tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86841422024-03-23T13:17:59.382-05:00Embracing the JourneyJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.comBlogger301125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-34785072680388232932012-01-30T19:00:00.002-06:002012-01-30T20:48:59.194-06:00An Actual Blog EntryWhile Seminary on top of ministry have, in effect, taken all the writing energy I have (with the result being no blog entries), I was asked to write an article for Wesley Seminary's blog. It can be found <a href="http://wesleyconnectonline.com/self-leadership-by-jessica-schmerse/">here</a> if you so desire to check it out!Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-13041573791509225902011-02-21T23:48:00.012-06:002011-02-23T23:19:34.158-06:00I'm Still Here...Just Busy<div style="text-align: left;">For the one or two people who still check this blog now and again, I wanted to let you know that I haven't stopped blogging. Things got a bit crazy for awhile, and to be honest, in the midst of it all, I sort of forgot to blog. It just popped into my mind one day, and I realized that it had been a few months since I'd written something. Oops. My bad.<br /><br />It all started in mid-December when we were sorting food for our Christmas food baskets that would be distributed to families around Aumsville. We had partnered with the local elementary school and our church had responded generously--not only donating food and money for local residents in need of food during the holiday season, but also donating 118 shoe boxes for <a href="http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/">Operation Christmas Child</a>. I was like a proud momma. I was also blown away by individuals who were willingness to give, even when they might be struggling themselves. Our Mt. View family continues to amaze me time and again.<br /><br />But we were sorting food, and it was raining, like normal. We can get some pretty windy storms through here, but this one was different. It started hailing pretty heavily, and the wind was almost shaking the building. Teresa, our Administrative Assistant and I ran to a window to check out the storm, and the tree across the street was almost blowing sideways! I even said, "Wow! That's like hurricane winds!" Little did I know. We shrugged and went back to sorting our food.<br /><br />About 10 minutes later another lady who was helping got a phone call from a family member saying a tornado had gone through Aumsville. We were shocked! We hopped in our car and drove the 4 blocks to where it had gone through, and sure enough, one building was gone, roofs were missing, houses were moved off their foundation, and trees were snapped off and toppled. In an incredible stroke of good fortune, it had taken out one building and within a matter of feet, had hopped over the water tower, city hall, and the fire station. The response was amazing, and our church became a red cross coordination center for a week or so. This led us right up to the week before Christmas Eve.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5Nj4-MKjG6606RBullcOjOnjdeNF3YOp5UFi-tLNU-SrPpnNgj628QN-mbRktQHxZiY3DyqBdrMOKcVFwge1twHpHNzc9KNyXN7b6RCqviuW02rJkIxPVctYBBbjF0P4EiFi/s1600/wires+down.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5Nj4-MKjG6606RBullcOjOnjdeNF3YOp5UFi-tLNU-SrPpnNgj628QN-mbRktQHxZiY3DyqBdrMOKcVFwge1twHpHNzc9KNyXN7b6RCqviuW02rJkIxPVctYBBbjF0P4EiFi/s400/wires+down.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576400179714343474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrScaRFXpcVI3Fn-p_rNIIJporeA5PO1Jb1v4ws8_JIA9kGixNkYjlf8yvYCg9kXKV-3vo9bP8FjBojgmLVF8WB4nStG5iJOhAX5dwtwQPzAgiCLQKqeNLtIQcjokxxxWWPgZd/s1600/plumber4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrScaRFXpcVI3Fn-p_rNIIJporeA5PO1Jb1v4ws8_JIA9kGixNkYjlf8yvYCg9kXKV-3vo9bP8FjBojgmLVF8WB4nStG5iJOhAX5dwtwQPzAgiCLQKqeNLtIQcjokxxxWWPgZd/s400/plumber4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576400102397905746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5O89JaxBCDHn2bNNGZ_fJDxjJTW_F2uDKpJmsF1B6PdKukdAt1nSS-OxJuBZST8nEd5fJGtrA2SbUE41iIoVWyP6ApnRKSgPxxAkewv9hwHA6XnYQW_1qXXvuSV4murQqeveq/s1600/tree+on+house1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5O89JaxBCDHn2bNNGZ_fJDxjJTW_F2uDKpJmsF1B6PdKukdAt1nSS-OxJuBZST8nEd5fJGtrA2SbUE41iIoVWyP6ApnRKSgPxxAkewv9hwHA6XnYQW_1qXXvuSV4murQqeveq/s400/tree+on+house1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576400031122676306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">*tornado pictures from kgw.com<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Christmas Eve was a great time of worship, but it takes time and effort to put together another service, especially two days before regular, weekly worship. And to top it off, Mark was sick. He woke up Christmas morning, having preached two services the night before, with absolutely no voice. He spent the day writing me notes, and I had to call up our youth pastor on Christmas Day to let him know he was probably going to have to preach the next morning. I am thankful he responded with a great attitude, and we worked it all out. Mark was so sick he actually missed church, which takes a lot.<br /><br />And then the traveling began.<br /><br />I went to Wisconsin the week after Christmas to see my family. I got to see my sister, which makes twice in one year and was definitely a gift. We had a great time together, and it went by too fast. I had to get back to Oregon so that Mark and I could head out to <a href="http://www.wesleyan.org/gathering/resources">The Gathering</a>, a Wesleyan pastor's conference that happens every four years. We got to see so many people, which was the frosting on the cake, since all the sessions and breakouts were really good as well.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmxpGbq7tXU8ubbaY-kFx86cCIoxAHBvJJNxuDO2gi_aLhaNiVwE9gMOmJYkGR4yVpPZA_QW8U98XK_EPMkzG0-LCplE4vPzLnbQNXzdT9p32IjBfeN0QQxFmQ9bkB7cNX00Z/s1600/CIMG0751.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmxpGbq7tXU8ubbaY-kFx86cCIoxAHBvJJNxuDO2gi_aLhaNiVwE9gMOmJYkGR4yVpPZA_QW8U98XK_EPMkzG0-LCplE4vPzLnbQNXzdT9p32IjBfeN0QQxFmQ9bkB7cNX00Z/s400/CIMG0751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576401078501722450" border="0" /></a>Wisconsin snow...NOW it feels like winter!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3E3s-oodakQcRy4B7Yak2LRacFFgRx6HQI0DrTcdhjDYQiWdm3hKdRF3EW-RLyFrhw5GZO-5dqJBU_EIEZeZgC4EYhKC6tXHhrIAXD5su3DCRxz6dfAb7sp8GyCl1u6hybwri/s1600/IMG_0597.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3E3s-oodakQcRy4B7Yak2LRacFFgRx6HQI0DrTcdhjDYQiWdm3hKdRF3EW-RLyFrhw5GZO-5dqJBU_EIEZeZgC4EYhKC6tXHhrIAXD5su3DCRxz6dfAb7sp8GyCl1u6hybwri/s400/IMG_0597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576401792896077266" border="0" /></a>Paul Baloche leading worship at The Gathering<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I returned, and after a month of craziness, it took a few days to get back in the groove of things. It wasn't long, though, before I had my ordination interview (yes, pending I pass my current class, I will be getting ordained this summer!), and school started again. And it was several weeks into my semester that it dawned on me that I hadn't blogged a single word of anything that had happened since November.<br /><br />So, I have not given up on blogging. I am still here...just busy! I hope I will not fall into silent mode again, but I guess I won't make any promises. I'd hate to make a promise and not keep it. But I will do my best to show up here now and again, and if by chance it takes three months again, just know I am probably just sitting in front of my computer and writing assignments on preaching and I'll be back soon.<br /></div><br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-31537577291941828182010-11-13T12:09:00.003-06:002010-11-13T12:17:40.579-06:00I Think He Missed Me...<div style="text-align: center;">Mark was on the campus of <a href="http://www.indwes.edu">Indiana Wesleyan University</a> this past week visiting some friends. There was also a research conference happening, so booths were set up for different veins of ministry and education, <a href="http://seminary.indwes.edu/">Wesley Seminary</a>, being one of them. Apparently, this time around, I was the face of Wesley Seminary:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUinwwh8J_VZ8gf5jg4yDI_S35mJTESMv7RZIDDWaO4sM9AcrlkYn5bzPwMDNoeevaME12HxrVRqxMQDXgbnef47NQOrfWN_gMVHgNqHBsBUQn0P-vm2htNHe_eQJXjG6GbfUn/s1600/Jess+Wesley+Seminary+Display.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUinwwh8J_VZ8gf5jg4yDI_S35mJTESMv7RZIDDWaO4sM9AcrlkYn5bzPwMDNoeevaME12HxrVRqxMQDXgbnef47NQOrfWN_gMVHgNqHBsBUQn0P-vm2htNHe_eQJXjG6GbfUn/s400/Jess+Wesley+Seminary+Display.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539098182116007586" border="0" /></a>I still think it's weird to see my face on these signs...<br /><br />But I also think Mark missed me when he was gone:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSWQ3DKxzU0kqQanZCQIWuUD34Fd8hiHG5oeKAwAHt9O4_9p-MFlhFWl-err2gzjhNcD18NknkQV6wMzIVGj3RQ-WQuNVbJ7yml7fqSmBVeenC4Au-yZGVe6k4zA49s-xpdxK/s1600/IMG_0436.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSWQ3DKxzU0kqQanZCQIWuUD34Fd8hiHG5oeKAwAHt9O4_9p-MFlhFWl-err2gzjhNcD18NknkQV6wMzIVGj3RQ-WQuNVbJ7yml7fqSmBVeenC4Au-yZGVe6k4zA49s-xpdxK/s400/IMG_0436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539098103631125970" border="0" /></a>A student who knew Mark and I from Heritage Wesleyan Church was walking by and saw Mark taking this picture out of the corner of his eye and thought, "Who's that creepy guy pretending to kiss Jess?" He then took a closer look and realized it wasn't a creepy guy, it was a legitimate kiss from a husband :).<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-11709695192573885622010-09-28T23:40:00.021-05:002010-09-30T00:41:42.263-05:00The Gift of Friends<div style="text-align: center;">A couple of weeks ago we were blessed to have some of our great friends visiting for a week. Steve, Amber, and their son, Lincoln came to visit from Illinois. Steve came out to help us with some sound stuff at the church, but we got the bonus of getting to hang out with them. Julie also was able to come from Colorado, and we had an awesome week together hanging out and just being together. Amber and Julie are two of my best friends from college, and they were also two of my bridesmaids in my wedding. Steve and Mark lived in the same townhouse our senior year of college, and since we don't live near each other, it is always a gift to be able to spend time together in the same place. <br /><br />I am constantly reminded what a blessing good friends like this are. These friends knew us before we were married and walked through various seasons of life with us. They are people we just get to relax with, laugh with, and "be" with. And while we talk on the phone pretty regularly, getting to spend time together is always refreshing. We spent a lot of time at home hanging out and playing games, but we also got to head out to do a few fun "local" things like Silver Falls State Park and the downtown carousel.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUooLw94s7VkO29epiPP6PcOxnfxFZa00ZUNdbLo7GDio9huwATJxmOaYn90gRV4iFq4KZ4vGGZUOeESUyfkfkkFN9-Ur-PRNZiwI2JWLVj5CmPc2qvCp67EuYUYYX10kfKTx/s1600/IMG_0224+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUooLw94s7VkO29epiPP6PcOxnfxFZa00ZUNdbLo7GDio9huwATJxmOaYn90gRV4iFq4KZ4vGGZUOeESUyfkfkkFN9-Ur-PRNZiwI2JWLVj5CmPc2qvCp67EuYUYYX10kfKTx/s400/IMG_0224+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522201262086989474" border="0" /></a>Mark got to hold our purses and Julie's pink phone while we rode the carousel. Doesn't he look good? :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBWZ4uSuZyX21Rh6KJFTZSUleJ2wsED-fC6-uQyx49UZfY7LYUBX7CbLDulCADEn-0ct2ZOhERU9gZ26bkcaEL-WuD4369L5suIkbCpr1yG9DqEZ-XjZRAjl26JaHbZCGPPKH/s1600/IMG_0236+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBWZ4uSuZyX21Rh6KJFTZSUleJ2wsED-fC6-uQyx49UZfY7LYUBX7CbLDulCADEn-0ct2ZOhERU9gZ26bkcaEL-WuD4369L5suIkbCpr1yG9DqEZ-XjZRAjl26JaHbZCGPPKH/s400/IMG_0236+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522200881373762194" border="0" /></a>Julie and I on our horses whose names I've already forgotten. They were something like "moonstar" and "liberty" but I'm not totally sure.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf-GghsK43ir925JIgofYn35WiNEys4NtU-GFzUsaCo-df0urhlIMVl9Qkvloa7BOMELcWnF9YQ_vwxeu8B1QWFy3FpwYOPIEctUlujESa7mtznQGQDJcojyYyFqw5dPQ7NRm/s1600/IMG_0237+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf-GghsK43ir925JIgofYn35WiNEys4NtU-GFzUsaCo-df0urhlIMVl9Qkvloa7BOMELcWnF9YQ_vwxeu8B1QWFy3FpwYOPIEctUlujESa7mtznQGQDJcojyYyFqw5dPQ7NRm/s400/IMG_0237+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522200592366032786" border="0" /></a>Lincoln and Steve rode a horse that didn't go up and down. I think Lincoln enjoyed it even though he was a little unsure at first.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRClR786aQw2IqZG2xVrM1nLyq23R_ne3SwkiwWOso98_8n-ZWhxKS4dqzxQyEsMa9_B38zKCrNZOJhlZEK4h0TuhlNbkLKsmlhhsOxIcJM0j6jHsnHiPvuz70FL1Y7Z8gwq4N/s1600/IMG_0238+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRClR786aQw2IqZG2xVrM1nLyq23R_ne3SwkiwWOso98_8n-ZWhxKS4dqzxQyEsMa9_B38zKCrNZOJhlZEK4h0TuhlNbkLKsmlhhsOxIcJM0j6jHsnHiPvuz70FL1Y7Z8gwq4N/s400/IMG_0238+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522200052642548914" border="0" /></a>What a cute family!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYL0p0oTVoX8rIRv13uQkZgEzDeZFXKoRc7BVk1Xo3sCyhmvi-TB4PhGVRYYUYCa9w8627yb1RK4Vk-TMoBdR6IVtFSA-OVokzv1ciJ6PTM8mQzbiBPNRG3OTInoQ7BwE4JTo/s1600/IMG_0243+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYL0p0oTVoX8rIRv13uQkZgEzDeZFXKoRc7BVk1Xo3sCyhmvi-TB4PhGVRYYUYCa9w8627yb1RK4Vk-TMoBdR6IVtFSA-OVokzv1ciJ6PTM8mQzbiBPNRG3OTInoQ7BwE4JTo/s400/IMG_0243+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522199148944465490" border="0" /></a>This picture makes me happy. It's the "girls" picture by South Falls.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoAXq1jHc0tsfwg8v7snMo0mMgUMVt8j2zAxHr9lEhG0COC8aZaRqCXRS5uxotZCGHwbslR0MDcGhBsqCrBbbYOvigqkOC-utyzuLqV71CNq5F42QnwvytVb4LQpH6-ogMQy8/s1600/IMG_0247+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoAXq1jHc0tsfwg8v7snMo0mMgUMVt8j2zAxHr9lEhG0COC8aZaRqCXRS5uxotZCGHwbslR0MDcGhBsqCrBbbYOvigqkOC-utyzuLqV71CNq5F42QnwvytVb4LQpH6-ogMQy8/s400/IMG_0247+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522197791528512098" border="0" /></a>We made the guys take a "boys" picture even though they weren't as gung-ho about it :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQ1NNSw30dv5xDmNT-bl3rxYL6WaesuQnw9zyPsf10Y863h5GzcWfEpOIalYUS7EBlGppinW9dRdpBkppwuAxPTDag51mxFVB4pIwIaqqqb0fTWhZA_xExVUXfKDEufvBdR7N/s1600/IMG_0251+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQ1NNSw30dv5xDmNT-bl3rxYL6WaesuQnw9zyPsf10Y863h5GzcWfEpOIalYUS7EBlGppinW9dRdpBkppwuAxPTDag51mxFVB4pIwIaqqqb0fTWhZA_xExVUXfKDEufvBdR7N/s400/IMG_0251+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522197523134295442" border="0" /></a>Welcome to Oregon!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WWuc_VC8i79p4NGGyyjpasMjjwTTttPgCz2YuBam-_3z1CEtWhOEe6DeKtEE_aT07g48QdKRjXRHG0RPUtz6D4AOeFwsb5Oq-beTvvb2vLfMPc-fMgID8aQE8ttEdtGw4HBr/s1600/IMG_0255+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WWuc_VC8i79p4NGGyyjpasMjjwTTttPgCz2YuBam-_3z1CEtWhOEe6DeKtEE_aT07g48QdKRjXRHG0RPUtz6D4AOeFwsb5Oq-beTvvb2vLfMPc-fMgID8aQE8ttEdtGw4HBr/s400/IMG_0255+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522197210247338386" border="0" /></a>What a fun line-up! Steve and Amber made Mark carry Lincoln around as "practice" for some day down the line.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL49gu9T5XmLAIXuIaVpxD_q_HvHRcl2u3dMZOz015CBKPCSis6yZ2xUUKOyHj9ssNpo086-E8q3O9yp7LkBvAxvvA9TRXSJTx8gbb5T9O1yar2MbemIPEf8nyT846O3KISNGE/s1600/IMG_0261+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL49gu9T5XmLAIXuIaVpxD_q_HvHRcl2u3dMZOz015CBKPCSis6yZ2xUUKOyHj9ssNpo086-E8q3O9yp7LkBvAxvvA9TRXSJTx8gbb5T9O1yar2MbemIPEf8nyT846O3KISNGE/s400/IMG_0261+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522196929346731202" border="0" /></a>Lincoln "bouldering" with Mark as spotter. He was quite the climber. He practically scaled the booth in a restaurant one night, so this was nothing for him!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZoumtJwOF_w3K11JA2k219Vp3kHSVwq2UQkpqJcHk6xl2gho96bwSb6010cnTkcTO6-gvpr3OwmCSIMStsi5T2AifAs4CjeazOfgQM1x7I2KWj3an1mdCILtdEZv0pSRi2xf/s1600/IMG_0263+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZoumtJwOF_w3K11JA2k219Vp3kHSVwq2UQkpqJcHk6xl2gho96bwSb6010cnTkcTO6-gvpr3OwmCSIMStsi5T2AifAs4CjeazOfgQM1x7I2KWj3an1mdCILtdEZv0pSRi2xf/s400/IMG_0263+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522196689748234626" border="0" /></a>So cute!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbJ64h7lUxiS8029yNxiXN7tOUlr1GDJ2o8qfGY4o4WWC5anKPO5QwyIK10oM2mY3SXAOwpN-3hEqMJGfnDdIQFFz1a_ttDASYt8inxqMKYSZ0Vryq5lnIvHafHvD2dC6tQRT/s1600/IMG_0265+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbJ64h7lUxiS8029yNxiXN7tOUlr1GDJ2o8qfGY4o4WWC5anKPO5QwyIK10oM2mY3SXAOwpN-3hEqMJGfnDdIQFFz1a_ttDASYt8inxqMKYSZ0Vryq5lnIvHafHvD2dC6tQRT/s400/IMG_0265+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522196475940219522" border="0" /></a>Julie flew out seven hours later than Steve, Amber, and Lincoln, so we made a quick hop over to the coast at Cannon Beach for the afternoon to do a little hike. This is a crazy zoomed in view of the lighthouse at Cannon Beach.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBHOGutj83_zNamwvC6QcdeqRGITzhXte7RHM-mraKxgaaMquBbXNeIrPlj8NQzuMIHc_BukZYZ3-17rzewp4v2GM5148Jb-Lb_J9mjFkjE7QJRJbeIabnwJokvnv6LXvyiTV/s1600/IMG_0266+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBHOGutj83_zNamwvC6QcdeqRGITzhXte7RHM-mraKxgaaMquBbXNeIrPlj8NQzuMIHc_BukZYZ3-17rzewp4v2GM5148Jb-Lb_J9mjFkjE7QJRJbeIabnwJokvnv6LXvyiTV/s400/IMG_0266+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522196360239975154" border="0" /></a>Yep, that little rock out there is the lighthouse.