The Drive Back To Portland

Everyone dreams of a white christmas. Last year, we unexpectedly had our first ever as the snow started falling a week and a half before Christmas day. It threatened to delay our flight home and nearly shut down our entire city as people panicked over the blustery surprise. This year we anticipated the same to happen again as temperatures reached below freezing mid-december. Some what unfortunately we only had cold weather and sun, no moisture to produce snow. Temperatures slowly crawled back up to the 40s and 50s the week before we drove home and we expected to only see rain this year. As we left Elk Grove on tuesday afternoon we checked weather forecasts and felt that everything was normal and that we would have a long but easy drive back to Portland. However, we were wrong.

I told Wes that I would like to be the one to start the drive this time because I feel more confident driving the flat straight CA terrain instead of the winding Siskiyou Pass in OR. So, I drove until we passed Shasta Lake/ the Shasta Pass. We took a bathroom break and as soon as we got back on the freeway (with Wes now driving) we began to see more and more snow. It was sort of slushy and snowing which forced us to move very slowly. We began to realize that we were going to have a late night if it was going to be this slow moving the whole way back. About the time we reached Yreka the freeway was a parking lot and we saw one sign saying that I-5 would be closing and to take a certain exit. With no radio in our car to keep us informed we began to wonder what the night had in store for us. It was about 6:00 when the free way became a parking lot and we sat in the same spot for a good half hour.




Finally we decided to call Wes' mom and see if she could hop online and get us some information. She gave us some phone numbers we could call to keep us posted on the state of things. Soon we began to slowly inch forward and were forced along with all the other tons of people to get off in Yreka. We spoke with a Policeman who didn't know too much more than we did but he advised that we find a place to stay. With hunger pains in our tummies and our bladders about to burst we chose to hit taco bell before finding a place to stay. What were we thinking? Yes, this particular exit had at least 15 motels but still, what were we thinking? Everyone would need a room tonight. As the pressure began to sink in I was finishing up my burrito and we hit the road. We would drive up to a hotel and find "no vacancy" posted on the door. One after the next: "sorry," "No vacancies" etc... we got on the phone with my dad as he tried to find hotels that we weren't seeing. One after the next they were filling up. And if it weren't for the Third Street Inn we would have been sleeping in our car that night. I told my dad to try and find a hotel that was off of the main strip and this was the only one he found. He gave us directions and what we found was a simple house just a few blocks away from the main street. It was a cottage of sorts, more expensive than the others but atleast it was a place to stay. And so, this Christmas on our way home we had an unexpected one-night-stay at a little bed-and-breakfast. I was greeted at the door with a little old woman. I asked "do you happen to have any rooms available?" and the woman hesitated "well, yes." Supposedly if we had called they would have turned us away as they did this to everyone else. But, I guess there was something about the desperation in my voice and the personal act of knocking on the door that she made the exception for us. She told us that they have guests who aren't just "stuck" in Yreka and they wanted to be respectful to them. We stayed in Molly's Room named after the dog that greeted us in the kitchen. She took us up to our room and told us that breakfast would be served at 8:30. Our room had a king sized bed, a little kitchen and a jacuzzi tub. It was so comforting after a chaotic evening. We were able to get on the internet that night and figure out what was going on with the roads. The next morning we had an amazing breakfast of homemade waffles, and applesauce. We had breakfast with an older couple from Sacramento and had so many things to talk about. After breakfast we were delighted to see that all road restrictions had been lifted and that we would be making it home smoothly.





The rest of the trip went off with out a hitch and we arrived home to our apartment to see that Portland had gotten some snow. Most of if had melted by the time we got there but still it was fun to see the yard spotted with white. It felt good to unpack and organize our new Christmas gifts. Last night we watched Harry Potter and got an amazing night sleep. Another Christmas memory and a big lesson learned: when stuck in a small town, get a room first and then eat.

