Facebook

Ok, it's so easy to get addicted! My sweet husband was persuaded by friends to get on facebook, and now he has persuaded me. It has taken a toll on my blogging, but has been fun catching up w/ long lost friends. So, I'm warning you....be careful, it's addicting. Sorry, no picture of me sitting in front of the computer:)

Winter Wonderland

So, apparently it rarely snows like this here, but we are having the biggest snow storm in the last 18 years. It's beautiful, and the sledding has been great. However, because it's so hilly lots of places are closed and when I walked from the hospital to the ferry last Friday (from my three day mini work vacation; the hospital put me up in their Inn to ensure my shift coverage), there was not even a coffee shop open in Seattle at 8:30 in the morning. It's crazy!
So, the boys discovered a fun game jumping in and out of the hot tub. They would roll around in the snow, and then warm up in the jacuzzi. I managed to get my feet in the snow and that was it. My pictures of their weird fun didn't come out- sorry. I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas time....we miss all of you, Blessings!!!!!

Tagged

I was tagged some time ago by my friend Jennifer to blog about the 4th picture in my roll of pictures. Well, I honestly don't have a 4th picture b/c I'm constantly rearranging pictures, adding and deleting, so....this would be very difficult to find the real 4th picture, sorry Jen:(
So, I picked a meaningful picture.
I actually really love this picture of my mother n law. This was the last summer she was with us. The day was Annie-Grace's 4th birthday, and Ruth Anne had bought her a wedding dress (dress-up outfit) . She is showing her how to do the wedding march, walking around the kitchen, singing dum, dum to dum..... Annie-Grace is thrilled and following her every move, and me, I'm thinking .... wow.....approximately 20 years from now, this picture will mean so much.
Sadly, she went to be with her Lord that October....and we still really miss her, especially around Christmas.

I Passed!!!!!

I passed my validations yesterday.....I PASSED!!!! What a relief...I was so tired of studying, and then feeling guilty when I wasn't studying. Argh, but yea, it's over...till next year, b/c we validate once a year. I apparently picked the only hospital to do these type of validations b/c no other hospital requires their ICU nurses to do this. So, I feel a tremendous weight has been taken off my shoulders, and so grateful to God for getting me through b/c in reality, I thought I would have to re-do at least part of it. I'm sure other ICU nurses may have had a easier time, but b/c I had never worked medical icu, my learning curve was higher...but it's done and I'm thankful, my home life, can now be my home life again:)

Amazing Fun!

Who says football can't be a spiritual experience?? Hang w/ me here girls...last week we were given four free tickets (FRONT ROW) to the Seattle Seahawks vs. Redskins game. Dan always secretly asks for a birthday present from God, and yes, this was it! Tom, a new friend from a home fellowship group we've been attending gave these seats to us b/c he and his wife new our boys liked football. They had no idea what a blessing this was...we had lots of fun, got out of the house and watched as our team almost win (but didn't). We still had a great time. It's always amazing to be in the company of thousands, and thousands of people at one time...all cheering for one cause...the music urging us on....somehow it makes me think some day we will be doing the same for our Jesus. Won't that be far more glorious? It turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day, thank you, Tom and Beth!

My Man

Dan's birthday was way back on the 4th of this month....election day actually, and we celebrated family style w/ his sister Debbie coming over and making a home cooked meal. Fried Chicken, biscuits, and something else fried- I think it was a vegetable. Anyway, it was yummy and even yummier b/c I didn't have to cook:) Thank you Debbie!
I love this guy for too many reasons to count....he has been such a rock lately w/ my return to work life, and incredible running the house while starting a new business, lifecoaching, and school. He's my Renaissance man. Honey, I hope you had a nice birthday, I love you!

