Top 30 "Thanks" of 2013

I decided a few days ago that I was going to blog what I'm thankful for on Thanksgiving. But, as I like to have some fun twist on most of what I do, I decided to stick with my top 30, as this is my 30th year of life. Some of these may seem random, but they are what I am thankful for right now.

Aside from my top 5, the others are in no particular order.

Ladies and gentlemen, here are my top 30 "thanks" of 2013:

30. the smell of fresh laundry

29. my health

28. snow!

27. a fridge full of food (healthy and tasty)

26. organizing/getting rid of clutter

25. pillows - decorative and for sleeping

24. my amazing mattress - seriously, it's incredible

23. apple cinnamon scented things (candles, air fresheners, etc.)

22. wood burning fireplaces (haven't made a fire yet, but once I do expect a photo being posted)

21. FaceTime (allows me to feel like I'm "there")

20. adventure walks

19. peppermint mocha Coffeemate creamer

18. a week off of work

17. waking up naturally each day because of this week off of work

16. again, due to this week off of work, being able to make breakfast each morning and drink my coffee (refer to #19) with the ability to sit down and enjoy them

15. friends (with years of history, and new)

14. Pilates on a reformer (just took a class for the first time in over six months, and I'm feeling good!)

13. the ability to feel sore because my body is healthy enough to push it

12. little hints/tricks to cooking a successful and delicious Thanksgiving meal from my Ma

11. Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and Christmas music

10. a job that allows me to pay my bills

9. Pride & Prejudice (my favorite movie ever)

8. everything colorful

7. experiencing and appreciating a real Fall season

6. Instagram (may seem silly, but this has truly helped me feel as though I am still experiencing life with so many that I am not near)

5. random phone calls/texts that, though unknown to the sender, have made some of my hardest days easier

4. simple things that make me smile --> sweet texts/emails, unexpected kindness in strangers, finding a parking spot in a crowded lot, surprise smoothies in the morning from Cam, Christmas music, fresh flowers, etc.

3. my roommate, Cam #myroommateruleZ

2. my family - I know I say this a lot, but really my family is incredible. I still wonder sometimes how I was able to drive out of Southern California and willingly leave them. But, I am thankful for technology (texting, Instagram, FaceTime, Facebook, etc.) that keep us close.

1. my salvation - without this, I would have no hope, no everlasting life, and no idea of what grace truly means.

I hope that this has helped you to take a moment to reflect on some of the big and small things that you are thankful for. Happiest Thanksgiving!

Until next time, y'all!

Beautiful Life...

Very few times I have felt compelled to write. Now is one of those times.

I have been living in Tennessee for three and a half months, and I absolutely love it.

I love my friends.
I love where I live.
I love that one of my best friend's from California moved out here to be my roommate.
I love my church.
I love my co-workers and students.
Truly, I love my life here.

But lately I have been struggling with insecurity and doubt.

Those who know me best know this is uncharacteristic of me. I am sure that this comes with the territory of moving somewhere that I am completely unknown to everyone I come in contact with. Everything I say and do is new: there is no history to me, no story of who I am, no memories that go years back that I can laugh and reminisce with those around me. And at times I have felt utterly alone in the midst of a crowd. I knew these times would come, but there is nothing to do to prepare for them.

As I was driving home tonight from a friend's 30th birthday dinner, I had an epiphany:

I need to stop trying so hard, and just be.
I need to let go and let God do what He wants to do in and through me.
I need to trust that He knows exactly what He is doing. Oh, how trusting in the unknown and unseen has been my never ending struggle.
I need to stop worrying about what others think about me, and be who God created me to be: a loud-laughing, typically optimistic, ball of energy who doesn't mind being the center of attention, but will undoubtedly turn red once I am.

I was reminded tonight at that birthday dinner, surrounded by friends - some new to me as of tonight, some I have known since my first night in Nashville, some that I have become so close with it brings tears of joy to my eyes - that God is so much bigger than I am. I was reminded that I need to stop worrying, and stop trying to control everything in my life in the exact way I want it to go, and let it be.

