The Von Stein News

Highlights of the Last Few Months

2010-07-20T22:58:00.000-07:00

We have been very blessed to have sold our house this spring and be in a position to buy a new home or to build one. In the meantime, we have been cramping the lives of my wonderful mother and father-in-law, Marge and Terry (Ken's parents). They have been very gracious in opening their home to us while we continue our search.

Ken's brother, Greg, and his wife, Rachael, drove up from California a couple of weeks ago with their 5 month old, Abram Joshua. So, needless to say, the grandparents jumped to the opportunity to get a pic with all three grandchildren!!

Need I say more?

Kaiton's 1st Birthday cake!

Maci's singing debut of the ABC's at the preschool "talent show".

Maci's preschool class at Bethel High School.

Maci and her Bethel High School "student teacher", Courtney, on the last day of preschool.

Maci at a Mariner's game in Junewith Stacey and Toby. And she caught her very first ball! (With the help of her daddy, or course.)

My (Alison's) youngest brother, Austin, graduates from Ithica College in New York with a Master's Degree in Music Composition.

Kaiton, 11 months old, sporting daddy's fire fighting hat.

Maci with friend, Taylor, as a flower girl in Stacey McCaw and Toby Beal's wedding on May 1st.

Growing Up Fast!

2010-03-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

Maci Quotes

2010-03-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

A Realtor came over yesterday to view our house, and she told Maci that her name was Jasmine. Maci responded with much delight in her eyes, "Hey, I have 'Jasmine' on my underwear today!"

A few days ago, Ken asked Maci what she wants to be when she grows up. She thought about it for a moment, and replied, "Well, when I turn into a boy, I want to be a Fire Fighter."

A few weeks ago, I was having a rough day at work, got home late, and the last thing I wanted to think about was cooking dinner. We decided to go out and grab pizza at a nearby restaurant. I was very hungry, tired and cranky. When the pizza for "two" came out, it was practically the size of a personal pan pizza and the drinks that we had ordered at the start came near the end of our meal. I took a sip of my beverage, made a face and complained, "It's late and it doesn't even taste good." Maci looked up at me with a serious, yet sweet face and responded, "Mom, I think your gonna live." Thank you Maci, for putting my blessed life back into persective for me.

Pictures in November

2009-11-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

Maci loves reading to her little sister.

5 Months Already!

What's in Mommy's Purse Today?

2009-11-30T14:23:00.000-08:00

Lately, Maci has been into going through my purse (this is Alison writing, not Ken :) ) and rearranging the items, taking things out and putting new things in. I was at work last week and discovered Maci's flashcards in the middle zipper pocket. The other day at church, I was searching for my car keys and behold, alphabet shaped puzzle pieces...all 26 of them! This was exactly what I needed! Just when I thought that my purse couldn't hold anything else, my 3-year-old proves me wrong!

First Ever Family Pictures!

2009-10-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Last month, we took family pictures out on Ruston Way on the Tacoma water front. Our friend, Keri, took these ones (kerihellephotography.com).

Trans Fats - Poison to Your Body

2009-10-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I was planning on making a delicious dessert for a bunch of people that I had eaten a few weeks ago at a MOPS Bunco party. Well, just before I opened the package, I glanced at the fat content and noticed that this decedent dessert I was about to make contained Trans Fat! Disappointed that I could not share this goodness with my friends, as I would be poisoning their bodies, I reluctantly grabbed the receipt and put the dessert back in my car to return to the store the next day.

Just how bad are trans fats for your body? Well, I did some research today and found this blog site to be helpful and interesting. It displays the top 80 fast foods with the most trans fat (recorded in 2007):

http://www.acaloriecounter.com/fast-food-trans-fat.php

I was disgusted! I am not much of a fast food junky, but I LOVE the occasional McD's french fries- A large contains 8 grams of TRANS FAT!! Alright, so I have been poisoning myself for years now.

Research shows that trans fat can lead to coronary heart disease (raise bad cholesterol AND lower good cholesterol), stroke, diabetes, cancer, obesity, liver dysfunction, and infertility. So, be good to your bodies and try to avoid this fatal ingredient!

-Alison

Kaiton's 4 month pic

2009-10-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for a month, so I will just have to catch up today and post multiple times! Here is Kaiton's 4 month pictures on the couch this past weekend.

3 Months Old and 3 Years Old!

2009-09-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Kaiton turned 3 months last Thursday!!

