Show us your singles: Meet Sarah!!!

Hello! This is my gorgeous sister Sarah! 

She is the funniest person I know in real life. Witty, quick, creative, and I dont know where she gets it. :) 

Sarah is so loved and loving and cherished by everyone she meets.  She also enjoys a good challenge and to help others achieve their own! :) ^^^

My sister is faithful.  She loves the Lord and pursues him and desires to glorify him with her life! She is faithful as a friend,family member, and a wonderful example for young girls and women.

This woman is so talented! And smart! In so many ways! I truly admire that about her. She is working on her Masters and she can solve any problem! Computer related? Sure. Math homework, duh! And a little boys lost dinosaur, she’s got it covered!! :) She enjoys an episode of 30 Rock, Arrested Development , or The Office on a night in. She’s really something.  

Sarah loves to travel, so she does!

One last thing, she can pull off any hair color! Am I right?! 

She is SO beautiful inside and out, I could not be more proud of her!

If you or anyone you know might be interested in getting to know her please leave a comment or email at jamiegosch@gmail.com

Lets talk about life, bay be.

Matt and I put our 30 day notice in at our apartment complex.
WE ARE OFFICIALLY MOVING! It is so exciting as well as a little overwhelming. In the end the excitement totally wins.
We have been living our first year of marriage in a "1 bedroom apartment down on Maple street". Does that line ring a bell? Maybe like a song sung by Lee Brice called Love Like Crazy?
It has been so fun and I know I will share stories from this little place years from now.

We went our first year with no washer and dryer.  Laundry still needed to be done though and it added up so quick! I would drive to a laundry mat and pay almost 4 dollars a load! I took for granted always having units in the home I grew up in. I am so excited for our new apartment that comes with washer and dryer to say the least!  We also had just 3 kitchen table chairs. We would seem to forget we didn't have enough chairs when we would invite another couple over for dinner. Just the silliest thing. Matt would happily sit way above everyone on a barstool his sister had lent us. Anyhoo I could go on and on talking about our time here but...

I wanted to share some meals I have been making lately! I am slowing improving in the kitchen and branching out of my comfort zone. I've only make chicken and hamburger meat since we were wed and last night I made pork chops! Matt's tastes buds probably threw a huge party for the new dish.  It was my day off so I think that helped because I could do some research on the interest and I will be honest; I have found 90 percent of my meal recipes on Pinterest! Along with my pork chops I made twice baked potatoes for the first time too! I love mashed potatoes so I have to say this long, experimental, sweaty, process was worth it in the end.  I thought ahead this time and made more than we needed so we could enjoy them all week! :) Yay left overs!

On a healthier note.  Matt and I like to experiment with juicing and smoothies to pack a bunch of nutrients into a quick drink.  For the past couple of days I would start my day off with my ninja, a cup of coffee in hand of course, and some healthy ingredients! 

In this smoother I put..

1 banana , 1 strawberry yogurt, 1 cup of spinach, a chunk of frozen berries, a few grapes, and a splash of milk.  ( This was all stuff I already had in the fridge )

I blended er up, put her in my cup, and I was off to work! 

It tastes like a strawberry, banana, smoothie. The spinach is so mild you dont know its there until you look down and see green flakes. 

If you can imagine trying to eat all those ingredients separate it would not be fun!  You might even think you are too full to go on and finish that cup of spinach.  ;) 

Have a great week! I cant wait to tell you all about moving and show you some pictures of our new place! 

Looking back on the most life changing year ever!

-Time Line Pieces of 2011-
Dec 31- 2011...On this day 1 year ago I was sitting next to my husband - then fiance ;) - in my Mazda.  We were on a highway in New Mexico.  Matt had flown to Nebraska to pack me up and drive me to where we would live as a married couple.  We had been on the road for a few days by now making the long, 1700 mile or so, trip from Nebraska to California where my new home would be.  It is so bizarre to think that I have been living in California for 1 year now. I just cant wrap my head around it! haha nuts.

March - I have been living in California in a sweet, 1 bedroom, apartment by myself.  Matt would come by most days and we would hang out and have meals together talking about wedding plans and just enjoying the season. This also happens to be the month of my birthday! Matt took me out for sushi!

