Update and Conclusion

7/2/12 Hi blog friends!!! It's been so long! I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be sitting here writing this blog. It has been a busy ten days (well, a busy month really...). Since  my last post: graduation happened, we celebrated our four year anniversary, we moved out of our apartment in portland and moved it all into storage in California, Wes' grandfather passed away and we celebrated my 25th birthday. We've seen so many faces in these last ten days... It's been incredible.  Now we are sitting here in the Sacramento airport wondering what just happened to us and what lies ahead. It was quite the whirlwind. I feel as though I am just going through the motions... 7/5/2012 Hello again!! Since writing that first paragraph a couple of days have gone by... As of now I am sitting on a train headed towards Delft! Before detailing out how are first few days in Europe have gone, I want to tell you about our new blog.  NEW BLOG??  Yes, new blog... Towards the end of our time in Portland we started discussing the idea of starting something fresh. I was very sad about the idea of ditching 26th Street Sentiments (after all, it's documented all first four years of our marriage); but really I still wanted something fresh and easy to use for our Europe travels. So we started thinking of fun new blog names... Many of you have heard it already but for those of you who haven't, I'd like to introduce you to: SOCKS!  You can visit our new blog titled "SOCKS!" at this link: Ourfriendsocks.tumblr.com So why "SOCKS!" you ask? Well, Socrates is the name of our imaginary English bull dog (shortened from the name "Socrates" of course). Since the beginning of our marriage we've dreamed of having an English bull dog named Socrates (and a husky named Aristotle but that's for another time....). Often while walking to the grocery store or other daily happenings, we'd take Socks with us. So we thought what better than a blog dedicated to him? I drew up a simple line drawing of a bulldog and together we designed the blog banner.  Anyway, we are very excited for our new blog location. One thing to note about it...  If you were on our email list you will still receive blogs at your email address. However, not all of them. We are blogging through a different website now which unfortunately doesn't do automated emails. I will have to forward my blogs to you myself. I won't have time to do this always and so you will often have to actually go to our blog site to view the latest. I will try my best to still email them to you when I can.  Thank you for your support and faithful readership over the past four years. I expect blogging to be apart of our life always... It wouldn't be the same if no one liked reading it. 26th street isn't going anywhere, it's just being discontinued. So now, go read about our first days in Europe over on SOCKS!  Love you guys!

Coffee and a baguette

Two drip coffees and two baguettes with jam please!

For the past two months or so, Wes and I have been walking to this amazing little french patisserie in our neighborhood every Wednesday morning to plan our Europe trip. It has been such a special time of intentionally meeting, plotting and planning. Today we enjoy our last wednesday morning with delicious baguettes and coffee. Tonight my parents arrive, tomorrow Wes' parents arrive, and Sunday my brothers arrive! We are so excited for all of the celebrating that is going to ensue in this next week. Until next time.... cheers!

Closure: Part III- It's here.

The next chapter has arrived! Friday marked my last day of school and my last day of work. So you could say that today essentially marks the first day of the longest vacation I have ever had. Wes will be joining me in this *total bliss* on Monday, when he completes work as well. It's a crazy time we have entered. I cannot explain to you just how manic the end of school was for me. When I wasn't at the computer lab working on a recipe book, I was at home sewing a quilt (on a machine that is so not made for such a large project), or I was at work with kiddos. I had so many late nights and early mornings and all I could allow for was energy put towards school. And now that school is over I'm faced with the reality that our move is here. It is upon us. It is no longer out there in the future, it is here!!! Because of how one-track minded I was to finish school, friday after my last final wasn't filled with celebratory emotions it was almost more like... sad for me. I honestly feel like I know we are doing the right things and that I wouldn't trade this time for anything but it feels so weird. It feels like I'm just going through the motions of how I know they are suppose to go... I'm sure I will do much digesting and reflecting once sitting by some canal in some europian country.

Until then, there is no time like the present! Our place is in a state of clutter from art projects and clutter from starting to pack up. We had our *last* date night just the two of us lastnight. It felt good to sit and have a moment together. All processing, reflecting, analyzing aside- this next week is going to be plain and simple: FUN.

We have quite the line up of lovely restaurants to take our parents to, our four year anniversary is on thursday, Graduation and Father's day is on Sunday, Monday night we have our final dinner at Avignon bar (the very first place we ate at on the day we moved up here) and Tuesday we start our caravan back to Sacramento quite early.

