Saying Goodbye to My Childhood Home

On Tuesday my parents will be driving out of the driveway of my childhood home, the home my dad and grandpa built, one last time as they head up to northern Idaho to start their next adventure. For as long as I can remember, my parents have been talking about moving up here, closer to their girls and more importantly, their precious grandkids. I am so excited for them as they start this new journey and build a house in a town they have grown to love over the past year or so. To think that they will be a 5-hour drive away instead of 13 hours is amazing and exciting.



At the same time, this is bittersweet and feels so weird. Weird that Auburn will no longer be called home, my trips to Auburn will be no more and I will never step foot inside the house that I lived in basically my whole childhood. There are so many wonderful memories there, which I will get to in a bit. Ultimately, I am so thankful that my parents raised us in such a great small town and that we had a great house and yard that we were able share with our friends. I am so thankful for the schools I was able to go to, the church I grew up in and all of the amazing people that loved on my family throughout the years. I am so thankful for my childhood and this precious house that helped make it so great. 


I was six when my dad was building this house and I remember always wanting to go with him to the property to 'help'. I would bring my sleeping bag and take a nap in what would be my room. I would walk around the property, smashing acorns and climbing trees. I would build houses with the bricks that were leftover and just have a blast being outside, most importantly, being with my dad.

There are so many memories at this house from sleepovers to swimming parties to graduation parties and everything else in between. My best childhood friend, Katie, moved away while I was in this house and I remember that on the days her family would come back into town, I would sit in the front window of the dining room of our house and sing, "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain" waiting in anticipation for her car to drive up and for us to be reunited once again.  Katie and I would build the best forts out of blankets in my room. My friend, Gentry, would come over just about every Sunday and we would play dolls. My friend, Emily, would come over just about as often as she could and we would play games, go swimming, talk about boys, etc. Then there's my friend Jen who, during jr. high and school, would come over for sleepovers and so much more. I really did have the best friends and I love that my house was a place that all of my friends felt welcome and always wanted to be at.


It was in this house that I caught my dad in a weak moment and was able to get a cat. Precious was not the nicest cat, but I loved him and he loved our yard. It was this house that I have so many precious memories of my sweet Grammy and Grampy coming over for holiday and birthday meals. This was the house that Littlemom and Dadell would drive up to every summer as they came to pick us up so we could be with them down in Anaheim for a week or two. It was this house that had an amazing woods beyond the back yard where my sisters and I would go exploring and also walk to the Fortune's house. It was also this house that we would buy a Christmas tree from the tree farm behind our house and simply throw the tree over our fence to get it home. It is this house that we would walk down to the train for San Francisco day trips. We would walk around the neighborhood, walk to the store in the snow and walk to Starbucks. There are so many great, rich memories at this house that I will always remember and be thankful for.

Here are some precious pictures I found of memories in this house.

Thankfully, I was able to go home one more time last month and I am so glad I did. Playing outside in our beautiful backyard with my sweet nephews, taking trips to Grammy and Grampy's house (which was also sold), eating at Taco Tree and making trips 'down the hill'. I am thankful for Auburn and so glad that is where my parents chose to raise my sisters and I.


I am so very excited for my parents to start on their new adventure and I am so very thankful for the childhood they were able to give my sisters and I in this amazing house. I am blessed.

Snopocalypse 2012

After many hours of anticipation, the snow has finally arrived! I woke up this morning to a beautiful winter wonderful and it has been snowing nonstop since then. I went out to build a snowman but the snow was just too wet so I decided to go for a walk and this is what I saw:

Thankful

During the month of November, I can't help but think of all that I am thankful for. Especially this November as life has taken an unexpected turn for my family and we have had to deal with less than desirable circumstances. There have been many tears, heartache and prayers on my sweet sister's behalf and I know all of us want to help her, erase that pain and yet feel so helpless. I wish I lived in Wenatchee so I could help Heather and love on her as much as possible. I almost feel guilty on the days that I share a laugh with someone else or forget, just for a moment, what is going on. As the days have gone by and life has turned back to semi-normal after our time in Auburn, I have grown thankful for the moments of laughter, thankful for friends who have been there for me and have allowed me to be so emotionally messy and still love me and thankful for the friends that are taking such great care of my sis.

Over this last month, I have been so aware of how blessed I am with my family. I love my family so much and love how we have all come together on my sweet sister's behalf. I have seen all of us rise up and use our gifts to uniquely love on Heather and her sweet boys.

I am thankful that I get to be Auntie to four of the cutest kids around who constantly make me laugh and feel so loved.

I am thankful for my best friend, Kirsti. We have been dear friends for over 10 years and she has always been so supportive, encouraging and providing humor when most needed. Even though we live states apart, I know I can count on her for anything. Thankfully, I was able to meet up with her this summer and meet her sweet baby.

Most of all, I am thankful that God has surrounded me with so many amazing people - friends and family. And I am thankful that I am a part of an amazing church that is all about transforming lives and living in the grace of God.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Sovereign Over Us

A friend who was leading worship this weekend texted me to let me know that she was thinking of me as she was practicing this song. I listened to the song and I don't love the sound but I love the lyrics, couldn't be more perfect for my job situation.

