Finding Peace in the Day to Day

Hi friends, I really wish I had more to blog about these days. But, I am really just living day to day until the weekend comes. Weekends are my only days where I feel like an actual person that has a life.

But I miss the housewife kind of life. I miss cooking every night for Seth. I miss the clean house. I miss the relaxing life!

I'm finding peace in that this is the job and place God has for me, for however long thay may be, I don't really know. All I know is that I'm happy that I got 2 solid months of wifey time with Seth and that I will do my best to balance work and home life as I adjust into working full time.

Meal planning is the best place to start for me. I used to like looking for a recipe all morning and go shopping that day to get the ingredients, but that's not really an option anymore! I've found that grabbing 4 or 5 recipes and getting the ingredients for the week is easier and then I don't have to wonder what the heck I'm going to cook that night. Seth has been stepping up and helping out a lot which is great, last week his dinner was called "Sit your ass on the couch"...aka, he found the recipe, went to the store, and wouldn't let me help at all! It was fantastic, and the best soup I've ever had in my life.

Last night we made this:

It was all kinds of yum. And I have it today for leftovers at work! My only suggestion would be to get a pan that has a fat drainer at the bottom. I have one, but didn't think I would need it and OH MY was it greasy. It probably had a 1/2 inch of grease in the pan when I grabbed the first slice.

Source: mommyimhungry.blogspot.com via Jamie on Pinterest

We also made these:

But they didn't get quite as brown and delicious looking. The cheese started melting out the sides and I didn't want it to go to far! They were tasty though, especially with marinara sauce.

Source: tinycookers.com via Jamie on Pinterest

The next couple weeks are going to be exciting, so I'm really looking forward to that!

Thanksgiving is always a favorite, especially if you've had my Dad's mashed potatoes and turkey...well let's face it, everything he cooks is magical so I always look forward to the holidays.

The weekend after that, two of my besties are coming into town from Washington. One of them is staying for almost a week, which has never happened before! I'm excited to show them both the new town that we live in and all of the quirks about living in the South Bay. We are even staying a night on the beach in Monterey!

And even better, it's almost time to start counting down the days until we go on our honeymoon to NYC and the Bahamas! I guess before I start counting down I'll need to get my new passport figured out, but dreaming about all of the fun things we get to do on vacation is more fun than paperwork.

Happy Tuesday, Friends :)

Until next time!

My Cup Overflows - A Life Update

There are so many things to tell you about. Life has been filled to the brim lately, the good kind of full that makes you smile and tear up a little when you reflect back on it.

Last weekend we had our housewarming party. It was all kinds of fantastic, and it was so great to have our closest friends and family come and share in our new home. We got a lot of wine, which I could never complain about. We had some yummy food, most of which was all from Pinterest. Thanks to Jess for the awesome corn dip recipe, it went FAST. Also, Mel, these went fast -- thanks for posting these!

On Tuesdays nights we have Neighborhood Group through our new church. This group has quickly become my favorite night of the week. I have already met two super awesome ladies that I can tell will be close friends in no-time. The same goes for Seth, and we are SO thankful, so so very thankful for God answering our prayers and helping us find a church home quickly.

This week has been a doozy at work. I must admit, I'm still adjusting to the 40-hour a week schedule, it is mentally, physically, and emotionally draining but I really am loving my job. I have learned so much in the past two weeks and I am proud to tell you that I am exceeding their expectations and already have patients admitted under my name, which is huge. yay!

This week Seth and I celebrated two months of marriage, a small, small milestone but he has blessed me so much lately. He is so sweet to me and knows my heart so well, I am constantly blown away by his love for our little family.

Right now as I type he is cooking dinner, and won't tell me what, also he has served me tea, wine, chocolate, oh and he's doing the dishes. and...I just got a back massage mid-blog. seriously?

serving my socks off.

My cup literally overflows. I am resting sweetly in Psalm 23. 

Praise Jesus for a two days off of rest, I plan on doing loads and loads of laundry, and trying to catch up on life. 

How have you been?

I feel like I have missed so much in blog land.

Have you been shopping yet?

I also will be participating in a local holiday boutique, in Gilroy. I've never designed a product display..or really anything like it. I'm excited and so nervous all at once. Any recommendations or ideas on that?

Oh, Happy Friday!!

xoxo

My Mama Rocks

Today is a big birthday for my awesome mama.

Those of you who know her know that she is an amazing woman with the biggest heart for people.

I love this picture of us so much, it shows so much of our similiarties and relationship.

Happy Birthday, Mama.

I love you!

After Hours at the Tech

We have a total of 5 friends in the South Bay, so we jump at the opportunity for random activities!

One of those friends happens to be moving away soon, which makes us really sad. Gordon, who started off as Seth's manager, has become one of our favorite people to hang with lately!

Gordon invited us out last night to "After Hours" at the Tech museum, which also happened to be Dio de Los Muertos night. They had choreographed dances with special masks performing, it was so fun!

