Christmas Weekend

I hope everyone had a great Christmas with loved ones.  We spent Thursday-Saturday in White Salmon at Jesse's parents house and then they came to our house Saturday-Sunday.  It was a nice, relaxing weekend but it went by so fast!  Luckily, I have another 3 day weekend coming up for New Years.  

I also got a phone call from my half-brother, Jeff wishing us a Merry Christmas.  As most of you know, I grew up not seeing Jeff often except on occasional holidays or at family reunions.  There are pictures take of him and I when I was little.  So, because we never talk or see each other, I thought it was a little odd that he called and I really didn't know what to think.  But fortunately, I worried for nothing because he just wanted to talk.  And I appreciate the effort he's making to get in contact with family and knowing how important that is, especially as we get older.  


I look forward to hearing what the new year will bring for everyone.  I hope it is a time of new beginnings, insights and lessons as well as a time of reflection and knowing more of yourself on a daily basis.

Christmas photos

Okay, I got my Christmas photos and cards done this weekend and will be mailing them out tomorrow. So everyone should be getting them soon.  Now mind you, I am not that happy with the photo but it was the only recent one of Jesse and I together.  It was taken this summer.  Most of you are getting them, but then I had to switch to regular Christmas cards because I ran out, sorry!  Here is the picture:

The one for the Christmas photo is in sepia tone, which I found out from Jesse after I already ordered them, is not the greatest thing to do for certain pics.  But, what's done is done.  

I don't have much exciting news to report.  It's been a while since my last update.  My parents were here briefly the weekend before Thanksgiving before heading to California to see Kjersten.  Dad got sick while he was there and was at the doctor a few times for antibiotics to fight off ear infections and conjuctivitis.  What a way to spend a vacation.  Then on the last leg of the journey home, dad's van breaks down near North Bend.  Man, he was so close to being home.  Now he has to accomodate himself and a dog, all while still being sick, the car breaking down and on top of all that, dad doesn't carry a cell phone.  Go figure. (I think I know what he needs for Christmas...Jitterbug here we come).  I hope he makes it home by the end of the week. 

This year Christmas is going to be like any other day, we just can't afford to do a lot of gifts this year with Jesse not working for past few months, not to mention that last week we had to repair our roof and an electrical problem in the attic all on the same day.  Luckily we have money in savings but that was to be used towards a down payment on a car for next year (since Jesse's car is on it's last leg).  But come January, Jesse will start back up with Frito and we will begin to build the savings back up.  In the end, God has provided every month.  We have always been able to pay the mortgage, which is our biggest expense. For this I am thankful. 

I hope to work on sending out Christmas photos this weekend.  I just need to pick them up and buy some more stamps. 

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. 

autumn

The leaves are already turning. I picked this one up on my walk today.  Look how bright it is.

our pets

Bella

Boo

KD

 

My "new" couch

I love my reupholstered couch.  It looks great.  It's pretty much done except he still has to put some fabric on the bottom and we are also going to have some throw pillows covered too. 

Sunset

Sunset made the clouds gorgeous.

My gladiolas have bloomed!

My vacation journal

I guess I should add to my vacation by at least writing down how it went.  I got to Leavenworth by way of train on Monday.  This was way better than taking the bus like I did in December. :)  We did some kayaking the next day on the Icicle, it was a beautiful trip but a little cold as we went really early in the morning. We saw a little bit of wildlife on the river: ducks, eagle's nest, beaver damage, bear tracks (although, I was hoping to actually see a real one). We took Sawyer to the river to play and swim - there were a lot of people there but it was a good swimming hole with nice sand for laying out.  As you can see from the picture we also did some mini golfing.  On Wednesday we went to a play called Crazy For You, my sister's favorite.  It had a lot of songs I knew from high school choir and watching musicals.  Thursday, we left for Amy's and took our time getting there, stopping along the way for lunch.  Of course, we got to hang out with The Meyers and see and hold little Addie, see how the other kids have grown and see my aunt Donna and uncle Cleve!  Then we drove to Vancouver to visit my house for a bit.  We stopped at beautiful Multnomah Falls on the way back.  You look at those falls and it's like a "wow" moment.  One is just in awe at how powerful and beautiful it is.  We arrive at my house and Sawyer is immediately drawn to the basement and backyard and asked a million and one questions about the house (apparently he doesn't see basements in California).  That kid loved Jesse and asked "Where's Jesse?" all the time and were the first words out of his mouth when he woke up.  We went to our local farmer's market which was the first time going for me since living in Vancouver and we got some fresh vegetables and fruit.  The time ended too fast and sis had to fly back to Cali.  Mom and dad dropped her off at the airport on their way home.

