outer space.

life...wake up in the morning, go to work for 8 hours, come home, eat, go to bed, just to start it all over tomorrow...life.

that's the life i long for, when i'm busy and crazy, but when i'm not busy and crazy, that's the life i dread. so where's the in between?

Is it possible to do something you love with out getting burnt out or discontent in a few years??

Is it possible to be content?
As "christians" are we suppose to be content or not content? i get confused.

Is there always going to be uncertainty?

is there always going to be defeat?

Is there always going to be a fog in my mind?

When is it all going to unfold?

Is the ache ever going to go away?

will i ever let God in completely?

will i ever give over control to Him?

will i ever lose control?

is this really the life i am meant to live?

am i suppose to be doing something bigger?

how can i do something bigger?

will i ever get to where i would love to be?


Answers?



--i'm just sitting here, thinking. questioning things. pondering. those questions are in no particular order. just came out.
it's a friday night. i'm wanting to be in Seattle right now just chilling, but i'm here in rochester and i'm going to wake up tomorrow and still be in rochester. why can't i be content??? is it always going to be impossible for me?? who knows...

so i leave you with this quote from Michael Scott -
"I am an adult. I don’t have to think…or…do anything"

laughter.

so tonight Mike surprised me with a date night. chinese, always good choice. Horton Hears a Who, cute movie. and lots of laughs...till i cried :) ha. it's always a good feeling to laugh. to smile. to feel free to let loose. we both were dancing to "Low, Low, Low" in the car (only a couple of people have seen me do my dance to that song...ha.) ...people along side us must thought we were weirdos...pretty much correct. Anyways, it started making me think...what makes me smile...

*surprise date nights
*music (esp. rap/hip hop...hehe)
*Mimi & Stella
*Baxter
*Spring...with no snow...
*Walks outside
*Driving with all the windows down.
*Sunsets (preferably FL sunsets-the best)
*Strawberries
*New ideas
*Photos
*Seattle
*Real-ness
*Words spoken incorrectly...ha.
*Popcorn
*Piano
*Singing
*Light at the end of the Tunnel
*Bush's Stimulus Package
*Crossword Puzzles
*David Archuleta & Brooke White
*Naps

And lots of other things...everyday, i hope i can focus on the things that make me smile, instead of the things that don't. That's my goal. Where my pet peeves and annoyances...turn into something to smile about...ha.

thats my thoughts right now...

new addition....

so we know it isn't the most practical...but we couldn't resist...

say "hello" to STELLA!!! our new puppy!! Doxie/Terrier.

church

So for a long time now...it seems like it's been forever since we've done music or even gone to church, but really it's only been like 5 or 6 months, but doing music for about 10 years or so...it's a big gap...long over due break, I'm getting new thoughts and new ideas through these months. why oh why do we play music? why music in church? silly music. anywho. we got to play at a church today bout 45 mins away. We really felt at home. Great time and great conversations. Great people. The Pastor & his wife are amazing people, we had a great lunch with them. Just felt so comfortable and felt like we belong there for the time being. It's what we have been on-again/off-again looking for a long time. I can't wait to go back...since it is 45 mins away, we'll be going about every other week. We're very excited to start this new journey. I'm so happy to see excitement back in Mike's eyes and words spoken, new dreams, etc.

Ok well that's some new stuff for you, all the faithful readers.

***Side Note...All the songs on the show "Oprah's Big Give" are AMAZING!
*Need to Breathe-"Shine On"
*Five For Fighting-"World"
*Suzie McNeil- "Believe"

In fact...after listening to more songs... I will go out on a limb in saying... NeedToBreathe is my new fav. (and it just happens to be a "christian" band...and i dont 'normally like those bands...) the singer dude seriously sounds like John mayer on a few diddys.
Good stuff!!

my precious.

so we've been keeping my dog in the kitchen, cause she's being a "bad girl" so the other day, we had kept the dryer door open (washer/dryer are in the kitchen) and Mike came home to find her inside of the dryer, laying on the dried clothes, it was so stinkin cute. so he took a picture.

so not much new here, i went to the doctor today for the first time in a long, long, time. apparently nothing is wrong with me, but why do i feel like i do then...?? not good.

whatev. i'll be going again soon.

valentines week. i think after this week. i'm going to forever hate that day. last year wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be but this year, already...on friday i was getting annoyed. this year...new store, new customers...we will see. i always thought of it as a "romantic day", bull. it's hell for people in the floral business. ORDER EARLY!! haha.

so i'll be working crazy hours this week, for all your valentine's needs.

peace out.

have i said how much i "love" MN, yet??? -40, are you kidding me???? CA here we come!

memories.

so many of you will not understand. but the link below is just a little tiny view of what kind of fun times i had in WA. haha. thanks to my good friend, mr. brandon patoc, this is brought to you. listen to it. it's kind of a long story, but long story short, the people at Denny's didn't like us very much. and Mike/Brandon/whoever else...they thought it would be funny to put a "soundtrack" to it, if you will. it's me singing w/ the manager at Denny's leaving a message. this was played for everyone at a "appreciation" dinner thing after christmas sometime.


copy/paste the link & download---enjoy.

http://www.box.net/shared/oxw1lz280g



i was told there is more to come!! haha.

these days seem to be dragging. filled with thoughts, plans, decisions, pains.
i need these days to speed up. i need clarification in my life. little by little it's coming.
a lot i am realizing. good though.

seriously hate MN. how can it be like 40 yesterday and then today it's like 0...so freakin' cold??
i can't wait to get out west again.

plans, plans, plans.

