New Car

Two weeks ago we purchased a new (to us) Toyota Corolla. Its a 2004. Prior to that we were driving a 1995 Ford Windstar which was a gift to us in 2001. It served us well, but it needed to be retired. Fortunately we were able to find someone else who needed it more than we did. We decided it was time to downsize due to rising gas prices. Plus, as our children get bigger their car seats get smaller, so we don't need the room of a minivan. It has been fun to drive and much less painful (price-wise) to fill up the tank.

Ready, Freddy!

Have you heard of Ready, Freddy? We hadn't either until Granny (Anne's mom, who happens to be a first grade teacher) visited us three weeks ago. She introduced Alex to a series of books starring Freddy Thresher, a first grader who loves sharks, and is usually dealing with some type of first grade crisis. (In this book he is the only student in his class who has not lost a tooth).

There are fifteen books in the series, and in the past three weeks Alex has read 8. Each book is about 100 pages.

It thrills us to see him become such an avid reader. Many times he will have his nose buried in a book, then we'll hear him begin laughing out loud as Freddy encounters something humorous!

Pearlington, Mississippi

Anne's father has returned this week to Pearlington, Mississippi. Its his second time down there as part of a Katrina Relief trip. To read more about their adventures, click here.

What would we do without You Tube?

Do you really think anyone ever purchased this ladder....?

Discovery Walk Festival

This past weekend was the Discovery Walk Festival here in Vancouver. The Discovery Walk Festival is a yearly walking festival sponsored by International Walk Fest and the City of Vancouver, Washington to foster international friendship. There were walkers and military units from a dozen different nations.

I (Anne) have enjoyed participating in this the past few years. Over the weekend the festival provides distances to walk between a 5K and a full marathon. This year, Alex and I ran a 5K on Friday, the kids and I walked the 6K family walk on Saturday, and then I jogged a half marathon on Sunday. The walks are very well put together and they take you through some historic parts of Vancouver. They also provide great entertainment for the kids along the way, including a balloon man and face painting.

Alex had a tarantula painted on his face, and Allison became the sugar plum fairy complete with purple lipstick. I was hoping to take some pictures. We had great weather on Saturday, and our walk ended by some fountains in downtown Vancouver that are great fun to play in. Following the splashing in the fountains, the face painting really wasn't worth photographing anymore.

If you do the math, Alex logged in 7 miles this weekend. Next weekend we are headed to Eugene, OR for Adam to run the Eugene Marathon. While there, Alex is participating in his first Kids Marathon. He needs to log 25.2 miles prior to next Sunday. Then he runs the final mile Sunday morning on the actual marathon course. Thanks to our events this weekend, he's up to 23.2 miles!

Behind on Pictures....

I've recently uploaded some pictures off our camera. Enjoy....

Beloved Boxer

As many of you know, Copper is our beloved boxer who will be 10 in two months. (The average life span for a boxer is 8 years). He has been showing his age lately, so I wanted to make sure I had plenty of pictures of him and the kids. These pictures were taken about 10 days ago. He was having a bad day that day. However, today was a relatively good day. We went to the park and he ran a half mile. Go Copper!

Easter Sunday

Saint Patrick's Day

While 'Walking with the Dinosaurs'

Our Absence

Again, I know we've been absent from blogging for awhile. Click here and you will see why. You will see pictures of our beautifully remodeled home, thanks to Adam. The pictures toward the end are of our new basement and basement bathroom.

Allison's Words of Wisdom

I once heard it said that the average female says approximately 6,000 words a day. Because Allison is quite the verbal processor, we've always joked that she says 10,000 words a day. Today, however, was one of those days where I think she had spoken 10,000 words by lunch. Here are two classic thoughts she shared with me today......

1. Do you know who the baby of Abraham Lincoln is.....? ISAAC! (Referring to Abraham of the Old Testament and her cousin Isaac).

2. (In one nice run-on sentence...) I don't think I would like to go up into space...Well, maybe when I'm out of school I would like to go up into space because if I went up into space now, I would miss school and I don't want to miss school to go to space.

