at the very top. The elevator has windows
all around it making the ride up
is a little nerve racking
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Monday, June 04, 2007
STILL ALIVE AND KICKING
A month!!! Has it really been a month since I last wrote? I can't really claim the little up date about me visiting my fam was REAL post either, so I will be harsh on myself and admit to longer than a month. Oh, the shame, oh the shame. I have had such high hopes about staying on top of blogging of being a once a weeker or at least a twice a monther. The latter is a little more realistic. Especially for this time of year. :) But that does not seem to be happening. Today I am claiming as a new begining, a clean slate and from this moment forward I will blog (Hmm....we'll see). I love high hopes for the future.
I took many wonderful pictures in Washington that I am longing to share, but can't find where my darling husband put them on the computer. So, I'm afraid that you (if there are any readers left) will have to wait a little longer.
This again is going to be short. I need to head to bed soon and want to have time to read everyones blogs. :)
I took many wonderful pictures in Washington that I am longing to share, but can't find where my darling husband put them on the computer. So, I'm afraid that you (if there are any readers left) will have to wait a little longer.
This again is going to be short. I need to head to bed soon and want to have time to read everyones blogs. :)
Catching up in cyber world,
Naomi
Friday, May 04, 2007
Great Northwest
Just a short note to let everyone know that I am enjoying the cool spring weather of Olympia, WA with my wonderful family. I am here to spend a week with my parents, siblings, and niece. Lucky me! Can't wait to share pictures and stories.
Naomi
Naomi
Monday, April 23, 2007
WEEKEND DOINGS
WALKED THE DOGS SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH
HAD TO DELAY WORKING ON OUR FENCE, BECAUSE OF TEMPERAMENTAL WEATHER
HAD A DELIGHTFUL COFFEE DATE WITH TERRAN'S SISTER TAMARA AND HER HUSBAND MARK
CLIMBED AT THE CLIMBING GYM WITH TRINITY TILL OUR ARMS WOULDN'T HOLD US ANY MORE.
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE V-TECH SHOOTING
PICKED BURRS OUT OF KAIA'S HAIR FROM OUR WALK
WENT GROCERY SHOPPING, WE HAD NO MILK AND NO CEREAL
ATE A GREAT HAM AND POTATO CASSEROLE SUNDAY
HAD LUNCH WITH AN OLD FRIEND
ATE A YUMMY ICECREAM CONE FROM A LOCAL DAIRY AND DRANK A PINT FROM A LOCAL BREWERY (NOT AT THE SAME TIME)
Naomi
HAD TO DELAY WORKING ON OUR FENCE, BECAUSE OF TEMPERAMENTAL WEATHER
HAD A DELIGHTFUL COFFEE DATE WITH TERRAN'S SISTER TAMARA AND HER HUSBAND MARK
CLIMBED AT THE CLIMBING GYM WITH TRINITY TILL OUR ARMS WOULDN'T HOLD US ANY MORE.
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE V-TECH SHOOTING
PICKED BURRS OUT OF KAIA'S HAIR FROM OUR WALK
WENT GROCERY SHOPPING, WE HAD NO MILK AND NO CEREAL
ATE A GREAT HAM AND POTATO CASSEROLE SUNDAY
HAD LUNCH WITH AN OLD FRIEND
ATE A YUMMY ICECREAM CONE FROM A LOCAL DAIRY AND DRANK A PINT FROM A LOCAL BREWERY (NOT AT THE SAME TIME)
Naomi
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Off Those Sweets
Last Wednesday while at work eating lunch Micah and I were talking about what kind of cake I would make and she would help decorate for her Mom’s birthday this week. Micah, being 3, loves secret surprises and to help in the kitchen, especially decorating. We decided on chocolate ,it being her favorite and thankfully her Mom’s favorite. I off-handedly asked if her Dad also liked chocolate.
While finishing her macaroni Micah answered, "Well, he's off sweets." I looked up at her thinking I must have misunderstood, "He's off sweets?" I asked.Micah, with a little shrug, "Uh-huh, he's playing Lent."
