Just Another Happily Ever After

Moved Sites

2011-02-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

We've changed blog sites!

Please find us at www.weedrews.wordpress.com

Things Portlanders Like

2010-12-27T15:52:00.000-08:00

10. Multnomah Falls
9. Pedestrians
8. New Seasons (the "friendliest market in town" but I have yet to get a smile from a anyone in that store)
7. Ugly sandals (seriously, why??)
6. The coast NOT the beach
5. Stumptown coffee
4. Saturday Market (brings an all new meaning to "flea market")
3. Ugly hair cuts (let's see how short those bangs can be)
2. Ratty bicycles
1. Vegans

Life Lessons

2010-12-27T15:09:00.001-08:00

Don't burn bridges, even the ones you would love to burn!

Who's Worse...

2010-12-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

..The illegal alien who takes an under-the-table job...or the American citizen who exploits him?

A Bit of Silly

2010-12-07T14:10:00.001-08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

The Dresden Files

2010-12-03T11:50:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. The series is about a modern day wizard named Harry Dresden and his work in Chicago as a private consultant to the SI (Special Investigation) section of the CPD. It's an entertaining, action packed series. There are wars with vampires, faeries, loup-garou (werewolves), demons, and ghosts...It's a fun series to read!

In the stories, magic and energy are dependant on each other. To wield magic, you must channel your energy and focus on your goal. I don't know that I believe in magic in this sense (although I am finding myself more and more open to the idea..why not?) but I like the idea of focusing energy towards a certain goal. I think that's a very real, positive thing to practice. So lately, I have been consciously focusing my mind and energy around positive things, like a prayer or a time of meditation. So far, it has improved my mood during those not so pleasant, stressful times. I highly recommend trying it! Oh and if you are into fantasy novels and aren't too scared of "things that go bump in the night", try The Dresden Files!

Life Lesson

2010-12-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Make sure you call ahead to see if someone is available for an appointment before you drive all the way out to meet with them. Duh.

Christmas is coming

2010-12-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year and not just because this is the only time I let myself be as cheesy as possible! (Although that is a plus!).

Winter. I love winter and am constantly begging the sky for snow. I love being cold...well rather I love being cozy because of the cold. Brenden and I both love a crackling fire, hot chocolate, and a warm soup cooking in the crock pot with homemade bread in the oven. Heaven.

Giving. My "love language" is gift giving. It delights my heart to prepare (whether by making or buying) a gift for a loved one. I love to wrap and curl as many little bows as possible. It's so important to remember what is constantly being given to us (forgiveness, grace, salvation) and have a similar heart to giving (whether by sacrifice of time or money or both). Christmas is about giving and doing so in honor of Christ and His gift and sacrifice to us.

Food.Oh.my.word. I love food.

This weekend, Brenden and I are heading towards the mountains to cut our own Christmas tree (a wonderful tradition we started a few years back). We will spend the time listening to Christmas music, drinking warm hot chocolate or ~~Starbucks pie in a cup~~ coffee, smelling like pine needles and being merry and bright.

See how cheesy I am during this time of year?

Giving Thanks!

2010-11-22T12:32:00.000-08:00

As I look back on this last year, I am so thankful for so many things!

1. Brenden! My husband continues to amaze me and the life we are building is more than I would have hoped for. I love and adore him, he is my best friend!
2. Job! I do not like every single second of my job (but who does) but it is a great job, steady, great benefits, fun people, etc. I am very thankful for it!
3. Family! My family continues to grow! We welcomed lil Jax and are soon to welcome a new niece/nephew. PLUS we get to spend Thanksgiving with my dad and his lady companion!
4. Health!
5. Bandit! I just love my little, wild puppy. He brings so much laughter to us!
6. Future! I am so thankful for the future that lies ahead of us. It won't be without its struggles but the joys ahead far out weight the challenges.

I could go on and on.....

My First Thanksgiving Prep

2010-09-30T16:13:00.001-07:00

This year I am making my very first Thanksgiving meal! I feel so grown up! Ha ha. As I am mentally thinking up a fun menu, I realize that I need more ovens! I want to keep it simple, (there will only be four of us) and I am not so keen on leftovers (weird, I know). So I am thinking ham instead of turkey (Brenden and I don't care for turkey), seared green beans with pepper garlic and almonds, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potato biscuits, and a cranberry/blue cheese salad. Oh and pie (pumpkin and pecan)! Hm, maybe I'll buy the pies (shhhh don't tell).

Can't wait!

My Fav Quote from Brenden

2010-07-22T12:03:00.001-07:00

"Why do lazy people always claim to be perfectionists?"

Camping June 10

2010-06-29T16:54:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like camping in the PNW. We love it!

Hard Times

2010-06-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

We've hit some hard times professionally. Financially, we are hanging in there but the down-turn economy is bearing its weight on us. I know that some of you will nod in understanding while others will thank God (or your karma or your lucky stars) that you don't understand. But I thank God for these hard times. It's through times like these that I see the strength of my marriage. It's through times like these that I realize how much I trust and love my husband. It's through times like these that my faith is strengthened. No, I will not thank God for what He has spared me, I will thank Him for what He was brought me through. It is an honor.

Excellent Reminder

2010-06-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

"Keep life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have for He has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.' So we have confidence to say 'The Lord is my helper, I will not fear.'" Hebrews 13:5-6

Homemade and healthy

2010-05-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

Toppings: mushrooms, green pepper, tomatoes, and I used some spinach, basil, and rosemary from our own garden!

Whole wheat dough

A very curious pup!

Ready for the oven (I used fresh mozz, just love it)

So delicious!

