8 Glorious Days

Well, I return to work tomorrow after 8 glorious days off! I was determined NOT to let these eight days go by without feeling like I was productive with them. So, I was able to: clean the backyard, weed, spray for weeds, reorganize all our files from one temporary plastic bin to a file cabinet and file papers that have been accumulating for over a year, clean the house, take down Christmas decorations, watch Rob run a half marathon, make some wire wrap rings...and I think that is about it! I didnt do anything "big" but at least I got some stuff done! I now will be working 6 days in a row, killer! But like always, after a long break going back to work isnt that bad because you can start to feel lazy and nothing like standing on your feet for 12 hours with just a little lunch break to make you feel un-lazy (is that a word...?) again:D

After this 6 day work week (which I know isnt much to complain about...but remember my work days are 12 hours with a 45 minute traffic commute on each end with no breaks) I think I scheduled myself for another 5 days off. Work hard, rest hard! That is my theory for this job. Can't wear myself to thin though. In the same breath, i do need to start working some extras to help pay down the bills and build some money up too since Robs permanent/temporary job is up in April and we don't know where God is leading him next!

Tonight we had our small group and it was good to get together with our small group members again. We are going to start a study on the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I have heard really positive things about the book so I am looking forward to it. I still need to finish my 10 week study of the book of Esther though...i am horrible about finishing things till the end sometimes!

Well, I am just rambling now because I am trying to kill 20 more minutes till I go to bed. Trying to stay up till midnight so I can sleep in till noon tomorrow and have a good 12 hours of sleep under my belt to switch back to nights.

I have also started another blog. This one is called Amanda's Project 52 and it its a photography blog where I take a photo a week for a year...I think it'll be a great exercise in photography and will be so cool to look back on after the year is over and see what I've captured!

PF Changs Half Marathon

Thats my Rob running the PF Changs Half Marathon yesterday! He ran in 2 hours and 39 minutes which is much better than any of us that will probably never run a half marathon! Truth be told, he didnt train for it either (he is too busy with full time work and full time grad school) so this just goes to show you can put mind over matter! He did end up with a nasty blister and very sore knees. He is doing better today (the day after) then yesterday. He enjoyed being able to have run and finished a Rock N Roll Marathon event...maybe he'll do next year too? I really want my mom to come out and run this event because the weather is so perfect and its such a fun event. If she does I will probably look into volunteering at a medical tent or something to get more involved. Even though I had lots of fun just being a spectator!

Christmas in Indiana

We have been in Indiana since the day after Christmas. We celebrated our Christmas together the Wednesday before Christmas together at our house in Phoenix. The big gifts we exchanged were the new Amazon Kindle (for Rob) and I got the new itouch (which I love already). We also bought a mutual gift of a Nikon D3100 camera. Since we have bought that we both have been having so much fun trying to find out all the different settings we can change and use to take amazing photographs. I'm also big on finding different tutorials and tips for beginners on the D3100.

I then worked Thu/Fri/Sat night and got off work Sunday morning tired but knowing that I had a few more hours to stay awake until our flight. Rob dropped Sonora off at Camp Bow Wow in Avondale and picked me up from work. We then went to our friend Maile's house so I could shower and change; her family was all there and they served us a wonderful breakfast! It was nice!

Off to the airport we went and boarded our 1230pm flight on time to Indianapolis. We had a quick lay over in Kansas City and landed in Indy around 730pm. The new Indy airport is amazing and beautiful! It was freezing when we landed, too!

We made it safely to Keystone, Indiana to Rob's parents log cabin in the woods :) Since then we have spent time with friends and family and celebrating Christmas with Rob's family. We have also had the chance to spend lots of time with our nieces, Sydney (4) & Sarah (9 months).

I am going to get off to go have some breakfast. We leave tomorrow after church and I love the cool weather of Indiana but I am ready to get back to Phoenix...I miss Sonora & Socrates!

Wrapping up 2010

2010 has been a year of new starts for Amanda and I. Perhaps the biggest and most significant of these was both a completion and a new beginning! This was Amanda’s graduation from Grand Canyon University in May with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing! Both our families were able to come out for the graduation, which was held on Chase Field (where the Diamondbacks play!). Calling the graduates names by school, Amanda soon saw she was near the end of the commencement ceremony. So of course she worked it out that she was the very last name called and last person to walk across the stage! To top off that day, she got a call from John C. Lincoln hospitals, where she had been doing a student nurses program, and was given a job offer in their ICU! So after passing and getting her RN, Amanda is now working full-time as a night shift ICU nurse in North-Central Phoenix!