I laughed all the way home over her answer and her understanding of her dad fasting sweets for Lent.
Naomi
While finishing her macaroni Micah answered, "Well, he's off sweets." I looked up at her thinking I must have misunderstood, "He's off sweets?" I asked.Micah, with a little shrug, "Uh-huh, he's playing Lent."
I laughed all the way home over her answer and her understanding of her dad fasting sweets for Lent.
Naomi
Monday, March 19, 2007
Fun In The Snow
This is Bubble Eyes, the Dinosaur. We took Trinity for a last sled trip this weekend and ended up snow sculping. It was quite fun and a great thing to do together.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
His Faithful Answer
Do you ever wonder when to move or when to stay put?
I do, especially when it comes to the things of the Lord.
I don't want to look back on life and say that I missed many things that were from God, whether they be good deeds or experiences that He desired to give me. I know in reality that I will miss things, but I don't want to miss the majority of things, the bulk that is offered throughout the years.
What makes me worry about missing them is that I am a sitter, a waiter until a feeling deep down says that the time is right, that now is the moment; even then I question, testing the waters. That trait good or bad goes against a lot of the world today that pushes, even in the church, for constant movement, full involment, always on to the next thing. The thought of that just wears me out, makes me want to run and hide.
Yesterday a conversation with Anne, the mom of the kids I care for, got me wondering if Terran and I should be moving in some different areas of our life instead of staying where we are at. I started asking the Lord are we missing your timing, are we where you want us, or should we be on the go, pushing forward. God is so faithful to give us exactly what we need when we seek Him. This morning during my devotional time, I read a few little entries of a book by Amy Carmichael , a missionary to India during the 1900's, that I have been reading along with my Bible.
16. Knowing Only to Follow
His thoughts said, "How can I know that it is the time to move?"
His Father said, "And it shall be when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle. Thou shalt certainly hear that sound. There will be a quiet sense of sureness and a sense of peace."
The son said, "If another also heard that sound it would be easier."
His Father said, "That may not always be. The sound of going is like the voice of the shepherd that the sheep know, but how they know they could not tell, knowing only to follow."
17. The Token
The son said, "But how can I be sure?"
His Father said, " When He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him; for they know His Voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. Therein lies the token. Thou wilt recognize the Voice of the Shepherd. The voice of the stranger will be nothing to thee."
19. Not of Double Heart
But the son still wondered what he should do if he did not hear a Voice directing him, till he came to understand that, as he waited, his Father would work and would so shape the events of common life that they would become indications of His will. He was shown also that they would be in accord with some word of Scripture which would be laid upon his heart.This scripture in the light of these events, and these events in light of that scripture, would work together under the hand of his Father, and point in the direction. And as he followed step by step, the way would open before him. Only he was warned to be careful that his eye be single. He must be like David's soldiers, who were not of double heart.
His Thoughts Said... His Father Said...
Amy Carmichael, 1941
These writings spoke directly to me right where I'm at, giving peace and answers. Letting me know that it is okay to wait till the push in the spirit comes and questions aren't bad, to keep asking till the answer and direction are before me. I also am thankful that this is one of those times when the Lord spoke clearly, not leaving any room for questions.
In His Faithfulness,
Naomi
I do, especially when it comes to the things of the Lord.I don't want to look back on life and say that I missed many things that were from God, whether they be good deeds or experiences that He desired to give me. I know in reality that I will miss things, but I don't want to miss the majority of things, the bulk that is offered throughout the years.
What makes me worry about missing them is that I am a sitter, a waiter until a feeling deep down says that the time is right, that now is the moment; even then I question, testing the waters. That trait good or bad goes against a lot of the world today that pushes, even in the church, for constant movement, full involment, always on to the next thing. The thought of that just wears me out, makes me want to run and hide.
