Weekend with the Woods

We Love you Angie, Matt, Barrett, and little Baby Wood coming in March!

Our dear friends, The Woods, came in for the weekend 2 weeks ago. They were our very first house guests and we LOVED having them here. I cannot tell you how much it meant to us to have people actually fly out to see us. We are so grateful for their friendship and so enjoyed showing them our new world.
Sadly, the weather did not cooperate and it rained or was gray almost the whole time, but at least it was an accurate portrayal of the weather here. When sunny and clear, Seattle really is one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. Sad they didn't get to witness that....oh well, that means that they have to come back:)We had a wonderful time, showing them Seattle, watching our kids play, watching our favorite show, and enjoying sweet friendship.

Upon their arrival, Ryann and I took them down to Pike's Place Market. I like to go there on Saturday because everyone and everything is just so crazy. This Saturday did not disappoint...there was a protest parade...good times

On Sunday, we went down to the Seattle Aquarium.We saw seals (my favorite PNW sight),Ryann got her face painted, and Barrett was in love with listening to whale sounds..A great time was had by all





After the aquarium, we went to the Olympic Sculpture Park to get some good pics of the city





Aww, Prince Barrett, such a good sport

Of course, the sun would come out right before they had to leave:( We made the most of it though, and went down to Edmonds beach, one of our favorite spots

Lately...

Fall is here...which makes me happy. Fall is my favorite season. October is my favorite month. Bring on the chili, football games, pumpkin candles, Fall festivals, cute costumes, nutmeg and cinnamon...I am ready!
The beginning of Fall has been quite busy around here. Ryann started school, I started my part-time job, we are joining a church, Mark is working hard, we are preparing for some Fall visitors...so beyond excited about that last one!! Here are some pictures from events that have happened already this Fall season...

The "channeling a hippie and wearing a headband around your head instead of on top of your head trend" is alive and well here in Seattle. I actually wish I could pull this trend off without looking like I was trying too hard...but I haven't tried...yet. Ryann, on the other hand, prefers to wear her headbands this way.


The Hunger Challenge ended, and this picture is of what we had left at the end of the week...Yes, that's right, we had food left. An eye opening experience for sure...to read more of our thoughts on this and what it meant to us, click here

Football Season is upon us, Go Aggies!


I love the Texas State Fair. I am actually borderline obsessed with it and get so excited about going every year. I haven't missed a Texas State Fair in 30 years....until this one. (Cue the violin music)
However, I have an awesome husband, and he took us all to the Puyallup Fair about an hour south of where we live. It didn't disappoint. It was a great fair...we all thought so, and that is saying a lot...being that we are self-admitted fair snobs. I left my camera in the car by accident, but did snap this pic of Ryann with her face painted after we left. It is a pink, sparkly pony...and Ryann was so sad when bath time came that evening.



Stop the Press...We went out on a Date....Say What? Yes, it's true...and we even got a babysitter. We went out to celebrate our anniversary...this was the first night out just us since we have moved....and we had a wonderful time.
Being the classy couple we are, we opted for a more casual faire...and it was opening day of the Five Guys Burgers and Fries around the corner from our town house.I love the excitement of going places on opening day, love the enthusiasm of crazies, and even love the lines.This opening day didn't disappoint. People were sure excited about some burgers. The close proximity of this restaurant is very dangerous...best burgers ever!


After dinner, we went to the mall to get dessert:
Mark with his favorite, Mrs. Fields cookies

Me with my favorite...Red Mango frozen yogurt..mmmmmmm

Ryann and her fist non-family babysitter,the Fabulous Kaylee. When we got home, Ryann had sparkly, pink fingernails...a mark of a good evening!


Last weekend, we took a ferry over to Bainbridge Island to "run" a 5K that benefited an org. that deals with the prevention of human trafficking in the Seattle area. Great Cause, Great Weather, and we all felt Great...until the jogging stroller got a flat tire. Poor Mark had to carry Ryann on his back for most of the way..so our run quickly became a walk. Oh well. I love this island so much. The homes were so beautiful and the scenery was just breathtaking.


In love with Bainbridge Island!



We put back on the calories we burned at the 5K and then some...with this delicious fish and chips basket.We ate at a cute little cafe on the water after the race. There is no doubt that this part of the country knows their seafood...even if we prefer the fattening fried stuff...it sure is fresh.


Ryann started AWANA last week at the church we are joining (which btw, we LOVE, which is such an answer to prayer).She is a cute Cubbie and loved it. I think she mainly loved wearing her vest, which she called a "beautiful costume"...hmmm. Looking forward to learning Bible verses with her.

Here's to You, Seventh year of Holy Matrimony!

Oh 7th year of marriage, you have brought the hammer...smashing all that was comfortable. I say this like it was a bad thing, I mean totally the contrary. This past year of our marriage has been hard, full of change, uprooting us from all that was familiar...BUT, I wouldn't change a thing! It was all needed and I am so incredibly blessed to have Mark by my side as my partner through it all.

Our 7th year of marriage can best be described as:
direction seeking, seminary finishing, internship accepting, GOD PROVIDING, Chicago moving, bitter cold weather experiencing, real pizza eating, Ferris Bueller re-enacting, snow playing, church fellowshipping, Midwest loving, Ryann potty training, direction seeking, job interviewing, hopes rising, hopes crashing, direction seeking, Seattle travelling, job interviewing, GOD PROVIDING, job accepting, World Concerning, house packing, stress rising, renter seeking, Mark graduating, GOD PROVIDING, renter finding, Seattle residence seeking, GOD PROVIDING, townhouse accepting, truck packing, friends goodbye-ing, erin crying, family goodbye-ing, erin really crying, cross-country travelling, sight seeing, Seattle landing, erin crying, GOD PROVIDING, Mark caring, job starting, job exciting, lonely feeling, erin crying,Guatemala travelling, part time job seeking, GOD PROVIDING, pre-school starting, teacher loving, Ryann smiling, new-church looking, Ryann loving, Faith growing, Mark travelling, lonely feeling,GOD PROVIDING, HUGE decision making, research seeking, process starting, HOPE exploding, hard reading, marriage growing, JESUS DEPENDING, Texas Missing, Chick fil A missing, Beautiful Nature Surrounding, Water Loving, Chai drinking, Sun appreciating, GOD PROVIDING, Jesus Comforting.