Stop.

S T O P ! ! !
































Stop running, stop working, stop watching, stop waiting, stop moving,
stop doing, stop, stop, stop.

























Stop for a moment. Give yourself a break. Relax for a quick second. Breathe, Breathe in a deep breath.


























Life always keeps on moving, things keep rollin'. Doesn't hurt just to stop for a moment.



























That's all.

Good.

We're back in Rochester...I'm sad. ha. didn't want to leave, but that was expected! Good travels back and forth, and it didn't rain too much when we were out there, so i've heard it was worse in MN. Anyways. i'm in the process of making my first ever "video"/ slideshow thingy. so hopefully i can get it up on here.

So not only did we do the tourist stuff...seattle center, pike place, etc. we got to see some of the people that made my time in Seattle(Fed way, auburn, etc.) so awesome!!!

First, there is Lan and Susan Erickson...i dont' even know where to start. It's my "west coast" home and they are my "WA parents". We got to hang out a few times, and over and over realizing how amazing they are!!! I'm so thankful for them in my life, grateful for their hospitality (sp?), kindness, and their hearts!! Good people!

Second, Brandon and Nicole, we got to hang out with them for a little bit on Wednesday. So many memories flooded back into me, while sitting there talking. Good, funny, amazing memories. It was fun walking through the church, seeing where/how everything is now. Lots of changes. I wish Nicole and Brandon the best in the future, they are truly gifted and talented people and i miss you guys tons and tons!!

--then there is Mark Johnson...we saw him at the church, it's always good seeing him, lots of jokes fly around, but what an amazing guy!! Hopefully, we'll see him in April/May-ish!!

Third, Erica Pogue. I pretty much keep saying the same things about everyone...amazing, talented, etc...cause everyone is out there!!! there must be something in the water. Anyway, when i think of Erica I think...consistent (sp?) she was always there for me and i was always at her house. haha. laughs, tears, fun memories with her. we got to meet up with her on Thurs night, and it was definately awesome seeing her again, it's been too long.

Then we met up with David Dodd, always quality w/ David. Good talks, good laughs, good stories, and he has such an amazing heart for God. We are praying for David as he goes to Africa on Tuesday for a month or so...to teach/train up pastors and ministers for God in Tanzania. Excited to see great things happen there.

We got to hang out with an amazing family, The Babcocks! Raquel, Mark, Syndey, & Taylor. Always supportive, always kind, again, always fun to be around. I miss them!!

--Sheri it was good seeing her right before we left to head back to MN.


so to recap....amazing people, talented, gifted, kind, supportive, funny.....everyone out there is in a special part of my heart. They marked me for life.

Hopefully, i will see everyone again REAL SOON!!!!! who knows what the future holds???


Lan & Susan Erickson


Brandon & Nicole


Erica Pogue


**i tried getting the video up on this site, and it didnt' let me. go to my page on facebook and you can watch it. ENJOY.

Day Three

we were privileged to go to lunch with some of my friends out here...Brandon and Nicole, it was great hanging out with them and hearing about their lives. miss'em so much. good people. after lunch, we got a tour around the church that i worked at when i lived here. so many changes, but i'm glad things are still rollin' there. then we drove to Enumclaw, it seems that the mountains are in it's backyard, amazing! for dinner we went up to seattle to Jazz Alley. i can't even tell you how much i enjoyed that. Great food (expensive, but worth it), great music (Sara Gazarek-check her out, excellent) and just a great time.
Its going to very tough leaving here again!!


This is the church i worked at when i lived here...lots of changes, but still miss it so much!!!

and this is the huge casino just down the road from the church. they added a bingo building, a smoke shop, and a huge parking garage...since i've been gone! crazy those muckleshoots really know how to do it! :)

Mountains! amazing! this is Mt. Rainier but the clouds are hiding it a little.

Jazz Alley...amazing. one of my fav places. Great food, great jazz, great atmosphere...great, great, great!!

Day Two.

got up...had breakfast...drove to Alki, took pics(below), drove to dwtn Seattle, walked to the public market...went to seattle aquarium, looked at fish....walked back to car....drove to Seattle Center...walked around, played arcade games. enjoyed day 2. getting tired though!!


me at alki.


view.

views from Alki. oh, and us.


alki.


mike at pike place.

the famous...


the fish throwing place...


lots of flowers. awesome colors.

the first Starbucks. woo hoo. excuse the mermaid nakedness.



on the way to the aquarium.


all different starfish i couldn't push myself to touch one.

octopus (sp?) ha.


jelly fish.


mike chillin with the jelly fish.

goofy me.


so many different kinds of fish and underwater craziness!! God has a very creative mind!!!!