Life Right Now

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Birthday Boy

Happy 27th Birthday Mr. Avilla!

I cherish your dedication, your passion, and your endless love for others.

I admire your intelligence, your ability to do, fix, and build anything. You are so talented.

I appreciate the way you live such a balanced life, the way you work so hard in school but always put the most important things first.

I enjoy every second of every day I get to spend with you. You are so fun to be with.

I love to dream with you, laugh with you, learn with you.

Thank you for being the most amazing husband and friend a girl could ask for.

I am so thankful that you are mine for life.

Love you to the moon and back,

Lauren

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Tomorrow!

We are pretty excited right now because....

-Only one more day of work (for me) until 11 days off!

-Only one more test (for Bobby) until his 3rd year of medical school is over!

And next week we have one whole week of camping, Disneyland, relaxing, road tripping, birthday celebrations, a graduation and a wedding, lots of good food, a visit to SLO, and sleeping in!

Can't wait for a whole week with my love (and two little spoiled pups, too)!

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'll love ya, tomorrow, it's only a day away!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Yesterday, on my parent's 29th wedding anniversary, I had the joy of meeting and spending half the day with them in old-town Sacramento. So. Much. Fun. I am beyond blessed to have these two as my model and living example of what marriage should look like. The love, respect and friendship they constantly give each other is beautiful and inspiring. I love that they constantly seek to find the best in each other. I love the way they put each other first. I love the way my mom always goes the extra mile to bless my dad. I love the way he leads and supports her. Together they are better, stronger. Together they have raised a family, served God, and loved others so well.

Thank you Mom and Dad for loving God and each other so constantly and so well. Bobby and I are indeed blessed by your faithfulness and love.

Such a good-looking couple.

Beautiful March day in Sacramento!

Window shopping, taffy sampling, and a few keepsake purchases in Old-town Sacramento.

Breakfast of champions; coffee and a cinnamon roll!

Lunch at Chevys... We let Dad order the dessert and this is what we ended up with... two GIANT fried ice creams.

In other news, today official starts our Marathon training schedule (Are we really doing this again?). Just waiting for Bobby to get home so we can do our first four mile run!

Bobby is on day two of his second surgery rotation, this time with Dr. Toucker. Already it is looking to be much less stressful than his first surgery rotation (Thank goodness Dr. Toucker doesn't take city call!)

And tonight is date night! Dinner and a movie? Yes, please! Happy Monday Loves!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Good Stuff

Such a wonderful week with family; my parents and Till for a night and Becky for two. And, as usual, a few meals and fun with the in-laws and Jimmy too. We are so blessed to be living close to them!

This is the last week of inpatient surgery for Bob and this weekend is the last one I work for a while (Hallelujah)! Looking forward to having some time at home with the hubs. One or both of us has been at the hospital every day in the past 4 weeks. It will be so nice to have a weekend off together. But that's next week. Here's what we've been up to this week:

Dinner with the whole Avilla clan which means lots of love (and treats) for the pups.
Had to start Isla on antibiotics for an infected incision after her surgery. Bobby wanted to put her on the very antibiotic and dosage the vet ended up starting her on. If I would have listened to him I could have saved us $15... He's a smart one that man!

Enjoyed having our sister home for spring break! Did a little shopping, lunching, cupcake eating, and lots of front porch sitting. My how I love that girl.

I am reclaiming my yard (or trying to) from our pups! It has been in ruins ever since we brought them home... but I am determined to have it looking good again by summer.

The pups this week :) Last shot is them licking their lips after their first burger from Micky D's.

A quick dinner for the hubs, in the car, between surgeries. Tonight's his last night of call (for now, at least)! Woo Hoo!

Have a wonderful weekend! Hopefully mine will include a little Hunger Games in between all that working. I can't wait!!!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Four Pups and a Very Happy Mother & Daughter

My mama came to play last week and we had a blast! My, how I miss her! She brought Maddie and Reese, and although having four dogs in the house nearly drove Bobby over the edge, we sure thought it was a grand 'ol time.

Tuesday we walked the pups to the nursery down the street and had dinner with the Avilla fam.

