Family member visit #3

I have been absolutely spoiled the past few months with family visits.  

February = Aunt Paula

March = Kalie

April = Lacey

One family member (or friend) a month is a good program. Who wants to come in May?

 

The day after we got back from Europe, Miss Lacey flew into town for a "work conference". The conference was a real thing, but she flew in a few days early to sleep on our comfy couch (our second bedroom is currently a disaster) and spend some quality time with us.

We went shopping. Ate delicious food. Took naps. "Vacation" was still going on. 

What a blessing families are.

Germany + Amsterdam = Fun.

Thanks to my abnormal job (cough... the benefits) and John's real job (the money maker), we were able to hop over to Germany for a week,  spend some time with my German family, and play for a day in Amsterdam. It was a marvelous and much needed vacation for us. It was also so much fun for me to show him a place that is so dear to my heart.

All 10 of our pictures from the trip... :)

My very favorite walk in Kaiserswerth.
We spent the majority of our time over there walking around showing John all of my favorite things and eating my favorite foods. I loved every minute of it.

 

We took a minute to enjoy the rare bit of sunshine by the river.

Döner!

 

Absolutely amazing street food that I have missed so much.

Vanilla Caramel Brownie Ice Cream, again the Döner, Crepe with Nutella, and Vapiano's margarita pizza.

 

I love that John got to witness this moment. Dogs (or any animal for that matter) are not really prohibited from entering eating establishments. Makes me laugh every time.

We spent lots of time with the family. 

John bonding with the godson. :)

We drove up to Amsterdam for our last day and this lovely swan and her garbage nest greeted us when we got out of the car.

Our bikes.

We rented them and rode all around. It is the very best way to see the city.

 

One of the many canals (but mostly our heads).

We rode down to a rather large park and found a coffee shop, when what we were hoping for was a legitimate lunch. When we realized that they served actual food I almost cried. When the man brought me my cheese pancake I actually did. 

It. Was. So. Good.

Better than I remembered.

Last time I was in Amsterdam we rode/drove all around trying to find the "I AMsterdam" sign to no avail. This time we stumbled upon it because I smelled waffles and made us stop. 

I love this picture.

My husband remembered his rain jacket, but did not remember his actual jacket for warmth. It was windy, cold, and rainy, so we ducked into the Heineken Brewery and found this lovely green robe for him to wear around the place until he was warm again and we were off. No purchase was made.

  

My wonderfully cheesy bf picked this dandelion for me so I strapped it to my bike to keep it safe.

 

Stopped in a pipe shop to find nice gift for his brother.

It was something of an "education" for me.

 

The most delicious street waffle that ever existed, filled with sugar crystals, and topped with a generous dousing of confectioner's sugar.

Accompanied by a very Euro hot chocolate.

 

 

This is a prime example why so few pictures of John and I have ever been taken. Enjoy.

 

 Fantastic Italian at my favorite Vapiano.

Orangina. "Rocket salad". Tagliatelle. Parmesan. Pine nuts.

  

On the drive back to Düsseldorf there was the most vibrant "double rainbow all the way!". We could see them both from end to end. It was pretty magical. Sadly, this picture does not adequately capture it.

We played the airline standby game and won big time.

It was a crazy week that went by too fast, but isn't that how all the best vacations are?

What we've been up to...

I've spent a bit of time going through my recent pictures and realized that I/we have done some decently fun things the last little while. Here is some evidence.

 

 Foggy Saturday mornings at the San Antonio Temple.

 Jerry, our Hibiscus tree, blooming

A day trip up to Utah to take a nap on my parent's couch and to borrow boxes (and a suitcase) full of goodies for a wedding I was planning.

 

Spending LOADS of time and having many adventures with this wonderful girl, Kyle.

 

One such adventure involved Sir Dudley the Donkey, who tap dances.

 

And rescuing her parents who ran out of gas in their Prius on their way to the temple.

(Please note the Romney bumper sticker. This picture is priceless.)

My favorite purchase of 2012. Thank you wedding gift certificates!

 

Pulling off a pretty superb wedding party.

 

 A Spurs game in a box suite for husband's work. The dessert cart was the best part.

Discovered McDonald's real-life-play-sized french fries.
I love getting to have lunch with John every day. I am spoiled.

 

Italian themed date night. Capriccosia's Pizza. DaVinci Gelato. Two Italian Plumbers.

 

Kalie came to visit for a few days. This is the only proof that I have of that wonderful time.

