Please be in prayer for us this week, as we are starting our look for a new home. We figure that it will be a quick move, as the places that we’ve seen so far are available now. Pray that we would find a place that fits our needs AND that we can find a place that are a little more flexible on lease term. We were originally hoping to get a 6 month lease, which would be up in November – and apparently that is a tough time to find new renters, so we are hoping to sign a 9 month lease. So, be in prayer that it is accepted! And, if we do have to move in the next few weeks, that it goes smoothly. We have a busy weekend this weekend, and are away the following 2. Meaning, a move this month will be fast, and lots of work… but it could be done! And we have amazing friends who have all told us they are willing to help where needed. Lastly, be in prayer for my anxiety, I do struggle with it, and have really be trying to let things go and trust God, so far I’ve been doing well – but sometimes it can sneak up on me pretty bad.

Phil and I are doing really well – and this move, we are actually getting excited about a bit… our 3rd move since we’ve been married, and move #4 will most likely happen in 2009! Then… I think we’ll stay put for a while!!

Like I said in a previous posts I’ve always loved birthdays (mine or anyone elses) they are just wonderful! Last night was kick off to birthday week! We were at the parental-units for dinner, mmm scalloped potatoes and pork chops, the same meal we have every year around this time since I was pre-teen I’m sure! The Endall’s were there too! It was a lovely evening!!

Friday night is my actual birthday and we have youth group – Saturday night, Phil has planned a birthday party at goosespit for me…. so if you’d like to come you are invited!! It will be a nice week!

We had an extremely busy week last week. I am worked full time last week, and again this week, and not having that time that I usually have to get things done really makes a difference when you are not used to it. Phil had a bigger work week as he was finishing up a project. Every night we seemed to have something going on too, which kept us out late, and then when we finally did get in to bed, we just tried to get as much sleep as we could in those short hours before the next day started.

This week is much the same, like I said I work 2 extra days, and Phil is starting another project. We have one night off (Thursday, which we plan to do nothing). Next week will slow down, I’ll be able to get caught up on my chores, we’ll have time for real dinners, and to finish off the week we are headed to Vancouver!! We’ll go on Saturday morning, spend the day with friends, go to the Third Day concert and stay at their place. Sunday night, we are staying at the Fairmont Waterfront for one night which will be fabulous!!! Then home Monday. It will be a nice little get-a-way, relax time!

So, as most of you who know me know, I can be quite anxious about things. Lately I’ve been learning that having anxiety is a distrust in God. I trust that God is in control of all things, and I trust his plan… but I still do get a little anxious about things, and unknowns.

Today as I was leaving for work, our property management group called us and informed us that the owners of our house are moving back and would like to move into their house. Essentially we have been evicted, without the poor meaning of the word.

Please be in prayer for us as we decide what to do moving forward, as we have about 2 months to get everything in order (we hope to however do things sooner than later, as July we are gone on holidays). And, if you know of any great rentals let us know!!

Congratulations Todd and Amy on the safe arrival of baby girl woods!!!! We love you guys!!

Amy, I am so proud of you!! You are one tough cookie!! Can’t wait to meet baby girl.

Shannon joined a softball team, and ‘joined’ me too…. and up until this point I’ve been very nervous about this… let me give you some back ground info.

I used to love softball, and played lots as a kid! Wasn’t too bad either! When I was 14yrs old, I was batting, and hit the ball…. and the ball hit me in the face… and well that is when I first knocked out my tooth. Not sure how I managed to pull it off, but I did.

For about 2 years I didn’t play, I started to venture into the baseball world again, and we moved here. I never got into it, and never played it in school, so just kind of left my mind.

So here I am, haven’t played since I was 16, and am on a team. I find ‘my’ (really belonged to my uncle, and is about 30 years old!) glove, and am ready to go. Right? wrong! I really had the need to practice and that is exactly what we did today.

This afternoon, mom, dad, Shannon and I hit the field, had some family time and played catch, hit some balls. It was 100% awesome!! And, I wasn’t all that bad!! Yay!! I could hit them pretty good, and was good at catching too.

Tonight was my 1st practice, and I was so nervous that I’d be terrible and they wouldn’t even want me… and I am happy to report, I did well. I got some fly balls!! Hit some balls far and hard!!! It was all around wonderful.

The downside…. I don’t quite know what I am doing wrong and definitely have to figure it out…. when I am batting the bottom of the bat must be hitting my forearm…. I have bruises all over — see picture. This is since being home (got home at 8 ) I’m wondering what they’ll look like tomorrow. So what I am doing is something I’ll have to change, cause having a bruised forearm all summer isn’t my kind of fun.

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my very good friends baby!!!! So… pray for Amy and Todd, as they prepare for the arrival of their new baby, which will be coming Monday or Tuesday!!! YAYAY!!!!

On Wednesday night, girlfriends went over to Amy’s house and we painted her belly! It was so fun!! We painting a large lily on it, and I might say that it turned out beautifully!

