Birthday weekend haps.

I write to you for the first time as a 24 year old. That’s still so young, huh? I feel older than that, but well, I’m not. 24 it is, and I'm lookin' forward to a new year of life. I had a great birthday weekend and wanted to share just a few pictures from it. 

First, on Friday, Matt threw me a surprise party. I...was...shocked. It was seriously the most surprised I have ever been, maybe ever. We went to dinner for Thai food beforehand with our dear friends Jordan and Eva. Jordan's birthday was earlier in the week so we were both on the birthday train. Dinner was fun enough for me. I love spending time with the Van Horns, but no! That wasn't all. Our plan as far as I knew was to go back to the Van Horn's for cake and ice cream with a few other friends, but little did I know it would be thirty other friends. It was a joint party for Jordan and I that Eva and Matt had put together and it was such a blessing.

 This is my friend Alex. She's great and made me homemade ice cream and fudge. We work together and I'm SO glad. 

 Look who made it out to San Francisco for the occasion! I was so excited to see these old friends. I thought I would be seeing them the next day for our own little celebration but they made it out for the surprise, as well, and it was so fun to have blend my worlds a bit. 

 Waidley's. Love 'em. 

 This is my dear, sweet friend Eva. I love her. She was the hostess with the mostess and party planner extraordinaire. Again, love her. 

 Our awesome sign. 

 There's Dusty. Always the life of the party. 

 This guy really spoiled me all weekend and made one very happy birthday girl. He really kept this a secret, too. Totally respectable secret keeper. 

 Friends.

The second event of the weekend was a de-lish brunch with some friends from college (and from the present, but you know what I mean). We had egg casserole, creme brulee french toast, bacon, fruit, coffee and juice. It was so fun to host them all at our home and to spend some time together all together like we haven't in awhile. 

 We missed you Bethany, Kimmy, and Lyss!

Matt also made a surprise appointment for me to have a Thai massage, which I was a little nervous about at first, but it was AMAZING. He knew just what I would want for a gift. We went to dinner that night at "The Richmond"- a classy restaurant in our neighborhood. It was lovely and classy and I wore a dress, which is usually only confined to weddings. On Sunday, we went to church and to a flea market I've been wanting to go to. My parents and Sunnie and Cory came over later in the day. We went for a walk- one of my favorite things in the world, especially around our house- and then went out to dinner. 

Walkin'. 

All in all, it was an incredibly restful weekend. I'm thankful for good friends- and to have "made new friends and kept the old". I'm thankful for good food. For Matt and a husband who works hard to show me how much he loves me and make me feel special. I'm thankful to live close to my parents. And for people who call, text, facebook, and snail mail me for doing nothing but being born. I'm thankful to live in a beautiful city. I'm thankful to be alive and to be created as "his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (ephesians 2) Here's to 24 and another year of adventures!

My own thankful list.

I’m a day late I know, but Happy Thanksgiving to all! We spent our Thanksgiving 2010 at the St. Pierre’s, with the Pedretti side of the family. We began our day with the 2^nd annual St. Pierre 10k Turkey Trot, which I have come to firmly believe is the best way to start Thanksgiving because then the first 600 calories are free! We made shirts this year, even though we had only three participants again. We’re hoping for growth in future years.

I love reading people’s thankful lists. And while I agree that it may seem a bit cliché to do a thankful list like everyone else, (and mine is especially bad because it’s the day AFTER the day to be thankful), I’m going to do it because I think it’s really cool to be able to share with people and give credit to the Lord for all the things He is doing. I love the example that the psalmists give us of thanksgiving, gratitude, and joy that is found in who God is and the wondrous things He has done.

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving…” Psalm 95:1-2

My far from comprehensive “thankful list” of 2010:

I’m thankful for the Body of Christ. This struck me the other day. We moved to San Francisco which SHOULD feel very lonely, scary, and unknown. However, I see God’s purposes in plan in uniting his people to create a family. We have found that we are never alone. We love our new church and we belong there because we are seeking to know Christ more with everyone else there. We are new to our community group, and yet we belong there because our desire is to grow in our love for God and each other. We have been traveling a bit lately. And yet, no matter where we are, we are at home in the Body of Christ. We can attend a service at CPC in Merced and feel known and like we belong, we can share a meal with people we see only a handful of times each year and be encouraged and built up because we have Christ in common. I’m really thankful for that in a time of transition.

I’m thankful for a husband who loves God more than me, but loves me more and better because of that. He is also really funny, sweet, passionate, and kind. He’s my best friend. He always says he’s sorry, and also forgives me when I say I’m sorry. I think that’s a great quality. It’s been a really fun year and a half, and I’m thankful God gave me Matt to sojourn with. Ah, sojourning together.

