Not believing- that it's already the end of June. Where does time go? I know not. I feel overwhelmed that the weeks fly by and I don't get things done or do things that I want to do, such as blogging more, emailing friends and family more, calling friends and family, working out more, etc. Time, I shake my fist at you!!

Cooling down- after picking strawberries this morning at Kruger Farms. I must say I like Sauvie Island Farms better, but their strawberry fields were eaten by root weavel, so we've been forced to pick at Kruger. Kruger is more about the experience I think of being on a farm. And Sauvie is really just about picking. We felt like we got better strawberries from Sauvie as well. We miss you Sauvie!

Loving- the fresh produce markets. In my completely uninformed opinion, I think Portland has the best summer markets anywhere. I do like Kruger's market and always feel like I get so many vegetables for little money. Delicious, healthy, and cheap!!

Excited- about my new job. I had a couple of moments this past week where I was driving in my car and was overcome by thankfulness and amazement at my new job. I have one of those jobs that deserves a "that's a sweet gig!" response. I have said that to so many people and have waited for the day that I would have a sweet gig as well. The day has come and I'm lovin' it!

Weirded out- i had the exact same conversation with 2 of my friends this week. The both said to me at separate times, "I feel like I should be acting and feeling like more of an adult and I just don't." It was crazy because I have been having those same thoughts. It's weird to think that I'm going to be 30 next year and yet I still feel like a kid. Sometimes I feel like I "play" an adult that knows what they're doing at work, and then I come home and can be my kid-self with Dustin. It's bizarre. And I wonder if everyone goes through that feeling at this age. When do you start to feel like an adult? I still feel like i'm 22 or 25, just trying to figure things out in this crazy mixed up world.

Reading- I just finished The Shack by William Young. I had no idea it was on the New York Times Bestseller list. Dustin just told me about it, I thought it sounded cool, so I read it. Wow! I now know why it's on the bestseller list and why there's so much controversy surrounding it. It's set in the Portland, Oregon area, so that made me love it even more. All I can say is you don't have to believe the story to be true and real and still love it. I love it for making me think more about my relationship with God and God's character in my life and in the world. I think it's a must read for everyone, no matter your beliefs and I highly recommend it.

Reading #2- I started reading "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" because Dustin and I want to have a baby next year. I'm learning a lot and so glad that other friends are also reading it at the same time. I'm excited to be pregnant with a group of women that I love dearly and so thankful we can share this experience together, especially because so many of us are far away from family and friends. Thank you God for orchestrating this for us.

Preparing- for lots of travel at the end of July- August. I'll be taking week long trips for 4 weeks in a row which will be quite an adjustment to our schedule. Super excited about Dustin coming with me to southern Oregon coastal area. I feel like we need some time away just the two of us and this will be the perfect opportunity for very little money, always a great thing!

A few pictures of my trip to Illinois.



This is Savannah and Gabi swimming at my Aunt and Uncle's pool. They are sporting the fake vampire teeth which they won with tickets from video games. Very scary!



















Gabi giving me lovins at the pool. And saying goodbye to Savannah at church. I hate that part every time.




















Watching TV with Gabi. She likes to dance when music is on, so cute! And me, my mom, and grandma. Love those ladies!!

So I started my new job with The Salvation Army this past Monday at the Divisional Headquarters in Portland. My official title is Service Extension and Emergency Disaster Director (two jobs in one = standard non-profit policy). Here's a summary of what I do:

1. Service Extension Director - Service Extensions basically give assistance through vouchers in smaller communities and are administered by volunteers. So, my job is to raise money throughout Oregon to give to those in need, visit our volunteers in these communities, make sure they are following Salvation Army policies when writing vouchers, build relationships with them to make sure they feel equiped to perform their job, and network with other organizations who also provide services to make sure we're not duplicating services and really are serving a need. I oversee 120 of these extensions and have 3 staff that help to monitor them. I will be traveling quite a bit to visit these extensions all over Oregon and a few in southern Idaho.
2. Emergency Disaster Director - I'm responsible for making sure our division which includes all of Oregon and Southern Idaho is prepared to respond in the event of a disaster. This includes ensuring Salvation Army officers, staff, and volunteers are trained to handle all different types of disasters, creating policies for communication in the midst of disasters, and building relationships with other emergency management organizations such as the local cities, Red Cross, etc. So for anyone that lives in Oregon and wants to respond with The Salvation Army during a disaster, let me know and we'll get you trained!

