I'm still here

Hello!
It's been awhile since I've been on here so I thought I would check in.  there's really nothing earth shattering going on, nothing exciting to take pictures of per se, but here is what's going on in my world and in my head (kinda scary!!!)

1) Estoy enamorada de Fernando - I've been learning spanish. 

2) Because of #1, I've been a little distracted

3) My brother and sister in law are having another girl!  That makes the proud aunt of FIVE girls~ 

5) I really miss my amazing friends from Latvia

6) I really need to start working out again but I blame #1 on my increasing lack of motivation to do so

7) Reading Chandler Birky's Blog (which is awesom btw) makes me very grateful that I'm not in college (don't worry, Chandler, this too shall pass, but enjoy it while you can!)

8) I'm really excited to spend Halloween in AZ with my best friend and her husband

9) Did I mention that I'm trying to learn spanish???

10) Sunday is 10/10/10:  my sister in law always does this 10 on 10 thing which is 10 pictures on the 10th of the month that follows a regular day in the life, so I'm going to give it a whirl.  I can't promise that it will be nearly as cute, but it's the only 10/10/10 I'll see in my lifetime so why not.  click here on to see her last post.

Just for kicks, here's a pic of Fernando and I on his first rollercoaster ride at the fair.

The Procession

What do you get when you add the following ingredients together?

• At least 10 children 5 and under with meltdowns pending at any given moment
• A dinner at Carolyn's house
• A birthday party at Corinne's
• Bell cousins from out of town
• Lang cousins/ aunts/ uncles etc not from out of town helping themselves to our pie
• Any number of tete a tetes between the wild boys
• Lots of amazing food and of course, alcohol

!!!!CRAZY TOWN!!!!

I really wished I would have gotten some pictures but it was just too crazy.Under any normal circumstance, this would have been quite par for the course for our family but I brought my new friend, Fernando, to the party, not quite expecting what was to unfold. Poor guy. 
At one point he just looked at me and told me he needed some fresh air. 

There are few things I'm sure of:

#1: EVERYONE across the way came over - like a procession of sorts, shuffling in casually to introduce themselves to him while he was stilling sitting at the table. You people may say it was because the (amazing) pie Melody made, but I'm on to you.  Cherie even politely brought her food from Corinne's and sat right next to him. 

#2: Despite the circumstances, Fernando handled himself quite well, and in response to my question about my crazy family said, "They are no crazy peoples, just a lotta kids"

#3: Kyla had the best line of the night: "I just met Reen's friend and I think his name is Lombardo!"

Welcome to Crazy Town, Fernando!

here's a picture if you haven't met him yet:

And the Trees shall clap their hands

"You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. " Isaiah 55:12

Last week I went camping in the Lake Wenatchee area. Despite the heat and mosquitoes, I had a great time exploring and finding fun things to take pictures of. In the past I would have never really considered myself a camper/hiker person, but the more I do it, the more I realize how much I love being in the middle of God's creation! Everything is a different shape, color, and size and it's all made by the hand of God Himself.

So please remember how great and majestic our God is while you look at these pictures.

  If he can orchestrate the shape of a leaf and the birth of a tiny acorn, then how much more will He take care of us?!?

He can even bring new life from something that was thought to be dead and discarded.

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name;

proclaim his salvation day after day

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy...

(Psalm 96: 1-2, 11-12)

God is Wierd

I'm not sure why I'm sharing this story with you but... here I go:

As I set out on my walk down Pac Highway to catch my bus late on Tuesday afternoon, I looked at my phone and realized I was a little behind schedule so I picked up the pace and realized that with a large duffel bag on my back this was a little more difficult than I realized.  So I started jogging and after a few minutes I was running down 240th like some kind of track star (at least I was in my mind...) oh, and don't forget the duffel bag.

And Lo! The bus pulls up, I'm still running and now sweating and watch the bus - in slow motion  - pull away.   After a few seconds of expletives and wiping off my sweaty brow, this african lady pulls out of the parking lot in this big clunker and offers me a ride.  I'm not really sure why I said yes because usually I'm pretty cautious about this kind of thing but alas - I got in the car. 

