Heather and Ben's Wedding

Ben and Wedding Party waiting for Heather's entrance

Ben and Heather taking their vows and exchanging rings

The family on the steps of the church
(it is a little blurry... must have set it on the wrong setting)

Riley and his little wedding reception friend watching cartoons in the middle of the wedding reception, music, and dancing
(I took the red eye out of the little boys eyes and left a mark on his face in the picture)

See What I Mean?

My grandson Riley all of a sudden got up and started dancing. A little party animal!

Meanwhile, my cousin Cathie and I tried to be serious.

But we aren't really that way... this is more like it!

Yurt In Oregon and Information

Riley and Dave in front of our yurt.

Bunk Bed and Table in Yurt

Look from the inside out.

Riley noticed this smiley face in the wood of the bunk bed.

Futon in the yurt that turns into a full bed.

Staying in a yurt was fun. I wish we could have stayed longer. It was very reasonable too. It was only $34 to stay one night (about the same as it was to stay in a tent in California). I recommend it. I found it by going on to Reserve America website.

Let's Regroup...

Left to right: Renee, Me, and Susie

The first thing that I did on my vacation is to have breakfast with Susie before she left for North Carolina to live. It wasn't easy to say "So Long". Renee came along too to say "goodbye" and she provides "comic relief". Her jokes are very helpful in me not taking the moment too seriously. I was able to present Susie with the blessing that I wrote for her. They both thought that I should post it... so here it is:

Teri Sue
A Farewell Blessing
June 12, 2008

“Teri” or “Terri” is the diminutive form of “Theresa” which means “harvester”. If we look at the “T-E-R-R-Y” spelling, your name can also come from “Theodoric” meaning “ruler of people”. Researching “Sue” or “Susie”, the name is a short form of “Susanna” which means “lily” or “rose”. All of these meanings in your name describe you and a few traits within your personality.

I met you in 1995 when you became the career specialist for Kent Junior High School, a feeder school for Kent Meridian High School. I was “second” for the same position and met you when you came up to the high school to work with Melissa, the career specialist at the time. The next year, I became the career specialist at KMHS and we worked a couple of days a week together. We were both learning and taking classes to get our vocational teaching certificate. And from that time on, we were always very close, not only in our professional work but as friends. We have supported each other while we were single moms, while dating, and in marriage. We enjoyed “Mom’s” cooking (in two different locations) and movies together, but bouncing off ideas to each other was our favorite past time.

You became the career specialist at Kentridge High School and for a few years we were co-workers until you decided to work for Tech Prep. It wasn’t long until I too worked at the community college, and again we were co-workers. I went on to work in Admissions and Outreach, and a few years later you did the same at the University of Washington, Tacoma. We have always assisted the other and have supported each other more than sisters. Our lives for over the past twelve years has been weaved together. I feel I am qualified to pray this blessing for you today.

I have no doubts that you are a “harvester” of people for the Lord. You have influenced many people including myself and have brought them to solid decisions whether it was for college planning etc. This move brings you the opportunity to do something that you have always dreamt of doing, and I am sure that it will bring a harvest of people to know God or know Him better. May the Lord go before you and prepare the “harvest” and show you what you are to do. May His voice be clear and that you will not question anything going forward as you walk in faith.

You also are a “ruler of people” taking up challenges and leading people to where they can find something better to help their situations. You are a “take charge” person and you will make a good manager, a good bookstore owner, and a good teacher. May people come into your store and find what they are looking for… not just information but a friend that is willing to listen and provide an answer or two for what they are seeking. May the Lord give you an ability to discern and minister to them.

A “lily” or “rose” has a fragrance. Just like a lily or a rose, you will leave behind your own kind of fragrance. We will know that you were here and that we miss you. There will be a void where you once were here.

May the Lord be with you and your family always. May you have health and happy years ahead. May your move to North Carolina be the beginning of something worthwhile and wonderful. And although there may be miles between us, may our relationship be just as it always has been… able to pick up were we left off. The Lord brought us together for a while and I thank the Lord that He did. It is with a bittersweet feeling that I say “farewell” to you now but I pray that God will bless you as you seek His calling on your life. Be bold as you have shown you are, and remember that you have done good things for many people. I know because one of them has been me. May you continue to do many more good things for many others yet to come into your life.

God Bless You and Keep You. We love you.

Pike's Market Sign

The Famous Pike's Market Sign

Leavenworth Or Bust

Mom and Ron at Leavenworth, WA

We recovered Monday from the long drive back to Seattle. We celebrated by going to Salty's for some clam chower for dinner. They have the best clam chower in the world!

Dave had to go back to work today. Mom, Ron, and I after looking at the cost of taking a trip to Victoria, BC decided against it because of the time and cost. So we decided to go over the mountains to Leavenworth. The website for Leavenworth is HERE if you are interested. They often take a trip to Solvang, CA which is a "Danish" town. You can see Solvang's website HERE. So, they thought that they would like to visit a "Bavarian" town. I usually visit Leavenworth at the Oktoberfest. I don't drink but I like the activity during the fall and seeing the trees turning the fall colors while driving over there.

Anyway, we shopped a little. I got a few things for Aunt Butchie's birthday BBQ next Sunday and for our house. One thing I bought for the house is a light plate for our master bathroom. We decorated it in a northwest "woods" decor. The light plate I found is a piece of oak cut and lacquered. It shows the bark edges and the rings of the tree etc. It is a very fun piece for our bathroom. We had a taste of Bavarian style dishes at lunch. Mom and I shared a small plate of potato salad which was OK but it had a lot of vinegar in it. The waiter said he liked it better warmed up. I agreed with him that it would probably be better that way, so he warmed it up for me. He was correct; it was better warmed up. However, I would rather have our American style potato salad. I was glad to give it a try.

It is late and I have to get to bed now. Tomorrow Kari will be joining us to go into the city of Seattle to go to the Pike's Market. Many of you probably have seen the Pike's Market sign. It was in the movie "Sleepless In Seattle" with Tom Hanks wondering about how is "bootie" looked in regards to women. The sign was in the background. You can see the sign on this website HERE.

I have a lot of pictures from the drive to California, the wedding, the yurt etc, and where I have been. Stay tuned ;-)

Came Home Today-Last Night

Road Trip

We got home this morning at 3 am and went to sleep... We made it though. We don't know what happened but the car straightened out and took us all the way home without a problem. Thanks for your prayers!

Kari

Update: We experienced a weird problem with the car on the way home. As we were climbing the pass entering Oregon we started losing power like the car was out of gas. Fortunately Ron and mom are traveling with us in an other car. We thought it might be the fuel injector because it straighten out a little after we got off the pass. We are almost to Rosenburg OR and doing ok. We decided to stick with Ron and mom to Seattle and not go our own way to stay in the yurt. Pray that we don't have any more problems. Thanks.

Darling Daughter, Kari

While I am gone, I thought I would post for you a photo of my darling daughter. I found this the other night when I was packing and thought I would surprise her with it. She reads my posts in the mornings. She can take this photo and add it to her own website too. She is a very good person and I am very proud of her. Love you Kari! See you tomorrow!