New Project

2010-05-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to get started! Stay tuned for the finished product!

More Sewing

2010-05-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

I am trying my hand at writing my own patterns. I started with something simple like a bib with a crumb catching pocket for Jax. I made a set in an adorable elephant print.

I need to finish them with a Velcro fastener and then they are ready for Mr. Jax to try on!

Our Garden in the city

2010-05-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Who says you have to have a yard to grow a garden? Here we've planted various flowers, cherry tomatoes, spinach, basil, rosemary, and two types of lavender! I love spring :)

The Rare Post by Brenden

2010-05-01T14:59:00.001-07:00

I sometimes wonder if the re-post or the copy and paste ability is making our culture less wise and more detached. I have noticed that we have this short cut system that sometimes (in my opinion more often than not) allows people to attach themselves to a system of thought or belief without actually going through the process of explaining why and what they believe, so instead of putting your opinion out there to be questioned or discussed we simply can post a link and add our short one liner to attach a positive or negative opinion of whatever (let's not even talk about the "like button")

The other aspect of this potential problem is the group or party name... now imagine if we didn't have short cuts to explain why and what you believe by simply saying "I'm a Republican" or "I'm a Democrat" or even the religious side of it with "I'm a Baptist" or "I'm a Lutheran".

I feel like we lose something in the cultural or personal relationship when we don't take the time relate our thoughts better to one another. For example my wife and I were talking the other night about infant deaths and aspect of the soul, this was turning into a wide reaching topic of discussion and getting into things such as baptism, predestination, and the nature of sin. I thought that this was a great conversation even though it took time to touch on its many aspects even briefly, it encouraged intimacy of relationship and understanding but also simple art of conversation. This short cut ability alienates and detaches us from one another to the point of not even having complete conversations with each other and relying on or preferring text messaging to actually talking.

Oh the wonders of our modern world... just think how connected we are because of them. We can can play video games with a friend without actually being with the friend. We can actually have multiple text conversation with people without the use pesky things such as body language or even complete words.... isn't tht gr8...LOL. We can find out how people are doing and what they are up to without actually having to ask them... we can be friends without actually knowing them.

I'm not saying all these things don't serve a purpose and a use on a certain level but what referring to is not the occasional complementary addition but more so normal replacement use of these things.

So when the situation allows... sit down have a conversation and try not to sum up what you believe by saying you are a "blank" or a 4 or 5 point whatever... just explian what you believe and why and if you are not so good at putting the words together to explain yourself then that's alright because the more you do it the better you will get at it.

Just some thoughts by Brenden Drew

Placemats and Cloth Napkins

2010-04-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

I had made a cute little placemat for my nephew, Jax, and my sister-in-law loved it so much that I made her a set (with cloth napkins). The top is the pretty blue and the back is a bright yellow polka dot fabric. I just love the blue and yellow combination!

When I left

2010-04-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

I was 19 when I moved away from home to attend college. My dad drove me from Iowa to San Diego, a city I'd never been, to drop me off for school. I was nervous but ready. My parents were heart-broken and not ready but they encouraged me anyway. They had raised me to be a responsible, capable adult and this was the first test. Would I make it? Would I be too homesick to branch out of the nest? I know a lot of people who would rather keep their kids at home as long as possible. My parents wanted me near them at all times too. But they knew it wouldn't be best for me. I was a growing adult and needed to grow on my own. And they took the hardship, knowing it was best for me. I am so thankful for them.

Flash Mob

2010-04-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

Ever the performer at heart, I was shocked that I had never heard of "flash mobbing". Apparently, it has been a very trendy performance art in Europe and here in the States. A flash mob is a large group of people who gather in a very public place (train station, courtyard, etc) and perform a meaningless act and then quickly disburse. There are several various of acts, some flash mobs will freeze in place at the same time (200+ people), some will start one person dancing and then one by one, everyone will jump in and dance. Because it lifts my spirits so much, here is a video of my favorite mob performing a dance to "Do Re Me" in a Belgium train station. Hope you love it!

Easter Weekend

2010-04-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

My dad came to visit for Easter weekend. We took him up to Mt St Helen's which was so snowed over, the park rangers pulled us over and advised us not to drive any further. We ignored their warnings (very politely, of course) and had an amazing (and scary) time off-roading through the snow. Later we wondered upon the best bar and grill in Cougar, WA. The burgers were great! We will be returning!

Brenden and Dad smoked pipes outside the barred "gift shop".

Bandit loves Brenden

2010-03-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

Here is Bandit, waiting for Brenden to come home. As soon as his car pulled up, he was practically doing flips and jumping at the front door. So cute and so smart!

His Plans

2010-03-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

" 'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'"
Jeremiah 29:11

There is always hope.

Keen for Cobian

2010-03-21T11:35:00.001-07:00

I lived in Southern California for about 5 years before making the move to Oregon. I've only recently started seeing signs of shredding my SoCal tendencies and embracing that which is Pacific Northwestern. As we were getting ready for a day at the beach yesterday, I immediately went into my closet in search of my Cobian flip flops only to pass them up for my Keen hikers. I dressed in layers (and was very glad for it) and didn't even think of sunscreen. I pointed this out to my husband who laughed and added that I no longer associate the beach with a swimsuit or crowds of tourists.

We hiked along the shoreline and climbed over logs and rocks and marveled at the beauty and fierceness of the ocean. There were no crowds, little sun, and natural scenery. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Indian Cauliflower Soup

2010-03-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

I made an amazing cauliflower soup this weekend! It is seriously so yummy that it is on my top 5 best foods list! I'd be happy to share the recipe with anyone! And it is Vegan!