I’m thankful for sisters. I hate that I don’t get to see them nearly enough. It’s weird how as you grow up, you all kind of start your own lives with differing professions, get married, have kids, move to different places, and so on. I am so thankful though to have these two people who know where I came from, share all kinds of memories of home videos made, vacations undertaken, Christmas mornings, bunk beds shared, and everything else that takes place from age 0-18, when previously mentioned lives begin forming. Though, we don’t see each other nearly enough, I feel very thankful that God gave me two sisters.

...For Parents. Both Matt and I feel incredibly grateful for our parents. They’re both the kinds of people that will do anything for you. Yes, you. But especially, us. Never for a day of my life have I had to doubt my parents love for me or doubt the fact that their highest priority was my well-being (and my sisters, and now Simon and their son-in-law). They’re both the kind of people that always pick up the tab, never mind us bringing all our laundry to their homes, will drive three hours just to see us for a day, slave over elaborate meals to celebrate the fact that their families are together. Since my parents raised me and made me, I have a special sense of gratitude for their life-long care, provision, and love- and for the fun they’ve added to my life. I feel lucky to have really fun parents who love to have a good time, maybe even more than I do. My parents are some of the most generous, welcoming, sincere, fun people I know. And to add to that, I got to marry into a family where I’ve never had to doubt if they love me either. I don’t say that because I think I’M great, but because I’ve been lucky enough to have in-laws that show they love me by their actions, words, conversation, and support of Matt and I. They are more like friends than “in-laws” (which sounds way more formal and detached than I feel towards them), and I marvel at how already I feel that I can be completely myself around them because they allow me to and they are unconditionally loving…I feel sorry for them as this sometimes includes spontaneous fits of dancing, laughter, loudness, chasing their son, asking lots of questions, and being a little too talkative for my own good. They are sincere, loving, thoughtful, fun, generous, intentional people. I’m so thankful for the parents God has given us. We’ll never say “thank you” enough to them.

...A body that works. I'm thankful that, at least for this season of life, I'm healthy and my body works in pretty much all the ways that it should. It may not always be this way, but I'm thankful for it now. 

...Older women to learn from. Lord knows I need this, as frequently or infrequently as I get to be around them. I think specifically of Allison Priola, Tammy Arlen, Christine Kernaghan, Rachel Medefind, and my mothers and sisters. 

...San Francisco. I’m thankful God called us here. It’s been hard at moments, but overall we just feel thankful to be where we’re supposed to be. It’s a beautiful, fun, diverse, and tiring city, and we get to call it home for this season.

...Friends in the Bay Area. Living in San Francisco is easier because we have such great friends and family in the Bay Area. Many of our best friends from college have since made the move up to the Bay, and it makes my life so much easier to have people only a drive-across-the bridge away. These people know me and still love me, and it is incredibly comforting to know that a coffee date to pour out my cuts is in reach. I haven’t lived this close to my parents in 5 years, as well, and it’s really nice to be able to see them so much more.

...Friends who pursue me even though they don’t live in the Bay Area. AND, for those who aren’t a drive-over-the-bridge away, I feel so thankful for people who are a phone call or email away. I’m amazed at the caliber of people God has put in my life, and how he has knit my heart closely to many dear friends along the way. I’m thankful for those who still want to be my friend even though we don’t live in the same town or go to school together anymore. Seriously, I just feel thankful to have friends. They make life better.

...SLO.  This place shaped us and sent us. We love getting to go back for a visit. It’s really special, and we’re thankful we had the opportunity to live there.

...Our home. We feel very blessed by the delightful “flat” we get to rent in SF. It allows us to give people a place to stay and return the favor so many have done for us. After long days and weeks, it’s a sanctuary and the perfect place to rest. We have so many beautiful places within walking/running (takes a little more motivation…) distance. I love that we have a park across the street so we can make the most of sunny San Francisco days, even if we only see the sun for an hour or two.

...Students at SF State. I’m so thankful for the students we’ve met at SF State even in our first three months in SF. We love them. We are learning so much from them. And they make my days fun, and full, and meaningful. The girls I get to spend time with either over coffee or lunch, just sitting around on campus, in a dorm room or study lounge, are making my job and this season of my life full of purpose, joy, and fun.

...Our Ministry Partners. We have a team of people who pray for us, sacrifice on behalf of what God has put in front of us as ministry, write us sweet emails, postcards, and notes, and we feel genuinely are invested in our day to day lives. We are amazed and so thankful at how God, again, uses his people to supply each other’s needs, to advance his kingdom, to encourage each other, and to not “grow weary in doing good”. We feel God’s provision and care in our lives through our ministry partners.

