Sales Woes, or Lack There Of

So, today has been absolutely dead boring. So far we've been open for an hour and not one soul has come in. I have a feeling it will be one of those days. To add to the boredom, it's a beautiful sunny day outside, and unusually warm for December. Chances are the beautiful weather and the fact that Christmas is a few days away will kill our traffic today.

As a result, I am trying to beat the boredom by writing. Unfortunately, also a result of the dead day, I'm blogging about my boredom. So as you can see it's a vicious cycle that may, or may not, be broken. The only way out is to get customers in here so I can sell them stuff! No people = no sales. Luckily for me this is only my 3rd week on the floor and I'm doing very well. I don't have to worry about money, just my boredom. I love selling stuff, it's fun and it feels pointless being here when I don't have people to sell stuff too.

Enough of my whinning. Tommorrow is my last day of work before heading to AZ. Finally we'll be flying out. I can't wait to see everyone again. It seems years since I've been home, even though it's only been 5 months. Plus I get to finally meet Zachary. I can't wait.

Ahah, that's it, I'm in count-down-mode. No matter how busy it may get, time will not go fast enough. It's just the way it works when one is about to leave on a trip, or have something else exciting happen.

Hey, it looks like a car may have just pulled in. One can only hope! It's hard to tell if it's in our lot or the lot next to us. Hopefully, it's for us, though no one has walked..... DOH, they just left. Oh well! So much for that one. Tis the Season they say!

Well, that's enough of my rantings for today. See you all later! :-)

Starting the Countdown

It's only 5 days untill we fly out of Oregon to Vegas and head to Arizona. Finally, Christmas is almost here. I am so excited to finally meet little Zachary. I can't believe it's finally here, time sure has flown.

I remeber last Christmas when Leah and James decided to adopt a baby. I was praying that we'd have a new addition to our family this Christmas. Finally, after years of waiting, God answered our prayers and blessed Leah and James with a beautiful baby boy. I'm so excited and thankful that God has blessed us with Zachy.

I'm a very proud Auntie and I can't wait to see him. Love you all :-)

Fun With the Pups

So, today was my Sat. and Aaron had his first final of the week. I dropped him off at school, with the dogs in the back seat, parked the car and hiked the hill around Aaron's school for an hour and a half. It was so much fun and the landscape was beautiful. Here are some pics! Enjoy!

Max and Leila on the Hill

They Can Drink from a Drinking Fountain! :-)

Pretty trees and a path in the woods!

Long Time, no Bloggin

Well, I've been so busy with my new job I haven't have time to add to my blog. So here's a quick update in a nut shell.

I decided to take the La-z-boy job and I've been working there since Nov. 1st. So far I love it, the people I work with, and what I do. It's a lot of fun. After a month of training, I'm finally on the floor selling things. So far I'm doing well, but I'm not sure if I want to stay in sales. I may have an opportunity in the next few months to move into an Interior Design position. Since that's what my degree is in, I think I want to take that position within the company. It sounds like a lot of fun, but I'll wait and see what God has planned for me. I don't want to do anything out of his will.

As for non work related life, Aaron is doing well in school and is almost finished with his first term of the first year. He has seven finals to go and then he gets two weeks off. As most of you know, during one of those two weeks we will be traveling to AZ to see our folks and meet Zachary. Finally it's almost here. I can't wait to hold the little kiddo and finally get to know him. I have only seen his pictures and I miss him.

We did have one slight tragedy, our computer crashed about a week and a half ago. It doesn't think it has a hard drive! YIKES! Well, we shipped it to my dad, computer genius man, and we're patiently waited for a diagnoses. I hope it will be ok.

Other than that, things have been pretty ordinary around here. Life continues as usual, and we're counting down the days until we get to go home. I work tomorrow, 11-7, kind of a weird shift. I hope we're busy so I can sell stuff!!! God Bless!

Me Being Silly (trying on stuff @ Target) We're pretty boring people. We go to Target for fun!!!

Old Gypsy Wormen

So my dad had a fundraiser for the Community College he works at in AZ. Here he is as an old Hungarian Gypsy Women. Take a look!

Testing turned to Choices

Well, after three interviews this week it looks like I might have my choice as to where I want to work. Strangely enough, the company I was determined I didn't want to work for, due to weekends, is the one that is offering the best money and schedule. I would be working 36-40 hours a week, usually 7-8 hour shifts per day and making quite a bit doing so. Plus the store is really close to our house so there isn't any commuting involved. I have a second interview with the store manager today to discuss the details of the position.

