Aimee Jo from Idaho

Handsome Boy

2009-06-05T08:51:00.005+03:00

I can hardly believe it, but our Evan David is 4 months old already!

He's growing strong and is so much fun these days. He loves to talk and coo at us, observe his sister, giggle when tickled and show us his cute smile many times throughout the day.

He absolutely LOVES to be held, so when the day comes to be with grandparents, he'll be in heaven. :)

We love our boy and feel SO blessed!

What Goes Around...

2009-05-09T09:15:00.004+03:00

Yes, it's true. When I was a small child, I went through a phase of calling my parents by their names. Not "Mommy" and "Daddy", but "Dennis" and "Donna". My mom said that I wasn't disrespectful, and it soon passed.

I'll keep that in mind, since my 20 month old has now found that I not only answer to "Mommy" but to "Aimee" as well! I think that she feels so grown up when she uses my adult name, because she gets a little smirk on her face when calling me.

I'll have to admit that it's pretty cute. She makes me smile everyday...what will it be next?

Thankful for Prayer

2008-11-09T09:09:00.004+02:00

As I grieve for my many friends that are experiencing difficulty at this time in their life, I am so thankful for the avenue of prayer.

I am thankful that I have a God who hears me, takes on the burdens that I feel, intercedes on behalf of friends and family, and wants me to take my troubles to Him on a daily basis.

It's too much for me to process right now...our friends whose little one has leukemia, Cascade College closing down, a fellow "Bristol Babe"-pregnant and on bed rest-trying to keep the little one inside, and friends leaving a Ugandan ministry due to corruption and sin within the program.

When I opened my e-mail the night before we were leaving for Kampala, all of these things hit me at once and I felt a heaviness come over me. I couldn't respond to anything, because I didn't have words to say. I felt as if a truck had hit me square in the face and I was down for the count.

That night, I simply closed my laptop and prayed.

I prayed for comfort and healing of sweet Caitlin, for her parents and siblings, I prayed for staff, administration, students, alumni, and the board of Cascade College as they make transitions in their lives with the devastating news of their college closing down, I prayed for my friend Kelly & her baby Rilyn--that God would protect both of them, keep Rilyn strong, healthy, and in Kelly's womb until the time is right. I also prayed for Chris & Kami and the situation with the Children's Home in Kampala; that God would take sin away, protect the children, and give Chris & Kami wisdom as to which steps to take next.

As I fell asleep that night, I was sad, depressed, and confused, yet at the same time, hopeful. Hopeful, because I believe in a God that hears the prayers of His people and is faithful in caring for His flock. Hopeful, because I know that I can't fix it, but HE CAN. Hopeful, because when Satan attacks, GOD remains more powerful!

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of prayer. Thank you for comforting, healing, protecting, guarding, and guiding loved ones that are dealing with intense trials at this time. Thank you for your faithfulness to love us, hear us, and watch over us. In Jesus Powerful Name, Amen.

She's One Year Old!! (and mommy is late on posting)

2008-09-18T10:34:00.007+03:00

Happy Birthday to Anaiah who turned a year old on September 3rd!!!!

Daddy and I love you, Sweet Girl!!

My Big Girl

2008-08-15T13:30:00.007+03:00

Isn't she cute?

I just love her so much and wanted to share her precious face!

Thoughts of Home

2008-07-27T22:20:00.005+03:00

I've never thought about "home" as much as I do now that I live in Uganda.

It dawned on me this morning, as I was praising Jesus with Fort Portal church, that every Sunday I envision Caldwell church...where my parents are sitting, how they would love to hold Anaiah during church, how I would love to sit next to them and hear their voices...I can see my Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Friends. I haven't worshiped with Caldwell very much in the past few years, but I can picture it so clearly.

I was reminded that Caldwell church was hosting the PMC (Partnership for Missional Church) this weekend when I talked with my mom on the phone last Friday. It made me wish I could be there to see so many family and friends!!

For all of you who were able to attend the BBQ at my Grandma's house--I know that you must have enjoyed yourselves. I have spent many hours in that backyard, creating memories that are quite dear to me; it's a GREAT yard, especially for eating with family & friends! I can just imagine everyone visiting- moving from one circle of friends to another, meeting new faces, and eating lots of good food!

For those of you who were there--YOU ARE SO LUCKY!!! Oh, and I hope that Idaho was all you hoped it would be. :)

Beans, Beans, the Magical Fruit

2008-07-24T21:17:00.003+03:00

It's true--I have a lot of gas due to pregnancy, but that's not what this post is about! :)

Every time I sit at my table to go through the monotonous task of sorting the beans, I can only think about how I miss going to the store and picking out a can of refried beans. I dream of simply opening the can, dumping them in the pan, and BAM--within minutes, they are ready to go! (It's good for all you back in the States to know what will make me happy when we come! Don't worry about taking me to movies or the mall, just a grocery store where I can pick out some canned food to make for an easy dinner!)

Tonight it was nice to have power during my bean sorting fun. I had both lights to see and music to listen to, in order to pass the time more quickly. Luckily, I'm only making enough for Andrew and me, so I didn't have to do the whole bag.

I am excited for our dinner tomorrow--the tortilla making (done by our house worker) and bean preparation, although time consuming, make for a delicious meal!!

So Sweet

2008-07-05T08:55:00.006+03:00

Anaiah is sitting on the floor just flipping through some of her favorite books. Once in a while I'll hear, "Hi!" and look over to see her nose touching the book as she is greeting the characters. It's really too cute!

She's also discovered the pictures of family on the shelf in the living room. She likes for me to show her everyone and call them by name. She also enjoys telling her family "Hi"and we have been working on saying "Nana" and "Grandma," but she's not quite there yet.

Her personality is really starting to show, and although a little dramatic at times, she's a very sweet girl. (A little drama never hurt anyone, right? Too bad that she got that from her father!! :)

OH YUMMY!

2008-06-05T17:19:00.000+03:00

Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Italian, and Thai--just some of the wonderful food choices that one is given while living in America. And, let us not forget the sandwich shops and all of the wonderful fast food chains all over the country.

It's so weird to me just how much I miss certain foods from America. I don't know if it is a blessing or a curse to have grown up in the good ol' US of A with such a variety to choose from, because now, it just haunts me and I crave certain things so badly!

I was lying in bed the other night, torturing myself by thinking of the foods that I miss. These are some of my favorites:

-fast food hamburgers
-bean burritos from TACO BELL (I know you sympathize with me on this one, Bren!)
-good salads (like Olive Garden, Red Robin, and Applebees)
-good desserts
-beef stick (I know...weird, but I love the stuff and it reminds me of x-mas with my fam)
-Tillamook cheese
-sour cream & cream cheese (I know that at least cream cheese is available here, but expensive)
-pasta (Spaghetti Factory and Olive Garden)
-good sandwiches with soft bread (Blimpie, Subway, Big Town Hero)
-pizza (Chicken Garlic from Papa Murphy's & Pepperoni from Pizza Hut)
-milkshakes from Burgerville
-chips (Doritos, Ruffles, Fritos...you know, anything yummy & fattening!)

And the crazy part about all of this is that while living in America, Andrew and I did not dine out all that frequently, but now that none of it is available, I WANT IT-EVERYDAY!!

So, you can bet that when we come home in a year and a half, I'll be making my way through each and every restaurant that I miss and then I'll start all over again, until our furlough is over.
And I'll enjoy every minute of it.

Can't wait! Oh, it will taste sooooo good! So, in the meantime, I'll just continue to drag myself through the agony of dreaming about it.

Go enjoy a good meal for me today!

A Good Find

2008-05-29T16:55:00.000+03:00

YAY for pepperoni pizza! I discovered it the other day at a (new to me) restaurant in Kampala. I haven't had pepperoni pizza since leaving the states and it tasted so very yummy!

Ch-Ch-Change

2008-05-21T08:30:00.000+03:00

Just reflecting today on how my day-to-day life is not quite the same since living in Uganda.

