The List

Silas and Connor..cute kids:)
Shad and his Ham
Together again
Utah
Gotta love the country

10. I made the most rockin welcome home to me dinner last night, if you really want to impress, call me and I will give you the recipe..too good. Of course I had other reason's to make this dinner, today I start a diet of epic proportions. So if I see/talk to you and am really cranky, please don't take offense, I'm just really hungry.

9. Utah is such a beautiful state. I never expected it to be so pretty.

8. I made the drive in 22 hours, really it was not too bad. We listened to a few books on CD and I chucked food in the back when necessary. I would totally do it again.

7. I have sooo much to do in the next few weeks. Coming back to reality is not always fun..maybe the kids and I could just travel the country and live out of my rockin van for the next year?!?! Talk about a life lesson.

6. I received a clever little flyer in the mail yesterday it said,
"Jesus for President.. advocating for change since 33 a.d."

This made me smile and I cut it out and put it on the fridge. This year politics are more frustrating than ever before..I think I just might do a write in for Jesus.

5. I joined Twitter.com while I was gone. Lori (who should be getting a blog soon!) turned me onto it. I want all the gf's to get signed on. Go check it out and watch the video it's pretty cool and it's free:)

4. A few of the gf's were part of a myspace bible study group I hosted last year. I have a few gf's that want to start another one back up, it was suggested we do one in blog form..who's in?? How it works.. we all buy the same book and go through it chapter by chapter together posting thoughts ect..It's nice, you don't need child-care or even need to get out of your pj's, but in order for it to work we all need to participate!! If enough of us are interested we can do one, if not..that's cool as well:)

3. Swappy Ladies!! Are you ready for a fall swap?? More on that to come very soon.

2. Check out these ladies..they are kinda funny and make really cool stuff.

1. I'm sad that summer is over..it's been crazy/fun/full of adventures. Lot's of memories made, good times had. I went out of the country, traveled to and through 6 different states, made new friends and made some decisions about old ones..I feel like for the first time in a very long time I have lived the past two months to my fullest..and let me tell you..it feels great:)

I'm home!!

Nuff said..I will post later:)

AZ or bust!!

Ok faithful fans..I leave at 5 am tomorrow morning for my return trip!!
I'm hoping to make it to Salt Lake by tomorrow evening with a stop in Oregon to see some family. The kids are anxious, the Husband is anxious and I'm ready to burn some rubber.
Say a little prayer for well behaved kiddos and police officers who are compassionate.
To all my AZ gf's here I come!! Are you ready??
To all my WA gf's..its been WONDERFUL hanging with you all, luv you bunches:)

To the Husband..the house BETTER be clean;)

Oh Happy Day!!

Girlfriends, coffee and blogging:) I'm enjoying a very lazy, happy day with Miss Elaine. It's amazing how much joy we can get from the simple things. Thanks Dearie for opening up your WI-FI and having a nice warm cup of coffee waiting for me:)

The List

Anticipation

One cute cowboy:)
Strehle laundry..countrified

American Life

10. It’s been almost two weeks since the husband headed back home, the kids and I miss him.

9. The Dish did very well at her sale, so did Miss Elaine. Good job ladies!! Keep checking this site for updated pics these awesome ladies!!

8. Seeing all of the gf’s here in WA makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the whole wide world. I’m really the most blessed girl around. To have steady gf’s who love me in spite of..well me and STILL want to hang out is really beyond me at times. They inspire me daily with strength, beauty, creativity, love and resolve. I only hope to enrich their lives as much as they have enriched mine.

7. We had sooo much fun camping, thanks Ham.

6. We are actively looking for a dog, does anyone have any ideas?? No I don’t want any lectures, I know all the con’s but I have son who desperately needs an animal of some sort so here we go again.

5. It’s official… I’M GOING TO PARIS!! If you want to check out my actual apartment that I will be staying in click here. If you would like to buy one of my children to help pay for this trip?? Send me an email..I’ll make you a heck of a deal.

4. So I have to give a super duper big shout out to The Dish. Really how many people would open up their home to 6 other people for a whole 12 days. Hmm I wonder why she left early?? No really, it was so very sweet of her and Tracey to let us crash her pad, eat her food and generally complicate their lives for such a long time. Just remember Trisha when I left the house it was super clean!!:)

3. A few of the AZ gf’s have been taking very good care of the husband while I have been gone, dinner, golf, more dinner. Can I just please ask you to try and NOT make me look so bad??? Seriously girls, he better not be expecting all that when I get home, who’s side are you on?? I thought we were friends.

