Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Lela has arrived!

2009-05-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

We had a precious little girl on Friday, May 15th at 7:09 PM. She weighed 7 lb. 10 oz. and was 20.8 inches long. We named her Lela (LEE-luh) Katharine Alberta Smith. The birth was natural and a large part of the labor was in water. We had two midwives attending (one in training) and our friend Sarah as an assistant and massage therapist.

Here's the brief version of the birth story: Labor induction with breast pump began at 8:15 AM and by 11 AM thing had progressed enough to break my water. Jack says labor got really intense around 3 PM and by 5 PM I was ready to start pushing (though it was another hour before I was TOTALLY dilated (had 1 more cm to go). I did much of the hard labor in the waterbirth tub, but by around 6:45 PM the midwife suggested I try the bed again, as I had made more progress there about an hour before. It only took about 3-4 more rounds of contractions (4-5 pushes each) to give birth to Lela. Jack caught her with his bare hands (guided by the midwife) and put her on my chest right away. A few minutes went by before we discovered she was a girl. After about 10 minutes Jack cut the cord (we wanted to wait until it stopped pulsing). The placenta was born shortly after that.

We were discharged in 24 hours and spent our second night at home together in bed.

Baby Lela is now 2 weeks old, eating like a horse, making all sorts of noises, filling lots of diapers, and is truly a joy in our lives. Praise God for this beautiful miracle.

"Overdue"

2009-05-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

So the baby and I have a little stand-off going. I have to work within the 42 week timeline of obstetric professionals, and the baby wants to cook and stay cozy inside for as long as it wants. We're getting down to the wire these days, as I'm nearing the 42 week mark, which puts me into a "high risk" category that removes me from being treated by our midwife practice. So, Thursday we'll have to talk induction.

Please pray that things get going naturally. So far, my body has started the process of labor, and here are some signs: mucus plug drained out for the past week, mild-moderate contractions ranging from 5 minutes apart to more than 10, fatigue, dilation (I was 3 cm on Friday the 1st of May), effacement (I was 50% on Friday the 1st of May). These signs make me a good candidate for induction that is less extreme than it could be, however, Jack and I are really hoping to have a natural birth, with no intervention. We feel it is best for the baby.

One thing I was not prepared for at this stage of pregnancy is the constant questioning from friends and family about when the baby is coming. Of course, we want it to come soon, but we have no control over when it happens. Yesterday I even stopped answering my phone and just before falling asleep decided to change my voicemail to a message that told callers we would LET THEM KNOW when the baby arrived. I do appreciate the care and concern, and several folks have only given me encouragement. But everyone is curious and I can't blame them for it. It's just getting frustrating for me.

What I'm telling people to keep my spirits up when they ask:

Every day I'm still pregnant, is another day with MORE sleep and LESS responsibility.

I'm trying to enjoy the last few days with my husband while it is "just the two of us".

I'm doing my best to rest and keep track of early labor signs, so I'll know when things get serious.

We want the baby to start the process of labor, as it usually does when it is ready.

It's easier to be pregnant, than to take care of an infant (feeding/changing/carrying around/etc.)

What other people have told me to encourage me:

A baby that stays in longer is easier to take care of (sleeps through the night sooner, eats better, etc.).

I guess I'll just have to keep focused on the positive for the next few days and wait.

Quick Update

2009-04-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

At our last midwife appointment, Friday the 10th, the baby was still head down (has been for the past 5 weeks...yeah!), weighed about 7 pounds. We had some good conversation with her about hospital procedures, what to expect, etc. We're going in every week now and have more questions every time.

We are on week three of our Bradley Method birthing class and getting excited. We'll be covering stages of labor and techniques for helping it progress this week and have some homework to do. We've been practicing relaxation and I've been doing squats, pelvic rocks, tailor sitting and Kegels, all the exercise they say help get the pelvic floor muscles and hips ready for birthing. We'll be meeting twice weekly for the next few weeks (once with 4 other couples in the group class, and once with just the instructor for advanced planning if we don't make it to May 19th with the class schedule) and getting our birth plan together this week.

What we'd like:
Natural water birth at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital with midwife and no complications.
What we'll get:
No telling...

We recently watched "The Business of Being Born" as recommended by our class and really learned a lot.

Migration of Organs

2009-02-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

The last month has been a fun one! Moving into the third tri-mester of pregnancy, my body is experiencing some strange changes. I thought I'd share a picture with you to give a glimpse inside of how my body is shifting right now to make room for baby "lulu". The backpain, the twinge of pain I feel sometimes when I move around from stretching ligaments, the frequent bathroom breaks, the shortness of breath, the smaller meals and the changing shape can all be partly explained by just how much my insides have to shift to make way for the baby. Honestly, this picture doesn't make the baby look to comfortable either!

Though I'm only in my 27th week, I think the general changes are pretty accurate. I'm really working on getting some pictures of me, but it's harder than you might think. I just need to breakdown and get out the camera one night, choose a fitting shirt, and stand in front of the wall. I'll look for some "in action" photos too, from recent social events.

As for other experiences we've been enjoying lately, the baby's movements are easily felt and seen at this point. Just this morning I watched the "popcorn belly" in amusement. I think it was the first time I noticed the baby's hiccups too (at least that's what I think it was). I'm still wondering what parts are moving when I see a bump or a sweep across my belly. Sooner than later we might be able to tell if it is a bum, limb or noggin. We'll keep you posted and maybe even try to get a video posted in the near future.

Long Awaited Italy Pics

2009-01-07T11:15:00.000-08:00

Many of you know I spent 10 days last fall visiting my sister-in-law, nieces and the beautiful country of Italy. I wanted to share a few pics from the trip. Hopefully these will be things you can experience first-hand sometime in your lives. Italy is definitely a place I will need to visit again!

Villa Angelica (the name covers it!)

Lasize-a costal town on the east side of Lake Garda

Just one of many Gelateria's we enjoyed, and a nice view down the street

The marina at Lasize

The gorgeous blue waters of lake Garda, and a view across to the mountains on the west side of the lake

On a ferry ride we saw this!

Lasize and the eastern mountains from the ferry

Limone, the town where the Marathon began (I didn't run, but was on the support team)

Ruins of lemon orchards, for which Limone get it's name.

Anybody for some gelato and cappucino?

Walking through Limone's walled pathways, with peeks out over the lake. I was on child-chasing duty.

Vicki and the newest niece, Kera Grace.

My turn to hold her...too cute to let go!

Me and Nali, enjoying the ferry ride.

The runners (Vicki in dark blue, center, Jos in light blue to her right and Jess with the medal, left of center) and their training support (two gals on ends)

Yet another dessert to savor! Nali liked my selection.

Common view while walking through they cities.

Future residence?

I'd take the castle too!

What a family/person eats in a month: Around the world

2008-12-23T11:54:00.001-08:00

You may or may not have seen the post I did last December on what families around the world buy as groceries for one month. As I was looking over those pictures again, I read a comment about how much of a contrast monthly meals for those in the service compares to these families. I thought I'd post this picture of the MRE to represent how many people eat when they are serving our country. This is far below the standard you can see in the picture of the American family, and in many other cultures as well. Thank you, men and women, for what you sacrifice to protect and serve America.

The Double-Bind Supreme: Loving Relationships

2008-12-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

A friend recently shared this quote with me and I was touched. Enjoy!

Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.

--From The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

Baby's First Photo Shoot

2008-12-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

Cuddled warm, from the rear

Right lower arm and hand

Profile shot

Head down at cervix, open space is my full bladder

Left and right feet

Head cross section, notice measurements

Heart cross section

Heart, you can see all the chambers

Spine and scull

Umbilical cord, showing blood flow routing around the baby's bladder.

