Back for a Visit

We figured it was about time to get our things that we left in storage in San Luis Obispo (we grew tired of all our clothes still being in boxes without our dresser). We decided to make the trip a weekend getaway and enjoyed every second of it...minus the traffic on the way back to the city.

Can you guess where we stopped first? Why Baileyana of course where we spent many weekends playing bocce ball with a bottle of sauvignon blanc. How could you not love this place?

love these people

We got to see Brit's kindergarten classroom that she has been working so hard on decorating and filling with love. What lucky kiddos to have her as their teacher!

Mrs. Manning

So proud of her!

Afterward, we tested out some burgers downtown and ended the night playing scrabble and listening to music at the new kreuzberg.

After waking up to puppy kisses and yummy breakfast burritos made by Kenny, Russell and I headed to See Canyon to go apple tasting (our favorite SLO activity in the fall). We cannot get enough of Gopher Glenn. From the apples for baking to those for snacking, the freshly pressed cider, and the caramel for dipping, this place has it all! We left with 20 lbs of apples to take back with us to the city and some to give our friends. There is some delicious apple crisp headed my hubby's way! We couldn't leave without driving to Avila and stopping by the barn for some ollalieberry turnovers.

 Although the weekend was bittersweet, I don't think we have ever enjoyed our time in SLO as much as we did this time around. We are incredibly blessed with wonderful friends who we can never get enough of and who graciously open their home to us. I feel very lucky to only live a few hours from our old town and I hope to spend many more weekends doing these very things.

Evidences of God's Grace:
Seeing the world through the eyes of a first grader
Bests friends who aren't stuck with you but choose to love you nonetheless 
The sweet baby boy who waddled across the grass at the park to me today saying "Momma?"
A bus driver who says good morning to everyone on Russell's work commute

Lessons learned:
Avoid the 101 through Monterey at all costs on Sunday evenings

Time with Family

Even though I got real sick the weekend of our actual anniversary, we were able to spend the following weekend celebrating our 1 year with the people who mean the most to us, our families!

Friday night the St. Johns were in San Francisco so we got to meet them for dinner at Perry's and then Diane took down an alleyway to a crazy little pub. Russell was extra excited since I recently got to have lunch with Diane and he was sad he didn't get his fair share. We are both incredibly thankful to have these two people in our lives and we have such a fun time with them wherever we may meet. Shout out to them on their 48th wedding anniversary! Hopefully their wisdom is rubbing off on us.

How could you not love them?!

On Saturday morning we woke up early, Russell walked 20 minutes to the truck, and we were finally on our way to sunshine and warm weather. We got to spend some time with my sis before she headed to work and then we were Tahoe bound with my parents. It was so nice just to spend time catching up and telling them about our new city life. It is amazing that even though we both grew up in Grass Valley, we have never viewed it the same way as we did that weekend. We spent more time in the truck over the weekend than we had all month combined, and it was nice. They treated us to dinner and cocktails at the fabulous Gar Woods right on the water!

Double date!

At Gar Woods

The view from dinner

We just could not get enough of the blue sky so we took full advantage of our opportunity to soak up some sun and took the boat out on Englebright with Stef and Eric. This was a weekly occurrence when we still lived at home so we were due for some storytelling, tubing, and drinking on the lake! I wish we could make the trip back every weekend.

We couldn't ask for better weather 

 

 Examples of God's Grace:
-My sister bringing home a cinnamon roll from the fair for us to enjoy (this is a family tradition that my Grandparents started years ago)
-Country music with the windows down on two lane roads
-Family (blood and adopted)
-the sweet woman at the muni stop who said "bless you" after I sneezed. This is amazing in the city.
- Russell's boss assuring him that his job is long term (thank goodness because we signed a year lease!)
-hugs from 1st graders in the class I work in

Year 1 of Marriage=Check

Although we had planned on traveling to Grass Valley to be with our families to celebrate, I was sick on Friday so we spent our first married anniversary exploring more of the city:

We ate brunch at Crepevine

We strolled through farmer's market

We explored the Palace of Fine Arts

We stopped to take in the view

We listened to the wave organ 

 And we ended the day with an early dinner in Nob Hill.

