Hey Y'all!

Our big summer trip this year included plans to visit Tennessee to see my husband's folks and then to celebrate our 2-year anniversary early by visiting a location he has loved vacationing in for years: Destin, Florida. If you know of my obsession with birds, it's a thrill for me to add a bird to my "life list." I now have that exuberance about adding states as "life states," since Justin came along and sparked a passion to travel in my heart. (He's the best traveling buddy...it's hard not to like travel with him!) So this trip not only added Florida to my state list, but also Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana! What a thrill it was for me, indeed! (Minus the indescribable humidity that made me feel like I was constantly melting...see this for reference).

I ticked 4 new states for my list and...drum roll, please...32 new life birds! Uncontainable joy! Onto my list flew: Black-throated Green Warbler, Black Vulture, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Blue Jay, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Brown Thrasher, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Chimney Swift, Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Screech Owl, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Great Crested Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Laughing Gull, Least Tern, Mississippi Kite, Orchard Oriole, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Scarlet Tanager, Tufted Titmouse, White-eyed Vireo, and White Ibis! What a list for me to find joy in!

We birded with the Birding Master nearly every morning we were there. And I finally got to bird with my Grandmother-in-law at her kitchen window! She's the lady who started the generation of birders!

Justin and I value all of our time spent with family. Sabbath was especially meaningful with our Uncle, Grandma, and Granddad we hadn't seen for many moons. It also included a bird matching card game from their past they introduced me to! (My obsession with it goes without saying! Oops, I said it!)

This was our second trip to Tennessee together and we have a tradition now of always going to Gatlinburg, The Great Smoky Mountains, and stopping in Knoxville on the way home to eat at El Chico. (I recently have begun a rating system for my obsession with trying tacos at every Mexican restaurant. El Chico's has been the first 10/10!!! Also, the fresh guacamole is out of this world!)

We added a new stop on our trip this year that is so special and amazing that it deserved its own paragraph! The Christmas and Collectibles store in Pigeon Forge!!! Another one of my obsessions is Christmas, so... me + Christmas in July = Augggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! Justin and I picked out many absolutely perfect bird ornaments that we cannot wait to add to our bird-themed Christmas tree this year!

Side note: I realized my official obsession with Christmas a few days ago (not sure why I didn' realize it before!). Then it dawned on me as I was searching Amazon for Old World Christmas bird ornaments in July, someone else in our family had an obsession with Christmas, especially Christmas decorations and ornaments--my Grandma Carol! It is an honor to pass down her tradition and it is a very high honor to display some of her most lovely Christmas ornaments she has collected and gifted throughout the years on our tree!


Our trip to the south then moved us to our anniversary "Destin-ation!" (We were pretty proud of coining that term this trip!) We drove through horrific thunder and lightning storms to get there, which made me unsure of what I was getting myself into with this whole Florida thing. Upon relaxation and a good night's sleep, I fell in love with Florida the next morning! How could I not? ...He took me to the Destin jetty!!!! The water was so clear I could have written all my postcards underwater! (But why would I want to do that? What I really should have done was snorkel with Justin! Next time! ...And I will definitely use your tip, Christy, to snorkel with a noodle! There's no way I'm going to snorkel for exercise! Snorkeling will be 100% relaxation and leisure if I choose to partake in it!)

Justin and I discovered the nearby outlet stores. Which was a mistake. But it was also a hilarious discovery to find out Justin's disbelief of how literally everything is always on sale at an outlet. I also found my new favorite store: GH Bass. I think we literally visited the outlets 3 times in 2 days!

We also miniature golfed, which was so fun! This was only the second time we played. Apparently, it's a vacation activity for us. Our first time playing was on Catalina Island. I remember we tied our first time, but he says I beat him by one point. This time, he beat me by one point! Perfect!

The final part of our trip consisted of driving from Florida to Louisiana in order to fly home with a shorter flight. It is so easy to trust Justin with taking care of all the planning, reservations, and details of our trips, that sometimes I forget to ask things and, instead, I get surprised! He booked us a stay at "the belle of New Orleans." It was the prettiest hotel I've ever seen! He wanted us to have a treat for our last day of vacation and also for me to feel relaxed before the flight home. The Lord knew I needed to marry this guy for sure!!!