Sovereign Over Us by Aaron Keyes

There is strength within the sorrow, There is beauty in our tears

You meet us in our mourning, With a love that casts out fear

You are working in our waiting, Sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding, You’re teaching us to trust

Your plans are still to prosper, You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
Faithful forever, Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

You are wisdom unimagined, Who could understand your ways
Reigning high above the heavens, Reaching down in endless grace
Youʼre the Lifter of the lowly, Compassionate and kind
You surround and You uphold me, Your promises are my delight

Even what the enemy means for evil
You turn it for our good, You turn it for our good and for your glory
Even in the valley You are faithful
Youʼre working for our good, Youʼre working for our good and for your glory

I love the line, "Your plans are still to prosper, You have not forgotten us". I am clinging to this as I wait for a job. The waiting is always the hardest and the more I wait, the more I doubt God and His provision but I have to trust that He has my best in mind and will provide in His time. Most importantly, I have to trust that He has not forgotten me and that His love for me is constant.

Even though I got yet another job rejection this past Friday, I have felt encouraged and more at peace than ever before. I know this is God working in my heart (and perhaps preparing me for that perfect job ;).

I continue to be so thankful for friends and family that have remained so supportive and encouraging, that is what helps me get through the bad days and what makes me smile more on the great days.

A New Perspetive

This has been a rough season in my life as I once again am forced to go on unemployment. Talk about the lowest of lows. I literally have applied for 50+ jobs over the last two weeks. I somehow think that non-teaching job prospects overlook my application thinking that I have no experience other than teaching. Little do they know that teaching requires a lot of secretarial work as well. Sigh. I am not someone that enjoys a lot of down time or just being home all day. I much rather be doing something of significance with my time.

So, with the goal of keeping a happy heart and trusting in God's perfect plan, I reflect on what I am thankful for and some of my favorite memories from this summer:

Thankful for:

-Parents who have been so supportive and encouraging through this whole unemployment thing.

-A wonderful church that constantly reminds me that God is in control and not done with me yet.

-Great friends who make me laugh constantly.

Memories:

-Movies in the park (E.T. and True Grit)

- Precious auntie and sister time this past weekend

-Seahawks game with Melynda, laughing until our sides hurt on the way home.

-Meeting up with Kirsti and her family in San Francisco.

-Spending the day with Jen and sweet Liam.

-Time at home - relaxing with Mom and Dad and helping Grampy around the house.

Looking back, there has never been a time when God hasn't take care of me or when I was so desperate. I know He has something planned and I am trying to trust in His timing. Of course I want a job NOW and I have made that very clear on several occasions but I also don't want to miss whatever it is that God is doing through this process. So, for now, I continue to hold on for the ride and trust that God will pull through, even if it is at the last minute. Until then, I pray for a new and better perspective.

Life

Life has been full and crazy these past few months: being in a serious relationship, working at a new job, trying to get over the last job I lost, maintaining friendships, becoming more involved at my church and trying to navigate this thing called life. Now don't get me wrong, life has also been great. I have an amazing roommate who just makes life fun and I have an incredible network of friends who remind me to laugh often.

God has also been teaching me a ton lately and showing me that He needs to be my #1, no matter what comes my way. When this happens, everything just seems to fall into place and He truly takes care of everything. It is so easy to get distracted and wrapped up in the stress of everyday life and rely on other people more than God. This can become so dangerous and I have learned the hard way that this is not the way to go. People and things will let you down but God will always be there and be your biggest cheerleader. When my mind if focused more on God and what He has for me, life seems so much better.

A couple weeks ago as someone was sharing their testimony he said that, "God never wastes a hurt". I have thought about this a lot over the past few weeks as I have been reflecting on my life and what God has done. It is so great to know that nothing is wasted and that God can and will turn anything into something valuable. I am so thankful for this truth.

Here are a few pictures from the past few months:

Bowling with some of my favorite people, especially these two.

View of the sunset driving home from Tahoe at Christmastime.

Loving some auntie time in the snow.

I am looking forward to seeing how God uses this last year for His glory and also looking forward to life (hopefully) slowing down a bit.

Loving Fall

Has it really been over 4 months since I have updated this blog?!? Yikes! Life has been....well, interesting. I have been unemployed, not loving the idea that I do not have a full time job (I do teach 5 hours a week right now). I have started dating a wonderful guy who I can see a future with. I have seen my sweet sis move across the mountains. I graduated from my master's program at SPU. I was a part of a dear friend's wedding. I was involved in a small group full of amazing people who are now some of my closest friends. I have spent some time on the Oregon coast which has now become one of my favorite places. I have been able to enjoy some great books. I have had some good times with friends. Most importantly, I have had some time to reflect on life and deepen my relationship with God. Although these last few months have not been my favorite, I have learned so much about God and what He has for me.

Here are a few pictures from some of my favorite times over these last few months:

Enjoying a morning walk on Cannon Beach

Enjoying one of the many auntie/sister days of the summer.

Loving some Tillamook ice cream in Manzanita.

Spending the day with some of my favorite coworkers.


Micah and I baking some yummy goodness.

My best friend, Julie, who I spent a lot of treasured time with this summer! Love her!

Having fun bowling with some dear friends

Katriina, the beautiful bride!

Judy, I and the boys enjoying some fun during my graduation party.

Despite the whole job situation, life has been full and good. I am blessed!