From the day of our wedding on this year has been a complete adventure where almost everyday we have looked at each other feeling overwhelmingly blessed. Blessed not only with living the rest of our lives with each other, but it seems like every time we turn around we are showered with God's grace. Here is a small look at the many things we have been in awe of over the past 365 days:

• Just a few weeks before our wedding we had no idea how we were going to support ourselves while Russell was finishing up school. Luckily, I got a job right in time that started the week after we got back from our honeymoon, and I was literally figuring out benefits and signing papers the day before we got married. 
• The night of our rehearsal it was freezing and there were storm clouds so we were amazed when it was 75 degrees and sunny on our wedding day. Apparently the following three days were chilly as well.
• As we moved into our tiny little apartment we were asked if we would like to be apartment managers. For hardly any work we would be getting almost 50% off our rent each month!
• Although my job was something I kind of fell into so that we could pay our bills, I fell in love with working with children with special needs and finally realized my passion. I had the opportunity to work with very creative, knowledgeable people who taught me an incredible amount.
• Throughout the year we joined Bible studies that deepened our knowledge of our faith and allowed us to grow closer to wonderful people that support us tremendously.
• As June approached we were worrying about getting someone to sublease our apartment as we knew we needed to find jobs as soon as possible and we didn't want to be living in SLO anymore. However, we found out that our apartment was one of four that would be undergoing remodeling so our lease ended in June! 
• While Russell was finishing up his thesis he was also searching frantically for a job. Our mindset was that we would go anywhere in the U.S. that he got hired so he sent his portfolio to many different firms from New York, to Seattle and San Francisco. Our backup plan was to move back with our parents for a month or two while we waited to hear about interviews. Amazingly, the week that we moved out of our place in SLO Russell got called for two interviews in San Francisco. He wore his suit on the drive from SLO to Grass Valley and made a stop in the city while his truck was completely full with our things. Luckily, two days later he got the job offer from Edmonds and Lee Architects and we accepted!
• Upon returning from a much needed vacation in Hawaii we spent two days with our families and then joined in the mad race of finding a place in San Francisco. We made packets with letters of recommendation, pay stubs, letter of new hire from Russell's firm, and full credit reports to give with our applications. Russell also mapped out 20+ apartments for us to look at. At the first place we toured the lady told us it was a horrible weekend to look for places as it was the 4th of July and everybody was out of town. She made it sound like we would need to come back multiple times to secure a place, so we were pretty nervous. Then, we walked into what would soon become our new home and talked with the friendly owner. We fell in love with the wood floors, tall ceilings, chair rails and bay windows and we got a call two hours later from the man's wife saying that we were accepted because her husband said he just got the right feeling from us. PRAISE GOD! We moved in four days later thanks to the loving help of our parents! 
• After applying on Edjoin for a paraprofessional position through SFUSD, I was told to contact schools individually for interviews. Within ten minutes I got called by three principals of elementary schools in the area to set up interviews. Amazingly I got two job offers and a second interview so I accepted the one that I felt was the best fit. I get to start working this Friday and I cannot wait! 
• So here we are now, adjusting to life in an unfamiliar place. Russell is loving his job and is getting to meet with clients and work on projects from the beginning to the end. I am counting down the days until I start my new job and looking forward to meeting the coworkers and students that I will be seeing every day! 

*This list does not even begin to include the countless people who have shown us love and support through the year and who have set great examples for us in our marriage. 

A year ago we would have never imagined this is where we would be! But we are incredibly thankful and excited to live in a city that has so much to explore and so many new people to meet. Who knows where we will be this time next year?

To my husband who wakes me up everyday with a smile, embraces my imperfections, agrees to go on crazy adventures, challenges me, teaches me, laughs with me, cries with me, listens to me, understands me, is silly with me, and most importantly loves me when I least deserve it: thank you for being you :)

Enjoying the Sun

One thing about the city that has taken some adjusting to is the lack of sun. While we are thankful that we aren't complaining about extreme heat, I must admit that only seeing blue sky a few times a week is taking its toll on me. Luckily, throughout the past week there have been numerous warm days, so I have taken full advantage of them.

On Saturday we were invited to a pool party in Sonoma hosted by Russell's boss. The location was a home that the firm actually designed, so it was very inspiring to see it in person. Getting out of the city and driving on country roads was a plus as well :) It was my first time crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, so I had to document it.

When I saw blue sky out of our living room window on Monday I literally screamed. It was a matter of seconds before I headed out the door with my kindle and a blanket. Sharon meadows is a great place for reading peacefully and it is only a two minute walk from our door.

I met with three Elementary School principals on Tuesday for interviews for paraprofessional positions. In between my muni transfers I got to pass some time in the rose garden and was even asked directions by a sweet French couple. I am starting to feel like a real San Franciscan. Sutro Tower is the only landmark that tells me which direction I am walking and on most days it is just poking out of the fog. Russell works almost at the base, so I always smile when I see it.

A little more wisdom we have gained:

-sometimes you need an umbrella for foggy morning commutes 

Examples of God's Grace:

-Getting three interviews within ten minutes

-Smiling at fellow muni riders and getting smiles back

-Accepting a job offer and selling my car all in one day