I apologize for all of the wordy posts these days. With the computer problems I faced and just the stage we are in we haven't taken many pictures worthy of sharing. Though that will all be changing even starting tomorrow. I will be better about documenting our packing and finally days here. Can't wait to share it with you all. Thank you for your constant support!

Two Week Countdown...

It's been busy around here! As you probably guessed, there has been little time to write. In a (very fast) nutshell, I said goodbye to my nanny job on friday which was a very emotional day; and now I'm scrambling to complete projects for finals week! The reality of only two weeks left is hitting us both, yesterday we both admitted we are starting to feel sad. It will be hard to leave, but oh how we can't wait for the adventures that are ahead. I will be finishing up my "closure" installments after finals week. So, tune in again soon for our final days here in Portland! Pictures and much better posts to come... until then, I have some sewing to do.

Rolling

Life over here is rolling on by (fast, down hill, and gaining momentum) much the way we anticipated it to. Though... I'm scared! I have a thousand things to do you guys! I'll break it down for you: 250 things that have to be done for school, 250 things that have to be done for Europe/moving, 500 things I want to do on top of those things. :)

Though I want to ensure you that even in the midst of my stress I am aware of how lucky I am to even have such problems. I'm graduating college, moving closer to family in California, and going to Europe for an abnormally long vacation. I am extremely grateful to be fussing over such major opportunities that so many people would give anything to experience. So I'm trying to rest in appreciation.

As far as Europe goes we are doing the "fine-tuning," establishing some places/people with whom we can stay. With that said, if anybody knows anybody in western Europe, Scotland or Ireland, would you please let us know?

I can't wait for this blog to turn into a European adventure blog. I can't wait to see art that I've been learning so much about over the past four years. I can't wait to see the history, feel the European sun, and meet new people. I am most excited to have so much time with Wes, and to have the same schedule for the first time in four years (Wes works graveyard shifts for any of you who don't know that). Until then, I hope you all are enjoying this almost- summer sun like we are.

My Last Month of College

As of tomorrow, I will have one month left until I turn in my last art project, write my last paper, and take my last final. It is a weird reality to wrap my mind around. I am very very excited to say the least! I wanted to share with you all something I've been taking part in both this quarter and last quarter and that is: Friendtorship. Say what?? Friendship + Mentor = Friendtorship. This quarter and last quarter I was lucky enough to fall into an art class where we actually get to work with at risk highschool students on PSU campus. And well.. I'll let the video tell you the rest. But if you are interested in seeing a class I've been taking (or just interested in seeing me eat my lunch in the background) check it out. :)
 For this class I will be completing two projects on my own. One: a quilt and two: an illustrated recipe book. *phew* you heard me correctly. They are hefty projects but special to me and I am thrilled to be making work I enjoy for my very last quarter of school.

The quilt will be comprised of one square of fabric from each of the students' homes. It will be really beautiful to see the different fabrics come together, representing each person's life.

The recipe book will be comprised of each student's favorite food and represented in a sort of "info graphics" style. I can't wait to share with you my last art projects. Until next time...

I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend.

Closure: Part II - The Weather.

News flash- I've been sick this weekend. It came on quite suddenly without warning and just in time to miss out on the most beautiful weekend this year. Which leads me to my next installment of my "Closure" series: Portland Weather. You see, as much as this blog really is for friends and family to see a glimpse of our lives from miles away; it's also about recording my feelings so that someday, long from now, when we forget the details of our Portland lives we can look back and hopefully, remember. So, to future Katie, and anyone else who is curious:

Portland Sun smells like all things good. Spring in Portland is like discovering the color green, and participating in the ultimate community activity in which every human being steps outside their closed up homes to just revel in the warmth. Wes and I went on a little walk outside today, since I've been sick on the couch all weekend, and we couldn't help but reminisce. I think the Portland sun is significant to us because it reminds us of all of those new feelings we felt when we moved here. Anyway, these were our thoughts today as we walked through our neighborhood admiring people's gardens, the tulips and the green trees. Summer is right around the corner, which means our move is right around the corner. June, we're ready for you! Until then, we'll enjoy every last drop of you, Portland.


{PS: The blog got a face lift! If you never go to the site and only read these in your emails, you're missing out on half of the experience! :) Click here to see the new fun look. As always thanks for your support.}

Closure: Part I - It Starts.

