The List

Oh I'm sooo crafty..(with Charity's help)

Seattle Goodwill..finally!!!

10. Ok so last week apparently Amy was not asking if I had a job because I'm so unavailable..no she was asking for legitimate reasons..dang..took the wind right out of my, "Amber is soo popular speech".

9. Had a super good debate this week with Jeff Gokee about this very controversial Christian book. You know how there are some people you love to debate with?? Love to be the devils (no pun indented! ha!) advocate?? Well that would be Jeff:)

8. Had yet another crafty morning with Charity, very nice. We craft and try to solve all the worlds problems at the same time..deep stuff.

7. So twin A came home from school this evening and told me he over heard a kid talking about smoking "weed"..Then twin B proceeded to tell me, "we are sooo not in Montessori anymore Mom". (Oh and news flash..Mom is sooo not ready for this)
Can they just go back to being 4 please?

6. We are still searching for a church to call home. I'm ready to get settled and its starting to wear on the kiddos..I miss having a church family.

5. Miss ya AZ peeps:(

4. Gearing up for a fantabulous weekend!! Miss Elaine is spending 4 days with us!! Yipee!!

3. Every night at exactly 10:37 the alarm system here in cold house does this beapy thing..and it wakes us up every stinking night..yup Zach and I are all warm, cozy..just starting to drift off..BEEP...BEEP. Can we figure out how to turn the @#$% thing off? No..Am I going to shoot a hole in the wall..yes very soon.

2. Where did January go?

1. Stimulus?? Hmm..speechless..hmm..frustated..hmm..I pay taxes why?...hmm..I'm over it!!

Charity:)

Snow

The List..delayed

We asked Sissy what she wanted for her b-day..she said Emma:) Delayed Christmas aftermath..good times:)

Home made from scratch veggie and goat cheese pizza..yum yum.

Does it get much better than this? Hardly.

10. I had a AZ gf comment and ask me if I got a job (as if!). I'm assuming the reason for this question is my amount of blog/facebook/texting has decreased significantly in the past 3 weeks. Folks I gotta tell you it's just so hard when your so well..popular. I'm catching up on about 2 years worth of social engagements...feel sorry for me:)

9. Last weekend I hosted a delayed Christmas weekend. Cold house was warm and very full:) We had a blast! Lots of pasta and coffee were consumed by all (except Lauren who works at Starbucks but does not like coffee??) my idea of a perfect weekend.

8. Zach and I were able to take a date night and I was finally able to go the best Chinese restaurant in all of Washington, maybe the world, mmm so good. Hung out in the city and visited a pretty darn cool church in Ballard, good date night.

7. The music here in WA is sooo much better than in AZ. I think the only person who will disagree with me is Jerry Femano

6. I STILL have not gone to the Seattle Goodwill (see #1).

5. Had my first Paris Pussy cats meeting this Saturday..I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO PARIS!! I'm still pinching myself.

4. Oh and in case you were nervous, I turned in my passport app..after a few nights waking up from dreams about me NOT having a passport I thought I better get it turned in.

3. Did I ever tell you that Miss Elaine was invited to be in The Farm Chicks show?? That's like winning an Oscar in the junking world.

2. I had a pretty fabulous morning on Friday, I was able to fit in a little bit of crafting with Charity, it's nice to show off my totally SUCKY sewing skills to someone who rocks the sewing machine. I think she ended up feeling really sorry for me.

1. How am I adjusting? Hmm..lots of strong coffee, a very large cell phone bill, new Ugg boots (in brown) and a wool sweater to bed every night.

Thats how I'm adjusting..nuff said.

We have a winner!! Or two..

Better late than never!! Long day!! So sorry!!

Package #1
Emily Rozzell
(I will mail yours..need your address)

Package #2
Cyndi Anderson
(I can drop yours off at work!)

Free Stuff!

What better way to boost my low blogging ego than by offering some free stuff in lieu of a comment or two??

