The Cory Chronicle

We've MOVED....sites

2011-03-09T11:17:00.001-08:00

Come visit us at our new website, www.coryadventures.com

V-Day Surprise

2011-02-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

I had been planning for months to wisk Dave a way for a Valentine's Day surprise. I booked a cabin outside of Tahoe that is accessible only by snowshoes. To split the cost of the cabin, my sister Cassie and I went in together to spoil our men. We informed them the night before we left to pack for a snow adventure! They were left in total suspense. Of course, it didn't help that I took a few wrong turns on the way up. I really had them lost (and me too!)

We planned all the food for the trip and left the next morning. Our first stop was Cabelas in Reno, NV.....a outdoorsman's dream!

Lunch at Cabelas consisted of Bison wraps and buffalo burgers. We told the boys we would follow them around and show genuine interest a whatever they wanted to try on or play with (this is more of an effort than it seems). After Cabelas we drove the to entrance of the park where we strapped on our snowshoes, threw on our packs, and began the 3 mile hike (all uphill might I add) to our cabin in the woods. Once the boys knew what we were doing, they were as giddy as little kids at Disneyland. We knew this surprise would tap into their love language.

We arrived at the cabin just as the sun was setting. We made sure to snap a few quick photos before we lost daylight.

The cabin was perfect. Small. Cozy. Warm. It came stocked with wood and a wood burning stove. Downstairs was a futon that turned into a bed, and upstairs in the loft was a queen bed. We cooked up some dinner over the stove and spent the rest of the evening drinking wine and playing board games. It was awesome!

The next morning we made breakfast and packed our bags for the hike out. Snow flurries dusted our heads as we hiked back. The cabin in the woods was the perfect Valentine's adventure.

And he's off!

2011-01-25T09:21:00.000-08:00

My brother David just joined the Navy. We dropped him off at the recruiting station yesterday with many tearful goodbyes and watched him drive away with nothing on him but the clothes on his back. Can you believe they even issue him underwear? Yep, they own him. He got driven to Sacramento last night for paperwork processing and is on a plane this morning to Great Lakes Illinois (about 45 mins north of Chicago) where he will spend 8 weeks in boot camp. Our whole family will be flying out to see him graduate late March. After graduation he goes right into "A" school. He schooling is somewhat unknown, but it is in the field of computers. Possibly ballistics, possibly radar. If it were his choice, he'd be on a submarine. Given that he scored so high on his tests and that his schooling is more intensive than most, his enlistment was a required 6 years.

Feelings of giddiness mixed with nostalgia flooded him over the last few days as he said his final goodbyes. I can't wait to see him proudly in his uniform in a few short months. I am sure going to miss my goofy younger brother.

Family

2011-01-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

This weekend my entire family was together for the first time in years. The celebration? Finally getting to see my niece from Alaska and my brother's departure. He ships out on Monday for a 6 year stint in the Navy. As we laughed, ate, and played board games all weekend, I was reminded at how different we all are, yet how much we all love one another. Up until we moved away for college, our life experiences were relatively similar - we all grew up in the same town, went to the same church, had similar friends, etc. But since then, I moved to Australia, Nepal, Thailand, and NYC, Brittany lived in L.A. and San Jose, Cassie went to San Francisco, and Eirik to Alaska. We all met and married the loves of our lives who brought additional life experiences. All this richness and personality shapes and molds us into who we are today. I am so thankful for the changes that have occurred in all of us, for it adds spice to the family! This does mean an increased amount of differences, philosophies on life, and goals for the future. It would be so easy to judge one another, get frustrated with one another, and expect that everyone should be like us. That, of course, would rob us of the joy that comes from learning from one another and reveling in our differences.

So, today I am thankful for my family in all their similarities and differences and all the spice that comes with being together. Here we are in all our uniqueness.

Dave and I love the outdoors. You can usually find us hiking on a mountain somewhere, skiing down slopes, or snowshoeing through ravines. We'd usually rather sleep in a tent in the great outdoors than in our own beds. Our summer plans consist of backpacking through Europe.

Bill and Cassie love their baseball! Cassie is a die-hard Red Sox fan and Bill an A's fan - a cause for tension in their marriage =) Bill loves to hunt and is an Environmental Science major while Cassie prefers the luxuries of a good shopping mall. I love these guys!

Brittany and Anthony probably spend more time at the gym than at their own house. They have each competed in multiple marathons and their latest is a body building competition where they will be competing as a pair. Anthony is a personal trainer and Brittany teaches aerobic classes. They are a great match for each other. I love these guys and the diversity they bring to the family!

Eirik and Lauren spend much of their time with their new daughter Alexa. She brings so much joy to the family. Eirik fixes electronics on fighter jets for the Air Force, and Lauren, once a real estate agent, now a stay at home mom. Eirik usually has us in stitches with jokes while Lauren rolls her eyes and laughs at the husband she has chosen. I love the positiveness these guys bring to life and the joy they are to be around.

David walks to the beat of his own drum.....as you can see. He loves the outdoors and the rigor of challenging himself physically. David also loves acting and singing in local theaters. He joined the Navy and ships out in a few days. His quick wit and complete randomness makes him so much fun to have around. We will all miss him dearly.

Here's the whole clan all together. I love each and every one of them in their unique way. My prayer is that as we grow older and make different life choices that we can remember that it is our diversity that brings life to the family.

Dogs

2011-01-06T18:17:00.000-08:00

There were LOTS of dogs during our Christmas celebration.....5 to be exact......in one house. Here's some documentation of the chaos.

Europe, here we come!!!!

2010-12-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

Dave and I just booked a 23 day trip to Europe this summer! We are so excited we can barely sleep (literally, the night we bought the plane ticket I was awake for a large portion of the night just out of sheer excitement). Our flight is as follows:

Monday, June 27, 2011
United Airlines # 8516 Operated by: AIR CANADA -- AC 756 - Please check in with the operating carrier

San Francisco International (SFO) to Toronto Pearson International (YYZ)
Departure (SFO): June 27, 12:30 PM PDT (afternoon)
Arrival (YYZ): June 27, 8:21 PM EDT (evening)

Monday, June 27, 2011
Air Canada # 836

Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) to Madrid Barajas (MAD)
Departure (YYZ): June 27, 9:45 PM EDT (evening)
Arrival (MAD): June 28, 11:10 AM CEST (morning

Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Swiss # 8

Zurich (ZRH) to Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
Departure (ZRH): July 20, 12:55 PM CEST (afternoon)
Arrival (ORD): July 20, 3:35 PM CDT (afternoon)
Class: Economy

ORD
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
United Airlines # 153

Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) to San Francisco International (SFO)
Departure (ORD): July 20, 6:30 PM CDT (evening)
Arrival (SFO): July 20, 9:01 PM PDT (evening)

We are still mapping out our destinations, but here's what we have so far. We start in Madrid, Spain and end in Zurich, Switzerland.

