date morning

it's been a while since i've posted! since we've been back from africa, we've been so busy! i haven't even been able to update our happenings! my bad....

 

so, we decided we live in one of the coolest cities in the world + need to explore the LA area more. we are going to do a monthly post on our explorations. for our first one....

 

we headed to venice beach!

 

i wanted it to be fun + spontaneous but wanted to create a little itineary (if you know trav, you know he loves this kind of stuff):

 

headed to 26 beach restaurant, so good! granola + berries for me.

 

trav got lemon french toast (that cream on top is to die for! i started eating the cream with my bananas - LOL fat girl moment)!

 

we ventured to the canals which were built in the early 1900s. the architect wanted to bring a feel of italy to america + built these canals. they are so romantic! with gorgeous homes surrounding them.

 

ow owwwww! my husband is so hot!

 

 

my hair turned frizz afro! lol

 

how romantic ya?!?!

 

 

 

then we cruised the main street, abbott kinney. cute little shops + restaurants for days! need to go back + really explore.

 

we stumbled upon a cute farmers market + collected some of my favorites:

 

sunflowers.

 

 

lemonade (and a cool photo).

 

 

+ berries!

 

 

ya'll need to get to venice. it's happening there!

 

hope you enjoyed. go plan a fun date + tell me what you did.

 

xoxo

africa in a nutshell

how do i describe the last 2 weeks?

 

words that come to mind first are : difficult, rewarding + joyful.

 

difficult:

 

our team was full of champs! when we landed in amsterdam, we found out that the nairobi airport was on fire. so our flights were cancelled until further notice. due to this, we were unable to go to the ethiopian part of our trip. it was devastating + difficult to understand why this was happening? thank God for modern technology though because we were able to wire our ethiopian friends money to still do the kids camp, pastors workshop + all other events we had planned for them.

 

it was also difficult being in the same clothes for days at a time + in airports. but some how, we made it work (even though i'm sure we smelled!)!

 

rewarding:

 

our team was incredible to serve alongside. we bonded immediately + worked great together! it was so rewarding to the change that has taken place over the last 4-5 years of our team serving there! because of their efforts, 50 orphan boys are funded for school each year. the church + the church plants have grown! God is up to something huge in Kenya + it's rewarding to see a glimpse!

 

joyful:

 

while we were there, me + trav walked through some personal devastating news. we aren't ready to share, but we were in a lot of pain. reflecting on it, we were so thankful to be in a place where we were surrounded by so much joy!

 

i'm so thankful for the time we had there. kenya, fountain of life, our 50 boys, thank you. you are just what i needed. and thank you to everyone who supported us with finances + prayer. we felt covered the entire time we were there. so truly, thanks times a million.

 

here are some of my fav snaps of the week!

 

everytime we got on the bus, all the street kids would stand at the bottom + waive us off.

 

kids camp with the slum kids!

 

they get so creative with entertainment!

 

my favorite day! 50 orphan boys getting new clothes. the dressing room became a cat walk! lol

 

my sexy husband leading the older boys in a bible study.

 

5 years ago, we made these shirts as business partners. today, we wear them alongside two of our favorite african brothers!

 

hope you enjoyed.

 

xoxo

diamondbacks....

source

dear diamondbacks:

i first want to say, ya'll are talented - straight up. thank you for using what the Lord has gifted you with. it's fun to watch ya'll play ball most of the time.

but lately, i hate to admit, it's been difficult. ya'll are leading NL west by 1.5 games - this is great, yet embarrassing. ya'll should be up more games than that!  14 innings to lose against the dodgers?! i know they have puig now and are on fire, but let's get it together. and ya'll were home! in YOUR element. with YOUR fans cheering YOU on. wearing 19 on YOUR jersey's! + we still got swept!?

here's the deal. growing up, i loved the dodgers. when i met my husband - i had to give up the dodgers to follow his #1 team, dbacks. i enjoyed going to games, getting on the kiss cam, practicing my snake bite, wearing my black + red. i put you as my #2 team on my top 5 sports teams (1. 49ers, 2. dbacks, 3. unlv running rebels basketball, 4. lakers, 5. APU cougs). that says a lot. so i believe in ya'll! i really do! i know you can continue on top. let's go for the wins! we got this fellas.

also, i would love to see my sweet dbacks lovin husband in good spirits again. so let's make it count tonight. make travy + gibson proud! and the rest of AZ!

good luck fellas. #snakebite

xoxo
joeley

less than a month!

we're 28 days out my friends. 28 days until i hop on a plane to meet the kids who stole my travy's heart. 32 days until travy meets me there (he is coming out a little later due to work)! none the less, both of our hearts could burst we are so excited.

i remember when trav first got back from africa almost 3.5 years ago. he could not wait to tell me about each boy he met. he has a special connection with jonathan, one of the boys in the boys home in kenya. he ruined my husband (in the best possible way). 

they bonded the entire week trav was there. jonathan played with him all week but never talked. on the last day, as everyone said their goodbyes, jonathan started to talk to trav. through a translator, jonathan told him that the reason he didn't talk was because he didn't have a dad. 

