Our first Christmas Presents

I thought since these where the first Christmas presents that we would make a video of us opening them. These are awesome signs. I might have to use this idea for other people.

FAV QUOTES

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
--Anne Bradstreet

snow day or artic blast

I'm adding this on because after I posted this I looked at the previous post of the snow day and I thought it was really funny if you compare the two. What I thought was snow looks like nothing when comparing the older pictures. HaHa. Perception is so interesting and important to remember when dealing with everything.
This looking down the street to the left

This is looking down the other way

This is looking at the house. I think I've lost 3 plants so far. maybe more

You can see next to the pool how deep the snow is.

So that a nice snow day last Sunday has lasted over a week. Usually our snow days are a quick trip. The snow is pretty and calming with kids building snowmen and freaking out there is no school. well its started that way. When portlanders wake up the next morning it usually has rained and melted the snow or the warm air has cleared the idea from the earth and our minds. however this time when we woke up the snow was not gone but had frozen solid. The next day the snow is still there, and the next day, and is still here and getting worse. Who said there is no climate change going on. I am stuck at home using my vacation time. Oh yeah my car broke down last Tuesday. It just stopped working so we have been stuck with one car. I know you people out there in Utah are like please give me a break, but the this city isn't prepared for this type of weather. Also there are layers of snow ice snow ice from the freezing rain. It's fun to walk on because its like a shell but death on wheels for cars. I'll put some pics up. Crazy. I've never wanted it to rain so bad. There is this weird thing that I notice about the seasons. When ever a season reaches it extream point I can't wait for the next one to start. When its summer and really hot you just want to see fall. When its winter and its bitter cold and you're locked down by the situtation you just want to see spring. It reminds me of life and its these extreams that make you really thankful when they are not there.

FAV QUOTES

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
-- Thomas Edison,American inventor

Ginger bread house

The stockings. ah so cute.

The tree. Without the truck we have had to settle.

During the snow day we finally built the gingerbread house. it was fun. memories.

SNOW DAY!!!

We woke up to our annual snow day. We get maybe one or two a year so it was pretty cool. The tropical plants always look great in snow. It is a big deal here. The news channels go nuts. I'm sure you've heard me say that before. The big deal is that it usually ends up with some freezing rain. You don't mess with freezing rain. When the road is ice you just slide and slide even in four wheel drive. Chains are your best bet, at any luck, but even if you have those there will be someone on the road who doesn't. and yes they will hit you. Here is a video from last year. It makes me laugh. To answer Valerie's questions on thanksgiving. It was just Lucas, a friend, and me. They where both sick so we whipped up a quick 2.5 hour meal. I got called in to go work in the morning. It was pretty impressive meal. We had ham, prime roast, mashed potatoes, candy yams and sweet potatoes, stuffing, collard greens, cheese ball, rolls, and what you saw was those little hot dog/sausage things cooking in BBQ sauce-not cranberry sauce. They are super yummy and are a great easy snack.

Here is our attempt to decorate for Christmas.

Here is the light switch that Lucas cut his finger on. That probably makes more sense on the how.

blasted Nov.

What a ruff month Nov was- well at least for Lucas. There has been lots of opportunity for growth. First it was the bitter-sweet election for me focusing on the churches and peoples positions on prop 8 in California. It was a difficult time afterwords having understandings on both sides and I can say I grew in courage and understanding. It was an area that I wanted to improve in and I got my chance. The issue is in the past and I feel I have handled it. It also helped solidify fine lines that I have been struggling with for years. While I was struggling with that Lucas was hit up against a defamation issue. It help confirmed the need for equality for all. To judge a person upon their character and not on identifiers. It is why stereotypes and assumptions should never be used in making decisions, gossip, or judgments. What seems simple and harmless can be exemplified to a point where people are hurt or worse. "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This is the second time in my life have words hit me hard like this. Lucas will be okay and his company is working with him to help prosecute the accuser. So while this is all going on Lucas got strep pretty bad. This was around thanksgiving. I was on call for the week so I was stressed. Then a random parking light just snapped in half and landed on his truck. It shattered the windshield and hit the top of the passenger door. Its still getting fixed; hopefully it will be done this week. Then this week on Tue night lucas hit the edge of the light switch in the kitchen and cut his finger. We spent late into the night in the ER so he could get stitched up. BUT we are in the healing phase. All the wounds are scaring over and there are lessons learned. We are stronger then one month ago and more greatful then ever. This year we had an extraordinary warm fall. This caused the leaves on the trees to stick around a little longer. When leaves stick around they get those vibrant colors I remember growing up in a desert. On my way to work everyday I get to go through a forest. During this whole time of struggle I saw this striking beauty. Every time i drove through the bends of the freeway I noticed the leaves and their beauty with large evergreen trees in the back among a blue sky reminded me of how greatful I was just to see this. My problems melted. (to bad lucas drives the other way. haha)

perception vers reality

I was in a leadership development class and this saying really stuck with me. There are many ways to say this idea but I like this one.

perception vers reality
perception is reality
you create your perception