I have sat down to write this blog a number of times and then I well up with so many different feelings that I can't spit out one sentence. The truth is that we have two months left in Portland, a thousand things to do, and three and a half years of living here behind us. Naturally, our conversations are now primarily filled with thoughts of reflection and processing all that has surpassed. I have days where I feel sad, excited, and frustrated, but mostly we are both anxious now. We have reached that point where we are ready to move and get to where we are going. So, because I have so many areas of my life that I'm trying to process I decided I would break these reflective ramblings down into parts. I have no idea how many will come of this, maybe three...  or maybe ten; but as this blog has accompanied our journey here in Portland from the beginning, I figure it deserves adequate closure. And lets face it, I need the closure. We came to Portland freshly married with a set of expectations for what this chapter would be; and we are leaving now, completely surprised by what God did with this time. So as always, thanks for listening and here's to the next two months of working it all out...

We have Friends!

And oh how we love them...

We had a really great time with Justin and Ashley this past week. Justin came last Monday, and Ashley came on Friday. It was so awesome to have some of our best friends here to do some random Portland things with before we pack our bags and leave this place. We tried to mix it up a bit and do some different things (like a Widmer Brewery tour) and some classic things (like Voodoo donuts). It was also so awesome having them here for Easter. We went out to breakfast at this crazy place called Pinestate Biscuits (can you say: biscuits and gravy. biscuits, gravy, and eggs. biscuits, gravy, bacon, fried chicken, and cheddar. blllleck.) Thank you to our dear friends for coming up here. We had such a great time. And a special thanks to Justin for being our very own personal photographer all week long. He did such a great job of bringing the camera along all week. He even put together a short video of our time together, and it is such a great gift to have! We can't thank Justin enough. Not only did it capture the fun that we had together this week, it captured so much of our neighborhood, our apartment, and our hang out spots. So great to have for always. Anyway, if you haven't watched it yet, here it is for you:

If you give a Mom a Muffin...

I wish I knew who to give credit to for this. I didn't write it but found it in a friend's status on facebook: Brilliant! I'm not a mama yet but this is certainly how it goes even in nannying world:

If you give a mom a muffin, she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook. The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old. While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee. Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. She will pour herself some. And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

 

Us lately...

 This image is a little blurry but I wanted to include it so you could actually see what I was doing: rolling fruits and vegetables with ink on them over a 7 foot piece of butcher paper...crazy art projects. {Please ignore our messy laundry needing folding!}

 That's a tomato with ink on it.

 A morning at Stumptown Coffee...

 Oh hello Clyde common!

 

Oh and hello there Powell's Books... 

 

That Tomato poster I told you about a few posts back... This was my final project for my Drawing Concepts One class. 

Off to bed to get some sleep for school tomorrow. Here's to my last quarter in college.... wish me luck!

Spring Break

Well here we are at the end of Spring Break and this is the first post I'm sitting down to write. I was hoping to blog much more than I did, but such is life. It's probably a good thing that I literally had a break from every area of my life: no work, no school, no plans. It was much needed! The time with Wes was absolutely wonderful, I can't remember the last time we had so much time together. So, I'm here to say that I'm alive, rejuvenated and ready to blaze through our last two months here! Oh also... I got bangs! :) Most people know that haircuts usually make me cry if they are the slightest bit different, but I was ready for these babies. I went in with the mindset of: I'm ready for a change, I can pin them back if I hate it, and I'm always going to wonder, so do it now when you have a hair stylist you trust! I'm happy I did. I like them though they are an adjustment, it's fun for now. I'm sure many girls out there are thinking, "you got bangs... right before you go backpacking through Europe... with no hairdryer..?" Yes, yes I did.

Anyway, that's enough hair talk! Fun posts full of pictures coming soon! We are preparing for two best friends of ours to come up this next week. Wes and I got lucky and got to have both of our best friends up here at the same time! Justin comes tomorrow and Ashley comes Friday! woohoo! Can't wait. More again soon!

What I'm doing/thinking right now...

Currently working on my last assignment of the quarter: drawing tomatoes. You know those diagrams of sorts? I never know the name for them but they are sort of like anatomy/ visual map of objects and their names.. like this:
 

That is what I'm drawing up. I really would love to know the official name of what things like this are called. So if you know it please comment!

Had two little kiddos stay the night at our place last night (the girls I nanny). It went pretty well I'd say. Happy to have the quiet back though, that's for sure!

I also now have an intense desire to make an art project out of re-wrapping all of my crayola crayons (box included) with my own designs. If only one could just make art all day long... maybe next quarter because that sounds like quite the fantastic project!

