Well I haven't been on xanga for ages.  I guess since I've discovered facebook I seem to be spending a lot more time over there.

Life has been moving along still at a fast pace.  I can hardly believe that we are in November already and that Christmas will be here soon.  (probably before I am ready for it.)  I have been already listening to Christmas music at work since the season in which we usually listen to it is so short. 

There have been a few changes these last couple of months also.  One of my friends got married in June. (Congratulations Albert & Lisa!)  In September 2 of my friends started dating(Andrea & Brendon and Rhonda & Roger), and since then 2 more (Jeff & Joanna and Sheldon & TJ) have started dating.  So that has brought some changes to our group of friends.  I'm really happy for them.  Change is good -- it keeps life from getting boring.    Although sometimes too much change in too short of a time can be kind of stressful.

One of the saturdays in October we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went biking.  I enjoyed the day and got some pretty fall pictures.  What I didn't enjoy was the soreness as we started back and the feeling that I wasn't gonna make it back to where we started.  I guess I should have thought about how far we were biking and started back sooner. 

Also in October I took part of a day and spent the time shopping with Marilyn & LuAnn.  God has blessed me so much with friendships that have lasted over many years.  We talked about it that day that Marilyn and I have been friends since 3rd or 4th grade.  Wow!  that's a long time.  Lots of memories.  :)  It's great to have friends that it doesn't matter how long it's been since you've last talked; and that you can just pick up as if you talked 5 minutes ago.  Our lives don't hold as much in common now as they once did but it's still great to connect with them.

Last sat. night we were at the CAM openhouse for the slides.  It always opens my eyes to the suffering in the world and makes me realize how I've been that blessed beyond measure.  It also makes me think about what am I doing about sharing my blessings. 

Well, I guess I've rambled on long enough. 

Have a wonderful day!

~Marcie

Here are a few pictures from Albert & Lisa's shower.

We actually didn't surprise them then because they were taking their good ole' time in gettting there that night.

Rhonda and I had a lot of fun planning the shower. 

Afterwards then we all played volleyball.

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Now fast forward a few weekends to Daryl & Christina's wedding.....

Mr & Mrs Long

The Bridal Party 

The "getaway" car that they rode to the reception.

I thought her centerpiece on the bridal table was beautiful.

Grandma & Grandpa Long

George & Pat

(they were sitting at our table.  She is my mom's sister.)

Marlin & Brenda were also seated at our table.

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The following monday I kept Marlin's boys while Marlin had his surgery.

Brian & Willis woke up at 6:00 in the morning and did not want to go back to sleep.  I was very tired that morning.  I dozed off a couple of times while they were playing.

They made get well cards for Marlin.  Here's Brian coloring his.

Willis found some sun glasses that were a little too big for him but he loved wearing them anyway.

And then finally around 9 Jon woke up and was ready for breakfast.  Brian decided that he'll eat breakfast again so that Jon doesn't have to eat by himself. 

Marlin's surgery went well and they came home again while we were eating lunch.  I stayed the rest of the day to help Brenda.  Naptime didn't go well that day either.  I think they only slept about 45 min.  Till I got home that night I was very tired.  Taking care of 3 children all day is very different than a "normal" day's work.

So now that brings you up-to-date, except for the pictures from Albert & Lisa's wedding.  I will post some once I have some good ones to post.  (they are still on Brenda's camera).

Two weeks from now we're going to the cabin.  I'm looking forward to it.  Last year when we went we had lots of fun so hopefully this year will be the same!  I'll share the pictures if I remember to take any.  :)   And then 2 weeks beyond that will find me in Oregon again this time for Emily's wedding.  So sounds like this summer will continue to be a busy one.

Have a good one & Take care!

~Marcie

Happy 3rd Birthday Brian!

In May we celebrated Brian's 3rd Birthday.  Brenda invited everyone back for a hot dog roast that night.

Here Brian is helping Grandma roast hot dogs.  He didn't help real long though because the fire was just too hot!

Here he is with his "stash" of presents.  I think the thing that he loved the most was a push lawn mower that blows bubbles.