For instance:

1. I use filtered water for cooking and drinking
2. I wash dishes in a basin
3. I add bleach to every dish load to get rid of germs
4. I wash my feet every night before going to bed
5. I use stiff towels (our dryer is not hooked up, so when the towels air dry, they are pretty crispy!)
6. I use filtered water to brush my teeth
7. I make pizza from scratch (and I must admit--it is yummy!)
8. I eat cereal without milk (I miss American milk!)
9. After buying eggs at the store, I drop them into a tub of water, to make sure they all sink (if they float, they are rotten)
10. I count the hours between times we have power!

Not that change is bad...just different (well, except for the dry cereal part--that is just SAD!)

Lazy Sunday Afternoons

2008-04-20T22:20:00.001+03:00

If you know me, you know that I love taking naps--it's one of my very favorite things in life.

I especially love taking naps on Sunday afternoons, always have. I'm not sure what it is, but after going to church and eating a good lunch, I just love lying down for a good snooze.

Now that I'm a mommy, my Sunday afternoon naps are shared with my most cuddly, precious daughter. She is the BEST to nap with--she keeps me warm, lays very still while asleep, and wakes me up with the cutest smile & soft touches.

YAY for naps with my girl...one of the sweetest things in life!

Here Comes the Sun

2008-04-17T20:38:00.000+03:00

So, on the bright side...

the Lord provided a sunshiny day here in Fort Portal, and our day guard was able to hand wash a load of our clothes and hang them out to dry. Yes, another day without power, but at least we are blessed with a guard that does a good job at washing clothes and sunshine so that they can dry quickly.

Anaiah & I went to the Cashes for dinner, which was so much fun! Thanks for the yummy sandwiches and brownies, Cheryl! Anaiah LOVES the kids and their dog, Baxter, and gets loved on so much by her Aunt Cheryl & Uncle Jeff. It was a fun time.

While unpacking boxes, I found "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks, and I've begun re-reading it. I love that story. If you have not read this wonderful love story, I highly recommend it. And I believe this is the first book I've read since Anaiah has been born (I mean besides all the informative books on babies and kid books...it feels good to be reading for fun again.)

Yay for a sunny day in the midst of a rainy season...it made my heart happy and my outlook brighter.

That Figures

2008-04-16T20:31:00.000+03:00

Good news is that Andrew & Jeff got our washing machine working!!! YAY!

Bad news is that just after I got the laundry sorted and had my pile ready to be washed, the power clicked off...for the entire day.

Now it's back, but my baby girl is asleep and since that's not a noise she is used to, am afraid it will wake her from blissful sleep, which would make me crazy.

So, I think I will go curl up in my bed and read a good book before dozing off myself.

Who needs clean clothes anyway???

Taking It Easy

2008-04-11T13:11:00.000+03:00

Today, I could be unpacking more boxes and finding a spot for all the treasures that lay before me.

But, I'm not.

Instead, I'm finding joy in playing with my daughter, regardless of the mess around us.

She lights up my life and I am thankful for this day of playing, smiling, laughing, and cuddling .

Happy Birthday, Grandma Gladys!

2008-04-09T17:32:00.000+03:00

I love you!!

I Love My Family!!

2008-03-27T20:06:00.000+02:00

Tonight, Andrew, Anaiah, & I sat down and had some time to hang out and relax together. What a great thing for us!! I happened to be sitting with Anaiah in the chair and it hit me just how much I adore her. She holds my heart in those cute little hands, and at times like these, I get an overwhelming feeling of how precious she is to me.

I also feel a very deep love and companionship for Andrew. He is so good to Anaiah & me--always thinking of us first and doing what is in our best interest. He lives to serve us on a daily basis and I appreciate that more and more as time goes on. He is a treasure and I'm so glad that I found him. He is the best father and one day Anaiah will realize how blessed she is to have him as her father.

I thank God for my family, for life and for His faithfulness to care for us.

I love my family...really, really love my family.

I've Been Tagged!

2008-02-21T07:04:00.000+02:00

8 Things I'm passionate about:
1. My marriage
2. My daughter
3. Teaching people about Jesus
4. Educating children
5. Babies
6. Discipline/Child Rearing
7. PUMP church
8. My Family

8 Things I want to Do before I Die:
1. Have a baby boy
2. Adopt at least one child from Uganda
3. Find a cure for my RA
4. Learn how to be still
5. Become quick to listen and slow to speak
6. Learn to point out the positive before the negative
7. Pay off student loans
8. Be debt free

8 Shows I Watch: (all on DVD, since we don't have a TV)
1. The Office
2. Scrubs
3. Seinfeld
-That's all!-

8 Things that Attract Me to My Friends:
1. They are Sarcastic
2. They are Witty
3. They are Honest
4. They are Loyal
5. We share Common Faith
6. They have a Servant Heart
7. They are Humble
8. They Laugh Often

8 Things I Say Often:
1. I love you!
2. You are sooo cute!
3. Are you cute?
4. Yes you are!
5. Oh My Word!
6. Hello, How are you?
7. I'm so tired.
8. Sorry

8 Artist I Never Tire Of:
1. Jack Johnson
2. Nora Jones
3. Acapella
4. John Mayer
5. EnterPraise :)
6. Amy Grant's x-mas cds
7. James Taylor
8. Casting Crowns

8 Things I Learned in '07:
1. I'm going to be a mom
2. It's a Girl!
3. Labor and Delivery Techniques
4. How to nurse my baby
5. How to install a car seat correctly
6. Just how much I love sleep
7. How to ask for help
8. Andrew is a great father!

I tag: Kristi, Cheryl, and Brenda

My Little Girl?

2008-02-10T17:59:00.000+02:00

She's not so little anymore...everytime I hold her, nurse her, see her in her pack-n-play, I think, whose child is this that I am looking at?

She has had quite a week with many "firsts": watching the Super Bowl with the gang, drinking water from a cup, and eating rice cereal.

She is 5 months old, which is pretty hard for me to believe. Everyone told me it would go by quickly, and it has.

It seems like everyday I learn something new about her and she learns something new about the world.

She smiles most all of the time, laughs aloud, rolls over, oooh and ahhhs, loves bathtime, plays with her feet, insists on attention during dinner, cries when mommy leaves the room, grabs anything within reach, puts everything into her mouth and cuddles sweetly with her daddy.

Andrew and I love her so much AND are very thankful to have her!!

To the Market We will Go

2008-01-12T17:15:00.000+02:00

It was hot, dusty, and tiring.

Lots of walking, people staring, vendors greeting...bartering, laughing, chattering...hunting, searching and wading through piles for just the right thing.

There was no air-conditioning, no dressing rooms, no price tags.

Shopping at the market is definitely a different experience than I am used to.

It was an event that brought me to exhaustion.

On top of that, I didn't even find what I was looking for.

But, it wasn't a total loss...

There were a lot of shoes there, which made me think of my mom.

Many Old Navy & GAP tags, which have my sister and Hayley written all over them.

Children's Place clothing that made me picture Elias & Evie.

I loved being reminded of some of my favorite people.

And when I go again, I'll see if I can find something that reminds me of you (and maybe have some luck in finding what I'm looking for)!

Christmas Fun

2007-12-27T13:18:00.000+02:00

Here she is--Anaiah Dawn, celebrating her 1st Christmas! Isn't she cute?! She was the star of the show--I think that at one point, Jeff, Cheryl and Andrew all had their cameras out, and all were pointing toward her! Needless to say, she is not lacking attention since we've been here.

I think that she enjoyed her first Christmas...she did help open one gift and then I handled the rest. She received many cute clothes from Jeff & Cheryl, Jennifer & Bob, an African doll from Doug, Destiny, & Jotham, a glow worm from Grandpa & Grandma, a care bear & blocks from Nana & Papa and a monkey from Santa!

Anaiah did very well the entire day with all the hustle and bustle. We attended a church service Christmas morning, then came back to the house and got it all ready for Christmas dinner.

