Two years... was just too long....

Two years... was just too long... for a stupid cold, that is. Dangit! I haven't even had an inkling of a sniffle and now I'm down for the count. No fun!


But, it's nothing a little Emergen-C and Nyquil can't boot... and, of course my Multivitamins and Herbal Tea! I also have the loving kindness of my sweet, sweet hubby!

Pass It Along: How I met Matt!

This is a fun questionnaire specifying the details of how Matt and I met and fell in love.
Awww... read and learn!


1. Where did you meet?
-Matt & I met in a missions meeting at George Fox University. He was a Junior, and I was a senior.

2. What was the first thought that went through your head when you met?
-"This guy is mysterious!... and funny.

3. Do you remember what he/she was wearing?
-No... but I can guess... probably jeans with holes in them and an old western shirt with a screen printed t-shirt underneath. Most likely... his jeans were WAY too baggy.

4. Where was the first time you kissed this person?
-On the waterfront in Salem... after our first date. Don't judge me! I had already known the guy for a few months.... gosh.

5. How did he/she ask you out?
-Matt & I were on the plane returning from Brazil (grr) and he asked to see me again. I told him he could call me in two weeks... after I pulled myself together. He called two weeks later, to the day.

6. Where did you go for your first date?
-Matt took me to pizza and on a walking tour of Salem. He drove his big green truck (very manly).

7. How long did you know this person before you became a couple?
-Um, maybe 4 months?

8. Would you change something about him/her?
-Currently... I wish Matt was more concerned about his health. That was probably a concern of mine while we were dating too.
:)

9. Do you and this person have kids together?
-No kids yet....

10. Have you ever broken the law with this person?
-Broken the law....? Well considering Matt is Dudley-Do-Right... I can't even drive over the speed limit without him giving me the evil eye. So... no law breaking in this relationship.

11. When was the first time you realized that you liked this person?
-We were in Brazil and our hooch leader "separated" us... forbidding us to sit next to one another. Puh-lease! I was partially rebellious (who tells a 23 year old who she can sit next to?), and also curious about this quiet, humorous guy. So... she just fanned the fire! Way to go!

12. Do you get along with any of the ex's of your partner?
-Well, I don't personally know Matt's other girlfriends, but I do know they were nice girls and beautiful.

13. Do you trust this person?
-Matt? Of course I trust him. Three years in... he's a great husband!

14. Do you see your partner in your future?
-Ha ha... I think about the future a lot. We will live a long life together (God willing....) and have many happy memories.

15. Whats the most expensive thing this person has given you?
-Matt is a GREAT gift-giver. He is thoughtful and creative.... for Christmas he gave me a computer. To be honest, the gifts I enjoy the most are the one's from the heart. He recently recorded a song for me... it was awesome, and so touching.

16. What is one thing he/she does that gets on your nerves?
-Gets on my nerves....? Probably peeling his socks off... so when I do laundry, all of Matt's socks are little sweaty balls. Yum.

17. What is the thing you do that gets on his/her nerves?
-I am neat freak. It's hard to go to bed with dishes in the sink... I bug him a lot for it.

18. Where do you see each other in 15 years from now?
-I don't know... children for sure. Maybe adoption... a vacation home and international travel.

19. Do you two have any inside jokes?
-Um, sorta... we tell a lot of "inappropriate" jokes to each other. Classy huh?

21. Special traditions.
- We don't go out for Valentines... we make dinner and dessert for each other. Just one example...

22. How long have you been together?
-Including dating?.... we've been a couple for.... almost five years.... it's our 4th wedding anniversary in July.

23. Do you ever fight?
-Matt and I rarely fight... but when things get heated... it's always the same stuff. Lame stuff. I have always been glad that we have a very happy marriage. Not too many conflicts.

24. What do you like most about him?
-I really like that Matt is intelligent and humorous at the same time. I also like that he's not a chump. He's not out impress anyone.

25. Has this person ever proposed to you?
-Matt proposed to me in December of 2003 after seeing the Portland Nutcracker. We were at Pioneer Place amongst the lit Christmas Trees... we went back to his parents house for mac & cheese with champagne to celebrate! It was a complete surprise.

Please feel free to repost this as: "How I Met _______" on your own blog!

Little Brooklynn Update

It's been awhile since we have posted any photos of Brooklynn. She is currently at 4 1/2 months. It's so cute how much she is developing!



Below, she is wearing Grandpa Sam's glasses... and notice they don't even phase her. She is still intently staring at the TV. Nice.


Wendy and Summer visited a few weeks ago, which was such a blessing. This is Wendy with Julie and Brooky below.


This is Summer and I with Brooky... notice Brooklynn's booties... they're little frog feet!

Making the most of this

I've been out of work for two weeks now and though I am enjoying my time off, I am still continually feeling the pressure. I've applied for a number of positions out there, but have yet to receive any call-backs. Grr.


On a more positive note, I've accomplished the following:

Reconnected with friends!... this is my favorite

Cleaned out the closets in the apartment

Cooked meals for my hard-working hubby!... this is my second favorite

Spent more time with the family

I'm working out more

Started an herb garden

Re-joined church choir... after much encouragement from those like my Dad

Finished a book... it's been awhile since I've made time to read

I've been journaling again too


So... all is not lost. Yes, I need to be making money... this is stating the obvious... but I am truly enjoying this break. It has given me opportunities to dream again.

Time to evaluate

So.... I had this sweet job at Providence. And then I acquired a not-so-nice manager who then fired me. I must say, it's one of the hardest things to swallow when you are accused of being a person you know you are not. To hear judgment about your character that is so wrong. But, it is an opportunity to grow in my personal character and to rise above the untruth of who I was accused of being. So... now I have time to evaluate all these things and what happens next.

Granted my job was overwhelming, all-consuming and probably way too stressful for my personality type. I continually considered this position a challenge for me to overcome, but it seems God has other plans for me. What are those plans? I have no clue... but what I do know in hindsight, is that this previous job was not for me. A dear friend recently gave me a few healthy tips on having a successful career and the following really struck a chord for me:

-- Often God does the "quitting" for us. (Jesus knows that I am the "anti-quitter," so He makes the moves in the chess game called "work/life" for me (I could almost swear by this)! My everyday may not be perfect now, but He has never let me down.)

She is truly speaking wisdom into my life right now with the above statement.

So now I am taking some time to myself to read, journal, pray, go for a run in the mornings, and have some much-overdue lunches with awesome friends! I am truly taking this time to seek God's guidance in my life, to re-kindle my friendship with myself and to be the wife I've always wanted to be. I can't bring myself to waste this gift, that did not appear to be so in the beginning.