Our trip begins in Madrid and Toledo (they are right next to each other). There are some great sites to see in Madrid and Toledo is the ancient capital of the country, so we'll spend a few days there. Then, we'll take a flight (flying is now cheaper and quicker in Europe. Dave and I can fly between cities and countries for less than $60 a couple!) to Seville. Seville is famous for the Flamenco dancing. We'll spend a few days there and hope to catch a Flamenco show. We'll head just 30 mins south to Jerez de la Frontera where Sherry (the wine) originated. They have unique wineries there that will be fun to tour. We'll take a bus to Lagos which is on the coast in southern Portugal. Lagos is a resort town where the national surfing championships are held. The beaches are supposed to be spectacular. We will then head North to Lisbon, Portugal's capital for the history and culture of the country. finally, a flight to Barcelona will land us back in Spain. A few days in Barcelona will conclude our western Europe stay. Next we fly to Venice, Italy.

We will land in Venice, Italy and spend a few days exploring this amazing city. From Venice, we'll take a train to Milan, and spend a day there before heading to Torino. In Torino, we'll visit with Dave's Italian family that he lived with while living there 12 years ago! It will be great to catch up (for Dave) and for me to meet them, From Torino we'll head north through Swizerland. Some of our major stops in Switzerland will be the quaint town of Inerlaken at the base of the Alps. In Interlaken, we will be going canyoning. Click here http://www.outdoor-interlaken.ch/en/tour/49/canyoning-interlaken to find out more about canyoning. Driving north towards Zurich, we'll also stop in Lucerne - another quaint town with lots of history. Zurich will be our final destination before we head home.

Since flights are so cheap and countries are so close, we may throw in a few more destination (Morocco, Austria, or Germany). Once we narrow down our itinerary, we'll know better. We also want to keep it somewhat open to allow for adventure. This will be a challenge since we will be staying with people who will be expecting us at certain times, and flying in between countries which require advance booking. We'll keep you updated!

Bon Voyage!!

Sled Games 2010

2010-12-26T22:22:00.000-08:00

This year Dave and I headed up the first annual Sled Games. The rules were simple - each couple was in charge of making a sled using items in the garage. Supplies were allowed to be purchased, but no more than $5 was allowed to be spent. Also, no pre-existing sled was allowed to be used in the process. The competition was multi-faceted. You could win an award in any of the four following categories: Speed, distance, best design, and the show off award (consisting of tricks and jumps).

So, on Wednesday the sleds were made and on Thursday the whole family went up to Butte Meadows to start the competition. We had a fire pit going to keep warm along with hot tea. My parents were the judges - let the games begin!! Brittany and Anthony crafted their sled out of a pool mat and a wood frame. Unfortunately, their sled didn't, ...well, ....sled. Cassie and Bill's sled was an up-side-down ironing board with roasting pans glued to the bottom. To craft a seat, they used a laundry basket. My little brother David's sled came complete with a flag on top. He used a piece of plywood with a lawn chair on top. Half of a bucket completed the front of his sled. Dave and I used a scrap of linolium we picked up from Lowes and constructed a wood frame with rope handles to brace ourselves. As you can see, the pictures describe the rest.

Ornament Exchange

2010-12-08T07:29:00.000-08:00

Dave and I started the tradition last year of giving each other an ornament every Christmas. We exchange ornaments the day we decorate the tree. I had to laugh this year (and last) about how much our personalities come out in the exchange. Dave always gets me a very sentimental ornament, and mine are usually silly. Opposites attract, right? =)

Here's us decorating the tree this year and the ornaments we got each other. Dave's gift to me was a prayer angel. He said he was inspired because of how much I pray - for us, for family, etc. I got him.....a BBQ. Because a BBQ was a special gift this year and Dave loves his steak, I felt like this ornament was fitting. Please excuse my hair - this was after a long day of playing in the snow. We both still have our thermals on. Oh, and our tree is a little Charlie-Brownish. It was snowing hard and we had been looking and hiking for a while. This tree was originally like 20+ feet tall and we took the top off of it, so we couldn't really see what it looked like until we cut it down. Branches were injured in the process.

Christmas Tree Cutting

2010-12-02T17:46:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we went up to the mountains to get a Christmas tree. It was the first time testing out the 4-wheel drive in our new car. She handled like a champ. We had a blast with my sister, her husband, and my little brother. It was snowing pretty heavily, but we enjoyed the scenery and played until we got too hold to stay out any longer. Hot tea and Christmas music made our ride home warm and peaceful.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T21:11:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving this year was a blast. We spent it in Chester with the Chester Corys! The day was spent playing basketball, eating lots of food, putting up lights, walks through the snow, and a movie and apple pie to finish it off. The pictures tell the rest!

The most traveled day of the year!

2010-11-24T09:58:00.000-08:00

All you Thanksgiving travelers, enjoy your flight with all the new TSA inspections going on. I hope these bumber stickers brighten your day.

(Yes, they are edited by me for appropriateness)

Craving to be Close

2010-11-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

Our Dog has definitely established himself as one of the family. He is extremely physically affectionate and where we are, he wants to be. If we're sitting on the couch, he's right between us. If I'm working at the desk, he's at my feet. We love the little guy but REALLY? These pictures prove my point and show his intrusive nature....

Trying to read.....

The ol' snout on the arm trick! I'm on to you!

Dave, trying to work while Ollie using his toy as a chin rest.....

Ollie, making it somewhat difficult to see all the words on the page....

Paw on keys.....

Ok, now if this isn't intrusive, I don't know what is!

The ear...

As if the ear wasn't enough....

Sleeping while I'm trying to finish my dinner....

Laying on Dave's legs while he's trying to do push ups...

I was attempting to pop Dave's back until this little guy came along...

Dave, trying to have his morning quiet time.....

Man Toys

2010-11-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

So, I was perusing through the aisles at Lowes, looking for a hand truck, when I happened to find the BBQ section. Dave and I have been without a BBQ and have been borrowing my brother in-law's tiny apartment BBQ that sits on a table for the time being. Since it was the end of the season, I had to check and see if they had any sales. There she was, a lonely but beautiful Webber BBQ.....stainless steel......no price. It had a few scratches on it so I figured it must have been returned. The associate said it was originally almost $500, but he'd give it to me for $250. I looked at him, placed my hand on my hip and said, "Can you do any better than that?" He pulled me aside and in a half whisper said, "If you come back tomorrow, I think I can sell it to you for $150." Now that's more like it! Guess who was driving in to Lowes early the next day? I bought the BBQ and a cover, and managed to haul it home and unload it with my mom's help that day (that in it self what a sight......two ladies trying to lift a BBQ off of a truck).

Dave came home to a surprise that night. I had steak marinading all day and beer in the fridge. The video explains the rest.

