A New State of Mind

We're Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:11:00 +0000

We just wanted to let you know we're back from our trip! We had a great time and saw many beautiful places...more to come after we sort through the 2500 photos!!! :)

Summer "Fun"

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:51:00 +0000

As you can tell, we kind of went on a blogging hiatus for a few months. We really haven't had a lot of "blog-worthy" adventures this summer...well, we have had 2, but obviously those lived up to their name, since they're, well, on the blog. :) Other than that, a few short day trips have been the extent of our summer. Not that I am complaining! We have enjoyed this summer, but it has been busy...mostly with people and books! ;) David has been quite busy training people, as our church started a Discipleship Program, and also helped launch a new campus of Mars Hill. Since this is what he feels called to do, it is a blessing that he has been able to spend most of his summer equipping leaders for the sake of the Gospel. David also started a Master's Degree level program at our church and I have been going through a biblical counseling training, so it definitely hasn't been a summer of relaxing on the beach...although we have been blessed to enjoy a few relaxing days on the water. It can be tempting to look back at this summer and feel like it was "wasted" because we didn't get to enjoy the warm weather as much as we would like...but as soon I think that, I realize this summer was far from wasted. It has been spent impacting people for Jesus, which is the furthest thing from a waste...in fact, it's the only thing that's not.

With that said, I will attempt to do a blogger "unload" of what memories we did make this summer. I've realized that if I don't transfer them onto blogger, the memories transfer from my mind into into the dark abyss of the hard drive :) So, if you care to read, make sure to keep scrolling down because I will probably may make separate posts in the next day or 2 to make things easier to find (I may back-date them to keep them in some sort of order).

#8

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:56:00 +0000

It may be hard to believe, but September 1st we celebrated our 8th Anniversary! We enjoyed a very nice night out, doing two things we really enjoy...eating good (cheap!) food and watching a beautiful sunset. We were talking about how crazy it is that it's been 8 years, and even crazier that this is our 3rd anniversary celebrated in Seattle! We are so thankful that Jesus brought us together, and that He has kept us together! He has definitely grown us both a lot this past year, and we are ever more
thankful to be serving Him together.

The happy, handsome husband.

Yum! Nothing beats happy hour prices. We practically ordered the whole menu for under $30!

The view from the bottom.

And the view from the top.

8 years...

The Lightrail...public transit or new date night?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:19:00 +0000

This summer, Seattle unveiled it's new "state of the art" public transit system. Drumroll please...announcing The Lightrail! We decided that it might be fun to try it out for a date night excursion-- Take it till the end of the line, then grab dinner and go to a free concert at the Space Needle. See...it sounds more fun that you thought, huh? :)

We actually had to drive out of the way to get to the station, so we decided it's not very practical. And we discovered it takes at least twice the time to get downtown than driving by car, but hey, it's still a fun ride and very cheap entertainment (we're easily entertained obviously...but, we're not the only ones doing this for fun. My residents at work took a field trip to ride it too!).

Can you feel the excitement ?!

It looks so much like a big city rail system when you look at this picture...but, it's not.
But it's trying reeeaally hard. :)

Part of the rail goes underground, which was by far the coolest part.
They had all this crazy neon artwork up on the ceilings!

What?! You don't have any of these crawling up your ceiling?

We made it! Not that I was worried or anything...you can't really get lost on this thing.

Sometimes you get what you pay for...but
there was one band we enjoyed.

Lightrail date night complete!
Well, almost. We still had to take it the whole way back! Not quite as entertaining the second time around, but still a fun trip.

Fun on the water

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:32:00 +0000

We have been blessed with some wonderful friends who are such an encouragement to us...they even let us hang out with them on their boat from time to time!

The Blue Angels come to Seattle every summer, and this year we were able to watch them from Lake Washington, which is directly below their flight path.

My little friend...who is getting big fast!

Our dear friends and their adorable kids. (aren't they cute?!)

The boating version of a tail-gate party...a very tasty tail-gate party.

She posed like this all by herself. Our little Seattle starlet.

A beautiful sunset on the water.

Camping at the "beach"

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:32:00 +0000

The Parker-Pichura clan had originally decided to do a big camping trip in July, but with the arrival of our new nephews happening only a week before the planned trip, we made some changes. David's parents still went camping for 2 weeks, but the rest of the family shortened the time to a day or two...which was still plenty of craziness for all of us I think!! We really enjoy spending time with family, but I will say that 12 people trying to move in and out of one little pop-up camper can be a bit...challenging! We were so glad we were able to spend the day catching up with family, relaxing on the little "beach" at the campsite, playing with our nieces and nephews ..and then being able to drive back home. :) We are so very thankful for the blessing of a family that's close-knit and close-by (half of you anyways).

