I know my mom has been dying to see these pictures. She's probably the only one, but the pictures are pretty awesome and we are pretty adorable so I thought I'd share. This is part 2 to my mom's epic visit to Oregon. We did everything we wanted to do while there, but it certainly took all 3 months.

One of the first things we did, while Wayne was at an Open Source conference, was hit up the famous Voodoo Doughnuts. There is usually a line out the door but we got pretty lucky on this Thursday afternoon. We only waited about 10 minutes.

I just think that bottom picture of my mom is so adorable. Please excuse my vulgarity for a moment. It's not my fault voodoo has a sick sense of humor. We tried their voodoo doll, filled with raspberry jelly so that he oozes when you bite his head off, the standard Portland Cream (delicious cream filled), the Cock and Balls (a triple cream filled donut), and the Dirt Doughnut (oreo covered). My favorite was the standard Portland Cream while my mama really enjoyed the voodoo doll.

We then met up with Wayne and tried out two very Portlandia style things. On the way to the one thing he really wanted to do, we stopped by the 24 Hour Church of Elvis. My mom and I really wanted to see this because my Meme (grandma) has a huge thing for Elvis and we thought we'd take pictures for her and make her a little jealous. We expected grandiose and probably blasphemous paintings, statues, and wall hangings. What we got was far different.

It was on the side of a building, made from a few windows and buttons and garishly painted. You missed it if you weren't looking closely enough. You could put quarters in for a variety of things. In one section, if you put a quarter in a collection of exercise barbies would start pedaling their bikes in leotards and leg warmers.

The part that the most exciting about the 24 Hour Church of Elvis was that you could get married. I know that Wayne's mom will be happy to know that we got hitched, right there in front of G-d and Elvis, in a ceremony led by a computer screen that couldn't remember our names.

Elvis wants to know that you're serious about each other and will only marry you if you affirm that you love each other to pieces.

THE KISS!

We also went to Wayne's favorite place - a arcade/bar.

Also, after blueberry picking (and at other points during her trip) we went wine tasting. You've seen that this was one of our favorite things to do in Oregon and this time was no exception. The countryside just has so many fabulous local options for wine and beer! I had never imagined that I would enjoy these wines just as much, if not sometimes more, than the fanciest french and australian wines. Plus, I've never actually enjoyed a Pinot Noir before Oregon Pinots.

Not pictured is a trip to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, the Blue Heron Cheese Factory, the coast, and lots of down time. I love my mama and this trip just showed both of us how great living closer to each other can be. We packed a lot into one weekend but we have fun together no matter what we're doing.

♥ Jessa

I'm so excited to write this post. So excited, in fact, that I can't settle on just a few photos to share so it will be split between at least two blog posts. One of the things on my oft ignored day zero list was to spend a day picking fruit. I had all of these romantic notions in my head; apple picking in gorgeous orchard with sweet bumble bees buzzing around, ripe and fresh and bright fruits to turn into jams and pies and happiness. Then Groupon had to tempt me with berry picking just 20 minutes from our summer apartment. What better time to try it than when my mom was in town?!

The image in my head wasn't exactly what it was like. Firstly, blueberries are much smaller than apples. It takes a while to fill your bucket. I did get some things right though. The weather was gorgeous, the location was perfect, the people I was spending time with were fun. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Plus, the berries were so so so so so delicious!

Being in Oregon only served to re-ignite in me my passion for good, local, homegrown food. Everyone seemed to be more educated about their options, more mindful, and loved to be outside. It's a lot more difficult to want to be outside here in Florida when it's 100 degrees and 100% humidity one minute and then rain storming all over you, but that doesn't make it less important to focus on your own food. The moment we got back home I ripped all of the weeds and grass out of our gardens and made my plan. Now I just can't wait for this season's starts to come in so I can plant and weed and watch little miracles happen in my backyard!

More to come on my fantastic weekend with my mom in Oregon. Soon. I'm excited to be caught up so that I can tell you about all of the housewifing/job hunting/reflecting I've been focused on. Plus, today is the first day of my last year of grad school and I intend to enjoy every single minute, Riotous Living style.

♥ Jessa

I'm so excited to write this post. So excited, in fact, that I can't settle on just a few photos to share so it will be split between at least two blog posts. One of the things on my oft ignored day zero list was to spend a day picking fruit. I had all of these romantic notions in my head; apple picking in gorgeous orchard with sweet bumble bees buzzing around, ripe and fresh and bright fruits to turn into jams and pies and happiness. Then Groupon had to tempt me with berry picking just 20 minutes from our summer apartment. What better time to try it than when my mom was in town?!

