Bye to Manhattan - Part 1

We went to the beach one last time before we left. I'm not sure how we managed it but I'm so glad we went for it. I'm going to miss this place.

But you knew that.

and that was just the walk to get to the beach!  more tomorrow...

Moving on Up--Seeing the Mountain

thought I'd post a bit of our adventures in coming to Portland and saying goodbye to L.A.; please bear with me as I tend to get uber nostalgic at different life crossroads. :)

“Oh, look, look!” We were flying to Portland several weeks ago for The Interview--both of us tucked into our seats among a plane of business people. T was reading Robinson Crusoe on his iphone. I was stitching away on a project fit for our adventure. I looked out the window at one point and saw a massive lake, its arms splayed out in a hundred directions. I knew that lake. The tree line formed on the edge and the brown line of dirt sandwiched itself between the water and the forest. “Look, I think that's Shasta Lake,” I told him. I remembered the houseboat days of summer on that lake. The hiking around its rim.


The stitchery called and I left my revelry for a moment. I don't know what caused me to look back out the window but when I did, I saw the mountain. The mountain that formed the horizon of my high school years and those twice-a-year college vacations. I knew that mountain. “Look, it's Mt. Shasta—so that was definitely Shasta Lake that we saw earlier. Oh look at it!” I was surprised to see it so empty of snow (and later beyond happy that it was since we would get to drive by it on our trek up north). It was so beautiful and it made me so happy to see it. I had been engrossed in my stitchery I almost missed the beauty around me. Isn't that like life?

This is the stitchery I was working on—I memorized this verse last year and had seen it to be true in our lives over and over again. (sorry for the poor quality of the photo...it is kind of in focus, right? :-/)

This is the only picture taken in Portland during our trip. I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for T during his interview, praying and trying to keep myself from over-thinking everything. The clouds were piling up and the sky was crazy blue. It was such a beautiful day. We little knew what great things the Lord had in store for us, that's for sure.

♥♥♥♥

Packing Up and Saying Goodbye

I've been quiet here on the blog as of late, though it has not been for lack of words to say. This month has been filled to the brim and overflowing with travel and surprises and excitement for us. The short story is we are moving to Portland. The long story might unfold here at a later time.

Suffice to say, we're excited, overwhelmed, happy, and having moments of looking at each other and saying, 'Are we really doing this? Are we crazy?!' The next week and a half will have us finishing up our jobs here in lalaland and driving the uhaul away up the 5. Oh, our beloved (and dreaded) 5 freeway! How nice that you will take us all the way there; how nostalgic that you will thread us straight through Redding, the home of my high school years.

So we're packing and sorting and saying goodbye the best we can. We're trusting and believing and taking hold of the hand of our Savior, Jesus. Honestly, the things God has orchestrated to make this happen are nothing short of miraculous. If I wasn't a believer, I might think they were coincidental but there are hundreds and thousands now (believe me, I've been writing them down!) and perhaps I would rethink that word. When I read that list, it's all I can do to not shout. The other day I couldn't help myself and read some of them to my husband--"Can you believe this?" I asked. "Look here, listen to this--I prayed for this specifically--and here is the answer!" No, God is not a genie who grants us our wishes but He is most certainly a Provider and a Father who dearly loves his children. I will not say that this journey has been easy and full of daffodils and lilies but it has certainly been worth it, especially for my soul's maturity's sake. ;0)

Once we're settled up there, I intend to write more (frequently? maybe?)...I don't have a job lined up to begin with and knowing my old self, I won't feel settled until most of the boxes are done away with (which keeps one from taking pictures and blogging). But after that, I'll come back. And I look forward to sharing this new adventure with you. from lalaland to portlandia? This should be quite the adventure.

♥♥♥♥

Happy New Year!

my Christmas cactus decided to bloom last week right before we left. :)

What a wonderful, wonderful trip to Boise. This year we decided to gift each other a family photo, cookies and an ornament per family rather than buying individual gifts for everyone. And wow, to see how each family interpreted that was so much fun. I'm especially happy to look at the bar off my kitchen to see a row of smiling family faces...I miss them!

Now that Christmas is over, it is by no means the end of gift-giving, though. In the next four weeks, we have 3 birthdays coming one after another. After spending some time with Emma last week, I was inspired to make her a dolly blanket from my yarn scraps so I whipped that up yesterday. It was so easy and fun to do. One of the stripes is from yarn that I used to make her baby blanket five years ago (sniff, sniff). She loves to draw so we are also going to put together a sketchbook with some colored pencils for her. I had so much fun sitting with her as she drew and told me what was happening in each picture.

Little miss mouse (Emily) is going to be turning two a week before Emma, so I think she's due for her own tutu. She followed the big girls around as they danced 'ballet' for us and held her skirt in her right hand like she was a little lady. Too cute.

Well, a happy new year to you all!