Washington in December

45 days. Almost 6 and a half weeks. That's how long I was home. My calendar went from very little scheduled to meeting up over 33 times with friends and out of town family... How crazy is that. Along with that came CAP work, grocery shopping, holiday baking, appointments, even getting sick.

Highlights? (in chronological order)

Taking some desperately needed self-care/me time. Fort Casey with paints. It was lovely.

Photo shoot with this girl. Working through things together and growing. Constantly growing. Eating good foods and drinking good coffee. :-D

Derping around with old CAP cadets and siblings...  

Exploring Fort Flagler. Drift wood talks, ferry rides, dark corridors... 

Seeing my Little Fuji Family again. 

Going to the Seattle Aquarium with the Jamieson Family. Driving around Seattle, being with Mr. and Mrs. J as they saw Pike Place for the first time... 

Going to Leavenworth with Nick and Jane. It felt like a true escape. 

Anyway, this break may have had it's rough moments, but overall, I'm thankful for the time I got to spend here in Washington. 

December

9 days home. Nine sets of people visited - groups, individuals and families. I thought I was doing just great as far as how short a time six weeks is. Then I laid out my schedule for the month of December...

Between holiday baking, catching up with friends, two Christmas concerts, family coming into town, other family coming into town, traveling to Canada, attending a ball and the holidays in general, it's pretty crazy!

Late Thankfulness

This Thanksgiving was like no other. Family issues kinda distracted from the gratitude part of the holiday. I felt like between being exhausted and trying to figure out the family again, I forgot to think an awful lot about gratitude. 

A small list of the things I'm thankful for:

This year, I'm thankful for the trials, they've made me stronger, made me run to the Lord and build my relationship with him. While it has been hard with many tears and anger, it has been so very sweet and for that I am thankful. 

I'm thankful for the close bond of siblings. It has been refreshing to talk with them daily while away through text and Skype. And now at home, catching up even more. I'm thankful for my Little Fuji Family and how special my time with them is. For how Lisa has become such a wonderful friend and sister. 

I'm thankful for friends who stick with you through thick and thin. For the Facetime calls and late night texts. For the dumb jokes that make me choke with laughter. 

I'm thankful for paints and colors. Tastebuds. Clean, delicious water. The ability to take pictures. Smiles and kindness. I'm thankful for this life and the beautiful mess that it is. 

Thoughts and Feelings

I've been in Tennessee for twenty-seven days and I thought by now, the homesickness would have faded. I'm in a good routine here with the girls now and while I know I'm doing good work and a lot of work, I feel like I'm doing the same thing with no variance. Routine, right? Well, I'm not doing enough to inspire or push myself like I do in Washington.

That with the addition of feeling very lonely is not exactly my favorite combination. I feel out of touch with people, like there are only so many topics you can cover through text and only so few real emotions and social cues you can pick up on in texts. Am I right? Or is that just another weird me thing.

This lack of socializing has also thrown me back into some of my anxieties and insecurities in that area. Ones that I have to face with prayer. Prayer that my brain doesn't over analyze things or trick me into believing something that isn't true.

Count Your Blessings

So this song went through my head one of the days last week. More like, just the refrain was running through my head. Tonight, we sang it and there was a near constant rhythmic poking in my back as a friend lovingly showed me all the parts that applied to me and what we had talked about that day. It was so encouraging.  

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Thankful for this reminder tonight, people who care and for good friendships. 

Adventure of the Gracies

We decided to celebrate our Friendiversary. We did some talking and we decided we've been really good friends for six years. We've known each other for a lot longer than that, but were never friends.

This morning, Gracie came over and we headed out on an epic adventure to Whidbey Island. Our first stop was at Rosario Beach. It is now my favorite spot. It was gorgeous. Although really cold, so be warned. Also, don't dress like Gracie and leave your warm jackets at home...

Gracie had never gotten out of Deception Pass, so after the leisurely drive out and the recon missions to several parks and beaches, we got to the Deception Pass Bridge and walked most of the way across.

The drive continued to Langley where we stopped for lunch and coffee. I got an amazing London Fog (one of my favorites). We shopped around the town, which has some rather cute shops. Our favorite shop was called Music for the Eyes. It was a great store with a collection of cool rugs, gorgeous jewelry and beads from all over the world (mostly Middle East and Asia).