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjdze48fBrsC7ZMbEhHE8xeoe2Q98koLTS_NuEi31EBpcYV-RmsOlVvo7c_ubPkXVMThdHNuF-NjNOR-s8JJTGV9d2FgtprYaeCYZc-3t6KxDFUFabXVJPzXrkgX1OUHZEsBf/s1600/IMG_0277+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjdze48fBrsC7ZMbEhHE8xeoe2Q98koLTS_NuEi31EBpcYV-RmsOlVvo7c_ubPkXVMThdHNuF-NjNOR-s8JJTGV9d2FgtprYaeCYZc-3t6KxDFUFabXVJPzXrkgX1OUHZEsBf/s400/IMG_0277+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522196179478098002" border="0" /></a>At the end of our hike at a viewpoint.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqpq65ZZVX4FQJX7RBIsWxpA922CYmkfX9EtqpQSkhO4nakDwFjTDd-cvksL0pEu4q97VzfbY2w2a9o9VIst9tnxgzXow3-88YX-ALQmazAD4630iCxKE9UlS95OYPpqPjO-t/s1600/IMG_0284+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqpq65ZZVX4FQJX7RBIsWxpA922CYmkfX9EtqpQSkhO4nakDwFjTDd-cvksL0pEu4q97VzfbY2w2a9o9VIst9tnxgzXow3-88YX-ALQmazAD4630iCxKE9UlS95OYPpqPjO-t/s400/IMG_0284+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522195896675105746" border="0" /></a>the gorgeous cliffs and rocks that typify the Oregon coast.<br /><br />I am so thankful for this week we were able to have together. I feel so blessed to have them in my life and to be able to have times where we get to see each other, even when we live halfway across the country. This, combined with seeing Amber and another great friend, Christin, in August, has combined to make for a great few months of connections. I truly feel like the friends God has given me are gifts of grace, and I need these times to remind me to not take them for granted. Thanks, friends, for a fun week. Let's do it again soon!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-37323195995973427662010-09-06T22:36:00.029-05:002010-09-07T19:11:57.612-05:00Mt. Shasta & Lassen Nat'l Park<div style="text-align: center;">This past week Mark and I were able to take a Labor Day vacation. Finding an adventure we could pull off while still having internet access took a little time to figure out (apparently online school doesn't stop if you take vacation!). We finally settled on an attempt at climbing Mt. Shasta in northern California and spending some time in Lassen National Park. We were more than lucky; the weather was as good as we could have asked for. And even though we live near sea level, we were able to summit with nothing more than a shortness of breath and a slight headache that went away as we descended. Overall, the climb was amazing and challenging, and it was an awesome week! Here are a few pictures to document our journey...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuhvb8_gbsDHUgy2vOw2LReuNzpOcP2xmfOFYRCzavVRmCrrukyqqqbU-6A0v3coMiL8yt9jXReRr5VupLwqpRykCuAav8qFD4Od7hjKR-ykWeq7lQa5QIbszBieKAAIh1LW9/s1600/IMG_0014+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuhvb8_gbsDHUgy2vOw2LReuNzpOcP2xmfOFYRCzavVRmCrrukyqqqbU-6A0v3coMiL8yt9jXReRr5VupLwqpRykCuAav8qFD4Od7hjKR-ykWeq7lQa5QIbszBieKAAIh1LW9/s400/IMG_0014+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514028995633285634" border="0" /></a>The view from the pullout on I-5.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Yl423kf3E32ewDGcN3RbROoaAHExGUK8lc4Tjeh4uAhyphenhyphenaYY7jovYCSIjsrbov4wBYGpx6tHasrXe3sNaBYT0sn6c5gW6Hzkyq3ON-fhfQjtLokYvdUGEjfZ4mYQqefCLPOiR/s1600/IMG_0017+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Yl423kf3E32ewDGcN3RbROoaAHExGUK8lc4Tjeh4uAhyphenhyphenaYY7jovYCSIjsrbov4wBYGpx6tHasrXe3sNaBYT0sn6c5gW6Hzkyq3ON-fhfQjtLokYvdUGEjfZ4mYQqefCLPOiR/s400/IMG_0017+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514028667807266162" border="0" /></a>The mountain at sunset from the city of Mt. Shasta, CA.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUhQG1dk7qeh7tyk48vI97iWuEAblEYqwxHiukR71WaUuTkXYj-oQ3TK3_blfyczQlLVR7Z4mANL_35PgjaBsL9lxpChRG-MO1uxT87PBXYqyyANdsEWVBX3rNGHxY3p12PzG/s1600/IMG_0019+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUhQG1dk7qeh7tyk48vI97iWuEAblEYqwxHiukR71WaUuTkXYj-oQ3TK3_blfyczQlLVR7Z4mANL_35PgjaBsL9lxpChRG-MO1uxT87PBXYqyyANdsEWVBX3rNGHxY3p12PzG/s400/IMG_0019+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514028385755380786" border="0" /></a>At the trailhead getting our gear ready.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOP2uJeha9wSwLUhFQyK6BhUv8o04E5Rs-3hktyIrMCg4AaONtxeS_Hb76og5XnkUYCfC0FZ2EesGeZHr7OAx9yP2piS-LaaVIfWwmi1tU3DcSqo8k7iHUBj6gViAxi6c2W2C/s1600/IMG_0022+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOP2uJeha9wSwLUhFQyK6BhUv8o04E5Rs-3hktyIrMCg4AaONtxeS_Hb76og5XnkUYCfC0FZ2EesGeZHr7OAx9yP2piS-LaaVIfWwmi1tU3DcSqo8k7iHUBj6gViAxi6c2W2C/s400/IMG_0022+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514028147829038066" border="0" /></a>We took the Clear Creek Route up the mountain. The trailhead is at 6500 ft.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJmo6O4PlDFS4z-D1sL52JpS39NXY8_v-h9kHu54leQCHkKz5W0zO6IaoMhyphenhyphenEbJ8crngpyqpsxazyLH5Bxob6JSOyOKMhgpe-k-Wl_Hi8RZE1S_Ge1ruMGVfItLHkj_d9j08j/s1600/IMG_0023+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJmo6O4PlDFS4z-D1sL52JpS39NXY8_v-h9kHu54leQCHkKz5W0zO6IaoMhyphenhyphenEbJ8crngpyqpsxazyLH5Bxob6JSOyOKMhgpe-k-Wl_Hi8RZE1S_Ge1ruMGVfItLHkj_d9j08j/s400/IMG_0023+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514027737839367410" border="0" /></a>Our first steps up to our campsite at 8500 ft. at "the springs."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGbMZu7SRb9K_DcIbzoSx05Bb0vTomWRdhuQCYgW8D1saprq17B7NSNX_GrZoP6GmS5jHhDpRI9h3wNMhLHPJ4cnsvZ-sZTZ51j6-epVMUK-P8xloR3rYZtxRGzkdXVok9GBF/s1600/IMG_0024+-+enhanced+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGbMZu7SRb9K_DcIbzoSx05Bb0vTomWRdhuQCYgW8D1saprq17B7NSNX_GrZoP6GmS5jHhDpRI9h3wNMhLHPJ4cnsvZ-sZTZ51j6-epVMUK-P8xloR3rYZtxRGzkdXVok9GBF/s400/IMG_0024+-+enhanced+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514327861595313394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9hM_24pQm0HAOenYHcVG9OxYNY5M_tG0fJeMo6xXBIDgYmhdyKsi9q0i-hSgOFlZcExy1XlKpFPNuov5oA4lC0lEkM-ACac64QukKa3_FirzXHaQipeQbVUU16v5Pxunj80T/s1600/IMG_0024+-+enhanced.jpg"><br /></a>The view of our route. Obviously it's not exact, but the red line is relatively close to what we walked. We camped by the springs, where are the green patches by the red line lower on the mountain.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh1mNDzv3wRZ0YsBAGGIP2Re4o9rdEC5vc-iAdxeZADIGekhFb7IDbaXjeWzDtp1YuKSg19gmla0-5R-y7SPBjnIynt1kzGo373O-AM0qV7gTfK9DzrfzsBSifDcJ0uz4_jqu/s1600/IMG_0045+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh1mNDzv3wRZ0YsBAGGIP2Re4o9rdEC5vc-iAdxeZADIGekhFb7IDbaXjeWzDtp1YuKSg19gmla0-5R-y7SPBjnIynt1kzGo373O-AM0qV7gTfK9DzrfzsBSifDcJ0uz4_jqu/s400/IMG_0045+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514026973839142418" border="0" /></a>Our campsite at 8500 ft. at the springs. It took a little over an hour to hike up to this spot and we were able to scout out our route and talk to a couple people who were on their way down.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w6dNeKoSYJJegzMTk0hEMo_5kacR32GrgBbXwcePrHZC2iJrXPHKcz3QW_DbX1EzHhGnF6hjC2rnPrWBw-3QQd_XMQijjtsRUoVW9q-oUkUppYsdgtZzC9HMvz5PuiAORwAA/s1600/IMG_0046+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w6dNeKoSYJJegzMTk0hEMo_5kacR32GrgBbXwcePrHZC2iJrXPHKcz3QW_DbX1EzHhGnF6hjC2rnPrWBw-3QQd_XMQijjtsRUoVW9q-oUkUppYsdgtZzC9HMvz5PuiAORwAA/s400/IMG_0046+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514026768949804786" border="0" /></a>We woke up at 4:30am and began hiking around 5:15am. It was still dark but surprisingly warm. We were so thankful that it wasn't frigid and windy! It's never any fun to climb out of your sleeping bag when it's dark and cold :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQBksX0kZeG3lw7TjHF0e903i3_zBMKVkoQISKfXLFb782ewP3PTbvcfMpH_StEVLylzM2WW0lQIkn5PqOIlz3Vfs02zPHP3gctb1xFOpfOhafpH8YiYViqAK0gGiRO20dtZb/s1600/IMG_0055+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQBksX0kZeG3lw7TjHF0e903i3_zBMKVkoQISKfXLFb782ewP3PTbvcfMpH_StEVLylzM2WW0lQIkn5PqOIlz3Vfs02zPHP3gctb1xFOpfOhafpH8YiYViqAK0gGiRO20dtZb/s400/IMG_0055+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514026564242062514" border="0" /></a>Since we followed a route and not a trail, there were several options of where to go as we went up. There were several "user trails" (trails made by hikers, but not official ones) and we ended up crossing the snow and scrambling up the rock to Mark's right in the picture above. Much of the route was scree (loose rock and sand) so it was nice to have semi-solid footing for awhile!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioxIzQxufcM4I-R3fSxaS9tBK0bcjfhIGn3T3RFhhcZ3s3wzVJptc78I4IdijviYsMB2cYVDPTVRp8LVg52GmSSN1E5bdxdnlu4q1Fes82sRyX_qSOnG6w_yIOuNSJXjAG7dM/s1600/IMG_0059+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioxIzQxufcM4I-R3fSxaS9tBK0bcjfhIGn3T3RFhhcZ3s3wzVJptc78I4IdijviYsMB2cYVDPTVRp8LVg52GmSSN1E5bdxdnlu4q1Fes82sRyX_qSOnG6w_yIOuNSJXjAG7dM/s400/IMG_0059+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514025921625333442" border="0" /></a>This was a class 3 scramble and wasn't as steep as it looks in the picture. I was thankful for the rock climbing experience I'd gotten this summer that helped with hand-holds and footing...thanks Danielle!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4Rov6_J1oOe59Q1DnVohy8GwPm2dcRByd_UpkxC445uyZJAeEJq9D_laf_NKhuDKiZLu8DB9JAwXtELydIst2iZ7LvMQviU2P1FK2-XJgRwmjt2QCfORHBnK_31cPti79Nr7/s1600/IMG_0068+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4Rov6_J1oOe59Q1DnVohy8GwPm2dcRByd_UpkxC445uyZJAeEJq9D_laf_NKhuDKiZLu8DB9JAwXtELydIst2iZ7LvMQviU2P1FK2-XJgRwmjt2QCfORHBnK_31cPti79Nr7/s400/IMG_0068+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514025730011759330" border="0" /></a>This was a random rock that we could see even from our camp. It sits at around 12,800 ft. We've heard it called the UFO Rock (because it is sort of randomly dropped on the shoulder of the mountain) and one lady who was on the summit with us called it the Pancake Rock because of the flat layers. I call it the Weird Rock. We stared at this rock for hours and it was so great to finally reach it. That alone felt like an accomplishment!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXuSPzJvyD6qoawp7qefn-OaIEPB0a6xzqW5MljrPNxLVvaT6QNohwdeqfnLXjWEhCzExRk9n9TfPIesNsEwQQH96DST19w_LOWbK-B6-u2HiRyZBhTIaGcfVhoMhOPAxTUER/s1600/IMG_0087+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXuSPzJvyD6qoawp7qefn-OaIEPB0a6xzqW5MljrPNxLVvaT6QNohwdeqfnLXjWEhCzExRk9n9TfPIesNsEwQQH96DST19w_LOWbK-B6-u2HiRyZBhTIaGcfVhoMhOPAxTUER/s400/IMG_0087+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514025391203337490" border="0" /></a>Of course we didn't take any pictures of the steep scree or snow climbing we did between the Wierd Rock and the summit. It was on the intense side and of course the camera never comes out in those times. This section was the most challenging, but in a good way.<br /><br />Here I am on the summit! 14,162 ft. We summited around 12:15pm, making the climb a 7 hour journey.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oCiMqWvWnErh5mC_NyBcstwA7zNGx2IdqQq6LjqMyJZTaVkKA51sd4crFVmWfFGCFiZVPrw7TSyX1ZqdIxQL0fnHKwOJ7e0czCfiHkq2XvgyJSgxgxtVywa5ilBFIReQ8dEV/s1600/IMG_0091+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oCiMqWvWnErh5mC_NyBcstwA7zNGx2IdqQq6LjqMyJZTaVkKA51sd4crFVmWfFGCFiZVPrw7TSyX1ZqdIxQL0fnHKwOJ7e0czCfiHkq2XvgyJSgxgxtVywa5ilBFIReQ8dEV/s400/IMG_0091+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514024899678320274" border="0" /></a>Mark on the summit! A total of 7,662 ft. from the trailhead, and 5,662 ft. for the day.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrptzCv71b2oY3MV666H1MIOh913kyFj5yxn1FnWbvRW6guOMQp8Q6vgIFPEAXbNd_nw73PgPhTL2WEtFBZ3pbxikVurp7EbXDKvwdt3QGHS4qKQqopl0n-lnGd9cL2oEDhhJ/s1600/IMG_0101+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrptzCv71b2oY3MV666H1MIOh913kyFj5yxn1FnWbvRW6guOMQp8Q6vgIFPEAXbNd_nw73PgPhTL2WEtFBZ3pbxikVurp7EbXDKvwdt3QGHS4qKQqopl0n-lnGd9cL2oEDhhJ/s400/IMG_0101+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514024394494441314" border="0" /></a>We decided it was safer to come down a scree chute and not the steep snow we climbed up. Mark is down and out of the way of rock fall, and I am just beginning my plunge-step down the loose rock.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4AQWm_y6ZdQgFeuriqWZPttvhAucscjq-f-wdsmBSlhAYcK-3XBc46yscZP6_doqm1xGWKuyQXVnwNEIem6qxViyNRyUQp84LpnW8A-1N-31GGMQOs9DH-lL4COiDKkU9Ltn/s1600/IMG_0105+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4AQWm_y6ZdQgFeuriqWZPttvhAucscjq-f-wdsmBSlhAYcK-3XBc46yscZP6_doqm1xGWKuyQXVnwNEIem6qxViyNRyUQp84LpnW8A-1N-31GGMQOs9DH-lL4COiDKkU9Ltn/s400/IMG_0105+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514022952574785378" border="0" /></a>This is the steep scree and rock we had to climb down (and up!) between the Wierd Rock and the summit. It was actually easier going down than up, and I was very glad to reach the Wierd Rock and user trails again!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO5gQnmYUuoAML8df7GIkZ8iDj4o_Op-5dcOywo0tvQY9K_-98WmAJyljkeGzdygHBdmATbOGMbQIrNc6ihGc_FxAPiZjOsI0DuK7vZjHX8LTEzXXfnv0CbCNLwirGI4H3Wql/s1600/IMG_0112+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO5gQnmYUuoAML8df7GIkZ8iDj4o_Op-5dcOywo0tvQY9K_-98WmAJyljkeGzdygHBdmATbOGMbQIrNc6ihGc_FxAPiZjOsI0DuK7vZjHX8LTEzXXfnv0CbCNLwirGI4H3Wql/s400/IMG_0112+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514022608300747138" border="0" /></a>Mark ended up with a handful of sand and rock in his shoe after that part of the descent!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8V70chtmJb6rJlf97mcq_7wXJeJ5Gk_ElAtXqpe8bbS3QjPNT1ZrAE4iypxOh3zvuq0cab7qLnrcPYmIS8tOdFZx9IRVztMjEH2_LxFLzR9HGZ5p4G8QBS-njp-ol9BsJiANM/s1600/IMG_0115+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8V70chtmJb6rJlf97mcq_7wXJeJ5Gk_ElAtXqpe8bbS3QjPNT1ZrAE4iypxOh3zvuq0cab7qLnrcPYmIS8tOdFZx9IRVztMjEH2_LxFLzR9HGZ5p4G8QBS-njp-ol9BsJiANM/s400/IMG_0115+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514022305368235410" border="0" /></a>Descending the user trails and on our way to our campsite and then the car. By the time we got down to the car, my "descending legs" were exhausted! We were so excited to have accomplished our goal, and treated ourselves to a hotel room (instead of camping) so we could crash in an actual bed. I think we were out by 8 or 9:00pm!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3AFiwe8v5QlWWFN-1gP7Jm3sNi1706FFnZ6Cf7q9gXRuf8C8wPwNdLACpKQjTakgEyENZqhoOoPc-TaSV4tHc1VIDeRyokkGErsGGLml6krLOUbwRwhRvnan22_JgRCx1Y1I/s1600/IMG_0137+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3AFiwe8v5QlWWFN-1gP7Jm3sNi1706FFnZ6Cf7q9gXRuf8C8wPwNdLACpKQjTakgEyENZqhoOoPc-TaSV4tHc1VIDeRyokkGErsGGLml6krLOUbwRwhRvnan22_JgRCx1Y1I/s400/IMG_0137+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514021594679540882" border="0" /></a>Even though the next day was the Friday of Labor Day weekend, we were able to get a campsite at Lassen National Park. The hope was to be able t climb Lassen Peak and to see some of the other volcanic features of the park. This is the view of Lassen Peak from Manzanita Lake Campground.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9izOhMLVwKGyJgtC0RhQ0sLRbOdgNaQ1u69jlXIlQa4iwd8DpXEeXf9zwzZSLCt9ie9o8CkdUuqAopDHAYAMv49XNNkOQztTjoZmeYkvpRwX_aaY9IZvvEQGQAASnfpluPOB/s1600/IMG_0151+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9izOhMLVwKGyJgtC0RhQ0sLRbOdgNaQ1u69jlXIlQa4iwd8DpXEeXf9zwzZSLCt9ie9o8CkdUuqAopDHAYAMv49XNNkOQztTjoZmeYkvpRwX_aaY9IZvvEQGQAASnfpluPOB/s400/IMG_0151+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514021295762131346" border="0" /></a>The trail up Lassen Peak has been closed for repairs for awhile. We had been hoping it would be open (the Park and indicated it might be) by Saturday (the day we were there), but alas, they only opened the first half of the trail. We were able to climb the first 1000 ft. and still get a good view.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-9JcxKQUIVko6YerP2GvHW0O2dqYsaeCUFuy0oRUeXJ4_LDhXWW9GVFdPgzH9iVc4rz5JduzaCFbuQlrRQgPUQoDxxnh8kHmk2htzyDTAAwYYhdjs1xNT4lZoEwW9J6_TESJ/s1600/IMG_0153+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-9JcxKQUIVko6YerP2GvHW0O2dqYsaeCUFuy0oRUeXJ4_LDhXWW9GVFdPgzH9iVc4rz5JduzaCFbuQlrRQgPUQoDxxnh8kHmk2htzyDTAAwYYhdjs1xNT4lZoEwW9J6_TESJ/s400/IMG_0153+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514020895851220306" border="0" /></a>We even watched this guy get a ticket for jumping the fence and heading to the summit anyway (he wasn't the only one slapped with a $175 fine for doing this!). Do you like how discreet I was by taking his picture?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk20rGwTkhyphenhyphenIyeBRmUJY5VBcAUOvsRs_gK7ME5ZNJmusMLDYqOLFe8SC8Wfii6i1kr5tLs601FIoqbQU0YtCBN4BIx8i4Rsanpz9DciFocnG7IbW_XYEkNMdusqh_OCB6VUOJ/s1600/IMG_0170+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFk20rGwTkhyphenhyphenIyeBRmUJY5VBcAUOvsRs_gK7ME5ZNJmusMLDYqOLFe8SC8Wfii6i1kr5tLs601FIoqbQU0YtCBN4BIx8i4Rsanpz9DciFocnG7IbW_XYEkNMdusqh_OCB6VUOJ/s400/IMG_0170+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514020724182838658" border="0" /></a>The other cool volcanic feature we saw was called <a href="http://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/hiking_bumpass_hell.htm">Bumpass Hell</a>. There were quite a few thermal pools/lakes, boiling mud holes, and interesting landscapes. The only downside? The sulfur smell :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKYrAbzaI1hzzOJoTtmqBuTs177YnEQVBFJMhA2iqP3OVCJ9jMGlRS9AOEwftZJTkiAEYJ-nP2Ci5DIvABb5sspWES0XzaHp04A64mw0wMTzCW1p9WKJe8rlnQd4rc12DjWgn/s1600/IMG_0185+-+enhanced.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKYrAbzaI1hzzOJoTtmqBuTs177YnEQVBFJMhA2iqP3OVCJ9jMGlRS9AOEwftZJTkiAEYJ-nP2Ci5DIvABb5sspWES0XzaHp04A64mw0wMTzCW1p9WKJe8rlnQd4rc12DjWgn/s400/IMG_0185+-+enhanced.