One Year ago Today...

A year ago, I was here:

Excited about this:

I've officially been a college grad for a year now. Here are a few things I've been contemplating.

1. Afternoon naps were something to be treasured...they no longer happen with a full time job.
2. College life has a certain sort of simplicity to it. Of course we were poor, and had worries, but it seems like most of my concerns were all school related.
3. Now that I'm done, I occasionally wonder why I worked so hard to get done so fast. Sometimes being a grown up isn't all that fun!
4. Working full time leaves a lot of free time in the evening. Which should mean I have a cleaner apartment...
5. Best of all, I have accomplished a major goal. I worked hard, and enjoyed the ride, and am now at a different, more grown up point in life. So I'll enjoy where I am now, but remember college fondly. I loved BYU-Idaho, and Rexburg was an adventure. I had good friends, and met Daniel there. The Rexburg Taco Time was the best in the whole world, Craigo's had the most delicious pizza, and there was a SONIC. (Sonic is one thing that gives Vancouver a boost on the decision scale). We lived so close to Smith park, that we took walks around the park around dusk each night, dodging sprinklers, and talking about our not so distant futures. Life was simple, and life was sweet.

A Fork in the Road.

This whole post needs to be prefaced by an explanation of our current situation. After I graduated from BYU-I almost a year ago, Daniel and I moved back to Washington, without definite plans of what we'd do next. We knew that I would find a job, and Daniel would still go to school hopefully for Electrical Engineering, but we didn't have exact plans or locations. When I got the job with Saint Martin's, it seemed like the perfect way for Daniel to get his education. After being employed for a year my spouse/dependents would get free tuition ($23,810 a year!!). The only problem was that the closest program they offered to what Daniel wants to do is Computer Science. We tossed the idea around, but didn't feel like it would be the best fit.

The next option we considered was the Computer Engineering program at UW Tacoma. This would be close enough to where we're living that Daniel could have a reasonable commute and even take the bus to save money. Again, not the perfect program, but I enjoy my job 85% of the time, and we're close to wonderful family and we both like where we're at right now.

Last weekend, while discussing plans with Mike and Cindy, they about had us convinced to save every penny for the next while so we could get into a house in Tacoma and be neighbors. Now this would be fun, but after looking at homes in the more desirable areas of Tacoma, we figured we would have to be saving for quite a while before anything like that might actually happen. On one particular real estate page, we had houses pulled up, and were trying to get them to sort from the lowest price to the highest, instead of the other way around. When the page started loading, the cheapest houses were at the top. The cheapest houses were also not in Tacoma, or really anywhere close to it. They were in Vancouver. We thought it was kind of weird, but kept looking at all these houses in Vancouver. I then remembered that there was a WSU Vancouver campus, which might have a program Daniel would be able to do, so we live in an area where we could afford a house. We pulled up the website, and there, announcing clearly, an Electrical Engineering program starting in Fall of 2008. This is such a perfect educational opportunity for Daniel, and we both Love the Portland/Vancouver area, that it would be a great place to live. The drawbacks: we would be moving a couple hours away from our family friends, my job, and our comfort zone. With all this in mind, we're now facing a decision. A lot has to do with whether we could find jobs down there, and when Daniel will transfer to UW-Tacoma or WSU-Vancouver(August or January).

So we face a fork in the road... Do we choose Tacoma with it's almost good enough academic program, and family close by, or Vancouver, which would be the program to set Daniel up for his dream job (and hopefully dream salary) later on in life, but venture a couple hours away from family with whom we love to spend time. So I open it up to you, avid readers. There is a poll on the right side where you can vote, and while we won't base any decisions off of the poll, it is fun to see what other people think, and please share comments or insights we may not have thought of. All advice is welcome!

Blessed

After enjoying a fabulous 4th of July weekend, and finding myself half way through this week, I'm looking back on the week in review, and I feel blessed.

Today I'm grateful for:

the freedoms I enjoy each day

a job with excellent coworkers

beautiful summer weather

summer skirts and shoes

fresh fruits and vegetables and

my parents letting us borrow their economy car while they're out of town.

I also have pretty much the best family in the world. Daniel and I got to go to my Uncle Richard's lake cabins for the 4th of July. I've been attending these activities for several years now, but this was by far the best. Somehow we had the right combination of people, and it was a blast. Even while we were just sitting around talking and laughing, I had tons of fun. I also had a chance to get to know my cousin Lisa and her beautiful daughters better. It was so fun to have a baby to hold, and sweet Elisabeth was the best!