Gingerbread Village

2008-12-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the Christmas season a bunch of our friends from church got together to make gingerbread houses last weekend. It was a blast! We had more candy on the table that you could imagine, and in total made 14 creations. Here are some pictures of the whole village. Matt and Jack worked on the castle, but because of the tediousness, asked for help decorating it. I was glad to help with that. My house is the one down and right from the castle, and it's a church. I was pretty proud of my work: red shingles, stained glass windows in front and back (not pictured), rolled out gumdrops made to look like window panes, window boxes and a stone pathway. Enjoy!

Belated birthday post...

2008-12-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

I celebrated my 27th birthday this year in a relaxed way this year. Jack and I went out to dinner at a Mongolian Grill a few days before and enjoyed yummy stir-fry. On the actual day, Mark (church friend) and I had agreed to a join party at the indoor climbing wall in the evening. So, we gathered a few friends and family and headed to the community center. It was fun getting all geared up (I actually inherited a pair of shoes I've only used once before) and getting on the walls. The climbing routes ranged from 5.6-5.9 and I started with the easiest one. It really worked my forearms, fingers, hands and back. Lauren, my brother's girlfriend, advised me to keep my knees bent and arms long, instead of standing and bending my arms to hold on to the wall. Her advice was very helpful! Here are a few pictures from the event.

To add some sweetness to the event, we headed to Whole Foods after the climb to enjoy some awesome ice cream sandwiches made by a local vendor: Ruby Jewels. Her flavor choices and quality are great! Check them out: http://www.rubyjewel.net.

Mel and Linda sent some sweetness my way too, with a gift certificate to Sees Candy. Here's the delicious box I picked out.

I'm beginning to look (and feel) a lot more pregnant!

2008-12-09T16:26:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and family,

I realize that I have set-up an expectation for this blog to be a very unreliable and out of date way to keep up on our lives. And I want you to know, that I plan to change this. I can only say that I will do my best to make sure this blog is a place you can read up on how Jack and I are doing, especially with the coming changes in our family.

Let me give you an update on how the first half of my pregnancy has been going (since I completely neglected to blog about this until now!). That's right... we are almost halfway through. Our ultrasound is scheduled for one week from NOW (as I write this). I have to say I'm really looking forward to seeing the little person inside me. I've certainly been doing my best to take care of it: sleeping/napping, eating healthy foods, taking vitamins, avoiding smoke and harmful other things, exercising.

And in past few weeks I'm pretty sure I've been feeling the baby move. One friend described it as butterflies. I've become pretty acquainted with the digestive changes now, and this is definitely different. A few nights ago I was laying flat about to go to sleep, with my hands resting on my belly and could literally feel the "flutter" and a slight push from it. I tried to get Jack to feel the same thing, but he couldn't. Too soon to share this experience I suppose.

Our appointments with the midwife clinic have been great. Very friendly people, knowledgable, not too invasive and supportive. I've dealt with a lot of nausea and they have done their best to advise me on how to best deal with it. We are thrilled that this place also offers water birth, which is an option we are SERIOUSLY considering (could have guessed that one, given that I've been a fish my whole life!). So far the testimonies I've heard on this type of delivery have been wonderful. We'll share more once we know more.

As for preparations, there has been little going on so far. I've had to change my wardrobe drastically. Thanks to the Veteran's Day sale at Value Village and the GENEROUS loans from friends I feel fully out-fitted now and have some really cute stuff to sport with my new body. I'm at the point now where people are actually asking if I'm pregnant, thanks to the clothes and the growing bump. It feels nice to look how I've been feeling for several months.

I have to be honest though, it hasn't all felt great. I've really had a hard time with nausea and vomitting. No matter how many times I do it, I hate every time and literally feel dread for the next one. I've tried my best to always have snacks, eat small and frequent meals, include more protien, drink red raspberry leave tea and get enough sleep, but my poor body is just plain uncomfortable some days. I have yet to try accupuncture or change my prenatals, though taking them at night has helped me avoid most of yucky feeling they cause.

Jack and I will have to find a bigger place, as the first 3 years of our marriage we've been living in a 1 bedroom apartment. I really like it there, the back patio opening to green grass and trees, the free pool, the open floor plan, it feels like home. However, babies take up space.

Beyond maternity clothing and more frequent visits to the clinic, we haven't really changed much. We're busy with church, friends, my work, family and enjoying the outdoors.

Pictures will follow soon, but I hope this update helps you feel more informed.

Happy Anniversary!

2008-10-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

So this year we celebrated our third anniversary much different than before. I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. Yes, it's true. We're expected a baby next May and thrilled about it. To be honest, I don't even remember now what else we did that day. I post this now because I'm about 10 weeks and we've started spreading the word. So, this fourth year of marriage will be drastically different than before. A new adventure awaits!

Birthday at the Track

2008-08-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

For Jack's birthday this year, celebration phase one was at the Malibu Grand Prix (we took notes from Matt on this one). The guys and some girls wanted to push the land speed record for 2 hours, in go carts that is. They had a blast, got an extra 30 minutes for the birthday boy, and enjoyed a pit stop with yummy chocolate cake and Breyer's vanilla ice cream (the only REAL good stuff).

At the end Jack was surprised with a few gifts: a new hat to replace the one he lost while swimming in the river (he dove in with it ON), and a mask/snorkle, fin set (also inspired by swimming... we kept borrowing our friends' set, so they bought him one). Overall he really enjoyed himself. Thanks to all the friends and family that called to wish him happy birthday, and sent cards. You are loved!

Peaches for FREE!

2008-08-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to Sauvy Island and picked peaches at a friend's grandma's property. It was an opportunity that I accidently found out about on Saturday, and was able to get in on just in time. We met up in the morning at 10 AM and carpooled over. Jack suggested that I take two rubbermaid totes to fill, but with the limited space in the van we shared, I thought one would be plenty. My friend had warned me that the peach crop wasn't very good this year, and that the season was near the end, so the quality wouldn't be great. But who can complain about that when the price is FREE! Besides, he was so wrong!

We arrived at the beautiful acreage on the island. Flowers, pears, grapes, corn, pumpkins, apples, peaches, marionberries... is there anything this grandma DOESN'T grow? We pulled up to the peach orchard and grabbed our containers. The whole way over, little Benjamin (almost 4) couldn't stop talking about seeing the horse and feeding it. He'd been here before and had his mind set on ONE thing. My friend was right about the peaches on the trees not being so plentiful, but the ground was covered with eligible peaches. Right away, however, I noticed that honey bees were interested in the same thing as I was. Luckily, they wanted to rotting ones, and I didn't.

There was one slight problem with sharing the crowded space under the short and stalky peach trees with bees: Benjamin liked stepping on them. Yep! He decided it would be fun to smash the bees with this tough looking cowboy boots. After many warnings, the inevitable happened. He got stung by one. Since these were honey bees, one still was all it had, and luckily, only one got mad enough to sting him. And though his father is deathly allergic, and mom doesn't know her allergy because she's never been stung, he had no allergic reaction. Praise God!

We continued collecting peaches, and in no time my tote was full. We loaded the van, and went to thank and visit with grandma for a bit, and then headed home. Now the next phase began... prepping for the freezer. I napped until about 5:30, went to visit a friend until 7:30 and then started the project. A bit late to start a project like this, you might say? Nay! We usually take on big food projects late at night. We usually get through them :) I peeled, pared, sliced and de-pitted. Jack went to pick up the quart freezer bags (we thought we had them in stock.. doh!), and fruit fresh powder. When we had all the ingredients we sugared and packed for the freezer. 7 or 8 quarts was the yield from half of the peaches, we'll do the other part on Tuesday night when the rest of them ripen.

Oh, and by the way, we tested a few. So juicy!