Sushi Night

2010-03-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

Our great friend and sushi extraordinaire Mike came over to give us a lesson in sushi making. It was amazing fun and yes, we did prepare raw fish :)

The ingredient box!

The rice is the tricky part

Brenden cutting the raw tuna...yummm

While the rice was cooking, we prepared noodle miso soup with fish cake

Mike's rolls, they look so perfect:

My sushi! I called this the Texas Roll:

Brenden's sushi, he prefers raw tuna and rice

What a great night!

Thoughts

2010-03-15T14:54:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about contentment in my life. I struggled with where to live (Iowa vs Oregon) and can honestly say that I have total peace about our decision to stay in Oregon. My questions/prayers were answered in a powerful and obvious way and I have been at peace ever since. We've recently moved into a home that we love, in a charming neighborhood that suits us well, and have been building our home and future growth.

Contentment is a funny thing that is not changed by circumstance (although momentary happiness can change on a whim). It can only be changed and strengthened by effort (painful at times) and choice. Pure, Godly contentment surpasses money, job, relationships, worldly fulfillment (even those that are good) and creates peace. I pray that I can have this kind of contentment, whether or not I have enough money, a job, health, children, or a home. All these things dim in the light of Christ. And He promises to provide the things we need.

Just thinking :)

Made by Brenden

2010-02-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

Brenden is making us a new coffee table out of wood and slate. Yay for having a handy hubby and original furniture pieces :)

Moving, part two

2010-02-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to move! Our new home is bigger, cleaner, and one mile away from our places of employment. We have brand new hardwood floors and a brand new full size washer/dryer set in our finished basement. There is a wood burning fireplace (something that Brenden REALLY wanted) and LOTS of windows (with a view of the Mt). Our current place seems small now as there are boxes everywhere. I've never seen it so messy! Of course, with a new home and a new layout, I really want to shop!

Laura's wish list:
1. Area rug: We haven't had wood floors before so we need something to keep our feeties warm.
2. More chairs: We need more seating so we can have more people over :)
3. A storage bench for the front door (for shoes and little things and more seating)
4. A kitchen chalk board (I love the idea of writing down recipes or lists in chalk)
5. Curtains! Oh my, we have so many more windows!

Too bad we are sooo broke! Maybe I'll open a credit card :)

Moving!

2010-02-15T13:48:00.001-08:00

The Drews are moving! Stay tuned...

Aix En Provence

2010-02-05T13:48:00.000-08:00

I am dreaming of Aix en Provence today with the warm sun, the sweet sounds of the Marche des Puces, and the smells floating out of the boulangeries and the patissaries.

Here are some pictures I found online (none of which are my own). If only I were rich, I would retire in Aix.

Bandit news.

2010-01-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

Our puppy is growing into a fine dog! He is so playful and so smart. I was in the living room the other day and Brenden was in the kitchen. I looked at Bandit and said "Bandit, go get Brenden, I need Brenden!" and he BOLTED into the kitchen and jumped at Brenden! It was so cute!

Jax!

2010-01-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the world, Jaxon Sheppard. I love you so much and am so proud to be your auntie.

Bandit!

2009-12-30T17:30:00.001-08:00

Bandit did a great job opening his Christmas present from my mom. He got a doggy ornament and some treats.

Wordless Tuesday

2009-12-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Simply Christmas

2009-12-21T14:50:00.001-08:00

A simpler time.

Sewing!

2009-12-21T12:12:00.001-08:00

While my mom (master of the sewing machine) came to visit, she taught me how to sew. I am still not the best but I love it and have a hard time stopping! We started off with some simple bibs. I was planning on giving them as gifts but I love them so much I am going to keep them!

More to come...

Winter!

2009-12-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year! And it's not about Santa or presents or lights. I love the cold. I love coming home to the warmth of the fire and the smells of hot food. I love blankets and hot drinks. I love family get-togethers and the laughter they bring. I love sharing stories and little gifts that have taken time to make (or plan); something that has meaning to it. The dark, cold sky remind me of the warmth of my life. I love winter.

I need your advice!

2009-11-16T11:42:00.001-08:00

I keep going back and forth with the thought of buying a house. On some levels, buying a home seems like a very smart thing to do (good long term investment, etc) but the permanency of a home purchase worries me. I really don't like Portland and I cringe at the thought of raising kids here (crime rates are higher than average and the schools have received low marks). We've looked at Vancouver (which is cheaper and the schools are better) but Vancouver is not my favorite city by any stretch of the imagination. We've dreamt about moving to Bend and Colorado and Iowa (well, I've dreamt about the last one..family reasons) but sometimes I just want to sink my roots in and not move around so much. Other times, I hate the thought of staying in one area for so long. But maybe it's time to tuck away my moving shoes and grow up a bit.

What are your thoughts? Is buying a home something we should do? Here? I need advice!

Sign of the times

2009-11-11T16:18:00.000-08:00

This may be TMI for some of you but I am so irritated, I have to share. I had a total health assessment from Kaiser the other day and I scored an 86/100 only because of my "sexual behavior" and the fact that I don't use condoms (ever...I hate them). I received an "excellent" in everything else (even my weight!) but a "very poor" in that category. What really annoys me is that they didn't ask if I was married or if I was in a monogamist relationship. They only asked how many partners I've had in the last 12 months (one, of course). And still gave me a lecture on how important "safe sex" is to my health. Urg. So I went ahead and gave myself a 95/100. So there.

Rant over.

My first attempt at sewing!