Proud Auntie

2010-10-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

My niece Alexa is adorable, so I just had to post a picture of her enjoying the festivities of Autumn. Her mom, Lauren, is incredibly creative and is an excellent photographer. Lauren took this photo herself along with many other adorable portraits of Alexa. I can't wait to see the both of them come January!! Only a couple months left and I get to squeeze you Lexie!!!

School Days, School Days......

2010-10-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

I have been gone for the last two weeks away at school in Redding, CA for 2 intensive classes. I am taking a total of 3 classes this semester (one online), and it has kept me busy! This semester I am taking Greek, Theology 2 (Christ the Spirit, and the Church) and Hermeneutics (Biblical Interpretation). My classes at Tozer Theological Seminary are enjoyable, but I was sure ready to come home. I think Dave was ready for me to come home too since I kept getting text messages about him eating frozen fish sticks and hamburgers.

Below are a few pictures of where I stayed while I was up there, and all the books I have to read this semester....like I said, I'm staying busy!

Officially in Escrow!!!

2010-09-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

We have been looking for a house since we got to Chico since the market has been so good. It's a great time to buy, and we didn't want any great deals to pass us by! Through our looking process, there's been some ups and downs. We first found the house of our dreams!! It wasn't without projects, but it was a beautiful house on 2 acres. We were outbid and the house went for over asking price. I think I cried. Second house we found was on 1 acre. It needed lots of work. It could have been a great investment, but again, we were outbid. Finally, we found this house on 39 Forest Creek Circle. It's a foreclosure, and the former owners have made it known that they were not happy about being foreclosed on (holes in the wall, missing door knob, broken window, etc.) The benefits of this house are that its way under market value because its been trashed. It's less than a mile to Bidwell Park, which is a huge point of resale. It's on 1/4 of an acre and is over 1800 square feet. Once fixed up, it will sell easily. Also, its very centrally located in a nice quiet neighborhood. We'd love a house out in the country some day, but this house, once fixed up, will surely make us money and allow us to buy our dream house. Our plan is to live in it for 5 years, give or take.

SO, we found out from the bank yesterday that they had accepted our offer! We have a 45 day escrow, so here we go!! The pictures below show the house's "character" (I mean all the wild colors they chose for paint....we have some work to do).

As you can see, the landscaping needs a little bit of help. The backyard is worse, although there is a pomegranate tree and an orange tree!

This is one of the bedrooms (it has 4 bedrooms). Yes, it's painted black!! Complete with a Rockband sticker. Oh dear. You can't tell here, but the carpet is.....well....... lets just say you wouldn't want to walk on it with bare feet out of fear of contracting a disease. =) Got to love it!

This is the view when you walk in the front door. Straight ahead is the living room, to the right is an office, and down the hall to the left are all the bedrooms. Even from this view you can see rooms with 3 different colors...ha!

The kitchen is in decent shape. We will eventually tear out the lovely tile, and probably re-face the cabinets. All in all, the kitchen is pretty decent.

Oh the mustard colored laundry room. Again I ask myself, really? Mustard colored???

This is actually the dining room. It's huge. I'm not sure what we are going to put in here yet. We don't even have a dining room table or enough furniture to fill up half of the house. Ha! It will be a bit empty for a while. This room is in good shape with new laminate flooring.

Another bedroom, complete with tan and red walls. Paint please?

Alas, the dark DARK blue room with a broken window. Such a beauty. We'll have to fix this immediately.

This is the hall bathroom. It needs some help. The only thing in decent shape are the floors and the toilet. We'll eventually replace the tub, counter-top/sink, and cabinets.

My favorite bedroom: the hotdog bedroom. Who wouldn't want to paint their room ketchup and mustard colors???

Master bathroom. We think we'll do some major remodeling here- maybe knock out a wall if we can. The shower is covered in black mold, so we'll need to replace it......and a lot of other things in this room.

Master bedroom - colors are actually somewhat normal here: tan. We'll still be repainting. The whole house needs some patches. Thank goodness my brother David patches and paints professionally for a living!! Yippee for borrowing his paint sprayer!!!

Thanks for rejoicing in our new purchase. Now the next challenge...making it through escrow. We'll keep you updated.

Weekend in the Bay

2010-09-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Dave and I took at trip to the Bay Area along with Cassie and Bill. Our purpose of the trip - rack out our car! Bills brother, Peter, manages a store in San Jose called Rack N Road. Anything you can put on the outside of a car, they can do. Since Peter is moving to Europe permanently, we thought we'd take advantage of the "family" discount he offered us. Go big or go home was our motto, so we went crazy! We were never going to get a 50% off discount like this again! We got a new racks, a Thule cargo box, a kayak rack, and a four-bike hitch-mounted bike rack. Oh, and we got a hitch installed! Total savings, over $1,000, not including the free installation we received.

Since we needed to bring our car to the bay for installation, we decided to make the most of the weekend. Saturday night we went to an Oakland A's vs. Boston Red Sox baseball game, and on the way home on Sunday, we stopped at the Jelly Belly factory. It was a full weekend, but a good one!

Labor Day Stay-Cation

2010-09-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

As Dave reminded me today, it's common to do a stay-cation rather than a vacation if the time and money do not allow. Well, this weekend was busy, but we decided to take a day trip to the flumes and enjoy our one day stay-cation.

A locals secret, the flumes offer tons of fun. Parking at the hospital in Paradise leads to a trail head that takes you back to old logging flumes built in the 40's. A two mile hike on top of the flumes leads to a steep decent down into the Feather River into my favorite swimming hole of all time. The water was cold, but the day made for the perfect stay-cation.

My New Job

2010-08-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

We have received blessing after blessing from God, and this job is no exception. An old friend I used to be in a Bible study with owns his own web development company. His business is growing and he now needs an assistant to take care of a lot of the administrative stuff. Funny thing, I needed a job. The way we connected was a bit unconventional, but I guess it is on par with the current times: facebook. I had posted that I was looking for a job in Chico. Ryann, Jason the business owner's wife, saw my posting on facebook and mentioned to her husband that I would be a good fit for the job. A few emails later I was filling out an I-9 form. Check out the business: www.sitehatchery.com

This job has its perks. First of all, I can work anywhere - at home on my couch, or at Starbucks. Lately, Starbucks has been my choice. Jason gives me a Starbucks card to use when I'm working = awesome!

The second perk is that I get to work with Jason. He's an awesome guy who's very gifted and talented. He's releasing me to do a lot of fun stuff like test websites, accounting and billing, and write marking material for his websites in development.

The third perk is that the flexibility allows me to focus on my school work while still earning some extra money. Thanks Jason for offering me the job!

Illegal? We sure had fun!

