Monday, December 5, 2011

A Little Catch Up...

Grandma Brockway passed away surrounded by her kids and most of her grandkids on October 20th. I haven't had a chance to mourn her much and that has proved to be tough on me.
With the holidays here I miss her so much and also long for my mom and sister. 6 hours to see them in almost eastern Washington. This year, everything is different. I feel like I've gotten 10 years older. you lose grandma and you're just not a kid anymore.

Chris and I threw the biggest Christmas party yet with almost 60 bodies in our home. Now we want to do it again. It was the best one yet and I miss our guests already.

I'm planning on blogging more and then I don't. So hang in there, friends...I'll get it going again soon!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

My favorite worship band...has Christmas Music out!!!



So excited. Seriously? He's my favorite.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Crazy Sexy Cancer

I love this book. It's a fantastic encouragement to women going through cancer, especially if you've just been diagnosed. Good stuff.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Just Breathe

Breathing in and out seemed so commonplace about 20 years ago...and then little by little, I've had to remind myself to slow down, reevaluate and breathe.

19 years ago, I met Chris and my breath caught in my throat and I was overcome with love and goodness and had to remind myself to breathe in and out.

13 years ago, we were wed and he finished that last year at college in Seattle while I was in Portland and I had to trust him...to learn to trust a man was new and the breathing stopped for a time.

10 years ago, I was breathing fine and then we had beautiful Flannery. Anxiety stopped my breathing this time...and because of seeking guidance through my PPD, I was taught to breathe. In and out...in and out.

3 1/2 years ago, we had Cannon and my breathing continued on...knowing the signs and keeping friends close assisted me in taking the breaths I needed to take to function as a wife and mother.

2 1/2 years ago, we moved to the beach with an ocean view and I could breathe deeply, maybe for the first time in years.

This past summer, we thought I might have cancer...so we held our breaths and decided to move back to town where friends and family could care for my children and me during chemo treatments and the sickness that would occur. Blood tests, CT scan, biopsy and results: We could breathe.

Made the move to a big house in Gresham. Perfect for parties, family gatherings and game nights with friends, but the builder dropped the ball and didn't follow contract. We had to move. Breath held.

Chris and I decided the kids and I could breathe better out of town - so we stayed with Kelly and Melissa - breathing, laughing, playing cards, watching TV and movies and splashing at the lake.

Then Melissa went for a routine surgery...and ended up in critical condition. For days. Kelly and I could breathe through our weeping and wailing and crying out to God for mercy on her. But the breathing would pause when there was a setback. And every other day, it was another setback. Finally, after 22 days, she was released to go home and we all can breathe...in and out.

This month, we moved into our home, it feels...cozy, medium sized and perfect for our family. We're breathing together now, for the first time in a long time. Friends and family are near again and all is calm as of now. We'll be here a long time if the Lord wills and if He tarries.

The past summer, we felt like a new born calf who when birthed, drops to the ground, slimy and exhausted...shaking as it attempts to stand. And when it stands, it wobbles for a bit. But it will be able to breathe on it's own, in and out, in and out, and eventually will dance and frolic across the pasture.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Friday, September 9, 2011

The Good Wife

I'm sending Chris on a break to relax and read alone in an air conditioned library. He needs a break. Who we kidding...we're moving tomorrow and we both need a break before the big day. I'm officially sick and tired of moving.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Friday, September 2, 2011

Moses Lake/Coulee City in Pics

JOSIAH-FLANNERY-ALICE
JEFFREY AND HIS NEW TAT AT THE CORNER OF HUSKY AND COUGAR
MY "GOOD THING" TAT
MY GOOD GRIEF TAT- ribbons Blue in memory of Amy Brown and her fight against colon cancer in 2006. Lime is for Laurie Wakefield who survived Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Yellow is in memory of Tim Fadel who lost his fight against synovial sarcoma in 2008.











MOSES LAKE WATER PLAY & BBQ


Jeffrey, kickin' it at Moses Lake
MELISSA IN ICU AFTER SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS. CURRENTLY ON DAY 17 IN SEATTLE.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Our 10th Place Together

Real quick...here are the facts about our new move. Yes...not the move in July, but the move that happened the first week in August.

1. Big house in Gresham - we had a contract with the builder that he had to finish an engineered-approved retaining wall before we'd agree to close on the property.

2. It was agreed that we could live there for free until the wall was completed.

3. Wall was not even begun and the builder suggested he just build a faux wall to pacify the engineer.

4. Builder never began wall and put us off over and over again.

5. We tired of this...found a new house and will be closing on it on September 8th with a hopeful move in date of September 10th.

Here she is...smaller, beautiful and homey feeling. Our 10th place together.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Our 9th Place Together

Truth.

1. Apartment in Troutdale
2. House in Washougal - Purple Carpet
3. House #2 in Washougal - amazing flower garden
4. House in East Vancouver - slate on gray house/red kitchen countertops
5. Gov't Camp - Our cabin
6. East Vancouver - The ranch with a big backyard
7. West Vancouver - 1940's gem
8. Seaside - ocean front beauty
9. Gresham - big, quiet, lovely

This was the first time my sister wasn't there to help us move. She is incredible. I can't put into words how great she is at moving people. For those who don't know, my sister, Kelly, moved to Moses Lake, WA after a job transfer. Going to see her this August! Yay!

Here's some pics of the move...
Of course, I snapped a gorgeous picture of our Seaside view before we left...








Cannon's First Trip to the Zoo

















We too the MAX to the Zoo! We missed the Zoo stop and had to get off and ride back to that stop...then on the way home, we jumped on the red train when we needed the blue train, but simply transferred at Gateway and then headed back to the park and ride.

I have a general aversion to public transportation; mainly the stenches and different smells from others. Mostly it's B.O., sometimes it's a strong cheap perfume...Chris and I chatted afterward about how Jesus wouldn't have focused on the smells, but the hearts of the the people.

Flannery noticed a thin black woman crying and yelling at seemingly no one as we passed a station downtown...and another woman talking loudly to herself as she stumbled along near the library. I whispered to her what happens when I see those things. "I pray," I told her. "Just a silent prayer to God that He would care for them and give them peace."

Chris and I decided that we're going to head downtown and have a date night. We both love the Square area, especially around the holidays.

So weird. When I was 16 & 17, I spent a lot of time in downtown Portland with friends. I remember going to the St. Patrick's Day Parade with fellow Irishmen Chris & Ryan Murphy. Amy Grant was the Grand Marshall that year, and as she passed, Chris yelled out, "When are you gonna go Punk Rock?" She laughed and smiled and yelled back, "NEVER!!!" Chris quickly yelled back, "Then I'm never gonna listen to you!"
Some things just stick in your mind...ha!

Long story just to say, this was Cannon's first trip to the Zoo. Oh, and Chris decided we should be annual pass-holders. So we are. Even got the obligatory animal sticker for the family truckster. Cannon wanted the Ape sticker because it looks like Harry from Harry and the Hendersons. Done.