We drove further still and found a random beach where the lighting was great so we stopped for pictures/photoshoot/to admire the view, but mostly for pictures. ;-)

We stopped off at an art gallery on the way back home as well as to try on formal dresses as Ross. It was super fun and both of us didn't want the day to end.

In addition to all that, I saw mountains for the first time since I've been home, we ate amazing chocolates, drove through slush, hail, snow-ish and rain, had many conversations and drove over 200 miles. It was a lovely day and I'm so thankful to have this girl in my life!

The Things I Learn- Number 3

So I'm home. It is a little more overwhelming of a transition than I anticipated. The house is smaller than I remembered.

The other night, we had eight people over in addition to my family of eight. I felt weird all evening and finally figured out it was because there were an overwhelming amount of conversations going on at the same time and I wasn't used to it.

The next morning, I had no voice. That gave me perspective on just how quiet it was in Tennessee.

Crater Lake

It was a rather spontaneous plan, made in the parking lot of a movie theater at 2am. A plan that none of us actually thought would happen. A little less than two weeks later after much planning, some challenges and lots of excitement, we got in the van and began to drive. We kept looking at each other. Eyes lit. Smiles wide. Hearts happy. We were on a road trip. It was immediately comfortable, like being with family, we had talks and silences, serious and jesting conversations, we sang, danced and snacked away the 476 mile drive down to Crater Lake, Oregon. Best weekend of my life.

We stopped off at Cannon Beach to have lunch and to see the beach. It holds fond memories for the majority of us, but now it has even more fond memories of getting drenched by misty rain. Of frolicking in the waves. Of soggy hair and cold feet. Of homeless chic and delicious warmth from Insomnia Coffee.

And then more driving. Warming up under blankets, snacking on peach rings and figuring out that veggie straws are way more fun to eat when you blow out as you bite. Crumbs were everywhere. From Oregon gas stations and an overly flirtatious attendant to pulling over for yet another bathroom break (yes, I lost the game the most) we drove. The excitement of realizing that in just a few short hours were were out of state. 

We set up camp, including not bringing a proper second tent, which meant the boys suffered a bit as far as the sleep department... Ate dinner and literally hung around the campfire for hours until it became dark enough to see the stars. The adventure to find a "good" stargazing location in and of itself was fun and entertaining, if not a little scary as we drove down construction roads in the black of night around Crater Lake. We found a glorious field (a dessert, actually) that was dark and perfect. As far as looking up. It was so breathtakingly beautiful I can hardly describe it, but I will try.

The view was vast, we lay, heads together in the center, blankets, sleeping bags and towels keeping us warm and laying on a tarp to keep up dry. None of us knew that apparently Crater Lake is among the top ten dark sky locations in the National Park System. We could see so many stars. We laughed at the location of the big dipper and how some of us couldn't see it. We held our breath, then burst out laughing, but that was the only sounds. There was no constant roar of the highway, so sirens or dogs barking. Pure, blissful silence with the only sound being the peaceful breathing of these friends. We lay out in that field until we were gibberish with exhaustion, or in some cases, fell asleep. We could see so many stars, layers upon layers of stars and breathtaking shooting stars. We were also extremely lucky to have had a new moon that night, so it was even darker! It gave me perspective and made me appreciate God so much more. 

The next morning I was up first. I walked down to Diamond Lake and sat on the dock. I made hash for breakfast and we packed up the tent and campsite. We took our time. We drove to Crater Lake and the first sight of it in the day light was mind blowing and made me unreasonably excited. I had wanted to go here for many many years.

We drove around, stopping at many of the outlooks and taking pictures or hiking past fence lines. We hiked up to a lookout tower and sat on the edge just looking at the magnificent view. It felt so unreal.

The drive home was more or less dreaded, not because of the distance, but because none of us wanted this short little adventure to end. None of us wanted to recognize that we were going different directions within a few weeks. Our conversations skipped between serious and giggly. Friendships strengthened. Sure we've known each other for ages, some, up to eleven years, but in that particular, short weekend we became true friends.

Since then, we've gone on other adventures, expeditions to forts, watching sunsets and starry nights, late night talks and near constant Facebook chats. Then it happened, life got in the way. I left first, making the 2385 mile journey to Tennessee. Another left a week or so later to begin his 1500 (ish) mile drive to Arizona and closely following that, my best friend made the 5239 mile journey to Peru for a missions trip.

And that is my little story of one of my most favorite weekends of my life.

