Pseudo Echo

Mini Pumkin

2011-10-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Driving...

2011-09-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

Sebastian started drivers ed. three days after his 15th birthday. We could have waited but in a moment of (?) I signed him up. Maybe it was the fact that all I had to do was fill out a form online and he was registered. Perhaps if I had to go somewhere and sign a bunch of papers I would have put it off. He thinks it is wonderful and frightening. I think it is frightening and wonderful.
Eric and I have always said that we believe kids should have as much practice driving as possible. In fact Eric taught more than one kid from his youth group to drive. I guess I thought he would be more involved with teaching Sebastian. So far that has not gone well. Apparently "I" am the calm one. I'm never the calm one. Today I really had to practice being the calm one. I took Sebastian out for a drive through the county and part of Ferndale. (including 2 round abouts)
Why did no one warn me that I could feel scared to death and immensely proud at the same time? It is truly an overwhelming thing. I feel better now that my heart has stopped racing and my hands have blood in them.

Sebastian with his permit.

Zoey Inez

2011-08-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning Sawyer and I went to visit my friend Cassi's newest little girl. She was born last week but we could not get away until this week. Her name is Zoey Inez. I love her name so much. Partly because it uses the letter Z twice and partly because it sounds so cool to say. She is just beautiful. It was so great to visit and see the whole family.

Graduation

2011-06-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

After nine years at ECS Sebastian is moving on. But first a lovely send off celebration. I love these kids and their families. Thanks for all the wonderful memories.

Where's my retina scan?

2011-04-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

I am so tired of all the user name and passwords in my life. Here it is the first of the month and I need to pay some bills. The problem is I cannot remember the user name OR password. Not only that, I cannot remember the answer to the stupid security question or the email address associated with the account.

I am not supposed to use the same password for everything
I am not supposed to write it down
I am supposed to clear my computer caches regularly
I am not supposed to use any birthdays, anniversaries, childrens names, pet names, etc.

I have always thought that the idea of retina scans was way too invasive. Today I am ready to let them scan whatever they want just so I don't have to remember all that junk. Maybe.

Rest In Peace

2011-03-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

My brother Travis lost his two year battle with cancer on March 21, 2011. He inspired me to love people regardless of how they look. He challenged me to reach out and help all people in need. He fought hard for his life and never gave up. I am proud to call him my brother. He will be dearly missed by many people.

I try so hard.

2010-12-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

It used to be so easy to get great pictures of my boys. (like 8yrs ago) I miss those days where I had only to promise a cookie and I could get many wonderful photos to choose from. I just want a nice photo for of them. Is that asking so much? Apparently because this is what I got.

Sebastian's Science Poem

2010-11-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

God’s Masterpiece
I see a world, full of life and plants
Created by humans because of humans at the expense of nature
I see the poor efforts of humans to create a habitat artificially
When I see this and more it makes me sad
But as I see the little interactions between the different organisms
The way that the animals have adapted
I am in awe of our loving Creator who can take our mistakes and
Make it His masterpiece
We are told in the Bible that humans were the final masterpiece of God
But this shows me that the beauty of God’s creation
And that it is his infinitely more perfect will that makes us
All part of the grand masterpiece that we call life

Alone Sucks

2010-11-14T11:41:00.001-08:00

This weekend has been good on a few fronts. First I got to go scrapbook with a very fun new friend. Then I got to attend a baby shower. Lastly I had dinner and played cards with our friends that are now family. The good/bad part was that I was alone at home in between these events. Eric took Sawyer for his very belated 11 year old man trip and Sebastian is gone on a retreat with the Edge. I guess technically I wasn't alone because Luke was here, but he rarely leaves his room. All that to say I am so ready for the volume and chaos that is my family to return.

Forgiveness

2010-11-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make. I have baled on a friend who would never bale on me. I pushed her away and I was wrong. I'm sorry and I hope she finds it in her very kind heart to forgive me.
I know confession is good for the soul but mine still hurts. So I will wait and pray that it is not too late.

Family

2010-10-29T07:10:00.003-07:00

Some days being with family is tough...this was NOT one of those days

Word to the wise

2010-09-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

I have been successfully dyeing my hair for 17 years. Today I broke that run of success. My hair is green. I was trying to go from blonde with brown roots to brown and ended up with green-gray. I went to the beauty supply store and bought what the nice cosmetologist
told me to. I used said product and my hair is still slightly green. I thought your hair only did crazy color things if you were trying to lighten it more than a few shades. Apparently trying to return my hair to it's natural color will result in a color more appropriate Halloween than everyday. I guess it's a sign that I really should stick with blonde because it fits me so well.

Not going to stop him

2010-09-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Sawyer got his long arm cast on Wednesday and we hit the beach Saturday. He doesn't let it stop him from doing anything. I think it's great that he finds ways to have adventures no matter what. That is part of his conquering spirit.

Seriously?!?

2010-09-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

I love our kids' Principal and always enjoy seeing her. However today when she called I was not pleased to hear from her. She was calling to tell me Sawyer was hurt and probably had a broken arm. This is not the frist time I have had this call from the school. The last time it was both arms. I knew when I saw him that it was not going to be good. He was pale and wet with sweat. His arm was obviously broken. The ER nurse took him straight to a room and asked all the typical questions (how, when?) and a few I wasn't sure about. Apparently it looked to her like he would need surgery and she needed very specific info on what and when he had eaten and drunk.

Having seen the xrays last time I knew what I was watching for and was surprised not to see anything on the first one. The second one (different angle) showed a fracture to the L Radius. I have come to believe that God did a bit of mending on the way to the xray. He will be in a splint until he gets in to the Ortho for a cast. He wants a bright green one this time.

He will be fine and is sleeping peacefully thanks to some ibuprophen pm.

First Day of School

2010-08-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

First I want to say that I think the first day of school exists very separately from the rest of the school experience. There is so much media hype about this one day. The kids are supposed to dress up in the clothes their parents spent too much time and money buying for them. The teachers are trying to get to know the students and decide how long the seating arrangement will last before "Parker" tries to eat "Sarah's" glue stick. The parents are trying to stay just the right amount of time so their kids will feel loved but not mortified. The day goes by in such a rush that when the bell finally rings everyone stops and wonders why it was such a big deal.