In other news….. My birthday is 2 weeks!!!! EEeeeeee!!!! I love birthdays! Growing up I was a strong believer (and because of having family in the US it always worked out this way) of birthday months!!! Now, coming into my 23rd year, I only get a birthday week – maybe 11 days, if I smile just right. This is because then it is our anniversary on May 12! 2 years this year!! Yay!!

Phil and I are going to be heading to Vancouver to stay with friends on the 9th and are going to the Third Day concert, and then we’ll spend a night in Vancouver for our anniversary! I’m very excited. I’ve never stayed in Vancouver, except for v-ball trips in highschool… and Phil and I opted to stay home for the anniversary last year, as we had just gotten back from Disney World. So this will be a nice little get away, 1st hotel stay since Disney World. Very exciting!!!

Our plans for the summer have fallen into place now which is wonderful!!!
We’ll head down to Seattle, spend 1 night, get on the plane Friday and fly to Wilkes-Barre, then we are off to the resort Sat. morning, to spend some time with Phil’s work crew, who by the sounds of it are pretty awesome. We’ll fly back to Seattle, on Tuesday, spend a night, then Wed. we are off to Colorado for my little family reunion (by little I mean there are probably only 12ish of us). I have not seen my aunts/uncles/cousins since the passing of my granddad in 2003, so this is very exciting!! They’ve never met Phil, so I’m excited to show him off (I mean introduce him.) Then we’ll probably head over to visit Phil’s parents who are moving down to Colorado, spend some time with them…. then its home time. We are going to be quite flexible with the returning plans, as we will play it by ear how long we want to stay in each place. But we have 2 weeks off from the time we get BACK to Seattle after the retreat…. so it will be awesome!!!!

Well, it is time for me to head to work…. have a wonderful day!!!

Today I spent the afternoon making a dessert for dinner tomorrow night. We are going to the Endall’s for dinner, and our part is dessert – and I thought a bunny cake would be fun… especially with a sweet 5 year old there!!

Here are a few shots of the cake:

Last night Phil and I headed down for our annual Easter dinner with Wanda, Al & Tra and the evening was wonderful. We always love going to visit, and are grateful that we have family around to spend holidays with (we are with mine on Sunday).

Phil hadn’t seen Tra since Christmas, so they had lots to catch up on while I visited with Wanda and Al. We had a delicious meal and Tra made his famous cheesecake…. mmm!!!

We spent the night and came home today, which is always lovely!

It is an incredible day out – so we went out for a bike ride, and tonight we may head down to the beach for a fire.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!!

We have been having the most amazing weather this week, and I’ve been so grateful! The sun is shining through the windows, its warm and birds are singing!!!

This morning I headed out for a walk, and found a great little trail that follows the Puntledge river. It was incredible!! I found this little spot on the river where I was able to sit down and just take in God’s amazing creation. It was an awe moment!!

On other news – Phil and I are pretty excited about our summer travel plans – we are heading to Philadelphia for a retreat with Phil’s company, and then heading to Colorado to visit family…. and on our way home, we’ll probably come up the Oregon Coast. We are tossing around the idea of going to San Fran too…. there was a song when i was little that was a favorite of mine….. “if you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair” since then, I’ve always wanted to go, and to wear flowers in my hair…. it’s silly, but just a little something I’ve always wanted to do.

Lastly, I just want to say I definitely have the BEST husband around!! He is 100% awesome )

That is how Phil and I feel today!! We are both a little crippled and are hobbling around today.

I hurt my back last week Wednesday, it had been a little ‘off’ for about a week, but I fell down the stairs and threw it out enough to be in a lot of pain. I went to work Thursday only to come home early, and then rested up Thurs and Fri. Saturday I went in to work for 5 hours, and it wasn’t too bad. BUT, between Saturday at work, and Sunday when I woke up my back tightened up again. After church I came home to lay down, and when I woke up from my nap I twisted the wrong way – and that is what brought me to where I am today…. hurting, and not moving much.

Phil, was at soccer yesterday and he did a slide tackle for the ball, and got charlie-horsed. So he can hardly walk, and is hobbling around.

Last night we were going for dinner, and Phil says to me, “can you drive?” and I’m thinking no not really – it hurts to turn my head etc. but since we have a standard, Phil can’t drive because of his charlie-horsed leg. So, I drove (and don’t worry, I did my shoulder checks) and Phil opened and closed doors for me. We are quite the pair.

Today, I had hoped to get out and enjoy the beautiful sunshine we have been blessed with, but am not sure that getting out and about is happening today. Good thing for windows!!!

On a super excited note!!! We would like to tell you about our cousin Tra, he is one super cool kid!! Porbably our very favorite highschool guy! He is really into snowboarding, and this year made Team BC (yay!). So all winter he goes over to the mainland for competitions and has had a pretty sweet year… this past weekend, he had a competetion and place top 5 and now…. is going to Cali to compete at a rail jam there!!! Tra, we are so proud of you!!!

Be back soon – and hopefully with pictures – Phil still has to ‘fix’ the unknown problem for me. Thanks for checking in!!!

P.S: Joy, I’ll start blogging much more knowing that you check every day!!!