CANCUN...how lovely.

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures from our vacation. For those of you who don't know I sell Southern Living at HOME! If you don't know about it check out my website to see some of the fabulous stuff I LOVE IT. Why do I love it...um I earned a FREE trip for my husband and me for 5 days. How can you not love that, oh yah and I love the products too. We had a great time, just the 2 of us, no Maxwell. We had some wonderful family and friends watch him while we enjoyed ourselves. It was wonderful to just relax and have some time together, just us. We stayed at a beautiful resort in Cancun called Moon Palace .

Hanging on the swings by the pool on our last day.

Last evening "Farewell Dinner" with my friend Stacey
Group shot of some of the gals on my team
Loren and I dressed up




Yah, can we say HUMID! Even the camera felt it. We had just arrived at the hotel and heading out for our Welcome dinner.
Wonderful, blue beaches. I love water like that.
Kerri, Loren and I at dinner
Miniture golfing is always fun.
Stacey and I ready for some lunch and time out of the sun.
Swings again...
Buh, Bye...Cancun...we will miss you.

Fire Departments are COOL

Loren volunteers at the Browns Point Fire Dept. We had a fun day in July and took Max down to check it out. We got to sit in the fire engine and on the rescue sea-doo and just check out the whole department. Max loves to be with his daddy and loves seeing the big trucks too. Max sitting in the drivers seat of the fire engine.

Loren and Max
Fun on the rescue sea-doo


The Ellingsons

Happy Husband...THANK YOU!

Do any other wives out there feel like when their husbands are happy we are happier? Loren loves his new job at Redfin. They totally take care of their employees and are already trying to make it work for Loren to work from home. He would probably go in a couple times but just the idea of it makes life so much easier. The commute to Seattle is not fun! God is good and it’s amazing how he works and continues to bless us in ways we could never imagine. We prayed for something and God totally worked. I’m really looking forward to what the future holds and excited to see what God has for us.

Does anyone have trouble with there kids hitting and/or screaming? We have been using the “Time Out Chair”. It seems to work, but it’s a little frustrating that Max doesn’t just stop hitting??? Any advice would be much appreciated. Discipline is hard and knowing what the best thing for him is difficult. I want to do the right thing but I don’t always know what that is. Would love to hear what some others of you have and are doing with your kids.

High school reunion! Wow I still can’t believe that is almost here. We really need people to RSVP! If you’re planning on coming please don’t procrastinate. I know a lot of people put it off and we really can’t afford for people to do that. Please encourage those that you know to do the same! Thanks!!! I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone. Fun Times will be had by all.

I will post some pictures later. I have never posted without pictures…trying to mix it up a bit.

Vacation and Potty Training

Loren and I just returned home from Cancun! I earned the trip from Southern Living at HOME! I have parties and I win trips, does it get much better? To the right is a picture of the beach and below was the farwell dinner on the last night. I love vacation and time with my husband. We did miss Maxwell but knew he was in good hands. More pictures later but I haven't posted in a long time.










In other news...I just bought Max a 3-in-1 Toiliet training seat! Similar to this one...and he is sitting on the toilet right now. Its like a new toy I guess? The funny things you learn as a parent. He hasn't gone potty in it but he sits on it and says "Pee Pee" so he does have some idea. We will see what happens. Wish us luck.



And Loren started his new job today! Fill you in later. He is liking it so far and is excited. More life updates later.

High School...so 10 years ago!! What??

Does time fly by or what? My 10 year high school reunion is coming up in September and I still feel like I graduated a couple years ago, but yes 10 years it is. Wow a lot has happened since then. I am very lucky to be a part of a wonderful planning committee who is doing such an amazing job as each person brings their talents to the table. This last weekend we got together…. 400 + invitations, BBQ, fun times reminiscing and catching up = Invitation stuffing party! All the invitations are sitting on my couch ready to be sealed up and sent out to all my fellow classmates. We are going to have great reunion and its going to be great to catch up and see what everyone has been up to for the past 10 years.

Some of the planning committe gals...

Sarah, Max and Brandon...yah Max is mine

Yah, Mel is a little taller than me...

Travis and Kevin
Natasha & Travis
Some of the kids...wish they could have folded a little quicker...
Sarah, Melanie and me...Loren and Brandon

Fun times ahead...

Max loves slides...and our neighbors.

Max on his way to the slides... Oh and he loves swings too. Do you know how hard it is to take the perfect picture while they are swinging...I was impressed with my abilities.
Its so fun to watch him play with new things.
Finally to the slide!! A couple weeks ago he didn't really know how to do it by himself, but with a little practice he totally has the hang of it and everytime we pass one he says "Slide, Slide" though its not quite that clear.
Max loved this car of our neighbors and kept wanting to get in. I think we might need to get one of these down the road. Fun times.
This was so funny watching Zoe and Nathan push/pull Max in the wagon. We have the best neighbors...they are a lot of fun.

Zoe and Max in the wagon. Max has started going over to the front door to see if they are home, it cracks me up. He loves his friends.

It seems like there is a lot going on right now. I'm shocked at how fast summer seems to already be flying by. Weeks and weekends seem already full and its barely begun. Oh I don't want it to fly by because I have been so looking forward to it. I'm working on my High School class reunion which is coming up and this past weekend I got together with fellow classmates to put the invitations together, I will post pictures soon. I'm sure a couple of you our really wanting to see them. I can't believe its been 10 years already, I still feel like a kid and I'm a mom, what happened. Life flys by and it just gets faster and faster. Loren and I go to Cancun in July and it will be just us. Can't wait to spend sometime with just the 2 of us, no email, no cell phones....oh and no diapers...!!! I love Max, but as any parent would understand time alone with your spouse and no distractions...PRICELESS. I value that time so much more now.