Samuel is quite the clever guy...he is always finding new uses for things lying around. He was using the hammer to pound sticks into the sand to surround his castle.

Titus "suiting up" for the water.

Kristin and Caleb...Caleb is kind of a clown when it comes to cameras...you either get a solemn stare or a goofy face.

The "relaxation station"...but they did all get
in the water eventually. :)

Faith enjoying a personal moment with her popsicle...which was melting faster than she could eat it.

Father and son.

Micah and I playing a game of horseshoes...somehow he always manages to beat me. :)

Grace enjoying the water.

The kids really enjoyed playing with Mom in the water.

Kristin had a special birthday this year...the big 3-0 on the 30th!

What a ham! :)

A July 4th Departure

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:08:00 +0000

We had a dilemma on July 4th...what should we do? We decided to celebrate our nation and see God's creation at the same time by traveling a few hours north, to Mount Baker.
This is one mountain that amazes me, because even though it's a few hours away, we can see it perfectly on a clear day, and it's always covered in snow...even in the heat of summer it's a mountain of white. It was amazing to get up close to it -- we hiked up a neighboring mountain to get an up-close glimpse at Baker's beauty. And yes, July 4th and snow don't usually go together, but up here, it seems the snow never melts! Don't be fooled by the snow though...it was about 80 degrees outside...and yours truly actually got a sunburn in the snow! (Yes, I DID put sunscreen on. Goes to show how much stronger the sun's rays are when you're on the side of a mountain.)
We drove the Mount Baker Highway, which had some amazing views, and then hiked the last few miles of road that were still covered in snow. By the time we were halfway up, I was wishing the snow was gone so we could just drive up...but, it was peaceful without the cars. The way back down was much more exciting...we simply used our backsides as sleds! We got soaked, but it was a fun, fast way down the mountain. :) These mountains are so amazing. We were again awed by the majesty and beauty of God's creation...and quite thankful for such a wonderful country that has preserved this land for us to enjoy. It's such a blessing to have this so close to home..we were back in Seattle in time for the fireworks! :)

Two New Nephews!!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:25:00 +0000

This past Friday, we drove to the airport to meet our new nephews, Samuel and Caleb. David's older sister, Kristin, and her husband Bryan, adopted these two beautiful boys from Ethiopia. It has been a blessing to be able to walk with them through the journey of adoption, and to see their faith in God, who adopts us into His family when we trust in Jesus. We have seen God's faithfulness time and time again throughout this process, and yesterday when we got to meet Samuel and Caleb face to face, it was another sweet evidence of God's grace. Welcome to the family boys!! :)

All the kids at the airport...meeting their new
brothers for the first time!

Everyone packed in!
All of our nieces & nephews...one big happy Pichura clan!

We stopped by a park for a little playtime and picnic dinner before theys headed back to Yakima.

My co-worker, Bea, and her daughters came along to meet the boys. They are Ethiopian and have become dear friends to all of us. They were able to talk with the boys and explain who everyone was...what a blessing!

They were a little shy... probably because they've got all these crazy people talking jibber-jabber to them! :)

The boys got used to the playground real fast...and it seemed to help them unwind a little.

As you can tell, the other four kids were really excited about their new brothers. Samuel and Caleb were pretty happy too...despite their solemn looks in this picture! I think they were probably tired out!

Time with Family

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:50:00 +0000

After my brother's wedding, my Mom and I drove down
to Virginia to visit my Grandma.
My time with her is always special,
as I only get to see her about once a year.

Three generations.

Mr. & Mrs. Kuhn - 7.11.09

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:23:00 +0000

A week ago today, my little brother got married! They did a wonderful job planning out their special day, and it was a joy to be able to celebrate with them (unfortunately David couldn't fly out for the wedding). It's still a little hard to believe my baby brother is now a married man, and that together they are Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn! :) It's a joy to see him so happy, and to have a wonderful sister-in-law! Congratulations guys!

The wedding and reception were held at
Lakeside Manor, in New Jersey.

Waiting for the big moment.

The beautiful bride, escorted by her grandmother and mother.

The happy groom.

You may kiss the bride!

Mr. and Mrs. Zachary Kuhn!