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514020355436838626" border="0" /></a>The view of Bumpass Hell from the trail.<br /><br />We were even able to visit our friends Paul and Amanda and their son, Findley, for a couple of days, which was a great conclusion to our week. It was restful, but also a lot of fun to catch up with them and to chase Fin all over the place. He is almost three and full of energy! Paul and Amanda are also great people to hang with after an adventure because they are adventurers themselves. It's always fun to share stories and pictures with people who have done similar things at some point.<br /><br />It was such a fun, exciting, challenging, and restful week, and I am constantly reminded that difficult tasks just need to be taken one step at a time. Even in the moments when I am nervous or scared, I only have to focus on each step I am taking at the moment, and before I know it, I have reached my goal. I love looking back and knowing I was stretched. This means that I grew in areas I wouldn't have otherwise, and I am reminded that I can do far more than I give myself credit for. It is also a great reminder why it's good to only be able to see so far in front of me. If I truly knew how hard this climb would be or how steep the scree or snow, I might not have even attempted to climb Mt. Shasta in the first place. But because I faced them in the moment, I was able to conquer my fears and reach the summit. Even though it was painful and hurt to walk for several days afterward, it was a reminder of where we'd been and what we'd done. The journey was worth every step.<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-14358141124495573882010-08-28T20:10:00.006-05:002010-08-28T20:21:59.910-05:00Harvest Time<div style="text-align: center;">Now is the time for harvest. Here are a few pictures of the veggies that are growing on my plants. I am pretty continually eating cucumbers, zucchini, green beans, and onions from my garden. It's pretty awesome. Here are a few pics of what's growing. Since we lost our camera while kayaking (yes, this should be a post with pictures of us kayaking the North Fork of the Santiam River), I took these pictures on my cell phone - my 5-year-old cell phone :). Sorry if they're a bit blurry!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysn0Y80Nd9by94L3w1-I1VDgns1wuhRcV9SiIyxoYkFQE1SgfaDS_Ry5VhnEIuoPOUBPYoJuDxrMFHjugSE1IEAVUNT9tJdWMMJY_SGA_AxPuG58tQeMxyjhbC0ciYS9q4yl4/s1600/carrots.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysn0Y80Nd9by94L3w1-I1VDgns1wuhRcV9SiIyxoYkFQE1SgfaDS_Ry5VhnEIuoPOUBPYoJuDxrMFHjugSE1IEAVUNT9tJdWMMJY_SGA_AxPuG58tQeMxyjhbC0ciYS9q4yl4/s400/carrots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510633674334219298" border="0" /></a>carrots. notice they aren't as "pretty" as the ones you buy in the store.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewXz-qwipprrWIZsFkE1HFA6Acf6nzM0q3CVAvuA4aQ9lYpIygVC1urqTCeuCteTBndMqf8lfkBU7Cosz9E_y31IpZtsrOjJm13IAPKC5DDtrix2SZzUdFe_SpwYwDaKtyIxO/s1600/onions.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewXz-qwipprrWIZsFkE1HFA6Acf6nzM0q3CVAvuA4aQ9lYpIygVC1urqTCeuCteTBndMqf8lfkBU7Cosz9E_y31IpZtsrOjJm13IAPKC5DDtrix2SZzUdFe_SpwYwDaKtyIxO/s400/onions.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510633620673543202" border="0" /></a>onions...I love onions, so I love that I get to grow them! they make my eyes water way more than the ones I buy though!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt3i504uLBKV-EwZihwfixgQo1fSsN8Ekix_0tX2OEmxwEmeAb8mCSFXbTiF4K8jVnYzfnpKDUp5dBQf_zexevV9wpW25Zke_P4gyhnAoWwGxn4bVIvb7pMBa-PJeOY5LDAHM/s1600/green+peppers.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt3i504uLBKV-EwZihwfixgQo1fSsN8Ekix_0tX2OEmxwEmeAb8mCSFXbTiF4K8jVnYzfnpKDUp5dBQf_zexevV9wpW25Zke_P4gyhnAoWwGxn4bVIvb7pMBa-PJeOY5LDAHM/s400/green+peppers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510633506869630850" border="0" /></a>green peppers. I have red ones, too, but none of them are red yet.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxdABzC7GREV5MaUeDATjCuFJ8Q8CO_pxHtQP99eCAhVMa-34iOhRqkP-39WknDaH42owvPcIseA88tT9t4C_NlqusaGbT4zmFmlOtjhyfUhkDHPDmrMjZaPjQZMMlE1YFGcX/s1600/cucumbers.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxdABzC7GREV5MaUeDATjCuFJ8Q8CO_pxHtQP99eCAhVMa-34iOhRqkP-39WknDaH42owvPcIseA88tT9t4C_NlqusaGbT4zmFmlOtjhyfUhkDHPDmrMjZaPjQZMMlE1YFGcX/s400/cucumbers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510633501992350738" border="0" /></a>the ever-expanding cucumber vine. we have to work to keep up with these guys!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W6ndJDPKuV-Ytu7E6Vh0JWpMIyItIuckDxbT_-SIkniwEenQT74hnn5YcDU7-_ODFJiGFPoCkiMOyKcu3J72a7RHrbMqwqAherItvNYy9Vxj-eH378X0OiOo00i2U2rXzxyc/s1600/zucchini.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0W6ndJDPKuV-Ytu7E6Vh0JWpMIyItIuckDxbT_-SIkniwEenQT74hnn5YcDU7-_ODFJiGFPoCkiMOyKcu3J72a7RHrbMqwqAherItvNYy9Vxj-eH378X0OiOo00i2U2rXzxyc/s400/zucchini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510633493105589506" border="0" /></a>zucchini. these are MUCH bigger than the ones you buy at the store!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqXnbbbgLLDqPLTwH_TSrEfAG41Z5PsktHmVwA57Bq6re3u1lnZ_Njh_EVqWxoybKWNIkF3k7Ig1Ut-z93Bdly06lBDMRtLWD836hQ1GfD5nmsvxtfvORx_-GhnjSTTcwyM_a/s1600/romas.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqXnbbbgLLDqPLTwH_TSrEfAG41Z5PsktHmVwA57Bq6re3u1lnZ_Njh_EVqWxoybKWNIkF3k7Ig1Ut-z93Bdly06lBDMRtLWD836hQ1GfD5nmsvxtfvORx_-GhnjSTTcwyM_a/s400/romas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510633339813381026" border="0" /></a>roma tomatoes. I am getting one or two of these at a time. however, my plant has enough tomatoes on it to can bottles and bottles of salsa. if only they would turn red...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSoJDH2g-wAOm283rFi8uQ91pz_MT1Dus2__WdKDDi1RuTYHQ9gaXqn3-i0GVY1nZNcyO8N3GAgMe5lLKGu2wDKSkZIHUgSQ0aJR9Ij-Y07tgZnBD9PjLeTPmH3zuhoRvl5FQ/s1600/big+boys.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSoJDH2g-wAOm283rFi8uQ91pz_MT1Dus2__WdKDDi1RuTYHQ9gaXqn3-i0GVY1nZNcyO8N3GAgMe5lLKGu2wDKSkZIHUgSQ0aJR9Ij-Y07tgZnBD9PjLeTPmH3zuhoRvl5FQ/s400/big+boys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510633248573020034" border="0" /></a>big boy tomatoes. i haven't had one red one yet, but there is an abundance of these as well. I can't wait!<br /><br />Thanks again, Dad for helping me out! Hope you enjoy the update!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-44682000070393474632010-07-17T14:53:00.016-05:002010-07-17T20:14:26.241-05:00Jefferson Park<div style="text-align: center;">On <a href="http://striding.blogspot.com/2010/05/gotta-love-mountains.html">May 17</a>, Mark and I went on a hike toward <a href="http://web.oregon.com/hiking/JeffersonPark_Map.jpg">Jefferson Park</a>, a really beautiful area on the North/Northwest side of Mt. Jefferson. We hiked through there on the PCT, and are excited that there is a trail nearby that will allow us to access it. Everything you read about the hike we did says that the trail is open mid-July to October, so we knew May 17 was <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> early, but we gave it a try and we were stopped in our tracks by a huge wall of snow that we didn't have the time to really traverse safely. Last week we gave it a go again, and this time, since it truly is mid-July, we had much better luck and were able to hike the full 5.1 miles (10.2 mile round-trip) back into Jefferson Park. Here are a few comparison pictures:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT8jwtI_Zjrt-JjG03GsTdRU9vIjNxjMm8SO6Ml2GN4Jp_jPWZSsaq1hRtggxY0nC0PyAB5eWPjWX_28lylvZso84vmU6pig6hxDeXdsjzO_6DN-auyVRXesYV8xMMBA18qDQ/s1600/snow+mark.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT8jwtI_Zjrt-JjG03GsTdRU9vIjNxjMm8SO6Ml2GN4Jp_jPWZSsaq1hRtggxY0nC0PyAB5eWPjWX_28lylvZso84vmU6pig6hxDeXdsjzO_6DN-auyVRXesYV8xMMBA18qDQ/s400/snow+mark.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494968163725326514" border="0" /></a>These weren't taken in the exact same spot, but they are in the same general area.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV5W7c45dfLocjiV9oKzYANsySZO3NtDj21OB0PLe5Vcb-pmkskeZX9KMB4ZUOrstXKN3FYzNY2eLTAc9g_hp7eKVRBUkrhXFQUJY0960lDOGP9_jeLhz5tO13ocDnfOCqE6m/s1600/sign.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV5W7c45dfLocjiV9oKzYANsySZO3NtDj21OB0PLe5Vcb-pmkskeZX9KMB4ZUOrstXKN3FYzNY2eLTAc9g_hp7eKVRBUkrhXFQUJY0960lDOGP9_jeLhz5tO13ocDnfOCqE6m/s400/sign.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494968101562794882" border="0" /></a>This is the exact spot. Amazing the difference a couple of months can make!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwz0rkFMjlN-O9jN4LaIzwlnpItDd_-hGrbHGEiPssX_dYW4awQYI_1QI2dOWlXMbaCAvBsRQNcfdu6MJ0M0hcQYCjcypDKt8E8LPUSf6PYqqDpYjLbu777BbVdbAhACQVH9pJ/s1600/snow+wall.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwz0rkFMjlN-O9jN4LaIzwlnpItDd_-hGrbHGEiPssX_dYW4awQYI_1QI2dOWlXMbaCAvBsRQNcfdu6MJ0M0hcQYCjcypDKt8E8LPUSf6PYqqDpYjLbu777BbVdbAhACQVH9pJ/s400/snow+wall.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494967952307224770" border="0" /></a>Once again, these aren't the same exact spot, but in the same general area. The drop-off down to the right is pretty steep (even though you can't tell in the picture), so even though we climbed up on top of the snow, we didn't feel comfortable risking it. To fall was to equal major injury. This time we just sailed on through.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3Ij8yWtraGjLQVlQIvOBKKIqAej-SINMCc15bPlmTQAtcCWaVJJQFUOs2ESIlxqBvA8o3B3lBfjAN8GoovCvWoG9CIAqVc_kfy_EJPTw6fYdq7e4gpZDE06bLbyYFO5o3UWz/s1600/CIMG1723.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3Ij8yWtraGjLQVlQIvOBKKIqAej-SINMCc15bPlmTQAtcCWaVJJQFUOs2ESIlxqBvA8o3B3lBfjAN8GoovCvWoG9CIAqVc_kfy_EJPTw6fYdq7e4gpZDE06bLbyYFO5o3UWz/s400/CIMG1723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494967757668066130" border="0" /></a>And this was our reward! A view of Mt. Jefferson from the trail.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirdWGVsDrl7-EPR_TeRpW0v2XvcP_H7i95AdUvxtUZZVK9Y9445sLnwgEA0QTFYpyad3PEBr6J3Da_2axRgsQfhPWkgrxDGMUtANPZ4IEg7cMrHm6syXVFSqWAq7Om1vKieiA/s1600/CIMG1727.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirdWGVsDrl7-EPR_TeRpW0v2XvcP_H7i95AdUvxtUZZVK9Y9445sLnwgEA0QTFYpyad3PEBr6J3Da_2axRgsQfhPWkgrxDGMUtANPZ4IEg7cMrHm6syXVFSqWAq7Om1vKieiA/s400/CIMG1727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494967616783420722" border="0" /></a>Does the view get much better than this?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGAtWzLN-EcImA0WhHFNINtwdcuNoFhmQHuKVJCeT_MAdUvjaJ1FuZogc9o82KSgbzgkPov9O_m60TSdH3z5d0UyhnQbTu7czRj0claM5rAX8SzKEf5zczuZEuUAf9RW_biBB/s1600/CIMG1730.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGAtWzLN-EcImA0WhHFNINtwdcuNoFhmQHuKVJCeT_MAdUvjaJ1FuZogc9o82KSgbzgkPov9O_m60TSdH3z5d0UyhnQbTu7czRj0claM5rAX8SzKEf5zczuZEuUAf9RW_biBB/s400/CIMG1730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494967227652449666" border="0" /></a>The Whitewater Creek Trail connected with the PCT about a mile outside of Jefferson Park. It was so fun to reconnect with our old friend (the PCT). From here into Jefferson Park was about 90 percent snow.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6C_iYSnHanhf6In11DvwyuehaIfJLJ1Jt4jO3CyVganeOtujNYNRzGSM4W2KnUnfFpzV7kC95tfRf9BX5WEe70nnUYAbMOL7j4yjLBmTCs-UdKEK91gR6IAxGCg0-9CxTCO0/s1600/CIMG1734.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6C_iYSnHanhf6In11DvwyuehaIfJLJ1Jt4jO3CyVganeOtujNYNRzGSM4W2KnUnfFpzV7kC95tfRf9BX5WEe70nnUYAbMOL7j4yjLBmTCs-UdKEK91gR6IAxGCg0-9CxTCO0/s400/CIMG1734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494967074496188130" border="0" /></a>The view from Jefferson Park. We didn't get to stay very long. We basically took a few pictures and turned around and left. It was getting late and we had 5 miles to hike back out. Next time we may try to hike up and camp overnight.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqlQxo5qQtwxCmcz6q1W9qQUfNufH3cYOUH4csdnfZv1nbU318N5LOF6OC9Qm8Ow8vTxwnmBZsA4rrYNVLeurUrvyT5_RZqB5ho57ATOENafAf2sdV0JmbVYxN_u9SZbwXhYr/s1600/CIMG1746+copy.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqlQxo5qQtwxCmcz6q1W9qQUfNufH3cYOUH4csdnfZv1nbU318N5LOF6OC9Qm8Ow8vTxwnmBZsA4rrYNVLeurUrvyT5_RZqB5ho57ATOENafAf2sdV0JmbVYxN_u9SZbwXhYr/s400/CIMG1746+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494966580448569458" border="0" /></a>We had to cross Whitewater Creek on our way up and down. There is a "bridge" over the creek, that, as you can tell, is pretty washed out. We were able to make it across on the way up by using a combination of rocks and the "bridge" and then making a big leap onto the snow (hiking poles are awesome helps for times like this!). We knew that hopping onto a snow bridge was much easier than hopping off of a snow bridge (the snow is much more likely to break from the force of hopping off of it). So on the way down, Mark went first, and sure enough, the snow bridge broke as he launched off of it. Luckily he made it safely to the rock, but got a bit of a wet foot in the process. This was fine for him, but left me with a huge gap that I wasn't willing to try to jump over. The circle above is where the snow used to be :). Plan B: ford the ice cold creek.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3Lx0oetRD74rBWPBVrdW4xqufcvhmEPh0q7FmHW31Ho9olwJ251e5BMaS8lh_d0V6VIfPYPbNJxiilLdc8Mhbmx5Qbp9rbJ5lBZpU-U29jVidOiIV_E9cIhSCgPbFAntnhug/s1600/CIMG1743.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3Lx0oetRD74rBWPBVrdW4xqufcvhmEPh0q7FmHW31Ho9olwJ251e5BMaS8lh_d0V6VIfPYPbNJxiilLdc8Mhbmx5Qbp9rbJ5lBZpU-U29jVidOiIV_E9cIhSCgPbFAntnhug/s400/CIMG1743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494966077246907602" border="0" /></a>This is me making my way over to really the only easily accessible place to the water that wasn't a complete snow bridge.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QV2nv9HzhCHv-DffNFUELzyXMxgqEaWD4udIl3ecot66RDJdwFRrnGyT5xuXVncZ6e_XuE0np19vIVKs3n6K3rNJ2RyJHdUXLlKAqWbUlK8iVMs6e7nRdnD1fPBk3RVzmHwB/s1600/CIMG1744.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QV2nv9HzhCHv-DffNFUELzyXMxgqEaWD4udIl3ecot66RDJdwFRrnGyT5xuXVncZ6e_XuE0np19vIVKs3n6K3rNJ2RyJHdUXLlKAqWbUlK8iVMs6e7nRdnD1fPBk3RVzmHwB/s400/CIMG1744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494965983882335234" border="0" /></a>It was about half way through that my feet realized how cold the water was.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptAsFSWZbyTwFo6uXZUmulTYtg_B7irXhnYfjLbErlyLby9vpjaYpQoR3WOFezX7lCFJu2bo8N0VWnXMjoIy3xybSBYCySb1nOBdmiM2UOLIPiocPat7RQGjY99UKZi_ocetm/s1600/CIMG1745.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptAsFSWZbyTwFo6uXZUmulTYtg_B7irXhnYfjLbErlyLby9vpjaYpQoR3WOFezX7lCFJu2bo8N0VWnXMjoIy3xybSBYCySb1nOBdmiM2UOLIPiocPat7RQGjY99UKZi_ocetm/s400/CIMG1745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494965879589984578" border="0" /></a>This was my "my feet are so cold it's painful" face. I had to hop around, go find sun, and just get hiking again to warm up.<br /><br />It was super fun, even though I had to walk through ice water :). Next time, I hope we can leave earlier and stay overnight, giving us more time to enjoy the amazing views and gorgeous surroundings! Also, maybe by then the bridge will be fixed :).<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-44035413219595103682010-07-11T16:28:00.009-05:002010-07-11T16:49:16.585-05:00Take Two: French's Dome<div style="text-align: center;">I got the chance to go rock climbing again Saturday. That is twice in one week, which is crazy, but it just worked out that way. I found some climbing shoes on craigslist for $5, which is a steal, and I needed to try them out. Let's use that as an excuse. Do I need an excuse? :)<br /><br />We went to French's Dome, which is near to the Salmon River Slab where we went last time. There were a lot more people out, but we had so much fun and it was cool to see some people attempting the harder routes that we can't do yet!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkuUOUTt-Ww1mOTydCis_ZZgHeaREg12GlauNhKATXCkTy0YoZRyPRERFBDC6I1xHzdPw4KVhLyZ7FLcw1UOg4vpgTQilyK0rMt6GWhBYN1au19Zzbkr9I7VQ6xRB4tfvpJUV/s1600/CIMG1681.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkuUOUTt-Ww1mOTydCis_ZZgHeaREg12GlauNhKATXCkTy0YoZRyPRERFBDC6I1xHzdPw4KVhLyZ7FLcw1UOg4vpgTQilyK0rMt6GWhBYN1au19Zzbkr9I7VQ6xRB4tfvpJUV/s400/CIMG1681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492766820182339442" border="0" /></a>My friend Julie was rock climbing outdoors for the first time, and she bravely attempted it with tennis shoes. It is MUCH harder to climb in tennis shoes because they don't stick to the rock nearly as well. Danielle says that going from tennis shoes to climbing shoes "feels like magic." Either way, Julie did a great job! She's the one on the far left.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqEYZMPQ27lcFR-HDDOMeZxbVVBLIbw9jkeZ8KmOyUHejj64SOzwXSi9JIf7VUEUwkLC-EaXrqI4VUIErGVYFXBhoG-t9TalGHUBxYU1OlFptJQuKw8vN8FMlAUBF-uKOzvmu/s1600/CIMG1669.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqEYZMPQ27lcFR-HDDOMeZxbVVBLIbw9jkeZ8KmOyUHejj64SOzwXSi9JIf7VUEUwkLC-EaXrqI4VUIErGVYFXBhoG-t9TalGHUBxYU1OlFptJQuKw8vN8FMlAUBF-uKOzvmu/s400/CIMG1669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492766715363890178" border="0" /></a>Julie on her first outdoor climb ever! Andy is belaying her.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8JQgP15rjlFAZqdkBAtlpKXhDU2vLeLRqK_dhQQkvsNBP2TpvwJVkoq3jCRPX-LXZ-TgMoGt6BvTt87uHnFiJzKBgz6c5NcdyM7AGSfnH5zQm9ee-UfBt87SyO6Q2eQM05Fy/s1600/CIMG1670.