Five missionary families came over to the Cashes to celebrate. We had TONS of good food, gift giving & receiving and many laughs throughout the day.

One thing that we did not do this Christmas is take a family photo, so I guess I'll just have to put this one of Andrew, so that we remember what he looked like on this day:

Isn't that a pretty gash over his eye?? Well, the day before Christmas was Alex's birthday and we were celebrating at the Mountains of the Moon Hotel where there is a really great swimming pool. Andrew was thoroughly enjoying himself, until he took a dive in not so deep water. He came up out of the pool and blood was running down his face. Luckily, the bleeding stopped soon after and he did not have to get stitches.

Although he did not feel very well Christmas Day, he was able to get up for a while and enjoy the company. His headache has not been as severe the past couple of days, so he is recovering.

All-in-all, this was a wonderful first Christmas in Uganda. On top of it being a good day, it was also a good night, as we were able to contact both of our families back home and hear about their Christmas days.

Hope that your day was as much of a blessing as ours was!!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas??

2007-12-18T08:53:00.000+02:00

No, not really. It is 75 degrees, sunny, and there is not Christmas cheer wherever you go.

We did see a few fake x-mas trees for sell in a Kampala store and have seen one or two Christmas billboards, but other than that, it does not feel like Christmas when we are out and about in Uganda.

But, in the Cash family home, it is a different story. Cheryl has the house decorated so cute--with lights, a tree, stockings, bows, and we even eat off of fun x-mas plates!! There is Christmas music playing when we wake up in the morning, and it brought tears to my eyes this morning when I walked into the kitchen and heard Amy Grant's album playing; that brings many memories of home and I know that my parents have been listening to the same thing back in Idaho.

Yesterday, we put Anaiah's new x-mas bib on her...Cheryl found it at a market last week and bought it just for my sweet baby girl. Here she is...Santa's Little Helper:

As for other news, Andrew and I are going to look at a house today. It is a house that we saw in 2005 when we visited and we really liked it. It is available right now, but we'll have to work out a price that we can afford for monthly rent. We'll let you know how it goes and we'll take some pics if it ends up being the one!

Are there any tears left to cry?

2007-11-23T22:06:00.000+02:00

I've cried more in the past 3 months than I have in the past year.

From having my baby girl laid upon my tummy after birth, to frustration with learning to nurse, to sleep deprivation, to moments of pure joy, to stressful times about finances, to the most intense pain in my joints, to saying goodbye to family and friends...I've cried many, many tears.

This Thanksgiving was very special to Andrew and me because it is the last holiday that we'll celebrate in the States before we leave for Uganda.

As we sat around the table with mom, dad, grandmas, cousins, and friends...
As we shared in a communion supper...
As we sang a tearful "Praise God from whom all blessings flow..."
As we embraced Abi for one last time and watched her say her goodbyes to Anaiah...

It has been really, really painful.

I feel like my heart is torn apart.

I also know that God is mending it.

I know that this will get better.

I know that this is how it's suppose to be...

Andrew and I are so blessed and so thankful to have family & friends that we love that much, that it does hurt to say goodbye.

And I know that through the next two weeks, tears will continue to flow for the loss that I will feel when we get on the plane for Uganda and the tears of joy that will come when we arrive safely and hug Jeff, Cheryl and the kids.

I'm not sure when the tears will stop; when this pain in the center of my chest will go away, but one thing I do know is that God is my comforter and is suffering with me and will get me through this time.

So in the mean time:

"I will praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands;
For You are who You are, no matter where I am.
Every tear I cry, You hold in your hands.
You've never left my side...and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm."

"This will hurt me more than it hurts you"

2007-11-13T18:09:00.000+02:00

Did any of your parents ever say that to you? I have always thought it was bogus until...

Anaiah had her 2-month check-up Monday, November 5. She is a strong and healthy baby. Andrew and I really liked her pediatrician...she is very nice, gentle and informative. Andrew and I quizzed the Doc with tons of questions and had a good visit. Then the dreaded time came...the doctor left the room and in came the nurse with the needles.

As I left the room, I felt a large lump form in my throat and my heart began to beat quickly. I was so scared for my little girl to get the shock of her life not once, but 3 times! Andrew stayed in the room with the nurse and Anaiah.

When I opened the door a few minutes later, I walk in to see big crocodile tears streaming from my daughters red, wet eyes. Her naked body is wrapped in a cozy, fleece blanket and she is shaking in her daddy's arms.

That about did me in!!!

I, then, proceeded to cry and had the need to hold her and comfort her and tell her that she would be okay. She nursed and within minutes her eyes were not so red, the tears began to trickle instead of flow, she gave a big burp and then a subtle smile. And I knew that she would be alright (but it didn't stop me from crying for a while longer).

Anaiah was fine...she got in her car seat, fell asleep, and was as happy as a clam when she woke up. I, on the other hand, needed to call both the grandmas, share the story of the day, and have some time to debrief.

It is still hard for me to think about...she looked so sad and helpless.

Does this ever get any easier??

Here we have Idaho

2007-10-23T02:13:00.001+03:00

Here she is--a potato girl already (just like her momma)!
When we were in Idaho, my dad was busy harvesting potatoes and he had the idea to get his sweet granddaughter's picture taken amongst some of the crop.
Anaiah did really well for the pictures, but by the end, she got a little sleepy.

Then, upon her grandma's request, Anaiah got her picture taken on a doll bed that her great, great-grandpa made (it was for my mom, from her grandpa).
I think that she looks awfully cute sitting with all of her little friends!

And I particularly love this pic that Andrew got-she looks so precious!

My Little Girl

2007-09-24T09:56:00.000+03:00

Isn't she sweet? I love her sooooo much!!

I'm a Mommy!!!

2007-09-11T18:28:00.001+03:00

She finally arrived!! Anaiah Dawn entered the world on Monday, September 3rd--weighing in at 9 lbs. and 19 3/4" long. Labor and delivery was tough, but to get a gorgeous, healthy baby girl after all that work was completely worth it (and I would do it one hundred times over)!

I love being a mommy and Anaiah, Andrew and I are adjusting to life as a family of three.

Although we are tired, we are beyond happy...we are elated!! We LOVE our daughter more than words can express. We would love for you to meet her, so if you are in our neighborhood, please give us a call and we'll set up a good time for you to come by.

And feel free to express just how cute our daughter is; even if you don't say it, I'll assume you are thinking it!! :)

Tagged

2007-08-26T05:12:00.000+03:00

Tag...you're it!
I've been tagged...here's the rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.

2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (If you don’t have a blog, email me)

4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

________________________________________________________

*Eight Random Facts/Habits about Me:

1. I love going to the rodeo in the summer (particularly the Caldwell Night Rodeo).

2. I like for things to be in their place; I don't handle messes very well.

3. I am neurotic about checking the time.

4. I enjoy watching the "Food Network"

5. I grew up eating popcorn (with salt, but not butter) every Saturday night for dinner (which sounds really good right now!)

6. I have to clean out the shower before getting in--I hate the loose hair. GROSS!!

7. I get impatient with people when driving.

8. I sleep most comfortably on my back (except when I'm pregnant).

I'm tagging: Cheryl, Jeff, Kristi, Andrew, Sarah W., Destiny, Patty, and Kaelea

On Being a Mommy

2007-08-22T20:03:00.001+03:00

Moms are special people, and if I do say so myself, I believe that mine is one of the most incredible. My mom is so fantastic at being a mother; I think that it is what God intended for her to do.

As my time of becoming a mom draws closer, I cannot help but reflect on how my mom parented me, and still continues to do so.

When we (my sis, brother, and I) were little, mom took time to spend with us, even though I'm sure she had a billion other things to do.

She read with us, sang with us, took us on walks, rocked us, watched Sesame Street & Mr. Rogers with us, taught us how to share, laughed with us (or at us, most of the time!) and soothed our tears and fears when we were hurt or sad.

