The Best of California Tour Continues...

Hi all!
If it seems like I've been a slacker this week, it's not without good reason. I'm MOVING. Well...I MOV-ED, and I'll blog about that saga later (I'm still too steamed to construct cohesive thought on that one). In the meantime, I've been reading about everyone's lovely holiday weekend, and realized I haven't yet put up picture of my own!

The weekend kicked off with Revolution's annual Thanksgiving Eve worship service. Elijah, Keith and I led the music portion of the evening, and as a congregation we were able to draw attention to the marvelous ways God has been moving among us this year. He is faithful to satisfy every need :)

Thanksgiving day was a slight fiasco...no different from most of Chris' flights (he doesn't have the best of luck with the airlines). A mechanical issue grounded his plane in Duluth, causing him to miss his Minneapolis connection to Sacramento (where we were scheduled to arrive at the same time). After being re-routed to SAC through LAX, we finally connected (though Chris was still missing his luggage) and headed to Turlock for Thanksgiving festivities (a mere six hours late). Sadly, we missed Grandma's thanksgiving feast, but she had saved us a plate. The Pickle family was kind enough to wait for us so they could meet Chris (thanks, Brad!)...and Mallory had drawn us a beautiful picture for the celebration. Sweetness.


Friday we spent some time in Yosemite and were thankful for the BEAUTY of God's creation. The waterfalls were less than stunning due to the water shortage, but the rocks didn't disappoint! We got some great views of Half Dome and El Capitan.




After our drive-through tour of the Yosemite, we stopped in Fresno to enjoy the long-haired splendor of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and the melt-your-face-off-AMAZING pyrotechnic production.


Saturday it was back to wedding planning as I searched for a dress (and FOUND ONE!) while Chris played golf with the boys. Don't expect any spoilers on here...you will be disappointed! My girls (Kim, Christa and Karen) were a big help in the process.

In the evening, we were off to our Reception site (courtesy of our friends' backyard) to look around and do some visual planning. Here's a sneak peak...



As for Chris, this was his last trip to California for quite some time. I hope he was able to soak up enough sunshine to last him through the cold, cold winter in Duluth! Meanwhile, I'm grateful for the time I have left here in this beautiful state. Next adventure....coming soon!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Our engagement announcement hit the Stockton area newspaper on Sunday afternoon...check it out! (In the actual printing of the announcement, Chris' name was mistakenly printed as "Chis". Thankfully, it appears correctly on the website!)

Petersen/Stavenger Engagement

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a day early, but the season is here...so I wish you the very happiest of Thanksgivings. Enjoy your family. Eat good food. Remember God's provision. Be thankful.

"Let your lives OVERFLOW with THANKSGIVING for all HE has done." Colossians 2:7

I'm thankful for you.

"I Don't Know How To Put This, but I'm Kind Of A Big Deal."

That's not MY ego speaking, but that of Ron Burgundy of the Channel 4 News Team. You "Anchorman" fans can giggle along with me. Tonight, it's ALL ABOUT ANCHORMAN with my friends Stephen and Stephanie, who have not yet enjoyed this cinematic masterpiece. Phil and Roxeanne are going to join in the fun as well- they can attest to it's comic genius, also. I'm looking forward to watching it with Steph...who laughs at everything...

Having mentioned Phil, I should use this opportunity to let you know that his weekly podcasts (which took a small hiatis to regain inspiration) are back up on his blog! I like to let his podcast run in the background as I work...always an interesting music selection.

Yep. That's my Tuesday. I'm so thankful for friends.

"It's My BIRTHDAY!!"

No, not mine.
This was Kaelyn's mantra on Saturday as she arrived at Kidnastics for her 4th Birthday party. It's no wonder this girl was asleep as soon as she settled in her carseat...it was wild times at this hoopla!

The (Wonderful?) World of Politics

My blogging was admittedly a bit sparce last week due to all of my energy being invested in coordinating the 4th annual Emerging Leader's Institute for Biola. Last Thursday, all my planning paid off...it was a well-executed day, with several surprises on the itinerary, including a visit to Arnold Schwarzenegger's inner office! Not many people can say they have SEEN his "Conan" sword, proudly on display amongst pictures of Maria and an extensive cigar collection.

I won't bore you with the details, but it was an intriguing day of conversation with some of California's key players in educational policy making, including Governor Schwarzenegger's special assistant for Education, the Undersecretary of Education for the Governor, and the assistant Superintendent of the CA State Dept of Education.

Of course, I had to snap some photos of the fall colors to remind myself that it IS indeed autumn...sometimes I forget that down here, as I tromp around in my flip flops...