2009-11-07T17:41:00.001-08:00

I haven't picked up a needle and thread since I was in home-ec (7th grade) but I am determined to learn and be great at it. I haven't powered up my new machine yet (I am waiting for the mama to visit and give me a crash course) but I tried my hand at some play food (made with felt and hand sown). Here are a couple sushi rolls. I didn't even have a pattern but tried two different techniques (I am very proud of myself!). They look so yummy.

Not Ready

2009-11-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

I've decided that I'm not quite ready for a baby. I really want some more time alone with my husband before I have to balance and manage everything. We'd welcome a baby with open arms at any time, but for now, our focus is on eachother. And this is a great mental place to be :)

Thanks.

2009-11-03T11:46:00.001-08:00

I love November! I love the cool, crisp in the air, the bright red and orange trees, the fireplace and the coziness of my home; I love this time of year! I have so much to be thankful for: my marriage is solid and amazing, my husband is my best friend and just got a clean bill of health from his doctor (praise God!), we have stable jobs which provide more than enough for our needs, I have a great (and growing) family on both sides, we have a very amusing puppy who brings us a lot of laughter, and our future looks bright ahead :-)

What If....

2009-10-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

Any time the Powerball reaches a big number, Brenden and I entertain ourselves with "what if"s. What would we buy if we won? Where would we travel? What opportunities would open up for us? We'd want to travel, of course. We'd want to buy a home and pay off all our debt. We'd want to help our families and volunteer our time to good causes. I'd want to take up hobbies, like sewing, and I'd love to adopt a child or two.

It just dawned on me...I don't have to win the lottery to do these things! We can travel (albeit, we can't travel all over the world but we can travel!). I am learning how to sew now and we are paying off debt every month. Although we can't give our family money, we can help them by encouraging them and loving them. And we can volunteer our time to good causes now. And I am gathering information on adoption. It's always, always, always been on my heart to adopt a child from India. I can't tell you why exactly, it's just something I've always dreamt of doing. And it is obtainable within my life!

Who needs the lottery? Certainly not me.

"What can make me feel this way..."

2009-10-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

Brenden, Brenden, talking 'bout Breeeeenden....

I love my husband so much. I know I say this a lot on my public venues but I can't even begin to express how much I love him. I won't go into any details (we can save that for a face to face conversation) but after being so horribly treated by a couple men, I never thought (or even imagined) I would have a strong, loving husband. I accepted that if I did marry, I would marry someone abusive. And it amazes me how much God has given me, how much joy He has blessed me with, even through all the past pain. Brenden was the biggest, most wonderful surprise of my life!!!!

My Favorite Old Song

2009-10-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

This song is an old, old classic French song and it means so much to me:

Dansons la capucine,
Y'a pas de pain chez nous,
Y'en a chez la voisine
Mais ce n'est pas pour nous

Dansons la capucine,
Y'a pas de vin chez nous,
Y'en a chez la voisine
Mais ce n'est pas pour nous

Dansons la capucine
Ya de plasire chez nous
On pleure chez la voisine
On rire toujours chez nous

It's a short little ditty and translates as:

Let's dance the capucine (which is a type of flower),

There is no bread at home,

There is some at the neighbors,

But it's not for us.

Let's dance the capucine,

There is no wine at home,

There is some at the neighbors,

But it's not for us.

Let's dance the capucine,

There is happiness (directly translated as "pleasure") at home,

There are tears at the neighbors,

There is always laughter at home.

This song reminds me that no matter what happens in life, happiness should abound. We could be straving for food but where there is love, happiness and laughter will always be present! Ask me and I will sing it for you :)

School Days

2009-10-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Brenden and I recently were discussing our different schooling. He was home schooled and I went to a variety of public and private schools. I thought it would be fun to see some pictures of all my old schools! I went to 10 different schools, all over the country. Some were amazing (Wheaton Academy and Lake Geneva Middle) and some were horrible (Centennial High and Community Christian School). But overall, I think I had a great education.

1. Crestview Elementary School, Ogden, Utah (my very first school! I remember my teacher, Mrs Paige clearly, and my classroom was so fun!):

2. Sherman Elementary School, Sherman, Illinois (seeing this school brings back a lot of memories. I could tell you my teacher's names and I could show you each classroom. Elementary school was good!):

3. Williamsville Middle and Jr High, Williamsville, Illinois (Most of my school memories come from this school which was your very typical small town school):

4. Powell Middle School, Littleton, CO (I can't say much about this school because I was only there for a few months. Half of the school was underground and there was an indoor swimming pool! I did have the opportunity to perfom a skit in front of the whole school. That was the start of my love of acting and theater!):

5. Lake Geneva Middle School, Geneva (the best middle school I attended, great programs):

6. Wheaton Academy, West Chicago, Illinois (linked with Wheaton College; a very prestigious and hard to get into high school. With a price tag of $11,000 a year, Wheaton was the absolute best school I attended):

7. Centennial High School, Bakersfield, CA (this school was MASSIVE and also the worst public I attended; lots of gang activity so we were not allowed to leave the classroom alone during class time):

8. Community Christian School, Shafter, CA (no picture available because they school no longer exists...for good reason, the worst school for academics)

9. Bakersfield Christian School, Bakersfield, CA (no picture available because the school moved)

10. Des Moines Christian School, Des Moines, IA (I really don't remember much of my senior year. I was the new kid-again-so I didn't really connect with the students or programs) :

Wow, I went to a lot of schools!

And then I said

2009-10-12T15:11:00.001-07:00

To my mom: "Any man who would frown at you is obviously gay...or has been castrated."

It's strange when divorced parents begin to date.....

