Grab a sandwich, this is going to take a while January 9, 2009

I hope you had a great Christmas season.  Ours involved lots of snow, lots of food and lots of family and friends.  I enjoyed myself too much and didn’t really take many pictures.  Nevertheless, here are the top 5 highlights of our vacation:

 

1) Arctic Blast 2008!  We really did have a winter wonderland.  Pros: fluffy snow, unexpected time off from work (due to bad traveling conditions), time together at home, taking walks in our ‘hood and seeing people with their skis, toboggans and sleds in the middle of the street.  Cons: cabin fever, church was cancelled and we didn’t get to see Portland friends before we went home.

 

We ended up getting about 18 inches of snow!  That’s a lot for people from California.  

 

At Whole Foods to get some essentials before the weather got even worse (and boy, did it get WORSE)!

 

Hanging out with K Dave (from SF) at Cafe Umbria.  Thanks for the coffee and snacks K Dave!

 

Fran in the middle of chipping away at the snow/ice on our car.

 

2) Going home for the holidays!  We were in the Bay Area for 13 glorious days.  We were so glad to spend Christmas and New Year’s among our nieces and nephews, sisters, brothers, parents, aunts/uncles and surrounded by the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and Coit Tower.  

 

Getting stuck in the old phone booth after tea at the Fairmont Hotel.

 

Showing me their Judo moves

 

Mom taking a break from cooking our favorites and having tea together at The English Rose. I highly recommend the rumbledethumps!  

 

One of the many meals shared with family.  This one was at Cafe Cacao.

 

Her prayer for us before we left:  ”Heavenly Father bless Tito Fran and Tita Olive…bless this house so it will not be ruined or dirty.  Bless Tita Olive so she won’t have hiccups.”

 

3)  Connecting with friends over coffee, a meal or french fries (with sweet chili sauce).  We finally got to meet our friends’ baby boy.  We finally got to talk face to face instead of Facebook, IM or blog to blog.  We packed it in, but it was refreshing to meet up with friends and catching up.   I even got to see old friends from HCS.  The last time I saw them was 16 years ago!

 

Highlands ‘92 in the house! (actually in Hong Kong Flower Lounge)

 

 4)  Thomas and Donna’s wedding in Half Moon Bay.  It was elegant, heartwarming and such a joyful occasion.  

 

Glowing bride, exquisite dress

Two such as you with such a master speed cannot be parted nor be swept away from one another once you are agreed that life is only life forevermore together wing to wing and oar to oar.

Robert Frost

5)  Spending lots of time together.  Arctic Blast 2008 and Christmas vacation helped Fran and I to really slow down and chill.  

Happy New Year!!  

Two Thanksgivings and a Wedding December 14, 2008

 

 

This is the only picture I have to show for our whirlwind Thanksgiving weekend. It was too busy, fun, crazy and delicious to stop and take pictures.  Plus, I forgot my good camera.  But here is a glimpse of what Fran and I contributed for both sides of the family.  No…not the turkey…the garlic mashed potatoes of course!

 

Besides spending time with family, we also got to attend a beautiful and intimate wedding.  For the past couple of weeks, Fran has met with a couple at church for pre-marital counseling.  He also had the privilege of officiating their wedding.  It was such a blessing for Fran to share in their journey and for us to be part of their special day.

 

Dennis and Tessa got married the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.  After a very short two days with family and friends, we drove back to make it for the wedding. We left San Francisco at 7pm and arrived in Portland at 5am.   The wedding ceremony was at 4pm.  Yes, we like to live on the edge.

 

 

Unfortunately, I forgot my real camera and once again was reduced to using my iPhone to take pictures.  As a result, the images are very bad quality, but I thought I’d post them anyway.  

 

 

Waiting with the groom

 

Addressing the happy (and tall) couple

 

 

 

I took this picture just as the wedding photographer took hers with flash.

I kinda like how it turned out…

 

 

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.  

