Going West

Yes, my return trip has begun. I had wanted to go onto NC to visit my dear friend there, but felt that it was time to go west once again. After a long chat with her on the phone as I drove (yes, I have a hands-free speaker) I felt better about my decision to return west. But it was not an easy one. I had tossed and turned until 3am the night before wrestling with the next step of my journey.

I droved all interstates for the first time on my trip, thus far, driving north from TN, through Illinois, and west to St. Louis. The St. Louis Arch was too tempting to pass by without a short visit. So I guessed my way through down town until I found the parking for the arch. I spent nearly an hour walking around taking photos, watching people, and stretching my legs. It was a very cool stop. As I was there the clouds started moving in making for a dramatic sky. But as I drove the rain began to fall once again. The last two hours of my drive to Jefferson City, MO were in the rain, which wasn’t too bad, as I was focused on a book on cd that I was listening to. I have been saving the books on cd for interstate driving because it can get so boring without little towns to gawk at and fun signs to chuckle at.

I arrived at my college roomie, Lorrie’s house just as it was getting dark. We went out for dinner and started our catching up. We had both driven a lot that day, me from TN and her to and from Kansas City, so we didn’t stay up too long.

Today we got up and readied our selves for church, went to church and out to lunch. On the way home Lorrie drove me around this very cool town, looking at old brick houses and quaint neighborhoods…all very picturesque with their fall leaves and pumpkins on the doorsteps. We went home and changed into warm cozy clothes and headed for the coffee shop where we have been for the last hour catching you up on my life and laughing about one thing or another.

So now, my public, you have been up dated on my great adventure. Tomorrow I am going back to Wichita for a couple of days and then continuing west.

Visiting Family

Wade had to go to one last day of work before he gets deployed on Tuesday. So I got to hang out with Annadeidra and the kids all day. It was dumping rain all day so we were house-bound. We had a good time playing, visiting, and loving on the babes. Wade really wanted to smoke some meat so he came home at noon and brought us charcoal and woodchips and asked us to start it. So I got a lesson in smoking ribs. It was fun and ended up tasting really good. Wade, Annadeidra, and I played some cards that evening and laughed a lot.

Friday morning we headed for Nashville. We were going to the zoo. It had been a long time since I had been to a zoo. It was a chilly day, but we had lots of fun walking around and looking at all the animals. Kyrstin was enthusiastic about all of it, from the monkeys to the snakes, the elephants to the spiders. The sun finally came out later in the afternoon and warmed us up. It was a great adventure to share with them.

Saturday Morning I said my goodbyes… it is always hard to leave family. And I think it is even harder to leave the nieces and nephews because they don’t understand time and the whys of things. And as much as I don’t want to think about it, it is hard to say goodbye to Wade knowing he is going to Iraq next week.

So it was with a heavy heart and damp eyes that I started west…

Travel Day

I set out on Wednesday morning from Missouri and continued my journey east. I choose to take highways instead of the interstate and was rewarded for my effort. The fall colors are coming out in full force and it was breath taking. I went through a corner of Mark Twain National Forest and I could just imagine Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn adventures under the canopy of colors…boys running across picture perfect fields and throwing rocking into the bubbling brooks…quite idyllic, all in all.

I am sure that I took the long way, but it was worth it. The best sign of the day goes to a very pretty little town that welcomed me to “Steelville, MO Floating Capital of the World” … I chuckled at the irony all day.

I continued east and crossed the Mississippi River and a couple of other big rivers. One bridge was so interesting I pulled my camera out while driving and started shooting without looking. The pictures turned out pretty good.

I arrived at my younger brother, Wade’s house just as the sun was going down. I got to meet my nephew, Ashton for the first time and love on my little niece Kyrstin. I will remember that night fondly as sister-in-law Annadeidra brought home a smoker and we all pitched in to put I together in the dark back yard… quite entertaining.

New Tribes Mission Training Center, Camdenton, MO

Sunday morning I drove from Sterling to El Dorado to have lunch at Grandma’s with Phil, Cindy, Julie and Grandma. It was fun to chat with them for a little while before I headed to Missouri.

