weekly gratitude | why I do this

thank you sneakers for still going strong after all these years

There have been times in my life where I've been labeled a cockeyed
optimist. Even so far as to call me a Pollyanna.

One friend whom I've known since we were six declared one day that I seemed
to have been raised in a Disney movie.

There have been times in my life when this has not been meant as a
compliment, either to my own character or to the way my parents raised me.

Isn't it terrible to sit back and realize one day that optimism and
hope (plain old happiness in general) have become another catalyst for
judgment in an already horrifically negative world?

It's as though walking around with a smile on your face is a sudden signal
to the rest of the world that you're some little dolt with no concept of what's really going on in the world.

"Isn't that cute - but she has no idea what REAL life is like."

My.

How delightfully assuming and judgmental.

Well I'm here to say not so. Not so at all.

I make the choice.

I choose happiness over sadness. I choose gratitude over grumbling. When others focus soley on the bad, I choose to look for the good.

If it pleases you to think the smile on my face is an act, or the result of sticking my head in the sand, be my guest. But it is far from an act.

I am genuinely thankful and genuinely happy. I want to be kind, as often as possible. I want to smile at everyone I see and I want to mean it.

I want to think about how irritatingly small my refrigerator is when I can't fit a full gallon of milk in it, but speak of the blessing at having an apartment to live in at all. I want to feel my heart as it wrenches in my chest when I think on the past too much, but speak only of the pure joy of those memories hold. I want to worry about how I feel insignificant because I'm not off doing missionary work in some foreign land, but speak about the job I love and the experiences I've had here and the particular mission God has entrusted to me (me!) alone.

All my life I have made choices (as so many often do) - whether it was to make mistakes for myself, or to have the wherewithall to observe the lives of others and learn from them so as not to repeat those things (or, alternately, to see soemone do something incredible and choose to give it a try myself!).

But really, you don't have to drop a bowling ball on your foot to know it will hurt. And just because I've never stuck my hand in a flame doesn't show a lack of life experience, but rather the good sense not to do it in the first place.

It is a constant battle, this choosing happiness. But in this Kingdom, I am both a worker and a warrior.

And my weapon of choice is a grateful heart.

just me and red skelton

"Live by this credo: have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations."

-Red Skelton-

My friend Dillon recently posted this screen shot of his newsfeed. These were the "Top Stories" for him the other day.

Apparently Facebook has developed a decent sense of humor. 

(or, it's possible that the appearance of two crossed-eyed idiots is a sign of the apocalypse - I don't know, my NIV translation may have misinterpreted that one)

In any case, have a giggle. 

Red and I would be much obliged. 

the californians, and why I don't regret leaving california

The only time I really miss living in California is when I think back on gently mocking people like this and feeling mildly superior to them.

But then I remember that I'm a pale-skinned brunette and know Portland is where my people are meant to be.

Still.

It's nice to relive the good ol' days. 

weekly gratitude

thank you  feet for not freezing off in the wind tonight

"The opposite of grumbling is gratitude"

Quote of the night from John Mark at One, the annual gathering of all the Solid Rock  locations out at Hillsboro Stadium.

Well, that and when he made a joke about Canadians only to back-pedal and wonder why, considering not only that he has some dear friends who are Canadian, but so was his grandfather.

(Probably for the same reason I make fun of Californians when I am one - sometimes we just have it coming)

But more importantly, it was an amazing evening.

I really didn't think I was going to be able to go at all because I worked today and thought there was no way I'd get out to Hillsboro before it ended.

But lo! Miracles happen!

Sure, I was about 30 minutes late to the service but I actually got there just in time for the sermon itself and, amazingly, found a seat in the near-full stadium with little trouble.

It was so incredible to see everyone there. And you know what was neat? Even with thousands of people, it didn't feel overwhelming in a bad way (it was overwhelming in the best way seeing so many people there with such joy and reverence and expectancy though!)

We continued our series on Philippians with Paul's take on how we should approach life and treat each other, with huge emphasis on gratitude. JM actually told a story of how his wife was going through the line at New Seasons (local NW grocery store, akin to Whole Foods in a lot of ways but smaller and overall better).

