Post From the Past - 9/25/11

So I thought it would be fun to bring back old posts every now and then...to see growth, change, and to smile in a way I used to smile...today's smile comes from September 25th, 2011

 

Posted 25th September 2011 by Megs Marie

 

"In a blink they are all gone, all of them.  The past week was surely a highlight of the summer.  Molly set up camp right in the middle of our living room and lived out of two duffel bags.  Our futon became her bed and a simple drying rack became her shelving unit, where she decided to nicely store her clothes.  It was great fun…until it ended Friday.  She pretty much hitchhiked her way to Spokane, with a short pit stop at the Gorge to watch the Zac Brown Band play.  She arrived Sunday with a smile on her face, some fudge in her hands, and a list of “Spokane to do’s.”  Unfortunately, I had to work most days she was in town, but once I clocked off I was ready to play! 

Monday 9.19.11

Bright and early = 6.2 mile run in the sun!  I had already committed to work until 4 that day but soon was able to go to Zola’s for happy hour!  Yum!  Hummus platters, blue cheese sweet potato fries, salmon swimmers, $1 beers, and a cheap tab!!!  We eventually drove over to give Molly a quick tour of Moody Bible Institute and then it was straight back to the apartment to put on our comfies to watch The Jones’ (sorry Dad we watched it without you).

Tuesday 9.20.11

Bright and early = a workout at the gym!  I had already committed to work until 9 pm so it was all fun and games for Molly trying to learn the Spokane bus system to get her busy little self around town!  She missed the first bus due to her lack of following directions but eventually she made it downtown to see Gonzaga friends!  Bedtime came real quick after I got off work.

Wednesday 9.21.11

Bright and early = no run = work at 7:30am.  I raced home around 11 to spend the rest of the day with Molly!  We re-energized with a pit stop at our local java hut and then hit up some apple picking and tractor riding at the local farm, Greenbluff.  I bought 18 apples.  I don’t know how many Molly picked.  But we definitely couldn’t dilly-dally around the farm because Craig was expecting Molly’s famous enchiladas when he got home from work.  YUM!  Check out my recipe page to see how easy it is…

The night didn’t end there!  We decided to indulge at the local frozen yogurt bar and then we were ready to turn in.

Thursday 9.22.11

Bright and early = I worked out at the gym all alone!  I had already committed to work until 4 but soon after met up with Molly and Marissa to run the Flying Irish!  What is the Flying Irish, you ask?  It is a 5k that is run by 300+ people every Thursday.  They leave from the local Irish Pub and run a different 5k route weekly.  If you run it 6 times you get a t-shirt and 50% off all pub fare after the races.  Race #1….complete!  To make up for the calories we had burned we stopped in at our favorite restaurant downtown, Steelhead.  Blue cheese fries, crab and artichoke dip, portabella mushroom burger, a regular burger, and two schooners covered the table.  Our calorie intake was met.  Success.

Friday 9.23.11

Bright and early = no run = work at 7:30am.  I raced home around 11 to spend the last few hours with Molly.  We ate some leftovers and then decided our time together needed to commemorate at Costco.  Well, I guess that is a white lie because we ended at Ultimate Bagel so that Molly could check off the last thing on her “To Do in Spokane” list…eat a bagel at Ultimate.  Check.  I then unwillingly drove her to Marissa’s so that she could hitchhike back to Federal Way.  Afterward, I sluggishly walked to the gym to run off my sorrows and sadness.

But our week/weekend didn’t end there…No way!

Saturday 9.24.11

After a 2 hour membership class at church, a hardcore workout, and a BBQ at Craig’s professor’s house, we met up with Steve & Shannon Van Dyken (Steve is Craig’s BFF and was his groomsman at the alter).  They stayed at my place of employment, The Spokane Club!  We visited briefly and then headed home to enjoy some time alone.

Sunday (TODAY!!!)

We attended both services at church today because Craig and I had the privilege of being introduced to the congregation.  Craig is the new High School Youth Group Intern at Northview Bible Church, so we were called up front to have people come lay hands on us and pray over us.  It was a very neat experience and a welcoming introduction to our year of service at Northview.  After twice the amount of holiness we went out to lunch with Steve & Shannon and then flipped on the Seahawks as we played a rousing 3.5 hour game of Phase 10.  Our time together concluded about an hour ago at the local frozen yogurt bar where we said our goodbyes and watched Craig cry over the loss of his BFF.  We are now sitting at the Whitworth University library.  I must say it looks like Craig is working on homework but I bet he is really thinking about me…ahhhh…true love."

