Thursday, January 16, 2014

2 Posts from the Past

Haskins vs. Bees 
(July 18, 2011)

So, life has been pretty entertaining over this last week.  We have made great friends with about 75 bees who live and have nestled up on our porch.  They have actually been a huge disturbance.  We can't sit out there or even BBQ because of the hazardous conditions.  Now don't be fooled.  These bees ain't nothing like the bees in The Bee Movie.  They are not nice.  But we couldn't figure out where their nest was until one day I was brave enough to stand outside.  I started seeing bees go in and not come back out of Craig's Nike cleat.  I told him when he got home, he nudged the shoe with a golf club and a swarm of 50 or so bees come raging out of the cleat.  Awesome!  A bee hive in a shoe on our 8 ft x 4 ft porch.  OH if only you could have seen all the reactions we have been getting.  We have asked friends, "Have you ever had a bee hive in a shoe?"  All in all, Craig was adamant about extinguishing this thing on his own.  He didn't want to pay the $4.99 yet.  He messed with those bees on a daily basis.  They got to know each other really well.  He would poke at the shoe and make a mad dash back inside to slam the sliding glass door, then just sit back and watch them get angry.  So angry the would try to slam into the glass to get him.  So here are some brainstormed plans of his:

Plan A:
Grab shoe quickly and chuck it off our porch.  Then it is in the courtyard and isn't our problem.

Plan B:
Throw a towel over the opening of the shoe to keep them from coming in and out.  He actually played this one out and it failed miserably.


Plan C:
Place a box out there and slowly tap the shoe into the box.  Then throw the box over the porch.

Plan D:
Triple up on garbage bags and pick up the shoe like you pick up dog poop with a bag and quickly spin the bag, put it in the box, and take the box to the empty field to leave it.

So, he practiced for Plan D the most....it was his favorite idea.  Of course he would be from head to toe in winter gear as he is doing this.  He had psyched himself up so much he began practicing.  It failed miserably.  He couldn't get all three plastic bags back up and over his hand to spin the bag closed fast enough.  He would be dead.

In the end, he hung his head as we went to Fred Meyer and paid $4.99 for a "kills on contact" foaming spray.  We have used it a count of 4 times now and there are still one or two survivors.  We almost have victory though!  Now Craig's question, "Do I keep the shoe for bragging rights or throw it away?"

Victory is ours! 
(July 19, 2011)
This blog won't make sense to you unless you have read, This Blog Posting.  [viewer discretion advised]

"Victory, oh sweet Victory!"
 The Crime Scene



Behind the scenes:
It was attached to the tongue of the shoe





Craig dumped it out of the shoe and that's how big it was:

Saturday, January 11, 2014

R.I.P. Winter Break '13-'14

I'm missing the freedom I had for 3.5 weeks. I'm missing that sweet sound of a silenced alarm clock - waking up to the sun instead. I'm missing winter break...

How do I describe the 25 days I had off? I don't think I accurately can. It was emotional, heart-warming, soothing relaxing, stressful, trying, challenging, lazy, unique, peaceful, and EXCITING!!! There were ups and downs, lots of miles run, and quality time spent with family and friends.

However, I'm not missing the long and lonely days I had alone while Craig worked all day. I'm not missing the uncertainty of what tomorrow will look like (I like routine!). I'm not missing all of the driving. I'm not missing spending TOO much money during the holiday season. I'm not missing the anticipation of starting a new quarter. I'm not missing the chaos.

But what I do miss is my family. They seem so close but yet so distant. A text every other day or so is what keeps us informed and in the loop. Life is going on without us on the west side and sometimes that thought is big enough to haunt me. But what keeps me stable and steady is the precious silence of the morning over a steaming hot cup of coffee, Jesus Calling, and a time of prayer. Craig...yes...he keeps me grounded too. Medication and therapy? Well...that is for you to determine! But ultimately, I miss my Mom. Why did we choose to stay in Spokane? Oh yes! Because we have a dog, a house to maintain, an INCREDIBLE church, two jobs to hold, and a graduate degree to earn! And potentially new opportunities just right around the corner.