  

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10:18

we are going for the fatherless, the widows, the least of these. 

please partner with us, in prayer + financial support as we pursue what God has put on our hearts! we are going to show the fatherless the Father's love. to pour into the next generation, serve the locals, create deep relationships, ultimately, show the love of Christ.

we  feel supported by prayers! please keep those coming :)

if you feel led, you can financially donate here:  http://www.charisrescue.com/#!donate/c21dx

we are still in need of about $5500! 

thank you so much for your words, encouraging cards, prayers + finances. it's funding the kingdom. we are stoked on what God is going to do.

we will keep you updated.

thank you. truly. we couldn't do this without you.

been2up.

harper's have :

 

been hangin @ ball games with this stud:

 

 

been getting these when we need a break from the heat:

 

 

been getting ready for this:

what are ya'll up to?!

hope you're enjoyin sweet summer time!

xoxo

a house divided: game on!

so tonight is game 7: spurs v. heat.

 

since my lakers + travy's suns aren't in the finals, here are our predictions:

 

travy: lebron + miami heat. 3 years ago i hated you. 2 years ago i loved it when you lost in the finals to dirk + the mavs. least year, i actually felt happy for you getting your rings. this year i'm rooting for you. why? the spurs are my 2nd most hated team next to the lakers. secondly, i actually enjoy watching you play. lebron, you are truly the most talented athlete the league had ever seen. and lastly, lebron is the single most criticized  athlete on the planet, and there is something intriguing about silencing your critics. i want you to see it, taste it and grab it tonight. show us what you can do, once again + be champions!

 

 

joeley: i saw tony parker where we went clubbin for my bachlorette party in vegas a couple years ago, so i'm going SPURS! lol that's not the only reason... i really don't love the heat. don't get me wrong, d wade's swag is on point. but i gotta go spurs. heat won last year, let's give someone else the chance to be champs! duncan looks like he's getting old so let's help him get his ring! also, ginobbli is argentine + i love my argentine athletes! GO SPURS!

 

 

we will see who wins tonight... stayed tuned to see what the loser has to do!

 

good luck! xoxo

a f r i c a

i remember being in college + the joke in our apartment was "you aren't a real Christian until you go to Africa." at the time, 5 out of 7 roomies had been to africa. me + whit were missing out!

 

whit + her husband went last year + they L O V E D it! so i was the only "non - christian" left out of the college roomies.

 

this summer, my friends, i'm becoming a Christian (joking) + heading to Africa with my sweet travy!

 

i could not be MORE stoked!

 

we will be going with a foundation called : the charis foundation.

 

travy went with them almost 4 years ago when we first started "talking/flirting/dating/flying to see each other". lol it's a place where his heart is + i cannot wait to share in this adventure with him!

 

 

{i mean please, what a BABE!}

 

the Lord is opening doors + we are walking through them! just wanted to ask you to partner with us in prayer! we will be in Kenya + Ethiopia from August 5th-17th. cover our team in areas of travel, ministry, strength, building relationships with churches, kids camps, church plants, etc!

 

i cannot wait to be used as a vessel during this trip. we are honored + humbled to serve such a good God!

 

thanks for your encouragement, love + support!

 

xoxo

42.

ya'll. let me just take this post to let you know about something... the movie 42.

i promise i won't give anything away (ya'll know what happens anyway). but seriously, the adversity + hatred jackie endured blew me away. the movie did a great job @ showing how cruel people were to him. at the same time, i think he went through more than any of us can imagine. it was a powerful movie. one that obviously goes down in history books. one that ya'll cannot go another weekend without seeing!

take aways:

- never stop influencing cultures. had jackie listened to criticism, he would not have revolutionized the course of history for thousands (soak that in for a minute).

- encourage + support your spouse in all they do. jackie's wife was an anchor to him. she encouraged him through difficulties, stood by his side through criticism, and did it all with grace. i would have been up in flames if anyone ridculed my sweet travy. she knew who she was + who jackie was, as an athlete + person. she didn't let anything get to her.

- bring tissues. i'm emotional - i know. but literally sobbed the entire time. it probably didn't help that the lady sitting next to me hysterically, i mean uncontrollably bawled her eyes out.

even if you aren't a huge baseball fan, this movie will move you. it's part of history. please do yourself a favor + go see it. #noregrets

 

we ran into the jackie robinson memorial field this weekend. took a pix of my babe:

 

sorry but he's so sexy!