Saying Goodbye to a Friend

2008-08-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

This afternoon we had the unfortunate opportunity to say goodbye to Daniel Thomas. He wasn't there. He wasn't watching. He was resting...until Jesus returns and the resurrection unites us again. The friends and family had gathered to celebrate his life. The ceremony was quite lovely. We saw pictures, heard stories, and recounted some of the most important things to him. They were God, family, people, natures and health.

It was really touching to hear from Daniels personal trainer, and to see the great impact he had on her just from attending her cycling class and doing several athletic events. He had an amazing way with people, any type and any kind. He could make them feel comfortable, look for ways to take care of them and help them, and bring laughter and humor into any situation.

It was also great to see friends from Orchards Church, the place I spend my 10-15 years. During this time our Pathfinder club was being led by the Thomas' and my parents. These years are filled with great memories and unforgettable adventures. Most of them outdoors. Most of them unplanned.

Though this event was tragic and has caused me, for the first time ever, to wonder how God was limited in saving his life, I have learned the importance of loving people. Daniel loved people and never neglected to tell them so. All of his friends thought they were special to him, and they were. He loved without hesitation. I hope to show more love to the Thomas family by keeping in touch, offering to help, and praying for them. I hope to show more love to my family by putting aside my personal needs and looking more to theirs. I hope to show more love to strangers by showing mercy whenever I have an opportunity.

Daniel will be missed, sorely. I look forward to seeing him again on resurrection morning.

One Year Blog Anniversary!

2008-06-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

You know you've officially entered the electronic communication world when you celebrate the anniversary of starting a blog. Well, that's what I'm doing. I realize that I only have a few faithful readers, and my hope this year is to build this base and get more connected to distant family members and loved ones. I will try to post at least once or twice a month, so that the readers will be rewarded. But as you know, life gets hectic, and the tangible demands take presidence over communication at a distance. Take a look back at the fun things we've done, the personal things I've shared and what else you'ld like to know about us. Then maybe we'll add some new features...

Dog Mountain Summit

2008-06-01T11:14:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the invitation of a local hiker friend, we had the wonderful opportunity to hike Dog Mountain this Sabbath. It was a slightly cloudy and windy day, which is perfect for hiking. Dad and Stuart joined us for the adventure and we had a blast. Dog Mountain is rated the second most difficult hike in the Columbia Gorge. It is 3.8 miles one way and about 99.7% uphill. However, the views are beautiful and the flowers abundant. Here are a few pictures from the trek.

Family and Ferraris

2008-05-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my relatives from the east coast visited and we ventured to the lovely Oregon Coast. Starting our trek in Astoria and ending in Cannon Beach we drove, climbed, walked on the beach, squished sea anemones in the tide pools, enjoyed taffy, caramel corn, icecream, and pizza and happened to be there on the Art and Ferraris weekend!!! See the attached BEAUTIFUL cars we got to see and even sit in! It was a great day with beautiful weather (ranging from rain showers to bright sun).

The next day we headed up to the Mt. Hood Skibowl to use our passes and had a 70 degree day of snowboarding. It was awesome! With Jack's wonderful coaching I progressed from 87 falls on one short run to fewer than 3. It felt so good getting into the heel/toe feel of things and soaring down the glistening slopes. We didn't get burned, too badly, showed the family our skills and made it possible for my cousin, Stew, to ski for the first time on real snow, on a real mountain!

New Life

2008-04-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

So Jack and I have finally recovered from our illnesses and are enjoying the bliss of springtime. We had lots of fun this weekend hanging with friends, browsing a bookstore, eating yummy blueberry muffins (recipe coming soon), playing ultimate frisbee in the sun and visit with family.

At dinner last night at Uncle Bill and Aunt Carol's a family reunion video hit the bigscreen. It was so cool to see family members I have never met, and for the others to reminisce about loved ones who have grown or passed on. This reminded me of how important it is to be thankful for the family we have. We both have both of our parents, siblings and a large extended family that we can still keep in touch with, spend vacations/holidays with and learn from. I hope that we don't neglect the opportunities we have to give and receive love, memories and wisdom.

What's In a Name?

2008-03-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

My newest niece has finally been named! Kerala (pronounced CARE-uh-la) Grace Duffy was chosen by the whole family:

Kerala was chosen by Vicki, because it is the most beautiful place she's visited in India (Wiki it and find out more about it, also known as "God's Own Country). See beach photo.

Grace was chosen by Denali, the big sister in the bunch (pronounced "Gace"... she's two).

Duffy...well Ryan contributed this one, but really got to do the most chosing for Denali's name, yet another place their family will one day visit I'm sure!

To see more pictures, click on the Ryan and Vicki link under "Our Friends"

Sickened!

2008-03-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

This week Jack and I went tandem in being ill. He with full-blown influenza, me with a BAD cold and laryngitis. It has NOT been fun, but we have learned a few things from our experience:

1. Don't ride in a car with someone who has a suspicious and persistent cough.
2. Don't hang around the house with someone who is visibly ill.
3. You can never have too many pillows and blankets.
4. Home remedies DO help: Recipe for a Hot Half Bath
If you have a blasting headache and fever, run a HOT bath (should turn legs red within a few seconds of sliding into the steamy water), have a cool compress standing by for the head, only cover up to your waste (to pull congestion down from your head/chest), stay until you have been sweating for several minutes (5-7) and then wrap-up and sweat more in order to KILL BUGS.
5. Frozen cherries in a 1 quart bag work great as a cold compress.
6. There isn't enough hot water in our 1 bedroom apartment for TWO people to take hot half baths (described above).
7. A good collection of books and movies makes ALL the difference when you are sick for several days.
8. Good friends that make grocery funs can come in VERY handy.
9. The internet is a great time-waster when you are recovering from a nasty illness.
10. Doctors aren't much help when it comes to the flu, a cold or laryngitis (they cost money and offer little useful help).

An Auntie (and Uncle) of Two!

2008-03-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at 1:58 PM (Germany time) my sister-in-law and brother had their second beautiful daughter. Denali, the BIG sister now, wants to name her Minnie Mouse March Grace Duffy. The Grace might stick, but Ryan and Vicki will still need to work out the final name when he returns from Iraq any day now. She is beautiful, with a nose, mouth, face shape and probably hair like Ryan. Here's a picture of her with Ryan's picture nearby.
It's a great feeling to be an Aunt. I wish I could see the girls more, but when we do have a chance to visit, I like to teach the how to sing, dance, be good girls, and to teach them about Jesus, as much as is possible with toddlers and infants. Hopefully we'll get to see them sometime before Christmas.

The Moon Turned Red

2008-03-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

This winter there was a lunar eclipse, which turned the moon red. I took this shot outside our apartment in the parking lot. I thought it turned out pretty well.

Indulging the Taste Buds

2008-03-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip out of town, I was given a nice meal allowance and decided to use it! I thought I'd put a little plug in for Frank's Diner in Spokane, WA with this lovely picture of the hot chocolate I ordered early one morning. It was fantastic!

The last night of my trip I decided to explore a "fancy" restaurant, again in Spokane, called Wild Sage. One item on their menu (you the know the one that you look at outside the restaurant to make sure you can afford to eat there) that drew my attention was Pesto Gnocchi. Here's a picture of it before I devoured it.

And I couldn't pass up the tantalizing coconut cream pie with passion fruit sauce. Little did I know it would be decorated with edible orchids. It was decadent and well worth the stomach ache afterwards.
A final word on indulging the taste buds is one that describes a more REGULAR occurrence at home. We discovered the pizza dough for 98 cents at WINCO and couldn't wait to try our own toppings. So we added some pesto, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, spinach and sometimes other ingredients. It tastes fantastic and is cheap to boot.

Enjoy a tasty treat for yourself...