...Life-giving things: like cooking and baking (and taking a long time to do it), reading, having coffee with a friends, going for a walk or a run, being in SLO, being around my sweet nephew, date nights with Matt, exploring San Francisco, creativity, giving and receiving gifts, being outside, being on vacation, hearing people talk who are really living out their faith and walking with Jesus, getting together with people we haven’t seen for awhile, and so on.

...Taken fore granted things. The fact that we ate more food yesterday then most people will see in a lifetime…(I don’t know if I’m thankful for this or more saddened and a little embarrassed).  Hot showers, clean sheets, cable, wireless internet, cell phones, a bank account and savings, a car, a job, the ability to have a full refrigerator if we want one, to stop at Starbucks if we want one, and to eat out if the opportunity presents itself. (I have mixed feelings about all of these things- I’m so so thankful for the privilege we live in. I’m also wondering how much all of the aforementioned things keep me from needing God?)

I’m thankful that “…while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

So, Happy belated THANKSgiving, to all! If you’re reading this, you probably fall into one of the categories I just named, and even if not, I’m probably pretty thankful for you, too. 

Lately...

At this moment, I am in Merced, CA. It’s raining and gloomy outside. There is a fire going, it’s 10:45 am, and I’m sitting down with my computer feeling the freedom to blog. My lack of consistency in the blog world is a source of much anxiety, and I marvel at my friends who manage to keep us blog-readers up to date on all the nitty gritty details of life. Instead of wallowing though, I figure I should strike a balance between trying harder/accepting that this stage of life is not super conducive to giving myself the time to sit down with Max (that's my computer) and pour my guts out. (If this stage feels busy, I can't imagine what future stages are like...this may be the best it ever gets...) Sorry for not keeping you updated, and for my severe lack of consistency. You probably don’t actually care, but it makes me a little sad. 

Because I don’t know where to start in updating you on the last month of my life, I’ll showcase just a few of the fun things we’ve gotten to do:

1. My mom and sister came to stay with me for the weekend when Matt was at Man-Olympics (a yearly event with 5 of his friends, where they get to gallivant and compete and enjoy each other’s company for a weekend). It’s really nice to be closer to family so we can do things like have a sleepover and spend a couple days together. My mom is so sweet and took us to get massages and out to lunch. We had dinner together and baked pumpkin bread and it was really great. 

2. Van Horn wedding festivities. We had some close friends get married about a week ago, and it was beautiful. Jordan and Matt are close friends (he is one of the Olympians previously mentioned) and Matt was a groomsman. Eva and I were somewhat forced to be friends because of their friendship, but I’m happy about that, and I would have definitely chosen to be her friend anyway, so I think that worked out well for us! I was honored to be invited to Eva’s Bachelorette weekend to celebrate the impending marriage and get to know other girls better. The wedding itself was gorgeous and we are so excited for these two to start the adventure of marriage. We spent the weekend staying with other dear friends, the Medefind’s, and it was seriously a retreat. I feel thankful to have married into all of these new friends, and it’s always to fun getting to spend time with our “Merced friends”…even though, most don’t actually live in Merced. The Van Horns (est. November 13, 2010) are living in San Francisco, as well, about 10 minutes from us, and we feel so blessed by that.

3. 116 concert. It’s no secret that Matt and I have been big fans of the 116 Clique for quite awhile now. What is the 116 Clique you may be wondering? Glad you asked. They are a group of Christian rappers. Not lame ones though. They are gifted rappers, solid ministers of the gospel, and passionate Christ-followers. We met some friends there and spent our Halloween with Lecrae, Trip Lee, and the gang.  We even got to dance on stage (he invited anyone who was married) which was terrifying and amazing all at the same time. I don’t have what you may call rhythm, but after thirty seconds of feeling the energy of all of “our” adoring fans, my concern about rhythm went out the window and I just bobbed back and forth with the best of ‘em. I kept saying to Matt, "We made it! We've really arrived!" I’m really thankful to have close friends in the Bay Area to do things like this with.

4. Giants Parade! We moved to San Francisco on a good year. It was serious Giants fever for about a month and it was…awesome. After their victory, we got to go to the parade and join the million and half others who decided that was where they needed to be on a Wednesday morning at 11:00 am. As we heard one guy say, "Work will be there tomorrow, the Giants parade will not be." It was mayhem, and it was really cool to a be a part of. Things like that bring a city together in a way that few other things can, and all of a sudden everyone is friends. I think that's a littler closer to the way God intended it to be. Though I kind of married into being a Giants fan, I think I’m a lifer now.

5. Amanda and Simon come to California! My brave sister brought three month old Simon out for a visit to the good old East bay in early November. He was a champ, and he continues to be one of the sweetest babies in the world. It was so fun to spend the weekend with Mandy. Being a mom looks great on her and Simon is lucky to have her. He’s not so lucky to have a grandma and two aunties who don’t give the boy even a moment of peace when he’s around. We’re already looking forward to seeing 5 month old Simon at Christmas!