 

then the field:

 

there was a men's league game going on. i'm still trying to talk travy into going out for the MLB. would ya'll come out + support?! lol

 

go see the movie. let me know if you your thoughts.

 

happy monday! xo 

flea market find

one of the best parts about living in pasadena is all the flea markets! {me + trav are suckers for a good flea market}

 

we love the pasadena city college one on the first Sunday of every month. it's free + a lot of the vendors are the same ones as the ones @ the rose bowl.

 

the rose bowl {second sunday of every month} is HUGE + overwhelming, but has the best of the best! i highly recommend going. it's a great place to see celebs too.

 

here was my favorite find from the PCC flea market earlier this month:

 

 

it's an egg basket. the man who sold it to me told me, when you're out on your farm {which we don't have obviouslyyyy}, you put your eggs in a basket {literally} like this! i tried to put fruit in it but it collasped! so i settled for hand towels!

 

 

here's a selfie trav took of me leaving the market. i LOVE spring + the beautiful flowers it brings!

 

now listen, i can't go buck wild @ the flea markets cause we have a cozy {stuffed} one bedroom apartment. SO... if you just moved or are decorating a babies room - come shop with me! if you can't, i would love to shop for you. if you are even in the market for something specific, let me know so i can keep my eyes peeled!

 

hope you have a great weekend!

 

xoxo

phx: spring training

most of you might know, but in case you don't - it's spring training season baby! this means, that MLB teams from all around the country meet in arizona or florida for the month of march + train for the upcoming season!

 

since my husband was in college, him + all his best buds would go out for a weekend; enjoy some games, the sunshine + each other!

 

now that some are married/dating, the wives/girlfriends have been invited! it's my 4th spring training + can honestly say, one of my favorite weekends of the year!

 

here are my highlights:

 

 

{@ the angels/marineers game.}

 

traveling with good people is the best. these are all good people.

 

 

{dinner out @ salty sow in scottsdale: go!}

 

this man is not only my best friend + husband, but he is the funniest person i know. i love how he has made this a tradition that i get to be a part of!

 

 

1st annual man-lympics. they were 7 events, 10 dudes, 7 cheerleaders + a whole lot of fun!

 

 

some of the crew after whiffle ball! trav's team {team awesome} was down 0-3. however, they made a comeback + tied it during whiffle ball! the final event, they dominated in! nice work team awesome. special shout out to: danny {MVP}!

 

 

 we made a mean mexican meal! everyone was hands on in the kitchen. margaritas, guac, yummy rice, carne asade.

 

 

the losers of man-lympics. they had to wear sports bras to the game sunday for the first three innings. they made their pictures taken, rainbow snowcones ordered + i'm sure great tan lines!

 

the weekend was incredible. thanks to all who made it out + possible. can't wait for #STAZ2014 + the traditions that will live on!

 

happy spring! xoxo

happy 2 year anniversary!

i cannot believe 2 years of marriage have happened! it felt like yesterday when we were @ APU together, just being buds! then i emailed you, we fell in love + here we are!

 

in 2 years,

 

we have:

 

experienced more of Jesus

moved from AZ to CA

moved from a 2 bedroom to a tiny {but adorable} 1 bedroom apartment

celebrated weddings 

joined in celebrating our friends having babies

birthdays with each other + tons of special life moments

golfed

experienced some traumatic moments that have shaped us as individuals + as a couple

gone to a lot of sporting events

flea marketed

welcomed a neice + nephew into the garcia/thompson family {who we LOVE dearly}

started new jobs

camped out on the street for a parade

5K'd it

mentored + loved on youth

killed turkeys + birds {cooked them too}
traveled around the country

stayed up way too late

 played games

done puzzles

gone through TV series

joined an incredible, life giving church community

paddle boarded

seen each other on our best + worst days

met our "hometeam"

 

daily we:

cry

mostly laugh

pray

dream

heart to heart talk

text

giggle

bless

wash dishes

hug

kiss

snuggle

date

eat

encourage

sing

dance

cook

support

 

i could not have asked for a better person to do life with. travy, you make my heart explode! i love being your wife, best friend, girlfriend + mostly, chicken {lol}. life would be SO dull without you in it i could not imagine writing chapters to our book with anyone but you. i am so thankful for the husband you are, the man that righteously pursues the Lord + me daily. thank you for being an example of a hard-working, selfless, extravagantly sexy + loving husband.

 

 

happy anniversary! i LOVE you. xoxo

 

ps- thanks to family + friends who were there when we were in diapers, braces, wedding dress + suit, and continue to love + support us. we could not do this without your support + prayers.

valentines: greek god style

so every valentine's, we have made it our tradition to do themed dinners.

 

this years theme: GREEK!

