Hi Again!

Yeah, it's been a while since I"ve updated you guys on the happenings in my life.  Partly cause, I admit, I've been lazy, but it seems as though I've been a little busy as these pictures show....

After placing my home on the market in July, I sold my home in September!  It was a huge blessing have sold my home is such a bad sellers market, praise God!

Ah, that time of year again where I turned another year older....of course, I always share my birthday with one of my dearest friends S, we threw a mini hurrah at Twist this year.  It was a good turn out, my intern J came out for it all the way from Pullman, and brought his girlfriend N, it was good to have them join us, as well as everyone else.

As many of you know, I went to Vietnam on a medical missions trip in October with Cornerstone Christian Fellowship.  It was 2 weeks total, one week spent north of Ho Chi Mihn and the other week south. I went with a group of physicians/nurses, optometerests and pharmacists.  There we partnered with a group of Vietnamese from a church to help us translate and see patients in the medical setting and in the pharmacy setting.  This is an example of a typical clinic we would go to.  Everyday we would go to a different site to serve the different villages.  The Vietnamese government does not allow sharing of the gospel outwardly, this was sad news, because, even though we helped people with their medical needs, it is only temporary, after their 2 week supply of medications are gone, their physical health will return to as before.  Only God can help these people and give them hope.  So it was discuraging to not be able to share with them.  But we prayed for the Vietnamese people and we saw God at work, by the second week, the goverentment officials hearts were sofened and allowed us to pray over people, but still no sharing the gospel.  This was huge, and sparked questions from the people.   There were local pastors there to invite them to their churches where they can learn more about God.  (So you can teach in goverenment approved churches, but not in public)  

Above, the pharmacy team

Some of the girls from the American team posing with some from the Vietnam team

A typical public bathroom.  J after using the squatie potty, taking a pitcher of water back into the bathroom after potting to flush it down the drain....yuck!

the medical team at work, and praying over patients

my friend Timmy who helped as my translator

the beautiful rice patty fields seen all over the southern end of Vietnam

My cousin H and his wife A visited me in Seattle, coming all the way from Texas!  and...on the right is D.  It was good to see them, as I haven't seen them since their wedding 2 years ago.

I took H and A to visit the troll under the Fremont bridge, I would be more than happy to bring any of you out of towners to visit him too!  :)

D and myself in Vancouver, do I got skills?  I took this picture!  :)

The all famous Beard Papas comes to Richmond Vancouver!  I haven't had one of these since visiting Oceanjane in NY!  But to my disappointment, there was an 1&1/2 hour wait for these delightful cream puffs....boo...no cream puff for me.  :(

Napa Valley, CA 

D and I at V. Sattui winery

Even had a chance to visit with friends in Cali, J and C and meeting their new beautiful baby girl A!

Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy New Year!  Till next time....

Sm grp Hood Canal Retreat 2007

We're on a mission....

Obstacles get in the way of the harvesting the goods for some of us

oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, look at  the bountiful supply of oysters just waiting to be shucked!

Cha-ching!  Let me tell you, we each met our 40 clams per day quota :P

Bailey and Chibi had fun at the retreat too!

Hanging out

The fruits of our labor

P and I grubbed down on the clams and pasta!

War wounds from the mosquitos

Using the old baking soda trick to hold us over until we get back to civilization where there is hydrocortisone cream  :)

Let me tell you folks, this was a retreat 2 years coming....we could not manage to coordinate our schedules so that all 7 of us could get together for a weekend, but we did it the first weekend of August!  I had a great time with the gals we relaxed and hung out...played games, made dolls, went claming...very fun!

Crazy Japanese Creations

Let me introduce you to....

toilet drops...this is such a great invention!  Place 1 to 2 drops into the bowl before you poo, and there is no

smell.  I'm totally serious, I tried it, and I left the bathroom smelling pleasant!  My friend Kungfupj's asked me to look for the "toilet drops" at the local Japanese market in the international district after I told her I was heading over there.  I had no idea what she was talk about, so she explained, that 2 drops before you poo will not make the bathroom smell.  In disbelief, I asked her to explain again...and when it all came together in my mind, secretly I couldn't wait to try it out!   And apparently this product is so popular, that last time she was at this market, they were sold out.  So, I went looking for this at the Japanese grocery store, and found it, and bought 2 of them, one for her and one for myself.  :)  It was actually kungfu's bf that introduced this product to her, and when he saw it, he said that this was not the kind that he had, that this must be the "generic" version...well I'm here to report this "generic" version works really well, as it made the bathroom smell sweet. 

In other news, so apparently there is interest in my place by someone, they've been over to look at my place 2 days in a row.  I hope that it's promising...the thought of actually going through with the sell is exciting but very sad too.  This is such a beautiful place, a great first home....I'll miss it, and I'll miss the fabulous views too.    But it's a good thing, and it's time to move on...

Does anyone want to buy my house?

My home is offically up on the market.  It's hard to believe that I've lived here since March 2004 and you know, I have loved every minute of it.  I mean who wouldn't love seeing this everyday?

I will really miss living here, it's so close to everything, a huge park/beach down the street, 3 coffee shops within 3 blocks (it is seattle folks)  :)  a grocery store and of course the dog sitter is just across the street!...This was a great first home, it was new construction and I didn't have to worry about it breaking down and there is very little yard maintanence.  I did however have a chance to plant some stuff and have seen it flourish in the last 3 years.  But it's time to move on to a little house with a yard so that Bailey has a place to run around. 

Hope that is will sell quick so that I can find a new home for us!  If you know anyone wanting to live in a fabulous townhouse, please let me know!

Ice Cream Truck

Do you remember when you were a kid and in the summers the ice cream truck would roam the streets and kids chase it down for a nice cold treat?  And of course you would know he was coming because you hear the infamous song, I believe it's "The Entertainer" playing that one part of the song, over and over.  Well, it seems that times have changed folks, because I heard the infamous song playing down the street, but something was a little different this time....it was a beat boxing version....hahahahah it was hilarious, welcome to the new millennium.