Happy 82nd Grandpa!

your warm smile,
your gentle laugh,
your gratitude,
to be like you is a goal indeed,
to always be there when in need,
a great role model,
a great friend,
the person we loved until the end,
your still close to our thoughts,
your looking down,
still playing a role,
not a day goes by-
without a happy thouhts of you,
unconditional love,
thats what we have for you!
by Lisa Bruce

Fullness

Every year I am dragged by time into the fullness of summer. As August approaches, I mourn a little. Where has summer gone. Why have I wasted a minute of it. Winter is so long. Then a couple days into August I can see the gold tone under the green, and the richness of summer is everywhere in the golden afternoon light, the earlier sunsets, and the cooler mornings. August is a perfectly ripened fruit. In western Washington, late summer can last until Halloween and I feel a little bit silly and greedy about mourning in July.
I have always enjoyed Shakespeare at Lynndale Park. There is a perfect little natural amphitheatre surrounded by tall trees that allow sun in dapples and soft rays. As the sun sets and the stage lights take over and the dramatic tension builds and the audience leans in to follow, I feel connected viscerally to storytelling all the way back. I saw all four this year--Othello (got to love a good villain,) As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, and All's Well that Ends Well. The quote I am holding onto is from As You Like It. Act II, Duke Sr in the forest of Arden:

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Yet wears a precious jewel upon his head;
And this our life exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
I would not change it.

1 year ago.. and many to go!

Hey everyone!

This is a picture that Justin and I took on Sunday August 1st 2010. Look familliar? It is at Fort Worden : ) We went back to the fort to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. We had a blast. We went all over the fort and then stayed the night at the Tides Inn (same place we stayed on our wedding ). It has already been a year! How time flies. Still can't believe how blessed we were that all of you could make it! (except Eric who was busy skiing in Chile). Thanks again to all of you for being there and then the wonderful trip we had in Montana last year. Even though I am sad we could not make it out this year, the house is coming along beautifully! Here are some pictures of the house and the progress we have made so far : )

exterior walls are up! interior framing complete (first floor)