The Kuhn Family

My mom, sister, and me.

My sister Lisa, and her boyfriend David.
(yes, 2 Davids...it gets confusing at times ;)

The reception site - Zach was in charge of a lot of the decorations,
and we were so proud of him. It looked beautiful! Mary did an amazing job as well--planning everything out perfectly!

Dad and me.

Lisa and Zach.

Mom and me.

They had a beautiful cake...

which they managed to make a mess of!
They weren't too messy though; just a little dab on the nose. :)

Dad with his girls.

A couple family tables. We were blessed to have a lot
of family attend the wedding, so it was a great time to catch up!

The centerpieces...aren't the lemons cool?
(just had to show them off since they were Zach's responsibility ;)

Spring Getaway

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Tue, 19 May 2009 04:05:00 +0000

There are so many places in Washington that we have never seen, so two weeks ago we decided to go on a mini-vacation to the Olympic National Park. We've been told by many people that it's worth the trip, so we decided to give it a shot...It was well worth it! We had a beautiful day on Friday and were able to see all the Olympic Mountains. It was a spectacular view!

We went snowshoeing in the mountains, which was a new activity for me...not nearly as hard as I thought it would be! We had a wonderful time trekking around the mountains, listening to perfect silence and taking in the magnificent beauty of the place called Hurricane Ridge.

While snowshoeing, I saw something off in the distance and I thought it was a "picnic table". Once we got closer I realized my "picnic table" was really a information kiosk with 8 feet of snow around it! We were thankful for our "table" though, since there was no where else to sit but in the snow! :)

After a full day in the mountains we returned to the town of Port Angeles, where we stayed at a lovely B&B called The Tudor Inn. Our hostess Betsy was very welcoming and served us a very beautiful, tasty breakfast.

The next day we drove to the Washington Coast, and then into the Hoh Rain Forest. It rained most of the day, but the scenery was still beautiful...just not as good for picture taking! The Hoh Rain Forest was really neat...it is one of the few temperate rainforests in the US. It was full of huge trees, moss, and ferns. And if people think Seattle gets a lot of rain, they should try living here...they get an average of 140 inches of rain a year! (Seattle only gets 32!)

So, that's our trip in a nutshell! We are so thankful to our Creator for such an awesome world to explore, and for the chance to explore it! If anyone ever wants to explore with us, the door's always open! :)

Guitar Hero

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:24:00 +0000

Look out America, there's some real talent brewing in Yakima! Micah has started guitar lessons, and wherever Micah is, there stands Titus in his shadow. Not to be outdone by his older brother (who is doing really well at guitar!), Titus decided to show everyone his awesome, rock star talent. Enjoy :)

Parker Palooza II

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 04:57:00 +0000

It seems like anytime Parkers get together, it's always crazy, loud, and fun, and this time was no exception! We had grandparents from Florida, family from New England, plus all the usual suspects. What was the special occasion? Grandpa Parker's 80th Birthday!! We were so thankful to be able to host our East Coast family for a few days -- they made it to Easter service at our church, and also got to do a little Seattle sightseeing. Then it was off to Yakima to continue the celebration with Kristin, Bryan, and the great-grandkids! We squeezed quite a bit of fun into 2 days in Yakima, not to mention squeezing quite a bunch of people into one house (18 to be exact!). We are so thankful for Grandpa Parker; he is a man of generosity, love, and service (I already miss his help in the kitchen!). It was a great blessing to get to celebrate his 80th year with him and see how many lives he has impacted. Happy Birthday Grandpa!

One of the many birthday cakes...Grandpa
got a bit of help with this one! :)

Easter dinner at our house.

When in Seattle...

It really is a nice view from up there!

Another one of Grandpa's birthday cakes...we
made sure everyone knew he was turning 80!!

Grandpa, Grammy, and their boys.

This was the grand finale of the cakes...by this
time he was an expert. :)

A glimpse into the parker-packed Pichura house.

Titus sporting some serious style as he gets ready to cheer Micah on!

Micah's first time pitching-- he did a great job!

Micah's cheering section
Those socks are just too cute to not show off again ;)

Because you can never have too much baseball in the Parker house,
another game started up as soon as we got home from Micah's game!

The Parker ladies-- Aunt Judy, Grammy, and Mom Parker.

I know it's probably evident, but isn't he adorable?!
Only 4, and he's already got perfect form!

David and Grandpa.

Our niece Grace and their dog Tessie.