All that to say my boys all went back to school today. I wasn't really ready for them to go until last night when they were all driving me crazy at the same time. Sebastian is still with the same kids he's been with since 1st grade (some since K) and has the homeroom teacher he has had for 4 years. For him today was like coming home. Sawyer has a teacher that is new to him, the school and teaching. She is a sweet energetic lady and he seems to think the year will be great. Luke had a fine day at school but due to a miscommunication on Eric's and my part, he sat at the bus stop for an hour and a half waiting to be picked up. Eric had a crazy day. He is teaching Sophomore English, yearbook, finance and middle school wood shop. He also runs the HS book store. I don't know what to say for him but that he needs prayer.

I will be glad in a few weeks when school is just the norm.

Camp

2010-08-26T21:39:00.001-07:00

We finally talked Andrew and Brie into coming to camp with us. They were ready to sign up for next year by day 2. We swung from the giant swing(well most of us did), we played on the Saturn in the water, we sang and laughed and hung out on the beach. I had an awesome time in water aerobics and filled more estrogen deficit completely. I love having a time and place set apart every year to refresh and recharge. I cherish the time spent with great friends talking about the ups and downs of life and how we find God in all of it. It is amazing to watch all the kids grow and change.

Full house, full heart

2010-08-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Luke is home and I can't believe how happy I am. I have a great feeling for this school year. We are off to camp and I'm so thrilled to spend a week with my men folk.

Now he's thinking

2010-06-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

Teenage brain seems to have overtaken Sebastian. He forgets everything and can't seem to concentrate for more than a few seconds. This is VERY unlike him. He remembers everything and drives me nuts when I forget anything. So to say I was surprised by a conversation we had last night is an understatement.
Me: singing "All me exes live in Texas"
Sebastian: "That song is so wrong"
Me: "My singing or the actual song?"
Sebastian: "The song, because you should HAVE any exes. Well maybe one because sometimes you can't help what other people do."
Me: chagrined "Hmm, you're right"
I love that he has heard what we have been telling him about relationships and felt like he needed to stand up against a song I have never thought twice about. These moments are worth every moment I have spent loving and teaching him.

School is so out for summer

2010-06-11T15:19:00.001-07:00

The first day of summer break finds me locked in my room with coffee, cold meds and my computer. The sun is sort of shining and I wish I were out in it but alas I am sick. The boys haven't noticed this because they are glued to the Wii. All three of them are (I assume) playing nicely. I haven't heard any fighting just loud encouragement and suggestions on how to win.
We have lots of plans for the summer but right now it is so good to just veg out. Now for another nap.

Introducing Huck

2010-06-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

So during a long weekend camping in the rain for Memorial Day we came to the conclusion that a travel trailer would be wonderful. We have wanted one for a long time but never had the right vehicle to tow with. Our good friends Andrew and Brie have a suburban and were excited to share it and a trailer with us. (insert many details and paperwork) We found one and got a great deal. So we are now the proud co-owners of "Huck" our Jayco Kiwi trailer. It is large enough that both our families (9 total) have a bed to sleep in.

We took it out Friday night for a very last minute overnight at Birch Bay. It was so great to have a dry warm place to cook and sleep, while still being able to have a fire and listen to the birds.

We are busy planning more outings and gathering all the supplies.

Sebastian's view of Buchart Gardens

2010-04-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

Sebastian recently went on a class trip to Victoria BC. When he returned home he had taken 326 pictures. I expected that there would be lots of pictures of friends. I did not expect to see over 200 pictures of flowers. I did not even know he liked flowers. Here are some of his favorites.

2010-04-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling nostalgic tonight. Or maybe just grateful for my life and the people in it. I'm grateful for Rose and Barb who encourage me to run faster. I'm grateful for Brie, Cassi and Karen who have gone from girls I hoped to teach something to women I learn from. I'm grateful for Christie who loves Seb and truly misses him when he is absent from school. I am grateful for Connie who loves my (loud, stinky, unruly, difficult and untameable) family. I am grateful for my Mom for teaching me generosity. I am grateful for my siblings who keep me from getting a big head.

I am grateful for Kris, Cyndi, and Loretta for teaching me to let my hair down. I am grateful for Christine, Naomi, Hileary, and Melanie for sharing good books and crazy lives with me. I am grateful for Tami, Carolynn, Hilary and Renee who remind me to slow down and truly enjoy my kids. I am grateful for Kellie who makes me laugh (from a distance).

I am grateful for my God who has blessed me with so many people to share my life with and to learn from.

4 out of 6 ain't bad

2010-04-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend we drove down to Longview to spend Easter with some of my siblings. We don't see each other much so it was good to be together. I am one of 6 and including me we numbered 4. One of my brothers (Freddy) I haven't seen since I was pregnant with Sawyer (age10). Another brother (Travis) I haven't seen since Sawyer was crawling. It was mostly chaos but no one had to call 911 so it was a success.

This picture with my boys includes their cousins (my sister Shelli's kids) Lea, Cheryl, and Burl. The sweet little girls are Shelli's grandkids. (by Cheryl)

The other picture is my brothers Freddy, Travis and my sister Shelli and I.

No Tears

2010-03-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

The last two projects Sawyer has had to do for school I have ended up "helping" with. I put helping in quotes because I don't feel like I really help. I generally cause at least on breakdown complete with crying, shouting and door slamming. We have a plan at our house that I'm supposed to help with daily homework and Eric is suppose to help with projects. This is an awesome plan when Eric is available. He is so patient and good at bringing out the best and most creative side of the boys. I just make them cry. Tonight Eric is available and Sawyer is reveling in his geography project. I'll post a picture of the project when it is finished. For now here is a picture of the man I love.

Good bye ponytail

2010-03-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

Sebastian came in from hanging out in a tree and declared he was ready to hack off his hair. I asked him why and he said it was just time. So here are the pictures. They seem to be out of order but I assume you are smart enough to figure out which is before and which is after.

