Siblings

I have the best siblings a sister could ask for; 3 sisters& 3 brothers.

I just spent an all too short 20 hours with my brother Scott, his wife Lori & daughter Ellary.



We 'broke bread together', shared childhood memories, discussed, future plans, enjoyed a few microbrews and did some minor auto repair.
It doesn't get much better than this!



Now I am off to Nebraska in our new 96 Subaru!
I'd forgotten how fun it is to drive a stick shift!
More details to come..,
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New friends & old

This morning at about 6:30 I was surprised to see people I knew at the airport in Portland.
I don't have but a handful of new friends in Oregon.
Even after living here 4 years I can count them on one hand. Sadly, I don't need both hands to count my new friends.
I guess I don't get out enough.
:-)

So I was very surprised to run into Michelle and Rich at the airport. They are heading to California, I am heading to Denver and then on to Nebraska.
Michelle greeted me with a smile and the kind of genuine warmth that let's you know you have been missed.
It felt comfortable!
It felt wonderful!
We haven't seen each other since our last camping trip in September, but that didn't matter.

I look forward to seeing my old friend Miechelle and greeting her with the same smile an genuine warmth that I received this morning.

New friends & Old friends ...
They make life more fun!


-- Post From DWNTWN's iPhone

Location:PDX

Whirlwinds

My life has been a whirlwind of activities, celebrations, and travel this month.
And I'm not yet finished.
I had a wonderful retreat experience in Rockaway Beach.
It is always a blessing to be around people like me.
I will admit that those who work in youth ministry are an odd lot, but I don't feel as odd when I am around that sort.

I left on Wednesday afternoon feeling such gratitude for the opportunity, for all I learned, and new experiences. 

I came home with hopes and expectations of doing more reading and continuing the exploration of my renewed spirit.

But life at home is as much of a whirlwind as my travel has been.  Laundry, cleaning, meals, bills, weeding, and general household stuff has kept me on the go.
It seems I need some air travel time just to slow down and reflect.
But when all is said and done, its been a great month.
We've shared great conversation and experiences with so many family and friends that we don't see often enough.

I am so looking forward to seeing my brother and his family in Denver. 
I think it has been 2 years since we've seen each other.
Then off to Nebraska for a quick visit and then a road trip home with one of my best girlfriends.

Whirlwinds can be crazy FUN!

Rocks from Rockaway

The retreat is going well.
I am glad I am here.
Today we had an hour or so to walk the beach.
I went in spite of the rain.
I found a few more treasure and inspiration.





While you cant tell from the the picture. One of the heart shaped rocks is red!

We have more work to do tonight. And I am looking forward to it.

The only downside of today is I have a low front passenger tire and there is no place to get air in Rockaway Beach. Girabaldi is the closest gas station.
:-(


For Good Luck!

-- Post From DWNTWN's iPhone

Making my way...

I left Salem about 3:30 heading to the coast.
I arrived at my favorite place just as the clouds were breaking open and the surf was breaking hard at low tide.


I know I will arrive at the campground after dinner.
And there is no alcohol allowed at the facility where I am staying.
So in my wisdom I decided to pop in to the pub for some fresh clam chowder and a cold beverage.


Now it's time to make my way north.

I hope...

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Retreat at Rockaway Beach

Later today I will head for the coast.
I am going on a retreat at Rockaway Beach.
I will admit feeling a bit uneasy and uncertain.
I haven't been on a retreat in years.

This retreat is for youth ministers in the Archdiocese of Portland.
I have met some of the people who will be there, but I feel uneasy since I am not 'working' in ministry.
I am glad Michal invited me to join them, however I have to quell the little girl inside me that is shy and uncomfortable in new situations.
I worry and wonder....
Have I been away from this too long?
Have I forgotten too much?

Will I be received as 'one of the group'?

No matter how old we are, and much like the youth we minister to, acceptance and understanding will always be something we seek.
So my hope for the next couple of days is that I simply find acceptance and understanding within myself and with my God.

