Recent News

Kory is gone the rest of the week to Austin to be with his family for Thanksgiving. I'll head up to Portland on Thursday to celebrate with the Wells--I'm so excited! I'll bring my awesome cooking skills and make some killer frozen rolls for us to enjoy.

I'm currently working on a program for a Christmas Family Giving Event at church next month. It will be a candlelight service followed by giving needy families food/clothes/toy boxes. I'm really excited about this and think it's going to be a great event!

I am also going to begin working in the nursery at church once a month during services--should be interesting. In theory, it sounds easy enough to watch some kids while their parents are in the auditorium, but somehow I have this feeling I have no idea what I'm getting myself into...

This week I put in my application for a new position that is opening up at work. My current position is temporary and ends January 15. This new position will last through June/July 2011. It's essentially the same job I've been doing...just for an extended time period. The Employment Dept is creating lots of temporary and limited duration jobs to beef up staff during this tough economic time. The idea is that when the economy improves and we don't need so many staff people, the jobs will naturally come to an end and they won't have to lay off a bunch of people. I have to go through the application and interview process just like everyone else...no special treatment for me being a current employee. :( Sad day.

Marriage

Quote from a lady I work with: "I will never be married again. It's way too much sacrifice and not near enough in return."

Then she tried to convince me marriage isn't worth the hassle. What a sad view of marriage.

She also told me she doesn't know anyone who is happily married--they are all trapped and just don't have the guts or money to get out of the marriage, in her opinion.

Wedding Fun

I spent last weekend in Midland for Michael and Danielle's wedding! It was such a fun weekend and they had an awesome wedding! They know how to throw quite a party :) Love my rub so much!

All the bridesmaids in our awesome dresses! These are maybe my fav dresses for a wedding ever! (unless I was in your wedding and you are reading this, then yours were my favorite :)

Beautiful bride!!

I don't miss West Texas for this reason...ugh. So brown and ugly. This was what I saw as I looked out the plane window leaving Midland.

I spent the whole plane ride being sad about living so far away from friends and then I saw this outside my window in Portland and I remembered why I love living here!

Loving Christians

Today at work I overheard two gentlemen talking while waiting for the fax machine. I heard the older man say, "The Christians are the ones who pulled me off the street, let me eat their food, gave me their own clothes, paid for me to see a doctor, kept me alive really. I was homeless and dying of pneumonia and if they didn't take care of me, I would be dead right now. You want to talk about real love, these people didn't know me at all and they saved my life. Then they introduced me to Jesus who could really actually save me in the way that matters."

I was tearing up at this point and trying not to let him see me eavesdropping on his conversation and crying at his testimony. This man then went on to talk about his baptism and the church he currently attends and times he has been homeless since then, but how his faith in God has sustained him through it all. It was SO encouraging to me to hear a story of Christians showing Jesus' love and changing someone's life. We don't hear these stories nearly enough so I just wanted to share it with all of you so that you will hopefully be encouraged to show that same love today.

Football Fun

The Oregon/USC game on Saturday was AWESOME! It was such an exciting and fun game to watch--especially in person. The crowd was so into the game and did such a great job of being LOUD! Many times, I couldn't talk to Kory who was standing right next to me because we couldn't hear each other. It only rained for about 15-20 minutes the whole game and wasn't really too cold. You can look at this Facebook album to see my pictures from the game: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2019075&id=160201160&l=f31df4e6cb

Apparently, people think they can call the Employment Department if they have questions about ANYTHING at all. I got a call recently from a guy who wanted to know the city bus schedules and routes. Today a lady called asking me if this random welding college in Idaho will accept the Pell Grant. I have also answered calls where someone asked me if it was supposed to rain, how to hide from an ex-husband where he couldn't find her and to list every job currently open in the State of Oregon.

With all the recent rain, it is beginning to green up around here! It's so pretty! I love seeing green grass and autumn leaves at the same time.

Fun Fall Pictures

Youth Group Pumpkin Party

My veggie platter I took to the Boo Bash Potluck at work

Halloween Costumes at OED (Oregon Employment Dept)

My new fun rain boots! And yes, I have them on with my orange pj pants. I looked awesome!

Fun Fun Fun

Youth Group Wednesday Night
Pumpkin Party last night
Boo Bash at work today, ChristFest tonight
Oregon/USC game tomorrow

LOTS of fun to report on/post pictures from! I will start with Wednesday and Thursday. One of our youth leaders had to step down from volunteering, so I have taken over the juniors and seniors in my small group. This worked out perfectly because we have only had 1-2 seniors coming lately, so now I can have a bigger group and more kids consistently. The juniors are a really crazy and fun bunch, which I really enjoy, but getting them to focus has been quite a challenge lately. I'm not very good with this "discipline" role.

We had a really fun party for the youth group last night. I wore my kimono and Kory went as Peter Parker. We carved pumpkins and watched Nightmare Before Christmas and had a costume contest and played Haunted Hallowingo (BINGO). I made sugar cookies for everyone to decorate, but we ran out of time and didn't get to do that. I was glad I had already carved a pumpkin this year and could just watch and take pictures of everyone else.

After the party, we had rehearsal for ChristFest at church and then I had to put my food together for our potluck today at work. It was a late night and it has been a long time since I stayed up late! How did this happen to me? Ugh. I used to be such a great night owl and I went and got old with everyone else. I really hate that work has done that to me. I feel like a small part of me has died.

So, tonight is ChristFest and then we'll head to Eugene for the Ducks vs. USC football game tomorrow. Should be a really exciting game! I'm pumped! I'll post pictures of everything as soon as I can get them all uploaded.