Yesterday a conversation with Anne, the mom of the kids I care for, got me wondering if Terran and I should be moving in some different areas of our life instead of staying where we are at. I started asking the Lord are we missing your timing, are we where you want us, or should we be on the go, pushing forward. God is so faithful to give us exactly what we need when we seek Him. This morning during my devotional time, I read a few little entries of a book by Amy Carmichael , a missionary to India during the 1900's, that I have been reading along with my Bible.
16. Knowing Only to Follow
His thoughts said, "How can I know that it is the time to move?"
His Father said, "And it shall be when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle. Thou shalt certainly hear that sound. There will be a quiet sense of sureness and a sense of peace."
The son said, "If another also heard that sound it would be easier."
His Father said, "That may not always be. The sound of going is like the voice of the shepherd that the sheep know, but how they know they could not tell, knowing only to follow."
17. The Token
The son said, "But how can I be sure?"
His Father said, " When He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him; for they know His Voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. Therein lies the token. Thou wilt recognize the Voice of the Shepherd. The voice of the stranger will be nothing to thee."
19. Not of Double Heart
But the son still wondered what he should do if he did not hear a Voice directing him, till he came to understand that, as he waited, his Father would work and would so shape the events of common life that they would become indications of His will. He was shown also that they would be in accord with some word of Scripture which would be laid upon his heart.This scripture in the light of these events, and these events in light of that scripture, would work together under the hand of his Father, and point in the direction. And as he followed step by step, the way would open before him. Only he was warned to be careful that his eye be single. He must be like David's soldiers, who were not of double heart.
His Thoughts Said... His Father Said...
Amy Carmichael, 1941
These writings spoke directly to me right where I'm at, giving peace and answers. Letting me know that it is okay to wait till the push in the spirit comes and questions aren't bad, to keep asking till the answer and direction are before me. I also am thankful that this is one of those times when the Lord spoke clearly, not leaving any room for questions.
In His Faithfulness,
Naomi
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
PHENOMENAL CHICKEN SOUP
A friend of mine has raved about this chicken soup recipe that we recieved at a Taste of Home conference we went to about a year ago. She calls a lot of recipes "phenomenal", so I put it on the back burner and didn't try it out till recently. It is phenomenal!!!! It's the perfect meal for Spring I think, because it's warm and filling while giving you a taste of all the yummy fresh produce around the corner.
Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup
4 corn tortillas (6 inches)
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in to 1-inch strips
2 cans (14 oz each) chicken broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 can (11oz) while kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
1 cup chuncky salsa
1 tablespoon chopped frest cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Cut corn tortillas into thin strips can palce on baking sheet. pary with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes or until golden.
Meanwhile, coat saucepan with cooking pray and heat over medium-high heat 1 minute. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink, stirrling often. Add broth, cumin, and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 20 minutes. Stir in corn, salsa, cilantro, and lime juice, heat through. Top with tortilla strips.
YIELD 6 serving
We only get 4 servings out of the soup. We like it a lot and eat a lot. :) I change a couple things when making the soup. I use a regular can of corn and add fresh chopped peppers with the rice to cook them. I also double the amount of lime juice. Both Terran and I like lime flavor. I've also been playing with the idea of adding some black beans next time I make it. It's a yummy, yummy soup with lots of room for your own tastes.
Have fun,
Naomi
Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup
4 corn tortillas (6 inches)
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in to 1-inch strips
2 cans (14 oz each) chicken broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 can (11oz) while kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
1 cup chuncky salsa
1 tablespoon chopped frest cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Cut corn tortillas into thin strips can palce on baking sheet. pary with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes or until golden.
Meanwhile, coat saucepan with cooking pray and heat over medium-high heat 1 minute. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink, stirrling often. Add broth, cumin, and rice. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 20 minutes. Stir in corn, salsa, cilantro, and lime juice, heat through. Top with tortilla strips.
