Thanksgiving Fun

Mashed potatos, green bean cassarole, football, good company, 7 Dwarf trophies, napping and pie..... all part of my Thanksgiving. Since my dad is overseas right now and Jeff and Mary went down to Oregon, I went to Erik's parents for the day - it was a blast :-) The food was excellent and we had such a good time chatting and watching the games..... I'm thankful to have Erik's family, as well as my own family.

Here are some pictures from football and napping. Football was SO fun! I've never played w/ 8 year olds and 30 year olds in the same game..... I made one great catch too! Anyways - loads of fun.

Enjoy!

Hopeless romantics are only hopeless in the eyes of those who don't believe in romance.

~Jean Zheng~

I can't help it..... every day I seem to fall in love with him all over again. I could go on and on about the things that I love about him and our relationship. But, I have to point out one thing........laughter. Erik can draw the most genuine, belly laugh from me like no one else! There are times I laugh so hard I cry..... I have doubled over in tummy pain and I have peed my pants......all because of my wondeful partner in crime :-)

And even though we're always changing, both as a couple and as individuals, it's so great knowing that we can depend on each other. Contentment..... what a wonderful place to be in.

My Dad's Trip Overseas

My dad (Ed) is joining up with some family friends (David and Larelle Catherman) and traveling to Vietnam for a couple weeks. They are involved with a company called Medrix.

Every 3 seconds, one child dies from the lack of safe drinking water (Source: Unicef/WHO Water for Life, Making it Happen 2005).

In 2004, 2.2 million deaths worldwide were attributed to unsafe drinking water; nine out of those ten were children under 5 years of age (Source: Wateraid, 2005).

1.1 billion people (about 20% of the world's population lack access to safe drinking water.

And Medrix has come up with a wonderful solution!

Using UV technology, they have devised a water-treament system that is safe, affordable and teachable in foreign countries. Right now, Medrix being tested in Vietnam and that is where my dad and their team are traveling to.

Please pray for safe travel for all...... please pray for good communication and relations with the local Vietamese people. And also, please pray that no one comes into contact w/ the poultry :-)

Thank you all and please do visit the website for Medrix! I found it quite interesting.....

My dear friend Carly wrote on her blog about how she was walking down the street and saw Jon from Switchfoot and interrupted a conversation he was having before she even realized he was having one :-) Poor thing...... It's funny how we all turn to blubbering dummies when we come face to face w/ a celebrity we adore. That reminded me of a time I made a complete fool of myself...... (Surprised anyone? I Didn't think so).

I was working at the front desk of the Bellevue Club and some man asked me for a locker key. I asked him name and looked up at him at the same time.

He said, "um... Gates".

And I said, "First name?".

The very ordinary looking, polite and unassuming man then said, "Bill."

I stared at him a moment and then it dawned on me.

I was speaking to single richest man in the world - and I didn't recognize him. His face has been over nearly every magazine and has been plaster in the news more than Brittany Spears and I still didn't recognize him right away. I remember gathering my composure, not fall over apologizing and just give him the locker key and told him to have a wonderful evening.

I'm just glad no one was there to witness my utter cluelessness :-)

A Little Reminder

It had been a long time since I had spoken to my Grandma Antisdale, my mom's mom. I love her dearly and think about her and my grandpa often, but something always seems to comes up and get in the way of calling them.

Well, one night I just couldn't wait any longer. I was aching to call her and I'm soooooo glad I did..... we had the heart to heart talk I've been wanting to have with her. She was so soft and so encouraging and so patient. Now, my grandma has always been wonderful and sweet and kind..... but there's nothing like talking to your grandma who lost the daughter that was your mother.

While I was in the middle of apologizing for not calling as often as I would like, she told me something that has given me such peace. She said, "Well dear, you know we still pray for you every night, right?".

That means that for all this time, they've been remembering me each night......

And that feels great :-) Thanks Grandma and Grandpa A.

Nostalgia

Been thinking about my mom a bunch this morning........Maybe it's the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I keep getting these little bits of memories popping into my head. Like the time my dad gave her a used toaster from Shop 'n Save as a gag gift back in the mid 90's. She laughed and laughed and laughed and thought it was sooooo clever :-) I think we still have a few pics of that - I'll post 'em if I can find 'em.

Or the time she made the best turkey gravy you had ever seen or smelled in your life. Oooooo that stuff was good. It was creamy and salty and perfect. But of course, me being the clutz that I am, I dumped the whole gravy boat over on the dining room carpet while carrying it to the table. And instead of being upset, she giggled and said something like, "Well, at least it matches the color of the carpet!" What a mom, huh?

One Christmas, she and I were getting ready for the Overlake Christmas Tree performance. I had just spilled chocolate on my red, crushed velvet dress with about 5 mins until we needed to leave. We tried baking soda. We tried cold water. We tried Shout - nothing worked. Then, she let out a big sigh and said, "Come with me". We walked upstairs to her closet and she pulled out the most delicate and sophisticated black peacoat and wanted me to wear it. I had just spilled chocolate on myself and now she wanted me to wear her expensive clothes???? I'll never forget that. I felt like I was all grown up (and I was like, 9). She made me feel so pretty that day.

I know that the holidays this year will be different. It's going to be sad and maybe a little awkward, but I know she'll be watching us connect with each other and spend valuable time together. Christmas will be one of the few days where our whole family is under one roof this year and I know that's all she wanted..... for her family to love each other.

And we do.

I found a photo of her last year at Thanksgiving. Isn't she beautiful?