~Martin Luther

 

 

 

 

 

Whirlwind Weekend November 23, 2008

 

Last weekend we went back home…after months of not visiting or seeing anyone from home.  We made it just in time to celebrate three birthdays, see four pregnant ladies and Fran’s cute grandma.  We also visited when the weather couldn’t have been nicer – it was in the high 70’s!  Here are some highlights:

 

 

 

A view of the Bay Bridge from Embarcadero 

 

Clock Tower

 

The Ferry Building

 

Lunch at Taylor’s Automatic Refresher

(they have the best patty melts and garlic pesto fries!)

 

 

Pregnant lady #1 and #2 (their babies are talking to each other too!)

 

 

Due in December!

 

Our baby sister having her own baby (doesn’t the future dad look proud?)

 

A wonderful surprise for dessert (can you read what the cake says?)

 

Here’s a closer look…

 

Pregnant lady #4 – my older sister (see her to the left?) expecting her second baby

 

 

She’s not a baby anymore!  (Celebrating her birthday at the Children’s Discovery Museum)

 

 

Big girl getting ready to Skuut!

 

 

Mom with her baby

 

 

Best buds for 24 (!) years

 

 

Marc and Alena posing for their ninang (they’re experts at taking pictures!)

 

 

Guess who?

 

 

Family dinner

 

 

Finally…some good homemade pho!

 

 

Lazy Sundays September 14, 2008

The top 5 things I love about Sundays:

1) Pearl Church 

2) Hot Lips Pizza

3) Afternoon naps

4) Time with friends

5) Slow dinners

Speaking of my favorite things, tonight we went over Brett and Stacie’s and Fran grilled some steak and made his famous mashed potatoes.  We had a great time choppin’ it up and watching baby Moses.

 

Afterwards, the cool night breeze beckoned us to stay out a little longer and we went to get some gelato.

 

As we walked and enjoyed our melting dessert, I felt thankful for days like this – resting in the Lord, enjoying community with friends and savoring simple times together.

New playmates September 9, 2008

If you know us at all, you know that we love kids!  We come from tight-knit families and we were both teachers, so it’s only natural that we would love them.  Besides, they keep us young…but I guess some people might replace “young” with “immature.”

 

So, after having 12 nieces and nephews to hang out with, 12 godchildren to visit, and being surrounded by students (old and new) ranging from preschool to highschool back home…there was definitely a void when we moved up here.  Needless to say, Fran and I missed holding chubby hands, kneeling down and listening to miniature voices and endlessly (and lovingly) teasing pre-teens, tweens, teens, and early college ”kids” we saw on a regular basis.  Okay - I know you college folk aren’t kids anymore.  But you’ll always be those roly-poly, toddling babies to me.  Wow, I am getting old…I remember when people used to say that to me! 

 

But, I digress…

 

We have met some wonderful adults and we are so thankful for how God has blessed (nay, spoiled) us with good friends up here.  But, we miss kids!  

 

And then we went over to the Roth’s house and hung out with Asher and Phoebe (and their mom and dad too).  Here again were chubby hands to hold, endearing smiles and a miniature voice with very profound three year old musings.  This brother and sister team are so darling!  And their parents are great too.  I wish I had pictures – but I’m sure we’ll see them again soon and we’ll have more photo opportunities!

 

As we said our goodbyes, Asher emerged from the kitchen and after giving us warm hugs announced, “When I was hugged Francis, I felt a little sad.  But when I hugged Olive I was happy again.”  See, I told you he was profound.  You don’t often meet three year olds who have the capacity to express their bittersweet feelings over a farewell…

 

And this is why I love kids.  They are not only a tremendous blessing from God…being with them gives me new eyes and a new perspective.  They give me hope and remind me that there is always something to marvel at.  And Asher and Phoebe reminded me last Saturday that making friends is easy. 

 

Their unchecked joy and trusting hearts remind me that as a child of God I should be the same way.  When my heavenly Father beckons to me – as He always does - I should run to be with Him.  I should be sad when I leave His presence, and happy when I realize He is there waiting to envelop me in His grace.

“Decision ‘08″ July 28, 2008

As I type, our friends are on their way to FBC’s 30th annual youth summer camp…and we wish we could be there!  As we think and pray about our youth and the leaders, here are the top 5 things about camp that I miss the most:

1) Praise and worship with all those pre-teens and teens.

