03-31-13

Easter wasn’t want I envisioned, but I’m learning to let go.  And ended up with a nice Easter.

I wanted the family to be together all day, but Xander was asked to help with tech at the afternoon church service.

I wanted to eat at home and not “transact commerce” all day, but we didn’t have broccoli for our beef and broccoli dinner recipe.

We fought playing Risk.  We enjoyed the sunshine.  We colored eggs and had an egg hunt; I guess some aspects of Easter don’t get outgrown.  

03-30-13

I decided to ignore my oppressive to do list and focus my efforts outward this weekend. 

So Xander and I committed to set the alarm this morning and help out with the Easter egg hunt at the park in the community.  Xander and I partitioned off the park with twine, hid a ton of eggs, and did crowd control.  Noticed that the “ton of eggs” didn’t look like much at all in any of my photos…

We were way under equipped to deal with the kids.  I guess this was the first year of the hunt, and the great weather brought families out in droves.  I think we all have ideas on how to improve it for next year (more candy and plastic eggs donated!), but not sure you can ever get an egg hunt to be a pleasant experience…

03-29-13

A long week coming to an end.

Bruce recuperating but not exactly taking it easy.

Wrapped up Vancouver meetings, back to Longview to take a spill in the lake.

Transitioning to Easter with a Good Friday service.

Hoping for a serene weekend.

03-28-13

A parking lot full of Weyerhaeuser pick-ups at Heathman Lodge.  A room full of plaid and flannel clad engineers.  Presentations full of photos of straw bales and rock.  More gourmet food than anyone should ever eat.

Two day road forum.

03-27-13

Weird day, our routines are all off kilter.

Co-hosted a surprise baby shower for our two pregnant ladies in the office.  Donna and Tracy were showered in gifts, with a recurring monkey theme.

Baby items are always so adorable!

03-26-13

Today was a travel day and I decided to dress warm and comfortable.  Got a lot of compliments on my red sweatshirt too!

03-25-13

My birthday present has been getting some attention, both in real life and on Facebook.  I rearranged my decorative shelves at work to make room for the new canvas.  Love it.

03-24-13

We normally spend the weekend at the beach without spending much time on the beach.  This year we got on the sand a little more.  This was after our morning Haystack mochas (vanilla, almond, & coconut).

Back to reality and gearing up for an atypical week…

03-23-13

Full day of couples retreat.  And my birthday!

For us retreats are just as much or maybe even more about fellowship than the marriage content.  It was fun to already know many of the attendees.  Got to know several better and make connections with others.

Nice enough weather to be outdoors, what a gift!

03-22-13

I only took one photo all day Friday, and here it is…

Half day vacation, rush to Cannon Beach, ready to roll for the first annual marriage retreat for Valley Christian Fellowship… Bruce and I helped out.  This is photo of part of the evening icebreaker, administering a short personality test.

Turns out we have one of each type in our family.  http://weirdblog.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/personality-types-lion-beaver-otter-and-golden-retriever/

03-21-13

Spaghetti and make your own tacos seem to be the only meals that bring much rejoicing.  Both are easy and yummy, so that works.

Tonight dinner conversation is all about volunteering at the pool and YMCA.  That works too.

03-20-13

Happy first day of spring!

My devotion today says that God showers blessings on us daily, but we sometimes don’t perceive them.

Who knows how many disasters I avert in an average day.  Today I’m thankful I stayed safe in my travels despite rain showering down, lots of hydroplaning on the freeway, and severe lack of sleep last night.

03-19-13

Greetings from our third place.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_place)

Bruce and I visited the Electric Bean tonight, threw the baristas off by ordering different drinks, were greeted by the regulars, and settled down to plot out the marriage retreat logistics that we are responsible for.

Then back to our first place so I can get to bed soon in preparation for an early morning travel day thanks to my second place…

03-18-13

Adopt-a-Block presentation done, check!  Next event, couples retreat this weekend… yep, things are crazy, and only have myself and my enthusiasm to blame.

My devotion today says to take things one day at a time.  We need to trust, not understand.

03-17-13

We had two events on our adopted block today.  In the rain showers and sun breaks, which makes it harder to get people to come out.  This photo is from the Habitat for Humanity groundbreaking event.  The two kids and younger couple is the Scott family, the people who will be moving into the Habitat house.

Deep breath, on to the our next event, presentation tomorrow night…

03-16-13

Look who’s on the big screen!  This was filmed Wednesday, and shown tonight at church.  It was an interview with my pastor about the Adopt-a-Block local mission work and how it aligns to the goals of the church. I was one of 8 people interviewed (then cut down to a few minutes each), sharing how we share and show Christ in our everyday lives.

