September past

This September was suppose to be a month to slow down after a crazy summer, but it seemed more like a whirlwind trying to play catch-up with all the stuff we didn't do in summer! It was fun though. We have not been home on the weekend for at least three weeks now, helping re-roof the generator shed at Drift Creek, then hanging out in Bend with the Stumbo's (so fun!) and then leaving for Californina (just Mikaiah and I) the very next morning for Amber's Wedding.
Liana Stone, Teal Lewis, and I all road tripped down to Newcastle, CA for the wedding of our child hood friend, Amber. What a great week to catch up with old friends, and make some new ones. It really was a blessing being able to hang out, help get ready (a little), and just be there.
After driving through the night after the wedding and just kind of sleeping most of the morning/early afternoon yesterday I should be ready to whip this (very messy) house into shape...maybe after an episode of Survivor. What's the hurry?

Festival of Tents

I just love these girls. They're so fun to hang out with, plus they are awesome babysitters.
Mikaiah just loves hanging out with her Aunt Katie.

Francesca and Amadea enjoying a sunny morning around camp.

We just got back from camping at the Festival of Tents yesterday. This is my 15 time going (in 17 years) but the first time bringing Mikaiah. She's such a great camper, four nights and did awesome. She's a born camper. So glad. Great friends, good food, awesome worship, wonderful weather - it was a really nice weekend. Today I spent most of the day doing laundry, but it was worth it. Then this evening Seth and I took Mikaiah out for a little spin on our neighbors Kayaks (she has this awesome infant life jacket.) I just love having the river 30 feet from our house!

Making the most of Summer

Once again it seems that summer has just arrived and yet many children are already headed back to school...where did all that time go? I'm not about to let the rest of summer go to waste though, so I thought I would take a (long overdue) minute to fill everyone in on what we have been up to this summer and what we are doing now.
With our recent move to Corvallis at the beginning of Summer, and an effort to save on gas, I have spent a lot of time exploring the area by bike. When we first moved here Seth finished up my bike which he built from a frame we found on craigslist, parts from my old bike, and other scavenged parts from all over. He'd been working on it for a while, but with the move he found the motivation needed to finally finish the project. Now with this sweet (and very cute) bike, along with our (much loved) bike trailer- Mikaiah and I have been all over the place! It's been a real treat to explore many of Corvallis's off-the-road bike paths, which often run along beautiful fields, ponds and rivers.
While we didn't get to do as much (okay, any) camping this summer (though we are this coming weekend) we did make it down to California a couple of weeks ago to see my grandmother as well as my Uncle, Aunt and cousin. While it's always hard to have these "end of life" visits, it was really special that my grandmother got to meet Mikaiah before she goes. My grandmother is one tough cookie. She is 94 years old and is just this last year or so really gone down hill, health wise. But she has lived a long full life and I'm so glad to be a part of it. I was also blessed to be able to have Seth and both of my parents to be able to go with me on our visit. It was (over all) a really good time. We even got time to go on a sweet hike with my Uncle.
Apart from that trip, we have been making the wedding rounds this summer. With either a wedding or bridal shower (or both) every weekend they can seem to take up the whole summer, but it was a joy to be able to be a part of them. Especially since one of them resulted in a new (and wonderful) sister-in-law for me! Yeah!
During the weeks I have been filling in my days with berry picking, getting to know neighbors (yesterday I tried my hand at tye-dying - we'll see how it went today) and such. We live in such a neat little community in this trailer park next to the Mary's river. It is so much cooler than I ever expected it to be.
In the days and weeks ahead I hope to begin immersing myself in the bigger community picture, joining (hopefully) a zumba class and a knitting class (I've always wanted to learn how to knit!) Let's hope I can blog a little more faithfully as well, and then maybe I won't have so much to ramble on about! Here's to the end of summer, last minute bonfires, more berry picking, camping, canning, and a few last bbq's. Enjoy it. I know I will.

