Lawsie Mercy, but it's a Thankful Thursday

Well, bless my heart, I have just plum forgot about the phenom I started with Thankful Thursdays. Settling into a new place, crazy schedules, starting and quitting a job - these all make me forget what day of the week it is!!!

So, to catch you up: the Coastie is settling in more and more into a routine at his station. Now that they see he is, indeed, intelligent and important to the team, they are letting him do more and more work. He has to earn qualifications at each step of the process, so it is slow moving. But I'm pretty sure that he'll be turning wrenches and saving lives faster than they expect! The hard part is that he already knows all of these things, but he knows them from other perspectives (i.e. bigger boats, other types of missions), so he has to prove that he can do these things all over again at this type of assignment. It's all part of the military life.

As for me, I took what we thought would be a part-time retail job at a local hardware store. Little did I know how awful and hard retail work would be on my body, my schedule, and our newlywed life! Only seeing my Coastie for one day every other week is NOT okay. So, we are taking a leap of faith and I will be fulfilling my two weeks' notice. I'm also just waiting on official paperwork stating I have registered with the state of California as a social worker. I am still on the hunt for a social work job, so keep your fingers crossed! In the meantime, I will happily be a stay-at-home wife (shocker for all those who know how independent I am).

So, this week, I am thankful for:

My momma's upcoming visit.

Mr. McGee FINALLY coming to live with me again.

Cold medicine.

Homemade goodies from scratch.

New recipes from Pinterest.

A clean house.

Enough money to pay bills.

Phone dates with friends.

The Lord's provision.

Southern manners.

The lemon tree in our backyard.

Sunny days.

Humpback whales.

Photo courtesy of ContrastPhoto (Genelda Meyers)

Be thankful today!!!!

Thankful Thursday and an Update

Well, Team Preston has been settling in to the small town life. It has its own unique challenges (I dare you to try to find a one-hour photo within 30 minutes that also has a working machine), but we are handling each obstacle with as much calm and grace as possible. We are finishing the unpacking process and finally hanging curtains and pictures on the wall. Our cozy home is starting to feel more like that - home!

So, this Thursday, I am thankful for:

My pressure canner and a husband who helped me can some food.

A bike that was stolen (whoever stole it is in for a laugh... the handlebars were broken!).

New Coastie wives who have been so helpful and reached out to me as the new girl.

My Coastie. Enough said.

Homemade tortillas. Yum!

The organic grocery 4 blocks from my house.

Naps.

Our cute yard.

Challenges. Yes, I am thankful for these challenges. They help me grow and who doesn't want to be a better person than they are today??

UPDATE: Here's a quick update on some of our adventures.

This is our cute, cozy, modest new-to-us house.

For Independence Day, we ventured down to the outdoor celebration hosted by Morro Bay. It was SO SO SO tiny and cute. It had about 4 food vendors, one tiny stage, four ponies for the kids, and "games" including the three-legged race and sack races. People brought tents, blankets, and grills to make it a whole day of festivities!

Later that evening, we met up with some other Coasties at the station for a "dependents' cruise." All this means is that the families were allowed on one of the boats. We pulled the boat out into the harbor to watch the firework show. It was chilly on the water, but so much fun!!

The 47' MLB: this is what can flip over in 30 foot waves and still be able to rescue people.

The station! Tee-tiny!

Classic photo of Team Preston.

They made us wear these super-awesome life vests. Gotta be safe when you're with the CG!

Ready to watch some fireworks!

Finally, the Coastie is settling into his new job and role at the station. The best part so far? This awesome outfit he let me play dress up in:

I am now fully prepared to do some cold ocean water rescues!

Be thankful this week and every day!

Acting out "Semper Paratus"

We have encountered some pretty sizable roadblocks and obstacles in this new life. If you've gotten one of my panicked text messages or phone calls, you know what I'm talking about in this post. However, the Coastie and I have been a perfect balance of panic and optimism. When I am panicked or distressed, he is positive. When he is down and out, I am the encourager (believe it or not since I am so easily negative!).

No matter what, we have each other. We are learning to live a simple, simple life while we have no belongings, no television to distract us, no internet to claim our minds... We have only each other, the outdoors, and our laughter to entertain us.

We heard a great quote that keep echoing in my head during these not-so-easy times. We heard it from a poet at a poetry slam/jam.

"Sometimes the shit comes at you so fast that you have to shovel it over your shoulder and just keep going."

So, we just keep going. We are Semper Paratus - "Always Ready." We are ready for whatever sh*t comes our way next. We'll face it head on and high five after we conquer it.

Team Preston!!!

Our first week as California hippies

We have been in California almost a whole week. What we have been able and blessed to accomplish is incredible! We have found a home to rent, done a short hike, explored our new town, made new Coastie friends, visited a church, and found a free outdoor concert. Whew! I am tired just remembering it all!!!

