Gotta love a long weekend

I don't know about you all, but I LOVE a long weekend! Especially one that involves seeing friends...that have moved.

A few weeks back Nicki and I were planning on going up to visit the Waldron's and Majors families over in Okanogan. They moved back at the end of June to start a church over in Twisp and we miss them bunches!

Well as anyone who has ever made plans knows, that the best laid plans can always unravel and these ones did in a big way. Nicki got really sick the week prior to our departure, I ended up sitting with her in the ER waiting for test results last Monday, and even though we would joke about her need to get better by weeks end, my heart was not hopeful. I mean she was really bad off. Anyway, that meant that I was going up by myself, even though I was fighting off whatever was being passed around my friends lately (turns out it's been pneumonia, yuck). I ended up putting myself on a daily regimen of Emergen-C(for and immune booster) and NiteQuil (to sleep) along with anything else that I thought I might need (Echinacea anyone). However, I was able to leave on Saturday morning with no problems. The four hour drive was a bit lonely, as my mind wandered to all the potential fun conversations I would have shared with Nicki, but Alexander Scourby read the Psalms to me on my CD player and it made for a nice ride (note to all who have hid Bible on Audio CD's if you have a 4 hour drive to make, and need some way to pass the time, the Psalms will get you there with no left overs).

Finally, I arrived!!! Kali didn't even hear me ring their doorbell, but ended up walking by the door at just the right time. Whew, I would have hated to have been missed ;) She heated up some left over Pancit for me for lunch and we visited until Mags and Sharon got home, and then proceeded to watch Mags make desert for that night, flour less chocolate cake with a Mocha glaze. Seriously that girl can cook! The we ended up at the Majors for dinner (ribs, corn, potato salad & orange fluff). After we played a game of dominoes. Actually it was only half a game because we were going to have to rise early for church the next morning.

Pics of the Mountains on the way up to Okanogan

And we did. See even though our evangelistic team lives in Okanogan, they have to travel about a half an hour away to Twisp (where the work is actually going on) and set up for services (signs so that people know where to find them, chairs, sound system, hymnals, breakfast for in between SS & Morning service...etc.) But with 4 girls getting ready in the morning you know it's gonna be an early day. I mean beauty takes work people! But services were great!!! I always enjoy Chris' preaching. SS he taught lesson "C" out of the ABC's of Christian growth, which stands for church. Though I don't often speak of him or do a lot of comparisons, it really was like have Pastor Prisk teach the lesson all over again. Sigh, I miss him sometimes. But I digress.... Chris' morning message was excellent too. One thing that I like about his preaching is that he makes it easy to take notes. His message was on Daily Mana (Exodus 16:11-21). How God provides everything we need for everyday. His points were as follows 1) It's God that does the providing, 2) God provides only things that are pure and 3) Gods provision always leaves more for others. It was an awesome message. Followed by a wonderful corn chowder lunch. If you ever find yourself in the area here is the website for contact info.

After the morning we girls headed off to Winthrop. It's a touristy western town complete with wood board streets. We had a grand time complete with trying on hats and a stop at Sheri's Sweet shop. Everyone got ice cream, but me. I got a piece of rocky road and a dark chocolate covered rice krispy treat, which BTW I saved for the next day. I'm not that big of a glutton. And I'm glad I only had one piece of chocolate because that evening we went to another church and were treated out to DQ afterward by the Pastor of that church. It's fun to hang with the missionaries.

The next day was Labor day and we just relaxed. Bro. Waldron was finally feeling better and so we went on a drive up to Oroville to see what was "out there" beyond the Omak city line. Let me tell you it's not much, but it was a pretty, urrr rustic, drive. Lots of hills and open sky. We also scoped out the company where Kali had put in a resume to, which was on our route. After we got home it was time for some Man vs. Food and ironically dinner. Then for some Phase 10. Nope I didn't win this time, but there's always my next trip.

Tuesday was another 4 hour drive home, but I felt refreshed and ready to face the rest of the week. No Psalms this time, Proverb, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon & Esther got me back home safe and sound. I really wish I could have stayed. Being back in reality isn't always fun, but that's why you gotta love a long weekend. It gives you something to look forward to, like visiting with friends.

Proverbs 18:24 - A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Weekend Adventures & Jumping Beans

It was a dark and stormy night. Beyond that, the weekend began like any other just four girl friends that wanted to get away for a night and day trip. . .off the island, that was their home. Little did they know what would await them beyond the confines of the security of their homes. The driver successfully navigated her Oldsmobile Bravada through the pounding rain, which sounded like a snare drum as it pounded against the windshield and sloshed against the rolling tires, to the ferry dock. The driver drove into her assigned ferry slot, and as time passed on the 30 minute passage the lights in the car began to flicker, the flow of air shut itself off, and the radio died. As the ferry docked other cars around them began to turn over their engines, but the only sound that permeated the air surrounding the Bravada was the gurgle and scratching of the engine as it struggled to boost it's power.

The driver's attempt to start the Bravada were futile and the girls sat amazed and were shocked into fits of laughter over the predicament that they had found themselves in.

Finally the ferry workers broke out the "big gun" and Kali was able to start her car.

See the girls in the car were Maggie, Nicki, Kali (the driver) and myself, and the reason for our island departure was to finally execute the giving of my Christmas present from last December.

For those that have followed this blog you know that over the past year I was busy setting to work on a list of things I wanted to accomplish prior to turning 30, and for Christmas last year Kali and Nicki went in on a homemade gift certificate to help me accomplish some of my goals, which included going to a new place, eating new food, meeting new people, walking 30 miles (ummm yeah not happening in the rain), and yes. . .they even offered to watch a documentary with me (which I'm sure they are happy to have missed out on).

So where did we go? To Port Angeles. We stayed with her Aunt and Uncle (my new people to meet) that night, and then we spent the next day we spent shopping. They also took me out to dinner (where for my new food I had seafood stuffed mushrooms w/hollandaise sauce).

It was a fun and silly time away with the girls. Mid way through Saturday afternoon we found our respite being entertained by Cassie's jumping beans.

What can I say? We're easily amused.

That evening before we headed back home I also found a pair of fabulous heels to dress up my black dress for our attendance at this years Handle Messiah at Benaroya Hall.

If they're not your cup of tea, to bad. I love them and they'll look really nice with my dress. Now for accessories!!!

The drive back to the Port Townsend ferry found us listening to a really nice preaching CD. It was mostly geared at a younger audience on how to guard yourself against getting involved with the wrong guy, or prematurely entering into a relationship, but I found that there were still principles that could apply to me, and that I wish I had known, or had the strength to apply to myself when I was much younger. Oh well, the point is to learn and move on.

All in all it was a fun weekend, and I'm glad we got that in before this Christmas comes around. Now for the documentary!!!