That evening I arrived just in time for Avery’s 3rd birthday party. And appropriately enough, it was a campfire with moose meat and little smokies. Very Keller-esk. After the festivities and the kids went to bed, Jane, her friend Bailey and I sat around the campfire talking. It was so much like many of my Jane and Zach memories, just different location.

The next morning it was raining and proceeded to dump rain all day. I tagged along to class with Zach and Jane. I was playing a bit of catch up, but it was very interesting. They had a discussion to go to so I headed back to their apartment to do some laundry and things. We hung out at the apartment all afternoon because the weather was so wet. Then that evening all of the other pilot wives in the program (8 in all) came over for a baby shower for one of the girls. It was such and interesting evening of conversation. In many was it was a typical girls get together… food, chocolate lots of laughter. But they have been studying so many Biblical things that the conversation would seamlessly deviate to deep Biblical topics and back to labor pains… such a unique passionate group of people. Jane has some very amazing friends to join her on her new adventure. And they all have equally amazing husbands that are friends to Zach. God is taking very good care of them.

Tuesday morning I really wanted to go back to class with them because I wanted to hear the end of the previous day’s discussion. It was excellent. I was really struck by the quality of training that they are receiving. Not only are they studying cross cultural situations, but it is also a condensed seminary course as well. Makes me wish I were staying to study with them.

Jane and I took a walk in the afternoon when the kids were napping and I got to see the campus. It is a very neat place. Then in the evening all of us drove up to Ha Ha Tonka Park. It has castle ruins and an amazing view. The kids all ran around like crazy and loved it. Then we headed home to enjoy an evening of conversation. And I helped Jane set up a blog... http://kellertribe.blogspot.com ... check it out sometime. When they went to class in the morning I drove off on my next leg.

More on that journey in the next blog…

College Homecoming

What an interesting thing to return to your alma mater after 10 years of life experience. It is still the place I knew so well in my 4 year residence… and yet it is quite different. Some of the faces and names are the same, but many are gone. And in many ways it is the people that hold my loyalties. The buildings are there with a few additions and updates… very nice updates, I must admit.

But my trip back would not have been so good had it not been for some old friends. My freshman roommate, Jan and her family; my friends Brenda and Clayton and family; my sophomore roommate Robin and her family; and friends Brennon and Kristy Riffle. The people that knew my name and cared about me… they are the reason it was fun. I loved the nostalgia, but catching up with friends was the highlight. Oh, and Sterling won their football game… which was very different than when I attended.

Friday I spent the day wandering around campus and looked up some faculty and staff, Ginger Reed, Dennis Dutton, Kathy Glynn, and Coach Mary. But they were about the only ones around that I knew well enough to stop in to say hello. It was fun to watch the students as so much is still the same, but with new faces. I spent a few hours in the afternoon with my computer in the library (that opened my last semester at SC and I only got to use to finish my senior thesis). Then I headed back to Jan’s house in the country and took a few photos on the way. They weren’t home yet so I sat on the porch and enjoyed the beautiful late afternoon with the cats and a good book. We had another fun evening with the family.

Saturday Jan and the boys and I headed into Sterling for the parade. (Campbell had the wittiest float as usual) And then caught up with Robin and Brenda and families at the Alumni gathering spot where there were inflatable toys for the kids. We toured the new dorms and Cooper’s renovations before heading to Lyons for lunch. We were back for the game at 2 and scanned the stands for the first half for our friends. We finally found them after half time… watching the kids play in the grass by the sidelines. The rest of the game was less about the game and more about visiting. It was such a fun afternoon. Jan and I headed back home and passed the boys on to Kevin. Then we took off for a quick dinner in Hutch before coming back for the musical (which was excellent… also different than when I attended).

All in all it was good to ‘come home’. It is another piece of who I am… much like many of my stops on this journey. They are all snapshots of my journey.
(photos coming soon... I need to download ;-)

Week 2

Week 2 has not been nearly as exciting and interesting as week 1. So I have not been as consistent at writing.

I have been at my Grandma's house in El Dorado since Monday. Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday I spent helping my aunt Cindy and uncle Phil work on a presentation about the need of New Tribes Missions in West Brazil. They had a conference that they had to go to this weekend and had asked for my help. It was fun to use some of my office skills to help them. We finished the projects and they headed out Thursday morning.

