Location, Location, Location...

I have heard that Location is everything.

I heard this when we were first moving to Kearney and looking to purchase our first home. I heard it again when we were relocating to Salem Oregon.

I have heard that in business, Location is everything.

I suppose all of that is true.


But today I found the statement, 'Location is everything' to be especially true when applied to where I was working.

I left for lunch on a gorgeous 'top-down' day and decided to just take a quick drive.

After about 45 minutes I just didn't want to stop.


65 minutes later I found myself sitting on the beach watching the waves role in.

It was a bit cloudy at first...


And a little bit chilly too...

But the clouds began to open up and soon it was all sun.



I got more accomplished on the beach in 90 minutes than I did in the previous 3 hours at my desk.

It was a productive day and a gorgeous one too.


Just one of the small perks to living in Oregon.

Soccer Son

Once again I find myself at the soccer fields watching a son play.

The Fall weather here in Oregon is much more enjoyable than some of the socder games I found myself at 8 years ago while watching Brad play.

A Dream Fulfilled

Sunday September 7th turned out to be a perfect day for sky diving.

I have been thinking about how to blog and wrap words around this experience for weeks now.
I thought once the video came that it would be easier to describe.

I have the photos and I have watched the video several times and I am no closer to describing this in words than I was immediately after I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane.

I know I could write about this for hours and not capture all the feelings of anticipation and joy at finally being able to live out one of my dreams.
All I can say is...

I can't wait to go again!






A huge thank you go to Tim my Tandem Jump Instructor and to Ted who captured my dream on film and on video.

If you are ever in Oregon you have to go to Skydive Oregon in Mollalla!

Ocean Waves come at you fast...

It was a gorgeous weekend here in the Mid Willamette Valley.
After working on the build site Saturday, and on a bit of a whim I found myself on the way to the coast in the hope of catching a sunset on the beach.
I forgot the general rule here in Oregon...


If it is sunny in the Valley, it is most likely cloudy on the coast.

It was too cloudy on the beach to see the sunset, but that didn't keep me from enjoying the evening beachcombing for rock and shells before heading back home.



The waves come rushing in and you have to pay attention so as not to get your feet swept out from under you. Watching out for ocean waves isn't too much different than life.

Life can come rushing at you and if you aren't paying close attention it may catch you off guard.


Later I'll tell you about how life comes rushing at you when you dive out of an airplane!

Question? Are there any answers?

This evening is one of those times when I really need someone to talk to, or maybe I just need someone to sit with me while I contemplate this past week.

But it is a typical week night, I am home from work, trying to get dinner made, the kids are scattered doing their own thing, and Jeff is still at work.

I am searching for some answers.
Answers to tough questions that don't come that easily.
Questions like;
What should I do with my life?
Should I go back to school or not?
What would I possibly study and why?
Am I where I should be in my work?
How can I balance work and home more efficiently?
Why have I not been content with being a stay at home mom?
Could I be content staying home now?
Can I afford to not work financially?
Would I survive spiritually?
Why am I always searching for more answers?

I know that no one can give me the answers I am searching for.
I have to look for the answers within myself.

But as I sit here on the back porch with the dog at my feet I can't help but wish I had some company. Thor is a good dog, but I am fairly certain he isn't really listening, and even if he was listening I feel like an idiot talking to him.

I hope someone gets home soon.

First day of school - 2008

Today Laura started 5th grade.
It is her last year in Elementary school.
I have had a child in Elementary school since Melissa began in 1986.
22 years of pencil boxes, crayons, elmers glue, and pink back packs.


Where does the time go?

Summertime Concerts

My second summer here in Oregon has provided us with more opportunities to enjoy summer concerts.

We recently enjoyed a great drive along the Columbia River on our way to the Gorge near Yakima, Washington.



There was a beautiful sunset as Steve Winwood took stage and before Tom Petty came on.



Not long after this we attended a Jack Johnson concert at Columbia Meadows amphitheatre.



It rained all day and the weather called for more summer showers.
They say Summer showers are rare in Oregon.



But the clouds broke, we enjoyed a colorful sunset and a great concert.

Then last Friday it was Sheryl Crow at Edgefield Amphitheatre.



It has been a good summer; a summer filled with many celebrations, reunions, gatherings, and concerts.

School begins for the kids on Wednesday and we move into Fall, if not weather wise, at least activity wise.

So the celebrations and reunions will now be with classmates at school, and gatherings and concerts will now be replaced by soccer practices and games.

And so it goes...