More March - I make my way back to Nebraska to prepare for the most wonderful day of my life.  On March 27th I would be marrying my prince charming and celebrating with all my special people back home.

We are off to on our honeymoon! A 4-day cruise to the Catalina Islands and Mexico.  It was amazing and I would go on a honeymoon every year if we could.  Wouldn't you like that too?! Lets all go together!

April - This is the month of Matthew's birthday.  As a married couple, and with a joint account, I had to be very sneaky on how I would get him gifts without him knowing. He claims to not like surprises but I love them! 

My dates are starting to get a little fuzzy so...

We went to the rodeo! 

Saw buffalo who were trained to entertain! 

Wore cowboy and cowgirl boots. One of Matts birthday presents! 

My best friend Kelsea came to visit. Soon after she would be headed off to serve the Lord in Uganda for a year! 

Along with Kelsea, and more California friends,we got to spend some time in Auberry! Eating delicious food, enjoying fellowship, and the great outdoors.

Kelsea and I also love...Mexican food! 

Can you say blessed?!? Yes this year was full of blessings! My other best friend made it to California!

We spent the day around San Francisco.  Her - then boyfriend- is now her soon-to-be husband! So cool! I couldn't be happier for those two! I am so excited for how God will use their relationship! 

I have been so blessed by her friendship! I praise God for her all the time. 

We also went to 6 weddings this year! I love weddings so this was so much fun for me.  I love experiencing that special day with people and I love hearing vows again!  It is a moment that can reopen your eyes to see that marriage is not all about you, its about God!  You can honor God better with your lives! Making each other holy! Phew love it. 

We had a lot of our first's this year ( duh its our first year of marriage ) but its still special! I also had my first Thanksgiving and Christmas without my side of the family and in California with Matthews side of the family. I have experienced In n Out and Chick fil e.  Put up the Christmas tree all by myself. Oh and the list could keep going. :) I hope you all look back and see the blessing that God has given you! It's a great way to find joy if you are down and out this season. Talk to you again soon! 

An Alphabet Blog Post or Not..

Hooray! Today I have the day off. Its been some time since my first post and I am excited to be back! To blog hmm... I do find myself just wanting to talk about the house work I should be tackling, or how much time I have already wasted today, and oh the laundry! Cant forget to wash mine and my hubs work clothes. :)
Anyways I am here to blog and blogging seems to be a sister to the ol pen and paper journal.  I am a firm believer in journaling. I believe it is beneficial in - slowing - down your day amongst a lot of other things like: recording blessings, keeping memories and answered prayers, special moments, what your learning, love notes, etc...  With journaling it causes you to sit down, confront your thoughts, take time to write them down ( or type ;) ). I am always rushing to the next task!
One area where I am really struggling is dedicating intimate time to Gods word! I am always trying to "fit God into my schedule" instead of working my schedule around what God has planned! How backwards am I?!  This would be my prayer request.

 See how writing all these thoughts down is a form of verbal processing? Brownie points for journaling.  Now I am responsible and held accountable to my thoughts and awareness of my constant rushing through life because I am documenting it here today. Phew! I was planning on doing the alphabet challenge when I sat down but my thoughts decided to go elsewhere.

I hope you had a great Monday! Take some time to smell the flowers, feel the sunshine, type a blog post! :) God is good all the time! Thank you God for another day to learn about you, and share your good news!

I will start by introducing myself... My name is Jamie and this is my blog.

I am not sure what all I will blog about but I imagine my topics will surround our Almighty God, my wonderful husband <3, being a wife :), and some updates on the life we live in California.  One more topic I imagine being popular is the beautiful state of Nebraska where I have most of my family and some of my dearest friends.  I was blessed to be born and raised there and just recently relocated to California to follow my loving husband and why not be newly wed in a new environment, right?! Right. :) God is good and has been faithfully providing for us and blessing us here!  I do look forward to Gods plan for us and if it includes a move back to the Midwest but until then I will just have to soak up this California sun and get to know my new California friends, and family.