On Tuesday night I was able to go visit some college roommates in Wichita. I had so much fun visiting with Brenda and Clayton and their three adorable children. (picture coming soon) It is hard to believe how fast time flies. It really just feels like it was the other day that we were staying up late at night in the dorms procrastinating on our homework.

After lunch with Grandma and uncle Rodney on Thursday, I headed to Sterling and the home of a college roommate, Jan. It was a nostalgic drive through the farm land of central Kansas. And I have decided the highways are much more interesting than interstate. On my way to Sterling: I saw a bearded Mennonite man in a straw hat cross the four lane highway with his horse and wagon (always picture-esk). The vibrate green of the sprouting winter wheat next to the brown fall colors of the milo fields, made for a dramatic contrast. And the birds, I forgot how many birds there are here, swooping in and out of the fields.

I had a fun evening catching up with Jan and Kevin, getting to know their two boys. (picture coming soon ) What a blessing to be able to see so many friends on this trip and meet their families.

The End of Week One

Day 7, 8, &9

Minneapolis & St Paul
After sleeping in a little and having a cup of tea and an almond croissant, purchased the night before at a yummy French bakery, we ventured out to the famed Mall of America. Not to shop or ride roller coasters as some might, but to drink coffee and use free internet. I used this time to catch my blog up and check email. After a couple of hours we walked around a little. Then we were off to Ikea across the street. Not to shop as many would, but to have Swedish meatballs for lunch and purchase a gift card for Amy’s sister. Some of my friends may be lamenting our lack of shopping time in such a goldmine, but we had so little time, so much to see, and so little spending money, that we thought it best.

To finish our day in the Twin Cities, we went to the Walker sculpture gardens and museum for several hours and then headed for dinner. And not just any dinner, we had reservations at the Carousel restaurant, 22nd floor of the Crown Plaza, on the rotating level. Amy had a coupon. It was wonderful food, spectacular view of the city, and good friend time…and quite memorable. It may be hard to top that meal for quite sometime.


Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Saturday morning I headed out for another day on the road. I was heading south today… destination: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and my childhood friend, Sarah Lunsford Blickens. It had been ten years since I had seen her and met her husband and day old daughter. Needless to say, I was excited about the opportunity to catch up with her. I finally pulled into Cedar Rapids about 2 and met her for a late lunch. We had a little time to just chat before her oldest daughter, Sierra was dropped off. Then we went to her house to meet Kayla, her youngest daughter, and Zach the husband. It was fun to share pictures of our families and talk about what who we were as adults. I stayed for a little while, listened to two poems and a song by a little blonde cherub, and then had to leave once again. A couple of hours visit every 5 to 10 years and an email on our birthdays is an unusual way to keep up a friendship. But I am so glad that it works and we haven’t lost touch.


Kansas City
I listened to two awesome cd’s that the Blickens gave me for the next couple of hours as I headed to Kansas City and the home of my good friend Carrie Korf Luce. Carrie and I were at Sterling College together for 4 years and in Japan for 2. We have many fun memories together, to say the least. I arrived at about 10:30pm but that didn’t keep us from staying up until almost 12 talking. This morning I met Sophia, Carrie’s adorable 7 month old daughter. Jeremy had to work so Carrie, Sophia and I went to church and out to lunch. Then we sat, talked, shared photos, and reminisced for the rest of the afternoon. Jeremy, who I met for the first time last night, came home from work and we went out for Chinese food. It was a very, very good day.

Tomorrow, Wichita…

Comments

Thanks for all your comments! It is fun to hear everyone's thoughts. I have to admit that I do think of what I want to share with my reading audience as I drive. Lots of time for that you know. I haven't written for a few days and will fill you in on my adventures as soon as I can... with pictures of course. Marie, you will know what Amy T. looks like... Misty, I do have a few cityscapes, but do prefer the nature most of the time.

Over and out from the road.

Day 6 (written on Day 7)

Today was my farthest driving so far. I left the ranch at 7:30 am this morning and headed east. And just kept going east on hwy 212. It was an easy road with little traffic and lots of little towns. My favorite town was Gettysburg, South Dakota. The welcome sign said “the town where the battle wasn’t” and at the other end of the town the mileage sign gave Gettysburg, PA 1450 miles. It gave me a good chuckle.