Went to the fair out in East Texas with John's sister's family. We drank gallons of fresh lemonade, ate anything fried we could get our hands on, rode some kiddie rides, and had one fantastic time.

John's new Easter tie. The only picture we have from that day.

John has made me breakfast twice in the last month. He is so good to me.

Lastly, we were able to go to the Cannery for our first time and start ourselves a very modest food storage. It was a lot more fun that I had imagined and it was so neat to work with ward members to help each other stock up on the essentials.

We live a good life.

FOMO

FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out

I have always suffered from this "condition". This is nothing new. Over the years my FOMO has gone through different phases. A social phase. A rather long traveling phase, which transformed into a nomadic-lifestyle phase.

My current FOMO focuses primarily on the small things that I am missing out on by not living near my family and friends. Examples... party/wedding planning, Johnson Girls family time at the cabin, and Disney On Ice. This is definitely the most difficult FOMO I have had to deal with thus far and it is just the silly, simple, little things that are the hardest.

I love Texas. I love having this adventure of living in a new place, but it is hard to be an island with no family near by. So I have come the the conclusion that everyone should just move to Texas. It is going to be great!

Power of the P!

I have been sick this week. I am talking miserable-can't-sleep-can't-move-want-to-die kind of sick. AND IT WAS JUST A COLD!! The meanest, nastiest cold ever. I blame the passengers of United Airlines for it. No thank you.

After living in agony for a few days (minus the one hour where I had to teach my class... the big man clearly has his motives...) I finally conceded to having the Home Teachers come over and help give me a blessing. Growing up I always thought that blessings were reserved for very special occasions or if you were literally on your death bed. John assured me that was not the case, and proceeded to give me a very simple, yet straightforward blessing. He put great emphasis on how the blessing was entirely contingent upon my faith.

Not to boast here, people, but I am in a pretty good place spiritually these days. I cannot speak enough about the truth in surrounding yourself with good and wholesome things. I am working hard to be where I am and it is worth it and I am loving it.

That night I slept for a solid 6 hours without a single cough. First time the entire week. That made all the difference in the world and I am almost back to normal. The Priesthood is such a neat gift.

Now we just need the Home Teachers to come back to give John a blessing... The downside to being married and sharing a bed.

Time...

Yesterday I was hit with the anxious thought that there are not enough hours in the day. John, and his male thinking, suggested that perhaps I should try managing my time better. (He is right, as always.) But that still doesn't change the fact that I feel a bit panicked.

I went part-time in December, and for moi, that equates to working (flying and being away from home) about six days a month. Meaning that I have potentially 24/25 days a month full of 24 hours in which I am free to choose how I spend those hours. That is more time than any one I know. I don't have children. I don't have a second job. I don't even volunteer anywhere. HOW CAN I BE USING UP ALL OF THOSE HOURS AND STILL FEEL LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME?!

When I found out I was going to be awarded part-time back in November, my mind started reeling with all of the trips and new countries I would be seeing (I'm at 20 countries, I need to make it to 30 by 30. 2.5 years....). Then came the rather rude awakening that God was not granting me this blessing so that I could be idle and/or selfish with all of this time. I have lived a truly charmed life with very little responsibility thus far. Where much is given, much is required and apparently it is pay-back time. Turns out The-Big-Man-Upstairs has quite the sense of humor.

Fast forward to today. I have been called to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher. The ONE AND ONLY Gospel Doctrine teacher. To say that I feel inadequate is a GROSS understatement. I taught my first lesson last Sunday and we will just say that there is room for improvement. On top of that John and I have been set apart as temple workers in the San Antonio Temple. We work the Saturday morning shift, every Saturday at 7:00 am. An added bonus to this upcoming weekend is our "Introduction" talk in Sacrament meeting. Our topic... "How the gospel changes lives..." How fitting.

I openly welcomed all of these new challenges, but at the moment I feel as though I am drowning in Mormonism. I have no doubt that I will come to love this new life where "time management" is so vital, but I am not quite there yet. In the mean time I will be spending a lot of time on my knees until I get my swimming strokes perfected.

In the wise words of a cartoon fish... "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."

Long lost medium

Seen one of these recently?

About a month ago a good friend challenged me to start writing in a journal. And actual journal. Paper. Binding. Penmanship. Lines. A physical record.

Nothing digital. Nothing typed. Nothing that glows.

It. Is. Amazing.

It is astounding how different writing in a personal journal is to writing a blog. I love it. I am so grateful for the challenge and how it has improved my understanding and love for the commandment to "keep a record".

I now pass this challenge on to you.

On your mark. Get set. Go!