As we grew, mom continued to love and nurture us, just in different ways. Looking back, it seems like it was very natural for her to parent at the different stages in our lives. She instilled morals and values in us, taught us how to be good examples to our friends, how to listen first, then speak (which I'll be working on for a LONG time) how to be patient with others, how to be individuals, to be independent, and how to be in relationship with others.

I have found, as I'm sure my sister and brother have too, that as I've matured into an adult, mom has become a friend of mine, who I go to for advice and to share my life with. And although she is now my friend, she is and will always remain my "mommy"--a title that she will never outgrow.

I pray that as God continues to mold and shape me into a mother, that He will grant me patience, endurance, and a gentle spirit in which to parent Anaiah; and if I can be half the mom to her as my mom was/is to me, then I will consider my job well done.

My Dear Friend

2007-08-11T21:25:00.001+03:00

As if last weekend wasn't already filled with enough good stuff, I got to see this girl, too.
We had the chance to hang out Monday night, before she left Tuesday morning for Bakersfield.
I loved spending time with her and catching up--it was like we had not been apart for any time at all.
I love my Brenda, and I treasure our friendship.

Family Vacation

2007-08-09T17:28:00.001+03:00

Last weekend, my dad, mom, brother and sister-in-law drove up from Idaho for Elana & Mark's wedding. Andrew & I did not know for sure that Drew & Hayley were coming, so it was a nice surprise to have them come too!
They arrived on Thursday-just in time to drive to St. Vincent Hospital for my last ultrasound.
It was great to have them there to see our growing baby girl. The technician thought that Anaiah weighed about 5 lbs. 13 oz. at the appointment, which is average. She had definitely put on baby fat since our last ultrasound and SHE IS SOOOO CUTE!! Andrew & I are very anxious to meet her!

After Mark & Elana's wedding (which was wonderful!), we headed over to Seaside to spend a few days at the beach. Andrew, Drew, Hayley and I drove over in one car, and mom, dad, & Manda came a little later in a different car.
The drive was beautiful and the beach did not disappoint. Sunday morning, we visited Canon Beach and saw Haystack Rock. We ate a lot of food, browsed shops, bought salt-water taffy, took lots of pictures, and had a great time visiting with each other.
It was a great weekend. I feel so blessed to be a part of the Evans family and count it a blessing every time we are all together.
Here is one pic from the weekend. You can view more by clicking on the picture, and going to flickr.

What's a Girl to Do??

2007-08-02T01:46:00.001+03:00

For those of you who know me, you know that I don't really do "free time". It's extremely hard for me to sit, relax and be still; and although I have slowed down since being pregnant, I still need stimulation throughout the day to keep me going.
Here's my scenario: I work part-time; and right now, it's very part-time, like 1 or 2 days/week. So, on the days when I am not working, Andrew has the car and I'm at home. It doesn't matter what time I go to bed, I'm an early riser, so my day starts about 7 am, which makes the time tick by even more slowly. Everyday, I have a "to-do" list for myself, but I've been finding that I get my list done with-in a few hours and then it's 11 or 12 o'clock and I'm stuck with NOTHING to do!! It drives me crazy.
I do my best to keep myself busy...I clean, bake, read, watch TV, read blogs, go through e-mails, do laundry, listen to music, take walks and play games online.
I've got all of Anaiah's blankets & clothes laundered and put away. Her cradle is set-up and both our bags are packed for the hospital. We are stocked up on diapers and wipes.

So, my questions to you is this: Do you have any ideas for what I can be doing until our baby girl is born? (And yes, I know...once the baby comes, my life will change forever. I'll never lack for anything to do, blah, blah, blah.) I've heard all of that, and I know that I will be busy once she is here, but what do I do in the meantime to keep myself occupied??

**And I must give a shout-out to my dear Grandmas, from whom I inherited this lovely gene of "busyness". Thanks to both of you. :)

Keizer Baby Shower

2007-07-28T19:55:00.000+03:00

Check out my post on our Family Blog to read about our baby shower at Keizer.

Okay, I'm done

2007-07-22T17:40:00.000+03:00

So, I'm finished with my momentary freak-out about being a parent...but I'm sure it will come back again sometime soon!

Thanks for all the advice/comments that everyone left for me.

I'm so excited to meet my little girl--only 6 more weeks until my due date! (Hopefully she is not late, but let's assume she will be so that I don't get disappointed!)

I have a baby shower today in Keizer, so I'll post about that soon.

A Little Bit Freaked Out!!

2007-07-18T08:20:00.000+03:00

Please tell me that it is normal to be experiencing these feelings!!

We have been taking Childbirth Preparation Classes at Salem Hospital, and they have been really, really great! I understand that the knowledge that we are receiving about labor, delivery, postpartum, and taking care of the baby is going to prove helpful; knowledge is power.

But, on the other hand, I feel like in this day and age, there are so many conflicting opinions on how to handle labor & delivery, how to feed your baby, how often to feed your baby, when to feed your baby, how much to feed your baby, how long your baby should sleep, where your baby should sleep, how to soothe your baby, how to teach your baby to soothe him/herself, and on and on and on....

I feel overwhelmed by all this information and am honestly scared to death to be a parent--I mean, what if I really screw up our baby girl for life?? I already take my role as a parent very seriously; I also know that I tend to take myself too seriously sometimes, so I probably run the risk of doing that with my child(ren).

Any advice for a soon mom-to-be??

31 weeks and counting...

2007-07-03T23:51:00.001+03:00

Here's the latest pics. Only 9 more weeks to go...we are getting so anxious to meet our little girl!!

"Iganda"

2007-06-23T00:52:00.001+03:00

So, Elias (my 2.5 year old nephew) and I were talking about him flying in a big airplane to visit Uncle Andrew, Cousin Anaiah, and Aunt Aimee in Africa and a few minutes later in the car, he had this to say:

Eli: I go in a big airplane to Africa. See Andrew, Aimee, and Baby Naiah.

Mommy: Okay, maybe someday we'll do that. That would be fun.

Eli: Dora go to Africa.

Mommy: Yes, Dora did go to Africa. She went to Tanzania. Aimee, Andrew, and Anaiah will live in Uganda. Can you say Uganda?

Eli: I-ganda.

Mommy: What? It's Uganda.

Eli: I-ganda.

Mommy: Oh (light clicks on), You-ganda, I-ganda. Got it.

Cute. Very, very cute. :)

I Wonder

2007-06-21T23:49:00.000+03:00

Why did I choose to go into the field of education?

I often ponder this question and find it a little bit odd that I chose a job where there is (on a daily basis) uncompleted work, work to take home, emotional stress, extra-curricular activities, chatty children, messes, and often times, chaos.

As I sit today at my desk at Terra Gardens, I hear the sounds of vehicles passing by and co-workers talking quietly in the background. Sitting in the same chair for the majority of the day, I answer phones and direct customers accordingly. My desk is neatly organized and there are no piles of unfinished work; tonight when I go home, I won't be thinking about my work for tomorrow or feel stress from my day.

I like order. I like "to-do" lists. I like neat.

All of which teaching is not.

But, when I think back on the four years that I was blessed to have a job teaching 5 & 6 year olds...I smile. And I remember the hugs and the laughs and the hilarious words that would come out of their mouths.

I remember the looks on their faces when they would have an "Ah-ha" moment and I remember how much they learned over the course of one school year.

Looking back, it didn't matter if my desk was constantly cluttered, there were paper towels scattered on the bathroom floor, I spent sleepless nights wondering if the kids were okay or if my lesson plan for the next day would be effective.

I guess that God just helped me to see the important part of my job and not just the stuff that made me feel good to accomplish.

So, I guess it is not really a question at all. I know why I chose to enter the field of teaching and I am grateful for every minute that I spent in that cluttered, smelly, loud, chaotic classroom. It was all worth it. :)

Time Marches On

2007-06-06T18:13:00.000+03:00

It seems like life is happening so quickly these days.