Maci turned 3 years old last Tuesday and she got a fancy shirt and top and cute rain boots from "G.G" (her Great Grandmother from Pittsburgh.)

Maci LOVES her new Dora backpack. She takes it wherever she goes!!

And she listens to the soundtrack "Hairspray" from Grandpa Mark and Nana wherever she goes!!Bouncy House fun!!

Dora Party!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MACI!!!

The zoo with friends

2009-08-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today was the second time this summer that Maci and I have been to the zoo, and Kaiton's first time ever! We went with Corabelle, one of Maci's best friends.

We miss the beluga whales, but got to see the seals this time.

Mom, Maci and Kaiton poise for a pic in front of the puffin exhibit. The puffins are so funny when they dive into the water! (They are back there somewhere.)Maci and her buddy Colten with the tiger back in June.

So many sights to see!

Already Two Months Old!

2009-08-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Kaiton turned two months old yesterday!! My friend Tiffany's mother took a picture of her son every month on the couch in the same position to watch his monthly growth for the first year of his life. I missed this opportunity with Maci, so I thought I would try it with Kaiton. I also include signs to help me remember because believe me, I would forget at some point. Here is one month old vs. two months old.

Two Short Video Clips of the Girls

2009-08-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Maci and Kaiton saying "Hi" to one another.

I was trying to put Kaiton to bed tonight and she just wanted to be social instead.

New Kaiton Pics

2009-08-15T22:53:00.000-07:00

She is such a good baby...when she is sleeping! :)

It is so fun to watch her grow and begin to observe all of her new facial expressions!

She has mommy's dimples!

My (Alison) younger brother Austin just visited us from Ithica College in NY where he is working on his Master's Degree in Music Composition. Writing all of that music can really wipe a person out!

Two Movies

2009-07-21T16:54:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, can you believe it? A post from Alison two days in a row! Well, both of the girls are still napping (going on 3 hours...yes!) and I have a song in my head, so a thought that I would Blog about it.

Two of my dear friends, Rachael and Chrissy, have been coming over to my house while the girls nap, so I can have some much needed adult conversation and socialization. The last two times they have visited, we have watched two movies together, "Marley & Me" and "HAIRSPRAY". This was very exciting for me since I love movies and rarely get an opportunity to watch any.

"Marley & Me" was cute and entertaining, but as I watched it I thought, "As much as I miss Simba, I'm sooooooo glad that he has a new home and someone that can pay more attention to him because with two kids, he would be driving me crazy right now!"

"HAIRSPRAY" is definitely a "must see" if you like musicals, or you are at all interested in seeing John Travolta dressed up as an overweight woman to play the role of Tracey's mother. This is the second time I have seen it and now I am addicted. Not only do I obsessively sing the songs over and over in my head (and sometimes out loud only knowing the chorus and humming the verses), but Maci insists that we watch "Good Morning Baltimore" (the opening scene) when she wakes up from her nap. (So guess what we are doing, now that she woke up.) Maci and I dance all over the living room to the upbeat music. It also has a great message about anti-discrimination and not judging others by their looks. If you get the opportunity...watch it! :)

The Big Adjustment!

2009-07-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

Well, going from 1 child to 2 children has been a big adjustment, but totally worth it! The sleepless nights are becoming less sleepless and getting the burping routine down has been helpful when catering to a colicky baby. Kaiton is definitely more fussy than we remember Maci to be, but she getting life figured out a little more each day.

And our 2-year-old's adjustment to her new little sister? We have heard horror stories from parents that say their first child wanted to "send the baby back to where it came from" or they gave their mom the "silent treatment" for 6 months! We lucked out with Maci as she absolutely adores her little sister and can't get enough of her! The only thing that we have had to worry about (thus far) is Maci's desire to be TOO good of a big sister... that is, trying to offer peanuts and blueberries to Kaiton, pushing her motorized swing just a little too high, and hugging and kissing her to the point of near suffocation. (Ok, not that extreme.) Maci has also been very helpful fetching things for mommy and helping clean. She has her two-year-old moments, but overall, has adjusted very well to this transition.

