A walk in the mud

This is my journal that I wrote today while I was at Manchester Park. Enjoy!

"Sitting at Manchester State Park. Listening to the air, the sounds of the water life, of the creatures & kings of the sky, the steps of families in each others company... And then I hear the desperate cry of a father to his son, and it breaks the pure sounds of nature. 'Son, we do a lot for you. You need to do something for us once in while.' In most situations, the love of a father to his son is unconditional, loves him regardless of his actions, behavior, even in the worst of times, the love is still there. But this cry made me think. Even though our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally, sending his son to die for us, he does a lot for each one of us, and it probably would be nice if we weren't just taking that and running with it. It's time for me to quit taking from Him, and it is time for me to start giving back, giving back to my Father by loving those around me regardless of how they love me. Obviously we can love those who love us but it is time to start loving our enemies and those we just simply have problems with. God used this lesson in my life this week on a personal level with someone that is an acquaintance to me. For various reasons, I have just had a problem in my heart with loving this person for who she is. After spending some time together, God changed my heart and has allowed me to see the good in her, the beauty of her own spirit shone, and I embraced her who who she is... Another father cries through the woods to his son, 'Why don't ya'll take your shoes off first before you walk on the muddy part of the beach?' I have walked on that beach, and I know that is can be very slippery and dangerous. I feel that the father was not just thinking about the mess that would be on their sneakers, but more importantly the danger of them slipping on the rocks due to feeling too safe in their tennis shoes. What a great feeling to take off those shoes, to sink your toes in the mud and feel the earth between them! What a great moment that would be!! Then I hear, 'Carefully, like this,' and then 'Yay, let's go.' Then the kids cry, 'We are going to go the other way.' Isn't that how we live when our father is right there beside us, guiding us and loving us and spending time with us, and we want to go the other way? Why? When Gracie was new to our home and Sam wasn't with us yet, Gracie would hang on my every move. Often I was afraid that I would step on her because she was so underfoot. She loved being in my presence and just being together, laying on the sofa together, having her head rubbed, anyway I would acknowledge her she would respond with her lovely sweet purr. I often thought to myself that Jesus probably feels like that with me...just hanging out waiting for me to acknowledge him so I can see he can showing love back. When I think back now about the first father's words today, 'Son, we do a lot for you. You need to do something for us once in a while,' what the father was really asking for is to be shown love by obedience and respect and to not fight the one that loves you. Don't try to 'go the other way' when our father is there telling us which way to go... that is how we can show others our love for Christ...by loving when it is difficult, and respecting where they are in their path of life and not trying to run from where the father has us on our paths... to just simply take off our shoes when we walk in the mud by the ocean... who knows, we might just enjoy it."

Camping on the Olympic Pennisula

This weekend we went camping with some friends, Sam and Jon Holdwick (and their dear dog Flash), and a younger sailor Neal Schutz. He actually just turned 21 so I thought he was brave to hang with two newly married couples! haha We drove up on Saturday morning (it is about an hour and a half northwest of Port Orchard). Once we reached the area where we wanted to camp, Jon realized he forgot the propane at the house! So he left and was gone for about an hour and a half. Ended up having to drive 30 minutes away to Shelton cause the closest place was out of it. We had brought a grill to cook steaks on. So while he was gone we set up camp, collected wood for the fire, and the boys worked on getting the fire going for us. Our friends, Mike and Karri Sanders joined us for dinner. We were worried that they would not find us in the woods. They had gone up to Hurricane Ridge (Northern Washington) before they came and met up with us. It took them about two hours to get to us from where they were. We had a great steak dinner, potatoes, and corn on the cob. Then we all played Taboo together. It was great fun! Then this morning we hiked three miles in to Lena Lake and three miles back. Gotta rest now! Love, Aj

Karri & Mike Sanders(back) and Schutz( front)

Jon & Sam Holdwick

Flash Holdwick

Back from Portland

PIC OF THE SUN SHINING IN PORTLAND!!!!
WHAT A MIRACLE! Who knew the sun actually shines in the world?

I had a great three days in Portland! That town is AMAZING!!!! I love it. I had some great appointments on Thursday and for the day I felt like I was in the south again. I went to a meeting on Thursday evening of the Northwest Society of Interior Designers. It was nice to network with people in the Portland area. I met a nice young lady from India named Depali. She is in the business of making custom pillows, bedding, window treatments, etc. Her sister lives in India and runs the mill there that manufactures her products. This morning I went to her home and saw her creations in her studio and had breakfast with her and her husband. It was a nice way to end my trip there. I wanted to see about the possibility of selling her work in our showroom or any showroom at the Design Center. She sales only to the trade (designers) right now anyway. I want to see her succeed. She is a really nice person. Her and her husband were telling me about their wedding - three day/week long event (900 people)! Can you imagine? And their marriage was arranged by their parents. They met and liked one another. She said at first she kept thinking he is too short but quickly got over that fact. haha. Her husband is an engineer. I thought that was funny cause their relationship is like me and Ian (creative one + analytical one). The pics above are of her work. Her company is called Filling Spaces.