Heres the dealio I've been doing some cleaning out of the craft corner. I have a problem with stuff (a.k.a junk,bits,bobs,trinkets) and acquiring too much stuff. Really its stuff I will never use, not sure why I have it in the first place...so it's yours..for FREE..yup just offer a comment about what kind of stuff you have a weakness for (or maybe your perfect and have no weakness..whatever!) and Friday I will draw names..then presto you could have a fun little package arriving, really who does not like to get stuff in the mail..especially when it's free!!
(Please specify if you would like package #1 or #2)

Package #1-Various buttons and sewing notions, plus some super huge rolls of ribbon, (one a very nice velvety white that I was reluctant to part with)

Package #2-Scrapbooking stuff..No I don't scrapbook..yes I am also wondering why I have all this..don't ask..and whatever you do please don't tell THE HUSBAND!!

Comment away!

Just pic's

Gorgeous sunny Monday here in WA..just had to snap a few pic's.

The List

Washington goodness

My birthday girl:)Hanging with my gnomies

10. What inspires you? I'm just curious.

9. At times I get really bad blog envy, I get all down on myself..thinking all 10 of you who read this blog are really not reading it at all..no your off at one of those cool blogs, ones that make national headlines.
I know, I know it's silly.. but I'm just saying.

8. I feel sooo sorry for The Dish. Just last week we had a very fun morning of Starbucks and chatting...she was showing off her newest purchase..a fancy camera..a real nice one. We were oohing and awing over that thing, then I get this very upset phone call. One of her little angels dropped the camera and busted the lens....bummer.

7. When I took the above pictures, I froze, seriously. I'm not taking any outdoor pics till spring.

6. I got some great news yesterday, looks like a very good AZ friend will be up in my neck of the woods come this spring..yipee!!

5. The kids first full week of school is going well. This is the first time they have ever attended a traditional public school. I have some thoughts on this, but that will have to come in a later post.

4. I found the neatest grocery store EVER. Ok it's not really the neatest..let me rephrase that..the CHEAPEST grocery store ever (the neatest is Whole Foods) When you are on a budget feeding 6 peeps everyday and are a self proclaimed food snob, not just any meal will do.This place has some pretty darn good deals and some pretty darn good food..you just have to hunt a little..and get past the smell..and all the massive amounts of people..but really I promise it's worth it:)

3. Speaking of food, I have discovered something very interesting about myself. I have always known that I'm an emotional eater, meaning when I'm stressed out I like to shove large amounts of carbs (mostly in the form of pasta and mashed potatoes) down my throat. When I moved to AZ I quickly gained __lbs it took me a while but I eventually got it off. Now back home under lots less stress (but still some). I'm a stinking maniac in the kitchen right now..totally coming up with awesome meals every night for the fam, plus baking..often. I think I have discovered yet another Amber coping mechanism..oh what a complex creature I am.

2. I started a knitting project a few days ago. I tried once in AZ to knit, but it just did not feel right. Sitting by the fire here in cold house knitting feels very right. I will post pic's when I'm finished with my "arm warmers" cuz you can't live here with cold arms, right? (oh and no judging allowed, I have not knitted in a long time!)

1. Isabelle's 9th birthday is on Saturday!! Crazy..seriously, I'm just so shocked she is 9. This girl came into the world making a huge (11lb!) statement and really has not stopped:) Oh my world would be so..bland without this little girl around.

The List..New Years Style..

Normally I don't do New Years Resolutions but in blogdom it seems a little easier, actually it should be harder..now I'm writing them down for the world to see, just please don't hold me too accountable:)
My New Years list..

10.Get skinny..HA!! JUST KIDDING!! No really its more like, WHO am I kidding..not myself anymore. Do over..

10. Love my body the way it is, be thankful for the "glories" of child rearing, eat healthy and exercise.

9. Remember that God is above politics.

8. Treasure the people that matter most to me and TELL them how much I treasure them.

7. Remember that judgement should ONLY come from my creator..ever.

6. Remind myself that at times love is much harder than judgement.

5. Buy less stuff.

4. Take care of the stuff I have now.

3. Remember that stuff does not make me happy (with the exception of large diamonds)

2. Take God out of the box I have him so neatly wrapped in.

1. Everyday try and leave a little bit more of my icky self behind to make room for the person God intended me to be:)

What a year..

Communication Breakdown..

