Oh, it is so nice today! Highs in the upper 80's, sunny, and breezy! It's especially nice after those triple-digit days recently. I baked a fresh apricot cobler and also cooked chicken nuggets in the oven tonight; we wouldn't have dreamed of turning on the oven the last few days!
Troy & Shauna, along with our friends Paul & Linda McDonald, are flying back right now from Hawaii. Sounds like they've had a wonderful time. Watching all the kids here hasn't been too bad, but it'll be nice to have all the parents back here. Lani says they owe us a night or two out!
We're still waiting for some things to move ahead toward a house closing. Mostly the mortgage company has been waiting for Lani's district to confirm her employment, but they won't issue a contract til they have forms back from her Texas school district and from the Oregon licensing folks (TSPC). Lani turned in everything well over a week ago, but it just takes time for all those things to get processed. In the meantime, we're both a little restless while waiting for things to happen. I've been pricing kitchen cabinets, sinks, bath fixtures, flooring, and such. My recent shock was how long it takes to get cabinets if you have to order them (4-6 weeks!). I think tomorrow I'm going to check out a couple of local cabinet outlets.
Lani's final paycheck from her Cy-Fair teaching comes this Friday and then we will have a loooonnnnng stretch until our new jobs start paying (both will get our first paychecks on the last Friday of September). This will be a test! Still, when I was praying today, I was thankful as I realized that God has ably taken care of all our needs so far through some difficult months and in making a move. I have no reason to doubt that He will take care of us over these next two months too!
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
Heat wave!
It's hot!!!! Current temp is about 103 or so (which I think is a new record high). Good thing is that it's only 22% humidity and there is a l2 mph breeze. I've mostly stayed down in the basement doing stuff today (I built a "Monkey Bar Golf" set -- you can find plans on the internet). Tomorrow is supposed to be about the same high temp again. Whew!
We just decided to load up the troops (all ten of us here -- Troy & Shauna are off on vacation to Hawaii) and go to a double-feature movie: "Over the Hedge" & "Nacho Libre" (playing at a cheap, air-conditioned theatre!). I'm off of here!
We just decided to load up the troops (all ten of us here -- Troy & Shauna are off on vacation to Hawaii) and go to a double-feature movie: "Over the Hedge" & "Nacho Libre" (playing at a cheap, air-conditioned theatre!). I'm off of here!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Feeling better
I've had a cold the last few days (came on Sunday), but today am starting to feel better. Thank God for healing! Yesterday I felt really achey and stuffed up, then sometime in the night it seemed like my fever broke and the tide turned. It's always so nice to start feeling well after one of these bouts.
I've been reading "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. It's one of those books that lots of people were recommending for the last year or two. I started it just before moving from Tomball, but then it got buried in the shuffle. Last week I picked it up again and have nearly finished it (three short chapters to go). Miller is not like me at all! The first few chapters I was just not connecting with him, probably more on a personal level because he lives in such a different way than I've chosen to live. But I was intrigued at the same time because he lives in Portland and makes numerous mention of places he goes (parks, coffee shops, pubs, Reed College, downtown, etc.) and they're all places that I am quite familiar with! This far into the book, he has grown on me. Not that I will change my personal habits to be like him (he smokes, drinks, etc.), but I appreciate his thoughts and real-life attempts to make his Christian faith real, true, relevant, down-to-earth, and sincere. I think I see how his faith-walk can certainly better reach many unchurched, faithless people than mine does.
Last weekend I took Caleb & Levi to the Father-Child Retreat at Camp Yamhill. It was beautiful, of course, and we had lots of fun doing things together, but it was also (I hope and pray) a good time for relationship-building and meaningful talk with my two youngest kids. Some things we did: built a sailing boat from foam blocks, sticks, & plastic (we got 2nd place at the "Regatta"!), built a kite, built two wind chimes, went out in a canoe on Sat. & Sun., did a river walk & swam in the creek (where Levi gashed his chin on a rock), went on a hike, did an obstacle course, had fun at "campfire" both nights (Levi got up and told a joke), had some scheduled times for father-child devotionals & discussions, and also had group times of teaching, singing, and such. It was a great experience, even if I did come home sick!
One more note: have any of you discovered "Craigslist"? Lani & I started looking for things that we'd like for our house and have gotten hooked with watching for cool stuff. Check it out! Here's the URL I use, but you can see that it's world-wide, so you can navigate to your own city or area.
http://portland.craigslist.org/
I've been reading "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. It's one of those books that lots of people were recommending for the last year or two. I started it just before moving from Tomball, but then it got buried in the shuffle. Last week I picked it up again and have nearly finished it (three short chapters to go). Miller is not like me at all! The first few chapters I was just not connecting with him, probably more on a personal level because he lives in such a different way than I've chosen to live. But I was intrigued at the same time because he lives in Portland and makes numerous mention of places he goes (parks, coffee shops, pubs, Reed College, downtown, etc.) and they're all places that I am quite familiar with! This far into the book, he has grown on me. Not that I will change my personal habits to be like him (he smokes, drinks, etc.), but I appreciate his thoughts and real-life attempts to make his Christian faith real, true, relevant, down-to-earth, and sincere. I think I see how his faith-walk can certainly better reach many unchurched, faithless people than mine does.
