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 :)