Home for the Holidays...

I must first start by apologizing for this long overdue entry.  I think my excuse is pretty good though…Here it is, hope you agree…I only had one month to pack in everything, family, friends, and holiday fun.  I didn't want to miss a minute so the blog took a back seat.  I hope you all can understand and never fear I am back in action again and will try not to keep you waiting that long again.
Now where to begin…let's go back to one month ago.  This weary traveler rolled off an airplane after 24 hours of travel having had very little sleep and a bit (or more then a bit) of international airplane wine right into the car of my dearest friend and promptly started crying.  Might have been due to the lack of sleep or the airplane wine but I like to think it was mostly due to the fact that I was home.  Completely overwhelmed and ecstatic to be back, we went home and chatted for a bit but by 9:30 I was crashed out and completely grateful for sleep.  The next morning  I was greeted buy a sweet little man who was quite happy to have found me on his couch.  I never get tired of seeing Greyson's sweet smile.  It

Christmas Collective

can even make 6:30 am seem ok…well most of the time it can.  We started off the holiday season that morning with my home church's Christmas Concert.  I was so happy I had made it home in time to get to attend even though I was most certainly jet lagged.  It was a beautiful performance.  I was able to see tons of people I wanted to make sure I saw while I was home all in one.  It was certainly all a bit overwhelming for me since I had not even been home 24hours but it was definitely worth it.  I also got to share this bit of home with my good friend from France, Alberto, who happened

Clayton's Diner + Doughnuts = best date ever!

to be in town for work.  It was such a treat to get to share a bit of my home life with one of my European friends.  I feel like the rest of my days were filled with dates with friends.  I had such a short amount of time and I wanted to try and get to see everyone.  I am such a one on one quality time junkie that it was quite difficult for me to rush any of my time with people but I had to so I could see everyone.  Thank goodness I have gotten better at being strategic otherwise I am not sure I could have packed everything that I wanted to in the 2 and a half weeks that I was I San Diego.  I am so thankful that I was able to see as many people as I did and share in so many special moments along the way.  The holidays are such a fun time of year but they are also so busy and I am

Story time with Santa!

grateful that everyone was able to make time or allow me to tag along on family events to spend time with them.  It was such fun watching some of my favorite kiddos get photos with Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.  Walking around the Hotel del with my best friend drinking warm cocktails, taking in the lights and laughing at the people trying to ice skate on the mini ice rink.  Going on the best date ever at Clayton's diner and eating "hole doughnuts" (AKA doughnut holes), and so many other things it would take me multiple blogs to list.  I really enjoyed just being in a place with people who I have known and loved for years.  The kind of people you can sit in a room with in companionable silence because you choose to not because you have run out of things to talk about.  It was lovely having my phone ring because a friend had 45 free minutes and wanted to grab a quick glass of wine, or sitting on the couch talking late into the night with someone I didn't think I would get to see.  All these moments plus many more made my trip back to San Diego so wonderful and filled my heart up with joy.  As most of you know I am from a town up in Northern California.  My parents still live there so that was where I headed on Christmas morning.  After watching a wide eyed

Love my family!!!

Greyson get his christmas present from Santa Priscilla drove me to the airport so I could spend some time with my family.  My brother and sister in law were going to be home too which was such a treat.  It was a bit strange for me traveling on Christmas day.  This is the first time in my life that I did not wake up in my home with my parents.  I suppose as we get older and life takes us different directions all these traditions we have had change to make room for new traditions.  Transitions are always a bit uncomfortable for me but I have learned along the way that sometimes the new can be just as good as the old…different usually

New Years Sparkle Party

isn't a bad thing.  Christmas came and went really quickly.  Before I knew it New Years was knocking at the door.  This year we took a new approach to ringing it in….we did it at noon.  Ok, let me explain.  My mom has a lovely group of Senior friends who she visits weekly.  She has been talking about having them over to her house for lunch for quite sometime.  Well, the ladies all had received new sparkly shirts for christmas and were looking for and excuse to wear them…what better excuse then a "New Years Sparkle Lunch".  Out came the party hats, tiaras and noise makers.  It was such a fun lunch and we toasted the

Home town beauty!

New Year at noon.  My mom is such an inspiration to me when I see her put together things like this.  It took just a bit of effort on her part to provide an afternoon of joy that these ladies are still talking about.  We all should take a moment and think of one small thing we can do to provide joy for someone else.  Maybe it's a quick phone call to say hello to a friend, or dropping a card in the mail to a person you think of often but don't reach out to.  Maybe it is something as simple as complimenting a stranger on their outfit.  We don't realize how much these small gestures effect people until we watch it from the outside.  I am thankful my mom is a daily example of doing small things that have a huge impact.  I hope in the coming year I can give a bit more of myself to bring joy to others.  As the new year began my time here was getting close to ending.  The next few days were spent cleaning, organizing and going through my things so I could pack up to head back to Spain.  Once my suitcases were packed it was off to the airport to begin my travels again.  I had a quick overnight in San Diego which was so bitter sweet.  I spent the afternoon walking the coronado bay with a good friend then the evening I was surrounded by some of the people I hold most dear to my heart.  It was the best last night I could have asked for.  It was not a going away party because I am no longer allowed to have those…apparently I have reach my quota…it was just a great night with great friends.  Such a wonderful reminder of the community I have and how distance can just make the true friendships stronger.  As I boarded the plane that next morning (6:45 am) I was sad to leave but ready to go back to the family I now have in Spain.  Can't wait to see what this new year has in store!