so thankful!

So this year I took on the challenge of making the Thanksgiving feast all on my own. I don't know why, but I guess I felt up to the challenge and wanted to impress my boyfriend and his brother this year. Of course I over-cooked and have a ton of leftovers (including 2 whole pies. not exaggerating. it's the truth) but that is definitely a plus and I know what I will be eating for the next few days :)  

I started this madness at 8:00 in the morning and had the turkey in the oven by 8:30. Made rolls and pie crusts from scratch (should have snapped a picture of my kitchen table -- it was a mess! completely covered in flour. Ben said it looked "scary." He also said I looked a mess, but it's true b/c I was covered in flour, as well!). Also made some great mashed potatoes! Used a recipe from pioneer woman. You should try it sometime. Delicious! And I also made gravy once we got to Jonathan's to eat (at around 5 -- I think it's crazy if you try to eat earlier than that. you'd have to wake up in the middle of the night to be able to do all I did and have it done anywhere from 1-3 pm!) 

I also forgot to snap photos of the great company I had! So once I got home I snapped a picture of me, as well as a picture with me and each individual (whole) pie that was waiting for me on the kitchen counter. It's proof to show you that I really did have 2 extra pies. (and I still have 2 whole pies, or that is, I will until I finish lunch and dig into one for dessert!) 

I am so thankful for so much and for so many people. God is truly a loving God who pours out his blessings. My prayer is that I can always see and recognize his abundant giving, not only on Thanksgiving day, but throughout the year. I'm so thankful for my family, for my best friend and boyfriend Ben, for food, clothes, and a warm & safe place to sleep at night, a car that works, and so many wonderful families I get to work for and get to know through babysitting and cleaning! I'm thankful for my church, my church family, and most of all for having the greatest gift of all: having my sins paid for by Jesus and for the eternity I will get to spend with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit after this temporary lifetime here on earth. Happy Holidays and to GOD be all the glory :)

yoga yoga yoga

Couldn't fit much in today, but 20 minutes is better than nothing. Do what you can, when you can, but don't overdo it! (This is not me by the way. I don't have those kind of guns....not yet that is! ;) lol) And I don't have a cool brick building to do yoga in. my little oc apartment will have to do.

memories...

Miss this guy. 

Hahaha I love this picture because it was almost as if he didn't know how to eat a cupcake. So he just used the face-to-cupcake approach. Seemed fairly effective ;)  .....Alex and his family moved to Florida in September and I miss moments like this. (I bet his parents don't miss the sugar high he was on after eating this cupcake! ;)  Didn't do this often. Promise!)

the side effects of nursing school (the ones no one tells you about)

Okay maybe this picture is a bit extreme, but it cannot be denied that my dark under eye circles have become much worse since beginning nursing school. I know this how? 1) my under eye concealer is disappearing like it's going out of style, and 2) I drink coffee like it's going out of style. I know I should know better and just get more R&R, but, even though I know that layering on the concealer and pouring myself yet another cup of coffee can't be good in the long haul, sometimes it is absolutely necessary. Senior year of nursing school is such a time; sacrifices must be made! ;)  So until graduation in April, I shall continue to rely on much too little sleep, gobs of under eye concealer, and multiple cups of coffee each day to get me through. That and prayers. LOTS of prayers. 

Cheering for a new OSU...

I may be chastised by my Oregon relatives, but I've been living in Oklahoma for 4 years now and I've had so much fun this year rooting for Oklahoma State. And they've had a great year so far (undefeated!) Ranked 3rd by the BCS and I have high hopes for this year's team. "Go Pokes!" 

puppy owners for a day

Okay maybe it was more like a morning, but Ben helped me dog sit for two precious little yorkies on Saturday during the summer. The yorkies belong to a family I babysat for (until they just recently moved to Florida this fall -- miss them terribly!) and Ben was such a great help. We both loved pretending to be dog owners and Cody and Bailey had fun, I think ;) 

Honduras -- finally finalized

Apologies for forgetting about the last pictures of the last part of my Honduras trip! We got the opportunity to take a little vacation the last few days before returning to the states.

Ready for a whole day of snorkeling!

Earth Day?! haha....