by Alexis -

Eric

My brother is a lot like most members in my family. We show love by giving. Gifts, remembering your favorite drink/candy and surprising you with one. Or whatever. Birthdays in our family are pretty big to eachother and Eric and I are 5 days apart. His the 4th and mine the 9th.

Last time I went to Seattle was to celebrate the ‘birthday month’. My dad’s is also in that fabulous fall month. (although the eaves are changing later and September has been pretty warm here-Portland.) We met at Red Robin and strolled along the mall and he surprised me by getting me a pair of brown boots! Yay!

I’d been wanting a newer nicer pair. My other pair is well cheaply made and last time I wore them in Poland my feet froze off. Weaven though I was wearing 2 people-TWO pairs of socks. Don’t buy boots from Fred Meyer that you expect to take to a colder climate. Poor choice.

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I am well aware that he is very good looking. He is 27, lives in Seattle and enjoys warmer climates. He also looks like my dad. Mostly. And I look like my mom. Mostly.

At Red Robin I nearly ended his life early. I was going to tell them that not only was this his birthday (singing, balloons around your ears and free ice cream sundae-gotta love America) but I was going to tell them it was his big 30th BIRTHDAY!!! HAHAHA My dad and I thought this up. Well he thought of the 30 part and the singing was mine.

I kept trying to get the waitress’ attention but she didn’t come till he was there and Eric would’ve been looking for it. Too bad. Next year Eric, next year.

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Boots. A whole store of boots. Mother have mercy.

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My new boots. Pretty. Beautiful. Dark Brown.

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by Alexis -

Mondays thoughts…..

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For some reason the colors of the eggs are grabbing me and challenging me to see my life through organic eyes. There is a lot God is doing in my life right now that I know later I will see the fruit of.

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I just like the textures of these. The lamb was mine from when I was a baby. I will never get rid of it and I’m sure it will become one of those weird ‘grandma stuffed animal items’ in one of our rooms in the future. That’s ok. I love it. Oh and the salt is just on a pretty plate. It’s the little things.

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Her lips look a little blue because she had been sucking on a blue sucker. Love the new shirt- target.

Hope you all have a great Thursday. 🙂

by Alexis -

Pictures of Friends

I’ve not been on this much recently because I’ve felt more and more like I’m on here too much. I want to be able to use my blog to chat with you all and to also be creative. But I’ve felt almost like a ‘I have to blog’ compultion and I wanted to nip that in the bud.

Travis took these pictures of our friend who was recently married in Frakfurt, Germany. The pictures here are of the civil celebration. The wedding ceremony was done the next day. I’m so glad Trav got the opportunity to go and have this adventure. He took them and I edited them from home while he was away. How cool is technology?!

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Robyn and Josiah

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Mr and Mrs!!!!

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My favorite. I hope to print this out and send it to them framed. Nothing like a fabulous wedding picture!

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There’s just something about weddings that make the world seem a little better. A little less crazy and scary. A little more hopeful. A little more full of love.

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So glad you all had a great time and I look forward to seeing you sometime soon.

Last but of course not lease, because lets face it, wh can get enough wedding pictures?!

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by Alexis -

bye Trav

must. make. these.

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Good-bye Trav. I already miss you and am dreading the 6 oclock hour when you get usually get home…

Emma is already saying that she’s getting on an airplane too. She misses you a lot.

But I hope that you have a grand adventure. Taking tons of pictures, drinking cappuccino’s and best of all hanging with friends and talking till the wee hours of the morning. You deserve this break, have a great trip and we’ll be waiting here for you when you get back. Who knows, I might even make a chocolate cake for you when you return…hmmm like a welcome back party? SHMILY.

by Alexis -

Artichoke and Tomato Pasta

This Monday was my choice (yay!) and I chose Artichoke and Tomato Pasta. So worth it and super easy to make again. Simple meal, but tons of flavor. This is a simple meal because you use canned veggies! Bless canned artichokes and tomatoes…they make our lives SO much easier.

Ree asks specifically for non marinated artichokes. I thus went to the store looked specifically for those and bought the wrong ones. As I was struggling, for about 10-15min, to open the jars I read the small print. They were marinaded with herbs in oil. Perfect. Just what I didn’t want. But I used them anyways, and although they smelled horrid I kept cooking and praying it wold turn out. Either they are smelly veggies when marinated in oil or God made it turn out well. I’m betting on the second. He’s nice like that. But this is also my first artichoke meal. Newbie.

The only thing I changed purposely was the noodles. I like angel hair best, but with something in which the sauce is a highlight- I had to have shell noodles. To better hold the sauce my darlings.

I noticed that the sauce is way thicker today as left overs and I’m looking forward to that. You could so easily add chicken to this dish for your meal ravenous husband. Here’s the recipe. Your so welcome.

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Thank you Ree, another solid recipe that I will file in my mental recipe box.With my memory Travis is laughing right now. Who am I kidding?! I’ll go write it down on a piece of paper. And make sure to use pretty pens. 🙂

by Alexis -

Portland Polish Festival

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They were amazing. The Poles know how to bake.

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Travis and AJ

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This is sweet Rylee. She got a HUGE amount of apple cotton candy and loved it.

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Isn’t she adorable?!

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Polish pottery is famous. Isn’t it beautiful?! You know you want it. I saw a gorgeous tea pot and wanted it badly. Sad day.

It was a beautiful day. More pictures will be coming tomorrow

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by Alexis -

Thoughts

1 After Jesus had finished teaching the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 In that town an army officer’s servant was sick and about to die. The officer liked this servant very much. 3 And when he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish leaders to ask him to come and heal the servant.

4 The leaders went to Jesus and begged him to do something. They said, “This man deserves your help!5 He loves our nation and even built us a meeting place.”

6 So Jesus went with them.
When Jesus wasn’t far from the house, the officer sent some friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t go to any trouble for me! I am not good enough for you to come into my house. 7 And I am certainly not worthy to come to you. Just say the word, and my servant will get well. 8 I have officers who give orders to me, and I have soldiers who take orders from me. I can say to one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes. I can say to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I can say to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he will do it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised that he turned and said to the crowd following him, “In all of Israel I’ve never found anyone with this much faith!”

10 The officer’s friends returned and found the servant well.

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Some thoughts on this passage I read today:

Seems like the leaders came to Jesus qualifying why this Roman officer deserved help. (ie helping make a building for them) And He went regardless of their heart situation. But when the officer’s servants came to give another message, it portrayed such respect. But what hit me most was the kingdom mindset the officer had and was living in. It even surprised Jesus! (according to the bible)

How often do I come to God with the mindset that I have to qualify everything…too often. WAY too often. I want that kingdom mentality that understands the power of His words and that if He declares something- then it will happen. I don’t have to worry about qualifying myself before God can move.

God, would you remind me of this passage and the talk You and I had about it. I want your truths to bury themselves deep in my heart.

by Alexis -

My mom

My mom wrote this in an email to me. Love you mom…

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” I love summer, but am quite ready for fall. I love the cooler weather, wearing warm fuzzy sweaters, the shadowy trees silhouetted in the fog (oh, yeah!), enjoying a hot drink while watching the rain come down, stepping on crisp leaves and hearing them crunch beneath your feet, sitting by a warm, crackling fire and soaking up its heat.

Yes, fall and winter have a beauty of its own. Witnessing the snowflakes slowly dancing their way from heaven to earth, listening to the wind sing its song of praise to mankind. The gift is in noticing the beauty and glory all around. It’s all there, just waiting to be noticed.”

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