 

Happy Funday Sunday

Psalm 5:3

"Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.  Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly."

Coffee has to be IN my system within 10-20 minutes of waking up each morning.  Some mornings the coffee pot is full and the roasted smell has already filled our little home, other times I have to stumble in the kitchen to prepare a pot myself.  Either way, it has to happen.  But it is interesting to think that coffee really doesn't have a huge effect on me.  It may open my eyes a bit more from a squint to a wide-eyed gaze, but throughout the day, when I'm feeling the low energy, coffee is not the go-to...but I still go-to it :)    It is a belief I hold that coffee does in fact wake me up, give me the jitters, allow me to focus, and give me better runs (exercise...I know what you all were thinking...however, that too!)  Just the other day I took a shot of espresso before I went swimming and to my amazement I had an incredible swim!  But is it all mental?!  Me, being a psych major and a preliminary school counselor, I wonder how much in life we believe to be true, which in fact causes it to become true.  This is a psychology theory that fascinates me, but more so, the reliance factor of a substance and how it contributes to our relationship with others and Christ.

Each morning, of course with my cup of joe in hand, I try to make some quiet time with God.  While our house is quiet and a husband usually still sleeping, I sit down and read a psalm and a proverb.  So today, I read psalm 25 and proverbs 25 since it is March 25th.  This allows me to set my mind for the day and find my reliance and focus before it secularly finds me.  It is a hard habit to get in to and takes some discipline but I have had two incredible weeks and I give the credit to starting my morning off right.  So, this is one thing I believe to be true and usually proves itself to be true!

With this quick thought said...I need another cup of coffee...and it's time for church...Happy Sunday!

PSALM 29

This verse speaks so beautifully to me right now...

Bravo, God, bravo!  Gods and all angels shout, "Encore!"  In awe before the glory, in awe before God's visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor him!  God thunders across the waters, Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness - God, across the flood waters.  God's thunder tympanic, God's thunder symphonic.  God's thunder smashes cedars, God topples the northern cedars.  The mountain ranges skip like spring colts, The high ridges jump like wild kid goats.  God's thunder spits fire.  God thunders, the wilderness quakes; He makes the desert of Kadesh shake.  God's thunder sets the oak trees dancing A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches. We fall to our knees - we call out, "Glory!"  Above the floodwaters is God's throne from which his power flows, from which he rules the world.  God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. 

eastern egal :]

So, here it is...the big news.  The first step leading into my dream career has come true.  Well, let's back up.  My DREAMIEST dream career is to be a whale trainer at Sea World.  And I'm not going to lie...my heart just tingled a bit as I wrote that statement and thought about that reality.  So maybe it's a good thing that I'm not a whale trainer because that tingle could very easily turn into a full-fledged heart attack if I were to encounter a precious orca whale in person (ouch!  my heart just hurt again!).

 

 

But back to reality and my really good news...I GOT INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL!  Starting September 26th I will be an Eastern Washington University eagle.  This has been something I have worked towards since my senior year in college, not to mention all of my prior experience leading up to college.  Just a bit of history: I applied to two graduate schools senior year at Linfield, making the waiting list for one school and not even getting a chance with the other school.  I was heartbroken and crushed.  The "waiting list" school informed me that they took students who had been out of school for a few years with a bit more life experience.  They recommended programs like Teach for America and AmeriCorps to gain more expertise and service-oriented experience.  So that is exactly what I did.  Right out of college I served a year with AmeriCorps - a national service organization.  I tutored at-risk elementary students in math and reading and successfully ran a before and after school program.  This was a challenging and stretching time for me as an individual and it surely solidified my "dream career."  It also concreted my passion for elementary aged children.

 

Moving over to Spokane was hard because I really wanted a job that aligned with my career goals.  So I tirelessly looked and applied for ANYTHING at a school.  It took me a year and a half, but I eventually landed a job at the school I am at now: Mountainside Middle School.  And I absolutely adore, love, cherish my job!  I walked into it thinking, "Eh...middle schoolers.  I am scared!"  But in all actuality, it is such a fun age!  They are still children who are willing to please you and be goofy but they are old enough where you can hold a decent conversation with them.  So, my passion has expanded to elementary aged children and middle schoolers. :]  I still dread them high schoolers though!

