Pacific Northwest

We just got back from a week long vacation to Portland, Seattle and Vancover. It was a lot of driving for three young kids but it was worthwhile. The first three days we spent in Seattle. E worked from the Seattle office, and we stayed in a hotel near the U of Washington. We took a day trip up to Vancouver and visited an old friend of mine from college. They gave me quite a hard time on the border since I had no identification for the kids. They looked at me like I was some kind of crazy person for not carrying their birth certificates with me at all times. Is that normal, do most people always carry their kids birth certificates with them? They asked A all kinds of questions, she is 4 mind you, so her answers were a little off. For instance they asked if she had seen her dad that morning. She said "No", however E had not only helped her get dressed, but we had eaten breakfast together, and we had personally dropped him off at work. So word to the wise, you cannot trust everything a 4 year old has to say. Thankfully they did let us in, and even gave the kids Canadian flags.

After the three days in Seattle we drove down to Portland, OR and stayed with my Aunt. She was very gracious to let our family stay with her. E and I were able to attend the Regional Desiring God conference and see John Piper speak. It was such a huge encouragement. Hearing him speak always makes me want to move back to Minneapolis, just to attend Bethlehem Baptist again.

So all in all we did have a great time, despite K going back to her newborn schedule waking up every two hours at night, her barfing and my severe indigestion (I broke down and got Tums after suffering for two days). Although after being gone I am always so thankful and content to be home. It is such a relief to get the kids back into a routine and things to get back to normal. I don't even mind cleaning, and that is saying a lot!

M, I have been praying for your housing situation. Keep me posted!