If Only I'd Known

2010-02-11T20:53:00.000-08:00

Seventh grade boys don't pay ANY attention to the valentines they hand out. This seems shocking to me. I love my boys but I just don't get how you can write someone's name on a card and give it to them and NEVER read it.

3-5 %

2010-02-07T20:47:00.000-08:00

Last night Eric decided Sebastian should take a personality test. Eric is having his students at school take the test and thought it would be interesting to know more about Sebastian's personality. He took the Meyers Briggs/Jung test and is ENFP. This is my polar opposite and the exact same as Eric. My response to this was uproarious laughter. Eric's response was horror. It explains so much. Eric and Sebastian are constantly butting heads (even as I type). I have no plans to change how I interact with Sebastian. I hope Eric will learn to smile and nod when Sebastian tries to bug him.
This exact personality make up accounts for 3-5% of the general population. It accounts for 40% of the population in my household. Lucky me.

Mud Pies

2010-01-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

I serve a God who is capable of making the most wonderful desserts to woo people with and yet he chooses to have me make mud pies. I am humbled to realize that he would choose me to reach people for him.

Luke has dimples

2009-12-14T20:57:00.000-08:00

Who knew? He has lived with us for more than a year and I had no idea he has dimples. Last Friday night was the Christmas concert for LCHS and Luke is in choir. Apparently he loves choir and could not stop smiling throughout the entire performance. It is so great to see him find something to love.

In the now

2009-12-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

A few months ago our pastor said something in a sermon that really stuck with me. What he said was not new but I felt like I was hearing it for the first time. He said we need to live in the moment we are in. Not in the future and not in the past but in the now. Sometimes I get so busy that I forget to be present in the now. Because of this I have started taking pictures of my feet.

We spent the Thanksgiving weekend at a beach house with some very dear friends and I can honestly say there was no place I would have rather been.

It's working, it's working!!

2009-11-23T19:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder if God ever smiles on my parenting. Today I think He did. We were driving home after the boys finished at math team and Sawyer started to sing. He was kind of quiet and it took me a minute to figure out what he was singing. It was "Come Thou Fount". I started to sing and just waited for Sebastian to sigh or make a comment about our not so great voices. He didn't do either. He started to sing with us. Together we sang all the verses. It was an unexpected blessed moment with my boys and I relished it.

An Inch

2009-11-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

I looked at Sebastian yesterday and thought he looked taller than I remembered. I measured him and sure enough he has grown an inch in the last month. This is not an unimportant inch. It is the inch that made him taller than me. I have been watching for this but I was not prepared. He is becoming a young man that I am so proud to call my son. Last night we stayed out late playing cards with friends and Sawyer fell asleep. Sebastian wanted to carry him to the van but Eric was already in the process of doing so. When we got home Sebastian would not take no for an answer and carried him into the house. (all the way to bed) I got a little misty watching him carry his brother because it has been my prayer that he would look out for his brother and that is not usually the case.
Today Sebastian is working with Eric to finish a side job that turned out to be more than we expected. Sebastian was not thrilled to be spending his day working but he sucked up his disappointment and went with a good attitude. Maybe he is ready to be taller than me.

Those were the days...

2009-10-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

Life was simple. I enjoyed every minute of it. Life is complicated. I try to find joy in as many minutes as possible. The pictures are from 2/05 at Deception Pass. I need to remember how fast the days go so I don't allow myself to get caught looking back with regret on moments lost.

Not the way I imagined

2009-10-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

My recovery is so not going the way I thought it would. They say it takes about 6 weeks til a woman can resume "normal" activities. Ha!! I can't wait that long to have my house vacuumed properly. My family has been AWESOME about helping around the house and letting me rest. I have not been awesome in return. Apparently I'm doing too much too soon. I feel fine while I'm doing it, but later I'm sore and VERY grumpy. I hate this.

I know that in a few months this will all be worth it, but right now I can't stand not being capable.

Better by the day....

2009-09-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

I have spent most of my life needing a nap to function. This summer that all changed and I had energy to spare. I can't say what changed but it was like a switch was flipped and suddenly I wasn't tired all the time. I even found myself going days without coffee. Not normal behavior for me. I was a bit worried about how I would recover and if the switch would get flipped back after major surgery. Apparently I needn't have worried.
I feel so blessed to be recovering so quickly. My energy is amazing to me. Yes, I am still a bit slow and I do get tired easily but nothing like I feared. I am counting this as a direct personal blessing from God and I can 't wait to be able to drive so I can use some of this energy. I'm so grateful to be able to help out at the kids school and where ever else I can.

Home ... but home

2009-09-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Echo is doing much better now and the kids have been really great. It is good to be home but she HAS to be home. Stuck in bed all day with little to do is ... BLAH! Some people keep asking what they can do to help like make meals or something. Well, I am an OK cook but I can't hang out with her all day - especially next week when all the rest of us go back to school. So, if you have a half-hour or some time to come sit around and chat, that would be a blessing. Our wonderful friend Cassi is here Monday and Tuesday to help with picking up kids and just being useful but I am sure Echo would love to see anybody who stopped over. Feel free to call.

For me, thank you all for your prayers and support. It is wonderful when God surrounds us with a community that cares.

Guest Blogger - Eric

Guest Blogger (Eric)

2009-09-08T22:54:00.000-07:00

Well, Echo's mom took her to the hospital, surgery lasted for 3+ hours, they opened her up took out everything but one ovary and put her back together. She can not have opiate based drugs so they put her on something that seemed to help the pain. She was pretty looped by the time I got there but the nurse said she was doing very well. Cassi is here to take care of mundane things like getting the kids to school and home for a couple days - Thanks to her!

I get to hang out with freshman all day tomorrow at retreat! Echo gets to lay in bed with drugs.... hmmmm. Well, there it is. Thanks for caring.

Time out for me

2009-09-06T22:23:00.000-07:00

After two years of working with my doctor I have decided it's time to have a hysterectomy. Tuesday I am going in for surgery and I pray that things will go smoothly. My mom is here to take me to the hospital and hold my hand. (yay!) My good friend Cassi is coming to stay with us to help until Friday. I am so grateful they decided to come because I never would have asked but I need them.