This is one of the hardest truths for me to grasp: let go and let life happen as it will.

I know that I can't control what will happen in my future,
but I do know that God has a good and perfect plan for me,
and that it will all unfold throughout the duration of my lifetime in His perfect time.
I know that I will at times try to take the reigns back,
and that I will be reminded of this epiphany.
And I am okay with that.
I am confident that I can rest in the arms of my Savior
and trust that He is good.

What a beautiful life I have been given to live.

And what joy a chilly Tennessee Fall day, peppermint soy mocha, and thick scarves bring me!

Until next time, y'all!

There's no place like home...

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to go home! I am loving my time in Tennessee, but there really is nothing like surrounding yourself with family and friends for a few days to recharge.

My weekend started 15 minutes before school got out on Thursday afternoon. I had a 4:45pm flight, so I needed to leave then to beat any school traffic. There is a wonderful teacher, Lisa, that works with me in several of my classes, who was more than willing to take charge for those last minutes. I am more thankful for her than my words could express!

I was off. And I was excited.

I couldn't help smiling as I headed north on the 65 (I-65, or the Interstate, as the locals call it). But, there was also this deep feeling of contentment as I drove north. I knew that, though I was desperately excited to go home, I was also going to miss Tennessee.

After dropping off my car in Long Term parking, and getting through Security, I was in the air. I had been waiting for this weekend since before I left California in July, and I was aching to see my niece and nephews.

I arrived late on Thursday, so the real fun began on Friday!

After dropping my Ma off at work in San Clemente...

...I continued the morning with coffee and breakfast at Bagels & Brew with two of my best gals, Blythe and Camyron. {Camyron actually left on Saturday to trek across the USofA to be my roommate in Tennessee. And I can't wait for her to be here!}

After that much-needed hang out, I went over to my old Stallion-stompin' ground and visited my former colleagues during the Friday BBQ! It was so fun to catch up with them. So many things have changed (new teachers, new experiences, new classrooms for several), but so much was still the same. One of the things that I am finding so interesting in moving is that nothing stays quite the same, but the changes have so far been such that I don't feel out of place. 

I only have a few of the friends that I taught with pictured here. They are incredible. Really, it was so great seeing them. 

The Homecoming game that night was Harry Potter themed, and it was truly magical. It was so fun seeing more former colleagues and former students and cheerleaders. I didn't take that many photos, as I was busy catching up, so here is a little taste into the night.

I absolutely love hearing about my students' post-high school lives and see who they are becoming. It makes me feel like a proud mama. 

Saturday was one of those days in my life that will go down as "one of the best." Three months of not squeezing and laughing with my niece and nephews, and missing out on them grow even just a little in that time, has been the hardest part of my living in Tennessee. 

But, part of the beauty of family is that as soon as I knocked on the door and heard the excited squeals of "Auntie is here! Auntie is here!," I knew that these few short months did not matter in the grand scheme of things. I am so thankful that I was able to live near them for the time that I did, as they know me even though time has gone by.

Just little snippets into this wonderful weekend.

I had coffee with my parents at Coffee Importers (my favorite place!) in Dana Point on Sunday and then left for the airport. I really do miss seeing palm trees.

As the plane took off from Orange County, tears silently fell from my eyes for ten, fifteen, maybe twenty minutes. I'm not sure how long. 

Even though my heart ached so deeply from having to leave my family until Christmas, I had an undeniable peace about going back to Tennessee; a peace that I would not have thought I would have been able to have, or be okay with, a month ago. 

I know, without a doubt, that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. Though I can't tell the future (I don't know if I'll be here for the rest of my life, ten years, five years, or just the duration of this year), I know that I am right where I need to be. I am excited to see where this leads me.

There is no place like home, but right now I have two homes. And that is fine by me.

Until next time, y'all!