Coffee

2009-10-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

How do you know when you've had entirely too much coffee? When your pee smells like a fresh brew. And I am there!

Miss me?

2009-10-06T16:04:00.001-07:00

I don't understand when someone says they miss me and then asks me to call them (unless of course it is on a voicemail which requires a return call out of politeness). If you miss me, shouldn't you call me? Why should I be responsible for making sure we chat/catch up? You know, I might not even miss you. And if our relationship is important to you, why don't you put forth the effort to keep in touch? *

*This is not about anyone in particular so please don't read into anything. Just an observation :)

Oh the Place You'll Go!

2009-10-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

My dream vacation list:

1. Quebec
2. Spain
3. Greece
4. Hungary
5. Italy

My realistic-budget sensitive vacation list:

1. Whistler, Canada (it's only 6 hours away)
2. Santa Fe, New Mexico
3. Aspen, Colorado
4. Maine
5. Montana

Where would you like to go?

Welcome to Life

2009-10-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

"Welcome to life, where hard, honest work doesn't get you any more pay or respect; where some dreams are sacrificed in hopes of fulfilling others; where formal education is more valuable than intelligence and those without 'papers' are doomed. Welcome to life, where there is more toil than joy; where cheaters prosper; where honesty is for the foolish. Welcome to the anarchy that is masked as society. " -Anonymous

I love how this quote accurately describes this world of sin. As a Christian, I would counter this with Titus 2:11-13:

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.."

Bandit and Baby Einstein

2009-09-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

I downloaded a Baby Einstein dvd to possible send it to my sister. As soon as I previewed the video, Bandit was captivated! I've never seen him watch something for so long with such intensity. Soooo funny!

Languages and random memories

2009-09-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

I've always been interested in languages and I seem to be pretty talented at learning them. I remember the first time I heard my dad speak in Spanish. I was amazed and since then, I've been a sponge for different languages. (He asked the gas station cashier for a pencil). So far, I've studied about 15 different languages (although I do not claim fluency or proficiency in most of them), it's my hobby. My brother, Seth, is the same way. He speaks several languages fluently and several others proficiently. Languages were encouraged in my house growing up and I will encourage my kids in learning them as well.

Once when I was 13, I was having dinner at a friends house. We were gathered around the table and I was teaching my friend and her little brother how to say hello in various languages. Somehow this provoked her mother who slammed her hand on the table and yelled "This is an English speaking house!" I didn't go back to her house after that. It was quite shocking.

Then I said...

2009-09-24T16:55:00.001-07:00

Conversation in which I told Brenden I wanted to decorate in a "vintage/modern French style"

Brenden: You are a bit like the sports fans with their teams but with French
Laura: I completely accept that.

A Clip from a Oui-Oui episode!

2009-09-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Oú est Oui-Oui?

2009-09-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

For a couple months I have been trying to find DVDs of an old French cartoon, Oui Oui. It's been a disappointing search! While I've found a plethora of DVDS, videos, dolls, toys and the like for Oui Oui in France (http://www.amazon.fr/), I can find NOTHING in the States (or in Canada!); not even on Ebay. I really don't want to pay in Euros or for international shipping but I just might!

Oui Oui au Pays des Jouets est le meilleur! ("Oui Oui from Toyland" is the best!) et je veux que mes enfants à regarder (I want my kids to watch it).

Oui Oui

2009-09-15T14:46:00.001-07:00

Je m'ennuie.

Rich Life

2009-08-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, someone from South Carolina won the largest jackpot in Powerball history, 250 million dollars. Can you imagine having that kind of money in your bank account? Imagine how many opportunities open up for you and your family! But it is not without its own struggles; with money comes strife and I pray that the winners have wisdom to manage such a responsibility.

Anyway, it got me thinking about my own life. I feel rich, not in money or resources but in family, in love, in joy, in hope. I can say with 100% certainly that I am married to my soul mate, my best friend, my other half. I am very lucky, or blessed, or whatever word you want to use, to have him. We truly belong to each other. I feel as rich as King Solomon.

"You don't have to be rich to have a rich life. You don't have to be rich to travel or try new things, or have adventures."

I must say, I love my life. It is adventurous and lovely. I wouldn't trade it for anything :)

This is why I should not get drunk

2009-08-13T15:52:00.001-07:00

I came across an old picture of my college roommate/best friend Liz the day after my wild 23rd birthday. I don't remember doing this to her:

Her poor eye had a black hue for the rest of the year. She thought it was funny. That's me in the back seat with the pink shirt. We took her to the hospital to scrape rocks out of her eye. Aw, memories.

Lost in Translation.

2009-08-12T11:44:00.001-07:00

Advice from Belgium:

"Do not fall in love with a thief; he will rob you!"

"If you see a criminal while making out in your car, throw your stuff at him and he will run away!"

"If your possessions start flying, run fast"

*Picture taken by my lucky friend who went on European tour this summer (JEALOUS).

Positive thinking.

2009-08-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

I live in Oregon and even if I move away someday, I want to think more positively about my current situation. I want to learn to be content with whatever situation I am in. Obviously, I need some practice. So here goes:

1. Oregon trees are beautiful! There is nothing like driving through Oregon between hills and hills of trees.
2. There are so many hiking trails in Portland alone! I love that Portland is a mix of city living and country living.
3. The mountains and the ocean are a short drive away. And the beaches are not flooded with skimpy sun bathers here...they are rocky and misty and perfect for a hike.
4. Wildwood Park where Brenden and I got married.
5. Powell Books! Who can resist a whole city block of books?
6. Downtown 23rd. I love, love, love the shops and the old houses!
7. Sushi Train, our favorite sushi spot.
8. Waterfalls.
9. Washougal swimming hole (ok, not technically Oregon)
10. I met my husband here!