The random sign we saw on the road:

Our front door:

Our complex:

Our Time Home

So, it's something to say every year but Christmas has already come and gone. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I always have the hardest time when Christmas is over... I guess because there is so much anticipation and preparation and then in a couple of days the festivities are over. I am certainly feeling the pains of home sickness this morning. I think it is mostly to do with the fact that Wes has to work tonight and I know that all of my family and friends are doing something fun in Sacramento. I really don't mean for this to be a sob-story but as I sit here typing there is a little piece of something in the back of my mind that is keeping me from being normal. During the trip home someone asked me if I ever get homesick in Portland. I have surprisingly had a very smooth transition here and don't normally feel homesick at all. Though it makes sense that after a week of family, that homesickness may accompany my first night alone at home. Anyway, I will surely get by and will occupy my New Years Eve with some sort of yummy dinner and a movie. After all, we got tons and tons of good ones for Christmas!

So now for the good stuff... the Christmas memories made this year...

It was a busy busy week but so worth it. We loved every minute. Our first night in town was spent eating grilled cheese sandwiches and watching Julie & Julia. If you have not seen this movie you must. And if you have never seen Julia Child you should definitely youtube her before watching the movie so you can appreciate the brilliance that is Meryl Streep. We loved this movie. Our second day in town included sushi, and a gathering of friends and Streets of London, a bar downtown. My girlfriends and I have a Christmas tradition of going out to dinner and swapping gifts. We decided to do this at Mikuni and then meet up with the guys at the bar. Of most importance to mention is the fact that this was the first bar I have ever been able to sit in with these girls as they all just turned 21 this year. We stayed at this bar until midnight and Wes and I left feeling so full of joy.

Some of the friendships reach back deep into our childhoods, there is nothing better than sitting with friends and reminiscing on old times. This late night was not quite over for us yet as we quickly had to put on our "Santa's Helper hats" and work on a special project that needed some finishing. More on this later.... ;)

The next day was Christmas Eve..... On Christmas Eve family traditions begin... growing up Wes' family always opened gifts on this day while my family opened gifts on Christmas day. Lucky for us we can both continue to celebrate this way. So, we are with Wes' family on Christmas Eve and my family on Christmas day.

Christmas Eve starts with stockings and Greg's tradition of making creamed eggs on toast. mmm mmm.... Then we relax and the girls begin preparing appetizers and dinner for the evening while the boys go and pick up Grandma Fay. At 3pm the activities began and oh what a good time ensued with SO many friends and family. And talk about good food: Grandma Fays' zingers, brushetta, fried raviolli's with marinara sauce for dipping, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, spinach and artichoke dip, cucumber & goat cheese, cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, you just can't get any better! After church we have dinner and open presents. There were some good ones this year...

[These next couple are sort of backwards in order, sorry]

Greg with his girly drink wearing Sue's reading glasses:

Then on Christmas morning we wake up and go over to my parents house... I purposely go in my jammies as to recreate the olden days of crawling out of bed at 6 a.m. to open gifts.... no, we don't wake up that early any more but the jammies will always be here to stay. :) I unfortunately didn't get as many pictures of this day but there were equally many many great gifts, followed by stockings and breakfast.


In the afternoon my mom and I were determined to make some of my yummy bruschetta again to take over to my Aunt's house so we found the only grocery store open in town on Christmas day to buy the ingredients. Then we went to my aunts house for dinner which was such a nice relaxing time. And once Chris and Tiffany arrived it quickly becomes baby time! Why is it that babies are so entertaining? We absolutely love watching Peyton sleep, cry, smile, stare, wiggle, kick.... every bit of it is so much fun. You can tell it was the baby show as it was the one picture I took of the evening...



