Me with my backpacking gear on.  

See the lake in front of our tent? This is the point at which we decided to find dry shelter. My favorite quote from the trip, "Paul, why is it hailing?" 

We get back to our car and go to a cheap motel to be dry. You can't really tell from the picture but it's raining really hard. 

Mt. Ranier 

We get excited on day three when we finally see the mountain for the first time 

Us and the mountain  

Marmot 

Wildflower 

Hello Everyone!

I signed a contract yesterday to be a kindergarten teacher. The job was offered to me on Monday after three interviews and LOTS of confusion about where God is taking Paul and I next. He is taking us to a little town called ______ in Washington where I will be the one and only kindergarten teacher. I will have twelve students. I am very excited but also very nervous because there are only 22 days (and counting) until the first day of school and my Paul and I need to move, set up a classroom, be in a wedding and wrap our life in Portland up. It's a lot to do in 22 days. We would covet your prayers as we have mixed feelings about leaving our friends, family and church but also know that we see God's hand leading us to this place.

We have "much news" to tell you about but don't have time right now. Get ready for pictures and plans (life changing ones)!

portion of an email from a friend:

"Have you noticed that people who have gardens turn into stalkers during the summer? Mystery sacks of produce show up on our doorstep all the time. I have my own garden and can't possible eat all the stuff that is ready, so I force it on people who don't want it too. It is a vicious cycle. Hope you are enjoying the summer bounty!"

my reply:

"Yes, I have experienced the summer garden stalkers, and have been one of them myself. I sent a bag of lettuce with Paul to work one day and told him not to come back with a single leaf! Our tomatoes are about to come on, and I am afraid that in force they will be extremely dangerous. I may end up tossing them at passers by and then running away."

Our pet birds 

so friendly 

It's our aniversary today! Three years. 

We arrived back to our apartment in Portland today just in time to miss the 100 degree weather plauging our fair town.  We had been camping  with my grandparents at Pacific Beach in Washington.
The highlight of the trip for me was seeing two black bear cubs walk across the road in front of our truck.  It was the first time I had ever, ever seen a bear.  Paul saw the mother bear, but my eyes happened to be closed at the time.  I so wish we had gotten a picture - because they were CUTE.  Here are some pictures we did take:

Our campsite (in case you were wondering, we own the tent not the trailer) 

Playing cribbage 

Pacific Beach, Washington 

All true washingtonians swim in the ocean no matter what the temperature. My husband Paul grew up being spoiled by the sandy white beaches and 70 degree water of Costa Rica. What a pansy! 

A couple days ago I was at a baby shower for my nephew, Wes, and I saw some really neat ladies that I grew up with in church.  A conversation that we had went like this:

Annie, are you getting taller?

No, I haven't grown in quite a while (I'm 26).

Well you must be getting skinnier then.

I think these ladies see me as a perpetual teenager.  I will never grow up in thier eyes.  Even when I have grandchildren I will still be just a kid to them. 

Here are some pictures from Paul's hiking trip to Mount Jefferson this week. He went with some other guys from our church, Mosaic. 

Brandon and Paul  

Paul and Randy - getting ready to start up the trail. 

Paul / Mt. Jefferson 

Sand in the City 

Sand in the City 

This morning Paul woke me up at 6am (do you know that it's Saturday?). Why? To go to the REI garage sale. It was worth it! We were about 20th in line and scored some hiking boots, chacos, a backpack and some climbing shoes all for ridiculously low prices. We've decided to make it an annual event. We've been before but never gotten up so early. And yes, in case you are wondering, Dave Duff was about third in line! He always beats us.  

My brother Dan is on a student ministry team that this summer goes around to different camps and helps out with counseling, etc. Someone told me about this picture of Dan on Mt. Gilead's website. If you knew my brother, you would think this was hilarious. Talk about getting out of your comfort zone! WE LOVE YOU DAN!!! 

One time, when I was young, my brother and I were in the same Sunday School class.  It was a small church.  The Sunday School teacher (bless her heart) asked us the inevitable question about what had been going on in our lives. 
My brother liked to tell stories.  Mostly ones that weren't true.  So while him and I were there in front of everyone he made up a story about how his family had gone to Hawaii that week on Alaska Airlines.  Being young and innocent I first thought, "wait a minute, did I miss something..."  Then I thought, "is he really stupid enough to let me catch him lying so I can tell on him".  As much as my brother liked to lie, I liked to tattle. 
Then I realized, "It's fun to lie!"  I felt a camaraderie with him, and even thought about helping him out.  Even as an adult, I sometimes wonder whether I could make up stories and get away with it.  The thought crossed my mind earlier today.  "What if I started a blog that only contained made up stories by me?"  The thought was electrifying!  This is what is so beautiful about blogging. 
 
P.S. I mean lying in the most non-harmful way :)

Titles of some kindergartener-made books:
 
Shrek's Birthday Cake
The Snow Wolf that Could
The Mean Fairy and the Theater that got Bombed Adventure
The Freaking Out Scared Dragon
Mean Butterfly and Scary Mad Tree
 

Kara and Annie picking blueberries on Sauvie Island 

Marionberries 

We love our church here in Portland, Mosaic (we don't yet have a website or I would link you), but this weekend decided to visit a church in Seattle named Mars Hill. We absolutely loved it. It's so refreshing to see churches doing church differently all over the world.