Sad.

2009-08-06T17:40:00.001-07:00

I really miss my mom. I always miss her more when I don't feel well or need health advice. She told me that when my little sister wasn't feeling well (pregnancy related) she brought her a cherry pie and Anne of Green Gables. They ate and watched the movie together. I wish I had that. Why can't we be closer? Oregon is the suck.

And then I said..

2009-08-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

I feel like two hot air balloons have crawled into my shirt and are trying to pass themselves off as boobs. I'm not buying it.

Beach!

2009-08-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

The vet gave us the OK to take Bandit to the beach, so we went! For a three month old puppy, I was more than impressed. Staying right beside us (never pulling), he walked perfectly on his leash. Once we weren't around screaming children who constantly wanted to pet him, we let him roam off-leash. And he did such an amazing job of staying right between me and Brenden. What an amazing puppy. Here are some pictures:

And then I said..

2009-07-28T14:54:00.001-07:00

Me: "What was that you said? It was funny and I wanted to quote you on my blog."
Brenden: "Babe, you can't quote me on everything I say.."
Me: "I am quoting that."

And then I promised him that I wouldn't quote him on what he said about dorky people. It was funny :)

Damn this restless soul.

2009-07-28T11:55:00.001-07:00

I told you my plans change daily. My new plan involves us moving to Colorado! I don't know the future and my direction is ever changing. But I do know some things: I really dislike Portland (and most of Oregon), I want to be closer to my family without being too far from my married family (Colorado is a very long day drive to both locations), and I want to raise my kids in a healthy environment with great schools.

I am so restless.

Hem and Haw

2009-07-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Brenden and I have been "hem-and haw-ing" about a possible (future) move to....are you ready for this...Yamhill county! Yes, you read that correctly. My current plan (it seems to change daily) is to send Brenden's resume to A-Dec, a great company with great benefits. Who knows what will happen, but I am praying that something wonderful opens up for him and for us. And since the company is in Newberg, we are considering living in the area.

I've never lived in a city with a population less than 500,000 (metropolitan areas). And even that seems small (Portland seems like a small town to me). So I wonder if I'll love real small town living or if I'll hate it. It's an adventure either way! And we want to be closer to family when we have babies, which I am sure will happen sooner than we think :)

I love how life can change on a dime! You never know what is around the corner but I am excited to find out :) Please pray that Brenden finds an awesome opportunity with A-Dec.

I can see you smiling LanaMom!

A struggle.

2009-07-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

I've always been proud of my self-reliance and resilience. I think it is very important to be able to "make it on your own". When I was 19, I moved 1,700 miles away from home to attend a college I'd never visited, to a city I'd never been. I was very unsure how I would do without my parents (or any family) nearby, without a phone to contact them, or a computer to email them. But I did it. And it was one of the best experiences in my life.

A family friend bet that I'd move back home after graduating college. I knew differently. To make it (and save money), I lived in a trailer park that was condemned to be torn down (it is mostly gone now). Some friends laughed at me while others thought it was as fun. (Personally, I loved it).

Then I felt a "call" to leave my beloved city. I moved 1,000 miles north with some friends I had just met, to another unknown city, with no job prospects (but plenty of savings, thanks to cheap trailer rent). Within hours of arriving, I met my husband. I'd say it was a good move :)

My struggle is pride. Although I come from a financially successful (and very generous) family, I don't like asking for help. I feel uncomfortable receiving anything expensive, something that I didn't struggle, plan, or save for. I feel more pride showing off the fruits of my labor than standing next to something that I didn't work for. I get that from my dad.

My problem is pride. Now don't misunderstand me, I think it is good to feel pride after working for something, accomplishing something big. However, pride shouldn't morph into feelings of failure. Pride is a dangerous beast that I continue to wrestle.

This is my struggle.

My sister is smarter than yours...

2009-07-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law, Reka just passed her PhD entrance exam in the statistics department. She is the smartest person I know. Congrats Reka!

Seth and Reka Howard in San Diego

Ambitious Planning.

2009-07-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

The travel bug has bitten me! I am renewing my passport and getting one for Brenden (Hi, Brenden!)! I haven't been to Europe in 10 YEARS! And since my family is partly Hungarian, I was thinking a Hungarian trip is in order some time within the next couple years. I'd love to see Budapest and travel through to Austria and then to Czech Republic.

Who wants to come???

Mama Bear.

2009-07-16T12:27:00.001-07:00

It's very hard to control my temper when someone hurts my husband. Suddenly, I feel like a giant mama bear ready to attack.

So then I said..

2009-07-16T11:13:00.001-07:00

"The average rich American is rich because he/she is ~~cheap~~ very careful with their money. The average middle class American is in debt because he/she over-borrow and over-spend and want everyone to think they are rich."

Plans, plans, plans...

2009-07-15T13:07:00.001-07:00

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

So (as you may have read below or on my Facebook) I am planning a trip to Iowa and Chicago. Yay. Our first order of business is to visit family and see the newest member (due around Christmas). Second order of business is to have a mini-vacation (from the vacation) in Chicago! Brenden has never been and I've already made plans to visit the Field Museum, the Art Institute, Gino's East Pizzeria, and ice skating at Millennium Park!

We are trying to decide whether to fly out there in January (when the ticket prices are so much cheaper) OR drive out there in time for Christmas for an extended vacation (more than a week!). I am partial to the driving idea (what an adventure!) but Brenden isn't sure about the weather. I'd LOVE to see my family for Christmas but plane tickets are just too expensive during that time. So I came up with the driving plan!

