Merry Christmas!

Such a wonderful time of the year! I am so thankful to be able to be celebrating Christ's birth and all the promise it brings. Church was beautiful last night and dinner was lovely with my family. It was just relaxing and nice to be with the people we love.

I think my only complaint is that I got a swollen throat, swollen lymph nodes and a low grade temp for Christmas! Negative side is that I'm sick on Christmas and have to stay home from work today (and not get paid extra) and I'm not sure if any urgent cares are open... plus side is that I get to stay home from work and probably get to eat some good food at my parent's house. Hopefully I'll feel back to normal before we head to Montana on Sunday!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas! Blessings!

Holiday Happenings

This weekend was pretty busy with holiday things... Chet's birthday, an evening out and then family dinner today! I'm now watching a movie and decompressing by updating the blog! Here is what has been going on...

Friday, December 18th, was Chet's 28th birthday! We had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate with family and friends by going out for dinner and then to an Everett Silvertips hockey game! We ended up having about 15 people with us at the game and it was great to hang out with everyone!

Us with Adam and Brenda at the game. We sat close to to center ice in the first level... best seats we've had!

Chet got his name on the big reader board! We tried to yell loudly for him!

Chet and his new Silvertips hat he bought with his birthday money.

The group (minus Mike and me). Such fun people!

On Saturday, we went to my friend's funeral in the morning and were emotionally exhausted after that. Yet, that evening, we had the chance to go out with a group Adam and Brenda's family and friends as well as my parents to the Paramount Theater. We saw the Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes. So, basically lots of music, costumes and dancing. I was slightly skeptical at first because it is a bit cheesy, but it turned out to be really good! I loved the dancing. The Rockettes have such precision and synchrony that you can't help but stare. This is a picture in the lobby of the Paramount with the upside down Christmas tree.

Today we had family holiday dinner with all of us. It is hard to get all of our schedules lined up at times! But we had a wonderful time, ate lots of food, opened a few presents and just enjoyed each other's company. I even made banana pudding with chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

So much happening this time of year but I am always so thankful for time with family. That is one of the best things about this time of year.

Brianne

A lesson in heart ache...

This past week, and especially yesterday, I had a new lesson in learning how to lean on God in times of sorrow. I, with Chet by my side, attended a friend's funeral (who is also my coworker). Though I have attended funerals of grandparents and small patients in the past, this one was far harder as I have been asking "why" over and over and aching for her husband and newborn baby.

Last week, Maricris collapsed in her husband's arms after complaining of a horrible headache. At 38 weeks pregnant, she suffered a fatal cerebral aneurysm and was placed on life support. Her beautiful baby, Hannah, was delivered in perfect health but Maricris didn't make it. Now, her husband of 3 years and this beautiful newborn baby are without a wife and mother. Such a sudden loss... and unexpected loss... a painful loss. It breaks my heart to have a joy filled 28 year old expecting her first baby with all the hopes and dreams of a family and a long life with her one love to be taken away without ever holding her child or seeing her face. Though I trust that God has a plan, I can't understand it. I feel such an ache for her family, for her friends and for all those she blessed with her life. She was a strong Christian with an evident love of the Lord so I know she is now with her Savior, but it doesn't eliminate how much everyone misses her here.

Having such a loss of someone who I cared about and is my age has caused Chet and I to do a lot of thinking. How am I living my life? Am I living in the joy of the Lord each day, not knowing when He may call me or my loved ones home? Am I loving others fully and completely? Also, it reminds me that trusting does not always mean understanding... I don't understand why Maricris passed away just before meeting her daughter she had waited for and loved. I don't understand why this happened to such an amazing, dear woman of God! Yet, I trust that God has a plan and that He is laying His loving hands on her husband, daughter, family and friends, never leaving us in our sorrow.

If you have a chance, pray for this amazing family in their time of loss and sorrow.

Brianne

You know it is winter when...

the temperature outside looks like this...

you are using this more than once a day (if you can't tell it is my new hot water dispenser!)...

to make yummy hot beverages...

and then drink it while hanging out with these special characters...

while enjoying our new ornament from Leavenworth...

hanging on this (which just happens to be by our lovely fireplace)!!!

Just wanted to share my cold December evening being cozy sitting by the fire and the Christmas tree. Happy winter to everyone!

Leavenworth

We made our annual trip to Leavenworth last night to celebrate the anniversary of our engagement. Chet did such a beautiful job proposing there that we've been going back every year to see the lights, get in a festive mood and just enjoy being together. Usually we stay in a hotel there but this year, in efforts to save money for our Europe trip in the spring, we decided to stay with Chet's friends who live there. So, it was a different sort of trip but so much fun. We went into town to buy our annual new ornament and to look at the lights... only to discover that this year they aren't turning on the lights on Fridays! Apparently, to save money, the lights only are on Saturdays and Sundays! Between that and the lack of snow, it was a little disappointing but still was nice to just get away and do something different. We went to the Enzian where Chet proposed and took Christmasy pictures (below). It was also fun to eat dinner and stay with Lindsey and Tyler... both friendly, outdoorsy folk who welcomed us into their home. I must say that they have the most beautiful view of the mountains to wake up to in the morning. Both of us left wishing we could somehow live up there... or at least have a cabin up there!

Today we went snowboarding... it was quite cold and sunny! It hasn't snowed for about a week so there was a bit of loose snow over a sheet of ice. I think we both took it a bit slow to avoid skidding down the mountain! Again, nice to get away. Even nicer to get away snowboarding. Now we are both praying for some good snow in the next few weeks so we can have more snowboarding adventures!

Off to finish unpacking and to bake some pumpkin cheesecake bars. Just wanted to post this while I was thinking about it!

Oh December...

How does a month fly so quickly? I have no idea and I'm still trying to figure it out. Now it is the beginning of December and the Christmas decorations are up. Oh and I realized it has been a month since I posted! I don't think many people read this blog but it is nice to keep it updated for my own sake.

Of course each year passes more quickly than the first (it seems) but I'm finishing up my second to last quarter of school and so am more reflective about what the future holds. I can't believe that I will soon be done with my Master's program, Chet will be turning 28, and, in June, we will have been married 4 years already. I don't know where I will get a job after I am done. I certainly hope that I can make it in the new role of a pediatric nurse practitioner. In many ways, I am nervous and a bit scared for what the future holds. I know that God has plans for me and He is guiding me but sometimes it is still hard! I often doubt myself and stress out about what each day brings. I can't know the future though... I just need to trust in God's plan. In the mean time, I suppose I also should just take each day one at a time.

I am excited for the holidays. Though Chet and I both have to work on Christmas Day, we are gearing up for our fun holiday festivities. We are headed to Leavenworth today for our annual "engagement anniversary" trip. Tomorrow, hopefully we'll get some snowboarding in before heading home. Then its Chet's birthday and after that... Christmas! After Christmas, we are happy to be going out to Montana for celebrating with his parents as well as my cousin's wedding on New Year's Eve! All my immediate and extended family should pretty much be there and I'm sure it will be a fun, festive time. They have been planning their wedding for over a year so I'm sure it will be spectacular!

Anyways, must go get ready for Leavenworth before Chet wakes up from his nap (he worked last night).

Brianne