A very good examination of global warming

This is one of the best treatments of the issue of global warming that I've seen. It will take you about two hours to read through all the links and arguments, but it is very worth it in order to understand both the science and the psychology of the issue.

I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on the content at the link. For the record, I think that human-caused global warming is mostly alarmism. However, it has begun to shine a light on American over-consumption, to which I am very much opposed. Still, using a lie to advance truth is wrong and antithetical. Better science and better technology are the answers to many of the problems the world faces, but hysteria and alarmism stand in the way. On the other side of the equation, people in affluent nations need to rediscover lifestyles that delay gratification and tend to the needs of others. Only a movement characterized by conscience and intelligence will bring about lasting change: hysteria and government regulations will only exacerbate the problems.

Remember Y2k? That was going to bring us down, too.

Our Additions to the Renovations

As of this week, our basement has walls and a ceiling. Along with the bathroom, the drywall is complete! However, before Adam began the work we wanted to leave part of our family here in our first house. We each wrote our name on one of the walls before he added the insulation and sheetrock. For the bathroom, he had to cement the pump into the floor. Before he poured the concrete, we each picked out an item of our own to bury into the floor.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

The Missing Tooth

New Christmas Bikes

Milestones.....

1. The tooth fairy came to our house Thursday night for the first time. She brought Alex $1, which we thought was a pretty fair exchange for his bottom right tooth. Until we discovered she visited our neighbor the same week and brought her $2 for a tooth. I guess I should have checked into the going rate for a tooth these days.

2. Allison is becoming a great little reader. She has been consistently reading Dick and Jane stories to her preschool class. She loves the attention she gets for reading, and her teacher has been using her to teach the other children how to read some basic words.

3. Our house now has two bathrooms, thanks to Adam. He has been spending all his spare time plumbing, wiring, installing, etc. He did it all himself. When I think about all that had to happen in order for everything to work properly, I'm quite impressed! By the end of the month we should have a completely finished basement. I'm excited!

Adam's Top 7

Yes, it is three weeks into 2008. Bother me not with such trivialities! As Anne did a couple weeks ago, here are my top 7 from 2007 (some of which may explain why I haven't posted in such a long time):

1. 10-year anniversary - Marriage is fun, and it keeps getting better. Ten years have flown by in a blink. Two kids, multiple addresses all over the world, many stories to tell. I think the next ten years will be even better!

2. GMAT - I knew going in that because of my unspectacular grades in college I would have to score well on my admission test. So, I gave up television and studied like mad for 5 months. At one point I nearly cried from the effort. Anyway, on October 9, I walked out of the testing center with a solid 700 score, which is the 92nd percentile. My verbal score was 98th percentile, my two essays both recieved the highest score possible, and my math was 63rd percentile. Had I had a math tutor, I think I could have scored 750 or higher.
This was such a great feeling of accomplishment for a couple reasons. First, it has paved my way for school. Second, to work that hard and achieve your goal (my goal was 700) is an incredible feeling. Third, there's scholarship money for scores that high (read on!).

3. Portland marathon - For my second marathon, my goal was 3:20. My time was 3:22, off my goal time but still very respectable. In fact, a few days after the race, I was in a running store looking at shoes. The two people working the store, both obviously serious runners, asked me if I ran the marathon, and how I did. I told them my time, and they were genuinely impressed. Last year my time ellicited the "Hey, nice job, good for you!" type of response. It was flattering to see my new time ellicit actual respect.
Training for it became all consuming. I ran as much as 63 miles per week, ran over 20 miles four different times, trained at altitude while we were in Colorado. and missed only 13 scheduled miles over the course of the 18-week training plan. I am not a very rigidly disciplined person, so this was an effort for me. Fun, too!

4. South Africa - Seeing the other side of the world impacted me like few other things ever have. Traveling for 41 hours to get home gave me a great deal of time to contemplate what I saw. I learned a great deal about the interrelations between the various elements of society (family, religion, business, and government). I am still processing what I saw. It may lead me to a PhD program someday.