My Vacation

kayaking on the river

swimming at the river

On the way to Amy's

Multnomah Falls

the last day

spa day & nordstrom

How can I get so lucky?  I am having a spa day and going to the Nordstrom Pre-Sale all in one weekend!  THIS is going to be a GREAT weekend!  I'm getting a massage and a facial which I have never gotten before. Actually, I've gotten a massage once from a pro but not at a facility like this one.  And the pre-sale event?  I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about that.  Stay tuned.

This weekend was insightful for me.  I got so irritated with Jesse, I seriously felt like I was going to lose it and would just snap.  I know he works hard and he works his butt off and when he does get time off, he just wants to sleep.  But I wanted to get stuff done and we had errands to do together, but he was so tired that he slept until like 2:00 in the afternoon.  Needless to say, I was mad.  I felt like I wasted the majority of my day waiting around for him to get up so we could go out and get stuff done.  I also felt like if I had known it was going to take that long for him to get going, I would not have waited around for him and gotten stuff done myself.  Because I was mad, I snapped at him in the car and that just caused the rest of my day to go downhill.  Jesse and I don't have "fights" too often and we always make up after wards. At the end of the day, he is my best friend and the one who is always the bigger person.  Despite that I was mad, he forgave me, I forgave him.  I love that God has given us so much love for each other that we can put our differences aside.  I also know that there are things that I need to work on myself and that will always be a process for me.  


It's been a long time since I've posted.  I just don't have a lot going on in my life. Sometimes I wish I had kids so that I had stories to talk about. :)

I really don't have anything exciting to post.  I rarely ever do.  But it's been a while since my last post, so I thought I'd update.  Not much new going on with me.  I am in my friend's wedding coming up on May 15th, so been helping out with lots of wedding prep. 

Jesse has been working hard at his job.  And of course, I don't see or talk to him much because of his schedule but it makes me love him that much more. 

I have been getting my flower beds ready for warm weather.  I just planted some bulbs and will be planting some more in the back yard tomorrow.  I love working outside and how therapeutic it is for me and how good it makes me feel, how I feel like I've accomplished so much when I am done.  

It's been a while since I've posted.  The most recent news is that I served as a juror on a two day criminal case last week.  I didn't think I would get picked at all because of where I work and because knew the attorneys.  The jury also picked me to be the presiding juror.  It was a great experience and I learned a lot from it.  It's serious business deciding someone's fate/future. 

Jesse has been busy at Frito and hopefully they are getting close in negotiations with regards to their contract.  It's been a long, drawn out process.  If he had the opportunity to work as a full time permanent worker, I don't know if he would want to; maybe if it was better hours.  

We got our big screen HDTV taken away from us because it was defective.  We are in the process of getting a replacement; Jesse has done a lot of research.  Now it's just a matter of time and working a deal.  I feel spoiled in a way, because I was so used to watching tv on a big screen and now we are watching tv on our old tube tv.  Talk about old school.  :)

I thought about grandma and grandpa today on my way home from work and how much I miss them.  They are in my thoughts often and I am so glad for that.  I thought about how they are up in heaven with God and they are young and healthy again.  I think they are proud of all of us and that they watch over us and see our lives playing out.  And though it seems like they've missed out on so much since they've been gone, they in fact are seeing everything and smiling.  They know the great grandchildren they never got to meet.  My heart aches to see them again, just once more, to tell them I love them.  I wish they were still here.  

*Thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories and a picture in a frame. Your memory is a keepsake, with which I'll never part. God has you in his keeping, I have you in my heart.*

There hasn't been much new going on with us.  Jesse has been busy at work lately.  Him going back to work kind of started sporadically but now seems to be working pretty much every day.  If his job were to turn permanent, it sounds like he's at the top of the list of temporary workers for the position.  We'll see what happens. 

Work has been kind of slow lately.  Even after gaining a few more things, I still have been caught up with my work.  I'm sure things will pick up.  The economy may be bad but people keep on committing crimes! 

As you can see from this blog, my life is not so exciting.  I will post more if anything new happens.

Honk if you love Jesus, text if you want to see him...

http://www.oprah.com/nophonezone
This is disturbing and I hope none of you ever text while driving.  Please check out the full episode.  The scene with the bus driver crashing into the car in front of him because he was texting has stayed in my mind and it's haunting that people have died from this, that you can cause this to happen OR you could be a victim of this.  The stats are astounding...it's equivalent to driving drunk.  Please watch this and encourage others not to text or possibly even talk on the phone while driving. 

Hawaii

I have an opportunity to go to Hawaii this summer with a friend of mine whose parents live there.  So, I would only be paying for a plane ticket and spending money.  They live in Honolulu.  If anyone has some suggestions for things to do or places to go or "must see's" please let me know. 

I will admit that I have never been to Hawaii, in fact, I've never been to any place tropical - EVER.  So, I really hope to spend at least 2 weeks there as I have built up my vacation and thought it would be good to treat myself to a real vacation since I never go anywhere. 

It's a ways off, it won't be until June or July, but it gives me something to look forward to.

My favorite subject in school was...

 My favorite subject was probably high school English.  At the time we thought our teacher was "nerdy" but looking back on it, it was a class that I remembered because of the things we did.  We did a lot of memorizing of Shakespeare, poems etc. and to this day I still remember some of those lines.  "Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo.  Deny thy father and refuse thy name or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I will will no longer be a Capulet."  "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"  "Tis but thy name that is thy enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague."

"There are strange things done in 'neath the midnight sun by men who moil for gold...
The Northern lights have seen queer sights but the queerest they ever did see, was the night on the marge of Lake LaBarge I cremated Sam McGhee."

I mean, I can't believe I still remember this stuff. 

What was your favorite subject?

A look back

1999-2009 (some major events)

College Graduation
Married Jesse
Lived in Ellensburg
Got a cat (Bella)
Moved to Vancouver
Got a job for State of Oregon
Got another cat (Boo)
Got a job with the County
Grandparents pass away (my own & Jesse's grandpa & dear friend Edna)
Bought our first home
Got a job with the City
Got a dog
9-11 happened
First black President
Became an Aunt (to Sawyer)
Went to Kj's wedding

Please note these are in no particular order.

2010

Made it back home safe and sound from Leavenworth.  Part of the travel was by bus and that was the only bad thing, there wasn't much room at all and it was a full bus both on the way there and back.  The train ride was so nice and roomy.  I loved it. 

Time in Leavenworth went by fast; did some snow shoeing, almost broke mom & dad's cable trying to figure out how to switch components so that they can watch dvd's.  Boy, that was a chore, but Melanie saved the day!  I tell you, small towns just aren't quite up to speed with technology and available help.  (Slowsky internet and not good phone coverage).  It's amazing how much we have come to rely on tech from back in the day when we all only had land line phones and used typewriters instead of computers.  Times are changing.

Let's see, the wedding I was in was good.  It was very low key and very small, about 20 people in attendance.  It was at her parents house, so she had to keep it small and now her and her new husband are on the road to Oklahoma.  (Isn't that a song?)

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and is now enjoying the start of a new decade!  It has been a time of reflection for me these past 15 years, how life has changed me since high school, and all the events that have occurred, the death of all four of my grandparents, the fact that my own parents are getting older and how life comes around full circle.  Life is too short to be bitter, angry or judgmental about the world.  So, here's to 2010 and a great year!