Nothing Really

1. Thank goodness it is Friday. Last week seemed to go fast, and this week NOT so much!

2. I can get a flight to Phoenix for pretty cheap right now, but I still don't have the money to do it (or the vacation time), sad.

3. I can't stop thinking about this ONE thing, and it is driving me CrAzY! Literally, I may actually be causing myself to lose my sanity.

4. I have been thinking a lot about my future. You know, jobs and school and stuff. It is overwhelming to think about and plan for, so I probably just won't do anything at all. I hate that about myself.

5. I got a new haircut this week and I love, love, love it. It's my typical haircut...which means it isn't that different, but my bangs are a lot different (at least for me) and I love them. She did a great job!

6. I am a BAD sister and still have not sent part of Stacy's b-day gift to her or her card. Why didn't I just give it to you while you were here? Well, because I thought it would be more fun for you to get it in the mail. But at this point, hopefully you get it before your next birthday. At least you got part of your present so you didn't feel completely forgotten. :)

7. I dream in white, black and green now.

8. I am expecting something in the mail on Monday, and I can not wait. I am so So excited. I have been stalking the UPS website tracking the package. It just landed in Spokane this afternoon.

9. I want to play with Megan. I miss her. Speaking of Megan, here are some random pictures I took of her when I watched her. She found the elf hat D bought for Steve's bachelor party.

I've Always Loved You

Well it has only been a year, but it has definately been a journey. One year ago, D and I sat in front of the fire on the floor at his house and talked. We were talking about our realtionship, which to that point had only been a friendship (TECHNICALLY). We both kind of have the tendency to talk around things, so finally I told him, "I just don't know how you feel about me" to which he said, "I love you Tami. I've always loved you." And I have never heard sweeter words. We've had some ups and downs, but grew through it and love each other even more now.

To celebrate D planned a special day for us yesterday. First, he made me breakfast and then we headed to Eugene to watch the Ducks basketball game, I had never been and it had been a long time since he had been. It was great....and he got awesome seats! We were in the donor section in the 4th row.

After the Ducks game, we grabbed a Starbucks and headed for the coast. It was a beautiful day. Of course, we stopped at DQ on the way for a treat. We headed to Heceta Lighthouse to watch the sunset, it was beautiful. We took a lot of pictures. You had to walk about 1/2 from the parking lot to the lighthouse, and it was a gorgeous walk! It was very special and romantic.

After the sunset, we went and had dinner at a restaurant that looked right out on the beach. It was perfect and he is so sweet. I don't have enough energy to be all sappy, but you all know I love him, right? And that I think he is the greatest! Okay then, enjoy the pictures!

I love him

Happy Birthday Kristie!

We've come a long way over the years.

I remember reading your receipt book that you used when you used to play store. You were trying to sell me for FREE! Can you believe you were that eager to get rid of me?

I remember you chasing me around the living room table, I don't remember what I did to deserve your pursuit, but I clearly remember thinking, "Yep, she IS going to kill me." So I looked at the remote control in my hand and developed my evil plot for self defense.....and I threw it at you. I will definitely never forget tagging you in the face with that thing.....and then your crying. Your cheeks were all stuck in your braces. And although I escaped your chase, I still felt terrible.

I remember so badly wanting to hang out with you and your friends. I thought you were so cool. And I remember you NOT wanting me to hang out with you and your friends.

Looking back on it, I think I did a very good job at being an annoying little sister.

But behind my disguise of annoying-ness, was someone who loved you, looked up to you and wanted to be just like you. Not much has changed. Although I hope I am a little less annoying these days.

You are a hard person to describe Kristie. But if I was forced to pick one word to describe you, it would have to be loyal. If I could add a second word, it would be fiercly. Fiercly loyal. And I admire that so much in you.

You are loyal to your sisters, your parents, to Josh, to Megan and to yourself.

You are amazing. I watched the way you fell in love with Josh. I admire how you stick by his side and support him. I admire how you talk about him and hold him in esteem. I admire how you talk to him and I admire how you talk to Megan about him.