Any thoughts?

My Favorite City!

2009-07-14T13:47:00.001-07:00

I am planning an awesome vacation to my FAVORITE city of all time. Here is what is on the itinerary (can you guess which city?):

Museum #1: You can find the famous T-Rex "Sue" here:

World famous art institute:

If you like pizza, this is a must (and you can write on the walls):

Famous skyline:

Now can you guess which city???

One Year.

2009-07-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

I married my sweetheart one year ago (on Sunday). I love being married to him and we've had an amazing year. Here are some silly pictures for you to enjoy (or laugh at..hehe)

A little annoyance

2009-07-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

It really bugs me when people use their good luck as proof of God's existence. A friend of mine was exclaiming that her success in getting a good job was proof that God exists and that He loves her. I am very glad that she has a good job. And I think it's important to be thankful for these things. However, I hate hate hate the mentality that God exists to make us happy and/or successful. Nothing could be further from the truth. God exists. We exist to glorify Him. Therefore, I will proclaim and honor Him whether I am poor or rich, whether I am homeless or live in a mansion, whether I have a job or am unemployed.

Don't even get me started on the sermon "Jesus came to fulfill your dreams" that Brenden and I had to suffer through.

*Rolls eyes*

And then he said...

2009-07-02T17:19:00.001-07:00

Brenden: "Women are catty bitches to one another. And then you die."

True story. And I wish they'd stop looking at my boobs. Thank you.

Practicing my rusty Hungarian

2009-07-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

Ez a szomorú élni a hely, amelyet még nem hasonló, és nem a barátai. Kész vagyok rá mozgatni és távol körülbelül emberek szokásos és valóságos. Szeretnék isten, Oregon és helló, valami új. Brenden, készen egy kaland?

My say in it all...

2009-06-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

I grew up listening and dancing to Michael Jackson songs. I had the VH1 movie special recorded on a VHS tape. I loved Michael. He was a musical icon for 40+ years, people (and will always be)! He revolutionized pop music. He had no rival.

I don't know if he is guilty of the charges against him and it's not my business to know, I have no right or authority to judge; let his God judge him. What I do know is that his music will be his legacy. And love him or hate him, let him rest in peace. I, for one, will always be a fan.

Intense.

2009-06-23T16:25:00.001-07:00

I have a very intense feeling that change is on its way for me and Brenden. Something good, something amazing, something life altering. It's such a strong sense, I can almost smell it. I feel wrapped in it. Life is amazing.

Pictures.

2009-06-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

I half heartily wish I took more pictures. I think it'd make my blog more interesting and I love pictures in general. But when the opportunity arises, camera in hand, I don't snap as many as I feel like I should. I feel a sort of awkwardness around cameras. It seems like the best way to defuse a natural situation, "say cheese"! And even though a part of me wishes I had more pictures to share, to show off, I like leaving it natural and recalling the smile, the laughter, the situation through my memory and my imagination.

Having said that, I will now post pictures of my camping trip.

Thankyouverymuch.

60 years. Wow.

2009-06-18T13:16:00.000-07:00

Happy anniversary to my grandparents, Anna and Mac Howard

Engagement picture, circa 1949

Meet Bandit.

2009-06-17T11:36:00.001-07:00

Meet the newest member of our little family, Bandit. He is a 6 week old Boston Terrier and he is just so sweet. He and Brenden are the best of buddies already.

Family History

2009-06-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

King James Stuart I

My grandfather loves to research our family history and our genealogy. He has found some interesting stuff! Apparently, I am a direct line of the Stuart royal family (my great grandmother's maiden name was Stuart). The two most famous Stuarts are Queen Mary of Scots and King James Stuart (made famous by the King James version of the Bible). Queen Mary of Scots was also known for her animosity towards the English royals. Ironically, my dad's side has a lot of English royal blood in it. No wonder my parents are divorced!

Queen Mary

Seems like red hair runs deep in my family!

Conflicted.

2009-06-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

I am very conflicted. I feel torn between two different states: Iowa vs Oregon. I don't know what to do. On one hand, I want to be near my family. We are all very close. My siblings and I are all close in age and life situation. My sister is expecting her first baby and it pains me to think I will be the aunt out in Oregon that rarely visits but sends cool gifts every now and again. I remember my own absent aunts, I really don't want to be that but I don't see how it is unavoidable. Another point is that Iowa is so affordable. There is no question on whether we could afford a home. But Iowa is flat. Iowa is boring. And there is not a hint of an ocean nearby.

While Iowa is so affordable, Oregon is beautiful. And much of our dreams involve the area here (camping, hiking, going to the coast). I am starting to appreciate Oregon more and more: the greenery, the earth conscience culture, the outdoor activities. Oregon life is so much apart of our life. All my in-laws live in Oregon. And Brenden's never lived anywhere else. We really like it here. My first little niece Makayla is here. And while Brenden's siblings get older, I feel like we can connect to them better. I wouldn't want to miss out on any of their lives or have them miss out on ours.

No matter what we decide, somebody will be left out. Somebody will miss out on their grandchildren's everyday life. Somebody will miss us. Somebody already misses us. Oh gosh, this is such a conflict in my heart.

Can I just move everybody to the same town?

Bread!

2009-06-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

As an attempt to cut our grocery bill and eat more homemade foods, I've started making our own bread (although some would say this is a sure way to get fat...). I came up with a very easy recipe. No bread machine needed. No kneading dough. All you need is 20 hrs to let the bread set and rise. I am very proud of myself! And the cost of making this bread is SO MUCH LOWER than store bought bread. And it's much tastier.

