Happy Birthday, Chrissy!

Well, it’s my friend Chrissy’s birthday today, and she’s one of the most fabulous gals that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She’s a kind, thoughtful, compassionate, loving, creative, generous, and humble. She’s the kind of friend that will drop anything in a second if you need a helping hand, and she’s an incredibly good listener. Chrissy bakes delicious cakes, cookies, and pies, and makes the best minestrone soup you will ever taste! I am so thankful that God brought her and Adam to Portland, and I am equally thrilled that they live just a few doors down. My heart is overjoyed that Xander and Kinsey get the benefit of having her to play with, hug on, and get lots of love from.

Chrissy, we love you, and we hope that today is the start of another fantastic year here in Portland!

Looking through windows

Lately, while driving about town during dinner time I enjoy looking through windows at kitchen or dining room tables. Usually, I will see a few tables packed with family and friends, sharing a meal, drinks, or playing a game. It’s always a brief glimpse, so don’t get nervous. I am not pulling in their driveways, hoping to pick up some cooking tips while spying, I am just catching a brief glimpse at the faces around the table. Almost always I see a smiling face. Someone is telling a story, or joke, or simply sharing the delight of the company of those they love. I like to imagine that they are sharing grand adventures, or the telling story of how they met their spouse. I hope they are celebrating job promotions, or birthdays, or loosing teeth. I hope they enjoy sharing a meal with one another as much as I do.

During Biblical times, communion was celebrated in this way. It was not just a the bread and wine, it was a whole meal, meant to reflect on the aspect of community in Christ. I wish I could look through the windows back in those early days, and listen to the early Christians’ stories. I am glad that I can celebrate life with friends in this way, and I hope my boys grow up knowing the joy of sharing their hearts over a meal, next to  a window at their table.

More from the guy who makes me want to vomit (Glenn, not Jim!).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/glenn-beck-attacks-church_b_583426.html

What I don’t want Portland known for:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-rather/pornland-oregon-child-pro_b_580035.html

Freedom!

Oh wondrous day! I have a break from homework for almost a week! Here is to knitting, and cooking, and sewing, movie watching, reading, enjoying my boys and husband, and, of course, blogging. I am also hoping that I can continue lightning my hair. We’ll see just how much of this I actually get done.

Yes, I know

I understand that the whole theme of this bloggity blog is wrapped up in the context of blogging each day, but last week made it impossible to do so.

Here is what I did last week instead of blogging:

Lost my wedding band.

Wrote a 5 page paper.

Cleaned my house. Several times.

Went to bed late from homework and cleaning and trying to spend a little time with Tarver.

Up several times a night with a teething and cranky Kinsey (who has a mysterious rash).

Up a few nights with a stuffy-nosed Xander.

Cooked, grocery-shopped, did 5 loads of laundry.

Went to church, went to playgroup, went for lots of walks.

Got ice cream with Xander, and a cupcake with Kinsey… well, at least I ate the cupcake.

Tarver made me breakfast yesterday… delicious pancakes with blue berries and strawberries.

Dried my hair with my fancy new hair dryer from Tarver (he knows me well).

Picked up my lovely friend Chrissy from the airport.

There is the usual stuff too, like eating, and going to the gym, but those things are marred over by the muscle spasms I had in my neck, caused by the ribs I had out of place. Yep, that’s right. Ribs. Out of place.

Thank goodness for Glenda the chiropractor at North Portland Wellness who saved me from serious pain. Additionally, I think the doctor who wanted to medicate me with muscle relaxers and opiates rather than give me a referral for the chiro should have his license yanked.

All in all, it was a rough week. I am actually glad it’s Monday! I think that is a first. So, here is to a new week! Very little homework, and some hopefully nice weather.

Closer

So begins the long and arduous process of completing my prereq’s for nursing school. I have 6 classes left, and they are mostly the difficult ones. I am hoping to begin them in the fall here at a local OR/WA college. If you have any recommendations I’d be glad to hear them, for both the completion of the prereq’s and nursing school itself. Right now, I am looking at OHSU’s school of Nursing, entering with my BS in psychology & religion and  taking their accelerated 15 month program to obtain my BS with a major in Nursing. I am also checking out Clark College, and University of Portland’s nursing program.

Some of you may remember that I have wanted to be a nurse since I was 7. I actually went to nursing school right out of high school at SUNY Delhi in NY, but I was not ready for college, or the commitment an intensive nursing program requires. Life is much different now (thank goodness) and I am excited to take my prereq’s and get started on clinicals and nursing classes.

Are you a nurse, or a nursing student? If you have taken any classes in this field, I welcome your advice. Let’s hear it!

Could it be? JJ Abrams?

read me!

Unable to post

Can’t get Xander to bed and it’s 9:51! Booo.

Guess what today is

Free comic book day! And if you don’t want to hear this announcement from me, well, maybe Kevin Smith can convince you to go out and get one yourself, or one for your kiddos!