Yesterday Wes and I got over to the Kennedy School (Mcmenamin's) bright and early to be the first ones with our hands on their limited edition Devil's Bit Whiskey, released every Saint Patrick's Day and always sold out within a couple of hours. We were the first and even beat the crowd. Then we went and at the always satisfying Pinestate Biscuits.

We also made Corned beef and Cabbage for the first time lastnight and it was delicious, especially with mustard. mmm mmm. Alright... some tomatoes are calling my name I guess... Perhaps this will be the first art project I post in quite a long while. We'll see...

Spring break is almost here, during which I can't wait to play catch up and post some pictures here.
Hope you all had a lovely Saint Patrick's Day!
 

Mr. Golden Sun

Goodmorning Blog, Family, Friends, and Mr. Golden Sun-

Yes, the sun is out this morning. How wonderful it is to wake up to the sun pouring in through the windows. It is also a happy day because my first two classes have been excused as "work from home days" so here I am "working from home." ;)

No really, I have gotten quite a bit done but thought I would pop on and write a quick post. Our first year of living here I feel like I used to hop on all the time just to post a small update. So I thought I'd give that a go again.

Right now I am currently working on a project that entails rolling fruit dipped in ink across 2 yards of butcher paper. Oh the silly, crazy art-things I have done through out my time here. I am also working on a drawing that will be turned into a box, and also am making a coloring book to be printed for high school students that I work with in one of my classes. Wes is sleeping after working all last night but alas' its Monday which means he stays home with me tonight! Yaaay!

Graduation plans are coming along swimmingly, or well, really all that means is nothing bad has happened in a while and I got to sign up for Spring classes. Which means that never again will I have to sign up for classes. The finish line is fast approaching, Praise God! Holy moly it's been a tough one hasn't it? I hope that this really is it... the calm after the storm... well, you know you'll hear about it if it all goes awry again!

Anyway, I have pictures to share from my time in CA last weekend, but that will be in my next post. Happy Monday everyone!

Clams

Their is a first time for everything, and last week marked our first time cooking clams. Wes and I first ordered clams at Pok Pok a while back and were amazed by how delicious and yummy they were. I had never experienced clams outside of San Francisco's Pier 39 Clam Chowder, so handling shells and teensy-tiny forks was another major first. After such a positive experience we ordered them yet again at a little restaurant we like to call Clyde Common: again, delicious. We both "oo" and "ah" over handling the shells every time. The tactile experience is quite unique. Anyway, all of this is to say that last week we decided to bring clams into our kitchen.
We found a very simple recipe, using only: clams, garlic, olive oil, butter, white wine, and parsley. And is served with crusty bread for dipping. It was very successful and surprisingly easy. Below is the recipe, if you are the slightest bit interested I urge you to try it out! Check out the full recipe here.

First, give them a salt bath so that they release any and all dirt. Clams are sand-dwellers so this stage is necessary. This was also the stage in which it dawned on us- these suckers are alive. It's quite fun to sit and stare. Be patient and you'll watch one jitter a bit or watch the bubbles surface. *bloop, bloop!*

 

scrub-a-dub

 

No worries little guys, you're just going into a "sauna," to die a slow steamy death.

(sorry, I make it so appetizing don't I??)

 

mmmm lots o' garlic

 

And into the steaming bowl! They cook quickly. This is what it looks like as they just begin to pop open. After all or most of them have popped open the clams are ready. Discard any that do not open, this means the clam was in fact dead prior to cooking and not fresh. :/

  Serve up in low-bowls with crusty bread, noodles, or rice.

 Enjoy!

 And don't forget a bowl to put all of your empty shells into.

Inspiration

I've always loved flowers. When I think back on our relationship (the one that consists between myself and the flowers) there are moments that stand out amidst our love story. One of which was when I watched You've Got Mail (yes, you read that correctly). Because, you see, in You've Got Mail there is this scene. You know, that one where Meg Ryan is sick and Tom Hanks brings her flowers -- not Roses, but Daisies: simple, understated, ordinary, white Daisies. Meg Ryan shares "I love Daisies. Don't you think that Daisies are the friendliest flower?" Yes Meg, yes I do. Which is why I broke (probably) a thousand flower rules and paired Gerbera Daisies with Roses in my bridesmaids bouquets. gasp! Little did I know most florists hate "Gerbers" -- but how could you hate a Gerber with they're big round faces and so many colors to choose from? But anyway... flowers make me happy and they always have. Whether it be the red Christmas berries that my mom would send us to fetch from the park around the corner, the September Sunflowers in Portland, that one annoying time I had to take biology, or the life long dream I've had of laying down in a field of flowers, with my horse as my pillow and a book to keep us company. Flowers are in my life and they will be forever.

