Christmas past...

As much of a fuss as I make about Christmas presents (hey, gifts are my Love Language, people), I am always overwhelmed at Christmas at the entirety of the whole thing. Baby, shepherd, angels, wise men, all that stuff, wow. And it's not just a story, it's everything. I mean, it's everything to us! If there hadn't been Christmas, Easter would have been pointless. And if there hadn't been Easter, Christmas would have been useless. And without either of those, life would have no meaning whatsoever. That is a huge circle to wrap our minds around.

So anyway, I like to collect Nativity scenes to remind me about this WHOLE THING that is too big for me to understand. (I admit freely to collecting Advent calendars as well because every little box or door or envelope is like another little present every day in December. Oh, the treasures that await me... See? I need the Nativity scenes around to keep me grounded.) But this is my oldest and most favorite one. (Except for my mostest favorite one that is still at Mom and Dad's house. But that doesn't count.) This one has only been in my house for a few years- it used to be in Grandma Miller's dresser drawer. I don't know how old it is, but for as long as I can remember I would pull this out of the drawer and play with it when I was over at Grandma's. The Wise Men used to defeat the GI Joe's in an epic battle every week I was there. (But I always set it up in the "proper" Nativity sequence when I was done playing, except minus the baby Jesus... he's been MIA from the first time I pulled it out of the drawer. You have to look close to see it's really the angel in there.)

This is so tiny that it fits on a 3X5 card. My first Christmas cross stitch is behind it. This little spot on our fireplace has some great memories!

Christmas with Mom and Dad

My parents came out for an early Christmas visit. We spent a few days shopping and also stalked and trapped our Christmas tree. Andy took a day off work and we had an early Christmas Eve where we hung up our stockings. The next morning we found them stuffed to the brim.



We had a hard and fast rule that this year all presents had to fit into stockings (because somebody's always traveling at Christmas) so we worked hard to be creative and find things that fit. Luckily, candy, jewelry, and notes that lead to a big present all fit into stockings!
Caleb didn't want to get into the fun of his Christmas costume... but you can't really blame him. It's pretty humiliating. But we gave him his presents anyway. That stocking full of bones and toys waiting to be de-fleeced just couldn't go to waste. :)
By the end, we had a great visit, and one worn out puppy.
But it was great to get the Christmas off to an early start. We had a great visit with my parents, and are looking forward to the rest of the season. We're even getting snow this year! About time we had a white Christmas in Oregon!

The Thrill of the Hunt

This year we did something we've wanted to do since living in Oregon but never had the energy, know-how, or truck to do. We drove up to Mount Hood (or somewhere up there) and cut down our own Christmas tree! In Oregon, you can buy a tree permit that allows you to just pick a tree out of the forest and give it a chop. It was awesome and we got a beautiful tree.

David, Diana, Debra (Jason's parents and grandma), Sara, Jason, me, Andy, Don, and Bernie (my parents) all joined the expedition. (Many thanks to all the Wuertz's for leading us up to the "wilderness"... or as much "wilderness" as we can handle in December. (Caleb and Cassie are worn out and sleeping in the trucks)...
On the way we stopped at Little Crater Lake. I've not been to big Crater Lake yet, so this was the clearest water I've ever seen in a lake. I half expected to see a shipwreck at the bottom.


Andy was thrilled to use tools...

And triumphed over his vanquished arboreal prey!

We got some beautiful trees and had a great time...

But of course the fun doesn't end there. We got the tree home and managed to get it upright...

Lights up...

Decorated... (careful!!)

And Caleb shows off the tree (and warms up in his jacket after running around outside all day).
This ornament sums it all up. We heart our tree!!

Thanksgiving at Bounty

A wonderful couple that we know has a "cabin" (read: beautiful second home) in the Washington gorge that they allow friends and family to use. We spent Thanksgiving weekend there. It was a great weekend of relaxing and reconnecting. We got to enjoy nature both when we were out hiking and when we were inside soaking up the amazing view!

Caleb loved it just as much- even more- than we did. He spent pretty much the whole weekend "appreciating the view" (read: begging to go outside)...

Rock Creek ran right in our backyard. We "hiked" (read: stumbled through the underbrush) a few yards downstream to this beautiful waterfall. (We found the real trail on the way back home.)