Without a doubt, God has indeed Provided for us this past year in ways we would have never expected...Looking forward with great expectation for Year 8.

September 20, 2003


Baby Mark and Baby Erin, circa 2001...probably at a Theta Date Party, not sure. We look so young!!!

Global Hunger Challenge

Our groceries for the week....will they last us?! We shall see...stay tuned.

Mark and I started the Global Hunger Challenge today. This challege was issued by the organization,InterAction. World Concern is a member of InterAction. The reason why Mark and I and other World Concern staff are participating is pretty much summarized by this statement on the InterAction website:
"In an expression of solidarity with people throughout the world who struggle with food insecurity, participants representing 39 organizations will live on a food budget of $34.33* during the week of Sept 17-24. This amount— equivalent to the average weekly amount a local Haitian is able to spend on food—will require some sacrifice.
Our community comes together in this challenge to in a small way show our commitment to those whom we work to help every day."
full article seen here

Mark and I planned out our week long menu and shopped for all of our food on Wednesday. We were surprised about the amount of food we could get for this amount mainly because we have found Seattle grocery stores to be more expensive on the whole than Dallas. However, as I am writing this, I am hungry. really hungry. The can of tuna salad, half a banana, and five crackers I had for lunch left me wanting. However, hungry, I am left thankful. really thankful....which is the point. To see some more about our shopping trip, how we are "mixing it up" with other sources of food besides groceries, etc, click here

Inspiring Faith: The Christi and Bryan edition

John 4:34-38
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”


I have been so incredibly inspired by so many people lately. People that are intentionally and purposely acting out their Faith by doing what the world would call, "Hard" things. People I know really well to people I don't know at all have encouraged me to no end to be more Bold, to be more Active, to be MORE. I hope to blog more about these people and today I thought it was fitting to blog about one of the most inspiring people I have the privilege to know and know well...One of my dearest friends boarded a plane bound for Honduras this morning with her husband and daughter. Christi, Bryan, and Greta Wiehoff are traveling to Siguatepepque, Hondouras TODAY to be full-time CAM missionaries.They have huge hearts for evangelism and their vision includes the training of pastors and church leaders in Honduras. Ever since I met Christi (at the end of 6th grade--GO SAINTS!), I thought she was different..in a good way. She was so incredibly special and unique, what junior high girl had a heart for missions and other cultures?!?! She truly did. Even then, she was so "others" focused.Christi has a passion for people and an even greater passion for Christ and His kingdom. She has never met a stranger and has the gift of getting to truly know people.In addition to being friends throughout jr. high and high school,I had the privilege of living with her all 4 years of college.She is so very special to me. It is so neat to see how God orchestrates our lives in order to bring us spouses that share our visions. Christi and Bryan both have huge hearts for the advancement of the Gospel and I know The Lord is going to do mighty mighty things with these 3 Wiehoffs. Christi has wanted to be a missionary ever since I have known her, and today she is doing it. I cannot express how incredible this is...to see one of your best friends actually live out her life-long dream, what a gift. Christi and Bryan, thank you for inspiring me and all those around you. I cannot wait to see what the Lord is going to do with your Inspiring Faithfulness. Check them out here or click on The Wiehoffs on my link list

Christi and her beautiful daughter, Greta


Christi and Bryan and our friend Jake


My friend and more importantly, sister in Christ.



So in honor of Christi, I leave you with my favorite scene of one of her favorite movies, The Mission. If you have not seen this movie, you really should. It is one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. To set this clip up, this is Father Gabriel, trying to regain entry and minister to a tribe, who has recently killed his friend, a fellow missionary. Inspiring Faith? I think Yes!

Welcome to the world, William!

Mark's brother Scot and his beautiful wife, Conni.

I became an aunt for the 4th time early Tuesday morning. William (Will) Leonard Lamb came into this world September 7. I absolutely hated missing this!Although we were not physically there, we were definitely there in spirit and I stalked facebook profiles all the next day to see all the pictures I could of this precious baby boy. He is so incredibly handsome.I love him so much and I absolutely cannot wait to hold him in December. Scot, Conni, Scot, Blake, and Angie, we could not be more happier for your family.Congratulations!

Thank God for Skype. Mark and I enjoyed officially "meeting" Will last night via Skype. It was so fun to see him and hear his cute little newborn noises. It was also fun to chat with his mom and dad too;) I love this picture, can you spot excited Aunt Sarah and Uncle John in the background?



Precious Will.

Proud Grandparents and their grandchildren...the only thing missing from this picture is Ryann Cate

I bought this adorable "alternative" onesie for Will yesterday at Baby Gap. LOVE it. Little boy clothes are so cute!!

First Day of Preschool

Ryann started preschool today! She is going to Heritage Christian Academy Preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-11:00am. Today was just orientation day, so parents went with their children. We both had a great time. Ryann's teacher, Mrs. Sargent, has been doing this a long time and she is Fantastic! At one point, all the kids were quiet, and Ryann blurted out, "Mrs. Sargent, you are my best friend, I love you so much!" Can you say, teacher's pet?!? All that to say, Ryann is excited about starting school!



Ryann and her teacher, Mrs. Sargent