2012

They say the years go by faster the older we get, my goal is to enjoy them more each year.

Looking back over the last twelve months I would not have been able to predict what has happened. To keep my thoughts organized I've decided to go through each month.

January:
Heather came to visit at the end of 2011 and stayed through the New Year. It was an amazing visit since I hadn't seen here since she moved in June!

February:
I was invited to join a small group made up of women in their 20s whose common thread was knowing Becki Parr. We later became know as the Sweet Time Ladies and have created friendships that I know will last a lifetime! This is also the month that the Griki wedding photos came out!

March:
Again I was reunited with Heather. This time we were in Vegas for the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament. We got to cheer SMC to victory!!

April:
I played in my first volleyball game in over 5 years. We went on to win the league and have since moved up to the next level. I am now in my third season and loving it.

May:
I passed my Real Estate License Exam!! Woo hoo totally worth the few weekends I gave up to study my life away! I also turned 23! I was blessed to get together with some of my closest friends for dinner!

June:
This was definitely the hardest month for me. I lost my grandmother. She was and continues to be such a role model for me. I know that she continues to watch over our family and is smiling! She had a special way of saying goodbye and would always end by saying "Love you" I can still hear her voice, Love you Grandma!

July:
I was able to take a few trips during July. First to Sonoma with the family,

and then to Chicago to visit Heather!

August:
I moved to Walnut Creek! Perhaps it was my wooing capability or luck...regardless Heather decided to move back to California! After a whirlwind real estate hunt with my amazing cousin. I found the perfect condo! A few weeks later Heather was here and we were unpacking and enjoying nesting!

September:
As things began to settle down after the initial move, I realized that I was on my own! Yes I had only moved a few towns over but it really sunk in that I was becoming the young adult I had always dreamed of. September was packed full with the Lafayette Art and Wine Festival and Heather's 24th Birthday!

October:

October was a busy month! The Giants won the World Series after a very exciting post season! This involved many trips to AT&T Park and some surprise visits from Gordon! At the end of the month I headed down to LA to celebrate Gordon's 21st birthday! 

November:

We celebrated an early Thanksgivings which involved the 2012 Christmas Photo shoot!

We also had our first visits to the "Pod House." Heather's younger sister and friend came to visit for a week! This involved late night runs to Fentons, Twilight marathons, homemade pizza and lots of laughter! 

December:

December was filled with lots of Family time! Griki returned home to us for the last two weeks and Gordon moved home after finishing his undergrad studies at USC. We decked the halls with laundry and laughs. 

Looking back there are a few other notable moments in 2012. I started attending New Life Church in June and have fallen in love! The Pastoral team is amazing as well as the Worship band. I have begun volunteering and continue to make new friends almost weekly! I attended two fabolous weddings, one in July for Lindsay and John Meister and the other in October for Abigail and Stephen George! I finally saw Rascal Flatts in concert, it was as amazing as I always hoped for! 

Looking forward into 2013 I know it will be an exciting year. I am training for my first 5k in March as well as studying for a new credential at work. We also expect to have Griki back in California by April and Gordon will be making his decision on where to attend law school in the fall.  I hope that everyone had a wonderful 2012 and is filled with hope and expectations of a great 2013. Please let me know how I can be praying for you!

With lots of love,

Caroline

Tis the Season

With Christmas just four days away I think it's about time it started to feel like Christmas! Perhaps it was closing the office early or knowing that I don't have to go back for a few days; regardless I am ecstatic to be celebrating with the ones I love.

A tradition that start many many Christmases ago, which is sure to put anyone in the spirit of the season, is the adventure of looking at Christmas lights. Tucked away in the valley of San Ramon is a neighbor draped in lights from curb to rooftop. Some even have opened their garages to festive scenes and musical sing-a-longs.

Tonight I was able to enjoy the beginning of this short Christmas break with a delicious dinner in Walnut Creek with my recent college graduated brother and few of our close friends. Afterwards we decided to head south and explore the neighborhood we had grown up visiting. After a few missed turns we arrived! Knowing we were in the right place by the line of slow moving cars and pure joy that was glistening from the houses in this quaint community. As we wondered court after court commenting on our favorite lights and the decorations we could do without we laughed and hummed along to Christmas carols on the radio. A few times we even parked and walked around.

As we realized our time visiting this magical winter wonderland was coming to an end we all agreed the spirit of Christmas was alive in our hearts!

I hope everyone is able to be with the ones they love this Christmas and although life can be busy I hope that we can all take a few days off to enjoy Christmas!

Give em' Heaven

30 days of Happiness
During the 30 day challenge I found myself delighting in simple pleasures and letting the little things goes. To be happy is choice that is 100% our own. I also learned that being unhappy sneaks up on us. I know that life is not always rainbows and sunshine but with the right perspective it can be pretty darn close. In the worst situation there is always something to be grateful for. This doesn't mean that we aren't allowed to be sad or take the appropriate time to grieve when life changes unexpectedly. I have learned that through faith and in my case great friends and a strong family any situation has a bright side.  Don't let yourself get down about things that are temporary and let's face it, the only thing constant in life is change.

AMAZE-ING News
Two weeks ago I got a phone call while working out (yes this is a plug to tell you all that I have been working out) and I let it go to voicemail. I was surprised when the phone rang immediately following the last ring. As I paused the music and tried to catch my breath I answered the phone... it was my sister and brother-in-law. My heart stopped- could I be an aunt?? No- not yet! EVEN BETTER, they found out they will be moving back to California later next year! No surprise to them I started to cry! I could not believe a prayer that seemed to be unanswered had finally come true! I am so excited to have Griki back in the California sunshine!

AMAZE-ING News Part 2
If you haven't caught on by now I am a huge fan of my families. They are kind of a big deal. I have a younger brother who is a complete genius! He will be finished with his undergrad studies at the University of Southern California in a few days and then moving home to work at a Law Firm in the city. His amazing news came as I was commuting from one meeting to the next last week. He has been accepted into Berkeley Law at the University of California, Berkeley. Yes, this means he could be going to law school in Berkeley, California! Again I am thrilled. He hasn't made his decision yet so fingers crossed that his heart stays on the West Coast.

Mother's Day
I know what you're all thinking, I am a few months early for this one. I don't think one day a year is enough to say thank you to our moms. I want to take a few moments and tell you want an incredible person my mom is. My mom has always been the first awake and the last to bed in our household. When we were little she made sure lunches were made, classroom activities had supplies and volunteers, and made sure Dad stepped up to coach our soccer teams. As we got older her love transformed into a love that was more unconditional than I thought possible. Mom, you know how much I love you but I wanted you to hear how much I look up to you and hope to be like you one day. You inspire me to be a better person and to never stop believing in myself. Thank you for supporting my dreams and helping me to overcome my fears. I love you, forever.

Unlikely Friend
I started going to a new church back in June and for many Sundays I would go in and sit by myself. Earlier this fall an gentleman began to sit next to me, we would chat during the friendship break and wish each other a good week on our way out. He became a person I looked forwarded to seeing every Sunday. After a few weeks his wife joined him at church and she and I began the same ritual. This past Sunday after not seeing them for a few weeks I was delighted when Bill came and said hello and asked me to save the seat next to me for his wife who would be joining me any minute. After a wonderful sermon we turned to say our goodbyes. She looked at me as she hugged me and she said "Go give them Heaven." All I could do was smile. She was so right. We so often hear the phrase with quite a different ending. As I walked out of church I was encouraged to rise to the challenge of giving them Heaven.

So whose ready to give em' Heaven?