Learning

Sam and I are in a state of learning so so much about one another, be it good or bad. God is really showing himself to us and it is overwhelming, awesome, challenging, and motivating. It's really interesting to work through things as a couple. I never knew it would be anything like this but being able to work through anything with your best friend is really the best even when we are working through the worst. God has really really shown me love these past few weeks and just understanding if him being my father. Trusting has been really difficult for both of us lately.

Prayer request: Trusting the Lord, growing a community of believers that challenge us in our faith as well as build us up.

Praise: That God is bring Sam and I closer to his family and each other. We also keep getting financially supported by God SO much even when we blow it! Praise the Lord.

-M

giving thank

This was our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, and since we are switching off holidays, this year was spent with Monica's family. We even stayed at a hotel... we are just hotel hoppers now. The Monday before Thanksgiving we had "friends giving" with everyone (well almost everyone) at the cove. It was too much fun all of it. We didn't take too many photos, but Monica did take random Polaroids....

Oh yea... it was mo's birthday

Casual

Fam

Oh hey friendsgiving

He get a little crazy when he has turkey

(random photo) we saw her on TG i love this little cupcake.

someone was doing something inappropriate so there was editing.



It was also my (monica's) birthday so Sam and I drank mimosas.. it's our new favorite thing. All together being able to see my family and my friends ans share all of this with my husband was sooooo much fun. It was seriously so much fun being at my best friends house and just sitting and talking with everyone..... NOW black friday is another story... I will most likely never do it ever again!

Take me to the city

All the children scared him



Spicy.



..

Huge.

Sam loved this eel

Jelly.

Albino Alligator

So excited!

He really didn't want me to take his picture.

say "hot dog"

mmmmm

we just made out!

Lori's diner.

whining about the rain.



before i got in trouble for taking pics.



mimosa

he made me take this.

I made him take this

Sam and I decided to celebrate my birthday a little early. Well to be fair we were just planning on going to the city and then said it was for my birthday afterward, I think it was to sort of justify all the money we spent haha. We had such an awesome time.... seriously San Fran never gets old truly! We planned to stay at the Marriott near the Wharf (which was our first planned trip on our own, it so exciting to plan things I never knew we could get excited about such weird things but it was so fun planning it) before we checked into our hotel we went to the beautiful Tea Gardens and visited the Science museum. the weather was really cold but nice. The museum was not as good as the first time I had been there and there were tons of kids... so it was not what we had anticipated but being together made it really funny. Sam really wanted a hot dog (because he eats meat now) so we stopped at a little stand in the garden. then we FINALLY found our hotel, I learned something about my husband and myself.... we both get very frazzled when it comes to being lost and directions, but after we finally get to where we are going we always say sorry and then cuddle and then I try to embarrass Sam as much as possible with too much PDA! he loves it : )

On our way to SF we bought some cheap tickets to go see West Side Story. I knew nothing about it before and was really excited that we scored some seats. They might have been obstructed view but they were really great for us. I once again put the wrong address into the Garmin so during the middle of the rain storm that happened on Saturday, so we were walking around lost in the rain and I whined a lot. However we made it to the play early and loved it.

The next day we had a really late breakfast at a little side street cafe, and the food was alright not over the top good, but sitting on the street people watching was very interesting. Then we did a little shopping and took the long way home. I had never driven the coastal way home... it is so beautiful. We really live in a beautiful place.

such a fun weekend.

-M

Nanny

God has really blessed me with amazing jobs as a nanny. My first one here in Santa Cruz is with the Davis family; Andrew, April, Mason, and Garen. They are really amazing and have been like a second family to me here in Santa Cruz (yes a family that pays me for nannying weird combo I know). I still watch the boys every now and then , but not as much as usual because they are growing and are now big boys. So, now I have another nanny job with the Lemon family; Peter, Carla, Coleman, and Fern (fern is the dog but she is a handful so it's like I watch her too) This family is such a blessing they came at the perfect time in my life and always work with my schedule and just care about my life it's so great. It is truly amazing to see how God works in my life, and how perfectly he has made this path that I live. Both of these families are truly wonderful and have always been so overly gracious to me. I could not ask for anything better, being that I have friends that have had and still have some families they work for that are....um... not the best.



Meet Coleman Avery Lemon







This is the story of our relationship....




Yay Swim lessons.




Garen : )



-M

family dinner

Last night we got invited over for dinner at the Hurley home- by our good friend Chelsea Fenwick. After a long long long day at work it was really good to enjoy good people and good company. This was a feast hand crafted by; Susan Hurley, Chelsea, Matt Hurley and Nala Hurley. Turkey burgers with home made fries and a funfetti cake with no frosting, because Jeff Neckers didn't get the hey tell message to pick it up, but it's ok because he ended up saving the night by buying frosting AND red wine!!!! Yay for JEFF.

Sam and I brought some donuts for dessert because we really care about the health of our friends. There was some cuddle time with me chel and Erin we are getting really good at cuddling. I also learned that Sam does not like the way I drive.... I don't know why but he doesn't enjoy it.



I snuck up on her.




he's really into baking.




mmmmm...




just look at her!




home made potatoes are dangerous




chef.




the donut box was really exciting




stolen potato



stolen donuts.

nala is so helpful.



jk matt hates baking.



family dinner : )

<3


-M