First, house hunting is way harder than I anticipated. As a homeowner, shopping for a new home is all fine and dandy when you are already living somewhere. I was totally unprepared for house hunting while living in a motel. The rush, the pressure, the time constraints... it is so overwhelming. We didn't get exactly what we want and/or are used to, but we found a modest duplex only a few blocks from Josh's work. He can walk or jog or ride a bike to work, which means that remaining a one-car family will continue to work well for us.

After we got the phone call that we were the chosen renters for the unit, we celebrated by going into S.L.O. to the free outdoor concert in the main downtown area. It was like a cute, smaller, but free-spirited Sundown in the City (if you are familiar with a former Knoxville summer highlight). They had a local brewery supply some awesome microbrews and local wine. The best part was seeing so many of the 40-70 years old out dancing in front of the stage; the band played a lot of James Brown covers. It was a family-friendly, relaxed, casual event. We instantly fell in love with the town and the vibe!!

We've also managed to do one short hike thus far. The weather is cool, foggy, and misty here most of the day. They call it the "June gloom." I'm hoping July will bring more sunshine! Anyways, we did go on an early morning hike to Black Hill which is one of the "Nine Sisters" that are natural volcanic plugs left over from active volcanoes millions of years ago. Morro Rock is another of the "Nine Sisters." The hike took us through Morro State Park, past a huge water resevoir for the park, and showed us a great view of the estuary (wetlands) and the little towns in the valley below.

Heron

Sometimes the fog was so thick, that water droplets would be caught on the needles of the evergreens.

Our view was frequently obscured by the fog/mist, but we still enjoyed a quick rest at the summit. It is so chilly in the fog/mist that we were layered up. Layers would come off or go back on depending on altitude and amount of fog. Overall, we enjoyed the hike but can't wait for more!!! The area is so beautiful and diverse that we should be able to keep busy with finding a new hike or place to climb as often as we can. Plus, the hikes aren't too hard, so I'm sure family and friends that visit will also be able to enjoy. If I can handle the hike, ANYONE can. I am a weenie.

We also visited our first church in the area. We were invited by another Coastie couple, and we are so glad to have such welcoming, nice people who are giving up tips and tricks to adjusting to the area. We are so blessed!!!

We just have a few more hurdles to overcome as we move into the home and then I can begin some serious job hunting! It will be a process here, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes so that I can continue to do what I do - go to work and help someone else.

Our cutesy new town!

We are here now in our new station at Morro Bay. Either you've heard of it (probably because of Morro Rock or Hearst Castle), or you have no clue what I'm talking about. Either way, we are here and happy to be so!

California!

This is Morro Rock. It's a bird estuary and historical landmark. It is literally just a huge rock that blocks the entrance to the bay, allowing Morro Bay to be a great place for sail boats to anchor. At first, you might be like, wow, what an ugly rock, but then you realize that it is gorgeous as birds and seals lounge about on its protected rocky mass.

We arrived just before sunset so we got to see our first west coast sunset!

This is a view of Embarcadero Street - the main tourist strip of restaurants, shops, and adventures such as whale watching, kayaking, or sailing. It is tiny and adorable!! The entire town of Morro Bay is built on gently sloping hills that allow almost every home or store a great view of the bay and the Rock.

For all those who have lost their lives at sea:

Crazy huge pelican:

And here's the Coast Guard museum. Yep, this is basically it - 39 feet of what they used to use to sail the ginormous Pacific ocean waves. (Needless to say, I am happy they have bigger, stronger boats now!)

More pictures will follow as we find a home, a church, a job for Hilary, and the more we explore our new area. Welcome home to Team Preston!

A week of sizzlin' sights

I had wanted to blog every day of our travels across the country. I told myself that I would blog every night from whatever hotel room we happened to be booked. However, due to unforeseen circumstances and poor excuses for Wi-Fi, that did not happen. So, I'll try to include an entire week of adventure, mishap, disappointments, visits with friends, laughter, inside jokes, 105 temperatures, and some amazing food in one blog entry. So, fasten your imaginary seat belts and come along with Team Preston as we journey from Tennessee to California!

Tuesday: We are still in Tennessee with our family. Today we spent the day in our beautiful Smoky Mountains. This is the place where I grew up, and where we were married, so this is a very important spot of the world for us. We enjoyed the day by the river: swimming, exploring, and just resting.

Our riverfront property in the Smoky Mountains

Chaco time!

After a glorious day of soaking up the beauty and the sun, my family met us for family photos. We snagged a great deal with our wedding photographer and decided to have family photos made of our little family. It was blazing hot, but we had such a good time!

Wednesday: This was our last day in Knoxville. We went our separate ways to see friends last minute and do some more family time. That night, we enjoyed another quiet evening with Josh's parents at the oasis they call a cabin/house. We ended the night with seeing Josh's friend Jason, his wife, and their precious and entertaining little girl, Anna Kate. Then it was time to pack up and get ready to hit the road!