Apparently as Tammy checked out, the checker asked how she was doing. She responded with, "Great. I have so much to be thankful for." To which he said, "Are you serious? No one says that. Everyone has something to complain about. How are you really?" And again she said, "Great. I have so much to be thankful for."

And John Mark pointed out that in this situation, both people were right. Everyone does have something to complain about. But you know what? Everyone has something to be thankful for. 

Actually, probably more than a few blessings they could stop and count if they bothered to think about it.

That's what makes all the difference. How we approach life: with grumbling or with gratitude.

And this was very convicting as well, because I've found myself exceptionally prone to grumbling lately instead of putting only good out in the world. I needed that check. And He knew it. And He called me on it, right there in the middle of Hillsboro Stadium. 

I want people to know how I live my life - and Who I live my life for - both by my actions and by the words that fall from my mouth. 

I want to live graciously. 

-

1. Thank you for One. See above. Also, thank you for all the people - men, women and children alike - who made the decision to follow Christ tonight and be baptized. I think I cried every. single. time. someone slipped under the surface and came out of the water. It was so special to see that moment in each person's life! And the joy that filled that stadium tonight? Wow. 

2. Thank you for Janna. I've been blessed with some truly spectacular coworkers, and if you've been reading long you already know this. I've mentioned a few of them on here by name before and now comes Janna. She started as an occasional temp and we all loved her immediately. But it wasn't until she came on more full-time as our seasonal hire this summer that I got to really know her and I find myself just loving this lady more and more each day. I am so inspired by her love for Christ, her love for her four kids, her love for her fiance, her love for everyone. You know how we're called to just love on everyone around us no matter what? Janna's got that down. Sure she's got the sass to hand it to someone when they need it, but she does it with a smile and you can just tell she's either a) doing it for your own good or b) completely kidding. Either way I just want to hug her most of the time and I'm so thankful there are people like her in this world. 

3. Thank you for Michull. This one is a couple week's overdue but I realized I never wrote the timely WG before I went to Montana so allow me to include him now. A few days before I left I met Michull, Dean and Robin for dinner at our old haunt The Cheerful Tortoise. Afterward I ended up hanging out with Michull and his wee kitten Ebenezer (worth mentioning here that this is a little girl kitty) at his place. I hadn't seen the sweet digs he and Maggie set up (it's fine, it had only been oooh, a few months) and was happy to have the chance to hang out with my long lost buddy. Back when he and Jared lived together we used to hang out all the time but when I stopped to think about it, it had been over a year since we'd had the same opportunity. Thank you Mike for always being there for me, always being honest with me, and always making me laugh even when the situation, by definition,  blows. You're a pretty swell fella. Luff. You.

4. Thank you for the gym. I know. But here I mean more thank you for the ability to be able to get my body in motion, work it to the point of sweat and burn and exhaustion. For a body healthy enough to do any of the mindless, hate-every-minute-of-it workout I love to gripe about but that, in light of my earlier point and at a suggestion from Janna , I will now try to change my attitude to one of pure gratitude at being able to do it at all.

5. Thank you for the sweet woman who came into the tasting room with her husband Sunday and left with such sweet hopes. This couple, an older couple, came in to taste. I was standing at the till and when I asked to see ID for his credit card he presented a military ID. I told them I'd be happy to offer them both a tasting on the house. "Oh my, thank you!" said the wife. "Oh my gosh, thank you. BOTH of you!" I replied. The husband was definitely the strong silent type, but the wife was overcome. "Oh, that is just  oh, my goodness. Thank you. Oh, I remember those tours when he was gone, being home with the kids, oh..." We chatted a bit, I told her about Nathan, we laughed about the weather, and when she said she had always loved the name "Lauren"I said there are worse people to share a name with than Lauren Bacall - and that now all I needed was my Bogie! Well they went on to taste and as they left she popped over to me, pulling me into that immediate confidence that occurs when two women have a heart to heart, and promised me that my "prince charming" was on his way. "And don't you dare settle for anything less! He's out there, and he's looking for you!" she said. It was so sweet, and so sincere and in that small way it meant so much. This woman's little "blessing" meant the world to me.

6. Thank you for having so much to be thankful for. Really, that in itself is sufficient. 

-

So kids, do me a favor, yeah? Would you do me a solid?

