smells like teen spirit

I realize as I sit down that I don't really have anything to say today. I do, however, smell that I am in need of a shower after the Ultimate Strength class I took this morning and after doing some finishing touches on two homes I am currently staging. Peace and sweet smelling to you this Monday afternoon!

Any Adoption News? NOPE!

I wish I had some news to report to all of you that are just as eager to hear as we are. But no, there is no news on the adoption front. It is kind of depressing, but at the same time I keep reminding myself that it just must not be the right time. We have been referral ready since October and it was supposed to be fast, but it seems as if every combination of children have come into the Eban House(AAI's Ghana orphanage) except for what we think(and have prayed a lot about) would be good for our family; a 0-4yr. old little boy. Little girls have come in, older boys and girls, little boys that fit our age, but have 3 siblings........just not a single little boy that is a toddler or older. It makes me start to go a little crazy. Are we not being open? Should we have opened up to one of the little girls, an older boy, a sibling set of 3 or 4? Or is it just not the right time right now and it will be when our little boy comes into the home? Maybe it is taking this long because we aren't supposed to adopt. These are all the questions/thoughts I am thinking right now. I know many of these thoughts are silly. I mean really, it hasn't really been that long, it is just that I have seen people in our agency who have signed up after us get referrals and one even go home weeks ago with their twins. It is actually a very fast process compared to other countries, so I am thankful for that. I also love our agency and the people that are adopting with us. It is hard not to be jealous, and at the same time be excited for them. I love that children are getting placed with loving families; I just wish it was our time and for some reason it isn't.

He is Risen- He is Risen Indeed!!

Easter was a very special day at our home. We had been reading the stories about Jesus with the kids from Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper), Good Friday (the crucifixion), to Easter morning when Jesus rose from the dead! Amazing to see it through a child's eye. The kids got to hunt for eggs and their baskets in the morning, and then we went to go set up for church. I love our church! The kids have so much fun helping out and setting up, as well as playing with their friends while we get everything ready. A couple from our church, Dale and Alicia, did an amazing job with the set up and had painted tulips on 8 ft. boards that they placed around the church. They also brought in some real tulips for the tables- it was so pretty! The service was great and I enjoyed the message and the different people that came to worship at Alive. Personally I thought the pastor was hot! (is that sacrilegious if he is your husband?)

Table for 50, anyone?/ Cousins

Afterwards, we took the ferry over to Seattle with my parents and met up with Brad's family and Erik for Easter dinner at one of their friends from church's home. Wow! It was a celebration! There were about 50 of us and they had one, long, continuous white linen table for us to all sit at. There were about 14 kids and they were fantastic with great manners, while still having fun! They got to have an Easter egg hunt up on the third floor of this old home that sits atop Queen Anne hill. I was also quite proud of Greta (and slightly embarrassed) when a women commented on Greta's eggs that she got and said, "Well, this is what Easter is all about!" Greta looked at her strangely and said, "No it isn't, it is about Jesus dying for us!" Well said smarty pants!

Later we went to Brad and Ingrid's with my parents and we got to play Settler's of Catan. I only mention this because I won the game against my husband, brother, and sister-in-law! Very satisfying to beat them all. Just to be clear, that isn't what Easter is all about!

Here are some pictures from our town Easter egg hunt:

Greta & Justus's friends: "On your mark, get set, go!"
Egg Pandemonium

1 > 0: One is Greater Than None

A friend led me onto this website http://www.oneisgreaterthannone.org/ and I was so impressed with the organization. It is a non-profit started by eight, 14 yr. old girls that have the goal of making a difference in One child at a time. They urge you to become a part of the equation and that 1 > none. Any contribution we make towards change has value. These girls were inspired by an Oprah show they watched that showed child trafficking in the fishing villages in Ghana (which is where we are adopting from). It takes approx. $4300 to take a child out of the inhuman conditions and care for them for 2 1/2 yrs. The girls challenged themselves to save one child and made jewelry and clothing. Right away they raised enough to save 8 children! I am so inspired by what these girls are doing; each year they will take on one cause to help children in need. This year they are teaming with www.iom.int . They now are selling their merchandise in small boutiques across the country and this spring in Bloomingdale's. 100% of their proceeds are donated to IOM. Check out their site- they are some pretty amazing girls!

Grandma and Grandpa Farm

Road trip to Mt. Rainier

Grandpa & Grandma Farm


Daron's parents were out this week visiting from MN and we got to show them what our week usually looks like with all of our differing schedules. They were here for a 1st Sunday of the Month at Alive, so that was pretty cool. It was our 2 yr. anniversary for Alive and we had a blast at the birthday party on Sunday. We had a balloons, cake, and even a pinata.

Other fun things we did while they were here was to go to a benefit for Greta's Norwegian dancing, a walk up to school one morning, one on one dates with their grand kids, out to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at least once, coffee dates, fishing on the Nordic Dawg with my dad and brother- Erik, and a day trip to Mt. Rainier. FUN! FUN! A good time was had by all.






