Ella's Favorites

When asked by her mother...this is how she replied....

What is your favorite thing to do? - play on the computer
What is your favorite movie? - Madeleine
If you could paint your room any color, what would it be? - pink and purple
What do you want to be when you grow up? - a doctor
Who is your favorite person? - Ella Ross and Micah
If you could be called by any name, what would it be? - Danbo
Who's your favorite character in the Bible? - Jesus
If you had $5, what would you buy? - milk
What's your favorite thing to eat? - mac-n-cheese
What's your favorite dessert? - pumpkin pie
Who's your favorite person to play with? - Ella Ross
What's your favorite game to play? - Candyland
What's the best kind of cereal ever? - raisin bran
If you cold go anywhere today, where would you go? - Target
What's your favorite bible verse? - Jesus

Blessed weekend

This last weekend, I had the opportunity to go back to the place that I hold near and dear to my heart, Mt. Gilead, to attend their women's retreat with my mom. I could talk your ear off about this place. It is a wonderful place where I grew up in my faith and met my husband, and sometimes I wish I could live there (retirement!). It is in the heart of the California Coastal Redwoods, right outside Santa Rosa, Ca. Those form-able teen summers were all spent there, and I constantly realized my need for God. I came across a quote that I just love speaking to this exact thing:

"Of all the needs (there are none imaginary) a lonely child has, the one that must be satisfied, if there is going to be hope and a hope of wholeness, is the unshaken need for an unshakable God."
- Maya Angelou

Mt. Gilead was that for me. The people during those years at camp gave me hope and showed me I needed God in my life, and I truly believed it! Not only did wonderful people invest in my life but God met me there, every time. And when you meet God, you are changed. I am so thankful for having Mt. Gilead then, and now! Going back there was such a treat for me. The whole time I was there I could just feel all the distractions melt away, and I could just be with my God, and amongst other godly women. It was like needed therapy for me! I was in an complaining, un-thankful place when I left home, and just escaping to Mt. Gilead for 2 days, gave me the perspective I needed to see that my focus had shifted off of my Father and onto my circumstances. I was a much needed drink of water for my soul. Can you tell? I am getting poetic on you :) Anyhow, I soaked it all in, and am in a good place, and am admiring a good God, who is faithful. I also had some really wonderful, much needed time with my mom, got to see some old friends, and climbed the rock wall all the way to the top. Yay for taxes that allowed me to do this wonderful weekend!

Shamrock Run!

So I got the chance this morning to run in the Shamrock Run with my good friend Jenn. She is a new runner, so we trained together, and did the 5K this morning with 21,000 other Portlanders (well they had many different legs...the 5K had 7500 people). It was quite crazy, but fun, running through the streets of downtown Portland! I did not bring my big camera with me to the Finish Line, so the pic I have is of us in the parking garage, and then one at breakfast. We celebrated with breakfast at the Tin Shed in North Portland. It was so good! Usually there is a long line on the weekends, but it also happened to be the time change this morning, so we got in there before the crowd hit! It was an awesome way to start my Sunday! Happy St. Patty's everyone! Hope you will enjoy some corned beef this week. I know I will :)

Mmmm good!

So these beautiful dishes have been the result of Spring-like weather, Chris' love for bbq and a desire to eat healthier. So good! Did I mention...it is all Chris? When it rains or is cold, I get to cook, but, apparently I have become the side-dish wife...or really I just make salads when Chris gets his bbq on! I am loving it!