Happy Hooky Day...err...Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday!

These pictures have nothing to do with this post - except they make me happy.

I am extra happy this morning because I have the day off of work!
I've been planning it for a few months now.

Tonight, my favorite band of LIFE is playing up in Davis, and to avoid traffic, their Northern California fan club is heading out early.
The day will consist of the Jelly Belly factory.
Outlets.
And a free taco (thank you Angel Pagan!).
Who knows what else it will hold.

In the mean time, I have the morning off work.
My house is clean.
My laundry does need to be folded, and dishwasher unloaded, but that can wait.

Right Now:

I'm hearing: Cars cruising down my street. On their way to drop off kids at school, and head to work. Water run through the pipes as my neighbors get ready for their day.

I'm seeing: Out my giant sliding glass window, the fog is burning off. The clouds turning from a dark gray into a soft pink, and the palest blue sky starting to emerge. The sun is rising over my building, and the tops of the trees are turning a warm golden green.

I'm tasting: The last sips of my coffee. In one of my favorite mugs. Refill time?

I'm feeling: The softness of my most favorite blanket as I cozy up on my couch.

Roll.

It was an amazing season.
I got to attend 7 games.
And even got to get up close and personal with the 2010 World Series trophy.
I ate my share of churros, red ropes, hot dogs, and Ghirardelli sundaes.
I clapped my heart out, I fist pumped til my arm was numb, I didn't stop believing.

It was an unbelievable run in the playoffs. 
There were shark fins.
Man dimes.
Rally enchiladas.
And so much cheering.
Coming back in three straight elimination games.
TWICE.

It was a magical World Series.
Unbelievable bunts.
Glorious catches.
Fake tattoos.
And so much food.
Pies. Dips. Hot dogs. Cheese.
So much cheese.

And it was all worth it tonight.
Game 4.
Stress.
Torture.
Sweep. Sweep. Sweep. Sweep. Sweep.
Celebration.
Champagne.

2012 World Series Champions

San Francisco Giants!!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a fun little consolation prize to put together for a certain Tiger's fan. 

Texts from My Dad: Playoff Edition

It's been a stressful week.
And a crazy exciting NLCS Series.
In case you didn't hear, the Giants are going to the World Series.
It has been some good texting with my dad during the games, here are a few of the highlights. 
My dad is one funny guy.
My personal favorite is the last one.

A Little Break Between Pitches

The weekend went quick, too quick.
It was full of baseball. A LOT of baseball.

And a little bit of this....

NLCS Game 7 Tonight.
1st Pitch, 5pm.
Be there.

Thirty-One: Take Two.

It was my thirty-first back in August.
I turned 31 in Florence, Italy.
Fancy, I know.
But I'm a brat, and I have birthday problems.
I never enjoy my real birthday. Ever. I cry every year.
I really try hard not to, like REALLY hard, but I can't help it.
This year was no exception.
It's embarrassing to admit. So let's move on.

The last few years, I have opted out of birthday celebrations - but my sister friends, Laura, Cindy and Ellen weren't going to let me get away with it this year.
Especially since they had the cutest Thirty-One themed birthday adventure planned.

It started with the three of them picking me up on Saturday night, and telling me to make sure my phone had space for plenty of photos - as this would be a blogworthy event. I knew right then it was going to be a great night.

From the backseat, Cindy handed me a card with what would be my first clue. Each of the clues had plenty of Bridemsaids references, and I was able to figure out we were headed to a new restaurant in town that I had been dying to check out, 31st Union.

So, it's no secret that I love all things California these days.
I mean, it's the best state ever.
Well, did you know that California was the 31st state in the Union?
Neither did I.

Well, this ADORABLE and amazing little restaurant was all things California.
A giant chalkboard map of the state, with arrows shot into all of the noteworthy cities.

Everything about this restaurant is local. And not just the food, the wood on the walls and benches was even locally sourced.
It made me proud to be a Californian.
God Bless California.

Small plates, small bites, but crazy good.

We split a cheese board between the four of us (forgot to take a pic!)
And I had the fish & chips (seafood exception comes into play here).
They were SO GOOD.

It was such the most perfect way to celebrate the milestone year of turning the big three-one.

Next thing I knew, I was told there was another destination.
I was given my clue, for thirty-one options of sweet treats.
You know where this is going....

But meanwhile, on our walk to 31 Flavors, we passed another local restaurant - 231 Ellsworth.
It wasn't on the agenda, but an appropriate photo op for my 2nd 31st.