I have been very blessed to have received the help of my mother (the first week) and Ken's mother, Marge (who lives minutes away), with this transition as well. Trips to the grocery store, Toddler Gym and the park are much more challenging with two, and nearly impossible without the assistance of another person. I recently spoke to a single mother of two children who had no family close by to help her when her children were born, and I don't see how she did it! I applaud those single parents who do it all alone. Ken has been very supportive and helpful, especially with giving Maci extra attention, which has been important in accommodating her adjustment to this life changing event!

Proud Big Sis!

Proud "Oma" Von Stein showing off all that black hair!

Grandma Gretchen was a huge help during the first week of Kaiton's life. With her help soothing the baby in the middle of the night and cooking wonderful meals for us, Ken had asked her if she would live with us for the first year!! :)

Maci enjoys playing "mommy" with her dollies. She has also been into playing doctor lately, which make her check-ups a little more appealing!

Awwww, quiet at last. :)

Proud Grandpa Mark

Proud "Nana" Crowley (Schlichting)

A Grandma Sandwich!

Proud "Papa" Von Stein

She's Here!!!!

2009-06-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

This morning at 4:49 am, Kaiton Ellie made her debut into the world. She came extremely fast! Alison was woken up by a hard contraction at 1:20 am, she decided to wake me up at 3 am, she headed to the hospital with "the moms" about 3:40. I took my time, grabbed some clothes, and stopped by the McD's drive through for a quick bacon egg and cheese biscuit. I was about 25 minutes behind them thinking I had hours in front of me. Much to my surprise, I got to the hospital, made a quick call to my mom to locate what room they were in and found out Alison was PUSHING! What the heck?!?! I made a quick run through the halls and made it just in time. 31 minutes after check in, Kaiton was born. Talk about cutting it close. She was born at 8.4 pounds and 20.5 inches long. Alison did an amazing job! Everyone is doing great. We should be heading home first thing in the morning tomorrow. Here are a few pictures to enjoy!

No Baby Yet....We'll keep you updated.

2009-06-20T16:17:00.001-07:00

Catch Up...

2009-06-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

Only 2 1/2 months since our last post...no big deal. Well, a lot has happened over the past few months. In February I was hired as a Firefighter for University Place Fire Department. My first day was in early March and I started the intensive Red Knights fire academy at Lakewood Fire Department. Here's a link to some pictures of our training (I'm # 11 in case you're wondering). Also, here is a link to a video of our academy. Enjoy! After 11 weeks of training, graduation was on May 15th. I was lucky to have my Grandma fly out from Pittsburgh for the event. It was nice to have her here.

After graduation from Red Knights, I started another day academy the following Monday at University Place. This is an additional 10 weeks of training on how they do things in UP. Seven more weeks, and I'll finally get to start shift work and running calls.

Alison is also 2 weeks away from her due date. Everything is going great! She's hoping that Kaiton waits to make her grand entrance until after school is done. Maci is very excited to meet her baby sister and gives her kisses and hugs almost every day!

Practice in Podcasting

2009-03-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

So, I'm taking this Web 2.0 and Podcasting class through Bethel School District, and I just learned how to create and post a Podcast! Maci and I sat down last week and created a short 2 minute video of our own to the tune of "Old McDonald". Maci is singing in the background, but my screechy voice over powers her tiny 2-year-old voice. (I had to sing high, so that it would match the pitch of the background music.) Maci also helped me pick out all of the animal pictures to use. I still have a lot to learn...my brother, Andrew (aka "Podcasting Expert") will probably be shaking his head when he views this video. Oh well, it was just practice!

Mini Slideshow with Animoto

2009-03-09T23:12:00.000-07:00

I (Alison) am taking a Web 2.0 course for my continuing education. I am a far cry away from anywhere near "tech. savvy" but I am learning how to access interactive tools on the web that I knew nothing about before. So, I threw together this very short (15 second) "Animoto" clip. (You have to pay $ if it is any longer than 15 seconds.)

http://animoto.com/play/qpPg5LGGKfT0wiD3Mc7oUQ?autostart=true

My Sister Autumn is Married!

2009-03-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

My sister, Autumn and her new husband, Eric, celebrated their marriage on February 7, 2009. It was a beautiful location in Fall Brooke, California. Autumn was also a beautiful bride!

Ken and Maci watch the ducks on the dock.

Family pic!

Cousins lounging on the bed in the hotel room.

Cousins having fun in the tub to get all clean before walking down the aisle.