I always know...

2009-09-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

when the school secretary calls that something is up with Sawyer. Never Sebastian. She called to tell me Sawyer's eye had collided with another students head. He can't see out of his left eye because of the swelling. I brought him home and he is doing fine.

my summer is over...

2009-08-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

but that's ok because I love the fall. All the boys go back to school tomorrow. This is something I have mixed emotions about. The kids are getting along so well and Eric is having so much fun building stuff that I kinda hate to see that end. On the other hand I'm ready to have a little time to myself. I also miss the moms at my boys school and am looking forward to reconnecting with them. All in all I feel blessed that my boys all have awesome God centered schools to spend their days.

The picture is of our cat Blue. Curiosity did not kill him but it did get him a little wet.

God is good!

2009-08-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

We have been praying and looking for a teaching job for Eric for months. God has provided lots of side jobs and reassurance that He has a plan. I have struggled a lot more than I would like to admit. I have never stopped believing that Eric should be at LC I've just been waiting to see how God was going to do it. This morning Eric was offered a position for the first quarter to teach technology and accounting. I am so humbled by God's love for us.

My Hero...this week

2009-08-11T19:21:00.001-07:00

This stuff took: black Sharpie off my couch, dried paint off Eric's favorite warmups, mystery goo off my workout pants and basically saved my week.

Another two for one injury.

2009-07-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

I feel so sorry for Sawyer. Yesterday he got stung by a wasp on both his hands. Right next to his casts. We're keeping the swelling under control with ice and benadryl but he is not happy. He gets his casts off on Wednesday. That will be great. He needs to be careful because this two for one thing is causing him to have a reputation.

Just pictures

2009-07-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

At the park in Snohomish with Cassi and Emma.

The End

2009-06-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

Of school. I have been trying to figure out what I learned in school. I definately have a much better grasp on math. In fact I used some Trig. to help Eric with the shed he is building. I learned that I can write a college level paper and get an A. I learned that me Mom was right, school was not nearly as hard as I thought and I am smart.

However I also learned that I know a lot of stuff already. I learned nothing new in my Sociology Marriage and Family class. I also learned nothing new in my Cultural Anthropology. (other than how to spell anthropology) Mostly I learned that someone who has a degree from college is not necessarily smarter than a person who has a degree in life (and reads alot).

At this point I haven't decided whether I will finish my AA or pursue a certificate in something. I'm ok with that. God has a plan for my life and I feel better equiped to participate in that plan than I did a year ago. I can also help Sebastian with his math homework for another year or so.

I added the picture of my feet to remind me to keep walking on the path God has set before me.

just had to laugh

2009-06-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

I ran into my former English instructor today on my way to turn in my last paper for the quarter. I thanked her for helping me find my voice in my writing and told her I was turning in a paper I had written. I said I hoped my sociology instructor would give me a good grade. She responded by saying she would kick the other teachers a** if that teacher didn't like my paper. I just had to laugh.

Goodbye Luke

2009-06-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

Friday night I drove Luke to Vancouver so he could fly home to Taiwan. Having him live with us has been the coolest thing. He will be home for 10 weeks then he will be back. It is sad to let him go because he has become part of our family. Sawyer misses him and Sebastian says he will miss him in a couple of weeks. Sebastian says he thinks Penelope misses Luke too.
Eric and I are both busy with end of school stuff but we both feel like someone is missing from our home. I can't imagine how his Mom has dealt with him being away for so long. I could not do it. I feel so blessed to have had such a great young man live with us. Sorry this is kind of scattered but I'm trying to keep my emotions in check.
We love you Luke and can't wait to see you in August.

Thank you

2009-05-31T10:57:00.001-07:00

Thanks for the names. I will have to find out who is covered by my ins tomorrow some tests.
I think this is our season for medical issues. On friday I got a msg. from the boy's school secretary that Sawyer was hurt and we needed to come get him. Before I could call the school back they got ahold of Eric and he left his school and was on his way. I called him and told him I would pick up lunch for him and meet him at the hospital. When I got to the hospital he called me back to say he had run out of gas after he picked up Sawyer and needed me to come bring him gas. I called Tami who lives near the hospital to borrow a gas can and she was not home but she called her wonderful husband to get him to help. He was home and set out a FULL (thank you God) gas can. (thank you so much Tami and Ian.) After much ado I got Sawyer to the ER and after 2 sets of xrays we found out he fractured both wrists. (little fact I didn't know before: xrays are now digital! Who knew?) He is doing well and we have found ways to keep him comfy at night so he can sleep. We found huge chemical gloves (from when Eric was in the Army 15 yrs ago. Thank goodness Eric never throws anything "useful" away!) that we put on him and taped shut so he could shower.

I need your help

2009-05-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

I am looking for a great GYN doc in the Bellingham area. I have an awesome family doc but I need someone more specialized for a current problem. I would also love to hear of any GYN's to avoid. Thanks.

My Birthday Flashback

2009-05-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

Me and my Powder Puff big wheel on my 5th birthday. I guess I have always been a true Northwesterner with my socks and sandals!

Mom

2009-05-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

Mom,

You were right! I love you and thank you for believing in me. I have tried to write what you mean to me but the words just seem flat.

Thank you for teaching me to sing to my boys when they wake up. Thank you for telling me that I am the best judge of what my boys need. Thank you for telling me this too shall pass. Thank you for teaching me that people are far more important than things. Thank you for introducing me to my Heavenly Father. I love you.

Love, Echo

Drive by Giving

2009-05-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

I'm not really into advertising but this is SUCH an incredible cause I can't help myself. This Friday at all the Cruisin Coffee stands Kafe 104.3 is sponsoring the annual Drive by Giving event for the Royal Family Kids Camps. The camp is for kids who are in foster care. It is an incredible week where the kids get to feel God's love and have a blast at camp. All donations go directly to sponsor the kids for this camp. My kids love to go and bring in all the change from our change jar. (all of their tithes and trouble fines go in this jar)

Nerd vs. Geek

2009-04-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight Sebastian informed me that he was a geek NOT a nerd. Apparently "nerds are socially inept and geeks are socially adept". Who knew?