2. About the above mentioned AZ gf’s and a few more.. I have to say that I’m really starting to miss you gals. I’m looking forward to seeing you all. Are any of you at all interested in relocating to say oh.. Washington?

1. Every night when I fall asleep all I can think about is my bed. I have been on the road for 24 days now, I have slept in 7 different places in those 24 days.
I’m stinking tired.

Pic's from the road..Summer Fun

Boys
Summer Fun
View of Lake Roosevelt..from our camp sight

Silas:)
View from the rents place..so pretty
BFF's
Dylan

My Dad

So I'm onto part duex of my trip. I have been at the "rents" since Monday. We have camped for a few of those days and tomorrow we have a rodeo. CRAZY!! I'm hoping to post something besides pics here in the next few days..but don't hold your breath:)

The List

10. I was in Seattle this morning..just plain GORGEOUS!! Puget Sounds crystal clear water with a little peak of Mt Rainier..Seattle Perfection!!

Oh and the downtown Goodwill was AWESOME.

Good Washingtonish day.

9. I forgot how green it was here.

8. My kids are beyond tired, so is their Mother.

7. The Dish will be here this weekend, good luck!!

6. I do miss my peeps in AZ, hope all is well girls!!

5. My Aunt brought me back the most Amberish type necklace from Paris last week..I can't wait to show it off.

4. Did I mention how tired I am??

3. We will be camping next week and taking a visit to Silverwood Theme park in Idaho, this brings our state tally up to 4.

2. When I get home I need to find a new place to live. I have to chalk this up as another Strehle adventure. I need some ideas AZ ladies.

1. I had the AWESOME opportunity to spend a few hours with Jeff and Josh. They have just returned from a 14 month deployment in Iraq. I can't even adequately wrap my words around the things we discussed or how I feel about it. We just have no clue what those boys go through for our country, how much they sacrifice in every way. Thank You Jeff and Josh for your service, you are truly hero's.

A few thoughts..(and some pics)

The Sister's
Cousins
More fun stuff at The Sister's

Granger..country kid

Ok.. finally a few minutes to breath...and blog:)

We had a WONDERFUL (too short) visit with The Sister, let me tell you all how absolutely FABULOUS her little place is..sooo cute. She of course as usual was the hostess with the mostess and put on a huge spread of free range T-Bones on the BBQ and various other yummy treats. We stayed up till late with much laughter and 9 (really??) kids running crazy around 4 acres. GREAT TIME!! Thanks sis for your wonderful hospitality and sweet little gifts..I'm lucky to be your sister:)
Ok so we have been here in town for about 2ish days and I need to have a deep convo with all my peeps, (if your not one of "my peeps" you can just skip past this) Every time I come back into town I have guilt..alot of guilt. There is just never enough time in my day (or days) to give you all adequate time, the past few times I know I end up offending at least one of you. With some of you I end up rushing my visit, with some of you I never even get to see, this makes me feel bad..really bad.
Just to give you a little insight into Amber, I'm a pleaser, it's a first born problem. When I lived here it was easy (sometimes) to hang with you all, no time crunch. Now I feel like I need to fit 33 years worth of friendships into 2 weeks, this is not easy and sadly it comes at the expense of my friends feelings which I don't EVER mean to do. So please..forgive me now, I'm trying to make this work and I dearly want to see you all. For most of you (all that read this blog) I'm NOT avoiding you, NOT trying get out of seeing you!! It just simply comes down to time..thats it..no more. I love you all so much and you are all very dear to me, but sadly I'm just one lady and can only do so much in a day.
Please bear with me.

Lastly a shout out to all of you sweet peeps who have made time in your life to come see us in AZ..THANK YOU SO MUCH. One of my friends from AZ was saying how lucky I am to have so many people visit me from WA and it's true, it makes me feel very blessed to have such lasting friendships that distance does not divide. You are all wonderful and I very much appreciate the time AND money it took for you to visit us.
PLUS..there is something very special about getting to spend one on one time with you..no rushing..no other places for me to be. Just good times with great friends, simple stuff that makes life better.

Ok..I promise the next blog will not be so lengthy or downish, I will be back to my usual Amberish self. Love you all;)

Some more pic's from the road:)

Ok this is just a few from the like 400!! So far we have had a blast, yesterday we did the Redwoods so stay tuned for about a 100 pictures of really big trees:) Miss you all who are in AZ and looking forward to all my Washington peeps!!