Daffodil Season!

This time of year in Washington is wet and windy, with a few, random day of glorious sunshine and warm breezes.

One thing you need to know about living in Seattle: Take advantage of the nice days. They don't come often in the spring and if you don't get out and play on the dry days, you just might grow mold spots.

The rain, however, gives birth to some glorious scenery. Right now, the daffodils are beginning to bloom in my yard, and the tulips are also pushing their way up. This time of year always makes me think of my first job as a teenager when I worked in the daffodil fields in Puyallup.

It seemed like such a romantic job! Picking flowers in the spring sunshine! What a perfect job for after school and on weekends!

Little did I know what back breaking work it was. They were days filled with standing in mud puddles up to my shins, rain running down my plastic raincoat filling my rubber boots with water. The rows of daffodils seemed endless and the breaks spent in a dripping shack on the side of the fields were not much of an improvement.

The girls all worked in a rows next to each other, competing to see who could finish first. The trick was, if you worked too fast, everyone was angry with you, but if you worked too slow, others had to help finish up your work. A lose lose situation. I figured since I was fast with my hands, I may as well be one of the workers who helped the others finish up, and at least gain the gratitude of those I helped, along with the recognition of those in charge. This resulted in me being hired to come back for tulip season (a little less rainy) and then iris season (getting warm!) and then bulb cleaning at the end of the summer (awfully hot, dusty, and dirty). Eventually I was offered a job working in the packing barns, loading and sorting the flowers to be shipped around the world. This was a definite step up, as we could listen to the radio and the owners occasionally brought Big Mac's for everyone at the end of a shift. The part I liked best about this was watching the others girls head out to the fields: I was not gloating, mind you, I was just truly grateful not to be joining them!

I'm glad I had this job. I like the stories that grow out of it and I still have some fun memories of working in the fields with the other girls on nice days. I love tulips and daffodils to this day, although at the time I thought I'd be happy to neve see another flower!

What I like most about it, though, is that I had to work hard. I had to use my hands and my body to get something done that others just decided was too much effort. I learned to enjoy the challenge of it and to be proud that I could do it well. I don't know that my girls will be working at 15, and definately not to provide the basics that my parents would not, but I want them to have something like this in their adolescence. Something that they think they cannot do, but discover that the can. Something that is not fun, easy, or entertaining, yet something that gives them a sense of self, and a sense of pride in their ability to work.

Binge and Purge

Snow in Seattle

Santa Chloe

You may noticed that I blog in fits and starts. . . When I have the time I try to catch up on everything that is going on in our lives, and then I get swallowed up in busy-ness again!

We spent Christmas in So. Cal. with Mike's folks and had a great time! Well, the kids and Mike hade a great time: I had over 2000 pages of assignments to read and grade in the two weeks between classes. I came home with my work completed and a serious sore neck. Everyone else come home with a suntan after spending every spare minute at the beach.

In January, Mike's mom, Betty came up to stay with the kids for a week while Mike and I went to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. We had an amazing time, working this year as International Hosts. We welcomed and registered particpants at the event from all over the world. 160 nations were represented and I think Mike personally met them each. Twice.

The whole family went to an Alpha Course Retreat a few weeks ago. A friend of ours runs the Alpha program at Westminster Church in Bellevue. He knew we weren't doing an Alpha Course at our church this semester, so he invited us to join his. It is a great opportunity to meet new people, have great conversation, a ready made meal and free babysitting! What else could you ask for! The retreat was a great chance to get away and connect with people who are seeking God and seeking more of God. If you've never been to an Alpha Course or if your church doesn't offer one, check it out online because it's a trememdous resource both for those with questions about Christianity as well as for those who've been in church for a long time but who are looking for a chance to be invovled in a great outreach ministry.

We got back to the homeschool gring and then all the kids got hit by the flu two weeks ago. Just when I'd think we we're out of the woods, another kids would spike a fever in the middle of the night! Every once in a while I begin to wonder if the world outside to my doors actually exists or has it all disappeared in the two weeks I've been inside? Cabin-fever, you think?

Mike is officially on the job hunt. He's decided not to seek the Senior Pastor position at our current church, and so it seems the time has come to move on. Any leads would be welcome!

I have enough of my mother in me that the thought of galavanting across the country sounds fun- but enough of my own galavanting experience in childhood to long for a permanent place to settle down and grow some roots. We're hoping God will open up something in the area that we can truly be passionate about.

Well, that's the update! I hope all of you are enjoying your spring, crazy weather and all. Summer is coming soon- the best time to visit the Northwest!