It’s been a while

So it’s been a while since i’ve updated some pictures. Seems to be typical for me. It’s been a whirlwind past few weeks, going to Ohio, coming back to the school semester being in full session, adjusting to working (yep, still adjusting to those night shifts), my parents coming to visit, Ryan’s tussle with the rattlesnake, Sunland staff retreat (which was so much fun and so refreshing with so many good friends), friends from Japan coming to visit (lots of them), a week long vacation in California, and I think other stuff happened in there I just can’t remember. I seem to like to recap events by putting up pictures so here we go…

Ryan took me to Scottsdale for my birthday weekend. It was our first time of traveling that didn’t involve funding. It was so refreshing to spend two days together, relaxing and hanging out. We discovered this coffee shop with THE BEST, and i mean THE BEST, chai tea latte ever. It was so good we went back the next day! I crave it often. (and if you know me well enough, you know i have a lot of random cravings on a daily basis…this one is constant)

As a wedding gift my parents gave Ryan and I a weekend with the  FamilyLife Weekend to Remember marriage conference. It was held at the Star Pass Marriott in Tucson in June. It was a great time. It’s a beautiful resort in Tucson tucked in the mountains to the west of the city. Further west you have the beautiful mountains and gorgeous sunsets, and from the east the city actually looks pretty, especially at night with all the lights. We felt a little young there only being married for 6 months with one couple going on 60 some years of mariage but it was sooo good. The talks and couple discussion times afterward were helpful in Ryan and I setting a good, God-centered foundation for our marriage. Our highlights were the couple discussion times at the end of the day. It was highly encouraged to go as a couple to a private area and talk through certain questions. It provided a sweet opportunity to talk about things that you don’t normally as a couple. I’d love to go to one of these conferences every couple years to reminded of crucial points discussed. God richly blessed our times. It was funny because along with talking about marriage we had our first parenting talk. That was slightly weird. I highly recommend it to married couples.

Glen Eyrie, Navigator Headquarters, Colorado Springs, CO

that’s my husband!!!!!!!!

In June Ryan had Summit for EDGE Corp (like new job orientation) and I had a couple days off in which I flew to CO to be with him and meet the other EDGErs. It was a really good time. Any time at the Glen seems to be good! We met up with our good friends, Tim & Meg, and Kurt & Heather, while there. It was so good, refreshing, encouraging to see them. We played bocce ball with Tim & Meg across the Glen lawn and had a amazing dinner with Kurt & Heather. They are just such sweet dear friends. The Glen is a beautiful place. I love flowers and couldn’t get enough of all the flowers there. I’m grateful that my job allows me to have 3-4 days off in a row where I can take little trips like that. It was definitely tiring though, working 3 nights, flying to Denver right after work with no sleep, being with friends, flying back and working the next 3 nights. Welcome to what my summer was like. Work, funding trip, work. Yet God was gracious to me, giving me energy.

haha. So I tried to make baked brie with brown sugar, almonds and craisins inside. All the recipes I found wanted you to put bread around it but I was trying hard to stick to my gluten-free diet. Welp, I had a pretty dumb moment and didn’t realize that if you bake brie it will melt and run all over your pan…you need the bread to contain the cheese. Woops. Ryan was a great husband and ate it with me. It actually tasted good…just didn’t look like it. It was definitely a pretty funny experience and confirmed the fact that I’m still a novice cook. I should have said yes to helping my mom cook all those times she asked me. Mom’s do know what they’re talking about!

Last thing, I promise.

Ryan and I just got back from vacation in Southern California. It was a first vacation aside from our honeymoon. It was so needed. We enjoyed hanging out with each other on the beach, playing frisbee in the water, getting taken out by the waves, having sand everywhere all the time. We read The Chronicles of Narnia aloud on the beach, got a couple of skin shades darker, ate good food, had sweet times with friends (we spent the afternoon with our dear friend Krista!!!!) and family. We enjoyed just being together, talking deeply and joking around. Oh yeah and we started training for this half marathon we’re running in January (are we crazy…yes i think so). It was a wonderful time, growing closer as husband and wife and as friends.