Update

I feel like I am getting worse and worse about updating my blog! The fall is just incredibly busy. Also, working all day on a computer doesn't make getting on a computer at home sound all that fun.

Life has been very busy and crazy but nonetheless, great! I absolutely love the fall and breaking out the warm coats and scarves. With fall also comes the Golden State Spirit Association (GSSA) season. Luke and I work cheer events throughout the west coast on weekends from November to March. It makes for a fast paced life style during those months. We had our first event last week in Irvine, California. A nice treat about having events in the LA area is the ability to see Luke's brothers Tim and John who go to school down there. We were able to get some dinner with them right after the event! The events are chaotic, loud, and tiring but without a doubt a complete blast. Luke and I have been able to create a family within GSSA and it is such a blessing. I almost feel I am living a different life at these events because no one in my normal life knows or understands anything that goes along with GSSA. It is actually pretty exciting. I will try and get some pictures at the different events this year and post them on here!

Also this fall we got to witness the marriage of Tim and Jessica Reed. They are some of our dearest friends and we couldn't be happier for them. I have never been to a wedding that was so emotionally charged and so sincere. God was 100% present in the whole day and evening. I feel very blessed to have been able to share in their union. We have another wedding coming up this weekend on Saturday. One of Luke's closest friend from high school is getting married and we are very excited to be a part of another special day. Many reasons to give thanks this Thanksgiving.

I have been baking up a storm as well this fall. I think my coworkers find it a blessing and a burden at the same time. :) Pumpkin spice cupcakes, peanut blossoms, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, mini apple pies, double chocolate biscotti and much more! I am excited to start all the Christmas baking too!

This weekend Luke and I were able to finally nail down some important things for our trip to Europe. We bought our train passes and finally decided our cities. We are going to travel to Zurich, Paris, Strasbourg, Munich and Berne. We also finalized our itinerary for the most part and booked hotels! Yesterday, I literally sat at the computer from 10am to 7pm researching hotels. Paris was the biggest challenge. There are like a billion hotels in Paris and so many are in great locations. It was so hard to decide where in the city to stay because the metro can really get you anywhere you want super fast. But! We finally picked this morning after sleeping on it last night. So next on our long list of things we have to do to prepare for our trip is figuring out what we actually want to see and do in each city. Man! That will be a task. I can't believe we are leaving in 6 weeks. With the holidays quickly approaching, the vacation will be here before we know it! I am excited!!

Finally, CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!! WOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Luke and I are cutting down our tree on Sunday and decorating. Let the festivities begin!!!

New Years

Luke and I will be in the air over New Years but who wouldn't want their first day of a brand new year to be here....

Zurich, Switzerland

And maybe the next week or so we will also go here...

Neuschwanstein Castle

and here...

Salzburg, Austria

Now, who knows if there will be that much snow while we are in Europe but it would be lovely! We just bought our plane tickets but now it is time to plan! Any suggestions would be much appreciated! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am! I have wanted to go back to Europe the second I got home from my trip in 2008. I am a blessed lady!!

Life can be draining...

It has been a crazy month for Luke and I and our families. I will probably write a longer post about everything that has happened later but here are the simple details right now.

• August 17th Luke's grandpa, Pop, (his dad's side) passed away.

• August 25th - 28th We go to Southern California for the memorial. While there one of Luke's uncle's goes into the hospital for kidney complications, his cousin's daughter had to have an emergency surgery to get her appendix out.

• August 29th Luke's Grandma (his mother's side) had a heart attack and stroke in the same day. She is recovering.

• First week of September Luke's other grandma (Lulu), married to Pop who just passed away, fell and ruptured a disk in her back. A few days later she passed out and fell again. She is recovering.

• September 9th my dad passed out and went to the ER. No stroke or heart attack but the doctors gave him a heart monitor to wear for 48 hours and turn in on Monday morning.

• September 12th my dad turns in heart monitor and has to go right back in because his heart was beating irregularly during the weekend.

• September 13th he goes into surgery to get a pacemaker put in his chest. He is currently recovering and doing well.

I don't even know how to explain or comprehend my emotions right now. One word that does describe my current state is: exhausted.

Life is precious and this past month has been a total slap in the face to remind me of that. Nothing is guaranteed in this world so I want to enjoy all the little things. I am definitely learning to "stop and smell the roses".

Cooking Class

Back in May I made 5 goals for myself to achieve in this next year (read here). I accomplished one of the 5 goals a few months ago with starting my book club. The saving money goal is a constant process but things are going well there. My goal to be more flexible with my time and be more present in my everyday life is a daily challenge. Luckily, I feel like I am learning and becoming more aware of my thoughts, feelings and actions, allowing me to appreciate what each new days brings.

The next goal I wanted to start working towards was becoming more involved with cooking/baking. I can't help but constantly think of food. I have such a strong desire to always have the smells of sauteed onions or fresh baked desserts fill my home. I sit at my desk and keep thinking through different recipes I could try and different cooking techniques I want to learn. I think this new obsession is a result of all the cooking shows I watch. It is like a drug. I have thought so many times recently... "if I am always thinking and wishing I could be cooking or baking, should I go to school to be a chef?"... then I remember, I don't want restaurant hours. So, instead of going to some extreme to fulfill this need to be creative in the kitchen I decided to start looking up fun cooking classes. Sur Le Table in the Pearl offers different cooking classes basically everyday. For a week straight I would just drool over my computer at work looking at the different classes and the kinds of foods I could learn to make. I decided that  maybe this was a great way to get my cooking "fix" and not do anything drastic. My friend Jessica and I are going to our first cooking class in a couple of weeks. It is called "5 Summer Pastas" and we are super excited. I really hope that this cooking class is fun and informational because I would love to find an outlet for my cooking/baking passions and maybe take a class once a month. Hopefully things won't get too messy at this class so I can take some pictures to share with you. 

Lastly, my goal to learn to play the piano is still in the forefront of my mind. This week I researched piano teachers in Portland. It is hard though because so many are very structured and only teach kids and I really want to find a teacher who doesn't force me to do recitals. I really just want to learn how to read music while learning to play the piano. I love the sound of the piano and the way music makes me feel. Music has the ability to connect people who don't have anything in common, yet, gives them a sense of belonging. I want to be able to provide that type of environment, even if it is ever only in my home. Plus, I want to learn to play every Christmas carol out there so I can start the tradition of having a family/friend sing along session each holiday season. :) 

If anyone knows of any great teachers in the Portland area, I would be very appreciative of a referral!

It's Gonna Fly By,,,

From Here

I updated my calendar today with all the Fall activities I know I have coming up and HOLY CRAP!! Starting September 1st, Luke and I don't have one free Saturday, or for that matter not one completely free weekend until December 17th!!! Our weekends will be full of wedding showers, bachelorette parties, weddings, baby showers, OSU football games, Vegas, Lake Shasta, working cheer events and my birthday. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited for Fall and all the fun activities that come with it but man, when I saw my calendar I got a little overwhelmed. Fall is my favorite time of year and I don't want to blink and then have it be gone instantly. I just pray that I can be as present as possible and enjoy every minute for what it is, a blessing full of love, family and friends. Wish me luck!!