I listened to a book on cd and drove onward only stopping for gas and bathroom breaks. My only pictures were a few as I left the ranch. I was tempted to stop once for a photo but maybe on the way back….

I arrived in Minneapolis a lot earlier than I expected and arrived before my friend Amy at our meeting spot. I only had to wait 15 minutes before she arrived. It was a fun evening of catching up between cleaning her house sitting house because the owners were coming home. We finally got to her apartment near 11:30pm and I was so ready to sleep.

I am so glad I have a day to hang out with her here before I head on down the road. Who knows what today will bring.

It was nice to only drive a few miles today.

I woke up at 6am… the earliest yet for the trip… to have breakfast with my uncle before he left for various rancher duties and my cousin before he left for high school. After a hearty breakfast the guys left and my aunt and I sat in our pajamas until nearly 10am catching up on life. Then I dressed and worked on catching up my blog because they have dsl and Grandma doesn’t (by the way, Peter and all other computer aficionados reading my blog, my cousin’s high school gave every student a brand new laptop and they aren’t allowed to turn in paper homework… only email it in to the teachers for grading… who knew in the middle of no where South Dakota they were so technically savvy?)

Then I headed to the Hugh Ingalls Centennial Ranch… in other words ‘Grandma and Grandpa’s house’. Yes, the little house on the prairie. Only they added on since I was last here six years ago and it isn’t nearly as little as it once was. It is a bit different to be writing you from the guest room that was once their master bedroom with all of their original furniture still in it. Once when we were kids visiting in the summer they wanted me to take a nap. I remember lying on their bed with Grandma and she told me I didn’t have to sleep, I could just “play possum “. I had never heard of this before and she demonstrated for me. I think I ended up taking that nap under the guise of ‘playing possum’. Grandma’s are sneaky like that.

The after noon was spent in sweet conversation with Grandma. We talked a lot about memories she had and her brothers, some of our cool homesteader relatives and their stories, the droughts and good books we had read. It was a wonderful afternoon with Grandma all to myself. I did manage to go for a bit of a walk to take a few photos (I didn’t want to get out of practice). The cold prairie winds were whipping around and I was thoroughly chilled by the time I came back in.

I head out for a long day on the road tomorrow to see my friend Amy T. I have high expectations of a rousing time with my spunky red-headed companion.

PS Jenny, I got to see my special buddy who first dubbed me his ‘birthday present’. It was a very sweet visit as he is 81 and still quite charming.

Tuesday's Blog (on Wednesday)

Falling to sleep to rain on the roof and waking to fresh snow on the mountains. It was a magical morning that I drove with my back to Yellowstone. Fog and mist were to be the theme for today’s weather. The fog lay like soft pillows scattered on hillsides from Wyoming, through Montana and into South Dakota. I like how fog lends itself to a certain mystery about a landscape… like you don’t quite know what it is partially hiding… only a hint of a rock or tree…not the stark reality of it.

I chose to drive over Beartooth pass that is closed half of the year. I think I chose this just because it was still open… while beautiful, it was quiet stressful. And last night’s fresh snow was a stark reality of why they don’t open it all year. It was a very slow drive to Billings from Cooke City over the top of the world, as it seemed in the fog, and regretting my choice of roads on more than one icy corner. By the map it should have been a nice little jaunt and I would have been in Billings by 10am to find a wireless hotspot and upload my blog and photos from yesterday. 4 hours and 132 miles later I was in Billings and I had to move to make it to Aunt Beth’s for dinner. But I love Montana, if for nothing else, the speed limits and road conditions… both excellent for driving fast.

So I took one short stop for myself despite my dinner plans, I stopped at Custer’s Battlefield National Memorial. What I thought would be 15-20 minutes, took an hour (maybe timing should be the theme for the day). It was so interesting that I got lost in the history and story of it.

On my journey today I was told to ‘Vote Crazy Hair for Sheriff’, saw a horse standing at someone’s back door looking like he wanted to be invited in or waiting for someone to jump out and hop on his back, had to slow down for a herd of antelope to skitter across the road in front of me, photographed a cemetery that made me think much more of the landscape of the plains, and used my windshield wipers much more than I had hoped.

Tonight I had a steak dinner with family… there is no better way to finish a day than with family!