This job is pretty overwhelming. I don't have any disaster experience to speak of, so I'll be traveling a lot this next year in order to get trained and become a trainer myself. They might even send me to a real life disaster!!

I'm loving the change so far. I love that my commute is only 15 minutes. I love that we're in a new building. I even don't mind my cubicle. I love that I get to travel all over Oregon and discover its amazing beauty over and over again. I love the flexibility and responsibility I have with this job. I love that my assistant is so encouraging and empowering. In fact, I have been warmly welcomed and enthusiastly accepted into my new position. In spite of my lack of experience in this specific area, the higher ups seem to be confident in me for which I'm incredibly grateful. Thank you God for answered prayer.

The added bonus is that Dustin gets to travel with me this summer while he isn't in class regularly. While I'm working he'll be preparing sermons, doing homework, reading etc. At night we can venture out to new places and discover Oregon together. This is probably the last summer that we won't be pregnant/ have a kid, so we're excited to "live it up" so to speak!

I will try to post about our adventures, but we all know what an inconsistent poster I am.

1. Illinois summers (in June when humidity is low!) They are random and intense and refreshing. One day it's 90 degrees with blue skies and a scorching sun and the next day it's overcast and rainy with high winds and deep blue/gray skies. My parent's house has trees all around it and when it downpours it sounds like the rainforest. So cool.

2. Swimming. I was at my aunt and uncle's pool today sunbathing and swimming. As I watched my cousins play and splash, I just felt so...at home. Listening to the birds chirping, the lawnmower running in the distance- Feeling the sun shining and a strong breeze- Seeing perfect colors of blues and greens and smiles...absolutely superb. That is what I have grown up with, that is what I think of when I hear summer break, that is what I want my kids to experience, and that is what I want to come home to every summer for the rest of my life.

3. Marshall First Christian Church. I consider my home church part of my heritage. FCC isn't a perfect church, but it's healthy and growing and full of people that just want to be more like Jesus. I love coming back. I always feel welcomed and supported and priviledged to come from such great stock. The people have made such an impact on my life. I love that I can come back to people who have seen God working in my life, people who have prayed for me for so many years, who stuck by me during my rebellious high school years, and people that remind me of what family truly is.

4. My family. I only get to be in Marshall with my family 2 weeks out of the year. That sucks. So when I'm here, I just want to be with them every moment of every day. It's not that I don't want to be with friends or go somewhere else, I just don't want to leave my family. My nieces are the best girls ever. I have so much fun with them. They are beautiful and sweet and smart and funny. I feel so blessed to be their aunt. I look forward to seeing them grow up and being a part of their lives. I look forward to my kids playing with them and probably being bossed around by them!

5. Sitting on grandma's front porch. My grandma lives right in the center of town. She has a great old porch swing that I have been swinging on since I was able to walk. I love sitting on her porch, chatting with family, waving at anyone and everyone that walks or drives by, and just relaxing.

6. Life's slow pace. Life is slower in small towns. It's not less busy, it's just...calmer, maybe. I don't know the word, it's different. I think small towns allow people to be slower. There's less people, less travel for what you need, more acquaintenances and opportunities for "pop-ins". Pop-ins are very popular in small towns, I love it, and I am incredibly bad at it. I am use to the call ahead. I call ahead to make sure friends are home, that it's ok to stop by, that I have a reason to come over. But in small towns, those rules don't apply. You are allowed and encouraged to pop in just because. And it's expected. People get offended if you don't pop in. I'm working on my pop in.

Just a few more days and my relaxing vacation will be over. I'm praying for a sunny day tomorrow so I can get some more pool time. If not, that's ok, I know of a nice porch swing to pass the time.