5. Intellectual renaissance - This is hard to describe to others, but this year I have experienced some kind of awakening in my brain. There was a time long ago when I felt very smart, concepts came easily to me, and little effort was required to grasp things. Years have gone by since I felt that, but it has seemingly begun again. I credit much of that to my extensive reading of GK Chesterton this year. His books and his ideas have stimulated me powerfully. I am excited to see where this leads.

6. The kids - Watching them learn, grow, make friends, make choices, become who they are, dance, do karate, play football, travel, learn to read, learn to focus...six and four have been fun ages!

7. Getting a full scholarship! - On December 21 I got a phone call from Case Western Reserve University informing me that not only had I gotten into school there, but that they were offering me a full-tuition scholarship. This was not a part of the plan, to be sure. My plan was this - 1. Study hard for GMAT. 2. Get in somewhere. 3. Prove that I belong by doing well. As you can see, getting paid to go to school was not in the original plan. but it certainly makes the plan better!


2007 was a very good year. It was weird and transitionary, but much good happened. Our family is facing many changes as a result of things that happened in 2007, and we are excited to experience them.

The Vancouver Tornado

Today, the unspeakable happened in the greater Portland area, we had a tornado touch down. The exciting news is that it was here in Vancouver. The state of Washington ranks 47th for frequency of tornado sightings. Apparently the tornado came right down 78th Street, which we live right off of! I (Anne) was eating lunch with Allison, and we began watching the weather do some weird things out our windows. First there was lightning and thunder (which is rare here), and then it began hailing like mad. A few minutes later the winds picked up. Allison and I thought it looked like we were in a carwash by the way the wind, hail and rain was hitting our windows. I had no idea it was a tornado until Adam called (about 10 mins later) and said he heard that one touched down in Vancouver. There is quite a bit of damage, which starts yards away from our house, however our house was untouched. The tornado photo above was taken less than 2 miles from our home. And, the snapped billboard was less than half a mile away!

Seven Reflections on 2007

Since we are half way through the second week of 2008, I thought it an appropriate time to share my (Anne's) thoughts on 2007. Here are my thoughts......

1. Our Marriage
In March of 2007 we celebrated 10 years of marriage. At that point had known each other for over one third of our lives. What encourages us, is that over the past 10 (now almost 11) years, we have grown and developed in ways we never would have imagined, all because of the influence we have on one another. I believe our marriage is stronger today, than it was 10 years ago, and I'm convinced it will be even stronger when we reach the 20 year mark. In 10 years time we've...
...had 6 different 'homes'.
...had 2 children.
...made 2 major moves (from OH to NV to OR/WA).
...joined staff with Campus Crusade and held many multiple roles within the organization.
...bought our first home.
...allowed Copper, our boxer, to tag along with us most of that time.

2. Our Children
Last year, Alex turned 6 and Allison turned 4. Another major milestone was that they both started school. Alex started in the T1 (full-day kindergarten) program, and Allison is in preschool 3 mornings a week. They both have fantastic teachers, which helped make the transition simple for us. Plus, they've made great friends, and they both really enjoy going to school (which is the most important thing). I, now, have a whopping 8 hours a week of free time (in between running the shuttle to and from their schools), and for the first time in 6+ years we DO have to get up and get dressed EVERY day. It was an adjustment, but a good one.

3. Our Lifestyle
In April I finished my fourth marathon and in October Adam finished his second. Mine was of average speed, but Adam actually clocked in at an impressive 3hours and 22minutes. Most importantly, though, is that we continue to make health and fitness part of our family lifestyle. Both Alex and Allison enjoy being active, and on top of their karate and dance schedules, they too have participated in several 5k events of their own. They desire to play outside, ride bikes or go for walks/hikes more than spending time indoors even in the rainy, Pacific NW. Another 2007 benefit was that we had our large gravel driveway paved last April. This allows for outdoor play even if our yard is full of mud.

