Weekendlies: Red & Gold

My computer is in the shop. It's a bit of a sensitive subject. One of these days I'll get it back and be able to blog about Christmas and such. For now a quick phone blog, of the latest weekending...

1. Lunch with these ladies, strolling on a warm January day. It was quick, but it was grand.

2. I've been trying to get on the worship team for years, this one invented an imaginary violin and boom, she's in.

3. Feeling spirited.

4. Pup tent. Bringing team spirit to a front yard near you.

5. Baby Kaep. All she needs are some Beats.

6. Monday holidays are great for sleeping in and snuggling. 

7. Mylie may be younger by 4 years but she's the protector.

8. It was a beautiful 71* day in my neighborhood.

9. Wine school. It's a thing. A really fun thing.

10 on 10: January 2014

I'm an addict. And my dealer just hooked me up.

1 month for today I'll be across the globe!

The wood coaster and gold handle really class up my desk.

Glad we don't have a personal item limit. 

New Mama meal delivery.

The ticket, in progress.

Leaving work right as the sky party commences is the best part of January.

Excuse me, where did the 10 year old go?

Lincoln, keeping it cas. 

A little Sonoma souvenir.

Linking up with Rebecca!

The Break.

 The last two weeks were twelve glorious work free days.
This year, I didn't embark on any crazy out of town adventures.
Just a lot of hanging out at home, doing the things I never get to do, or hardly have time for.
Working on a few projects, and did a little exploring in my extended backyard.
It was amazing.


I had my third annual "off the grid baking day".
Where I lock myself in my house and bake until the cows come home.
Or I run out of ingredients.
Whatever happens first.

Like these Snowballs.

 

And put together some treat boxes for a few friends.
Including my favorite Spumoni Cookies - several people asked for them this year. Which makes me so happy!

  
Enjoyed being at home.
In the daytime.
With Mylie by my side.

Checked out a new restaurant in town with some friends.
And went to Walgreens afterward. Because, Walgreens. 

 Practiced being a reindeer

Made my dad come over and help hang my Christmas present. 

Isn't it gorgeous.
I can't stop staring at it.

Watched hours of cheesy Lifetime Christmas movies with my mom.
Yes, that is Whoopi Goldberg as Santa. Including white Santa dreads.

 

Finally opened my Christmas gift from last year, an enamel pot and made my Grandma's award winning (really!) Beef Burgundy recipe. 

 And invited a couple friends over to try it.
Wine & cheese included.

Worked on a house project that I have been planning in my head.

It only took me 4 years to actually get started.  

 Cleaned.
Everything.

 Made breakfast.
Like actually made it.

 And enjoyed whipped cream.
Probably a bit too much.

 

Did a little clearance shopping at Target.

I think Smiles is pretty happy about it.

 Went into the City and had a nice lunch w/ my mom at the Beach Chalet.
And caught this incredible ring around the sun.

 And took in a view of the love of my life.

Enjoyed a sky party from the comfort of my living room.
With one snoring Schnoodle by my side.

Had some friends over for tea & cookies.
And puffs.

 Good, longtime friends.

 Exchanged the exact same gift with the bestie.

 Made a lot of damn good coffee.

Adopted a sister for the day and headed to Monterey with the fam.

Where a really nice lady walked up to us and handed us free tickets to the aquarium!

Even the octopus was in a great mood and came out to show off twice!

Checked in on the sunfish. They are my favorite fish.

Brought a #notfoodpoisoning care package to a friend who was the plague's latest victim.

Ramped up for 2014.

Spread a little Baked Brie joy.

Ubered. In costume.

 Went on a boat.
(But not really).

And finally, FINALLY, ordered cable. Got a new TV. And AppleTV.
Just in time to go back to work and not have any time to sit at home and watch it.

And it was all good. Just so, so good.
Grateful that I had this chance to just hang around and be for almost two weeks.
Just what I needed.

Happy New Year, friends!

2013. Done & Done.

2013. Gone. Done. Adios.

2013, you weren't my favorite year.
You weren't my least favorite year, no, that was 2007.
But, compared to more recent years past, there was a lot to live up to, and you just didn't make the mark.
So, I can't blame you 2013, I just wish you had stepped up your game.

There were incredible highlights, like that time I went to Hawaii with my parents and went snorkeling with my dad and a pod of wild dolphins jumped and spun along side our boat...

And then...AND THEN they joined us for a swim in Honolua Bay.
Hands down, no question, best moment of the year.

And in 2013, there were no new countries visited. No new states either. Most of the year was spent along the West Coast exploring.
NorCal, SoCal, CenCal - is CenCal a thing?

I adventured locally. Baked a lot. And spent a bit of time changing things around to make my house even more of a home.

I caught both sunrises and sunsets. Many, many sunsets.
Each one, reminding me not to worship the created, as incredible as it is, but the creator - who is more incredible than these mere samples of His glory.

As I reflect on 2013 here in these first days of 2014, and I begin my daily quiet times in the book of Genesis, I am reminded that as in creation, "God saw that it was good".

Despite 2013 not being a milestone year, one necessarily for any record books other than my own, God still saw that it was good. 

I ended 2012 and began 2013 reminding myself that the Lord does not waste anything. He redeems it all, as he showed me at the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012, for His glory, and our good.

Funny how he has been stringing these pieces together. Sanctifying me each year, He is the one writing the story.  Teaching me. Slowly.

And as I begin 2014, I don't know what the Lord holds in store. I don't know how next January's post will read. What lessons I will learn.  But I know that it is in the hands of the Almighty God. All knowing. All powerful. Infinitely loving.

So on these crisp January days of 2014, where the trees are mere skeletons, and the ground is parched longing for rain that hasn't come, where the skies are hazy and smoggy, I need to cling to Jesus for 2014. I want to set my heart on things above. Because I long for belonging. I need to long for Him. And he has made me his own. I belong to Him. He loves me. He has chosen me. And I want to remember that all the days He has for me this year.  I have been chosen by the Almighty God. And in the end, at the end of the day, the end of the year, the end of my days, that is all that matters.