2010-08-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dave and I were enjoying our steak dinner with red wine we had bought from a vineyard in Paso Robles, and we just didn't want it to end. I was in need of some fresh air and the dog was in need of a walk. So, what's wrong with combining the two? Dave and I really enjoy walking the neighborhood behind our duplex. It's quiet and dog friendly. It's off the beaten path, so it rarely gets any traffic. The wine tasted so good, we decided to finish it on our walk with the dog!

First Day of School

2010-08-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

And he's off! Dave's first day of school is today. He's a bit nervous seeing that one of the teachers informed him that the 8th graders like to fight on the first day. Time to jump in with both feet and learn the ropes! I'm so proud of him for all he's accomplished. So, I packed his lunch, made his morning tea in a travel mug, we prayed together, and he drove away! I snuck in this picture as he was looking in the mirror making sure his tie was straight. GOOD LUCK DAVE!

Trading the Truck, for a Car

2010-08-17T18:12:00.000-07:00

He did it. He made the trade. He relinquished his baby for fuel efficiency. Dave has a 30 minute commute to work at his new job, and the money spent in gas just didn't make sense, or cents, whichever way you look at it. For all of you nay sayers who think the woman made him do it, I can put your accusations to rest. It was his idea. I am really proud of Dave for making a selfless sacrifice for the betterment of our finances. Since we bought a Toyota Rav-4 a month ago, we have a vehicle with 4WD, making the need for a truck obsolete. It was time, so we made the plunge.

We love the new Prius. It gets 41mpg on the freeway and over 50mpg in the city. It really beats the 16mpg on the freeway and 12mpg in the city the truck was getting. We'll use the car as much as we can to save on gas. The car was previously owned by butte county air quality control, its only owner. It was meticulously maintained, and we are thankful for the blessing from God.

When I went to pick up the car this morning, time at the DMV was required to pay for the registration, transfer the title, and get new plates. I haven't been to the DMV in a while, and let me tell you, it was a cultural experience. The following were my observations:

1. All 20 workers seem to be middle-aged women with deep smoker voices.
2. The man who took me on my driving test STILL works there, and he looks EXACTLY the same.
3. They now have posted a sign that says they can't receive gifts or gratuities - apparently people were bribing them to cut in line. Can't say the thought didn't cross my mind.
4. All forms are now in English and in Spanish
5. They give driving tests to 90 year old women who can't even walk.
6. They now sell beanie babies.
7. Although shirts and shoes are required, apparently unbuttoned Hawaiian shirts that reveal large, hairy, overweight bellies are acceptable as well.

I guess I have a few things to learn!

1st Year Anniversary

2010-08-09T07:27:00.000-07:00

Our anniversary celebration this year was awesome. Before Dave obtained his new job, our plans were to get away for a romantic weekend together. After we had to pack and move our entire house in 1 week, move into a new place, and start a new job, we were a little worn out. Going away for the weekend was a little much, so, we spent the weekend together enjoying some down time.

The day consisted of waking up to a bouquet of flowers and eggs and toast made by the husband, church at 10:30am, followed by Kinder's sandwiches (the best pulled pork around) in the park by the creek. The weather was in the high 80's - perfect for a Sunday afternoon picnic down by the water. After our picnic, we returned home only to both fall asleep on the sofa for a few winks. Have I mentioned we're still recovering from the move? After our snooze, we headed to Sierra Nevada for dinner - a favorite of ours. We rocked some anniversary shirts - a tradition we intend to keep up. We received many compliments on the shirts =) At Sierra Nevada, we ordered the beer sampler - a fun way to try their custom brews. After dinner we retired to the house to open up a bottle of Asti Spumante - the champagne we drank on our first date, at our proposal, and at our wedding.

We have been so blessed this year by all of the things God has provided us. We wanted to take time to reflect on all the Lord has blessed us with, so we started a tradition which we hope to continue of every anniversary, writing down all that the Lord has blessed us with. It took us a while as I typed away on the computer, but the reflection time of thankfulness was awesome!

After reflecting, we played cards - whoever lost a game had to drink a sip of champagne. It was a blast!

Thank you Dave for choosing me to be your bride. I am so lucky to have married my best friend. We have had a full year of learning what it means to work as a team. I look forward to many more years of teamwork. I love you!!!

Our New Place

2010-08-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

We have not completely set up our place yet, but here's a few pictures of our new pad! There are pros and cons about living in a duplex half the size of our house:

Pros:
1. One Airwick fresher makes the entire house smell great!
2. Less to vacuum!
3. No yard maintenance - Dave's especially excited about that
4. You definitely don't have to walk far to borrow a cup of sugar
5. Water and garbage are paid for

Cons:
1. Only one bathroom - going in after Dave uses it is a BAD idea
2. Our backyard consists of a patch of dirt =)
3. No more Costco bulk shoppping - freezer space is limited
4. We are currently eating off of a card table with camping chairs and are without a coffee table
5. The king sized bed is a little bit large so we're snuggling up on a queen - that's actually not so bad =)

More pictures to come when pictures are hung!

The BIG Job

2010-07-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

We're moving up in the world. In one week's time, Dave has a new job, we have a new place to live, a new car, our house is rented out, the classroom is packed up, and we just sold three large pieces of furniture today. The blessings that are being SHOWERED upon us!!!

In January, Dave and I started praying hard for a job in Northern California, knowing that we were asking for the impossible. Dave was burnt out on teaching, and Fresno was not a place either of us wanted to live long term. So we began to pray. Teaching jobs are incredibly hard to come by, and administrative jobs are even harder due to the state of education in California. But God is bigger.

Around spring time, several jobs had been posted, but no interviews were to be found. Dave heard clearly from the Lord in his quiet time that we were to start packing up the house in faith - so we did. God spoke to me during one of my quiet times so clearly that God was going to move us out of Fresno, and the process would be nothing short of a miracle - a God story. We continued to pray hard all summer as letter after letter came thanking Dave for his time, but not offering him an interview. We searched all over California, Oregon, and Washington.......nothing.

Just as our hopes were slim, a call came on July 14th in the morning from Corning Union Elementary School District inviting Dave to interview. We were ECSTATIC!!! We tried not to get our hopes up, but that didn't work out so well =) We spent time with Dave's folks over the weekend and used the 7 hour drive up to Chico to rehearse interview questions. Dave said he felt ready.

We had friends, family, neighbors, etc. all praying during his interview. Heck, my sister Cassie stepped into her boss' office with his wife to pray during Dave's interview as well. The power of prayer was on our side and it PREVAILED!!! He interviewed on Monday, July 19th, and the next day they offered him the job. Fifty people had applied for this job, several of them within the district. It is truly the hand of God that was at work in this situation.

So Dave is now the new Assistant Principal at Maywood Middle School in Corning, Ca. We are both on cloud nine as we have one week to pack up our house! It's been a whirlwind, but it's been welcomed. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. The pictures below are of Dave's new office, the school mascot, his new school, and his official picture for the school site.

