I Think I've Found Me My Own Kind of Paradise.

You may have noticed a slight change in the appearance of our blog.  We started messing with it last night and that led to changing the whole thing.  I like pretty patterns, but WE like mountains, so since this is supposed to be about both of us together, it's probably for the best.

Ok, let's start with a travel update: Yesterday, we left Spokane early in the morning and headed back down the road (of course stopping for Dutch Bros first).  

 Jefff took us to Missoula, MT for lunch and then it was my turn to get behind the wheel.  Except for that one time where the wind was trying its best to blow us off the road, and the rain and splashing from the semi I was trying to avoid were making the road disappear, and realizing almost too late that I needed to be going right at the Y...all at the same time, I'd say I did a pretty good job of handling the beast. :)

We made our way up and back down three mountain passes, finally crossing the continental divide and after stopping for groceries and gas in Bozeman, our tired van puttzed up the winding and incredibly beautiful road to the Yellowstone Club.

In case you haven't heard of the "Yellowstone Club," it's this ski & golf community started by Warren Miller (the ski video guy), that is only available to the "A Listers" of the world.  One such A Lister is our good friend and one of Jefff's ministry partners in Bellevue, Michael Johnston.  He has had a great impact on Jefff and showered us in blessings.  The latest blessing is sharing his home here in the Yellowstone Club.

Upon arrival we must have spent at least an hour exploring the details and incredible beauty of this home.  I don't think any description would come close to adequately explaining how awesome it is, so  instead of attempting the impossible, let's see if these pictures can do it some justice:

If you can't see, the arcade in the corner is Buck Hunter!

Lindsay's favorite seat

Beer on tap to the right

After marveling for quite some time, we found ourselves laughing in awe that we get to experience this, and then hugging in deep gratitude to the Lord for the ways He just hands us these unbelievable and unexpected gifts.  Last night we made pizza, drank some wine, sat in the hot tub and then fell asleep in the best bed of all time (that's not a joke, it really is), closing all the curtains and setting a goal of sleeping for as long as possible.  This morning we woke up and again thanked Jesus for those sheets, wrapped ourselves in robes, made coffee and sat out on the patio to read and journal.  If you know the kind of month July has proven to be, you will understand why I felt like I had found myself in my own little slice of paradise.  No agenda, no worries, nowhere to go; just lots of relaxing in the midst of lots of mountains and a whole lot of love.

So for a few days, we are going to forget that we are in the middle of a major move that will probably prove to change everything about our lives, and just soak in this paradise.

One last thing-since I have taken up sharing most of the details of my life with you, I might as well share the song that has been stuck in my head for the last two days.  God is so good to us and this song seems to say it perfectly and simply.

Shane and Shane: We Love You Jesus

Woven Throughout

I've never been what I would consider a really excellent writer, but I have always loved to read the works of those who are. Some of my favorites are those with common themes and lessons woven throughout.

A little tidbit about me is that I feel things very deeply.  Most of you kmow that I have what you might call a "laughing problem." I have deduced that this is because I feel emotions so strongly that the only way I know how to express them is to laugh-often uncontrollably. I even laugh when I am seriously injured or the moment is totally unfitting for laughter. Anyway, all that to say that we have only been in this van for about 5 hours, but I have spent almost the entire time mulling over my well of emotions surrounding our move.  In all my mulling I have found that our story is one of those really excellent ones with a few common themes woven throughout. So get excited because you have found yourself reading the work of a not so excellent writer, but at least there is that one redeeming factor.

Theme number one of our story has undoubtedly been "adventure." Jefff and my "dtr" (define the relationship) was a whole mess of me telling him I really liked him, but I  wasn't sure if I should date anyone; it also carried the same theme of an adventure. We concluded that we would treat the next few months as an adventure and see where the Lord led us.  Turns out the Lord liked that theme and has carried it though our entire relationship. I mentioned in my first posting that we spent our time in Washington exploring every hike and climb we could find-that's not an overstatement. Almost every weekend was spent seeeking out the next exciting experience.
Our next great adventure? Going 30 miles per hour ON THE HIGHWAY! Our trusty moving van has a pretty strong engine, but Steven's Pass almost won. Here are a few pictures:

Probably the greatest adventure and the next theme we have found woven throughout our story is that of a little game called "Follow the Leader." Every step of the way, God leaves us with jaws to the ground in complete awe and gratitude for his provision, blessing and guidance in our lives. We have found that when we let go, and desperately hang on in dependence of God, He is so faithful to provide more than we could ever imagine.  You may already know, but The Lord swung a giant door wide open when He provided a full tuition scholarship for Jefff at Denver Seminary. This is only one of the many ways God has laid the pavement just in time for the next step in faith. We can not wait for the way He continues to lead us to blessings and the unfolding of his  eternal plan before our eyes.  We pray that he would allow us to be faithful with what he has provided.  Right now we are following his leading for every mile of this long highway.

Ok I am sorry that this is turning into a more of a novel than a short story, but I have to inlude one last theme that has been evident. This is one that we know will also carry out into our entire life story. That is the theme of Jefff's faithful family. We took a little detour on our trip to stop in Leavenworth with Jefff's parents and spent the night there last night and then had a really wonderful day enjoying Lake Chelan on the boat. That also meant that we got to postpone our goodbye until tonight. So tonight, after some tearful hugs, we had to leave them and I was left with more emotions to mull over. I already knew it, but I was reminded that Jefff's family and our few years spent with them will forever shape us. We cannot spend time with his mom, dad, brothers and two really amazing sister-in-laws without being forever changed. We know that each of them and the experiences we share will be carried into every chapter of our story. Thank you Rodlands for loving us and loving the Lord so much that it spills out onto us.

We are currently stopped in Spokane enjoying the blessing of the Bruno's home. It's bed time for us before a long drive to Montana tomorrow. We love you, thank you for your prayers and for making it all the way to the end of this rediculously long post.

Great way to finish up a long day of driving :)

Our Story

Welcome to our blog!

I have to admit that I am new to this whole blogging thing (Jefff claimes to be a pretty accomplished blogger...he's never read one I dont think), but that's ok because today, we are being brave! We are embarking on not only a blogging adventure, but also a new chapter in our life story. Outside Jefff's parents' house awaits a giant moving van into which we will stuff our entire lives to bring with us to COLORADO.

Last night we hosted a little shindig to both see and say goodbye to some of the people who have become our lives here in Washington. As I took a moment to look around at those who had joined us, I marveled at what has become our first chapter. Jefff grew up in this area, and I joined him after we got married (exactly 2 years and 1 month from yesterday). During those two years, we have built relationships with some really incredible people, fallen in love with the Rodland family, explored as many hikes and climbs as we could find, learned what it means to be married, and fallen deeper in love with our Lord. So as I reflected at our get-together, I pictured us telling our new friends in Colorado and then someday our children about our great adventure in Washington. This is our story.

Some of you are new friends sharing our next chapter, but there are many of you that shaped our first chapter and we want to continue sharing life with you. This blog is our attempt. I am going to try really hard to say updated with it, but if you know me very well, you know that that is going to be a challenge. So forgive us if you find a few blank spots.

We love each of you and count it a blessing to share our stories.