First of all, it's June--did you hear me? I said June. I feel like just yesterday it was Christmas time and Andrew & I were in Idaho celebrating the marriage of my brother and Hayley. I must be getting old, because old people always say, "Well, where has the time gone?" And that's how I feel.

The sea container has been packed and shipped and will soon be arriving in Kenya, to be driven by truck to Uganda. What seemed like such a daunting task is now done...a huge milestone in our pursuit to move to Uganda. Thank you to my husband, Ryan, and Jeff for working so hard on a gigantic job--they did GREAT and sacrificed many hours of sleep to get everything packed "just so."

Andrew and I are working hard to gather the remaining start-up costs that are needed for our move, secure a salary for our family, meet with every life group at Vancouver (our sending church) so that we can get to know people better, and talk out the details of emotional/spiritual accountability with our missions committee. (and we only have 6 months to get this all done!)

I am in my third trimester of pregnancy and am due to have our baby girl in 86 days.

I am having a baby...WOW!! It still amazes me that God created this little life inside me, when we had all but given up on trying. I am excited and apprehensive for everything that will come along with this new life that Andrew and I will be caring for.

Whenever she does come into this world, she'll hit the ground running. From trips to Idaho, California, Thanksgiving and early Christmas celebrations before we leave for Uganda, our schedule will be packed and Andrew and I will most likely be worn out. But it will be great and she will be loved.

I know that time will continue to tick away and before I know it, Andrew, Anaiah, and I will be boarding a plane to move to our new home in Fort, Portal, Uganda, Africa.

Until then, I think I'll just take a deep breath, relax, and see what God has in store for me today; after all, the Creator Himself told me that I should focus on today and He will provide for all I need and take care of all that lies in store for me.

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:34

Prego Pics

2007-04-19T18:59:00.000+03:00

Well, here I am...21 weeks and 3 days. I have been feeling our daughter move this week, which has been so much fun!! (Although it is hard for me to explain to Andrew exactly what it feels like...all I know is that I LOVE IT!!)

I hope that you enjoy the pics as much as I'm enjoying my growing belly!!

It's A Girl!!

2007-03-25T05:11:00.000+03:00

After having two ultrasounds, Andrew and I found out that we will be having a baby girl!!!

WE ARE SO EXCITED!!

It's been amazing to watch our little one kicking and moving about on the screen at the hospital; I still haven't felt the kicks, but I am anxiously awaiting that exciting moment!!

We've been thinking about how much fun it will be for Kinley to have a little girl to play with when we get to Uganda, after dealing with all of those boys!

We hope that when she is born, you all can meet her before we go to Uganda. Thanks for sharing in our joy!

A Good Day

2007-03-10T22:13:00.000+02:00

I woke up without an alarm clock (it's a day off), ate a delicious breakfast, and spent an hour reading in bed!!

We got our taxes done... and actually got MONEY BACK this year!!

Andrew took me to SUBWAY for a wonderful turkey sandwich with vinegar chips (YUM!) and... I had my first little bit of cherry coke since being pregnant (IT TASTED SOOOOO GOOD!!)

I get to spend the rest of the day with family, RELAXING (and probably napping sometime too!)

Yes, it's a good day.

Who Is This Person???

2007-01-25T22:00:00.000+02:00

It's me-Aimee Jo...someone full of energy who makes tons of "to do" lists and loves crossing things off throughout the day!! Someone who enjoys going for walks and organizing/cleaning my house.

Well, I am still Aimee Jo, but that part about being full of energy, actually crossing things off the list, and going for walks has just flown out the window the past few weeks.

Instead, this is what I've become...someone who lives in the most comfortable recliner, taking catnaps each day, watching so much TV that I've got commercials memorized.

Who is this person I've become?? I seriously have only enough energy to take a shower, but actually get ready for the day--NO WAY! And if it is not a shower, then maybe I can unload the dishwasher, but then it's back to the recliner again!
I feel drained of energy and nausea on top of that, which is not a good combo. But, my lovely husband reminds me that it is GREAT that I feel this way because it surely means only one thing---I am pregnant!!

I am 9 weeks today and feel very grateful that the Lord has created a little human inside of me, even though the sweet, little one-inch babe makes me feel so SICK!

So, until these feelings of fatigue and nausea subside, I will enjoy my time in the great big, brown chair and will do what I can to get through each day. And if you are ever in the neighborhood, please stop by--you know where to find me!! I'd love to share my favorite commercials with you!!

Christmas 2006

2006-12-29T06:24:00.000+02:00

I love Christmas;I love my family; and I LOVE Christmas with my family!!! This year has been extra special because we all realize that this is probably one of the last times that all 10 of us cousins will be together to celebrate the holidays. We have been enjoying each other very much--we've played games together (which is quite an adventure!), eaten lots of food together, and of course, took the traditional line-up picture:

Mom, Amanda, and I went to get our hair done by Hayley at her salon.

We went caroling on Christmas Eve--it was so much fun!

Grandma's tables were decorated beautifully and the food was extrodinary!

Christmas was a wonderful day and we are enjoying being together. We are looking forward to and are making preparations for the big wedding day on Saturday!!
Hope that you all had a Merry Christmas with your families!

HE DID IT!!

2006-12-29T06:13:00.000+02:00

The graduate with his proud grandmas!!

Hayley escorted him and they both looked so cute!!

My goofy siblings enjoying the partay!!

CONGRATULATIONS, my brother!! I love you!!

Good Times, Good Times

2006-12-12T20:31:00.000+02:00

Life is about to get crazy for us--and I am SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!! We leave on the 13th to arrive in Boise at about 10:00 PM and then turn around and get up with the whole family on the 14th and leave for Abilene, TX at 5:00 AM!!
We are traveling to ACU to watch my brother graduate from college. I am so proud of him; he is graduating with high honors!! GOOD JOB, BRO!
Well, after graduation, the girls (Mom, Hayley, Amanda, Grandma G, Grandma M, and myself) get to fly back to Idaho while the boys (Dad, Drew, Andrew) drive the car back from ACU--Have fun, boys!
Amanda and I get to decorate the x-mas tree, do some shopping, get manicures/pedicures and go to Hayley to get our hair done. Then, it will be x-mas with the extended family and five days later, my brother and Hayley will become husband and wife!! YAY!!
It will be a whirlwind of events and I am hoping that I can treasure every moment that happens. I'll attempt to post pics and let everyone know how things are going.
BON VOYAGE!!

These are a few of my favorite things...

2006-11-24T09:33:00.000+02:00

Thanksgiving Favorites:

-Sweet Potatoes (Yum, Yum!)
-Cherry Pie
-Card Games
-Family Time in the Kitchen

What about you?

Pumpkin Patch

2006-10-15T08:44:00.000+03:00

Andrew and I got to go to a pumpkin patch with our nephew. Here he is going down a big slide--all by himself!

It was such a beautiful day outside. We loved feeding the animals, looking at flowers and plants, finding big pumpkins and being together!! I thank God for days like this!!

God Bless You, My Friends!

2006-10-02T02:53:00.000+03:00

Our friends-Billy, Brenda and Jacob leave for Uganda on Monday, October 2nd. That's tomorrow!! We are so thrilled that they are going to experience Ugandan life--the sights, smells and daily life of the people there.

They are going on a survey trip to Fort Portal, Uganda to see if mission work is a possibility for them. They will be spending time with the Cash family and learning about the ministry that is currently happening.

Please pray for our friends--for safety on the flight and while they are driving in Uganda, for peace of mind and heart, for Jacob to stay healthy (and his mommy & daddy too!), for the relationship(s) that will be forming between the Cashes and McKenzies, and that God will use all of them to serve in His name for this month while the McKenzies are there.

If you are reading this, my dear friends, know that I LOVE YOU SO MUCH and I am PRAYING FOR YOU everyday!!

