In our first week of Counseling class we were given an interesting assignment. Each one of us needed to conceptualize a book based on our lives. We needed the cover, the title, the genre, and the names of all of the chapters. It seemed a little silly to many of us at first, but I think that after we came together to share the results of our creativity and reflection, most of us had recognized the value. Our professor has been giving us a number of reflective activities that are opening us up. This past summer it finally clicked for me, I recognized the value of all of these reflective assignments our professors have given us and began to apply my reflection to my life, both professionally and personally. This assignment brought to the surface many emotions for many people - I'd like to share with you mine.

My primary emotion during this activity was happiness . I realized as I looked through old pictures and reflected on the different times of my life that the one common theme; the one thread that tied it all together was LOVE. I remember the hard things, some extraordinarily difficult times that shook me to my core. I even remember some things or people who changed my value system in a negative way, people I had to recover from slowly. But each of these times, without doubt, what I remember most is having someone beside me who truly loved me. I am so lucky, so incredibly lucky, to have always been surrounded by honest, true, not always easy LOVE . People who are smarter than me and braver than me and stronger than me who aren't afraid to tell their friends when they're right and wrong, people I probably don't deserve to have in my life, my rocks. My mother, my Rachel, my ladies, sometimes their moms, a boyfriend or two, Wayne. These people created me with their love, carefully gave me all the best parts of them without worrying if I'd break it or lose it.

I'm the happiest I've ever been in my entire life, so I'm certain that I'm looking at this all through a different lens than ever before. But that doesn't change the fact that it's true. I'm fulfilled now. I am who and where I am because of you. My past, my present, my future. I can only hope to give as much love in my lifetime as I have received.

I just wanted to share that. :) Being reflective and self aware is helping me to be happier it seems.

♥ Jessa

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