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8JQgP15rjlFAZqdkBAtlpKXhDU2vLeLRqK_dhQQkvsNBP2TpvwJVkoq3jCRPX-LXZ-TgMoGt6BvTt87uHnFiJzKBgz6c5NcdyM7AGSfnH5zQm9ee-UfBt87SyO6Q2eQM05Fy/s400/CIMG1670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492766212163184514" border="0" /></a>Me at the top of climb #2. I took up the camera because I was told there would be some great views of Mt. Hood. Yes, I'm clinging to the side of a rock taking a picture :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD14IImbm7e9H7eppI9jN4EfQDyZMfI3FvjX5W3Mgzg1YGlMBe_Kp1dQ8jF8gav0LNFwy5-vm1F8PoQ5jaQUzvLJmHJ4BCknyrTQlRaP2dYzRlK3ap07Vs-bEj1CaAJWGjJ1w/s1600/CIMG1672.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD14IImbm7e9H7eppI9jN4EfQDyZMfI3FvjX5W3Mgzg1YGlMBe_Kp1dQ8jF8gav0LNFwy5-vm1F8PoQ5jaQUzvLJmHJ4BCknyrTQlRaP2dYzRlK3ap07Vs-bEj1CaAJWGjJ1w/s400/CIMG1672.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492766126300062802" border="0" /></a>The view down to where Danielle is belaying me.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01o53gjMYS5uzFl2bsB2tD0KbXe4WrdBYP4TiDYAx8Z3bQkRRQQewf97CdKXHdxfjq9-gX2Hmi9LO9Dgyyi3cTJwaGkOwJXugI5jLofOkglinbCcW_SeHRz554SIMKNRufd7i/s1600/CIMG1684.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01o53gjMYS5uzFl2bsB2tD0KbXe4WrdBYP4TiDYAx8Z3bQkRRQQewf97CdKXHdxfjq9-gX2Hmi9LO9Dgyyi3cTJwaGkOwJXugI5jLofOkglinbCcW_SeHRz554SIMKNRufd7i/s400/CIMG1684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492766004304676018" border="0" /></a>I believe this was on my third climb of the day.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK57WFtyYRu0WPoK39CmJlMl6Z-yIPqg6Spyv7-1kh2LgsxnkLuwUgE7v1ZqqVTXHa9HIrFa6s99sJ6Qcq_h5zwaReISUvI3v3ObDJ1600pfh7MZtKsT7J2i4YuxBnrmMm4YG0/s1600/CIMG1696.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK57WFtyYRu0WPoK39CmJlMl6Z-yIPqg6Spyv7-1kh2LgsxnkLuwUgE7v1ZqqVTXHa9HIrFa6s99sJ6Qcq_h5zwaReISUvI3v3ObDJ1600pfh7MZtKsT7J2i4YuxBnrmMm4YG0/s400/CIMG1696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492765860554721986" border="0" /></a>Danielle is practically a mountain goat. She makes it look so easy!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXhfzNVY25xIZdqABn1aQzdHxBc10XsyBrhRa7wBnCMMih7NU_OkTXmrR-INRvsBOocWX6iYtrzz_C7QB3PXxZ4uW57KrlC2YpA-51a-cGMQxL7VbVJ3rndzeg0IGb4K3UlZ1/s1600/CIMG1705.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXhfzNVY25xIZdqABn1aQzdHxBc10XsyBrhRa7wBnCMMih7NU_OkTXmrR-INRvsBOocWX6iYtrzz_C7QB3PXxZ4uW57KrlC2YpA-51a-cGMQxL7VbVJ3rndzeg0IGb4K3UlZ1/s400/CIMG1705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492765715206459346" border="0" /></a>Danielle repelling after "cleaning" the route (getting the rope ready to come down).<br /><br />Super fun!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-87516652718223464322010-07-06T00:19:00.009-05:002010-07-06T00:44:52.225-05:00Salmon River Slab<div style="text-align: center;">I learned to rock climb today. It was awesome. I had climbed a couple of times in gyms on rock walls, but to be honest, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about clinging to the face of a big chunk of rock. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not. I love hiking and love to have my feet planted firmly on the ground. But I really liked it! I had so much fun. Mark had climbed a little in high school, and we even had some of the gear from our mountaineering excursions (Rainier, Hood, etc), but neither of us had much experience. So when some friends said they were heading out on our day off, we jumped at the chance to go with them. The two most experienced climbers led the climbs and fixed a top rope for us newbies. This is the much safer and easier way to climb. Our friend, Danielle, was able to borrow some shoes for me and another girl to share, but most of the guys weren't able to squeeze their feet into Andy's size 8 1/2 climbing shoes, so they went up in tennis shoes (not the easiest thing to do, which makes their climbs even more impressive). Mark and I each completed 3 routes and had a blast. I can't wait for the next time!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1c2H9MBcdxdLqmsbl6gTF9J54mlkz-7ucXwXtzz3w-Aw50Ig37LPQ7sAahyphenhyphenCxhaCm8SnvTLWFVRibG75Z71Ee6K7dM15AddTywU1wXIlBgX3AWd-VJ2EUnri7QKYvZR83nkfX/s1600/CIMG1582.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1c2H9MBcdxdLqmsbl6gTF9J54mlkz-7ucXwXtzz3w-Aw50Ig37LPQ7sAahyphenhyphenCxhaCm8SnvTLWFVRibG75Z71Ee6K7dM15AddTywU1wXIlBgX3AWd-VJ2EUnri7QKYvZR83nkfX/s400/CIMG1582.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490660645199521698" border="0" /></a>chalk prints.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2fMGtaUxidYHufdYHiT2I0XNOMWBT8JGrKd67wWqSNSV3tKq-5Jt8v7tOHKIDITrLWjBcwu8E-EL8EzmS71ToegSdUgk9nO1qG1TjhWx3paCJgn5mbrMtb9FuKgE6MtX_odF/s1600/CIMG1643.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2fMGtaUxidYHufdYHiT2I0XNOMWBT8JGrKd67wWqSNSV3tKq-5Jt8v7tOHKIDITrLWjBcwu8E-EL8EzmS71ToegSdUgk9nO1qG1TjhWx3paCJgn5mbrMtb9FuKgE6MtX_odF/s400/CIMG1643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490660350728730658" border="0" /></a>I'm the one at the top! This was my second climb.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1D-5BPNXksPmCWEWsA4bukPtYzGpCVn3arig2nlctN7z_3-mdEplrWJ7u8s5G9nk4lZcaF4hCRG7ALxz5fMgt6f1PnaRJAIypt9WAhtsft1qTtDkd-IIPoq3qK7y2skBpEgw/s1600/CIMG1612.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1D-5BPNXksPmCWEWsA4bukPtYzGpCVn3arig2nlctN7z_3-mdEplrWJ7u8s5G9nk4lZcaF4hCRG7ALxz5fMgt6f1PnaRJAIypt9WAhtsft1qTtDkd-IIPoq3qK7y2skBpEgw/s400/CIMG1612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490659858653644242" border="0" /></a>Repelling down.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtATaYZACtgexxsCx0mrYbUOwMt3jpdTgGiz7jtbFAJO5Kzx3iYNVCw8SPkErY3htlnBYYwHSvBJeAsxy5XFw58JHB8Qdj5u7CE2N9v4znqhBH8mLRThT6ner-_6lle29ywI5/s1600/CIMG1618.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtATaYZACtgexxsCx0mrYbUOwMt3jpdTgGiz7jtbFAJO5Kzx3iYNVCw8SPkErY3htlnBYYwHSvBJeAsxy5XFw58JHB8Qdj5u7CE2N9v4znqhBH8mLRThT6ner-_6lle29ywI5/s400/CIMG1618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490661228245731762" border="0" /></a>This is Danielle after racing Josh to the top. She was climbing on an injured ankle, but she scampered up the rock face like it was no problem (at least she made it look that way - I think it actually hurt).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn0dI-fcBoPZvWkhAGLinbpF3mn7UpzBjxx4kjcMV702XnTHNBOh4BMb0tL2oFpflmP2rEEAYukRLyIQTBI0IVRX8_l9Ifp45JbPReYLS3lFoqSgsbEu61oWMQIbK7UjPk0Z8/s1600/CIMG1662.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqn0dI-fcBoPZvWkhAGLinbpF3mn7UpzBjxx4kjcMV702XnTHNBOh4BMb0tL2oFpflmP2rEEAYukRLyIQTBI0IVRX8_l9Ifp45JbPReYLS3lFoqSgsbEu61oWMQIbK7UjPk0Z8/s400/CIMG1662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490659493108839794" border="0" /></a>This one is Mark at the top. He climbed up a 5.9 route in tennies. What a stud!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNVH9VYbtt3LdGANKqo6qTfDv-zgC41_n2dFS2ksoDWmTw9WO1Y7MwRjPrZU_jueAL00OAbh0rnkfGuXYXZW0vJheIRHDBfyanvs_IWWMY45ZalXtKhOjGhmxESVp6dlNE2k0/s1600/CIMG1666.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNVH9VYbtt3LdGANKqo6qTfDv-zgC41_n2dFS2ksoDWmTw9WO1Y7MwRjPrZU_jueAL00OAbh0rnkfGuXYXZW0vJheIRHDBfyanvs_IWWMY45ZalXtKhOjGhmxESVp6dlNE2k0/s400/CIMG1666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490659301983077954" border="0" /></a>Repelling down after a victorious climb.<br /><br />I think we found ourselves a new adventure :). Thanks for the invite Danielle!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-18443769526170324002010-06-12T00:23:00.017-05:002010-06-13T00:30:35.766-05:00Family Fun<div style="text-align: center;">My parents and sister came to visit for a week, and we had a ton of fun! I only get to see them a couple times a year, and it's been a long time since my sister and I have been able to be in the same place at the same time, so it was really special to have all four of us in the same place for a time of exploration and fun. Here is a brief overview of our week:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb9bSIZT3PIW-S7VM_p6n8PjYo4McEuPvAJKQHRfjn7XlF-bey2I-rVkdKugSP99QPuhpyckdyaYjjUERG8siJ_G8ai5M5X9C2BVxMs6zM8grF5lFIMT8KNReJ8Vztw4xcW2j/s1600/CIMG1279.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb9bSIZT3PIW-S7VM_p6n8PjYo4McEuPvAJKQHRfjn7XlF-bey2I-rVkdKugSP99QPuhpyckdyaYjjUERG8siJ_G8ai5M5X9C2BVxMs6zM8grF5lFIMT8KNReJ8Vztw4xcW2j/s400/CIMG1279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482120609436393042" border="0" /></a>We were at the mall and met a lady who's husband runs the carousel in the park in downtown Salem. She called over and got us a free ride, and it was way more fun than we anticipated! They had a game where the outside riders could try and hook these rings on your fingers as you went by a certain spot, and if you got a gold one, you won a free ride. Somehow I won two :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz4yoieyJ-pbT2LxzwV6wyJEoV-iInhnvlLNYB8XA5jbvp2IApRw0C4E9bNASslTUTFAitXR3-_dGs6VSJh_CyQWk9j1Qf9g6Q9Vaba5336QqND73EKyR1nYitgjw3bdHCzR8/s1600/CIMG1273.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggz4yoieyJ-pbT2LxzwV6wyJEoV-iInhnvlLNYB8XA5jbvp2IApRw0C4E9bNASslTUTFAitXR3-_dGs6VSJh_CyQWk9j1Qf9g6Q9Vaba5336QqND73EKyR1nYitgjw3bdHCzR8/s400/CIMG1273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482120522690713362" border="0" /></a>My dad is in the rodeo! Giddyup!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAzdnZi0eWSn17YQ3WLxFpaIbTWY7LNB7AZNZwJY0HYq2P2WHDPNz_QFuuyBF0R_74jwo4aS-aUawfw6WxCtshSWpuua8EB7pDMSKS28_1HhPc2FCQZVn_rlb8f4a-IPGfnr4/s1600/DSC00052.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAzdnZi0eWSn17YQ3WLxFpaIbTWY7LNB7AZNZwJY0HYq2P2WHDPNz_QFuuyBF0R_74jwo4aS-aUawfw6WxCtshSWpuua8EB7pDMSKS28_1HhPc2FCQZVn_rlb8f4a-IPGfnr4/s400/DSC00052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482120351632188034" border="0" /></a>Our first full day was a big circle around Mt. Hood. We went up to Multnomah Falls, over to Cascade Locks and Hood River, and then around the east side and up to Timberline Lodge and back home. We google-mapped it and it came out to over 5 hrs of driving! This is Multnomah Falls, which is often on calendars.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWppZI5j7IcSI3IPV3SMxkLfaszn_Pwgn9injSBk0sjSE4nWpqR6sFjFbySsQ9niJ9AXnLzou8v2LNB4YhcPtTU3xt210UQGR8i2rAZ7tVQqJSIl7nBbxbBpEpahSM84d0c94Q/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWppZI5j7IcSI3IPV3SMxkLfaszn_Pwgn9injSBk0sjSE4nWpqR6sFjFbySsQ9niJ9AXnLzou8v2LNB4YhcPtTU3xt210UQGR8i2rAZ7tVQqJSIl7nBbxbBpEpahSM84d0c94Q/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482120178362962706" border="0" /></a>Mark, Jess, Bethany, and Mom at Multnomah Falls.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihK266LKMIgvb4CA_ucgU-SRXnPlp4nKJhyfKeEYCW_uisZtC87BUn1ZkvKa1ysPC2b95dnwWS3Zc9-0OWnwoo-CSMwtngvMW_wojIbyNcDmj2MEdZCwFf1UgOvB_8Pj9il9o/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihK266LKMIgvb4CA_ucgU-SRXnPlp4nKJhyfKeEYCW_uisZtC87BUn1ZkvKa1ysPC2b95dnwWS3Zc9-0OWnwoo-CSMwtngvMW_wojIbyNcDmj2MEdZCwFf1UgOvB_8Pj9il9o/s400/DSC_0036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482120038960297682" border="0" /></a>Dad at Mt. Hood. We were lucky and the clouds parted for a view of the mountain!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS-8K3l3ZwfaDDQAVFTKtES2iUFl-DLNuRGsQlgbWp4OowkNB9yDr3iIKSD7vbCAFL58CQx6Y1Cr8E0dh22mGpwXdde4r2L4bg8Tqrz2GuTlOWFmGOjl-kEwlHZwPXBmu2YTL/s1600/CIMG1320.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS-8K3l3ZwfaDDQAVFTKtES2iUFl-DLNuRGsQlgbWp4OowkNB9yDr3iIKSD7vbCAFL58CQx6Y1Cr8E0dh22mGpwXdde4r2L4bg8Tqrz2GuTlOWFmGOjl-kEwlHZwPXBmu2YTL/s400/CIMG1320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482119865052906882" border="0" /></a>This is a view of Mt. Hood from Trillium Lake near Government Camp, OR.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmcQWyG6G2h4a3QxD3M2geXInSXc54TugxTxkWTTxkb6gc5erFj_4u_f_fQ5vpX5uIIl7VmeOWrLxDMF5rKPsM7_XyVY1SSYLXkoQvbe1IvFbxI-1Z4P-JLCfoql0vXs2UOmY/s1600/DSC00114.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmcQWyG6G2h4a3QxD3M2geXInSXc54TugxTxkWTTxkb6gc5erFj_4u_f_fQ5vpX5uIIl7VmeOWrLxDMF5rKPsM7_XyVY1SSYLXkoQvbe1IvFbxI-1Z4P-JLCfoql0vXs2UOmY/s400/DSC00114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482119642533620578" border="0" /></a>Our next full day was spent at Silver Falls State Park. We saw 9 out of 10 of the waterfalls. By the time we realized we missed one, we were too tired to go back :). This was a 4-5 mile hike day and oh-so-beautiful. The falls in the picture is South Falls.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmOEhupsldWng3MYhzdfe2jhvQnGiUnSwfYS4i1zPiAdBGs4OouCDcMBH53bUNENVkV7UPX7c99qbpUOqkf3KPsq0U27nMTfEPR7uTQVMLALjbcofQ2woKVKPqv7jb6OY5Dbt/s1600/DSC00149.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmOEhupsldWng3MYhzdfe2jhvQnGiUnSwfYS4i1zPiAdBGs4OouCDcMBH53bUNENVkV7UPX7c99qbpUOqkf3KPsq0U27nMTfEPR7uTQVMLALjbcofQ2woKVKPqv7jb6OY5Dbt/s400/DSC00149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482119449387467442" border="0" /></a>Wednesday we hit the coast at Newport, OR. It was raining pretty steadily in the morning, and as we dried out at lunch, the rain stopped and we had a dry, but cloudy and cool, afternoon. <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXpR7pbd_j971Myrd_IGY-2mJek-fE0VxTdbG7Ygf6aFJQPgcF7aHLDzOEt1klrMFQn9IlGEnvpKpuVCw1SqzafXgnVjNSirdwokmM6YJrDpXHM2jBky8w92AeGL_h4yr4E2s/s1600/DSC_0100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXpR7pbd_j971Myrd_IGY-2mJek-fE0VxTdbG7Ygf6aFJQPgcF7aHLDzOEt1klrMFQn9IlGEnvpKpuVCw1SqzafXgnVjNSirdwokmM6YJrDpXHM2jBky8w92AeGL_h4yr4E2s/s400/DSC_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482119199408261682" border="0" /></a>We climbed the lighthouse at Yaquina Head. I think it has about 114 steps.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mkx0aN-pjp3J2x_KZWleaTUAfZiSPY8yVrIMYOyrJdfKqx1YYAUApe8uLU3FmF3fLdTjNB1F0p5Yf_YKfhtZKWe3areG_b7PlJPg8J0GNaMtL8thVSh8sOuC2i71ObxtJCWQ/s1600/DSC_0113.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mkx0aN-pjp3J2x_KZWleaTUAfZiSPY8yVrIMYOyrJdfKqx1YYAUApe8uLU3FmF3fLdTjNB1F0p5Yf_YKfhtZKWe3areG_b7PlJPg8J0GNaMtL8thVSh8sOuC2i71ObxtJCWQ/s400/DSC_0113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482119027974136498" border="0" /></a>We also saw some tide-pools, sea lions, and harbor seals. Mark climbed out on a rock when we were tide-pooling. We didn't see anything too crazy, but there were plenty of sea anemones and and starfish.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV4E5oQNDDRsOxxbWg4eXDEGBs2b3w6kfGfw65JiY9Y-gQ8LSZA5DzXJcbdYv0w0E82_3CuEYTwteuWg7B0tDXvWklHZBDU-pESPPFb3no_lRHr-3aUH0_QFya4E9TEw3RNBo/s1600/CIMG1326.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV4E5oQNDDRsOxxbWg4eXDEGBs2b3w6kfGfw65JiY9Y-gQ8LSZA5DzXJcbdYv0w0E82_3CuEYTwteuWg7B0tDXvWklHZBDU-pESPPFb3no_lRHr-3aUH0_QFya4E9TEw3RNBo/s400/CIMG1326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482118788376685330" border="0" /></a>My sister and I "shopping." No, we didn't bring the hats home :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRGbSd7eOa7ttmdaQhiAyWqIUB62npyScubPEnQUofTX0Cntb7q5wUs0vGAy21Mlmlsl-9DTlnMsidfRhCUVvzYGuoQUagk5K3oHchHhz144XTKsUu6fd5hB7mjFqPuX-nDMS/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRGbSd7eOa7ttmdaQhiAyWqIUB62npyScubPEnQUofTX0Cntb7q5wUs0vGAy21Mlmlsl-9DTlnMsidfRhCUVvzYGuoQUagk5K3oHchHhz144XTKsUu6fd5hB7mjFqPuX-nDMS/s400/DSC_0119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481754547547449426" border="0" /></a>Family photo! The first one we've had in a long time!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE9peXQlXuKqQv6gaCU16ZYHYLQPiFaOcqyAuf0vQtNc5vlnsJ8XMAOnP7OjdgsmSk8FV22orpKz6TfJ7ASZEODk-lhalDhpgxFyzyFrz86d2z-wuwZjjfkesum5mSH_W5XNH/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE9peXQlXuKqQv6gaCU16ZYHYLQPiFaOcqyAuf0vQtNc5vlnsJ8XMAOnP7OjdgsmSk8FV22orpKz6TfJ7ASZEODk-lhalDhpgxFyzyFrz86d2z-wuwZjjfkesum5mSH_W5XNH/s400/DSC_0122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481754024467060402" border="0" /></a>My dad is a gardener, and he helped make my garden awesome. We planted my tomato plants, zucchini, cucumber, and peppers, and he helped me stake out a trellis for the cucumbers and the cages for the tomatoes and zucchini. I even got a few ripe strawberries!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6o5sy3swkGplS-bItZ4-PrHDbGZwa4eiUz6-oVxU-P0-697BoMOTV5EyID4VKplw56X8dGC-hn-Aj-Bv_-jLMrpCqPnxXKY3dd_3dOtgC7y0ekob4Kk9APne6bf_AlBhNIQ0s/s1600/CIMG1341.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6o5sy3swkGplS-bItZ4-PrHDbGZwa4eiUz6-oVxU-P0-697BoMOTV5EyID4VKplw56X8dGC-hn-Aj-Bv_-jLMrpCqPnxXKY3dd_3dOtgC7y0ekob4Kk9APne6bf_AlBhNIQ0s/s400/CIMG1341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481753830287951282" border="0" /></a>mmm...yum! Fresh from the garden!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-48167438718307218862010-05-27T01:12:00.008-05:002010-05-27T01:43:39.650-05:00Dinner, Silent Auction, and a Pie in the Face<div style="text-align: center;">There are roses in the center of the table, Italian music play in the background, and the smell of wonderful food is in the air. "Yes," you think, "I must be at at a high-class restaurant." But then you look around and realize your waiters and waitresses are 6-12th graders! While it's not technically a high-class restaurant, the food might rival one and the service just as good :).<br /><br />We put on a spaghetti dinner and silent auction last night as a fundraiser to send our kids to youth camp. There were a lot of hands that went into making the night a success, and our students did an awesome job of helping set up, serve, and clean up - earning the money that will go toward camp. Each one played their part, and did it well, and the night was a huge success! Mark even auctioned off taking a pie to the face!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_myc7rttuqyTpPs59dqrZISZQppwdJ_du7zyDkBnJ950FerokghZ_3wPdOe9o5qp7Yhjn7j1pry9NQdtDz1pnzEP_RTEUTmATdzCmH6Fy7ThuI4GrpvaHPB0ZNYmJ8xv_2jzV/s1600/CIMG1172.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_myc7rttuqyTpPs59dqrZISZQppwdJ_du7zyDkBnJ950FerokghZ_3wPdOe9o5qp7Yhjn7j1pry9NQdtDz1pnzEP_RTEUTmATdzCmH6Fy7ThuI4GrpvaHPB0ZNYmJ8xv_2jzV/s400/CIMG1172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475833887173600834" border="0" /></a>Our "Italian Bistro."