Autumn-a Time of Change

2006-09-17T20:04:00.000+03:00

Football
Colored leaves
First big rain
Sunshine
Clear, crisp days
Sweaters
Long walks
First days of school
Fresh starts

I love this time of year...when summer is fading out and the fall is coming in. Although this fall looks very different from previous years for me, I am really enjoying the time I have to spend with friends and family and the relationship that I continue to foster with Jesus. I have really been in the Word lately, and it's changing the way I view my time, relationships, and events that happen in my life. I am thankful to God for fresh beginnings in my life and for this last autumn time that I'll get to wear my sweaters, socks and boots!!
May you be blessed to start something fresh this season of your life.

HOMEWARD BOUND

2006-08-30T07:07:00.000+03:00

Wednesday, we'll leave one home to go to another; And realizing that we will be leaving soon for Uganda makes me so much more emotional whenever I leave family behind (even if it's just for a few months). But, even though I am sad to go, it's been a great trip to Idaho and it's been just what I was praying for...family togetherness and lots of fun memories to treasure forever.

Here's a few highlights:

-Grandma's "50 Years on the Farm Celebration"
-McCall Trip (The swimming and 9 mile hike were my favorites!)
-Shopping with my Mommy
-Lots of hugs from my parents
-Swimming with Hayley,Drew and Andrew
-Spending time with my brother (I especially liked playing WAR and listening to Johnny Cash)
-Going out to eat at Golden Palace
-Grandma Gladys and Grandma Margaret making special meals (Thanks you two-YUM!)
-Spending time with church family
-Eating lunch with all of my cousins and shopping for John Deere shirts together
-The rodeo

Thanks for the good times--love you guys so much!! :)

The CNR-"Where the Cowboys are the Stars"

2006-08-19T17:48:00.000+03:00

Ever since I can remember, my family has attended the Caldwell Night Rodeo. It is a very fond memory of mine and we were fortunate enough to be able to attend this year while Andrew and I are here visiting.
I don't know what it is about the rodeo that I love so much...but I do. The bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing and bronc riding get me pretty excited. I yell and holler like the rest of the "rowdies," and without chugging down a whole gallon of beer...some of those people drink like fish. It's quite amusing to hear the noise level and excitement raise throughout the night.
I enjoy the clowns and of course, the food. Dad bought us all hot dogs last night and then Hayley and I had snowcones too. YUM!
During the barrel racing last night, it reminded me of the time when Grandpa Orville set up some barrels in the corral, so that I could practice barrel racing like they do in the rodeo. I remember him taking time that night to saddle up the horse, set up the barrels and talk me through what to do. I had so much fun riding--I felt so big, just like one of the stars.
Even though last night's rodeo was not the most thrilling rodeo that I have ever attended, it was a memorable night and I am happy that I got to share it with my family once again.

IT'S HOT DOWN HERE!!

2006-07-21T03:15:00.000+03:00

Steve warned us that it was HOT in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but we didn't realize that he actually meant SCORCHING, until we walked out of the airport and hit the wall! WOW! It has been about 104 degrees, so we haven't even seen outside, except through the windows of air conditioned buildings or cars. Speaking of air conditioning--it's FREEZING!! Luckily, I brought a jacket to wear inside, and almost everywhere we are, someone comments on the fact that I'm wearing it.

We flew in last Thursday and were greeted by Steve Maxwell with a big cheesy grin on his face. We spent a lot of time with Jonah (HE IS SO BIG!) and Alasha too (when she wasn't working at Starbucks). We had such a fun time...we went to Trail Dust, where I got a whole T-Bone steak to myself and ate every last bite...enjoyed watching Pirates of the Caribbean #2 (except for poor Alasha--she was out in the hall with "Mr. I refuse to sleep during movies and want to torture my parents"). We went to SONIC, Pappa deux and spent a lot of time at the home of Ryan and Amy Gibbons and had lots of good conversations and yummy popcorn!

Ryan and Amy allowed us to borrow their car to make the drive to Tyler, Texas to visit Jeff, Cheryl, and kids. We are having a great time! It has been wonderful to meet people from their supporting church, Glenwood Church of Christ; and it's been even more wonderful to see their excitement when they realize that we are going to be Jeff & Cheryl's teammates. They are very supportive and are just so thrilled that we are going.

We feel like this trip has been successful for several reasons...we have been getting the word out that we are looking for a supporting congregation, we have met a lot of people with connections to churches that may be looking to support missionaries, and have gotten to talk through many details about getting ready with Jeff & Cheryl. We would love to find a church like Glenwood...they have really embraced the idea of sending the Cash family and remain actively involved in the Fort Portal ministry, while in the States. We continue to pray for the church that God has in mind for us.

We will be in Tyler until Sunday and then we'll head back to Portland on Monday. We are looking forward to seeing family and friends and look forward to the cooler weather for sure!

Settled At Last!!

2006-06-03T18:52:00.000+03:00

Well, we did it! We successfully moved out of our condo in with Dave and Joy (Andrew's parents). I can honestly say that I HATE MOVING--it created so much stress for Andrew and me; but I know that we'll be doing an even bigger move very soon and maybe we learned about how to better manage things--who knows?

I think the part that I dislike the most is being unsettled. It gave me so much comfort when we got to his parents house to unload our bathroom stuff, fill up the shower with our shampoo and conditioner, unpack and hang up clothes and get our brand new bed set up! (I love the bed--it's so comfortable!)

Today, I'll finish unpacking a few things and get them into their place. I've already had a great morning--I woke up on my own (without an alarm), took a nice long walk/run, and now I can relax here at our new home for the day.

Hope you find relaxation and refreshment in your day!

Packin' Up and Movin' Out

2006-04-28T06:15:00.000+03:00

I just finished packing up the books from our two big bookshelves. I can hardly believe that by the end of May we'll be out of this place and in with Andrew's parents. It's also hard to believe how much junk we have in our garage...where did all of that stuff come from? Anyway, we'll make many trips to Goodwill and try to even sell a few things on Craig's List-maybe some of that junk will make us a little bit of cash--who knows?
We are excited as we move into this season of our life. It will be great to spend time with Andrew's family this summer and then spend a few months with my family in the fall. Our last 8 months in the States will be filled with family weddings, campouts, and good times with friends.
We are actively fundraising right now for our Ugandan Mission and have actually already raised some money from some generous donors in Caldwell, Idaho. THANK YOU!!
We are really trying to seek God's guidance in our fundraising and be very prayerful about our funds. We know that without people here in the States partnering with us in our work, it could never happen. We know that God will bless us with great support, both emotionally and financially and we will be thrilled when He leads us to our supporting church, wherever that might be!
Well, back to packing I go...if you live near us and have boxes, we would love to take them off your hands. :)

Spring Break Is Coming!!

2006-03-28T05:43:00.000+03:00

I truly love teaching this year--I have great kids and wonderful parent helpers, but no matter what job I'm doing, it feels so good to have a break--and mine is coming up.
Since Andrew and I have different Spring Breaks (his is this week), we weren't able to plan a trip together, so I'll just be hangin' out at home and relaxing. Some things I am looking forward to are:

-Sleeping In (which will probably only be until about 8:00, but I can lie in bed for hours after I wake up if I wish!)
-No schedule--as much as I enjoy making lists and keeping track of my time, it is so nice to feel the freedom of having no plans
-Watching the TODAY show and OPRAH--I love them!!
-Keeping up with house cleaning and making dinner--since I am always too tired to do this during the work week...I love cleaning when I am home and it makes me feel like a good wife to have dinner made for Andrew.
-Extra Exercise--I will still go walking with Kaelea on our scheduled days, but I will be able to take a walk or jog during the day if I would like.
-Staying Up Late--although my late is only about 11:00
-Trying out my new tanning lotion
-Visiting with Jeff & Cheryl and their kids
-Babysitting Jacob
-Visiting Andrew's family in Keizer

I love Spring Break and I can hardly wait!!