The New Car!!!!

2010-07-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

As if things weren't happening fast enough, today we purchased a car! Dave went to a job interview on Monday, he got the job on Tuesday, we found a place to live in Chico on Wednesday, we drove back down to Fresno and listed the house on Thursday, and on Friday we bought a new car and rented out our house. Is God good or is God good? There's a whole story on how Dave got this job that I will blog once we've moved to Chico, but the jist of it is that we felt that God was moving us out of Fresno, and that the process was going to be a witness of His hand in our lives. We felt that our move would be a God story to share - sure enough it is.

So, we bought a car! At the beginning of the summer we had sold my car since we didn't need two cars over the summer. We wanted to buy a car in Fresno since the prices are cheaper. We have been doing lots of research and were debating over a Honda CR-V or a Toyota Rav-4. They both had excellent reviews. We ended up finding a Rav-4 that we fell in love with. It has so many neat features that the Honda didn't have. It's 4 wheel drive, so we're ready to play in the mountains!!! Dave negotiated the dealer down $1,000 and we walked away with a car. God has blessed us more than we can imagine!

A Day at the Beach

2010-07-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

While down in Santa Ynez with Dave's parents, we decided to take a trip to Santa Barbara to enjoy the beach. Dave used to go to UCSB and while living there he discovered an incredible beach that very few people know about (we maybe saw 5 people the entire 3 hours we were there). This beach is accessed through a local neighborhood and is the home to the migrating Monarch butterflies. The butterflies make their way south to Central America around January and February and make their stop in Santa Barbara along the way. We didn't get to see them this year, but we enjoyed the beach nonetheless. Our dog Oliver was in heaven as he jumped through the waves and ran up and down the beach. It was an awesome afternoon!

The Ascent......Mt. Shasta!

2010-07-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

After school ended for me up in Redding, CA, Dave began his conquest. Mt. Shasta is 14,179 feet tall, and is one of the most difficult mountains to climb. Dave has climbed Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft) and he says the two don't even compare. The level of training and physical exertion it takes to climb Shasta isn't for the faint of heart. Dave, Bill (brother in law), and Mike (Bill's brother) had been training for weeks. After conquering the mountain last year, they were determined to tackle another side of the mountain. Shasta is so unique that climbing a different side is like hiking a completely different mountain. Ice axes and cramp-ons are needed as the mountain is iced over year round. Helmets are worn at all times since the ascent is a 40 degree incline for a large portion of the hike, and ice chunks tend to fall from up above, coming flying down the mountain at dangerous speeds. The boys slept in ice coffins to keep the wind down (see picture). The trip was 3 days long. Day one consisted of hiking up to base camp at 9,400 ft. Day two began at 3am as they began the trek to summit. Shasta needs to be summited by 1pm because of afternoon storms. Day two landed them back at base camp to spend the night. On day three they hiked out. The winds on their trip were so intense that standing a foot a part required yelling just to hear each others' voices. At points the winds were up to 50-60 mph. The descent was the fun part. The boys were able to glissade (slide on their bums) down the mountain for about 3,500 ft of elevation descent. I'm just glad they're back, safe and sound.

The Fourth

2010-07-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

For the fourth of July this year, Dave and I headed up to Chester to celebrate with family. We had a great time! The fourth started out with church in the park, followed up by the annual Chester parade, and to top it off, we spent the evening over an open fire, watching the fireworks on the beach overlooking the peninsula. The following day we went kyacking in celebration of vacation. It was an awesome weekend!

The First Ride

2010-05-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Read the story below to find out how Dave got this bike. Here are a few pictures from his first ride. We took the bike over to Woodward Park and Dave tackled the obstacle course. The smile on his face was priceless. He was filled with such joy, which made my heart swell all the more.

The Miracle Bike

2010-05-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

Around Christmas I had the idea to save up and get Dave a mountain bike for his birthday in June. Granted, some of you are probably already laughing at the fact that I had this idea in December.......6 months before his actual birthday. Well, if you get to know me, this is actually pretty typical......just ask Dave =) Anyway, I decided to start putting away little bits of money here and there to save for a bike. My goal was to save $250 by mid May. Dave LOVES to mountain bike, and his bike has been broken for some time. Even his broken bike was a bit outdated (he's had it since high school), and the technology has significantly changed. In researching bikes, I had a lot to learn. For example, I found out that the money is in the components (shifters, brakes, etc.). Dave wanted a hardtail (front suspension only), and disc brakes would be a luxury (necessary if riding through creeks and a lot of water.....but very expensive!) . After my research on brands, components, and prices, I was ready to start my hunt!

I began the search in January by looking on Craigslist. I looked every day. OK, sometimes twice a day....I know, I'm pathetic. The months went by and there was NOTHING on Craigslist in my price range. We simply didn't have the money to spend any more. As May came, and now June is approaching, my heart began to sink. I had saved the money, but I could not find a bike. I wanted a bike for him SO bad. I knew it would bring him so much joy. Hopelessness began to creep in, discouraging my efforts more and more each day. Every day I looked - every day, nothing.

Tuesday morning, May 19, I decided to take the dog to the park for a long walk. I wanted to use the time to spend in prayer. God has been teaching Dave and I a lot about faith, trust, and God's provision (other cool stories come with that). As I poured out my heart about other things in life, I paused and said these exact words:

"God, I know you probably only care about the really spiritual things going on in our lives, and I know I've been asking you for a lot lately, but I have one last request. I understand that you are more than a genie that magically makes things appear, and I do love You for who You are, but my heart really wants a mountain bike for Dave. I would love to see him able to ride again. You say to ask specifically, so I'm asking for a mountain bike with disc brakes between $200-$300. Amen." I drove home from the park and turned on my computer as usual, to check the craigslist postings. An ad had been posted not 5 minutes earlier that read, "mountain bike for sale, disc brakes, $200." I was elated. I couldn't believe my eyes!! I called the gentleman immediately only to find out he was in Tulare (1 hour from Fresno). He explained the bike to me and before I knew it, I was on the highway headed south towards Tulare.

Upon arrival, I stepped out of the car and began to walk towards the house only to see another man looking at the bike in the front yard. I inquired of the owner about the bike only to find out he had just made a deal with the other man. Tears began to well up in my eyes as my hopes were instantly crushed. I offered the man $240, but the gentleman who was about to buy it began to raise his voice about already having a deal. I explained my situation and tears were now pouring out (embarrassing, I know). I said I had been saving for 6 months, it was for my husbands birthday, and I had driven all the way from Fresno for the bike. Apparently so had the other guy. The seller explained he tried to call me but couldn't find my number. He was stuck in a difficult situation, and I was at my wits end. Negotiations went back and forth, and in the end, I lost. He explained to me that he already made a deal with the other gentleman, but to wait at his door step for a few minutes while he finished selling the bike to the other guy. I waited, wondering what he had in mind. The other gentleman drove off with the bike. My bike. The seller motioned for me to follow him to his back yard. He open a shed and pulled out a gorgeous K2 mountain bike. He explained that it was his own personal bike and he wasn't planning on selling it, but he felt so awful about the situation that he was willing to sell it to me for $240. I was floored. The bike was worth more than double that as he went through and explained all the after-market components he had personally installed: disc brakes on the front AND back(over $250), trigger shifters, $200 double walled rims, and grip petals. It was a front suspension, just like Dave wanted. The bike had just been oiled and lubed - ready to ride. The only words out of my mouth were, "you've got a deal!"