Brenda also shares the same birthday!  Happy Birthday, Brenda!

Oregon

 Well my camera came back again from Oregon, and even though it's been a while since these pictures were taken, I still decided to post them.

Rachel and I flew out in February to surprise Sharon for her birthday.  The evening we got there John & Marilyn were taking the teachers out to supper, so we were invited along.  We went to a really neat Mexican resturant there in Portland, but I don't know what the name of it was.  The food was good and the platters were huge!

The next day after school we went to Multinomah Falls.  Rachel hiked the whole to the top but Sharon and I were feeling too lazy.

I love standing on the bridge and listening to the water rush down over the falls.  It always reminds me of the awesome power of God.

The next day (Friday) Sharon didn't have school so we worked there helping her get caught after for the week and then went to the Oregon Trail museum.  It was almost closing time and hardly anyone was around.  Sharon & Rachel decided to see how it would feel to dress like Pioneers.  I took their picture and then set the camera down.

The next day we took some of Sharon's students snowboarding to Mount Hood.  On the way there Sharon asked me if I have my camera along that she wants me to get pictures of them.  Well I didn't have it with me and when we got back I couldn't find it either!!!!  Let me tell you that made for some anxious moments.  I realized that the last I remembered having it was at the museum.  I thought that I probably won't ever see it again.  :(   On Monday I called and sure enough they had found it and were holding it.  So I sent Sharon to pick it up for me.  And she was kind enough to bring it along back with her when she came home.

So there briefly was a glimpse of our Oregon trip.

¿Como esta usted? & other miscellaneous things

 Yes, as you can tell by the title.....I am finally finishing one of my goals (dreams) -- to learn Spanish.  Today was the first lesson of Spanish 1 that I am taking from Abeka. I am excited about this.  Hopefully I will still have this much energy and excitement for it till I am finished.  Approx 8 years ago I started learning it but then quit when I moved home again.  Ever since then I really wanted to finish it someday and so now here I am.  I have a number of friends/co-workers who are fluent in Spanish that I will be able to practice on and who will be able to critique me and make sure that I'm saying it correctly.

Other than that....not much new has been happening in my life.  The days and weeks continue to fly by.  I'm looking forward to summer and the return of the warm weather, (and picnics, and cabin trips, and all those fun things that go along with summer).  These last weeks have been cold and rainy which is different for May.

June is going to be a busy month.  June 8-12 I'm helping with Summer Bible School.  June 14 we're planning another singles ministry activity.  June 21 my cousin gets married. (Congratualations Daryl & Christina).  and then for the big day....June 28.... Albert & Lisa are getting married!    I'm looking forward to the fun that we will have that day especially getting to hang out w/ some of my close friends.  At the same time it will be a sad day too.  Why do weddings always have to change relationships?????  Oh well, I guess that's life.  No, seriously I'm excited and happy for both of them, I just don't like change too much.   And of course in June school will be out and Sharon will be back again.  I'm looking forward to having her around again.

Well I guess I'll close with some pictures.  These are from the beginning of May when we went to the zoo.  The boys loved it.  It was neat to "see" it again thru their eyes.  It probably wasn't as interesting to me this time because I had just been there last summer.  Oh well.

Ducks are fascinating creatures......

Who's peeking out????

Can you tell that I'm excited to be at the zoo?????

Gotta love their expressions......

Rest Stop......

Jon's comfy ride.....

Hi kitty, nice kitty......

My favorite animal......

I wonder what might be over on the other side of this wall........

It was sooo much fun to see all the animals, but it sure tires you out......

Since they're both sleeping...I guess I'll have to amuse myself.

And also here in May I finally got to see my newest "nephew"  Kaden Michael Martin born April 17.

Sorry the pictures are a little blurry.  My camera is still in Oregon so I was borrowing my sisters.

And last but not least....Lauren & Jayce posed for a picture too while I was there.  It doesn't seem that long ago that Jayce was the tiny baby.  (at least not to me anyway) 

Well, that's all for now.  Hopefully next time I post I'll have my camera back again.