Be Thankful.

Lately I've been feeling like time is flying by so quickly and so much is happening it's all just a whirlwind spinning around between my ears! As of this week we've been in Kansas for four months already, and watched the seasons change from a blazing, humid summer to mild, colorful fall and just the last few days a noticeable drop to frigid, icy winter with first snow ready to drift in any time. Looking back at those four months it is easy to become overwhelmed with how much has happened in that time, how much we've missed back in California, but also how much we've been blessed to be a part of here in Kansas. I can't help but be oh so thankful for everything that is happening in our lives right now, and in our family- both sides! 

My mantra this year has been "Choose Happiness," and with the exception of a few meltdowns along the way, I'd say I've managed to do just that. The amount of fruit it has produced has easily transitioned me into "Choose Thankfulness." I am so grateful for the love and support that my friends and family have shown through my big life changes this year, and for all of the opportunity that God has dropped in our laps the last few months! It is impossible to know exactly how things will shape up for us as we continue to get settled into our new life in Kansas, but what I do know for sure is that as long as we continue to choose happiness and express thanks for this incredible journey we're on, everything will fall into place exactly the way it is meant to.

And on that note, my sister-in-law and I are headed to the airport to pick up my mother-in-law, which officially kicks off our holiday fun! I hope you enjoy your holiday week as well, and take some time to really dwell on all of the blessings, even if they at times feel outweighed or overshadowed by that whirlwind between your ears. 

Life is as good as you allow it to be.

The Big Move: Part 3

Our first night in Kansas was spent with my sister-in-law and her fiance, who live in the same apartment complex. The next morning we got our keys and did a quick walk-through of the place. I have never lived in an apartment complex quite like this - a clubhouse, a nice pool, an exercise room, beautiful grounds, a unit with full size laundry, a dishwasher, and a walk-in closet... and all for less than a shoebox studio in the worst San Francisco neighborhood would rent for.

A few of my fiancé's friends showed up to help unload the truck. The boys were quite pleased with themselves after lugging the larger pieces of furniture up three and a half flights of stairs, so my sister-in-law and I wound up moving more than our share of the boxes, which we were none too thrilled about, but on the upside, we got the best workout of our lives. We could hardly walk for the next two days!

It's a strange thing to see your whole life in boxes piled to the ceiling of a living room that doesn't quite feel like home; to unravel yards of bubble wrap protecting heirlooms and treasured possessions to be placed on shelves that don't quite feel like yours. I probably would have sobbed through the whole process if not for my ever so sweet sister-in-law who spent countless hours helping arrange and rearrange each room and closet until the whole space felt just right.

Our first night in the new apartment was a rough one. We didn't discover until late that evening that both the A/C and cold water weren't working. Too exhausted to process my disappointment, I didn't even bother changing out of my sweaty, filthy clothes before curling up on top of our clean bedding. Fortunately, the next morning I was able to reach someone in the front office who had a maintenance man at our apartment within a couple hours to fix both issues.

The Big Move: Part 2

The Big Move Continued...

On Sunday morning we were up with the sun and headed toward Reno. I led with my car, and the beau followed me in a Budget rental truck, towing his car on a trailer. We realized in that first leg that the rental truck was going to need to go slow and steady on even the slightest incline. I really didn't mind creeping through the mountains around Lake Tahoe at 30 miles per hour, since I knew it would be the last time I would take in those views for a very long time.

Our first day was a 13-hour trek to Salt Lake City. I had high hopes for sight seeing to do at each stop on the trip, but by the time we pulled into our hotel parking lot all I could think about was food and sleep. We didn't do any sight seeing other than what was visible from our windows as we cruised down the highway, and we were both completely okay with that.

Day two took us from Salt Lake City to Denver. That drive was a little shorter but we got to Denver during rush hour which, if you think is bad on any other Monday, is a nightmare when you've already been in the car for eight hours. We decided to just tough out the extra hour of drive time to get to the far side of Denver and avoid any morning traffic the following day.

Day three was a Tuesday. It felt like a lifetime away from the previous Saturday, spent sipping tea in the sunshine, opening wedding gifts and reminiscing with my girlfriends. We pulled out of Denver at what should have been an early enough hour to get us to my sister-in-law's apartment in time for dinner. Somewhere in the middle of Kansas we blew a tire on the trailer. It could have been much worse, so I won't even complain about it. Within seconds of pulling to the side of the highway a patrol car pulled up behind us and offered to escort us to the rest stop just 100 yards or so further. We were able to get a hold of a shop in the next town and had a man there putting a new tire on within an hour, and Budget even paid for it. What could have been the end of our day wound up only setting us back about two hours.

An hour or so down the highway I noticed low, dark clouds just north of us. They were beautiful. Clear blue skies to my right, ominous black clouds to my left. As they inched closer across the sky there was some relief from the blistering heat, but the humidity took it's place, making the air so heavy and sticky I had to close my windows and turn on the A/C just to keep my hands from sweating on the steering wheel. 

Shortly after a strange thing caught my eye, something I hadn't seen before, something that doesn't happen where I'm from. Just above the tall grass the air looked like it was full of white streaks coming toward me. The grass blew down sideways and the panels on some sort of tented dome in the field began flapping violently. I stared our my window, fascinated, having no idea that those black clouds were the tip of a massive storm that would rip across the middle of Kansas, later dropping hail the size of ping pong balls. While it didn't feel lucky at the time, we really were lucky that all we caught were those white streaks, which turned out to be the hardest most consuming sheets of rain I've ever had to drive through. When the rain first reached my car it seemed to hit from the side more than it did from above. My Kansas family teases relentlessly for this description but it's really the only way to describe it - I felt like I'd driven my car off the pier and into the ocean, as the wind and water whipped my car around on the highway. I couldn't see a thing.

