On a Lighter Note

Jay and I went to the races Saturday night up at the Wenatchee Super Oval.  I think everyone should experience this at least once.  Even if you aren't interested in the cars the people watching is awesome.  For all you mullet lovers, this is the place to go: they are out in full force.  I did manage to get one picture, but to protect the innocent decided not to post it.  Just trust me, it was amazing.

One of the events on Saturday was the bump to pass.  I think they said that means you can bump the person you are trying to pass? I don't know, I don't really understand all of the rules.  The pictures below are from a bump to pass race, but this guy was more interested in burning out his tires.  It was hilarious.  Until we couldn't breathe from all of the burnt rubber!  Oh yeah, it was loud too.  Why didn't we bring ear plugs?!

On Sunday we took the boat out on the river and I told Jay how happy I was to be out relaxing and not fishing.  Blasphemy!  I think Jay wanted to throw me in the water.  Lucky for me the water is way up right now and the current is ripping through there. If he threw me out he would also have to rescue me so he must have decided it wasn't worth the effort.  I will go Sockeye fishing up north where it is much easier to control the boat and I am almost guaranteed to catch something.  He and the boys can go try their luck in the Columbia out front here.  Too much work for me.  My tan really suffers.

Captured My Heart

This is Yuri.  He was born in 2007 and lives in an orphanage in Ukraine.  

I "met" Yuri while reading Adeye's blog: http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/  Check it out when you have time.  They recently adopted two little girls from Ukraine with Down Syndrome.  Yuri is currently in the same orphanage and was in the room with their daughter Hailee.  After reading this post I cannot get him off of my mind.

Right now Yuri is lucky to be listed on Reece's Rainboiw, which helps facilitate international adoptions for those with special needs.  You can read a little about him here: http://www.reecesrainbow.com/newsite/angelboys.html

My eyes have been opened.  I have always know orphans exist and yet up until now I always thought of it in more abstract terms.  Now I have seen their faces and I cannot shut them out.

I have a very black and white personality.  There is very little gray area in my life.  All or nothing. When I began reading about these children I immediately wanted to adopt them all. Okay, I know this is not realistic.  Then I wanted to quit my job and volunteer in orphanages for the rest of my life.  Hmmmm, probably not too realistic either.  I remember the last time I felt helpless and devestated by what I was learning.  I went to the International Women's Day Breakfast put on by the Women's Resource Center in Wenatchee.  The topic was generational poverty in the United States.  I cried all day afterwards. About eight months later I joined the Board of Directors and now serve as the Treasurer. I am not going to lie, I don't always like going to meetings and I definitely do not like asking for money. Then I remember. Not everyone has the luxury of choosing between chicken or steaks for dinner. They might simply be trying to determine where their next meal is coming from. Not everyone knows where they are going to sleep at night and might rejoice in the chore of mowing a lawn if it meant that they had a roof over their head. And so I serve. And volunteer my time. And donate when I can.  Because this is a worthwhile organization and in a small way I am helping.  I am starting to learn that every little bit counts.  One organization likens volunteering to a relay race.  As you begin your volunteering you accept the baton from the previous volunteer.  When your time is up you hand the baton to the next.  Just as a relay race cannot be won alone, it is unlikely you will be able to help those less fortunate all by yourself.

So I don't know what the future holds for Jay and I.  I do know that we will help these children.  How can you see their faces and read their stories and not be moved to do something.  They deserve to be loved and cared for just like every other child.

Regardless of your beliefs, I found this Proverb on the Reece's Rainbow website and feel that it encompasses what I am feeling at this moment in my life.  Our life.

"Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do.  God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act." Proverbs 24:12

Jay's a Hard Worker

I played hooky on Saturday and went to a wedding in Enumclaw.  It was great fun with lots of fabulous food.  Jay stayed home and worked on the kitchen.  When I left the uppers were in.  When I came back it looked like this:

I. Love. It.  The countertops are framed up and ready for concrete.  I even put away half of the temporary kitchen. Go Jay Go!

Laughter

I am a firm believer that laughter is good for the soul...and the abs!  I love to laugh.  I have lost count of how many people have told me my laugh is infectious and they can recognize my laugh from across the room.  I choose to believe this is a good thing. :-)

On Monday I went to Leavenworth to see Angie, who was in town after graduating from the UW School of Nursing.  Woo Hoo! Nice work Ang!  It would have been enough just to see Angie and have a typically fabulous dinner at her parents.  However, Chaytan happened to be in town as well.  Chaytan and his family lived next door to the bakery and we all used to play together as kids.  He was in school with Gina, but since she is in Antarctica she couldn't pop over to say hello.  Anyway, in 1991 he and his family moved back to France where his mom is from.  This is the first time he has been back to Leavenworth in 19 years.  Angie and I agreed neither of us have laughed so hard and so long in who knows when.  It was a funny funny night and we all had a great time.