(I hope you notice that I'm trying to be a little more "artsy" with my picture taking...for your enjoyment, of course!)

COUNTDOWN

160 days until....our wedding!
44 days until....I'm blogging from Duluth, Minnesota.
38 days until....CHRISTMAS (time to get shopping!)
19 days until....my dentist appointment. Blech.
12 days until....I have to be out of my apartment.
7 days until....I'll be shopping for a wedding dress.
6 days until....the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert AND our trip to Yosemite.
5 days until....I get to see CHRIS! And eat lots of Turkey.
1 day until....the Hillsong United concert!

What are YOU counting down towards?

Where is Joseph When You Need Him?

I had a dream last night.
It involved fruit.
Specifically, pears, grapefruit and cantaloupe, and the intense NEED to find them and buy them at the grocery store.
This one's a mystery to me. ESPECIALLY since I dislike cantaloupe. I really don't like cantaloupe.

Anyone care to take a gander at this one?

Your Fortune Say....

YOUR PATH MAY BE DIFFICULT, BUT WILL BE REWARDING.

(Yeah....I know it's backwards. Those of you with magical eyes will be able to translate.)

So...does this little cookie know that I'm about to embark on Wedding Planning?
I'm not really looking forward to the "DIFFICULT" part, so I'm calling on YOU...Bride extraordinnaires, past and present...what advice could you give me at the beginning of this whole process?

HELP!

(Incidentally, my FAVORITE part of my trip to Panda Express today was the little girl at the table next to me, eating lunch with her daddy....she asked him for more "chapsticks" and he laughed so hard that soda came out his nose. Oh, good times.)

How to Increase Your Blog Readership

Tip #235: Announce your engagement!


Where did you all come from?!
DAAAAANG!

Say It Ain't So, Jack.

NEW YORK -- The writers strike has struck down the Fox thriller "24."

"24" is absent from the network's revised, strike-affected schedule for midseason. In its announcement, Fox explained the "Day 7" season for the series would be indefinitely postponed to ensure an uninterrupted run.

Thanks for the heads-up, Bobby. Sadly, I was counting on Jack to entertain me while stuck inside on those c-c-cold Minnesota Monday nights. NOW what am I going to do??

(Don't go there. Tsk Tsk.)

I've Got The Blues

Blue MEN, that is. Check out my superstar drumming friend, Kirk, as he tears it UP at Universal Orlando. In the piece at the end, he is the one with the drumsticks.



RAWK.

Welcome, First Timers!

Hi friends!
Thank you so much for all your wonderful congratulatory wishes! Some of you are stopping by this blog for the first time...so I'd like to say WELCOME! Many of you are coming from links on the Facebook and MySpace communities, and others of you are friends and family of Chris and I. You'll find the engagement story in the post just below this one. Thank you for being invested in our lives. : )

I have nothing notable to blog today...I'm still luminous from this weekend's activities. My flowers are still adding some beautiful scents to my office, and there is a sparkle coming from the keyboard vicinity that is new to me...I'm loving all of it.

I did want to share this little tidbit from Ralph Waldo Emerson with you today in light of our studies at church and the pursuit of becoming a "revolutionary":

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Be blessed, and be a blessing today.

THE DETAILS!

"Here's Your Hug"

On Friday (Nov. 2), I left work a little early to arrive at the Doctor's office in downtown Long Beach before they closed for the night. Upon arrival at Kaiser's front desk, I found that I was a MINUTE too late and they would be unable to help me. I was utterly frustrated, since the day before I had attempted to get to the aforementioned doctor after work, but was thwarted by a stopped train in my path. Realizing I would AGAIN have to take work off to see the Dr. brought me to tears.

Of course, this was on the heels of six weeks without seeing Chris...the longest we've ever been apart by FAR. It was starting to get a little painful. When Stephanie and Stephen called me for dinner on Friday night, I just wasn't in the mood. I was upset. I was lonely. Chris had been privy to several emotional breakdowns on my part over the last couple weeks. Add one more BIG one to the list. I just wanted a HUG from my BOYFRIEND, and that's what I sobbed to him over the phone as I walked up to my apartment. With a tear-stained face, I opened the door to find CHRIS sitting on a stool in front of the door with a huge bouquet of roses to the side of him. "Here's your hug," he said.

After a good LOOOOOOOOONG hug, he sat me down on the couch, got on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes! He put a beautiful diamond solitaire on my finger and told me to get packed...

"Good luck in THAT line."