They treated me to anything I wanted.
My Baskin Robbins favs are Pistachio Almond & Cherries Jubilee.
A scoop of each, in a waffle cone.
Also, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

And me, oh my, this was not my last destination.
There was another clue.
Complete with another Bridesmaids reference (Cindy, you have skills at tying them in).
And we ended our night hanging out at another local fav, laughing, and playing silly card games.

It was a wonderful homegrown celebration with lifelong friends.
Thank you girls.
(Also, I feel like we still need a trip to the mall food court: Food31 to complete the 31 theme!)

I Went to France Y'all

No, I did not get a custom dress fitting by Lady St. Petswah JiuJiu - but I did explore a little town, Aix en Provence.
It was magical.

I don't know why, but I had low expectations for France.
This day exceeded them, exponentially.
It was by far one of my favorites, even though we were only there for a few very short hours.

I think you'll see why.

We were on a short half day tour of Aix, I ditched it 10 minutes in, in favor of exploring on my own.
So totally worth it.


Also, I took a lot of pictures of food.
But, when in France...

I have a weakness for open air markets.
They make me so happy.
They make my camera so happy.
I think it should be noted that all of these pictures are straight out of my camera.

That chocolate eclair was the best pastry I have ever had.
I had French macarons in France.
I sat by that fountain and people watched for a half hour in the sunshine.
It was a really, really good day.

Dunked x 6

As I mentioned yesterday, this past Sunday was a really special day for Hope Church, not only did we celebrate 2 years of meeting at Sunnybrae, we also recapped the recent Sudan Trip, and we also had the privilege of seeing 6 people in our little body get baptized!

It was the most amazing way to celebrate and see what the Lord has done in these past 2 years, to see 6 people proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He has them in his grasp, He has called them his own, and in a symbolic gesture of being raised to new life, these six were baptized!

Praise God for all of it being DONE by Jesus on the cross, may He get the full glory for the amazing redemptive work he has done in these people's lives. It is a joy to call them all friends, and be a witness to what He is doing!

Our God is a very REAL, very BIG God - I KNOW this is true because of the transformations I see the Holy Spirit working in these hearts. There isn't anything more encouraging than the evidence of changed lives.

God is so good.
All the time.

Happy 2nd (or 3rd) Birthday Hope Church!

Hope Church of San Mateo turned 2 on Wednesday!
2 years ago, on 10.10.10 we launched in the eclectic LGI Room of Sunnybrae Elementary School.

Prior to that we spent exactly one year meeting as a small group of believers in Jessica's grandmother's living room.

Three years of fellowshipping, worshipping, and serving Jesus.

Five years ago, if you had asked me if I would be a part of a church plant, I would have laughed.
Hard.

But the Lord does crazy things.
He does crazy things in 3 years. In 6 months. In 1 week.
Every. Single. Day.

That's a lesson He has been teaching me in 2012.
You never know what He has for you tomorrow.

Looking back on 3 years of yesterdays, it is bittersweet to see the growth he has brought upon this little body. And all of the incredible ways He allowed and provided for us to serve His people.

I like to think back to getting to Grandmum's at 4:30 for a 5:00 meeting, and setting up 15-20 chairs, moving the coffee table, putting out cookies.

And how different Sundays look today - 60 chairs, another stack for overflow, 40 cup coffee percolator, resource table, sound equipment, signs, a van with the front seat full of space heaters and air mattresses (weird, I know).

What will Hope Church look like in 2 more years? Only God knows the answer to that.
But I am excited to see what He has planned.

For now, I praise Him for the joy and privilege of being involved in this ministry for exactly 1100 days.
Of seeing the Lord plant and water this little body.
And grow us from a "Church Plant" to a "Church".
A little Church at that, but a Church.
The Body of Christ.

And a walk down Hope San Mateo Memory Lane....


City Team Christmas 2010, Thanksgiving 2011 & Christmas 2011.

Tahoe 2011

Easter 2011

Christmas 2011

Valentine's 2012

Holy Week 2012

And week after week of regular moments, when looking back - are truly the BEST moments.

As we celebrate what the Lord has done, please pray for our church as we continue to see what the Lord might do.

That God would be glorified always.
That we would make much of Him, and Him alone.
That He would increase, that we would decrease.
That we would be unified.
That we would be obedient.
That we would love Him & His people.