85% Certain

2009-02-02T21:30:00.000-08:00

Ok, so again, we have been terrible about keeping up with this blog. (sorry!) Today, we had the 20 week ultrasound and the baby appears healthy and developing normally. The ultrasound tech. was great...she tried over and over again to get a good look between those little legs, and even though the baby wasn't cooperating, the tech. said that she was about 85% certain that it is a girl! So Maci will most likely be having a baby sister! So much to be thankful for!

We are also getting super excited to travel to San Diego, California this week for my sister, Autumn's wedding. She is getting married to a great guy named Eric and we are really looking forward to the event. Below, Maci is posing in her "flower girl" dress she will wear for "Auntie Autumn's" wedding.

Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!!

2008-12-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, when I (Alison) took Maci to a store for some last minute Christmas shopping, the store clerk asked her if she was excited that Santa was coming tomorrow. She replied, "No, it's baby Jesus' birthday tomorrow." He smiled and said, "That's right, you've got it."

Today, we had a wonderful Christmas at Oma and Papa's house with "Uncle Rich" from Pittsburg. We ate, and ate, and ate, experimented new puzzles, stamps, read new books, and played "Apples to Apples". We also sang "Happy Birthday to baby Jesus". We thank God for sending His son to earth to save us.

Maci and Uncle Rich...two peas in a pod!

"Hello Christmas Toenails"! Maci and mommy painted our toenails green and red for the season.

Last Friday, on the last of our school "snow days", Maci agreed to go outside in anticipation to build "Frosty the Snowman". The snow wasn't as cooperative as we would have like it to be (it did not compact to form snow balls), so we made "Snow Clowns" with our little mountains of snow.

SNOW DAYS!

2008-12-18T21:12:00.000-08:00

Two days of no school and one day to go! Bethel is officially cancelled tomorrow, which means we are now on Christmas break!

Every child's dream is to run outside and play in the snow in this kind of weather. However, Maci was resistant to go outside both yesterday and today. Hey, I don't mind staying inside where it is warm...so I didn't push it. :)

Today, Thursday, we had Oma, Papa (Ken's parents) and uncle Rich (Marge's brother visiting from Pittsburgh, PA) over for blueberry waffles, scrambled eggs and bacon. Yummm! Then, our friends Jeff, Danielle, and little Cora stopped by for a fun visit.

Daddy worked late, so we missed him dearly all day, but after dinner, Maci and mommy sat on the couch and made goofy faces for the camera. We were rolling with laughter!

GOTTA LOVE SNOW DAYS WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME!! WHAT A TREAT!

Maybe we will play in the snow tomorrow! :)

On Wednesday, Maci and I did a craft project together- paper bag animal puppets!! She picked four animals; a tiger, a lion, a bird and a frog (in that order). Mommy made the heads and Maci colored the bodies. We had a great time creating them and now we have fun performing puppet shows at Oma and Papa's house!

The First Trimester is Over! ...Yipee!!

2008-12-17T21:15:00.000-08:00

We apologize for not keeping up on this site as much as we would have liked. Between moments of nausea, acid reflex, fatigue and recovering from a head cold (from which no medication can be taken), the thought of "posting" had crossed my mine, but did not come to fruition. With that said, I am overjoyed that I am through the first trimester and my uncomfortable symptoms have subsided...I am now ready to post again!

Our first ultrasound was taken nearly two weeks ago (at 11. 7 weeks) and the baby appears very active and healthy (sorry they are so blurry). I felt a ton of "little flutters" last week and I'm almost certain that it was the movement of the baby, however, I have felt nothing over the past few days. At my midwife appointment today, I listened to a strong, healthy heartbeat again, so the little one is probably just having fun playing "hide and seek" with me. :) ~ Alison

Christmas Tree Hunting!

2008-12-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

A couple of Saturdays ago, we got up early and headed to the hills with good friends in search of this year's perfect Christmas tree. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was chilly, but not a cloud in the sky or a flake on the road. Normally, there would be feet of snow by the first weekend in December. Maci really enjoyed "driving" up the logging roads on Dad's lap. We had a great time!

Two Year Pics!

2008-09-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

As Ken wrote in the last entry below, Maci is growing and changing so fast! We want to capture as many stages, phases and memories as we can on camera. Our talented friend, Keri, took Maci's "Two Year Old" pictures last weekend. (You can visit kerihellephotography.com to view more of her beautiful portraits.) Looking at the quality of pictures and smiling faces, you probably would have never guessed that this "photo shoot" was a rather difficult one due to Maci's disinterest and, at times, defiance in posing or even setting foot in the studio area! Nice work Keri!