Stockin' Up

2006-03-04T17:46:00.000+02:00

At the beginning of every month, my husband and I take a trip to WinCo to do our BIG grocery shopping trip for the month. He is always so excited to get groceries at this time, because money has usually run really low and we have canned food and spaghetti in our house--and that's it. No cereal, bread, milk, (you get the picture.)I love taking my list (I love lists!) and crossing off items as we put them in the cart. I love putting everything in it's place when we get home and feel a sense of comfort from the huge stock of food that we have in our house.
I know that when we live in Uganda, we'll do our major shopping every 6-8 weeks, when we make the trip to Kampala. I'm looking forward to this because it reminds me of how we did things when I was little. We lived in the country and even though "town" was not that far away, we really didn't go to Boise for much. So, all 3 of us kids would hop in the car with mom and sometimes Grandma for the big shopping day in Boise. We would go to COSTCO, ride on the big orange flats and "help" mom load up what we needed and a few extra's too! We would help unload when we got home and store most everything in our basement with tons of shelves and a huge deep freeze.
I find comfort in stocking up...if I had more room in my house, I'd buy everything in bulk!

Blah, Blah, Blah

2006-02-26T04:12:00.000+02:00

What can I say? My life is good and there is rarely a dull moment in my kidergarten class. I enjoy coming home at the end of the day, Andrew and I are doing well and it seems like we keep busy with friends and family.
So the reason for my infrequent blogging is because nothing truly exciting happens to me, which, as I see it, is a pretty good thing. I like predictible.
So, for those of you that post often, how do you get ideas for blogging? My mind just draws blank when I sit down to post. Ideas, anyone?

Missing Person

2006-01-14T18:10:00.000+02:00

So, it all started with a phone call from Andrew saying, "TaNitra called and wants your aunt and uncle's phone number." Okay, so I call her and our conversation goes something like this:

T: "Yes I need their number, has Andrew told you what's going on."
Me: "Nope."
T: "Well, your sister (Amanda) was supposed to come to Bible study tonight in Vancouver. She said she was running a little bit late, but now we are finished (it is 9:15) and she never showed up. I have already called Carey (who my sister nannies for) and she said Amanda left at 6:30 (from Wilsonville area). I've tried Amanda's cell phone and there is no answer. So I wanted to call your aunt and uncle to see if she ended up going over there."
Me: Instantly break into tears and reply, like a blubbering idiot, "Okay, call me when you talk to them." (Keep in mind, I am taking a medication that I do blame for some of the emotional roller coaters I have been experiencing lately.)

By this point everyone can hear that I am upset (we were at Rachel & Marshall's house celelbrating our nephew, Elias', birthday. Luckily, most of the crowd was gone at this point.)

TaNitra calls back...no one home. I really start to freak out. I call Allen and Leigh's cell phone. They are at the hospital because one of their kids has an appointment. Nope, they haven't seen Amanda either. My uncle Allen tries to talk to me with logic (maybe she is shopping or went to a friends house, or...), but I am so far gone, I just can't hear it. My sister always checks in with people...she would have said something if she went somewhere else.

My imagination was going out of control and my knees felt weak.

Andrew goes into solution mode and starts calling everyone. I felt sick to my stomach and really exhausted. How could this be happening??

Andrew calls the Portland Police, who refer us to Emmanuel Hospital, who refer us to some other number to check on accidents, who refer--oh wait, incoming call from Carey. She's upset and just wants to make sure that we know what's happening. Andrew calls some more and I write down numbers as he calls them out. I'm too tired-finally I just go relax on the couch.

After about 30 minutes (about 10:15 pm) Amanda calls from Dave & Carey's house. She was back safely at her place of residence, and by this time understands what's going on because Carey is a mess (as were the rest of us). I was sooooo happy to hear her voice. After I yelled at her, "YOU REALLY FREAKED ME OUT," I told her how much I was glad that she was safe and what in the world was going on?

Come to find out, Amanda did leave at 6:30 pm from Dave and Carey's. She decided to call our brother, Drew, and chat on her way up to Vancouver. Well, after the call, her cell phone died, so she had no way of contacting people AND she decided to swing by TARGET before going to Bible study to pick up a few things. Consequently, she ends up staying at TARGET longer than expected and then needs to go straight back to Dave and Carey's to help with the babies. Carey was red-eyed and explained everything to Manda when she arrived back at the house.

OH MY GOODNESS!! What an adventure. It does seem silly now that I was so extremely worried at the time. I am very thankful that Amanda is okay and it's nice to know she has a gang of people that care about her enough to worry like that.

I love you, my sister!

Stockton Christmas 2005

2006-01-01T21:52:00.000+02:00

Andrew's extended family (mom's side) lives in Stockton, CA and that's where we were celebrating together this year. We have a tradition that everyone, and I mean everyone, gets together on x-mas eve for the gift exchange (we had about 45 people there this year; luckily, we were in a fairly large house).

Another tradition that Andrew's family holds is something called PICKS, which is one of my most favorite things about x-mas with the Lee family. PICKS is exclusively for the ladies...ladies with their own household or anyone married. Here's how it works...all the gals who are participating bring enough gifts for everyone else, so if there are 15 girls alltogether, including you, then you need at least 14 of something, and it can be anything.
We all gather around a bed-a king size works best, but we work with what we have. The anticipation builds as we wait for the first "pick" of the night. Anyone can go first, so someone just shouts out to let us know it's coming and then she just dumps her items on the bed and we all dive in to get the one that we want. As you can guess, depending on who you are standing next too, it can be a very dangerous game and you have to be quite aggressive to get what you want. This year, Ozella and I were on the floor rolling around for a notepad!! It was hilarious!

We continue on until everyone has given their picks out. It is like getting two extra stockings--we rake in a lot of stuff!
Sunday morning, we went to church and then headed over to Aunt Cheryl's house to celebrate the "Martin Family" x-mas. Elias, our nephew was perfectly dressed for the occassion.

Isn't he so cute?
We ate lunch together, then dove into opening stockings and presents. It was fun to watch Eli open presents for the first time--he loved taking off the paper.

Grandpa and Grandma Lee were there with us and, for the time they were awake, had fun watching us open our gifts.

While we were in Stockton, we stayed with Andrew's cousin, Amy, her husband, Brian, and their four children--John, Noah, Luke, and Hannah. Hannah is just 3 months old and I spent a lot of time holding her...she is so sweet. Here she is in her x-mas outfit.

And here she is with me, just chillin' in the recliner.

We had a great time with "the fam" in Stockton and we always really enjoy staying with Amy and Brian--we laugh so much with them! It was a blessing for all of us to be together, have adequate time to relax and eat at "In-and-Out Burger" (I love that place!).
Hope you all had a great x-mas too!

Love Is In The Air

2005-12-15T04:49:00.001+02:00

So, while I was in Idaho for Thanksgiving Break, I got to look at my future sister-in-law's engagement ring...so beautiful! Unfortunately, my brother was not planning on popping the question until his x-mas break, so I had to keep my mouth shut--which was very hard!
Well, Tuesday night I got a call from Drew & Hayley, announcing their engagement! They are planning a winter wedding, sometime next year, which means that we'll have 2 family weddings next year, Abigail & Nate in the summer and Drew & Hayley in the winter. How much fun!
I am very excited to welcome Hayley into our family and it will be fun to watch my brother be a husband.
Congratulations, you two!! I love you very much!

Shhhh...

2005-12-12T07:57:00.000+02:00

So, I woke up yesterday morning and my voice was completely gone! (For someone who likes to talk a lot, this really isn't fun.) The really great part though, is that Andrew has had to do all my phone calling for me!! I love that! Thanks, hunny bunny!
I began my morning babysitting for some of my friends, Lanny & Suzy. It was comical too, because their daughter, 2 1/2 yrs. old would mimic my voice--and all I could do was whisper! So, when I said, "Let's go downstairs" in hushed tones, she said it the same way and kind of hunched her shoulders and leaned in so I could hear her; I think she thought we were telling secrets! It was cute and the morning went just fine.
Today is better, although my voice is in and out-I really have no control. I am really hoping that by tomorrow morning, I'll wake up with full voice, so that I can teach this week...we'll see!

