No children were harmed in the making of this video

Growing up

All of a sudden my kids are so old. I mean really. Elisa has had this huge growth spurt. Even more than the physical growth, she's changed from a toddler to a little girl. It's amazing. Here she is playing with the "big kids" at the family reunion. She was right in the action at the drinking fountain. I couldn't believe it, what happened to my little girl?

And here's Jonathan who still mostly eats baby food, but is starting to be able to chew other things too. He's all about melon. I gave him two huge wedges of watermelon at lunch and before I knew it, they were completely gone. He's really physically active too. I think he's trying to make up for lost time. He was so late in learning to crawl, but once he started he just went wild. Now he pulls up to stand, and walks holding onto furniture. And of course he's still a total smiler.

New Apartment

So we are now living in SE Portland. Once again we're in an apartment in the men's dorm; this time at Warner Pacific College. The living space in the apartment is tiny. Yep, so tiny that it warrants its own font size. The living room is 10x10 and there isn't really a dining room... just a space between the front door and the bathroom door that serves as a hallway and play area and dining area all in one. Needless to say, I needed a small table. I decided a drop leaf table would probably be the way to go. I've always loved drop leaf tables, so this gave me an excuse to buy one. But then my brother said I could borrow one from him. So that's what we were planning on doing... until this morning.

My mom came to stay with me for a few days this week and help out while Greg is away with student leaders on a big backpacking trip. This morning we decided we'd check out the local Habitat for Humanity Restore. It's a store that sells both new and used building materials and some furniture. It's a really great place. Not only does it keep reusable building materials out of the landfill, it also raises money for Habitat for Humanity and provides great deals for... well, me!

So, I'll cut to the chase. There we were at Restore and what do I see but a beautiful drop leaf table! And of course, I just have to check it out. It's solid wood; has an extra leaf; everything is in working order; and the best part is... it's $25. Yes, you see that right: $25.

Well, we take measurements and talk about whether or not it will fit in my dining room (er, my wall) and then whether or not it will fit in the car. We drive back home, measure the wall, and decide to get it. I drive back (without kids and car seats this time). When I get to the store I tell the man that I want to buy the drop leaf table. He asks me how much it is and when I tell him $25 I feel a little bit bad. I kind of wonder if he'll believe me. So I say, "It's a steal." He replies, "Everything here is a steal." It slides like a dream into the back of the Subaru. And now I am the proud owner of this little beauty:

WooHoo!

Greg has a job.

Phew! What a relief!

He will be working at Warner Pacific (a very small Christian University in Portland) as the Area Coordinator or Residence Life Director or some such title... basically doing the same thing he was doing at JBU. We are excited... and most of all, we are relieved. It's good to be done with the waiting. We'll start moving into our new apartment (on campus - in the dorm) sometime this weekend. And Greg just jumps right in and starts work next week.

I'm sure I will have more details soon. But for now... it's just a big sigh of relief.

Summer Fun

Dad and Jonathan - just chillin'.

Leesi, in constant motion.

Jonathan helps Grandpa celebrate his birthday.

Grandma models the mallard duck costume at the nature center.

Leesi loves being a puppy. Jonathan is ambivalent about being a giraffe.

A ride on the ferris wheel with a two-year old can be a frightening experience

(for the mom, that is).

Jonathan's tiny pool

A trip to the Columbia County Fair with Grammy.

"Pigs won't get me, pigs won't get me!"

Tea Party with Grammy and Grams... what fun!

Transition

Well, life in transition continues... We would have liked to be settled by now, in an apartment or home, and in a new job. But that apparently is not what God had for us. And so we continue to wait. It gets a bit discouraging at times. (You can read Greg's posts here, here, and here for a little more info on the past month of job searching)

I'm trying to be patient, and thankful. I'm trying to trust instead of worrying.

So in this moment I choose to be thankful... thankful that we have wonderful families who have graciously opened their homes to us and let us take over their living space with toys and clothes and diapers; thankful that we have still have some money in the bank and one last paycheck coming from JBU, thankful that I get to have my wonderful husband around a little more often, thankful for my beautiful children, thankful for wonderful weather... most of all, thankful for a heavenly Father who loves us, is all-powerful, and will work to bring about what is best in His time.

Another year

Today was my birthday, and it was wonderful. It started with a cute little girl giving me a birthday card and saying, "Happy Birthday Momma!" and ended with dinner and a walk on the water with my love. This was the view from my seat at dinner. Thank you to everyone who made this a special day for me!

4th of July

At one point yesterday Elisa pointed up at the sky and asked, "What's that blue thing Mommy?"

Yep. That pretty much sums up the weather we've been having.

But I've long thought that summer doesn't really come to the Northwest until the Fourth of July. So, summer here we come... right?

Thicker than water

Blogging has been kind of sparse lately. It's not that I don't have time... I do. It's not that I don't have internet access... I do. I've been thinking about it, and I've decided it's that I don't have the emotional space. There's been a lot of change in our lives and there is going to be a lot more change before we are done. And I just can't quite sort through it to come up with any kind of cohesive thought to write about. And even when I do sort through part of it, I don't really feel like writing about it for all to see.

But here's something I can say. Though it was sad to leave, there are moments when I'm reminded that this is why we moved. Here's one of those moments:

My dad gives horsey rides to both kids and when he gives Jonathan a horsey ride, Elisa often joins in the fun. You can't quite see it in this picture but she has Itty on her shoulders and is following Papa all around the yard. I'm so glad that our kids have the chance to get to know their grandparents (and aunt and uncle too). That really is the reason we moved back and it's so good to be around our families again.

Here we are

A lot has happened in the last few weeks. We're now in Oregon (Columbia City) at Wanda's (Greg's mom's) house. Every summer we spend a few weeks with each set of parents. This year however, we're here in the Northwest to stay. It's weird, in some ways it feels like just another summer.... but not quite. I can't stop thinking about all that needs to happen in the next month. Greg still needs to find a job, and we need to find an apartment and move all of our stuff in (right now it's in Wanda's garage).

At different times I feel quite anxious about the fact that Greg doesn't have a job. But I keep hearing God say, "Rest." "Trust me," "Wait and see how I provide for you."

He also says,

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

So here we are in Oregon... in a place of dependence on God.