To sum up the 25 days off:

  • Volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank --> we bagged food that would go home with students!
  • Happy Hour at Anthony's with Craig --> and running into a friend!
  • Went to hear Ali Vincent speak and give a lecture on health/nutrition and her experience on The Biggest Loser
  • Had Tiara & Ryan over for dinner --> homemade pizzas!
  • Had Andrea, Emma, & David over for dinner --> BBQ Chicken!
  • Took a tour of The Emily Program
  • Met with Erin Schwab over coffee
  • Found out I got my first 4.0 this quarter --> don't ask me how because this was mentally and emotionally my hardest quarter too!
  • Playing secret santa --> one of my favorite traditional Christmas games!
  • Progressive Dinner with our small group --> ending the night with a white elephant gift exchange!
  • Maybe created a fake Christmas card for the Hara's and sent it out to... ?? ... people at church ;)
  • Drove to Portland to celebrate Christmas with Dad, Karen, Bethany, Brian, Kylee, Tanner, Adam, Sophia, Molly & Dustin
  • Boarded Luna for 5 days :(
  • Spent 2.5 days at the Hospice House with Mom
  • Met with Jaye Zern over coffee
  • Brought Mom home via ambulance on Christmas Eve
  • Had Marian (Craig's Mom) stay 2 nights with us in Federal Way
  • Celebrated Christmas with the Smiths, Mom, & Aunt Becky
  • Used our Wedding China set for the first time for Christmas dinner
  • Spend time in West Seattle with Molly --> got to see her apartment and all three of us worked out at Snap Fitness together!
  • Attended Craig's family Christmas dinner --> got to meet and hold Penelope Rose Haskins!
  • Got excited for Craig getting a second interview
  • Saw the movie: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty --> good movie!
  • Swam...a lot...
  • Ran...a lot...running my most miles EVER this month: 94!
  • Said goodbye to good friends who moved --> miss you Chris, Julie, & William!
  • Taught Luna how to 'play dead'
  • Stayed with the Vanourek's at their condo in Kellog, ID
  • Almost...ALMOST died and was ALMOST hit by a car at a crosswalk
  • Only made it to 10:30pm New Years Eve night (second year in a row!)
  • Hosted Dad, Karen, & Diego at our house last weekend --> wined and dined!
  • Signed up for 30 days of unlimited hot yoga for $30 --> new obsession :)
Have I missed anything else? Probably! But this is why I miss winter break!!! June 15, 2014 can't come fast enough!!

Monday, January 6, 2014

2014

I think it's funny that people wait until the new year to begin "good" habits, make "good" choices, begin a "better" life, etc. Everyday should be a fresh start and a new beginning, for that is the reason Christ died for us...for forgiveness, cleanliness, purity, and fresh starts! I find all of the Facebook statuses right now interesting. As people reflect back on the past year they make decisions for this year (sometimes big ones!!)

We don't know what this year holds (2014) - no one does! We can look optimistically ahead to 2014, but embrace each day as it comes, making those "good," "better," and "healthier" goals daily.

I do anticipate this year. What will it be like? January 1, 2013 I would have never guessed the year would turn out as it did:

  • Mom diagnosed
  • Aunt Becky moved to WA from FL
  • Mom underwent unsuccessful chemotherapy
  • Craig spoke at Camp Gilead Winter Blast retreat
  • Craig and I worked at Camp Gilead (where we met in 2002)
  • Molly and Dustin got engaged
  • ALL of our friends either had a baby or got pregnant
  • And the list could go on...
I plan to seek the Lord daily, making Him a bigger part of my life and making a conscious effort to draw closer to Craig - because those two are the only people that will help me get through (and enjoy) the year 2014!

Happy New Year