It is mortifying to watch myself, but I guess it could have been a lot worse.  Funny how I use my hands so much when I talk.  It is really distracting to one of my bosses, so I've learned to sit on my hands in meetings with him.

03-15-15

As I smashed more unread magazines into my magazine rack, I decided that this chaos represents my life right now.  So glad to be at Friday, but so behind on my life again.  I can’t remember the last time I relaxed with a magazine.

Different years bring different schedules, but I really need to figure out how to do less, expect less, want less.

03-14-13

Decided to go for a walk this evening.  Glad I took my windbreaker, the weather deteriorated.  Is it Friday yet?!?

03-13-13

Here we are, the fruit folks.  Xander and I are still on fruit in the morning.  This week he got to pick some of the fruit.  Pears, oranges, and apples here, berries, asian pear and kiwi in the fridge.  Makes me hungry for breakfast… and yes, he is way taller than me!

03-12-13

We thought that tonight was Anastasia’s last band concert.  But really there is another one in May.  She is not planning to take band next year as she tackles Running Start, but she still has plenty of time to change her mind a few more times.  We sat in the balcony – stairs and a shot at better photos!

03-11-13

“We have 11,000 diapers to drop off, can we come today or tomorrow?” – Donna

“How do I visualize how much 11,000 diapers is?” – CAP

“It’s not too bad.” – Donna

If you strategically pack two SUV’s to the gills, you have a little over 11,000 diapers.  This was the second annual diaper drive at work, and this year we got to distribute the diapers locally.  I got to participate in delivering them today, which was fun.  As was stuffing the vehicles...

03-10-13

I almost didn’t even leave the house today, but ended up going out to shop.  Quiet gray day.  Sunday evening chores, ironing clothes for the week…

03-09-13

“We never get a dog who likes to play catch!” - Xander

The to do list is becoming oppressive, so we are having a quiet weekend at home.

Of course, all work is no fun, so we did volunteer at Humane Society, we got the paddleboard out on the lake for the first time this year, and we had family game night after church.  The silly dog can jump really high, goes back and forth between crazy and mellow, got Xander all muddy, and has the deepest bark ever.

“I think this was our best dog yet.” – Xander

“He’s like the Target dog.” - Mom

03-08-13

Tonight we attended the spelling bee at the Kelso Theater Pub with Bruce’s work crew.  The contestants and helpers dressed up, the words were a mix of easy, obscure and local, and it was a fun evening of entertainment.

The guy in tights is popping balloons when the words are spelled wrong, a fun visual.

Happy Friday!

03-07-13

My life is heavily driven by routines.

One is a quick date with my Mia every other day for some deep cleaning.

It feels good and seems to be good for my skin…

"The finest clothing made is a person's own skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this." - Mark Twain

03-06-13

Tonight is a Girls Scout Cookie night.

We stopped by Walgreens on the way to Bible Study.  We bought and tore into some Samoa’s.  A crumb got stuck on Bruce’s hat and he ate it at Bible Study, causing some lifted eyebrows.

We had Girl Scout Cookies as snack at study.  Part of a Tagalong fell on the floor as I ate one on the way to the door to leave.  I put the discarded cookie part in the box I was holding.

When we got home, Xander was rifling through my packages looking for food.  He found the dropped cookie part, popped it in his mouth, said “Yum”, then asked what it was.  Like father like son.

03-05-13

Coffee at the Bean before scattering for the evening.  The baristas had my order down, until I threw them for a loop and ordered the drink of the month instead. “with soy?”  Bruce is getting accustomed to his new ipad, we played games on it while the band warmed up.

This week seems to be going by really slow…

03-04-13

Not a fan of the laundry in the background, but still like the photo.

Teens [teenz]  plural noun

the numbers 13 through 19, especially in a progression, as the 13th through the 19th years of a lifetime or of a given or implied century.

Here’s a teen in the teens!

03-03-13

We went to Portland today.  I remembered my camera and my wallet, but forgot my phone.  Which means we couldn’t split up, with no easy way to reconnect.

Anastasia brought plenty of technology with her – phone, iTouch, and tablet.  Bruce got his new iPad Mini today, so we sat in this coffee shop and amused ourselves with entertaining special effects photos.

Life is good, with or without gadgets…

03-02-13

We had baptisms at church tonight.  The first time at the coffee house, since we now have a portable baptismal.

It takes a lot of people to make the baptisms run smoothly.  Bruce and I knew we were part of the team, but Xander got roped in to help video.  If you need some additional tech support, ask a teen.

Here is Xander videotaping our friend Jill being baptized.

03-01-13

Beanie boy.  Last night holed up in his room, tonight out on the town.  Spent the afternoon at the YMCA and dined at Sizzler with friends.  TGIF and happy March!