bright eyed and bushy tailed

Wally gets cuter with age. Every night I call him to come inside and then have to wait for like 5 minutes. Then, all of the sudden, he comes skidding in through the front door, practically crashing into things as he races for the kitchen. He stares at the fridge and meows like a hungry teenage boy, and then eventually gives up and settles for his kibble dish. After he's done feeding, he saunters into the living room where I pick him up and he purrs and snuggles into my shoulder. As I pull out all of the little stickers and brush residue caught in his tail from all the day's adventure, I can't help but be filled with love for my sweet little explorer. All boy. Bright eyed and bushy tailed.

3 weeks?

you've got to be kidding.
(i'd be mad if i wasn't so proud of you!)

One more time, with feeling!

So my new job. It is everything I hoped and dreamed for. I am so thankful to even have a job right now, let alone one that I can find meaning and purpose in. I am learning so much everyday and I realize that, this time around, I am actually interested in learning more and asking questions. This is good because I am not currently an expert in breastfeeding, babies, or parenting. And I find myself looking things up a lot and asking my very knowledgeable coworkers things all the time… “So like what exactly is this nipple shield we keep speaking of…” and my coworkers are the most caring and supportive nurses I’ve ever worked with! As I am slowly building up my caseload (I’m currently rolling with about 6 clients… ), I’m finding that I couldn’t have asked for a better fit for me right now. I am so blessed and so thankful for this opportunity. I have so much to learn and my eyes and heart are being opened to some of the need that exists in my very own community.

This very place that I grew up in my whole life, this place that I thought I knew so well. The streets I drive on, the restaurants and coffee shops I hang out in, the stores I’ve always shopped in…. I’m seeing that there is so much more life that exists outside of my little world. I’m discovering neighborhoods I never knew existed, trailer parks tucked away in the quiet little pockets of the city. I’m seeing some poverty that I’ve only ever really seen in foreign countries. Homes that have cardboard for windows and doors, and no heating or electricity. Meth labs next to my client’s home, and maybe even in the home. I’m slowly starting to see the things that I never have before. The homeless shelters, the DSS building, The WIC office. Have these always been here? How could I not have noticed. I feel humbled and thankful and stirred, all at the same time.

This little pumpkin is trying to look scary but just looks cute instead.



I think I need to sleep now.

shine

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson

i heart autumn!

A+A take on Big Sur

Yesterday Ash and I loaded up the car and headed North up Highway one to Big Sur for our first ever annual Girl's camp out (right Ash?)! Boy did we have an adventure. After making a few stops along the way, we made it to our lovely campground. Lucky for us, they weren't at full capacity and we got to choose whatever site we pleased. We looked and looked for the perfect spot and finally decided on the most beautiful site in the whole place. The afternoon sun was streaming through the trees just right and we spent the whole rest of the afternoon setting up our beautiful campsite just so. Unfortunately, the sun went down before we had time to really explore or hike around the area, but we didn't mind. After all, we had dinner to make and s'mores to roast! Here are some pictures of our magical camping trip.


"Our fire looks so professional"


"Come and get it!"


"Shall we check the corn again?"


"Sure does shut down early around here"


"This looks like something the boys would totally eat"

Of course, the trip did have it's ups and downs. I would be lying if I said that I did not get food poisoning and did not throw up multiple times during the early hours of the morning. Yes it was a low point and we had to wrap things up earlier than expected the next morning (Or rather, Ashley did...) But overall our camping trip was a success! And I would even say that the bathroom facilities were pretty clean and accommodating for "being sick". I used almost every one in fact. And the side of my car. and a few bushes next to our tent.



Ash I love you! Thanks for the memorable camping trip. I loved telling that lady in the store how we were best friends and had been "For fifteen years" and then laughing at how that almost sounded like an old person thing to say. You bring so much fun and love and laughter into my life and I am so thankful for you. A+A forever baby!