The Dear Adventure

Woops, It’s new years eve and I’m just now getting around to writing about Christmas. Pathetic.

Christmas is my very very favorite time of year. I love the way the stores sound with people rushing around and the Christmas music playing through the aisles. I love the smell of baked goods and freshly cut Christmas trees. There is no better time of year! I even enjoy draining my bank account purchasing gifts that I know my loved ones will appreciate. Most of all though I enjoy spending time with my family.

This year was even more special than usual. This year Scott and I celebrated our first Christmas together as a married couple. So special. We started the day early at around 6:30 because I’m still a little child who gets giddy over Christmas morning. I made breakfast which we shared at our little kitchen table with candles and holiday music playing in the background. I’m always amazed when I realize that I’m living the moments I always dreamed about. Christmas morning with my husband?!? How crazy!

After we finished our cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, and sausage,  we let our pups open up their puppy stockings so that they would get distracted by their toys and leave us alone as we shared our gifts. Scott spoiled me with a Kindle fire and I spoiled him with a pair of Oakley sunglasses a video game and a few other things. We then got dressed and ready for our tour around Grand Junction.

The tour started by going to my parents house and dropping off my Dad’s new lazy boy recliner. That man is SOOO spoiled! We opened gifts there then headed over to Scott’s parent’s house for Christmas dinner #1. It was so fun going over to my in-laws home for my first Christmas as a Dearborn. I still get so excited at having an extended family. We had a lovely meal that we got so full on. We then opened presents there and watched the Lakers game on tv. I love that my in-laws enjoy all sports cause there is always cheering going on no matter what’s on tv. At half time we hopped back into the car for the last stop on our tour.

Once we got back to my parent’s house my cousin Allison and her kiddos had arrived and everyone was busily running around the kitchen. I enjoy the craziness of a kitchen during the holidays. Sometimes stressful but always a fun sight. The kids were so excited to show off their new Christmas gifts. It was really precious because it was their first Christmas ever. After dinner #2 was cooked we all sat around the table and had a delicious meal and  shared memories of our favorite Christmas’, then played board games after. I love my family traditions.

This Christmas was so very special to me. Not only was this our first married Christmas but it also may be the last one we spend in Grand Junction for awhile. Who knows where the Air Force will be sending us, I certainly wouldn’t mind a warm Christmas for a change. I hope that we can get home for the holidays when we are travelling around, but sometimes it’s not possible.

I’m glad that we are already collecting memories with our combined families and I can’t wait for the future years to come.

Merry Christmas!

I love Thanksgiving! Not only do you get to cram your face full of hundreds upon hundreds of calories without guilt but you also get to be around your loved ones. It’s so nice to just have the excuse to gather together and share all the things that we’re thankful for. This year has been such a big year in my life so I have loads to be thankful for. This year I’m most thankful that God blessed me with marriage this summer. Scott is such an amazing husband and we can already see the makings of new adventures coming our way this next year. I can’t wait for all the opportunities that are coming our way. We are also so thankful for our jobs that support us and Scott’s new job in the Air Force. We still don’t know when he’ll be leaving for basic training but that’s part of the adventure that we’re just so excited about. We also have amazing families that support and love us! What a great blessing! This past week we adopted a new puppy that we named Hazel. Although it’s hard to be thankful for the puppy accidents and having to train her it’s fun to have the new energy in the house and for Clover to finally have a buddy to keep her busy. Clover hasn’t liked not being the princess anymore but you can tell she really enjoys the company of another doggy. We are also thankful for our little apartment that gives us shelter, although temporary it suits our needs and gives us a place to call home. I could really just go on and on with this blog with all the things I’m thankful for but I’m just so excited to continue Christmas decorating that I’m going to scoot! Hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving weekend with your families and let’s not be so quick to forget all that God has blessed us with!

I’ve been wanting to write a blog on this subject for a few days now but haven’t found the right words to display my feelings. I still don’t have a full grasp on it but I’m willing to give it a whirl. On Tuesday, September 6th the world got a little dimmer, especially in our family. Beloved by all our dear Grandma Jean passed away. It hit us fast and hard, not at all expected. It was quick for her as well meaning less painful. We all believe that this is the way she would have preferred it. Although we’re still standing around in disbelief, wondering if we’re really in reality or if it’s just a bad dream that for some reason we can’t be shaken out of, we have to push forward. We know for a fact that she wouldn’t have wanted us sitting around crying, that’s not who she was, she was joyful and so full of life. She would want us to celebrate her! Everyone who ever met Grandma Jean could see what an amazing lady she was. She was so sweet and caring that you loved her within seconds of meeting her. Shouldn’t we all strive to live like this? Leaving an impact everywhere we go? I think so. What a legacy she lived!!! So many adventures and so many loved ones. That’s what life is about: living and loving and I believe she did both to the fullest. Our hearts feel like we’re missing a huge part to them because she just loved us all so BIG. It’s a difficult feeling of loss, but we have to hold onto the joy of knowing that we will see her again in Heaven. What an amazing family reunion that will be!

Rest in peace Grandma Jean, you are forever remembered and held close to our hearts! Until we meet again, I love you!