<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xEGYa7-yNSVlv23xCqoiRHSUxeJ2owuD2e1AXiLKUC-iA3STDt2ZnVeiYr4lAc1NxqjQdgl84uku6ssMub7ojnMUbxn7xnplbbmEe9qK34FbyA7EpaLyshu4oEHEaRVYd594/s1600/CIMG1178.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xEGYa7-yNSVlv23xCqoiRHSUxeJ2owuD2e1AXiLKUC-iA3STDt2ZnVeiYr4lAc1NxqjQdgl84uku6ssMub7ojnMUbxn7xnplbbmEe9qK34FbyA7EpaLyshu4oEHEaRVYd594/s400/CIMG1178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475833662647055922" border="0" /></a>Some students were the "cooks" and made up the orders that came in from the waiters and waitresses.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEwK3pnywdLSjvbKZcsYwNCnrpiGCNArwsiAVqZ8tQ7gyS553ICaAy0PHUSwftxN4aWyK0o9209W69et-M-k-YsrKIrViJgCOsxmZVati6_M_5bJxzsa3tnUCOsyilI0YULLK/s1600/CIMG1181.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEwK3pnywdLSjvbKZcsYwNCnrpiGCNArwsiAVqZ8tQ7gyS553ICaAy0PHUSwftxN4aWyK0o9209W69et-M-k-YsrKIrViJgCOsxmZVati6_M_5bJxzsa3tnUCOsyilI0YULLK/s400/CIMG1181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475833065862495122" border="0" /></a>We had a pretty full house!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_vzypKmpA_mZ677v5ohsgaCsXXqPq4cpNKz4WJY03mb63qrw_ImmxQkXMNpJrKAAU7bTNqb8l0mjpyTcFvlzKO4IB_3WdrZ8ISVC6dlmGthRzOD6OSyOO1kIQsaA0_fPzAMq/s1600/CIMG1188.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_vzypKmpA_mZ677v5ohsgaCsXXqPq4cpNKz4WJY03mb63qrw_ImmxQkXMNpJrKAAU7bTNqb8l0mjpyTcFvlzKO4IB_3WdrZ8ISVC6dlmGthRzOD6OSyOO1kIQsaA0_fPzAMq/s400/CIMG1188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475831285085393906" border="0" /></a>Christina doing dishes...I hear this is a rarity so I thought I'd post the picture so her family would know it happened. There's proof! :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViAYw1y6VUl_zwXlmCOiBtShxw61-DMGpWGuPQ8s2awsk_vI2x1SmJ9LgWM0FJVYMVHQMvHQGICmDjGOaAyAhSVrsJ2gf2Ar4Hx9mrU4Sd__YB6shK5dWn0pa2QwdmKneyLEh/s1600/CIMG1192.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViAYw1y6VUl_zwXlmCOiBtShxw61-DMGpWGuPQ8s2awsk_vI2x1SmJ9LgWM0FJVYMVHQMvHQGICmDjGOaAyAhSVrsJ2gf2Ar4Hx9mrU4Sd__YB6shK5dWn0pa2QwdmKneyLEh/s400/CIMG1192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475831168338176690" border="0" /></a>We auctioned off the opportunity to hit Mark in the face with a pie. His parents, who are visiting actually won the bid! They then let the kids/youth guess a number and the winner got to throw the pie. Cooper was our winner!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSTFMVco4ms3UhoXomcMwuYBdKVdvqTZ39Dm9WHgDOzDGFl1VdNk3mXo8CoNS4bwukCkU7GDiCm7LcHrcZ_-FohZwAln9U0fpz_oi3waNXfEWaF7IPuDMje9mdIqWFdANJVh6/s1600/CIMG1197.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSTFMVco4ms3UhoXomcMwuYBdKVdvqTZ39Dm9WHgDOzDGFl1VdNk3mXo8CoNS4bwukCkU7GDiCm7LcHrcZ_-FohZwAln9U0fpz_oi3waNXfEWaF7IPuDMje9mdIqWFdANJVh6/s400/CIMG1197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475831003963522802" border="0" /></a>Here's the result of the pie in the face. There's a short video below if you want to actually see it happen! One guy in our church said, "It was worth the price of admission just to see this!"<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTuADCoWJGThY8HURrkU93PylIm7hpO6r_RTrDhGTeQranTST3RMz4ZK3zhg02mkqQ_Au3ClxZTgvBYBME-GcMWIg8EU4Y4yTZXvmi-bXHKsZ5tNVqaV-eHuoAK_DZkdkfNOm/s1600/CIMG1207.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTuADCoWJGThY8HURrkU93PylIm7hpO6r_RTrDhGTeQranTST3RMz4ZK3zhg02mkqQ_Au3ClxZTgvBYBME-GcMWIg8EU4Y4yTZXvmi-bXHKsZ5tNVqaV-eHuoAK_DZkdkfNOm/s400/CIMG1207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475830120891236210" border="0" /></a>Two of our students, Josh and Kyler, also raffled off a pie in the face, which we got to do tonight at Youth Group. I think Kyler got some up his nose :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwAzYE9xIYS5g8Z-A3FLFJQQdU1C0Wc4VjqmfhwEjV53TsiqjEXljk-t0dZGzBtMRgIEOFbJ-IG52U' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />I think Cooper looks way too excited about this!<br /><br /><br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-30512472229861812472010-05-17T22:50:00.007-05:002010-05-18T17:58:33.950-05:00Gotta Love the Mountains!<div style="text-align: center;">We have been duped by the weather more than once now. We will plan to go hiking, snowboarding or something else that involves being outdoors, then notice that the forecast calls for rain or storms and decide not to go. Then the day will not be nearly as bad as it sounded. Well today was one of those days. We had planned on going hiking on some trails that would lead up to Jefferson Park at the base of Mt. Jefferson. Then last night the weather report called for, not just rain, but thunderstorms. So we decided not to go. Then as I was watching the news in the morning they mentioned that the thunderstorms were already passed, so after some debate, we decided to go, albeit a little later than we originally had planned. It was will a bit overcast and a little rainy here and there, but we had a great time and really didn't need anymore time than we had. Here is the progression of our hike. You'll soon see why we didn't need anymore time!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcASbaBEY8WVLa2xtgmtw1kLHbXINqhMvnXSr4hknnsGyytVRLhzXrytg-_bYtz699WlLArKywaujZsnjYMJ9RXZyk-Jw36-8k-Us8wib4RQ7OqGKNC_zLpFJI_BckKDMwATo/s1600/CIMG1118.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcASbaBEY8WVLa2xtgmtw1kLHbXINqhMvnXSr4hknnsGyytVRLhzXrytg-_bYtz699WlLArKywaujZsnjYMJ9RXZyk-Jw36-8k-Us8wib4RQ7OqGKNC_zLpFJI_BckKDMwATo/s400/CIMG1118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472453581582426626" border="0" /></a>We had to stop half a mile short of the parking lot because of a snow drift in the road. We had just gotten done saying, "I'm surprised we haven't seen any snow yet..."<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Mbd49dZoo_x4LOlLqej9gy54PgDSPoTdOxtuWoEc8vPlnhZHRp2Sl5yCmmr51y-oaNSO4q9zCXr6smGVAY051LYCQ6f2m5-UzdRwbE5JFENcTsL8TX94rHvm8lxjze0UJoU_/s1600/CIMG1119.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Mbd49dZoo_x4LOlLqej9gy54PgDSPoTdOxtuWoEc8vPlnhZHRp2Sl5yCmmr51y-oaNSO4q9zCXr6smGVAY051LYCQ6f2m5-UzdRwbE5JFENcTsL8TX94rHvm8lxjze0UJoU_/s400/CIMG1119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472453408466779362" border="0" /></a>Here we are at the trailhead. 4100 ft.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleerQMdOQUdyCCqN5X1rMBW_S49NeMu3jHORwY0YgJBaMYkj_06YLf0UrslkQCSRp1ucS3TBjBDQQOHCutpR9IYNtj_F64wd8tiODdPwE6utxP35v3ydJG6szV10JchvgC83d/s1600/CIMG1120.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleerQMdOQUdyCCqN5X1rMBW_S49NeMu3jHORwY0YgJBaMYkj_06YLf0UrslkQCSRp1ucS3TBjBDQQOHCutpR9IYNtj_F64wd8tiODdPwE6utxP35v3ydJG6szV10JchvgC83d/s400/CIMG1120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472453260927198242" border="0" /></a>As we climbed, we soon hit patchy snow. It brought back memories of hiking the PCT.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLXVi8dSuH6WKksH6QYLbTHc3nv2O23tZvQgwXke7SvR5QCoVa43UP-_oNVgMoC9_LnxIjV2vgm7orsSGKRew55DH7P61KBz6bkrmoqbrKXEosg4p6Ilu7YDqBEnGgMTGaSKI/s1600/CIMG1121.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLXVi8dSuH6WKksH6QYLbTHc3nv2O23tZvQgwXke7SvR5QCoVa43UP-_oNVgMoC9_LnxIjV2vgm7orsSGKRew55DH7P61KBz6bkrmoqbrKXEosg4p6Ilu7YDqBEnGgMTGaSKI/s400/CIMG1121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472453137962318146" border="0" /></a>At about 4500 ft. our trail became 95% snow covered. Luckily it was still pretty easy to follow and navigate...just follow the clear cut and look for small patches of trail!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-hs7wg3GAcypuHke6oj8Ra4AOl1PoDDd5TaCaG5QMeYNw87Rszn4AOGFJtwSfSWdjadbjrr56_i61sb6cllUTvYpFCyxCp2T4vc8Y2KtEVQflmYOB2_dywYkq5BaOCtkJrpR/s1600/CIMG1122.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-hs7wg3GAcypuHke6oj8Ra4AOl1PoDDd5TaCaG5QMeYNw87Rszn4AOGFJtwSfSWdjadbjrr56_i61sb6cllUTvYpFCyxCp2T4vc8Y2KtEVQflmYOB2_dywYkq5BaOCtkJrpR/s400/CIMG1122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472452979823188082" border="0" /></a>At this trail junction, we could have taken another trail 2.7 miles to meet up with the PCT, which runs through Jefferson Park as well. We didn't have time to go all the way into Jefferson Park, but we thought we'd go a short ways down the trail to see if we could get any views of Jefferson.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOkhROmlGXmxUo0CQmimHg-q3K2il3wLlYtb4t_uHUroGn02koyUSQhygaVqAVDdFj9VBuJR3NN1M_oOvSuDq0ocGbpKkJMzAOvL7T_45cUSW3CJYeMVbC2haqnDOTpySXQkt/s1600/CIMG1125.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOkhROmlGXmxUo0CQmimHg-q3K2il3wLlYtb4t_uHUroGn02koyUSQhygaVqAVDdFj9VBuJR3NN1M_oOvSuDq0ocGbpKkJMzAOvL7T_45cUSW3CJYeMVbC2haqnDOTpySXQkt/s400/CIMG1125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472452765935250834" border="0" /></a>Soon the trail looked like this...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ByEy2_jeOom_-mQvX8RwXOPIGZABcE1hICxTxO5OFDUcJZZM8XNlIp6PdE5NtJTM6IWi6PNtXJ-ch1trZZAKhTT5AtvnTMxOSpM5FxWsGw_5_L2DOz_bD-b0geyXoFInLWZR/s1600/CIMG1127.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ByEy2_jeOom_-mQvX8RwXOPIGZABcE1hICxTxO5OFDUcJZZM8XNlIp6PdE5NtJTM6IWi6PNtXJ-ch1trZZAKhTT5AtvnTMxOSpM5FxWsGw_5_L2DOz_bD-b0geyXoFInLWZR/s400/CIMG1127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472452674187416690" border="0" /></a>And finally like this. At this point we climbed up on top and only took a few more steps. We decided it wasn't worth the effort and risk to keep going if we weren't even going to go all the way. This is a western slope, so they usually take much longer to clear out, but this is nuts!<br /><br />We are so lucky to live near beautiful mountains where we can head out for a day to places we would have to take a week off to go to for vacation in the past. We will definitely come back here, but we'll probably give it a few more weeks (months?) to melt out a bit more!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-85981478954785972332010-04-12T16:43:00.012-05:002010-05-13T15:18:40.276-05:00GrowthGrowing up, my dad always had a big vegetable garden. I never paid much attention to it, other than to eat of it's bounty each summer, but looking back, he was able to grow an abundance of vegetables in our own back yard. It wasn't until I had graduated college and gotten married that I had the urge to attempt to grow my own food. As I have grown in my love for the outdoors and for vegetables in general, the desire to have a garden has only become more tempting. However, this is the first time we've ever lived in a place where we had a yard and the opportunity to do so.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />As I've walked through this process, I've come to realize how much I have just enjoy growth. I love to grow in my own life, whether that means spiritually, mentally, or emotionally. I love seeing goals met and dreams come true. I love seeing and helping other grow as well. We have great opportunity for this in ministry, and it is so fulfilling when we are used to challenge or encourage someone who takes that next step, whatever it might be. I'm not sure if these two passions are connected, but regardless, the processes are similar. There is some aspect of weeding out the stuff in our lives that will inhibit good things to grow before we can really plant, nurture, and eventually reap a harvest. We have to remember that growth is not an end result, but a journey that we have to take one step at a time.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsETYvUvUYWJENBdXEsra18igTYp3QNx2o-QGnQ11CS8FgihVbisHBZ7LhW4A3GTeGVmI4XkxJ5vgEgcUs8YGNIFtLmKQSldNgFhmFkhxFfUhz76eK4QmOoY009YX-tyA2a_M4/s1600/CIMG0976.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsETYvUvUYWJENBdXEsra18igTYp3QNx2o-QGnQ11CS8FgihVbisHBZ7LhW4A3GTeGVmI4XkxJ5vgEgcUs8YGNIFtLmKQSldNgFhmFkhxFfUhz76eK4QmOoY009YX-tyA2a_M4/s400/CIMG0976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459371319443915954" border="0" /></a>This is what happens in the NW when you plant grass in the rest of the yard and then proceed to ignore the dirt patch that will be your garden in the spring. It took a whole afternoon to weed it. I had put down some straw to keep my strawberry plants from freezing, but the grass still managed to grow up through it.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwH6IF8-mtvNk3CZnYuIAnogwE8eA_So7TpCujVTgs9QGqird3S6xdlcHxvjhkyyqVjf8RsbVxhUANKDAzLgYuk2kzCZVcL0hI8j1DNMHYzNBTySBLFjwHH9Xn41VeeavqLdpg/s1600/CIMG0978.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwH6IF8-mtvNk3CZnYuIAnogwE8eA_So7TpCujVTgs9QGqird3S6xdlcHxvjhkyyqVjf8RsbVxhUANKDAzLgYuk2kzCZVcL0hI8j1DNMHYzNBTySBLFjwHH9Xn41VeeavqLdpg/s400/CIMG0978.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459371182631780082" border="0" /></a>The straw and grass/weeds filled 6 garbage bags! Debbie got a lot of organic material for her compost :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBY5ErPMu3r_-NOuI9veRsr6vMHPsJs2Y5vLAq0bKijkyjpKRwcnmNfDfT_O7TYUbiE98c1uUFYaFApnn6D8UHUrt7XJwM38s0QjKnDcROFOcZR4eF80RZdGW8Ecvz5_Geu16E/s1600/CIMG0979.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBY5ErPMu3r_-NOuI9veRsr6vMHPsJs2Y5vLAq0bKijkyjpKRwcnmNfDfT_O7TYUbiE98c1uUFYaFApnn6D8UHUrt7XJwM38s0QjKnDcROFOcZR4eF80RZdGW8Ecvz5_Geu16E/s400/CIMG0979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459371073221279842" border="0" /></a>This picture was taken 4-6 wks ago. They are my strawberry plants that are now blooming! Yay!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzefO8lhx86PIWIqgqNFK1kho9wxePz6_6QrTIwuSRYAuP4DcHxiJUoYEZrf7psSi4sPpXqwmI152FD5BLyaSh2IhiXLpx3YzXVPKFtX424OmJD3K5hTM-xawi6SkvMCjeT-nN/s1600/CIMG0995.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzefO8lhx86PIWIqgqNFK1kho9wxePz6_6QrTIwuSRYAuP4DcHxiJUoYEZrf7psSi4sPpXqwmI152FD5BLyaSh2IhiXLpx3YzXVPKFtX424OmJD3K5hTM-xawi6SkvMCjeT-nN/s400/CIMG0995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459370842020089730" border="0" /></a>I was very eager and started my zucchini and cucumbers a bit early. They did germinate in my kitchen and are now planted in the garden. It's a bit early for them, so I'm hoping they make it. If not, I will just replant and take note for next year to wait a few more weeks :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXB5CRStrK_lQtUESA-OMbNMnrk8o-WLnk3Peg8WGJG3g6PRCdUPcRBospDJoObNQkfZAA_89ulE0iD2G-JuegyAYWk9WZuDCtaSC3dvWvkzCG4NHFGACsjMYtcFJjWScTp7F/s1600/CIMG1000.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXB5CRStrK_lQtUESA-OMbNMnrk8o-WLnk3Peg8WGJG3g6PRCdUPcRBospDJoObNQkfZAA_89ulE0iD2G-JuegyAYWk9WZuDCtaSC3dvWvkzCG4NHFGACsjMYtcFJjWScTp7F/s400/CIMG1000.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459370646343838498" border="0" /></a>Cucumber, Zucchini, Onions, Broccoli, and Roma Tomatoes. It's early for tomatoes as well, so this plant is in a flower pot in my kitchen for now.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguf-2L40M08UEiXUUq-n7zDVxnoPCtOC_YDxzxh1RW6pavllA5Z0f4MbNJX2iRNZ1Rbw3pnRHBbMoTg3zaBt9RuWoFhyphenhyphendYHRSooo73ySZkVGOUWO5a4C8xqDIQcrbBNVwkPjn/s1600/CIMG0999.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguf-2L40M08UEiXUUq-n7zDVxnoPCtOC_YDxzxh1RW6pavllA5Z0f4MbNJX2iRNZ1Rbw3pnRHBbMoTg3zaBt9RuWoFhyphenhyphendYHRSooo73ySZkVGOUWO5a4C8xqDIQcrbBNVwkPjn/s400/CIMG0999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459370249658876866" border="0" /></a>It took another few hours of an afternoon to till the hard-packed soil. Because I didn't want to wait to borrow a tiller, I did this with a shovel and P90X power (aka: my arms) :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwUXA15W19PbFDWa8xupjn9GXtUybNMTmaDOICtTi_WqmwcA6MFUV2qm5aiQQV-FqJWUp2jxg_l5HaMtLGGDn5WGQYZrjGNdQ3tXM88ulSzL4Ol6H6vF_Lqcn3H5enphJRQYZ/s1600/CIMG1006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwUXA15W19PbFDWa8xupjn9GXtUybNMTmaDOICtTi_WqmwcA6MFUV2qm5aiQQV-FqJWUp2jxg_l5HaMtLGGDn5WGQYZrjGNdQ3tXM88ulSzL4Ol6H6vF_Lqcn3H5enphJRQYZ/s400/CIMG1006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459370009266249506" border="0" /></a>Someone gave me some flowers that had this pinwheel in it. I thought it only appropriate to put in in the garden.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJT8xNTphzlx_RcmOKi1WyWJv1t-FW2edtNZ0afpqpl2EXTVx7-6c5S9q3dt5JuGrf4O4r9KliT_Vn0bry0zWZy0Fd2h1QHZJ6k9-urssM7XE-t6ZpRVzRhY5EjYncQQtA5Jc/s1600/CIMG1076.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJT8xNTphzlx_RcmOKi1WyWJv1t-FW2edtNZ0afpqpl2EXTVx7-6c5S9q3dt5JuGrf4O4r9KliT_Vn0bry0zWZy0Fd2h1QHZJ6k9-urssM7XE-t6ZpRVzRhY5EjYncQQtA5Jc/s400/CIMG1076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469738619740376770" border="0" /></a>Here is the semi-finished product that I put in just this past Saturday. I planted the onion, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, romaine lettuce, and broccoli. I also have the strawberries, and will also plant tomatoes and possibly peppers and green beans once it gets a little warmer consistently. The marigolds are planted around the peripheral as a natural way to keep bugs from the veggies. Apparently they like marigolds even better. I hope it works!<br /><br />I will definitely enjoy the end result, but have really enjoyed the process of preparing and planting. It was and (I'm sure will continue to be) a lot of hard work, yet it was so much fun! I look forward to learning more and *growing* in my knowledge of gardening as the summer goes on!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-28745785848821799352010-03-29T22:18:00.002-05:002010-03-29T22:41:37.845-05:00Happy Birthday Mark!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Today is Mark's 28th Birthday...28 on the 28th. This is probably more exciting when you are little than when you are 28, but it is what it is, and today Mark turned 28 :). We are very blessed to have Mark's parents with us. They are back out in Oregon to help work on cabins and to do some work at the same camp they were at last fall, </span>and they came down to come to church with us and then spend a couple days with us.