My favorite part of the 4th of July was sitting with Daniel, wrapped up in a blanket watching the fireworks. It was so fun to be giddy with excitement as each one went off in the not so distant sky. I felt like a child, ooooohing and awwwwing with each explosion. Really though, what better way to celebrate our independence than with beautiful, powerful shows of light?

After the magnificent fireworks display which was well documented by my cousin Donald and uncle Mike, Daniel and I headed from Mason Lake to Gig Harbor to stay with his parents. We pulled in pretty late, but were able to enjoy Saturday with them. We did little snake fireworks with Emma, my darling 2 year old niece. It's always fun visiting Daniel's parents and getting our little kid fix for a while. On Saturday evening, we left Gig Harbor and headed over to Mike and Cindy's for an evening of Karaoke. We started out doing an American Idol Tournament, but it was slow going and could only include 8 people (mostly children with short attention spans). After calling the tournament a draw after my final performance of "Can't Hurry Love" which had a real 'twist' to it, we opened the game for quick play. We then got to enjoy Susan's rocking performance of "Satisfaction", Heidi and Jeff's amazing duet of "Bohemian Rhapsody", and several other disco, rock, pop and r&b hits. I had a wonderful time, and I'm so glad to have been surrounded by such amazing people. Really, my family is the best!

Lunch with DAD

Today my dad came to Saint Martin's to have lunch with me. It probably wasn't a huge deal to him, but it meant a lot that he would pack a lunch and come sit with me on a bench and eat. I really enjoyed having him come and share a small part of my day. We talked about work, and other more enjoyable things, we saw the monks walking to lunch, and the ladies from the finance office on their smoke break. All normal things in my day to day routine, but it was fun to share.
After we were done eating and sharing the food we brought, we went for a walk and I showed him a few buildings. We went in the library (which I surprisingly hadn't visited), and ventured up the grand stair case. Today's weather isn't the nicest, especially compared to the last week, but it was comfortable to walk around in.

This is a picture of the building where I work. It was built in 1920 (?) and is really quite beautiful!

Mexican Food

It's late, and I should be sleeping...instead I'm cuddling a kitten that won't stop meowing outside the bedroom door. After my post earlier this afternoon, things at work went down hill really really fast, and ended with a very hard misunderstanding/just plane careless worker from another office...all directed at me in a very public way. The details aren't important, things were said without thought that perhaps they might be offensive and rude, and I ended up in the Dean's office, with him apologizing over and over for the remarks of this very careless, inappropriate employee.

Hours later, the comments which were made still bother me, and I can't sleep. Of all the things that stick out about today, the lesson I'm learning is that the girls in my office are the best. I couldn't ask for better co-workers. They stood up for me 100%, and my boss was a better advocate for me than I ever expected. After said incident with rude employee, she marched right down to the Dean, and gave him such a lecture for letting things progress to where they had, and he responded appropriately. So today I'm grateful for co-workers who have turned into true friends, Daniel, who is tirelessly understanding even when I cry my eyes out, and Mexican food...the greatest way to eat one's feelings.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day (I've been given the OK to wear jeans because of yesterday's fiasco, so things are looking up already), and hopefully little Skipper cat will stop meowing, and I'll be able to fall asleep quickly. I know this post was cryptic, but I think I'm writing more for me, than for my limited audience at this point. So if you're interested beyond a casual smile and nod at my therapeutic attempts to calm my mind...just ask.

I've been stuffing envelopes all day, and decided it was time for a lunch break! Nothing too exciting has been happening this week, but I'm excited about the 4th of July!

I've been thinking a lot about this holiday, and I have decided it is very favorite, besides christmas and my birthday. I love the summer weather, fireworks, fresh summer food, and being outside with my family. These things together, as well as memories of past 4th's spent with cousins and aunts and uncles make me so excited for this weekend.

Daniel and I have been gearing up for the 4th, by eating Watermelon, and getting our swim stuff ready, and even venturing out to get Daniel flip flops. We were at Old Navy last night (because where else do you find flip flops for $3.50??) and we found the perfect pair, and headed to check out. By the time we reached the front of the store, the line was out of control, and Daniel decided he didn't need flip flops that bad. After a couple trips to other stores, but still no flip flops, we headed home in defeat...I may go back tonight and wait in line without him. He's like a 4 year old in clothes stores anyway, and if I go by myself, I can get some other shopping done without feeling like I'm dragging a small child around the store. I love him, but he's definitely not the best shopping buddy.

