Travels

I have been driving a great deal lately. Up and down the Columbia River Gorge. To Spokane and back to Walla Walla and back twice. I think I'd like to slow down a little here. We need to get into school mode. Routines, bedtimes, schedules. Never thought I'd be looking forward to any of those but I am. I'm looking forward to more rain too. Yay for FALL!

With this ring...

Weddings. We rarely get invited to weddings. This summer has been an exception. We have been invited to 9! Each one we've attended has been unique but very lovely. It has given us many new ideas for future events that we will be directly involved with.

Thank you Stacey & Josh, Christy & Justin, Tiffany & Jeff, Karyn & Brandon (all pictured) along with Brooke & Jason, Eric & Kisha. It's been fun being a part of your day. We look forward to celebrating with Lita & Bob, Katie & Brad, and Kristel & Brent.

Traveling again.

The younger 3 children and I are heading to Spokane for a wedding tomorrow. "Home Fries" is going to add a few miles to it's odometer but I enjoy the drive up there.

Haydenwill be celebrating his birthday on Wednesday. I'm including a few pictures of him taken in the past couple of monts. A self photo, a "Good Uncle" photo and a freaky photo from his trip to the lagoon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAYDEN! It's been a fun 11 years.

We are hoping to be back in the area in order to take him out to lunch. He has been talking about going to Olive Garden for months and months. I'll have to double check with him to see if that is still where he wants to go. I know if I asked Cam he'd like The Old Spaghetti Factory. Either that or his new fav Taco Del Mar.

It's hot and we're heading to the pool.

The Wallas!

Our trip was lots of fun. Cam had a wonderful birthday. Hayden even got in some of the present action since Cherise and Adam and Lyssa and Logan won't be here on the 17th for his 11th birthday. The Robinson's dogs even got into the party mood.

As I said Hayden will be 11 on the 17th. Rylan turned 25 on the 1st and with Cam's on the 7th we have all the boys celebrating in the same month. Whew August is one hefty hit in the old pocketbook.

This summer has been so eventful it seems. With kids camp being in the middle of July instead of the end of June it has made the summer just fly by. Back to school pretty soon. We are looking into an online public charter school. Would be a lot of record keeping for me but I think it would be good for our kids. Lys and Krys will both be at PCC.

My sister and her husband and kids are coming this weekend. Their daughter is getting married next week in Spokane. It will be another fun trip for the kids and me at least. Har will be home holding down the fort. Then Cherise will be home for Lita and Bob's wedding! That will be a great day. Lots to still look forward to but lots to get accomplished too. I'm trying to enjoy each day as it comes and not be too focused on future events or looking back on what I could, shoulda, woulda....

Enjoy the wonderful weather this coming week. Yay for a week in the 80s!

Walla Walla Walla Walla Walla

Do you wonder what turkeys say in Walla Walla? I like that some people we know just call it the Wallas. Anyway you say it we are going there!!!! It's never been high on my list of destinations but now that we've been there a couple of times and experienced some of their wonderfully laid back town, it's real nice. Besides our CHERISE is there and her fabulous boyfriend ADAM and that makes all the difference in the world. It's spectacular & wonderous & we are going to be there tonight. I wish the whole family could be together but some people have to work and some people have to work and shouldn't travel that far by car because they are going to have a baby and some people live in Korea and don't swim that well to get here in time. So CHERISE is going to have to settle for just those of us who can make it. And CAMERON is going to celebrate his 7th birthday on Sunday. Seven on the seventh! Yay for golden birthdays! CAM you are quite a kid! Yay for summer!

I'll Blog back at ya when we return.

New Pool

The pool was actually purchased and enjoyed in Michigan last summer. We had a lot of help from the kids doing prep work. BOY is it refreshing!
Notice the blue ring. It is the same one that Wyatt is wearing in the previous water picture.

Camp

Summer camp, Day camp, Bible Camp, ... Summer time! I have been to camps where the kids are soooo tired that, in my opinion, a big part of their "spiritual" breakthroughs are pretty much emotional exhaustion.

Not this camp. Our fire time and opening our hearts and minds to the things of God happened just after supper. Six-thirty. It was powerful. And usually more "decisions" are made on the final night of camp. Not this camp. Day one on through the final night. I found myself drawing near to God. It was an awesome ( in every sense of the Word) Kid's Camp!!

Water Fun

Kids love water. This is our little splash pool. Wyatt's first time playing in it. He isn't too sure about the spraying. I'll have to post another picture when we get our other pool set up.

In the mean time stay cool. Especially you Walla Wallaians.

A yummy looking pic

This is one of my favorite pictures I took in Michigan last summer. Those berries were soooo yummy.

I think I need to get out and see if there are any berries still left in this neck of the woods.

I have enjoyed a few basketfuls from a farmer's market. But there is something about picking them yourself that adds to the enjoyment.

Grandson's are Special too!

This is Wyatt Earl Martin and he is 15 months old. He has a multitude of nick-names. Cherise calls him Googie. He is a cutie and lots of fun. Most of it is on his terms though. He is in for a rude awakening in a couple of months when his brother or sister comes along.

Lys and Logan

We are having fun watching those two develop their relationship. They are good kids. The time that he was deployed wasn't easy but it seems to have deepened their commitment to keep each other in prayer and heightened their awareness of where their strength comes from.

