Hello dear Void

I realize that not many people catch up with this, and really it is like an online journal...none the less i will update for the first time in a while.

I think the last time I updated was Christmas...

Since then, I have have...

-been promoted at work and am a level 4! Although that means little to most of you;)

-decided to go to Grad school

-turned 27

-gone to my first broadway show "Baby It's You" (and LOVED IT!)

-worked many days and nights in the hills of Georgia and loved every second of it...even when I think bugs are crawling in my ears:)

-walked a half marathon with mom

-got a visit from my best friend

-spent some amazing time with all 14 Washburns!

-OH! And I have a new nephew! Noah!!!!

I think that is the meat of the last few months...of course i'm probably leaving something out...sorry if it is you, even though you aren't reading this most likely.

Here are a few pictures from my time away from the blog world.

Me and Noah

Having fun in the field

While we were in New York I stopped by where my favorite show is filmed

The best food I have had since December

My best friend Jennie

Mom with all her Grandkids, we failed to get a picture with all 14 of us

oh...and I became a red head

So good to be HOME for Christmas!

So, last year I was in Utah working for Christmas. And while it was a great experience and made me so much more grateful for my family holiday traditions...it is SO much nicer to be at home!!

This year we didn't have anyone but mom and dad and I at home for Christmas. BUT we did get a surprise visit from The soon to be Kansas-Washburns. IT was SO great to spend time with the kids. We went to Zackie's, my favorite hot dog place in nashville and visited coach at the titans facilities. It was so fun to have all 3 all to myself! Then we enjoyed a great lunch with mom and brady and ashley at J. Alexanders! It was a great gift just to get to see them!

Dad has a game the day after Christmas in Kansas City, so he left on Christmas morning. So we decided to open our gifts on Christmas eve. We also had a big dinner because we were all separated for Thanksgiving; I was in the field, mom was in Detroit, Dad was home. Dad and I also started a new tradition of going out to Fattybread on the day of Christmas Eve and hiking and sitting by the fire! We also got to skype with the for now Missouri Washburns!!

Mom made an amazing dinner and we all enjoyed the rare time to sit around the table together and eat and talk. We all gathered around the fire and opened gifts. I got an especially special gift from family friend Des Maxwell. She, and everyone else knows of my love for Dolly Parton and she was able to get me a personalized autographed picture of her!!! I am more excited that Dolly knows that I exist!!! I cried, mom cried!! It was amazing. We most of all enjoyed the time of giving to each other!

This morning we woke up to snow on the ground! It is so rare for us southerners to enjoy a white Christmas! With dad gone to the game, Mom and I skyped with the Michigan Washburns and then went to see a movie and when we drove home it was Snowing again!! How wonderful!

I am so thankful that I can be home for this Christmas and not miss all these special moments with my family!!

Dad and I enjoying our stockings

Dad's bracelet for mom was a big hit!

Tears of joy for my favorite gift!

Enjoying Fattybread on Christmas Eve

Yay for snow!

The house sure looks great in snow!

Avery Jane the giggle box

So, I have recently written down on a notecard all the people I want to pray for during the day and I was surprised how quickly my list filled up. That left me with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for all the people who I love and love me. When I go through my list sometimes I think of qualities that remind me of that person and today when I was going through my list and came to Avery Jane my mind filled with her giggles.

I think she has one of the most distinguishable laughs that I have ever heard. It is so unique and fits her personality to a T. Everytime I see a picture of Avery jane smilling I can hear her giggle come through the picture. I hope that she will be able to keep that laugh as she gets older bc i sure do love hearing it;)

Three Bird Spoons

So, when working at Second Nature Entrada we taught the kids to make spoons out of wood to eat with. It was a sign of taking care of yourself and learning a new skill so you weren't so reliant on others. And it just pissed them off sometimes ;) As many things go, I learned by teaching. I had never made a spoon in my life either! But after working out there for 2 years, spoon making became something that I truly enjoyed and did to relax, even in my off time.

That has continued since moving back to the southeast, although I have had to adjust to a different palet of woods to work with. A great surprise came when my parents bought 52 acres and we discovered cedar that is a deep dark purple! I was so excited. The spoons that we've made are so beautiful! The Lord provided!!

My family has been encouraging me about my spoons and loves getting them as gifts. Lately they have been telling me that I need to start selling these, and have a little side business. So, I decided to do that! The problem is, is that I have started making more and they have been wanting them!! Ha, I guess I will just keep going and make more so that they can have some and I can sell some!!

So, if you know anyone who wants a custom spoon, let me know!!

I will post some pictures later!!

Double Washburn Win!

Jeremiah and Dad have both been NFL coaches for a season and 5 games now, and i think we have had one weekend where both teams have won. It happened for the second time this last weekend when the Lions killed the Rams and the Titans beat a tough Cowboys team.

It is hard to explain the pure joy of a Double Washburn Win. Both of them work so hard day in and day out. Jay is getting his coaching legs and dad is working with only one good one, so they def work their butts off, so it is special that they can both celebrate together...well at least on the same day!

SPT Wedding!

This weekend I was blessed to watch one of my dearest friends Lauren walk down the isle!! What made this wedding so much fun is that during our college days, Lauren was ADAMANT that she was never going to get married...never people! So we always laughed and had no trouble agreeing with her, she didn't seem like the marrying type!

So, today seeing her up at the alter saying her vows was a funny, moving, powerful moment for me and my friend Anna! We have all been friends for the past 5 years, we met at MTSU and spent every day of our college careers together.

When I was growing up and moving all around I wished and prayed for friends like this, and the Lord has blessed me with these two ladies. It was also fun to get dolled up and look pretty. And the great thing is we all cared about each other, Lauren kept commenting on how great we looked and loved of course her dress and everything going on for her. The love was infectious, as it often is when we get together!!

Peru Bound!

well, in 16 days!

My best friend Jp and I are headed to Lima then Iquitos Peru for 2 whole weeks on July 30th! I am so excited to discover a new place and do it with my dearest friend. We don't have a lot planned at the moment, and we are most excited about ALL the time we will have to catch up and talk, or sleep or do whatever we'd like. That part is most exciting for her, being a mother of two, working full time and being a wife...getting little time for JUST her.

I know this will be the trip of a lifetime and I will really cherish all of it since we live so far away from each other these days!

Covering up from a sandy sandy day at work in the desert!