Life goes on

So, things have been going well for us in the past month... We celebrated out 7 1/2 month anniversary. (Jeff's dad's "Dutch Tradition".) We had cake and ice cream to celebrate. I finally got my bread machine working again- we replaced the bread pan- and was able to make a loaf of whole grain bread, we made more tortillas and burritos, and even experimented with left over Tillamook ice cream in our green smoothies. Also we've been eating out a lot more than we should be. Jeff has decided to remove refined sugars from his diet so I am trying my best to be supportive by joining him... although today we failed because it was FREE slurpee day at 7/11 and the 90+ degree weather was getting to us. Jeff is jogging again and I have been sleeping a ton. We went hiking last week and unfortunately 20 bug bites have joined my body. One of them is infected. It feels numb and really warm (to the touch and on its own) and is surrounded by a puffy patch of inflammation the size of a folded bill. My arm even feels nauseous at times if there is even such a sensation for a limb.

Jeff's maternal Grandma passed away on July 10th. We were able to see her one last time the day before. Her living room was packed with her family members. Josh and Jeff, their dad and I drove up together. When we arrived there were over 15 cars parked in her drive way and I'm sure many people walked. Her 5 children and tons of grandchildren and great grandchildren were there sitting by her side. The living room was so packed you had to literally step over people to get to her bed just to see her. We sang songs to her from the Old Apostolic Lutheran hymnal and you could feel the love in the room for her.
She was a sweet sweet woman. I remember meeting her for the first time and liking her right away. The funeral is on Tuesday July 13th at 1:00pm. Jeff was able to get off work and I will hopefully be able to sleep before and on the drive up to Washington.

My parents are visiting in 18 days! I am really looking forward to visiting with them. Jeff and I are trying to think of lots of fun things to do with them so that they will have to stay a long time! While they are here I have a cardiology appointment scheduled up at OHSU. No one at Kaiser wanted to take my case so they sent a referral for me to go else where. For now, this is neither good nor bad. All I know is I have an appointment at one of the finest Teaching Medical Institutions in the country and I am hopeful for a clean bill of health. We might even be able to take the ski-lift-like- tram-thingy up to OHSU which would be a really cool experience.

Jeff is up for another pay raise after working 2 more days. With his 40 hour per week schedule this past month he's been working really hard. I think he likes doing go backs because of the set schedule but it probably gets monotonous and is overwhelming because he never really sees any day to day progress as he goes in and starts the process all over again each day. I know I like his schedule because we are guaranteed to see each other at least 5 hours before I start getting ready for work and for a while our days off coordinated. He has been talking for some time now about transferring to Winco's Meat department as a meat clerk first and then become a meat cutter. This would be cool because he could potentially make more money as a meat cutter and its a line of work he might enjoy. But he might get less hours and probably won't have a set schedule. His brother is currently working as a meat packer so maybe instead of opening up a coffee shop when they retire, their parents could open up a meat shop called "The Dekker Brothers Carvery". :0)

Work for me is going fine. Its gotten easier and I'm getting quicker at checking people in and out. I'm continuing to learn a lot about myself and others, and the hotel business in general. I am enjoying working with the software they use and have developed a new breakfast inventory checklist and a new breakfast menu. I like that I get to work with the computer on things like that. This is my favorite part of the job.

Emotional mix and highlights

I'll admit I was a little peeved at Winco because I found out that Jeff wasn't going to Sumner after I had already bought my airplane ticket to CA. Its funny though how sometimes things work out for the best. In hindsight the 2 1/2 weeks went by quickly which is both good and bad. A few highlights of my trip to CA include: Seeing my parent's darling new apartment- which they will move into on June 22!; helping parents pack up some of their house; shopping with mom; dates with dad to the Theater and coffee shop; Payton in church; hanging out with Mom; finally having Tiramisu at Cafe Piccolo; Lashers for Appetizer assortments, Clam Chowder, and Key Lime Pie; lunch at Bruleé with my parents; relaxing with Ellie Mae; priceless conversation with my sister at Starbucks; -Happy Hour at Roys, ice cream, panera bread, pei wei (dad too), tanning poolside, jacuzzi, etc with Billy and Virginia; church fundraiser, Hand Bell rehearsals, etc.

Spending Mother's day at the Gardens with my parents, my aunt and uncle and my Grandma was such a blessing. I am really glad I went back to California when I did because the timing could not have been better. Even though I had a wonderful time on my trip, I'm not quite sure how I'd classify it. I was happy to be there with my family for an extended visit but it was also an emotional trip. I cried a lot!! (mostly in the church sanctuary on Sunday mornings and visiting with my Grandma). I'm thankful I got to see Grandma again before she declined. We had such a lovely visit on Mother's Day. And I'm also glad I got say goodbye to her before she passed away.

I miss Grandma so much. I wish I had called her more after moving away. A Grandma's love is a special thing. The older I got the closer I felt to her. I know she loved me and I loved her. I have so many fond memories of visiting her at the Gardens, baking Christmas cookies with Grandma and Virginia, Eating a hearty breakfast of cinnamon toast with Grandma on the coffee table at the Cottage after a sleep over because she didn't like to go to the dining room with Papa in the mornings, Grandma & Papa baby sitting us while mom and dad went on Vacation, staying over night at their cottage, the Tea Party she had us put on for her friends where Virginia and I played our instruments and sang together, the Easter Bunny Cake, Grandma's Thanksgiving Pies, Holiday gatherings- most recently one of the last Christmas Eves she came to Long Beach... I was sick and she stayed home from the last Christmas Eve Church Service and made Tea with me. Visiting Grandma at her apartment in the B building once Papa had moved to the Lodge, Visiting Grandma with Jeff when he was down from Oregon for a visit. Grandma being at both Virginia's wedding and my wedding was really special! These memories and other ones will forever be in my heart. I got the call from my mom at 3:30am yesterday. I was glad Jeff was with me when I heard the news. Jeff talked with me, I cried for a while, and he held me until I fell asleep.

Being away from each other helped Jeff and I learn about ourselves, each other, and our relationship. It was good to be apart because it helped us appreciate each other even more than we already do. I missed him so much during my trip and he missed me too. Jeff and I have been married for half a year already (as of yesterday)! Its hard to believe. We had a nice day of celebration since he had off work! Some highlights from our day: Bread and Ink for breakfast, baking cookies together, Chiropractor for massage/ adjustment, B-Ville for dinner. Jeff has told me several times since I've arrived back from CA that he is glad I am home. And I am glad too. :0)

My sister and her husband are graduating today from their MBA program. I'm really excited for them because they are almost done. Only 2 classes to go. I'm so proud of them!! Although its nice to be back at our apartment, I wish I could still be there with my family to celebrate their accomplishments.