Sitting on faith...

2009-04-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

We have been praying and looking and praying and looking for a job ofor Eric. There were some good leads in Montana but God shut the door. There are no leads in WA, OR or ID. (we want ot stay in the NW) So we have decided to stay here and firgure things out. Eric can always go back to his old job and substitute teach on the side. It would not be ideal but it would work. We are sitll praying for a full time teaching job here but maybe that is not God's plan. I feel so much better having decided to stay here. I was going crazy.
Because we are staying we will be able to host Luke for another year. He has been so happy since we told him.
The main factor in us deciding to make it work here is the people God has put in our lives here. Some of them we would not like to live without and others would not like to live without us. Some fall into both camps. We are grateful for the friendships we are blessed to have.

Coming of age

2009-04-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

In most societies, young people have some sort of coming of age ceremony or activity to transition them from children to adulthood. So, recently when a bunch of guys got together to go shooting, we invited Sebastian along. Here was his first chance to be "one of the guys". Sebastian got to shoot a 30-30, 2 different 12-guages, a Glock 40 and a .357 magnum. We all had a good time. Then, we went to church with some of the guys. I also think it is important for Sebastian to see "manly men" in love with Jesus.

Thank you to my lovely wife for understanding our need to blow stuff up and allowing me to guest-blog for her.

When the future is uncertain...

2009-03-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

I spend more time talking to my Jesus. This past month has brought many challenges. In February our church started a "One month to live" challenge and I didn't think much of it. I try to live my life with the end in mind. Not in a morbid way just trying to keep an eternal perspective.
We lived with a lot of uncertainty for many years and were really enjoying the predictable life we were blessed to have for the past year(ish). I finally felt things were calm enough for me to go to school. The first week of our "One month to live" challenge we found out Eric does not have a contract for next school year. The school has had to make some cuts to the budget and he is the new guy in the english dept. When Eric first told me I wasn't worried because we will still have a paycheck thru August. And God has always provided work for him. That gave him 6 months to find a job. He is looking and we are willing to move. It has been about a month since we got the news and it is a daily challenge for me to keep a positive outlook. Not that I doubt he will find a job, I just have a hard time waiting to find out what and where it will be.
The thing that is hardest about moving is having to leave Luke and Alex (the neighbor kid). I believe God has put us in their lives for a purpose and it is hard to be ok with leaving them.
I know we are not alone in this valley and there is a plan for us.
The other thing we have done during the "One month to live" challenge is to quit our small group. I know it seems like a bad idea but it is where God is leading us. We have two young couples in our life that we love so much. We have talked about inviting them to start a small group with us. We decided that if we only had one month to live we would want to invest our time and energy in helping them grow their marriages. So that is what we have done. No regrets! We love our old small group and we enjoyed our time with them.
If you read this post please take a moment to pray for our family, we really need it right now.

What a handsome young man!

2009-03-07T14:47:00.001-08:00

I have been catching glimpses of the handsome young man that lives in my home. I have to say he takes my breath away sometimes. I am so proud of the man Sebastian is becoming. He is smart, funny, handsome and kind to small children.

a note about my guest blogger

2009-03-02T08:34:00.001-08:00

Eric was kind enough to blog about the math team for me but forgot to identify himself.

Geeks rule the World!

2009-03-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

Echo is tired from being the Mom so I thought I would pick up the slack and blog for her!

Well, yesterday was the Wahtcom County Math Competition. Most people know when the next football game is on TV or when Lynden Christian is going to state for girl's basketball. Unfortunately, not many people know about the amazing feats of mind that hundreds of kids accomplish at academic competitions.

Evergreen made a great showing taking 7th place for the 4th grade team and 3rd place for the 6th gradeteam. Of course, our children are both amazing, (humbly) Sebastian also took 5th place individually for 6th grade and his classmate took 4th.

We are so blessed to have the awesome teachers at evergreen that see the kids' potential and encourages them to do great things.

Emma Sue

2009-02-13T14:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got the call that my very good friend Cassi was in labor. She was not due until March 5, so she was early but still ok. I worked out pickup for my boys (thanks Karen and Tami) and headed out. Cassi was amazing. She stayed focused on the prize and kept her spirits high. Emma Sue was born at 10:55pm February 12, 2009. She is a beautiful little girl. Healthy and strong. I am so grateful to have been there for her birth. Congrats Cassi and Brian you guys are awesome.

Bad Combo

2009-02-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

I'm having the hardest time being motivated to do anything. I know this time of year is hard for me. Not sure why but it always is. School is demanding, Eric is busy, and I am tired. The boys are great and we are so blessed. Maybe I'm just having a pity party. I just decided the party will end tonight!
For now I'm going to nap with Penelope.

Just pray

2009-01-28T11:27:00.000-08:00

A family at our church lost their 7 year old daughter yesterday in a car accident. Pray for peace, healing, and for God to use this to further His kingdom.

Playing with photoshop

2009-01-19T18:15:00.000-08:00

I really like this digital scrapping thing.

I love the beach in winter

2009-01-18T21:26:00.000-08:00

The beach in the summer is so predictable. When you go to the beach in the winter you never know what you'll get. Yesterday we got fog. The sun was out at our house but the beach was covered in fog. I love fog because it gives everything a soft edge. We went to Semiahmoo because Alex (aka the neighbor kid) had never been there. The only thing better than a new place is sharing an old place with someone for the first time. I don't know if that makes sense to you but it made sense in my head.

Anyway, we had a great time walking on the beach. Someone threw the frisbee in the water so Eric and Alex found "sticks" to fish them out.

Snug as Bugs

2009-01-16T23:01:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why, but when the boys have a night with no school the next day Luke likes to sleep in Sebastian and Sawyer's room. Tonight is one of those nights. I went in to take let the dog out and found all of them asleep on the floor. I know they are big, but my heart melted when I saw them. They will probably be mad when they see this but oh well.