It's Fall Ya'all

It's been a beautiful Fall....I even managed to pick up some giant leaves to show you because they were monstrous and I have never seen leaves this big. They reminded me of the actor from Pride & Prejudice....Donald Sutherland, remember him in the scene where Lizzy is asking to marry Mr. Darcy and Keira Knightly is leaning over her father (Donald Sutherland)....the camera zooms out and all I can think of is wow, he has a HUGE head compared to tiny Keira Knightly. Anyway....these leaves were bigger than Donald Sutherland's huge noggin and I wish I could of shown you, but they dried up before I could get a picture:(
So, yes, bad blogger b/c I have been crazy busy at the ending of my orientation and have all my validation testing Dec. 3rd....gosh I've been nervous about these b/c it's like taking 5 oral tests and 4 little written tests and ....anyway, I have not had a lot of time to do fun things like blogging:)
Miss you all!!!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

My grandma Wilson was 93 years old on Nov. 3rd. Wow, I realize that I'm writing this 10 days late....but I did call and talk to her on her birthday, and she does know how much I love her. She taught me to count to one hundred when I was a girl, and to tell time. She was a school teacher in her younger years, so she loved to teach in all things. She even taught me to knit when I was a kid. She loved sewing and knitting, and I have beautiful baby blankets she made each of my kids. Which reminds me, she always hated children being called "kids". She said that word was for young goats and not meant to describe children. Too cute, huh?!? Love you Grandma!

Fun Couple Date

Dan and I had a fun date the other day while the kids were in school. We biked to the ferry into Seattle and biked to the REI store. If you know about this store than your thinking how lucky I am to have one so close. The 'out door lover' of any kind could browse for hours....
We went to buy some warmer bike accessories for me b/c the mornings have become quite chilly. This day happened to be a absolutely beautiful fall day.
This is one of the ferrys we ride. It's hard to see but cars load on the bottom and the side of the middle deck. I think its four stories.
This is a picture of my hubbie...we were waiting to board. The next is a picture I took from the ferry on our way back. In the distance you can see faintly Mt. Rainier...can you see it?
Lastly, this is me on our ride back. I had Dan take this picture b/c this is part of my ride to the ferry on working mornings....its called the Grand Forest...funny it's only about 2 miles, but very pretty and strangely serene at 5am in the dark:)

Work

This picture makes me giggle.....it looks so fake professional. It was taken after a very, very long day b/c Noah needed a picture of me in work clothes for a project he was working on.
So, my typical work day is this: I'm on a 8 week orientation, currently working 12 hour day shift w/ a preceptor, 36 hours a week. It's my 5th week on the unit and I finally feel like maybe I can do this. Not only have I not been in this kind of acute care in about 10 years but it seems like everything is different....meds, how they do things....only computers for charts.... even noting your orders on computer. Not to mention that I thought I was taking a position in Coronary Intensive Care and it turns out....(silly me)...that its a Medical Intensive Care Unit. So....I'm learning Renal, Neuro., and lots of Septic Shock, and updating my cardiac, hemodynamic monitoring skills. They get everything and ladies do I have some really yucky, grody stories to tell you over a good meal of course:) The work people are really nice, but the job is fast ....and sometimes I feel like I'm going so fast, I would like to stop and think about some things. Any way, a huge learning curve....and I have to take an ICU exam in about 3 weeks to complete my orientation. So, I will eventually be on nights and hopefully sleep more. Sounds funny, but right now I get up at 4am....leave on my bike at 4:45am....get to the 5:20 ferry....arrive in Seattle @ 6am...bike to Virginia Mason Hospital by 6:15...clean up, on the unit @ 6:30.....work till 7:30pm....catch the 8:10 ferry home...again bike....and walk in the door @ 9:15pm. Wow....I'm exhausted thinking about it. But its 3 days a week...and Dan has offered to pick me up whenever I want. But, I love the money were saving...the hopital pays for 75% of my commute and so it only cost me $37 a month to travel to work and back. And, its sometimes amazing to me to see all the bikers that get up early to ride to the ferry every morning and scurry off in all directions when we arrive in Seattle down town. It's dark and b/c it's fall now those 3 days of work I only see daylight through my patients windows.
It's all so new....I feel like my life is comepletely changed....it's not bad, its just very different.
Miss you! If you think of me, pray for me:)

Haircuts

It was a bit painful to get the girls haircuts. They both had such long pretty hair....but they both insisted that they wanted short hair. They no longer wanted to attempt to grow it out like Rapunzel. It is easier now ...they can wash it themselves, which is a great help to Dan when I'm at work...and I have to admit they still look so cute!