The rest of the trip consisted of Christmas time with extended family and puzzles with my Aunt Sue and Mckenna who flew in from out of town. The girl time was also another favorite on my list.... Seeing as how this blog is getting rather long I will refrain from more details. I will just simply say that this Christmas home was another memorable one. Thank you to our parents for opening up your homes, cooking us food, giving us gifts, and spending time with us. We love and cherish every minute of it. Thank you to family and friends for making time for us, it made it that much more special. The story of our trip home is worthy of its own blog so read on to the next for that one. Love to you all and have a Happy New Years!

Love,
Katie

Christmas Time is Here!

So, there is so much I need to catch you up on since my last blog (the one before "being known"). During that blog I had just finished my math final and was longing to be in Christmas land officially. Well folks, I have officially been in christmas land for a week now and it has been uh-mazing. 

Things to mention ...

1) I passed my math class!!! 

2) I got sick the day after my math final and have been sick since.... though I have tons more energy now those first couple days of christmas break were slow moving.

3) I have paintings and 2D design projects to share with you but I can't find my camera cord to load pics onto my computer. In due time I will show you what I was working on that final week. 

4)Christmas-land has been so much fun! This past week we have been shopping, Making Christmas cards (the traditional-hand-crafted-wes&katie Christmas cards), baking (we had a serious bake-off which included: mocha slice cookies, shortbread cookies, grandma Whipple's cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and peppermint bark), watched christmas with the kranks, and wrapped some things. 

5) and I almost forgot! We went to our play on thursday! Wes and I have made the tradition that instead of buying eachother christmas gifts we treat ourselves to a super nice date night: dinner, dessert & a play. Last year we went to the Nutcracker. This year we saw A Christmas Carol and had dinner at a place called Tabla. Amazing, amazing, amazing. We had SO much fun. Dinner was perfect and the play was excellent, great singing, great message. 

basically, we have been loving christmas break. AND its only about to get better! We drive home tomorrow and will be arriving into town late. Can't wait to celebrate with you all. Love you,

Katie

Being Known

I wrote this blog on wednesday this past week but couldn't post it until just now.... read on dear bloggy-blog readers...

When we first moved here, the two main questions people asked us were: How are you handling the rain? and Do you know anyone there? After several of the first months tackling both of these questions I began to realize that my human longings weren't as much to get to know people as it was that I wanted people to know me. To know what I was about. I know that sounds completely selfish. Don't get me wrong here, I wanted to get to know people but after the first several months you know people and then you start craving the community part. The part where people expect you, and wonder where you are, and know where you are from and what you are about. Slowly, meeting new people became easier for me and I found myself just wanting to be expected. I wanted people to expect to see me at that same place at church on sundays and expect to see me at the coffee shop, and expect to see us on wednesdays at our home community. This is something that happens with time. With time you become a "regular" at a coffee shop. With time people notice that you sit in the same place at church each sunday. In this past month I have realized something: time has happened.... and it makes me so happy. There have been several instances recently where my heart literally lifts with joy from just being known. We have neighbors who know us and honk there horns when they see us walking. Palios (our regular coffee shop) knows us and greets us with "hellos" and "goodbyes" and "oh, I didn't know you guys were here" (I'm a you! Isn't that cool??) Our neighbor came over the other day just to ask for a beer. We can be asked for a beer! Isn't that cool? I know these things seem silly in many ways but its just something that can so easily be taken for granted. To have a sense of community is something that we all long to feel.... and its amazing to me just how much my neighbor honking their horn can mean to me. 

Tonight Wes and I went to our Home Community's Christmas Party. It felt so good to take part in it for the second time. To be known, and expected, and to celebrate with  such fun people. We had a white elephant gift exchange and the kids even took part. One of the kids wrapped a rock. ha ha ha which was supposedly a "crystal." No body ever stole the rock but it was the cutest thing ever. Lucky for me I went home with a cute jar full of Lindor ball chocolates! And wes with a picture frame... certainly treasures for a white elephant gift exchange where you are instructed to only bring items from home. It feels good to be on Christmas break..... baking... wrapping presents... and celebrating with people we know. This time next week we will be celebrating some more. We cannot wait!!! 