 

 

Getting my name and face in a Spokane school district, I know, has been a tremendous help and a huge weight gain on my resume.  It is bittersweet that I must leave my precious school nestled in the woods, directly by Greenbluff farms.  But the job I hold here is not what I want to do forever.  So, I must leave, get my education, and maybe return as a school counselor.  I will be starting my Masters in School Counseling (K-12) at Eastern Washington University.  It is a solid two-year program: fall, winter, spring, summer, fall, winter, spring 2014 graduation!!!!

It is neat to see how everything is smoothing itself out.  We were so excited to move to the lower south hill in February but I grumbled because it was going to be a 30-40 minute commute to Mountainside.  But come fall, I will be .5 miles away from my other job and 1 mile away from Eastern's campus here in Spokane.  So I will be barely driving, which will save a lot of gas money and time.  No more grumbling and a lot more praising!  Craig will graduate in December and hopefully find full-time work.  It will be interesting to see how Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec go with us both being in school, but it may be fun!  Study sessions and homework parties! 

 

It is a comfort to know that we WILL be in Spokane for the next two years.  For a while, there had been a lot of uncertainties over what would happen and where we'd go after Craig graduated.  And to be honest, the last thing I want to do right now is pick up and start all over again in a new place.  It is exhausting trying to find friends, a church, work, a good neighborhood, etc.  And we are absolutely HEAD OVER HEELS with our church we have found in Spokane.  It is the number one reason we want to stay here for 10+ years.

 

Thank you friends and family for your support, prayers, and notes of encouragement.  It is still hard at times being over here in eastern washington, away from family and close friends, especially when there is hard stuff going on back home that we can't be a part of.  But we are slowly discovering that we are over here for a reason...maybe just to live out being an Eastern Eagle! :]

Classic Haskins Style

So give me the benefit of the doubt...I haven't gone 35 days since my last blog posting. 

It seems as if life is running by me at a very fast pace.  It is a busy season.  Every weekend is full of exciting events and even though I work the same schedule day-to-day there is always something coming up, making the days longer and busier.  Since the move Craig and I see each other less.  There just isn't enough hours in the stinkin' days!!!  But praise the Lord for invention of texts, cell phones, and facebook chat!  We are so grateful though to come home to our CUTE little house at the end of each day, knowing we will climb in to bed together -- er -- maybe not always at the same time.  But through the midst of the business and chaos that this spring season brings, we are still able to find time for fun projects, dinners, and friends. 

Two weeks ago we had the privilege of having dinner with a 92-year old man, Lester Ames.  I had befriended him at the gym at our old apartment.  He and I worked out daily together, usually for 1.5 hours.  He has an iPod that confuses him sometimes, so I was the faithful young blond girl who would switch his music to Josh Whitaker for him.  Some days he would beat me to the treadmill I liked to run on and others days I would beat him.  It was a race to see who made it there first.  I gained a loyal respect for this man, especially when I found out he was 92 years old, born in 1919.  I assumed he had seen a lot in his days so I desired to visit with him outside of the gym.  He had my husband and I over to his apartment for a very lovely dinner.  When we arrived the table was set, there was homemade chicken noodle soup on the stove, a Costco apple pie in the fridge, and a beverage corked open.  He was so excited to show us pictures of his 89th birthday present - para sailing in the Catalina Islands.  When you say a "go-getter" and "ambitious," Les comes to my mind immediately.  When he was 90 he walked a 12k (with his walker) and finished in just under 3 hours.  Nothing, absolutely nothing stops this man.  Life lessons learned after our visit with him?  Hands down...you bet!  Never stop moving, never stop dreaming, don't let age get in the way of what you want to do, fellowship with others, hang around others younger than yourself, and deal with what life has dealt you maturely.  At the end of the evening he called up his 70-year old daughter and had us pass the phone around and talk with her.  Les then called up his brother via Skype so that we could meet him.  He was so proud of us -- his new YOUNG (beautiful) friends he had made.  God bless this man.  Not to mention he loves the Lord with his whole heart.

