1, 2, 3 Crazy Weekends in July

Whew! It has been a crazy few weeks!

Weekend one: The 4th of July! Hooray and happy birthday America!! The Eastlake neighborhood (where we live) knows how to celebrate...really celebrate. The Seattle fireworks are pretty much set off in our backyard ( or in our case back porch). The weather was perfect with blue skies and warm temps. We had a lot of people over for good food, games and of course the show! Lots of fun until we were awoken at 3:30am for fireworks, round 2. Not cool since we had to be at work in the morning! Before the firework festivities!

Weekend two: Warm Beach. Warm Beach is a campgrounds/retreat center just north of Seattle. The Washington state (and Canada) CRC church gather there for one long weekend in July every year (and have been doing so for a LONG time). Brandon and I were asked to run the junior high program. After, much planning and a bit of worrying, we were there and hanging out with 30 to 50 kids through out the day! It was awesome...lessons, candy and a lot of games. The kids were great, activities going on everywhere, food, friends from church, camp fires, s'mores...what more could you ask for in a weekend?

Oh, yeah...check those shirts out! We were BRIGHT! (Thanks to Ray and Carissa for their AWESOME help!)

Weekend three: Auction dinner at Koster's. All I can say is Brandon amazed me, the Kosters, the guests. wow....More pictures of the feast to come... I promise :)

90 Days

90 days to read the whole Bible...25 days in and we are still in the groove! Its interesting because when we first started this I planned on it being really hard, getting frustrated, not having time. I also thought I am going to really get something out of this. I have been surprised at how much I have really enjoyed the process so far...reading has been great (weekends we get up, make coffee and sit and read...so peaceful! During the week we spend about an hour reading when we get home) The tv has been off more and there are more discussions on how bloody the Bible is, remember we are still in the OT with all the sacrifices! Then again...I don't really remember Brandon and I ever really discussing sacrifices...blood maybe...thousands of goats and bulls on an alter not so much!

Patience- might be the greatest lesson thus far. God made the Israelites wait for 40 years in the desert...WOW! I always knew this but by reading this and reading through the different books in the Bible one after the other makes His word, promise, and love more prominent and helps me to want to be patient!

Looking forward to the remaining days and reading His word!

Life lately....

1. good food...as always Brandon delivers amazing meals
2. family- Garth and Mary came to visit (more on that below)
3. reading the Bible...oh yes we are trying to read the WHOLE Bible in 90 days with church! We are currently in 15 days in and still going strong!
4. Sunshine is here! We have had a good mix of sun and clouds the last couple of weeks, which is amazing because I was becoming vitamin D deficient...not to mention very pale!
5. Food...did I mention Brandon had a winning auction item at church? He did and I am very proud! He is working on menu planning for two dinners for about 8 people each!
6. We went to Bend over Memorial Day weekend...it snowed, we biked and walked A LOT and had a blast.
7. Hiked Rattlesnake Ledge with the Deurs...beautiful! And I made a chipmunk friend...maybe because I was feeding it cashews...

8. Cuoco and The Carpenter and the Walrus....both restaurants we went to with Garth and Mary. Super tasty :) Someone experience their first oyster! C & W was mainly local seafood while Cuoco was northern Italian = lots of handmade pasta

9. Brandon taught his mom to make gnocchi...fun to see them work together in the kitchen! Garth and I were clean-up duty

10. Flowers!

11. Regal the Eagle...as Brandon and I named him, is the eagle who lives by the 520 bridge. During the late winter and spring he was not around much but I am happy to say He's back! I love being able to see him as a ride the bus, on our way to the eastside

12. Sun (I think it deserves two spots!)

13. Youth Group....another highly successful and fun Amazing Race! The kids, leaders and volunteers had a blast running around Seattle and Bellevue.

14. Reading... lots of books....Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, WWII historical novels, a book on Reagan for me and lots of cookbooks for Brandon

15. Relaxing- it was so refreshing to to wake up (early), sit, drink coffee, read, and relax while Garth and Mary were here.

Life has been good to us....can't wait to see what the rest of the summer brings!

Gone...

Well, the last fish died this morning....for just over a week I had a pet (or multiple pets depending on the day). They were fun. Its just too bad that they had to go...I really do think I am going to miss them :(

Sunsets Lately

Fish!

Our first pets since getting married! I should say my first pets...nine goldfish from the HSYG auction. 5 gold, 4 grey. Brandon is waiting for them to die....

I should note three have not survived the week. I think if the rest make a month I might be able to convince him we should get a frog :) Live fishes live!

Thoughts...

So I was thinking that its been a long time since I have posted anything and was wondering why. Its not that things haven't been happening because life is always moving. I think its a bit overwhelming posting on a blog so I am going to try a new approach :) Soooo...starting today there will be more posts :) But be warned! They will probably be more candid or random or sarcastic or weird or funny and most likely just a snippet of the day or moment but hopefully it will serve the original thought behind the blog: a way to see us, know whats going on and on our (or mine- Amy) minds. Hopefully, our sweet families and friends will enjoy and get a kick out of our lives...even though we are far away. Enjoy :)

A good Saturday of Progress!

We are getting closer to finishing the second bedroom! Hooray!

We also rearranged our bedroom...
Brandon tried to hang up my Christmas gift...


Sorry Erica...his measurement was off! I think it may work in the 2nd bedroom though!

Even the Honda Fit got new accessories!


A roof rack! With the ski holder add-on!

Top 10 of 2010

2010 was a great year and even though 2011 is off and running I wanted to pay proper respect to 2010. I really started to think about this when Mary asked us when we were home:

What did you learn in 2010 and what is one of your best memories

It was super hard to think of just one....hints the top ten!

1. Fireworks in Eastlake

2. Brandon's creation- the burger!

3. snow in Seattle...its just too fun

4. Camping and soup making with the JH...pretty much all of our experiences with the JH :)

5.Brandon's creation- PASTA

6. Brandon's 15k finish

7. hiking in God's creation....Mt Si (the mountain almost won)

8. developing good friendships in Seattle
9. Brandon's creation- bone marrow and roasted chicken- both always a big hit!
10. Spending time with family!! Allysha's wedding, surprise birthdays, trips to Michigan, Illinois, and Massachuetts, and family visting in Seattle....we have been so blessed with a wonderful family! The time spent with them has been so memorable :)

Home for the Holidays

Michigan for the holidays...well sort of :) We were in Michigan for the week after Christmas and it was wonderful! Here are some highlights:

family photo time
christmas presents :)
new apron made by Erica!
New Years Day with Mom and Dad at New Holland Brewery...yummy and fun!
Duke! Erica and Kyle's new puppy...Brandon loved him ;)We even fit in a freezing hike...Garth was cold!

Downtown Holland

Between breakfasts and lunches with friends, dinner parties with family, Deur family pictures, new puppy, walking downtown, being cold at the beach, the trip was a success! It was so wonderful to see everyone and spend time catching up. It was a great way to spend the holidays! Love you all!