Many of you have heard me brainstorming over the past couple years in regards to my career. My problem has mostly been narrowing my focus and understanding that one person can only provide so many services. I've always had a desire to be a "one-stop-shop" of sorts for a bride & groom.
I've always wanted to be the wedding planner-florist-fold-your-paper-favors-by-hand-and-provide-you-with-linens-too, kind of girl. After getting this internship with the florist my dream has become focused and floral design is my main goal. However this isn't to say that Wes and I don't dream of having a team of people under one roof, working together to provide that one-stop-shop. So, when I happened upon this website this morning I nearly fell out of my chair. Seriously everyone, this website is to a "T" what I would love to be someday. I love the site design, the information could not be articulated better, and the portfolios are phenomenal. Have a look:



{Click here for Super Awesome Crafty-Paper-Flower-Goodness}

So Life, this is what I have to say to you:

College Degree I will fight for you. Even when it doesn't make sense and you are the last thing I want to fight for, I will. And someday I will understand why I did.

God, thank you for creating flowers to provide for "The Circle of Life" and also for the sake of enjoyment.

Dreams, I will fullfill some of you someday.

I think its time to go purchase a couple of single-stems, don't you?

Through the Ringer.

This week has been one of those weeks. I've decided its probably best to avoid talking about my current problems as often as possible so to not remind myself of how disappointed I am. Therefore, I figured I would update everyone in one foul swoop on our near and dear blog. This doesn't mean you can't ask about it or show sympathy, its just an attempt to prevent myself from moping around in further, self-pity. (Yes, the pity party is rich can you tell?) I recognize that my problems are so (so SO SO) small compared to the real tragedies of life, for example I almost fell to pieces on the bus ride home from receiving my bad news when a blind guy (my age!) sat down on the bus right next to me (no coincidence I assure you, God has been involved in quite obvious ways). So, I digress - on with my bad news:

On Wednesday I met with a different adviser than normal. At the time I was frustrated that my normal advising was sending me some place new. However, I was pleased to meet the nicest, most helpful adviser I have ever crossed at PSU. So we sit, she answers my questions, then says "Let me just do this for you." She takes my DARS report (in normal person terms this means: my everything, my records) and writes up a brand new graduation plan for me. Then she whips out a calculator.

gulp.

And then proceeds to tell me that I have an additional 4 classes I need to take in order to graduate.

She could tell by the blank look on my face I was in utter shock. In shock I tell you! Because well, you see, I meet with an adviser very often. Like, every-two-weeks-often to ensure problems like this don't happen. She explained that this happens a lot and that for some reason or another this requirement often gets overlooked. The requirement I speak of is the one that says 72 credits of your total course work has to be Upper Division. It makes sense... only, in my situation its quite stressful because I have to graduate in the Spring. We have plans, you know?? And its upsetting because no one ever told me. You'd think I'd have figured it out on my own but seriously the aforementioned "DARS report" is like another language. Full of crazy symbols, repeating information, The word: "NEEDS" and "EARNED" and "OK" all over the place. Its a complicated mess.

So, what this means for my life is that my "easy" finish to my college career won't be happening. These next few months will be stressful. I will probably cry a lot and mope around on occasion. Today when I added two extra classes to my load the guy who was processing the information said "You are now enrolled with 20 credits- Have fun!!!" And next quarter I will no longer get to take only two classes, rather, I will be taking four. :(

Oh well, life goes on. Like I said, there are much bigger tragedies in life and who am I to complain??? I keep telling myself that I just have to ride out these next few months and then we will basically be on a 3 month extended vacation. I can do this. I will do this. So that's my news. It's been a tough week but life goes on. And I'm memorizing this:

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." -Romans 12:12


Praying for patience and perseverance. As always, thank you for your unwavering support. It is a relief to know that many of you will meet (and have met) me in my place of disappointment because you know me well enough to understand how this translates into my life. Wes has been brilliantly supportive, and encouraging. Boxed Mac n' cheese for dinner tonight! :)

