I made it through another year....

Time to check in with last year's resolutions and set some for next year:

I resolve to replace complaints with compliments, find joy where there has been frustration, and to seek to serve rather than be served.
I think I made some progress in this area...

~ I resolve to worry less and pray more, eat less and exercise more, talk less and listen more, to give more and keep less, and to count my blessings daily.
...worried less, prayed more, ate more and exercised less...and I think I still talked too much despite my best attempts to be quiet.

~ I resolve to try new things and go new places in 2009. On my list are the Highland Games in July, the Greek Festival in October, the Japanese Gardens, and Costa Rica.
I only managed two out of four - the Greek Festival and the Japanese Gardens. Costa Rica came to me!

~ I resolve to cook a new recipe monthly, try a new restaurant quarterly, read 6 books that are not for work, and talk to my mom on the phone each week.
...wow, this seemed so simple when I typed it.I got the reading and the eating part done! (Sorry mom, better luck this year)

~ I resolve to discontinue my habit of painting Bob's toenails when he falls asleep watching television, and to stop calling Haley "Bo Peep".
I DID IT! FOR A WHOLE YEAR!

OK the list for this year looks strangely familiar:

Spend more time with God every day
Focus on eating well and exercising every day
Call my mom weekly
Read at least one book per month
Try a new recipe each month
Learn a new knitting pattern this year
Practice Spanish and improve it
Find a new passion or hobby and pursue it!

Merry Christmas 2009

What a year! We are healthy and happy and have too much to eat. Our family is scattered even more now (Southern California, Chico, Denver and Portland) but the internet keeps us up to date and connected.
We welcomed Haile Matthew Dean, son of Jennie and John Dean, first grandson! We saw Haley leave the nest and Chelsea return! And we are blessed to have three kids home for Christmas this year. Cheers!

Portland Japanese Garden

A friend and I took a quick trip through the Japanese Garden October 10 - we were a week or two early for the best fall color, but here are a few shots. They had a floral arranging show/competition which had some interesting and creative entries.

JOY PROJECT

Join me for the Joy Project this fall: Friday mornings beginning October 30th, or Monday evenings beginning November 9th, at Sherwood Presbyterian Church.

Women of all ages are invited to join us on a "Journey to Joy" this fall for 6 weeks. During that time, we'll look at six principles that are absolutely essential - non-negotiable in fact - if we want to live a life of unshakable and authentic joy.

We'll meet in the Fireside room at the Hite House (doesn't that sound cozy?) to watch an engaging 35-minute DVD of Bo Stern sharing insights from her journey to joy. We'll have time for group discussion afterwards. The journey also includes a nifty journal with daily (brief) scripture readings and reflections as well as space for you to record your own thoughts.

Those who attended Selah this fall will remember Bo's enthusiasm, wit and authenticity. She writes: Those of you who check in with my blog regularly, know that I have been positively immersed in an effort to deconstruct a teeny little word: joy . My desire to figure it out, chase it down and make it my own has been challenging, exciting and transforming. Without any reservation I can say that I will never be the same.

What better way to prepare our hearts for Advent and the coming of the Savior than to take a journey to joy? If you have questions or wish to reserve a workbook please contact co-leaders: Karen Sesnon or Amy Tang.

We do need to order the books in advance so let us know if you are interested!

Garden of the Gods

Bob and I spent our last day in Colorado in the Colorado Springs area. Really scenic and so different from the PNW!

Back to School

Last week we traveled to Colorado laden with 6 checked bags (mostly large, pink, "rubbermaid" tubs) to set Haley up in her dorm/apt. for the start of her first year of college.

We attended the "Weekend of Welcome" which included hearing the university president speak as well as attending chapel with the students. Both were very moving events, so different from elementary school or high school "back to school" events. I reflected that I've had a child in school now for 22 years and this was probably my last "back to school" experience.

Haley is now a member of the Sandlot (photo, 4th from right in back row)! She's already waiting for her first care package from home!

Haley's graduation

After more than 10 days of unparalleled sunshine and warm weather, now that the big day is here we've got rain, lightening, hail and generally unpleasant weather. We're keeping our fingers and toes crossed for good weather this evening to celebrate Haley's graduation from high school.Go Tigers!

Haley's sisters Chelsea and Jennie are here as well as her Nephew Haile Matthew Dean!

Spider Babies!

A family of spider babies hatched on our strawberry plant - I seriously hope these are garden spiders and not plant-eating spiders or HOBO spider! eek! Nature is amazing...fun to see don't you think?

Check out the music!

I'd added a new widget at the bottom of the page - check out local artist Justin Klump!

Welcome Haile Matthew Dean!

Jennie and John welcomed their son on April 23 in the wee hours of the morning. He weighs 8 lb 7 oz and is 20 inches long.

Spring in Tigard

Spring in the Pacific Northwest is fickle at best. On a given day we can have brilliant sunshine, hail, filtered sun, rain, even snow. The trend this week is clouds and some rain and it feels colder than it really is. Things are coming back to life though, blossoms on trees, bulbs (crocus and daffodils so far), birds everywhere. Spring seems to be a season of "hurry up and wait" here - a glimmer of sunshine sends us all out to our gardens with great intentions, until the rain and cold sends us scurrying back indoors.

We attempted to escape the late winter/early spring gloom by going to Maui - but we hit similar weather there. We would have preferred sunshine and blue skies but we actually did enjoy the extreme storms we observed from our 8th floor window. Maui in any weather is a peaceful place to be so we were grateful for the break in our routine and the "cold" weather at 70 degrees!

The last kid's last day of high school!

Haley drove off into the fog on her last real day of high school....she leaves for Costa Rica this evening. When she returns she will take classes at the community college, work at Chevy's, and continue her volunteer work in the music program at the elementary school, and leading children's and youth worship at her church.

I've had children in school for 21.5 years!

Jennie and Haile at 27 Weeks

Doesn't she look wonderful?

He's a boy!

Jennie and John learned today that their baby is a boy - and he appears healthy and happy in his first sonogram photo shoot. The fact that he yawned tells me that he didn't find the experience to be too exciting.

Update following Jen's medical appt. She is 26 weeks and 6 days along and everything seems fine with both mom and baby.

New Year's Resolutions

I have never been a big fan of New Year's resolutions. I don't like making promises that sometimes feel out of reach. At the same time, it's good to refocus and look at intentionally changing habits and attitudes. So, here goes....

~ I resolve to replace complaints with compliments, find joy where there has been frustration, and to seek to serve rather than be served.

~ I resolve to worry less and pray more, eat less and exercise more, talk less and listen more, to give more and keep less, and to count my blessings daily.

~ I resolve to try new things and go new places in 2009. On my list are the Highland Games in July, the Greek Festival in October, the Japanese Gardens, and Costa Rica.

~ I resolve to cook a new recipe monthly, try a new restaurant quarterly, read 6 books that are not for work, and talk to my mom on the phone each week.

~ I resolve to discontinue my habit of painting Bob's toenails when he falls asleep watching television, and to stop calling Haley "Bo Peep".


Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin


He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. ~ Jim Elliot