Be grateful. 

In the week to come, show gratitude and watch your life overflow with joy.

I promise it will be so worth it.

montana | baby jack, over and out

First of all, this was what awaited us when the two Wandering Photogs returned from the wedding Saturday night...

There is no topping that! Cutest nephew in the world!

Anyway...

My last day in Red Lodge was spent with these two. 

We woke somewhere between 6 and 7 with the Wee One rarin' to get going with his busy One Year Old's day and we were powerless to ignore his wiles! 

But why would we? There was a trip to the Wildlife Sanctuary being dangled before us and let's face it, I wanted to see the bears and elk just as much as he did. 

Maybe more.

Having said that though, it must make no sense that I didn't take a single photo of the bears or the elk!

Why? Why?!

Oh. Jack. That's right.

Better camera fodder than any old bear.

Doing his dinosaur walk

Moments later Jack decided he was terrified of donkeys

One final meal at the Red Lodge Ales Taproom filled our bellies with IPA and a rueben (and got me some more cuddles with the boy).

The Beast (my camera) was having a fit with the natural light and the perfect subject... Oddly, I could still be convinced I didn't take enough pictures of this boy. 

This smile kills me. 

I am destroyed!

Decimated!

GAH!

The photo above was mere moments before the 2-minute meltdown that ensued when Mama had to break Baby's heart and say "No beer for you!"

But Jack got over it as soon as he realized he had an entire beer garden at his frolicking disposal.

Oh, but then it was closing in on naptime...

I wish there was some way I could have bottled these little curls at the base of that little neck to bring home with me.

 (I asked Jack if he wanted to curl up in my carry-on but he politely declined)

This was one of the sweetest moments I caught... My goodness, how she loves that baby boy

Back at the house it was time for Jack's lunch (after we all napped for two hours that is).

We woke to John making mac & cheese from scratch (yum, by the way) and managed to get a few more money shots of Jack and his belly.

And so my week in Montana drew to an all too rapid end.

Even now having been home for nearly two weeks I feel like I should still be waking up on my little inflatable bed in John & Laura's living room (which, let the record show, was only about 75,000 times more comfortable than my own bed here).

I keep telling myself that it won't be long before I get to see them all again and that even the year that passed between our last visits didn't seem more than a moment once I got there.

But still...

I miss my girl and her boys something wicked.

All this to say one last thing...

Hey Perrigos - I love you guys.

Thank you for everything, most of all for being you.

(Can I come back now?)

montana | the beartooth mountains & yellowstone

Laura and I have always had a habit, I think I mentioned it before, of starting out doing one thing and letting it evolve into a whole day's adventure. 

example: brunch becomes walk around downtown becomes let's-get-cupcakes becomes browsing through shops becomes drinks becomes dinner becomes talking-on-the-couch-with-a-bottle-of-pinot-until-all-hours

We have an MO and we stick to it.

The best part though is that we never plan it like that. It always just happens.

We are adventurers! Come what may!

Happy little campers we were.

I should have named him. Ah, hindsight.

"Nice marmot."

So was I really that surprised when our plan to drive the Beartooth Pass took us to Wyoming only to realize we were less than an hour from Yellowstone which meant we obviously had to keep driving?

No. No I was not.

So on to Yellowstone we trekked!

And adventures were had...

"Cottonwood falling like snow in Ju-ly..."

(oh, wait, actual snow in July... Nevermind Luke Bryan, nevermind)

One can only assume they hand this flyer out because natural selection isn't doing its job.

But more importantly, are you ready for a wild animal extravaganza?

Bison. About 5 feet away from our car.

Antelope.

GRIZZLY. BEAR.

(you know, that fuzzy thing in the middle of the photo... no, I was not going to get any closer)

Red fox.

This is possibly my favorite non-Jack photo of the entire trip.

Serendipity was too kind in allowing me to catch this exact moment.

He looks like he's screaming. 

With joy of course.

Driving home held one of those moments... One of those moments with one of those sights that reminds you how wonderfully small you are and how astoundingly great God is.

I was speechless.

I could have lived in this moment, looking at this creation, forever.

And the adventures weren't over yet...