The Pichura family

Aren't they cute? :)

Grammy and Grandpa Parker.
Responsible for...

THIS!! :)

Easter Egg Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:34:00 +0000

A friend invited me to a girl's night decorating eggs. I haven't done that in ages, so I decided to give it a whirl. I ended up with some pretty nasty looking fingers, but some rather nice looking eggs, in my humble opinion. :) Sometimes I get carried away taking pictures of rather mundane things, and this definitely qualifies as one of those times. David kept saying "you're still taking pictures?!" So, feel free to skip this one if eggs aren't you're thing, but hopefully someone will enjoy them. (thanks Mom ;)

Spring is finally here!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:36:00 +0000

After days and days of doom and gloom, Spring has finally arrived in Seattle...for a few days at least. Today everything was bursting with color...I'm always amazed at the varying colors, shapes, and smells of Spring. I took a few pictures on my walk to work this morning "just because." I couldn't ask for a better commute! :)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:26:00 +0000

ABC put out a little preview of the debate that will be aired tomorrow night...noticed a few "cut and pastes", but it's pretty good! Hope you'll be able to watch!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7165734

A Night with Nightline

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:07:00 +0000

We had a very different type of date tonight-- we went to an ABC Nightline debate hosted by Mars Hill! The debate was on the existence of Satan, and our pastor was one of the contributors. It was very interesting, and at times, a very heated debate. If you want to watch the edited version (the debate was about 2 hours and I think the show is only about 20 minutes), it will air this next Thursday, March 26th at 11:35pm. I won't give any "spoilers" so you'll have to watch next week. :)

A New State of Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:40:00 +0000

The title of our blog has taken on a few different meanings over the last 22 months...I originally picked it because we were moving to a new State, and felt called to be part of a new mission. Today, it gained one more meaning... This week, God showed me that focusing on myself, even if it's out of frustration with my sin, leads to death. I can get so frustrated with myself, or my situation, that it gets me depressed and then I just wallow in self-pity ...And God showed me that I choose to take this route because I want control, and I'm not getting it! He revealed my true heart with these verses Rm. 8:6,7,8--"For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law..." --> When I choose to go to self-pity/depression, it's because I do not want to submit to God's control and plan in that situation...and I choose to "set my mind" on myself and my failures as a desperate ploy to gain control. God showed me today that it isn't disobedience to be frustrated with my situation or my sin, but it is sin to choose to stay there. And why stay in that place, when I can use that moment to remind myself of Christ's work on the Cross (for my failures) and have a greater appreciation for the sacrifice He made for me!

A Trip Long Overdue

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 07:34:00 +0000

Well today we finally made it up the icon of Seattle: the space needle. It's been almost two years (!) since we moved here, and we had yet to make the trip...mostly because it's ridiculously overpriced. So when we heard about a sale they were having (thank you Twitter!), we jumped at the chance to get a year pass for one-fourth the normal price. And, that includes one free "guest" per pass!! What more reason do you need to book a flight to Seattle?! :)

The weather was beautiful today, so we jumped at the chance to use our passes. You could see Mt. Baker, all of the Cascades, and Mt. Rainier (in the center of the picture below). It was gorgeous, and I loved having a 360 degree view! We were once again awed by the beauty of this city, and I think we may make the Space Needle a weekly trip ;)

Mt. Baker

The Cascades

The view of Elliot Bay...and our home sweet home, West Seattle. :)

Valentine's Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:23:00 +0000

What to get this girl on Valentine's Day? CHOCOLATE! :) My parents decided to surprise me with a HUGE Valentine's day present...a 5 pound bar of chocolate! We still haven't figured out what to do with it*...What would you do with 5 pounds of milk chocolatey goodness?

For Valentine's Day, David and I decided to visit the nearby town of Woodinville, home of the famous Chateau Ste Michelle Winery. It's a beautiful winery that made me feel like I was in Paris for Valentine's Day (ah, maybe some day!). They offered free tours and wine tastings, which is right up our alley. We love wine, and we especially love free! :)

It's not so bad to share my name with a winery :)

The glass window in their foyer. It looked familiar, and then I realized why. :)

Our next stop was right across the street, to the Red Hook Brewery. This was one of the first Washington microbrewies, starting in our year-- 1981! They now distribute all across the country, and have a huge factory! However, back when they began, they started right in Ballard (next to Mars Hill)! Apparently, Ballard drinks a lot of beer, so they decided it would be a good place to start! ;)