Happy Birthday Noah!

So, we made it to the last birthday of the summer! Noah's birthday was the 6th of Sept. (sorry, a little late to post). Kory was in town, so that made it extra special....Noah watches all summer long as his siblings get gifts and celebrate....so he has learned patience in this area, and does well knowing his turn is coming around the corner:)
WOW! I officially have a teenager! Noah is thirteen now....hard to believe thirteen years ago I became a mom for the first time. He was a great first baby....and is turning out to be a great first teenager. We are proud of how responsible he is and hard working in school and w/ family responsibilities. Out of all my children, I find many personality similarities to Noah. He likes structure, and knowing what's coming ahead. Only good surprises please and acclimates to change w/ caution. He can be quiet and an introvert until he feels safe to assert himself. We love you, Noah, blessings through your teenage years!!!!

A Visit

My brother and his girlfriend Courtney came up for a visit all the way from San Antonio, Texas. They brought the sunshine w/ them b/c we had gorgeous sunny 60-70 degree weather. Here's a picture of me and my brother on their last ferry ride:( Me, I was on my way to work (thus the scrub top) and they had to catch their flight. We had fun w/ them and I hope they come again soon.
This is Courtney and Kory going for a bike ride....it's the law here to wear a bike helmit....don't they look cute?

Tagged

So....sorry if I bore you w/ my unspectacular quirky 6 things about myself. I think most of you know them.....here it goes....

1. I was made in Japan
2. My husband calls me "spatula challenged" . This refers to my ability to use the wrong kitchen utensil for the job. For example I might want to use a spatula to stir soup as opposed to a stirring spoon....or whatever is supposed to be used.
3. I once looked at my dear friends feet when she complained of her "crows feet" because I really did not know what she was talking about. I do know now, b/c I have them too.... I just have to look straight in the mirror:)
4. I was once yelled at by an Egyptian, pinched by a Jamaican and slapped by a Korean. These were all done in the country of origin, and I can honestly say I did nothing to provoke these events...they just happened during my years of over seas traveling....what can I say, I bring out the best in people!
5. I absolutely LOVE roller coasters but am terribly afraid of heights. I know that's a quirky one.
6. I seem to have a proclivity when getting my picture taken to often look like the person next to me is....well...pinching my bum. I don't know why, it just happens.

If you know any others- email them to me!

Hugs- DeVon your it!!!!!

It's been too long

Sorry everyone.....my computer has been w/ the mac genius all week, and I've had very little time to go down stairs (husbands computer) and do computer stuff. There were 32 unread e-mails last night when I finally checked!
So I started work last Monday....and I officially become a "bike commuter" on Wednesday. I am all "teched" out w/ bike gear and will have Dan take a picture soon as I'm up and running on my computer. All I have to say is bike shorts are not flattering for women! Miss everyone....my life is changing so much these days....Hugs to all.

Seattle Zoo

On Labor Day we went w/ some new friends to the Seattle Zoo. It always seems to me, the animals are either sedate or hiding, but that you can always find one or two that are really enjoyable to watch. This time for us it was this orangutan. He followed Dan around the exibit (because he was eating peanut m&ms) and as Dan offered him a m&m the orangutan asked....it was much funnier than I'm describing b/c they communicated for a while. Dan finally threw him a corn nut and he caught it and plopped in his mouth and asked for more. Me, I was petrified we were going to get slapped w/ some $10,000.00 fine....argh! But all was well, and Dan and the monkey put on a good show.
I got this close-up shot w/ the Grizzly b/c there was glass between us.....very freaky to be this close....if not for his very big teeth, he looked friendly:)

Battle Wound

This looks much worse than it was....but doesn't he look sad? The boys love to go trail riding on their bikes. Well, this day was rainy (of course) and slick and Wilson took a dive on his new birthday bike.
He and the bike are fine....and he got lots of sympathies to make him feel secretly proud of enduring his first bike wreck.