As I drove the bike home, I cried and prayed the whole way back. That night I tied a big red bow on it, and gave Dave a birthday surprise he never expected. Isn't it ironic how God works? I asked for a bike and he POURED down blessing upon us - more than I could ever ask for or imagine. God is so good and cares about the little things - even a little thing like a mountain bike =)

Cooking Adventures Part II

2010-05-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun meal I made last night. Dave was at a track meet all day and it was fun for him to come home to a good meal of shishkabobs, corn on the cob, and some pasta. I told him the theme was long, skinny foods =)

Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes = Yum!

2010-05-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

I enjoy cooking and baking as a creative outlet. Luckily, I've been able to channel that urge towards Bible Study and weekend get-a-ways with friends so that Dave and I don't get too fat eating all the fun foods I want to make.

Here in Fresno, it is starting to warm up, so a summer dessert sounded enticing. A wonderful mentor of mine, Betty Crocker, emailed this recipe to me. I tweaked it a bit and viola, a lovely summer dessert that is so easy, but looks like you spent time on it =)

The recipe is below with the pictures of my creations. I chose to make cupcakes instead of a cake (easier in a Bible Study setting to go without plates). The frosting is simply whip cream with grated lime peel. I wanted a more margarita taste, so I added lime juice to my frosting (about 2 tablespoons). It was TASTY!! Enjoy!

Recipe:

Strawberry Margarita Cake

Nonalcoholic strawberry margarita

mix makes this party cake a great

addition to picnics and potlucks.

Prep Time: 10 min

Total Time: 1 hour 43 min

Makes: 12 servings

3/4 cup bottled strawberry-flavored nonalcoholic margarita drink mix

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix

Vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box

1 tablespoon grated lime peel

1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Strawberries, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease (or lightly spray with cooking

spray) bottom only of 13x9-inch pan. Add enough water to drink mix to measure 1 1/4 cups.

2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, drink mix, oil and egg whites on low speed 2 minutes. Pour into

pan. Bake and cool and directed on box.

3. Gently stir lime peel into whipped topping; spread over top of cake. Garnish with strawberries.

Store covered in refrigerator.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Add enough water to drink mix to measure 1 1/2 cups. Follow High

Altitude cake mix directions for 13x9-inch pan.

A quiet weekend away

2010-05-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

The campgrounds opened this weekend, and since Dave and I like to be first (at everything), we bolted after work on Friday and headed out (or up I guess) for some peace and quiet. We drove deep into Sierra National Forest to a campground we have never been to before, Bretz Mill. The description on the website said there were only 10 sites, half were on the creek, and no water or electricity. We hoped the remoteness would deter the faint of heart and only those serious about the peace and quiet would venture out for the weekend. We were right.

We landed a beautiful campsite right on the water. Falling asleep to rushing water was invigorating! Our weekend consisted of foil dinners, hamburgers, french toast, pancakes, smores, and lots of snacks.We took afternoon naps in the hammock, read by the fire, played a late night game of monopoly, and took a hike on Saturday that turned into a boat-making competition. We sailed our nature-made boats down the stream only to watch them get caught in a snag 50 feet down the creek. It was awesome, recharging, and the R &R that we needed.

Dave will probably kill me for posting one of these photos, but I told him to pose manly while chopping wood and it was too cute to pass up =)

Rodeo Time!

2010-04-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the annual Clovis Rodeo. It is a pro-circuit route and is a lot of fun every year. We bought tickets with a bunch of our friends so we could have fun watching the events together. It was REALLY hot outside, but we lathered up with sun-screen and made sure to order a slurpee. Here are a few pictures from the event.

Weekend at the "Chateau"

2010-04-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

Dave and I spent the weekend with our Bible Study up at Shaver Lake in the mountains. One of the couples at our Bible Study owns a cabin that is hardly a cabin. We like to call it the Chateau. It sleeps 20......comfortably. It must be at least 5,000 sqft with a jacuzzi, ping pong table, air hockey, foos ball, a big screen tv, and a dining room table that looks like it could seat an army. Dave and I slept in a room with a king-sized bed and a balcony with a fire pit on it. We also had a shower with double shower heads and heated floors. Needless to say, we were spoiled! It was such a fun weekend getting to know the other couples better. There were 13 of us up there and it was a weekend to remember!

Wildflowers

2010-04-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

Dave and I were in desperate need of a hike. Being up in the mountains is our sustenance. We both feel so refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated once we've spent time in nature. We both are able to hear God's voice clearer without the distractions and business of life. SO....since we've been traveling every other weekend for my classes, it was time to get recharged up in the hills. We drove on Saturday about an hour into the foothills of Kings Canyon. We hiked on a trail that we had actually hiked before while dating. Along this trail is world-class granite caves that are a blast to explore and go spelunking in. Since it's spring, the caves were full of raging water from run-off snow melt. We still took a peak down inside just to see the powerful underground river (mom, don't listen to this part. Yes, we climbed down into a cave full of wild, raging, hypothermia waters....but we're OK!). The weather outside was spectacular! We took the dog to test his hiking abilities and he had the time of his life. He has become our new trail buddy. He ran through the wildflowers and explored until he tuckered out right about the time that we did. (You can see Dave taking a nap on the blanket, and Oliver sleeping on the dirt next to him). All in all, it was a gorgeous hike as we took in God's nature.

School, School, and more School

2010-04-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

School this semester has kept me quite busy. I am taking a full load and it's kept me on my toes. Thank goodness the semester is coming to an end. Only two weeks left and I'm home free!! However, I start my coursework for summer classes the week after. Thank goodness I enjoy what I'm studying, otherwise I'd be killing myself right about now. If anyone is interested, I've posted one of my papers on my other blog http://transformingordinary2extraordinary.blogspot.com/ on the prodigal son.

Most days you can find me on the sofa, tea in hand and laptop, well, on my lap. The dog is usually cuddling up as well which can make it a challenge at time to type =)

Skiing, take two!