The other company is in Tualitin, about 22 mi. from our house. It's a 8-5 mon-fri job, however because of the distance I would be gone from 7a.m. - 6:30 p.m. at night. It's a cabinet job that doesn't sound like it will be offering good money. I am, however, the top candidate for the position out of 12 so far. They will be calling me to schedule a second interview at the end of this week.

The final company sounds overwhelming. It's a commercial furniture dealer who specializes in office design. It would also be a mon-fri 8-5 job. However, it's located in the middle of downtown which means I would have to take the bus or drive and park. Fortunately the company gives their employees bus passes for free, however the bus ride from our house would be over an hour one way. So, again I would leave at 6:30 or 7 and be home around the same time at night.

So far I have decided the first choice sounds best. It just seems like a much more relaxed envrionment and I would have the potential to make a lot of money. Much more than I have been making or would make with a standard salaried job. Basically I have to decided between traveling for hours or working weekends. As of now, the weekends seem to be the lesser of the two evils. I will let you know when I find out more about the jobs! God Bless!

Corn?

So, Aaron and I spent a few weekends over the summer ripping out all of the periwinkle in our yard in hopes of planting veggies in the Spring. We then hand tilled the soil and added chicken manuer and hay. For the past couple of months we have just let it sit and do its thing. So far we have a grass-like plants growing all over the area. Plus, there are these two huge plants that have sprung up near the concrete. I think they just might be corn. Take a look!

The grass that has grown by itself.

Corn? Possibly? Time will tell!

With Faith Like a Child

Well, so much has happened since my last post. On Thursday of last week my boss told me he can no longer afford to keep me on at full time. Basically, the jobs are just not coming in. He explained that is has absolutely nothing to do with my abilities, there just isn't enough to keep me on. I was crushed. I suspected it was coming, but I didn't want to believe it would happen. I somehow, by the grace of God, managed to hold my tears until I was in my car and driving around the corner. I called my husband and started bawling. Even though I was told it was not a reflection of my abilities, it still felt like I had completely failed. Aaron, what an awesome Godly man, said he figured that's why I had called him and told me to go home and get into the Word. He also told me not to worry, God will provide. That I know in my heart. He has seen us through financial hardships before and has never let us down.

It's been four days since I was layed off and today I'm hitting the pavement to find a job. Over the weekend I posted my resume on Jobdango. I applied for 6 jobs and this morning I recieved a phone call from one of them. The company, who shall remain nameless, a large, nationwide chain of furniture stores, called me back this morning and gave me a phone interview. The woman I spoke with was very interesting in me and will call me back to set up a second interview. One major drawback is their employees have to work weekends, Sundays included. I am praying that God will bring me something that doesn't require weekends and holidays. But I know it is in His hands, if He wants me to work Sundays, then I'll work Sundays.

Right now Aaron and I are being tested. As hard as this is, I'm thanking God for the trial. I know this will build my faith and bring us closer to Him. God is in control and I have nothing to fear. Pray for us! God Bless!

A Wonderful Weekend

My parents, Dave and Jenny, came to visit us over the weekend and it was wonderful. They live in Lake Havasu City, AZ. For those of you who are unfamiliar with AZ, it's in the middle of a dessert, by a lake, and the summers are around 120 degrees, on average. I grew up there!

They arrived at our house at 3:30 Friday afternoon and they left around 6 a.ms Monday morning. On Friday night we went to the Cheesecake Factory at Washington Square Mall. It was great! However, Aaron was sick and started losing his voice that night.

On Saturday my mom, dad, and I headed to Washington State planning on visiting Mount St. Helens. Aaron, poor guy, spent the day studying and trying to get better. Well, it was so cloudy towards the mountains we changed our mind, mid stream, and headed towards the coast, where the Columbia river joins the Pacific. It was a beautiful drive. Along the way we stopped at a wildlife refuge so my mom could take pictures of birds. As usual, the birds were in hiding, but there were a slew of wild blackberries! I had a small feast of the last fruits for the year. YUMMY! After our little birdless excursion, we head towards Astoria, OR.

Astoria is an old shipping town, established in 1811, that marks the point were the river and the ocean meet. There is a huge bridge, called The Bridge of the Gods, that crosses the Columbia! It was impressive. We then proceeded to eat lunch at a little restaurant that's been around since 1916, and walked around the town. We got back into Portland around 4:00 or so.
Sunday my parents came to church with us, and it was awesome. They just loved the music and it was fun having my parents in the congregation again. After church we hung out at the mall, went shopping, and ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory. It was a whirlwind trip. Now, there back home in "good ol'e Havasu, and we're back to school, for Aaron, and work, for me. It was so nice having them home. I'm just excited for Christmas to roll around so we can see everyone, especially Mr. Zachary!