Happy Birthday Wilson

My sweet Wilson turned 11 years old August 18th. Wow! I just have a few things to say about this boy. He is brave. He has the most adorable laugh, it always makes me smile when I hear it, kind of like a belly giggle- very cute. He still loves to give me hugs and will probably be the one checking on Dan and I when were old and gray. Of course, I could say lots more about this special boy, but these are some of my favorite things:)

The Evergreen State

On the vehicle license plate it says Washington is the Evergreen State. I'd say so. Last week when my father'n law was in town we went on a family day trip to the Olympic peninsula. Its basically the entire national forest land between us and the Pacific ocean. It includes the Olympic mountains, rainforest, and many, many numerous trails; and then when you think you couldn't see any more beauty, God pleasantly surprises you w/ the mighty Pacific ocean. The moss on these trees is so thick it just hangs...its so pretty. It was a full day for us, and the kids did great considering they have been in the car a lot this summer. It was approximately 400 miles on our speedometer. We were pooped when we pulled into our driveway at after midnight:)

Happy Birthday Annie-Grace!

Annie-Grace was officially seven years old on August 8th. We had a small family party w/ her cousins and Aunt Debbie. The highlight was the "pee-yata" that she wanted really bad. I love that she still loves to wear dress-up clothes...even when they're ripped and shredded. I also love that she still mis-pronounces words and I have to admit its fun that she is way more "girlie" than me. She asked me today in a derogatory and dramatic tone, "Mom, why do you always like to wear pants and jeans?" (she is unaware that the reason is our old dress code @ O.R.U.) Should I be offended of my daughters opinion of my clothing attire? I just smile b/c she would wear a very pink flowered dress everyday if she could, and I would probably wear jeans everyday if I could. Oh I forgot, I already do!

More home pictures...

This walkway leads to the front door. Then this is a picture of dinning room and kitchen that looks out to back porch and back yard. That's my favorite part is the back porch....its so serene and green and pretty. Its my favorite place to drink coffee in the morning:)

It's Home

Ok, here it is! I wish all of you were here...its really hard to give you the full scope of how blessed we feel in this house. It is 10 years old, but we really love the "not so newness" of it. Its really hard to see the house from the curb, b/c it's very hidden by trees and landscape. This is our drive way, there is a garage right beside the van...that leads into the downstairs, or you can go around to the back, and enter through Dan's office. There is a small court yard type area, and then steps that lead up to my back porch. The main floor is actually the upstairs, b/c it was built on a slight hill. Understand?
I LOVE this Hydrangea plant. It is absolutely huge and when we first drove up, I nearly teared up b/c I've always wanted one. Of course, my favorite color...blue'ish purple. This is the family room, that looks out to the back porch...
Wish you could all come over for dinner....its only about 2,000 miles?!?
Hugs to all.

Arriving

Our first ferry ride over was bright and early 8am. The kids were not thrilled w/the cold, but we were all excited to see our new home (especially since none of us had seen our new house). More on that later...we were not disappointed.

This is us celebrating Lucy's birthday. Daniel's sister lives here, so its wonderful for my kids to have cousins to play with for the first time.

Looking Up

The Redwoods were Daniel's favorite part of this trip. I felt like I was walking through one of the forests in Tolkein's Lord of the Rings novels. They were amazing. We had such a lovely hike through one of the many trails....minus losing Huggy for about 20 min. (another story). I know my pictures are limited in giving the full scope of the size of these trees...but seriously the trunks were about the width of our Honda accord. Just Beautiful.