Day 3 (Monday's Blog posted Wednesday)

I learned something about myself today. I learned that as much as I would like to take really good classic photographs, I don’t want to do it with a crowd. I would rather discover something new on my own.

I woke early to get to a great photo location this morning. But, alas the skies were gray. I found the location and there were already 10 cars there and a flock of tripods set up in ‘the perfect spot’. I was late and not too eager to join them. I think hobby photography must be a bit like combat fishing in Alaska. You just have to get in there close and hope that your lens gets a great shot no matter how many others are at your elbow. My problem is that it isn’t a unique shot and there was very little creativity in composition. So I drove on toward Yellowstone. I did have to stop for a reflection shot or two. The fall colors and still water were too much to pass up.

On my journey through Yellowstone I stopped quite a lot, was a little more discriminate on my photos than yesterday, and just kept my eyes open for cool things. This really is a beautiful place! Just about every other corner was a ‘wow’ or ‘beautiful’ or ‘amazing’. The weather didn’t cooperate today. The clouds stayed and about 1pm it started raining and rained the rest of the day. I still saw some cool things, but was less likely to get the camera out in the rain.

Tonight I am in Cooke City, Montana, just outside the northeast gate of Yellowstone. No wireless internet tonight, so I will have to find a hotspot in Billings in the morning.

452

My plan was to go over the Teton Pass early in the morning. I did get up before the sun, but being spontaneous I decided to drive up to Grand Targhee Ski Resort that is just outside of Victor. The fall colors were AMAZING and I watched the sunrise over the Grand Teton Mountain….

Then when I finally came down out of the mountains, I stopped for coffee and it was nearly 10 when I headed over the pass. I had to stop at the top… it’s something of a tradition for me. When I drove to college my freshman year it was my first stop and I remember sitting on the hill side and praying about my future. It is a very vivid memory for me. Once again I stopped to pray about my future. These things just come around full circle.

On the other side of the Teton Mountains, I drove past Teton Village and into Teton National Park via the back road to Moose. It was spectacular. At one point took a road that was supposed to lead to a trailhead and when a sign appeared about a mile in that said high clearance recommended… I took the dare. It was almost as good as Archangel Road for my Alaska friends. So I bounced my way down the dirt road until I saw a clearing with some buildings. So I got my camera, my arsenal of lenses, tripod and headed out across a grassy meadow. It turned out to be historic buildings that the forest service is trying to save… and oh so picturesque right there in front of the Grand Teton Mountain. It reminded me of being in the Swiss Alps with my friend, Anita… it just made you want to sing.

The fall colors are at their peak and it makes me extra photo-happy. I drove on through the park, stopping every once in awhile. Had lunch at a picnic area and downloaded the 237 photos that I had already shot that morning and tried to take a little nap in my car. It didn’t work because someone spotted some elk from the parking lot. So that was that. I drove onward to Signal Mountain Summit and on the road met a mama mule deer and her two babies. At the top…with a stunning view… I had some time with God in his amazing creation. Who could ask for a better sanctuary?!

I headed back to Jackson, my destination for the night. My one last stop was at the famous Snake River Overlook at sunset for my attempt at looking professional. By the time sunset had started there were at least 8 other people lined up with their tripods and fancy cameras. My little set up looked pretty pathetic… but I tried to look like I knew what I was doing. 150 photos later, I was freezing and ran back to my car.

So my eyes are tired of drinking in the landscapes around me and I am off to bed. Tomorrow... Yellowstone! And many more pictures

Oh yeah, the total photo count for the day… 452

e-postcard

Postcard - Day 1
Mesa Falls

Blissful

Oh the many things I’ve seen and it’s only my first day! I was able to tear myself away from my adorable nieces and nephew about 11am this morning. And I have to admit it was with damp eyes that I pulled away.

So I was off across the desert of Idaho. Now some may think that this would be a boring drive, but I love to watch the colors and contrasts across the hills. I attempted a few pictures, but the skies were very hazy today. I am guessing it was farmers burning their fields. One of the most interesting things I spotted were the space-age windmills that were atop high hills every once in awhile like white sentinels ticking off the time.

Once I reached my half way mark for the day I started seeing the potato trucks… ah the memories … picking potatoes, gleaning potatoes… I think I even drove a car for the first time in a potato field. So I called my mom to reminisce of the good ol’ days in the fields.