Paintings.

2009-06-05T10:58:00.000-07:00

After the horrible incident, I hid myself in painting, something I'd never done but always wanted to try. Needless to say, it was very therapeutic. I mainly painted color, paintings that made sense to me and probably nobody else. When I moved to Portland, I gave them to my friend Sarah (who moved into my trailer after me). When I visited her a couple weekends ago, I was delighted to see them hanging on her entry way wall! They brought back so many memories and a strong sense of accomplishment (not only in the paintings themselves but in my life and in my healing).

I am getting back into painting. But this time, instead of using painting as a form of therapy, it is my form of rejoicing!

Send my peas to China!

2009-05-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Apparently my last post about saving money did not sit well for some. I was thoroughly chastised for being "stressed" (although I didn't use the word myself). Apparently, I have no right to be stressed while there are poor people in India. Which reminds me of the "eat your food, there are starving children in China" passive-aggressive statement...how does my full stomach benefit starving children in China? If anything, that should motivate me not to eat my peas and ship them to China. So there are poorer people than me? Yes, I know. I hardly think my stress affects them negatively. Or at all. Ever.

But this is really about gratefulness, isn't it? I am very grateful and thankful for all that I have. It can always be worse, it can always be better too.

To conclude, I am not stressed. I am simply trying to be a good steward of what God has given me.

The Recession Game

2009-05-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with my husband last night about the recession and money and our savings account. We concluded that we want to try and save as much as possible especially during this time.

We came up with a couple things:

1. We are cancelling our Netflix account...we really don't use it anyway

2. We will only buy our fruits and veggies from the farmer's market (package and freeze quantities)..which is actually better all around for us and for our neighbors and our environment.

3. We will continue making our own bread (I have a super easy and delicious recipe, if anyone is interested). Again, this is healthier and better for the environment.

4. No more Starbucks, we can make our own coffee at home.

5. WinCo. As much as I HATE this store, it does save us some money.

6. Freebies! We live in a very beautiful state and city! And since summer is the driest time of year, there are a plethora of free outdoor activities so we will be anything but bored.

Does anyone else have any other ideas or suggestions? What do you do to save a little extra money?

Life After People

2009-05-18T14:49:00.001-07:00

"Life After People", a new history channel show, explores what would happen to our world after we are gone. What will become of our grand buildings? What about our domestic pets? Trash? Roadways? Within a matter of years, everything will be eaten away by the elements (weather and plant life) and will eventually return to forest. Without human control over dams and water supply, several main cities (Chicago and London, for example) will be flooded while cities like Los Angeles will return to its desert roots.

Here's a picture of Paris, population 0:

I love the show. I love the fierceness and resilience of nature. I daydream about life with very few people on earth. The quietness (from human evidence) and wild simplicity would be such a drastic difference. A world full of wildlife and very few human footprints would be my own Shangri-la.

CJ7

2009-05-07T09:53:00.001-07:00

CJ7 is a must-see Chinese movie!

"Ti, a really poor construction worker that struggles to keep his son, Dicky, in private school, mistakes an orb he finds in a junkyard for a toy his son heavily requested from him, since all of the classmates had it. This object turns out to be an alien creature with regenerative powers that will end up teaching important lessons to both father and son, amidst a dramatic turn of events in which Dicky is confronted to the harsh realities of life. "-IMDB

Although the subtitles are small (and yellow), I loved this movie! It is so charming and so entertaining! We found it on Netflix instant and laughed throughout!

What's wrong with this?

2009-05-06T12:29:00.001-07:00

Plans.

2009-05-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

There's something funny about making plans. The universe and I do not get along when it comes to making plans. Because as soon as I am about to reach my goal, something inevitably comes along and changes the whole path. I know this is a good time to "be strong", "hang in there", "have faith" but honestly, I don't want to be strong. I want things to go according to my plan. I want to transition smoothly into life's BIG changes. I don't want this. Take it away. Make it easy. Please?

Weekend

2009-05-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

Amidst lost hours at work, possible lay-offs, a miscarriage scare, being hurt by a "friend", I had the best weekend! I got to say, I love my husband so much, it brings tears to my eyes. I know this may turn some readers off, but I never thought I'd find someone who loves me as well as Brenden does. He was the biggest surprise of my life and I will forever be grateful and committed to him.

Garden!

2009-05-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

I've always dreamed of having a huge garden full of vegetables, greens, and flowers! Until I buy a house with a yard, I will have to settle for apartment- style gardening.

Introducing Laura's Little Herb Garden:

Rosemary, Mint (for summer mojitos), and basil!

Mirror, Mirror

2009-05-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

I love having a husband who is a skilled builder. He made us this mirror and completed the design with a rub-through paint job.

I found a similar (and smaller) mirror at Pottery Barn for $300. It cost Brenden about $17 to build this one.

Summer is on it's way!

2009-04-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

I live in a very wet climate. The motto is, "if it's not raining, wait 5 mins." And it's so true. Even though it's almost May, I am still wearing sweaters and coats and my umbrella is not too far from my every reach. I am dreaming of summer. The rain makes the earth so vivid with color. Every flower, every patch of grass, every hill is alive with color. And there is plenty of daylight to enjoy it (the summer sun usually sets after 9pm).

I am dreaming of bike rides, camping trips, picnics on the river, farmer's market cheese and bread, days that last forever, and our one year wedding anniversary. It's been an amazing year! And I can't wait to see what next year holds for us!

Summer is a magical season.