What I did this week...

This week, I made a flannel quilt for my good friend Mindy for her bridal shower! Who knows where I came up with the idea to try to create this in little over a week but I made it and I think it turn out pretty cozy. I gave it to Mindy yesterday at the bridal shower (after having finished it at 2am that morning) and she seemed to love it! Yay, success! This is only my third quilt ever and certainly the largest (72x80 inches) I have ever done so it is definitely filled flaws but overall it went pretty well. It felt so good to create something and I am proud of myself for doing something unique for such a wonderful friend! May her and her hubby have many cozy nights cuddled up on the couch with this blanket. :)

Now time to get back to real life... school work, cleaning the house for Debbie, Steve and Jakin visiting this week and getting excited for Mindy and Luke's wedding on Saturday! This should be a good week!

A lovely day of powder...

Chet and I went snowboarding today with our friend, Erika! It had snowed 8 inches in the last 24 hours and so there was lovely powder to play in! We got up there right away in the morning and took off on the runs to get some fresh runs. It was definitely some of the best snow yet this year.

View from the top of Skyline!

Me and Erika

Don't I have the cutest snowboarding hubby?

Ahh.... snow covered trees!

Chet was taking action shots!

Holidays in Montana

We went out to Montana right after Christmas this year to see family (both mine and Chet's) and go to my cousin Heidi's wedding on New Year's Eve! We always manage to pack a lot into our vacations and this one was no exception. Though I don't have pictures from our time with Chet's family, we did take a lot at the farm and during the wedding. We went motor biking, Chet went snowmobiling and there were lots of visits with family. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Dirt biking in the snow!

Hanging out in Grandpa's kitchen during a family gathering.

Uncle David's farm... ahh the beauty of central Montana!

Uncle David's cabin... Chet wants to build one now too!

Kylie meeting her first horse up close!

Heidi and Christopher getting married! Cousin Kevin officiating his first wedding!

My cousin Nicole! I love this girl! She's the best!

The family... with Grandpa and Kylie too!

So... needless to say it was a good vacation. We hit a bit of snow on the roads heading back but other than that it was pretty much ideal winter traveling conditions. We now are resting up from our vacation by going back to work and school!

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!