A Week in Review and a Look to the Future

The past week or so has been great, but tiring! Last weekend alone we had two weddings. At work, I've started precepting a new employee. While it's been a good week at work, there's a little extra added stress teaching someone the ropes. Thank goodness she's so sweet and she picks everything up so well. Wednesday, I tagged along with the staff from New Life to the Diamondback's game to hear the Tremble Clefs {yes, that's really the name} sing the National Anthem. They're a singing group comprised of Parkinson's diagnosed men and women and one of New Life's own, Dave, is a member. I cried.

Also, now we're sweating. Thanks, but no thanks, Arizona heat.

That's my segue into the important stuff. We're leaving the Arizona heat. We don't know exactly when we're leaving, yet, but we're here definitely until a week or so after Houseboat camp {Yep. High school camp is on houseboats!} which is June 4-8. Yesterday, Phill's departure was announced at his staff meeting. Today, I turned in my formal resignation letter. We don't know specifically where we're moving TO, exactly, but we know we are moving closer to our families.

Basically, we could still use a lot of prayers for all the wide open blanks in our plan. Prayers for Phill to find a job, prayers for Alyssa to find a job, prayers for health, prayers for smooth transition with finances and everything else along the way, and prayers for safe travels once the time comes!

Monday

There hasn't been too much happening around here lately. I apologize (<<I always put two 'p's in that word!) for the quietness around the blog as of late. There's been work, movie watching, and a little fun thrown in, too.

First, I'm going to insist you all go HERE and watch this video of some of our amazing Velocity students performing their skit. They did this in youth service a few weeks ago, but this past weekend they were asked to perform in all three main services. The subject matter is rather difficult to swallow, but I'm so proud of them. I can't watch it without crying due to the song, the lyrics, and the awesome kids.

Speaking of youth, I have some pictures from the final night of the Velocity series "The Battle Within".

It. Was. Hilarious.

There was an ongoing fight skit between Mortimer (aka Brian) and The Tolleson Terror (aka Steve) throughout the series which culminated on this final night. Brian, dressed as you see below, was talking and jerking with a Harry Caray influence, while Steve, New Life's lead pastor, was all ridiculous in his bearded get-up. It was great and the kids were loving it. Actually, Missy and I were probably laughing the loudest.

Phill created the whole boxing ring theme you see in the background complete with ceiling drop down mic!

Velocity worship.

On St. Patrick's Day the man and I went to a Reds vs. Indians spring training game (ahem, Reds win!, cough, ahem...).

Finally, Thursday night arrived. The night we had been anticipating for weeks, nay, MONTHS!

(This may or may not be my iPhone lock screen wallpaper)

THE HUNGER GAMES!!! 

Phill wore his homemade bad-ass shirt (it looks awesome, right?!)and I wore my Katniss get up braid, cargo pants, boots and all. I was the Girl On Fire. Boom. It was pretty awesome.

THEN! Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting some great ladies I know from technology alone. Isn't that great?! Yay for Internet and Instagram friends and brunch!

Missing a few ladies from this pic. Aren't they lovely?

Finally, due to the awesome Internet relationship of myself and Mandy, Phill and I went to Jester'Z Improv for some laughyoufaceoffness on Saturday night.

Apparently more happened in this week than I originally eluded to at the beginning of this post. 

Woops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ostrich Festival

 

 

I meant to post this Sunday, then again on Monday and then a little thing called I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ruined my best laid plans. 

Sheesh. I'm fine and car insurance has seriously saved us yet again, but damn...what a week ruiner amiright?!

But seriously guys. Saturday at the Ostrich Festival was perfection. We had no idea it was such a big deal! There were far more people there than we anticipated. So many rides and all the declicioso fair food! Between the four of us we enjoyed ostrich burgers (the other 3, obviously), the best garlic pretzel ever created, lemonade, beer, fried oreos, & a fried snickers. Then, we got some free pizza afterwards. Yay carbs! 

The best thing about the Ostrich Festival? OSTRICHES. It may be a strange reason to have a festival, but I'll support it. I got to watch ostriches race each other. While adults rode on them. Plus, there were camels! Mini horsies! A 1,500lb pig! (Which we did not pay $1 to look at).

Then, we watched kids chase emus. 

Then, Phill caught a free t-shirt for me. 

Then, I won myself a free Jamba Juice.

Then, we watched dogs leap into water. 

Then, we watched a monkey show.

Best day ever!

Winter Hike

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go hiking at Thunderbird Park with two girlies from work {and their doggies!)}. It was so nice to enjoy some time with these ladies outside of our usual environment. I mean, wouldn't you prefer to hang out with cool people free from the threat of call lights, poop, pee, and isolation gowns bogging you down? I thought so.

The past couple days have been oddly wet around these parts. Monday-rain. Monday night-rain. Tuesday-rain. Luckily, the rain subsided long enough for us to enjoy some outdoor time.

As you can see, someone before us had even left some holiday cheer behind for us to discover!

Happy Hump Day!

{tehe}

DECEMBER

It's arrived.

My favorite time of year is here. I've been giddy for months weeks, but now that Thanksgiving has passed and December has arrived, the rest of the country is saying I'm allowed to celebrate full force! The tree is up and decorated, I've crafted a few special decorations for our tiny space, happy lights adorn the patio, and a bit of sparkly garland is draped across the living room windows.

...Ahh, I love it.

I'm almost, almost, sad I won't be able to cherish it all the way up until the big day since we'll be away from our little home here.

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I realized I never posted the pictures I took from the church picnic a few weeks back! I apologize in advance to my cold weather friends who will hate seeing all the sunshine...or just the thought of a picnic in November...

Nevertheless, we had such a fun time and the church raised a ton more money than agreed upon for Brian to have his hair cut off. Bouncy houses, a dunk tank, food, and shaving the youth pastor's head--sounds like a fun time :-)

New Life's new teaching pastor Pat McCulla!

Pie eating contest

Little Skyler!

He kept looking at the phone rather than the lens. Oh well. He's sweet, so it's ok.

1. Lead pastor Steve  2. Elaine Jenkins

Cutey baby alert!

1. Brad & Sean  2. Phillip & Dalton {obviously, Phill won}

Before & After!

Shivering

Phillip, taking revenge on his boss

Alright, I'm tired so it's back to relaxing, listening to Hunger Games on disk, and heading to the gym.

Have a happy weekend!

Concert: Avett Brothers

Don't you just love Phill's face? Haha

Opening act: Jessica Lee Mayfield

Jessica Lee Mayfield

My favorite hipsters from the concert

Holla! THE AVETT BROTHERS!!!

Yes. This is real life.

I considered making these pictures larger, but I figured it would take approximately 18,078,314 years to scroll to the bottom of the page. For some reason Blogger is being impossible and won't let me upload the videos I recorded at the concert. Stupid computers. Stupid websites. Trust me. It was such a spectacular concert.

These brothers put on a real show.