Happy Birthday, Peanut!!

2008-09-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's hard to believe that we have a 2 year old! We're thinking it'll be the terrific 2's versus the terrible 2's. We have been so blessed by her birth and addition to our family. She is no longer a baby, but a young girl who is developing her own personality and character. It never ceases to amaze us how much she learns everyday. Don't get me wrong, she is still a child who at times, will push our buttons and be intentionally defiant, but overall is an amazing little girl. We don't want time to go any faster than it is, but we are excited to see the woman she will turn out to be. It's scary being a parent in these times, always wondering if we're doing the right things to help ensure that Maci will love The Lord for all of her days. We just have to trust we're doing the right thing and pray for her daily. Thank you to everyone who plays a roll in our family's life, we couldn't do it with out you. Here are some photos from Maci's "Elmo Birthday Party" for your enjoyment. She had a great time and loved her gifts!

Tri-Cities

2008-09-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

Over Labor Day weekend we had the chance to head over to the Tri-Cities to spend time with friends. On Saturday "the boys" hung out, did some golfing, and had our annual live fantasy football draft. Three weeks into the season, it appears that my draft didn't go so well as I'm sitting 0-3. Regardless, it was a good time. Maci got to spend lots of time with Grady, Sydney, and Justin.

My Dear Friend Jenny

2008-08-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Jenny just began her life as a married woman this week! Jen and I met in "Vo Jazz" (Vocal Jazz Ensemble) at WSU in 1997 and have been soprano sisters ever since.

Jenny and Nelson's unique reception theme was "At the Movies." Each table had a movie title and the guests' seating was assigned to a specific movie with a "movie ticket". Even the background music at the reception were familiar songs from movie sound tracks such as "Back to the Future", "Superman", and "The Godfather". Now, isn't that creative?

Beautiful wedding and the beginning of a beautiful marriage. Thanks for asking me to be a part of your special day, Jenny!

MALIBU Weekend

2008-08-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Moses, Courtney, Isa and Maci

coloring on the ferry.

Last weekend, Maci and I took an adventure up to Malibu, Canada with my dear friend Rachael and her adorable 7-month-old boy, Liam. We roomed with our friends, Jeremy and Anya, and their five beautiful children, Marco (10), Isa (7), Moses (4), Masi (23 months) and Lincoln (17 months). (We missed Ken's presence as he had an important fire test.) Surrounded by breath-taking mountains, majestic tall trees and a vast deep blue ocean, is it possible to miss God? Enjoy the family pics! ~Alison :)

The first morning at Malibu having coffee and yummy hot chocolate at "Hamilton's". (And some Maci/Mommy "cuddle time".)

Rachael and Liam posing out-

side of Hamilon's coffee shop.

Masi, Isa and Marco give early morning smiles.

"Captain Ding Dong" and "Twinkie Boy" (the hostess with the mostest!)

Rachael on the zip line!

Four children under the age of two in one cabin!! Yikes! Actually, they did really well. :)

Our friend, Stacey helped serve the camp on dining hall "work crew" for the weekend.

Liam, Stacey, Rachael, Maci and Alison.

Maci helping carry baby Liam's Curious George lunch box to the ferry.

Just before we left, our camp greeted the military family camp

when they arrived off of the Malibu Princess (ferry).

Fun at the zoo!

2008-08-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

Grooming the goats again.

"Shark is sleeping" -Quote from Maci.

Starfish in the touch tank.

Big elephant!

Scary monkey!

Nice monkey.

This was Maci's 2nd trip to the zoo this summer. This time, we went with her friend, Linnea (and Linnea's mom, Amy). Maci's favorite part was monkey exhibit. (I haven't showed her the scary monkey picture yet...maybe she will change her mind!)