At 3:00 today we're having a ribbon cutting in our office at work. We're way ahead of deadlines this year, and my office has decided to celebrate. We're having cheesecake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream! Yum! (good thing I'm back on my gym routine)

Beauty

My cousin Lisa posted a blog about the most beautiful place she has been. This obviously made me think of the most beautiful place I have visited. We took this picture on our honeymoon cruise. Our last stop was at Cozumel, and from there we travelled to Tulum. After hours of walking around in desert heat in the summer without water, we stumbeled upon this spectacular view. We may have been tired, hot, and thirsty, but I will always remember standing atop that cliff looking out over the caribbean. If we had known there was beach access, we would have worn our swim suits, because how inviting does that water look?...but we were ill prepared, and just had to take in the veiw with our eyes. Someday I'll go back and make sure to bring lots of drinking water, and wear my swim suit. Then it'll be the perfect view and the perfect day!

True of False: It's the raisins that make Kellogs Raisin Bran so great...

I suggest that it is FALSE...

One of my favorite cereals is Raisin Bran Crunch. I love the mild sweetness and the bran flakes, and it's healthy. It is even one of the few cereals I will buy the name brand (if it's on sale)...but I'm not a big fan of the raisins. I know the raisins are probably the reason most people choose that cereal over others, but it is the biggest turn off for me. Fortunately I have come up with a solution. Each morning when I pour myself a bowl of raisin bran crunch, I pick out each raisin by hand and throw them away. I then grab a big handful of craisins from our Costco size bag, and sprinkle them on top. The flavor of Craisin bran crunch is so much better, that the extra few minutes of picking out raisins is completely justified. Daniel thinks I'm crazy, but it's only because I haven't taken the time to make him a bowl of Crasin Bran Crunch. Try it.

I know he looks like an angel...but don't be fooled.

We usually sleep with our bedroom door open, so Wesley can wander in and out as he likes. This isn't usually a problem, but on occasion, he can't resist a foot sticking out from under the covers. Last night at 1:30 in the morning was one of those times. I was sleeping innocently, with my foot barely exposed, when I was completely and undeservedly attacked. Wesley latched on to my ankle and got a big claw in the soft underside of my toe. Needless to say this woke me up, startled me, and caused a lot of pain. I tried to jerk my foot away, but his claw seemed to be stuck, and was pulling the other way. Naturally this caused more pain, and I ended up screaming 'Owwwww'. (Probably a little louder than was necessary, but I feel that it was warranted, given the time and circumstances). Daniel sat bolt upright in bed freaked out about why I was screaming. He kept asking what was going on, and what happened, and I was in tears holding my bleeding toe unable to explain anything except that Wesley attacked me. I was annoyed with Wesley for waking me up and slashing my toe, but grateful that Daniel was so sympathetic. I can only imagine that I wouldn't have been nearly as nice if he had woken me up with a hurt toe...

On a completely unrelated note:

While Daniel and I were in Oregon, we took advantage of tax free shopping, and got this:

and this:

So far we've had a lot of fun with both. We would love to have a wii/karaoke party, so if anyone is interested, please let us know!

Summer Vacation

A few weeks ago, I dreamed up an expensive, elaborate vacation which was really out of the question...but would have been nice. That obviously didn't work out, but I came up with an acceptable alternative. I planned and prepared, and everything worked out perfectly!

On Wednesday afternoon, I left work early, and my mom drove Daniel and I to...the TRAIN STATION! We were supposed to leave at 3:45, but with delays etc. we didn't actually leave till 6:00. For years I've wanted to take the train anywhere, and it was the best way to go. Our tickets were only $20 each (which beats a tank of gas any day). We got on the train, and Daniel was even nice enough to let me have the window seat! It was a beautiful ride with lots of trees, streams, rivers, and even horses.

At least the weather was beautiful while we were waiting. It was nicer outside in the fresh air, than inside with all the other passengers.

Waiting for the train.

Daniel pacing while he is on the phone...he can't hold still at all!

FINALLY on the Train

Around 8:00, the train slowed down for our final stop and we got off in Portland. Daniel's parents were down there planning for a temporary relocation with Intel, so they were able to pick us up and let us stay in their hotels, and eat with them. I know some people don't have the best relationships with their in-laws, but mine are the nicest, most welcoming people, so I love spending time with them and getting to know them better.

Dusk at Union Station in Portland

I thought this was fun!

Down town Portland.

The first day we were in Oregon we packed so much in that it didn't feel relaxing, but it sure was fun. We went to the rose garden by the Portland Zoo, and Daniel proved to be quite the photographer.




