Lovin' it.

So I have about a million pictures to go through from Christmas, but instead of doing that right now I'm going to tell you a little bit about all the things that have putting a smile on my face lately...that seems like much more fun, and way less work!

So, here we go...

*My new Keurig single cup coffee maker. Love, love, love it!!  Thanks mom and dad! ♥

*Taylor's bedroom. The day after Christmas, we rearranged her furniture, got rid of a few things and reorganized to make room for her new stuff, and it looks so cute!  Her mirror that goes on top of the dresser is now on top of the dresser {instead of propped against the wall on the floor}, her bookshelf has less "baby stuff" and more room for toys, and her bed looks super cute under the window with her colorful Christmas lights all aglow {which by the way are staying up...they're just too cute in there!}.

*Down time. The crazy busy-ness of the holidays is over, and it's been nice to have some quiet days around here.

*California! We leave for the Rose Bowl on Thursday morning!  We're dropping Taylor off at my parents' house early and then heading to Portland to catch our flight to Orange County!  We are so fortunate to be staying at Matt's customer's family beach home that's on Newport Beach {this is the same customer who is providing us our Rose Bowl tickets...they've got connections!} and I'm SUPER excited about it!  Friday we're gonna drive down to San Diego to spend the day, and then we'll head back to meet up with Matt's friend Eric and his wife Krista to party it up on New Year's Eve!!  {Eric and Krista are flying in from Wisconsin for the game, also.}  Then Saturday it's the Rose Parade, the big game and up to Valencia to spend a night in a hotel before we head back to Portland early Sunday morning.  I'm telling you, I can. not. wait.  Just kinda wishing Tay was coming with us...but I know this isn't the kind of trip that she'd have too much fun on.  And for that matter, I don't think I'd be real happy about having to spend New Year's Eve in a hotel room in California with a sleeping child while my hubby and his friends are out having fun!  She'll have fun with Gramma and Papa. :)

*My dad.  After a miserable couple of days, my dad finally ended up at the hospital on Christmas Day.  He caught a really bad cold, and since his body was already weakened and exhausted from going through chemo, he couldn't really put up much of a fight.  He was couch/bed ridden for days, didn't eat a single thing for days, and had a fever on/off for days.  He ended up with double ear infections and that was the final straw.  On the oncologist's advice, they went to the ER and had bloodwork done, IV fluids and IV antibiotics administered, and came home with a Rx for more antibiotics and some pain meds.  After a really tough couple of days, he finally got some good rest and was feeling much better the next day!  He's been getting steadily better every day since then, and was even able to get his chemo today on schedule.

Ya know, it was an awful thing to see my dad, who for my whole life has been my hero...so strong and such an inspiration to me...in the state that he was in.  So miserable...and so sick.  My sister reminded me of something though...it's not the cancer that's making him so sick, it's the chemo...and although it's taking a huge toll right now, it will also make him better, and he will be back to himself in no time.
That's something that I hadn't thought of before.

God willing, he can be back to his normal, strong, hard-working self!
That's the thought that I'm sticking with from now on...and I'm praying everyday that this gets easier for him, and for all of us.

*Jillian Michaels.  She kicks my butt, but I think my butt may just be getting smaller because of it!! :)

*After Christmas sales.  Planning on hitting up a few of those tomorrow!  Don't tell my hubby. ;)

*Apples.  I've been eating one everyday and find myself craving them...they're so juicy and crisp right now!  Mmmmm.

*My Scentsy!  I switched up some of my scents and LOVE having everything smell fresh and new!  I'm also doing really well with my sales and it's been so fun to share these awesome products with my friends and family...everyone that I've introduced it to loves it!!  I'm also looking forward to getting a few parties on the calendar for the new year, so hit me up if you're thinking about it and we'll chat! :)

*My monthly dinner menu.  It was a bit hard to stick to this month with so much going on and plans changing...but for the most part it's been such a useful tool!  I love knowing what I'm having and that I have all the ingredients to make everything for the whole week...it makes dinner so much easier and much less stressful.

*A nice, hot, bubbly bath.  I've been soaking in the tub and reading a lot lately...such a nice way to relax after a long day. :)

*A rejuvenated spirit.  Sometimes we give in and let things get us down.  Sometimes we forget that it's not all about us, and there is much more to life than dreaming about what we want and don't have.  I'm talking babies here, specifically.  Celebrating the birth of Jesus at Christmas really shifted something within me.  For some reason, I just really feel like it's okay to stop worrying now.  Maybe it will happen, and maybe it won't, but it cannot be my burden to bear any longer.  I have to be okay with things either way.  Well, for now anyways. :)