Mom and Me

Dad and Me

The "Hollywood" Pic (as my mom calls it!)

One of the Docks in Astoria, OR

Back to Flagstaff?

Jan. '05 Behind Aaron's Parents House in Flag.

Well, Aaron and I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, and it sounds like we may end up back in Flagstaff after he's through with school. He has a wonderful opportunity to possibly work into taking over an established dentist's practice in Flag. Plus we're both a bit home sick. We really miss the open spaces and lack of people there. In Portland, don't get me wrong we love it here for now, you have to drive for miles before you are out of the city. We miss driving five, ten, or fifteen minutes to get out of civilization. We also realized how much we miss our families and how much we have missed of Zach's life. Well, we still have 4 years before we leave. As for now we are taking each day at a time and trusting in God to guide us to the next step. God Bless!

Foggy Morning

I opened up my curtains this morning to find a beautiful mist settling on our street. Here is some pictures. Enjoy!

Looking out of Aaron's Office Window

From our front yard.

Looking towards the side yard.

From the Hand of a 5-Month-Old

Ever wandered what a five-month-old types? Here it is! Ladies and Gentlemen, the love note from my wonderful nephew Zachary to me!

"bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb b 8 iooo d dt rb 97udru ivcj7 uugkj o gv hhh

love,
zach "

I love you baby and I can't wait to see you kiddo!

The Bride's of Christ

Last night I went to our church's women's Bible study. It was awesome! We listened to a woman speak about Esther and how her life is a model of true worship and devotion to our God and King. She explained the ritual Esther went through to prepare herself to meet the king of Persia for the first time. 6 months of Myrrh oil was applied to her body and taken internally, followed by another 6 months of sweet spices and fragrances. Her body was clean inside and out; and her natural odor was replaced by the smell of sweet spices. She also wholly submitted herself to God's plan for her life. Though she was taken from her people and brought to the palace, most likely not by her choice, she accepted it. She left everything behind and became a completely devoted to finding favour with the king, which she indeed won as the story tells us.

One of the most touching words of the evening came from our pastor's wife, Betty. As the evening drew to a close she said something that struck a chord with me. "We may not have what the world calls 'beauty', and we may not look like models and movie stars, but we are the Brides of Christ. We are beautiful and pleasing in His eyes." What an amazing truth! How many times do we, mostly women, compare ourselves to the "women" we see on TV or in movies. "I'll never be that skinny," or "I have a 'ghetto booty," or "I'll never look like that in a million years," or "I can pinch an inch," and so many other things. It's something I struggle with on a daily basis. But, to be reminded that I am a Bride of Christ, that we are His brides, His beautiful creation, and He loves us more than we can comprehend makes this body seem, well, like the shell that it is. Not to be neglected, but to be made into a temple for our Savior to dwell. I praise you God for making me and loving me, all of me, for who I am. I am so thankful that I am a bride of Christ, my Jesus, and my Savior.

For Those who Love Historical Recipes

Ok, I admit it. I love history, as if it's news to anyone who knows me. I also love cooking historical food from various eras. I stumbled on this site about a month ago, and I must say, it's spectacular! Talk about complex, fun recipes. I've only tried one of them so far, the Venison in Callops. However I used Chicken instead of Venison, and I didn't lard the meat. It was, however, the tastiest chicken I think I've ever made. For those who are up for the challenge, and the fun of historical food, this site is for you! Check out the amazing sugar sculptures and pie moulds. It's quite amazing what one can do with food! All for now!

Happy 6 month guys!

Well, 6 months ago today we got our doggies Max and Leila. What an amazing change! They are so well behave and sweet. When we first got them the barely knew how to sit. Now, they are leash trained, they know basic commands, they don't try to eat the birds (a big plus!), and they are so affectionate. I must say I have fallen in love with Chesapeake Bays as a bread. They're very cool dogs, but not for everyone. For more on Chessies check out this rescue site http://www.cbrrescue.org/.

Here are pics of our babies when we first got them!

Their first experience with snow (when we lived in Flagstaff!)

No, this is not an edited photo! It took a month of training

to keep Max (the dog) from eating my birdies.

Now, he's see's them as part of the pack!

Look Ma! Our first swim (with us that is!)

You have to drag us out of the water!

Why can't Baldric play ball with me? (Baldric the cockatiel, that is!)

Well, that's all for now!

Pics of My Babies (All of them!)

Baldric My Male Cockatiel

Queenie, My Female Cockatiel

Max, My Male Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Leila, My Female Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Aren't they just adorable!

Max the Purring Dog?

Yes, my 100 lbs. Chessie, Max, was purring like a cat yesterday. I was petting him and he started purring. It was hilarious! So I guess Beau kitty you've met your match, Max the purring Dog!