Portland Bride & Groom Magazine Shoot

If you saw me over Christmas than you most likely saw the magazine and heard the news already. But if you didn't, the photoshoot I worked on through my flower-internship has been published and can be seen in the Winter/Spring addition of Portland Bride & Groom Magazine. My experience helping out with the shoot was a great one. Talk about inspiring, eye-opening, and such a fun time. The florist (of Petalos Floral Design) was asked to prepare her handmade paper flowers to adorn the table-scape featured. I am so proud to say that I had a part in making the flowers! And then the extra fun part is that while helping set up the table for the shoot I was asked to be in the magazine. No, you don't see my face but I got to change into a dress and fun jewelry and hold a tray of food. You see my arms! ;) I am so thankful for the experience, I can easily say I never thought I'd leave Portland having been a part of a local wedding magazine publication. I owe "my" florist everything for inviting me into her life. Thanks to all for the awesome opportunity!

Heaven on a plate.

Since I know you all have been sitting by your computers waiting to hear what I had for breakfast this morning, I decided I'd humor you. Mind you, their isn't even a recipe. Just a picture to make your tummies growl.

Last night for dinner Wes and I made Irish brown bread (a mix you buy in a box, really good, the brand is Garvey), with smoked salmon and green olives. So for breakfast, I used up some of the leftovers to make one of the best breakfasts I've made at home. Ever. Not like I really made much but the flavors were so melt-in-your mouth yummy: poached eggs on smoked salmon, and brown bread. (Don't forget a little butter on the bread!) So come on over to our place and I'll fix you up one of the same. :)

Free Bird.

I am currently sitting in a little cafe' near us called "Little t." You've probably heard us mention it from time to time. It's a shorter walk than Palio's and something about it feels so European (or at least, its what I imagine a cafe' in Europe to be like.) Its like sitting in a land of baguettes, croissants, pastries, black coffee in "for here" cups, and PS: my lap top is the only one in the place. Two people have arrived to pick up large orders of baguettes (which they take away in bread baskets mind you!) to their restaurants nearby.  The person next to me is reading the paper and eating a pastry and the family behind me is asking their kids what they think of the painting hanging on the wall. Beautiful. What a pleasant space to be on this fine Saturday morning.

The term "free bird" has been resurfacing in my mind a lot over the past week or so. It seems that now that Christmas has passed we are full steam ahead with plans for moving. In fact, the day after Christmas on our drive back to Portland our conversations were already jam packed full of Europe and what needs to get done. Now that we have been able to put more attention towards our trip I am beginning to realize how necessary this trip really is for me. Their have been several cases of supreme stress through out my college education, and now that I am nearing the end (5 classes left!) these instances have actually been occurring more often due to computer errors, inconsistent advising, and just the general hubbub that has to take place in order to graduate. There is an anxiety that sits within me, that I've become so used to, I don't realize it is there until another annoying mishap happens which sends me to five different advisers just to get one signature and the stress reveals itself. The anxiety comes from a fear of losing things I've worked so hard for, for example: having a class no longer count, or my whole education being erased... I know this fear is irrational but the school system can make you feel so powerless that at times, it does feel possible. All I can say is, it will be the biggest relief I have ever felt in my life to finally have a diploma in hand. So, this Europe trip is necessary for my soul, and my general well-being. I am very thankful that we are essentially giving ourselves a three month vacation, and while it probably sounds indulgent to some, it is essential that I feel what it is like to be a free bird. I haven't known life with out school deadlines. It has taken me so long to graduate not because I took a couple of years off, rather its because of taking bunches of the "wrong" classes (meaning that they didn't fulfill requirements-- my mistake) oh and the transfer to Portland set me back quite a bit too. I have begin to picture myself sitting in a cafe in Paris reading a book and not having a care in the world. It will be bliss.

On another note, I will simply say that Christmas was wonderful. Since most of you have already seen our pictures posted on facebook I feel that it would be (and has been previously) a smidge-bit redundant to devote whole blog posts to the same images. I will however, post a blog in the near future of all the "behind-the-scenes" crafting that went on to put together our homemade-gifts this year, because we had a lot of fun with that.

A HUGE (HUMONGOUS! GINORMOUS!) "Thank You" to our families for all the gifts and love and time put towards us when we were home. We really really enjoyed ourselves. It is surreal to think that next Christmas we will be living in Sacramento. We are so excited for this! We've already talked about how wonderful it will be to get a tree from apple hill and perhaps host a Christmas Party. It will be a dream fulfilled. Anyway- it's a little scary to talk about such things a year in advance, if anything take this as an example of just how excited we are!

Happy New Year to you all!