Just a note

2009-01-16T16:21:00.001-08:00

I just finished my first digital scrapbook page. Thanks Melanie and Stephanie for the encouragement. No this is not my child, it's just a cute photo from Thanksgiving that I wanted to try playing around with. I will never give up paper scrapbooking but I kinda like how easy it is to clean up after I fininsh a page.

Happy Anniversary to Us

2009-01-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

Yeah!!!! Today is the one year anniversary of moving into our house. Building our house was a huge challenge and I was glad when it was done. Every day I park in my garage and thank God for the blessings in my life.
On a seperate note, my boys have their Christmas program today. This is such a cool thing for me because it was originally planned for a day when I could not make it. Just one more reason I love snow days.

Flood zone

2009-01-08T20:14:00.000-08:00

Eric went out to see how bad the flooding was this morning. The Nooksack over ran it's banks and continued to rise during the rest of the day.

So blessed

2009-01-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

I stand in awe of the mighty power of my God. I was driving my kids to the bus stop (yes, they are one of the only schools in the county open) and almost miss my exit on the freeway. The Nooksack river has no banks in Ferndale. The sight caused a physical reaction. The river has spread to the parking lot of the Scottish Lodge. There is a semi trailer that is parked in the field as an advertisement, I could only read the top half.
A couple years ago I spent a week in New Orleans doing hurricane clean up. That's all I can think of. I pray for the people in our county. Not just for safety but for their souls. I'm not an end of time freak or anything but the signs are becoming obvious.
I feel so blessed to be sitting in my warm dry house with the lights on.

New pain

2009-01-07T14:45:00.001-08:00

So I signed up for a PE class this quarter. I'm taking two 5 credit classes and needed 2 more credits to be full time. The PE class is 2 credits. Sounded like a good idea...on paper. My legs feel like jello and I was so tired in my math class I almost fell asleep. I'm sure I will get in better shape and enjoy to outcome, but for now it just hurts. I will not complain again about the self-inflicted pain I will have from this class.

A better point of view.

2009-01-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

I guess spending lots of time in the house with various guests really brings out my true colors. I was not the happiest camper and I made sure everyone knew it. I complained about doing things I love to do; cooking and sledding. I can almost see God watching me, just waiting til I stopped long enough to listen to Him. I have so much to be greatful for but I just wouldn't see it. This is much deeper than just cabin fever. I have lived so much of my life surviving. Even when things are great I just survive. I feel God calling me to surrender to the joy of living. To celebrate and begin to thrive. I know I am moving forward on this journey He has called me to and I am no longer content to merely survive. This will not be an overnight change, but there will be change. Starting on the inside with my attitude.
I'm not really into New Year's resolutions so maybe this is a lifetime resolution. I choose joy.

Are you kidding me?!?

2009-01-01T10:43:00.001-08:00

We have an inch and a half new snow this morning. I looked out the window and started laughing. Eric asked me what I was laughing about and I told him he wouldn't believe me if I told him. We never get this much snow. I think I hear God laughing with me.

Thanks Bubbie!!!

2008-12-18T19:10:00.000-08:00

Today the mail carrier came to the door with the coolest package. My Mom (Bubbie) mad raggedy quilts for Sebastian and Sawyer. Sawyer thought it was a Christmas gift and started checking the countdown and bouncing. It was so fun to tell Sawyer that the package was not for Christmas. Bubbie has been working on them since March. She has been sick and in the hospital twice so it took a lot longer than planned. The boys are so happy to have their blankets. I am so happy to have my Mom be healthy.

Note to Mom: Eric is working on the video :)

I love snow days...

2008-12-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

Sebastian and Sawyer had no school because of the snow. Yeah! At first Sebastian was disappointed that there was no school, then he realized that he could read as much as he wanted and he found the joy of the day. Sawyer was happy about it from the get go.

We didn't have much snow to start but now we have plenty to play in. They played a little on the trampoline until Sebastian flew off into a snow drift and got the wind knocked out of him. They decided that might not be the best plan. I enjoyed taking pictures from INside the house.

Luke's first Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

We had the best Thanksgiving. I am so greatful for our friends Connie and Dan who have been hosting us for so many years. This fall has been so busy for everyone in my family that having more than a week off is bliss. Having Luke with us this year has brought so many things into perspective. He sees things in such a pure light that I can almost remember when things really were simple.

Every year the kids make candy "turkeys" for the placesettings. The picture of Luke writing on the table is another tradition. Connie has a table cloth that she puts our for Thanksgiving only. We write what we are thankful for this year on it. It is a 10 year history (so far) of what everyone was thankful for that year. I love this because I can look back and see the story of our lives.

Luke really enjoyed his first Thanksgiving. He was a bit overwhelmed by the people but he loved the turkey.

Argh!

2008-10-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

I spent 3 hours yesterday gathering evidence and writing for an in class essay I had to do today. I "saved "it to my zip drive and felt really good about how prepared I was. I got to class only to find out that apparently I saved the shortcut to the file. I have a very difficult time focusing in my english class. That is why I did all the prep work. After I freaked out I prayed. I know God put me there for a reason and I knew He would bless my effort. The essay turned out ok. I hope.

Molasses cookies

2008-10-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

It is the baking season at my house. I love the smell of cookies, scones and breads baking in my oven. My favorite recipe this year is for molasses cookies. I made some last night for book club but accidently used all whole wheat flour. They turned out really good. So here is the recipe.
Molasses Cookies

¾ cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
4 Tbsp molasses
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
Extra sugar, for coating the cookies

Cream the butter with the sugar and egg. Add molasses and spices; mix well. Add flour and baking soda and blend. Chill dough 30 minutes, covered tightly.
Using a small cookie scoop make balls of dough and roll them in sugar. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

I hope you take some time to bake your favorite things and share them with those you love. Or you could call me and see what I'm baking. I love to share.

Unexpected realizations

2008-10-15T17:28:00.000-07:00

I have been so challenged since school started. I really thought I wasn't school smart. I was having panic attacks for the first two weeks. Things are getting better but it is an everyday battle with myself to keep going. Eric and I have had a lot of conversations about why I hate school. I have come to the conclusion that I am a perfectionist. Not a perfectionist like I always think of it. I have always seen it as a negative thing. As I am typing this I see that I can't stand for things to be mispelled or improper. I never thought about that. Anyway, school is a journey that is bringing by face to face with myself and the jury is out of what I think of me. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I think I have already done some of the most important things in life. Mom, wife, friend. Now I get to learn to use the brain God gave me and not be afraid to be that part of who I was created to be.