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_JUL9SPvSrQG1jQCYi18Zb9EUgl7coo7FYCJy0cJP08DpqeRDVHdOISwn2xhnGZpjQZu4zqvDWMW85Jc0guFaQ5T7VqoYsnbR7lHHsBfD-UzRoejtwYmOzoVXV12jh2gN34s/s1600/Mark's28BdayMcGraths.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_JUL9SPvSrQG1jQCYi18Zb9EUgl7coo7FYCJy0cJP08DpqeRDVHdOISwn2xhnGZpjQZu4zqvDWMW85Jc0guFaQ5T7VqoYsnbR7lHHsBfD-UzRoejtwYmOzoVXV12jh2gN34s/s400/Mark's28BdayMcGraths.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454261201981272722" border="0" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">We went out to lunch to a seafood grille, and they made Mark wear this fish hat and have his picture taken. Luckily he got a hot fudge sundae for his humiliation. Isn't he lucky I put this picture on the blog? ;)</span><br /><o:p></o:p></span> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIj9s3eKTb1G2fQ9QdbG6G6ouD_qlMSjtM3k5dCEKZNUqPd4Gowcz8FPj4Y-oM2BLbGB9sytmQQmxvfYHKzckgjWFvlQYdMNjFp_-5ZPHkc_cw_x7YZShz5Qiq6PO8adV_mt0/s1600/Mark's28thBdayCake.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIj9s3eKTb1G2fQ9QdbG6G6ouD_qlMSjtM3k5dCEKZNUqPd4Gowcz8FPj4Y-oM2BLbGB9sytmQQmxvfYHKzckgjWFvlQYdMNjFp_-5ZPHkc_cw_x7YZShz5Qiq6PO8adV_mt0/s400/Mark's28thBdayCake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454261307539449554" border="0" /></a> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment-->Our wonderful church family planned a surprise brunch between services this morning as well. There was a cake, homemade cinnamon rolls, fruit, and a plethora of quiche-like dishes. It was all so yummy and such a fantastic surprise. I must confess that I knew for a few days, but luckily I was able to keep it a secret from Mark. He was truly surprised! Oh, did I mention they sang "Happy Birthday" to him in <span style="font-style: italic;">both</span> services?<br /><br />It's crazy to me that this is his 7th birthday that we've celebrated together- two before we were married and five since we've been married. I'm amazed at how far we've come and how much we've learned. It has been a journey that I wouldn't trade for the world, and I look forward to many more birthdays celebrated together...hopefully without the fish hat :).<br /><br />Happy Birthday, Mark! I love you!<br /></div><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" > </span>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-34039618282159301502010-03-21T15:20:00.014-05:002010-03-21T16:04:52.620-05:00Laura & Daniel's Wedding - Puerto Morelos, Mexico<div style="text-align: center;">On Feb 26, 2010, Mark's sister, Laura, married her fiance, Daniel, on the beaches of Puerto Morelos, Mexico. I have always seen pictures of the Riviera Maya and the Caribbean and wondered if it was as beautiful as the pictures made it look. The consensus? Yes, it is! The sand was white and the water aqua and clear. The weather was beautiful - in the high 70's and mid 80's almost everyday. This was our first time at a resort and it was a great time to relax and spend time with family, not to mention get to celebrate this important day in Laura and Daniel's lives. Here are a few pictures from our time there.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbjmnJsbiO7TiJnnp7zbw1Zq0rznvBlzRunPrBpQlQLzFQbviIIN9trtajGIpaOp2GRQkrOgEc2yyM2uDhMhaT7-0hDG65tBEXzlqhOUYwRBuQiilJdUwRMOPvju7ttuksY7A/s1600-h/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbjmnJsbiO7TiJnnp7zbw1Zq0rznvBlzRunPrBpQlQLzFQbviIIN9trtajGIpaOp2GRQkrOgEc2yyM2uDhMhaT7-0hDG65tBEXzlqhOUYwRBuQiilJdUwRMOPvju7ttuksY7A/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451190378641028930" border="0" /></a>The bride and groom right after the ceremony.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRT-880NUggi3utSU-GhsYihzMDkgki6bg7PX6tCRnzaJIHveItajunTdkaYtqHrUKwPjvPJMbvmStpXKGNE_-UHZcrunNaUzsKnVNnOwoFQuqgqEY-mKD5y_ZnjzXHBYbVpU/s1600-h/CIMG0876.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRT-880NUggi3utSU-GhsYihzMDkgki6bg7PX6tCRnzaJIHveItajunTdkaYtqHrUKwPjvPJMbvmStpXKGNE_-UHZcrunNaUzsKnVNnOwoFQuqgqEY-mKD5y_ZnjzXHBYbVpU/s400/CIMG0876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451189547693430354" border="0" /></a>Mark and I at the wedding.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14N_YEGrAtKUmUmkr46nH-GwJOaWrQR5dEZpE7pGMw7wV1JW91Bo1E0C4tBGthCywHANa65MQ9fwZT-ErJoigTo9tq8FzcQVhqTp3cAdETSrQVX-Cb6E2k1vLh3gnlBvUtzsK/s1600-h/CIMG0895.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14N_YEGrAtKUmUmkr46nH-GwJOaWrQR5dEZpE7pGMw7wV1JW91Bo1E0C4tBGthCywHANa65MQ9fwZT-ErJoigTo9tq8FzcQVhqTp3cAdETSrQVX-Cb6E2k1vLh3gnlBvUtzsK/s400/CIMG0895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451188543650883058" border="0" /></a>The wedding site. This was the only day it was overcast, but it actually worked out great - no rain and no squinting into the sun for pictures!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiIR4a5YdJJfzRgueBc0pWR6ihlePcAvVz_7ELmD7gCS0EHV2DW_TsBik2yv99-31FQHNO6DT5pTx42nCwi6iXzmXAG2hkGacaYYwWfZAaqdp6NOta8ZThVC1MGYDe9yuFmau/s1600-h/CIMG0817.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiIR4a5YdJJfzRgueBc0pWR6ihlePcAvVz_7ELmD7gCS0EHV2DW_TsBik2yv99-31FQHNO6DT5pTx42nCwi6iXzmXAG2hkGacaYYwWfZAaqdp6NOta8ZThVC1MGYDe9yuFmau/s400/CIMG0817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451187969056043698" border="0" /></a>They had programs each night as entertainment. We can't remember what they really called it, but it was basically a circus night. There weren't any animals, but lots of acrobatics!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJoMq1dshsZ0daPCwW7KCuNMpzzgwIRym9JGZxTc_TdS6XkA7_zP8BaI4YqyP-eSQ9Nj99p_uBYBtNuC7uqlXSNyBLT4HhQOY0B24T8l4kQjlhFL_RHaAbVpTstjmX_vCaWu7/s1600-h/CIMG0810.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJoMq1dshsZ0daPCwW7KCuNMpzzgwIRym9JGZxTc_TdS6XkA7_zP8BaI4YqyP-eSQ9Nj99p_uBYBtNuC7uqlXSNyBLT4HhQOY0B24T8l4kQjlhFL_RHaAbVpTstjmX_vCaWu7/s400/CIMG0810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451187826980290706" border="0" /></a>Dinner in one of the three amazing restaurants in the resort. This was with Mark's parents and his aunt and uncle. It was so fun to get to see his aunt and uncle whom we haven't seen for a few years!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GstfvQQM-vDPT9STkYw4fD9H57tvNdYQvUeQJQacCs0JnT84P1ol1hWyyRbQ9jzcC_LW6Rxx9TCP3wgK-kI9V4JX9-zIXoTwrqunS7jryDx1_k9DypqcejqaErUAc0zd9xCk/s1600-h/CIMG0915.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GstfvQQM-vDPT9STkYw4fD9H57tvNdYQvUeQJQacCs0JnT84P1ol1hWyyRbQ9jzcC_LW6Rxx9TCP3wgK-kI9V4JX9-zIXoTwrqunS7jryDx1_k9DypqcejqaErUAc0zd9xCk/s400/CIMG0915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451190005729171250" border="0" /></a>There were some fun activities, such as snorkeling, kayaking, and going on a hobiecat that we could do from the resort. This is Mark heading out to snorkel :). What a stud!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWTKQMORJgLP62wDFpXWKjM-uvdl2pW7Vzw17C9VH20f7MWhKSnhM5eOqlNn63RArKKZ44r1AGNt180UDxxM-ntPta5YEDf9dBMeU0x2IKU_0kEJeQL_h4K9IsRln7P_3ZT95/s1600-h/CIMG0788.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWTKQMORJgLP62wDFpXWKjM-uvdl2pW7Vzw17C9VH20f7MWhKSnhM5eOqlNn63RArKKZ44r1AGNt180UDxxM-ntPta5YEDf9dBMeU0x2IKU_0kEJeQL_h4K9IsRln7P_3ZT95/s400/CIMG0788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451187489089483810" border="0" /></a>This is the view from our room. Rough, huh?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MslzbU8SwD4tyVVD5vyXA3wO4r8yMDhnhzBJOv3YvVBmXc2NAmGhzWaih9GYAbQDHODoM1Uf3Hl-DSeD5ZTEzv3Wkt5qsO8kcABHEWUCBUe-2_dgfDUnUri8rrdGYABGBTNL/s1600-h/CIMG0793.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-MslzbU8SwD4tyVVD5vyXA3wO4r8yMDhnhzBJOv3YvVBmXc2NAmGhzWaih9GYAbQDHODoM1Uf3Hl-DSeD5ZTEzv3Wkt5qsO8kcABHEWUCBUe-2_dgfDUnUri8rrdGYABGBTNL/s400/CIMG0793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451187272941455090" border="0" /></a>This cracked me up every single day; not sure why I thought this was so funny, but the public restrooms were the "he" and "she" rooms. I just had fun saying, "Excuse me, I need to use the she room."<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRvAV9Xh50W6bFnwPURjUJ_5lFFUJWQeiVEX_k7pbqX1t1vh4gnqPcAEJIubfaH_PLklY8UyfeOUSe2LF-n-tG0KcRVRQdNPWdb2_EQxS2-FwfEiSNdyk0y2RqXhiFCVFc_3c/s1600-h/CIMG0925.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRvAV9Xh50W6bFnwPURjUJ_5lFFUJWQeiVEX_k7pbqX1t1vh4gnqPcAEJIubfaH_PLklY8UyfeOUSe2LF-n-tG0KcRVRQdNPWdb2_EQxS2-FwfEiSNdyk0y2RqXhiFCVFc_3c/s400/CIMG0925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451186843703687122" border="0" /></a>My birthday was the 27th, the day after the wedding. It worked out nice, because I got to spend my birthday with family and in a really beautiful place. We went out to dinner that night with Mark's parents and Paul and Heather, his brother and brother's wife.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQjoxKFICFS2094g6yx5hPCVI1QwsLBjfp-L6ob7jV2_ZOVgh8zk1579krAwagyPSUnuQte7eizVGHxYe_so63gAxBNAYgBrc9nZLLKlkOYYZZO4EL6u9Wt_wO_PARwReNPKr/s1600-h/Laura'sWedding-Cancun+Feb.27,2010+105.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQjoxKFICFS2094g6yx5hPCVI1QwsLBjfp-L6ob7jV2_ZOVgh8zk1579krAwagyPSUnuQte7eizVGHxYe_so63gAxBNAYgBrc9nZLLKlkOYYZZO4EL6u9Wt_wO_PARwReNPKr/s400/Laura'sWedding-Cancun+Feb.27,2010+105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451185768128952482" border="0" /></a>The lady at the restaurand went out of her way to bring me a birthday dessert, which was probably the best dessert I had the whole time we were there. She even had the chef write "Happy Birthday" in caramel. We still aren't sure what the name is she used, but it looks like Sushan. We think she misunderstood my name and was aiming for Susan. Oh well - I won't complain. It tasted amazing!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We are so thankful we were able to go and support Laura and Daniel. It was their dream to have a destination wedding, so it was so neat to see that dream come true. It was also well-timed because it rains from October through April here, so it was nice to have some more sunshine in the midst of all that dreariness :). Other than being a little sun-burned, we came back refreshed and rested and well-fed :). Congrats Laura and Daniel!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-61505814137235820292010-03-02T21:04:00.004-06:002010-03-02T21:12:22.524-06:00The Way of Descent<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW6cX0pU-xXuIylARSqe0azIhAWQtQ44H6kKgMbKo-SaialUSfDhXouWhIatDi6eWKX2oiEmsIDTY_g-xyznGMyGyfXih5F_RaiWg6miPflW12f6_Qrd_ImCB24OnLoHrDGoW/s1600-h/humility+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHW6cX0pU-xXuIylARSqe0azIhAWQtQ44H6kKgMbKo-SaialUSfDhXouWhIatDi6eWKX2oiEmsIDTY_g-xyznGMyGyfXih5F_RaiWg6miPflW12f6_Qrd_ImCB24OnLoHrDGoW/s400/humility+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444238629175600162" border="0" /></a><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Times; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Times; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">-1 Peter 5:6</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our church is on a journey together that corresponds to the season of Lent.<span style=""> </span>We are calling it <i style="">The Way of Descent</i>.<span style=""> </span>The following is an excerpt of something Mark wrote for our church newsletter that will bring some understanding:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">“</i><i style=""><span style="">We usually want to be uplifted or encouraged.<span style=""> </span>Descending is a “downer” word.<span style=""> </span>But, we need to understand God’s design for us to move upward.<span style=""> </span>At the heart of all of this is humility, a lowering of ourselves.<span style=""> </span>1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” <span style=""> </span>It seems that precisely in lowering and humbling ourselves, God is able to lift us up and use us for great things.<span style=""> </span>Even Jesus came as a servant and slave of all.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="">I’ve been reflecting on some of the words written by Andrew Murray, an influential missionary to Africa in the 1800’s who said, “I am amazed at how little humility is seen as the distinguishing feature of discipleship.”<span style=""> </span>That line strikes me over and over.<span style=""> </span>Could it be that somewhere at the core of being a follower of Jesus is understanding what it means to be humble?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="">Moses, we know as a great leader in the Old Testament who God used to lead His people out of</span> their slavery in Egypt to the Promised L</i><i style=""><span style="">and.<span style=""> </span>He was one of the most influential people of the Old Testament, remembered and revered for generations and even to this day.<span style=""> </span>One thing often missed about Moses is his humility.<span style=""> </span>In the book of Numbers 12:3 it says, “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”<span style=""> </span>That is quite a statement.<span style=""> </span>We often remember the great things that Moses accomplished.<span style=""> </span>But, before anything great happened, God saw humility in Moses.<span style=""> </span>More than anyone else on earth!<span style=""> </span>Moses is an example of the 1 Peter verse.<span style=""> </span>He was humble and God raised him up.<span style=""> </span>Often I think we want to do the raising up part.<span style=""> </span>We want to succeed or to be noticed when we do well.<span style=""> </span>The problem is we first need humility.<span style=""> </span>We have to lower ourselves.<span style=""> </span>Murray defines humility as “the place of entire dependence on God.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="">Moses also had the timing factor, as 1 Peter mentions “in due time.”<span style=""> </span>Moses spent years and years in the land of Midian where he was married and had children before God appeared to him and sent him to deliver the people from Egypt.<span style=""> </span>We not only have to have humility, we must continually live in humility and God in due time will raise us up.<span style=""> </span>We don’t like the years and years of waiting and being humble.<span style=""> </span>It’s hard for us.<span style=""> </span>But, God can do great things in us when seek humility and begin to understand what</span> it looks like to live it out…In [Andrew Murray’s] words</i>, <span style="font-style: italic;">‘</span><span style="font-style: italic;">nothing is more natural and beautiful and blessed than to be nothing in or</span><span style="font-style: italic;">der that God may be everything.’”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><i style=""><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The eight weeks (beginning the Sunday before Ash Wednesday) focus on the following:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">1. God Pursues Us</p> <p class="MsoNormal">2. Our Condition</p> <p class="MsoNormal">3. Our Humility </p> <p class="MsoNormal">4. The Cross</p> <p class="MsoNormal">5. Confession & Forgiveness</p> <p class="MsoNormal">6. We Pursue God</p> <p class="MsoNormal">7. The Way of Descent</p> <p class="MsoNormal">8. Resurrection Sunday!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are daily Scripture readings and challenges that focus on the Lenten themes of sacrifice, repentance, fasting, prayer, and self-control.<span style=""> </span>We are excited to see how God is using this and will continue to use this to challenge our church to deeper places in Him.<span style=""> </span>If you want to join us, we are posting the daily Scripture readings each week <a href="http://www.mtviewchurch.org/The_Way_of_Descent.html">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While many Protestant churches have shunned such seasons of the church calendar because the meaning was lost in ritual and tradition, I have found such season to be meaningful and deeply challenging when I can refocus on the foundation and principles that it was originally meant to point to.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I will close with a quote from a <a href="http://www.crivoice.org/cylent.html">great website</a> I use when I am looking for information on the different season of the Church Year. Let this be our hearts cry this Lenten season:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="font-family:Cambria;">“Perhaps during the Lenten season we should stop praying for others as if we were virtuous enough to do so. Perhaps we should take off our righteous robes just long enough during these 40 days to put ashes on our own heads, to come before God with a new humility that is willing to confess, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." Maybe we should be willing to prostrate ourselves before God and plead, "Lord, in my hand no price I bring; simply to the cross I cling." That might put us in a position to hear God in ways that we have not heard Him in a long time. And it may be the beginning of a healing for which we have so longed.</span></i></span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><i style=""><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><i style=""><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style=""><span style="font-family:Cambria;"><span style="font-size:130%;">O Lord, begin with me. Here. Now.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-27183273403662077352010-02-19T00:49:00.004-06:002010-02-19T00:59:06.007-06:00No Knead Skillet Pizza<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFQ4JhL2n391m_ZqwuRA0OQyGGOoL2lUH_0bNkxhDoLc2aZN4F3A2M2q6CHqi_kg7g7nyk7Kqo6EoKWXq5oTer8r-1GS2styxTAcoPKSALyRexTBwLie8BlQEqsYCKBJbEHng/s1600-h/CIMG0787.