Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Truck Returns

After a long two weeks of nursing the truck along, we are free to move about the freeway. The great folks at Snohomish Transmission in Monroe managed to get it in and out in one long day of pulling, replacing and reinstalling. They did a fantastic job for us.

Now with the truck repaired and no more fluid peeing all over anyone's driveways, we will venture out of Monroe at last. I'm not sure where our weekend will take us quite yet, but Sunday is looking completely full. In case I don't see you again before then, enjoy what hopefully is the last shot of our transmission fluid puddle and have a wonderful Easter!

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

$5 Movie Night...

It isn't often that a family can do a movie night for $40... But tonight was one of those nights. It was $5 night at the Galaxy Theaters in Monroe. In our staying in town mode for another few days due to a sick call at the garage today, we ventured out to see The Croods.

The movie itself was pretty good. The usual boy meets girl and they fall in love while daddy tries to hang on to his baby for one more day. Lets just say, I can identify with the theme.

Anyways, despite the terrible let down of the truck not being fixed today... The cop pulling me over on my bike this morning because I was suspicious... And the usual fun at work... Today ended up being pretty decent!

PS: The image of the movie was shot from the back of the theater with my Lumia in the dark... Not too bad...

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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Today Was A Good Day

Today we had a great day. Nothing happened out of the ordinary, but it was good none the less. We woke up, watched some basketball of all things, played a bit, blogged some, the Wife ran a few errands in town and then Dad came up for a visit.

Just spending time talking with him is such a blessing. It is something that has been missing for a while. I'm sure I'm as much at fault for it as he is, if not more so, but I'm glad that the talking has come back. For quite a long time our conversations were just about work or what new movie or TV show we were watching. Since Mom passed though, conversations have been much more open. They've been like they used to be...

That said, we had a great visit today. There was a great NASCAR finish, a wonderful broccoli beef dinner and a bit of walking time with everyone. That makes me happy...

So, from this happy family to you, have a great start to your week and I'll see you tomorrow!

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Noelle Turned 4

Today was an afternoon of fun at Evie's friend Noey's 4th Birthday Party. Held at an indoor sports practice facility in Snohomish, it was two hours of running around and having fun with the kids. The party was great and the people were even better.

It was great to see so many friends and to know that so many of the same ones might make the trip over to the Jetty for Evie's party is amazing. Thank goodness for things like ballet and good friends!

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Friday, March 22, 2013

Mom Would Have Loved This

A quick glance out my window left me with a smile on my face. Snow! Yes, it doesn't always rain near Seattle, but it doesn't often show this late in the year either. So enjoy my quick post and the snapshot from the window and remember to call someone for a chat while you have a cup of coffee.

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Climbing Back Up...

So, this has been a tough year, but just as the photo above shows, it is possible to climb back up no matter how many times you fall. You see, life is alot like a three year old trying to climb a wall. Sometimes you think you can make the next step, but your footing isn't so sure and you slip back down. Sitting on the ground and crying about it isn't going to make it better, so back to climbing we go.

It is this line of thought that is making me climb back out of the gutter and forcing me back on the wall. It is time to make some good changes. It is time to get things moving. It is time to find me and who I should be. That said, I'm going to bed now to start a new day tomorrow morning. Happy Friday all!

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Monday, March 18, 2013

Today Was A Better Day

I had to laugh a bit about today. Here I am not wanting to take the truck anywhere until the transmission is repaired, and I proceed to take a walk with Evie in the hail instead. In our defense, it wasn't hailing when we left, but it did start about the half way point of our stroll. So, instead of hopping in the truck and going to the gym, we played...

That was until the sun poked out again and we walked over to the park. Evie had her usual fun, playing on the swing, the spinner thing and the ropes. It was a bit different today though, she added the climbing wall to her list of toys today.

We enjoyed the time at the park until the gray clouds told us we should walk home.  It was a good thing we did too, the weather changed so quickly today. We went from cold and clear this morning to hailing mid morning to sunny and warm this afternoon to torrential rains this evening. It was one of those days.

The good news is that the truck didn't move today, giving us only 8 more days until we drop it for the repairs. I'm still hoping to get that call that someone bailed and there's an opening, but that's probably too much to hope for. Until then, maybe the weather will improve a bit and we can keep the truck parked as many days as possible.

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Saturday, March 16, 2013

Can't Leave Town, Try Bing

One of the bonus points of living in Monroe is that it is a half hour drive to almost everywhere... One of the drawbacks of living in Monroe is the fact that it is a half hour drive to everywhere. When your vehicle is healthy, it is a beautiful thing. However, when your car acts up, it is far from a good thing.