Alison's visit to Bellingham

2008-08-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago I traveled up to my hometown of beautiful Bellingham to visit with my mom (Gretchen) on the boat and have some "girl time" with her and Maci. We enjoyed relaxing on the boat, playing in the park, swimming at the YMCA, and taking walks with her two golden retrievers, "Skipper" and "Bailey". Maci adores these two dogs because unlike Simba, they allow her to climb all over them! We had a blast! And, by the way, my mother makes the most amazing salads ever!! She takes good care of me when I visit. :)

One night in Bellingham, almost all of my closest friends from high school (Sehome) meet up for dinner to catch up on life (Top picture, from left to right: Keilee, Nicole N., Jen K., Kristen, Naige, Alison, Jen T.). We missed Nichole P. and Suzanne that night :( . Thirteen years ago our conversations would have centered around school dances, classes, grades, volleyball, choir, cheerleading, lifeguarding, and boys. Nearly a decade and a half later the focus has shifted a little. :) After what seemed to be, a brief three and a half hours of sharing stories on babies and children, buying and selling homes, building houses, wedding mishaps, medical concerns and complications, and how God is working in all of our lives, we realized that we were the only ones left in the restaurant and that it had closed a half hour ago. Do you have friendships where time flies by and it only seems as if you have been around them for a few moments? There seems to never be enough time and we depart wishing we could get together the very next day. I am so blessed to have these women in my life! (When I returned to the boat, my mom and Maci were found fast asleep on the couch! - middle pic.)

As if we couldn't cram anything else into this short 3 day trip, Maci and I also toured B-ham's working world (to visit with those working). We drove to Moss Adams, to see "Nana" (Grandma Schlichting, -bottom picture), Hardware Sales Warehouse to catch Uncle Andrew (my brother) in action at his new work site, and Bob Wallin Insurance Co. to say "Hello" to Suzanne (friend from high school).

Whenever I visit Bellingham, there just seems to never be enough time to do all that I wish to do and to see all who I hope to see...so when I am there, I try to cherish every minute of it!

-Alison

Happy 60th Birthday Daddy!!

2008-07-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, July 18th, we celebrated my father's 60th birthday on Steam Boat Island. Just west of Olympia, "Steam Boat" (as we call it) is a Schlichting family cabin that my father's parent's owned. We used to spend many summer family vacations in this cozy, sandy bungalow. It has recently been remodeled by my Aunt Anne and my dad, Mark, and it looks great!! I haven't been there since, high school, or middle school...or maybe even sixth grade!! Ken and Maci visited for the very first time this summer. It was a perfect setting to reminisce and create new family memories. Happy birthday Daddy!! -Alison

Slow Down, Summer...Please?

2008-07-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

We've been blasted here in the NW with amazing weather over the past few weeks. Summer is definitely here and thoroughly enjoying it. Maci loves playing in her pool, going to the zoo and just being outside in general. I think her favorite word is "Outside".

Alison and I had the chance to go to Mexico a couple of weeks ago. We went down to the Rivera Maya on the Yucatan peninsula (Just south of Cancun). We had a really great time staying at an all-inclusive resort. The service was amazing, making sure your glass wasn't empty for long! At the same time we were humbled by the attitude of the staff who was just SO thankful to have a job making very little money. They were very different from the American waitstaff that we're used to experiencing. It was a great time to get away just the two of us and the Peanut was in good hands being spoiled by Oma and Papa.

Alison has not skipped a beat this summer. She's keeping her schedule full with activities, short trips, and teaching summer school at Bethel.

Well, as usual the summer is going way too fast for me. Weekends get full and before you know it you're getting ready for the holidays. We hope your summer is going well. I'll try to do a better job of posting more often.

Blessings~

My Plans...

2008-06-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I had the perfect plan. After almost 10 years, yesterday was supposed to be my last day at REI. Having been in the hiring process with Seattle Fire for the past 18 months, knowing I was down to the last 50 candidates for a recruit class of 15-20 starting in August 08', I knew that God wanted me to 'take the summer off' so that I could study, work out, and spend time with Alison and Maci prior to starting a rigorous recruit academy. Finally, I was going to pretend I was an educator this year and spend the summer not going to work.

Obviously, it didn't work out and there is no definitive timeline in which it might. As a result, I'm looking at another summer of being jealous that Alison gets to take a break and start fresh in August. I'm super thankful that she gets so much time off and the job is a perfect fit for her. This is the time of the year I'm evaluating my original decision that I don't want to be a teacher.

I'm also reminded that no matter how perfect I think my plan or timing is, it's often not God's and being frustrated, burnt out, or upset doesn't help anything. It doesn't change the fact that I haven't been hired as a career firefighter yet or help me get any closer to that goal.

All that being said...here's to all the educators out there who are looking towards the end of their work year. Congratulations, and job well done. You deserve the summer off.

Maci thinks it's a pretty cool deal as well.