Pics from Oregon

Just another day in Paradise

Gracie hanging out in my fabrics.

The kiddos hanging out on Ian when he was resting on my lap.

THIS ONE IS AMAZING! (sam on left, gracie on right)

My Husband

Me being typical me ....

Pic of me and Ian from Honeymoon in Mexico

Today has been a good day. Made whole wheat pancakes covered with strawberries and sausage on the side and ate breakfast with my husband. First thing this morning Little Sam found the bathroom door stop for the first time! He loves it! I think I counted about 25 times that I heard the resounding "thhhuuuudddd... thhhhuuuuudddddd..." as I was getting ready. On my way into work I stopped by the Safeway to get some chocolates for the designers that I was seeing later. There was a table with used books for $2. The benefits went to Prostate Cancer Research. It caught my eye and my eye went straight toward one book on the left corner of the table. "Peachtree Street. Atlanta, GA" !!!! Can you believe it? All the way out here in Seattle, WA? A used book about the street I literally lived off of for two years?! I bought it. Figure I can read it on the ferry rides. I had a good lunch presentation at a firm today downtown at an architecture and design firm called Degen & Degen. It is in a beautiful location such as many of the firms I visit... with a view of the bay and the Olympic mountain range. Ian and I steamed rice and made steak stir-fry for dinner. After dinner I sent out an e-vite for our a shower that we are hosting for our friends next Friday night. Technology is splendid! Now Ian and I are watching a movie and he & and the cats have all fallen asleep. That is what I get for making him watch a sappy chick flick (called P. S. I love you). But I don't feel bad cause I watched the Celtic/Lakers game with him. Took some cute pics of the cats tonight that I will attach. Also, there are a few pics from our trip to Cabela's on Saturday. The two lil girls in the back seat are our friend's little girls. They are six and eight years old and a mess! We just thought we would give them a break to ride an hour out of town in peace and quiet and then let them just meet up with their parents at Cabela's. Anywho, it is getting late and I am going to Portland tomorrow. So peace out! But I hope you enjoy the pics!!! Love ya'll, aj

Pic I took when I was at Smith's Chapel after Ian and heard that his Grandma had passed

Our ride to Cabela's with the girls.

Hello Friends!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to write a first blog on this page so that you could get yourself oriented to the page. Simply subscribe to the blog and you will receive notification any time we post a new entry.

The weather here is mild, about 50 degrees. Pretty strange to think of June being that mild, eh? Next weekend Ian and I are planning on going camping with our friends Sam and Jon and maybe some others. Looking forward to that so much!

Gracie and Sam (our cats) are hanging out with me. We are enjoying the fire and watching the "Office" DVD. Ian had duty today and this evening he will be sleeping on the boat. We had sausage and biscuits for breakfast together and then he headed off to work at about 7:00 am. I went to church this morning at Harper Church which is about seven minutes from our house. I had received a post card in the mail inviting us to attend services this month focusing on Anger. It was a good meaty message with lots of scriptures references. I enjoyed the music as well and the view of the beautiful green trees through the windows in the sanctuary. I even got a free book about dealing with anger called "Making Anger Your Ally."

I also went to the commissary this afternoon and bought all of our groceries for the week. I got a little toy house for the cats with a ball on a string that hangs of the front and feathers on the sides (it was like $9). Gracie played with that ball for about thirty minutes.

Ian and I went to Cabela's yesterday. In case you aren't familiar with Cabela's, it is an outdoors store that has all the hunting and fishing equipment you could ever need. They also carry guns, camping equipment, kayaks, etc. It is two stories, like a mall. In the center there is a mountain with these huge stuffed elk and other animals grazing on it. Inside the moutain, there is an aquarium! We were inside the aquarium when they fed the fish, and it was pure maham! It was great fun to watch. We were there for four hours! It was a great adventure. Ian thought that he was getting me back for making him go to a fashion show with me a few weeks ago but I actually really enjoyed myself. They even have a restaraunt inside so it was nice to have a break to sit down and have some grub.

Well, I have to hit the hay now cause I have to get up very early to get to work for a meeting before work. I am headed down to Portland on Wednesday night through Friday for work, and I am excited about it! I know Portland is going to be so amazing from I have heard about it.

I love ya'll! Night.