One recent evening while Zach was in WA and I was still in AZ I was texting Jeff Gokee (good friend who just happens to be the boys youth pastor) in the middle of our texting frenzy I had the grand idea to remind Zach to call Jeff when he got a chance, so I sent Zach this text.."hon, when you get a chance you REALLY need to call Jeff Gokee, you are the worst at long distance relationships!" A few minutes later I received a message from Jeff..not the hub, that said, "What?" Oh snap! I knew immediately what I had done..scrolled through my sent box and sure enough I had sent the text about Jeff to Jeff..nice. This of course could have been much much worse..I mean Zach had been gone for numerous days at this point..it could have been..

"Hon, I sooo can't wait for you to come home it feels like you've been gone FOREVER! When you get back...
**THIS PORTION HAS BEEN EDITED FOR ADULT CONTENT** oh..and how was your day at work?"

Really it could have been very bad..not to mention that this is my children's youth pastor!! OMG!!! After we all had a very good laugh at MY expense, Jeff said he really wished he had gotten the other kind of text..he would have never let me live it down. Oh great, yet another Strehle story to be used as a sermon illustration!
This got me thinking about communication, or rather the lack of real communication. You know the kind that I'm referring to..sitting across the table from one another sharing food, coffee, glass of wine, limoncello..whatever and just getting to know that other person, hearing their story. It's easy in this age to think we are actually communicating with people when in fact, it really is very shallow type of communication. Some days I feel like all I do is communicate, but have I actually had a convo about anything that truly matters? Anything that could even remotely be considered eternal? Deep? Meaningful?

No I don't think commenting on your facebook is the same:)
What makes for good communication? Depth is good, you know..laughs, love, tears, politics and of course, religion. These all lead to real communication, real relationships.
You can't twitter those.
This week think of a person (or two) call em up (I like pasta and Starbucks) and invite them over for a little chat, talking is really so much better in person.

Now I better get going..I have to check my facebook:)

The List..Washington Style

Poor birdie..I bet she is cold!

Christmas decorations by The Dish

Luminaries back in AZ

Miss ya Jerry!:)

Silly ladies:)

10. I'm going to name this house..Cold House. Really I'm thinking that just about any house I moved into from AZ would be cold, but seriously I have not warmed up since we moved in. I have a down comforter plus 3 other really big thick blankets on my bed and I'm still freezing at night!

9. We have been home for just over two weeks, and due to snow, lack of stuff and finally a really bad case of strep throat we have not seen ONE person (other than the Loves). Crazy!! I'm actually back in Washington and lonely! Who would have thought!!

8. The Sister is planning a visit soon, I can't wait to see her! AND Miss Elaine is due to show up by the end of the month..FUN!! These are definitely some of the perks of moving back!

7. I'm hoping to get the kiddos enrolled and ready for school by Wednesday..if you get a chance say a quick prayer for them, its not easy being the new kid:(

6. Fellow blogger Timi (and neighbor I think!) kept posting during this snow storm..she was calling it "Marriage Test 2008". This made me laugh very hard, and I think that it is a very true statement of the past few weeks weather. I figure if The Husband and I could make it through these past few weeks, we should be able to make it through just about anything.

5. Poor Ginger!! Oh she is soo cold all of the time!

4. Due to snow, lack of stuff and finally sickness I have not been able to do much. I'm super looking forward to hitting the Seattle Goodwill (maybe this week?? Who's in??) Central Market and a few other choice Washington spots.

3. 30 days of Nothing..ok so when I originally posted I of course had zero idea we would be moving on the 20th of December..so stay tuned I would like to pick it up in February. Really who needs roses and chocolate anyways??

2. So I made a really big decision during this move...because we are only staying here in Cold House till June, I'm not going to "Amber it up". Meaning all of my tchotche's will stay in storage. This caused The Dish and I to have a few arguments during moving day. She kept putting up stuff and I kept taking it down..she kept wondering why I was putting stuff back IN boxes. I'm sure the movers thought we were crazy. The reason behind my madness? I moved cross country in June of 07, then 17 months later moved cross town, then 4 weeks later moved cross country AGAIN! Now in 6 short months we are moving yet again. If I have to pack my &*!? up again I will for sure go loco..seriously crazy. So when you visit and think to yourself that I have lost all of my very talented decorating style, just know it's happily stored in the freezing cold garage.

1. I'm stinking cold!