This is the situation we will be in for the next 10 days. Our truck has a bad gasket between the transmission and the bell housing. It will easily hold on for that week and a half, but we are going to be dependent on staying in town and doing no excess driving. Today, we were presented with just how well Monroe caters to staying in town for needs.

We used Windows Phone to search for eye glass stores in our area and low and behold, Bing presented three options within 5 miles of home. With a quick click of a few links, we found a location with a good selection of frames and a special that offered free lenses with kid's frames.

We hurried off to the store where Evie tried on her favorites and settled on a pretty sweet pair of purple and pink frames. Some careful measurements, a quick signature and we were out the door. The only problem now is that Evie can't wait to get her glasses!

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Friday, March 15, 2013

A Tough Year Gets Tougher


So far, 2013 has been a very challenging year. We've had some car troubles that meant big money to the repair shops. We've had our daughter diagnosed with an eye issue that will require some extent of vision therapy. But most of all, we've lost 2 mothers this year. I know the old saying that God will never give someone more than they can handle, and I firmly believe that, but I think it's about time for a break from the struggles.
Going into 2013, we were blessed with a very large raise, a decent sized tax refund and the opportunity to begin a new chapter in our lives. What happened to start the year was anything but a good start to a new chapter. We planned on taking our tax refund and moving when our lease was up in February, but when we looked at places that would be in our price range, we found our good sized check wasn't even going to cover moving expenses and deposits. With that all but off the table, we began thinking of using our raise to purchase a new vehicle. Unfortunately, our President had other plans for us as we lost $100 a month to his tax increases, $100 a month to increased costs in our health insurance (thanks Obamacare) and a $100 increase in our rent... So much for that great raise.
Of course, life changes in the blink of an eye, and 2013 has been no different so far. We lost one Mom in January after a 4 year battle with cancer that finally took its toll on her. After a month of mourning, we celebrated everything she stood for with around 200 of her closest friends at an amazing memorial. It was a special time where friends shared stories and an amazing person was remembered for all the lives she touched. Yet, only 2 weeks later, another Mom was leveled by the stomach flu. After about a week in bed, the decision was made to get her to the hospital for some proper care and tests. After about a week in the hospital, the worst was confirmed and it was determined that a lung cancer had claimed most of her body and the treatment options were non-existent due to her heart, lung and kidney condition. Just two months, 60 short days, had taken our two mothers off the planet. Leaving us struggling to find answers.
Just as we start to try to figure out what is next, after losing so much so quickly, we find that our daughter is suffering from an eye condition that will require glasses and vision therapy. Vision therapy is far from the worst news we could have gotten, but it is also another financial set back that wasn't in the budget and we're far from sure how to cover. Add this to the issues we are having with our sole vehicle and we are a financial train wreck that is somehow staying on the tracks. We'll continue to trust that it is not our plan and we will continue to be steadfast in our devotion and beliefs.
So, now that that is out, welcome to 2013. My year starts today. Me and My Life from My Phone will start a new and begin again. Let's make Easter a new start, just like it was for our Savior. Forget the evils of the world and let our trust fall in the Lord. It's not an easy thing to do, but with prayers and focus, I will make 2013 a better year. It's not about the circumstances that we suffer through, it's about learning that nothing we have that stands in front of us is greater than God. So, from My Life from My Phone to you, Happy 2013.

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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Dear Mom,

Today you left us to join Jesus in heaven. I'm not angry. I'm not distraught. I'm not even really sad. I knew in my heart that you were doomed to a life of maintaining a body that had worn out. It lived its earthly life to the fullest for as long as it could. You had completed the race.

You leave behind a beautiful legacy of bringing a husband to Christ. Three boys that learned how to be men from the examples you showed. Six grandchildren who loved their Nana and Grammers very much and ultimately a world of people that felt better for knowing you.

From people that hadn't thought about you in 25 years to people that saw you yesterday, you lived and loved so much. The fact that you were able to love so many people is simply amazing.

I hope that we can raise Evalyn up to be a beautiful mix of her Grammers and GiGi. For both of you were so loving, strong and independent people. You'd always ignore your own needs over the needs of others. You simply lived and loved, and that is how I will always remember you. You were my teacher, my friend, my spiritual tutor and most of all my mother.

As well as I'm dealing with this right now, knowing you're safe and warm I heaven, sitting with GiGi and Jesus watching over our little one, I know I'm going to try and send that text to you in a week or two and never get a response. I guess we just have to take this one day at a time, and eventually it won't hurt.

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