The gift that keeps on giving...CHRISTMAS

The days after Christmas always leave my heart feeling sad. The parties are over, the presents are gone, the decor comes down, and the radio stations stop playing Christmas music. The season we've all been wating from comes and then goes in the blink of an eye. But today as I unpack our bags from an awesome weekend...I also have a happy feeling in my heart because of the new memories made, fun celebrations, and good things to come in 2011.

This Christmas was a special one as Pete and I were celebrating my completion of nursing school (on Dec. 19th-picture one) and looking forward to the coming year. . .SCHOOL FREE. We also had a warm and cozy Christmas seeing lots of family up in Seattle/Lynden. We watched our favorite holiday movies, ate yummy food, drank good wine, coffee, tea, and coco, played lots of ROOK, and cherished the moments with the ones we love. Last night we went to my cousin and dear friend Leah's wedding reception. She was married to a wonderful guy (MARCO) from Honduras this past November. It was pretty neat sharing in their happiness and seeing many friends (picture two) and relatives whom we've not seen in a long time. It was a JOYFUL weekend ALL around.

We feel blessed by all the love we have from the amazing people in our life. I, Maggie, am personally so thankful to pete,my family, friends, and co-students for their support and encouragement in helping me accomplish my dream of becoming a NURSE. That was the best Christmas gift I got. :)

All this good cheer got me to thinking that the warmth and love at Christmas keeps us going through the year and keeps us anticipating next year's Christmas. Christmas, in itself, is the gift that keeps giving...the traditions, the laughs, and most importantly celebrating the birth of Jesus. We know that even when it all ends...it will come back around in 365 days.

So this week...as you take down your tree, pack your Christmas lights back in the box, or eat the last Christmas cookie on the plate...don't feel sad because it is over...feel blessed because you got to live and experience another Christmas. Make the memories last through out the whole year and look forward to making new ones next Christmas!

Donor Milk continued....

http://dailyme.com/story/2010121500003544/legacy-hospitals-portland-offer-donor-milk.html

I know a couple months ago I blogged about donor breast milk and how it is becoming more available. I wanted to share the link to this article above about real evidence of this here in Portland, OR! Amazing!

A tribute to Hector

"I'll take one breakfast burrito, a tube of hot sauce and a cup of water please!"

For any of my friends and family who came to visit me when I lived in San Diego or have been to San Diego with me simultaneously, they will all say one thing...I love Hector's!

I was first introduced to Hector's Mexican Food during my first year at Point Loma. My buddies and I would get up every saturday morning for a dawn patrol session (early morning surfing for those who aren't informed) and would ride waves until our stomachs and shoulders could no longer take the aching. We had a very simple but theraputic formula after each surfing session...grab a hector's breakfast burrito and sneak into Humphrey's Half Moon resort to sit in the hot tub! Honestly, We must have done this 30 to 40 times during that first year. Hector's became somewhat of a Phenomena that year. The news of this unbelievably tasty burrito for only $3.65 was spreading like wildfire thoughout the campus of PLNU. Before we knew it, every time we went to Hector's we would see several fellow students enjoying what we call "Hector's sweet Nectar."

When I graduated from PLNU in 2006, I naturally thought that as time went by, I would ever so slowly veer away from the eggs, cheese, bacon and potato all wrapped in a fresh tortilla... I could NOT have been more wrong. What I realized is that it's not only the amazing taste of the burrito I love so much, but it's the story behind Hector himself. For roughly 15 years, Hector has been serving Mexican Food 364 days a year only taking a day off on Christmas day. He comes from a small town in Mexico where many of his relatives still live. I am not sure how many there are, but he supports many of his family members in Mexico thru his restaurant by working seven days a week for 12 hours each day. Hector is not only a great chef, but a hard working, honorable family man!

Although I have moved from San Diego and now live back in the Pacific Northwest, I still visit San Diego frequently to see family and friends. Whenever I am back in San Diego, you can bet on it that I will be at Hector's as many times as possible. Even if a year has gone by, it sounds like this, "Hola Pete...how are you? Let me guess, breakfast burrito?" It never fails; every time I take a bite out of a breakfast burrito I can't help but think of the many good times spent at Hector's! So here's to you Hector-I look forward to many more burritos!

-Pete

MISSING IN ACTION

I know we've have been out of touch for awhile...man life has been busy! I feel like I just blinked and now it is almost Christmas! I'm excited to start blogging again.

Here's a little upate-I (Maggie) moved up to live with my parents in Birch Bay the end of October and was up there for just about a month. I wasn't sick of Pete :)-I went up there to do my final nursing rotation in the Child Birth Center. My school allows a certain number of students to do distance learning for the last semester and I chose to do my practicum in Bellingham. I had 12-12 hr shifts and it was amazing. I learned so much and loved every minute of my time with the moms and babies. I am more sure than ever that this is the field of nursing for me. There is no greater joy in the world to me than watching a new innocent life come into this world. I also enjoyed seeing some of my friends and relatives while being back in my home town. It was wonderful to have my mom cooking me some delicious meals and packing my lunches just like old times. ;)

Pete on the other hand was living the bachelor life back in Beaverton. He spent a lot of time at the gym, but did come up to visit me twice -which was great. I came back home mid-November and was only home for a couple days and we took a road trip to LA/San Diego with my parents. We had a fun time visiting Pete's sister Molly in LA and even got to visit her on the Conan O'Brien show where she works. It was a kick seeing her in action. We spent a week in San Diego for Thanksgiving visiting dear family and friends and waiting waiting waiting for our niece to be born. My brother Zach and his wife Laura were expecting their first baby due Dec. 1st. We headed home the night of the 1st wishing we could stay to meet the baby. She was born on Dec. 3rd as beautiful and healthy as ever! Elle Grey Weg. We cannot wait to get back to San Diego to meet her!! More pictures to come soon of this beauty.

So that is pretty much it in a nutshell...the days and weeks are just zooming by. We hope you all are enjoying the Holiday season that is in full swing!