2010-04-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

Let's try skiing again. This time our tickets are for the correct day of the week. Yippee!! We got up early on Thursday morning and Dave was his eager self getting antsy to get up on the mountain. We arrived just as the resort opened at 9am, and the parking lot was practically empty! It was an awesome ski day! Not many people on the hill, and blue skies for the most part. It has been a while since I skied last, so Dave and I enjoyed runs down the easier hills. The pictures of me skiing were taken because Dave was skiing BACKWARDS. Boy am I glad that guy wears a helmet!

We did runs until about 12:30, broke for lunch, and tackled the hills again. Dave with his super sonic goggles misread the colored dots on the signs and took me down a difficult hill. I took a lovely fall, and needless to say, I popped up with the warning that my chiropractor was going to kill him! I survived, but strained my already damaged knee. After pushing my knee to its limits, I spent the last hour drinking hot cocoa in the lodge while Dave tackled the double black diamonds. All in all, it was an AWESOME day, oh, and I forgave Dave for almost killing me on the hill =)

Spring has Sprung

2010-03-31T10:34:00.000-07:00

Fresno has a short spring. A VERY short spring. I'm talking a few weeks. Fresno has two seasons, gray skies and summer (and summer is the longest). But since it's spring, we are SOAKING it up. Cool mornings and cool evenings followed by sunny afternoons make Fresno, well, tolerable. In celebration of the wonderful weather, we've been eating dinner every night on the back porch. Our backyard has a wonderful covered patio, and we've set up the tiki torches from our wedding. We've really been enjoying the cool breeze and wonderful conversation as we enjoy a beer at sunset. Here's some pictures of our backyard adventures. Notice our high quality patio furniture - a card table (thanks Justine for the wedding gift), and camping chairs. Got to love being poor newly-weds! Maybe one day we'll get real patio furniture =)

Honey-do List

2010-03-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

So, it's spring break and we have been enjoying the relaxation. Casual breakfasts, running errands together, walks in the park at night.....ahhhh, it's been wonderful. Spring break has also been a time to catch up on house projects.

Dave, in his wonderful bachelor ways, decided to take the closet doors off of his closet before we were married because it annoyed him that he had to open a door to access his clothes. The doors were stored in the garage until the bugs got to them. So, we have been without closet doors, forced to look at our clothes while laying in bed. We finally we able to get some new doors, I painted them and they were ready to hang. Dave, still not excited about having closet doors, installed them yesterday! Yippee, now I don't have to be embarrassed showing off our room anymore, fearing that guests will see our dirty underwear =)

Skiing? No. Snowshoeing? Kind of. Maybe we'll just take silly photos.

2010-03-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Dave and I were pumped and ready to ski. We try and take advantage of the weekends we are home and get up into the mountains. So, we had 2 lift tickets we had won from his school's silent auction. We packed the bags the night before, I rented skis, we set the alarm, and hit the sack. Dave was overly giddy with excitement (not a big surprise). As the alarm went off the next morning, we sprung out of bed, put on our gear, and were just about ready to walk out the door when Dave walked in the room with the BIGGEST look of disapointment on his face. He held up the ticket we had won that read, "Valid Monday through Friday." We were so bummed. Seeing the sadness on his face, I encouraged him to see if we can't work a deal with the ski resort. We called, and they denied our request. We had our snow gear all packed up and lunches made, why not go snow shoeing?

We set out for Kings Canyon. We both really love Kings Canyon over Yosemite simply due to the lack of crowds. The last time when went up to Yosemite we crossed paths with at least 50 people, not to mention the screaming kids and il-prepared teenagers complaining about wet clothes. Needless to say, it didn't feel like we really, "got away." With our luck, Kings Canyon would be quiet and peaceful - and it was.

We started out on our trek when I quickly became aware that my body wasn't happy I was there. My stomach cramped up and nausea overwhelmed me. It ended up being a VERY short snow shoe adventure, but we redeemed the time by taking some silly photos and enjoying each other's company.

Oh Sierra Summit Ski Resort, we'll be back for you next time!

Homelessness and Isaiah 61:1

2010-03-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

This issue of homelessness and poverty has struck me in the last few months throughout my quiet times. It doesn't help that every time I go to the grocery store I hear a rap tap tap on my car window from a homeless person begging for money, or on almost every intersection there are beggars with signs asking for help. Fresno actually has the highest homeless rate in California, and the fourth largest in the nation. This issue has always bothered me, and my heart began to wrestle with God over what my responsibility was regarding this issue. Jesus says in the gospels that the poor will always be with you, but he also encourages the rich man to sell everything he owns to give to the poor. I was still caught in the middle of where or how much do I give? In talking with a local homeless shelter employee, I found out that there are various levels of homelessness, and some actually make quite a good living while begging. Others truly are at their wits ends and have hit hard times. Through the conversation, I also found that there are lots of resources in the city that can help and provide proper aid. I myself could be putting Dave and I in danger if I were to invite someone into our home, but a shelter could provide the assistance I could not. After much prayer and wrestling with God, an idea emerged. This idea, I truly believe, came not from me, but through my prayers by hearing God's voice. I would buy a Costco-sized box of granola bars, print out copies of all the homeless resources in Fresno, rubber band them to the granola bars, and give them out every time I encountered a homeless person. This feels right. I am helping to satisfy a physical need (hunger), while assisting with a deeper need (homelessness). Dave thought it was a brilliant idea as well, so here are some pictures of us preparing the granola bars. Praise God that he helps us wrestle through the issues of daily life such as poverty in our own cities. We don't have to travel around the world to make a difference.

The joys of having a dog

2010-03-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

We have been having so much fun with Oliver. He has brought a lot of joy to our home and definitely keeps us entertained with his curious and playful personality. Here is Oliver attacking Dave while I was trying to give him a back massage on the floor. Then, Oliver took an interest in our beverages.

The new addition!

2010-02-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

So, Dave and I have been talking about getting a dog for a few months now. We both love animals and really wanted a dog to go hiking with. The problem is that we have a small backyard and travel quite a bit. Our compromise was to get a small dog that we could take with us. We will get our big dog later on in life =) Oliver is 13.5 lbs terrier mix. We got him from the humane society, which is always a bit of a gamble. We really were blessed in this game of luck. We couldn't ask for a better dog. He is really mellow (unlike hyper Kuyper). He loves to play, but prefers cuddling up with anyone and everyone on the sofa. We took him for his first road trip this past weekend and he was SUCH a trooper. He bonded with my family really fast and didn't want to leave. He slept in the car either on my lap or on the back seat on a blanket and never barked or whimpered the entire time. He has yet to go to the bathroom in the house. He trains easily and we've already got him obeying commands and potty trained. We couldn't be more excited for this little addition to our family. Enjoy the pictures of Oliver!!