This past weekend Molly came to visit!  It worked out well that Craig was in Arizona for a wedding -- it allowed for some quality sister bonding time without male influence :]  From the minute I picked her up to the moment I dropped her off we were knee-deep in PINTEREST projects.  I had hired her creativity and "eye" for design the moment I found out I had to decorate a house.  Yikes!  I couldn't even decorate my own bedroom, let alone a whole entire house!  We were both very excited for this opportunity.  We worked straight through the two days taking breaks here and there to refuel and enjoy each other's company...as well as Angela's and Caitlin's!  One of the first things we did was go garage saleing in our own garage.  Right off the bat we found four projects!  The previous renters had left a bunch of old stuff they had, which turned in to our treasure!

We then visited the Habitat for Humanity Restore, TJ Maxx, WalMart, and Hobby Lobby...spending a bit over budget.  But the majority of purchases were steals!  One of our favorite projects was a $1.00 picture frame we bought at the restore that we framed a cross with (a very significant cross that is!)

Craig and I had purchased a corner unit for our dining room that we didn't know what to do with.  So with the help of both Molly AND Morgan (via photo messaging and text) we came up with this:

And directly beside it, completing our dining room, was a $20 mirror and two previous apartment decorations.

We scored some really good deals at Hobby Lobby, two of which being a Christian fish and red candles that complimented the color scheme in our living room.

Moving on to our larger projects was a wedding gallery wall and an entry way table with a curtain rod holding frames!  (The table was another project found in our garage that we just spray painted).

[entry way table is not finished yet, therefore not pictured]

Our new centerpiece is compliments of Natalie Stiles.  She gifted to me a cake on a cake platter...and to my knowledge it can be flipped to be used as a punch bowl...or in this case beautiful living room decor

In our hallway we added a bit of floral touch.

(The tin can was found in our garage full of spiders.  We decided to wash it and reuse it).

In our bedroom we flipped our comforter, added a sentimental phrase above our bed, hung our marriage certificate and wedding shower photo, and hung shadow boxes with tea lights (a GREAT addition to our room)

(In case you can't read the inscription: "Take my heart & walk through this world with me"

The only addition to our bathroom was a photo Chelsie & Ben bought us for our wedding :]  Fits oh so perfectly there!

A quick addition to any door?  A cheap wreath with a ribbon on it...

The kitchen is where a majority of our "creative juices" flowed.  We first hung up kitchen decor we had at our old apartment...

Coffee signs...

...appropriately above our coffee bar!

And Molly found the head of an old rake in our garage and saw it to be a wine rack!  How genious and a neat addition to our kitchen.  We don't drive much wine (if any) so we only had 4 wine classes but it works perfectly.

My "SALAD BAR/VEGGIES" picture was appropriately hung for all to see!

And our most FAVORITE project was another great find in our own garage!  We found an old baking sheet (used as a drip pan) and modge-podged construction paper and Bible verses on the front of it.  We then hung it with the ribbon that came on Natalie Stiles cake and posted magnets on it for it to become our prayer board...post up prayers in a place where we often walk by.

Welcome to 503 W. 15th Ave :]

And lastly, another "in the haskins' garage find" were an old paint bench and a bird house that we took a can of spray paint to.  We are thinking when the weather gets nice we will put it in front of our little home :)

 

Molly and I had an incredible weekend.  We worked for about 8 hours on Saturday and 6 on Sunday...ending with a YUMMY turkey, potato, and asparagus crock pot dinner!  YES!  We both skinned, cooked, and carved our first turkey without male supervision!

Leap Day

Leap Day Tradition:  Women propose to their men

According to an old Irish legend, or possibly history, St Bridget struck a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men – and not just the other way around – every 4 years. This is believed to have been introduced to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how Leap Day balances the calendar.

In some places, Leap Day has been known as “Bachelors’ Day” for the same reason. A man was expected to pay a penalty, such as a gown or money, if he refused a marriage proposal from a woman on Leap Day. In many European countries, especially in the upper classes of society, tradition dictates that any man who refuses a woman's proposal on February 29 has to buy her 12 pairs of gloves. The intention is that the woman can wear the gloves to hide the embarrassment of not having an engagement ring. During the middle ages there were laws governing this tradition.