YIELD 6 serving
We only get 4 servings out of the soup. We like it a lot and eat a lot. :) I change a couple things when making the soup. I use a regular can of corn and add fresh chopped peppers with the rice to cook them. I also double the amount of lime juice. Both Terran and I like lime flavor. I've also been playing with the idea of adding some black beans next time I make it. It's a yummy, yummy soup with lots of room for your own tastes.
Have fun,
Naomi
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER
Friday, Terran and I celebrated Valentines. I know it’s a little late, but he had to work on the actual day and there hasn’t been a chance since. We went to the Gateway Car Museum about an hour from here. It is owned by the man that started the Discovery Channel, he owns a house there in Gateway and is building a resort to go with the car museum. Terran and I had a lovely time chatting while driving, seeing all the cars (one of them cost 3.24 million dollars), and eating a yummy lunch.
Our little partner got sick this weekend and couldn’t go sledding with us. Poor guy was really worried that we would forget him or be mad, because he couldn’t go this once. It broke my heart when his Grandma told me this. At times being a Senior Partner can be the most challenging and sometimes frustrating thing that Terran and I have ever done, but a moment like that brings it all back into perspective and I realize it’s all about showing a kid some consistency. Allowing him to get to know some adults that aren’t going to walk out on him, and just allow him to be a kid.
Because Trinity was sick we had an open Saturday. We couldn’t remember when this happened last. Terran and I got to sleep in and go cross-country skiing. To be out in the snow with the sun shining having no time restraints, that was a treat.
We also squeezed in a couple movies. Both passed our expectations. I’m a little embarrassed to say that The Departed was one of them, because it just won Best Picture at the Oscars; making it feel so mainstream and kind of cheap to recommend it now. I was surprised to see it as one of the choices, because it was so brutal and gritty. Now for the glowing recommendation… It is a brutal movie and if you don’t like cussing and blood and brains, don’t watch it; if you don’t mind those things when the plot is strong and the acting great, watch it. It’s a modern day gangster/mob movie with everything you expect from gangsters in it. It left me a bit shocked and crying for justice while saying it is one of the better movies I’ve seen.
The second movie was as far away from The Departed as you can go. It also ranked quite high. Scoop, starring Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, and Woody Allen is hilarious! Terran and I spent the whole film laughing. The movie is well acted with the actors almost over acting their parts, only adding to a well-written funny script. Even though I think the actors over acted, the movie had a very understated air to it with a dry, wry humor hovering through the whole thing adding to the delight of the show. It almost crossed into the ridiculous leaving one laughing and surprised. I look forward to watching it again to see if it’s as funny and to hopefully catch a few more jokes.
Sunday also passed wonderfully with Terran skiing with friends and myself doing a little hiking, leaving me time to read and relax on my own.
This weekend was really a welcome break with the kids I care for having had the flu, plus working a bunch of extra hours, and myself trying to fight off the flu last couple weeks. Tuesday I came home from work queasy to my stomach, achy, and cold. I fed the dogs, deciding a bath was the only thing that I needed. It was heavenly for about the first five minutes; I was finally warm and could feel my muscles starting to relax. As Kaia came running in to see what I was doing and ran out again, a horrid, putrid odor filled the room as the tip of her tail disappeared from sight. She had farted in the split seconds she spent in the bathroom. It was all I could do to keep my stomach from rejecting all I had dared to drink and nibble on during the day, with no where to escape submerged as I was. I can laugh now about it. During the moment I could have strangled the little Turd quite happily. I always thought dogs were man’s best friend supporting, loving you in your down moments, giving comfort where it’s needed and so on. I’m not so sure now.
Naomi
Our little partner got sick this weekend and couldn’t go sledding with us. Poor guy was really worried that we would forget him or be mad, because he couldn’t go this once. It broke my heart when his Grandma told me this. At times being a Senior Partner can be the most challenging and sometimes frustrating thing that Terran and I have ever done, but a moment like that brings it all back into perspective and I realize it’s all about showing a kid some consistency. Allowing him to get to know some adults that aren’t going to walk out on him, and just allow him to be a kid.