Avoiding "Blogger" Deliquency

2008-03-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

One day I'm going to be good at this. Or maybe, I'll just keep expecting people to keep checking our blog to see how life is going and making comments, even though I haven't posted for well over a month (and this seems to be the norm lately). Expectations dashed once again.

This is truly a testament to how busy life can be. As we are drawing close to Easter, I've been thinking more about simplicity. What is REALLY important? Relationships, health, beauty, being present rather than living in the future or past. This is my list.

A conversation with a good friend yesterday reminded me that it is good to simplify. To test certain traits or character or habits to see how important they really are. So, drawing from the goal of another friend, I've decided to not buy clothes for myself for an entire year (this doesn't count necessary replacements for important garments). I made this decision in mid-January and now it is easier than I thought it would be to purchase clothing for myself. I look in my closet and see rows, in my wardrobe and see piles, just the fact that I've mentioned "closet" and "wardrobe" are indications of my bounty. And I've actually found that resisting consumption of clothing for myself, has helped me be more others-focused. We'll see how this goes as the year progresses.

During this pre-Easter week draws on I hope to simplify my life more by fasting from criticism this week and prayer at least twice a day for others whom I tend to criticize or are struggling. I'm finding already that I really have to be aware of my thoughts, and to think positively, instead of negatively about situations as my first reaction. I hope this exercise will prepare me to be more ready to receive a message from the Lord this Easter. This is such a wonderful time of year to focus on my spiritual and emotional health. Pray for me in this endeavor.

Us at our favorite gelato place with friends

Facebook... I was warned!

2008-02-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

So I've recently embarked on the fascinating and yet addicting world of facebook. I was a friend who invited me. I was my own curiosity and adventure that kept me going back. Yes, I love the hunt for old friends, high school and college classmates and reminiscence. I've found fellow band-nerds, x-country team mates, church friends, teachers, friends and their siblings and the search continues. It's be great getting in touch with people I had completely lost contact with. Though it is addicting, I'm trying to limit myself and not mention it to everyone I meet. It's just that sometimes technology really does HELP our lives instead of COMPLICATE them... sometimes.

By the way, if you want to see my profile and become my friend on facebook, search for Nikki Smith. I'm sure there are only 250! Good luck!

Snow like I've never seen before!

2008-01-31T12:03:00.001-08:00

This weekend we had our annual Big Lake Snow Weekend. This is the one weekend each year when the Vancouver Church has the opportunity to spend the weekend at Big Lake Youth Camp in the winter. Our group was small, but we sure had a lot of fun and got to know each other better.

Over the weekend we enjoyed riding innertubes behind the snow cat into and out of camp, sledding/innertubing down the big hill onto the frozen lake, eating and fixing yummy food, playing games until early in the morning, and snow shoeing/cross country skiing in some very snowy conditions! Over night on Saturday night it must have snowed almost a foot! The powder was amazing and really fun to walk around in, sled down, and especially land in after a quick trip down the sledding hill.

A few great experiences I remember are standing on the frozen lake Friday night with a clear sky and bright stars to gaze at. It seemed like the longer I looked, the more stars I saw. I even saw a shooting star! It was also fun to venture out on cross-country skiis with my parents down the road, through the woods, up and over a hill, to find a warming hut along the trail. I really like sledding on Sunday morning, since every landing was soft and cushy from the many inches of powder. What a blast!

Here are some pictures from our trip.

Thought I fell of the face of the planet?

2008-01-16T12:20:00.001-08:00

Hello friends! So its been a LONG time since I posted and I know that is bad blogging manners, but life has been very hectic (not that it slowed down for those of you who have kept up your blogs). So we're checking in...

To be brief, we celebrated Christmas with a drive down to Mel and Linda's, a restful, sunny and celebratory 6-day stay with them. Christmas festivities included hand bell choir concerts, parties, singing carols, walking in red wood forests, bird/surfer watching and lots of eating!!! We were blest with lovely presents and came home with iron wood furniture, full tummies, great pictures and warm memories.

New Year's Day was the Taylor family celebration, which commenced with snow shoeing at Wind River Recreation Area. Denali was so cute in her new snow skiis, and showed us how she could stand up and even balance while being pulled behind the Chariot! We celebrated with family at our humble apartment by exchanging gifts and eating yummy pizza!

We squeezed in a few more hang-out times with Vicki and Denali before they flew back to home again until summer. Next time we see them, there will be three, instead of two... WOW!

Besides holiday events, we've spent time with friends studying the Bible (the Friday night crowd has grown from 6 to 16, which is really pushing the firecode limit in our 1 bedroom apartment). These have really been high points for me, since connecting in God's word is such a unifying experience. We really look forward to opening the Sabbath this way.

And our busy lives continue...eat, play, work, pray, sleep. You know the drill.

A week's worth of groceries: How different it looks!

2007-12-18T15:56:00.000-08:00

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide

Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or$500.07

United States: The Revis family ofNorth Carolina

Food expenditure for one week:$341.98

Japan: The Ukita family ofKodairaCity

Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or$317.25

Italy: The Manzo family ofSicily

Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or$260.11

Mexico: The Casales family ofCuernavaca

Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or$189.09

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna

Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or$151.27

Egypt: The Ahmed family ofCairo

Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or$68.53

Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo

Food expenditure for one week:$31.55

Bhutan: The Namgay family ofShingkheyVillage

Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or$5.03

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp

Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or$1.23

Christmas Time is HERE!

2007-12-17T06:56:00.001-08:00

So, this past weekend we've jumped chin-deep into Christmas. On Friday night, at BIG Friday a group of us went to an older couples home for a visit. Besides the lovely decorations they had up, and the hot cocoa and cookies they had prepared, the Christmas carols we sung really made me feel like Christmas was here. It was a lovely visit, but by 9:30 PM, we knew it was time to leave. We hurried back to the church and helped make the last few cards for those on our list of "needing a note of encouragement".

Then, Sabbath morning, the praise songs I led with Marella and Debbie were Christmas carols. To hear the whole congregation belting out Silent Night really filled me with the warm spirit of Christmas. And to hear Pastor Jeff preaching about the way Jesus came to my world to understand me, reminded me of what Christmas is all about. A fun evening with young adults at Glow Miniature Golf didn't remind me of Christmas as much as the CROWDED mall we waded through to grab dinner and get to our venue (the mall parking lot rarely fills up, so that was the first sign).Then Sunday morning we picked up my grandparents and headed over the river and through the woods to the Taylor's home for a lovely afternoon of Christmas Tree decorating. We hiked out in the woods, found the tree, cut it down, shaped and trimmed it and then made it beautiful (see pictures).

It was really fun to have some of the family around helping our tree be straight shapely and decorated just right.

Mom hung the stockings while Jack baked fresh chocolate cookies for us to munch on and SMELL!

This is just the beginning of an influx of family time over the next week or so. Wednesday we leave for northern California to do it all again with Jack's family. I'm loving it!

WORD Time

2007-12-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

The title of this post could mean several things to you all:
1. I'm a scrabble/word game nerd
2. I'm attempting a gansta'/rapper phrase
3. I can't spell "world" correctly
4. I've had a cool experience in Bible study

And the correct answer is... #4! We started a Friday night Bible study time last week, and it is becoming more and more exciting. Though our attendees have varied from last week to this week, one thing is for sure: we're making time with friends to connect in God's word, and it is have a powerful influence. This influence is rather subtle now, but people cannot say enough good things about this simple gathering. All we do is meet at our humble apartment, find a cozy place on the couch, do a few minutes of sharing about what we have been studying and what questions/passages we want to pursue with the group and then study. It is relaxed, loosly led in the inductive style, and winds down with some practical application. So far we have tackled: The Parable of the Sower and the Parables of the Wheat and Tares, Mustard Seed and Leaven. Check them out for yourself and tell us your thoughts! This week we are looking into the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" as used by Jesus when telling parables. What do you know about this?