Last weekend I took Caleb & Levi to the Father-Child Retreat at Camp Yamhill. It was beautiful, of course, and we had lots of fun doing things together, but it was also (I hope and pray) a good time for relationship-building and meaningful talk with my two youngest kids. Some things we did: built a sailing boat from foam blocks, sticks, & plastic (we got 2nd place at the "Regatta"!), built a kite, built two wind chimes, went out in a canoe on Sat. & Sun., did a river walk & swam in the creek (where Levi gashed his chin on a rock), went on a hike, did an obstacle course, had fun at "campfire" both nights (Levi got up and told a joke), had some scheduled times for father-child devotionals & discussions, and also had group times of teaching, singing, and such. It was a great experience, even if I did come home sick!
One more note: have any of you discovered "Craigslist"? Lani & I started looking for things that we'd like for our house and have gotten hooked with watching for cool stuff. Check it out! Here's the URL I use, but you can see that it's world-wide, so you can navigate to your own city or area.
http://portland.craigslist.org/
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Choosing a new church
We've been visiting different churches each week since arriving back in Portland (5 so far) and have been thinking and praying about where we should be.
Here are some things that we're weighing:
1) Will we stay in a Church of Christ, or go to a different church?
2) How good of a church will this be for our kids? (Do they have a quality children's & teen program/ministry?)
3) Is this church close to our community? How close does it need to be?
4) Do they have God-centered, celebrative worship times?
5) Do we like the worship style? (a more honest question!)
6) How do Lani and I see ourselves involved here as volunteers in ministry?
7) Could I be useful and fit here as a part of their worship ministry?
8) Does this church have a mission and ministry focus that is evident (and that we're in agreement with)?
9) Do we like the ministry staff, and in particular, the lead minister (and his preaching)?
10) Where does it seem that God might be leading us to be?
We've obviously been swayed by many friends and relatives to check out the churches they are a part of (and that's been nice to do), but at some point we need to focus in on the places that seem the best fit. Mostly, we've just dropped in for worship assembly times so far, but plan to do repeat visits to our top choices in which we all go to classes and worship to get a better feel for everything.
So, any input from others out there who have gone through the process of finding a new church family/home would be most welcome!
Here are some things that we're weighing:
1) Will we stay in a Church of Christ, or go to a different church?
2) How good of a church will this be for our kids? (Do they have a quality children's & teen program/ministry?)
3) Is this church close to our community? How close does it need to be?
4) Do they have God-centered, celebrative worship times?
5) Do we like the worship style? (a more honest question!)
6) How do Lani and I see ourselves involved here as volunteers in ministry?
7) Could I be useful and fit here as a part of their worship ministry?
8) Does this church have a mission and ministry focus that is evident (and that we're in agreement with)?
9) Do we like the ministry staff, and in particular, the lead minister (and his preaching)?
10) Where does it seem that God might be leading us to be?
We've obviously been swayed by many friends and relatives to check out the churches they are a part of (and that's been nice to do), but at some point we need to focus in on the places that seem the best fit. Mostly, we've just dropped in for worship assembly times so far, but plan to do repeat visits to our top choices in which we all go to classes and worship to get a better feel for everything.
So, any input from others out there who have gone through the process of finding a new church family/home would be most welcome!
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Peaceful Sunday afternoon
Just thought I'd add a post about life today as I'm enjoying a quiet, Sunday afternoon.
We visited the Metro Church of Christ in Gresham today and like some other places we've checked out, we knew a lot of people. Greg Woods preached today and James Stanley (their youth minister) led singing -- both guys we've known for quite awhile. We sat by and went to lunch with Mike & Joni Tolon. Mike was (and still is) the band director at Parkrose H.S. the last three years that I taught there.
Brian & Eryann Maki and their sons, Orion & Jaden, headed back to Missoula today, so it's a little more quiet around here now that we're back down to just 12 people and 3 dogs in the house. Hopefully we'll get to go visit them in Missoula sometime soon since it's not really that far away now.
Tomorrow they do the inspection on our house. I guess I can say "our house" since we've got a signed offer on it and are just trying to go through all the steps now to get into it. We'll go over there while the inspector does his work and see and hear what he thinks about everything -- hopefully no bad surprises! I'm eager to start doing some of the things to the house that will need done. I plan to carefully measure some floors and the kitchen area so that I can get materials and such lined up before we take possession.
Yesterday we saw the new "Pirates of the Carribean" movie. Pretty fun, but maybe not as good of a story as the first one. Then again, they were only telling half of their story in this release and now you have to wait to see the next installment. We were trying to see whether Caleb & Levi should be allowed to see it yet and probably will hold off since there are more scary-looking creatures/people(?) and tense scenes this time around. Didn't seem quite as funny as the first one either.
Lani is off shopping with her sister at Mervyns (they still have them here) and I think I'll take Molly for a jog through Laurelhurst Park. It's sunny, 87 degrees with 38% humidity; it beckons one to be outdoors. . .