Good Times

2008-10-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was so great. We headed out to find a few geocaches with Luke. Somehow he has lived with us for a month and a half but has never been caching with us. We were out near Semiahmoo and found this trail. It was such a gorgeous days. We played catch with the football while we were walking. I had the deepest sense of joy and graditude for my family. I am so blessed.

Estela

2008-10-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend I rode to Portland with Stephanie to see my new great neice Estela Rose. She is so small but so perfect. She has a VERY loud cry and loves to hold fingers. It was so wonderful to spend some time with my neice. She still needs all the prayers she can get. The funeral for Victoria was today. I know she was very worried about making it through without breaking down.

Prayer Request

2008-09-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

My neice Cheryl has been in the hospital for almost a month on complete bedrest due to a high risk pregnancy. She was expecting twins by C-section on Oct 20th.(she would have been 34 wks) On Friday they lost a heartbeat for one of the babies and performed an emergency C-section. Baby A (Victoria) was stillborn and Baby B (Estella) was rushed to the NICU. She weighed a little over 3lbs and is on a C Pac(sp) machine. She is holding her own for now. My prayer request is for my sister Shelli and Cheryl and Estella. I plan to catch a ride down to Portland to see them next Saturday. (thanks Steph and Tami)
I know God can bring them comfort and that is my prayer. Thank you for your prayers.

School is now in session

2008-09-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today was my 3rd day as a student. I feel very overwhelmed. I remember why I had such a difficult time in school. I get there and my eyes glaze over and I start to fade. This is a challenge on so many levels. Some of my classmates are so young I could be their mom. The instructors are in what I consider my peer group. More info when I finish my homework. Ha

The boys

2008-09-08T10:53:00.001-07:00

We had a great time showing Luke around Larabee State Park. That is one of our favorite places. The boys played on the toys while we waited for the Boohers. Then we took them all down to the water to explore.

Luke is really coming out of his shell. He wrestles with the boys and loves to bounce on the trampoline. We are working hard to teach him about chores. Apparently at home he had no chores or household responsibility. He said they had someone come in to to the housework. They also ate out for almost all their meals. I don't know if that is typical or just how his family did it. It must be very strange to live with our family where we eat most of our meals at home. It is definately an adventure for all of us.

My big news for the day is I am going to college. I start on the 22nd of this month. Until yesterday it has been very surreal to me. I bought my textbooks yesterday and spent around $140. That may not seem like a lot to other people but it is more than I have spent on anything for myself in years.

Things are going great...and they're only getting better

2008-08-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

This past week has been so great. We prayed a lot that Luke would fit in with our family and he does. We worried that he wouldn't understand us and he understands most of what we say. He is also very good about asking if he doesn't understand. He has had us on our toes trying to define words like probably or "in a sec". He has been very overwhelmed with school. I understand the concept of full immersion but it is so hard to watch Luke try to read assignments when he only has a 1st or 2nd grade reading level. We are trying some things to help him but we're new to this too.
Sebastian and Sawyer have been so great with Luke. Sebastian called him his brother from another mother (and father).
Penelope loves Luke. She really helped us to break the ice with him.
I have a picture of him I want to post but I need to get his permission.

His name is Luke

2008-08-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

Apparently Kao is his last name and his first name is difficult to pronounce in english. He has slept alot. He like the dog and eats whatever we give him. I think this is going to be a lot of fun.

Mild panic

2008-08-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

So I just heard from Eric that Kao will be here on Wednesday at 3pm. Eric will not be able to be there for the pick up. I'm a lot nervous.

Calm before the storm

2008-08-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of my vacation from life. Tomorrow I'm back at work and life goes into high gear. Today the boys finished packing their backpacks for school. I bought all the stuff except backpacks in July so today we got backpacks. I know there are kids out there who can make it through more than one year with a backpack but my kids are not like that.
Wednesday is Sawyer's 9th bday and a bbq with our small group. Thursday after work we get our international student. (more later in the post) Friday is our 15th wedding anniversary. We are planning to go to the waterslides with our church. Very romantic I know. I know there are people out there with much busier schedules but for me this is crazy. I strive to live a simple quiet life because I don't handle stress well. So this week I will just pray more than usual.
So we are getting an international student for the school year. His name is Kao Tzu and he is from Taiwan. He will be a freshman at LCHS. I don't know if I could let my boys go at that age but things are very different in Taiwan. We were feeling a hole in our family and home this past spring so we started parying. Eric came home one night and started talking about the Host Family program. This seemed like such a great fit for our family that we put in our application. And prayed. Because we wanted a boy we moved up the list very quickly. We are so excited and honored to have Kao as a part of our family. We have been praying that he will be a good match for our family. If things go well we could have him all throughout his HS career. We would appreciate all the prayers we can get.

Back from vacation

2008-08-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

We just got back on Monday from my favorite vacation. Every year we go to family camp in Idaho. Seven days of no dishes, arguing, cooking, cleaning, worrying, or stress. We go with the same families every year. It is so great to watch the kids grow up. (most of the families we don't see any other time)

This year was by far the best ever. The connections we made with the other families was so blessed.

I spent a great deal of time on the beach enjoying Cindy, Loretta and Kris's company. These ladies shared so much of their lives with me. I came away from our time refreshed and encouraged to face the coming year.

I watched the dad's in the group take time with the kids and felt so blessed. These are very special people.

This is a church camp so there was morning worship and evening worship complete with great music, inspired drama and a wonderful speaker.

Sawyer enjoyed the giant swing. I was so proud of him because I tried it after him and almost chickened out. He also made a tye dye shirt and a model rocket. He took a photography class with Eric and came out with a really great picture.

