Day 13 - Going on a Walk

Today I am thankful for walking.  In the beautiful sunlight with the company of my dear friend, Ashley, her son, Ryder and her dog, Kona, I went for a stroll in San Jose.  Last year, Ashley was training for the Susan G. Komen 3 day walk and I was able to join her and Kona for some of her walks (she would walk like 10 miles in one day and I'd walk 4 with her).  It was an awesome bonding time with her and great exercise for me.  She just gave birth to her first child in September and today was our first walk we've had in a long time and it was great catching up with her and spending some quality time with Ryder and Kona.

Before we started our walking routine all of our outings revolved around eating food (remember my post from day 9, yeah I'll refer to it a lot).  But now we get to spend time being healthy and enjoying each others' company.  I am so thankful that I can spend that time with her but also that I can enjoy God's wonderful creation while we're out and about.

Day 12 - Sleeping in

Another one of my favorite things is sleeping, so today I am thankful for sleeping in on Saturdays.  For a while I was waking up at 6 on Saturdays but could barely pull myself out of bed at 7:15 on weekdays.  Thankfully I am sleeping pretty well these days and have been enjoying a few extra hours of sleep time.

Day 11 - Singing in the Rain...

On Day 11 I am thankful for the rain.  I know the rain bugs most people but I love the smell outside after it has rained.  I have started to really enjoy the fall over the last several years so rain = fall = KC is happy.  I might even invest in some awesome rain boots this season :)

Day 10 - Go Sharks!!!

I am thankful for the San Jose Sharks! On Thursday evening, Scott and I got to enjoy the entertainment of the Sharks vs. the Wild.  I love going to Sharks game and I finally got to go to my first regular season game on Day 10.  It was an exciting game and I even got two free tacos from Jack in the Box (did you just read my post about how I love food?) I love to wear teal and cheer on this hardworking team.  I love going to games with Scott because he's so passionate about them.  I'm so thankful to live in a city with them as my team!

Day 9 - I love to eat, eat, eat....

On Wednesday our women's life group had a potluck and everyone brought different and delicious food.  We had sausage, pasta salad, vegetable pizza, mini quiche (which is my favorite!!), salad with maple syrup dressing (!!!), fruit, chips and fresh guacamole, oatmeal cookies and an assortment of desserts from whole foods.  Kristina was a happy camper that night.  I love food (have you seen my Yelp reviews?) and on Day 9 I am thankful for it.  I love to cook and I love to eat.  It's probably a big problem of mine but I can't help it; God made food soooo good!  I generally like crispy foods, like fries and chicken strips, but most of all I love sauces. I will cry and throw a fit if I don't have any sweet and sour sauce when I get my chicken nuggets.  I dip pretty much anything in ranch.  After we got back from our Italy trip I was craving seafood all the time.  Even before I finish my lunch I will ask what we're having for dinner. I can eat peanuts at any time of the day.  I generally save my favorite foods for the very end, so I can savor the taste.  I like to eat a piece of starch with a piece of meat, must be my Filipino side.   Food, food, food, food, food... I think about food a lot. Mine is a happy belly.

A special thank you to my food loving friend Krystle who prepared my pasta salad for me the night before because I was too busy.  We share a love for food and when we're by ourselves it's generally the topic of conversation.  She is an amazing cook from paella to pumpkin cheesecake, garlic bread to tres leches cake.  My stomach and I are happy to have her in our lives :)

Another side note: I saved myself a few little quiches after the potluck since they are my faves but unfortunately they are also a favorite of Brian's.  So yesterday when I went to eat them I noticed they were gone... in Brian's stomach.  I felt like that little kid whose mom said she ate all his candy.  I wanted to cry and hit a wall.  Thankfully he bought me more :) Don't mess with me and my food.

Cozy Cozy

Phew! I had to do a bit of catch up there but here I am on Day 8 and it is freezing in my house.  So today I am thankful for Scott's warm robe and the fact that I am going to jump into bed with a fleece blanket.  I am also going to put on some fuzzy socks, long pj pants, an undershirt and a long sleeve shirt.  I just love love love to be warm! One of these days I'm going to starting wearing this little number again.... No guarantees that Scott will wear his.

South Bay Church

On Day 7, I forgot to post! But I am so thankful for South Bay Church.  God has done amazing things through this church, especially the lives of the McMinn family.  Where there used to be broken relationships He has created a family.  Instead of a dull and meaningless life, I am filled with joy and peace.  I used to be lonely and depressed and now I am full of love for others and compassion for the needy.

On Sunday, SBC had a huge baptism celebration.  Three of the women in the life group that I lead took the bold step and got baptized.  I couldn't have been more excited for them and encouraged in the work that God has been doing in my life and in theirs.

I could go on and on about how amazing the pastoral staff is, how I've seen some incredible changes in the lives of its members, how much I love to see those 2 year olds on Sundays or how hardworking all the volunteers and staff are every Sunday.  I feel at home when I am at church and I love the people that God has placed in my life.  Thank you South Bay Church for being the instrument of God's love in my life.  I am so unbelievably blessed by your ministry!

My little buddies

On Day 6 (even though I'm posting on Day 8) I am thankful for my nephews Ezekiel and Zachary.  I love these two little ones so very much and now that I am all done with school I can spend some quality time with them.  They are typical 6 and 2 year olds but they have such different personalities.

Zeke is crazy and hyper but cuddly and thoughtful too.  He comes up with some of the cutest jokes like "What did the baby corn say to his dad? I love you popcorn" but he has some random things that make sense to only him.  Two of the funny things he says these days are ".... than a hot potato" and "Of course!".  Like "This is more awesome than a hot potato!!" and "Zeke do you love your brother?" "Of course!!".