Thankfulness

2007-11-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

This afternoon as I counted out handouts for an upcoming nutrition class, I decided to listen to Rob Bell. He's the guy who talks on the Nooma videos. A friend from church told me about his podcasts and I've seen the Nooma videos, so no sales pitch was necessary. But as I listened I realized so many things that I have to be grateful for. I'll just list a few:
A loving, God-focused husband
The Bible, as a guide for a growing knowledge of and relationship with God
A community of believers to learn from, support, be challenged by and depend on
A family that cares about me and my needs
A brother who defends my freedom with his own life
A place to live that is reasonably priced, warm, dry, safe, and comfortable
A car that keeps working and doesn't cost much
A weekly celebration of resting in God's grace (Sabbath)
Friends who care and are interested in my life, and have lives that are interesting enough to care about
Physical health to enjoy outdoor recreation
A beautiful place to recreate in
Humor (my own, my husband's, my family's, my friends')
A college education
A desire to continue learning
The love of food, access to ANYTHING I want, ANYTIME, and a few culinary skills I've acquired over the past few years
Really COOL in-laws and a darling niece with red hair and blue eyes
Children (not my own, but friends', family's) and their wonderful example of living care-free and exhuberantly
Music and the ability to create and enjoy it
A job that I REALLY enjoy and am challenged by

I could go on, but I think you get the point. This time of year is one that stirs my awareness of all the blessings in my life. Take time to write your own list, soon.

Another Whirlwind Weekend

2007-10-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

The Halo Bride

Bev-Lea

Emily

Me (with my half up beehive)

Sarah, the bride

We've done it again. In Vicki's 100 mph style, we loaded this weekend with lots of fun activities. Friday evening started our wedding phase of the weekend. It all began with our 5 PM rehearsal (not to mention the day of preparation that Jack experienced). We gathered at the Beam Residence, practiced our placement, our walk, our boogie, the music and the kiss (well, they did!). A group dinner of falafel and pita followed, filled our tummies and led to a slumber party with the ladies and bride. The next day (with little sleep) our friend's Zak and Sarah Cooper tied the knot. Sarah was one of the most calm brides I've ever seen. In fact, the "Halo Bride" picture says it all. The only other pictures I have right now are from the salon. It was a GREAT wedding: small, sunny, simple, sentimental and short. The food was great, the guys and gals looked stunning and at the end of the day, they had a wedding celebration they will never forget. It's fun to help friends with momentous events like this!

Smelling the Roses

2007-10-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

Linda found the "Queen Linda" tile. These tiles represent the Rose Festival Queens as far back as 1900.

We took a break after our meandering and cuddled close for a group shot.

Shortly after Canadian Thanksgiving, Mel and Linda stopped in town for a few days. It was great to see them (I can hardly believe it's been a few years!). Our activities included eating (Chang's Mongolian Grill), eating again (great place on Hawthorne Blvd), chatting it up and wandering through the lovely Portland Rose Garden. It was a lovely day, the roses were in bloom (which really surprised me), and we were together. I haven't stopped to smell the roses in a while. Probably because I don't have my own to sniff. Of course, when I'm with Denali, her cute sniff gets me to slow down, breathe deep, and look around. The afternoon with Mel and Linda was relaxing and enjoyable, and ended all too soon!

Saved!

2007-10-24T22:04:00.001-07:00

It's amazing to think we can be so blind the the real struggle that Jesus experiences over us. The things in this life that rip us away, entice us, fool us, harm us. These things he allows us the freedom to explore, though he is standing by and feeling our pain. And as we begin our journey, in response to his "tugs" on our hearts, he risks EVERYTHING to bring us back to safety. I was truly moved by this dramatization.

This post was inspired by the following video:

New Job Bliss

2007-10-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I last posted and I really do feel badly. Vicki is keeping me in check (as much as she can without physically MAKING me blog on a regular basis) simply by threatening to remove our blog as a link on their page. Ouch! So, I am trying to make this a more regular thing. Today, I have a good reason to blog too!

I'm one week into a brand new job. I've told a few of you about it... and I love working in my home county! I'm so thrilled to be here. I've been able to take walks during lunch on the beautiful grounds. A few things I get to enjoy are: a wildlife botanical garden, featuring dahliahs, food, and other pretty things, a large wooded area with winding trails, wildlife (I saw 3 deer my second day) and quietness (no zooming cars, scary crosswalks, etc.).

I'll write more later...

Learning to balance

2007-09-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been learning a lesson in balance. I don't mean gracefully walking the balance beam. What I mean is being willing to say, "No." Protecting my time. Being intentional about resting or withdrawing from all the rush and fast-paced living.

I was inspired a few months ago by our senior Pastor, who encouraged us to only get involved in the few things we were truly gifted in and leave the other jobs for other people. He had to do it for medical reasons, and had plenty of time to reflect on the healthfulness of choosing balance. He was now encouraging us. So I started with asked to do praise singing at church half as often. Then I missed a few of the evangelistic meetings in a recent series. The I asked for help sending weekly e-mail updates to our young adult group. It was working! Other people were doing a fine job at doing these things, and I had more time and less busyness.

I've recently applied this to work. Taking my full lunch break. Taking my 15 minute breaks. Saying "no" and doing fewer things well. I hope I can find a way to consistently choose a life of balance and reap the benefits that come with it!

Grandma Winifred in youthful beauty

2007-09-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

Kids and pets

2007-09-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

Came across this picture and couldn't help but post it. Denali, my adorable niece, is calling the sea lions in a show we attended at Sea World, just like she calls dogs over that she wants to pet. "Here, little sea lion," she thinks as she pats her leg. How cute!

Friends and Family Tour 2007: Experience California

2007-09-10T10:35:00.001-07:00

Shamu jumps and sprays trainer!

Shamu break dancing

Polar bear swim

Denali watching beluga whales... awwww!

Dolfin hello!

Shamu slammed backside

Shamu slammed frontside

Shamu slamming the crowd.

Labor weekend was an exciting one for us! Why? We did a grand tour of our southern California friends and enjoyed a long weekend with family, all in 6 consecutive days! What an experience! It all started with 2 and 1/2 days with Preston and Heather Seyle and their two girls Sierra and Marlee. We stopped there first to have some mellow hanging-out time, and be close to Dr. Michelle and Darla. Thank the Lord that they have AC because as soon as we arrive and heat wave spread across Riverside bringing temperatures into the 110's. Ouch! We (the girls) stayed inside playing and puttering around and they (the boys) worked out the finishing touches on the Passat we would be borrowing the rest of the weekend. Both of us were satisfied by Saturday morning!

On Thursday afternoon we took a little journey over to Upland to visit with Michelle. It was a blast! We enjoyed a lovely taco salad for late lunch and then took a walking tour of her school, Western School of Ostepathic Medicine. It was so exciting the see the OMM (don't ask!) pracitical classroom, lecture hall, campus features and surrounding scenery. Becoming a doctor is a challenge I can barely comprehend, but she's doing it! We're hoping her clinical rotations will send her up our way sometime soon!

After an evening of visiting, checking out the mall, enjoying a yummy Thai dinner and more talking, I decided to stay the night and Jack drove back to Preston's. He had a few more things to complete on the car and then we would be set for phase two: San Diego with the Duffys.

The next day Michelle and I took our time getting up, headed out for some errands around Clarimont and enjoyed a yummy Mediterranean lunch. It all worked out for Jack and Preston and around lunch time they came rolling in to pick me up at Michelle's. On the way home we simply couldn't pass by In-and-Out Burger (for the TRUE California experience) so we stopped and ordered our veggie burgers (toasted cheese) fries, and a shake.

