Friends!

Since we have moved to the East coast we have had so much fun, not only preparing for little baby girl, but also traveling and meeting some amazing people. I wanted to write a quick blog introducing some of our new friends here on the East coast, so that when I come home and start talking about them you will have a little better idea of who these great people are. 

Chandler and Bristen

Chase met Chandler at ODS back in July and I got the wonderful opportunity to meet Bristen just a few days after we got here. Chandler proposed to Bristen at ODS graduation and they are going to get married this April. We are so excited for them, but sad because because our little girl is due a few days after the wedding so we can't go. Chandler and Bristen are so much fun to be around they always know how to have a good time and have accepted our California hippieness with open arms. Chandler is the southern boy who has gotten chase into hunting, fishing, and doing every outdoors thing possible. Bristen and I get along like two peas in a pond and we have had so much fun together getting ready for the wedding and the baby.  We have a great time with both of them and love that Chandler is in the Navy because that means we can possibly be in the same place in the future. 

Jon and Michelle (Evelyn)

You might recognize this lovely couple from an older blog post from when we went up to Philly. Chase met Jon at school and few weeks after it all started. Jon is prior service with the Army were he flew helicopters for a few years. Michelle and Jon have been married for 7 years and have a beautiful little girl Evelyn who is just about to turn one. Jon and Michelle are a wonderful christian couple that we have spent a lot of time with, not only having nice dinners, and looking for churches together, but also traveling. Michelle has been a huge blessing helping me get ready for the baby and I am so glad to have another mom here to help me with the whole experience. They are a very sweet couple and really great friends.

Mitch and Maj

Maj and  Mitch are our California peeps who we couldn't do without. I met Maj at the spouses club in the fall and Chase met Mitch (Army) simultaneously at school. This gorgeous couple invited us to go up to the "snow" with them before we even got a chance to hang out. I figured if they were brave enough to ask Chase and I to go away for a weekend they were worth checking out as friends and man was I right. Maj as been one of my closest friends since I have gotten here. We spend a lot of time just hanging out, shopping, going to the movies, and talking about life. She has been so wonderful because we both don't work so we get a lot of time together. Mitch is not to bad himself, he ahas recently gotten Chase into racquet ball and I can see a lot of the in the near future. They are an awesome couple that we love spending time with them. They are going to be a great adopted aunt and uncle for little Ella. 

Dan and Allison

We met Dan (Air Force) and Allison the same time we met Mitch and Maj and the 6 of us travels up to the "snow" (there was none) right after christmas together. Dan and Allison are from Pittsburg, PA and got married back in June. Allison is an amazing first grade teacher who is in her first year of teaching at a school here in Maryland. I have gotten the wonderful opportunity to go into her classroom and help out a few times and it has been so fun. Maj, Allsion, and I spend a lot of time together and when we can we drag the boys along. I absolutely love Allison she is an amazing friend and is sweet as pie. We are hoping to get Dan and Allison out to California this summer and we can't wait!

These are just a few of our friends here. There are also a lot of other amazing couples that we have met here and even ones from home (Philip and Liz Hurst) that we can't imagine being without.  We are so blessed by the support system that we already have and each of these couples mean something really important to us. I hope that everyone at home gets a chance to meet all these amazing people soon. 

Journey to a New life

I am officially 28 weeks and starting my third trimester. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone by. I feel blessed every day to have this little girl growing and kicking inside me. I have had an extremely easy pregnancy so far and I am anxious for her come into this world. Below I have attached pictures of my growing belly. I was so blessed to receive a few new lenses and Lightroom Adobe for Christmas and this is my first attempt at editing. I know I still have a lot of learning to do, but I am sure I will have a lot of practice once this little girl comes. I hope you enjoy!

Reflecting on Christmas and the New Year

Another wonderful year full of love and joy has come and gone, and as I reflect on where God has brought us I can't help, but rejoice in His timing and His redeeming grace. From starting medical school to moving across the country, God did miss a beat when he decided this would be a year of change. And of course the biggest change adding to our family. 


I have gone through many different emotions when it comes to thinking about this baby girl and what will happen in the next few months as we prepare for her arrival. From extreme excitement to shaking fear. But, as I reflect on this year I can't deny that God has been in every moment and who am I to doubt him now. I have come to realize that things are going to change (of course), but it doesn't have to be change that I am fearful of, but instead change that I can rejoice in. So as we bring in the new year (and Chase starts off by kissing his baby girl), I have to praise God for this wonderful life he has given me and rejoice in the fact that He has His hand in everything. 

I am so grateful for the time Chase and I received going home and seeing family and friends. And to have them share in the new joy we have for this coming year. I am so grateful for the friendships and love that surrounds us, even being so far away from home. There isn't a second that goes by that I don't praise God for the people he has placed in our lives to encourage and love us unconditionally.  

So, 2011, you were full of adventure, love, excitement, and trust and 2012, I welcome you with the same open arms because I know that the Lord has his best in mind for us and I trust in Him completely. 

     Happy New Year! 

Where have I been?

So, I thought with all the time I have on my hands I would be blogging at least weekly and keeping my friends and family up to date on our new lives here in Maryland. Little did I know that I am not a very motivated or creative person so this blog has fallen to the weigh side like many other "goals" I have had. Well, 2012 It is time to change that. I have three months to go until we introduce our little girl Ella Nadine Hughes into the world and it is time for me to get a fire under my butt. So I am promising a post at least once a week until our little angel arrives. I hope to have some fun stuff to read, maybe of few crafts, food, and photography to look at and a new outlook on life. So the 12 of you that may sometimes read this I hope that I can stay true to my word and make a new commitment to myself and to you. Happy New Year everyone. It is going to be a fantastic year full of Gods grace and love. 

Start of a New Life!

As many of you know by now, Chase and I are about to embark on a whole new Journey. God has blessed us with a baby girl that is growing happy and strong in my belly. I am now 22 weeks along and things could not be going better. This new life has been a huge blessing for our family and myself. I have felt really good throughout the whole pregnancy except for being tired, but nothing a little sleep can't fix. Chase has been doing an incredible job balancing his pregnant wife and medical school. Despite the long hours of studying he still makes me feel like I am his first priority. I couldn't be more happy to be surrounded by such  a wonderful and loving husband (Nice job Brent and Kathy). We are excited to share with you as our journey continues. 

Pumpkin Spice Pull-Apart Bread with Butter Rum Glaze

Fall is our favorite time of year, but mostly because we love anything and everything with pumpkin. I found this great recipe online for Pumpkin Pull Apart Bread that is delicious. Be prepared, this is a long recipe, but you won't be disappointed. Click on the link below for the full recipe. 

Pumpkin Spice Pull-Apart Bread with Butter Rum Glaze

Philadelphia

After completing the first module of Medical school we took a long weekend to travel up to Philadelphia with our good friends Jonathan, Michelle and their little girl Evelyn (Who Chase is in love with).  We were blessed to stay with my Aunt in Uncle in Chesterbrook, PA right outside of Valley Forge.  Throughout the long weekend we journeyed to the city, explored Valley Forge, and drove out the Amish country for an amazing experience. We had a wonderful time. Here are a few pictures from our Adventures. 

 Chase and his "other" girl

 Liberty Bell

 Lucky Ben's Finger

 Washington and Chase

Philly

 Valley Forge

 Amish Country

 Beautiful Autumn Leaves

The Crew