6. A Trip to SLO, and a Conference with Friends. We were in southern California over the weekend for a 4 day conference. On the way down we stopped in SLO for the first time in 5 months. It was so fun to be there. We spent lots of time at Upper Crust (true to how we spent our years in SLO) and got to see a handful of great friends. We miss SLO a lot- not surprising considering it was voted the second happiest place on earth- but the comforting thing was that it didn’t really feel like home anymore. We felt like visitors, which I think was healthy. That doesn’t change the fact though, that we’ll ALWAYS love visiting. And in fact, we get to go back next weekend! The conference itself was a refreshing reminder of the purpose and mission we’ve been invited into as Christ followers. I’m so thankful that these conferences for work include lots of great time with dear friends, too. We’re honestly blessed to know so many amazing people and to have close friends at all.

 So, that’s that. A few things that stick out over the last month, whether you cared or not. Our life is really fun, and we’re extraordinarily blessed. While I’m not quite sure why, I’d like to be able to bless others in the same ways we have been. Thanks for reading.

Living with Girls and Changing.

I lived at 1321 Woodside Drive for two years during college, with four other girls. Two glorious years of a curtain for a bathroom door, freezing for fear of creating a heating bill, trying to avoid having to hand-wash everyone’s silverware, stepping in a puddle of water in front of our leaky refrigerator and pretending it didn’t happen, Monday night Bachelor viewings, living room sleepovers, American Idol contests, and much more. I loved living with girls. Especially these girls. I don’t actually know if we made the five most compatible people in the world. It was messy (literally and figuratively). But there was something about living with these girls and sharing four walls for two years, and the same city for five, that made us more like sisters. Each of them was in my wedding because many of my best memories include them, and in many ways, even still, they know me better than most. Yeah, there’s something special about living with girls.

Here are some pictures of us from "over the years"...

But college is over- and it’s starting to feel like it’s been that way for a while now. Now, you see, I live with a boy. (The best boy I could live with- I really believe that.)

 A lot has changed since the Woodside days. I started thinking about this because of a question Kendall asked the other night. All of my roommates live in the Bay Area now, all within an hour and a half. Pretty great. We had somewhat of a reunion the other night, minus Kristin. Nothing crazy- just had dinner and a margarita a piece, watched the Giants game from a storefront, watched You Tube videos, and chatted until  one am until we fell asleep watching “Friends”. This felt very much like “the old days”. While chatting, Kendall asked, “How do you guys think you’ve changed the most since we lived together?” (Kendall asks great questions.)

It has been three years since we packed up our stuff from 1321 Woodside Drive, which is really just a drop in the bucket, but oh, how different life looks! I think mostly my priorities have shifted. Though we’re only two, I have a family now. My priority is to do what’s best for our family. I enjoy cooking, cleaning, and home-making in a way that wasn’t even on my radar as I stood in the kitchen on my first night at Woodside crying because I didn’t know how to brown ground beef. I have always considered myself to be a “people person” and an extrovert, but I enjoy my alone time far more now, I’d say even thrive on it. I think I’m a bit more comfortable in my own skin, though I’m still growing into the knowledge and comfort of “knowing myself”. I now live four hours away from Woodside, I have a college degree, and have a job I didn’t necessarily foresee myself having. I am married, have a nephew, and live in the same city as my sister again. I think I’m more jaded in some ways, and wiser and more faithful in others. I’m way less funny than I used to be (or maybe I was never funny, and I just thought I was?), and way more uncomfortable on a dance floor or being the center of attention. I’m aware at this point that I know far less than I probably thought I did then. I think I’m more open-minded and am more concerned with being nice to people than I once was.  Again, I’m still figuring that out.

It just got me thinking how much we, people, change over the course of a year, two years, three…let alone a lifetime. There are so many people I’ve met, read about, or heard about that I admire. Almost all are older, so I’m hoping that growth continues to come with time. These people are more gentle, humble, meek, disciplined, courageous, kind, and sacrificial than I am. I pray I become more like these saints in my lifetime. I know this doesn’t just “happen” to you. To grow in and nurture these qualities takes time, work, prayer, focus, and, seasoning.

 Matt and I have been talking a lot lately about how unseasoned we are. We have experienced very little of the suffering, pain, and struggle that we know are a part of the human experience on earth. We know that we lack the tenacious and stalwart faith that is born and forged in times of adversity and trial. I don’t know what life will bring, but I do know that we will change a great deal as we enter seasons of trial and ease, joy and sorrow, struggle and rest, mourning and rejoicing. These seasons, as God appoints and ordains them in our lives, will make us the people we are in the end. I echo Paul when he says, “I am confident of this, that he who began a good work…will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Just some thoughts…on living with girls...and changing.