Here is our Thanksgiving "feast" (read: prepared by others and hydrated for our ingesting pleasure). Note Andy's dessert of cranberry sauce elegantly served alongside our other delecacies. (We had an actual homemade pie later but it didn't last long enough for a picture. (: )

We had such a great weekend. We missed being with family at Thanksgiving, but this was a fabulous way for us to celebrate Thanksgiving. We have so much this year to be thankful for (read: yaay, finally all healthy and happy again!), and Bounty's amazing setting reminded us of all those things that God has blessed us with. Thank you so much, Greg and Wendy, for opening your home to us!

Such a great weekend, in fact, that we completely wore Caleb out with all the fun we were having. (read: awwwwww....)

We're alive. I swear.

Okay, i figured it was time to throw down an update. Better really, really, really late than never, right? Well, I'm not going to lie to you, we've had a pretty tough year. It's November now and we're starting to get back on our feet. If we were to sum up this year, it would be: sick and tired. Andy spent most of the year sick, and I spent most of it tired!

It all started back in February, when Andy got sick. (I'm not going to go into details... that's Andy's part of the whole thing. Myself... I'm sort of tired of telling the story. See? Sick, and tired. :) ) Anyway, something mysterious and dramatic got him sick and put him out of commission for a long time. Doctors had all sorts of theories that ranged from psychosomatic to just psychotic. Whatever it was, it had Andy upside down and me knackered. Because we just didn't know what was happening, I ended up quitting my job at the chiropractor to take care of him. It was a rather unfortunate coincidence that the gym I was massaging out of closed during the exact same week everything hit the ceiling. Rather a bummer. But we pressed on. We spent the Spring at various doctors trying to make heads or tails of it- literally, you can ask Andy about all his tests- and I was juggling (lots) of very loyal clients who followed me to my home and my insurance transcription job. Oh, and taking care of Andy. Again, I spare you the details, but let's just say, I was tired.

We even struck out on vacations this year. Andy was feeling so ill that we cancelled our Hawaii anniversary trip at the literal eleventh hour. Disappointing. And a series of minor and major disasters turned a fun road trip with my dad into me basically spending the summer in Indiana. Okay, not the whole summer. Just the month of July. Okay, not the whole month of July. Just the first thirty days of it. Oh, and the last five days of June. And to top it all off, Andy's trip home was a little bit busted (for me, anyway) by the fact that the dog got so sick I had to cancel appointments to take care of him and make sure he didn't destroy the house! (He came close...)

Now, aren't you having fun reading this cheery, happy blog? Well, I tell you all this (and trust me, there's more to tell- just ask Andy about Life cereal and you'll understand that you've gotten a mere cliff note of the year) so that you can fully appreciate this fact: BUT IT'S ALL OVER. Andy's not sick anymore, in fact, he's feeling better now than he has for a few years. I'm not so busy anymore, in fact, we're scaling back my massage business to make room for even more free time. We're not scrambling between 5 jobs and 20 extracurricular activities. Now we're gearing up for the holidays and fun visits from our families, we're helping to plant a new church in a neighboring town, we're enjoying evenings and weekends together, and we may even go back to Hawaii.

We can be so thankful that God got us through this really crazy, difficult year, and made us appreciate all that we now have- our faith, our health, our families, our friends, our fuzzbucket, and each other. This was probably a year that we will try to forget, but I know that we don't need to remember the nasty details to remember how grateful we were for all that God did for us and taught us going down this rocky road. It was tough, but God is so faithful. He is constant and neverending. It's possible that we needed a little bit of reminding of that. And our world with Him leading us looks so rosy right now, I just can't help but heave a sigh of gratitude. There is always a master plan, and it is always good!

And just so you have something cute to look at, here's the fuzzbucket himself.

He appears, as usual, unphased by his surroundings. Let's hear it for a dog's life!

Happy Spring!!

All right, it is the first day of spring! And, I am way too lazy to color Easter eggs, but here is my usual first-day-of-Spring-but-don't-call-it-vernal-equinox-out-here-or-you'll-have-to-hug-a-tree tradition:

(The kisses aren't part of the tradition. They're just to save the mess when the egg gives up and rolls off the counter.)

If you've never stood an egg on end to celebrate Spring, well, you just don't know the thrill that you are missing. And you'll have to wait a whole year to do it again!

Happy Spring means: TIME TO MOW THE LAWN. And weed those crazy barkdust beds. I have a little thorny weed that apparently found a friend over the winter and had lots of little baby weeds.