Sebastian took a more social approach this year and spent time with whoever was on the beach. He did great at beach volleyball and really enjoyed the new water toys. He also had a great time with Liz. :)

Eric spent a lot of time playing volleyball and his team won the tournement for the week. Again. He also went paintballing, giant swinging, climbing, wakeboarding, sea wasping and eating.

With all the activity it's hard to believe we rested but somewhere in all the fun we did manage to sleep.

We are already planning for next year.

WOW

2008-08-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with this man. I have been watching Eric prepare for his first year of teaching and I am so proud. He is using the gift God has given him to the fullest. I am so happy to be sharing my life with him.

trial update

2008-07-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

The last few times I have tried to post on here it has given me an error. This is my last try.

Let's see how tech savvy I am...or not

2008-05-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

I found this video and loved it. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEFE3B0Rje0

One Year older...

2008-05-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

one year wiser. That is the saying. This last year has taught me so much. I have learned to enjoy the process and journey of life. I have slowed down and stressed down. I am learning to dream. I am stronger, bolder, willing to take some risks, and maybe even be wrong. Sometimes.

I am greatful that I don't have to stop growing because I have so far to go. I can look back on the journey that is my life and smile. I have wonderful friends and incredible children. I have a husband who showers me with unconditional love.

I am learning to feel the love that I am surrounded by every day.

Thank you to all who are sharing this journey with me. I couldn't do it without you.

My Sawyer

2008-05-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Sawyer has been dressing himself for years and never ceases to make me laugh. I love that he doesn't care about being cool yet. (That is his brothers job for now) After the picture he put on his water shoes. Of course, that is what goes with toe socks.

Great week

2008-04-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

Last week was one of the best I have had in years. I surprised Sebastian by taking him out of school early on Thursday. We drove to Lynnwood and had dinner at his new favorite restaurant the Macaroni Grill. Then we headed to Redmond for a concert by our favorite band Newsboys. He has wanted to see them in concert for so long but we just didn't have the money while Eric was in school. It was so fun for me to plan our adventure and he was shocked that I made all the arrangements without him finding out. (I am horrible at keeping secrets from my family) We didn't get home til after midnight but it was totally worth it to see his face when he saw the tickets.
Friday I had a hard time getting going for work. While I was waiting for Barb (we always meet and ride together to work) Eric called me. I figured he forgot something and needed my help. I was wrong. He was calling to tell me he got the job at LC for next year. I was so excited I sent a mass text to my family and some friends. Then I broke down crying. It is such a relief that all those years of school were not wasted. God has a plan for us. I am in awe that the Creator of the universe took time to make a plan for our lives. I start crying every time I think of how much He loves me.
Now you know why last week was so great and why I might cry alot for a while.

Doggone crazy day

2008-03-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

Our quiet Sunday has not been so quiet. Earlier I let the dog out to use the facilities. She is very good about staying in our yard so I didn't hook her to her chain. I forgot she went out and got busy. Sawyer was driving me crazy with his energy so I sent him out for a bike ride. The dog apparently tried to follow and got lost. When I noticed she was missing I panicked. We spent the next 1/2 hour looking for her. I decided someone must have taken her and went in to make a poster. Eric kept looking. Before I could decide which picture to use for her Wanted poster Eric came in with my prodigal puppy. She had followed some neighbor kids home and was having a grand time with them until she saw Eric. My knight is gray sweats saved the day.

Some time passed and Sawyer once again had far too much energy so out he went to the trampoline. He was jumping happily when the hail started. The pictures tell the rest of the story.

Surprise day off!!!

2008-03-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

This morning my "boss" called and told me her son is sick and we had to reschedule work. Yeah for me! We clean houses and I love my job, but a day off really rocks. I already had my house work done and dinner in the crock pot so I had nothing to do but rest. I took a nap so I will be ready to stay out late scrapbooking. When I woke up my yard was covered in snow! Oh well, I didn't have to go out in it. I got up and had some coffee and did a Sudoku. My day is complete.

More pictures

2008-03-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

I tried to put too many pictures on my last blog. Now I am trying to add more. We'll see.

quick update

2008-03-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

So this whole working thing is really cutting into my free time. Hence the lack of blog updates.

Things are going really great. This weekend was so wonderful. We went to the beach on Saturday. Connie, Dan and Mollie joined us and the weather was superb. Penelope loved chasing the other dogs and meeting new people. The boys had a great time climbing the rocks and finding fossils. (we were at Clayton beach) Eric trully needed the time off because his students turned in their research papers on Friday and it took 2 boxes to carry them in. I don't think we would survive if we didn't take a Sabbath rest every week.

After church we went to Connie's for homemade (by me) pizza and a rousing game of hand and foot. (a card game similar to Canasta)

Easter morning we we to Barb and Zach's for brunch and an egg hunt. The weather was horrible so we decided to hide the eggs inside. Not because the kids couldn't handle the rain but because WE didn't want to get wet. We spent the day with them and their people. No one called 911 so it was a successful holiday.

I took today off so I could catch up on the house and some scrapbooking. I'm looking forward to Friday because it is scrapbooking night. I need a night out with some friends.

I have one pray request if anyone is so inclined. Sawyer's spider Zelda disappeared 2 weeks ago but she came back. Now she is hiding under her log and won't come out. We hope she is just moulting. I don't think Sawyer can handle losing her right now.

That's it for now.

I'm trying something new

2008-03-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

Some friends of mine share their scrapbooking on their blogs so I wanted to try it too. I have not scrapbooked for months but I am glad to be back at it.

Our house

2008-03-02T17:45:00.000-08:00

I was informed this weekend that I am not keeping people up to date on my life and that I am wrong for not having picture of my new house on my blog. Sorry Naomi and Melanie I am a blog failure. So now I will try to redeem myself.

I having been going back and forth for months about what colors to paint inside my house. Once I picked those I had to decide where to paint what. That required calling in some experts (Eric and Connie) to help me. I am the kind of person who likes to take action soon after I make a decision, so it was very hard for me to wait to get the paint. We went and bought the paint today. I promised my friend Barb she could help me paint tomorrow. I really wanted to be good and wait for her help but I am weak. Here are my before and after pictures for the wall I did. Also there is a picture of my house for Melanie.