4. Our Travels
At times all our traveling can seem to be a burden, and to be honest, there are days when I feel that myself. However looking back, I am grateful for all we get to do and experience as a result of being on staff with Campus Crusade. In 2007 we journeyed to...
...Walt Disney World
...Lake Tahoe
...Colorado Springs
...Ft. Collins, Colorado
...Rocky Mountain National Park
...Silver Lake, Michigan
...The Tetons and Yellowstone National Park
...Olympic National Park
...and I'm sure the list continues. This does not even include any day trips to Seattle, Mt. St. Helens, the OR coast, Hood River, Multnomah Falls, etc. And, this list is just mine and the kids. Adam's is even more extensive including a trip to South Africa. I once had an acquaintance tell me the furthest she traveled one summer was to Janzten Beach (a shopping center less than 20 mins. from our house). Imagine that!

5. Technology
2007, for me, is definitely the year I became technologically advanced. I've enjoyed spending hours on the computer at a time. From blogging, to digitally formatting our pictures, to downloading music and creating playlists on my MP3 player, etc, etc., etc. I've especially loved the social networking that the Internet now provides. 2007 saw me spend a fair amount of time on Facebook. I've come to check that more regularly than my e-mail. My favorite part has been connecting with past friends from college, high school and even my youth. For me, its been a blast!

6. My Hobby
This is just a quick blurb to let you know I accomplished something this year. I am an avid scrapbooker, and in 2007 I was able to scrapbook all our pictures through the year 2005. All told, its over 1,000+ pictures that comprise 5 different albums. This really means nothing to you, unless you are also a scrapbooker, and I need to add that many, many domestic duties were neglected in order for me to reach this milestone. Let's hope I have 2006 finished by 2008. And, because of my advances in technology in 2007, I'm thinking most albums from here on out will be done digitally. It sure does save a lot of time!

7. Our Future
And, finally, I'm excited for what's to come. In 2004, Adam began to think about obtaining an MBA. Due to a role he had that year within Campus Crusade, he began to see that he was gifted in the areas of strategic planning, operations, and the like. He desired to develop those skills. Early in 2007, God gave him the green light to begin pursuing his MBA. His first step was to take the GMAT, so for nearly 7 months he diligently studied for this test. His hard work was rewarded! He scored an impressive 700! And, the Friday before Christmas, Adam received the best Christmas present. I will let him fill you in on all the details, but let's just say, this time, all his hard work PAID off. It was immeasurably more than we could have asked or imagined. We are looking forward to a GREAT 2008!

Christmas Pictures...Finally!

2008....?

Whew! Where has the past month gone? We've been swamped with Christmas programs, recitals, semester ends, etc. And, since December 27th, we've been at Masterpiece, Campus Crusade's Winter Conference. Fortunately, the conference was here in Portland, so we didn't need to travel far, however we both had some major responsibilities at the conference which added to our December rush.

I've added a few pictures of the kids from this past month. Sadly, most are still on the camera. Happy 2008!

A Belated Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Karate Night

Alex graduated from the white belt to the yellow belt this December. Here he is showing off a few of his moves.....

Allison's Dance Recital

Finally I have some pictures up from Allison's dance recital which was December 15th. She performed twice. Once to Teddy Bear for Christmas, and the second time to Mele Kalikimaka, which was a huge crowd favorite.

Allison is 4!

Technologically Challenged....

Sorry we've been away for awhile. We are having some issues with our desktop computer. Keep your fingers crossed that we can get it up and running soon, for tomorrow is Allison's birthday, and I know you will want to see all the pictures. Thanks!

Seahawks vs. Browns

These pictures are from last Sunday's Cleveland/Seattle game. Alex wanted all to know that he favored both teams.

Pretty as a Princess

Kid Logic

Allison: Mommy, I tasted that stuff that you put on under your arms.

Me: My deodorant...? Yuck! Why?

Allison: Because it looks like the stuff that's in Oreos. But, it doesn't taste like Oreos.

Happy Halloween