I had finished my 16oz Americano with cream and two packs of raw sugar (not Kaladi’s coffee but it was fair) and was anxiously awaiting the next sign for a rest area when I spotted a sign for Bliss, Idaho… what a great name for a town. About that time I thought it would be Bliss-ful to have a rest area in Bliss. Some transportation engineer missed a brilliant opportunity by not putting a rest area in Bliss. I found a public restroom in Glens Ferry… not nearly so interesting. Although I have a faint memory of learning something about Glenns Ferry in my 4th grade Idaho unit.

My photography goal for today was to get to Mesa Falls before sunset. I made it with about 30 minutes to spare. I remember why this was such a favorite place for me to escape to when I was in high school. Although they have made board walks and won’t let you climb around on the rocks anymore… that was a bummer. But I did capture a few good shots. I raced around with my tripod and shoulder bag of lenses trying to get as much as possible while I still had light. It was good to get out of the car and be in the mountains. I wish I could say that I was able to spend significant time at Mesa Falls, but it was less than an hour. Then I had to zoom off because it was going to get really dark and I had at least an hour to drive.

I am now sitting in my Best Western room that I splurged on because it had free wireless internet so I could post on my blog. So having eaten an eclectic meal from my cooler and food stash, I am headed to take a bath and settle in for the night. My plan is to be up before sunrise to go over the Teton Pass and take pictures in the morning light.

Let the Adventure Begin

I am doing last minute things today in preparation for my big road trip. I am planning to leave tomorrow morning and go towards Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I am excited about doing so photography in Teton National Park and Yellowstone. And then I will head toward South Dakota to visit family and many, many other places along the way. Stay tuned to my blog for my travel and photos. I have even found some web sites that tell you where there are free wireless hotspots around the US.

I heard back from YouthWorks today and I didn't get that job. But it didn't surprise me that much. And it was an answer to prayer as I was praying that I wouldn't be offered the job if God didn't want me in Vancouver. So I am ok with that.

Well, I am off to do some last minute errands...maybe I will see you soon!

Snapshots

Many of you have been asking for some new photos on the blog. So here are a few snapshots to catch you up...



This is a snapshot Misty took of me and the munchkins...















This is Lizzy's lavender butterfly trails room. It turned out better than we thought it would. The piles of wood on the floor are the pieces to the bunk bed before it was set up. She is loves the room, the big girl bed, and following the butterfly trails around the walls.








And lastly, the amazing cobblestone drive way that we worked in this month... and then Peter built the fence and gate. So what you don't see is another 30 x 15 foot patio on the other side of the fence. The patio is done with the same pavers and will have a pergola over it next summer. A project for another year.

Butterfly trails

Lots of snot and grumpy babies... that has been the theme of this week. But everyone seems to be on the mend. Last weekend we painted Lizzy's room a light lavender. We put these cute butterflies on it and painted 'butterfly trails' with dotted loops and lines around the room. It turned out really cute... better than we thought it would. Then we put up bunkbeds in her room and moved out the crib. She is growing and learning more every day... they just grow up too fast!

I am doing well... making plans for my big road trip. I am planning to leave next weekend (30th or so). The first day or so will be a little sight seeing in Teton National Park and Yellowstone to indulge my photo habits. Then I am going to work my way to TN to see my new nephew...back to Kansas to help my aunt and uncle on a project...and then it will be 'as the spirit moves' so I am flexible.

On the job front... I had a phone interview with YouthWorks Canada today. I felt like it went really well. It would be a good fit for my experience and skills. I am excited about the youth ministry that YouthWorks is a part of and think it would be an exciting ministry to be a part of. I should find out if I am offered the job by the end of next week. If I do get the job it would mean moving to Vancouver, BC and getting a work visa for Canada. Your prayers would be appreciated.

Ashton James

Introducing Ashton James Lambing. This handsome little guy was born on September 8th. He and his mom are doing great.

Family Update

This is what I am doing most days... and loving it!

And on the family front... My younger brother, Wade, and his wife had a little boy on Friday, September 8th. Ashton James was born on his big sister, Kyrstin's third birthday and she is claiming him as her baby. I will post a picture when I get it.