Check out Laurelhurst Park at:
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=224&c=38308
We visited the Metro Church of Christ in Gresham today and like some other places we've checked out, we knew a lot of people. Greg Woods preached today and James Stanley (their youth minister) led singing -- both guys we've known for quite awhile. We sat by and went to lunch with Mike & Joni Tolon. Mike was (and still is) the band director at Parkrose H.S. the last three years that I taught there.
Brian & Eryann Maki and their sons, Orion & Jaden, headed back to Missoula today, so it's a little more quiet around here now that we're back down to just 12 people and 3 dogs in the house. Hopefully we'll get to go visit them in Missoula sometime soon since it's not really that far away now.
Tomorrow they do the inspection on our house. I guess I can say "our house" since we've got a signed offer on it and are just trying to go through all the steps now to get into it. We'll go over there while the inspector does his work and see and hear what he thinks about everything -- hopefully no bad surprises! I'm eager to start doing some of the things to the house that will need done. I plan to carefully measure some floors and the kitchen area so that I can get materials and such lined up before we take possession.
Yesterday we saw the new "Pirates of the Carribean" movie. Pretty fun, but maybe not as good of a story as the first one. Then again, they were only telling half of their story in this release and now you have to wait to see the next installment. We were trying to see whether Caleb & Levi should be allowed to see it yet and probably will hold off since there are more scary-looking creatures/people(?) and tense scenes this time around. Didn't seem quite as funny as the first one either.
Lani is off shopping with her sister at Mervyns (they still have them here) and I think I'll take Molly for a jog through Laurelhurst Park. It's sunny, 87 degrees with 38% humidity; it beckons one to be outdoors. . .
Check out Laurelhurst Park at:
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=224&c=38308
Monday, July 03, 2006
House deal
Looks like we'll be homeowners once again! We reached an agreement on our offer for a house and now the wheels are in motion to get things done. We're shooting for a closing near the first of August which would give me a little time to do some work on the place before school starts here.
The house address is right by the school I'll be teaching at in Gresham, OR and it's MLS #6047012. You can see it online at:
http://www.rmls.com/RC2/UI/search_mlsnumber.asp
and then put the number in there. We'll need to do new flooring in the entry, kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room plus some minor reworking of doors and walls in the basement (it was a rental property since the late 80's and at times the basement was sub-let, so it has separate doors to the garage/upstairs, etc; we plan to take out four doors!). The main work will involve pretty much gutting the kitchen, removing a wall between the kitchen and dining, & then installing new cabinets, counters, and flooring. And most all of the light fixtures are pretty dated. I'm ready to start working on it, but will have to be patient and wait for about a month!
Tomorrow we plan to go to the big 4th of July celebration at Ft. Vancouver, WA (just over the Columbia River in Washington). It's always touted as the biggest fireworks show west of the Mississippi and there are huge crowds, bands playing on a main stage starting about noon, lots of vendors, etc. We'll head over there about 2 pm with the Dalzell-Wagner-Maki clan (17 from this house) and meet about 40 or so friends. Note to Texas friends: it'll be about 85-90 during the afternoon, but drop to the low 60s by fireworks time, so you have to bring sweatshirts &/or blankets!
The house address is right by the school I'll be teaching at in Gresham, OR and it's MLS #6047012. You can see it online at:
http://www.rmls.com/RC2/UI/search_mlsnumber.asp
and then put the number in there. We'll need to do new flooring in the entry, kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room plus some minor reworking of doors and walls in the basement (it was a rental property since the late 80's and at times the basement was sub-let, so it has separate doors to the garage/upstairs, etc; we plan to take out four doors!). The main work will involve pretty much gutting the kitchen, removing a wall between the kitchen and dining, & then installing new cabinets, counters, and flooring. And most all of the light fixtures are pretty dated. I'm ready to start working on it, but will have to be patient and wait for about a month!
Tomorrow we plan to go to the big 4th of July celebration at Ft. Vancouver, WA (just over the Columbia River in Washington). It's always touted as the biggest fireworks show west of the Mississippi and there are huge crowds, bands playing on a main stage starting about noon, lots of vendors, etc. We'll head over there about 2 pm with the Dalzell-Wagner-Maki clan (17 from this house) and meet about 40 or so friends. Note to Texas friends: it'll be about 85-90 during the afternoon, but drop to the low 60s by fireworks time, so you have to bring sweatshirts &/or blankets!
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Made an offer. . .
This morning we looked again at a house right by where I'll be teaching and then wrote up an offer! Now we're just waiting to see if they accept it, or counter, or. . .
Lani's mom, Gladys, is here and Brian & Eryann Maki (and their kids, Orion & Jaden) get here tomorrow. All will be here through the 4th of July. Should be good family time, lots of card-playing, lots of cousins running around all over!
Lani's mom, Gladys, is here and Brian & Eryann Maki (and their kids, Orion & Jaden) get here tomorrow. All will be here through the 4th of July. Should be good family time, lots of card-playing, lots of cousins running around all over!
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