Dilemma

Ok question:

Set Up:

We are traveling to NYC with baby G. It will be cold so we are choosing indoor activities -- museums, art exhibits, toy stores, etc. We do not have anything special planned for the evenings - except maybe Times Square because baby G LOVES LOVES LOVES bright lights. 

Since I we booked the flights I have been DYING to purchase Broadway tickets to The Lion King. Online we're looking at $300 bucks for Art and I to attend. It's a vacation and all but...

Question:

Is it worth it to shell out that much money for a musical? 

I've made the PROS/CONS list...

Pros:

It's Broadway

It's The Lion King

It's indoors - no cold.

We aren't paying for the cost of a hotel - let's spend that money on the tickets

Cons:

It's $200-$300 - That's half of what we spent on the plane tickets. 

It's that much money for 3 hours worth of activity. 

That money could be spent on Christmas gifts or future vacations

We would have to ask my family to babysit Gaby. 

So it's a tie -- and really, the first point under the CONS list is worth 3 points so CONS is winning. 

What would you do? Splurge or Conserve? 

Smell the Roses

Headed to New York next week for a little Thanksgiving/December Vargas Vacation!
We've never been to NYC so we are PUMPED about this trip.
I'm worried about Gaby's reaction to the change in environment and Art's worried about having to spend $10 on a single hot dog. lol.... Men are from Mars....


I had a small moment of appreciation this morning. Do you ever feel like there aren't many opportunities to share those tiny priceless experiences? There are times when I am with Gaby or Art or on the way to work - something happens - an unforgettable moment... and it's disheartening when I realize I am the only one who will know how it made me feel.


This morning on my way to work I passed by a group of our refugee students. 4 young girls from the Congo. I see them every morning on the way to school as they walk 1.5 miles from their apartment complex. Right before you cross the street onto the high school campus, there is a small bunch of beautiful flowers to make the marquee sign look a little more beautiful on your drive in. Every morning I see them, and I think, "Look how dedicated they are to getting a good education. I wonder if they had that in the Congo." But this particular morning, I noticed from my rear view mirror that one of the girls stooped down in front of the marquee to admire the beauty in the flower bunches. A moment that happened in less that 2 seconds, brought me to tears. I wish I could appreciate the small things in life more frequently. I rarely thank my husband for always taking out the trash, I can't remember the last time I was grateful for the house I live in and the car I drive, I don't ever appreciate how easily obtainable my groceries are, and I could go on and on and on... It's the life I've made for myself. BUSY, BUSY, BUSY..... RUSH, RUSH, RUSH.


I know I'm too hard on myself at times -- but it was just a small moment that happened this morning that I felt compelled to share it.


Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving. Time to dig in on some YUMMY food and spend time with family and friends.

Life Is Beautiful

Sundays -- couldn't have asked for a better one. 

Church
potluck with Brothers & Sisters in Christ 
LOOOONG baby naps
unpacking our garage
Netflix 
homemade burgers and fries
phone calls with long distance parents 
singing and dancing with baby girl (Thank you, T.Swift)
re-reading through old journals (scary! but nice)
last minute deep conversations with the husband as he walks out the door for work...

I love our little Vargas life. 

oh, and I forgot one more for the list: 
GF Choc. Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Family

Gaby is 8 months. 

We are parents.

It's so crazy to think about!!

Last night, Art and I had the opportunity to go on a date. We checked out The Mill - fantastic place to sit by the fire and chat together. Supposedly there was an ACU social club event there that night, so we were surrounded by a LOT of younger 20-somethings with shabby chic outfits and too many beards to count. As we were talking, a question came up that really hit us hard: How does it feel to be on the other side of the 20's hill? 

Lately I've been feeling nostalgic for my "single" days. Maybe nostalgia isn't the right word because I also told Art last night how wonderful it is to already have found my best friend and life partner. But, I can't stop thinking about how fun my life was during those years and how I may have taken those years for granted as they passed right by me. Art reminded me of how happy we have been lately, and it is so true: We have a wonderful little baby girl, a companionship with each other, a home, jobs to provide for our family, the BEST Church family we have ever been a part of, and our youth. We still have fun together and are making many GREAT memories for Gaby and ourselves. He was right, I cannot complain! 

But what will the next decade look like for us? 2.5 kids, a home, two cars, a garage, and a nice backyard? Is that what our dreams are for the next 10 years? What about mission trips or moving to another city? What about advancing in our careers or going back to school? What about all the OTHER moments we didn't take advantage of during our younger 20's? Are we okay with where our lives are headed -- the standard "American Dream?" Was I too busy concentrating on the future during my 20's that I missed out on these opportunities?

Hard and tough questions for us to process. And while we head into our 30's over the next couple years -- we will continue to place our trust and prayer in the Lord. During my meditation time - I always seem to hear Him remind me of how little I am in charge of what the next 10 years has in store. That my wandering heart will find a place to be again. It doesn't feel like it will happen soon - but I come away feeling more peaceful about it than when I entered into my time with Him. And while we closed our date night together still undecided about what is to come, we were content with the knowledge that our trust in God will lead us to the right place at the right time. God will take care of our family. Praise Him for that.