Weekend with the Inlaws

2010-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

We spent Dave's three day weekend to head down to Santa Ynez to spend some time with the folks. It was an awesome trip. The highlight of the trip was Gary teaching me how to plow the field. He even let me wear the sacred John Deere hat, to which he referred to as Joan Deere. We played cards, looked at old pictures and just spent time hanging out. It poured rain the day we left, but our time indoors was cozy and warm. It was such a recharge getting out of the valley into the beautiful hills. Thanks Gary and Judy for an incredible weekend. Oh, and we did some wine tasting a few times along the way =)

Snowshoeing in Lassen

2010-01-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

On New Years Eve, Dave, Bill, Cassie and I make the trek up to Lassen for some winter fun. The weather was less than desirable (ran/snow mix), but the bonding was fantastic. After our hike, we did some sledding on a near by hill. Dave and Bill kept challenging each other on who could get the most air........figures.....boys will be boys. We finished up our time with some hot cocoa at the lodge, a slushy drive home, and board games and mimosas to toast in the new year.

Flag/Mud Football

2010-01-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

It is a Lane family tradition to bust out the old sweat bands, stretch out the muscles, and head out to Bille Park for a holiday game of flag football. The teams were divided, the game faces were on and the competition was fierce. I vote Cassie MVP for her stellar kicking abilities and Eirik MVP for catching 2 touchdown passes even with his eye depth perception problem. I look forward to taking you all on next year!

Our First Christmas

2009-12-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

The plan was to snow shoe up into the mountains, find the perfect Christmas tree, chop it down, and bring it back to the house for decorating. We ended up buying one next to Food Maxx.......apparently Fresno doesn't allow anyone to chop down trees anywhere in the foothills or national parks.

We still enjoyed the festivities of decorating our first tree together. We gave each other ornaments, a tradition we decided to start together. Our stocking are hung, a fire is crackling, and our first Christmas together couldn't be better.

A Minnesota Thanksgiving

2009-11-29T10:05:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving in Minnesota was a blast! Spending time with Matt and Alicia and the boys was such a treat. We started the day off by cooking up some eggs and pancakes on HuHot's giant grill, then played a thanksgiving day game of soccer, and topped it off by sitting down to a delicious meal that evening. It was great to be with family.

Hockey Time!!

2009-11-29T09:21:00.000-08:00

While hanging out with Matt and Alicia, Alicia thought it would be a great idea to put me in all her hockey gear and send me out into a hockey game to get clobbered by some burley Minnesota moms. Luckily, they spared my life and I lived to tell about it. Dave, however, looked slightly frightened by my new look =)

Birthday Festivities

2009-11-09T13:34:00.001-08:00

This weekend was my birthday, so Dave called in a sub on Friday and we headed for the mountains! There's nothing like a birthday hike up to Kings Canyon. We were worried about the cloudy skies on the way up, but the clouds descended into the trees to form a beautiful landscape and ideal weather. We couldn't have asked God for a better hike! The birthday celebration was great, minus my viral infection that had me laid up for a few days. Dave spoiled me and took care of me, and my parents drove all the way down to join in the festivities. Over all, the birthday was fabulous!

Too much fun in the kitchen

2009-10-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Cassie came to visit this last weekend and it was a BLAST!! We made harvest cookies, and may have gotten carried away a time or two. Dave put up with all the estrogen in exchange for extra frosting.

Pumpkin Carving - the New Art

2009-10-23T15:19:00.001-07:00

On Saturday night, we had a pumpkin carving party. We had pumpkin filled desserts and a table filled with tools to create our masterpieces. These are the results from the party. Can you guess the shapes and who carved what?

From left to right:

Spiderweb (Cassie Reynolds), Labrador (Joel and Jeanette Hedge), Hiker (Tara Cory), Skier (David Cory)

No one told me I married an addict...

2009-10-12T20:25:00.001-07:00

I'm reminded of those days as a kid when one kid would say to the other, "I love cake." The witty child would then respond, "If you love it so much, why don't you marry it?"

Dave should have married desserts. I had no idea his obsession with sweets was so intense - Judy, you didn't properly warn me. This is Dave eating A PLATE of pumpkin bars I made. Notice the bowl sitting on the desk - he grabbed the extra frosting out of the fridge and went to town. I caught him in the act - totally busted!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

2009-10-05T19:00:00.001-07:00

We were CRAVING the mountains, so we got the heck out of dodge and headed up to Kings Canyon this weekend. On our way up we stopped by a gas station and spotted this sign - got to love Fresno-ites! We tried a new trail that involved 9 miles in on a one lane road followed by 2 miles on a dirt road. Results = no one in sight!!! It was about 30 degrees and just as we were finishing the day hike, flurries began dusting the trees. What an experience - the first snow!!! We packed pizza for lunch and thought it would be a brilliant idea to cook it over a fire. Crispy pizza on a cold day - it doesn't get much better than that!

Junk in the trunk

2009-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we said goodbye to the lovely treasures that consumed our garage. Dave, as you can see by the photos, had a bit of a hard time parting with several items such as: a framed photo of a rooster, his mini fridge from college, and a random collection of Indiana Jones hats. All in all, we made a $100 and we can now park in the garage. Yehaw!!

Bulldog Pride

2009-09-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Fresno State Bulldogs are a division I football team. Dave and I had the privilege of attending a game free (tickets are normally $60). Seeing that we live right down the street from Fresno State, we decided to bike to the game - only Dave's bike is missing a bucket full of bolts. Needless to say, we made it 1 block from the stadium when Dave's bike literally fell into pieces and bolts rolled across the street. We were a sight!

The game itself was entertaining - picture Fresno-ites in all their glory, then picture crazy screaming fans - the combination is deadly. After we sweat buckets and cheered until our throats were sore, we headed home as Dave "Flinstoned" his way home on a bike without petals. What a night!

Engagement Weekend

2009-09-29T10:42:00.001-07:00

Dave and I made the trip up to Chico this weekend to celebrate with Cassie and Bill in their engagement. We couldn't be happier for the two of them. The best part of the weekend was staying up until 1am playing the Newlywed Game with the fam - great memories! Team Cory kicked butt, but I think team Burks is out for revenge!

Wedding Bliss

2009-09-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

.......It was FABULOUS!! We couldn't have asked for a better setting, and better company.

And the fun begins......

2009-08-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

A seizmic mental shift occured. We just went from single, to married; from prowling the market, to settling down; from clubbing, to dinner at home watching Jeopordy. Yikes!!! Are we ready to settle?? I think the best thing about marrying Dave was that I found the one person in the world that was as afraid to settle down as much as I was. Luckily, our spunk still drives us, our adventure gets us into more mischeif that we know what to do with, and our child-like spirit refuses to grow up - at least yet.

The journey Dave and I have before us is one of adventures yet experienced. I have no doubt that we are entering into the most exciting time in our lives. We appreciate all of your support in celebrating with us on August 8th, and by lifting us up in prayer. We love you all and are excited to partner with you as we document our journey......