I see how you love Megan. Watching you be a mother, has been such a beautiful thing to me. You are so good at it. She sure is one lucky little girl to have you. You are patient and use kind words when talking to her. You nurture her and play with her and provide everything she needs to thrive.

I see your love for your family. Josh and Megan, but also us. You love so well. You understand and relate and protect. You are a trustworthy person to go to.

Thank you for your faithfulness and loyalty as my sister. Thank you for your encouraging words and your words of love when I need them the most. And Thank you for being the kind of wife and mom that I look up to. You are amazing Kristie. I hope today, and everyday you know how special and loved you are. You are not only my sister but one of my very best friends. I am so blessed to have you in my life.

Happy Birthday!

Here's What I Know...

Today is my big sister's birthday. And in honor of her special day, I'd like to share with you what I know.

1. I know that I am sad that I can't be there to celebrate with her today and that I missed her Oregon birthday dinner.

2. I know that on this day, thirty some years ago, our mom's life changed forever as she gave birth to her first beautiful baby girl.

3. I know that my sister has a sweet, compassionate heart. You can tell when you look in her eyes while you're talking to her.

4. I know that sometimes she wants you to think that she is a lot tougher than she really is.

5. I know that she is a competent, independent, hardworking woman.

6. I know that she is patient and kind. And although I have never been able to watch her teach, she must be amazing because of her patience and kindness.

7. I know that she is determined. She went back to school full time and worked full time to pay for it.

8. I know she had a dream to get her degree and teach our future and she accomplished it.

9. I know she has three little sisters who love her very much.

10. I know she has a silly niece who likes to tell her "no," to her face but always asks for her when she's gone.

11. I know there is something amazing planned for her life.

12. I know that her basketball number was 24, even if I was just a little girl when she played.

13. I know that I love her very much, and I am so proud of her and the things she's done, and that I am so thankful to have her as my big sister.

14. And I know (now) that I only have exactly ONE picture of her and I, and I look deathly ill.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAYDEE!!

Goodbye 2008

Dear 2008,

I can't say that I am sad to see you go.
We've had our good times, but definitely seen our share of heartache.

A lot of fun things happened this year, we saw friends fall in love and start to build lives together. We fell in love ourselves. We went on fun trips and experienced new adventures, we watched Megan grow another year older and fell even more in love with her. We worked hard and accomplished a lot at work, we saw the high school boys place second in state at the basketball championship tournament, we were jealous of but excited for sisters who traveled the world, we met a new boss and to top it all off we had a lovely white Christmas.

But we probably also won't forget the bad times that included a lot of heart break, times of feeling alone and betrayed. We fought with our friends, and don't really know why. We lost our faith in something that we so highly esteemed. We watched the person we love most lose someone so dear to him. We fought to find who we really are inside and peel off the layers of everyone else's expectations.

But through it all, we have learned that joy comes in the morning. We have learned that only the Lord will ever truly know our heart completely, wholly and inside out. He is the One who made it after all. We have learned the key to really loving people is loving without conditions. Sounds simple, and is honestly something I thought we knew, but experience has taught me a lesson I will always be grateful for: Love people...just as they are, unconditionally. You don't have to agree with someone to love them. And more often than not, there is almost always more going on than you think or know. I have learned that trusting people is still extremely hard, people let you down and break your confidence. That is why your hope, trust and confidence should be in the One who will never let you down. It may be possible that your mom is the only one you can really trust on this earth. :) We learned that loving someone and being loved is worth the work, heartache and sometimes the pain. And I learned that my sisters were right and love is definitely worth the wait, just makes you cherish it all the more. We learned a lot about the God who loves us, and when we are paying attention, He teaches us to love like Him. More than just learning about Him, we learned more and grew deeper than ever before in our relationship with him. No matter how a year shapes up, that is always something to be thankful for.

So 2008, there you have it. Although I might be ready to part ways with you, I will always remember you and the lessons you taught. I will label you the year of

"Love and Lessons."

So, here's to hoping and wishing (and praying) that you were a prelude to the most exciting year of my life.

Peace Out,
Tami