The image in my head wasn't exactly what it was like. Firstly, blueberries are much smaller than apples. It takes a while to fill your bucket. I did get some things right though. The weather was gorgeous, the location was perfect, the people I was spending time with were fun. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Plus, the berries were so so so so so delicious!

Being in Oregon only served to re-ignite in me my passion for good, local, homegrown food. Everyone seemed to be more educated about their options, more mindful, and loved to be outside. It's a lot more difficult to want to be outside here in Florida when it's 100 degrees and 100% humidity one minute and then rain storming all over you, but that doesn't make it less important to focus on your own food. The moment we got back home I ripped all of the weeds and grass out of our gardens and made my plan. Now I just can't wait for this season's starts to come in so I can plant and weed and watch little miracles happen in my backyard!

More to come on my fantastic weekend with my mom in Oregon. Soon. I'm excited to be caught up so that I can tell you about all of the housewifing/job hunting/reflecting I've been focused on. Plus, today is the first day of my last year of grad school and I intend to enjoy every single minute, Riotous Living style.

♥ Jessa

We're officially back in Florida (Miami for one night then back to good old Gainesville) and I've got almost 2 weeks to relax, read, and figure out what I'm doing this year. I'm going to take advantage of the opportunities I have and truly revel in my last year of my master's program. I'm also going to do my best to extend the self reflection and self awareness I've been able to cultivate over the summer - so that I can continue to learn and grow.

Part of that is just looking back about what made me so ridiculously happy while we were in Oregon. It wasn't just the beautiful weather, the cool nights, the slower pace. It was also being surrounded by people who have the same core values as I do, being a part of a team that values each other, and spending so much time both outside and with Wayne.

Today's post is pictures from one of my favorite days in our Oregon Summer, although there are so many favorites that it's hard to choose. On this Sunday Wayne decided that we were finding a place to bike ride, picnic, and nap in the sun.

It was a beautiful day, we relaxed in the sunshine after eating delicious sandwiches, cold salads, and brie. And then I fell asleep for legit 2 hours. Luckily, we were in the shade. :)

A better look at one of the dresses I got on my birthday Goodwill trip. I love this thing!

♥ Jessa

Change is hard. Transitions are difficult and there is no way around that. Whether you are ending a relationship or packing up and moving to a new place or starting a new job – each comes with it’s own brand of insecurity, fear, and instability. There are good things associated with transition too: excitement, reinvigoration, challenge… but sometimes it is hard to see those things until you’ve taken a step back.

I feel like my life has been transition after transition after transition for quite a while now. First changing jobs, then ending an important relationship, starting a new important relationship and moving to Miami, then moving to Gainesville, waiting to see which grad school I’d go to, starting 2 new jobs, then a new graduate assistantship – and then grad school. Oh, grad school. It seems like Higher Ed master’s programs are designed to cram the most challenging transitions into the tiniest span of time possible.

You hardly have time to become comfortable in your new dual role as student/Graduate Assistant before you are thrust into your first practicum experience (essentially unpaid volunteer work in a new department) with a new supervisor. Three months after that you are shipped off to a new state for a super short summer internship. You experience multiple supervisors, multiple departments, multiple institutions, even new states and living situations. On top of the hundreds of other challenges that SPHE has thrown at me... there is this seemingly never ending transitional state.

From Santa Fe to UF Housing and Res Life to Pacific University Res Life – it’s all been amazing and eye opening. I have had some horrific conversations and some absolutely wonderful supervisors and everything in between. I’ve learned more about myself: my strengths and my flaws and the areas I need to work on. And I’ve learned that I AM TIRED OF TRANSITION.

Maybe that is part of the reason why I wanted to buy a house in a city I knew I didn’t intend to live in forever. That house and the people I choose to put in it is one stable thing – it’s a constant. It can be my safe haven and one of the things I look forward to coming back to. Especially now, when circumstances have thrust me into another unexpected transition, that anchor is especially appealing.

I love adventure as much as the next girl, but what sounds most appealing right now is knowing where I’m going to be next year, and the year after. What sounds appealing is security and stability, and the chance to really focus on myself and my job and see real improvements. It’s hard to put time and effort and true heart into my students and my projects and not have the opportunity to see them succeed. Sure, I’m going to miss Oregon – but what I’m really truly sad about is not being able to see how the Pacific RAs and SRAs progress throughout the year, whether they like the new team time schedule, and how the new processes affect life around here.

What I guess I really mean to say is that I’m excited for my first full time student affairs position and the relative stability that will give me. I’m excited to know where Wayne and I will be living for a few years and to make real plans. I’m excited to get rid of some of this insecurity and newness, in exchange for some comfort and real relationships. That’s where I’ve always been at my best – knowing where I stand and able to plan. I know that now more than I ever did, and I’m excited for that.

♥ Jessa