Discounted tickets, disco lights, a dj, cheap food, adult beverages, a photo booth, oh and an awesome museum -- it really is a winning combination.

We all know how much I love dressing up! [Sarcasm]

I had a lot of fun pictures...and then I was smart enough to take my phone to the Apple store yesterday to get it "fixed" but they cleared out everything. Consequently, I only have a few snapshots that I uploaded before the master Iphone cleanse. I'm still a little bitter about it, especially when I had 1,800 photos stored on there. Maybe that's why it was acting up?

If you live in the San Jose area, or any major metropolitan area for that matter (I bet they have after hour events too!), I highly recommend going. It was like being in a club with a bunch of nerds.......ok that sounded a lot more fun in my head, but you get what I mean.

These photos speak for themselves.

We had a stinkin' blast. I felt like a kid again, running around aimlessly looking at all the cool stuff! Tech museums are pretty entertaining, they lack the artifacts and history that I'm super into, but they make up for that with modern gadgets and technologies. 

After hours events like this falls on the first thursday of every month and we are definitely going back!

I'm still alive! Happy November :)

Wow what a week. My first week working full time has been really awesome, I totally love my job! Also, I'm blogging from my phone so please excuse the lack of photos and proper text placement!

I'm exhausted. I haven't even opened my computer since Sunday night. I feel like I'm running on empty.

How was your Halloween? Ours was super low key. No costumes, no parties, just a fancy dinner date that I'm still full from!

We ate kangaroo and alligator, and yes the kangaroo was DELISH! We also probably can't afford to go out to dinner for another two months. I'd go back to La Fondue if it was a SUPER special occasion.

We are having our house warming party this weekend which I'm excited for, but honestly haven't planned a single thing for it! All I know is that I have to deep clean the house tomorrow. Not much for a day off!

Ill probably be back to blog some more this weekend. I've got an apron swap to tell you about, a month to recap, and a secret to tell you.
Xoxo
Jamie

Day 1

Well its official, I'm a working woman.

I'll do my best to keep this short and sweet because work talk is usually pretty boring! 

Well before I tell you about work, I'm excited to tell you about my new hair color. 

BAM!

It's so dark! And I absolutely love it. I miss having a low maintenance hair color like this.

Well, 

The people I work with are already awesome, I know it's going to be fun! And I'm so glad I get my own little cubicle, I love working semi-alone!

Also, my heart breaks for the people that are calling in.

My official job title is an "Intake Advisor" for CRC Health Group. I'll be taking inquiries for drug and alcohol addicts as well as parents of troubled teens with mental health issues and directing them to the best program for their needs.

Most of the calls I was on today were for heroin and opiate addicts...which is crazy stuff I never thought I'd deal with.  Most of them were young, some younger than me, some still in high school. It was eye opening and so hard not to cry for each and every one of these people. 

BUT,

I was sweetly reminded by an amazing guest preacher at church today that God places and sends us to certain places for very specific reasons.  We were sent to Gilroy for a reason, and I was given this job for a reason.

I'm choosing to be excited about what God is doing instead of being discouraged by our sometimes lonely new home, and my job that may present some emotional challenges. 

My training schedule means a ridiculous commute, so I may not be around as much for the next few weeks! Hope you guys had a great weekend!

Oh, Love That Will Not Let Me Go: In Memory

Today we are going home for a very special event.

We are spreading the ashes of my beloved grandparents Bill & Holly. 

On their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1997

My Grandpa Bill died in 2007, and Grandma Holly in 2011, but sometimes the wounds still feel fresh. 

My Grandpa and I were very, very close -- I was his "Jayma" and he was my best friend growing up.

My Grandma was a sassy firecracker, who responded to her name with "yowza!" and when asked what she wanted prayer for on her 90th birthday..she asked for prayer for the Giants.

It's been years since the family has been together to complete their wishes and spread their ashes over a bed of roses, so tomorrow we will all be together to do so.

 I know it will finally close a page in life that has seem empty and still open over the past few years since Grandpa passed. 

The best part?

I know I will see them again.

I know they are rejoicing with their Lord as I write these words.

I know there is no more pain for either of them, and I know their legacy lives on in all of the people's lives that they touched. This past year I got an email from someone who worked in their assisted living home telling me how much she loved my Grandparents, it was such a special message.

This past year I found out about my Grandpa's family in New York, I even found out his nephew was named after him. 

I wish I could give them both a big hug, I wish they could have seen me walk down the aisle, I wish..I wish..I wish..

But knowing that something is true is always better than wishing and dreaming. So, with a heavy heart I think about and miss my grandparents every day, but with a glad one I see them shadowed in the light of Jesus.

 5 years ago God gave me a miracle, and let me speak at Grandpa's funeral and tomorrow I will share this beautiful hymn for the both of them. 

O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

In loving memory

Wilbur L Skaates 3.15.1921 --7.2.2007

Dora A Skaates 10.29.1920 -- 5.18.2011