I flipped on my lights and slowed down, slow enough to see the glow of an exit sign in my headlights. I followed the exit down a slight decline and parked off to the side, where the small overpass provided some relief and a strange view of the storm from beneath. My fiance got out of the truck and ran over to my window, shielding his face from the heavy rain, shouting through my window - the only way out of this is to pass through it, we have to go now, it will only get worse! Reluctantly, I inched my way back onto the highway, death grip on my steering wheel, radio off, praying aloud for fear that I'd just driven within hours of our destination only to wind up dead in a ditch. When the rain lightened up enough the big trucks started to go faster, but I didn't dare, so I had to endure a fresh dumping and splashing with each one's passing. A small red car was backward in the median; a deer lifeless on the side of the road.

Once in the clear, we still had another 150 miles to go. We pulled up to my sister-in-law's apartment well after dark, but we made finally made it!

Next entry: The apartment!

The Big Move: Part 1

It has been a full month since we moved out of our sweet home in the Avenues, and my heart still breaks a little every time I think about that place. I had the best two years of my life thus far in that home and I miss every inch and memory of it. 

I miss how on a clear evening I could curl up on my couch and gaze out the living room window at freight ships inching along the horizon, slipping out of the Bay and following the sun to Asia. I miss the little, old Chinese man who would catch gophers in our back lawn for five bucks a pop. I'm pretty sure his biggest reimbursement was seeing my face, equal parts terror and fascination, every time he pulled a new one out of the trap. I miss waking up in the middle of summer to an icy breeze and fog that dangled so low and wet it clung to my sweater as I walked through it. I miss knowing my mom was only an hour away. I really, really miss that. 

Kansas City has been a good move, though. As much as I miss what was home for 29 years, I am trying to fully throw myself into this new adventure and season of life. There is so much uncertainty in it, having moved away from my family and friends, walked away from my career and hard earned self-sufficiency, and trusting that the gut feeling that ultimately nudged us way down 80 East was genuine calling and not an immature restlessness. 

Enough of the sentimental stuff - Here's how these shenanigans went down! 

The beau and I moved out of our house a week before hitting the road, so we stayed in a hotel near the airport for our last week of work. On our last day at the brewery, our coworkers gave us quite the sendoff. A cake, a bag of junk food for the road and a BBQ in the parking lot after work. One of our favorites also gave us walkie talkies, which were fantastic for the three-day drive that loomed ahead. The following day was my bridal shower at my aunt's home in the Oakland Hills. We lucked out with perfectly sunny, warm weather and I was delighted for the opportunity to give one last squeeze to so many family and friends.

Next entry: The drive!

My Bridal Shower

My bridal shower couldn't have been more delightful, and was the perfect sendoff before my big move to Kansas City! My sister, mom and aunt threw my bridal shower at my aunt's home in the Oakland Hills. The weather was sunny and warm, perfect for enjoying a backyard tea brunch. I was especially flattered that my mom's group of best friends, who have known me most of my life, all came out to celebrate. I can't thank my family and friends enough for creating such a perfect day and beautiful memory!

It's Wedding Season!

It's wedding season! And this year oh so much more than that. It seems I've been attending an endless stream of baby showers, bridal showers and weddings this summer, and I'm enjoying it to the fullest! 

Last weekend the lovely Chris and Chloe became Mr & Mrs at a winery in Livermore. Despite it being a blazing 104 out when the 5:30 ceremony started, we all sweated it out together and had a fabulous time late into the evening.

Camping in Big Basin

Last weekend the beau and I spent two nights camping at Big Basin with a few friends. The two of us left mid-day Friday and made great time, getting to the campsite in under two hours even with a stop for gas and snacks. We set up our tent, went for a walk and got the fire going, so that when our friends arrived around dusk we could get straight to grilling.

If you follow the directions on the website, which are the same as what most navigation systems will give you from San Francisco to Big Basin, you'll wind up on a one-lane, windy road from the 280 through Saratoga and on up to Big Basin. Don't do that. There are two better options - exit 280 at Woodside and take the 35 down to the 9. This will get you out of some of the windy mess but not entirely. Here's the route we took and thought was the best option - 280 to 85 to 17, the same way you'd go as if you were going all the way into Santa Cruz. Exit Bear Creek Road and go left. Follow that until you reach Boulder Creek, and make a left on the 9 South into town. Drive a couple blocks down and just after Johnnie's Market, you'll turn right on Big Basin Way. That takes you right up to the park. I'd also suggest doing your grocery shopping at Johnnie's Market. We ended up buying our wood there too, which seems pricy at $15 a box (6 pieces to a box) but the roadside stands cost more in the long run because they give you smaller pieces of soft wood that burns more quickly. 

The campgrounds have quarter-operated hot showers; $1.25 for 10 minutes. The bathrooms are clean with flushing toilets and have toilet paper. If you want to set up multiple tents on your site, avoid the sites designated for RVs because they tend to have a small area around the fire pit and picnic table for one tent but the rest of the site will be sloped and have more trees and shrubs. Also avoid a site near the tent cabins, as it tends to be a bit loud (read- lots of kids).

For a good afternoon hike, try Sequoia Trail with a stop at Sempervirens Falls, a small waterfall about half way into the five-mile hike. It's pretty but not too remote, and the trail is wide enough to be comfortable for a casual hike. There is also a 12-mile hike to a bigger waterfall but I haven't done it myself. The front office sells trail maps for $5 each.