My Little Nephew!

Here are some updated pictures of Zachary!

Look, he's wearing the bib we got him! Isn't he a doll!

I love you little guy and I can't wait to meet you!

We Keep Our Skeletons in a Box!

Laaron (A Composite of Us! WAY SCARY!!!)





So Aaron's Dental School is in full swing now. He's rarely home and when he is home, he is locked away in his office studying. He has spent the last week dissecting the thorax, the chest area around the heart, of their cadaver who was lovingly dubbed Forest by my husband. Dear Forest, who is being explored by "Team Forest" is now missing his heart, lungs, most, if not all, of his ribs, and a few other essentials. They were removed from his body, tagged, and stored in plastic bags for safe keeping. This week, they are disecting the poor man's abdomen.

Another jolly item issued to D1's, the name given to first year dental students, is the bone box! Aaron came home with a large wooden box full of a skeleton. And yes, this is a real skeleton, well half of one. They give each student a head, spine, and the bones to half of the body. I think our specemin is the right side of the body, but I can't remember for sure. So, unlike some folks who prefer bones in closets, our skeletons are lovingly stored in a box in Aaron's study, AKA the land of Spare-Oom. Kinda sick ain't it!

He' Finally Home

Our little Zachary is finally home. I hear he is an absolute angel. He's tiny, but I'm sure with the love and care he is getting from his mom and dad, he will fill out quickly. I must say, I'm anxious for Christmas to come so I can finally meet my little nephew. I love that little guy so much already, and I've only seen pictures of him. God Bless!

And So It Begins...

My Future Dentist :-)


Well, Aaron is officially in Dental School. This morning he left the house at 7 am to begin the first day of four long years of school. He called me around lunch time to tell me he was having fun and other tid bits of his first day. He was scheduled to be home, oh about an hour ago. But instead of coming home, he called to tell me they just got out of lecture and still had lab! That's another three hours, at least! Wow, they don't ease them into hard work, they drop them in head first, see who can swim, and let the weak drown.

It's kind of strange having the house all to my self. We spent the last month and a week in a bliss-ful second honey moon-like state. We were only apart three hours a day, when I work at the office. I must say, I have been spoiled. I love having my husband home with me all of the time, it's really nice. Now, I'm not sure what I will do with my self over the next four years. If his first day is this crazy, how will the rest of the days be? Well, I know that God is in control, and he will see us through. Well, hopefully I will be driving to pick Aaron up around 9 p.m. or so.... Time will tell!

They Made it Safely

Just recieved word from my sister-in-law. They landed safely in Addis, Ethiopia and finaly met their little son. So all is well and our little guy will be coming home soon. God Bless!

Socialization....

My husband, Aaron, starts dental school tomorrow. It's amazing it's finally here after years of planning and waiting. His school threw a "Getting to Know You" picknick this afternoon for all of the first year students. What a drag!

Basically Aaron and I tried to introduce ourselves and start conversations with other people only to find people just didn't want to talk to us. It was pretty pathetic. We sat with another couple who, like us, don't socialize or party hardy. We pretty much sat in silence staring at each other trying to find things to talk about.

In the end we left about an hour into the thing. It was pretty silly. Almost like highschool. Most of the students were from Oregon and some even knew each other. So they sectioned off into their own group. The older second and third year students formed another group, and then there were us few "out of state'rs" who were left to fend for ourselves.

We just came home from the joke of that meet and greet picnic and were lovingly greeted by our dogs and birds. You know, they're the only socializing I need. God has definately blessed us with our doggies! Those wagging tails and wet cold noses are always anxiously awaiting our return home!

Finally, and most importantly, God has given us each other. He has blessed us with the love of husband and wife. All we need is Jesus and each other. To the world we may seem "weird", but I'd rather have a great relationship with Jesus and my husband any day! God Bless!

Max and Leila (our babies)

Little One...

Though your half way around the world and I have not met you yet, I love you. I can't wait to meet you, to hold you, to be your Auntie. Little one, I pray for you daily. You are a true miracle, a blessing to your parents. You are a precious gift and we all yern to see you. Tomorrow your mommy and daddy will embark on a journey to Ethiopia to bring you home. I pray for them, for safety, for peace and for provision. God has blessed our family richley and you, my little one, are a true answer to our prayers.

Waiting to meet you. With Love,

Your Auntie Lauren

And So...

After little thought and almost no consideration, I decided to start my own Blog. Inspiration came when I saw my sister-in-law's Blog, and I thought, "That's really neat! Maybe I should start my own Blog." And so I did!

It isn't much yet, but check back; maybe you'll find something new and interesting.