Also, my older brother, Shane, and his wife found out that they are having a little girl the end of Januray. The babies just keep coming.

Last week I helped Misty and Peter finish their driveway project that they started last spring before the babies came. We put pavers in for a cobblestone-like driveway. I will have to put a picture up soon so that you can all appreciate the work we put into it. It looks wonderful and it was fun to do a project.

In other news, I ran into one of my sea kayaking guides from Beyond Malibu 2002 at church a couple of Sundays ago. It was so fun to run into her. She called me and invited me to have dinner with her and go to a Bible study yesterday. We had fun catching up on our lives. It was also great to meet some of her friends at a home-group like Bible study. All in all it is a blessing from God to renew a frienship.

Fall

It is hard to believe that this whirlwind of a summer is coming to and end. Kids have started back to school around here as the big yellow school bus that stops across the street every morning reminds me.

The babies are growing more every day and Elizabeth is adding at least 10 new words to her vocabulary every day. They keep Misty and I very busy during the day. The magical bedtime hour is always makes breath a sigh of relief.

I still don't know exactly what I am going to do for a job (I have been looking and exploring future options). But I have been making a few plans. Right now I am planning a road trip in October. It is my 10 year college reunion and I am looking forward to going back to Sterling College for a visit. There are also many friends and family members that I haven't seen for a long time and this is a unique time when I can travel. So I may end up on your doorstep one of these days and ask to crash on your couch.

Smoke Over Idaho

There are a lot of forest fires in Idaho this year and the mountains look like this up past Idaho City.

I'm Lame

No, my legs aren't broken.

I was bored out of my mind for one week... had quite a personal crisis with doing this job for any length of time. So, on Monday morning, after one week of work and many phone calls to friends and family for support (emotional not financial... at this point;-). I quit.

Hi Ho Hi Ho...

I have started my new job... which at this point is just studying for my license. It has been awhile since I have had to study for a test. I will be working/studying about 25 hours a week to begin with. Then after I get my license and Misty needs me less, I will move to full time.

I like my co-workers... Geoff and Matt... they are easy-going guys that like to laugh. (both married for those of you who are curiouss).

At least once a day I mourn the loss of my unemployment... I was really enjoying myself and wonder every once in a while if I really want to work in an insurance office... It seems so 'tame' compared to my former job. Oh well, I will just have to see what God brings along.

No Longer Unemployed

Wahoo! I was offered the job at the State Farm Insurance office. Unemployed for only 6 weeks... and only half-heartedly looking for a job for 2 weeks.

I feel like this job was also lined out by God (like so many other events regarding my move). When I bought my car I went in to the local State Farm office, where my sister also goes, to transfer my account. I mentioned on my way out that I now needed to get a job. The agent told me that they were looking for help in their office if I was interested. I told him I would bring by my resume the next day. That was Monday, I took my resume in on Tuesday. I called this Monday to follow up. I had an interview on Tuesday and was offered the job on Thursday. I will go in on Monday to start working on my licensing and other scheduling. It is so cool to see how God works things out.

A job interview

I had a job interview with a State Farm Insurance office on Tuesday morning. I thought it went really well... and I think it would be a good job. It would be interesting to learn the job... not a 'change the world' kind of job... but I could support my travel and photography habbits with it. I should find out by Friday if I get the job.

My only hesitation is that I didn't really think I was turning my world up side down to be in insurance. I guess I will just have to wait and see what God brings.

Picture Postcard

Here is a little picture postcard of my scenic drive on Saturday. It was nice to putter around the mountains and play with my new wide angle lens.

Evening

This is a fun shot of Joseph in the car seat and Katherine in the swing last night.

Life has been fun around here... all the kids have had colds and Lizzie has now begun potty training... always an adventure.

Night Shots

I found a web sight that taught me a few tricks on my digital camera last night and took this night shot in the backyard with my new wide angle lens. It turned out pretty good for my first attempt... and it has me excited about trying some new things.

Thoughts on a job

So I went to the orientation for Alaska Airlines call center today. It was interesting and it would be a good way to get into Alaska Air's world... if I had aspirations to do so. However, I am not sure if that is what I am looking for... and to be hooked to a telephone for 8 hours a day at $10 per hour... it might be worth it for the travel benefits... but not for a while. So I opted out of the interview part of the day... and if I change my mind, they have another interview day in a couple of weeks. I am not desparate for a job at this point... I love hanging out with my sis and the kids.