Friends

From last weekend:

I have friends of all ages, adults, parents, teens, kids, toddlers... I'm lucky I have so many amazing people in my life. On Friday, I got to hang out with some of my favorite little friends. It was an early start, I won't lie, after CAP the night before, I was exhausted. I spent Thursday frantically making gingerbread cookies to decorate, pack for Tennessee and still drive Jane to choir and CAP in the evening. To add it it, Dad was just in from Turkey, so we wanted to catch up and hear all his stories.

The little J. Kids are super sweet. They love talking, running around and playing games. 

We talked from the time the parents left to nine or nine-thirty. The breakfast, then we played with bubbles and then we played hide and seek. They had some really creative hiding spots. After all that, we decorated gingerbread cookies. I requested that they do as pretty as possible, which, for the first time ever, actually seemed to work! 

Joyanna's creations 

Timmy's creations

Nathan's creations

Some of my creations

Stefanie's creations

Jane-O's creations 

We had a lot of fun besides decorating. We made personalized pizzas with the option of two sauces, two cheeses, two veggies, olives and two different kinds of meat. They were delicious! Jane was amazing, she did dishes and helped me keep an eye on their very quiet baby. She was pretty stoked, because she got to help feed baby goats and see other animals. :-) 

Celebrating Gracie

She's my friend. She's my twin. She's my sister. Introducing Elisabeth Grace Hacking. :-)

So Facebook informed me this morning that three years ago I became friends with Gracie. I had to just sit there and laugh. Our families have known each other for ages. Like.... before this picture.

2007 pic from Mrs. Hacking's FB

So today doesn't just celebrate 3 Facebook years of knowing Miss Hacking, but it is also her birthday. I'm sad I'm not in Washington to celebrate her special day with her. I didn't think I would even get to see her before I left, but I got to spend a wonderful couple hours catching up on Saturday. I think we may or may not have talked the entire time without stopping....We might have breathed. 

There is a lot to love about this one. Some of my favorite things about this girl are: 

1. Her smile

The time my Ipod was being stupid and wouldn't take the picture...

2. How we plan to do things together on paper, on Pinterest, on Facebook, in person... We actually make some of them happen, too! 

Planning a hopeful trip to Crater Lake... Still ironing out details.

3. How goofy and carefree she is. 

Leavenworth with Victoria, John, Gracie and Ian 

Gracefully photobombing at Fort Worden

4. She's a good listener. No pictures here. :-) Seriously, though, she listens to what I have to say and helps me work through problems or just lets me vent when I need to. We never have a boring conversation, that's for sure! 

5. She loves people and understanding different personality types. 

Her and Ian having quite a serious conversation years and years ago.

Fort Worden, April, 2016

6. Her work ethic is amazing! And we have worked together TONS!! 

7. Her love of food and being gourmet. Serious, what other person "whips" up a batch of maple doughnuts or makes croissants for fun... Her love of cheese is probably the reason we are friend. ;-)

She stored a cucumber in her bag at camp.

That is one hunk of cheese. :-D

 Okay, well, sometimes, she loves being gourmet... Not in these pictures, however!

8. How she goes from tomboy to girly girl. She strikes the perfect balance between the two, which is awesome, cause, let's be realistic, dressing up and acting like a lady all the time kinda sucks and airsoft is fun! 

On FB these three pictures are side by side. :-)

9. How she loves adventures and dates! I've lost track of how many dates and adventures we've been on. I look forward to our future adventures together.

The many times we waited outside The Cabbage Patch!

The time we took 10 kids to the zoo. We're insane.

When we did a crazy venture to Leavenworth with John, Ian and Victoria

10. Her love of nature. Whether feeding random animals, enjoying the beach or admiring flowers (or fleurs as she dearly likes to call them)

Feeding a rabbit

Walking the beach at Fort Worden

 12. Her love of notebooks and how she writes things down. I wish I was steady enough to journal or write down everyday things like she finds time to do. Her collection of notebooks both new, completed and partially used is absolutely hilarious. She owns sooooooo many!

13. All our ridiculous inside jokes, nicknames, pranks, and humor in general. :-)

Queen of the cardboad at CAMA camp

Cascade Falcon Alcohol Impairment goggles. 

14. The fact that we're "twins" and able to convince people that it's true.

14. And just because there is soooo much I love about Gracie, I'll stop here and leave you with my favorite Gracie Hacking picture of the year. If you know Gracie, comment and share something you love about her!

Happy Birthday, sweet friend. So glad you're in my life and that you are so awesome!