Thursday:  We got underway to St. Louis. We were on our way to see my friend/former boss/mentor, Debi and her husband. Along the way, we went through 3 states. You'll notice a theme in these photos. First stop: Kentucky!

We stopped in Berea, Kentucky to see my alma mater - Berea College. It was SO fun to give Josh a tour of my old stomping grounds. It was nice to share that part of my life with him.

In front of Boone Tavern Hotel (we forgot to take photos elsewhere on campus).

Next up: Indiana

Then Illinois...

And last stop for the day - Missouri!

We stayed with my friend Debi and Paul. They live "out in the country." And for St. Louis, it sure is country! I had no idea this little gem of a house and neighborhood could exist in such a metro area! Their house was essentially a log cabin on beautiful property over looking a lake. It was so quiet and nice. The sunrise was spectacular!

We felt so blessed to spend time with them. They were generous and allowed us to leave to explore downtown St. Louis. So, of course, we had to go to the Arch.

View from the top. This is the point where I started to freak out. No one told me that thing sways in the wind! I thought for sure it was falling over. Yikes!

St. Louis Cardinals Stadium

They had colored the water in this fountain in support of the upcoming Race for the Cure.

If you are in St. Louis, you HAVE to have a Budweiser beer. So, we indulged!

So long, St. Louis! You've been good to us!

Friday: We hit the road again for the entire day. Our destination was a half-way point to Denver, CO so we ended up in Hays, Kansas.

The drive across Kansas is as boring and flat as you could imagine. But we entertained ourselves with looking at wind turbines and playing "Cow Poke." If you don't know that game, you should ask me about it before you take a road trip with a kid.

This stop in Kansas was not one we enjoyed. My phone was stolen at a local Applebee's. Luckily, we were able to replace it the next day, but the feeling of violation just put a sour taste in our mouth. By the next day, we were able to joke about things. As my funny husband joked, "Kansas is full of outlaws."

Saturday: We make it to Denver for a two-night stay. The drive across the rest of Kansas and eastern Denver were basically the same - flat, farmland, boring. I kept promising Josh that mountains DID exist. It took until we were basically in Denver city limits before we were able to see them.

Colorado!

Aw, wonderful Denver! 

Josh wanted to see as many stadiums as possible. So, we actually stayed at Hotel VQ which shares a parking lot with Mile High Stadium. I kept my eye out for Peyton Manning, but he avoided me. 

To explore the city, we went down to the 16th Street Mall. It is very tourist-y, but it's also a great place to stretch your legs after a long day in the car. The median of the street had all these great pianos and some people could really jam!

I just pretended. Although, my fingers are placed in the proper place for a C major chord (the only one I remember from piano lessons).

The only downside to our time in Denver was the 105 degrees. But we powered through and played tourist!

Josh wouldn't let me take many photos, so I snagged this after we had dessert and drinks at a great outdoor patio.

We visited the Denver Aquarium to avoid the heat on Sunday. Apparently, a lot of other tourists and even some locals had the same idea!

 Sunday evening, we found an A-mazing local restaurant - The Mercury Cafe. It featured organic, vegan, and gluten-free items. Plus, 85% of its supplies were purchased from local farmers! 

After dinner, we wandered into the poetry slam they were hosting in the banquet room. It rocked our world! People were so talented and open. My favorite line from the night was from a guy named Lenny: "Sometimes shit is coming at you so fast, that you have to shovel it over your shoulder and keep going." So true, Lenny. So true.

Monday: We are leaving Denver for Utah, but first, we had breakfast with our friend Sunny. We have known her since high school. She has been in Colorado for years, so it was nice getting her local suggestions on food. It was great seeing her and hearing about her new adventures in life!

We continue on to Moab, Utah. As many have said, "Whoever heard of Moab?" Well, it's a small town that caters to tourists visiting Arches National Park. Again, it was 105 degrees, but we braved the elements to see some incredible sights.

Utah!

We explored along the Colorado River, first.

Josh explored off the beaten path.

While all I wanted to do was put my feet in the water and cool off!!

Next up: Arches National Park!!

Balancing Rock.

Tuesday: We leave Moab for Las Vegas, NV. We drive for hours through desert mountains, spectacular views, and 105 degree temps. We were intrigued by this landscape because it was unlike anything we had ever seen or imagined. However, we were very, very glad to reach the oasis that is Las Vegas.

Arizona!

Nevada!

Las Vegas is in our sights!

It was so nice to be showered and all dressed up for a few hours on the town. We ate a good Mexican dinner, gambled a few pennies (which we promptly lost), and just wandered up and down the strip. There was no way to see or do all we wanted to in our few short waking hours in Vegas, but it was good to experience it. Would it be our ideal vacation? No. But we are glad we went to see what all the fuss was about.

Next stop: CALIFORNIA!!!!