Happy Easter means: lots and lots of church services this weekend! I'm going to play the keyboard most of the weekend, but hopefully not be too tired to eat some yummy chocolate eggs and great Easter lunch. And of course, it's a wonderful weekend of reflection and thanksgiving for the amazing sacrifice that God made for us! I'm forever grateful that a little "nobody" like me was worthy of that horrible afternoon on the cross, when Jesus said, "Jozi, I'm doing this for you." What an amazing God has saved us. I can never say thank you enough!

So, Happy Spring, and Happy Easter, everyone!

Ahhh....Oregon

We had a friend visit us this fall:

Yummy, huh? In case you can't tell how big it is, here's my piggie friend for comparison:

My piggie is bigger than my thumb. Spidey was somewhere between a nickel and a quarter... but he was just as thick as he was wide! I just can't wait until all his little babies join us this spring...

Merry Christmas!

Despite some lingering teriyaki tummy issues and a headache that I am also blaming on the Chinese food, we had a good Christmas!

Caleb likes his new Santa-dog...

Enough to eat it!!

Come on, Mom, let me have it.

Time to go play chow-the-santa. Merry Christmas everybody!

A True Story

Well, it's just after midnight, and not surprisingly, I can't sleep. So here's a little story about why things around here haven't quite settled down yet. Literally. Oh, and by the end of this post you'll know me a little better. Fair warning...

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The fake log fireplace had been lighted with care
In hopes that some warmth would soon fill the air.

And Caleb was settled all snug in his bed
While visions of rawhide bones danced in his bed.

The Christmas Eve service had gone off with no hitch,
So I had just sat myself on the couch to cross stitch.

When up from my tummy there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the sofa to see what was the matter.

My insides were churning so violently
I knew there was something very wrong with me.

I ran down the hall, my heart beating with fright
To the bathroom at last, a most welcome sight.

I leaned over quickly and with one massive heave,
I sadly watched my dinner violently leave.

As Caleb looked on, his ears perked with concern,
I tried to make sense of this unwelcome turn.

"What happened?" I wondered. "What could I have ate?"
Then I remembered my dinner at Eden's Gate!

My lonely holiday had seemed the perfect time
To take a night out for a solitary dine.

For knowing he hates it, and not wanting to be rude,
I wait till Andy's out of town for Chinese food.

They treated me like royalty, a girl on her own:
A free appetizer they said was home grown.

That dish which I fondly recalled finger-lickin
Was now named "That foul, cursed Teriyaki Chicken!!"

And now, hours later, I sadly comprehend
That I'll remember this Christmas as the night with no end.

For who could forget retching with all of my might?
Happy Food Poisoning to all, and to all a good night!!



Merry Christmas everybody! (Uh...I really do mean that, despite current conditions...)
Merry Christmas! :)

Confessions of a closet introvert

Everybody wonders what's going on out here in Oregon while Andy's back in Indiana. Believe it or not, I've always been a little introverted (try to contain your shocked expressions), and I really enjoy the occasional stretch of alone time. Wonder what happens when I'm here all by myself? Watch and learn. Just for the record, I'm not bragging. But you asked what I do all day, so here's today's "Andy-was-gone-and-I-had-no-obligations" log:

11:00 AM- wake up. Now, before you judge, remember two things: 1) I have a nasty cold and took a nice dose of Nyquil before I went to sleep, and 2) this was at 2 a.m. when I gave up on falling asleep on my own. (I tried to go to bed at 11 o'clock... read a book for an hour and wrote a story for another 2 hours, but had to give up and take a sleep aid.)

11:15 AM- laundry. Sorted the wash and put a load in. Great fun.

11:20 AM- let the dog out, fed the dog, readied my BIG OL' JUG of water for the day. Considered eating. Took a drink instead.

11:25 AM- exercise time. Normally on a Saturday I would have gone to a step aerobics class in the morning, but I slept through that a long time ago. Plus, still feeling a little sickly, I don't feel ready to exert quite that much energy. I settle for 20 mintues of Dance Dance Revolution Workout instead. Without a whole lot of jumping. I'll do more tomorrow.

11:55 AM- laundry. hang it up, put another load in. I called Andy to cheer myself up, but he didn't answer.

