Things I will miss about Portland: Our neighbor Richard 

Wildflowers at Sunrise 

The summit of Mt. Ranier from our campsite 

Cow Parsnips at Spray Falls 

The lake in the lower left corner is Shadow Lake where we camped at Mt. Ranier. 

We're packin'.  

Today I spent all day arranging my classroom for me and my little kidlets. It was really fun. I had to throw out tons of stuff from the other teacher. Next week I will take pictures. I have a desk and a mailbox in the office with my name on it. Yes, I got teacher mail today. Teachers get junk mail. Magazines with all sorts of toys you can buy for your classroom and advertisements for teacher clubs you can join.

Our trip to Mt. Ranier National Park 

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.