On our one night in New Orleans, it was our goal to experience some jazz music! Our first attempt was proven unsuccessful, but I wouldn't necessarily call it that. The Little Gem Saloon provided us with Fried Green Tomatoes (a first for both of us--and delicious!), hilarious live music from a band that must have averaged out at 80 years old, and a key link to our unforgettable jazz adventure! Our waitress was kind enough to send us on our way to the best jazz in town! Preservation Hall, although down Bourbon Street, which neither of us enjoyed one bit, instantly was exactly what we wanted to get from New Orleans. A trumpet, clarinet, trombone, upright bass, drums, and a piano combined together to create an unforgettable jazz experience! Jam-packed into a tiny living room-like hole in the wall, this place was ablaze with jazz! The solos were my favorite! Justin and I even donned what we call our "sick faces!" Where something is so good, your face becomes contorted to look like you actually hate it....

Cheers!

All in all, our summer vacation was 100% a success! Great memories to last a lifetime plus! And I learned a valuable lesson this trip: no trip to the south is now complete without sweet tea, boiled peanuts, and grits!

For more of our trip pictures: Click here!

Great End to a Great Year

I'm not a fan of goodbyes, but one which I always welcome is the end of a year. It always ends with the festivities of Christmas and the excitement of New Year's Eve. And then there's the exhilaration of new changes, new opportunities, and new experiences for the upcoming year. It energizes me, just like rain does.

Our second holiday season together as a married couple was even more wonderful than the last. Life with Justin just keeps getting better!

Our Christmas party filled my heart with such warmth and cheer and then our time spent with our dear family was just that...dear. Dear people together create dear memories that last forever. I am very grateful and blessed for all sides of my family.

It is always a blessing to have the in-laws visit from out-of-state and our adventures were filled with many birding trips, birding talk, and birding jokes. I can't get enough of birds!

Wood Duck = My current favorite bird

We brought loving cheer to my parents' house in Visalia as we celebrated my dad's birthday and Christmas arrived a few days later. We took my mom officially birding for the first time, where Justin and I saw two new life birds! The Wood Duck and the Green Heron were remarkable species, but my mom insisted the Mallard and Great Blue Heron were more exciting to her. To each his own. We also added the Sandhill Crane in Pixley, California on our way home.

We liked the teepee more
than the birds in this park

I, of course, spent time with my sweet kitty, Jazmine, and we all enjoyed playing our favorite card game together: Euchre (ask Marc to pronounce this for you, if you want a laugh). My dad also took Justin golfing! And, of course, we shared many laughs with Marc and Christy via Facetime in Spain!

After a Euchre hand

Gifts from "Santa"

Content with kettle corn

We also revisited CALM (California Living Museum) in Bakersfield for the holiday lights. One word: WOW! The kettle corn did not disappoint either, with Dad bringing three brown lunch bags to dibby it up for the sake of being even. And, one of our favorites always is the magical light tunnel when the train triggers it. Can't beat CALM, where I want to be anything but calm! And we finished our time in Bakersfield with a delicious meal at, of course, Coconut Joe's.

Lights EVERYWHERE

Coconut Joe's

Time spent with the in-laws was full of birding trips, as mentioned before. Our first birding trip we totaled a number of forty-one species all throughout Chula Vista and Ramona areas! The highlight (either added to our Big Year list or Life Bird list) birds were: Brandt, Eurasian Wigeon, Lesser Yellowlegs, Bufflehead, Mountain Bluebird, Lark Sparrow, Golden Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Bald Eagle, Prairie Falcon, and White-tailed Kite. As the Birding Master stated after our close encounter with the White-tailed Hawk at Lake Hodges Footbridge, the experience was "exhilarating." That is how I felt all day. I loved how the Brandt looked like it was wearing a pearl necklace. I loved finally being able to see the Eurasian Wigeon (the first U.S. sighting for the Birding Master). And I absolutely loved seeing the Bald Eagle flying, as I excitedly exclaimed, "That's America!"

Brandt

Eurasian Wigeon

Ferruginous Hawk

White-tailed Kite

The next day produced a small birding trip to the cemetery across the street to spot seven new species, with one of them being an encounter with a Merlin! The Birding Master and I discussed what we like most about birding. He described how relaxing birding can be and how it is an escape from life's stressors and demands. Amen.