Steph and Stephen drove us to the airport (LAX) where Chris had booked us flights to ??? (it was still a mystery to me). We arrived at the United terminal only to find about 70 people with their whole LIVES packed on small carts headed to San Salvador on a flight that evening. We stood in line for nearly 2 hours as the SLOW attendants processed their baggage. An antsy Chris counted down as we watched our scheduled flight slip away as we stood in line. Some phone calls to cancel reservations had to be made, and we had to reconcile that we weren't going anywhere tonight.

Plan B was to stay near LAX to catch the earliest flight out in the morning, and that we did.

"Car 54, Where Are You?"


On Saturday morning, we arrived in MONTEREY where a weekend of romance and relaxation was thoughtfully planned out. Chris was disappointed in our designated rental car, which resembled an unmarked police car. This may have explained why traffic slowed down as we approached. He MUCH preferred the golf cart we were assigned when we arrived at our posh resort on the beach! After some lunch (where we announced our engagement and received a free milkshake!) and a short nap, we hit some of my favorite places- Pebble Beach. 17-mile-drive. Chris had made reservations at my favorite restaurant at Spanish Bay Golf Course, and we arrived just in time to hear the bagpiper wail a few melodies as he walked across the green into the sunset. Perfection. After dinner, we were able to rest by the fireplace, watch a movie, enjoy the ocean, just BE together...something we don't take for granted at all.


"Thank You, Daylight Savings!"
He had taken care of EVERYTHING this weekend, including my absence at Revolution on Sunday morning. Additionally, God contributed to our weekend by expanding our time together! Daylight Savings afforded us an extra hour to enjoy. We needed to be back at the airport midday, so we left fairly early on Sunday to drive to San Jose. Fortunately, our flights were leaving from the same terminal, so we could share some breakfast and coffee before parting to board our separate flights. It was much easier leaving this time, knowing I'll be seeing him again in a couple of weeks. Whew!


It was absolutely beyond anything I could have dreamed of for the perfect engagement. I feel cherished, loved, and certainly spoiled! And I'm still wrapping my brain around the fact that I get to feel like this...for the rest of my life. Awesome.

Some MAJOR shout-outs are due on this posting, so if you're not a "read the credits" kind of person, you can probably stop reading here. :) Thank you STEPHEN AND STEPHANIE, who have been co-conspirators during this whole process. You dirty, rotten liars...I LOVE YA! Thanks, KAELYN, for letting Chris practice the "big question" on you, and for saying "no" so that I could have him! Thank you, CHRISTOPHER LYTLE and KEITH DICKSON for taking care of my Sunday morning responsibilities so I could enjoy this weekend. You are SNEAKY! Thanks to REBECCA, ERIC, JENNY, RACHEL, JESSICA, KIM, MOM, DAD, DEREK, BETH, CARRIE, and ALLLLLLL the rest of you who KNEW the plan, yet managed to keep it a secret from me. Well done. Mission accomplished.

And thank you CHRIS STAVENGER. I am a happy, happy girl. :)

Tomorrow. . .

Stop by.

It's Coming...

Two days.

It's Like Liquid Christmas.

That's right...it's the grand return of all things GINGERBREAD today at St. Arbucks. And THIS YEAR, the holiday goodness is offered SUGAR-FREE! But who wouldn't want a little sugar to commence our favorite season?? If you're more of a Peppermint Mocha or Eggnog Latte person, don't worry. Your favorites are also now available.

Run, Run, as fast as you can...

A Little Poetry for a Cloudy Thursday

The day is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of Night
As a Feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight

I see the lights of the village
Gleam through the rain and the mist,
And a feeling of sadness comes o'er me
That my soul cannot resist:

A feeling of sadness and longing,
That is not akin to pain,
And resembles sorrow only
As the mist resembles the rain

Come, read to me some poem
Some simple heartfelt lay
That shall soothe this restless feeling,
And banish the thoughts of day.

Not form the grand old masters,
Not from the bards sublime,
Whose distant footsteps echo
Through the corridors of Time.

For, like strains of martial music
Their mighty thoughts suggest
Life's endless toil and endeavor;
And tonight I long for rest

Read from some humbler poet,
Whose songs gushed from his heart,
As showers from the clouds of summer,
Or tears from the eyelids start;

Who, through long days of labor,
And nights devoid of ease,
Still heard in his soul the music
Of wonderful melodies.

Such songs have power to quiet
The restless pulse of care
And come like the bendediction
That follows after the prayer

Then read from the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice
And lend to the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of thy voice.

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs
And as silently steal away.

---Henry Wadsworth Longfellow