Last Camping Trip of the Year

So, as Terry and I do our final packing, I have come to terms with the fact this will be our last camping trip of the year. We are heading down to Oregon to meet my family at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park to celebrate Thanksgiving. I am very excited to head down there as the weather report is looking promising and we will be able to spend some quality time with the family. I just wish work would hurry up and be over so we could leave now!

Adding to the Christmas List

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I have been thinking about the year that has gone by and for what I am thankful. It's amazing how different my life is from a year ago. I am finally starting to feel like Washington is my home. It's the little things that make the difference like:

- I know my way around the stores.

- I love that every corner has a drive thru coffee so if you change your mind about getting a treat, there is another chance in a block (unlike Santa Cruz when visiting I wanted a coffee before church and actually had to stop and get out of my car).

- I haven't gotten lost while driving for ages.

- Terry knows alternative ways home from work.

- I recognize people from the gym at the mall.

- I have ran into a friend at the grocery store.

- Terry and I had a conversation with a neighbor 2 houses up.

- I know enough people to have a Ladies Night at the movies.

- I have added to the Christmas list so now there are more Washingtonians than Californians (even though the majority are still family).

Last week I started updating our Christmas list for this year. I went thru and updated addresses for those people I know moved or got married since last Christmas. Then, I started adding names. It was fun adding so many names to the list. Terry and I have been blessed with meeting some great people thru our church and 4-wheel drive club in the last year. I know some of the people whose names are being added to the list will be great friends for years to come!

Twilight

I feel like a kid again, getting excited about an upcoming movie. At least in this day and age, you no longer have to wait outside of a movie theater waiting for the tickets to go on sale and hoping they don't sell out before you get yours. Now, it is just a couple clicks of a mouse and you can ensure you have a ticket to opening night. That is what I did today for opening night of Twilight.

The Twilight books rotated through some of my church friends so we all now are planning on going to see it on Friday night. It should be a fun night and even though I am not looking forward to sitting in a theater with a sold out crowd (I am not good in large groups of people), I think it will be a fun night of fellowship with the ladies. I just hope we aren't the only group of adults there!

Marriage Encounter

Our friends Marc and Jen recommended a marriage encounter for Terry and me to attend. Oh, man, what a great experience! It was such a wonderful weekend for the two of us and I would highly recommend any married couple to go. We were able to spend the weekend at Warm Beach Christian Camp and Conference Center and had an amazing view from our room. It was so peaceful! I definitely feel closer to Terry and know that the weekend added strength to our marriage. We will definitely go to the encounter again in a few years!

Freaky Friday

Yesterday was Halloween so it seemed appropriate that shortly after Terry got home Zues started barking at the back door to go outside. Luckily, before I let him out, I looked at the golf course and saw a coayote running thru the woods. I made the dog stay in a little while longer since I think he would loose the fight against a coyote.

In the evening, Terry and I had a nice date night out. We went to Mexican dinner and then went bowling. Terry won the first game and was winning the second game until the tenth frame. I was the second bowler and about 20 points behind. Jokingly, I stepped up and said, "wouldn't it be funny if I got 3 strikes right now?" I rolled the bowl and got a strike. My second frame was another strike. Then, I must have jinxed myself as the last ball in the tenth frame I only hit 9. Too bad. Luckily Terry was still impressed (I was shocked). Needless to say, we both won one game.