Exhaustion sets in

I am waiting at LAS for our flight to PDX.
It feels like we have squeezed in a weeks worth of activities into 4 short days.
We had great family fun and celebrations mixed in with miles of walking and gallons of cold adult beverages.



Now all I want is to be able to get on an 'on-time' flight and sleep on the way home.

Tomorrow I have Photoshop class and a meeting at the high school so it's back to my real job of being a mom!



-- Post From DWNTWN's iPhone

My favorite place

Today I find myself enjoying some beach time at my favorite pub, Pelican.





It's been a busy, hectic, crazy month of activities, travel, celebrations, along with the usual household tasks & chores.
Yesterday, and today both, brought me to the coast as I work to make a nice wedding gift for Chris & Sarah.
After much thought, consideration, and numerous nixed ideas we settled on blowing a float for them.

Yesterday I blew the glass float, today I picked it up after it cooled overnight.
It is beautiful. It turned out almost exactly as I hoped and imagined in my mind.
I hope they like it.

Naturally being at the coast on a gorgeous, sunny day.... Heading to Pelican was a must.

I need my beach time and ocean breezes especially since I am heading to the desert of Vegas for 4 days.



It's all good!


-- Post From DWNTWN's iPhone

Another Graduation Achieved

Last Friday, the many years of study, sleepless nights & hoop jumping at UNL come to an end for Brad as he received his Master degree of Architecture.

We had a wonderful weekend of fun with family.
First, Aimee & Mike,
















followed by Brad,







Melissa, Justin, & our grandsons, Cale & Zack.



Now it's back to driving through
the 4 states of NE, IA, MO, & KS
as we head home to Salem & the remainder of our family.
It's continues to be a hectic, crazy, but wonderful way spend Mother's Day weekend.

Thank you to all my kids!
You are all amazing & wonderful to me!


-- Post From DWNTWN's iPhone

Location:Lincoln, NE

Life in Kansas

I like heading home.
Home for me, today, is Kansas.
Whether Wichita or Kansas City or old home in Kearney or new home in Salem....
I like going home.
Each one has different memories and with the memories come different feelings of comfort.

Yesterday and today we are in the Kansas City area with Mike and Aimee.
They live in this delightful 3 bedroom home that is a stone's throw from where we lived while Jeff was in med school.
Just being in this neighborhood allows all the memories of those years to come flooding back.
Some memories are good and others not so good.
Memories of the two older kids when they were so young,
my first time moving so far from my family and their support,
making my way as a young mom on my own,
running a business/day care and the struggles of supporting the family...
But remembering and watching my kids grow and realizing how far they have come is a blessing.
I could write for days and not share all the memories in my head, or the feelings of gratitude I have as their mom.

But one of my favorite memories is the simple pace of lazy summers at home.

Huge yards,
the smell of fresh cut grass,
a dinner on the grill,
A cold beverage close at hand,
and laughter of family & friends.

I love spending time in the back yard.

So this summer,
in my spare time,
I plan to work on getting my Salem backyard to a place where we can re-create and recreate with family & friends.

All I have to do now is implement my plan of transforming the rock hill we live on into fertile ground.

May life's adventures never end!

Travel ahead...

The month of May will bring about lots of travel for me.
Unfortunately I won't be needing my brand new passport.
I have been working on my calendar and my lists for the upcoming month and have realized I will only be home 16 days.
I feel a bit stressed out just looking at the calendar.
I don't like being away from the younger kids this much especially this close to the end of the school year.

But I have older kids to see and celebrate with.
Brad gets his master's degree in 6 days and I won't miss it.

By mid May it will be time for more celebrating as my brother in law ties the knot and the Browns meet for a mini reunion in Las Vegas.
Throw in a few other travel times for retreats and such...
it makes for a busy and expensive month.

While Kansas, Nebraska, and Nevada might feel foreign to me after 4 years in Oregon,
I am certain I don't get a stamp for traveling there.
I guess my first passport stamp will have to wait.

For now, I best get back to my menu making & grocery lists, along with my budgets & bill paying.