Because Trinity was sick we had an open Saturday. We couldn’t remember when this happened last. Terran and I got to sleep in and go cross-country skiing. To be out in the snow with the sun shining having no time restraints, that was a treat.
We also squeezed in a couple movies. Both passed our expectations. I’m a little embarrassed to say that The Departed was one of them, because it just won Best Picture at the Oscars; making it feel so mainstream and kind of cheap to recommend it now. I was surprised to see it as one of the choices, because it was so brutal and gritty. Now for the glowing recommendation… It is a brutal movie and if you don’t like cussing and blood and brains, don’t watch it; if you don’t mind those things when the plot is strong and the acting great, watch it. It’s a modern day gangster/mob movie with everything you expect from gangsters in it. It left me a bit shocked and crying for justice while saying it is one of the better movies I’ve seen.
The second movie was as far away from The Departed as you can go. It also ranked quite high. Scoop, starring Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, and Woody Allen is hilarious! Terran and I spent the whole film laughing. The movie is well acted with the actors almost over acting their parts, only adding to a well-written funny script. Even though I think the actors over acted, the movie had a very understated air to it with a dry, wry humor hovering through the whole thing adding to the delight of the show. It almost crossed into the ridiculous leaving one laughing and surprised. I look forward to watching it again to see if it’s as funny and to hopefully catch a few more jokes.
Sunday also passed wonderfully with Terran skiing with friends and myself doing a little hiking, leaving me time to read and relax on my own.
This weekend was really a welcome break with the kids I care for having had the flu, plus working a bunch of extra hours, and myself trying to fight off the flu last couple weeks. Tuesday I came home from work queasy to my stomach, achy, and cold. I fed the dogs, deciding a bath was the only thing that I needed. It was heavenly for about the first five minutes; I was finally warm and could feel my muscles starting to relax. As Kaia came running in to see what I was doing and ran out again, a horrid, putrid odor filled the room as the tip of her tail disappeared from sight. She had farted in the split seconds she spent in the bathroom. It was all I could do to keep my stomach from rejecting all I had dared to drink and nibble on during the day, with no where to escape submerged as I was. I can laugh now about it. During the moment I could have strangled the little Turd quite happily. I always thought dogs were man’s best friend supporting, loving you in your down moments, giving comfort where it’s needed and so on. I’m not so sure now.
Naomi
Monday, February 19, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Valentine Mystery
An envelope arrived in the mail the other day with my name on it. I thought nothing of it as I opened the piece of mail address in unfamiliar writing, thinking it to be some junk mail or some such thing that frequently bombards our mailbox especially around any holiday. Inside was a valentine card wishing me a beautuful day, signed "Love, Chuck." Who in the world was CHUCK? I honestly can say at that moment I could think of no man that I know with that name, especially one that would send me a valentine. Terran was at just as much of a loss as I was about the whole thing; even after we looked up the address on the Internet to see the man's last name.Terran took the card with his usual easy manner and I have to admit that this is not the first time I've received a valentine from some other person since we've been married. Some of the older gentlemen at the Credit Union would give me a card on occasion, expressing thanks for my service or some such thing. It is a little awkward and not something I suggest for older gentlemen to give young ladies of their acquaintance. My first thought was some one from the Credit Union, but ruled it out after talking to the girls there and finding no one with his name in the system. By this time I was feeling a little spooked, because my name is not in the phonebook for it to be some random joke and I wanted to know who know me, that I don't remember knowing.
It turns out this person is someone from the Catholic Soup Kitchen I volunteered at last summer and fall. I found his name on a list while filing yesterday. I don't remember meeting him, but I'm guessing he must have sent everyone on the volunteer list a card whether he knows them or not. That is not a practice I would recommend. It's nice to know the persons who send you cards and wishes for beautiful days. His wish did come true, I had a really lovely, ordinary day.
Happy Valentines to all you love birds a day late and you know who this wish iscoming from,
Naomi
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