Th weather was so beautiful that morning, and the whole garden smelled wonderfully of roses. I even coincidently wore my rose shirt that day...

Daniel's mom remembered an old mansion somewhere by the rose garden, so we wandered around for a while looking for it. She found it, and we took a tour. It was built in 1914, but has a whole bunch of neat features. It had a central vacuum system, an elevator, and hot water for showers.

I can't imagine cooking on a stove like this!

But I could imagine a music room like this!

What a view from the backyard.

Unfortunately I forgot my camera that afternoon when we went to OMSI. But it had some really neat exhibits. My favorite was one which showed embryos and fetuses which had been preserved. This sounds morbid, but it was almost reverent to see the developmental process so clearly portrayed from week to week. It's sad to think that babies are aborted so often. It made me really think about life to see that display. We also watched an IMAX show about dinosaurs, and a planetarium show about different planets which may exist somewhere in the universe.

The view from the back of the museum.

That was all on Thursday. On Friday morning, while Daniel's dad was working, we took a break from the world and went to my favorite place on earth!



It was beautiful, reverent, and everything I love about the Portland temple. I'm sure everyone feels that way about 'their' temple, but this one really is the most beautiful ever. There is a neighborhood with beautiful homes right next to it, and someday I would love to live that close to the House of the Lord. I have this idea that I could take my children on walks to see the temple, and that somehow living so near to it would make a home that much more special. So somehow, someday I would love to live in Lake Oswego, OR.

After lunch that same day, we got to see Get Smart. It was really good. And very funny.
That evening we headed out to the coast for some beachy weather. On the way to Seaside we stopped a couple times for some neat things. There was a sign on the road that said "Drinking water", so we pulled over, and there was this water fountain in the middle of the shoulder that was pumping spring water out of the ground. I tried it, and it was good, but nothing spectacular.

Daniel wouldn't let me take a picture of him drinking this water...what a bum!
A few miles later there was an outdoor museum type display of really old machinery. We stopped and looked around. It was kind of fun to see, but not really my kind of thing. I guess it makes it up to the guys for all the shopping stops we made!
Daniel looks interested.


Kelly and Tom with Bigfoot (?)

At some point after this stop, we checked into our hotel on the coast, and looked at the cute shops down town, and I even braved the ocean...for about 10 seconds.

Of course we had jackets and long pants on...it's the Oregon coast in June.

That was really cold water!

The following day (Saturday) we drove down past Cannon Beach to Tillamook. We went to the cheese factory, ate delicious ice cream and sampled cheese, and then humored Daniel's dad with a trip to the air museum.

Daniel tried 'white licorice' ice cream and I had german chocolate cake. I loved it and would visit Tillamook again just to have it...

Tom used my camera to take pictures of all the air planes, but by this point I was just ready for a nap, so I wasn't too into all of them. It was fun to see the planes up close and learn a little about the history, but I was also ready to get in the car and sleep during the 4 hour drive back up.

It was a great vacation, and we had a blast with everything we did. I would love to live in the Portland area some time when Daniel's done with school and we have a family. It's a neat place, and seems to be just about right for us. It was a good vacation, and the perfect break from the everyday...which will be back upon us early tomorrow morning with work and Daniel's first day of summer quarter. Good luck to him as he takes on another round of computer/math classes! And to all else, enjoy your summer breaks!

Doves

My parents have built a bird sanctuary on the back patio. There are two doves who come by regularly, but only one of them was there yesterday. I like doves, and I've done a little research and have found:

Doves mate for life and show a willingness to work hard together. Both doves work together to build a nest. Next, when the mother lays the eggs, both the father and mother keep them warm. When the young chicks are born, both doves actively care for and tend to the new family members.

What a good example for us. It's amazing that birds do a better job following the rules of life than humans do. I get so sick of people making stupid choices and neglecting the things that are most important. Why can't we be more like doves? Focused on what really matters. It may be simply instinctual for doves to go about life in this manner, but I think people have a harder time. Last week I read the transcript of the World Leadership training meeting that was held back in February. A couple things stuck out and tied in with my dove thoughts. I'm not going to quote it here, because I don't like reading a bunch of big long quotes on other people's blogs, but the link is available, and the message is inspiring. I happen to have virtually nothing to do at work most days, so it was a good use of one morning last week, and if you ever happen upon some spare time, I'd recommend it.

I don't know what this world is coming to, but I love finding small things that make me happy each day. It makes my life just a little cheerier, and brighter and these thoughts about doves, have been the source of this happiness over the last couple days.