12:15 PM- having failed to get Andy on the phone, I head for my next-best chance ot cheering up- out to the mailbox. Maybe I'll get a Christmas present! Here's where I make a confession. While I wholeheartedly believe that America as a whole has gotten completely out of control with materialism and totally lost the true meaning of Christmas, I'm not gonna lie: I love presents. Seriously. It's great to be with family, and I feel warm and fuzzy about the baby Jesus and all that. But I feel warm and fuzzy anytime I think about what an amazing thing God did for me, and I enjoy being with my family any time of year. But at Christmas, come on. I get totally psyched when there's a mystery package to unwrap. Who knows what treasures await me? Yummies? Fuzzies? Toys? Sparklies? Electronics? (I am married to Andy, you know.) I can't help it. I'm like the worst five year old you've ever seen. Dangle a present in front of me and watch me dance for it. Now you know my secret. I am desperate for presents and surprises. To love me is to gift me. So anyway, I'm off to the mailbox in high hopes of Christmas cheer. Stupid mail lady didn't go yet. Empty box! Curses!

12:20 PM- no luck with talking to Andy or getting surprises in the mail. Time to go to the last resort: Food. Lunch time. Before you call me a dangerous emotional eater- pounds I've lost since Andy's been gone: two. I'm actually gonna LOST weight this holiday season! (And put it all back on when I go back home in January, but whatever.) Lunch is leftover nachos from last night and an orange, accompanied by a chick movie. I watch girlie movies when Andy's gone. This is the only time I ever do this... and yet I don't know why. I hate chick movies. So unrealistic. And rather stupid.

12:45 PM- doorbell. Neighbor. Darrell brought me a Christmas present!! The day is saved.

1:20 PM-pause the movie: laundry time. There's always laundry. My life is laundry.

1:35 PM- time to get out the computer. Paperwork calls. Time to do the paperwork that I've ignored all week, pay some bills, and update lots of files. I do this every week. Sometimes it goes quick, sometimes it takes forever. Today, it takes forever. Old recorded episodes of Jeopardy! accompany me while I work. Yes, I tape Jeopardy!, and yes, I'm a complete dork. I am aware of this.

4:55 PM- paperwork is finally done. Laundry isn't. Back upstairs to more laundry... on the way home I snap this picture:















Someone is seriously bored with my Saturday. Normally we would have taken a really long walk by this time with Andy out of town, but it's cold, rainy, and nasty... and I still have a cold!


5:00 PM- practice time. Gotta get my parts down for church tomorrow and the Christmas Eve service. This is tedious. My shoulders hurt.


6:00 PM- download and listen to last week's sermon. I was too sick to go to church, so I stayed home. But I like to listen to them in order.


6:25 PM- hungry again. Seems only logical to keep working on that bag of chips, so I have some more nachos... why create more leftovers, eh? I watch the rest of the chick movie while I eat... pleasantly surprised that it was more about the guy than the girl. Still a chick movie, but I think this actor is funny while I really can't stand the female counterpart. I actually enjoyed this one. Not telling you what it was, though. While I eat, this sits next to me and stares at my plate:















7:00 PM- I'm tired, but can't go to bed yet. Come on, awake for less than eight hours? I'm pathetic, but not that pathetic. I figure I'll watch another movie, win this game of Solitaire that I'm playing on my laptop (yes, while I'm watching), and then think about bed. (Awake for nine and a half hours is completely acceptable.)

8:30 PM- oh my goodness, the movie is over and I'm still trying to win the same game of Solitaire. (It's a sickness.) Put another movie in...

8:35 PM- perfect time to paint my nails...

8:45 PM- ...and continue watching the movie and playing Solitaire while the nails dry.

10:00 PM- NOW I can go to bed.

10:05 PM- I'm not even going to try. I take a Tylenol PM.

10:10 PM- Hey, why don't I post a blog that shows just how pathetic my day was?

10:40 PM- finish blog, and realize that while I didn't leave the house today, I still accomplished a lot. I did, after all, finish all my laundry and all my paperwork. I'm ready for church in the morning and for the services on Sunday. I didn't attack the Christmas chocolate tin. And the kitchen is totally clean. (Forgot to put that in there- every time I finished eating I cleaned up the kitchen.) Besides, this is totally the only day I can do this sit-around-the-house thing. I'm working Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day... I'm very productive this season. I'm not a total waste of space. I'm just relaxed. Ahhhh... solitude.

10:45 PM- that Tylenol is really kicking in. Good night!