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

Wordless Wednesday: Tarantula

I don't need to say much, the pictures speak for themselves.

All I have to say is: We went hiking during tarantula mating season, and I thought I was going to die. And then we saw one, and I almost peed my pants. My sweet husband let us turn around after that, because Lord knows I'd have a full-blown panic attack after more than one large black tarantula.

NEVER again.

NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER.

A Reason to Celebrate

Last night the Giants beat the Cardinals and are headed to the World Series. 99% of the people I know are celebrating the victory, and even though I'm not a baseball fan, I must admit it's fun to see the unity that a single sport brings to such a diverse community. 

But I'm celebrating for a different reason today. 

I got the job!

I am so overjoyed. So thankful. So overwhelmed. So blessed.

Two weeks ago, Seth and I committed to doing better with finances, something I have been forever terrible at, and the next day I get called for an interview. God does really big things when you seek guidance and commit selflessly to His will. I was clearly being called out of super-spending lifestyle and needed a major wakeup call, aka no job, for me to really see reality. 

While I understand the value of hard work and dedication, I also missed the boat on learning to handle my money. So while I've watched my parents work tirelessly to provide, it never clicked for me that one day that storehouse would run out and I'd be left with no income and no savings. Reality is tough, but this new job will more than provide and for that I am so thankful.

I am learning this money management thing one day at a time, I'm committing to doing better because I have more than myself now to provide for, and that is something that will never change. I know this new job means a lot of change is about to take place. I will work every weeknight until 9pm, which isn't an easy pill to swallow but I keep reminding myself that Seth and I have all our lives to be home at dinner time with each other! 

I'm so excited for this new journey that is about to unfold! I can't wait to share more details and stories as they come!

Have a great Tuesday, and find a reason to celebrate today!

xo