Christmas 2010

I apologize for the long delay in posts, but since it has been over a year since I have written I figured it was about time! Seth and I (along with my parents, Ardith, and Andrew) just got back from spending Christmas in El Cajon, CA (San diego area) with my mom's parents. We had a really nice time relaxing, reading, visiting Balboa park, playing games and going for walks (when it wasn't pouring down rain!) It was really good to see everyone.
Andrew is now living in Tucson, AZ getting his PHD and Ardith is still in Seattle so we don't get so see them very often and it was quite a treat. We also got to stay with my Uncle Jim and Aunt Becca on the way down (they live in the San Francisco area) and on the way up. It was great to spend some time with them (as well as with my Grandma Stewart who lives near them.)
Now I'm back to work on Monday for the next three months until Spring Break, at which point our new little one will either be born or over due and I will not be returning! Until then however, I'm still working at the McMinnville Montessori School (in the Primary afterschool room) with 3-6 year olds. I enjoy it very much, but won't be sorry to stay home!
Hope you all had a great Christmas and Wonderful New Year!

Well, I can see that I have been neglecting this blog far too long - for a whole lot has happend since then, and yet at the same time not much at all. I'm still enjoying my job at McMinnville Montessori school while Seth works with his dad. A little over a week ago we had the pleasure of witnessing his sister Danielle marry Clayton Bedell in a private ceremony in a beach house on the Oregon coast. It was beautiful.

That same weekend we were able to celebrate an early Christmas with the Finley's at the beach house, which was really quite delightful.

We are now looking forward to (another) early Christmas with my parents and siblings and then an (actual) Christmas all on our own snowshoeing.

It has been a really good year for us, with a lof of changes and adjustments, and a lot of growing- which is always a good thing. I can't wait to see what's in store for us both!

My new life

Changes. Changes it seems have been my life as of late. Good changes, it's true, but changes all the same. On August 8th, 2009 I married Seth Finley, the love of my life. It was a beautiful wedding (what bride doesn't think her wedding was beautiful?) but we had a truly lovely time, it was great to see everyone who came out to celebrate with us, we were really blessed by all the people who were able to join us.
Afterwards we headed off to eastern oregon, idaho, washington and Nelson, B.C. and then back to Astoria, OR where we enjoyed a splendid couple of weeks relaxing and wandering about aimlessly. Such bliss. Coming home we have spent the last few weeks settling in as I started my new job as an assistant Montessori teacher in McMinnville and as the Mandate School started up again. (We are helping out with the Mandate school randomly this year - Seth is at this very moment off with the students on NIKO a five day outdoor leadership program.)
This was my third week at my job (first week with students) and I absolutely love it. I think it will be a really good fit for me. We are loving being in this community (Sheridan) and have settled nicely into our apartment. We even picked up a roommate - Dawna Jager, a great friend of ours. God has been faithfully providing for us, like always, and blessing us in so many ways. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us this next year!

Spring

Time is slowly starting to fly by. Sounds like a contradictive statement, I know, but what I mean is that while time seemed to drag by it's slowly picking up speed. Or something like that. It seems to me that just as cold winter days can seem to drag by hour by hour somehow spring days can sometimes seem to skip by all together in a blissful kind of way. Of course this is still Spring in Oregon, so this only happens every few days, but I will enjoy it anyway!
Also, as I find myself spending more and more time here in the Valley (that's the Willamette Valley for those of you folks who are a little confused by this termanolgy) spending time with friends and family (especially a particular someone) the time totally seems to be getting away from me! But with my wedding in just four months, I'm actually okay with time speeding along for once! Hurray!

Engaged!