We are going to Portland, OR this weekend to visit my mom and celebrate her wedding. They are having the reception at their house and I'm really looking forward to it...dancing with Loren, wouldn't miss it. They got married a month or so ago so it's all about the celebration...my mom always throws a good party. I always look like 5 year old next to my mom, why is that...??? I will never know!!! Love her, can't wait to see her this weekend. We always have a great time. Okay, I keep typing, its time to go! See you later...

Remembering our BEAUTIFUL Friend...Cathy.

I knew the news would come, but still nothing can prepare you for the loss of a friend. I have known Cathy for about 4 years now. I met her right before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I can't explain her beauty, but she was a beautiful person inside and out. She was cancer free for a little over a year and in Oct. 06 she found out it was back and it had moved to her liver. The amazing thing about Cathy is you would never know she was sick, her spirits where always high and she knew God was going to heal her. He did heal her; she got to go be home with him early this morning.

Cathy was such a gift to all who knew her. The last 6 months we missed her at bible study. Cathy was one of the ladies who were with us when we started our girls bible study. Her faith was amazing and she would say she was healed through her cancer. To watch her faith grow as she went through this difficult battle is something that will always remain with me. All who knew her will always remember the amazing memories we have of her. I loved her honesty, her love for her family and her love for Jesus Christ.

It’s very rare that you are able to share with someone what their life has meant to you and I was lucky enough to be able to share with Cathy what her life has meant to me and to assure her that her story does not stop here and we will be able to share it with others after she is gone from this earth. Sadness for her is not what I feel today, sadness for those of us who will miss her until we see her again in HEAVEN. I keep wondering today what she is doing in Heaven now. What was it like to see Jesus and meet him for the first time…I can only imagine. It’s good to know that she has no more pain and is free of all the hardships this world brings. She is FREE and is full of JOY and PEACE…I live for that moment and is has become more real to me knowing Cathy and her story and just how short life is…it’s just a moment.

The most important thing I have learned in the last week and I am always reminded of this when someone passes…Life is short and material things don’t matter one bit. It doesn’t matter what house I lived in, what car I drove, what shoes I was wearing…in the end it doesn’t matter at all. What does matter is did my life impact people; did I do what God intended for my life, did I please him? I look forward to meeting God one day! I look forward to living a life for him and having NO regrets. Jesus came on this earth to teach us, he died on the cross so we could be FORGIVEN of our SINS; he rose again so we could have NEW LIFE and all we have to do is simply REPENT and BELIVE, that’s it. God is Good.

Life is but a moment, eternity with Christ is what I want to live and look forward to. Thank you Cathy for allowing your life to speak to me and for being such a faithful believer. You will always be remembered! We love you…

Retreat anyone?

Twice a year my bible study group goes to Gearhart, OR to retreat for the weekend and spend time together. Its a great time with teaching by Andrea, discussion and time to just relax with each other. The weekend started out with great weather. I love being by the beach...seeing it, smelling the salt water and just admiring Gods creation! Its AMAZING. You always learn something about yourself when your in a house with 12 other gals! We read a great book "Renovation of the Heart" by Dallas Williard. Its about spiritual formation and is a life changing book. I would reccomend it to everyone. Its so funny now that I'm a mom how much more I appreciate alone time and this was a great weekend to unwind and have time for me. Loved it.

How do you not love this? God is Good!

Lunch at Pacific Way Cafe'....SO GOOD. Andrea, Angela and I
Karen, Patricia, me and Cathy driving there
Me, Angela and Karen
Angela and I
Patricia, Andrea, Angela, Cathy and Pam
Sunsets at the beach are AMAZING!

A group of us went down a day earlier and then the rest came later and I will add a group picture of everyone when I get it. None of these shots have the others. I will include a picture from last year.
We have a few new people that aren't in this picture, but at least you get an idea. The house we stay in is great and fit all of us. Love it.

My friend is a SMARTY!

My Dear friend Andrea on the morning of her LAST DAY of Seminary!!!

I had to post about my dearest friend who GRADUATED from Western Seminary last month. She has been going to school for 9 years and the last 4 have been in Portland at Western. I'm so proud of her and all that she accomplished. I'm glad to have my friend back though...no more studying! Yipeee... She got her degree in Exegetical Theology , which meant she had to take Hebrew and Greek! That was tough stuff. We had a great weekend with friends and family who came down to Portland for the graduation and my mom and I hosted a brunch on Sunday for everyone. It was so fun to host a party with my mom, we went to the farmers market to get flowers and berries for the party on Saturday and its days like that I so wish my mom lived closer so we could do stuff like that more often. Love her and I always enjoy our time together. Okay back to the guest of honor...Anrdrea who is really like a sister to me. I was so excited that this day had finally come and I could be with her. Fun times...Andrea on the morning of her last day of school!

Walking off campus for the last time as a STUDENT.

Andrew, Sam, Max, Mom and Me

Graduaton DAY!

Majority of the "Bible Study Gals"

Andrea's Dad, Bob holding all our purses while we took pictures...

Friend and family who came to celebrate for brunch on Sunday at my moms house.

A great time for us all to be together and celebrate this wonderful occasion! Fun times!

South 5

I love this. My brother and his friends starred in the short film. His friend wrote if for the 72 Hour Film Festival. Its so funny...check it out.