I do have another job lead in a state farm insurance office. When I went into get insurance on my car this week I mentioned that I was looking for a job... they have an opening. So I dropped my resume off yesterday and we'll see what God has for me.

For now, I think I might go exploring in the mountains this weekend...

Cupholders and Resumes

Ok... so I was wrong about the cupholder... Misty found it today and I can enjoy my car fully now. She and Peter think it is quite funny... and they are right.

I visited a church today. It seems to me that they are about the same size as WBC, but they are much more 'together'. They had a guest speaker today so I will go back and check them out on a normal week. It was interesting to sit in a service where things are unfamiliar and people don't know you. Makes you reflect a lot.

This afternoon I started reworking my resume. It is interesting to note that I have never been hired for a job with my resume... I just put one together after I was hired for my file. And I have written and edited many resumes over the years... but they were mostly for classes. So now I have some work to do. I think the resume is just about there. Now I am onto the cover letter. Good times.

Lizzy and I took a walk out to the garage to see her dad and played in her mom's '61 Impala for a little while. She is checking herself out in the mirror. She says 'cute babe' when looking in mirrors... too cute!

Settling In

Ok... so I 'pulled the trigger' as my brother-in-law put it. I bought a car. I am now the owner of a green 1996 Subaru Impreza... wagon. It is a 5 speed, 4 door, no-frills model. I didn't quite realize how no-frills it was until I got in it to drive home and found that it has no cup holders for my coffee... which in trying to balance my americano and remember my manual driving skills I promptly spilled on my lap. So I will be working on a solution for the cup holder delema shortly... because that is not a frill... it is a necessity. Really, the car reminds me a lot of my escort wagon I just sold... about the same wear and tear on it... but with less leg room for those sitting in the back.

Having spent a chunk of money I am now focusing on the job... there is a part time opening at the Sears photo studio... but they start at 7.50 an hour and I just don't know if I can do it for that. So I am sorta on the look out for something. I think I am going to go to an Alaska Airlines interview day next week. They have a call center here and the job comes with travel privileges! My hope is to work evenings and weekends so I can be available for Misty during the day when Peter is at work.

It's almost like London

It is about 80 degrees with a slight breeze. I am sitting outside with my laptop on cobble stones, sipping earl gray tea with milk, listening to classical music. And I can close my eyes and imagine that it is London...

In reality I am sitting in a camp chair on a half finished patio, sipping earl gray tea out of a Christmas mug, and listening to classical music over the baby monitor. Almost the same as being in London with my friend Anita... right?!

The Twins

By the way, for those who have been asking about pictures of the twins... their link is on the right. or click here. TWINS

Ready or not, here I come

So, in the craziness of the last month, I have really neglected my blog... my apologies to all my faithful blog-checking friends.

To sum up... I headed back to Alaska on July 11th. I had a few days before I packed up my camping gear and headed north with 18 freshmen. We split the group in half and I went with the first group rafting down the Gulkana river. We spent 3 long days rafting 42 miles from Paxson lake to Sourdough. It was a little cold, but the sun did come out the last day on the river. Then the whole group spent the day playing together. And I had a life-time first of water skiing... and I didn't even crash. It was a beautiful thing. Then the second group took off down the river and my group hung out at the lake for 3 days ...where I had another first... I learned to pull water skiiers.

It was a very good trip... hard, but good. I began leaking tears halfway through the 9 day trip. Each time my girls started singing I got choked up. I am so proud of them and I am really going to miss them. It was the last night of the trip when I was able to tell them who their leader would be next year... and she will do an awesome job... in some ways I think that they need her to help them through this stage of their lives.

When we returned the whirlwind began... I had a week to meet with my close friends and finish my purge-pack sessions. It was full. I have many ponderings from the last few weeks... but they will have to wait for another blog. As well as some pictures.

I arrived in Boise on Monday... and so begins the next season of my life. It is nice to know that God has me firmly in the palm of His hand and I don't have to worry about what will come next.
PS I will keep my cell phone for a while and you can email me at my hotmail account.