The second big birding trip was to a neighborhood in Hemet to view Lawrence's, American, and Lesser Goldfinches, and then our trek took us to San Jacinto Wildlife Area where we ticked thirty-six birds in less than two hours! This hotspot has a wide array of wildlife and the Birding Master wished he lived close to a place like this. The birding highlights (either added to our Big Year list or Life Bird list) included: Long-billed Dowitcher, Loggerhead Shrike, Snow Goose, and Marsh Wren.

The Birding Master

Hey look! Jeremy birds too!

How could you not love San Jacinto Wildlife Area?!

Beautiful day at San Jacinto Wildlife Area

Like father, like son

White-faced Ibis

Bald Eagle flying with some gulls

Loggerhead Shrike

"Owl be home for Christmas"

Overall, we celebrated three Christmas's together this year, just like last. One with my family, one just us two with our boys, and one with his family. Goofiness and laughter exceeded all of my expectations. And I am especially proud that I got all of his family to sing the phrase "Whattttt could it be?!" each time we opened presents. I hope that stays a tradition. And I hope we are able to ceremonially present Santa Claus (Jeremy) each year down a stairway. And I hope Justin can one day finally accept that every year, without a doubt, there will be something for me from Santa under the tree that he does not know about. And I hope my parents never get rid of the larger than life size stockings that fit so well on my feet.

Mom, me, and Dad

This holiday season made my heart full with delight. I was surrounded by incredible family, friends, and birds. What more could I ask for?

True Christmas Spirit

Cookies, trees, lights, bells, stockings, Bible stories, presents, nativity scenes.... I do it every year. I am obsessed with Christmas time. I have a new look on Christmas this year, though, and I would like to share the cheer!

Christmas 2012

As my second quarter of grad school came to a close, my human occupations class ended with a lecture on the end of life. My teacher asked us how we would spend our last day, as she referenced the book/movie "Tuesdays with Morrie." When my teacher asked us that question, I immediately thought of me and Justin's wedding. Our wedding was my favorite day of my life! We were surrounded by our loved ones and full of joy, happiness, and love. That is exactly how I would want to spend my last day. I would want to be surrounded by my friends and family, with Justin by my side.

My loved ones inspire me and fill me with strength and happiness.

A great group of people, a.k.a. loved ones

So, as we enter this Christmas season, I believe I have added a very special dynamic to my Christmas spirit: loved ones. Not that they have never been important or I have ever had a Christmas apart from loved ones.... I have just now gained a fuller understanding of their importance in my life. And I feel blessed beyond my years.

The Christmas vespers band

With all of this on my mind, we filled our home Sabbath night with thirty of our dear friends we are so blessed to have in our lives. It is times like these that we want to experience more. Being surrounded by our friends and family is such a blessing! Relationships are so important throughout life, not just for the big events.

Justin, Kobe, Lindsay, Kaitlin, and Rick

Me and Kelly's matching snowflake earrings

One of many Descanso Gardens' trails

Then, on Sunday, my bestie and I had our second annual crafting in the park holiday date. (Thank you Descanso Gardens for being the perfect backdrop for our laughter.) These special holiday dates make for a blissful day of reminiscing over old memories, plugging in inside jokes whenever we can, and creating as many new memories together as possible, with tangible items to remind us of each other :)

Could the lighting be any worse? And could a whole
room just for a Christmas tree be any greater?!

Working hard on tricky bracelet crafts

I look forward to the rest of our holiday season with full delight! Things to come: Christmas light tour with the sister-in-law, birding with the in-laws (including the one and only Birding Master!), traversing up north to see the parents, skyping with the sister and brother-in-law in France, a New Year's Eve party thrown by the best husband in the world, and just enough time left for some spontaneity.

As I think of Tuesdays with Morrie, I think about our wedding and I am cognizant that some day we will have our funerals, and that both days will be full of loved ones. I challenge myself with the thought of why not filling as many days in between those two events with them as well? I know life is going to fly by and I want to make sure I am in constant and full realization of what true blessings I have in my family and friends.

Thank you, loved ones! I am truly blessed to have a life full of such great people.

Cookies, trees, lights, bells, stockings, Bible stories, presents, nativity scenes, and the joy of realizing I am surrounded by my loved ones! Merry Christmas!