Justus & Greta trying to make an avalanche? Ella exploring the Mt.

Ella made it to the summit (of this hill) Snowball fight!!!!

Thor

Notice the speed limit sign, that is where the car is usually parked

We woke up to the doorbell the other morning at 6:50AM. There was a man at our door that was walking by and stopped to tell us that Thor just got hit. Thor is our VW Jetta TDI. We bought Thor after two years of marriage and we have had him for the last 10. The story is a little sketchy to me, but the cop and Daron seem to believe this "innocent little 70 yr. old lady." I think there is more to the story. I guess she was coming from the other direction and hit our car that was PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. Instead of braking, she continued driving at a said 15 miles per hour and pushed our car at least 20 feet, crooked, smack in the middle of our driveway. It actually looks as if we had been out late after a party and didn't quite know what we were doing when we parked our car. It has taken the insurance company an insane amount of time to come and assess it and our car is still parked this way since it is undriveable. They said yesterday that it is totalled, but now we are working out the logistics. Since this has happened, we have had a lot of inquisitive neighbors who are wondering what the Pastor and his Mrs. have been up to. We just smile and let them think the best of us!

Anyone selling a truck?

Silver Mountain

This President's Weekend, Daron, Justus, Greta, and I went along with North Kitsap Young Life on a ski retreat. I think there were about 65 high schoolers and Daron was the speaker for this extravaganza. We had such a blast skiing there! The weather was perfect and sunny and the snow was just right! Silver Mtn. has a gondola that you need to take up to the skiing. It was picturesque!

This was Greta and Justus's first time skiing since we took them up to some bunny hills in NH. Here they got 1 1/2 days of lessons and they did awesome! It was so fun to see your kids figure out how to ski and then go down the mountain with them. It was also a little scary, as a mom, knowing all the different ways they could hurt themselves. There seemed to be a lot of steep cliffs off the greens. Of course, the kids just sped down them and it never crossed their minds. I am sure I was the same way when I was their age!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is my double notfat extra hot peppermint latte that my husband made for me this morning! I loved it! He is the best valentine I could ask for! He knows that the way to my heart nowadays is through lattes. Daron is very observant and treats me to really special little and sometimes big, surprises. Luckily, he doesn't save them for one day a year and we don't usually make such a big deal about Feb. 14th. He hasn't always been this way though, so for others that don't always show it, there is hope!

Our first Valentine's Day we had just started dating, so we were still lovey dovey as a freshman and junior in college. The second valentine was the most unforgiveable unforgettable year still! He decided the night before that he thought we should take a break from one another, ie:break up. (I still believe he didn't have a present for me and that was the real reason). Anyway, I was devastated and left the campus to go and stay at my parents house for a night and before I left, he dropped off a book for me called, "Before the Ring". Yes, it was a premarital book. I guess he was having cold feet and really second guessing if I was the one he wanted to spend his life with. When I got up to my parents, it was just my dad(no offense). My mom was actually in the hospital getting a hysterectomy (sorry if that is TMI), so I didn't get to cry with my mom since I didn't want to worry her in the hospital that I was upset (she really liked Daron too). The good thing about this is that I got to hang with my dad and received some great words of wisdom from him in a letter to me that I still look to and pass on to others. My dad is so wise! (but this will go to his head if he reads this, right Dad?) Anyway, Daron and I got back together the next day, but only after I was able to put him through some fun not-so-nice agony.

Two years ago was such a memorable fun surprise! Two days before the V-day weekend, he asked the kids and I what he should do for me for Feb. 14th. They through out "take her dancing, take her on a trip, take her someplace warm, ....etc" He said, "okay!" What?!! He told me to get ready and that he was taking me away for the weekend to someplace romantic, fun, warm (not warm enough for a swimsuit though), and an airplane ride away! I am glad he threw in the swimsuit phrase though because I had already started thinking....Hawaii! (Sorry, it is a problem of mine to think grandeous first!) The surprise was a trip to Santa Barbara to stay with some friends for a night and then go to the wine country!! It was a wonderful time. Our friends found us a convertible to drive up and then we stayed at the nicest bed and breakfast-very romantic! It was a very special trip- I love how Daron surprised me with three things that I love: traveling with him, time with our close friends, and wine!

This year we are going over to my parents and we are going to celebrate together with some crab! Yum! We were going to have a romantic dinner after the kiddos went to bed, but "crab" called and we thought we would much rather share our love with family! Yes, we can be bought!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Confession -vol.2

My Christmas decorations are also still out. They are gathered, but not put away.

Happy Birthday!

Jen was just up for a visit from Cali and we had a great time catching up! She and her family moved this summer and everyone wanted to have a piece of her on this trip, so I am sure she went home a little exhausted. While she was here, she got to show us the jewerly she is selling from Silpada. Great stuff and I know a fun rep now! Anyway, I miss you and Happy Birthday!