Finally we arrive home, started packing up and hung out for the evening, which included a nice mexican dinner and games into the evening!

Saturday morning we embarked, for the first time in our lives, on the Sea World experience. It started with an early morning 2-hour drive from Riverside, a short wait in line, and ended 11 hours later after our third round of the dolfin show. It was amazing and certainly too much to take in in one day! That's why we went back on Monday...

To name a few things we were able to enjoy: petting/feeding dolfins, seeing Shamu shows (3 in two days), seeing dolfin shows (3 in one day), seeing the Cirque de la Mer show, petting bat rays, watching penguins in their arctic environment, getting "Shamu slammed" (see the picture), watching beluga whales and a polar bear swim around, walking through the shark tunnel, and watching sea lions and a walrus perform! We thorough enjoyed it and really tried to get our money's worth. It was also great fun seeing it with Ryan & Vicki and little Denali!

To make it a truly Californian experience, we just had to see the beach one day. So Sunday morning we headed to the shore, set up a shade post with chairs and plenty of fluids to drink and lounged, swam, boogie boarded and sweated almost all day. It was awesome and some of the locals even said the waves were the best they had seen in a long time!

After two days of Sea World, a day at the beach and 2 1/2 days with other friends in Riverside, we were ready to come back to the hum-drum of normal life. We said goodbye to friends and family and head back home on our 2nd wedding anniversary, September 4th. It felt good to be home and what a great anniversary trip it was!

A Grand Ol' Time in Alaska

2007-09-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

Silly face as the boat crew gathered!

Bill Liversage, the officiant, Tiffany, bridesmaid, and me take a walk along the boardwalk to the boat tour of Resurrection Bay.

Not so ferocious as we though! Awww...

We admired the beautiful snow leapard in the Anchorage Zoo.

Us and Moose!

Our first view from the plane. Awesome!

Float plane we toured the Anchorage wilderness in.

Spectacular view of glacier from float plane (with the snow melted you can see the gnarly ice).

Bikers, take your mark...

Multitasking: steering a bike and operating a camera... oh yeah, and smiling!

Jack takes in the view along the bike trail in Anchorage.

For the first time in our lives, we adventured in Alaska this summer. A wedding was the reason for our trip, however, we maximized the vacation by making it a little post-college friends reunion (for Jack), and sight-seeing endeavor. We also enjoyed a scenic drive to Seward, AK as well as a boat cruise of Resurrection bay, visit and tour of the Alaskan Seal Life Center and sea kayaking trip, to the compliments of the newely-weds! They wanted to make this weekend one to remember, and they did it! It was a blast gathering the crew (which took several middle of the “night” airport runs to accumulate), eating family style meals, adventuring on bicycles along the Anchorage coastline, visiting the zoo and treating ourselves to a plane tour of the Alaskan wilderness area.

Our drive down from Anchorage to Seward was absolutely spectacular and well worth the time! We arrived in Seward to more group bonding, eating and wedding preparations. Sabbath was a special time because we sang together, did some group sharing and studied a beautiful passage in John. Though our time was short we saw the gospel and were truly touched. Now it was party time!

The evening wedding was held in a small country church and was quite beautiful. The guests were then piled onto a historic trolley and led to the sea life center for the reception. The underwater viewing area was the site for appetizers, drinks and pleasant music along with a picture slide show of Steve and Maria. We greeted the wedding party and new couple and then moved upstairs for a fun-filled reception. Dinner, dancing, surprise entertainment (Swedish singing and wedding bell presentation and Sound of Music trio performance of “How do you solve a problem like Maria?”). More dancing, more eating, dessert and finally a behind the scenes tour. We were exhausted by the end… but there was more.

The next morning we rolled out of bed and realized we could join the kayaking trip at the last minute! We jumped into our clothes and raced to the meeting place just in time to join the crew. Off to the sea we went, though a morning drizzled accompanied us the whole way. The trip was so much fun! We saw bald eagles, sea otters and stopped half-way for hot cocoa, snacks and visiting with the guests. What a great way to see Alaska and bond with friends!

We are Family!

2007-08-31T22:01:00.000-07:00

The time had finally come for Jack and I to travel north for a family gathering in Anglemont, British Columbia. The reason for our gathering was two-fold: gather with siblings, children, and grandchildren of the late Winifred Duffy and do the big sort through her belongings in the house she lived in for the past 40 years. It was a happy time: reunions with relatives we hadn't seen for a long time or even met, hours looking through Winifred's vast collection of photo albums, sunny days swimming on Shuswap Lake and discoveries of her hidden and known treasures. The sad moment was the time when we took Winifred's ashes to her burial site. The family circled around and Uncle Derek share a few encouraging thoughts from scripture and had prayer. People were moved to tears as they were reflecting on what a good mother, grandmother and friend she had been. Reflection time was soon over and we were back to the task of sorting, packing and laughing. With a car loaded with goods and another furniture run planned the next day, we started our trip southward. Smooth sailing through the border three times over was an answer to our prayers. This weekend was one that filled us with good memories, grew family bonds stronger, and left us with boxes and piles of keepsakes that remind us of Winifred and all the love she gave the family!

The Duffy Family gathers for a group photo at Winifred and Gramps' grave.

Shuswap Lake at sunset.

Gentle lapping waves on a beautiful shore of perfect skipping rocks. Many summer days of playing in the lake were spent here with Grandma.

Shirley places Winifred's favorite flowers, hydrangeas, grown in her garden, at the gravesite.

The family gathers around in remembrance of a wonderful woman!

Winifred's ashes were buried on top of her fathers casket, as she said, "in his arms."

Shirley, Ralph, Bertie, Jack and Pauline share laughs and fond memories as they look through Winifred's vast photo album collection (at LEAST 50).

Spiritual Renewal

2007-07-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend was Gladstone Campmeeting and with Jack gone camping with his friends at Diamond Lake, I knew I needed the fellowship and spiritual boost it had to offer. So I went, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday night to bask in God's love through the hearing of the Word and heart-felt worship. And what I went for I received!

The worship experience was truly amazing. Night after night my heart was warmed, humbled and then lifted in praise to an awesome God who loves me. The songs moved me (figuratively and literally) as I sang, clapped, raised my hands and stood still. This is true worship, I thought. For the first time in a long time I truly felt free to express my praise to the Lord.

What did it for me? I believe it is the improved relationship I've been having with God lately and the presence of other worshippers who are letting loose! I went straight to the front row every night because I knew it would help me focus on the worship experience and worship leaders. Something changed in me. I worshipped without reservation. I closed my eyes to keep my ears and mouth and heart in tune. I was a beautiful feeling to be free in my expression to God.

And because of this moving worship experience, my heart was ready to receive the Word and to share and pray with other believers. The messages about God's greatness in His grace, His servanthood, His creatorship, His wonder-working power and His self-definition were so refreshing and presented with such passion and simplicity. God was truly there and I was there with Him.

Climb Every Mountain!!!

2007-07-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

So, I was exaggerating a bit with the title, but Jack and I are thrilled to announce our first joint mountain climb. Last weekend we strapped on our backpacks with enough stuff for one night, two days and a long uphill hike and headed for Mt. Adams. My dad invited us to join him and two other mountain-climbing friends on the south climb route two-day option.

The weather was warm and sunny, not the ideal for hiking up to 9,000 feet with fully loaded backpacks. But we did it, and we took our time. We had a great pace-setter in front who was not afraid to stop for breaks. I think this really helped us make it all the way. So, we started from 5,600 feet at the parking lot and hiked a whopping 3,400 with our backpacks up to lunch counter, a high rocky plateau about 3,000 feet short of the summit. It was extremely challenging, but we all made and were relieved to get those packs off of our backs.