We took this picture because it shows the location of their old factory...those of you who have visited us, take a close look and see if you recognize that building. Hint: you've visited this location and tasted it's yummy, chocolatey goodness. That's right, it's the home of Theo's Chocolate! So, I guess a good factory just keeps pumping out good things! :)

It was a fun tour, and a nice time to try some new brews...David is planning to try his hand at brewing his own beer, so I tried to take lots of notes. ;)
We had such a great day, and after a very busy week, we were so thankful to be able to spend the day together, relaxing and exploring new parts of Washington state...and we were blessed with lots of sunshine, which was a gift and of itself!! :)

*In defense of "not knowing what to do" with chocolate (almost blasphemy, I know), I must confess that I don't really eat much milk chocolate. (I'm more of a 70% or darker kind of girl)...but, that's probably a good thing ...dark chocolate may be full of antioxidants, but 5 pounds might fill up my arteries as well. Thanks for thinking of me Dad, love you! :)

Birthday Fun X 2

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:17:00 +0000

This past week, we celebrated David and Paul's birthdays. Many of you may not know that they have the very rare privilege of sharing their birthdays...born exactly one year apart on the same day!! We were especially blessed to be able to celebrate with Mom and Dad Parker, who flew back from the East Coast just in time to celebrate with cake and ice cream! I forgot to get any pictures documenting their visit, but we enjoyed it all the same. :)

It's been quite a few years since David and Paul have celebrated together, as Paul has been in California for the past 4(ish) years. Paul recently moved to Seattle, so he is living with us while he gets settled here.

What do you think Paul is wishing for? ;)

Gingerbread...eaten but not forgotten.

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:54:00 +0000

In a rush to get all the Christmas pictures up, I forgot a very important event...the annual Gingerbread Decorating Contest! In the scope of life, I know, it seems trivial, but to the Parker children and children at heart, this is a big deal! :) And it seemed like it became an even bigger deal this year, because it kept getting postponed! It's usually done on Christmas, but this year, it didn't happen till New Year's Day (much to the Micah's dismay!). Part of the reason for this delay was that we had to have a few hours to spare (some of the Parkers are just a bit meticulous) and be ready to clean up a huge mess! (16 people all trying to make the best gingerbread person, all trying to get the icing, all grabbing the sprinkles...) We had quite a few masterpieces, and I must admit, I think the Parker-Pichura-Johnson clan has something special here. America's Got Talent could be on the horizon. :)

This would be the sprinkle grabbing, frosting flinging part ;)

Taste-testing was also a very important part of this event for Titus.

After a little coaxing from Kristin, Dad got in on the action.

James, hard at work...making...a...um...something. :)

Kristin's piece of art.
I thought the ball and chain was a nice touch, don't you?

Andrew's creation...anyone who knows Andrew can probably guess this one.

"702 Ridge Road", by Mr. Paulie Parker

The kids did a great job!! Micah made Yoda, Grace and Faith both made really detailed gingerbread houses, and Titus made a bunch of colorful creations!

And now, drumroll, please,....the winners of the Gingerbread competion:

First Place: The "McMasterpiece" by, you guessed it, David Parker.
This was the real deal--drive through and everything! It was only missing the burgers! :)

Maybe he missed his calling? ;)

Second Place was a tie, even after two attempts at a tie breaker!

The 3-way tie: Kimberly, Aaron, and Michelle

The ever-stylish Minnie Mouse.
(This may be the first time in my life I almost won an art contest! Trivial, I know, but I'll take it! :)

Kim and Aaron teamed up to make a really sweet, and very detailed, Raggedy Ann and Andy.

Parkerpalooza!!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:41:00 +0000

Right about when Seattle's snowstorm was coming to a close, we decided to enter another one in Hood River, Oregon!! :) On the day we left for Oregon, David's parents already had well over 2.5 feet of snow! The interstate that goes to their house had already been closed for 3 days due to the snow, so we made a break for it on Christmas Eve, hoping to get there before it might close down again. Although we did have a "minor encounter" with a snow bank ;), we are thankful we made it down with only "bumps and bruises" on the truck. We're also so very thankful for the Parker Family-- everyone in our immediate family was able to make it for Christmas, so it was a very special time...and a slight bit crazy. :) We had 17 people living in a 3 bedroom house, for a week!! We are so thankful and blessed to have such a wonderful family that loves each other and Jesus (how else could we all survive a week together ?! ;)

This is our newest niece, Hannah Grace Parker.
(Daughter of James & Kimiko).