As she was driving me home, I found out that her name is Mary, she is from Kenya, she goes to an African church and she has good friends from the Congo and Rwanda!  Of course I told her briefly about my adventures to Africa and my greeting cards and she invited me to her church.  How wonderful and wierd is that?

Oh but the story gets better...

As I drop my stuff of at home getting ready to run to my massage I realize that I forgot my phone in her car!  Seriously???  For the love of God and all that is holy!

Thanks  be to this wierd God of ours, we exchanged phone numbers before we left!  I ran to the massage, used their phone to call her and arranged for a pick up.  Apparently she had called several of my family members to drop off the phone - ahhh, I can already here the lectures already. (thanks Casey)

Thanks to my wonderful neighbors who drove me to her house all the way in FW, I retrieved the phone. And both of us wholeheartedly agreed that God has his ways and for some reason we were destined to meet, if for no other reason, to remind us that his timing is perfect, His children know each other as siblings before and even if we have never met. ultimately, even if He is wierd, He's still God and He is so good!

BTW - the massage was totally worth it!

Karma

Here are some of my favorite pics at Karma Vineyard from Kate and Kris' wedding weekend:

A special bouquet for a special bride

The Unity Candle

A very cool door

Please indulge me while I show more flowers - i love flowers!

Kate + Kris

So after some major technical difficulties with my pictures,   I wanted to share some of my cousin Kate's wedding. It was at Karma Vineyard in Chelan.  The weather was perfect and it was a perfect setting for Kate and Kris.  So here are a few of the highlights:

Our secret escape for a last minute drink the night before...

(you didn't really think we were just going to "Safeway" did you Che-reee?)

Two Blondes + Sh*tty wedding cake = A great joke at the expense of all in attendance!

The First Dance!  (this is my favorite...)

Shout out to my little cousin Drewby - you caught it!  Only a few days left before you'll be throwing your own!

(Sorry... you'll always be my little cousin)

Stay tuned for some more...

Team Tony

Today I finished my 2nd half marathon!  Being that this marathon was to benefit the LIVEstrong campaign, my inspiration not only for signing up, but for training and finishing, was my cousin Tony.  He has truly been an inspiration to all of us through the last year and PRAISE GOD that his PET scan came out totally clear last week - no cancer!

Running a half marathon is a big deal for me. I was never even close to being an athlete when I was younger and have always been self defeating about athletics in general.  Running is as much a mental and spiritual endeavor as it is a physical one for me.

So indulge me for a little while I share some of this experience with you.

Start line - excited, nervous... The first song I hear in my marathon mix - "indescribable, uncontainable, Awestruck we fall to our knees and we say, You are amazing God..."  How appropriate considering the miracle we had just witnessed with Tony's remission!

Mile 5 - Cruisin' at a good speed, listening/singing to the "Eye of the Tiger" loudly...

Mile 7 - Getting cheered by cousins Tessie and Breana!  What a special treat!

Mile 8/9 - What the F have I gotten myself into?  I'm gonna puke... well at least i've gotten through the big hills

Mile 10 - Running through the forest and along the water into Port Angeles, Gorgeous!

Mile 11 - working. through. pain.  marathon mix = "all of my super fly ladies, Rock. That. Bo-dy."

Mile 12.5 - Almost there, I can do it!  current song, "with every breath I take, I'll give thanks to God above and testify to love"

Mile 13.1 - Tessie and Breana cheering again, the announcer calls my name.  Tears of joy (and pain!) for the big accomplishment, but mostly for Tony's healing.

After I finished somebody asked me, "where is the rest of your team?" "They're at home taking care of business and I'm just here to represent!"

A big shout out to my trainers, Naomi and Dwayne, for pushing me hard and believing in me!  I'd also like to thank Tessie and Breana for waking up early in the morning to cheer me on.  It was so special and a wonderful treat!