Zach is in his terrible twos and he's still a month away from turning two.  He's always got some sort of writing tool in his hand, a crayon, a pen, a sharp pencil.  He's a daredevil which can be dangerous and he loves to just run all over the place, including restaurants.  He's not as big of a picky eater as Zeke and he gives kisses with his lips open.

They're not mine, but I love them so dearly and am so thankful for these two rugrats!

Friends are Friends Forever....

On Day 5 I am thankful for friends, both old and new and everyone in between.  Today was a fun filled day starting with a breakfast with high school besties and ending with an Oktoberfest party with some of my newer friends.  I am a social butterfly and I have been greatly blessed with so many wonderful people in my life.  I've been asked in the past if I would rather have just a few very close friends or many friends that aren't as close.  Well my answer is that I'm lucky enough to have many close friends.  Meeting up with my high school friends is such a fun experience.  We chat about the old days, catch up about new news and I can be insane and hyper around them because they know that part of me.  Since attending South Bay Church, I've made some life long friends who I've grown so close to even in the last few years.  It's so fun and fulfilling living life side by side with these God loving people who have the same values with me.  Between high school and college I've made some of my closest friends who I see every single weekend and I can't wait to see them again.  I am so incredibly blessed to have these relationships!!

Happy birthday Christina!

No I didn't accidentally spell my name wrong (though there was that one time).  Tonight we stopped by my in-laws' house to celebrate my sister-in-law's 22nd birthday.  Christina and I have grown much closer over the past few years and have had some awesome bonding moments.  The food tonight was delicious, like it always is when Michelle cooks and Steve was making everyone feel like home.

I am lucky enough to have not one but two sets of in-laws.  A few weekends ago Scott and I went up to Auburn to visit his mom and step-dad Steve and it was so fun just relaxing at their lake house.  We had super yummy food, Scott got to play some golf and I didn't really lift a finger all weekend.  It was so nice :)

Not a lot of people can say that they get along with their in-laws so today I am so very thankful for my in-laws.  They love and care about me and I am blessed to have them.

Work, work, work, all day long!

Today was a crazy day! It started in the middle of the night when I was having a terrible stomach ache and decided to move into our guest bedroom to sleep.  Our power had shut off the day before so I had to set the clock in that room.  Unfortunately, my stomach pain coupled with my grogginess at 3:00 am caused me to mistakenly set the alarm for 7:00 pm rather than 7:00 am.  So at about 7:55 am, I woke up, well rested and my stomach was feeling better.  Too bad I had to be at work in 5 minutes.  Well I decided to take my time to get ready instead of rush to work and got there at about 8:45.  I already knew that this was going to be bad because I had so much to do at work and I NEEDED to get off of work on time to make it to the Sharks game.

Once I got to work, my boss and I set out a plan for the rest of the day, we had a few hiccups but with the help of two of my (awesome) co-workers we did all the prep work in the morning.  Time was starting to tick away so quickly in the afternoon, but it seemed like I would still leave by 6 to meet Scott for the game.  Well at 5:00 I realized that I hadn't prepared for enough buffer for my procedure.  Again, my co-workers came to the rescue and stayed late to help me out.  I recalculated the remaining about of time I would be at work and it looked like I was not going to make the Sharks game after all.  I called Scott and we were both so disappointed, but luckily he was able to find someone else to take the ticket.  I got back to work and I later realized that I wasn't able to continue with the process till tomorrow and that I could have actually made it to the Sharks game!! I called Scott on my way from home and I said "Man, and I still have to be thankful for something to write on my blog tonight" and in the midst of complaining about my awful day at work I realized how thankful I am to have my job.

I have been there for 5 years and not only have I learned biotech skills, but also about teamwork, perseverance, support, forgiveness, love and friendship.   I am blessed to have a job period but even more so to have this job and these people in my life.  Day 3 I am thankful for List Biological Laboratories!!

All the Ladies!

Wednesdays are usually the long day for me since we have our safety meetings in the morning at work and then at night I have my women's small group.  We all get there around 7:30 and stay till about 9:15 to 9:30.  I usually walk through the door by 10 and am so exhausted, yet I am also so excited, so talkative, I probably just wear out Scott before we even go to bed.  

I am so thankful that God has placed these 10 women in my life.  Tonight was our last video meeting for the 6 week Purpose Driven Life life group and its amazing how close we all have become in such a short period.  This is the first time I've lead a life group that's not a recreational and I have learned so much from each of the ladies and I am grateful for the opportunity that God has given me to serve them and serve alongside with them.  Next week is our celebration pot luck which, based on all the goodies people have brought over the last few weeks, I'm extremely excited for.  

Even though it has been a short time that I've known them, I know that the bonds we've made and continue to make will be eternal.  Thank you God for these amazing relationships!

Happy November

I can't believe that it's already November 1st.  This year has definitely gone by quickly and I have so much to be thankful for this year.  In the past I've seen other friends post their thanksgivings throughout the month of November, so this year, I figure I'd try to do the same.

Today I am very thankful for electricity.  It seems like a rather silly thing to be thankful for, but today while I was at home I completely lost power and I had to leave for work in less than half an hour.  Unfortunately I was by myself and my car was parked inside the garage.  Well I had to test out my little muscles and try to manually open the garage.  I got a little dirty, but I was able to open the garage, move out my car and close the garage without getting hit on the head with the garage door.  It's really something I take for granted daily, but our world is so dependent on it.  So today, I was reminded of how much I need electricity and how thankful I am for it (especially while I write this blog).