Thanksgiving in CA

Hey, Y'all! :)

Another amazing week down, and only three more to go before I finally get to go HOME for Christmas! It feels like I've been away forever and ever. In two weeks, I'll be living it up DMB & Tim style in Las Vegas then will be home a week later. It'll fly right by, and I can't wait! I get to spend three whole weeks at home. Then, when I come back I'll be half way through my contract here in CA!!!! Holy cow, time sure does fly. I'm a fan!

So this past week was nothing short of a blessing. My dad, sister, and boyfriend all took the same flight out here Saturday night and stayed til the following Saturday morning. A whole week, yay! We had such an amazing, fun, eventful time together -touring, sightseeing, wine tasting, relaxing, and of course eating. My friend Gabby and her boyfriend M.J. joined us out for dinner one evening and again for Thanksgiving dinner at my apartment. It was such a nice holiday, and I couldn't have asked for anything better being away from home. I cooked a turkey, and it actually turned out great! My first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner was a complete success! The rest of the week was, of course, a success as well. I believe everyone enjoyed themselves and our time together. We toured the Hearst Castle which was GORGEOUS! I had no idea it was such an attraction for this area, but boy was I wrong. I highly recommend it to anyone. We spent a day at the beaches and even went to Splash Cafe' and tried their famous clam chowder (bread bowl) that Rachel Ray always talks about. Now I know why -YUM! A day in Los Angeles was also one of the highlights of our week since we got to see and do lots of fun things there. We drove up to see the Hollywood sign and then Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. Then we got to tour the wax museum and car museum which I had never done before. We walked around the shops at The Grove and ate dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Oh, and I tried my first In-and-Out Burger! How could I forget that?!? We didn't make it to the Lakers/Bulls game like we had initially planned, but we thoroughly enjoyed our day anyway. Jason and I got to spend an evening on a DATE! That was the highlight of my week by far. We went to the Sycamore Hot Springs Resort & Spa where we ate dinner, soaked in the natural springs mineral water, & had an hour-long couples massage. It was relaxing and romantic. It was perfect. The whole week was perfect. I was sad to say goodbye, but I know I'll see them all again very soon.

Jason and I are trying to plan a ski trip with a couple of friends for New Years weekend. I'm hoping that it pans out cuz I've never been skiing, and I've always wanted to! My fingers are crossed.

Now I shall begin the transition into another busy work week, but I'll leave you guys with some pics to highlight my wonderful Thanksgiving Break. Enjoy:

~Thanks~

Wow, is it really November already? I thoroughly enjoy the holidays, and this year I have even more to look forward to. I am lucky enough to get an entire week off for Thanksgiving and then three whole weeks off for Christmas & New Year's. That's one of the major benefits of working in the schools. Yay!

Should I even begin to list the things which I am thankful for? I don't think there is enough time or words to truly be able to depict the life I am thankful for and everything that goes with it. It's overwhelming.

Here are a few that come to mind:
(I'm not going to number them but instead use symbols because these cannot be in any particular order.)
* I am thankful for, of course, my family. We have been through a lot and overcome even more together. My family, as dysfunctional as it may seem, is my root, my anchor, my support, and a major source of motivation.
* I am thankful for my dog because he loves me unconditionally. Other than treats, I am the most important thing in his world. It's a good world, I might add. A spoiled world. haha!
* I am thankful for my health. Seeing what my mother had to suffer through makes me appreciate the healthy mind and body God has given to me. Even though I have had my share of issues, I am as healthy as ever.
* I am thankful for my job and the kids who make me smile every day. They give me a whole new appreciation for the little things in life that we sometimes take for granted. A scraped knee wasn't so bad after all.....
* I am thankful for my life-long friends I have made and kept throughout the years. I am also thankful for my ability to make new friends no matter where I go. God has surrounded me with some amazing people, and I'm blessed to have made friends to help me along this journey I have taken.
* I am thankful for opportunity. When I stop to think about where I have been or what all I have done in my 26 years, I actually break down into tears. Joyful tears, of course, but nevertheless tears. I honestly do not know what I have done to deserve the opportunities I have gotten, but I could never be more grateful for this life.
* I am thankful for pictures. I love to look back at the photos I or my friends have taken and reminisce about the wonderful memories we have made. There are so many things I forget about, but when I see a picture and am reminded of these things I get to smile and enjoy it all over again. It's a great feeling.
* I am thankful for confidence. I honestly never felt completely confident about myself until this year. My lack of confidence was not handicapping but was enough to make me realize now how it can change your whole attitude about life. Confidence can either hinder you, drive you, or simply give you a little push. I've gained confidence in many aspects of my life, and I feel that it has given me that little push that I didn't know I needed.
* I am thankful for challenges. I'll admit that I am a competitor, so I'm always up for a good challenge. A good challenge has made me a better person, clinician, daughter, sister, friend, and girlfriend. If life was easy, we'd all be bored. ;)
* I am thankful for my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. You all know the obvious reasons, so I'll talk about what he has done for me lately. He has allowed me to figure life out on my own. He has allowed me to sleep in on Sunday mornings yet still prove my faith, to feel his spirit through the ocean breeze or a breath of fresh air, and to take selfish steps while still following his lead. I trust that He will lead me where my life is supposed to go, but I am thankful that I can take detours along the way to learn about myself. It's a lovely journey, I must say.
* I am thankful for Unconditional Love. I have never experienced such a miraculous feeling such as this. I don't know which is better -being in love or being loved in return. I like both. Having someone that adores me and makes me feel like the most special thing in the world -what can be better than that? I'll tell you what: Having that someone be as astonishing, loving, caring, genuine, handsome, inspiring, motivating, supportive, thoughtful, funny, charming, and PERFECT for me. What more could a girl want, honestly? I am more than grateful and blessed.
* I am thankful for who I am. To some of you, this may sound vein; however, I have learned how important it is to love yourself and appreciate who you are as a person. I have done just that.
* I am thankful for rest. I get caught up in the excitement of this busy world, and it is SO good to be able to rest easily at the end of every day.... even the tougher days.
* I am thankful for the ability to see. There is beauty all around me, everywhere I go, so it would be a shame not to be able to see it.
* I am thankful for technology. I'm sure you can all figure out why. ;)


Okay, so maybe that was more than a few. I just couldn't stop because I am thankful for SO very much. My life is beautiful. I can hardly wait until Thanksgiving. My life will be even more beautiful. Awww, yay!

Thanks!