Today was a great day!

This post could also be entitled, "what I love about my job" ;)

We took the liberty of sleeping in this morning and didn't roll into work until after 9:30. I didn't have any meetings today and have to work tomorrow anyway to jetted out for a mall run with Barb. We left at 1, had lunch at the food court, indulged in See's chocolate and raided Sephora, White House Black Market, and Macy's. I made quite the haul (Mark had a super-wonderful-fantastic-husband response and said he wanted to spend money on me anyway ;).

Our last stop was Target and then Barb dropped me back off at work. After another hour at work finalizing details for a couple events tonight, I picked up Mark and we headed to Barb's.

Now we're here with a perfect spring evening!! At the moment Mark is on the beautifully decorated back deck talking on the phone with his dad, Barb is there on the phone as well and I'm collecting the china Mark's mom gave me so I can put it in my new (free) hutch. I had left it at Barb's during the transition so it wouldn't get lost in our little place. I'm SUPER excited to have a place to put my china and also excited I have china to put in my hutch, thanks again Jean!!

It's a nice evening, everyone is happy, and the food is in the oven. We don't have much of an agenda tonight except catching up on tv (love DVR), eating, and I'll do my nails. I love my husband and I love my life and I want to praise God for days like this!!

Restless

I joke about getting this restless syndrome from my dad. If that's true, then I find it endearing and like sharing it with someone who I really love and respect.

Restless is this thing I get occasionally when life is moving along well. Or, when I'm in some emotional distress and want to escape. But I think I put a cap on that version a while ago and only consider the former version the "real" one and the second merely and escape I try not to feed into. I would sometimes prefer to escape something then face it head on. Although with Mark I work really hard to face things straight on. He's been good at helping me learn not to run.

Right now I'm the restless where I'm ready for the next thing.

Sometimes this feeling is a great catalyst to move me on to explore uncharted territory (at least for me) and moves me to action. It's the action that helps me make decisions about things I was otherwise simply floating around in my head.

I've probably had 10 different ideas float around in my head lately.

I like to pick certain ones and explore them a little. I'll put out feelers, ask Mark, ask friends, see where it goes. If the urge doesn't die away with resistance or time, it's my indication that I might be on the right track.

However, it's hard for me not to grasp on to one specific idea and although it's good, build it into more than it really is. I can fixate on it and determine that this is the answer to my restlessness. I think I gave Mark the impression that he was the answer (at least last year). So now that my restlessness has returned even after he married me, he's perplexed. I try to remind him that we knew this wouldn't solve my eternal restlessness and we joke that he knew what we was marrying and we try and remember that just because I'm restless doesn't mean I'm not blissfully happy with our little life together, I very am!! I'm just excited for the next thing.

Eternal restlessness is what it is.

As my restlessness has reared it's head again I keep thinking about the talk Barb and I gave last December at Overflow (the high school program). We talked about this very subject, being fulfilled in God and not things. I even talked about how I get restless. I like acknowledging that it's an eternal thing, even though that doesn't help it subside at all.

So I'm restless with an eternal restlessness. Actually, I don't think it's literally going to last eternally but the feeling itself is on some level holy in that it's related to God. He is the one who seems to have given me this feeling. Sometimes I think it's simply to remind me that he is here to meet my restlessness and sometimes I think he really uses it to spur me to action. I like to think he gives me things to work towards that help the feeling subside a little and also give me an outlet for this feeling that feels like it could eventually drive me crazy.

Although I have to admit I have an exceptionally difficult time deciphering if the feeling is simply to remember to go to God and exactly what that looks like or if it's because I'm supposed to do something. Or perhaps I have missed the boat on this thing all together!!

I guess this is just where I'm at right now.

People Magazine article update

The publish date is June 6th!! Exciting!!!

Last night

Last night's manicure option at IGNITE went REALLY well!! Actually, we had girls lined up out the door so it went well in that there was a LOT of interest, but not so well in that we didn't to them all. If we do it again we'll need more people!!

But it was pretty sweet!! There were several girls who really seemed to appreciate the chance to get their nails done. One even wanted the same color I had on my nails because she thought it looked good. That gave me warm fuzzies :)

Kurt and is team did a phenominal job last night!!

Me today

I'm excited about seeing Indiana Jones tomorrow night!! Mark and I are going with Bruce and Barb right after work. I've already purchased our tickets on Fandango for the IMAX ;)

I'm excited to try a new thing tonight. We're doing manicures at tonight's IGNITE night for middle schoolers. I have NO idea how it will go. If this works out well I'd like to do it every time. I have it all setup, here's a picture of one of the tables (I have 2 setup)... we're doing it in stations.

I hope Cook wins American Idol tonight.

Mark and I have enjoyed some spontaneous lunches since I've been working at the church. Today I didn't call him until 5 after 12 to see if he was available. We had Mexican and I ate too much, but it was wonderful!!

I love what I do and have enjoyed focusing on getting things (processes, forms, standards, etc) setup. I like starting things and have enjoyed creating my job.

I'm excited for our trial run camping in a month. It's the weekend before our vacation starts, but hey, better late then never!! We're still trying to decide if we want to rent a car, trade with someone, or drive the Mustang on our 6 day camping trip... we don't want the space issues with Mustang, don't want the clean up and responsibility of using someone else's, and don't want the expense of renting. I'm leaning towards driving the Mustang, but we aren't even sure our equipment and stuff will fit!!

I hate the odd weather. Can't we just go from cool to warm gradually instead of overnight? I feel like I need to check the weather forecast every day before getting dressed.

My wonderful husband just...

...surprised me with tickets for the American Idol concert on July 11th. Yes, we enjoy the entertainment of American Idol (don't judge). I've watched it for quite a few years and have always wanted to go to the concert.

How did someone like me land the perfect husband?? He's my favorite!!! ;)

What I've been up to

Yes, it's been a long time since I blogged. What can I say, I've been busy!! Also, my Internet is slow and I wanted to post some pictures related to what I've been doing, but it takes a while. This is from the week before last.

Thursday 5/1 my friend Marla flew in for the day (she works for Alaska and has flight privileges) to help me put on a concert at work. The artists were Shawn McDonald, Jason Gray, and DOWNHERE. It was my longest day at work so far, but VERY fun and it all went beautifully!! And it was SO fun having Marla here!! This picture is us with Shawn McDonald.

This picture is the sanctuary before the concert started. It wasn't full, but good turnout! It was weird to think many of the people there didn't attend Sunset.

Saturday of that week (5/3) I was at work all day to help with a wedding (pictured here). We hired a new Wedding Coordinator and I told her I'd be available for her inaugural wedding. It was a beautiful wedding of around 300 in the gym (even the ceremony was in the gym). The day was VERY full as the rehearsal was that morning as well.

Last Friday was another event and then we jetted off to the beach for my friend Stacey's 30th birthday weekend. It was neat to be there to celebrate with her.

Also in the news (and another post in the near future, I hope) is the birth of our new niece Tegan Anne!! Born to Mark's brother Steve and his wife Michelle. I'll post more on that and pictures when I have time to load more :)