David brought along the turkey fryer for a special Christmas dinner...
we had a few skeptics, but I think all have now recanted.

Christmas Dinner (only half the family fit at the table)

Our nieces and nephews having their own special moment.

Fun in the Snow

As you can see, this was a pretty big snowman...9 feet tall!

So, you may be wondering,
"what do 17 people do for a week in 1 house?"
Answer: Games. Lots and lots of games. :)

This was by far the most entertaining "game" of the week. We had Wii games going all the time, and even had a Parker bowling tournament. I think the Wii holds the distinct honor of being the only game that all 4 Parker brothers have played together. How sweet. :)

The proud winner of our bowling tournament: Micah! He even bowled a perfect game!

Titus got a policeman outfit from his sisters, and dutifully wore it every day I think. :)

This was part of the "Hobo Hilton" living room sleeping quarters :)
With 6 of us sleeping in there, it did get a little interesting.

Faith and Hannah
(the girls LOVED doing anything with Baby Hannah, or anything with babies in general...as evidenced by the picture below)

The Pichura girls found other ways to "play baby" when Hannah was napping...their unbelievably mild mannered dog Tessie puts up with just about anything!

The snow just kept coming and coming!

David's mom Sandy, and a very happy Hannah.

Our nieces and nephews--some of our greatest Christmas gifts!

"Snowmare" - December '08

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:35:00 +0000

(Photo by local photographer David Hutchinson)

Don't let the picturesque photo above fool you...that's not sand! We've been having some crazy snowy weather over here in the Northwest! They keep assuring us that it's not always like this, but I'm beginning to wonder...and I'm certainly glad we decided to pack the snow shovel into the moving van! :) We have had quite the snowstorm here in Seattle--I think it's the biggest one they've had in about 50 years! I had one nun at work tell me the last time she saw snow like this was in the 30's!! We had 12+ inches by the time it was "mostly" over, which for Seattle, is HUGE...then add a few layers of ice, barely any plows, lots of steep hills, no salt (!), and lots of drivers who have no clue what to do in snow, and you have "snowmare '08"...or "snowmageddon"as some where calling it. It was beautiful and fun as long as you didn't have to drive anywhere (and if you did, get ready for a scary ride!). Since Seattle has no decent method for clearing all the snow, we just had to "wait it out"...until warmer air melted all the snow. This usually happens in a day or two, but this time it was about 2 weeks later! It was frustrating at times, but we are very blessed to work close to home, so it didn't completely halt things. Eventually, the snow began to melt, and life slowly got back to normal. (Just in time for the torrential rains! ;)

A view from our back deck on Day 1.
(By Day 7 it was at least 3 times higher)

This was one of the more infamous moments of "snowmare '08"--I think it even made national news...2 buses coming off a steep hill could not stop and almost landed on the interstate below!

Since driving was out of the picture, many used "alternate methods of transportation." :)

With only 27 snow plows for the entire city, we saw lots of bulldozers, graters...anything people could think of to get snow off the road!

It's Christmas...already?!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle P) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:08:00 +0000

Well, it's done it again-- Christmas has snuck up on me! :) Every year it seems like there are fewer days in December than the year before! It's definitely a small reminder of how fast time slips away...it's our second Christmas season in Seattle! I've been reminded of this in so many small ways this week, and it's brought to mind all that has changed this past year. We've seen evidences of God's grace in so many ways, and we're so thankful for the many blessings He has given us. A year ago at this time, we were renting an apartment in West Seattle, David was self-employed with Nerds on Site, and we were praying about where God was leading us within Mars Hill Church. We had a strong burden to be "planted" in a community, but we weren't sure where that was going to be. Now, a year later, we are homeowners in West Seattle, and God has given David a full-time position at the West Seattle campus of our church! We are so thankful that God has answered our prayers to be planted in a community, and we feel blessed to be in the community of West Seattle...we love it here! :)
God has used this year to teach us a LOT. It's been a year of transition, and for us, that has meant a lot of discomfort...which is good (although I'll admit it doesn't feel so good at the time ;). God has used it to expose our idols, to draw us to Himself, to mature our character, and draw us closer to each other. We've had some rough patches, and those times have been vivid reminders to us both that we would be nothing without Jesus! So, this Christmas season, we come with hearts humbled, knowing that our Savior was born to die, so that we might live.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Our living room (per your request--
a picture of it with our furniture ;)