Sunriver

After our time at the Blue Mountain Lodge we headed to Sunriver, OR to spend a few days with just my immediate family. Like mentioned previous, we used to spend Christmas here every year until we outgrew the space, but I haven't been back for like 10 years.

While there we enjoyed lots of things, such as:

• Reading "the Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown
• playing games
• watching movies (and I DO NOT recommend the movie "Land of the Lost")
• working out
• having the wonderful lodge's brunch
  
• reinstating the tradition of CRAZY DINNERS... it was a MAJOR success. Let me explain. When we were younger we would sometimes on vacations have a night where everyone would get one dollar and got to spend it on whatever they wanted to and then contribute to make up the dinner. We would end up with everything from cheetos, tic tacs, to fish sticks. Let's just say it was defiantly not the healthiest meal, but that was not the point. Well, due to inflation we raise the monetary amount to 5 dollars and to ensure a bit more of a balanced meal we assigned categories. We ended up with actually a pretty tasty dinner. We had mac and cheese with hotdogs (courtesy of Brandon and Heidi), Fruit parfaits (from us) and then some cheese cake and ice cream (from parentals and Paydan)
• Watching Crazy Raccoons. See... we did not have a freezer or much fridge space in our condo so we placed our crazy dinner cheese cake left overs in a covered pan outside to keep it chilled. Well later we heard some noise outside and saw that we had unexpected dessert guests. There were 3 raccoons who had pushed the lid of the pan and were going to town on the cheesecake. We watched them for quite a while and even watched the raccoons' hierarchy system as one alpha male? pushed other ones away. In about 30 minutes they had licked the pan CLEAN!
  
• Going for walks in the FRESH 6 inches of snow
  
  
  Chris holding our new toy.. the FLIP
  
  
  
  
  In front of the Lodge
  
  
  
  
  My cute, sassy Mama!
  
  
  
  
  I LOVE fresh snow, especially kicking, playing or walking in it!
  
  
  
  
Paydan and I racing to the end of the bridge

• Skiing at Mt. Bachelor

time to reflect...

My dear friend Elyse had a link to this video on her blog. Many times I just skip past these things, however this one was pretty special. I recommend taking the time to watch this video of beautiful photographs depicting Christ. I believe these photos are on a traveling display in certain temple visitor centers.

It is so good for all of us to find time in our lives to reflect, especially for all the blessings in our life. It is easy, especially at times likes these, to get bitter but we must remember all that we can be thankful for. My mom sent me one of these forwarded emails. I will admit it is a bit cheesy (with the graphics and all) but what it said really made me think. I might add that I am grateful for my headaches that past few days becuase it means that I have not other health problems in my life to make the headaches seem meager.

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.


FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.


FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .



FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.


FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.



FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE



FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME


FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.


FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .


FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.


FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.



FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.



FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.