Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I'm keeping myself busy...

...by crocheting a blanket. Although, it's already becoming a tedious project, so it may be a scarf. I'll try a blanket later... I'm planning on sending it out to Afghanistan. My church's next trip isn't until November, so I have a while to finish it... whatever it becomes...


...by catching up with my best friend, Jill... I love this gal! Yesterday she asked me to be one of her bridesmaids in her October 3rd wedding. My response? "Jill... I'd be honored to be in your wedding!"


...by reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch... a great book about a man's childhood dreams and enabling others' dreams. Dr. Pausch gave his 'last lecture' at Carnegie Mellon University months before he died of pancreatic cancer. It's a really powerful lecture... watch it if you have the time!


...but I'm out of ideas and still have a week and a half off of work...

Friday, July 24, 2009

I cannot believe how big he is!



The last time I posted something about Bjorn, he was just barely a year old. Now he's topping out a whoppin' 16 months. He walks! He talks! He draws! He climbs on stuff! All with a little bit of his quirky, Bjorn style.

We are constantly blown away with how much he's talking -- or at least trying to. These are some of the many words:
  • "Ana" or "Nun" -- that's me
  • "Mama work" and "Dada work"
  • "Dado" -- Colorado, of course
  • "Bawk" -- park
  • "Poo" -- pool
  • "Einstein" -- he's addicted to the Baby Einstein videos
  • "Papa" -- pasta
  • "Hot" -- paired with a goofy hand wave
  • "Bapa" -- this started off as Grandpa, but now he calls any older man "Bapa"
Our weeks have evolved into quite the routine. Mondays are storytime at Borders Bookstore in Boulder. Tuesdays we go for a long walk and to the dinosaurs at the mall. Wednesdays we go to the pool. Thursdays are "Tiny Tumblers" (baby gymnastics) at the rec center. Of course, with all of his fun developments (especially walking/running/climbing) come bumps and bruises, but he's holding his own really well. Now that I think about it, the kid really doesn't ever quit moving... except during nap time... which I'm always thankful for!

Bjorn constantly wants to listen to music. But we can't listen to Annette's music. We have to listen to Sesame Street. We have to listen to track 9. We have to listen to Grover singing "Wompa wompa woo woo woo". Bjorn asks for it by saying "Wa woo woo woo??" At least he says please.

He's quite the character. And quite the stinker. But we all are so thankful for that little boy! He really does radiate the joy that only a fun little guy can.



Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Wow, it's been FOREVER!

The last time I posted a blog was on April 6... It's JULY... How pathetic is that?

Last night I drove in the craziest rain storm I've ever seen. I was at the grocery store, innocently buying some granola, yogurt, and fruit. When I walked out, it was dumping rain on Boulder. The drive home took twice as long because we were going twice as slow! So, apparently the storm was threatening to become a tornado and I was right in the middle of it... comforting...

I'm completely enjoying summertime in Colorado. Sure, it's hot (although, today is a whoppin' 58 degrees). But goodness, it's so beautiful! I've been blown away by God's goodness -- and that He does things like this for us:


If I look at the summer so far (sigh... is it really half over??), the most precious times have been surrounded by great friends. I've been reminded of the richness of good, authentic community. Really, I wouldn't have it any other way.

In May, I was able to spend time with my best friend, Jill. She's in Michigan for a dietetics internship. It was so sweet to see her... I'm really excited for her to move back to Colorado for good in a few weeks!


Also in May, my good friend Laura gave birth to little Avery Joy. Avery was a long awaited baby and is a huge blessing!


In June, I visited my brother, sister in law, and nieces in California. I spent a long weekend running around with Roma and Quincy. Roma and I took a short trip to San Diego to visit some friends of mine who were doing ministry with Campus Crusade down there...


July has been a month of being with friends in Colorado....

On the 4th of July, my friends Bryon, Kristin and Jared and I went climbing up near Estes Park. We stayed in town for dinner at my favorite Estes restaurant and the great fireworks show.


My friend, Marissa, spent this past year in East Asia. She got home in early July, so a bunch of college friends got together to welcome her home! ...And to get free Slurpees, as it was July 11...


The girls in my Bible study all went out on Friday night for our first -- but definitely not last -- Girls Night. It was great to connect with them outside of Bible study...


On Sunday night after church, a bunch of friends went to dinner at Chili's... One of my most favorite things in life is sitting with good people and laughing, telling stories, and catching up. So we did that. I was truly content!


So that's that... I'm about to get a two-week vacation (Bjorn and his parents are headed to Sweden to visit his grandparents) and I'm so ready to sleep in, lay by the pool, visit more friends, and enjoy down time. I hope you're enjoying your summer, too!