Love,

Katie

My Mind...

I finished my math final today!!!!!!!! Math is over!!! Lets all just pray that I passed.
ha ha ha
So here is what my mind is like now that studying is over...


[Christmas time,(!!!),Can't forget to bring our Stockings home with us, look lights!, Christmas with the Kranks, cookies, Elf, Christmas, (!!!!), peppermint mochas, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, food, shopping, Christmas, presents for you and you and you and you, CHRISTMAS!]

For the past couple of weeks I've been trying to push every thought of Christmas out of my mind to try and focus on math and other final projects. Now that math is over, my mind basically passed out. I feel overloaded with emotions: exhaustion, relief, excitement, anxiousness. The only class I have left is painting. Which I don't mind because though I will be busy I can allow my mind to drift any which way I like as I crank out the rest of my paintings.... heck, I can even watch movies if I want to! Oh just think of all the perfectly amazing Christmas movies I could watch.... So, just thought I would share with you all the beauty of math being over.

Oh and before I go, I might as well also share that it has been FREEZING here in Portland. Today was 22 degrees outside with a "realfeel"(according to accuweather) of 6 degrees! sooo chilly! No snow yet because of the lack of moisture but I'm sure we will be seeing some this year. Hang in there Mr. Wes! You are almost in Christmas-land with me! :)

Love,
Katie

God in my Everything...

Even in the midst of my busy week and all the stress that resides in me today I have been given in this moment a little reminder of a song we sang at Sun Grove church last sunday. I couldn't help but share it with you. For me there is so much power in these words and yet they are so simple. It's such a simple truth that I believe in everyday, that God is everything and yet this song is still so powerful. I guess it stands out to me because I rarely break it down this way. To know that God is in me when I rest, and when I cry, and when I laugh is so encouraging. This morning as I rose to attend my painting class I stepped outside to frosted grass. Winter has arrived in Portland and I hear we might be getting snow next week. This morning it felt as though I was up earlier then anyone else and in the quiet drive to school I remembered what Christmas is really about. I am so anxious for school to be over so I can go shopping and bake all day and get in the "Christmas spirit." It feels good to take a breather and remember that God is everything and on Christmas we celebrate Jesus. So here are the lyrics to the song that has calmed my heart today. Can't wait to see you all again so soon,

Katie

Everything by Tim Hughes

God in my living 
There in my breathing 
God in my waking 
God in my sleeping 

God in my resting 
There in my working 
God in my thinking 
God in my speaking 

Be my everything 
Be my everything 
Be my everything 
Be my everything 

God in my hoping 
There in my dreaming 
God in my watching 
God in my waiting 

God in my laughing 
There in my weeping 
God in my hurting 
God in my healing 

Christ in me 
Christ in me 
Christ in me the hope of glory 
You are everything 

Christ in me 
Christ in me 
Christ in me the hope of glory 
Be my everything

Dinner & Game Night.

Dinner. Apples to Apples. Balderdash. Tea & Cookies. What could be better? The week before heading home for Thanksgiving we got to have dinner and game night with some fabulous people: Caleb & Nina. [Caleb is Wes' cousin and Nina is his girlfriend] We served the dinner and they brought the games and we all had a jolly old time. 

On the dinner menu: 

Curry baby potatoes served alongside Yellow Split Peas & Lentils with crispy onion topping made in our crock-pot [our first time using the crock-pot mind you]. A delicious cucumber salad and naan (indian bread). I will have to post the recipe sometime, though the lentils didn't turn out how we expected, the meal wasn't bad for experimenting with the crock-pot for the first time. Here are some pictures from the night...

Nothing like some Balderdash...

deep in thought...

Apples to Apples

And the winner is....

ME!!! 

Seriously, I never win this game. 

We loved having you guys over and can't wait for the next game night! 

Love,

Katie