We then set up camp: two tents, five people (you do the math), filtered water straight from a snow field melt-off stream, got some dinner in our bellies and crashed for a few hours of sleep. You see, our alarms were going off at 3:45 AM so that we could start our climb at 5 AM. Jack made sure and to ask, a few times, why we needed to start so early, and he got a satisfying response. The higher up you get before the sun softens the snow too much and starts beating down on your face, the more pleasant the climb. And boy was it true!

So after a short night, with the wind howling, and our bodies smashed in the tent like sardines, we rolled out of bed, put on our headlamps and prepared for the uphill trek. Breakfast didn't sound good, but that's what our friends warned us about since we were at 9,000 feet. High altitudes suppress the appetite I guess, at least during the adjustment period. They also suppress your oxygen intake, as we quickly found out. Anyway, we stuffed some oatmeal and hot cocoa down our mouths and strapped on our daypacks.

At 5:37 AM we started off. The pace was slow and steady. Our special breathing technique was in slowly through the nose and out with pursed lips. This provided a bit of back-pressure on our lungs and increased oxygen absorption, which is very important when hiking uphill for hours. We took one look at the white "Staircase to Heaven" (as Jack termed it) and started marching. I have never looked at so many boot prints in the snow before. Of course, looking down was the best thing to do since the snow was still fairly hard and there was a steep slant downward on either side of the steps.

One hour, two, three and we were nearing the "false summit". And that is just what it sounds like, a snowy plateau and what looks like the top. You only see the "true summit" when you reach the "false" one. We reached the 11,000 foot "false summit" around 9 AM. This was making good time! At this rate we could be at the top in a few hours and back down with plenty of time to get home before it got too late. However, the sun hadn't completely broken through the clouds yet and the snow was still too hard to glisade down (sliding on your butt on the snow, at a high rate of speed). That meant we would have to walk, which would not only be difficult but take lots more time. It was time for a prayer. We needed the sun to break through, the clouds to clear, and continued safety and strength.

Ask and you will receive, Jesus said. The clouds did break and the sun did shine through, but we had to start across the saddle first. Once we arrived at the last white staircase, we were being warmed by the sun and the snow was beginning to soften. We could even see the summit! It was almost within reach. When I say we, I mean Jack and I and my dad's two friends. My dad decided to hang at the "false summit" because we only had 2 ice axes for 3 people. He really made a sacrifice so that Jack and I could summit and for this we thanked him sincerely.

Finally our last push for the summit, a few more steps and we were there. Our slow steady pace really paid off because we were actually passing people on the staircase up. Our strength was great as long as our breathing stayed steady. Alas, we crested the last slope and Mt. Rainier said hello. The view was amazing! We could see Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Rainier and everything in between. The sky was blue, the sun was bright, we had great big smiles on our faces and people were celebrating!

We hung out at the summit for about 20 minutes, all we could take with the strong winds. Many photos were taken and the video camera was running the whole time. It felt so great to be on top, to have met the challenge. Our descent was looking better and better with the softer snow. Maybe we could glisade after all.

So we began the downhill trek, careful and controlled, and tried to encourage the uphill traffic with the reward ahead. As we came to the saddle, we could see the clouds whipping past creating beautiful shadows on the snow. Then Jack noticed a cloud bank approaching and commented, "I hope that goes over us." His hopes were not realized, because as we arrived at the false summit, we were surrounded by clouds. It was like standing around in milk; you couldn't see up or down. We decided we had better prepare for a downhill hike, got our snow clothes ready and started the descent.

About 5 minutes later, the cloud bank broke free of the mountain and we could see! Glisading at last! We all dropped to our bottoms and gave a push to start the slide. First the snow wake, then the butt numbing, finally the bumps and ice-chunks in our path. You may be asking how this is fun, but you'll just have to see the video to appreciate it, or do it yourself!

In just over an hour we had arrived back at lunch counter, our camping site. We were wet, numb, wind-burned and exhausted, but grinning from ear to ear! We had the wonderful task ahead of us of packing up camp, strapping back on those heavy backpacks and hiking out of this place. We took our time, but worked steadily to get ready for the rest of our descent.

By about 2:45 PM we started our hike. It was fun the glisade a bit more on the remaining two snowfields, but a jolt of reality as soon as we were back on solid ground. The hike was long, painful, tiring, burdensome, hot and long (did I say that already?). It was a small price to pay for the wondering climbing experience. We made it out, with jello legs and screaming feet. It felt so good to take off the boots and put on some flip flops, and to remove the backpacks and just have a seat in a cushy, air-conditioned truck. We were finally homeward bound. We had done it!

Before: Jack, Nikki, Howard, Julie and Mitch

Jack pushes up a steep section of trail with the rolling hills behind him.

The last snowfield before lunch counter, our stopping point for day one.

Campsites were marked by rock walls and sandy bottoms.
Ours didn't look quite so nice as these.

Day two, EARLY! The peaks behind us is the "false summit".

We weren't the only climbers.
There were 200 permits issued the day we climbed.

Did I mentioned the white staircase?

Dad pushes upward and onward!

Jack captures some video footage at the "false summit".
Mt. Hood is just over his right shoulder.

Saddle, staircase, slope, summit.
Check out the clouds.

We're only smiling because we can see the top!

Mt. Rainier was peeking over the crest of the hill. Beautiful!

Our summit partners: Julie and Mitch.

The clouds moved in just as we finished our last glisading run.
Can you see the tracks?

Jack demonstrates proper glisading technique
(which he learned from barefoot water skiing).

Jack found a great resting rock...
it was made to be sat in!

Public Health Rocks!

2007-07-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

So I just wanted to put a little shout out there about public health. Some of you who work in this field might snicker at my title to this blog. That's because you know that it is work that doesn't pay well, is very demanding and stressful, and is sometimes like fighting an uphill battle. People don't like to change period, but especially with regards to their health habits and lifestyle.

The reason I think it rocks is because there is a flame inside me to provide information, motivation and opportunity to people wanting to improve their lives. Especially those who never knew that simple things could make such a difference. I have had the opportunity to do this for the past 9 months through the health department in the areas of nutrition and tobacco prevention and I absolutely LOVE it! I get to cook with kids, make healthful and tasteful recipes for adults and see their expressions when they sample them, and think of creative ways to communicate health messages to pre-schoolers and teenagers. Not only does this feed my passion to educate and support people, but it taps into my love for food and cooking!

I also have recently been commissioned to design the fair booth for our local churches this year on the theme of stress management. It has been a bit stressful to work on this project with such a short timeline, but God has truly blest the effort with support from friends and church members and I feel like we will have a pretty good message for the community. More than anything I hope people will see and feel Jesus through the volunteers. Knowing Him is the most powerful tool in stress management.

Family Bonding In The Woods

2007-06-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

A little waterfall we passed by. Wouldn't it make a great shower?

The whole crew!

Mother's Day was a memorable day for the Taylor family. Mommy got to decided what we did and she chose hiking. It was a typical spring day in the northwest, liquid sunshine sprinkled down and we didn't care. We visited the Lewis River that day, saw the lower and middle falls and enjoyed a sack lunch (especially the trading!). The whole family was there: mom, dad, my brothers, my husband, the two family dogs, the baby and sister in law. What an opportunity for bonding. We chatted, googled over the baby, enjoyed the beauty and finally returned to town for a nice dinner out.

It was a lovely time and really made me appreciate family togetherness. For us, it doesn't happen that often anymore. Ryan, Vicki and Denali are on the move every few months (hardly ever in our neck of the woods). Jake is busy working, schooling, hanging with friends and playing his weekly Saturday night gig. We have lots going on with friends and church. But on this day, we all made time for the family. It made me wonder what it would be like to live close together. I would imagine we'd be more connected, spiritually, emotionally, and more available to help and care for each other, advise, and entertain (we have a pretty interesting and funny group of people in our small family). Maybe one day we'll experience this life, if not on this earth, in heaven.Poppop and Denali stop to wave "Hi!"

