2.27.2008

Arizona Trip


 

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I just returned Tuesday afternoon from my long weekend in Scottsdale, AZ. I met up with Mike’s mom, Jennifer and her good friend Deborah for a girl’s weekend. I admittedly have not done that since I’ve been married and discovered the necessity for it.

We drove down to a little art colony called Tubac which was not far at all from the Mexican border. We went to art galleries, shopped, took some nice short hikes and just chat, chat, chatted. One of my favorite things was the contrast of beauty found in the desert. It was amazingly different from Oregon’s lush green but it had a unique beautiful green of its own. Lots of cactus, red dirt and best of all wild flowers. We also went to Arizona’s wine country and went wine tasting. It was a blast and surprisingly tasty vino. I can’t wait to do something similar again with such pleasant company.
arizona 2-08

2.20.2008

The Uniform


Mike reluctantly let me take this photo of him for those who've asked to see his uniform for culinary school. (And I got up with him at 5:30am to get the shot, he thought I was crazy!) Now don't be disappointed as he does not get his official chef's hat until he graduates, you know the really cool tall white one, Think Ratatouille? Nope, not for another 7 months. It is like the graduation cap for chefs.

2.17.2008

Sharing of a new season


I’ve wanted to post a little update for some time to those who I don’t talk to often but who are so good to keep in touch through blogging (you know who you are). Life has brought a lot of change to Mike and my life lately…good change. But as my pastor at InTown (our church as of the last 6 months) said last Sunday “change (big changes) happens very rarely in our lives” I think because it is hard to break out of the normal AND change.

One of the biggest changes lately is something that I’ve mentioned but not posted much about. Mike. Mike’s worked for 10 years now in financial planning and banking. He’s good at it. He’s gone through seasons of thriving at it and other times of hating it. (Like the past year, big smile)

But one thing that not everyone knows about Mike is that he suffered a back injury when he was about 21 (from a car accident) and he’s never recovered. He goes through chronic spells of pain. The last month has been one of those times. He has been seeing a physical therapist (again) but needless to say he is to no fault of his own…a pain literally in the ass because of this. Working 8 hours at a desk does not help. He likes to be active, it helps his back and his pain and that is why I share this.

He said to me back in December that he wanted to go to culinary school, he wanted a change a pace. Pursue a new career? Now a few things for those who are just getting to know Mike, he is a great cook, he does not settle for 2nd best in life and he can be a huge pain (I mean this in love, big smile). But for the past 2 years we’d been driving past the Cordon Blue, Western Culinary Institute and eventually it got to Mike, seeing those care free cooks outside on break, everyday at 9am when we were driving past.

As a wife and your mans best friend you owe it to the relationship, him and yourself to encourage your mans dreams. right? I see many men around me who don’t seem to even have dreams. So, I consider myself extremely lucky that mine does. I struggled though to want to encourage his dream some times. In this case with culinary school it means lots of "change" along with, needless to say, a lot of time, money and the investment of a huge amount of energy.

God has helped settle my heart with this dream and the pursuit of it. Over the past 3months I’ve been feeling all kinds of feelings in preparation for the day he would start. Well, he starts Tuesday.

We don’t know what this will mean for our lives, futures…but I do know that it feels right. Mike is dreaming big things. I can’t help but smile at the thought of how I know that God will bless us for our faithful pursuit of what He’s put on our hearts.

We hosted a dinner party at our house on Saturday. I did not feel like posting any of the pictures from it. But it was the celebration with close friends of the beginning of a season. A new season. And it encourages me that there will most lots ahead.

And at very least...I will always eat very well while being with Mike. HUGE SMILE!

2.11.2008

Get togethers




















Just some fun weekend shots with our friends. Ozzy and Kelly 1st and Chris and Sheena next.

It‘s always fun to share a yummy meal with good friend and have good drinks! I wanted the bright mango daiquiris to pop out of the photo with Sheena and my martini glasses and they did! Yes! Most of the time, I won’t make a point to get a photo with these friends because we just see them so dang much. But what the heck…got’a capture the moment every once and awhile. Right? Love the weekends!