August 16

Sweden it's been real. Your rocky oceansides, free ferries, meatballs and lingen berries, and heather and moss covered landscapes have my heart. But we're off to Germany now. For farms and chocolate and my Oma.

 

hej då, just for a little while.

July 27

 

 

WE DID IT!!! The Seafair Torchlight Run was conquered with a wonderful day, a wonderful team, a wonderful success.

 

Mostly I was dying with excitment at the fact that they closed down 99 and we got to run helter-skelter along the highway with the Sound to our left and the city to our right. Right along with 40,000 runners. It was specacular.

 

This is us. The champions.

 

July 23

So hey, let me tell you about this cool thing I'm doing.

 

Beth Buer (the giddy one in the middle with the braid) does incredible things with her time - besides working at Ground Speak, adventuring, and being hilarious, she volunteers at Operation Nightwatch, a shelter and support for the homeless in Seattle. She put together a 5k that includes sponsers, staff members, and homeless clients, and will be a part of the Seafair race this year. The goal? To tear down walls and build relationships in their place. We did several Saturday morning training runs along the Centenial Park trail downtown - much fun was had, much sweat was sweated, and many stories were shared. It has been such an honor to get to know these people, and be a part of such a great thing. Interested in being a part of things? Click here!

 

We're running this Saturday and I'm pretty dang excited.

 

"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

June 30

I spent my day with this girl today.

 

She's Chelsea, by the way, and she's living with us for the summer, making sure Olivia's room is kept safe while Livs is off doing cool sciency things in California. And also she's working with World Relief, learning how to paddle board, getting a tan, experiencing the beauty of Trader Joes, and living the sea-city coffee culture life.

We love her and would like to let it be known that we're planning on luring her back to Seattle after she graduates from Union University and Jackson, Tennessee.

4 hours at gasworks with the Seattle hippies, jazz bands, and sun was a fine choice. I would recommend it to anyone.

June 28

 

*Photos by Danni Reaves

Today was the grand culmination of a million birthdays. And by a million I mean four. Alisa, Chris, Danni, and I all embraced our new years amid boisterous good cheer (see above photo) and sunshine. We had a Mexican feast and more people than we anticipated and more heat than Seattle ever dreamed possible (all good things) so we loaded up plates and sprawled out on the grass outside to eat, drink, and make merry.

 

Then we sauntered, en mass, over to gasworks for some Frisbee and for some burning of the energy and to watch the sun go down over a warm, sleepy Seattle.

 

 

 

June 22

 

Congratulations Charis and Josh!

 

In a beautiful ceramony in Auburn, these two finally tied the knot...and it was such an honor to be there. It is so clear how deeply they love each other, love God, and love their friends and family. They are some of the smartest, kindest, gracious people I know, and I am thrilled they have each other!

 

 

 

Ps. We learned how to line dance. We were cool.

June 10

Happy three years, sweetheart.

June 8

 

As of June 10th, my love and I will have been dating for three years. Three glorious years full of laughter and tears and learning and much pizza.

 

But because the 10th is a Monday we decided to celebrate today on Vashon Island.

 

 

 

It was delightful. 

 

     * * *

June 7

 

Congratulations Graduates!

 

There are a lot of good things that you've accomplished in the last four years, and a lot of good things to come. Go out into the world knowing that it'll be fun, but also scary, and sometimes you won't have things figured out, but also that that's quite fine.

 

Class of 2013, have a good summer - we're proud of you!

May 10

 

Congratulations Holly and Xavi!

 

These two are adorable and it was such an honor to celebrate with them at an intimate ceremony (also attended by most of Holly's nine siblings!) in Holy and Xavi's backyard. It was short and sweet, with homade cooking and beer to follow, and was warm and true to who these two are.

 

I wish you guys all the very best and I hope you're enjoying Sun River in it's entirety!

 

May 1

It's the first of May.

 

I walked up the street today, dappeled in morning light, and on the sidewalk was a bucket with long stemmed daisies in it, pink, white, and red. And there was a sign that said take one, Happy May Day. And I did.

 

I love this season of sun and brisk air and the smell of lilacs hanging in the air at unexpected turns.

 

* * *

 

Markus and I explored the Locks this evening - it was good to spend an evening with him, I do love his company so! We picked the very worst month to try and see fish on the fish ladder (we saw zero) but we will try again in August - apparently our odds will be better. We did pick the perfect day to take a walk and eat fish and chips however. But then again every day is a perfect day to eat fish and chips because that is always a good decision.

 

Happiest of May Days, peeps, do go out and enjoy the sun!

 

 

April 5

SPU said goodbye to my dear Kwirl today - she is off on a new adventure over at UW helping struggling people find their footing, as is her way. So we got Thai food and a little office and shared merry stories of her time here. I will miss car pooling and lunches and whiney early mornings with her, but I am excited for this new step in her life. UW doesn't even know what's going to hit them!

* * *

The Road Not Taken
 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.
 

- Robert Frost

March 28

          

I decided on an adventure last night. I packed a backpack, bought myself a train ticket and decided to go home.

 

There is something about going places by myself that is reassuring - a good reminder that I am capable and independant, that time with myself is enjoyable, that my life is made up of more than just one picture.

 

 

 

 

6 hours later I am here. With Moroccan food on the table, cousins to chat with, and a Settlers game to fall asleep through.

 

 

 

February 17

58 across: Descendant. Answer: Scion.

Who knew?

Happy sometime-in-the-late-morning to you!

Update: February 13

Today, ladies and gentlemen, after 24 years of life, I got my driving licence.

Many of you know what a miracle this is, what a feat of "overcoming life's hurdles" this represents, what a testament to Kali's patience and endurance this implies. And for those who don't know, truly it is all those things.

 

BUT I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT IT AND NEVER HAVE I FELT LIKE SUCH A GROWN UP!!!

February 3

Oh hey Superbowl, sports holiday that I love. Thanks for being a perfect excuse to eat nachos and pizza and yelling alot. Thanks for providing us with entertaining commercials to quibble over. Thank you especially for giving us Destiny's Child and making Beyonce the winner even though the ravens did pretty good too. #teamfierce

It was a fun evening, despite the absents of the Seahawks.