The "kids" table.  Nevermind we are all over 25.  Me, Sam, Angie, Chaytan, Anne.

Chaytan is ridiculously flexible.

"Am I close guys?"

"Sam, I think you are doing it wrong."

"Hello? Hello?'

Thanks for such a memorable night everyone.  Chaytan - let's not wait another 19 years for us all to get together.  See you in France.

Weekend and the Kitchen

The weather was beautiful this weekend. Did we enjoy it? Well I took a short cat nap in the lawn chair on Saturday until Jay put me back to work. And we did sit outside in the evenings. Other than that it was work work work and more work. Jay really out did himself. He textured and painted everything and then by about 7:30 Sunday evening all of the upper cabinets were in. It looks awesome. He asked me if I wanted to help him paint and I said, "No. You always tell me I am doing it wrong and redo it anyway." He said that was fine, but he had another job for me instead. I told him no problem. Guess what it was...CLEAN THE GUTTERS!!! Did he not get the memo about me being afraid of heights? I really don't like the ladder. I was also told I had to do it completely by myself, no asking for help because he would be busy. And if I didn't think I could do it not to even bother, he didn't want to have to finish for me. Well alrighty then! I did clean them all by myself thankyouverymuch. Including moving the heavy extension ladder around and setting it up. There were no casulties except a few scratches from the bush I had to work around. I think that is going to be my job now...I should have done a horrible job. Other than that I ran support crew as normal: laundry, cleaning, food etc. Oh wait, I did get in trouble...I was taking the laundry downstairs and while I was trying to get around the door I hit the wall with the corner of the laundry basket. The freshly textured and painted wall Jay had finished a few hours before. UH OH. I told him it was an accident and that I was sorry, but it is at least an inch long and a deep gouge. Crap. I guess I need to pad everything. Now, without further ado, pictures of the kitchen! Which I know is why you really stopped by. Ciao!

Saturday Morning

Sunday Night

Return to the Blogosphere

Did ya'll think I disappeared?  No such luck!  HA!  I have switched jobs at the Hospital, I am in the accounting department now.  I am happy with my decision to make the move, but of course this means I am having to remember how to do accounting.  Some days are better than others...just ask my coworkers!  My brain is pretty tired these days when I get home so the last thing I want to do is get back on the computer.  But enough about that, down to the stuff you are really interested in.  Or not, either way since it is my blog I am going to fill you in on what is going on around here.

The Kitchen...drum roll please...

This is what we (Jay) had to start with.  The refridgerator (sp?) is behind the door.

Then Chloe and I went for a run, came back, and it looked like this.  For any of you that have cleaned up lath and plaster, you know that this was not the best part of our Memorial Day Weekend!

We got some shelving at Lowes and moved the kitchen to the dining room.

Jay moved some of the old cabinets and part of the counter as well.  And since the plumbing is easily accessible in the basement he even hooked up the sink!  We have a temporary, functioning kitchen.  And...well...we actually like it better than our "real" kitchen.

I was a bit afraid that since we were satisfied with our temporary situation we would be less than motivated to keep moving forward.  Never fear though!  As I write this Jay is making an obscene amount of noise sawing, cutting, nailing etc. as he takes out the old window and puts in the new.  Next is the wiring, move a little plumbing (I think), and new drywall.  Then the cabinets!  It will probably be a couple months and I am stoked to have a new kitchen.  And this time around is already going better than last time.  Thanks Jay! You're the bestest.

Traci & Jason's Wedding!

Jay and I

Siblings.  John (Dad) Traci & Ryan (twins), Clint and Jay

Jay's sister Traci got married over Memorial Day Weekend in Manson.  And she lucked out: Saturday was beautiful amidst all the rain we have been having.  It was a great time.  Traci's twin and Jay and Clint's brother Ryan made it, plus all of the aunts and uncles.  Meeting her new hubby Jason's family was a blast.  They are all from Maine and his Dad, Sherman, is a real live lobster fisherman!  I am totally going to visit him.  Fresh lobster? Yum.

Okay, well I think that pretty much gets us up to speed.  Thanks for checking in!