2) Team cheers and skits- creative, energetic and exciting.  One of my best memories is being on the yellow team in ‘94!  And who could forget “Search and Rescue”…

3) The common experiences that unite the campers – bad camp food, sticky bathrooms, pesky bugs and crazy antics.

4) I’m ashamed to admit it – people’s “Top 5″ list…if you know what I mean.

5)  The sharing, transparency and encouragement that occurs.  This year, as in the years past, may the campers encounter Christ and be transformed by Him.

Baby Moses July 24, 2008

Welcome baby Moses!  Isn’t he sweet and SO adorable?

Here are his proud and glowing parents:

Though he’s still so new, baby Moses has already been to church!  Don’t they look great?

Congratulations Stacie and Brett…you two will be kind, wise and loving parents. 

Moses, we pray that you grow up to be a boy…and then a man who runs after God.

More food and friends! July 24, 2008

This past weekend, we finally made it out to the Portland Farmer’s Market (I love their website).  After a late night catching the latest showing of the ”The Dark Knight” (we’re getting too old for staying up until 4am!), we met up with Rob and Mo.  They were one of our first really good friends here in Portland…we love them!  They also happen to live in the Envoy, a building with so much character and historic charm.  Whenever we drive by, I make sure to catch a glimpse of it…it makes me so happy!  I took some pictures of the outside, but honestly, they don’t do it any justice…plus I’m not a good photographer, as you can see.  The inside is even more interesting and wonderful, but I was too embarassed to take pictures.

After admiring their place, we headed out to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the market.

From top left, going clockwise: berries galore (this was just one berry stall out of many); Walla Walla onions, the sweetest onions around; enjoying a natural and organic lunch at Chef Naoko (I like how Mo’s raspberry matches her new shirt!); satisfied shoppers…

On Sunday after church we enjoyed more food with more good friends, Dave and Drenda.  We always have a great time with them.  This time, we went to Everett Street Bistro.  The french toast was so good, I ate all of it (so much for controlling my sugar!)…I ate it so fast, I didn’t even get a picture!  The food was very satisfying, and so was the conversation.

Catching Up July 24, 2008

Ok, so my travel schedule has been crazy and it’s also been busy at the office…when I get home I don’t want to stare at another computer screen! But it’s time to catch up.  Last Saturday, after hitting up all the street fairs in town we knew of, our last stop was at our neighborhood street fair.  Our faves were the Lifesavas.  I wanted to take a picture with them, but decided it would be dorky.

On Sunday, our very good friends, William and Rae, invited us to go on a garden tour with them after church.  This has become a pattern of ours – gardens, food and walking after church.  We love spending time with them -it gives us great joy to talk, walk and eat together.  This Sunday, we enjoyed people’s wonderful gardens.  For a black thumb like me, these gardens were amazing.  We had brunch at Hands On Cafe, located in Oregon College of Art and Craft .  My food was so good (as you can see below), but my favorite treat that day was the watermelon with candied ginger!

Tres Leches on July 4th July 8, 2008

Every year my family’s tradition during Fourth of July is to have lunch and then watch the fireworks somewhere new.  This year, I was sad at the prospect of not being able to take part in that tradition.  Fran and I talked about going to the coast, but I didn’t have the heart to decide on anything. 

Last week, on our way home from BTown Kids, we noticed that one of my favorite houses in our neighborhood was having a yard sale.  (If you’ve visited us, I’ve probably pointed it out to you!)  I was so curious about that house, we decided to brave the heat and check it out.  We weren’t there for even a minute when the owner offered to show us around.  That’s when we bonded.  They remodeled the house and backyard themselves (HGTV, anyone?).  We were impressed!

We hit it off so well that he invited us over for 4th of July.  We planned to leave the party at sundown to watch fireworks, but we were having so much fun, that we decided to stay.  Plus, there was a homemade tres leches cake!  Yum!

As we walked home, we talked about how grateful we were to meet our neighbors and that though we can’t participate in our usual family traditions, we can make new memories together.