It is nice to know that our girls are finding men that seem tailor made for them. Yay for the best son-in-law, fiance and boyfriend ever!!!!

Anniversary

Yesterday was Harlan and my 26th Anniversary. It was tiring. We spent our morning and a bit of the afternoon getting packed and out of Kid's Camp. Then we went to the Enchanted Forest in Salem. It has been years since we've been there. Courtney, Hayden and Cameron have never been there. Joylynn, Jess and Wyatt were able to come with us. The hiking up and down the hills up there wasn't too cool after having hiked up and down the hills at Kid's Camp since Sunday but we survived.

We enjoyed our involvement this year at camp. Have a ton of pictures. I needed to run out and get ink and photo paper this a.m. to be able to print some of them.

We also have the pleasure of having Logan (Lyssa's fiance) home safe and sound from serving in the Middle East.

God has been so good to us over the past 26 years. He has given us so many blessings. Our desire to serve him has only increased.

No time to think.

Isn't chaos a weird looking word. Weird is also a weird looking word. But chaos is the prevailing noun in my life at the moment.

Synonyms confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, disorganization, havoc, hell, jumble, mess, muddle, shambles
Related Words anarchy, lawlessness, misrule; knot, snarl, tangle; labyrinth, maze, web; maelstrom, storm; clutter, litter, mishmash, shuffle; hodgepodge, medley, miscellany, motley

Near Antonyms method, pattern, plan, system
Antonyms order, orderliness

It's interesting to me that there are 30 synonyms and related words to this state and only 6 antonyms and near antonyms.

"Peace be still." I guess HE has it right all along.

Seize the Day

How does one go about living in the day? So much of my time seems to be spent lamenting the fact that I "coulda, should, woulda..." or anticipating upcoming events that I really think I am missing out on all that God has for me today.

Scripture says "whatever your hand finds to do." Seems to fit in with my ADD type of personality. But it is followed by "do it with all your might." That requires focus.

Priorities? What is the definition? How do you go about getting them in line when bombarded at every side with meeting the needs, wants, whims of others?

Calling? Do I have one?

I think I need to spend some serious alone time with God. Where can I go to be alone?

Marshmallows

Smores, Rice Krispie Treats, Fudge.

Food, family & adjustments

We had a couple of friends over for dinner the other night. Thanks for coming guys! Alyssa was working and Krystle was at church for YC. Courtney went to Jr High. So here there were only 6 people eating with food for around 20. Three desserts. We have had 3 more meals from the leftovers. I'm not doing so well with this semi empty nest thing. It is rare that all of us are home for a meal together. :o( And I don't know how to "do" small food.

This fall is going to be weird with only 3 kids home for the days. I guess Wyatt and the new baby will more than make up for the lack of Hilmans proper in residence.

Adam is moving :0\ He is going to have a spiffy new room though. It used to be scary orange. Kinda like being swallowed by a giant gourd. Now it is the color of smooth ripe avocado a serene light green. He is not going to be lonely with the mouse and possibly mice that live in the window well. Also there is a nice closet that Cherise fashioned out of pipe and fabric.

Harlan and Hayden will be camping overnight tonight. Alyssa went to the beach with Megan. Krystle has to work tonight. So that will leave me alone with Cam and Courtney. More adjustments.....

I wish my life fit some sort of norm. But it doesn't and that's going to have to be OK.

Boundaries, blogs, reality checks

I have never read the book "Boundaries". I think I need to. Life is hard. Choices are hard.

I have learned a ton from peoples blogs. I am just like them. I don't feel at home here. I can't embrace any of the world's solutions as much as I'm drawn to them. I must remind myself that I am not living for myself. I have been bought.

I want to start being more real. Except for my nails......I like them acrylic.

I need to learn more

I'd like to post a photo every now and then. How do Chris and Robin make their posted pictures look like polaroids? That kid of theirs is sure a cutie. I have a cute little guy here multiple days a week that I'm sure many of you would love to see.

To change the subject. If a headache goes away when you drink coffee does it imply that it was a lack of caffeine causing it? If that is the case I'm in trouble.

Birthday Boy

Harlan's birthday is Monday. He "forgot" to take the day off so he'll be working from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. He does get an hour and a half for lunch so I'll have to think about where to take him out to lunch. Most times he just comes home.

I don't like having his birthday and father's day so close together. I suppose it could be worse his birthday could be in June. Guys are hard to buy presents for. Especially if you have a limited budget and everything that he would really love is in the multiple hundreds of dollars.

I have a few ideas. A new picture collage for his office at work. Perhaps some organizational stuff for his shop. I'd love to get him a comfy recliner type chair that he could just chill in.

In any case "Happy Birthday Har!" You are one of the good ones.

Mother of the....

I am going to be the Mother of the Ring Bearer! Cam is going to be in our nephew Justin's wedding on Jun 4th and I'm excited. For him and me. I like weddings a lot! I like the decorating and such. None of it seems like work to me.

Justin called yesterday to see if Cam would do it. He initially said no but after seeing some pretty nice tuxedos online and getting the book "10 Cool Things about being a Ring Bearer" he is pretty pumped about being in the wedding.

Mom and Don are coming on the 31st. As much as decorating and wedding stuff isn't work. Cleaning and dejunqueing is a major pain. I have not even 3 weeks to accomplish something. I think maybe we'll move and not tell anybody.