With Record Snow, Comes Record Water

Here in the Inland Northwest we received an insane amount of snow this year. It went on and on and some of us even questioned whether it would ever stop. Alas, it did, but not without consequence. Spring has finally made it's enterance here and the snow has begun to melt. With that the rivers have been rising, and rising, and rising. The Spokane River, in particular, is above flood stage.

I say all this because Troy, the kids, and I decided to go see this water everyone's been talking about. I've been telling myself, "It's the river, big deal, what's so impressive?!" Impressive is an understatement when you get there. It's a completely intense experience. Some of the places we played last year, are 10-20 feet under water this year. It's hard to wrap your brain around the volume of water going by per second.

Well, pictures sometimes speak louder than words, so I hope these do justice. 2007 pictures will be posted FIRST, then followed up with pictures from this weekend:

The Suspension Bridge 2007

The Suspension Bridge 2008

The family playing at the river's edge 2007

The river's edge 2008

The Bowl & Pitcher 2007

The Bowl & Pitcher 2008

Weekend Recap

This weekend we had our family in town from Madras, OR. They happen to be two of our favorite people, Troy's parents!

Saturday was pretty low key. I had to serve at the coffee bar for church, but then we met up and had dinner at one our new favorite restaurants: Top o' China Buffet. I know, I know, you're probably thinking 'how good can a buffet really be?' Trust me on this, it's some of the best Chinese food we've found in Spokane. It get a little bit of everything at a pretty decent price.

We watched Accepted for the second time in 2 days Saturday night. I didn't have high hopes for it, due to the actors cast, but it's a good flick. Yes, it even warranted watching it twice. It's message is a good one: Just how much is our current education system serving our college bound kids? Next time you rent a flick and grab some popcorn, consider this one. However, beware of language content. It drops S-Bombs all over the place, but once you see the film you'll understand.

Sunday was Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day to all you mommas out there. My kids (and husband) cooked me and my MIL breakfast. It was delicious and very sweet. The kids worked hard and are already planning what they'd like to cook up for their dad on Father's Day. The kiddos also colored cards and DH bought me a rose and a nice card. It was a good morning.

Once the day was going we decided to pack up and head to Cabela's in Post Falls, Idaho. My father-in-law, Carl, hadn't been there yet and the kids love to see all the animals. If you haven't been there yet, there are a ton of animals on display there from Grizzly Bears to Polar Bears to Trout to Tuna. The kids also like testing out all the tents set up. This trip we also pressed pennies as a souvenir. Oh, and Ty also got to replace the bobbers for his fishing pole that he lost while practicing casting a few weeks back.

That was the gist of our weekend. The father-in-law has head back to Madras, while my mother-in-law gets to stay with us for the week. Yay! We all love extended visits with our family members.

Hope you all have a blessed week!

Friendships

Proverbs 27:9 from The Message Bible says, "Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul."

God has brought many people in and out of my life. Many of those have been there for a short season, while others have become like strong pillars - supporting me through all the good and the bad. I am thankful for the blessing of each one of those people (whether their stay long or short one in my life).

For those people who are my friends for the long haul, they truly do refresh my soul. From my mom to my girlfriends and everyone in between, I am surrounded by people who lift me up, dust me off, and pour into me. These people have taken the time to truly know me, my intentions, and my heart. They look past my imperfections, and take me as I am.

Thank you to all who have come into my life, especially those who have decided to take root - I hope your stay is a pleasant one.

Much love,