This has posed the start of a new schedule for us as well, with a day-shift and a night-shift schedule in the household! Many of the days of dual work consist of seeing each other for 15 to 45 minutes as I get home from work and Amanda is leaving. Sometimes, we just call and wave at each other as we drive by each other. Despite this, we have learned to protect and take time when we do have it to enjoy each other’s company!

In addition to Amanda’s work, I have continued going to school full-time, and have just three quarters of class to go before getting my Masters of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary. I cannot even go into how amazing and challenging this experience has been, or the friends that have been made. It is simply so good to meet people who are so genuinely loving and Godly people, even if we don’t always agree on everything! I also have a job with the Luis Palau Association working for an upcoming event in March 2011. This position has been working with all the churches in the Western half of Phoenix, and is a networking with these pastors, civic and business leaders to meet the needs of the communities. I get to work with people to love their neighbors, and do this more effectively and united! After all, as Christian we are to love our neighbors, and this is done in word and deed! Here in Arizona it is very good to be part of a uniting, rather than separating, effort within the many demographics of the state.

Amanda and I have not gotten to take much in the way of vacations or do much outside of this schedule this year…but we know it is the season that God has us in. Luckily, we were able to get away to Sedona for a luxurious and peaceful evening, and then escape a little bit in San Diego as part of a work-trip there for a Luis Palau Festival. What was really cool was that we were able to meet up with Barry Friesen, who came down from Canada to hang out! We’ve also had some time, even if brief, to hang out with Joe & Joanna Lacanlale, Jeremiah Colon, Wade & Dara Gardner, and of course our family! I think we’ve had Brian Jr. (Amanda’s brother) out for nearly an entire month’s time by the end of this year…it’s been fun!

The transition of new beginnings this past year has been a busy time, and next year is promising to be shaping up into a great year as well, with the Festival, graduation, and whatever future endeavors God has in store for us! We hope and wish that God is also guiding each of you and drawing you into His arms.


May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May He make His face shine upon you!

Rob & Amanda McFarren

Sonora

Of course, I couldn't go on a blogging binge without including a recent picture of Sonora. Who knew she liked to play dress up? Well, she actually doesnt but it sure does make us laugh! When we went to San Diego we dropped her off at Camp Bow Wow again. She really enjoys it and they enjoy her. They have Camper Cams in the play areas so we were able to watch her play from California, it was pretty neat. When we picked her up, they had framed a picture of her they had taken in a magnetic frame that said "Favorite Camper" on it. It was a small gesture but one that will definitely keep us coming back and giving them business!

Cooler Mornings & Evenings

September has brought with it cooler mornings and evenings but the days are still hot...reaching over 100*. Can't wait for the winter!! Winter in Arizona is beautiful, the summer is almost worth it because the rest of the year is perfect weather. My car has a sun roof and I cant wait to ride around the city with the windows down and the sunroof open; its the little things :)

As for Rob, he is so extremely trying to balance full time work, full time graduate work, and a full time wife who loves to have him around (LOL). Right now he is in the middle of a paper writing marathon and I am urging him to finish early so we can go out and celebrate the ending of his Summer quarter. He goes to school full time year round...has been at it for 2 years straight now with one more year to go. I truly dont know how he does it-he amazes me!

September saw a dear friend of mine make a huge life change/decision as she bought a one-way ticket to New York City!! She is going to look for an RN position there-she is such a Phoenix girl but she is going to slip right into NYC life-they'll probably think she's a local. I will definitely be making trips to visit her in the Big City. I already told her she has to find some cool restaurants to take me to!

Leanne and me having drinks at her going away party at Casey Moore's in Tempe. Havent been around that many college grads since I use to visit my friends when they were going to Boulder. All college bars have the same feel thats for sure.
Rob and I trying to mix in with the co-eds even though we are no longer in the college days...I'm kinda glad for that though. Its definitely a phase of life...and why some choose to stay in that phase for their entire life, well thats just a personal decision, but not one I'd make! :)

San Diego Trip

We just got back from San Diego over the weekend. We headed out to check out the San Diego City Fest that was going on at Mission Bay Park. Rob works for the non-profit who is organizing the Arizona City Fest here in March, so the staff went down to check out how it'll work. Rob shadowed his counterpart in San Diego and was very busy the whole weekend. Our friend Barry joined us from Canada and me and him tried to make the most out of the weekend and relax!