Soggy Summer Camping Trip

2007-06-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

Who says you can't have fun in the rain? We just spent the weekend (at least part of it) camping near Lower Falls on the Lewis River. This beautiful spot features lush forest, the rushing Lewis River and three picturesque water falls (pictures to follow). Our weekend endeavor included about 10 other young adults from our church. We all knew going into it that rain was in the forecast, but several soggy tents made us pack up on Saturday evening and come home to warm showers and dry beds.

Was it worth it? Yes!!! We had a great time Friday evening getting set-up, starting a campfire and enjoyed a clear dry night. Sabbath morning was dry until about 10 AM when the drizzle began. We set up our tarp fortress to stay as dry as possible and had brunch. We hiked in the rain, had an early dinner in the rain, packed up in the rain and loaded the cars in the rain. Our car still carries a little of the dampness...

BUT, the waterfalls and hike were most enjoyable as was the company. We ate well (as usual) and had a fun time visiting, chopping wood and being in the woods.

Near Miss... PHEW!

2007-06-07T23:16:00.000-07:00

A crazy thing happened this weekend and I just had to shout out a praise to God for His protection! A friend and I were walking on our lunch break on Wednesday when we turned to see a car accident occur in the street right next to us. One older lady driving a white car came zooming across a few lanes of traffic, hopped the sidewalk and barely stopped just short of hitting a small restaurant. It was a 3-foot chicken wire fench that caught the bottom of her car. We happened to be the first responders so we rushed over to the driver to make sure she was OK, her car was turned off and 911 was notified. She was shaken up but unharmed.

This experience really made me think about how quickly life can change or end. Both me and my friend praised God for protecting us from harm. If this had occured just 10 seconds sooner, we could have been in the path of an out-of control car. But it didn't. It really makes me think about how other people's choices intersect with our own, how God is watching out for us, and how/when He can intervene and when He can't. Besides being a little jittery the rest of the afternoon, the only resididual effect was a renewed gratitude for God's great wisdom, protection and power.

Summer Fun in the NW

2007-06-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

After a weekend like we had, it is difficult to not post a new comment! I just thought I'd give you all a taste of what summer fun in the northwest is like.

Our weekend began with a lovely dinner with friends and family. Since it was warm we had falafel, hummus, pitas, and toppings to avoid cooking and heating up our apartment. For beverages we enjoyed mago lassies, so cool and smooth! The sun was shining in our dining room window and it made the evening so lovely. To open the Sabbath we lit candles, put on some relaxing music and talked about our week. Sabbath morning was bright and sunny and we awoke to the birds singing outside. We took a short walk and then packed upt for the fun day ahead. Sabbath morning Bible study, church, lunch at Nathan and Candee's house, a drive out to Multon Falls, walking down the path shaded by trees and a fun swim in the river followed. We are so blessed by our church family and were really encouraged by the study and worship service this Sabbath. Getting outdoors just magnifieds those blessings. The beauty, the warmth, fresh air, and fun of swimming around and jumping into the river. We wrapped up the day by gathering at Mark and Marella's home to enjoy a nice supper and visiting with friends. What a full day, so much fun and fellowship!

Nikki jumping in from 15' cliff above Multon Falls on the Lewis River.

Nikki wading in the shallow area just below the cliff jumping.

Jack jumping from the cliff.

Sunday morning we headed outside again. Ultimate frisbee on the lawn was a little warm this weekend. Good thing we had a shaddy picnic area, lots of water and sunscreen and iced down drinks. We play and then ate a picnic lunch with our friends. It was getting so warm at that point, we decided to head out for the water once again. Out in Washougal there's a great swimming area on the Columbia River called Cottonwood Beach. Eight of us headed to the beach, swam in the cool river (it felt pretty close to the same temperature as the Lewis River), got some more sun, built a few sand sculptures and played and swam some more.

Jack and I headed out to wrap up our weekend with another lovely dinner with friends. This time we headed into Portland to a wonderful Cuban restaurante called Pambiche's. It was a lovely evening of cuban cuisine, catching up and getting acquainted.

After such excitement it's rather hard to return to work. However, we know that we'll have many more weekends like this to look forward to this summer.

Reflections of a Wifie

2007-05-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would share a little of my perspective on marriage with you. Granted, I have only 21 months of experience, but I feel I've learned a lot so far. First of all, it is amazing spend life growing in your knowledge and love of another human being, especially one you thought was great to start out with. I have learned to be accepting of faults and humbled at my own, sensitive to feelings and more aware of my own, amazed at the kindness, gentleness and carefreeness of my man and free to express my own version of those things.

Freedom has been a priority in our relationship and one that is a challenge to maintain. By this I mean creating an environment of freely flowing information, freedom to make choices with taint of expectation and manipulation, and freedom to love and serve one another with all we are.

Of course there are the simple things too: cleaning and organizing house, laundry, cooking and the aquisition of things. These things sap more time and energy than I ever could have thought. I certainly appreciate the fact that our home is an apartment for now, because that means no yard to maintain, a small space to keep clean and a free handyman to fix everything that breaks.

Married life (as so many people ask) is great! We are having so much fun with each other, and laughter is a part of every day. We've had challenges, but find our strength to endure in God. It is great being part of a bigger story, one not just about us, but one that includes history, today and eternity.

Us: April-September 2005

2007-05-24T23:55:00.000-07:00

Proposal at Joshua Tree, CA

Cliff Jumping at Sunset Falls, Yacolt, WA

Wedding at Lewisville Park, Battle Ground , WA

Wedding Farewell Photo

Honeymoon: Scuba in Cozumel, Mexico

Sight-seeing in Mexico

A Weekend in the Life of the Smiths

2007-05-24T23:19:00.000-07:00

I wish I had the energy to post about all the wonderful things we've experienced in our first 1.75 years of marriage. To go back further, and tell the story of our lives before we met and how we grew together would take weeks to complete! I think the best thing to do is to give you a sense of our lives today, this week, the present.

Weekends are a highpoint for us. They mark the beginning of the Sabbath, a day of rest and fellowship with our family in Christ. They are also the time when we get to play! Here's what they look like, on a typical weekend:

Friday evening (about every other) we gather with friends for an evening of relaxation, spiritual renewal and friendship.

Sabbath morning we take our time getting ready, make last minute preparations for the day and arrive at church around 9:45 AM. Jack teaches the biblestudy class for young adults and it begins at 10 AM. We gather, study and have a few minutes for application/ reflection and socializing. The worship service begins at 11:15 AM and concludes around 12:30 PM. Once or twice a month I help lead the praise singing with a few other young adults. After church we try to find a place to enjoy lunch with friends. If it is nice weather, we run for the outdoors, but if not, we visit and share and sometimes nap in the afternoon. Come evening we are looking for fun and laughter and usually spend time playing games or visiting with friends.

Sunday we've made it a tradition to play Ultimate Frisbee down at the Officer's Row lawn starting at about 10:30/11 AM. After about 2 hours we find some food and sometimes gather at someone's home to study the Bible together (by now it is a smaller group). If we have projects at home, they might trump our extended playtime!

That's what our weekends look like. Full, fun and friend-filled!

Greetings!

2007-05-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and family,

I'd like to welcome you to our family blog. We hope you enjoy keeping informed of our adventures just as much as we enjoy telling you about them. There are two important things you should know about us. First, that we are on an exciting journey together. Our lives are fast-paced and moving forward with purpose! Second, that our goal is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and live abudant lives as a result. We look forward to the adventures ahead and all the ways that God is moving to bring about good in our lives. Won't you join us on this journey?

Love,
Jack and Nikki