enough. So although I insist there isn't a ton exciting going on in my life, I will write a list of the top 5 things that keep me busy these days.
1) Sodoku. I blame Kara. Kara White. She taught me once, and I haven't put it down since. It's addictive; it makes you solve it before it allows you to put it down; it it stays in your head even when you close your eyes and attempt to forget about it. It's all consuming. It's sodoku.
2) Work. I write this because of course, my job can sometimes be all consuming. I've found its sometimes hard to draw boundaries with ministry, but its a necessary thing. I can't complain too much though, cuz I really do love my job and love the people I work with. Its the most rewarding thing I've ever done and can't imagine working doing anything else. And really, its just fun. Just to give an example, I spent 6 hours of my paid work week last week choreographing & rehearsing a dance to "We Go Together" (from Grease). Yeah, I get paid to do stuff like that all the time. My parents must be so stoked that they paid $80,000 for my college education.
3) Texting or calling my sister. On a serious note, my nephew has been in the hospital for the last week fighting off what has now turned into pneumonia. He has to be in isolation, and my sister (the amazing mom that she is) insisted on staying with him. So although people can visit them, she is not allowed out, as to not risk bringing outside infection in since she stays with him all the time. So at this point, she would give her left arm to be able to walk to Starbucks and get her own coffee. So I called her yesterday to wish her Happy Mothers Day and she was amazingly upbeat for being stuck in a hospital room. She is a prime example of a selfless, sacrificial mom. If you think about it, pray for Kaleb as he will probably be there until at least Thursday.
4) US Weekly. My loving husband got me a subscription for Christmas and its the gift that keep on giving. I love that it comes every Friday and I get to catch up on all the important things going on in the world. However, I've gotten EXTREMELY behind in reading these ever since I got back from Seattle, so I've been trying to catch up lately. I mean, I feel just so out of it because I had NO idea Ricki Lake was so skinny, Vanessa and Nick were so happy or that Tom and Katie were so rocky. (ok so we all saw that last one coming). If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm not sure if we can still be friends. Ok, ok, I will just let you borrow them when I'm done.
5) Active for Life. At work, our HR dept. started this program called Active for Life which motivates and encourages our staff to stay healthy and active. All those who wanted to were able to join a team, and each person on that team has to set a goal of how many "active minutes" they will accomplish each week. I'm a realist when it comes to exercise, and I said 150 minutes a week. ( I say realist because a good friend of mine tried to be all agro and put down over 350 minutes a week, and lets just say our team hasn't won a week's competition yet due to her missing her goal by about 300 minutes. I'm not judging, I'm just all about being realistic.) While 150 minutes doesn't even seem like a lot, it turns out it is. Good thing I have a 4.5 pound dog with A.D.D. that forces me to walk her frequently, or I wouldn't get these active points. And the work dancing helps as well. Each week we have to report our minutes, and the team with the highest percentage of their goal wins. Yeah, like I said, we haven't won yet. Maybe I should up the ante a bit and bust out my old Tae Bo DVD's. Or just suck it up and finally join a gym like I've been talking about for months. Either way we better win soon, cuz I want a Jamba Juice gift card...I mean I want to stay active and healthy...;-)

Here are the Beautiful Pictures...

Here are some pictures from the "whirlwind" week I described last time. It was such a fun week, as you will see below!

THE BRIDE on Bachelorette Night!


All the girls at the Bridesmaids luncheon at a BEAUTIFUL ocean front home on Bainbridge Island.


This is B and Ezekiel. Isn't he the cutest? (B, you are cute too, dont worry). I love the mo-hawk that he sports. I gotta be honest, after living almost an entire week with the kid, I MISS HIM!


Me and Kris on the Ferry to Bainbridge


Ok, true confessions time: I've always kind of judged those who are obsessed with the "Sodoku Craze" and never really understood it. Mostly because in the past, I took one look at it and was so confused and I just assumed I was stupid and couldn't do it. It looked WAY too hard so I didn't even bother. My husband swears he tried to explain it to me once before and it ended in some sort of yelling and argument, but I have chosen to block that out. It took the patient voice of my favorite Chicago-an and new friend Kara to kindly explain the rules and strategy of the game, thus passing on the addiction to me. Here is me and Carrie tag teaming Sodoku on the Ferry. Kara was kind enough to lend me her book for so much of the trip and I tried to improve my game with any spare moment I had...or she let me borrow it for 1 game and I refused to give it back. I can't remember which. (the little guy in the pic is Ezekiel Prince. That's right: 2 Ezekiels in case you are keeping track).


Some of my "roomies" for the week (aka, the bridesmaids/bride)


Jon got to fly in on Friday, and here we are at the rehearsal dinner (which had the best Salmon Ive ever had in my LIFE by the way. YUM!)


Me and the Bride as we got ready


Me and Carrie lacing her--wasn't the back of her dress SO pretty??


ALL the bridesmaids and the bride! It was so good to catch up and hang out with all these wonderful girls last week. We made many memories and had many laughs. It was even extra fun to meet Kara, Kristen's sister in law, and become fast friends--it felt like we had all known each other for years! We gotta find a way to get Kristen and Kara down here to California for GOOD...it's just wrong how far apart we all live.

Pretty flowers!

The Happy Couple: Mr. and Mrs. Dacey!

This is Gavin, Carrie's son and one of the ring bearers. He seriously one of the cutest, most hilarious kids I've ever met. One of my favorite stories from this trip is when 3 of us girls were in the car with him driving in Seattle, and (inevitably), we got lost. As we are scrambling, trying to find where to go with all the crazy one way streets, Gavin is in the back, calmly and rationally giving direction advice. "Jen, I think you should probably find the freeway." or "I think you should turn towards the water." (Remember--this kid is THREE.) The funniest thing is he probably was right the whole time and knew what he was talking about. We eventually got there probably in large part to Gavin and his wise directions. He is just the cutest--Care, look out--my husband wants to steal him. Jon keeps calling him "Gavin the Genious Kid".

The Matrons and the Bride.

Eric and "the Jens" partying at the reception
The happy/sad ending...happily ever after for them, but sad for us to say goodbye knowing we won't see each other for a while.