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFQ4JhL2n391m_ZqwuRA0OQyGGOoL2lUH_0bNkxhDoLc2aZN4F3A2M2q6CHqi_kg7g7nyk7Kqo6EoKWXq5oTer8r-1GS2styxTAcoPKSALyRexTBwLie8BlQEqsYCKBJbEHng/s400/CIMG0787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439843303323124002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html">bread recipe</a> amazes me. I made up my first batch of dough the other day and it literally took me less than 5 minutes to make. Once it's made it just needs to sit for 12-24 hrs to rise, so that is the trade-off for not having to knead the dough. However, one of the recipes we were shown how to make are these skillet pizzas that take about 5 minutes each to make! Very Italian: dough, mozzarella, basil, and tomato. So easy and so tasty! My next test will be to try it with whole wheat flour. I'll let you know how it goes :).<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-79136704462431109162010-02-13T01:29:00.002-06:002010-02-13T01:45:01.790-06:00No Knead Artisan Bread<div style="text-align: center;">For Christmas I was given a great gift. A friend paid for me to go to a <a href="http://www.kellyshomecenter.com/cookingschool.html">cooking class</a> called "No Knead Artisan Bread" that just took place this past Monday night. Not only did we learn to make a VERY easy Artisan bread that tastes wonderful, we also learned how to use the bread to make some super yummy recipes that include pizza (in the oven), skillet pizza, bread pudding, and soup (I know it sounds wierd but it's amazing...I made some today!). Not only is making the dough easy, but cooking it is super easy too! I made the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boule_%28bread%29">boule</a> you see below by baking it in a preheated cast iron pot (also pictured). It was such a fun gift because we got to go together (along with another friend), ate some great food, and learned how to make a fun bread recipe that is very practical and usable. I have really loved learning how to make homemade bread this past year and a half! <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5n4ZLG5LyQuQCU6CewI6JRDzXKu9a8i8IrX1Q8P4yKtFoT95bAwjBIGe8bUZLJflexKbYAidkIBKAeZNzEcMpU_SJPvy5EBRwAHDn0qxsI8bHCiHhuDPW4qbq0Wbb4OUobrq/s1600-h/CIMG0779.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5n4ZLG5LyQuQCU6CewI6JRDzXKu9a8i8IrX1Q8P4yKtFoT95bAwjBIGe8bUZLJflexKbYAidkIBKAeZNzEcMpU_SJPvy5EBRwAHDn0qxsI8bHCiHhuDPW4qbq0Wbb4OUobrq/s400/CIMG0779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437627117905035506" border="0" /></a>No Knead Artisan Bread. So good! It has a weird texture to the crust because you put flour and cornmeal on the dough before you wrap it in a flour-sack cloth to rise. Once it's baked it will just fall right off. Our chef also mentioned you can make it with whole-wheat flour as well. I may give that a try sometime as well.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HWkfWYSIlk-odYmWLQ_7PD8vueUAmSzfeCBv4nWLTVU2cBqKSAF7j5GaQdRHcDnCawxp4qpK4LMzBXUduDy3Yo69NbPTMr-E-d5ZXqOrufKCb7NbsJh8EEHn0ZoFax4dmZEl/s1600-h/CIMG0781.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HWkfWYSIlk-odYmWLQ_7PD8vueUAmSzfeCBv4nWLTVU2cBqKSAF7j5GaQdRHcDnCawxp4qpK4LMzBXUduDy3Yo69NbPTMr-E-d5ZXqOrufKCb7NbsJh8EEHn0ZoFax4dmZEl/s400/CIMG0781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437627016743843058" border="0" /></a>Nice, soft, yummy bread. Perfect with some olive oil, Parmesan, and freshly ground pepper :).<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-18579046053359886712010-01-21T22:21:00.006-06:002010-01-21T22:46:59.602-06:00Finally...<div style="text-align: center;">...we got to go snowboarding! I'm ashamed to say that this was our first time to go this winter. We have been meaning to get out for awhile, but since we now have to drive 1.5-2 hrs, it has eluded us until now. We headed up to Timberline on Mt. Hood, and the day was beautiful and clear. We kept hearing, "this is the best day we've had all season!" which made us happy. As the day went on, clouds moved in and the wind picked up. Below you'll see a short video (the camera battery was dying so it's REAL short). It's pretty windy...and the video was taken in a lull!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_o6DWGdEbjbdg9GU0TGjrlEbWQCzQzLChYvHFmZcCkmJtniCtnYMe2FWGwN-wm6vyIaqrVCegpkafq4_yggNLD9UwvsmBI1EDeD-DBkI4AbqBUU7mNgySd98jnuSlEJ7CeWRh/s1600-h/CIMG0757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_o6DWGdEbjbdg9GU0TGjrlEbWQCzQzLChYvHFmZcCkmJtniCtnYMe2FWGwN-wm6vyIaqrVCegpkafq4_yggNLD9UwvsmBI1EDeD-DBkI4AbqBUU7mNgySd98jnuSlEJ7CeWRh/s400/CIMG0757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429415154008148098" border="0" /></a>Beautiful, white, snowy, Mt. Hood.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hp03zmSJsG9VngT3CmMmOcVbuWxFmKV0vgvSL0-lrVA_xhmE-Hqft3F1i1_Nv0XWSVIMLIjbVTq9wIXUQhFVQ1YGnamM4LHP0HZqGFbDGyem3EwKLS7zPsDjGaMYtHoemNTM/s1600-h/CIMG0759.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hp03zmSJsG9VngT3CmMmOcVbuWxFmKV0vgvSL0-lrVA_xhmE-Hqft3F1i1_Nv0XWSVIMLIjbVTq9wIXUQhFVQ1YGnamM4LHP0HZqGFbDGyem3EwKLS7zPsDjGaMYtHoemNTM/s400/CIMG0759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429415049313330866" border="0" /></a>At the top of the Magic Mile lift in the wind.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDsfx0LS2gjz76fInsxy97SWwkY3baD5wnMBzpw-tI5uZkmn72ScOLRz53HsTVdzBCbTQhTre6YYibh9lfk_mOHybAfGK_pHXUmxNPXUlfMwNRfqW3n6TUi9AcVhthSWCWksg/s1600-h/CIMG0762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDsfx0LS2gjz76fInsxy97SWwkY3baD5wnMBzpw-tI5uZkmn72ScOLRz53HsTVdzBCbTQhTre6YYibh9lfk_mOHybAfGK_pHXUmxNPXUlfMwNRfqW3n6TUi9AcVhthSWCWksg/s400/CIMG0762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429414931229804114" border="0" /></a>Mark and our friend, Andy (from Portland), who we were able to connect with for the day. He is a skier, but we hung with him anyway :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5i0x0dnuOvdWgUXLlFQIC_4lGFrR2ovnbpxkZEUHPFnJa03iA6bQpQW88BCLe6DZyxmcPUZR9sGs' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-35077573863578402452009-12-26T23:43:00.011-06:002009-12-27T00:30:55.555-06:00A Look Back at 2009<div style="text-align: center;">It's amazing to think that at the beginning of 2009 we didn't have a clue what we would be doing right now! It's been a crazy but fun year. We started out the year living in Bend, OR, having only been there for a couple of months. We moved there in Oct 2008, after finishing our hike of the <a href="http://striding.blogspot.com/2008/09/september-9we-made-it.html">Pacific Crest Trail</a>, interested in finding "fun jobs" that we could simply do for a few months while we determined which seminary we would be going to in the fall of 2009. We were sure we would only be living in Oregon for a few months, so we didn't think that local church ministry was an option for us at the time (who would hire pastors that would only be around for 10 months or less?).<br /><br />Mark found himself as a snowboard instructor at <a href="http://www.mtbachelor.com/winter/index.html">Mt. Bachelor</a>, and Jess eventually ended up as a Lead (a type of assistant Cafe Manager) at Barnes & Noble. We really enjoyed our time in Bend. Our friends Aaron and Annie, whom we met while working at <a href="http://www.heritageqc.com/">Heritage Wesleyan Church</a> were fun to hang out with and get to know better, and we also made some great new friends, Stephanie and Ryan, who are now serving in the Peace Corps in Mongolia!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaT0LKYLSgXlzzMzFrRXsOFIX4YPUmZSxPyJqGgqSnMm6F2NTzDjHBpkBkFNsiaei2PuVrDzGXeF8415jaRNOco5D8lWIUw7z0GG6_Q_eCcoBucc1aCHtnY_97IM0gmt3w0Ogl/s1600-h/DSC03946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaT0LKYLSgXlzzMzFrRXsOFIX4YPUmZSxPyJqGgqSnMm6F2NTzDjHBpkBkFNsiaei2PuVrDzGXeF8415jaRNOco5D8lWIUw7z0GG6_Q_eCcoBucc1aCHtnY_97IM0gmt3w0Ogl/s400/DSC03946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789727306326610" border="0" /></a>In April, Jess got to go back to the Quad Cities for a fun weekend with friends who all came together there (can't find the pictures on my computer). In May we celebrated our 4 year anniversary with a weekend in Newport on Oregon's coast. These guys were just hanging out on the docks!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBiyGAmlc-puB2p-_8_nXpccI-kPrgcPdAP7-QzYgNNLooYUF1SjSOqZdtozFL8ISLxP6F8MIkv7tJhJwMTrxYx9wewyiQwnqkBUvZSnyvKv8eGsqaO7gx7zsVZdwBCJEzLCX/s1600-h/DSC04100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBiyGAmlc-puB2p-_8_nXpccI-kPrgcPdAP7-QzYgNNLooYUF1SjSOqZdtozFL8ISLxP6F8MIkv7tJhJwMTrxYx9wewyiQwnqkBUvZSnyvKv8eGsqaO7gx7zsVZdwBCJEzLCX/s400/DSC04100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789350917926818" border="0" /></a>In June and July, Mark's parents visited as they drove through on their way to and from a <a href="http://www.sowerministry.org/what%20is%20sowers.htm">SOWER's</a> project near Portland. We did a lot of fun stuff, including taking the chairlift up Mt. Bachelor for lunch with a view!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC2NoFvFZaySe7eFtO7gb_3diVshpXkePuS2d04mpUCKsSkhd9Me0fdpNwyB4tJiONcPpTGdyJIyPab5XkIpRUifHS558SD4mcS3E5n46pUquAjoIDtVdIK3Mn1A71QXw0rOV/s1600-h/DSC03986.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvC2NoFvFZaySe7eFtO7gb_3diVshpXkePuS2d04mpUCKsSkhd9Me0fdpNwyB4tJiONcPpTGdyJIyPab5XkIpRUifHS558SD4mcS3E5n46pUquAjoIDtVdIK3Mn1A71QXw0rOV/s400/DSC03986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789243086932562" border="0" /></a>Also in June, Jess' parents visited; it was their first time to the Pacific Northwest, and we had a blast walking in lava tubes, canoeing, seeing waterfalls, and walking on snow in June!<br /><br />By this time we had become intrigued as we heard more about Indiana Wesleyan University's launch of the new MDiv program and <a href="http://seminary.indwes.edu/">Wesley Seminary</a>. As we prayed and talked more, we decided that despite the fact that I (Jess) was already accepted to several seminaries, I would apply to IWU as well. The beauty of this program is that it is completely online (with the exception of 2 wks each August for onsite intensives), so you can not only live anywhere you want, but you are also required to be in local church ministry for at least 20 hours/wk. We began to think that this would be ideal for us and would open up possibilities for Mark to do ministry while I started school. So Mark began putting out his resume to different districts across the country (in the Wesleyan Church). The result was a church less than 3 hours away in Oregon that was looking for a pastor and seemed to be a good fit for us. In June we came to candidate (This equals an onsite interview with preaching involved), and we were voted in by the congregation the same day. They were interested in taking on Mark as a Senior Pastor and were open to my being on staff as an Assistant Pastor as well, so it worked out perfectly.<br /><br />We got in one last hurrah (well two) in July by squeezing in a summit of South Sister and a week-long thru-hike of The Wonderland Trail that circles Mt. Rainier before heading back to the Quad Cities to load up a moving truck to <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> move out to Oregon (we didn't bring much with us the first time, thinking it was a temporary move). We packed up our apt in Bend, moved to Aumsville, and the next day I flew to Indiana for my first 2-week intensive that marked the beginning of my MDiv program.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuUdRnbLl0fro-ICiHCNx4_-BtwFhDC2vpdUVn1yNK_wJI3-nR8-hQJZlmlkg12V_ytxB26tHdZDxDitLEayt73AkwWCEZLJ_jT1z4W9BEsxgpo6ifJPt1_2TmDkF036S-qfg/s1600-h/DSC04030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuUdRnbLl0fro-ICiHCNx4_-BtwFhDC2vpdUVn1yNK_wJI3-nR8-hQJZlmlkg12V_ytxB26tHdZDxDitLEayt73AkwWCEZLJ_jT1z4W9BEsxgpo6ifJPt1_2TmDkF036S-qfg/s400/DSC04030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419788292517928146" border="0" /></a>Middle and North Sister from the Summit of South Sister.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIQgJO1KkbDI7SiBtEbo0bLke8ASu7ihlIVljfsliesZoL7Iyn_17PIWgEmUHTuAJ0cJycZklFH-lgA5Ij4e4ukEtJDbDR5_hjVHdl2ni3IO6vWJPqDJEGSRIK0Ii4p2oFo8t/s1600-h/CIMG0132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIQgJO1KkbDI7SiBtEbo0bLke8ASu7ihlIVljfsliesZoL7Iyn_17PIWgEmUHTuAJ0cJycZklFH-lgA5Ij4e4ukEtJDbDR5_hjVHdl2ni3IO6vWJPqDJEGSRIK0Ii4p2oFo8t/s400/CIMG0132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419788157240807106" border="0" /></a>Hiking the Wonderland Trail. Don't let the flat land here fool you. There is <a href="http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache%3A38W59w9rDMcJ%3Awww.nps.gov%2Fmora%2Fplanyourvisit%2Fupload%2FWonderland%2520Trail%2520Profile-Longmire.pdf+the+wonderland+trail+elevation+profile&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbSDlIlcA_5MctqxKEcXmFfQ_BcJoA&pli=1">20,000 ft</a> of elevation gain and loss on this trail!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguCWGnd1-iDlHcwMKmExTJen3YbRsBHJgSWaJXwLDG4NvWJUsHteY5BqwgzhlQr3207rOf6k2R9ATBc3kcY7A3jY1NFpXpXnYb64vv_hA250y64LWfDt-vS7ZrqadBzv274mi/s1600-h/moving+truck.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguCWGnd1-iDlHcwMKmExTJen3YbRsBHJgSWaJXwLDG4NvWJUsHteY5BqwgzhlQr3207rOf6k2R9ATBc3kcY7A3jY1NFpXpXnYb64vv_hA250y64LWfDt-vS7ZrqadBzv274mi/s400/moving+truck.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419790000802427938" border="0" /></a>Mark and Dave loading up the moving truck in the Quad Cities.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOodoTAj58Lmritjc6RUks-HN6tk8vHRISBgtKlXomcOXTXYtURc-D5BlVc33A4UlUEOtDqXblnqNHERhyVD0qdZMcXmj3Jg_J9Ah_jtnSmuSVAIjzX1UyuHGWk3MeDYVG4UHU/s1600-h/CIMG0457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOodoTAj58Lmritjc6RUks-HN6tk8vHRISBgtKlXomcOXTXYtURc-D5BlVc33A4UlUEOtDqXblnqNHERhyVD0qdZMcXmj3Jg_J9Ah_jtnSmuSVAIjzX1UyuHGWk3MeDYVG4UHU/s400/CIMG0457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419788694675131682" border="0" /></a>Good Ol' Blackboard. This is how my online classes are done. Much time is spent here :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpoxhTpexTU1N16UFQFNloawsyWYuIp4xdtkW_Ix-wY9iid_lxiPqFnYgLljzbf73MVfHu_8Q5Dx23hai4vL-63lXi0h-Yu3rNyz6orx77jonaFnphD4lNpljsS4mjX-e0Pka/s1600-h/CIMG0431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpoxhTpexTU1N16UFQFNloawsyWYuIp4xdtkW_Ix-wY9iid_lxiPqFnYgLljzbf73MVfHu_8Q5Dx23hai4vL-63lXi0h-Yu3rNyz6orx77jonaFnphD4lNpljsS4mjX-e0Pka/s400/CIMG0431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419787793645738962" border="0" /></a>We have loved our church so far. What a loving, supportive, encouraging, servant-hearted group of people! Mark has enjoyed learning what it means to be a Senior Pastor, and Jess just finished up her first semester of school (thanks to all those at Mt. View who gave me feedback for my assignments!). I look back and could mark this year as one of transition, however, it seems like so much of our life has been filled with what feels like transition and change. And while we have enjoyed that, we are excited for our time here, hopefully more stable, and we're excited for what this next year will bring!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-66138791410185326262009-12-26T19:43:00.008-06:002009-12-26T19:50:33.068-06:00The Gift that Kept on Giving<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times;">I did something last week that I haven’t done since before Christmas of 2004: I bought conditioner. I know it sounds a little strange (did you buy the <i style="">really</i> large value bottle at Costco?), but aside from the small bottle of Pert Plus when we were hiking the PCT, I truly have not had to purchase shampoo or conditioner since 2004.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times;">My sister is an extremely talented cosmetologist who graduated from the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, MN. One of her perks is a great discount on Aveda products, and so for Christmas in 2004 she sent me some Aveda shampoo and conditioner, which I was excited to receive. But here’s the deal: my hair is pretty thin and fine and it doesn’t take much shampoo or conditioner to clean it, so the next year when she sent me even bigger bottles, I had to say, “Stop! I love it, but I’ve barely put a dent in the first bottles yet!”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times;">Now I confess that we hiked the PCT for 4.5 months (and so I wasn’t using it then), but I am just as surprised as anyone else that these bottles of shampoo and conditioner have lasted nearly 5 years. And it’s not because I don’t shower (I know you were thinking it). But these simple gifts were like the bottomless carpet bag that Mary Poppins carried around or like those </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://www.moillusions.com/wp-content/uploads/1.bp.blogspot.com/_cxmptAPYR-s/RdmvOAgR2kI/AAAAAAAAAR8/rowylOd3cSU/s400/magic-faucet-fountain.jpg"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; color: blue;">faucets</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times;"> that seem to pour from the middle of the sky with a never-ending supply of water coming from who-knows-where. They were just always full. It isn’t everyday you get shampoo and conditioner that unexpectedly lasts for nearly 5 years. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I say “Thanks” to Bethany for giving me a gift that was not only quality, but one less thing I had to think about, which is always a win in my book.</span><!--EndFragment-->Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-24898524708849023492009-11-23T21:29:00.003-06:002009-11-24T15:28:11.897-06:00We Wish We Were Here...