4 years ago, yesterday, I asked Craig to marry me.  Gutsy?...You ask...you bet!  I was a junior at Linfield, sitting in my roommate, Lesley's, bedroom, talking to Megan Neyens (a mutual friend to Craig and I).  Megan Neyens knows us both all too well, maybe better than we know of each other this far.  She was well aware of my 6 year crush on Craig Haskins.  She was also well aware that he was well oblivious.  Megan and I were catching up over the phone when she mentioned this Irish tradition, for she had just heard it herself!  And she encouraged me to take my chance and propose to Craig!  I thought she was crazy -- I hadn't talked to him in a few years!  But I didn't have to think twice about it.  I found him on MYSPACE (old school!!!) and messaged him.  Here is a transcript of how the proposal and following conversation developed:

Feb 29, 2008

m.e.g.a.n. ♥ says

so i was just informed my megan neyens that today, a leap day, is national girl asks guy to marry her day. so...

will you marry me?!!

please?!

megs :)

From: Craig

Date: Mar 3, 2008 2:18 PM

wow! of course i will marry you! ha ha i am honored that you thought of me to ask!

so whats the date?

indoor/outdoor

colors?

location

Im going to need some specifics! lol

-craig

p.s. how is everything?

From: m.e.g.a.n. ♥

Date: Mar 3, 2008 3:07 PM

I have set a date...

July 21st, 2009 (this is so we have a while to plan)

Indoor - you can pick the church, but keep it in WA

Colors - orange and red

You know...I would want no other man, of course you came to my mind!!! However, I feel like at least one date before the wedding would be helpful.

Need anymore info? Let me know!

Everything is going well. I have a pretty low key semester so I do a lot of "killing time." I am heading back to camp this summer so I am pretty excited about that. However, the rumor is 90% of the staff is right out of High School. Shoot! Come visit???

Megs

From: Craig

Date: Mar 3, 2008 6:35 PM

 did you just ask me out on a date? ...cuz i think thats my Job...

From: m.e.g.a.n. ♥

Date: Mar 3, 2008 8:16 PM

i've got a backbone and i'm not afraid to use it! lol. plus, i'm not here to wait around for men. so, if i want to get married, then by golly i will!!! ;)

p.s. remember that time i dated spike? now thats funny...

From: Craig

Date: Mar 3, 2008 9:23 PM

WOW some one has been listening to some spice girls! GIRL POWER!

and yes i do remember you and spike that was so random! so your working out at camp, thats great, My Jr. highers had a retreat this past weekend, so i got to do a little couseling, (sp) wow i miss it, maybe ill be able to come for a week or something? God willing,

so i hope all is good. And we should go out some time, it would be fun...

have a good one, craig

 

From: m.e.g.a.n. ♥

Date: Mar 4, 2008 1:56 PM

what are you up to these days? work? school? we do need to catch up and hang out but there is a slight problem...i go to school in oregon. but no fear, i will be in WA this summer. it would be fun to go out for a night - i remember the good ol days at camp when you would throw pudding down my shirt ;)

anyways...keep in touch! update me on life.

miss ya

megs

From: Craig

Date: Mar 4, 2008 2:42 PM

 

Just for the record you deserved every single drop of pudding! but any way, I am Interning at East Renton community church, its pretty amazing, i work at joes ( G.I. joes) and i am going to school at bellvue Community college, O and i live in renton, my life is pretty much busy, but fun,

I did know that you go to school in oregon, Lin...hood, or lin file something...right? how is that? what are you studying? i know my friend alex goes their, any way

hope your day is going great.

hey remember when the girls stole our beds? and then you broke the window!

From: m.e.g.a.n. ♥

Date: Mar 4, 2008 6:56 PM

You bet I remember that one time....we got you good! Those were the good times. But I think I remember breaking the window due to fear - very valid!

Sounds like life is going good for you my man! What are you going to school for? Ministry?

I go to Linfield, you were SO close. Lol. And every time I see Alex Smith on campus I think of you and want to blurt out "Craig Haskins" to see his reaction but always chicken out. I am studying psychology and sociology and will go get my master's in school counseling. I am actually interning with a school counselor this semester so I figure that it will make or break my future career (if I like it enough).

Megs

And thus began our communication and relationship.  WHO KNEW that from that day, February 29, 2008, 5 1/2 months later we would began dating, 1 year and 7 months later he would be asking ME to marry HIM, and 2 years and 5 months later we would be getting married?!  The answer is: The Lord.  And we appreciate the humorous story to go along with it!