 

before the theme really got started, i woke up to a yummy breakfast by trav. my favorite egg sandwich, with compliments of blood orange juice, turkey bacon + berries (all things red!)!

 

 

then, @ work: these beauties were delievered! such a little romantic. i wasn't expecting them at all either. love my tulips babe!

 

 

after work, our place was decked out. my sweet husband came home to greece!

 

 

a little menu action for ya'll:

 

 

some table scape going on. (did blues + whites for to match the greece flag). candles were a must. i didn't have any statues laying around or else they would have been around this area.

 

 

meal: i didn't take a pix of our food but it sure was yummy. if you read the menu pictured above, you can see we started off with pita chips + hummus. had a fresh greek salad (extra feta :) ). lamb with tatiziki + greens in a pita. rife pilaf to compliment that. red wine all night. baklava unfortunately never made an appearance (we're probably better off without it anyway!). such a great dinner!

 

 

dree code: oh and then this happened! my handsome hubby in a toga! what a HOT greek god!

 

 

me in my greek get up!

 

 

movie: and don't forget the best part.... my big fat greek wedding! this movie cracks me up!

 

 

 

it was a fun, loved filled day. i hope ya'll felt as loved + special as any person should.

 

 

happy {belated} valentine's day. xoxo

quinoa quail bowls

my sexy huntin' husband did a nice lil diddy for us.

 

in his last week of bird hunting, he killed a ton of quail {good work babe! bringing home the bacon... or bird!}

 

it's been in our freezer for two weeks and we decided to make some goodness happen!

 

so we made quinoa quail bowls!

 

he had already gutted the quail (or else he wouldn't have been allowed to put them in our freezer!). so he cut off the bones + into mouth size bites.

 

 

after that (i forgot to marinate them for the day), we put them in a skillet with some italian dressing. cooked those bad boys up!

 

 

mixed in the quinoa, brocoli + quail!

 

 

 

it was an easy, yummy dish for all you hunter's wives!

 

for all you non-huntin' people, get to hunting! JK. no but for real, come over for dinner sometime soon. i find that nothing is sexier than eating something my hubby killed!

 

hope ya'll have a great tuesday!

 

xoxo

 

ny resolution 1: spontaneous trips

i was sitting at work, dreaming of traveling {which i do often - i'm not the only one right?!}. then i decide, i'm going to book tickets to see our friends in redding!

{source}

within 30 minutes, tickets booked, confirmations made, spontaneous trips to be had!

hope ya'll are still crossing things off your new years resolutions lists! always a work in progress, but let's be real - it's only january 10th! we can't be slacking yet :)

hope 2013 has been good so far!

can't wait to share some new exciting news for ya'll! big things happening!

xo

rose bowl party

we did it! we braved the cold, the crazy crowds and had an incredible experience at the rose bowl parade!

10am (NYE): the streets open for people to start setting up their "spots" at  new years eve! 

3pm (NYE): i called trav while i was at the mall (he was on his way back from hunting) and we decided to do the camp out! so as you can imagine, the streets were full!

3:30-4pm: we didn't let that crush our dreams! we found our spot (3 blocks up from our place) and set up by 4! we met the kindest family next to us and had quite the adventure.



around 7/8pm: my sexy husband reppin' '13! 

 

around 7/8pm: me lookin homeless! 

midnight: kissed + celebrated on the streets with thousands of others! tortillas flying, marshmallows mid air, and horns blaring!

2am: shaun + salina arrived. i was half asleep on our blow up mattress and asked salina if she rather sleep in our cozy bed. us girls headed three blocks down the street and snuggled while the guys braved it on the streets! (love you baby! thanks for the sacrifice!)

7am: my man cooking breakfast burritos. him + shane made other husbands/fiances look like chumps!

7:45am: me + salina trying to keep our front row seats while eating our breakfast burritos!

8:30ish: after fighting some people away, we were still front row!

one of my favorite moments! salina is from wisconsin (and is a huge fan). the float was stopped in front of us for a couple minutes. salina ran into the middle of the street and got a good shot with the wisconsin float! what a die hard fan ;)

10:30am: the last float! rose parade float! 

ps - who was that chick singing on it?!

the four warriors!
trav, me, salina + shaun! salina + shaun are engaged and are tying the knot in June! we could not be more excited for the two of them! it was such a fun experience. thanks to them, we have memories to last us a lifetime! love you (soon to be) lane's! 

my parents spontaneously came out for the parade too! what sweeties they are. they drove from vegas to san diego new years eye night to get auntie + uncle. woke up at 5am new years day to make it in time to the parade! what gems. love them. 

 hope ya'll enjoyed. and i hope to see each one of you on the streets with blow up mattresses next to us ringing in 2014!

xoxo