<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0eb8AK8_wDM&border=1&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0eb8AK8_wDM&border=1&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="349" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Opening Day at Mt. Bachelor was Friday, November 20...this video was taken on opening day, and we are so jealous of all the fresh powder! Last year I only got to go a couple of times because of my work schedule, and the days never looked as good as this! Mark had plenty like this, and I'm pretty sure this powder is making him itch to get back on the slopes :). We are looking forward to spending some time at Mt. Hood and Hoodoo this winter, and hopefully we'll get a chance to head over the Pass and hit Bachelor as well. If anyone is up for a ski or snowboard day, let us know!<br /><br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-38490456742257991912009-11-10T23:43:00.010-06:002009-11-11T00:21:38.589-06:00Church Events<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UlXoY_tyY0Hsm2QEUKYw3sS8kiIe8axQhHOuDQjCsjpOYRVdCopsyZWZ3A8MvZuHn3otrKiBe8vr-pUzYh6DUEgvIEu5cl7snpVA9NbROC-NJ9qqOqxaHf5eLeN8unXL-u8u/s1600-h/2009_0828AE.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UlXoY_tyY0Hsm2QEUKYw3sS8kiIe8axQhHOuDQjCsjpOYRVdCopsyZWZ3A8MvZuHn3otrKiBe8vr-pUzYh6DUEgvIEu5cl7snpVA9NbROC-NJ9qqOqxaHf5eLeN8unXL-u8u/s400/2009_0828AE.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402721044612843650" border="0" /></a>Since being at the church we've had several events. The first one was called the Jumble Sale. It's a fundraiser that happens every year for our women's ministry. All summer people from the church/community donate stuff to be sold...everything from clothes to furniture and everything in between. It's a big rummage sale, but provides our women's ministry with funds needed for the year.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpT5akHTTFctfoO3gghzzgAHHUEms4_Kjswm03OVYLILc9VKK-2MUr2jZnBSOQTVgjeBu8v4scWDSDjZ3jQhH-2zEMe6IBVN_RsVMuMFqlL_oJZAQMRgqWcqdj6Q2TJlyTRcRb/s1600-h/2009_0829AD.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpT5akHTTFctfoO3gghzzgAHHUEms4_Kjswm03OVYLILc9VKK-2MUr2jZnBSOQTVgjeBu8v4scWDSDjZ3jQhH-2zEMe6IBVN_RsVMuMFqlL_oJZAQMRgqWcqdj6Q2TJlyTRcRb/s400/2009_0829AD.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402720734016129282" border="0" /></a>Around the same time our kids were in the local CornFest parade. Yes, I said Cornfest :). We moved away from the Iowa region, but ended up in an agricultural area. Reminds me of going to school in Indiana. But it was fun, and we got to eat free corn on the cob...yum! And since we were new, we were talked into dressing up with the kids and walking in the parade. I was in a poodle skirt and Mark had the classic white shirt and jeans. Our kids' float won "Best in Show" though!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwPA1cE6wCSOpq1z3HUqnJ10tuAq_ObigxOvOyi64jQl9Tli5LVYj9z7VuJqr3-bXPjVPuQxdVf04nODP7bl7ke4w_AKiIJZSwdMV8nx4s117NhCuBw2G8BjD_nKwAM6YLKYv/s1600-h/CIMG0476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwPA1cE6wCSOpq1z3HUqnJ10tuAq_ObigxOvOyi64jQl9Tli5LVYj9z7VuJqr3-bXPjVPuQxdVf04nODP7bl7ke4w_AKiIJZSwdMV8nx4s117NhCuBw2G8BjD_nKwAM6YLKYv/s400/CIMG0476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402720171692775826" border="0" /></a>We had a youth bonfire in September. It was a blast and it was a great way for students to connect and hang out.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJsYr8Y3CcG-HIO1Stt9noNwfs1JAmfphhDX4aa2EULR-sVUwmxutMZDw1fUXv5kuVehwcwU-qEY9-IxlKbYD9ObuCSRKbu7u4SV-i1-rUtUy_iK6BGuAeId03BhkjWgJ3MIt/s1600-h/CIMG0467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJsYr8Y3CcG-HIO1Stt9noNwfs1JAmfphhDX4aa2EULR-sVUwmxutMZDw1fUXv5kuVehwcwU-qEY9-IxlKbYD9ObuCSRKbu7u4SV-i1-rUtUy_iK6BGuAeId03BhkjWgJ3MIt/s400/CIMG0467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402719900355675538" border="0" /></a>This was at the bonfire. Apparently Mark found this in a closet somewhere...hot huh?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTihXKtuplsdgLrupzQwhKpDFmmfwToY1psqzaNtuEx49Q2UujPqKSJMgCi1Iv8fLe9rRwnR7yqV8DT9qqkk1Gl860V3hQNd28shIPadhUW-D5gK97pLvw4AG47LNiycuGYjQP/s1600-h/CIMG0571.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTihXKtuplsdgLrupzQwhKpDFmmfwToY1psqzaNtuEx49Q2UujPqKSJMgCi1Iv8fLe9rRwnR7yqV8DT9qqkk1Gl860V3hQNd28shIPadhUW-D5gK97pLvw4AG47LNiycuGYjQP/s400/CIMG0571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402719436040851954" border="0" /></a>We did an all-church trivia night that was really fun! Mark MC-ed and I, along with a couple other ladies, were the judges that counted up the points and kept track of the scores. It was a blast, and luckily everyone was kind to the judges :).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVOcmSZU9HkSqvNsOKJ7ktUDWM9KmGevvPpGo55N_wnAy_QKU4HEShz01PxRax6oFH2lcaTaqHHqGKnmzenE8mFZ1M-QDSJLcGT0fzSZSk_1woaQ3Z0lneRU8Nd7ruSjn5MrH/s1600-h/CIMG0566.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVOcmSZU9HkSqvNsOKJ7ktUDWM9KmGevvPpGo55N_wnAy_QKU4HEShz01PxRax6oFH2lcaTaqHHqGKnmzenE8mFZ1M-QDSJLcGT0fzSZSk_1woaQ3Z0lneRU8Nd7ruSjn5MrH/s400/CIMG0566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402719078464355442" border="0" /></a>Our MC. Next time we need to get him a bowtie :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS1kYdBuAzCvQeFYpnvgMQ5JwmtPGShYQZhTzD8G93MWnX1Qq_MRu7m_ZjVgE1WAjQoqsBHhNhGeQzobbKvpVeKC2MstJS9PGQu8CBcR2XswSC_VQcpuRA4nGaG_LplxCLafX/s1600-h/CIMG0588.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS1kYdBuAzCvQeFYpnvgMQ5JwmtPGShYQZhTzD8G93MWnX1Qq_MRu7m_ZjVgE1WAjQoqsBHhNhGeQzobbKvpVeKC2MstJS9PGQu8CBcR2XswSC_VQcpuRA4nGaG_LplxCLafX/s400/CIMG0588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402718807684491394" border="0" /></a>Our second youth event was a Barn Bash in conjunction with two other Wesleyan youth groups - one from Salem and one from Portland. We had about 80 kids total and it was a blast. There was a hay maze, a corn maze, a hay ride, this slide (fun!), and candy. There was also a guest speaker. Luckily it didn't rain on us too much...just a light mist, which is basically like it not raining here.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOYYYWBi_C9Bqz611xuQLjrvLN_1F4PJVdZvgRfwGsDoJTx9Swk8GSsSEJacNcWqt7h4HnguuOJzYxizaWiLKZiofpZd1Y9jLzSOei_SyJhbMMGrfk4c29MNHOUH70vdQL9Or/s1600-h/IMG_2348.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOYYYWBi_C9Bqz611xuQLjrvLN_1F4PJVdZvgRfwGsDoJTx9Swk8GSsSEJacNcWqt7h4HnguuOJzYxizaWiLKZiofpZd1Y9jLzSOei_SyJhbMMGrfk4c29MNHOUH70vdQL9Or/s400/IMG_2348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402718296806592610" border="0" /></a>Not sure why I am putting this picture on the internet, but oh well! We had a Harvest Party for the kids in our community on Halloween. There were different games and events in different rooms, where they could win candy and treats. There were door prizes and free espresso for adults. The reason I'm wearing this pretty peach dress is b/c the theme was Knights and Damsels, so all the women helping dressed up like "princesses." Thanks to a local thrift shop, and a little tag board and cloth, I was transformed (I think) into a "damsel." I got to be the barista and give away the free espresso drinks.<br /><br />We've had a lot of fun times since being here; we've gotten to dress up in costumes a lot, and I'm sure it won't be the last time! It's been so great getting to know the people here and getting to see their hearts for God and for ministry (in the day-to-day stuff as well as the big events). We are excited about what's been happening so far and look forward to seeing how God will continue to work!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-54325334006617018422009-10-12T21:13:00.010-05:002009-10-12T21:53:00.059-05:00Keepin' It Local::Some Fun Stuff We've Been Up To In Our Area<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbwWGd6a4uEphsy_aVhbTEhwxt5a6LY-ccKbb-z9jq5hx52jQ_5SeHPCb8B1Lnm7dU5fC0YOqPYik-Xzbl6CHpyeZ9kPjRqgpmolMJFCLFoyIgXHfzLL0zw-9P0Lhs0O8UDPw/s1600-h/CIMG0529.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbwWGd6a4uEphsy_aVhbTEhwxt5a6LY-ccKbb-z9jq5hx52jQ_5SeHPCb8B1Lnm7dU5fC0YOqPYik-Xzbl6CHpyeZ9kPjRqgpmolMJFCLFoyIgXHfzLL0zw-9P0Lhs0O8UDPw/s400/CIMG0529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391905175872024962" border="0" /></a>Last week I went apple picking with my friend Julie. This is what happened to the apples I picked. I have a great recipe from my grandma for microwave applesauce (chunky or smooth), which takes a total of 10-15 min. to make. So I whipped up a few batches and took a shot at canning by myself (thanks google!). It worked perfectly, and was so fun to hear the "canner's music" (the lids popping as they seal). I only did about half the apples, so I will be doing the rest sometime this week. Yum!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKLptJA3R0kHS2-kYloD4omshHOQgot1E-eWasvEEpkU2rClAco6O7oDAz2zq6VOJrbiq804lkkMVAHEmJ7VOTjwEjEDpv7DW3_iMMNw5d_dLt-6UHYbBpcKvtfkVUjhOw5Kp/s1600-h/CIMG0535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKLptJA3R0kHS2-kYloD4omshHOQgot1E-eWasvEEpkU2rClAco6O7oDAz2zq6VOJrbiq804lkkMVAHEmJ7VOTjwEjEDpv7DW3_iMMNw5d_dLt-6UHYbBpcKvtfkVUjhOw5Kp/s400/CIMG0535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391904973273551842" border="0" /></a>Today was our day off, so we decided to head to Silver Falls State Park to ride the bike paths. Unfortunately we locked our keys in the car as soon as we got out and had to call a tow truck to come unlock our car. We were pretty lucky because we were there later in the afternoon and we have no cell service. Luckily there was still someone in the lodge to let us use a phone. We did get to ride for a little bit, although it wasn't as long as we wanted to. It was gorgeous, though, and we will definitely go back.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM85PHS9qLD_CDG7k_MECeWf2zQyZ0od3YfJy-x7R1aPFgsR4WVSqMAvWshIFQAsn5Xoa4y-7GjiblvgbZxOJy4cED1iaL325nx9ga-vq8R5mf-10owgjfuYeRUOlDl0QA_RZP/s1600-h/CIMG0547.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM85PHS9qLD_CDG7k_MECeWf2zQyZ0od3YfJy-x7R1aPFgsR4WVSqMAvWshIFQAsn5Xoa4y-7GjiblvgbZxOJy4cED1iaL325nx9ga-vq8R5mf-10owgjfuYeRUOlDl0QA_RZP/s400/CIMG0547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391904863114090450" border="0" /></a>The leaves are changing...fall is here!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6Y_i34g2vDuqe99mllb-wj5iQRHbbjE_TIVWDVN3ImOJAz84ABEt1wLi7eIz6nlKATCrSuuzaCW8nj3PxRYL4XCbnMw0XiJpow9b2hiDVZ84Ke5GSHPnajZmZn8wOjmKQiVF/s1600-h/CIMG0514.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6Y_i34g2vDuqe99mllb-wj5iQRHbbjE_TIVWDVN3ImOJAz84ABEt1wLi7eIz6nlKATCrSuuzaCW8nj3PxRYL4XCbnMw0XiJpow9b2hiDVZ84Ke5GSHPnajZmZn8wOjmKQiVF/s400/CIMG0514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391904238740788706" border="0" /></a>It was $8 for a 5-gallon bucket, so we split a bucket and got a variety of different apples.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyWvmdeOCHnyGqpNCXFxjpsA9MVhKAAtIirDuf80NRDi78DGOeG5RwUz44NL-aoKP9KMLo26h3nAeTRK0q7jev6zT5UXzcLOKvHYFM1QO9aLvfsIAelw7OIrTgc0tt7yidNxl/s1600-h/CIMG0507.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyWvmdeOCHnyGqpNCXFxjpsA9MVhKAAtIirDuf80NRDi78DGOeG5RwUz44NL-aoKP9KMLo26h3nAeTRK0q7jev6zT5UXzcLOKvHYFM1QO9aLvfsIAelw7OIrTgc0tt7yidNxl/s400/CIMG0507.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391904225650409410" border="0" /></a>My friend, Julie, lives in Portland. I know Julie from when we lived in Illinois, and it's really fun to have her so close! We've gotten to hang out a couple times now, and the last time we hung out we went apple-picking (and got coffee, which is why we are surrounded by cement in this picture).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja22hwo54yq99nEwEtY-GppejXTpdhI3YxLlheV_gVJaCjrtGqhDXyQamaNi-7EtShM5ASKW8GWmA39YYkc7fuOi4YspPkvx5KKODnjN9-tSlKvmD6BUEQQLgZaMaxbLb0sW-Z/s1600-h/CIMG0497.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja22hwo54yq99nEwEtY-GppejXTpdhI3YxLlheV_gVJaCjrtGqhDXyQamaNi-7EtShM5ASKW8GWmA39YYkc7fuOi4YspPkvx5KKODnjN9-tSlKvmD6BUEQQLgZaMaxbLb0sW-Z/s400/CIMG0497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391903582434768754" border="0" /></a>I have always wanted to learn to can, and a friend from Church, Debbie, was canning tomatoes and invited me over to learn last week. It was easy and fun! I even ended up with quite a few jars of canned tomatoes, even though they were all Debbie's; all I did was help put some in jars! Thanks Debbie! Can't wait to put them to use!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BgStLeYSePfeWNgCEgzp38BgcGeKb1fTCe924Dl7EBKuOkQ2KYz-v2lA486VhRW49V-uGIWFZ4upzDs8i76mlHlwZAICqRfwvfQTFdS2gFhVRanJB0GMcWj8OrK4Xold4tm4/s1600-h/CIMG0501.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BgStLeYSePfeWNgCEgzp38BgcGeKb1fTCe924Dl7EBKuOkQ2KYz-v2lA486VhRW49V-uGIWFZ4upzDs8i76mlHlwZAICqRfwvfQTFdS2gFhVRanJB0GMcWj8OrK4Xold4tm4/s400/CIMG0501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391902343339529314" border="0" /></a><br />We went to the Stayton Library book sale a couple weeks ago. It was three days long, and on the last day, it was $5 for a grocery bag full of books! We went expecting it to be really picked over, but there were still tons of books to choose from. We got a varying array of books that range from some outdoors-focused books, some faith-focused books, some novels (steinbeck, mischner, and some other randoms), and some cook books (yay!). We had no problem filling two grocery bags. Now the problem is where to put them...we need some more bookshelves!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8684142.post-47685617020717124692009-09-26T01:51:00.004-05:002009-09-26T02:24:07.392-05:00In Defense of Food<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AeqvwBOpRRSAwVvkxCyNZtxtq-_h4WjPZO9-g6zWNsTMoLp-q-7cOMc6_2hVjaT0VeBO5nkRPqNVLIZWc1lW5yuHzLYK4GMXZB-9U6T1cROP8tn4pA4GK7k0e368iN01b17E/s1600-h/in+defense+of+food.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AeqvwBOpRRSAwVvkxCyNZtxtq-_h4WjPZO9-g6zWNsTMoLp-q-7cOMc6_2hVjaT0VeBO5nkRPqNVLIZWc1lW5yuHzLYK4GMXZB-9U6T1cROP8tn4pA4GK7k0e368iN01b17E/s400/in+defense+of+food.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385665553406620690" border="0" /></a><br />I read this book a few months ago, but just recently found the notes I took while reading it. It wasn't a completely new idea and thus, didn't transform the way I eat or think about food too much. The one thing it did do was challenge me to eat less meat and more vegetarian. The book starts out telling you in 7 words what the rest of the book is going to be about:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.</span><br /><br />I had a friend in Bend who was basically a vegetarian, and that, along with some other reading I did while there, began to challenge me on the health benefits of eating less meat and more veggies. I am not sold on a completely vegetarian way of life (I just like meat), but both Mark and I are really interested in having more vegetables in our diet (beyond simply being a side dish). The bonus of living where we live now is that everything grows here and everyone has a garden, which has resulted in us being on the receiving end of the overflow of veggies that people can't finish themselves. Here are a few other thoughts from the book that I liked:<br /><br />*Don't eat anything your great-grandma wouldn't recognize as food.<br /><br />*Avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, b) unpronounceable, c) more than 5 in number, d) include high fructose corn syrup (these indicate foods that are highly processed and may no longer be what they purport to be).<br /><br />*Get out of the supermarket whenever possible (farmers markets, <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/csa/">CSA's</a>, your own garden).<br /><br />*eat meat as a condiment to veggies, not the other way around (less than 1 serving/day).<br /><br />*The diet of the animals we eat has a bearing on the quality and healthfulness of the food itself (have they been injected with growth hormones? Are they eating nutritious food themselves?).<br /><br />*If you have the space, buy a freezer. Freezing produce, unlike canning, doesn't significantly diminish the nutritional value of produce (I still want to learn to can though) :).<br /><br />*Don't look for the "magic bullet" in the traditional diet: in the same way that foods are more than the sum of their nutrient parts, dietary patterns seem to be more than the sum of the foods that compromise them.<br /><br />*<span style="font-style: italic;">How</span> a culture eats may have as much a bearing on health as <span style="font-style: italic;">what</span> a culture eats (i.e. snacking, eating alone vs with others, etc.).<br /><br />*We tend to believe that the portion served to us is the proper amount to eat (i.e. in restaurants). Often the serving is much larger than we should actually eat.<br /><br />*eat until you are 80% full, then stop. Consult your gut: stop when you're full!<br /><br />*the less we spend on food, the more we spend on healthcare.<br /><br />*do all your eating at the table (not at the desk!).<br /><br />*Don't get your fuel from the same place your car does :).<br /><br />*try not to eat alone: we eat more when we're alone. Eating with others is also a cultural act and forms community.<br /><br />These were just a few of my notes (I had about 3 pgs). It was an interesting and worthwhile read and it will definitely challenge or remind you what it means to eat actual "food" vs. some of the stuff we buy in the stores. I know that I find that as I eat more and more real food, I notice a difference in how I feel and my energy levels when I eat more processed food. It's not totally unavoidable, but we do our best to eat decently without breaking the bank. I challenge you to try to find some good vegetarian recipes as well. I have found several that I love and that taste just as good rewarmed up as leftovers. Best of luck! Cheers!<br /></div>Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894599868870584887noreply@blogger.com2