Wednesday we met Bobby for lunch at the hospital, did some Birthday shopping, and met Jimmy for dinner at Strings.

Thursday we went to Madera to play with Fuffy. We had a blast at her "ladies lunch," took her to her doctor's appointment in Fresno, and then she spoiled us silly at World market. She got me the cutest set of napkins and placemats ever. We spent some time with Papa and ended the night with dinner at Cool Hand Lukes, of course, with Aunt Laurie and Uncle Loren. So fun.

Friday my mom went home, but not before we went on a long walk in the rain with three very happy pups (Isla still doesn't have all her shots so she had to stay home). Cody and Isla absolutely adore Reese. It was precious to see them all play together.

Normally after my mom leaves I have a big old pity party for myself, but this time, I was comforted by the fact that Bobby and I will be up in Chico next week to celebrate her Birthday. Yahoo!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

With Much Thanks

We have so much to be thankful for. This weekend we finished the last of one hundred and something wedding thank you cards. These past four months of marriage have been a time of receiving love and support beyond what we could ever have imagined or deserve. As I signed each card, With Much Thanks, I couldn't help but utter silent praise to the Father who gives to us so freely. Who knows, and loves, giving good gifts to His children. Yes, it is so easy to be thankful now, as I sit, healthy and happy, in my warm house, with my sweet dogs sleeping, knowing that tomorrow I get to go to work at a challenging job I love. Yes, it is easy to give thanks.

I am reading an awesome book, One Thousand Gifts by the brilliantly insightful and honest Ann Voskamp. Her raw, powerful words have encouraged me to reach and cling to a lifestyle of thanksgiving. To give Jesus thanks in all things, in all times.

Theologically, we know we should live and breathe thanks for our Creator and Savior. And most of the time, my cup overflows with gratitude. But how do I actually give thanks in everything? Why should I give thanks in everything? Why must I thank God for the pain, the heartache, the disappointments of this life, the story he wrote for me including the parts of that story I wish He didn't?

The answer is not just that He is God, one who deserves our praise in all things. It's not that He needs our gratitude, any more than he needs our devotion, time or love. But He wants it. He wants these things from us because it is through our deep gratitude that we can enjoy the fullness of life. A life we can only enter into through thanksgiving. This thanks is not just a gratitude for eternal life, a soul saved from itself through the precious blood of Jesus. It's a thanksgiving that alone can allow us to live a full, whole, well life here and now.

Lord,

Forgive me for my selfish lack of thanks in all seasons and things. Help me to see you in everything. May my lips sing your praise in good and bad. I am asking for a full life. I am asking you to show me the fullest salvation of Christ, given to me through your grace alone.

With much thanks,
Your daughter

Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 in Review

What an incredible, busy, fun, fabulous year. Just looking back makes me tired, and a little sad that it's all over. But most of all, I am grateful for a God that provides and blesses beyond what we can even imagine. I am so blessed and thankful.

-January-

We started off this crazy year by buying a car!

-February, March, April-

Lauren settled into life as a night nurse,

Bobby studied away for final exams & began preparing for state boards,

a couple visits to Portland to visit Miss Gillian Leeds,

and there was lots of driving back and forth between Chico and Vallejo for us both.

We were also planning our move to Monterey/Salinas for rotations in June (Bobby) and September (Lauren). This is from a visit in March.

(Little did we know we would actually be living 2 hours away in Turlock instead).

-May and June-

Bobby's pinning ceremony marks the end of his time in Vallejo and the start of Rotations in Turlock,

a beautiful bridal shower in Chico for Lauren,

Tilly's 8th grade graduation,

Birthdays for us both,

...and lots and lots of wedding projects.

In June, Aunt Mary and Norma joined Bobby, Mom and I for a week of wedding madness.

-July and August-

Bobby completes his first rotations in Pediatrics and OB,

another wonderful shower for Lauren in Hilmar,

we ran a marathon in S.F., Bobby's first! (and last?),

moved (our stuff) into our soon-to-be home in Turlock,

and lots more wedding projects.

-September-

Flew by in a blink of the eye, our actual wedding went by even quicker. So thankful for the amazing memories we will always have of a beautiful day surrounded by the people we love most. We could not have asked for a more special and wonderful time.