I am a Teacher...

2005-12-06T08:10:00.002+02:00

I get to see beautiful children everyday...I am a teacher.
I get to see the lightbulb flash on and hear the words, "I have a connection!"...I am a teacher.
I get at least 5 hugs a day from little bodies wrapped around my legs...I am a teacher.
I get to hear the words, "Mrs. Martin, you look beautiful today."...I am a teacher.
I get to read stories to 50 open eyes and ears, just waiting to find out what happens on the next page...I am a teacher.
I get to hear my name spoken 50 times a day...I am a teacher.
I get to work on report cards for days and days and days... I am a teacher.
I get to plan weeks in advance and stress and be intentional about my teaching points...I am a teacher.
I get to watch a commercial, hear an idea from a friend, or read an idea in a book and think, "How could I implement this in my classroom?"...I am a teacher.
I get to cry when I don't know how to make something anymore clear, to help the children understand a concept...I am a teacher.
I get to share my experiences with other teachers who truly understand how funny (and quite ironic) it is to be sharing in a great lesson with all of my students engaged and listening, and focused and then with one raise of a hand, we all hear, "Um, teacher, is it time for recess?"...I am a teacher

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with a job that I love. Sometimes it's overwhelming to think of all that I am expected to teach my kids...but I am a teacher; I am equipped, and I receive so many blessings that keep me coming back everyday!

IDAHO ADVENTURE

2005-11-24T02:05:00.000+02:00

Well, after an unexpected night's stay in Salt Lake City, we finally arrived in Boise, Idaho to greet my parents this morning at about 11:00.
Everything was fine from PDX to Salt Lake City. We arrived in Salt Lake at 6:00 pm and were on our way to catch our connecting flight to Boise, which left at 6:45. I sat down to take a rest and looked at the TV with flight info and our flight was the only one listed under "CANCELLED."
We checked in at the front desk and, as it turns out, all flights from all airlines were cancelling flights into Boise, because of freezing fog at our destination. We checked when we were scheduled to leave again, and it wasn't until the next morning at 9:00.
So, we found a hotel and took a shuttle to our home for the night and enjoyed watching the great college basketball games (anyone see the Gonzaga game?) in our huge king sized bed with wonderful, fluffy pillows.
Andrew and I were bummed that we couldn't fly in that night, but we were also very thankful for a couple of things: one-that we had money to get a hotel room and dinner, as we know not everyone was able to do, and two-that the Lord kept us safe and sound through our adventure.
Now, we are praying my sister in--her flight is scheduled to leave at 6:45 tonight. Man, I sure want her to make it before Thanksgiving Day!
Happy Turkey Day, everyone! May the Lord grant you safety in your travels this holiday season.

PUMP It Up

2005-11-22T06:21:00.000+02:00

So, I don't know if it's because I'm trying to "celebrate" more in my life or what, but Sunday was a great day at PUMP Church! Did anyone else feel like that? (Don't be afraid to say no--I've had plenty of those days too.)
Anyway...I loved the energy that Adam brought to us through song leading, we had fun in the 18 month to 3 year old class welcoming Isaiah, a visitor, into our class, and I had a blast playing tag (I was base) with Treshawn, Lunden, Little Bill, Tony, Trevor, Bevon, and LeOntrell in the backyard of the PUMP House. I also enjoyed taking home a few kids with Andrew...the van was full of 16 kids, so we had the chance to visit with DeJenae (sp?), Travayona, and Treshawn. Then, I came back to deliver Thanksgiving baskets with Brian & Linda Farris (who are almost related to me through my aunt) and it was so much fun to meet and re-connect with people and brighten their day with food for the upcoming holiday.
I just love when I see all the good that God is doing in the world AND when kids do what I ask them to the first time (which happened quite often with me Sunday!)
I love you, my PUMP church family!

Celebrate!

2005-11-19T18:49:00.000+02:00

At our staff meeting last Wednesday, we watched a video called, "Celebrate What's Right With The World" with Dewitt Jones. In the video, Jones, a professional photographer, invites the viewer to see the world through his lens as he captures good photos and strives to make them great. The video focuses on seeing possiblities, abundance, and being your best for the world.
The video really spoke to me, as I am someone who tends to see the negative in myself and in my school, church or relationships.
I am always striving to be my best, whether that be in teaching my students how to read or write, leading my church in making decisions, or in my daily relationships with my husband, friends, or family. And although I believe in myself and I ultamitaly belive that the Holy Spirit will guide my thoughts and actions, as I reflect on events, I am almost afraid to see the positive, because I think I may settle and be comfortable at that spot and stop striving to be better. Does that even make sense? I somehow believe that if I keep showing/telling myself all of the things that are wrong, it will somehow fuel me to keep working to make them better; when in all actuality, I become bitter, negative and burned out.
When I stop at the end of the day to see how life is good, I am going to challenge myself to think of at least 3 good things, maybe "great" things that happened. And as you stive to move your life from Good To Great, I challenge you to do the same.
What great things is God doing in your life today? How have you helped to make the world a better place? Are you seeing the positive?
"Celebrate What's Right With The World...."

Veteran's Day

2005-11-12T08:24:00.001+02:00

"...And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free; and I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me... 'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land; God Bless The U.S.A."
At school yesterday, we had an assembly to honor veterans. I think my favorite part of the day is when a second grade girl (who was in my kindergarten class!) read what America meant to her. You see, she has much perspective because her family just moved from Ukraine a few years ago. She is so happy to be at a school where she is valued and respected, and as she said "...[a place] where my hand does not get hit with a stick." At just 8 years of age, she was able to identify all the reasons that living in our country is so awesome...things that I often take for granted.
Thank you to all of the men & women serving our country in the military. I am grateful for your sacrifice--it's because of you that I can have the freedom to worship freely in my church, teach at a school where diversity is embraced, and speak my opinion and be heard.
To all of you who have lost loved ones that were serving our country--my heart goes out to you. I cannot imagine the pain and emptiness you feel. May your family be blessed and comforted by the Lord our God.
Thank you to Brian Fry, Ryan Peters and Charles Tarpley--my relatives that have or are currently serving in the armed forces. I love you guys!

My Sister, "The Nanny"

2005-10-28T07:58:00.000+03:00

Saturday, I had the privilage of going to see my sister, who is now working as a full time nanny, for a family of six: 2 parents, a 3 year old girl and triplets--all boys! The boys were just born about 4 weeks ago...and they are so cute!
While visiting with her, it dawned on me how proud of her I really am (and I don't tell her that enough). She already knows so much about each of the boys' personalities, how they need to be held when they are fed, which one needs to burp more often, who is a good "pooper"and who can eat the fastest.
I think that my sister is the perfect person for this job...she is so nurturing and sensitive--two qualities that seemed to skip me and land right on her. I am so thankful that is able to love on the children and learn so much about them through the first year of their life.
I don't know if the parents know it yet, but Amanda is a gem and I am so glad that I have her in my life. :)
I love you , Mandie Rae and admire you more than you'll ever know...
Your Sister

Just Give In

2005-10-25T06:26:00.000+03:00

So, I finally gave in to people harassing me and set up my own blog--and I have to admit, it is kind of fun! I had been putting it off because I was stressed about thinking up a really "cool" blog name, but I just decided to stick with my good ol' name that's been with me from the beginning. Thanks, Dan & Linda! I love my nickname!!
Our big story of the day is that our car was broken into last night. Luckily, it was the old brown audi (an '87, I think) which is really not in great condition. The bad part is, the driver's side window is smashed to smitherines and there is glass all over the floor of the car. We just found out when Andrew was leaving for work this morning...we kind of feel sorry for the peeps that took the stereo (it's not in great condition either). But, it does have cool lights on it, so that must have been what motivated them.
Sorry, Andrew, no more talk radio or music on the way to work. I guess you will have to sing your way to school every morning.