So last weekend was pretty freakin' awesome, if I do say so myself. (smile!) I drove over to Silverton, Oregon for the leadership conference on Friday night and spent a great two days surrounded by amazing people, encouraging words, and a good atmosphere. (Whatever that means!) All in all, though a little exausting, it was nice. Then on Saturday night I drove to my parents house and then spent the day in Sheridan (Sunday) going to Open Door (surrounded by people who "didn't know anything about the possiblity of Seth proposing, I'm sure") There lack of knowledge or assumptions was shown in many ways (winks, slaps on the back, and knowing smiles. haha. You've gotta love it! Anyway, that afternoon after spending a couple of hours at Seth's parents house we drove to Portland. (The Cambodia team of Mandate students was staying up there Sunday night at my brother's house, since there flight left early Monday morning. So Seth and I drove up before they did (Seth was their ride to the airport) and we stopped at a coffee shop on Hawthorne near Mt. Tabor, took our coffee to go and decided to walk up to the top. This was a great idea, but for stability challenged people such as myself, apparently walking up a hill, drinking coffee (even with a lid) and holding a conversation, this can prove to be too much (even for great multi-taskers such as myself, perhaps adding one more element like holding one of the triplets would have made me better at it, who knows.) Anyway, I ended up spilling about a quarter of my cup of coffee (i know, how awful is that?) and this was good coffee, so though Seth offered to hold my cup for me (show off - his was perfectly un-spilled) I was determined to drink it (while hot - it would be a clear waste not to.) So (being a sensible person) I saw the futility of continuing on the path we were on (walking, drinking coffee, talking) and decided to sit down and drink the rest. There was a convenient retaining wall between two houses which made a fine bench to sit on (apprently looking out over Portland - since we were on a hill, but for some reason I don't remember the view. I just noticed my coffee, an rv parked to the left of us, and of course, my companion.) He told me later it was a nice view, and I'm sure it was. haha. Anyway, we sat there talking for a while, then he turned toward me and asked me if I would marry him! I (of course being so calm and collected -not) gave out a little shriek of an answer (which he said he didn't hear) and hugged him (but being smart as he is, he took it for a yes. I confirmed this later with a more clearly pronounced "yes.") Then he pulled out the ring, which (amazingly) fit perfectly. Wow. That's cool. (He hadn't gotten my ring size or anything, but was just planning on sizing it later.) Anyway, then we walked the rest of the way up Mt. Tabor and around the resevoir and gorgeous view (just in time for a beautiful sunset and great view of Portland at night.) It was perfect. I feel so overwhelmingly blessed to be marrying this amazing man (who was right under my nose for years - like 12 years actually!) and didn't even know it! So, for those of you who will be around Amity, OR August 8th, you should come join us for a sweet celebration (that would be our wedding.)

Quick review of my life as of late.

The longer I go without posting a blog, the harder it is to write one, maybe I'm just getting out of practice - or perhaps there is both way too much and at the same time not enough to write about. What I mean is, to fill you in on all that is going on in my life would take pages and pages, and would bore you to tears, and yet to tell you what is going on this week (though being much shorter) would also cause you to lose interest (is it gone already?)
Anyway, I'll do my best to highlight points of interest in outline form, just to keep things simple.
Work- going well, the babies are almost 9 months old, I can hardly believe it! They're doing great, (other than the cold I gave them last week!) Will and Lydia are almost crawling - Will even sits up all by himself, and Clara has started rolling over (finally!)
Roommate - LOVE her! Beth is awesome, I have so much fun hanging out and just being together. She always finds ways to encourage and bless me.
Church- My church "city church" (used to be "oasis") has gone through a lot of changes lately(name change, location change, people leaving, etc.) but I'm really excited about it over all- it's always so sad to see people go, but I understand it - well, somewhat.) I truly believe their (the pastoral staff) hearts and visions are in the right place - truly following Jesus is not often very popular or easy, when you really get down to it, but it's the only way to go!
Bend - beautiful as always, if not having some tempermental weather changes (sun warm, snow, sun cold, rain, fog, etc. and that can all be in one day!)
Significant other- hehe. I actually have one. He's pretty much amazing! (of course!) Seth is an amazing blessing in my life, I am so grateful for him! Our first "unofficial" date was snowshoeing up Tumalo mountain, so you know he's gotta be a keeper!
Youth Group Girls-They are so much fun, they keep me young (or at least I use them as an excuse!) and continually teach me so much!
Misc.-I've been reading several amazing books, most recently "The irresistable revolution" (not a book for those who don't want to be challenged and grow.)
Yeah, so that's about it for now. (Hope I didn't bore you too much!)