Times they are a changing

They say things always happen in three's. I've found this to be true more often than not. I chalk one dramatic happening, good or bad, up to chance. The second instance I say, "What a coincidence?" But, then when the realization that the two instances are in some way similar or connected, I begin to get suspicious. I begin to think to myself, "What is going to happen next?"

And there I wait and/or anticipate, the next outcome.

Is this kind of expectation a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy? Is it the "power" of negative or positive thinking as the case may warrant? At any rate, I continue to collect data in my research for an answer.

The most recent example came when Amy and I decided to take Cooper for a Sunday drive about a month ago. We drove up I-5 to Mount Vernon, turned left and drove over Deception Pass and down through Whidbey Island. The purpose of the trip was a diversion on a Sunday but the destination was my two closest friends in Washington.

First we stopped at Mike and Janine's house to find them returning from a day of birthday celebrating for their daughter Jordan. We didn't know it was her birthday, but soon we were catching up with the last year of our lives, as we hadn't seen each other since last July 4th. We soon found out that my friends were planning a move to Italy for Mike's work. A once in a lifetime chance to experience a foreign country for two years on someone else's dime. I was floored. I was convinced they were in Washington to stay, but here they were grabbing the brass ring

Next, we visited my friend Kim. Kim just opened a deli on the main drag to the Mukilteo-Whidbey ferry about 2-3 years ago. She has put her heart and soul into growing her business and she has been very successful. However, she announced to me that she too is considering a move. TO NEW ZEALAND!!! Once again I was floored.

Now what am I to think?

Is the Crandell family next?

Finally, my friend Tim announced to me that he got the job he was looking for in Dallas and moved there last week. I knew he had been looking to move, to what I thought would be Seattle. When he told me it would be Dallas, I was shocked, saddened. I can't wait to visit he and Alona, only in winter though as I can't do 110 degrees each day in the Summer.

I wonder, does that complete the trinity or do we?

Cheers and Mahalo.

Back

As most of you know, Craig, Cooper and I just got back from a family reunion. We had a great time. The family members that put it together did an amazing job! Thank you so much! I won't name names because I don't want to leave anyone out, but you all did awesome and I appreciate you so much.

Being around family was really great and really trying on me. I'm very exhausted mentally from the trip. I need prayer for my anger. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who is extremely supportive and a wonderful Aunt that I can turn to for much needed guiding words.

The drive was rough. Cooper did great most of the time. He had a couple of melt downs, but Craig and I were prepared for them. I'm actually most surprised at how well Craig and I got along during the drive. I mean, we get along really well all the time, but I expected that since we would be in such close quarters for such a long time it would be tough. I was wrong! We had a great drive and I think it only brought us closer together. We had a lot of time to talk about life. Changes we want and need to make were the biggest discussions we had. I hope that we don't let little things get in our way moving forward and we can act upon some of the changes we've discussed. I also know that we need to continue to pray about these changes and make sure that they are really and trully what God wants and not just me running away from life and trying to change it to fit what I think it should be.

Please pray for my family and I if you think of us.

Love,

~Amy

"Praise You in this Storm"

Yesterday as we were driving home from our small group I heard this song on the radio. I've heard it a million times before, but for some reason instead of singing along, I listened to the lyrics. I started tearing up. The words seemed to fit my situation so well.

The even funnier thing was that our small group study was about how God is always with us. Here are the lyrics,

"I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down

and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

I'm so thankful that He is always with me. I needed this reassurance and have a little more peace now that I've got it.

Have a blessed day!

~Amy

Nail Polish

Weird fact about me...I love painting my toe nails. I hate painting my fingernails. I always try to paint my fingernails whenever I'm paingint my toes, but I always remove it before it finishes drying. Not sure why, but I just don't ever like it.

People in the Party... HOT, HOT, HOT!!!

Being born in Michigan I sometimes miss the distinct changing of the seasons. Weatherwise these 4 things are great to experience every year in the Midwest:

1) The first snowfall of winter
2) The first really warm day in spring
3) The first day you can swim in summer
4) Any day when there are leaves changing in the fall

We don't get that progression much in Seattle. We get the following:

1) Going to work and the sun is still down and leaving from work and the sun is already down. 7 hours of daylight in December sucks!!!
2) 3 straight months of drizzle and 45-50 degrees. Monotonous.
3) From June- September where everyday is sunny, dry and 70-80 degrees. Perfect!!! The reason I love living here.
4) Football season!!!

I love this time of year in Seattle. The things I don't miss about Midwest weather are when there is 2 feet of brown dirty snow that lasts until April and when it is 100 degrees, humid and mosquitoes rule the outdoors.

In a couple of weeks, we leave for central California for a Garza family reunion and I will certainly be reminded of the brutally hot weather of my youth. I'm going to wilt like a flower in a sauna by the time we reach Sacramento on the drive down. It will be great fun, but I'll be sweating like Michael Jackson at a Chuck-E-Cheese the whole time.

Mahalo.

I know it's not a competition but....

It is a well known fact, at least to me, that my wife is far more talented, motivated and intelligent than me.

I used to think that I was actually smart, but now I realize I am an idiot savant. Ask me where almost any NBA or NFL player went to college and there's a good chance that I know the answer. However, ask me almost any question about political science, to which I have a Bachelor's degree from Westernn Michigan University, and I will look at you in a way that redefines "befuddled."

More to come.

Mahalo

Boon Squirt

Wraylee's blog about sporks has inspired me to write a blog about this nifty little gadget by a company called Boon. They have several feeding items for babies. The one that I particularly enjoy is called the Squirt. Now, just to let you know, I am a lover of gadgets so it's not surprising that I had to have this one.

I originally found this item at www.onestepahead.com, but hesitated to purchase because I didn't want to pay shipping and I wasn't completely sure that it would work. Yesterday, while Cooper and I were at Babies R' Us I found the item in their store, for less than it was online! Sweet! I bought it, of course.

I still wasn't positive that it would work. I got it home and couldn't wait for it to be feeding time for Cooper. When that time finally rolled around, I tried it out. Yes! It works! It's awesome! You pour the baby food in the container end of the spoon, screw on the spoon part and squeeze a little at a time to make the food come out. I even made sure to try something that was a little on the thick side to make sure that it would still come out, and it did. I was still skeptical as I was feeding Cooper. I was just sure that there would be a ton of food left inside that I couldn't get out and would end up wasting. This was not the case.

How sweet it is when you find something that is really cool like this. Here are some pictures so you have an idea of what I'm talking about.

Love,

~Amy